cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Virtual FLUXUS

Contemporary Technologies in art are available from the 1960â€™s. Virtual Fluxus is the result of more than a decade of digital practice events, which give a definition of the online world. This article on Virtual Fluxus discusses the paradoxes of the Virtual in Contemporary Art. It starts its discussion with a citation from Al Hansen, as: â€œFluxus is a Virtual Reality system where the glove doesnâ€™t work properly and the helmet doesnâ€™t fit. Other things happen than what was intendedâ€ . In this paper, the author underlines that when Virtual Fluxus happened, the gloves and goggles began to work, and when inside, things were more gloriously broken than could have been imagined. In this paper, there are several examples of virtual artworks from different authors examined.
Vagueness and context-relativity

L'A. developpe certains elements qu'il a exposes dans un article precedent intitule «Vaguness without paradox» («Philosophical review», 103, 1994, pp. 41-74) qui proposait une solution aux paradoxes sorites. Il s'agit de definir le contexte simple, interne ou externe, de l'application correcte d'un predicat flou (vague) a une serie complexe d'articles sorites
Girls on a high-calcium diet gain weight at the same rate as girls on a normal diet: a pilot study

Abstract Objective To determine whether pubertal girls assigned to calcium-rich diets or their usual calcium intakes differ significantly in weight gain. Design This is a pilot study conducted on data from an experimental research project. Subjects/Setting The sample included 59 girls, 9 years of age, from Omaha metropolitan communities. Intervention Participants were randomly assigned to a calcium-rich diet supplying at least 1,500 mg of calcium per day or their usual diet. Main outcome measure The outcome measure was change in weight during 2 years of study. Statistical analyses Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, t tests of paired and independent samples, and analysis of covariance. Results The girls in the calcium-rich diet group had a mean (±standard deviation) calcium intake of 1,656±191 mg/day, whereas the girls on their usual diets averaged 961±268 mg/day. Although the participants in the treatment group consumed nearly twice as much dietary calcium—primarily from dairy foods—they did not have greater increases in body weight, body mass index, or fat or lean mass than the control group. These findings held when the data were grouped by tertile of calcium intake. Compared with girls on their usual diets, the girls who consumed the calcium-rich diet also significantly increased their intake of essential nutrients. Conclusion We conclude that calcium-rich diets do not cause excessive weight gain in pubertal girls but do contribute positively to overall nutrition. These findings provide support for programs to promote calcium-rich diets, which are critical for attaining peak bone mass.
The importance of environment vs. disturbance in the vegetation mosaic of Central Arizona

The vegetation of central Arizona is a mosaic of four vegetation types: chaparral, chaparral grassland, wood- land, and woodland grassland. We analysed ten environmental variables, three disturbance variables, and five disturbance indicators to answer the question: What is the relative impor- tance of environment and disturbance in explaining the veg- etation pattern of our study area? We found that chaparral, chaparral grassland, and woodland are differentiated prima- rily by environmental factors and have high stability in the landscape. In contrast, woodland grassland is differentiated primarily by disturbance and is likely an early-successional stage of woodlands. Although other researchers have indi- cated that semi-arid vegetation is generally unstable, the veg- etation of central Arizona is composed of two systems: those with a more stable landscape position determined primarily by environmental factors and those with a less stable landscape position determined primarily by disturbance factors.
Qualification test results of IAPS 8 cm ion thrusters

Two 8-cm-diameter 5-mN mercury ion thrusters with associated beam shields and gimbals have been fabricated and qualification-tested for the Ion Auxiliary Propulsion System (IAPS) flight test. Functional and performance tests of the thrusters, conducted before, during and after exposure to protoflight vibration and thermal vacuum conditions demonstrated no effects of the environmental exposure and little performance dispersion between the thrusters.
Structure-based design of a general class of mechanism-based inhibitors of the serine proteinases employing a novel amino acid-derived heterocyclic scaffold.

We describe in this paper the structure-based design of a general class of heterocyclic mechanism-based inhibitors of the serine proteinases that embody in their structure a novel peptidomimetic sc...
Experimental studies on two dimensional shock boundary layer interactions

Experiments have been performed on the interaction of oblique shock waves with flat plate boundary layers in the 30.48 cm x 30.48 cm (1 ft. x 1 ft.) supersonic wind tunnel at NASA Lewis Research Center. High accuracy measurements of the plate surface static pressure and shear stress distributions as well as boundary layer velocity profiles were obtained through the interaction region. Documentation was also performed of the tunnel test section flow field and of the two-dimensionality of the interaction regions. The findings provide detailed description of two-dimensional interaction with initially laminar boundary layers over the Mach number range 2.0 to 4.0. Additional information with regard to interactions involving initially transitional boundary layers is presented over the Mach number range 2.0 to 3.0 and those for initially turbulent boundary layers at Mach 2.0. These experiments were directed toward providing well documented information of high accuracy useful as test cases for analytic and numerical calculations. Flow conditions encompassed a Reynolds number range of 4.72E6 to 2.95E7 per meter. The shock boundary layer interaction results were found to be generally in good agreement with the experimental work of previous authors both in terms of direct numerical comparison and in support of correlations establishing laminar separation characteristics.
Functional characterization of seed coat-specific members of the barley germin gene family

