cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparative study on a permutation statistic

Abstract We studied asymptotic distribution and finite sample properties of a randomly weighted permutation statistic. The asymptotic normality and the finite sample simulations derived from our studies provided theoretical and numerical justifications for distributional assumption of many useful test statistics used in identifying spatial autocorrelations of mapped data. We compared a new method in computing the mean and the approximated variance of the randomly weighted D statistic, a special permutation statistic, with the Walter’s conditional method. In the numerical illustration of the method, we calculated the standardized values of the D statistic by subtracting the mean from the D statistic and dividing the difference by the standard deviation for the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and the life expectancies among the 48 states of the continental USA. Spatial autocorrelations of the SMRs and the life expectancies were found to be statistically significant.
Considerations in the Development of a Research to Practice Curriculum for Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors.

ABSTRACT Most current substance abuse counselor certification education curricula do not include a systematic introduction to alcohol and substance abuse research. I believe that such an introduction would enhance counselor cooperation in research to practice efforts that are currently underway. In this paper I give a brief history of alcoholism and substance abuse counseling, and then review the education requirements for the substance abuse counseling credential, counselor attitudes toward research, the effect of education on acceptance of research-based interventions, and suggest elements for a curriculum that introduces counselors to research on alcoholism and substance abuse that comprise a course I teach at John Jay College of Criminal Justice as part of the substance abuse counseling curriculum.
Success of Turf Transplants in Restoring Alpine Trails, Colorado, U.S.A

Abstract Heavy, increasing recreation on Colorado's high peaks has created numerous social trails requiring restoration. We studied success of turf transplants 3 yr after transplanting on Mount Belford in the Sawatch Range, and Humboldt Peak in the Sangre de Cristo Range. Based on point-intercept data, sum of all vascular species' covers was 12% to 31% lower in transplanted plots than in control areas. We found no differences in canopy density and height between transplant and control plots on Mount Belford, while both were about 40% lower in transplants on Humboldt Peak. Species richness adjusted for plot size was slightly greater in transplant plots on Mount Belford and slightly lower on Humboldt Peak. On both peaks, we found greater absolute cover of grasses in transplant plots, while forb cover was lower. After 3 yr, turf transplants effectively established vegetation cover and maintained high species richness in these communities. Whenever turf is available, e.g., new trail construction, it should be...
NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION: A Fragile Movement

This article presents some findings of a five year study of the neighborhood stabilization movement since 1956 in 15 urban communities across the U.S. This movement, an outgrowth of the civil rights movement, is the organized effort to maintain racial diversity in U.S. urban neighborhoods. Based on field research, historical review, and census data, the study offers three analytical models representing success, failure, and conditional efforts in this movement. Internal and external factors of success and failure are discussed and nine inductive hypotheses serve as speculative conclusions about the probability of success in maintaining neighborhood diversity.
SQUID-based simultaneous detection of NMR and biomagnetic signals at ultra-low magnetic fields

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-low magnetic fields (ULF, fields of /spl sim//spl mu/T) have several advantages over their counterparts at higher magnetic fields. These include narrow line widths, the possibility of novel imaging schemes such as T/sub 1/ weighted images, and reduced system cost and complexity. In addition, ULF NMR/MRI with superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) is compatible with simultaneous measurements of biomagnetic signals, a capability conventional systems cannot offer. SQUID-based ULF MRI has already been demonstrated, as have measurements of simultaneous MEG and NMR at ULF. In this paper we will show simultaneous magnetocardiography (MCG) and magnetomyography (MMG) with NMR are also possible. Another compelling application of NMR/MRI at ULF is the possibility of directly measuring magnetic resonance consequences of neuronal signals. In this paper we explore simultaneous MMG/NMR and MCG/NMR for an effect on the NMR signal, in T/sub 2//sup */, that might be associated with the effects of bioelectric currents.
Power control based admission policies in cellular radio networks

The problem of limiting the cochannel interference between transmitter-receiver pairs in a cellular network to acceptable levels, while accommodating as many transmissions as possible, is addressed. The controllable network parameters, are the transmission powers of the base stations, and possibly of mobiles too, in the cells. Efficient adaptive control of the powers guarantees quality of service above a certain threshold at all times, given the continuously changing traffic of communication requests in the network. The quality criterion used in this study is the carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) at the receiver. >
Relationships between primary production and ii radiance in coral reef algal communities1

