cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Oscillatory Neural Network with Programmable Resistive Synapses in 28 Nm CMOS

Implementing scalable and effective synaptic networks will enable neuromorphic computing to deliver on its promise of revolutionizing computing. RRAM represents the most promising technology for realizing the fully connected synapse network: By using programmable resistive elements as weights, RRAM can modulate the strength of synapses in a neural network architecture. Oscillatory Neural Networks (ONNs)that are based on phase-locked loop (PLL)neurons are compatible with the resistive synapses but otherwise rather impractical. In this paper, A PLL-free ONN is implemented in 28 nm CMOS and compared to its PLL-based counterpart. Our silicon results show that the PLL-free architecture is compatible with resistive synapses, addresses practical implementation issues for improved robustness, and demonstrates favorable energy consumption compared to state-of-the-art NNs.
Portrayals of parental involvement: descriptions of family and school relationships in a low-income African American community

This sociocultural research investigated parent involvement in young children’s schooling in a low-income African American community. The study adopted an emic approach, using semistructured inter...
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Classification of Chronic Pain Syndromes

Chronic pain is classified by the international association for the study of pain (IASP) to several categories. Pain conditions can fit into more than one category.
Multi-Modal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predicts Regional Amyloid Burden in the Brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and identifying early markers of this disease is important for prevention and treatment strategies. Amyloid- β (Aβ) protein deposition is one of the earliest detectable pathological changes in AD. But in-vivo detection of Aβ using positron emission tomography (PET) is hampered by high cost and limited geographical accessibility. These factors can become limiting when PET is used to screen large numbers of subjects into prevention trials when only a minority are expected to be amyloid-positive. Structural MRI is advantageous; as it is non-invasive, relatively inexpensive and more accessible. Thus it could be widely used in large studies, even when frequent or repetitive imaging is necessary. We used a machine learning, pattern recognition, approach using intensity-based features from individual and combination of MR modalities (T1 weighted, T2 weighted, T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery [FLAIR], susceptibility weighted imaging) to predict voxel-level amyloid in the brain. The MR- Aβ relation was learned within each subject and generalized across subjects using subject–specific features (demographic, clinical, and summary MR features). When compared to other modalities, combination of T1-weighted, T2-weighted FLAIR, and SWI performed best in predicting the amyloid status as positive or negative. A combination of T2-weighted and SWI imaging performed the best in predicting change in amyloid over two timepoints. Overall, our results show feasibility of amyloid prediction by MRI and its potential use as an amyloid-screening tool.
Nelson-Salassa Syndrome Progressing to Pituitary Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Nelson-Salassa Syndrome (NSS) is a rare sequela of bilateral adrenalectomy as a treatment for persistent hypercortisolism in refractory Cushing disease (CD). Radiographic NSS has been observed in half of CD patients after adrenalectomy, yet often follows a mild course and rarely requires treatment. We present the case of a 44-year-old male with a history of CD who underwent primary treatments including transsphenoidal resection, radiotherapy, and bilateral adrenalectomy. He subsequently presented with acute vision loss and progressive somnolence. MRI revealed marked enlargement of an invasive sellar and suprasellar lesion exerting significant mass effect on the chiasm, and multiple new enhancing bony lesions. The patient was taken for emergent transsphenoidal resection and calvarial biopsy; visual function was restored postoperatively, and pathologic analysis confirmed pituitary carcinoma. While NSS typically follows an indolent course, pituitary carcinoma is a highly morbid metastatic disease, and has been theorized to occur at a higher frequency in the NSS population. We review all published cases of NSS to pituitary carcinoma progression, which further underscores the highly aggressive nature and considerable mortality of this patient cohort. Although mild, asymptomatic NSS is more commonly observed, symptomatic patients or those with rapid growth after adrenalectomy, should be targeted for routine close clinical follow-up and serial radiographic surveillance.
Evaluation of Early Fatigue Signatures in Lightweight Aluminum Alloy 7075