Abstract The present project aimed to isolate testa-, pericarp- and epicarp-specific gene promoters for the developing caryopsis of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). These might be applied in transgenic plants to express antifungal agents or modify metabolic pathways. A testa-specific 379-nucleotide fragment was cloned by differential amplification and used to screen a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of 6.3 haploid genome equivalents. Fifty-three clones containing genes encoding for proteins of the germin family were found. Characterization of the clones identified a minimum of six seed coat- and eight leaf-specific germin genes. Four seed coat- and one leaf-specific genes were sequenced. The deduced primary structure of the proteins revealed a remarkable conservation of the manganese(II) binding His and Glu residues and β-barrel secondary structure of oxalate oxidase – also in barley, wheat, rice and Arabidopsis germins, for which an enzymatic activity has not yet been identified. The oxalate oxidase and germins of barley and other species are synthesized with a conserved pre-sequence of 23 or 24 amino acids for targeting into the cell wall. β-Glucuronidase expression with the barley germin F gene promoter occurs specifically in the testa and epicarp of the developing barley caryopsis, while expression with the B gene promoter is restricted to the testa. Oxalate oxidase activity is prominent in the epicarp and the root tips of the developing embryo. A family tree based on primary structure homologies of germins distinguishes three groups: oxalate oxidases, leaf-specific germins and seed coat-specific germins.
Physiologic mechanisms governing hemodynamic responses to positive inotropic therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Clinical trials in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have shown a wide disparity in the hemodynamic responses to positive inotropic therapy. In addition, the response of the failing left ventricle to positive inotropic agents reflects the net interaction of multiple factors, including the magnitude of contractile abnormality and compensatory mechanisms. In the current study, left ventricular geometry, loading conditions, and contractile state were assessed in 13 patients with nonischemic DCM with the use of simultaneous high-fidelity pressure measurements and echocardiographic recordings. Comparisons were made with echocardiographic and calibrated carotid pulse data acquired in nine age-matched normal subjects. The patients with DCM were divided according to the left ventricular end-diastolic wall thickness-to-dimension ratio into groups with "appropriate" hypertrophy (i.e., less than or equal to 2 SDs from mean normal; n = 5; group 1) and "inadequate" hypertrophy (i.e., greater than 2 SDs from mean normal; n = 8; group 2). Age, New York Heart Association functional class, left ventricular wall mass index, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and dimension were similar for the DCM groups. Baseline left ventricular afterload (defined as circumferential end-systolic wall stress, sigma es) was 168% and 203% greater than normal in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The administration of the beta-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine decreased left ventricular afterload by 12% in the normal subjects and by 10% in group 1 patients, while augmenting afterload by 5% in group 2 patients. The latter response occurred despite a 17% fall in systemic vascular resistance. Overall left ventricular performance, as assessed by the rate-corrected mean velocity of fiber shortening (Vcfc), was related to left ventricular afterload (i.e., sigma es). The resultant sigma es -Vcfc relationship, a sensitive measure of left ventricular contractility, was determined over a wide range of afterload conditions generated by methoxamine (normal subjects) or nitroprusside (DCM). Baseline left ventricular contractile state was 61% of normal for group 1 and 44% of normal for group 2. The contractile response to dobutamine infusion was 52% of normal for group 1 and only 22% of normal for group 2. Thus, positive inotropic therapy with dobutamine in patients with DCM is limited by (1) an attenuated contractile response and (2) elevated left ventricular afterload, which may be augmented further during its administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Behavioral effects of dopamine receptor inactivation in the caudate-putamen of preweanling rats: role of the D2 receptor

Rationale Inactivating dopamine (DA) receptors in the caudate-putamen (CPu) attenuates basal and DA agonist-induced behaviors of adult rats while paradoxically increasing the locomotor activity of preweanling rats.
Specific heat of soft carbons between 0.6° and 4.2° K—I☆

Abstract The specific heat of soft carbon heat-treated to temperatures between 1600° and 3100°C was investigated between 0.57° and 4.2°K. As HTT decreases a large increase in the component of the specific heat varying linearly with T is observed as well as in the non-linear component. The linear component seems to be in all cases too large to be explainable by the contribution of the conduction carriers alone. The temperature dependence of the non-linear component deviates from T3 law in the higher temperature part of the range investigated, the greatest deviation occurring for a carbon in a transitory stage between turbostratic and graphitic structure.
Europe 1992 in print: Propaganda and guidance

