cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and Realization of Virtual Education Training System for Sugarcane Cultivation Based on Unity3D

China is one of the largest sugarcane cultivation countries.Education training courses for sugarcane cultivation is conducted in vocational colleges of agriculture and forestry universities.On account of the shortcomings of the conventional sugarcane education and training,such as long cycles,high costs,boring teaching methods,few practice opportunities,etc.,we carried out studies on key technology of sugarcane interactive virtual simulation,sugarcane growth modeling,sugarcane planting real-time visualization simulation,etc.Method for designing sugarcane virtual education training system based on timing driven was provided,taking the concept of "watching animation,learning knowledge,playing games,and mastering skill"throughout the whole teaching process.Thus,taking Unity3 D as a development platform,we realized the virtual display of sugarcane growth cycle and interactive experience function.This system took virtualization to reform the traditional education,and provided new teaching ideas for modern vocational and technical education in agriculture,thus had comprehensive upgrading of the students' technical skill level.
Robert Wartenberg and the American Academy of Neurology

Robert Wartenberg (1887-1956) was born in Grodno (in present-day Belarus) and received his medical degree in Germany in 1919. He enjoyed a productive career at the University of Freiburg until 1935, when he fled Nazi Germany for the United States. Bernard Sachs, with whom he had worked during a Rockefeller fellowship in 1926, helped him secure a position at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco in 1936. He was popular with students there as his sizeable personality translated into an engaging classroom style, but that same personality could create friction with colleagues. Following World War II, neurology as a specialty was growing and establishing its place in the medical landscape. With this goal in mind, A.B. Baker and other young neurologic leaders formed the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in 1948 as an inclusive professional society. Baker recruited Wartenberg to join, he agreed, and immediately provided his own critiques on the organization. Wartenberg's standing in the academic community combined with his strong personality would serve Baker well as Wartenberg shielded the young AAN leadership from potential retribution. He was especially invested in ensuring the Academy had a journal as a means of development, and the journal Neurology® was born. Wartenberg died on November 16, 1956, and was honored for his service to the Academy with the Robert Wartenberg Memorial Lecture, which stands today as one of the principal events at the Annual Meeting.
The Potential Impact of Legalization of Recreational Cannabis among Current Users: A Qualitative Inquiry.

Given legislative initiatives in Rhode Island pertaining to consideration of cannabis legalization for recreational purpose, a qualitative inquiry was conducted regarding anticipated changes in use...
Concepts for Life-Cycle Solution Provision

Having laid out a vision and a sustainable strategy for a financial services provider in the (Post) Information Age in the preceding chapter, two important concepts will now be presented and discussed that may facilitate and contribute to the implementation of the strategy described above. The first one, acontent modelfor the financial services market, aims at keeping a customer better informed about financial services by facilitating the individualization of finance-related content distribution, thus contributing to solving afinancial problem in the broader sensewith respect to information needs. The second one, aproduct model, facilitates the process of generating an individualized solution to a customer’sfinancial problem in the narrower sense,i.e. the need for an intertemporal liquidity distribution.
Evolutionary Psychology and the Propositional-Attitudes: Why the Cognitive Turn is a Wrong Turn

What is a propositional-attitude and why does it appear to be important to psychology? A diverse array of philosophers and psychologists—although they agree on little else—assure us that explanation in psychology can not exist without a strong commitment to such attitudes. In a nutshell, ‘propositional-attitude’ refers to a model of mental life that is presented as though the structure of thought is that of sentences. Jerry Fodor, foremost among the various advocates of this commitment, has stated the case for the centrality of propositional-attitudes, first in his seminal Language of Thought (Fodor 1975), and then again in his reprisal, LOT 2 (Fodor 2008).
Regulation of neutrophil superoxide by antichymotrypsin-chymotrypsin complexes.

The ability of neutrophils to generate free radicals is a crucial component of host defense (Babior, B. M. (1978) N. Engl. J. Med. 298, 659-668, 721-725. Neutrophil oxidants, however, can cause significant host tissue destruction (Weiss, S. J. (1989) N. Engl. J. Med. 320, 365-376), and the regulation of free radical production is not well understood. We have previously shown that recombinant antichymotrypsin (rACT), a serine protease inhibitor, inhibits superoxide production in intact neutrophils (Kilpatrick, L., Johnson, J. L., Nickbarg, E. B., Wang, Z., Clifford, T. F., Banach, M., Cooperman, B. S., Douglas, S. D., and Rubin, H. (1991) J. Immunol. 146, 2388-2393). Using a cell-free NADPH oxidase preparation, we now demonstrate that rACT alone has no effect on superoxide production and that antichymotrypsin-chymotrypsin (rACT.CT) complexes are required to inhibit superoxide, suggesting that neutrophil chymotrypsin-like proteases produce conformational changes in ACT, allowing it to become active in regulating superoxide production. Additionally, we have identified NADPH oxidase itself as the target for rACT.CT and have demonstrated that rACT.CT interferes specifically with activation of the NADPH oxidase without changing the Km for NADPH or the rate constant describing the rate-limiting step in activation. These observations suggest an important role for antichymotrypsin in the regulation of NADPH-oxidase activation, which is a prerequisite for neutrophil superoxide production, and predict possible therapeutic uses for rACT in conditions where unregulated neutrophil-free radical production has been implicated in the mechanism of tissue destruction.
Modeling sustainable reuse of nitrogen-laden wastewater by poplar

