cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting occupational advice for speakers who do and do not stutter.

Abstract Factors affecting perceptions of occupational suitability were examined for speakers who stutter and speakers who do not stutter. In Experiment 1, 58 adults who do not stutter heard one of two audio recordings (less severe stuttering, more severe stuttering) of a speaker who stuttered. Participants rated the speaker's communicative functioning, personal attributes, and suitability for 32 occupations, along with perceptions of the occupations’ speaking demands and educational requirements. Perceived speaking demand strongly affected occupational suitability ratings at both levels of stuttering severity. In Experiment 2, 58 additional adults who do not stutter heard a recording of another adult in one of two conditions (fluent speech, pseudo-stuttering), and provided the same ratings as in Experiment 1. In the pseudo-stuttering condition, participants’ perceptions of occupational speaking demand again had a strong effect on occupational suitability ratings. In the fluent condition, suitability ratings were affected primarily by perceived educational demand; perceived speaking demand was of secondary importance. Across all participants in Experiment 2, occupational suitability ratings were associated with ratings of the speaker's personal attributes and communicative functioning. In both experiments, speakers who stuttered received lower suitability ratings for high speaking demand occupations than for low speaking demand occupations. Ratings for many high speaking occupations, however, fell just below the midpoint of the occupational suitability scale, suggesting that participants viewed these occupations as less appropriate, but not necessarily inappropriate, for people who stutter. Overall, the findings support the hypothesis that people who stutter may face occupational stereotyping and/or role entrapment in work settings. Educational objectives: At the end of this activity the reader will be able to (a) summarize main findings on research related to the work-related experiences of people who stutter, (b) describe factors that affect perceptions of which occupations are best suited for speakers who stutter and speakers who do not stutter, and (c) discuss how findings from the present study relate to previous findings on occupational advice for people who stutter.
Transport of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in highly crosslinked poly(propylene glycol) networks

Previous interpretations of gas transport data in crosslinked networks have been hindered by an inability to accurately control and evaluate the network parameters. We have recently prepared a series of model networks by reacting poly(propylene glycol) with a triisocyanate crosslinking agent. The poly(propylene glycol)s had narrow molecular weight distributions and average molecular weights between 425 and 3000, so the resulting networks had uniform average molecular weights between crosslinks. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide permeabilities in membranes formed from these networks increase with decreasing crosslink density. These results indicate increased cooperative molecular motions in the networks with longer average chain lengths between crosslinks. Increasing the average molecular weight between crosslinks also reduces the discrimination between these two gases so that the separation factors decrease. For networks prepared from mixtures of poly(propylene glycol)s with different molecular weights the gas permeabilities (but not the separation factors) depend on the molecular weight distribution.
A Continuation of Sport Teams From an Organizational Perspective Predictors of Athlete–Coach Leader–Member Exchange

Previous research suggests athletes’ leader–member exchanges (LMX) with coaches are associated with subsequent communication and relationships with coaches and teammates, as athletes with in-group relationships experience more prosocial outcomes than athletes without these relationships. Thus, the formation of in-group relationships is desirable, but extant literature has provided little insight into how coaches can foster these relationships. This study addressed this gap in literature by examining contextual and relational factors (i.e., coach enacted social support) as predictors of athletes’ perceptions of LMX with head coaches. A sample of 216 former high school athletes produced results that indicate both contextual factors and coach-enacted social support can be used to predict athletes’ perceptions of LMX—with starting status, emotional support, and esteem support being uniquely predictive. Overall, the model utilized in this study accounted for 65% of athletes’ perceptions with coach enacted soci...
Intra- and interspecific genetic variation in the gustatory perception of cucurbitacins by diabroticite rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

An assay designed to detect the limit of response to the phagostimulant cucurbitacin B was used to quantify intra- and interspecific variation in cucurbitacin perception in adults of the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.); the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte; the banded cucumber beetle, D. balteata LeConte; and the spotted cucumber beetle, D. undecimpunctata howardi Barber. By controlling ontogenetic and environmental factors such as gender, age, reproductive status, prior consumption of cucurbitacins, and hunger, the assay was able to identify geographically based genetic differences in the mean and standard deviation of the limit of response to cucurbitacin B within and among the species tested. Possible sources of this variation and its implications for the use of cucurbitacin-based toxic baits against rootworm pests are discussed.
Near infrared luminescence of gold nanoclusters affected by the bonding of 1,4-dithiolate durene and monothiolate phenylethanethiolate.