The current work investigates early material changes that manifest in aluminum alloy 7075 subjected to fatigue loading. Tension-tension specimens linearly tapered in width were exposed to cyclic loading with compliance and eddy current measurements made in-situ, while nano-indentation, surface potential, x-ray diffraction, and ultrasonic response were made ex-situ. Early stage damage progression was evaluated at various size scales and used to estimate a remaining life in real time. Baseline, in-situ, and post failure measurements were compared and analyzed as a function of fatigue cycles. Eddy current and compliance measurements showed a strong correlation between signal strength and fatigue life with eddy current providing a more precise signal per specimen. Microscale electrical measurements showed a link between surface potential and regions of the specimen that experienced higher tensile stress. Results are discussed with an emphasis on multiscale damage detection and identification due to fatigue cycling, while highlighting the most promising techniques for improving structural durability and real-time state monitoring.
Hypoxia Upregulates Cxcl12 in Hepatocytes by a Complex Mechanism Involving Hypoxia-inducible Factors and Transforming Growth Factor-β

Abstract Introduction Cxcl12, or stromal-derived factor-1, is a chemokine produced by several hepatic cell types, including hepatocytes, after liver injury and surgical resection. Studies have revealed that Cxcl12 is important for regeneration of the liver after surgical resection and for development of liver fibrosis during chronic liver injury. While the function of Cxcl12 in the liver is well established, the mechanism by which Cxcl12 is upregulated is not fully understood. Because regions of hypoxia develop in the liver following injury, we tested the hypothesis that hypoxia upregulates Cxcl12 in hepatocytes by a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-dependent mechanism. Methods To test this hypothesis, primary mouse hepatocytes were isolated from the livers of HIF-1α-deficient mice or HIF-1β-deficient mice and exposed to 1% oxygen. Cxcl12 expression was increased following exposure of primary mouse hepatocytes to 1% oxygen. Previously we have shown, that in addition to HIFs, transforming growth factor-β is required for upregulation of a subset of genes in hypoxic hepatocytes. To examine the role of TGF-β in regulation of Cxcl12 during hypoxia, hepatocytes were pretreated with the TGF-β receptor I inhibitor, SB431542. Results Upregulation of Cxcl12 by hypoxia was partially prevented in hepatocytes from HIF-1α-deficient mice and completely prevented in hepatocytes from HIF-1β-deficient hepatocytes. This suggests that under hypoxic conditions, both HIF-1α and HIF-2α regulate Cxcl12 in hepatocytes. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with SB431542 completely prevented upregulation Cxcl12 by hypoxia. Further, treatment of hepatocytes with recombinant TGF-β1 upregulated Cxcl12 in hepatocytes cultured in room air. Conclusion Collectively, these studies demonstrate that hypoxia upregulates Cxcl12 in primary mouse hepatocytes by a mechanism that involves HIFs and TGF-β.
Association between state Medicaid expansion status and naloxone prescription dispensing

Objective To test whether Medicaid expansion is associated with (a) a greater number of naloxone prescriptions dispensed and (b) a higher proportion of naloxone prescriptions paid by Medicaid. Data sources/study setting We used the IQVIA National Prescription Audit to obtain data on per state per quarter naloxone prescription dispensing for the period 2011-16. Study design In this quasi-experimental design study, the impact of Medicaid expansion on naloxone prescription dispensing was examined using difference-in-difference estimation models. State-level covariates including pharmacy-based naloxone laws (standing/protocol orders and direct authority to dispense naloxone), third-party prescribing laws, opioid analgesic prescribing rates, opioid-involved overdose death rates, and population size were controlled for in the analysis. Principal findings Medicaid expansion was associated with 38 additional naloxone prescriptions dispensed per state per quarter compared to nonexpansion controls, on average (P = .030). Also, Medicaid expansion resulted in an average increase of 9.86 percent in the share of naloxone prescriptions paid by Medicaid per state per quarter (P Conclusions Our study found that Medicaid expansion increased naloxone availability. This finding suggests that it will be important to consider naloxone access when making federal- and state-level decisions affecting Medicaid coverage.
Solidarity in times of crisis

The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic has amplified inequalities and human rights challenges; in some states, COVID-19 policies have been introduced that further curtail human rights. Although some limits may...
17β-estradiol activation of dorsal hippocampal TrkB is independent of increased mature BDNF expression and is required for enhanced memory consolidation in female mice.

