cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphorus fertilizer placement and rate affect soybean root growth and nutrient uptake in soil with high fertility

O manejo do fertilizante fosforo (P) pode alterar o crescimento da raiz e da parte aerea da soja, promovendo desequilibrios morfologicos na planta. Com o objetivo de avaliar os ajustes morfologicos da soja (Glycine max (L.)) em diferentes colocacoes e taxas de adubacao fosfatada em solo P, foi realizado um estudo em casa de vegetacao com dois objetivos principais: 1) avaliar o efeito da adubacao fosfatada sobre a raiz e acumulo de biomassa na parte aerea e as alteracoes associadas no comprimento das raizes; e, 2) estimar o efeito das alteracoes do crescimento radicular na absorcao de macro e micronutrientes na planta. Os tratamentos com fertilizantes foram: (1) transmissao P na superficie do solo (BR), (2) P5x5 cm (B) aplicada na faixa (B) e (3) banda profunda P a 20 cm de profundidade (DB); usando duas taxas: (1) 60 e (2) 120 kg P2O5 ha-1 em solo com alta fertilidade. Imagens de minirhizotron e medidas de SPAD foram realizadas uma vez por semana ate o florescimento. O peso seco da raiz e da parte aerea, bem como a absorcao total de macro e micronutrientes foram avaliados no mesmo estagio. O aumento dos niveis de P no solo promovidos pela adubacao mostra um efeito negativo no peso seco da raiz na taxa de 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 e muito pouco estimulo a alocacao de biomassa nas raizes quando a taxa de P foi aumentada para 120 kg P2O5 ha -1 em tratamentos B e DB. O tratamento de controlo (sem fertilizante) mostrou um comprimento de raiz 108% maior do que o tratamento com B-60. Essas alteracoes tambem alteraram a absorcao de macro e micronutrientes e afetaram o teor de clorofila nas plantas de soja. O aumento dos niveis de P no solo promovidos pela adubacao mostra um efeito negativo no peso seco da raiz na taxa de 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 e muito pouco estimulo a alocacao de biomassa nas raizes quando a taxa de P foi aumentada para 120 kg P2O5 ha -1 em tratamentos B e DB. O tratamento de controlo (sem fertilizante) mostrou um comprimento de raiz 108% maior do que o tratamento com B-60. Essas alteracoes tambem alteraram a absorcao de macro e micronutrientes e afetaram o teor de clorofila nas plantas de soja. O aumento dos niveis de P no solo promovidos pela adubacao mostra um efeito negativo no peso seco da raiz na taxa de 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 e muito pouco estimulo a alocacao de biomassa nas raizes quando a taxa de P foi aumentada para 120 kg P2O5 ha -1 em tratamentos B e DB. O tratamento de controlo (sem fertilizante) mostrou um comprimento de raiz 108% maior do que o tratamento com B-60. Essas alteracoes tambem alteraram a absorcao de macro e micronutrientes e afetaram o teor de clorofila nas plantas de soja.
Paired-line hybrid transit design considering spatial heterogeneity

Abstract This study attempts to incorporate spatial heterogeneity into the optimal design of paired-line hybrid transit systems, which aims to strike a better balance between accessibility and efficiency by leveraging the flexibility of a demand adaptive service. A simple trip production and distribution model is introduced to differentiate the central business district (CBD) of a city from its periphery. To cope with the heterogeneous demand pattern, the transit system is also configured differently inside and outside the CBD, for both its fixed route and demand adaptive services. Allowing the supply heterogeneity complicates transit users’ route choice modeling considerably. As a result, user costs must be estimated separately for six subregions that constitute the feasible set of the fixed route headway. Each subregion corresponds to a unique route choice behavior, hence leading to a distinctive design model that is formulated as a mixed integer program and solved by a commercial solver. Results of numerical experiments show that concentrating demand in CBD significantly reduces the average system cost, and this benefit increases as the average demand density becomes larger. Also, recognizing demand heterogeneity and responding to it with a tailored design could be highly beneficial. However, this benefit diminishes as the average demand density increases.
A Switch in p53 Dynamics Marks Cells That Escape from DSB-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest.

Summary Cellular responses to stimuli can evolve over time, resulting in distinct early and late phases in response to a single signal. DNA damage induces a complex response that is largely orchestrated by the transcription factor p53, whose dynamics influence whether a damaged cell will arrest and repair the damage or will initiate cell death. How p53 responses and cellular outcomes evolve in the presence of continuous DNA damage remains unknown. Here, we have found that a subset of cells switches from oscillating to sustained p53 dynamics several days after undergoing damage. The switch results from cell cycle progression in the presence of damaged DNA, which activates the caspase-2-PIDDosome, a complex that stabilizes p53 by inactivating its negative regulator MDM2. This work defines a molecular pathway that is activated if the canonical checkpoints fail to halt mitosis in the presence of damaged DNA.
Three-dimensional simulation of the Ubitron/FEL amplifier