The impacts of Au–thiolate bonding on the near infrared (IR) luminescence of Au nanoclusters are studied by designing two types of monolayer reactions. Firstly, 1,4-dithiol durene (durene-DT) is reacted with Au25 monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) stabilized by phenylethanethiolate (PhC2S) ligands. Upon the addition of durene-DT, the near IR luminescence of Au MPCs intensifies while the well-defined absorbance bands diminish. The optical transition is associated with the ligand exchange process monitored by proton NMR. In the second approach, PhC2S monothiols are reacted with durene-DT stabilized Au nanoclusters (DTCs). The addition of PhC2S to the Au DTCs induces the gradual decrease of the near IR luminescence. Mass spectrometry and NMR analysis reveal similar final products of mixed thiolate Au nanoclusters from both reactions. The results suggest that the 1,4-dithiolate–Au bonding interaction is a promising factor to further enhance the near IR luminescence of Au nanoclusters for biomedical applications.
General form of the local magnetization in the XY chain with impurity

Abstract Green's function technique in the pseudofermion representation is used to study the oscillation of the local magnetization in the impure spin 1 2 XY chain. The theory described in the previous work is extended to the case when both the exchange integral in the immediate vicinity of the impurity and its g-factor are different from the bulk of the chain. The results are obtained in the closed form and are interpreted in terms of the local density of states. It is shown that Friedel-type oscillations of the spin density, resulting from the different components of the perturbation, have phase shifts depending on the intensity of the external magnetic field.
Urinary CCN2 (CTGF) as a possible predictor of diabetic nephropathy: Preliminary report

Urinary CCN2 (CTGF) as a possible predictor of diabetic nephropathy: Preliminary report. Background It is currently impossible to reliably predict which diabetic patients will develop nephropathy and progress to kidney failure. Microalbuminuria, often regarded as a predictor of overt diabetic renal disease is, in fact, an indicator of established glomerular damage. We have shown that glomerular expression of the prosclerotic cytokine CCN2 (CTGF) is greatly up-regulated early in experimental and in human diabetes and mesangial cell exposure to CCN2 increases its production of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules responsible for glomerulosclerosis. As an early marker, we therefore investigated the presence of CCN2 in urine and the relationship to diabetes and/or renal disease in an experimental model of diabetes and in a limited patient population. Methods Urine samples from ( 1 ) healthy rats, ( 2 ) rats made diabetic by streptozotocin (STZ), ( 3 ) healthy human volunteers, ( 4 ) diabetic patients with renal disease, and ( 5 ) diabetic patients without renal disease were examined by Western blotting and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the of CCN2. Results Low levels of urinary CCN2 were present in healthy, control rats, but were increased approximately sevenfold overall in STZ-diabetic animals. CCN2 levels were the highest at week 3 of diabetes, then decreased with time, but remained significantly elevated over controls even after 32weeks. Consistently low levels of urinary CCN2 were also detected in healthy volunteers (mean value, 7.1 CCN2/mg creatinine). However, levels were elevated approximately sixfold in the majority of diabetic patients with nephropathy. A small number of the diabetic patients not yet exhibiting evidence of renal involvement demonstrated CCN2 urinary levels that were ninefold greater than controls. The remaining normoalbuminuric diabetic patients demonstrated CCN2 levels indistinguishable from those of healthy volunteers. Analysis by Western blotting confirmed the identity of the urinary CCN2. A molecular species equivalent to full-length CCN2 (37/39 kD doublet) was present in healthy controls. In contrast, the nephropathic group demonstrated multiple CCN2 bands. Conclusion These findings support our hypothesis that CCN2 is up-regulated early in the evolution of glomerulosclerosis, including that of diabetes. We contend that urinary CCN2 may both stage nephropathy and predict those patients who are destined for progressive glomerulosclerosis and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Cross-sectional and prospective studies of larger, well-defined diabetic patients groups will be required to prove this hypothesis, and are ongoing.
Surface spin reorientation in thin Gd films on Fe in an applied magnetic field.

We investigate the magnetic system of a few layers of Gd on bulk Fe in the presence of a magnetic field using mean-field theory and a simple model. At moderate temperatures and low fields the system is in an aligned state where all the Fe spins point along the field direction and, because of the antiferromagnetic coupling of the Fe spins to the Gd spins, all the Gd spins are antiparallel to the field. For higher fields there is a phase transition to a twisted spin state where the Fe and Gd spins near the interface are at an angle with respect to the applied field.
Radiochemical purity of β-sitosterols tritiated by catalytic exchange and by the Wilzbach procedure☆

Abstract 1. 1. Tritiation of commercial β-sitosterol by the Wilzbach procedure resulted in partial reduction (10%) of the double bond of this sterol. The dihydrositosterol contained 60% of the total H 3 of the tritiated sample. 2. 2. Tritiation of β-sitosterol by catalytic exchange resulted in negligible reduction of the double bond. 3. 3. The epoxide derivatives of β-sitosterol, which are easily prepared, are useful in establishing the radiochemical purity of tritiated β-sitsoterol. 4. 4. The α, β, and 1:1 (α + β) molecular complex of sitosterol epoxide acetates were separated and characterized. 5. 5. Three commercial, unlabeled samples of β-sitosterol were found to contain from 4 to 14% dihydrositosterol (β-sitostanol).
Activity-dependent regulation of synaptic strength by PSD-95 in CA1 neurons

CaMKII and PSD-95 are the two most abundant postsynaptic proteins in the postsynaptic density (PSD). Overexpression of either can dramatically increase synaptic strength and saturate long-term pote...
Students Who Are Deaf with Additional Disabilities: Does Educational Label Impact Language Services?