Abstract The potent estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2) is known to enhance hippocampal memory and plasticity, however the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) are regulated by E2, but the potential mechanistic roles of neurotrophic signaling in E2-induced enhancement of memory are not well understood. Here, we examined the effects of hippocampal TrkB signaling on E2-induced enhancement of memory consolidation in the object placement and recognition tasks. Bilateral infusion of the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 into the dorsal hippocampus of ovariectomized female mice blocked E2-induced enhancement of memory consolidation, supporting a role for TrkB-mediated signaling in estrogenic regulation of memory. Although dorsal hippocampal E2 infusion increased levels of phospho-TrkB and mature BDNF (mBDNF) in the dorsal hippocampus within 4-6 hours, E2-induced increases in hippocampal mBDNF expression were not required for hippocampal TrkB activation and were not inhibited by TrkB antagonism. Thus, E2 regulates TrkB signaling to facilitate memory consolidation in a manner independent of mBDNF expression. Together these results provide the first direct evidence that E2 modulation of hippocampal TrkB signaling is required for its beneficial effects on memory consolidation and provide additional characterization of the ways in which TrkB/BDNF signaling is regulated by E2 in the hippocampus.
A Literature Review of Theoretical Anchors and Empirical Studies

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of selected theoretical frameworks and some empirical studies that take up theories on identity, ideology, and language. The researcher attempts to highlight the most important theoretical frameworks on identity, ideologies, and language, and discusses key theoretical frameworks that have had an influence among recent scholars’ empirical work especially in the fields of second language acquisition (SLA), sociolinguistics, and linguistic anthropology. This article has two objectives. First, with a focus on the relationship between language, identity, and investment, the researcher attempts to present a review of Norton’s foundational work dated between 1995 (Peirce, 1995) to a more recent scholarly work (Darvin & Norton, 2015). Next, she discusses identity and interaction from a sociocultural linguistic approach by drawing on Bucholtz and Hall’s framework (2004a, 2004b, 2005). Findings from this article highlight a paradigm shift in the ways the scholarly focus has changed from looking at language solely as an oral and written skill to looking at language from the sociocultural lens and studying how it is embedded in identity production through linguistics interaction. This article concludes with a recommendation for future research on identity and language to respond to the diversity of language practices and aim at connecting language ideologies and identity to enhance our understanding of today’s complex learning communities and globalized world.
An Economic Theory of Violent Extremist Religious Sects

In contrast to the extant club-theoretic literature on religiously motivated terrorism, this paper articulates a theory of violent extremist religious sects (VERSs) that explicitly incorporates a supernatural motive for religiosity. This approach is in deference to the widely acknowledged primacy of the desire to procure supernatural rewards as a motive for religiosity and is motivated by the need for a more fulsome explanation of the marginal impact of religiosity on the efficacy of VERSs than is available in the extant club-theoretic literature. The explicit incorporation of a supernatural motive in this paper dictates that VERSs should be treated as faith intermediaries and the resulting theoretical analysis explains a trifecta of observations about VERSs and religiously motivated terrorism that hitherto have not been explained within a single unifying framework. In particular, the theory yields internally compatible explanations for: the location of any given religious sect in violence space and thereby the evolution of religious sects from benign to violently extreme; the mechanisms via which the commitment enhancement technologies VERSs deploy enhance commitment of their operatives; and the marginal impact of religiosity on VERSs’ efficacy which explains their high lethality relative to that of their secular counterparts
Evidence of the Associations between Individual and Partner Autonomy Support and Physiological Stress in the Context of Conversations about Weight among Couples Who are Overweight or Obese during a 6-Month Intervention

The aim of the study was to examine the impact of supportive communication on acute physiological stress responses during weight-related conversations taking place throughout a couples’ weight loss...
A Computational Growth Framework for Biological Tissues: Application to Growth of Aortic Root Aneurysm Repaired by the V-shape Surgery