The efficiency of the Ubitron/FEL amplifier is calculated from a three-dimensional nonlinear analysis and particle simulation code. Calculations show high efficiency and large bandwidths for the case of a monoenergetic beam with zero emittance. The efficiency falls off rapidly with increase in beam emittance. For high efficiency the spread in axial beam velocity should be less than 0.2%. Enhancement of efficiency by tapering the amplitude of the wiggler field is also discussed.
Postmortem on a Stillborn Census: Bosnia–Herzegovina, 2013–16

The 2013 census in Bosnia and Herzegovina produced two competing official results, each exclusively valid in half the country, which is constitutionally an ethno-political consociation. An Internat...
Optical Magnetic Mirror from the Viewpoint of Molecular Optics

A condition for realization of an optical magnetic mirror at the interface between the vacuum and the medium consisting of electric dipoles (or electric and magnetic dipoles) is obtained. This condition in definite frequency ranges can be satisfied not only for metamaterials, as is commonly believed, but also for ordinary media. The possibility is shown of realizing the magnetic mirror upon reflection from the medium with a negative refractive indexas well as from the media comprising linear electric quadrupoles.
Body Area Networks: A Data Sharing and Use Model Based on the Blackboard Architecture and Boundary Node Discovery

Body area networks are growing in use and complexity, with many individuals carrying around several devices that have interconnection capabilities. Devices may offer internet connectivity, storage, media recording and playback, image or audio capture, and numerous other capabilities. Some may house recently captured data; others may house users’ older data or have direct or indirect access to data from subscription providers. Users may enter into range of other providers who may provide a myriad of services ranging from information to environmental interaction. While limited interoperability standards (such as Bluetooth) exist, these are not full stack connection solutions. In many cases, users are left unable to access (or unsure as to how they access) services available from their devices or infrastructure providers. This paper presents a paradigm for data sharing and use as part of a Blackboard Architecture boundary node discovery (BABND) protocol for defining available data and other services. The basics of the BABND protocol are described and its use for data sharing is detailed. The efficacy of this protocol is evaluated through the consideration of case studies that are presented.
Characterizing Performance of Graph Neighborhood Communication Patterns

Distributed-memory graph algorithms are fundamental enablers in scientific computing and analytics workflows. A majority of graph algorithms rely on the graph neighborhood communication pattern, i.e., repeated asynchronous communication between a vertex and its neighbors in the graph. The pattern is adversarial for communication software and hardware due to high message injection rates and input-dependent, many-to-one traffic with variable destinations and volumes. We present benchmarks and performance analysis of graph neighborhood communication on modern large-scale network interconnects from four supercomputers: ALCF Theta, NERSC Cori, OLCF Summit and R-CCS Fugaku. Our benchmarks characterize communication from the perspectives of latency and throughput. Benchmark parameters make it possible to mimic the behaviors of complex applications on real world or synthetic graphs by varying work distribution, remote edges, message volume, and per-vertex work. We find that minor changes in the input graph can substantially increase latencies; and contention can develop in memory caches and network stacks before contention in the network itself. Further, latencies and contention vary significantly for different graph neighborhoods, motivating the need for exploring asynchronous algorithms in greater detail. When adding work, load imbalance on real-world graphs can be pronounced: latencies for the 99th percentile were 8–128× than the corresponding average latencies. Our results help analysts and developers understand the performance implications of this important pattern, especially for the impending exascale platforms.
Neutron Diffraction Studies of Bacteriorhodopsin Structure

Halobacterium halobium is a microorganism that can survive only in solutions containing more than 12% salt (1). When oxygen supplies become limited, the organism synthesizes a specialized region in the plasma membrane that converts visible light energy into an electrochemical gradient by pumping protons across the plasma membrane out of the cell (2). This specialized membrane can be isolated in a stable form at low ionic strength (3,4) and is known as the purple membrane by virtue of its strong pigmentation. Purple membrane is 75% protein and only 25% lipid. The single protein species whose retinal prosthetic group is responsible for the purple color is called bacteriorhodopsin, by analogy with the vertebrate visual pigments. As shown by x-ray diffraction studies, bacteriorhodopsin exists in a hexagonal lattice in the plane of the membrane bilayer, and the packing arrangement is described by the two-dimensional crystallographic space group p3 (5).
Three-dimensional sperm surface reconstruction: a novel approach to assessing sperm morphology.

Objective To create a rapid, inexpensive, efficient, and reproducible real-time three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of viable spermatozoa. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormal semen profiles are associated with a modest increase in the frequency of sperm chromosomal abnormalities, and that sperm with aberrations in the shape and contours of the head may be carriers of chromatinic defects. Although high-power magnification and enhanced video-generated magnification have been suggested, these techniques are inherently limited by the clarity of the image, the time required for the analysis, and the risk of variable head-positioning during imaging. Design In vitro experiment. Setting University-affiliated infertility research laboratory. Patient(s) Anonymous sperm donors. Intervention(s) Individual motile sperm were identified, analyzed at ×600 magnification, and a 10-second digital video was obtained. Main Outcome Measure(s) Image-tracking software captured serial photographs of sperm from recorded videos. Images were automatically extracted from each video frame using enhanced correlation coefficient maximization; the general shape of the sperm was extracted via space-carving. The reconstructed image was rotated to permit viewing from any direction, and the final image was rendered through interpolation. Result(s) This technique yielded images that enable noninvasive, 3-D, real-time, in vitro assessment of sperm surface morphology. Conclusion(s) This proof-of-principle demonstrates that by keeping spermatozoa in a fluid environment, a 3-D sperm–surface reconstruction can be created. This technique can be automated, requires minimal computing power, and utilizes equipment already available in most embryology laboratories.
Antibodies Highly Effective in SCID Mice During Infection by the Intracellular Bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis Are of Picomolar Affinity and Exhibit Preferential Epitope and Isotype Utilization