Abstract The Single European Act (1986) will transform the fragmented economy of the European Communities (EC) into the West's largest consumer market. The target date for completion of this single, integrated market is 1992. Two publishers producing considerable information on the background, implementation, and implications of the Single Act are the Commission of the European Communities and the United States federal government. The information these sources produce reflects their specific interests in and concerns regarding the Single Act. EC publications are propagandistic, focusing almost exclusively on the benefits of 1992. U.S. government publications tend to favor the concept of EC market integration, but advise American government and business in terests that forceful lobbying is needed to guarantee an American presence in the post 1992 European economy. This article describes the EC and the Single European Act, and, in the form of a selective bibliographic essay, describes EC and U.S. publications on 1992. Discussion of U.S. publications delineates U.S. policy responses to the Single Act.
Mounting and Brief Noncontact Exposure of Males to Receptive Females Facilitate Reflexive Erection in Rats, Even After Hypogastric Nerve Section

In three experiments, reflexive erection in male rats was facilitated by housing the males for 2 min with inaccessible sexually receptive females. In Experiment 1, males were sexually naive or experienced and received two reflexive erection tests, 1 week apart, immediately after the males were exposed to receptive females, to unreceptive females, or to no females (n = 8 per group). In both tests, experienced males exposed to estrous females had the shortest reflexive erection latencies; in Test 1 the differences among groups were of borderline significance (p = 0.057), but in Test 2 the differences among groups were highly reliable (p<0.01). Further analysis indicated that only experienced males exposed to receptive females were significantly different from other groups. In Experiment 2, sexually experienced males (n = 11) received four reflexive erection tests: after being with no female, and 0, 5, or 10 min after exposure to estrous females. As the interval between exposure and test increased, the males had progressively shorter erection latencies (p<0.01) and more intense glans erections (p<0.03). Experiments 1 and 2 may be viewed as demonstrating the psychogenic facilitation of reflexive erections. In Experiment 3, males underwent sham surgery (sham, n = 10) or bilateral transection of the hypogastric nerves (HgNx, n = 10), which are conventionally viewed as mediating psychogenic erection. After males mounted a receptive female for 5 min without intromission or had 2 min of non-contact exposure to receptive females, the males had shorter erection latencies (p<0.001) and more erections (p<0.02). These facilitative effects of pretest stimulation were unaffected by HgN transection. During copulation tests, HgNx males had longer ejaculation latencies (p<0.05) and lower intromission ratios (p<0.05), possible signs of impaired erectile function. However, in Experiment 4, other males were tested twice for reflexive erection and copulation after sham (n = 8) or HgNx (n = 9) surgery, and there were no significant effects of surgery on reflexive erection or copulatory behavior. Collectively, these experiments indicate (a) that brief noncontact exposure of sexually experienced males to estrous females facilitates reflexive erection, (b) that this facilitation increases for at least 10 min after the females are removed, and (c) that the hypogastric nerves do not mediate these facilitative effects. The evidence for a role for the HgN in copulation was inconclusive.
Mechanisms of Direct Neural Stimulation with Infrared Light

Infrared light excites cells without any chemical or genetic pretreatment, and is thus an attractive stimulation modality in a variety of scientific and clinical applications. This talk will describe two highly general thermally mediated mechanisms underlying mid-IR and far-IR stimulation.
Assembly, disassembly, and balance in marine paleocommunities

The fossil record is necessary to provide an extended temporal scale to studies of community stability and equilibrium and species longevities and origination. We addressed these topics with a large database for Cenozoic benthic foraminifera from six formations (ranging from Eocene to Pliocene) occurring in the Salisbury and Albemarle embayment(s) (SAE) of the North American Atlantic Coastal Plain. We also documented the worldwide fossil occurrences of the 356 species found in these formations to 142 well-dated formations, most of which are in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains and which comprise a species pool from which species are drawn during each transgression into the SAE. A ledger was constructed with the first entry consisting of the number of immigrants to each formation, and the last the number of emigrants. Consideration of the ledger indicates a dynamic system. Faunal stability within ecological units, rapid and continual change, and balance and imbalance of immigrants versus emigrants are all observed. During transgressions, immigrants enter the SAE from the source species pool and, on the average, about half of the available species inhabit the SAE during a transgression. During regressions, emigrants disperse into various parts of the wide geographic area of the pool and about a quarter never return to the SAE. The distribution of each species9 occurrence is unique in space and time. Emigrant species do not migrate to another location as a unit nor do they immigrate as a unit. Consequently, no recourse to biotic interactions or hierarchical structure is required to explain the observations presented here. Rather, environmental regime plays an important role in affecting community composition.
On the Vibration of a Translating String Coupled to Hydrodynamic Bearings