Abstract Ascending aortic aneurysms (AsAA) often include the dilatation of sinotubular junction (STJ) which usually leads to aortic insufficiency. The novel surgery of the V-shape resection of the noncoronary sinus, for treatment of AsAA with root ectasia, has been shown to be a simpler procedure compared to traditional surgeries. Our previous study showed that the repaired aortic root aneurysms grew after the surgery. In this study, we developed a novel computational growth framework to model the growth of the aortic root repaired by the V-shape surgery. Specifically, the unified-fiber-distribution (UFD) model was applied to describe the hyperelastic deformation of the aortic tissue. A novel kinematic growth evolution law was proposed based on existing observations that the growth rate is linearly dependent on the wall stress. Moreover, we also obtained patient-specific geometries of the repaired aortic root post-surgery at two follow-up time points (Post1 and Post2) for 5 patients, based on clinical CT images. The novel computational growth framework was implemented into the Abaqus UMAT user subroutine and applied to model the growth of the aortic root from Post1 to Post2. Patient-specific growth parameters were obtained by an optimization procedure. The predicted geometry and stress of the aortic root at Post2 agree well with the in vivo results. The novel computational growth framework and the optimized growth parameters could be applied to predict the growth of repaired aortic root aneurysms for new patients and to optimize repair strategies for AsAA.
Novel Hydrogen Bioreactor and Detection Apparatus

In vitro hydrogen generation represents a clear opportunity for novel bioreactor and system design. Hydrogen, already a globally important commodity chemical, has the potential to become the dominant transportation fuel of the future. Technologies such as in vitro synthetic pathway biotransformation (SyPaB)-the use of more than 10 purified enzymes to catalyze unnatural catabolic pathways-enable the storage of hydrogen in the form of carbohydrates. Biohydrogen production from local carbohydrate resources offers a solution to the most pressing challenges to vehicular and bioenergy uses: small-size distributed production, minimization of CO2 emissions, and potential low cost, driven by high yield and volumetric productivity. In this study, we introduce a novel bioreactor that provides the oxygen-free gas phase necessary for enzymatic hydrogen generation while regulating temperature and reactor volume. A variety of techniques are currently used for laboratory detection of biohydrogen, but the most information is provided by a continuous low-cost hydrogen sensor. Most such systems currently use electrolysis for calibration; here an alternative method, flow calibration, is introduced. This system is further demonstrated here with the conversion of glucose to hydrogen at a high rate, and the production of hydrogen from glucose 6-phosphate at a greatly increased reaction rate, 157 mmol/L/h at 60 °C.
Molecular tools for genetic dissection of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Publisher Summary The genetic structure of Toxoplasma gondii is notable chiefly for being relatively conventional— similar to that of its mammalian host cells with respect to gene organization, codon usage, and nucleotide bias. These observations have led several investigators to examine the feasibility of molecular transformation in this parasite. This chapter outlines the use of several of the molecular genetic tools that have recently been developed for the T. gondii system. An introduction to parasite culture techniques is also provided. Recombinant molecules can be expressed either transiently or as stable transformants, as episomes or integrated into the parasite genome, and as single copy or multicopy transgenes. Stable integration can be produced by random nonhomologous recombination, single-site homologous recombination, or perfect gene replacement. Many of these outcomes can be selected specifically using appropriate vectors and transformation conditions. The extraordinarily high frequencies of stable transformation observed permit cloning by complementation, insertional mutagenesis/marker rescue, gene knock-outs, and allelic replacement. In combination with available classical and “cell-genetic” possibilities and physical and genetic mapping strategies, these tools provide a powerful arsenal for investigations into the biology of intracellular parasitism.
Contrastive Rhetoric: Contrastive rhetoric and translation studies

