cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epistemic Vigilance in Early Ontogeny: Children's Use of Nonverbal Behavior to Detect Deception.

This study examines the development of children’s ability to modulate their trust in verbal testimony as a function of nonverbal behavior. Participants included 83 children (26 four-year-olds, 29 f...
Strategy-dependent effects of working-memory limitations on human perceptual decision-making

Deliberative decisions based on an accumulation of evidence over time depend on working memory, and working memory has limitations, but how these limitations affect deliberative decision-making is not understood. We used human psychophysics to assess the impact of working-memory limitations on the fidelity of a continuous decision variable. Participants decided the average location of multiple visual targets. This computed, continuous decision variable degraded with time and capacity in a manner that depended critically on the strategy used to form the decision variable. This dependence reflected whether the decision variable was computed either: 1) immediately upon observing the evidence, and thus stored as a single value in memory; or 2) at the time of the report, and thus stored as multiple values in memory. These results provide important constraints on how the brain computes and maintains temporally dynamic decision variables.
Mutagenesis in Mammalian Germs Cells by Radiation or Nitrogen Mustard—A Comparative Study

The dominant lethal mutant rate was determined in mouse embryos fertilized by spermatozoa that were derived from spermatogonia treated with nitrogen mustard, gamma radiation or accelerated neon ions. The doses chosen (2.0 mg/kg nitrogen mustard, 1.8 Gy 137Cs and 0.65 Gy neon) gave an isoeffect when the dominant lethal mutant rate was evaluated in embryos fertilized by spermatozoa that were treated in the sensitive spermatid stage.
Economic Status of the Aged

Publisher Summary Measures of satisfaction, consumption, and resources capture different aspects of the economic well being of an individual. Income remains the most frequently reported measure of economic status, primarily because it is most easily and therefore most frequently and uniformly gathered in national surveys. Income measures of well being, however, are increasingly expanded to include assets and in-kind benefits. This chapter presents the asset data of the United States showing gains in older American economic status over time, both comparing across age groups and over time for individual cohorts. Assets are highly skewed toward higher income households, and their inclusion does not much alter conclusions about the relative poverty risk. In part it appears that the income in assets is due to both older and younger populations taking advantage of opportunities for asset growth through equity investments. Assets ownership and value have grown among the young and old, though at a slower pace at older ages. Although this is consistent with lifecycle asset accumulation/decumulation patterns and with advice to reduce holdings of risky assets at older ages, the slower growth among older cohorts may also be due to the fact that tax deferred retirement accounts were introduced fairly late in their working lives.
Gene expression analysis of microdissected human prostate cancer

1649 At present, there are few if any molecular markers that can distinguish between moderate-grade and aggressive (high-grade) tumors, and androgen dependent (AD) and androgen independent (AI) tumors. Using microarray analysis of frozen laser capture microdissected (LCM) prostate tissue specimens, we previously identified genes whose expression profiles segregated moderate- and high-grade AD tumors from each other and AI tumors from AD tumors. To complete the validation process, we are developing and utilizing both standard and novel techniques, relying primarily on qRT-PCR, but also employing DIfferential Gene locus MAPping (DIGMAP) comparison, expression microdissection (xMD), and indirect Layered Peptide Arrays (iLPA). Measurement and analysis of 13 high- and moderate-grade human prostate tumors showed an expression profile of 136 genes that differed significantly (p
In-situ tensile testing of nano-scale specimens in SEM and TEM

We present a new experimental method for the mechanical characterization of freestanding thin films with thickness on the order of nanometers to micrometers. The method allows, for the first time, in-situ SEM and TEM observation of materials response under uniaxial tension, with measurements of both stresses and strains under a wide variety of environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. The materials that can be tested include metals, dielectrics, and multi-layer composites that can be deposited/grown on a silicon substrate. The method involves lithography and bulk micromachining techniques to pattern the specimen of desired geometry, release the specimen from the substrate, and co-fabricate a force sensor with the specimen. Co-fabrication provides perfect alignment and gripping. The tensile testing fits an existing TEM straining stage, and a SEM stage. We demonstrate the proposed methodology by fabricating a 200 nm thick, 23.5 μm wide, and 185 μm long freestanding sputter deposited aluminum specimen. The testing was done in-situ inside an environmental SEM chamber. The stress-strain diagram of the specimen shows a linear elastic regime up to the yield stress σy MPa, with an elastic modulusE=74.6 GPa.
Plaintiphobia in the Appellate Courts: Civil Rights Really Do Differ from Negotiable Instruments

Using a database that combines all federal civil trials and appeals decided since 1988, we find that defendants succeed more than plaintiffs on appeal from civil trials. Defendants appealing their losses after trial obtain reversals at a 33% rate, while losing plaintiffs succeed in only 12% of their appeals from trials. Both descriptive analyses of the results and more formal regression models dispel explanations based solely on selection of cases and instead support an explanation based on appellate judges' attitudes toward trial-level adjudicators. The large difference between appellate court and trial court probably stems from the appellate judges' misperceptions about the trial-level treatment of plaintiffs. The appellate court consequently is more favorably disposed to the defendant than are the trial judge and the jury.
When are Two Rewrite Systems More than None