Numerical modeling was used to simulate the leaching of nitrogen (N) to groundwater as a consequence of irrigating food processing wastewater onto grass and poplar under various management scenarios. Under current management practices for a large food processor, a simulated annual N loading of 540 kg ha(-1) yielded 93 kg ha(-1) of N leaching for grass and no N leaching for poplar during the growing season. Increasing the annual growing season N loading to approximately 1,550 kg ha(-1) for poplar only, using "weekly", "daily" and "calculated" irrigation scenarios, yielded N leaching of 17 kg ha(-1), 6 kg ha(-1), and 4 kg ha(-1), respectively. Constraining the simulated irrigation schedule by the current onsite wastewater storage capacity of approximately 757 megaliters (Ml) yielded N leaching of 146 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) while storage capacity scenarios of 3,024 and 4,536 Ml yielded N leaching of 65 and 13 kg ha(-1) yr(-1), respectively, for a loading of 1,550 kg ha(-1) yr(-1). Further constraining the model by the current wastewater storage volume and the available land area (approximately 1,000 hectares) required a "diverse" irrigation schedule that was predicted to leach a weighted average of 13 kg-N ha(-1) yr(-1) when dosed with 1,063 kg-N ha(-1) yr(-1).
Initial evaluation of the new real-time tracking gradiometer designed for small unmanned underwater vehicles

The shallow water localization of buried mines places increased emphasis on sensor and sensor platform size and maneuverability. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has funded a number of projects to develop efficient buried minehunting capabilities. In particular, they are supporting the development of two Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) designed specifically for shallow water minehunting. In addition, the ONR has funded the development of two magnetic sensors for use on these UUV's. This paper documents the recent progress that has been made in operating one of these sensors, the uuv-Real-time Tracking Gradiometer (uuv-RTG) underwater and in motion. The new uuv-RTG, with a 165 mm baseline, consists of four, 3-axis fluxgate magnetometers, each located within a 3-axis Helmholtz coil. The coils on the fourth magnetometer are not connected to allow its use as a reference sensor that provides magnetic feedback to the other three sensors. The feedback developed by the reference sensor is used to null the signals caused by motion, allowing the three primary sensors to operate at low noise levels in large magnetic fields. These three magnetometers are then used to develop six gradients, five of which are independent. With the appropriate software algorithms, this system is able to provide useful range and bearing to ferromagnetic targets, as well as their magnetic moment. Initial evaluation of RTG technology underwater was accomplished by installing a field prototype RTG (RTG-fp) with a 305 mm baseline, onboard a towed, low mag sled designed by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for their Buried Object Scanning Sonar (BOSS II). The RTG-fp operating in unison with the BOSS II system on the BOSS sled, provided limited but useful data regarding its performance and ability to be fused with a sonar, such as the BOSS II. Prior to their planned integration in late 2005, the new generation uuv-RTG and the BOSS III are currently undergoing performance testing on individual AUVs called Bluefin 12s. Operating a magnetic sensor onboard a small AUVs such as the 324 mm diameter Bluefin 12 is especially difficult. This is due, not only to the close proximity of the magnetometers to multiple magnetic interference sources that are integral to the vehicle, but also to magnetic interference generated by other sensors that are present and share the same payload section. An extensive noise mitigation package consisting of three, 3-axis magnetometers and 2 current sensors were installed on the Bluefin 12 to mitigate this problem. The uuv-RTG is currently being magnetically characterized. Once the characterization is completed, it will be integrated with BOSS III on a winged version of the Bluefin 12. Here it will be evaluated both independently and in fusion with the BOSS III.
A Weak Constraint 4D-Var Assimilation System for the Navy Coastal Ocean Model Using the Representer Method

A 4D-Variational system was recently developed for assimilating ocean observations with the Navy Coastal Ocean Model. It is described here, along with initial assimilation experiments in the Monterey Bay using a combination of real and synthetic ocean observations. For testing a new assimilation system it is advantageous to use this combination of real and synthetic data over simplified cases of climatology and twin data. Assimilation experiments are carried out in a weak constraint formulation, with the model’s external forcing assumed to be erroneous in addition to initial conditions. The system’s ability to fit assimilated and non assimilated observations is assessed, as well as the consistency and relevance of the retrieved model forcing. Experiment results show that the assimilation system fits the data with relatively high prior errors in the initial conditions and surface forcing fluxes. However, the retrieved model forcing errors are well within the range of acceptable corrections according to an independent study.
Osmolytes and Cell-Volume Regulation: Physiological and Evolutionary Principles