Contrastive rhetoricians working on second language writing, not only in North America but in other countries, are often unfamiliar with the theories and research of scholars in translation studies. Translation theorists seem to be equally unaware of developments in contrastive rhetoric. This mutual ignorance is curious considering the many goals and research methods these two disciplines have in common. Both are applied rather than theoretical, in the sense that linguistics is used in each field for equally practical purposes: Contrastive rhetoric assists language teaching experts and translation theory assists translators. Both contrastive rhetoric and translation studies deal with first language and second language processing and benefit from the same literature on language acquisition. Both have experienced changes in methodology in the past decade as their individual theories were supplemented with relevant hypotheses and methods of literary study, education, and cognitive science. The explanation for the mutual ignorance may rest in social differences between educational systems: In countries with “small” national languages such as Finland, translation is a must; whereas in countries with “big” languages such as the United States, England, or France, composition is emphasized together with the need to teach ESL. This chapter addresses three broad issues: first, current theories and practices of translation; second, the issue of “transfer” in contrastive rhetoric and translation theory; and finally, the potential of translation theory to contribute to the solution of some of the outstanding problems in contrastive rhetoric.
Partnerships in Health Disparities Research and the Roles of Pastors of Black Churches: Potential Conflict, Synergy, and Expectations

Background The black church is a promising site to engage in health disparities research; however, little is understood about the pastors' perspectives. We used role theory to explore their expectations, potential conflicts, and synergy with research. Methods Four focus groups (n = 30) were conducted with pastors and analyzed using principles of grounded theory and content analysis. Results Pastors identified a variety of potential roles in research. They noted potential conflicts due to perceptions of research, the process, and pace of research. Areas of synergy included perceptions of health disparities research as consistent with the healthy mind, body, and spirit ideology, and clear benefits to congregations and communities. Pastors' research expectations included long-term commitments, honest and clear communication, investigator visibility, respect for church traditions/practices, and support in forming collaborations. Conclusions Understanding pastors' roles, potential areas of synergy and conflict, and collaboration expectations offers insight in support of successful church-academic partnerships.
The structure of the DNA of bacteriophage φX174: VI. Pyrimidine sequences in the complementary strand of the replicative form

Partially synthetic duplex circles of φX174am3 DNA, specifically labeled in the pyrimidines of the complementary strand, were prepared in vitro using Escherichia coli DNA polymerase and a template of φX DNA. This material was degraded to pyrimidine tracts which were dephosphorylated and separated into fractions of uniform length by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. Chain lengths were assigned to the various isopliths by comparison with the profile obtained from labeled viral DNA tracts. By a combination of column Chromatographic and mapping techniques, a complete catalog of the pyrimidine tracts in the complementary strand of φX replicative form DNA (and thus, by complementarity, of the purine tracts of φX viral DNA) has been compiled.
Trimethoxy-Resveratrol and Piceatannol Administered Orally Suppress and Inhibit Tumor Formation and Growth in Prostate Cancer Xenografts

BACKGROUND. Resveratrol (Res) is recognized as a promising cancer chemoprevention dietary polyphenol with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, the role of its analogues in prostate cancer (PCa) chemoprevention is unknown. METHODS. We synthesized several natural and synthetic analogues of Res and characterized their effects on PCa cells in vitro using a cell proliferation assay. A colony formation assay and in vitro validation of luciferase (Luc) activity was done for LNCaP-Luc cells that were consequently used for in vivo studies. The efficacy of Res, trimethoxy-resveratrol (3MRes) and piceatannol (PIC) was studied in a subcutaneous (s.c.) model of PCa using oral gavage. Tumor progression was monitored by traditional caliper and bioluminescent imaging. The levels of cytokines in serum were examined by ELISA, and the levels of compounds in serum and tumor tissues were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS. We examined the anti-proliferative activities of Res/analogues in three PCa cell lines. We further compared the chemopreventive effects of oral Res, 3M-Res, and PIC in LNCaP-Luc-xenografts. We found that 2 weeks pretreatment with the compounds diminished cell colonization, reduced tumor volume, and decreased tumor growth in the xenografts. Both 3M-Res and PIC demonstrated higher potency in inhibiting tumor progression compared to Res. Notably, 3M-Res was the most active in inhibiting cell proliferation and suppressing colony formation, and its accumulation in both serum and tumor tissues was the highest. CONCLUSIONS. Our findings offer strong pre-clinical evidence for the utilization of dietary stilbenes, particularly 3M-Res, as novel, potent, effective chemopreventive agents in PCa. Prostate # 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigating Asynchronous Online Communication: A Connected Stance Revealed.