The vibration of a translating string, controlled through hydrodynamic bearing forces, is analyzed by the transfer function method. Interactions between the string response and the bearing film are described by the bearing impedance function. This function depends on the string translation speed, the frequency of the film thickness variation, and the spatial location of the bearings. The control system consists of the translating string, bearings, actuators and sensors, and feedback elements. An integral formulation of the controlled system response is proposed that leads to the closed-loop transfer function. The frequency response of the control system is studied in the system parameter space. The feasibility of adding active control to improve the bearing force control is also considered.
Optimizing connected component labeling algorithms

This paper presents two new strategies that can be used to greatly improve the speed of connected component labeling algorithms. To assign a label to a new object, most connected component labeling algorithms use a scanning step that examines some of its neighbors. The first strategy exploits the dependencies among them to reduce the number of neighbors examined. When considering 8-connected components in a 2D image, this can reduce the number of neighbors examined from four to one in many cases. The second strategy uses an array to store the equivalence information among the labels. This replaces the pointer based rooted trees used to store the same equivalence information. It reduces the memory required and also produces consecutive final labels. Using an array instead of the pointer based rooted trees speeds up the connected component labeling algorithms by a factor of 5 {approx} 100 in our tests on random binary images.
Collagen profile in the transplanted heart.

Abstract To substantiate the finding of interstitial myocardial fibrosis in the transplanted heart and to characterize the collagen profile of the transplanted heart, we studied endomyocardial biopsy specimens from 30 heart transplants and four heart-lung transplants at 1 to 82 months after transplantation. Indirect immunofluorescent techniques with affinity-purified antibodies for collagen types I, III, IV, and V were used. The degree of interstitial collagen present was scored. The amount of type I collagen was increased in transplants from distant donors (mean ischemia time, 154 minutes) compared with those from on-site donors (mean ischemic time, 59 minutes): collagen scores 1.1 and 1.7, respectively ( P r = .35), collagen IV ( r = .38), and collagen V ( r = .56). There was a negative correlation between number of rejection episodes and mean cyclosporine dose ( r = −.41) and amount of collagen III ( r = −.42) or collagen IV ( r = −.42). No correlations were found between collagen deposition and any other variables studied. These results confirm the mixed nature of the collagen deposited and suggest that some fibrosis is related to cyclosporine administration rather than to the number of prior healed rejection episodes.
Basic and applied sociological work: divergence, convergence, or peaceful co-existence?

The linkages and barriers between basic and applied sociological work are examined. Basic sociology is defined as "discipline oriented" and applied sociology is defined as "'client oriented.'" These orientations are compared on three dimensions: goals, working norms, and reference groups. Possible linkages between the two sociologies are examined through two questions: (1) what relevance do the products of basic research have for applied work; and (2) how is the training necessary for basic research relevant to applied skills? A review of policy and evaluation research literature indicates that social science research findings have an indirect impact upon decision makers while the testimony of applied sociologists places heavy emphasis upon the importance of methodology and statistics. The relationship between a study's methodological and statistical sophistication and its utilization, however, appears to be inverse. Sociological theory has played a minor role in the training for and conduct of applied wo...
A proposito di due libri di poesia di Luigi Fontanella

(1993). A proposito di due libri di poesia di Luigi Fontanella. The Italianist: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 279-282.
Effect of changes of brain norepinephrine content on sleep cycle in rat

Summary The possibility of endogenous nore pinephrine (NE) participating in the process of physiological arousal has been studied by ascertaining the effects of depletion of brain NE on the sleep cycle, by temporary reversal of the effects of brain NE depletion through intracerebral microinjections of NE, and by the effects on sleep cycle of another means capable of inducing intracerebral blood pressure rise comparable to the blood pressure-increasing effects of NE. The results warrant the conclusion that endogenous NE partakes in the process of physiological arousal by direct effect on intracerebral neurons.
Artifactually Induced VEP Classification of Form and Color Attributes - A Refutation of Neuroelectric Concepts - Form Color Classification by Hudspeth,William,J. (1993)

Abstract An algebraic analysis of the procedures used in ′Neuroelectric Concepts: Form-Color Classification," Brain and Cognition, 21, 226-246 (1993) by William J. Hudspeth reveals that the articles results are artifactual, having been produced by the introduction of strong linear dependencies during data transformation. The same pattern of principal results is shown to obtain by applying Hudspeths procedures both to arbitrarily selected EP input data having no connection to form or color discrimination, and to waveforms composed of sequences of random numbers.
Markets, hierarchies, and information: On a paradox in the economics of organization