The sections in this article are: 1 What Makes a Solute an Osmolyte? 2 The Basic Osmoregulatory Response: Conservation Paired with Change 3 Osmolyte Taxonomy: Evolutionary Convergence and Conservation 3.1 The Discovery of Organic Osmolytes 3.2 Polyols and Sugars 3.3 Free Amino Acids and Their Derivatives 3.4 Methylated Ammonium and Sulfonium Compounds 3.5 Urea and Urea with Methylamines 4 Osmolyte Effects: Perturbation, Stabilization, and Compatibility 4.1 Changes in Concentrations of Inorganic Ions Are Generally Perturbing of Biochemical Systems 4.2 Organic Osmolyte Compatibility with Biochemical Functions In Vitro 4.3 Organic Osmolyte Compatibility with Protein Structure In Vitro 4.4 Compatibility of Organic Osmolytes: In Vivo and Cell Culture Studies 5 Organic Osmolyte Effects: Counteracting Solute Systems 5.1 Counteracting Solute Effects In Vitro 5.2 Urea Counteraction in Living Systems 5.3 Salt Counteraction (Haloprotection) 5.4 Exceptions to Counteraction 6 Regulation of Osmolyte Concentrations 6.1 Interspecific Similarities in Basic Regulatory Strategies 6.2 Osmolyte Regulation in Bacteria and Plants 6.3 Osmolyte Regulation in Invertebrates 6.4 Osmolyte Regulation in Lower Vertebrates 6.5 The Mammalian Kidney 6.6 Stress Protein Induction in Hyperosmotic Stress 7 Mechanisms of Solute Effects—and Non-Effects 7.1 The Hofmeister Series and Organic Osmolyte Structures 7.2 Preferential Exclusion of Compatible Osmolytes from the Protein Surface 7.3 Solute Interactions with Ligands in Solution 7.4 Nonreactivity of Modified Amino Acid Osmolytes 7.5 Monosaccharide Reactivity with Proteins 7.6 Favorable Effects of Compatible Solutes Not Related to Osmoregulation 7.7 Inorganic Ions: Perturbation and Compatibility 8 Evolutionary Perspectives 8.1 Macromolecular vs. “Micromolecular” Evolution 8.2 Evolution of Osmolyte Molecules: An Overview of Principles of Selection 8.3 Summary: The Adaptive Significance of Osmolyte System Evolution
A linear time algorithm for finding an ambitus

We devise a linear-time algorithm for finding an ambitus in an undirected graph. An ambitus is a cycle in a graph containing two distinguished vertices such that certain different groups of bridges (calledBitp-,BitQ-, andBitPQ-bridges) satisfy the property that a bridge in one group does not interlace with any bridge in the other groups. Thus, an ambitus allows the graph to be cut into pieces, where, in each piece, certain graph properties may be investigated independently and recursively, and then the pieces can be pasted together to yield information about these graph properties in the original graph. In order to achieve a good time-complexity for such an algorithm employing the divide-and-conquer paradigm, it is necessary to find an ambitus quickly. We also show that, using ambitus, linear-time algorithms can be devised for abiding-path-finding and nonseparating-induced-cycle-finding problems.
A correlation for predicting the critical heat flux condition with twisted-tape swirl generators

Etablissement, par analyse de regression des donnees experimentales publiees, d'une correlation pour la prevision du flux thermique critique d'un ecoulement diphasique tourbillonnaire engendre par des rubans torsades
Force and time gain interact to nonlinearly scale adaptive visual-motor isometric force control

This study examined the influence of force–time gain on the visual-motor control of isometric force. The spatial lengths on the computer screen representing the unit of elapsed time (time gain) and force (force gain) of the force output were compressed or extended in a crossed fashion while subjects produced index finger abduction force to a sinewave and constant force target that was 20 % of maximal voluntary contraction. The results revealed a U-shaped interactive influence of force–time gain on force performance, namely a particular combination of moderate force–time gains leads to optimal force performance. The nature of the interaction between the force and time gains also differed depending on the task demand. During constant force production, the best gain at one dimension (force or time) was invariant across the other dimension (time or force), whereas during sinewave force production, the best gain at one dimension varied with the gain at the other dimension. The results support the proposition that the control of force output is organized by the interactive influence of different categories of constraints where the influence of visual information gain depends on the dynamics of the force control and the task demand. The findings also provide implications for visual gain parameter settings for adaptive force control.
Guide to the vascular flora of the savannas and flatwoods of Shaken Creek Preserve and vicinity (Pender & Onslow counties, North Carolina, U.S.A.).