It is important for programs to have modular correctness properties. We look at non-deterministic programs expressed as term-rewriting systems (which compute normal forms of input terms) and consider the case where individual systems share constructors, but not defined symbols. We present some old and new sufficient conditions under which termination (existence of normal forms, regardless of computation strategy) and confluence (uniqueness) are preserved by such combinations.
On the average power of multiple subcarrier intensity modulated optical signals: Nehari's problem and coding bounds

Multiple subcarrier modulation (MSM) is an attractive technique for optical wireless communication for high speed applications. The main disadvantage of this scheme is its low average power efficiency which is in an analogous problem to the high peak to mean envelope power ratio (PMEPR) of multicarrier signals. In this paper, we consider the achievable average power reduction of MSM signals by using optimized reserved carriers and coding methods. Based on Nehari's result we present a lower bound for maximum average power of the signal after adding the reserved carriers. It is shown that the mean value of the average required power behaves very close to /spl radic/(2n log log n) for a BPSK constellation where n is the number of subcarriers. We then consider finding the optimum values for the carriers and the effect of having finite bandwidth for reserved carriers. In the next section, mainly based on recent coding results for PMEPR of multicarrier signals, we show the existence of very high rate codes with average power of O(/spl radic/(n log n)) for large values of n, and furthermore the existence of codes with non-vanishing to zero rate and the average power of O(/spl radic/n) asymptotically.
'Neighbors Beware': The Constitutionality of State Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Laws

All states now have sex offender registration laws, and all states have some form of community notification regarding, or public access to registrant information. This article evaluates two major constitutional challenges that are frequently raised in litigation involving these laws: (1) that they violate constitutional double jeopardy and ex post facto prohibitions; and (2) that they violate due process and equal protection principles. The article concludes that such challenges generally should fail and these laws should be considered presumptively constitutional. The article argues that sex offender registration and notification laws are not intended to be punitive measures, do not have historical counterparts that would have been considered “punitive”, and serve important if not compelling non-punitive public safety interests.
A study towards optimal data layout for GPU computing

The performance of Graphic Processing Units (GPU) is sensitive to irregular memory references. A recent study shows the promise of eliminating irregular references through runtime thread-data remapping. However, how to efficiently determine the optimal mapping is yet an open question. This paper presents some initial exploration to the question, especially in the dimension of data layout optimization. It describes three algorithms to compute or approximate optimal data layouts for GPU. These algorithms exhibit a spectrum of tradeoff among the space cost, time cost, and quality of the resulting data layouts.
CHONDROCYTE AUTOPHAGY IS STIMULATED BY HIF-1 DEPENDENT AMPK ACTIVATION AND mTOR SUPPRESSION

The goal of the study is to examine the relationship between the sensor molecules, Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1), AMP activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) in chondrocyte survival and autophagy. We showed that chondrocytes expressed the energy sensor AMPK-1 and that activation increased with maturation. In addition, we showed that thapsigargin treatment activated AMPK and autophagy in a HIF-1-dependent manner. Using serum-starved AMPK-silenced cells, we demonstrated that AMPK was required for the induction of the autophagic response. We also noted a change in chondrocyte sensitivity to apoptogens, due to activation of caspase-8 and cleavage and activation of the pro-apoptotic protein, BID. To test the hypothesis that AMPK signaling directly promoted autophagy, we inhibited AMPK activity in mTOR silenced cells and showed that while mTOR suppression induced autophagy, AMPK inhibition did not block this activity. Based on these findings, it is concluded that because of the micro-environmental changes experienced by the chondrocyte, autophagy is activated by AMPK in a HIF-1-dependent manner.
Stratospheric Properties and Bali Dust

NEWELL has drawn attention to an anomalous increase of about 5° C in the stratospheric temperatures in tropical and mid-latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere since 1963. He suggested a causal relationship between this increase and the eruption of Mount Agung in March 1963, which injected large quantities of volcanic material into the stratosphere2. I wish to draw attention to several publications which have shown that at the same time a breakdown occurred in the quasi-biennial oscillation. This should be considered before Newell's conclusion can be accepted.
Virtual Reality as Source of Advertising

ABSTRACT Blogs, video games and other interactivity advantages are vastly expanding the impact of the internet. With the added potential to reach target-specific populations, the web is emerging as an all-purpose medium. Most significant, the internet is fast becoming the preferred roadmap to e-commerce and consumer-to-consumer communication. Agencies are making some modest gains in web advertising (WA); however, in the use of web as retail outlet and source of virtual reality (VR) experience, they are far behind the competition. They also seem uncertain what role they should play. This article examines the impact of internet innovation on the advertising industry, and in particular, the advantages of virtual-reality-based sites as a source of advertising. Further, it explores how the current technological proficiency gap between ad agencies and the new breed of competition may be minimized, offering some strategies.
Choosing a “Standard” Variety of Spanish for the Instruction of Native Spanish Speakers in the U.S.