Although often considered to be ineffective against intracellular bacteria, Abs, in the absence of lymphocytes, have been shown previously to protect SCID mice from lethal infection by the obligate intracellular bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis, even when administered well after infection has been established. To identify characteristics of Abs that are critical for host defense during this intracellular infection, a panel of Ehrlichia-specific mAbs was generated and analyzed. Among 100 Abs recovered, 39 recognized an amino-terminal hypervariable region of an outer membrane protein (OMP), demonstrating that the OMPs are both antigenically variable and immunodominant. A subset of 16 representative OMP-specific Abs was further examined to identify characteristics that were essential for in vivo efficacy. The highly effective Abs recognized a linear epitope within the first hypervariable region of OMP-1g. Only IgG were found to be effective, and among the effective IgG, the following hierarchy was observed: IgG2a > IgG3 = IgG2b. The most striking characteristics of the highly effective Abs were their picomolar binding affinities and long binding t(1/2). Thus, although epitope recognition and isotype use may contribute to efficacy, high affinity may be a critical characteristic of Abs that can act effectively during this intracellular bacterial infection.
Intrarater and interrater reliability of the pediatric arteriovenous malformation compactness score in children.

Object Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) have a higher postresection recurrence rate in children than in adults. The authors' previous study demonstrated that a diffuse AVM (low compactness score) predicts postresection recurrence. The aims of this study were to evaluate the intra- and interrater reliability of the AVM compactness score. Methods Angiograms of 24 patients assigned a preoperative compactness score (scale of 1–3; 1 = most diffuse, 3 = most compact) in the authors' previous study were rerated by the same pediatric neuroradiologist 9 months later. A pediatric neurosurgeon, pediatric neuroradiology fellow, and interventional radiologist blinded to each other's ratings, the original ratings, and AVM recurrence also rated each AVM's compactness. Intrarater and interrater reliability were calculated using the κ statistic. Results Of the 24 AVMs, scores by the original neuroradiologist were 1 in 6 patients, 2 in 16 patients, and 3 in 2 patients. Intrarater reliability was 1.0. The κ stati...
Pricing Strategies of Mobile Apps and Their Effects on Piracy: An Empirical Study

Although the price of a digital product was identified as one of the determinants of committing digital piracy in the previous studies, the relationship between the price and the level of piracy has not been empirically tested with real market data. This study investigates the impact of price related factors on digital piracy in the context of the mobile app market. Particularly, it seeks to study the impact of app price, in-app purchase option, and free version on the level of app piracy. The results suggest that app price has a positive impact on the number of downloads of pirated apps while offering free version has a negative impact In addition, the number of downloads is more associated with the price for utility apps than game apps. Different from expectation, however, having in-app purchase option does not have a significant impact on the number of downloads of pirated apps.
Guided Forward Search in Tardiness Scheduling of Large One Machine Problems

Giant telescopes need a very high quality pilot telescope to guide them. Similarly, we show here that advanced heuristics for large one machine problems for the weighted tardiness objective also benefit from outstanding guide heuristics. These advanced heuristics can be categorized as having middle or high computational requirements. In other applications, forward algorithms and planning horizon procedures have reduced problems that are high-order polynomial to a complexity that is linear or quadratic in the time horizon; we achieve this here as well for these advanced procedures. We first develop X-dispatch bottleneck dynamics heuristics that allow for inserted idleness which we use as guide heuristics (low computation); next we develop forward algorithm neighborhood search (middle computation) and tabu search methods (high computation). Extensive testing and comparisons with other heuristics are reported. Extensions to job shops and other objectives are planned.
Double-Layer Silicon Photonic Crystal Fiber-Tip Temperature Sensors

This letter describes the manufacture and performance of a monolithic double-layer silicon photonic crystal temperature sensor. The sensor is fabricated on standard silicon wafers using oxide passivation and a combination of isotropic and anisotropic etching, and mounted on the facet of a standard single-mode optical fiber using template-assisted epoxy bonding. The double-layer configuration leads to coupling of the guided resonances in the two photonic crystals and enables sharper resonances and consequently higher temperature sensitivity and better detection limit (0.011 °C) than the single-layer counterpart. We experimentally demonstrate that the sensor has a twofold increased temperature sensitivity in terms of reflectivity change at a fixed wavelength (-0.00576/°C), and report on electromagnetic simulations explaining the enhanced sensor operation. The photonic crystal fabrication method and template-assisted bonding enable batch-fabrication of the sensors. Their small size, robust construction, and fiber interface make the sensors promising for numerous applications, including sensing in harsh environments.
A new suppressor of a lamB signal sequence mutation, prlZ1, maps to 69 minutes on the Escherichia coli chromosome.