Shaken Creek Preserve (“SCP”) is a 2,448 ha (6,050 ac) natural area in Pender and Onslow Counties, North Carolina (U.S.A). Best known for its high-quality longleaf pine savanna habitat, the site contains seven savanna or savanna-like plant community types (i.e., flatwoods or sandhills), three of which are globally critically imperiled (G1): Sandy Pine Savanna (Rush Featherling subtype), Wet Loamy Pine Savanna, and Very Wet Loamy Pine Savanna. SCP hosts three Federally Endangered plant species and six Federal Species of Concern. Formerly a private hunting club, the site was virtually unknown to scientists until the 1990s; consequently, few biological inventories of SCP have been conducted. In particular, no systematic floristic inventories of the species-rich savannas have been undertaken, despite the fact that floristic data is critical to the effective management of any natural area. The goals of this study were to (1) inventory the vascular flora of the savannas, flatwoods, and sandhill community types on site through the collection of voucher specimens; (2) provide a comprehensive checklist of the flora based on collections and reports made from the site and from the same or similar habitats in the vicinity (i.e., within 2 miles of SCP); and (3) create an illustrated guide based on the checklist. In order to increase the usefulness of the guide, taxa not currently known from SCP but collected or reported from the same or similar habitats within two miles of SCP, are included in the guide. Eighty-three families containing 450 taxa, including thirty-two Significantly Rare and thirty-eight Watch List taxa, were collected or reported from SCP; an additional seven families containing a total of 102 taxa, including eighteen Significantly Rare and seven Watch List taxa, were collected or reported from the vicinity. In total, ninety families containing 552 taxa, including fifty Significantly Rare and forty-five Watch List taxa, are treated in the guide. Dichotomous keys are provided to all vouchered or reported families, genera, and species. The following features are provided for all species and infraspecific taxa: flowering and fruiting phenology; synonymy with Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas, the Flora of North America, and Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States; relevant voucher information; and, for most taxa, line drawings and/or photographs. For taxa collected from SCP, community types in which the taxa occur and estimates of abundance on site are also provided.
Synthesis of 3-acylpyridines utilizing a friedel-crafts reaction

Abstract A synthesis of 3-acylpyridines via a Friedel-Crafts acylation of a dihydropyridine intermediate is described.
Colorectal distension as a noxious visceral stimulus: physiologic and pharmacologic characterization of pseudaffective reflexes in the rat

Abstract This report presents evidence that colorectal distension is a reproducible, reliable, valid, noxious visceral stimulus that can be used in studies performed in awake, unanesthetized, unrestrained rats. Colorectal distention produces aversive behavior and cardiovascular and visceromotor responses which are quantifiable, reliable, reproducible and useful for inter- and intra-animal studies. The cardiovascular response, a pressor response with tachycardia, is graded and thought to be due to an increase in sympathetic outflow coupled with removal of vagal tone since it is attenuated in a dose-dependent way by atropine, propranolol, phentolamine, chlorisondamine and adrenal demedullation. The visceromotor response is a contraction of abdominal and hindlimb musculature. The distending pressure threshold for the visceromotor response (22.4 ± 0.9 mm Hg) is significantly greater than that necessary to evoke a non-nociceptive response, relaxation of the anal sphincters (13.2 ± l 0.7 mm Hg). Both the cardiovascular and visceromotor responses act via brainstem loops since both are vigorous in decerebrate (midcollicular) but not spinalized (Cl or T6) rats. Anesthetics attenuated (alphaxalone/ alphadolone, ketamine) or reversed (urethane, pentobarbital, α -chloralose) the cardiovascular responses to colorectal distension and attenuated (alphaxalone/alphadolone) or abolished (others listed above) the visceromotor response. Both morphine (systemic and intrathecal) and clonidine (intrathecal) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of both the cardiovascular and visceromotor responses to colorectal distension. Thus, in the awake, unrestrained rat, the cardiovascular and visceromotor responses to colorectal distension are quantifiable, reliable and reproducible signs of acute visceral nociception.
Lymphomas of the mediastinum.

The purpose of this clinicopathologic overview is to describe the types of lymphomas that present in the mediastinum. A comparison of the frequency of the different subtypes of lymphoma that are found in children and adults is provided. In general, immunohistochemistry and immunophenotyping studies are essential to the laboratory workup of neoplasms presenting in the mediastinum. An assessment of proliferative index in lymphoma is most helpful to determine tumor aggressiveness and patient prognosis. Electron microscopy is most helpful in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal neoplasms, where lymphomas may be distinguished from nonlymphomatous neoplasms using key ultrastructural features. The role of electron microscopy in the subclassification of lymphomas is mostly academic, with a few exceptions. The varied ultrastructural appearance of Hodgkin's cells and of different subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is illustrated, using cases from our patient files. An ultrastructural study of lacunar cells in ...
Comprehensive proficiency-based inanimate training for robotic surgery: reliability, feasibility, and educational benefit