Shallow water algal turf communities are the major primary prcducers on coral reefs. High rates of primary production are maintained despite extremely high light intensities and exposure to ultraviolet wavelengths. The relationships between the light inter(sity and primary production in these assemblages are typical of algae adapted to a high light enrironment [low LY (initial slope), high Ik (saturating light intensity), and high Z, (compensation joint light intensity)]. Seasonal variations in algal standing crop due to herbivory and daylength result in some characteristic photoadaptive changes in (Y, Ik, and I,, and changes in Pnetmax rate s (maximum net photosynthetic rate achieved at light saturation) on both a chlorophyll a and :m areal basis. Exposure to UV wavelengths results in significantly higher respiration rates but 10 changes in cy, Pnet,,, or I,, when compared with these parameters for the same algal commur uties incubated at the same light intensities without UV wavelengths. The apparent lack of photoinhibition in these algae allows calculation of the daily integrated production from the P vs. I llarameters. This integrated production is highest in July (3.1 -t 0.2 g C m-2 d-l) and is reduced by 30% from this maximum in December (2,l +- 0.1 g C m-2 d-l).
Cell proliferation following non-thermal plasma is related to reactive oxygen species induced fibroblast growth factor-2 release

Non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma is currently being developed for a wide range of medical applications, including blood coagulation, malignant cell apoptosis, and wound healing. However, the effect of non-thermal plasma on the vasculature is unclear. Blood vessels are affected during plasma treatment of many tissues, and vessels themselves may be an important clinical plasma therapy target. We investigated the effect of non-thermal plasma treatment on endothelial cells, which line the inner surface of blood vessels. Non-thermal plasma treatment at short exposures (up to 30 seconds; 4 J/cm2) was relatively non-toxic to endothelial cells. Endothelial cells treated with plasma for 30 seconds demonstrated twice as much proliferation as untreated cells five days after plasma treatment. Proliferation was abrogated by a fibroblast growth factor-2 neutralizing antibody and reactive oxygen species inhibitors. This suggests that plasma-induced endothelial cell proliferation is caused by growth factor release following reactive oxygen species cell membrane damage. These data suggest that low power non-thermal plasma treatment is a potential novel therapy for promotion of endothelial cell mediated angiogenesis.
Intergenerational Closure and Academic Achievement in High School: A New Evaluation of Coleman's Conjecture:

This article reexamines the conjecture of James S. Coleman that intergenerational social closure promotes student achievement in high schools, analyzing the best national data on academic achievement and social networks: the 2002 and 2004 waves of the Education Longitudinal Study. The results show that within the Catholic school sector, schools that are characterized by dense parental networks have substantially higher average student achievement. This association can be reduced but not eliminated by conditioning on available measures of student network structure and standard measures of family background. In contrast, in the public school sector, a similarly strong bivariate association between dense parental networks and student achievement can be attributed almost entirely to these basic conditioning variables. These results represent, at best, a mixed verdict for Coleman's predictions. Intergenerational closure in its currently observed form does not increase achievement in public schools, suggesting ...
Halite particles injected into the stratosphere by the 1982 El Chichon eruption

Halite particles about 2 micrometers in size were collected by a quartz crystal microbalance cascade impactor from the El Chichon eruption cloud in the lower stratosphere during April and May 1982. These particles are probably derived from the erupted chloride-rich, alkalic magma. Enrichments of hydrogen chloride and increases in optical depolarization in the eruption cloud observed by lidar measurements may reflect the influence of the halite particles. There is evidence that the halite particles reacted with sulfuric acid after about 1 month, releasing gaseous hydrogen chloride, which can influence the catalytic destruction of ozone in the stratosphere.
Regional brain metabolite levels following mild experimental head injury in the cat

✓ Glucose, adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine, and lactate levels in the cortex, striatum, diencephalon, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brain stem were measured in cats 1 hour after they were subjected to low-level (2 atm) fluid-percussion injury. Following injury, there was a mild but significant increase in lactate levels in the majority of regions studied. The hippocampus exhibited the highest percentage increase in lactate (fourfold). The cortical area directly under the trauma device showed a threefold lactate increase, while there was a twofold increase in other brain regions studied. Although there were consistent decreases in phosphocreatine levels, these decreases were significant only in the hippocampus (p < 0.05). Glucose levels in all brain regions studied were no different from control levels at the time of study. The unchanged glucose levels, together with previous studies of identically injured cats showing that cerebral blood flow was unimpaired, suggest that excess lactate was not a co...
Rapid in Vitro Assembly Dynamics and Subunit Turnover of FtsZ Demonstrated by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer

Abstract We have developed an assay for the assembly of FtsZ based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). We mutated an innocuous surface residue to cysteine and labeled separate pools with fluorescein (donor) and tetramethylrhodamine (acceptor). When the pools were mixed and GTP was added, assembly produced a FRET signal that was linearly proportional to FtsZ concentration from 0.7 μm (the critical concentration (Cc)) to 3 μm. At concentrations greater than 3 μm, an enhanced FRET signal was observed with both GTP and GDP, indicating additional assembly above this second Cc. This second Cc varied with Mg2+ concentration, whereas the 0.7 μm Cc did not. We used the FRET assay to measure the kinetics of initial assembly by stopped flow. The data were fit by the simple kinetic model used previously: monomer activation, a weak dimer nucleus, and elongation, although with some differences in kinetic parameters from the L68W mutant. We then studied the rate of turnover at steady state by pre-assembling separate pools of donor and acceptor protofilaments. When the pools were mixed, a FRET signal developed with a half-time of 7 s, demonstrating a rapid and continuous disassembly and reassembly of protofilaments at steady state. This is comparable with the 9-s half-time for FtsZ turnover in vivo and the 8-s turnover time of GTP hydrolysis in vitro. Finally, we found that an excess of GDP caused disassembly of protofilaments with a half-time of 5 s. Our new data suggest that GDP does not exchange into intact protofilaments. Rather, our interpretation is that subunits are released following GTP hydrolysis, and then they exchange GDP for GTP and reassemble into new protofilaments, all on a time scale of 7 s. The mechanism may be related to the dynamic instability of microtubules.
On the validity of the parabolic effective-mass approximation for the I-V calculation of silicon nanowire transistors