Abstract The literature on the economics of organization presents the following paradox. On the one hand, firms are said to be repositories of superior information about input characteristics. On the other hand, markets are said to be superior to hierarchies in coordinating resource allocation because hierarchies are forced to aggregate heterogeneous inputs into homogeneous categories. This paper suggests reasons for the association of firms with refined input information and argues that it is not their hierarchical features but their provision of an appropriate framework for rent-sharing that is responsible for this association.
Degradation of Protein and Utilization of the Hydrolytic Products by a Predominant Ruminal Bacterium, Prevotella ruminicola B14

Degradation and utilization of protein by Prevotella ruminicola B1(4), a proteolytic bacterium that is prominent in the rumen, was examined. In preliminary experiments, proteinaceous N sources produced faster growth rates than did NH4Cl, based on changes in optical density over time. However, ammonium chloride produced a greater maximum cell density than did proteinaceous N sources. Of the proteinaceous N sources, an enzymatic hydrolysate of soybean protein with a relative peptide size of 3 AA residues produced a greater growth rate and maximum cell density compared with the other proteinaceous N sources. Further experiments revealed that P. ruminicola B1(4) grew faster and to a greater final dry weight with soybean protein than with casein. Degradation of both proteins was low as was indicated by the slow disappearance of soluble protein, low concentrations of free AA and peptides, and the decrease in ammonia concentrations over time. Patterns of degradation did differ between the two proteins, however. Accumulation of peptides and free AA from soybean protein peaked 2 h earlier than those from casein, and concentrations of free AA and peptides from soybean protein were lower on average than those from casein. Prevotella ruminicola B1(4) preferentially utilized Asp, Ile, Leu, Lys, and Arg from soybean protein compared with casein. The relative size of peptides that accumulated from both proteins, as determined by the ratio of ninhydrin reaction after HCl hydrolysis to ninhydrin reaction before HCl hydrolysis, suggested that part of the proteolytic activity of P. ruminicola B1(4) is a dipeptidase. Our findings suggest that P. ruminicola may have a greater impact on peptide degradation than on protein degradation in the rumen.
Real-time quantitative RT-PCR identifies distinct c-RET, RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3 expression patterns in papillary thyroid carcinoma

RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3 are the markers for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Their reported prevalence varies broadly. Nonrearranged c-RET has also been detected in a variable proportion of papillary carcinomas. The published data suggest that a wide range in expression levels may contribute to the different frequency of c-RET and, particularly, of RET/PTC detection. However, quantitative expression analysis has never been systematically carried out. We have analyzed by real-time RT-PCR 25 papillary carcinoma and 12 normal thyroid samples for RET/PTC1, RET/PTC3 and for RET exons 10–11 and 12–13, which are adjacent to the rearrangement site. The variability in mRNA levels was marked and four carcinoma groups were identified: one lacking RET/PTC rearrangement with balanced RET exon levels similar to those of the normal samples (7/25 cases, 28%), the second (6/25 cases, 24%) with balanced RET expression and very low levels of RET/PTC1, the third with unbalanced RET exons 10–11 and 12–13 expression, high RET/PTC1 levels but no RET/PTC3 (7/25 cases, 28%), and the fourth with unbalanced RET expression, high RET/PTC1 levels and low levels of RET/PTC3 (5/25 cases, 20%). Papillary carcinomas with high RET/PTC1 expression showed an association trend for large tumor size (P=0.063). Our results indicate that the variability in c-RET and RET/PTC mRNA levels contributes to the apparent inconsistencies in their reported detection rates and should be taken into account not only for diagnostic purposes but also to better understand the role of c-RET activation in thyroid tumorigenesis.
The ethical assessment of innovative therapies: liver transplantation using living donors.

Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for many forms of liver disease. Unfortunately, the scarcity of cadaveric donor livers limits the availability of this technique. To improve the availability of liver transplantation, surgeons have developed the capability of removing a portion of liver from a live donor and transplanting it into a recipient. A few liver transplants using living donors have been performed worldwide. Our purpose was to analyze the ethics of liver transplants using living donors and to propose guidelines for the procedure before it was introduced in the United States. We used a process of “research ethics consultation” that involves a collaboration between clinical investigators and clinical ethicists. We concluded that it was ethically appropriate to perform liver transplantation using living donors in a small series of patients on a trial basis, and we published our ethical guidelines in a medical journal before the procedure was introduced. We recommend this prospective, public approach for the introduction of other innovative therapies in medicine and surgery.
Implementing and Sustaining Science Curriculum Reform: A Study of Leadership Practices among Teachers within a High School Science Department.