Many Spanish for Native Speakers (SNS) instructional approaches are based on the idea that there exist invariable spoken and written “standards” of the language that are preferable over other varieties and that will benefit students when acquired. However, such invariable varieties of any language do not exist, and thus a decision must be made as to which dialect and written variety will be used in SNS instruction. This decision is political in nature, and one that cannot be avoided. Basing this decision on sociolinguistic research, the author proposes a spoken and written variety of Spanish to be employed in the instruction of native Spanish speakers in the United States. The concept of “standard” is reviewed, and arguments are offered to support the decision as to which varieties of Spanish are most appropriate for SNS instruction.
Financial repression and the relative price of non-traded goods

Abstract The financial structure of LDCs affects differences in relative prices among nations. We show empirically that financial repression depresses the relative price of non-traded goods.
Effects of altered light and feeding regimes on the zooplankton feeding capability of Hydra viridis

The effects of light regime, feeding regime and tentacle number on the zooplankton feeding capability of Hydra viridis were tested in the laboratory. Feeding was measured by exposing Hydra to a known volume of Artemia salina nauplii and recording the number captured and ingested. In all cases there was a correlation between the number of Artemia captured and the number ingested. H. viridis with 7 tentacles captured and ingested more Artemia than Hydra with 6 tentacles. However, changes in light and/or feeding regimes did not alter the number of tentacles/Hydra. Varying light and feeding regimes altered the number of Zoochlorellae/cell and Hydra growth rate. There was no effect on the number of Artemia captured or ingested and no effect on the percent ingestion of captured Artemia. These data suggest that, under these conditions, zooplankton feeding by H. viridis is independent of nutritional history.
Computerized simulation in the policy course

Is there a difference between policy courses that use a computer simulated management game (HAVSIM) and those that do not use such a tool (NOSIM)? Survey results reported here suggest that there are factors that differentiate the two groups. The factors reviewed included demographic information, information regarding availability of computing resources, and information regarding reasons for use or nonuse of a computer simulation. On the265 responses received results of stepwise discriminant analysis suggested that there was no conclusive difference between the HAVSIM and NOSIM groups but that there was a difference between those who have never used a simulation and those who have stopped using a simulation.
Site-selective sulfurization of bromide-capped palladium nanocubes by polysulfide and the underlying mechanism

This article describes site-selective sulfurization of Pd nanocubes capped by a monolayer of chemisorbed Br? ions. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM observations showed that PdS was not formed until a certain quantity of polysulfide () ions had been introduced (300??l, or 18.8?ppm in the final reaction solution). Spot energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses confirmed that the surface-chemisorbed Br? ions were completely substituted by ions before the initiation of the sulfurization reaction. In the presence of sufficient ions (>300??l or >18.8?ppm), PdS phase was selectively developed from the highly active corners, which then moved to the edges and finally towards the center until the entire nanocube was converted into PdS. The resultant PdS was found to be amorphous by electron microscopy and powder x-ray diffraction measurements. The amorphous structure of PdS facilitated the penetration and diffusion of species and thus acceleration of the reaction kinetics. As a result, the sulfurization of 13?nm Pd nanocubes was completed within a few minutes after the addition of adequate Na2Sx, leading to a much more severe poisoning effect, compared with other noble metals such as Ag, by sulfur.
Communication Circuits on 500-kV Lines

The characteristics of 500-kV transmission lines from a communication viewpoint are discussed based on tests and observations of the Tennessee Valley Authority's first 500-kV line to be placed in service. Dead-line carrier frequency tests included attenuation on the insulated shield wires and phase-coupled power-line carrier arrangements. Modal component attenuation, relative velocity of propagation, and other characteristics of natural mode behavior are covered. Experiences to date on operation of power-line carrier terminals and audio equipment are given, along with a brief resume of RI measurements.
Cobalt iontophoresis techniques for tracing afferent and efferent connections in the vertebrate CNS.