Abstract Reversion analysis has been employed to isolate suppressors that restore export of a unique LamB signal sequence mutant. The mutation results in a substitution of Arg for Met at position 19, which prevents LamB export to the outer membrane and leads to a Dex- phenotype. Unlike other LamB signal sequence mutants utilized for reversion analysis, LamB19R becomes stably associated with the inner membrane in an export-specific manner. In this study, Dex+ revertants were selected and various suppressors were isolated. One of the extragenic suppressors, designated prlZ1, was chosen for further study. prlZ1 maps to 69 min on the Escherichia coli chromosome. The suppressor is dominant and SecB dependent. In addition to its effect on lamB19R, prlZ1 suppresses the export defect of signal sequence point mutations at positions 12, 15, and 16, as well as several point mutations in the maltose-binding protein signal sequence. prlZ1 does not suppress deletion mutations in either signal sequence. This pattern of suppression can be explained by interaction of a helical LamB signal sequence with the suppressor.
The Media’s Sexual Objectification of Women, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Interpersonal Violence

A new trend has emerged in print advertisements by which women’s bodies are literally morphed into objects. This study begins to explore this phenomenon by examining the effects of viewing these types of advertisements on attitudes toward rape and violence, as well as rape likelihood. In addition, this study examined the degree to which moral disengagement and dehumanization influences rape likelihood through rape myth acceptance. Three hundred eighty participants viewed 1 of 3 conditions—control, sexual objectification of women, or women as objects—and then filled out a number of questionnaires to assess their rape myth acceptance, acceptance of interpersonal violence, rape likelihood, and moral disengagement. Results indicated that although viewing sexually objectified women in advertising did not increase any of the dependent variables for individuals in the experimental conditions compared to the control condition, there was a main effect of sex for several dependent measures, as well as a full mediat...
Tobacco mosaic virus protein synthesis is correlated with double-stranded RNA synthesis and not single-stranded RNA synthesis

Abstract The synthesis rates of three proteins of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), 160, 110, and 17.5 kDa, were monitored at intervals after interruption of synthesis of TMV RNA. Following inhibition of synthesis of both single-stranded and double-stranded RNAS by shifting wild type TMV to 40° or is mutant III 2 -35 to 35°, the synthesis rates of viral proteins declined sequentially, with that of the larger proteins declining faster. When viral RNA synthesis was prevented with cordycepin, synthesis rates of the 110 and 160-kDa proteins declined rapidly, while the 17.5-kDa protein decreased more slowly. These data imply that the functional mRNA is transitory, probably nascent RNA, and that each protein is produced independently. The process of translation of viral mRNA was not temperature sensitive and occurred normally for brief periods after shift to restrictive temperatures. When single-stranded RNA synthesis was inhibited differentially from double-stranded RNA synthesis, protein synthesis was correlated with double-stranded RNA synthesis and not single-stranded RNA synthesis. Following a shift of is mutant IV-35 to 35°, a shift that immediately stopped single-stranded RNA synthesis without inhibiting double-stranded RNA synthesis, all three viral proteins continued to be produced normally. Also, after return of wild type TMV to 25° after a 1-hr incubation at 40°, viral protein and double-stranded RNA synthesis recovered in parallel to the normal rate after 8 hr whereas single-stranded RNA synthesis, which had been reduced more drastically, recovered more slowly after 16 hr.
A Novel Method for the Peripheral Modification of Phthalocyanines. Synthesis and Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Absorption of β-Tetrakis(2,3,4,5,6-pentaphenylbenzene)phthalocyanine

The title compound, β-tetrakis(2,3,4,5,6-pentaphenylbenzene) phthalocyanine, was prepared by cyclotetramerization of 4-(2,3,4,5,6-pentaphenylbenzene)phthalonitrile, in the presence of hydroquinone. The phthalonitrile derivative was synthesized by a Diels−Alder reaction between 4-(phenylethynyl)phthalonitrile and tetracyclone. This methodology was also extended to alkoxy (butyloxy and dodecyloxy)-substituted polyphenylated phthalocyanines and metallophthalocyanines. The polyphenylated design renders the Pcs soluble in common organic solvents. degenerate four-wave mixing studies of the phthalocyanine in dioxane gave χ(3) = 0.52 × 10-10 esu and 〈γ〉 = 6.12 × 10-32 esu, measured at 1064 nm.
Investigations of particle size and number density in advanced energy systems

In MHD power plants, significant amounts of seed and slag particles are present in the combustion gas. The existence of these particles will significantly affect the performance of MHD components. Therefore, it is essential to be able to measure or predict the spectrum of the particle size and number density. A series of experimental tests has been conducted to measure the particle sizes and number densities of seed arid fly-ash particles by using two-color laser transmissometry. The measured values have been compared with the predictions from a theoretical model, and a reasonable qualitative agreement has been obtained between measurement and theory. The present work has demonstrated our ability to measure and predict particle evolution in MHD environments.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses: a review of viral genomes, viral induced host immune responses, genotypic distributions and worldwide epidemiology