With a high rate of additional learning needs in children with permanent hearing loss, this study sought to understand their educational and support needs. School information on 62 children with varying degrees of hearing loss attending an urban public school during a 5-year period was analysed to understand types and amounts of services over time. Individualized Education Programs and Multifactored Evaluation Plans reported the number of minutes provided by various providers, the types of services provided, and the goals set for each student. Although all students had a documented hearing loss, the services and intensity of services varied widely based on primary educational label. This is characterized by changes in goals, services, and intensity (minutes provided) from one year to the next if a child experienced an educational label change. Implications are far reaching for educators and administrators regarding determination of educational label for students with comorbid conditions.
Controlled hyperventilation and its effect on brain energy and acid-base parameters.

The brain tissue concentrations of lactate, pyruvate and organic phosphates (phosphocreatine, ATP, ADP and AMP) as well as extra- and intracellular pH were determined in rats hyperventilated to Paco2 levels of 20-25 or 10-15 mmHg for periods of 10 min to 3 h. The lactate and pyruvate concentrations, and lactate/pyruvate ratios, in blood, CSF and intracellular water increased progressively with the decrease in Pco2, but a return towards normal values was observed in the 3 h groups. At moderate hypocapnia the intracellular pH was not increased significantly from the normal, but in extreme hypocapnia a net intracellular acidosis was observed. The regulation of intracellular pH in moderate hypocapnia, and the acidosis in extreme hypocapnia, was probably due to the production of metabolic acids, mainly lactic acid. However, since the concentrations of organic phosphates remained normal, the increased anaerobic production of lactic acid must have been due to other factors than a change in energy state. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Bei Ratten, die auf PacO2 Niveaus von 20–25 bzw. 10–15 mmHg fur 10 minuten bis zu 3 Stunden hyper-ventiliert wurden, bestimmten wir die Gehirngewebs-konzentrationen von Laktat, Pyruvat und organischen Phosphaten (Phosphocreatin, ATP, ADP und AMP) sowic das extra-und intrazellulare pH Laktat-und Pyru-vatkonzentrationen und die Laktat/Pyruvatquotienten stiegen im Blut, Liquor und in der Intrazellularflussigkeit gleichlaufend mit dem Absinken des P0O2 an, doch wurde bei den 3-Stunden-Gruppen eine Ruck-kehr zu Normalwerten beobachtet. Bei massiger Hypokapnie war das intrazellulare pH nicht significant gegenuber dem Normalwert reduziert, bei extremer Hypokapnie wurde jedoch eine intrazellulare Azidose beobachtet. Das Einregeln des intrazellularen pH bei massiger Hypokapnie und die Azidose bei extremer Hypokapnie kommt vermutlich durch die Produktion saurer Metaboliten, vor allem Milchsaure, zustande. Da jedoch die Konzentrationen der organischen Phosphate normal blieben, muss die erhohte anaerobe Produktion von Milchsaure auf anderen Faktoren beruhen als auf Veranderungen im Energiezustand.
Finite element methods for the analysis of softening plastic hinges in beams and frames

This paper presents new finite element methods for the analysis of localized failures in plastic beams and frames in the form of plastic hinges. The hinges are modeled as discontinuities of the generalized displacements of the underlying Timoshenko beam/rod theory. Hinges accounting for a discontinuity in the transversal and longitudinal displacements and the rotation field are developed in this context. A multi-scale framework is considered in the incorporation of the dissipative effects of these discontinuities in the large-scale problem of a beam and a general frame. A localized softening cohesive law relating these generalized displacements with the stress resultants acting at the level of the cross section is effectively introduced in the frame response. The resulting models, referred to as localized models, are then able to capture the localized dissipation observed in the localized failures of these structural members, avoiding altogether the inconsistencies observed for classical models in the stress resultants with strain softening. The constructive approach followed in the development of these models leads naturally to the formulation of enhanced strain finite elements for their numerical approximation. In this context, we develop new finite elements incorporating the singular strains associated to the plastic hinges at the element level. A careful analysis is presented so the resulting finite elements avoid the phenomenon of stress locking, that is, an overstiff response in the softening of the hinge, not allowing for the full release of the stress. The accurate approximation of the kinematics of the hinges requires a strain enhancement linking the jumps in the deflection and the rotation fields, given the coupled definition of the transverse shear strain in these two fields. Different enhanced strain elements, involving different base finite elements and different enhancement strategies, are considered and analyzed in detail. Their performance are then compared in several representative numerical simulations. These analyses identify optimally enhanced finite elements for the accurate modeling the localized failures observed in common framed structures.
Assessing the impact of climatic change on food production