Abstract In recent years several dye and cobalt iontophoresis techniques have been successfully used by invertebrate neurophysiologists for the localization of neuron somata and their processes. The cobalt iontophoresis technique has now been extended for use in the tracing of nerve fiber pathways and the localization of neuron somata in vertebrates. The brain and spinal cord of an animal are removed following perfusion with saline, and placed in a dish of cold saline. A suction electrode, filled with 300 m M cobalt chloride, is then placed over the cut end of the nerve trunk. Cobalt ions are then iontophoresed (by means of a voltage divider) within the nerve fibers, along their course. Following iontophoresis, the brain is bathed in an ammonium sulfide solution to precipitate the cobalt as black cobalt sulfide. The brain is then processed for histological procedures. A wide variety of vertebrates has been used, including amphibians, reptiles, aves and mammals, with uniform success. The cobalt iontophoresis technique presently is use has a wide range of applicability for neuroanatomical studies.
Mechanical, hygroscopic, and thermal properties of metal particle and metal evaporated tapes and their individual layers

Mechanical and thermal properties of magnetic tapes and their individual layers strongly affect the tribology of magnetic head–tape interface and reliability of tape drives. Dynamic mechanical analysis, longitudinal creep, lateral creep, Poisson's ratio, the coefficient of hygroscopic expansion (CHE), and the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) tests were performed on magnetic tapes, tapes with front coat or back coat removed, substrates (with front and back coats removed), and never-coated virgin films of the substrates. Storage modulus and loss tangent values were obtained at a frequency range from 0.016 to 28 Hz, and at a temperature range from −50 to 150 or 210°C. Longitudinal creep tests were performed at 25°C/50% RH, 40°C/25% RH, and 55°C/10% RH for 50 h. The Poisson's ratio and lateral creep were measured at 25°C/50% RH. CHE was measured at 25°C/15–80% RH. CTE values of various samples were measured at a temperature range from 30 to 70°C. The tapes used in this research included two magnetic particle (MP) tapes and two metal evaporated (ME) tapes that were based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene naphthalate) substrates. The master curves of storage modulus and creep compliance for these samples were generated for a frequency range from 10−20 to 1015 Hz. The effect of tape manufacturing process on the various mechanical properties of substrates was analyzed by comparing the data for the substrates (with front and back coats removed) and the never-coated virgin films. A model based on the rule of mixtures was developed to determine the storage modulus, complex modulus, creep compliance, and CTE for the front coat and back coat of MP and ME tapes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1319–1345, 2004
Identifying the unmet needs of breast cancer patients post-primary treatment: the Cancer Survivor Profile (CSPro)

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a brief measure of problem areas experienced by patients following primary treatment for breast cancer.
Contributions of primary particles to observed LET for the CRaTER instrument on LRO

The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRATER) is an instrument on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft in orbit around the Moon. CRaTER directly measures the energy depositions by space radiation in each of its six silicon wafer detectors as ionizing particles travel through them. These energy depositions are converted to linear energy transfer (LET). High LET particles are of particular importance because of their potential to cause significant biological damage to human tissue as well as a variety of damage effects in electronic components. These high LET particles are mainly high energy heavy ions found in the incident galactic cosmic ray spectrum or secondary fragments and recoils produced by protons and heavier ions. In this work the Monte Carlo transport code HETC-HEDS (High Energy Transport Code – Human Exploration and Development in Space) is used to estimate LET contributions from the incident primary ions as they pass through all 6 detectors in the CRaTER instrument.
SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: THE PIDGINIZATION HYPOTHESIS

This paper is a case study of the untutored acquisition of English by a 33 year old Costa Rican named Alberto. His language learning was examined longitudinally for a ten month period. During that time he evidenced very little linguistic growth. Three causes for Alberto's lack of development are considered: ability, age, and social and psychological distance. Performance on a test of adaptive intelligence indicated that lack of ability is not adequate to explain his acquisition pattern. Also, due to the inadequacy of the arguments for a biological critical period in language acquisition, age is also rejected as a cause. However, Alberto's English speech showed evidence of pidginization. Pidginization is seen as the result of the learner's social and psychological distance from speakers of the target language. Hence, it is argued that Alberto's lack of development in English is the result of his social and psychological distance from native speakers of English.
Loss tangent of motor oil at 10 GHz

The complex permittivity of liquids is measured with a microwave cavity. The measurements are conducted for the TE111, TE112, TM010, and TM011 modes in a circular cylindrical cavity. The loss tangent of the dirty oil (after 6000 mi) is found to be three times higher than the one of the clean oil. The relative dielectric constant is not noticeably effected. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 21: 15–18, 1999.
High concentrations of greenhouse gases and polar stratospheric clouds: A possible solution to high-latitude faunal migration at the latest Paleocene thermal maximum