This study presents a description and analysis of a ninth-grade integrated science curriculum developed and implemented by teachers within a high school science department and subsequently sustained for over 25 years. The Integrated Science Program (ISP) at Lakeside Southwest High School depicted here offers a unique example of longitudinal science education reform. In this study, we examined ISP as an artifact of teacher leadership. Findings affirmed the importance of shared philosophical purpose among teachers, attention to public perceptions, staff stability, the distribution of responsibilities, and instructional coherence. This study also demonstrated how curricular reforms might change over time in response to contextual pressures as was the case with the equity challenges faced by the current teachers of ISP. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 813–835, 2009
UNIVERSALLY COUPLED MASSIVE GRAVITY

We derive Einstein’s equations from a linear theory in flat space-time using free-field gauge invariance and universal coupling. The gravitational potential can be either covariant or contravariant and of almost any density weight. We adapt these results to yield universally coupled massive variants of Einstein’s equations, yielding two one-parameter families of distinct theories with spin 2 and spin 0. The Freund-Maheshwari-Schonberg theory is therefore not the unique universally coupled massive generalization of Einstein’s theory, although it is privileged in some respects. The theories we derive are a subset of those found by Ogievetsky and Polubarinov by other means. The question of positive energy, which continues to be discussed, might be addressed numerically in spherical symmetry. We briefly comment on the issue of causality with two observable metrics and the need for gauge freedom and address some criticisms by Padmanabhan of field derivations of Einstein-like equations along the way.
Passive transfer of learned dark and step-down avoidance

Passive chemical transfer of two specific learned tasks, (1) dark avoidance and (2) step-down avoidance, was demonstrated by IP injection into mice of purified RNA-free peptides isolated from rat brains. The dark avoidance work confirms earlier work by Ungar. Step-down avoidance is passively transferred by a small peptide, for which the name catabathmophobin is suggested. Specific methods for the isolation of behavior-altering peptides are described, and the present status of passive-transfer studies is briefly discussed.
Reflectance of cotton leaves and their structure

Cotton leaves reflectivity and transmittance measurements, discussing substrate salinity effects on internal structure of hydroponically grown plants
Framing Inquiry in High School Chemistry: Helping Students See the Bigger Picture

Inquiry has been advocated as an effective pedagogical strategy for promoting deep conceptual understanding and more sophisticated scientific thinking by numerous bodies associated with chemistry (and science) education. To allow inquiry to achieve these goals, the teacher must manage the amount of cognitive load experienced by students while they engage in inquiry activities. This article can help teachers address that challenge by discussing the notion of framing (a form of scaffolding) and by presenting a model designed to help teachers more effectively frame inquiry activities. Using the metaphor of a picture frame, the model introduces five components of the framing process that can be employed by teachers as guidelines for developing the background information they will share with students prior to an inquiry activity. Those components are context, goals, actions, tools, and interactions. Providing students with such a carefully developed background can better orient them to the purpose of the inqui...
"I Thought I was Less Worthy": Low Sexual and Body Esteem and Increased Vulnerability to Intimate Partner Abuse in Women with Physical Disabilities

Several studies have documented disproportionately low sexual and body esteem in women with high degrees of physical impairment. Moreover, other studies have begun to examine the problem of intimate partner and other forms of abuse in women with physical disabilities. In this article we examine the link between low sexual and body esteem and intimate partner abuse in women with physical disabilities based on findings obtained from an in-depth qualitative study. Findings indicate that women with high degrees of physical impairment are more likely to perceive themselves as sexually inadequate and unattractive than women with mild impairment. These negative perceptions, when combined with a strong desire to be partnered, increased women’s vulnerability to getting into and staying in abusive relationships over time. Major themes presented in the article include: societal devaluation, low sexual and body esteem, preference for non-disabled men, desire to be partnered, and relationship decision-making. We depict the relationships between each of these themes in a simple model to further aid the reader’s understanding.
POTENTIAL-SCATTERING MODEL FOR ELECTRONS ON HELIUM AND OTHER ATOMS.

An independent-particle potential-scattering model is proposed for electron scattering by atoms, which is similar in approach to the recent study by Green et al. for bound states of atoms. The general model is discussed, including specific scattering considerations, and specialized to the case of helium. Results of calculations for $e\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{e}$ elastic scattering are given and compared with experimental results and with the calculations by LaBahn and Callaway. By allowing the polarization part of the potential to be slowly energy dependent, the agreement becomes quite satisfactory. The relevance of this study to future efforts to develop an optical model for elastic electron scattering by atoms and molecules is discussed.
Observation of an adiabatic shear band in titanium by high-voltage transmission electron microscopy

Abstract An adiabatic shear band produced by the impact of a cylindrical projectile on a target of commercial purity titanium was observed by high-voltage transmission electron microscopy. While the material in the vicinity of the shear band showed a high density of dislocations and deformation twins, the structure of the shear band consisted of small (0.05–0.3 μm) grains with well defined high-angle grain boundaries. The boundary between the matrix and the shear-band material is very well defined showing that the localized deformation regime within the band requires a temperature-strain threshold to become operative. Calculations suggest that the microcrystalline structure is formed during the shear band propagation stage. A simple model for plastic deformation in the shear band is proposed.
Characterization of the interactions of an amino-terminal fibronectin fragment with the native molecule: implications for polymerization of fibronectin.