Attempts to assess the impact of a hypothetical climatic change on food production have relied on the use of statistical models which predict crop yields using various climatic variables. It is emphasized that the coefficients of these models are not universal constants, but rather statistical estimates subject to several sources of error. Thus, any statement regarding the estimated impact of climatic change on food production must be qualified appropriately.
Synthesis and characterization of chlorinated maleinized rubber from low molecular weight guayule rubber

Abstract Chlorinated maleinized low molecular weight guayule rubber (LMWGR) was synthesized. The procedure involved the maleinization of LMWGR with maleic anhydride (MA) in the non-polar solvent, p -xylene. Catalysts for the reactions were benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and azo-bis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN). The maleinized products were subsequently reacted with chlorine gas to give chlorinated maleinized guayule rubber (CMGR). The products were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, melting point determination, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 13 C- and 1 H-NMR).
A dynamic erasure code for multicasting live data

Digital fountains, a class of erasure codes, have been used for multicasting stream data and for robust distributed data storage. These methods produce a potentially endless sequence of packets from a fixed (static) message. The dynamic erasure code problem is to extend the digital fountains concept to a message generated simultaneously with the transmission (i.e., live data). Solution of this problem provides a means for robust multicasting or one-way transmission of live data on a computer network. It also gives a method for robust distributed storage of log data, or other serially generated data. A new erasure code is proposed as a solution to the dynamic erasure code problem. It is analytically shown to have a fast decoding algorithm and to be highly bandwidth-efficient.
Liberal democracy and political science

Do political scientists in a liberal democracy bear a special responsibility that goes beyond their academic pursuits? Ceaser, a scholar of American political parties, argues that they do, and he challenges colleagues and students to reexamine what they do as political scientists. He observes that liberal democracy is a compound of two elements not easily wed: constitutionalism and republicanism. The role of political science is to perform the "superintendent" function of keeping these parts together.
Observation of large tunneling-conductance variations in direct mapping of the energy gap of single-crystal Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 − x

The tunneling conductance G(V,x,y) is mapped with 5 \AA{} resolution on cleaved a-b planes of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$ crystals (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$=90 K) using scanning (vacuum) tunneling spectroscopy at 4.2 K. A strong, spatially varying G(V,x,y), evidently arising from a superconducting gap ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{\mathit{c}}$, is observed on the a-b plane. A more highly peaked G(V) with reduced peak spacing is seen near (\ensuremath{\sim}50 \AA{}) specific sites, and over broader areas. It is suggested that the striking variations in G(V,x,y) probably indicate local variations in BiO-layer metallicity, revealing an internal superconducting proximity effect between BiO and ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ layers.
Measurement Error in Criminal Justice Data

While accurate data are critical in understanding crime and assessing criminal justice policy, data on crime and illicit activities are invariably measured with error. In this chapter, we illustrate and evaluate several examples of measurement error in criminal justice data. Errors are evidently pervasive, systematic, frequently related to behaviors and policies of interest, and unlikely to conform to convenient textbook assumptions. Using both convolution and mixing models of the measurement error generating process, we demonstrate the effects of data error on identification and statistical inference. Even small amounts of data error can have considerable consequences. Throughout this chapter, we emphasize the value of auxiliary data and reasonable assumptions in achieving informative inferences, but caution against reliance on strong and untenable assumptions about the error generating process.
Evidence for a copper-dependent iron transport system in the marine, magnetotactic bacterium strain MV-1

Cells of the magnetotactic marine vibrio, strain MV-1, produce magnetite-containing magnetosomes when grown anaerobically or microaerobically. Stable, spontaneous, non-magnetotactic mutants were regularly observed when cells of MV-1 were cultured on solid media incubated under anaerobic or microaerobic conditions. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis showed that these mutants are not all genetically identical. Cellular iron content of one non-magnetotactic mutant strain, designated MV-1nm1, grown anaerobically, was ∼20- to 80-fold less than the iron content of wild-type (wt) MV-1 for the same iron concentrations, indicating that MV-1nm1 is deficient in some form of iron uptake. Comparative protein profiles of the two strains showed that MV-1nm1 did not produce several proteins produced by wt MV-1. To understand the potential roles of these proteins in iron transport better, one of these proteins was purified and characterized. This protein, a homodimer with an apparent subunit mass of about 19 kDa, was an iron-regulated, periplasmic protein (p19). Two potential ‘copper-handling’ motifs (MXM/MX2M) are present in the amino acid sequence of p19, and the native protein binds copper in a 1 : 1 ratio. The structural gene for p19, chpA (copper handling protein) and two other putative genes upstream of chpA were cloned and sequenced. These putative genes encode a protein similar to the iron permease, Ftr1, from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a ferredoxin-like protein of unknown function. A periplasmic, copper-containing, iron(II) oxidase was also purified from wt MV-1 and MV-1nm1. This enzyme, like p19, was regulated by media iron concentration and contained four copper atoms per molecule of enzyme. It is hypothesized that ChpA, the iron permease and the iron(II) oxidase might have analogous functions for the three components of the S. cerevisiae copper-dependent high-affinity iron uptake system (Ctr1, Ftr1 and Fet3, respectively), and that strain MV-1 may have a similar iron uptake system. However, iron(II) oxidase purified from both wt MV-1 and MV-1nm1 displayed comparable iron oxidase activities using O2 as the electron acceptor, indicating that ChpA does not supply the multi-copper iron(II) oxidase with copper.
Effect of d-glucose on intestinal permeability and its passive absorption in human small intestine in vivo