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses (HCV) are frequently propagating blood borne pathogens in global community. Viral hepatitis is primarily associated with severe health complications, such as liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic fibrosis and steatosis. A literature review was conducted on hepatitis B virus (HBV), HBV genome, genotypic distribution and global epidemiology of HBV, HCV, HCV genome, HCV and host immune responses, HCV genotypic distribution and global epidemiology. The valued information was subjected for review. HBV has strict tissue tropism to liver. The virus infecting hepatocytes produces large amount of hepatitis B surface antigen particles which lack the DNA. It has capability to integrate into host genome. It has been found that genotype C is most emerging genotype associated with more severe liver diseases (cirrhosis). The approximate prevalence rate of genotype C is 27.7% which represents a major threat to future generations. Approximately 8% of population is chronic carrier of HBV in developing countries. The chronic carrier rate of HBV is 2%-7% in Middle East, Eastern and Southern Europe, South America and Japan. Among HCV infected individuals, 15% usually have natural tendency to overcome acute viral infection, where as 85% of individuals were unable to control HCV infection. The internal ribosomal entry site contains highly conserved structures important for binding and appropriate positioning of viral genome inside the host cell. HCV infects only in 1%-10% of hepatocytes, but production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (from CD8+ cells) and interferon-gamma cause destruction of both infected cells and non-infected surrounding cells. Almost 11 genotypes and above 100 subtypes of HCV exists worldwide with different geographical distribution. Many efforts are still needed to minimize global burden of these infections. For the complete eradication of HBV (just like small pox and polio) via vaccination strategies, sincere efforts would be required from government and nongovernmental organizations.
ARE DERMATOLOGISTS GREEDY

Are dermatologists greedy? A better question: are doctors greedy? The most relevant question is this: why is the subject of physician greed ignored by organized medicine? Certainly, the public talks about physician greed. ''Fraud and Abuse Are Milking Medicare'' runs the headline in a recent magazine article that featured the subtitle, ''Dermatologist Removes a Simple Growth and Bills for Multiple Growths.'' 1 The question remains: why, despite the present uproar over escalating medical care costs, does the medical profession fail to engage the issue of inappropriate reimbursement? This article explores some of the reasons and possible remedies for our diffidence.
Cyclosporine treatment of refractory T‐cell lymphomas

Background. Cyclosporine (cyclosporin A, CSA) prolongs the survival of transplanted organs by reducing the transcription of cytokines, especially interleukin-2, that are thought to mediate T-cell expansion and subsequent graft rejection. Recently, CSA has been suggested as a potentially effective agent in the treatment of T-cell neoplasms. As a result, a Phase II trial of CSA was done in patients with refractory T-cell lymphomas. Methods. Patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) who had disease progression after at least one previous therapy were eligible for participation. CSA was administered orally at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg twice daily, and the patients were followed for disease response and toxicity. Results. A total of 16 patients were treated. Five patients had PTCL, and 11 had CTCL. Most patients were pretreated extensively with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. No responses occurred in patients with PTCL. Two of 11 patients with CTCL responded to therapy. Both patients who responded to CSA had recurrent disease that approached baseline levels within 1 week of discontinuing therapy. A second response occurred in both patients after reinstitution of therapy. Although most patients were removed from the study because of disease progression, renal toxicity was significant. Conclusions. Most patients with refractory T-cell lymphomas did not respond to CSA, suggesting that these malignancies are not interleukin-2 dependent or, alternatively, that CSA did not reach its intracellular target. In the two responding patients, the pattern of repeated rapid regression of disease after CSA administration and subsequent rapid recurrence after a temporary halt in therapy suggested that CSA was cytostatic rather than cytocidal or that the clinical remissions were mediated by the antiinflammatory effects of the drug.
Ethanol inhibition of adenosine 5'-triphosphate-activated current in freshly isolated adult rat hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Abstract The effect of ethanol on current activated by extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) was studied in freshly isolated adult rat hippocampal CA1 neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp recording. ATP activated an inward current with an EC 50 value of 18 μM. The inward current was also activated by 2-methylthio ATP (2-MeSATP) and α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-MeATP), inhibited by pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS), and potentiated by Zn 2+ . Ethanol inhibited current activated by 10 μM ATP with an IC 50 value of 83 mM in a voltage-independent manner. Ethanol, 100 mM, shifted the ATP concentration-response curve to the right, increasing the EC 50 value for ATP from 18 to 33 μM, but did not reduce the maximal response to ATP. The results suggest that ethanol can inhibit the function of P2X receptors in adult rat hippocampal neurons by decreasing the apparent affinity of the binding site for ATP.
Image-intensifier-based volume CT imager: angiographic application