High-latitude faunal migrations have been documented during a rapid warming event near the Paleocene-Eocene boundary (the latest Paleocene thermal maximum, LPTM). The migrations are difficult to explain from a climate perspective. Climate along these routes is at present too harsh to support the migrations, and no mechanism has yet proved adequate to explain the past high-latitude warmth required by such migrations. A large negative excursion in the δ13C record at the LPTM suggests that a large quantity of CH4 was released into the atmosphere at this time. High concentrations of atmospheric CH4 have been linked to the formation of polar stratospheric clouds. We used an atmospheric general circulation model to explore early Cenozoic climate response to the combined effects of high atmospheric CH4 levels and polar stratospheric clouds, a unique combination of forcing factors in paleoclimate modeling studies. Our interests are in understanding if the climate response to this forcing may explain the high-latitude faunal migrations. Model results indicate that high-latitude winter warming with high methane levels and polar stratospheric clouds is sufficient to facilitate the high-latitude migrations. Temperatures along high-latitude migration routes remained above freezing year-round and thus permitted exchanges of fauna between Asia, North America, and Europe. On the basis of our results, we suggest that other Paleogene migrations may be correlated with LPTM-like events with high concentrations of greenhouse gases and polar stratospheric clouds.
Recovery of metals from a variety of industrial wastes

Abstract Bureau of Mines research on the development of practical processes for recovering metals and other materials from various industrial wastes is described. The work had a dual purpose: pollution abatement and conservation of scarce, costly materials. Electrochemical machining sludges were filtered to recover the electrolyte and smelted to produce valuable nickel-base alloys. Salable alloys were also produced by smelting stainless steel mill wastes. Shredded paper was used to reduce the hexavalent chromium in chromium etching wastes, after which copper, zinc, and chromium oxide were recovered as separate products. Electric furnace steelmaking dusts were pelletized with a reducing agent and heated to reduce zinc oxide and volatilize 98 percent or more of the zinc as metal.
Microencapsulating Properties of Whey Proteins. 2. Combination of Whey Proteins with Carbohydrates

Abstract Anhydrous milk fat was effectively microencapsulated by spray drying in wall systems consisting of combinations of whey protein with with carbohydrates lacking surface-active properties. Whey proteins were effective emulsifiers in the presence of these carbohydrates and enabled microencapsulation even at a concentration of 5% (wt/wt), respectively. All combinations of whey proteins and carbohydrates gave microencapsulation yields higher than 96%. The carbohydrates limited the extractability of the core by a solvent. Microencapsulation efficiencies were up to 93% when whey proteins were partially replaced by carbohydrates. The microencapsulating properties of wall solutions of whey proteins and commercial encapsulating agents consisting of carbohydrates were superior to those of only the carbohydrates. In all cases, spherical capsules were obtained in which the milk fat was physically well isolated from the environment. Combinations of whey proteins and carbohydrates were effective and functional microencapsulating agents.
Land-Use History and Contemporary Management Inform an Ecological Reference Model for Longleaf Pine Woodland Understory Plant Communities

Ecological restoration is frequently guided by reference conditions describing a successfully restored ecosystem; however, the causes and magnitude of ecosystem degradation vary, making simple knowledge of reference conditions insufficient for prioritizing and guiding restoration. Ecological reference models provide further guidance by quantifying reference conditions, as well as conditions at degraded states that deviate from reference conditions. Many reference models remain qualitative, however, limiting their utility. We quantified and evaluated a reference model for southeastern U.S. longleaf pine woodland understory plant communities. We used regression trees to classify 232 longleaf pine woodland sites at three locations along the Atlantic coastal plain based on relationships between understory plant community composition, soils (which broadly structure these communities), and factors associated with understory degradation, including fire frequency, agricultural history, and tree basal area. To understand the spatial generality of this model, we classified all sites together and for each of three study locations separately. Both the regional and location-specific models produced quantifiable degradation gradients–i.e., progressive deviation from conditions at 38 reference sites, based on understory species composition, diversity and total cover, litter depth, and other attributes. Regionally, fire suppression was the most important degrading factor, followed by agricultural history, but at individual locations, agricultural history or tree basal area was most important. At one location, the influence of a degrading factor depended on soil attributes. We suggest that our regional model can help prioritize longleaf pine woodland restoration across our study region; however, due to substantial landscape-to-landscape variation, local management decisions should take into account additional factors (e.g., soil attributes). Our study demonstrates the utility of quantifying degraded states and provides a series of hypotheses for future experimental restoration work. More broadly, our work provides a framework for developing and evaluating reference models that incorporate multiple, interactive anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem degradation.
Family-based association test of the 5HTTLPR and aggressive behavior in a general population sample of children.

Background A promoter polymorphism in the serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR) has functional effects on an important physiologic process involved in serotonin (5HT) signaling. Despite the fact that variation in the 5HT system has long been implicated in the etiology of aggressive behaviors, only a few association-based studies with mixed results have been reported. Methods We conducted family-based tests of association in a sample of 366 families from which 1187 genotypes of the 5HTTLPR were generated using polymerase chain reaction. Ratings of aggressive behavior were obtained from parents and teachers longitudinally using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form (TRF), instruments widely used in behavioral and psychiatric genetics. Results Within-family tests suggest an association between the s-allele of the 5HTTLPR and higher aggressive behavior in middle childhood. The strongest association was at age 9 and for an aggregate measure of teacher-rated aggressive behavior. Conclusions This is the first report of an association analysis of the 5HTTLPR in a general population sample of school-age children. The results provide some support for the hypothesis that the functional effects of the 5HTTLPR s-allele are associated with higher levels of aggressive behavior in middle childhood.
Involvement of a Bacterial Microcompartment in the Metabolism of Fucose and Rhamnose by Clostridium phytofermentans