Abstract Background: Based on studies in animals, it has been proposed that carrier-mediated d-glucose absorption markedly enhances passive permeability of the jejunal mucosa, allowing the majority of d-glucose absorption to proceed passively. In this study, we evaluated this hypothesis in the human jejunum in vivo. Methods: Using the constant perfusion, nonabsorbable marker technique, permeability of jejunal mucosa was assessed by measuring the ratio of diffusion rates of urea/l-xylose and mannitol/l-xylose. Passive d-glucose absorption was quantitated using l-glucose and mannitol as probes for D-glucose. Results: Addition of d-glucose to perfused solutions did not change the diffusion ratios, indicating that D-glucose has no effect on the size of channels for passive diffusion across the jejunal mucosa. The fraction of total d-glucose absorption that could be attributed to a passive mechanism averaged 5%. In the human ileum in vivo, we detected no evidence of passive d-glucose absorption. Conclusions: Carrier-mediated d-glucose absorption does not increase passive permeability of human jejunal mucosa to solutes with molecular radii between 2.6 and 4.0 A. The amount of d-glucose absorbed passively from the human jejunum is trivial compared with the overwhelmingly dominant mechanism, carrier-mediated transport. Our results do not support the concept that sodium-dependent nutrient transport increases tight junction permeability.
Grounding conceptual knowledge in modality-specific systems.

The human conceptual system contains knowledge that supports all cognitive activities, including perception, memory, language and thought. According to most current theories, states in modality-specific systems for perception, action and emotion do not represent knowledge ‐ rather, redescriptions of these states in amodal representational languages do. Increasingly, however, researchers report that re-enactments of states in modality-specific systems underlie conceptual processing. In behavioral experiments, perceptual and motor variables consistently produce effects in conceptual tasks. In brain imaging experiments, conceptual processing consistently activates modality-specific brain areas. Theoretical research shows how modality-specific re-enactments could produce basic conceptual functions, such as the type‐token distinction, categorical inference, productivity, propositions and abstract concepts. Together these empirical results and theoretical analyses implicate modality-specific systems in the representation and use of conceptual knowledge. The human conceptual system contains people’s knowledge of the world. In most theories, the basic unit of knowledge is the concept. This construct is highly contentious, however (see Box 1). Following psychological
The Productivity of Nanobiotechnology Research and Education in U.S. Universities

The knowledge production process of thirty universities that participated in nanobiotechnology research during 1990–2005 is estimated by a stochastic directional technology distance function. Knowledge outputs include journal articles, patents, and Ph.D students. The dual elasticity of transformation between knowledge outputs is estimated. An increase in patents reduces the revenue shares of publications and Ph.D students for a majority of the thirty universities. Aggregate university inefficiency has a U shape with a minimum in 1997. Evidence of technological regress is found which indicates that the increased production of patents, publications, and Ph.D students is due to bigger research budgets.
A meta-analytic review of social, self-concept, and behavioral outcomes of peer-assisted learning.

Meta-analysis was used to examine social, self-concept, and behavioral effects of peer-assisted learning (PAL) interventions with elementary school students. An electronic search of PsycINFO and ERIC databases resulted in 36 relevant PAL studies. Overall, effect sizes were small to moderate across the 3 outcome variable domains. Both social and self-concept outcomes were positively correlated with academic outcomes. Specific PAL components--student autonomy, individualized evaluation, structured student roles, interdependent group rewards, and same-gender grouping--were related to effect sizes. PAL interventions were more effective for low-income versus higher income, urban versus suburban-rural, minority versus nonminority, and Grades 1-3 students versus Grades 4-6 students. Results suggest that PAL interventions that focus on academics can also improve social and self-concept outcomes.
Activity Suppression Behavior Phenotype in SULT4A1 Frameshift Mutant Zebrafish