We previously developed a comprehensive proficiency-based robotic training curriculum demonstrating construct, content, and face validity. This study aimed to assess reliability, feasibility, and educational benefit associated with curricular implementation. Over an 11-month period, 55 residents, fellows, and faculty (robotic novices) from general surgery, urology, and gynecology were enrolled in a 2-month curriculum: online didactics, half-day hands-on tutorial, and self-practice using nine inanimate exercises. Each trainee completed a questionnaire and performed a single proctored repetition of each task before (pretest) and after (post-test) training. Tasks were scored for time and errors using modified FLS metrics. For inter-rater reliability (IRR), three trainees were scored by two raters and analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Data from eight experts were analyzed using ICC and Cronbach’s α to determine test-retest reliability and internal consistency, respectively. Educational benefit was assessed by comparing baseline (pretest) and final (post-test) trainee performance; comparisons used Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Of the 55 trainees that pretested, 53 (96 %) completed all curricular components in 9–17 h and reached proficiency after completing an average of 72 ± 28 repetitions over 5 ± 1 h. Trainees indicated minimal prior robotic experience and “poor comfort” with robotic skills at baseline (1.8 ± 0.9) compared to final testing (3.1 ± 0.8, p < 0.001). IRR data for the composite score revealed an ICC of 0.96 (p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability was 0.91 (p < 0.001) and internal consistency was 0.81. Performance improved significantly after training for all nine tasks and according to composite scores (548 ± 176 vs. 914 ± 81, p < 0.001), demonstrating educational benefit. This curriculum is associated with high reliability measures, demonstrated feasibility for a large cohort of trainees, and yielded significant educational benefit. Further studies and adoption of this curriculum are encouraged.
Concentrations of heavy and trace metals in muscle and blood of juvenile gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) from the suwannee river, Florida

Abstract Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, lead, selenium, and zinc in muscle of juvenile (0.41 to 1.1 kg) Gulf sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi, from the Suwannee River, Florida, were 13.78, 1.50, 0.98, 25.28, 0.18, 0.49, 6.43, and 17.03 μg/g dry weight, respectively. Concentrations of As (r = 0.51), B (r = 0.68), Ba (r = 0.72), Be (r = 0.73), Cd (r = 0.70), Cu (r = 0.56), Mg (r = 0.50), and Ni (r = 0.65) increased in muscle tissue with an increase in length of juvenile Gulf sturgeon. Mean concentrations of As, Cr, and Mg (10.99, 1.38, and 1122 μg/g, respectively) were higher in the muscle tissue than in blood (1.76, 0.96, and 677 μg/g, respectively). However, blood samples contained significantly high concentrations of Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (1777, 4.16, 2.68, 2.37 and 35.3 μg/g, respectively). Juvenile Gulf sturgeon are accumulating heavy and trace metals while in the Suwannee River before migrating to marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to identifying conta...
Aging and executive function skills: an examination of a community-dwelling older adult population.

The purpose of the present study was to employ the Tower of Hanoi task to the study of possible changes in executive function skills in older adults. The study used a quasi-experimental design, with age group (i.e., young adult, young elderly, or older elderly), being the independent variable in examining performance differences between younger and older adults. Data were analyzed cross-sectionally by age group. Nineteen elderly men and women comprised two groups; nine Young Elderly with an average age of 65 years and ten Older Elderly with an average age of 75 years. Two men and ten women served as a Young Adult comparison group having an average age of 19 years. Performance on the Tower of Hanoi was measured by efficiency scores (number of trials to consecutive solutions), frequency of error types, self-correction scores (completing the goal configuration in twenty or fewer moves after committing an error precluding a "correct" solution), and error perseveration (committing the same error on two consecutive trials of a problem). Analysis of variance and chi-squared tests suggested similar executive capacities among the 9 young adult and the 8 young elderly participants as compared to their 7 older elderly peers on the 3-disk task. However, on the 4-disk task where problem complexity increased by the addition of another disk and longer move sequences, young adult participants showed superior performance on the average than either young elderly or older elderly participants. Although the present study is limited by the small sample size and the use of cross-sectional analyses to examine age differences, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis of age differences in executive function.
Patterns of motivation beliefs: Combining achievement goal and expectancy-value perspectives

A person-centered approach integrated achievement goal and expectancy-value perspectives and identified patterns of mastery and performance-achievement goals (developing vs. demonstrating competence), task values (beliefs about interest, utility, importance, or opportunity costs), and competence beliefs. Cluster analysis classified 1,870 students (primarily Vietnamese and Latino) taught by 40 teachers in 148 math classrooms in 7 urban middle schools. Seven patterns were identified. In one adaptive pattern, students reported moderate interest in math and a sole focus on mastery goals of developing competence, supporting a traditional perspective on how goals operate. In another, students focused on both developing and demonstrating competence, supporting a multiple goals perspective. Achievement and affect did not differ significantly between these 2 groups, though both fared better than a 3rd cluster focused also on avoiding the demonstration of incompetence. Across all clusters, cost value differentiated more- and less-adaptive patterns of motivation. Integrating goal and value constructs improved prediction of affect and achievement and indicated that linear models may mask complex interactions.
In Vivo Evaluation of AT-101 (R-(-)-Gossypol Acetic Acid) in Androgen-Independent Growth of VCaP Prostate Cancer Cells in Combination with Surgical Castration