This research project explores the effects of altering the structure of discussion board formats to increase students’ engagement and participation. This paper will present the findings of a two-university, two-class research project in which asynchronous discussion board entries were analyzed for substance. By using oral discourse analysis techniques, the postings of two distinct structures of discussion board entries were analyzed. A baseline of typical student interactions was established by using an Open-ended discussion board assignment. Then the requirements were changed and an Experimental discussion board format was introduced on which students were placed into smaller groups and expected to enact a 3R pattern of Respond, React, and Reply. The ways in which students make their thinking visible were coded and tabulated. Findings suggest that a Connected Stance, identified by a high level of participation coupled with a high level of engagement, was an optimal online discourse pattern.
Error Sensitivity of Long and Intermediate Wavelength Flaw Reconstruction

A multiviewing transducer, described in the companion paper in this volume (1) has been designed and developed to exploit advances in theoretical inverse elastic wave scattering in the long and intermediate wavelength regime. The multiviewing transducer concept is shown in Fig. 1. In addition, and as part of a broader effort to develop a decision tree for general flaw characterization shown in Fig. 2, a first generation set of post-processing data procedures has been developed and implemented for use with the multiprobe instrumentation. These procedures provide a 3-D reconstruction and characterization of volumetric flaws (size, shape, orientation and acoustic impedance estimates) and are shown by solid boxes in Fig. 2.
Dissecting soil moisture-precipitation coupling

[1] The ability of soil moisture to affect precipitation (SM-P) can be dissected into the ability of soil moisture to affect evapotranspiration (ET; SM-ET) and the ability of ET to affect precipitation (ET-P). SM-ET is a local process that is relatively easy to quantify, but ET-P includes nonlocal atmospheric processes and is more complex. Here, ET-P is quantified both locally and remotely with a back-trajectory method for water vapor transport, using corrected reanalysis data. It is found that, for SM-P and ET-P, local impact is greater than that from remote for most land areas with significant local impacts. By examining the responses of the three metrics (SM-ET, ET-P, and SM-P) to climate variations over different climate regimes, we show that SM-ET is the principal factor that determines the spatial pattern and variation of SM-P. For climatologically wet regions, SM-ET and SM-P are higher during dry periods, and vice versa for climatologically dry regions. All three metrics show highest values over the transitional zones.
Breakpoints of the t(11;18)(q21;q21) in Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma Lie within or near the Previously Undescribed Gene MALT1 in Chromosome 18

Lymphomas arising in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are indolent B-cell tumors that have a predilection for epithelial sites and often develop in a setting of chronic inflammation or autoimmunity. As many as 50% of low-grade MALT lymphomas contain an (11;18)(q21; q21) chromosomal translocation. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we have analyzed the position of recombination within chromosome 18 DNA in three examples of MALT lymphoma bearing this translocation. In all three cases, the breakpoint maps to DNA in BAC b357H2, covering about 150 kb of sequence. A previously undescribed, ubiquitously expressed gene, which we refer to as MALT1, was identified within this sequence and was found to be broken in one case for which we have definitively located the position of recombination between chromosomes 18 and 11. The sequence of this gene indicates the presence of two immunoglobulin-like C2 domains and a region of partial homology to caspases, suggesting a possible role for MALT1 in the regulation of apoptosis.
Nitrate and oxygen flux across the sediment‐water interface observed by eddy correlation measurements on the open continental shelf