Background Clostridium phytofermentans, an anaerobic soil bacterium, can directly convert plant biomass into biofuels. The genome of C. phytofermentans contains three loci with genes encoding shell proteins of bacterial microcompartments (BMC), organelles composed entirely of proteins. Methodology and Principal Findings One of the BMC loci has homology to a BMC-encoding locus implicated in the conversion of fucose to propanol and propionate in a human gut commensal, Roseburia inulinivorans. We hypothesized that it had a similar role in C. phytofermentans. When C. phytofermentans was grown on fucose, the major products identified were ethanol, propanol and propionate. Transmission electron microscopy of fucose- and rhamnose-grown cultures revealed polyhedral structures, presumably BMCs. Microarray analysis indicated that during growth on fucose, operons coding for the BMC locus, fucose dissimilatory enzymes, and an ATP-binding cassette transporter became the dominant transcripts. These data are consistent with fucose fermentation producing a 1,2-propanediol intermediate that is further metabolized in the microcompartment encoded in the BMC locus. Growth on another deoxyhexose sugar, rhamnose, resulted in the expression of the same BMC locus and similar fermentation products. However, a different set of dissimilatory enzymes and transport system genes were induced. Quite surprisingly, growth on fucose or rhamnose also led to the expression of a diverse array of complex plant polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. Conclusions/Significance Based on physiological, genomic, and microarray analyses, we propose a model for the fermentation of fucose and rhamnose in C. phytofermentans that includes enzymes encoded in the same BMC locus. Comparative genomic analysis suggests that this BMC may be present in other clostridial species.
Perspective : how many women have osteoporosis ?

Osteoporosis is widely viewed as a major public health concern, but the exact magnitude of the problem is uncertain and likely to depend on how the condition is defined. Noninvasive bone mineral measurements can be used to define a state of heightened fracture risk (osteopenia), or the ultimate clinical manifestation of fracture can be assessed (established osteoporosis). If bone mineral measurements more than 2 standard deviations below the mean of young normal women represent osteopenia, then 45% of white women aged 50 years and over have the condition at one or more sites in the hip, spine, or forearm on the basis of population-based data from Rochester, Minnesota. A smaller proportion is affected at each specific skeletal site: 32% have bone mineral values this low in the lumbar spine, 29% in either of two regions in the proximal femur, and 26% in the midradius. Although this overall estimate is substantial, some other serious chronic diseases are almost as common. More importantly, low bone mass is associated with adverse health outcomes, especially fractures. The lifetime risk of any fracture of the hip, spine, or distal forearm is almost 40% in white women and 13% in white men from age 50 years onward. If the enormous costs associated with these fractures are to be reduced, increased attention must be given to the design and implementation of control programs directed at this major health problem.
Protecting Communities in Biomedical Research

Holloway's article on race, emergency medicine and clinical trials for the blood substitute PolyHeme® (Northfield Laboratories, Inc., Evanston, IL) calls attention to problematic applications of “c...
Creative Tensions in the Research and Development Climate

As Andrews and I examined the conditions under which scientists and engineers did effective work, we observed a number of apparent paradoxes. Achievement was high under conditions that seemed inconsistent, including on the one hand sources of stability or confidence (what I have called "security") and on the other hand sources of disruption or intellectual conflict (that is, "challenge"). It appears that, if both are present, the creative tension between them can promote technical achievement.
Perinatal kynurenine pathway metabolism in the normal and asphyctic rat brain

The kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation contains several metabolites which may influence brain physiology and pathophysiology. The brain content of one of these compounds, kynurenic acid (KYNA), decreases precipitously around the time of birth, possibly to avoid deleterious N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockade during the perinatal period. The present study was designed to determine the levels of KYNA, the free radical generator 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), and their common precursor L-kynurenine (L-KYN) between gestational day 16 and adulthood in rat brain and liver. The cerebral activities of the biosynthetic enzymes of KYNA and 3-HK, kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs) I and II and kynurenine 3-hydroxylase, respectively, were measured at the same ages. Additional studies were performed to assess whether and to what extent kynurenines in the immature brain derive from the mother, and to examine the short-term effects of birth asphyxia on brain KYNA and 3-HK levels. The results revealed that 1) the brain and liver content of L-KYN, KYNA and 3-HK is far higher pre-term than postnatally; 2) KAT I and kynurenine 3-hydroxylase activities are quite uniform between E-16 and adulthood, whereas KAT II activity rises sharply after postnatal day 14; 3) during the perinatal period, KYNA, but not L-KYN, may originate in part from the maternal circulation; and 4) oxygen deprivation at birth affects the brain content of both KYNA and 3-HK 1 h but not 24h later.
Fractional matroid matchings