This paper examines the validity of the widely used parabolic effective-mass approximation for computing the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of silicon nanowire transistors (SNWTs). The energy dispersion relations for unrelaxed Si nanowires are first computed by using an sp/sup 3/d/sup 5/s/sup */ tight-binding (TB) model. A seminumerical ballistic field-effect transistor model is then adopted to evaluate the I-V characteristics of the (n-type) SNWTs based on both a TB dispersion relation and parabolic energy bands. In comparison with the TB approach, the parabolic effective-mass model with bulk effective-masses significantly overestimates SNWT threshold voltages when the wire width is <3 nm, and ON-currents when the wire width is <5 nm. By introducing two analytical equations with two tuning parameters, however, the effective-mass approximation can well reproduce the TB I-V results even at a /spl sim/1.36-nm wire width.
A Physiological Role for Saccharomyces cerevisiae Copper/Zinc Superoxide Dismutase in Copper Buffering

The copper toxicity of yeast lacking the CUP1 metallothionein is suppressed by overexpression of the CRS4 gene. We now demonstrate that CRS4 is equivalent to SOD1, encoding copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD). While overexpression of SOD1 enhanced copper resistance, a deletion of SOD1, but not SOD2 (encoding manganese SOD), conferred an increased sensitivity toward copper. This role of SOD1 in copper buffering appears unrelated to its superoxide scavenging activity, since the enzyme protected against copper toxicity in anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions. The distinct roles of SOD1 in copper and oxygen radical homeostasis could also be separated genetically: the pmr1, bsd2, and ATX1 genes that suppress oxygen toxicity in sod1 mutants failed to suppress the copper sensitivity of these cells. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SOD1 gene is transcriptionally induced by copper and the ACE1 trans-activator, and we demonstrate here that this induction of SOD1 promotes protection against copper toxicity but is not needed for the SOD1-protection against oxygen free radicals. Collectively, these findings indicate that copper/zinc SOD functions in the homeostasis of copper via mechanisms distinct from superoxide scavenging.
The Core Membrane Fusion Complex Governs the Probability of Synaptic Vesicle Fusion But Not Transmitter Release Kinetics

Synaptic vesicle fusion is driven by the formation of a four-helical bundle composed of soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptors (SNAREs). Exactly how the structural interactions that lead to the formation of this complex relate to neurotransmitter release is not well understood. To address this question, we used a strategy to "rescue" synaptic transmission after proteolytic cleavage of the synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) by botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNtE). Transfection of CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells with BoNtE-resistant SNAP-25 restored synaptic transmission. Additional mutations that alter the interaction between SNAP-25 C-terminal coil and the other SNARE coils dramatically reduce transmitter release probability but leave the kinetics of synaptic responses unaltered. These data indicate that at synapses, SNARE interactions are necessary for fusion but are not the rate-limiting step of neurotransmission.
Temperature-based fluorescence measurements of pyrene in block copolymer micelles: Probing micelle core glass transition breadths

Glass transition temperature (Tg) breadths are reported for polystyrene (PS) micelle cores in two series of micelle-forming block copolymers [PS-poly(ethylene oxide) and PS-poly(methyl methacrylate)] with an ionic liquid solvent (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide). An increased level of fluorescent molecules was induced within the cores upon rapid cooling followed by aging. Using fluorescence to monitor dye release with relaxation of this state upon heating, transition onset and end-point temperatures were defined. The system with the lowest PS-block molecular weight showed no evidence of a transition above 25 °C; however, in every other case, transitions were observed beginning at ∼40-45 °C and ending at ∼60-85 °C. These temperatures closely match PS-block Tg results measured by differential scanning calorimetry in semidilute solutions of the same materials, suggesting that the transition temperature range correlates strongly to the transition of the cores from fully glassy to fully rubbery. Differences in transition end-points were related to PS-block molecular weights and relative copolymer fractions of PS. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
Stimulation of Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate Production by Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor and Its Inhibition by Somatostatin in Anterior Pituitary Cells in Vitro