Since its identification in 2000, sulfotransferase (SULT) 4A1 has presented an enigma to the field of cytosolic SULT biology. SULT4A1 is exclusively expressed in neural tissue, is highly conserved, and has been identified in every vertebrate studied to date. Despite this singular level of conservation, no substrate or function for SULT4A1 has been identified. Previous studies demonstrated that SULT4A1 does not bind the obligate sulfate donor, 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate, yet SULT4A1 is classified as a SULT superfamily member based on sequence and structural similarities to the other SULTs. In this study, transcription activator-like effector nucleases were used to generate heritable mutations in the SULT4A1 gene of zebrafish. The mutation (SULT4A1Δ8) consists of an 8-nucleotide deletion within the second exon of the gene, resulting in a frameshift mutation and premature stop codon after 132 AA. During early adulthood, casual observations were made that mutant zebrafish were exhibiting excessively sedentary behavior during the day. These observations were inconsistent with published reports on activity in zebrafish that are largely diurnal organisms and are highly active during the day. Thus, a decrease in activity during the day represents an abnormal behavior and warranted further systematic analysis. EthoVision video tracking software was used to monitor activity levels in wild-type (WT) and SULT4A1Δ8/Δ8 fish over 48 hours of a normal light/dark cycle. SULT4A1Δ8/Δ8 fish were shown to exhibit increased inactivity bout length and frequency as well as a general decrease in daytime activity levels when compared with their WT counterparts.
Herbal medicines: current trends in anesthesiology practice--a hospital survey.

Abstract Study Objectives: To develop a simple survey to determine the patient population actively utilizing dietary supplements and/or herbs, during the preoperative period. Design: Prospective study, with survey instrument. Setting: University medical center. Patients: 1,017 patients presenting for preanesthetic evaluation prior to outpatient surgery. Interventions: After undergoing preanesthetic evaluation, patients were asked to complete a survey listing which of the nine most popular nutraceuticals currently available on the market they were using. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 1017 surveys were submitted over a period of five months, with 32% being poorly completed and thus discarded. Of the remaining 755 valid surveys, 482 patients used at least one nutraceutical agent. 90% of these patients were using vitamins, 43% garlic extracts, 32% Gingko Biloba, 30% St. John's Wort, 18% Ma Huang, 12% Ecchinaceae, 10% Aloe, 8% Cascare, 3% licorice. Conclusion: A significant population of patients scheduled for an elective surgical procedure are self-administering nutraceutical agents. Some of these agents have the potential to cause serious drug interactions and hemodynamic instability during surgery. Hence, it may be important to identify patients self-administering these medications, during the preoperative period.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MITOSIS AND CYTOKINESIS IN THE MULTINUCLEATE GREEN ALGA ACROSIPHONIA

The processes of mitosis and cytokinesis in the multinucleate green alga Acrosiphonia have been examined in the light and electron microscopes. The course of events in division includes thickening of the chloroplast and migration of numerous nuclei and other cytoplasmic incusions to form a band in which mitosis occurs, while other nuclei in the same cell but not in the band do not divide. Centrioles and microtubules are associated with migrated and dividing nuclei but not with nonmigrated, nondividing nuclei. Cytokinesis is accomplished in the region of the band, by means of an annular furrow which is preceded by a hoop of microtubules. No other microtubules are associated with the furrow. Characteristics of nuclear and cell division in Acrosiphonia are compared with those of other multinucleate cells and with those of other green algae.
Some results on discrete mean residual life

Mean residual life (MRL) is important in reliability studies; it provides the engineer with an idea of how long a device of any particular age can be expected to survive. Components and systems are frequently characterized as having increasing or decreasing MRL. Over the past 10-15 years, several authors have discussed MRL for components or systems whose lifetimes are measured in discrete units (number of trials until failure). This paper establishes some simple bounds for residual life when the device has a monotonic hazard rate sequence (either increasing or decreasing) and provides examples. MRL is obtained in closed form for a particular family of decreasing failure-rate models.
The role of the ambiguity function in compressed sensing radar

As is clear from the ambiguity function (AF) uncertainty principle and the underlying matched filtering operation, pulse compression (PC) radars cannot accurately and simultaneously measure both the time delay and Doppler shift of moving targets. On the other hand, compressed sensing (CS) radar would seem to be emerging as a means to do just that, jointly to estimate the delay and Doppler shift, through convex optimization instead of matched filtering, such that PC resolution limits no longer apply. However, it turns out that the AF is closely related to the CS “dictionary coherence coefficient,” which affects the optimization recoverability. In this paper we formalize this relationship.
The roles of microtubule-based motor proteins in mitosis: comprehensive RNAi analysis in the Drosophila S2 cell line

Kinesins and dyneins play important roles during cell division. Using RNA interference (RNAi) to deplete individual (or combinations of) motors followed by immunofluorescence and time-lapse microscopy, we have examined the mitotic functions of cytoplasmic dynein and all 25 kinesins in Drosophila S2 cells. We show that four kinesins are involved in bipolar spindle assembly, four kinesins are involved in metaphase chromosome alignment, dynein plays a role in the metaphase-to-anaphase transition, and one kinesin is needed for cytokinesis. Functional redundancy and alternative pathways for completing mitosis were observed for many single RNAi knockdowns, and failure to complete mitosis was observed for only three kinesins. As an example, inhibition of two microtubule-depolymerizing kinesins initially produced monopolar spindles with abnormally long microtubules, but cells eventually formed bipolar spindles by an acentrosomal pole-focusing mechanism. From our phenotypic data, we construct a model for the distinct roles of molecular motors during mitosis in a single metazoan cell type.
A plasmid DNA vaccine encoding prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) elicits antigen-specific T cells in patients with stage D0 prostate cancer