Abstract PURPOSE : Upregulation of Bcl-2 family members is a well-established mechanism in the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer. Inhibition of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 may delay the transition to androgen-independent growth. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN : We have established a prostate cancer model with VCaP prostate cancer cells in vivo to study the transition to androgen independence. Here, we investigated the efficacy of AT-101 (R-(—)-gossypol acetic acid; a pan small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, BCI-xL, Mcl-1) in combination with surgical castration to delay the onset of androgen-independent growth in vivo . RESULTS : AT-101 (15 mg/kg, per os (p.o.) 5 days/week) in combination with surgical castration delayed the onset of androgen-independent prostate cancer growth in vivo . In addition, we demonstrate the induction of caspase-9- and caspase-3-dependent induction of apoptosis following AT-101 treatment in vitro which was accompanied by an AT-101-induced downregulation of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 mRNA and protein expression. CONCLUSIONS : We conclude that AT-101 in combination with surgical castration delays the onset of androgen-independent prostate cancer in vivo by disrupting the antiapoptotic activity of BCl-2 upregulation during the transition to androgen independence. Further studies are needed to define the mechanism of action by which AT-101 attenuates the expression of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 and to characterize the potential for AT-101 in combination with hormone therapy.
XX Germ Cells: The Difference Between an Ovary and a Testis

In mammals, gonadal sex is determined by the action of the testis-determining gene, SRY. In the absence of SRY, the indifferent gonad follows an alternative pathway and develops as an ovary. Both mitotic and meiotic germ cells appear to play an essential role in ensuring ovarian development. Ovaries depleted of germ cells before or after ovarian differentiation has commenced can develop seminiferous cords, suggesting that XX germ cells may inhibit testicular differentiation in the ovary.
Photoelectron spectroscopy of PbO

Abstract The 351 nm photoelectron spectrum pf PbO− has been recorded with 9 meV resolution. Transitions from the 2Π 1 2 PbO− ground state anion to the X 1Σ+ neutral ground state and three excited states (a 1, b 0−. and A 0+ are observed. The adiabatic electron affinity of PbO is determined to be 0.722(6) eV. From a Franck—Condon simulation of the spectrum we obtain re(PbO− = 1.995(15) A, and observation of vibrational hot bands enables measurement of ωe(PbO−) = 588 (15) cm−1. Electronic energies of the excited states are reported, and our results identify a new excited state while suggesting a corrected term energy for the b0− state.
Differential Targeting of Gßγ-Subunit Signaling with Small Molecules

G protein betagamma subunits have potential as a target for therapeutic treatment of a number of diseases. We performed virtual docking of a small-molecule library to a site on Gbetagamma subunits that mediates protein interactions. We hypothesized that differential targeting of this surface could allow for selective modulation of Gbetagamma subunit functions. Several compounds bound to Gbetagamma subunits with affinities from 0.1 to 60 muM and selectively modulated functional Gbetagamma-protein-protein interactions in vitro, chemotactic peptide signaling pathways in HL-60 leukocytes, and opioid receptor-dependent analgesia in vivo. These data demonstrate an approach for modulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling that may represent an important therapeutic strategy.
Kinetic and stereochemical evidence for the involvement of only one proline molecule in the transition states of proline-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular aldol reactions.

Contrary to the widely accepted mechanism of the Hajos−Parrish−Eder−Sauer−Wiechert reaction, we have obtained evidence for the involvement of only one proline molecule in the transition states of both inter- and intramolecular aldol reactions. Our conclusions are based on kinetic measurements and the absence of nonlinear and dilution effects on the asymmetric catalysis, and are supported by B3LYP/6-31G* calculations. Complementary to recent theoretical studies, our results provide the foundation of a unified enamine catalysis mechanism of proline-catalyzed inter- and intramolecular aldol reactions.
Additive-Induced Metastable Single Crystal of Mefenamic Acid

To utilize additives to develop a strategy and a method to grow single crystals that allow structure determination of a metastable form of a drug. The metastable form of mefenamic acid (MFA) was grown in the presence of various amounts of the structurally similar additive flufenamic acid (FFA) in ethanol. Single crystal X-ray analysis was performed on the single crystals of MFA II that were formed. The solubility of MFA in the presence of FFA was measured to elucidate the mechanism of MFA II formation. A supersaturated solution of MFA in ethanol produced the metastable form using FFA as an additive. Ethanol–water mixtures and toluene were also used to investigate the relationships between form produced and solvent since these two solvent systems do not produce MFA II. Additives can be used to obtain the metastable form of pharmaceutical compounds, and the relationships between molecules and solvent as well as between host and guest molecules are critical to obtaining the desired form.
A decade of discoveries in cardiac biology