A prototype voluiie CT irnager has been tested using a vascular phantom. This systen consists of a fixed x-ray tube a conventional image intensifier coupled to a chargecoupled device (CCD) camera a computer-controlled turntable on which phantons are placed and a digital computer with a graphics station. To explore the imaging performance of the system for reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) vascular structure a set of subtraction projections of a vascular phantom acquired over 25 projection angles with two different sizes of image intensifiers were digitized. Then these data were reconstructed using two iterative algorithms specially designed for 3D vascular structures. The quality of the reconstructed vascular images indicates that the system can offer adequate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for direct 3D vascular reconstruction when only a few subtraction projections are used assuming intraarterial injection of contrast. The results also suggest that the iterative vascular reconstruction algorithms work well for direct 3D vascular reconstruction. 1.
Association between locomotor response to novelty and light reinforcement: Sensory reinforcement as a rodent model of sensation seeking

Background The human personality trait of sensation seeking (SS) indicates an attraction to novel sensations and experiences, and is associated with greater likelihood of drug abuse. In rodents, locomotor activity in a novel environment (Loco) has been found to predict drug self-administration (SA), and has been hypothesized to be a translational model of human SS. Previously, we reported (Gancarz et al., 2011 [12]) that high responder (HR) animals responded more than low responder (LR) animals to produce a response contingent light onset. The primary goal of this paper was a detailed analysis of the association between Loco and light contingent responding in a large sample of rats (n = 93).
Studies of TMGa adsorption on thin GaAs and InAs (001) layers

Abstract Adsorption of TMGa on thin overlayers of GaAs/AlAs and InAs/InP structures is investigated. The number of Ga monolayers is determined precisely from such structures for various TMGa exposures. Slower reaction rates for TMGa on Ga-stabilized surfaces compared to As-stabilized surfaces result in the self limiting mechanism of atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) using TMGa. On the other hand, adsorption of TMGa on InAs (001) surfaces involves more than the very top layer atoms. Exchange of In/Ga is observed with In atoms floating on top of the surface, which enhances Ga atom formation and impedes saturation as in the case of GaAs surfaces.
Receptor Inducing Protein-2 (RIP-2) Deficiency is Neuroprotective Against Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in Newborn Mice

Receptor Inducing Protein-2 (RIP-2) Deficiency is Neuroprotective Against Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in Newborn Mice
The Process of Assisted Negotiations: A Network Analysis

This article introduces network analysis as a supplement to current research on the process of negotiations. We briefly review the literature on negotiations involving third parties, and argue that to understand fully the dynamics of dispute resolution, it is important to examine processes in addition to outcomes. We propose social network methods as a way to examine systematically the step-by-step process through which self-interested third parties influence negotiated outcomes. To illustrate, we analyze process data from triads in an agent-assisted negotiation. We describe three classes of results. First, we describe the basic properties of the third-party-assisted negotiation process (e.g., we found agents to be the most active players in the negotiation process - they initiate interactions significantly more frequently than buyers or sellers). Second, we study the changes in the process characteristics due to experimental conditions (i.e., we found the interactive patterns to vary depending on the information made available to the third party). Finally, we examine the relationships between the systematic process measures and standard outcome measures. We argue that these measures are complementary, and that the process should be informative with respect to interpreting, predicting, and managing outcomes.
Interactions among carnosine, anserine, ophidine and copper in biochemical adaptation☆

Abstract Recent findings indicate that carnosine, anserine and ophidine should chelate copper in the tissues where these dipeptides are present in high concentration. The observations that carnosine, anserine and ophidine are located in skeletal muscles exhibiting active oxidative metabolism and/or glycolysis and that their accumulation appears to occur ontogenetically at the same time as these tissues begin to function suggests that these dipeptides may be involved in the intracellular transport of copper for activation of cytochrome oxidase at the end of the electron transport chain and in the regulation of anaerobic glycolysis. This hypothesis provides explanations for the presence of ophidine in the skeletal muscle of whale, the presence of anserine in the flight muscles of birds, the regulatory mechanism that permits orderly replacement of the primary olfactory neuron within the nasal olfactory epithelium, and the high activity of carnosinase in the uterus.
Paraoxonase activity in the serum and hepatic mRNA levels decrease during the acute phase response

Numerous epidemiological studies have suggested an association between the acute phase response and atherosclerosis. Paraoxonase (PON) is an HDL associated enzyme that protects LDL from oxidative stress. Here we demonstrate that serum PON activity decreases following endotoxin (LPS) administration in Syrian hamsters. This decrease is seen within 24 h following LPS treatment and doses as low as 100 ng/100 g body weight of LPS elicit a reduction in serum PON activity. LPS also induces a marked decrease in PON1 mRNA in the liver (80% decrease). The decrease in mRNA levels is observed as early as 4 h and is sustained for at least 48 h after a single LPS treatment. Moreover, TNF and IL-1, cytokines which mediate the acute phase response, also decrease serum PON activity and PON mRNA levels in the liver. Additionally, TNF and IL-1 treatment of HepG2 cells results in a decrease in PON mRNA levels indicating that these cytokines are capable of directly affecting liver cells. Along with other changes in lipid metabolism that occur during the acute phase response, the decrease in PON could be another factor linking the acute phase response with increased atherogenesis.
Atomic force microscopy measurement of the elastic properties of the kidney epithelial cells.