Plasma fibronectin is a 450-kD glycoprotein composed of two similar subunits connected by interchain disulfide bridges that may fold over in solution, allowing the amino terminus of each chain to bind the carboxyl terminus of the same subunit or a different subunit, thereby allowing polymerization. In order to study the characteristics of the fold-over interaction, the interaction between the amino terminal 29-kD fragment of fibronectin with native fibronectin has been studied in detail. One 29-kD molecule bound per fibronectin subunit, the apparent equilibrium dissociation constant was 40 nM, and the half-times for association and dissociation at 22°C were, respectively, 16 h and 23 days. Complexation could be inhibited by high concentrations of salt, but not by 8M urea. Amino terminal 20-kD and carboxyl terminal 8-kD subfragments of the 29-kD fragment also bound fibronectin and the activity was dependent on the integrity of the type 1 loop structures. The kinetics of the interaction of 29-kD fragment with fibronectin were unaffected by the presence of ligands, but were affected by detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate or deoxycholate, which enhanced the rate of interaction over 100-fold or 6-fold, respectively. Therefore, the interaction of fibronectin with ionic cell membrane components such as deoxycholate in vivo may trigger polymerization.
Evidence for Proximal to Distal Appendage Amputation Site Effects from Global Gene Expression Correlations Found in Newt Microarrays

We have studied newt (N. viridescens) gene expression levels in ~ 1200 selected genes important in tissue regeneration at various times post-amputation at 6 different limb amputation sites. Here we provide analyses of microarray data that demonstrate a global gene expression correlation decrease on going from proximal to distal amputation sites of either limb or tail appendages. Also, the proximal (upper) forelimb and hindlimb regenerates have by far the most highly pairwise correlated gene expression levels of all sites. In contrast, the distal (lower) forelimb and hindlimb and tail regenerates reveal the least pairwise correlated gene expression levels. These data support the idea that limb loss at a proximal site produces afar more robust response as compared to a more distal site and requires a greater level of gene regulation to properly rebuild the lost structure.
Minicells overcome tumor drug-resistance

Bacterially derived minicells loaded with siRNA reverse drug resistance in tumor xenografts.
First-order root development from cuttings of Populus trichocarpa × P. deltoides hybrids

We studied first-order root development of field-grown plants of 44 F(1) Populus trichocarpa x P. deltoides hybrids as well as 15 clones of P. trichocarpa (T) and 20 clones of P. deltoides (D) during their first growing season. The cuttings were planted in the field on May 11-12, 1988 and destructively sampled in July, August and September. By September 12, hybrids had an average of 50 first-order roots per cutting (range = 32 to 85) with an average of 25% dead roots (range = 10 to 51%). The longest roots of hybrids averaged 107 cm (range = 58 to 182 cm) and originated at the base of the cutting. Roots originating at the side of the cutting averaged 54 cm in length (range = 12 to 96 cm). For most aboveground and root parameters measured, the values for hybrids exceeded those for both parent species clones. For all clones, aboveground weights were positively correlated with weights of collected roots (R(2) = 0.66 to 0.86). In contrast, aboveground weights were negatively (but poorly) correlated with root/shoot ratios (R(2) = 0.08 to 0.21). Roots differed allometrically depending on their location on the cutting. Total weight of roots originating along the sides of the cutting was not correlated with aboveground weight (R(2) = 0.001 to 0.27), whereas total weight of roots originating at the base of the cutting was correlated with aboveground weight (R(2) = 0.52 to 0.80). Basal roots dominated the first-order root systems of most clones in terms of maximum length and total mass, but not in total numbers of roots.
Northwest Basin and Range tectonic deformation observed with the Global Positioning System, 1999–2003

[1] We use geodetic velocities obtained with the Global Positioning System (GPS) to quantify tectonic deformation of the northwest Basin and Range province of the western United States. The results are based on GPS data collected in 1999 and 2003 across five new quasi-linear networks in northern Nevada, northeast California, and southeast Oregon. The velocities show ∼3 mm/yr westward movement of northern Nevada with respect to stable North America. West of longitude 119°W the velocities increase and turn northwest, parallel to Sierra Nevada/Great Valley microplate motion, and similar to velocities previously obtained to the south. The observations are explained by a kinematic model with three domains that rotate around Euler poles in eastern Oregon and western Idaho. Northeast California experiences internal dextral shear deformation (11.2 ± 3.6 nstrain/yr) subparallel to Pacific/North America motion. Relative motions of the domains imply 2–5 mm/yr approximately east-west extension in northwest Nevada and 1–4 mm/yr approximately north-south contraction near the California/Oregon border. The northward decreasing approximately east-west extension in northwest Nevada is consistent with the northern termination of Basin and Range deformation, faulting and characteristic topography. No significant extension is detected in the Oregon Basin and Range. The Oregon Cascade arc moves north at ∼3.5 mm/yr and is possibly influenced by the approximately eastward motion of the Juan de Fuca plate. These results disagree with secular northwest trenchward motion of the Oregon forearc inferred from paleomagnetic rotations. South of latitude 43°, however, trenchward motion exists and is consistent with block rotations, approximately east-west Basin and Range extension, and northwest Sierra Nevada translation.
A fiber reinforced poroelastic model of nanoindentation of porcine costal cartilage: a combined experimental and finite element approach.