The stimulation of GH secretion from the anterior pituitary by synthetic GRF (hpGRF) is associated with a rapid increase in cAMP production. Within 5 min of the addition of 1 nM hpGRF to cultured rat anterior pituitary cells, intracellular cAMP levels are elevated 6-fold, with a maximal response being observed at 30 min. cAMP accumulation in the extracellular medium is also enhanced by this peptide. Comparison of the two cellular responses (GH secretion and cAMP formation) at various concentrations of hpGRF indicates that 10 times more hpGRF is required to obtain half-maximal stimulation of cAMP production than for GH secretion. Somatostatin totally blocks hpGRF-stimulated GH release, but only partially attenuates cAMP production in the presence or absence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Verapamil also inhibits GH release in response to hpGRF, but, unlike somatostatin, this effect is not associated with an attenuation of cAMP production. In fact, intracellular cAMP levels are slightly augmented in the p...
Environmental Photochemistry in Surface Waters

Photochemistry in surface waters is an important environmental process, inextricably linked to global geochemical cycles, climate, and biological activity. A wide variety of chromophores reside in natural waters and exhibit significant spectral overlap with the available incident solar flux. Potential chromophores can include dissolved organic material, inorganic nitrate and nitrite ions, metal complexes, colloidal minerals, and various small molecules. Photoexcitation of these chromophores leads to the generation of a range of reactive radical and ionic intermediates that then subsequently react with biogenic and anthropogenic material present in the water system. Possible intermediates include superoxide, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals, redox active metal centers, and organic radical cations. In many surface waters, reactive intermediates are photoproduced with sufficient rates to influence, or even dictate, the lifetime and chemical fate of pollutants, the concentration and availability of critical nutrients and substrates for biogenic processes, and the residence time of carbon in the hydrosphere. The chromophoric starting material is itself degraded in the process, which can significantly influence the optical properties of the surface water as well as the photochemical activity. A brief description of the important species and processes that play a role in environmental photochemistry in surface waters is provided, along with some estimates of relative importance. Keywords: photochemistry; chromophores; surface waters; absorption; solar flux; DOM; NOx−; metals; Fe; superoxide; hydroxyl; peroxyl; singlet oxygen; H2O2
Modeling of wind direction signals in polarimetric sea surface brightness temperatures

There has been an increasing interest in the applications of polarimetric microwave radiometers for ocean wind remote sensing. Aircraft and spaceborne radiometers have found a few Kelvins wind direction signals in sea surface brightness temperatures, in addition to their sensitivities to wind speeds. However, it was not clear what physical scattering mechanisms produced the observed brightness dependence on wind direction. To this end, polarimetric microwave emissions from wind-generated sea surfaces are investigated with a polarimetric two-scale scattering model, which relates the directional wind-wave spectrum to passive microwave signatures of sea surfaces. Theoretical azimuthal modulations are found to agree well with experimental observations for all Stokes parameters from near nadir to 65/spl deg/ incidence angles. The upwind and downwind asymmetries of brightness temperatures were interpreted using the hydrodynamic modulation. The contributions of Bragg scattering by short waves, geometric optics scattering by long waves and sea foam are examined. The geometric optics scattering mechanism underestimates the directional signals in the first three Stokes parameters, and predicts no signals in the fourth Stokes parameter (V). In contrast, the Bragg scattering was found to dominate the wind direction signals from the two-scale model and correctly predicted the phase changes of the upwind and crosswind asymmetries in T/sub /spl upsi// and U from middle to high incidence angles. The phase changes predicted by the Bragg scattering theory for radiometric emission from water ripples is corroborated by the numerical Monte Carlo simulation of rough surface scattering. This theoretical interpretation indicates the potential use of polarimetric brightness temperatures for retrieving the directional wave spectrum of short gravity and capillary waves.
Review: non-pharmacological interventions induce or maintain weight loss in adults with prediabetes.

Norris SL, Zhang X, Avenell A, et al . Long-term non-pharmacological weight loss interventions for adults with prediabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;(2):CD005270. Q In adults with prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose), do dietary, physical activity, and behavioural interventions induce or maintain weight loss? ### ![Graphic][1] Data sources: Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, ERIC, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Biosis, and Nutrition Abstracts and Review (all up to May 2004); Cochrane Library (2004, issue 2) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials (2004, issue 2); 5 relevant journals; bibliographies of relevant articles; and experts in the field. ### ![Graphic][2] Study selection and assessment: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (published in any language) that included adults with prediabetes and compared dietary, physical activity, or behavioural strategies with a control condition of no intervention, usual care, the same intervention at a different … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif
Effects of Vegetation in Mitigating the Toxicity of Pesticide Mixtures in Sediments of a Wetland Mesocosm