Abstract This paper introduces a linear relaxation of the matroid matching problem, called the fractional matroid matching problem. When the matroid matching problem is in fact a matroid intersection problem, the fractional matroid matching polytope and the matroid matching polytope coincide. When the matroid matching problem is in fact a matching problem in a graph, the fractional matroid matching polytope and the classic fractional matching polytope of the graph coincide. Thus, the fractional matroid matching polytope may properly contain the matroid matching polytope. The fractional matroid matching polytope is a lattice polyhedron and, although its extreme points are not all integral, they are half-integral. This paper establishes strong relationships between extreme points of the fractional matroid matching polytope and those of graphic fractional matching polyhedra. Despite these strong relationships, adding the rank 1 inequalities does not define the matroid matching polytope. In fact, even the matching polytope of a graphic matroid is not generally described by adding these inequalities.
A simple procedure for producing oxygen-labelled inorganic phosphate from isotopically labelled water that optimizes yield based on the isotope

Phosphorus pentachloride can be treated with stoichiometric amounts of oxygen-labelled water to produce 80–90 percent yields of labelled inorganic phosphate when the reaction is conducted in dioxane. Any phosphorus-chlorine bonds remaining at the end of the reaction are eliminated by reaction with diethylamine prior to adding water.
The US‐Certified Yellow Fever Vaccination Center Registry: A Tool for Travelers, State Health Departments, and Vaccine Providers

ellow fever, a potentially fatal flavivirus, is endemic in over 40 countries of South Amer-ica and Africa, and approximately 120 countries require proof of vaccination for entry by travel-ers. According to the World Health Organiza-tion ’ s (WHO) International Health Regulations, yellow fever vaccines produced by different man-ufacturers worldwide must be approved by WHO and administered at a certified yellow fe-ver vaccination center. 1 In 1977, US state and territorial health departments were granted the authority to designate nonfederal vaccination centers and are responsible for tracking autho-rized centers and registering them with the Divi-sion of Global Migration and Quarantine at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Centers are authorized if a licensed med-ical provider at the facility has been issued an of-ficial uniform stamp number by the appropriate health authority. Although yellow fever vaccine has historically been considered to be one of the safest live-virus vaccines, reports have increased of serious adverse events, including several deaths, following vaccina-tion. While yellow fever vaccine continues to pro-vide essential protection to people traveling to or living in areas where yellow fever is endemic or epi-demic, new risk factors for rare but serious adverse events continue to be identiﬁ ed through enhanced surveillance.
Mutations in nucleolar proteins lead to nucleolar accumulation of polyA+ RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Synthesis of mRNA and rRNA occur in the chromatin-rich nucleoplasm and the nucleolus, respectively. Nevertheless, we here report that a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, MTR3, previously implicated in mRNA transport, codes for a novel essential 28-kDa nucleolar protein. Moreover, in mtr3-1 the accumulated polyA+ RNA actually colocalizes with nucleolar antigens, the nucleolus becomes somewhat disorganized, and rRNA synthesis and processing are inhibited. A strain with a ts conditional mutation in RNA polymerase I also shows nucleolar accumulation of polyA+ RNA, whereas strains with mutations in the nucleolar protein Nop1p do not. Thus, in several mutant backgrounds, when mRNA cannot be exported i concentrates in the nucleolus. mRNA may normally encounter nucleolar components before export and proteins such as Mtr3p may be critical for export of both mRNA and ribosomal subunits.
Prolonged Inrush Currents With Parallel Transformers Affect Differential Relaying

It has long been known that transient magnetizing inrush currents, sometimes reaching magnitudes as high as eight times full-load current, may flow in a transformer winding for a period following the moment when it is energized by connecting it to an electric power circuit.1 It has not been generally appreciated, however, that other transformers already connected to the power circuit near the transformer being switched may also have transient magnetizing currents of considerable magnitude at the same time, although they themselves are not switched but remain continuously connected to the power circuit, carrying load. It has not been appreciated, moreover, that with this arrangement the transient periods of the inrush currents may be very long, the currents dying away at a much slower rate than would the inrush current of the transformer being switched if the others were not connected. This paper discusses the cause of these phenomena and describes tests made to investigate their occurrence. The results of a mathematical analysis for the currents in the circuit under various conditions, supporting and extending the test results, are given in the appendix. The amount of resistance in the transmission line circuit connecting the parallel transformers with the generating source is shown both by tests and mathematics to be a determining factor; the magnitude of the inrush current in the already connected transformers increasing to values of over twice full load current as the line resistance increases. Magnetizing inrush currents tend to operate the transformer differential relays, causing the circuit breakers to trip and remove the transformer from service when no fault exists within it. Various means have been devised to prevent the operation of the relays on magnetizing inrush current. This paper discusses the effectiveness of these various means when subjected to the inrush currents occurring with parallel-connected transformers, with particular reference to the harmonic restraint relay described in a recent paper.2
Monitoring of glucose in biological fluids by fourier-transform infrared spectrometry with a cylindrical internal reflectance cell