Abstract Direct interaction force measurements using atomic force microscopy (AFM) were carried out between a silicon nitride tip and renal epithelial cells (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney-MDCK and proximal tubular epithelial cells derived from pig kidneys, LLC-PK1). The approaching (extending) portion of the force/distance curves is considered, and repulsive forces in the long range of 2–3 μm were seen in both MDCK as well as LLC-PK1 cells growing under normal conditions. The repulsive force in the shorter distance range of 50–200 nm was also observed, when cells were damaged exposing the underlying basal membrane. LLC-PK1 cells were more prone to damage than the MDCK cells, hence short-range forces were common in the former and long-range forces in the latter cells. The functional dependence of repulsive force on the indentation depth changes, at small indentation depth the force increases linearly, while at larger indentations the force is a quadratic function of the distance, which is attributed to the elasticity of the membrane and the solid-like response of cells, respectively. The oxalate treatment of cells for 2–4 h gives rise to an increase in the elastic modulus of the cells.
The Semantics of άοιδός and Related Compounds: Towards a Historical Poetics of Solo Performance in Archaic Greece

The article shows that in the Archaic period the Greeks did not possess a term equivalent to Classical ποιητής ““poet-composer.”” The principal meaning of the word άοιδός, often claimed to correspond to ποιητής and modern English poet , was ““tuneful”” (adj.) or ““singer”” (subst.). The secondary meaning ““poet working in the hexameter medium”” is limited to the post-Iliadic hexameter corpus. It is furthermore possible to show that the simplex άοιδός was backderived from a compound. More specifically, following Hermann Koller, I propose that the secondary meaning, being an epic innovation, developed from the compound *θeσπιαοιδός ““singer of things divine,”” whereas the primary meaning ““singer”” may go back to έπαοιδός, which later acquired the specialized meaning ““singer of incantations.””
Rectal Foreign Bodies: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract Introduction Rectal foreign bodies (RFB) present the modern surgeon with a difficult management dilemma, as the type of object, host anatomy, time from insertion, associated injuries and amount of local contamination may vary widely. Reluctance to seek medical help and to provide details about the incident often makes diagnosis difficult. Management of these patients may be challenging, as presentation is usually delayed after multiple attempts at removal by the patients themselves have proven unsuccessful. Presentation of case In this article we report the case of a male who presented with a large ovoid rectal object wedged into his pelvis. As we were unable to extract the object with routine transanal and laparotomy approach, we performed a pubic symphysiotomy that helped widen the pelvic inlet and allow transanal extraction. Discussion We review currently available literature on RFB and propose an evaluation and management algorithm of patients that present with RFB. Conclusion Management of patients with rectal foreign bodies can be challenging and a systematic approach should be employed. The majority of cases can be successfully managed conservatively, but occasional surgical intervention is warranted. If large objects, tightly wedged in the pelvis cannot be removed with laparotomy, pubic symphysiotomy should be considered.
Transformation-sensitive Cells in G2/M-phase are Not Promoted by TPA Following 137Cs γ-rays

Mouse C3H 10T1/2 cells are most sensitive to radiation-induced neoplastic transformation in the G2/M-phase of the cell cycle. When synchronized 10T1/2 cells were exposed to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) after irradiation, transformation of cells not in the transformation-sensitive window was enhanced, but transformation of cells already in the transformation-sensitive window was not. Earlier work showed that (a) TPA enhances the frequency of transformation of both high and low dose-rate γ-irradiated cells by about the same factor, but that (b) TPA enhances the transformation of cells exposed to low dose-rate fission spectrum neutrons appreciably less than cells exposed to high dose-rate fission spectrum neutrons. The latter observation is consistent with the inability of TPA to promote cells in the transformation-sensitive window and with the role of such cells in enhancing transformation by protracted doses of neutrons. The data provide a cellular basis for studying the biochemical/molecular aspe...
Psychological Kinds and `Discourse Dependence' A Reply to Martin and Sugarman

In this reply to Martin and Sugarman (2009), I challenge two of their core assertions: (a) that on my view acts of interpretation (which contain linguistic, discursive, or conceptual elements) can in principle yield only subjective psychological knowledge; and (b) that because humans are socioculturally situated beings, we cannot make claims about human psychological existence that are objective in the conventional sense that I and others use the term “objective.” I reject both of these assertions. In Psychology's Interpretive Turn (Held, 2007), I instead argue that (a) interpretive acts can in principle help us attain objective psychological knowledge, and (b) because humans are not “simply” “what they interpret themselves as being, within their historical and sociocultural contexts” (Martin & Sugarman, 2009, p. 116), an objectivist ontology and epistemology of human social/ psychological kinds can obtain.
The Nucleosome Remodeling Factor

An essential component of the chromatin remodeling machinery is NURF (Nucleosome Remodeling Factor), the founding member of the ISWI family of chromatin remodeling complexes. In vertebrates and invertebrates alike, NURF has many important functions in chromatin biology including regulating transcription, establishing boundary elements, and promoting higher order chromatin structure. Since NURF is essential to many aspects of chromatin biology, knowledge of its function is required to fully understand how the genome is regulated. This review will summarize what is currently known of its biological functions, conservation in the most prominent model organisms, biochemical functions as a nucleosome remodeling enzyme, and its possible relevance to human cancer.
Growth of Large Monocrystals of Al2O3 by a Gradient Furnace Technique.