This study assessed effects of a mixture of two pesticides, diazinon and permethrin, on 48-h sediment toxicity to Hyalella azteca in a constructed wetland mesocosm containing non-vegetated and vegetated sections. Sediment samples were collected at inflow, middle, and back points within each section 5, 24, 72 h, 7, 14, and 21 days post-amendment. Pesticides were detected in sediments throughout non-vegetated and vegetated wetland sections. H. azteca 48-h survival varied across sampling period, wetland location, and vegetation type with lowest survival occurring within the first 72 h of the inflow and middle locations of the non-vegetated section. Sediment toxicity was ameliorated by 14 and 7 days within the non-vegetated and vegetated sections, respectively. Relationships between pesticide concentrations and animal survival indicated toxicity was from both diazinon and cis-permethrin in the non-vegetated section and primarily cis-permethrin in the vegetated section. Results show that vegetation ameliorated pesticide mixture 48-h sediment toxicity to H. azteca earlier and to a greater extent than non-vegetated constructed wetlands. A 21-day retention time is necessary to improve 48-h H. azteca sediment survival to ≥90% in wetlands of this size.
Reducing the Number of Reading Skill Activities in the Elementary Classroom

A series of three studies was conducted, the first two at the intermediate grade level and the third at the primary grade level. The purpose of these studies was to investigate the effects of an experimental classroom reading program in which students who passed pretests on basal skills were excused from subsequent instruction and practice on these skills. Most students were able to pass pretests on reading skills before the skills were covered in the basal reader program. Without instruction their performance on end-of-book skill tests remained high. Results suggest that it may be possible to excuse many students in the elementary grades from many of the skill activities in the basal reader program and that students' attention could be directed, instead, to other reading activities. Three studies were conducted to investigate elementary students' performance on basal skills. The purpose of these studies was to determine how well primary and intermediate grade students performed on skill pretests and to examine the effects of skipping "mastered" skill work on students' end-of-section or end-of-book skill test scores. Elementary students typically spend a considerable amount of the reading period on basal reader skill activities (L. Anderson, 1984; R. Anderson, Hiebert, Scott, & Wilkinson, 1985; Durkin, 1979; Fisher, Filby, Marliave, Cahen, Dishaw, Moore, & Berliner, 1978; Mason & Osbom, 1982; Thurlow, Graden, Ysseldyke, & Algozzine, 1984). Observational studies have found that elementary students spend from 30 to 70% of reading class time on seatwork activities, many of which involve completing skill sheets or workbook pages related to the skills component of a basal reader program (L. Anderson, 1984; Durkin, 1979; Fisher et al., 1978; Thurlow et al., 1984). Students spend a lot of time on skill activities for a number of reasons. One
Electromyographic Activity of Selected Leg Musculature in Subjects with Normal and Chronically Sprained Ankles Performing on a BAPS® Board

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnitude and temporal features of tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and gastrocnemius muscle activity during exercises performed on a Biomechanical Ankle Platform System (BAPS®) board by subjects with normal and chronically sprained ankles. Fourteen participants in each of the two groups rotated the platform in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions at self-selected velocities. Trials were completed with both medium- and large-sized hemispheres under the platform while electromyographic surface recordings were made from the three muscles of interest. Electromyographic values, normalized within individuals as a percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), ranged from 20% to 80% of MVIC. An analysis of variance for the average myoelectric signals from all three muscles revealed no differences between the two groups. Effects of direction and hemisphere size were shown for all muscles. The large hemisphere produced significantly greater average activity and a more pronounced effect on the tibialis anterior muscle. The data provide information on the level of muscle activity required for conditions used in this study and may assist the physical therapist with making judgments about the use of this device in rehabilitation programs.
Circadian rhythm of Period1 clock gene expression in NOS amacrine cells of the mouse retina.

The vertebrate retina contains self-sustained circadian clocks that broadly influence retinal physiology. In the present study, we have examined the relationship of nitric oxide, GABAergic and glycinergic inner retinal neurons with expression of a reporter for the circadian clock gene Period1 (Per1). Using Per1∷GFP transgenic mice, we found that 72% of brain nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) expressing amacrine cells (NOS amacrine cells) sampled during the daytime were also immunoreactive for Per1-driven GFP. The number of bright GFP+ NOS+ cells was greater at Zeitgeber time (ZT) 10 than at 22, and this pattern persisted in retinas from animals which were placed in constant darkness [Circadian time (CT) 10 vs. 22]. Intensities of GFP-IR for individual NOS amacrine cells were analyzed at ZT4, 10, 16 and 22, with the peak value occurring at ZT10. Similar results were obtained from retinas sampled at CT4, 10, 16 and 22 in constant darkness, indicating that an endogenous circadian clock drives the transcription of the Per1 clock gene within NOS amacrine cells. The predominance of Per1∷GFP+ amacrine cells (82%), was immunoreactive to glutamate decarboxylase 65, but no Per1∷GFP+ amacrine cells colabeled with a glycine transporter 1 antibody. The results demonstrate circadian rhythms in Per1 promoter activation in nitric oxide (NO) and GABA secreting amacrine cells, and suggest that NO and GABA could be controlled by circadian clock mechanisms in the mammalian retina.
Green Industry Survey of Native Plant Marketing in the Southeastern United States