The heart is the first organ to form in the embryo, and all subsequent events in the life of the organism depend on its function. Inherited mutations in cardiac regulatory genes give rise to congenital heart disease, the most common form of human birth defects, and abnormalities of the adult heart represent the most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world. The past decade has marked a transition from physiological and functional studies of the heart toward a deeper understanding of cardiac function (and dysfunction) at genetic and molecular levels. These discoveries have provided new therapeutic approaches for prevention and palliation of cardiac disease and have raised new questions, challenges and opportunities for the future.
The generation of subsurface cyclones and jets through eddy-slope interaction

Abstract A mechanism for the generation of subsurface cyclones and jets when a warm ring smashes onto a continental slope and shelf is proposed based on the results of a primitive-equation three-dimensional numerical model. The warm ring initially ‘sits’ over a slope with an adjoining shelf in a periodic channel, and its subsequent evolution is examined. The ‘inviscid’ response is cyclonic ‘peeling-off’ of the on-slope portion of the warm ring. The cyclone propagates away (to the left looking on-slope) from the warm ring, and is bottom-intensified as well as slope-trapped (cross-slope scale ≈ Rossby radius). The near-surface flow ‘leaks’ further onto the shelf while subsurface currents are blocked by the slope. The ‘viscous’ response consists of the formation of a bottom boundary layer (BBL) with a temporally and spatially dependent displacement thickness. The BBL ‘lifts’ the strong along-slope (leftward) current or jet (speed >0.5 m s −1 ) away from the bottom. The jet, coupled with weak stratification within the BBL and convergence due to downwelling across the slope, becomes supercritical. Super-inertial disturbance in the form of a hydraulic jump or front, with strong upwelling and downwelling cell, and the jet, propagate along the slope as well as off-slope and upward into the water column. The upward propagation is halted at z ≈ z trap when mixing smoothes out the ‘jump’ to an along-slope scale λ trap that allows the ambient jet to bend the propagation path horizontal. At this ‘matured’ stage, z trap ≈−250 m, λ trap ≈50 km, and the jet's cross-slope and vertical scales are ≈30 km and 50 m, respectively. An example that illustrates the process under a more realistic setting in the Gulf of Mexico when the Loop Current impinges upon the west Florida slope is given. The phenomenon may be relevant to the recent oil industry's measurements in the Gulf, which at times indicate jets at z ≈−150 m through −400 m over the slope.
Ambient air concentrations of fine (PM2.5) manganese in U.S. National Parks and in California and Canadian Cities: The possible impact of adding MMT to unleaded gasoline

Abstract The October 1995 court decision allowing Ethyl Corporation to offer methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) for sale to refiners for introduction into unleaded gasoline as an octane enhancer is likely to result in increased fine (PM2.5) manganese (Mn) concentrations in ambient air. Concern exists regarding possible health effects. In this paper, recent fine Mn concentrations in three monitoring networks and one U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study of personal exposure are analyzed. One network consists mainly of rural sites in national parks in the United States, a second consists mainly of urban sites in California, and the third consists mainly of urban sites in Canada where MMT has been used for a number of years. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, mean ambient concentrations ranged from 1 ng/m3 in the mostly rural network to 3 ng/m3 in the mostly urban California network to 12 ng/m3 in the MMT-impacted Canadian network. Several lines of evidence suggested that some ...
Classification of Partial 2-D Shapes Using Fourier Descriptors

We present a method for the classification of 2-D partial shapes using Fourier descriptors. We formulate the problem as one of estimating the Fourier descriptors of the unknown complete shape from the observations derived from an arbitrarily rotated and scaled shape with missing segments. The method used for obtaining the estimates of the Fourier descriptors minimizes a sum of two terms; the first term of which is a least square fit to the given data subject to the condition that the number of missing boundary points is not known and the second term is the perimeter2/area of the unknown shape. Experiments with synthetic and real boundaries show that estimates closer to the true values of Fourier descriptors of complete boundaries are obtained. Also, classification experiments performed using real boundaries indicate that reasonable classification accuracies are obtained even when 20-30 percent of the data is missing.
Prisoner incorporation: The work of the state and non-governmental organizations

This article brings the concept of incorporation as used in studies of citizenship into the analysis of the reception of ex-prisoners by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). I introduce the concept of 'prisoner incorporation' to illustrate the ways in which NGOs, tasked with reentry work through devolution policies, include ex-prisoners as citizens. I use data from policy and organizational documents, interviews with staff at 18 NGOs, and program observations to demonstrate that incorporation varies by religious and political orientation and the receipt of Department of Corrections (DOC) funding. I distinguish between NGOs focused on 'classic reentry', which emphasizes treatment and work-focused economic incorporation, and those focused on 'broader incorporation', in which domestic labor, culture, religion, and politics warrant the inclusion of ex-prisoners as citizens in particular communities. Based on the results, I reconsider arguments that NGOs have a limited ability to shape the citizenship of criminalized people. Language: en
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Law Enforcement: An Evaluative Review

s International: Section B: The Sciences & Engineering, 64, 2902. MALCOLM ET AL. 278 Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention / 5:3 August 2005
Effect of Surface Patterning on Contact Deformation of Elastic-Plastic Layered Media