14570 Background: Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is a tumor antigen in prostate cancer. Clinical trials conducted in patients with metastatic prostate cancer targeting PAP by means of antigen pre...
Phloem mobility of xenobiotics VIII. A short review

Great strides have been made in the last 15 years in our understanding of phloem mobility of xenobiotics. The subject has been transformed from a poorly understood phenomenon to a process that can be accurately described by the physicochemical properties of the xenobiotic and the nature of the vascular system through which it moves. The basic tenet of the unified mathematical model is that the combination of the permeability and the acid dissociation constant (pK(a)) determines phloem mobility, and this has been largely validated for many compounds in many plant systems. More precise testing of the model is, however, difficult due to the lack of requisite knowledge on the membrane composition of the sieve tube, permeation characteristics and sieve-cell biochemistry. Furthermore, attempts to relate quantitatively a compound's intrinsic mobility to its whole-plant mobility are often confounded by competing loss mechanisms. On the practical side, there is the challenge of coming up with efficacious phloem-mobile pesticides. Considerations are forwarded to explain why so far there are numerous phloem-mobile herbicides and yet precious few such insecticides and fungicides, and why the situation might be difficult to change. The knowledge of phloem mobility is robust enough to allow specific structural prescriptions to impart such mobility to existing pesticides. However, such structural changes often lead to a reduction of pesticidal activity. Recently, it has been demonstrated that this problem can be circumvented by combining oxamyl glucuronide (a phloem-mobile pro-nematicide) with a transgenic tobacco plant harboring a root-specific β-glucuronidase gene to release oxamyl for root-knot nematode control. This propesticide and in situ activation strategy is one way to use the existing body of knowledge for practical purposes. The same principle should be generally applicable to other plant-xenobiotic technologies.
Saturation intensity and time response of InGaAs-InGaP MQW optical modulators

We report modulation saturation and time response measurements on InGaAs-InGaP MQW modulators. The measurements yield a saturation intensity of (3.7/spl plusmn/0.1) kW/cm/sup 2/ for a 0-10 V swing and switching times between 10 and 90 ns, depending on the bias voltage and incident light intensity. The observed dependence indicates that field screening due to carrier build-up is the dominant physical mechanism determining both the speed and the saturation intensity. This conclusion is supported by results of theoretical calculations. >
Modeling large-scale fluvial erosion in geographic information systems

Variants of the stream power model have become standard for large-scale erosion modeling in geographic information systems (GIS) because they can be applied over broad areas without the need for detailed knowledge of stream characteristics. GIS-based implementations of the shear stress, stream power per unit length and stream power per unit area models are closely related to one another and related also to empirical sediment yield models derived from continental-scale factor analyses. Based on a detailed examination of the implementation of stream power analyses at the scale of continental mountain ranges, we demonstrate that: (1) the careful selection of a digital elevation model (DEM) projection can minimize length and area distortion when analyzing large portions of the earth (such as the Himalaya or Andes) in the two-dimensional plane of a DEM. (2) The area-discharge proxy frequently employed in GIS-based stream power studies may not be appropriate for rivers that flow through significant rain shadows or climatic zones. (3) Decreasing the resolution of a DEM from 30- to the 900-m typical for studies of large extent decreased the mean slopes of 15 rivers in the Olympic mountains by 65%, increased the mean drainage basin size by 14%, and caused a 17% reduction in median main-stem channel length. (4) The coefficients k, m and n common to different versions of the Stream Power Law are themselves sensitive to grid resolution when determined from an analysis of area–slope plots. (5) Stream power per unit area decreased in the Olympics mountains as grid resolution decreased. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The Effect of Social Disclosure on the Intensity of Affect Provoked by Autobiographical Memories

Affect associated with negative autobiographical memories fades faster over time than affect associated with positive autobiographical memories (the fading affect bias). Data described in the present article suggest that this bias is observed when people use their own words to describe both the emotions that they originally felt in response to events in their lives and the emotions that they feel when they recall those events. The data also suggest that the fading affect bias is not a consequence of distortion in memory for the emotions experienced at event occurrence, but instead reflects current affective responses to memories for those events. Moreover, this bias has a social component. Frequently disclosed memories evince a stronger fading affect bias than less frequently disclosed memories. Memories disclosed to many types of people evince a stronger fading affect bias than memories disclosed to few types of people. Finally, the relation between social disclosure and fading affect appears to be causa...
Toll-like receptors 1 and 6 are involved in TLR2-mediated macrophage activation by hepatitis C virus core and NS3 proteins