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. market, landscape projects, education, nursery production SUMMARY. Recent studies have shown that the use of native plants by landscape architects and contractors in the southeastern United States has increased as has the clientele interest level in native plants. Recommendations to increase the use of native species by the landscape industry in this region include increasing the number of nurseries carrying native plants and the quantities and species currently available. To understand how green industry professionals view the opportunities and constraints of the current southeastern United States native plant market and to synthesize the connections between landscape architect’s demands and the supplies of the nursery industry in this region, a questionnaire was developed and e-mailed to southeastern U.S. wholesale and retail nurseries in six states. The survey included questions regarding nursery stock, demand, and species sold. A total of 129 responses were received, and they revealed that while there is a perceived increase in customer interest in native plants, market demand and enhanced public education play a key role in further development of this growing market.
Recent Developments in the Homogeneous Catalysis of the Water-Gas Shift Reaction

The major portion of the world’s hydrogen supply is derived from steam cracking of hydrocarbons, particularly methane and naphtha, which produces water-gas: $$ {C_x} + {H_2}O\xrightarrow{{catalyst}}CO + {H_2} + C{O_2} $$ (1) Stripping the water-gas mixture of CO2 and any residual water gives syngas (CO/H2). If a particular industrial process using syngas requires that the ratio of CO to H2 in the syngas coming from (1) be adjusted in favor of H2 or if only pure H2 is required, as it would be in ammonia synthesis, then it is possible to catalytically convert the reducing equivalents of CO to H2 via the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR): $$ {H_2}O + CO\xrightarrow{{catalyst}}{H_2} + C{O_2} $$ (2) $$ \Delta G = - 6.82kcal/mol,\Delta H = - 9.84,\Delta S = - 10.1eufor{H_2}O\left( g \right)at{298^o}C $$ $$ \Delta G = - 4.76kcal/mol,\Delta H = 0.68,\Delta S = + 18.3eufor{H_2}O\left( \ell \right)at{298^o}G $$ In effect, the WGSR is another major source of the world’s hydrogen.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Defending Social Rights Through Case-Based Petitions

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (‘Commission’) is the ‘engine’ of the inter-American human rights system. It is the first responder and, in most cases, final arbiter of the thousands of human rights complaints brought to the system's attention each year. Created in 1959, the Commission is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (‘OAS’), mandated ‘to promote the observance and defense of human rights’ in all OAS Member States. It has been headquartered in Washington, D.C., since 1960, where it meets in ordinary and special sessions several times a year. A ‘principal organ’ of the OAS since 1970, the Commission has both contentious and promotional functions, which, in contrast to the more limited jurisdiction of its sister organ, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (see following Chapter in this volume), it is competent to exercise over all thirty-five OAS Member States. The Commission is composed of seven members of ‘high moral character and recognised competence in the field of human rights’, who serve in a personal capacity, on a part-time basis, for terms of four years and who may be re-elected once. They are supported by a full-time Secretariat, responsible for the receipt and processing of all petitions, correspondence and communications, as well as the preparation of draft reports, resolutions, studies and any other work entrusted to it by the Commission. The Commission's extensive case-based jurisprudence, as developed under its rule-bound contentious jurisdiction, is the subject of this chapter.
EPR : radioprotection et environnement

Cet article aborde successivement les progres effectues en matiere d'environnement, et en matiere de radioprotection. Sur le premier point, dont le champ est large, elle se limite aux rejets et dechets radioactifs.
Time and Frequency Domain Evaluation of Settling Time in Repetitive Control

Repetitive control is a method that can cancel the vibrational disturbances to fine pointing equipment from slight imbalance in internal moving parts in spacecraft, such as momentum wheels, reaction wheels, or control moment gyros. The speed of convergence or the settling time of a repetitive control system can be of general interest in applications, and it is of particular interest when the disturbance period can change or drift with time. The standard classical digital control method of determining settling time is based on the decay rate for the roots of the characteristic equation. A much more convenient and tractable approach used in repetitive control, employs an approximate frequency response condition which at least for slow learning is an estimate of learning rate. This paper compares this heavily used condition with the rigorous classical control approach to see under what conditions the convenient and tractable condition gives correct information. It is established that in spite of the assumptions of slow learning in developing the condition, it is a reasonably good indicator of learning rate under much more general conditions.
Hypertensive Renal Injury Is Associated With Gene Variation Affecting Immune Signaling