Abstract Up-scaling of the gradient furnace technique has resulted in the growth of large monocrystals of Al2O3 up to 15 cm in diameter, 6.8 cm in height, and 4.5 kg in weight.
An empirical evaluation of undo mechanisms

While various models of undo have been proposed over the years, no empirical study has yet been done to discover which model of undo most closely aligns with what users expect an undo command should do. In this paper, we discuss the results of such a study that compares the ubiquitous linear undo model with two variations of selective undo: script selective and cascading selective. Unlike the script model, cascading selective undo takes into account dependencies between user actions. Our study shows that, for the application studied, when a user is asked to perform undo in the absence of any guidance, the user will tend to gravitate toward an undo mechanism that uses existing dependencies between user actions. Specifically, we show that subjects prefer the dependency-aware aspects of cascading undo over either linear or script selective undo.
Educating Older Adults about Medicare: The Role of Cognitive Variables

ABSTRACT A survey was conducted on 3,738 beneficiaries about their knowledge of the Medicare program as well as their reading habits, reading comprehension ability, and metamemory. Factor analysis yielded a reading and a metamemory factor. These factors explained variance in knowledge about Medicare above and beyond the variance explained by formal education. Individuals with good knowledge of memory processes, and those who reported high memory capacity and internal locus of control regarding their memory functioning, as well as frequent readers were more knowledgeable about Medicare. We suggest that cognitive variables be included in studies evaluating the effectiveness of educational materials for older adults.
The kinetics of CO2 hydrogenation on a Rh foil promoted by titania overlayers

Submonolayer deposits of titania on a Rh foil have been found to increase the rate of CO2 hydrogenation. The primary product, methane, exhibits a maximum rate at a TiOx coverage of 0.5 ML which is a factor of 15 higher than that over the clean Rh surface. The rate of ethane formation displays a maximum which is 70 times that over the unpromoted Rh foil; however, the selectivity for methane remains in excess of 99%. The apparent activation energy for methane formation and the dependence of the rate on H2 and CO2 partial pressure have been determined both for the bare Rh surface and the titania-promoted surface. These rate parameters show very small variations as titania is added to the Rh catalyst. The methanation of CO2 is proposed to start with the dissociation of CO2 into CO(a) and O(a), and then proceed through steps which are identical to those for the hydrogenation of CO. The increase in the rate of CO2 hydrogenation in the presence of titania is attributed to an interaction between the adsorbed CO, released by CO2 dissociation, and Ti3+ ions located at the edge of TiOx islands covering the surface. Differences in the effects of titania promotion on the methanation of CO2 and CO are discussed in terms of the mechanisms that have been proposed for these two reactions.
Dollar Spot Resistant Hybrids between Creeping Bentgrass and Colonial Bentgrass

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) is an important turfgrass species used extensively on golf courses. It is highly susceptible to the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett, the causal agent of dollar spot disease. There is a wide range in degree of susceptibility among current cultivars, with a limited number that have improved resistance. Colonial bentgrass (A. capillaris L.), a related species, has good resistance to dollar spot. We have produced interspecific hybrids between creeping bentgrass and colonial bentgrass and field-tested them against dollar spot. Some of the hybrids had excellent dollar spot resistance, exhibiting essentially no disease symptoms. This is the first formal report of evaluation of interspecific hybrids between creeping bentgrass and colonial bentgrass for an agronomically important trait. The results presented here suggest that the use of interspecific hybrids may be a useful new approach in Agrostis breeding programs.
Growth rates of dike-fed plutons: Are they compatible with observations in the middle and upper crust?

Diapirism and dike-fed expansion are two popular models for the ascent and emplacement of large batches of granitoid magma into the middle and upper crust. Many structural and petrologic relationships in and around plutons can be cited as permissive evidence for either model, and so it has been difficult to differentiate between them on these grounds. Here we consider wall-rock strain rates resulting from dike-fed expansion at a constant-volume pluton-filling rate. Considering end-member pluton shapes and dike flow rates, and dikes 1 km in plan length, the dike-fed expansion model predicts wall-rock strain rates over the entire pluton-growth period that are up to six orders of magnitude faster than the fastest accepted regional tectonic strain rates (10 213 s 21 ). Strain rates in the very early stages of growth can reach values several orders of magnitude faster. Our results suggest that evidence for or against very fast strain rates in deformation aureoles around plutons may form a key criterion for identifying dike-fed expansion. On the other hand, our ability to extract strain-rate information from pluton aureoles is currently extremely limited.