A plane-strain finite element analysis for patterned elastic-plastic layered media was performed in order to elucidate the effect of surface geometry on the deformation and stress fields due to normal and sliding contact. Surface interaction between the layered media and a rigid asperity was modeled with special contact elements. Results for the contact pressure distribution, surface tensile stress, and subsurface equivalent plastic strain are presented for layered media with different meandered and sinusoidal surfaces. The significance of surface patterning on the deformation behavior is interpreted in terms of stress and strain results illustrative of the tendency for crack initiation and plastic deformation in the first two layers, where deformation is confined in all simulation cases. Relations for the contact pressure concentration factor and onset of yielding in the first (hard) layer are derived from finite element results for indented layered media with sinusoidal surface patterns. Predictions for the indentation depth at the onset of yielding based on the developed yield criterion are shown to be in good agreement with those obtained from finite element simulations.
Developmental expression, compartmentalization, and possible role in excitotoxicity of a putative NMDA receptor protein in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Abstract The mechanisms regulating the expression and localization of excitatory amino acid (EAA) neurotransmitter receptors in neurons of the developing mammalian brain, and roles for these receptors in the plasticity and degeneration of neural circuits are not well understood. We previously isolated and characterized a 71 kDa glutamate binding protein (GBP) from rat brain, and have recently obtained evidence that this GBP is a component of a functional N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor-ion channel complex. We have now used antibodies to this putative NMDA receptor protein to examine its expression and localization, and consequences of its activation in cultured embryonic (18 day) rat hippocampal neurons. Immunocytochemistry and Western blots using monoclonal antibodies to the GBP demonstrated an increase in GBP-positive neurons and their staining intensity with time in culture, GBP was localized to the somata and dendrites of pyramidal-like neurons and was sparse or absent in the axons. The expression and compartmentalization of GBP occurred in isolated neurons indicating that direct cell interactions were not required for these processes. Cell surface staining for GBP occurred in patches on the soma and dendrites. The developmental expression of GBP immunoreactivity closely paralleled the expression of sensitivity to NMDA neurotoxicity. There was a direct relationship between GBP immunoreactivity and neuronal vulnerability to glutamate-induced degeneration; vulnerable neurons stained heavily whereas resistant neurons showed either low levels of staining or no staining. Finally, a GBP antiserum greatly reduced NMDA neurotoxicity (but not kainate neurotoxicity). Taken together, these findings demonstrate the expression of presumptive NMDA receptors within a subpopulation of embryonic hippocampal neurons, and their segregation to the soma and dendrites of pyramidal neurons. This spatial distribution of glutamate receptors among and within neurons is likely to play important roles in regulating the structure of neural circuitry during development, and may also be an important determinant of selective neuronal vulnerability in pathological conditions.
Elevated [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding sites and expressed inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor protein level in platelets of depressed patients.

Several reports suggest that serotonin2A (5HT2A) receptors and this receptor-mediated phosphatidyl inositol (PI) hydrolysis signal transduction system are altered in platelets of depressed patients. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins[1,4,5]P3), an important component of the PI signaling system, plays a crucial role in various physiological processes by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular stores after binding with Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors. To examine the role of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors in depression, we determined [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding sites and expressed protein levels of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors in platelets of depressed patients (n = 15) and normal control subjects (n = 17). We observed that the mean Bmax of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors was significantly higher in platelets of depressed subjects compared with normal control subjects, whereas there was no significant difference in KD between these two groups. The immuno-detectable expressed level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor protein was also significantly increased in depressed patients in contrast to the levels of normal control subjects. Moreover, a significant correlation was observed in Bmax and the protein level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors. The increase in the number of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding sites in platelets of depressed subjects appears to be due to an increase in the amount of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor proteins. These results suggest that Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression.
In Vitro Susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis to Fifty-One Antimicrobial Agents

By a tube dilution assay technique, 51 antimicrobial agents were singly tested against 9 strains of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and 1 strain of M. hyorhinis for the purpose of obtaining information useful for selecting an agent for testing in vivo against porcine mycoplasmal pneumonia. Based on determining minimal inhibitory concentrations and chemically grouping the agents into nine classes, all M. hyopneumoniae strains were found resistant to penicillins and peptides and susceptible to sulfonamides and tetracyclines, and, in other classes, were either susceptible or resistant depending on the particular agent being tested. Strains were susceptible to the same 33 of the 51 agents. Minimal inhibitory concentrations ranged from 0.06 to 9.20 μg/ml. M. hyorhinis was susceptible to 19 of the 33 agents that M. hyopneumoniae was susceptible to. Minimal inhibitory concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 8.10 μg/ml. All strains of M. hyopneumoniae differed from M. hyorhinis in that they were susceptible to cephaloglycin and nitrofurazone.