Background— The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) strain exists in lines that contrast strongly in susceptibility to renal injury in hypertension. These inbred lines share common ancestry, and only 13% of their genomes arise from different ancestors. Methods and Results— We used next gen sequencing to detect natural allelic variation in 5 genes of the immunoreceptor signaling pathway (IgH, Dok3, Src, Syk, and JunD) that arise from different ancestors in the injury-prone SHR-A3 and the resistant SHR-B2 lines. We created an intercross between these lines, and in the F2 progeny, we observed that the inheritance of haplotype blocks containing the SHR-A3 alleles of these 5 genes correlated with increased albuminuria and histological measures of renal injury. To test whether accumulated genetic variation in this pathway may create a therapeutic target in hypertensive renal injury, rats of both lines were treated with the immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). MMF reduced proteinuria (albumin to creatinine ratio) from 6.6 to 1.2 mg/mg ( P <0.001) in SHR-A3. Glomerular injury scores were reduced in MMF-treated SHR-A3 from 1.6 to 1.4 ( P <0.002). Tubulo-interstitial injury was reduced in MMF-treated SHR-A3 from 2.62 to 2.0 ( P =0.001). MMF treatment also reduced renal fibrosis in SHR-A3 (3.9 versus 2.0; P <0.001). Conclusions— Polygenic susceptibility to renal injury in hypertension arises in association with genetic variation in genes that participate in immune responses and is dramatically improved by reduction of immune system activity.
Reduction of flow rate and arterial pressure at moderate hypothermia does not result in cerebral dysfunction

Cerebral function was assessed in 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in whom a reduction in both flow rate (
Research on the intelligent vehicle access management system based on embedded programme

In order to build an integrated intelligent vehicle access management system, this study have made good use of lowpower chips, vehicle management software, image recognition systems, custom operating systems, video capture cards and controllers, etc. This system has many functions, such as remote control, remote network upgrades, automatic recognition of vehicles, automatic matching of vehicles, multi-functional modular vehicle access control, alarms blacklist, voice reporting,etc. which enables it to intelligently manage the vehicles of the community. This has not only reduced the workload of community managerial staff, but also improved the management level of the community property management.
The determination of lutein in health food by HPLC

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of lutein in health foods.Methods: The samples were extracted by alcohol,eluted with methanol on an ODS C18 column by HPLC.Results: The detection limit of the method is 0.1 μg/g,the linear range is 0.3 μg/ml～6.2 μg/ml,and the RSD is 5.9%.The average recovery is 92%～105%.Conclusion: The method is simple,fast and reliable.It will provide a reliable analysis method for detecting the concentration of lutein in health foods,including liquid,tablet,powder,capsule and soft capsule samples.
An antisperm monoclonal antibody inhibits sperm fusion with zona-free hamster eggs but not homologous eggs *

The zona-free hamster egg penetration assay (HEPA) was evaluated as a test for identifying fertilization-blocking antibodies. A monoclonal antibody, AH-20, that binds to the surface of guinea pig sperm was used to test antibody inhibition of sperm-egg fusion. AH-20 strongly inhibited guinea pig sperm fusion with zona-free hamster eggs but had no effect on guinea pig sperm fusion with zona-free guinea pig eggs. No inhibition by AH-20 was found in the homologous fusion assay over a wide range of sperm concentration, fertilization rate, and fertilization index. The results suggest that although guinea pig sperm can fuse with both hamster and guinea pig eggs, some aspect of the fusion mechanism is different in the two cases. The findings also indicate that HEPA, which is frequently used to assess the fertility potential of human sperm, can identify as blockers of sperm-egg fusion antibodies that have no effect on homologous sperm-egg fusion.
An E-commerce Example

This chapter describes methods to use JDBC in Internet applications, specifically e-commerce. It discusses applets, then moves on to the more realistic multitiered environment. Applets are small Java programs that are executed in a browser. However, there are problems with using JDBC in an applet environment. One category of these problems deals with security, and another deals with technical issues. Next, the chapter discusses Multitiered Architecture Example. One of the advantages of a multitiered system is that it solves problems at three different levels. It can handle data presentation with an applet, business logic with a servlet, and database access with PL/SQL. The only important issue is how to communicate between the components. Communication between the servlet and the database is the same as the use of CallableStatements. The applet sends information to the servlet using the HTTP protocol. Essentially, it constructs the URL of the servlet, including parameters. This invokes the doGetO method in the servlet. The servlet sends information back to the applet via a binary socket connection. This allows the servlet to send serialized objects to the applet, which greatly increases the sophistication of the reply. In order to simplify the applet code, a class called Communication exists to handle the basic issues.
The Aging Brain: Not for Sissies

Like stress, aging gets richly deserved bad press. Mother Nature forces us into a game where she makes up the rules as we progress toward various reversals of mental and physical fortune, and then, occasionally even before our “best-by” date, we reach our expiration. Indeed, growing old is not for sissies. Younger readers will please note that because some age-related mental slowing begins shortly after the brain’s prefrontal lobes become fully developed, smugness about brain aging is not appropriate for those approaching (or passing) 40.
A 4000-species dataset provides new insight into the evolution of ferns