Abstract Nanoindentation has shown promise as a mechanical characterization tool for orthopaedic biomaterials since it can probe the properties of small, heterogeneous, irregularly shaped tissue volumes in physiological environments. However, the majority of nanoindentation analyses have been limited to the determination of linear elastic and viscoelastic properties. Since biomaterials possess complex nonlinear, hydrated, time-dependent constitutive behavior, the objective of the present study is to explore the ability of nanoindentation to determine physiologically relevant material properties using a fibril reinforced poroelastic (FRPE) model. A further goal is to ascertain the sensitivity of nanoindentation load–displacement curves to different FRPE parameters, including the elastic properties of the nonfibrillar matrix, the composition and distribution of fibers, and nonlinearity in the fluid permeability. Porcine costal cartilage specimens are experimentally tested with nanoindentation load relaxation experiments at two different loading depths and loading rates. The FRPE material properties are extracted from comparisons to finite element simulations. The study demonstrates the behavior of the model in nanoindentation is distinct from bulk indentation; the static response of the nanoindentation is determined almost exclusively by the elastic properties of the nonfibrillar matrix and the volume fraction of fibers, while the transient response is dominated by the fluid permeability of the tissue. The FRPE model can accurately describe the time-dependent mechanical behavior of costal cartilage in nanoindentation, with good agreement between experimental and numerical curve fits ( R 2 = 0.98 ± 0.01 ) at multiple indentation depths and indentation rates.
Regular combinatorial maps

Abstract The classical approach to maps is by cell decomposition of a surface. A combinatorial map is a graph-theoretic generalization of a map on a surface. Besides maps on orientable and non-orientable surfaces, combinatorial maps include tessellations, hypermaps, higher dimensional analogues of maps, and certain toroidal complexes of Coxeter, Shephard, and Grunbaum. In a previous paper the incidence structure, diagram, and underlying topological space of a combinatorial map were investigated. This paper treats highly symmetric combinatorial maps. With regularity defined in terms of the automorphism group, necessary and sufficient conditions for a combinatorial map to be regular are given both graph- and group-theoretically. A classification of regular combinatorial maps on closed simply connected manifolds generalizes the well-known classification of metrically regular polytopes. On any closed manifold with nonzero Euler characteristic there are at most finitely many regular combinatorial maps. However, it is shown that, for nearly any diagram D , there are infinitely many regular combinatorial maps with diagram D . A necessary and sufficient condition for the regularity of rank 3 combinatorial maps is given in terms of Coxeter groups. This condition reveals the difficulty in classifying the regular maps on surfaces. In light of this difficulty an algorithm for generating a large class of regular combinatorial maps that are obtained as cyclic coverings of a given regular combinatorial map is given.
Velamentous cord insertion: is it associated with adverse perinatal outcomes?

AbstractIntroduction: Velamentous cord insertion (VCI) can be identified on prenatal ultrasound with an incidence of around 1%. We set out to examine the association between VCI and perinatal outcomes.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 482 812 pregnancies using the California vital statistics birth cohort dataset linked with patient discharge dataset from 2006 during which 2327 (0.48%) were complicated by VCI. Outcomes examined included intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), small for gestational age (SGA), preterm delivery, manual removal of the placenta and cesarean delivery. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi squared tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses.Results: Pregnancies with VCI, compared to those without, were associated with an increased risk of IUFD (2.6% versus 0.28%, p = 0.001), SGA (16.93% versus 10.17%, p = 0.001), preterm delivery <37 weeks (12.5% versus 9.10%, p = 0.001), manual removal of placenta (14.47% versus 0.76%, p = 0.01) and postpartum hemorrhag...
An implementation of a query language supporting path expressions

This paper describes the query language of the Genealogical Information System (GENISYS) which provides users with a high level, relational-like view of their data combined with the ability to reference attributes in associated relations by specifying paths from source relations to target relations. The emphasis in the presentation is on the use and implementation of the link selectors used for specifying paths between relations. Link selectors allow users a convenient mechanism for formulating multiple relation queries which are often complex in other query languages.