Abstract The feasibility of using internal reflectance infrared spectrometry to monitor changing glucose concentrations in biological fluids is described. A FTIR spectrophotometer and a cylindrical internal reflectance cell are used to obtain spectra of glucose in normal saline solutions, blood serum, and cerebral spinal fluid. The slopes obtained for the standard additions of glucose to each of these solutions compare well and indicate that although the changes in absorbance are small, they are quantifiable. The working range was 0–8 mg ml−1, which brackets normal blood glucose concentrations.
Influence of auditory experience on the development of brain stem auditory-evoked potentials in mallard duck embryos and hatchlings

The development of brain stem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) was studied in devocalized ducklings reared in auditory isolation and in vocal ducklings exposed to enhanced species-specific auditory stimulation with embryonic contact-contentment calls (CTs). Thresholds and latency of BAEP wave P1 in the mute ducklings indicated that even short-term auditory deprivation affected the development of auditory sensitivity, substantially reducting the rate of decline in BAEP thresholds and latencies of P1, especially in the low-frequency (500 and 750 Hz) and high-frequency (above 2.0 kHz) ranges. The ducklings exposed to enhanced stimulation, on the other hand, showed an accelerated decline in BAEP thresholds and latencies of P1 across all test frequencies, with the most marked influence on low (below 1.5 kHz) and high (above 2.5 kHz) frequencies. The influence of species-specific auditory experience had its most potent effect during the embryonic critical period for postnatal auditory perceptual (behavioral) development, at which time the embryo produces and hears a special low-frequency (1.5–2.5 kHz) version of its own contact-contentment vocalization.
Synthesis of 1‐13C and 3‐13C isotopic isomers of aspartic and glutamic acids

Convenient routes to 1-C and 3-C labeled glutamic and aspartic acids and to their precursors are described.
Physical Layer for Spectrum-Aware Reconfigurable OFDM on an FPGA

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) can provide a flexible usage of the spectrum by controlling individual sub carriers. Sets of sub carriers can be zero-modulated to avoid interfering narrowband primary users, making OFDM a strong candidate for Cognitive Radio implementations. This paper presents the design and implementation of a non-contiguous OFDM physical layer (PHY) capable of supporting arbitrary allocation vectors and spectrum sensing for cognitive radio applications. Least squares methods applied on an arbitrary set of pilot sub carriers are used to estimate and track the phase errors caused by residual carrier frequency offset and by non-ideal sampling frequency at the receiver. A full FPGA prototype was developed and evaluated using Virtex-4 devices, including over-the-air testing in the 2.05 GHz radio band.
Specific heat of solid helium

The specific heat of bcc 3 He has been measured from 25 mK to near the melting curve, with particular attention given to the region of the low-temperature anomaly, T ≲ 500 mK. The data have been analyzed in various ways to show the temperature and molar volume dependence of the specific heat. In the region of the anomaly the specific heat has a term linear in T, in addition to a T 3 term. The data at the lowest temperatures for two large-molar-volume bcc 3 He samples have been used to determine the nuclear exchange energy J. The values of J found are in agreement with previous results.
Heparin requirement for the quantitation of fibrinogen production by primary hepatocyte cultures

We have reported a rapid method for the quantitation of proteins secreted in culture media (F.M. LaDuca, C.V. Dang, and W.R. Bell (1986) Anal. Biochem. 158, 262-267). Using the same method, we observe that serum-free rat hepatocyte cultures exhibited a 100% increase in detectable secreted fibrinogen-antigen in the presence of 1 unit/ml heparin or greater at 24 h of culture. The amount of transferrin, haptoglobin, and albumin detected was unaltered by the presence of heparin. Since heparin is known to affect certain cellular functions, the fates of [35S]methonine-labeled fibrinogen in cell extracts and culture media were examined employing pulse-chase experiments. Labeled intracellular fibrinogen disappeared at similar rates and was initially released into the media in similar amounts in the presence or absence of heparin. At 8 h during the chase, there was a 40-50% reduction in fibrinogen-antigen in spent culture medium lacking heparin. The presence of heparin did not alter the proteolytic degradation of secreted fibrinogen as determined by immunoblotting of spent culture media proteins separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In vitro experiments indicate that clotting of fibrinogen by thrombin reduces the amount of immunodetectable fibrinogen. The results indicate that heparin increases the amount of detectable fibrinogen secreted by cultured hepatocytes by preventing clotting and not by stimulating synthesis or secretion or by inhibiting degradation. Hence, it is critically important to include heparin when secreted fibrinogen is quantitated by the method that we have developed.