Ferns are the second-most diverse lineage of vascular plants on Earth, yet the best-sampled time-calibrated phylogeny of the group to date includes fewer than 5% of global diversity and was published seven years ago. We present a time-calibrated phylogeny that includes nearly half of extant fern diversity. Our results are evaluated in the context of previous studies and the fossil record, and we develop new hypotheses about the radiation of leptosporangiate ferns. We used sequence data from six chloroplast regions for nearly 4000 species of ferns to generate the most comprehensive phylogeny of the group ever published. We calibrate the phylogeny with twenty-six fossils and use an array of phylogenetic methods to resolve phylogenetic relationships, estimate divergence times, and infer speciation, extinction, and net diversification rates. We infer a mid-late Silurian origin for ferns (including horsetails) and an early Carboniferous origin for leptosporangiate ferns. Most derived fern families appeared in the Cretaceous and persisted for millions of years before rapidly diversifying in the Cenozoic. We find no evidence of differential rates of diversification among terrestrial and epiphytic species. Our findings challenge previous hypotheses on the evolutionary history of ferns and present a new paradigm for their Cenozoic radiation. We estimate earlier divergences for most fern lineages than were reported in previous studies and provide evidence of extended persistence of major fern lineages prior to rapid diversification in the last fifty million years.
Better Understanding the Complex Academic, Mental Health and Health Needs of Children in the United States

Using socio-cultural theory and an ecological perspective, this study utilized a case study format to explore how families and teachers understand children with complex academic, mental health, and health needs in the United States. These case studies were developed based on home and school observations and semi-structured interviews with the parents and teachers of two children with complex needs attending a primary school in the United States. Data analysis revealed that parents and teachers may understand a child’s development differently because they become conscious of it at different times and construct meaning out of it in unique ways. For parents, the contexts and interactions surrounding their child’s evaluation process greatly influenced their emotional response to, and understanding of, their child’s development, primarily in terms of one developmental area. As a result, subtle yet important changes in other developmental areas went unnoticed or diminished in potential importance, making it difficult for parents to optimize potential outcomes through advocacy. For teachers, understandings of a child’s development were framed by an existing personal teaching philosophy. The stronger and more complimentary the understandings of a child’s development by both teachers and parents, the greater was the likelihood of developmental opportunities for the child. As the parent of a child with complex needs, this chapter also includes my own narrative as the lens through which I analyze the data.
Analysis of thermal history effects on mechanical anisotropy of 3D-printed polymer matrix composites via in situ X-ray tomography

The tensile behavior of an additively manufactured (AM) polymer matrix composite (PMC) is studied with in situ X-ray computed microtomography (CT) and digital volume correlation (DVC). In this experiment, the effects of recycled material content and print direction on the selective laser-sintered (SLS) material’s mechanical response are explored. The PMC samples are printed in a tensile specimen geometry with gage lengths parallel to all three orthogonal, primary sintering directions. In situ tensile-CT experiments are conducted at Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source 2-BM beamline. Analysis of the AM PMC’s tensile response, failure, and strain evolution is analyzed both from a conventional standpoint, using the load–displacement data recorded by the loading fixture, and from a microstructural standpoint by applying DVC analysis to the reconstructed volumes. Significant variations on both strength and ductility are observed from both vantages with respect to print direction and the recycled material content in the printed parts. It is found that the addition of recycled source material with a thermal history reduces the tensile strength of the SLS composite for all directions, but the effect is drastic on the strength in the layering direction.
4 Rotations for N-Dimensional Graphics

Publisher Summary This chapter analyzes rotations for N -dimensional graphics. A family of techniques has been described for dealing with the geometry of N -dimensional models in the context of graphics applications. In this chapter, that framework is used to examine rotations in N -dimensional Euclidean space in greater detail. In particular, a natural N -dimensional extension is created both for the 3D rolling ball technique and for its analogous virtual sphere method. The defining property of any N -dimensional rolling ball (or tangent space) rotation algorithm is that it takes a unit vector v 0 ˆ = (0, 0,…., 0, 1) pointing purely in the N th direction (toward the “north pole” of the ball) and tips it in the direction of an orthogonal unit vector n ˆ = ( n 1 , n 2 ,…, n N −1 , 0) lying in the ( N −l)-plane tangent to the ball at the north pole. The chapter also addresses practical methods for specifying and understanding the parameters of N -dimensional rotations, and presents explicit 4D extensions of the 3D quaternion orientation splines.
Pediatric sarcoidosis presenting as bilateral parotid swelling

Abstract Pediatric sarcoidosis is a rare granulomatous disorder that affects numerous organ systems. Manifestations in the head and neck are not uncommon, but typically present in conjunction with other systemic signs and symptoms. The differential diagnosis of neck and facial masses in children is vast with infectious and even neoplastic pathology far outpacing inflammatory conditions, such as sarcoidosis, in incidence. We present the unusual case of a 5-year-old male with histologically confirmed sarcoidosis presenting solely with bilateral parotid gland enlargement. We review the pertinent clinical features, necessary laboratory and radiological studies, and treatment options of this disease in children.