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease through sustained inflammation of the liver produced by the host's immune system. The mechanism for HCV evasion or activation of the immune system is not clear. TLRs are cellular activators of the innate immune system. We recently reported that TLR2-mediated innate immune signaling pathways are activated by HCV core and NS3 proteins. TLR2 activation re- quires homo- or heterodimerization with TLR1 or TLR6. Here, we aimed to determine whether TLR2 coreceptors participated in cellular activa- tion by HCV core or NS3 proteins. By designing small interfering RNAs targeted to TLR2, TLR1, and TLR6, we showed that knockdown of each of these receptors impairs pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine activation by TLR-specific ligands as well as by HCV core and NS3 proteins in human em- bryonic kidney-TLR2 cells and in primary human macrophages. We found that HCV core and NS3 proteins induced TNF- and IL-10 production in human monocyte-derived macrophages, which was impaired by TLR2, TLR1, and TLR6 knockdown. Contrary to human data, results from TLR2, TLR1, or TLR6 knockout mice indicated that the absence of TLR2 and its coreceptor TLR6, but not TLR1, prevented the HCV core and NS3 protein- induced peritoneal macrophage activation. In con- clusion, TLR2 may use TLR1 and TLR6 corecep- tors for HCV core- and NS3-mediated activation of macrophages and innate immunity in humans. These results imply that multiple pattern recogni- tion receptors could participate in cellular activa- tion by HCV proteins. J. Leukoc. Biol. 82: 479-487; 2007.
AneuRx stent graft versus open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: Multicenter prospective clinical trial☆☆☆★

The results of a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter clinical trial that compared endovascular stent graft exclusion of abdominal aortic aneurysms with open surgical repair are presented. During an 18-month period, 250 patients with infrarenal aneurysms underwent treatment at 12 study sites-190 patients underwent endovascular repair using the Medtronic AneuRx stent graft (Sunnyvale, Calif), and 60 underwent open surgical repair. There was no significant difference in operative mortality rates between the groups. The patients who underwent stent grafting had significant reductions in blood loss, time to extubation, and days in the intensive care unit and in the hospital, with an earlier return to function. The major morbidity rate was reduced from 23% in the surgery group to 12% (P <. 05) in the stent graft group. There was no difference in the combined morbidity/mortality rates between the two groups. Primary technical success at the time of discharge for the patients with stent grafts was 77%, largely as a result of a 21% endoleak rate. At 1 month, the endoleak rate had decreased to 9%. There was no difference in the primary or secondary procedure success rates at 30 days between the surgery and stent graft groups. The primary graft patency rate at 6 months was 98% in the surgery group and 97% in the stent graft group. The aneurysm exclusion rate at 1 month and 6 months was 100% in patients who underwent surgery and 91% in patients who underwent stent grafting. Stent graft migration occurred in three patients and resulted in late endoleaks; each endoleak was corrected by means of endovascular placement of a stent graft extender cuff. There have been no aneurysm ruptures and no surgical conversions to open repair in the stent graft group. Stent graft repair compares favorably with open surgical repair, with a reduced morbidity rate, shortened hospital stays, and satisfactory short term outcomes.
Micro‐scale blood particulate dynamics using a non‐uniform rational B‐spline‐based isogeometric analysis

SUMMARY The current research presents a novel method in which blood particulates – biconcave red blood cells (RBCs) and spherical cells are modeled using isogeometric analysis, specifically Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) in 3-D. The use of NURBS ensures that even with a coarse representation, the geometry of the blood particulates maintains an accurate description when subjected to large deformations. The fundamental advantage of this method is the coupling of the geometrical description and the stress analysis of the cell membrane into a single, unified framework. Details on the modeling approach, implementation of boundary conditions and the membrane mechanics analysis using isogeometric modeling are presented, along with validation cases for spherical and biconcave cells. Using NURBS – based isogeometric analysis, the behavior of individual cells in fluid flow is presented and analyzed in different flow regimes using as few as 176 elements for a spherical cell and 220 elements for a biconcave RBC. This work provides a framework for modeling a large number of 3-D deformable biological cells, each with its own geometric description and membrane properties. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first application of the NURBS – based isogeometric analysis to model and simulate blood particulates in flow in 3D. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring Political Brokers: Evidence from Clientelistic Networks in Mexico

This paper studies how a political party uses electoral data to monitor and incentivize the political brokers who control its clientelistic networks. We study networks organized around rural communal lands in Mexico, which are largely controlled by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). We use the fact that the level at which brokers operate (the communal land) does not necessarily coincide with the level at which the electoral data is disclosed (the electoral section). Guided by a simple model, we compute a measure of how informative the available electoral data is about the performance of the PRI's political brokers, as a function of the degree of overlap between communal lands and electoral sections. We compare the vote share for the PRI in communal lands where the electoral data is more or less informative, both when the PRI does and does not have access to resources to fund and incentivize brokers. The results suggest that clientelistic networks contribute significantly to the enforcement of clientelistic transactions.