Chemical fluxes into and out of permeable seafloor sediments, such as those found on much of the continental shelf, are difficult to measure using conventional techniques. To overcome this difficulty, the eddy correlation method was adapted by oceanographers to determine oxygen flux across the sediment-water interface. In this article, we demonstrate that the eddy correlation method can also be used to measure nitrate flux across the sediment-water interface. A modified ISUS (In Situ Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer) optical nitrate sensor was used to measure dissolved nitrate at a frequency of 1.8 Hz. These observations were combined with vertical velocity measurements to calculate nitrate fluxes. Oxygen fluxes were also determined using a fast oxygen electrode system. The results for nitrate and oxygen flux compare well with simultaneous benthic flux chamber measurements made at a muddy sediment site at 95 m depth in Monterey Bay on the central California coast. The nitrate fluxes determined by the eddy correlation technique were considerably higher than benthic flux chamber values at sandy sediment sites at similar depths to the north and south of Monterey Bay. This difference is expected in permeable sediments where lateral flow through sediments will ventilate chamber water.
The leucine operon carrying theleu-500 promoter mutation is expressed under anaerobic conditions

TheSalmonella typhimurium leu-500 auxotrophic mutant grew when cultivated in minimal medium anaerobically, but not aerobically. This mutant carries an AT → CG mutation in the Pribnow box of the promoter region of the leucine operon and was found to be suppressible by anaerobic conditions. Analysis of the anaerobic gases revealed that hydrogen in the anaerobic gas mixture (85% N2, 10% CO2, 5% H2) is essential for the suppression of theleu-500 mutation. Whenleu-500 mutant cells were incubated in the presence of the hydrogen gas, the synthetic rates for the first and last gene products of theleu-500 operon were similar to those of the wild-type cells. It was concluded that the entire leucine operon was efficiently expressed inleu-500 when the cells were grown under the hydrogen gas-containing anaerobic environment. Thus, theleu-500 promoter mutant is a model system for regulation of gene expression by a specific atmospheric environment, i.e., hydrogen gas found in the anaerobic environment.
Vertical Pt-C replication for TEM, a revolution in imaging non-periodic macromolecules, biological gels and low-density polymer networks.

Abstract Vertical replication for TEM is ideal for studying non-periodic specimens from 0.7 to 3 nm, a resolution mid-range difficult to attain by any other technique. This paper discusses the importance of vertical replication, its methods and hardware for high-resolution TEM. Evidence from diverse published research will demonstrate vertical replication's versatility in imaging the molecular level normally unattainable in freeze-dried polymers, polyethylene tribological wear on surfaces, low-density polymer networks or biological gels. Vertical platinum–carbon (Pt–C) replication minimizes the horizontal movement of Pt–C on a surface. Surface objects are symmetrically enlarged by a vertically deposited Pt–C film. To estimate real size in replicas, 16–25 particles or filaments need to be measured in calibrated transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and reduced by a value less than the Pt–C film thickness measured with a quartz monitor. Continuous, vertically deposited Pt–C films are formed on mica at a deposition thickness of around 1.0 nm and on silver at a thickness of 0.4–0.5 nm. The distance between helical turns in poly(1-tetradecene sulfone) of 0.7 nm is the highest resolution achieved with vertical replication. Two polysulfones freeze-dried and vertically replicated on mica contained structures are predicted by indirect physical chemical methods to be present in solution. Polymer chains are fully Pt–C coated, with no uncoated gaps along chains. Some side-chains on the extended non-helical poly(1-tetradecene sulfone) are also detected. To estimate the real chain width, polymer chains measured in images are reduced by the Pt–C film thickness minus 0.5 nm. The polymer chain widths estimated from molecular models are in the same range of widths as those measured using the image size correction method. Also, it is possible to distinguish random coil proteins (chain width of around 0.5 nm) from an α-helix (chain diameter of about 1 nm) in vertically replicated samples on silver substrates. In the future, subnanometer resolutions below 0.7 nm should be possible. The resolution of vertical replication depends on the thickness of a continuous, amorphous Pt–C film. That thin, continuous 0.4–0.5 nm Pt–C films on silver substrates can be made suggests that a point-to-point resolution limit of around 0.28 nm in TEM may ultimately be approachable with replication.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF SOLIDS MIXING IN A GAS FLUIDIZED BED

ABSTRACT Solids mixing in a bubbling gas-fluidized bed was Investigated using two Independent methods. In the first method, distributions of solids mean velocity and bulk density, and dispersion coefficients were measured, employing the single particle mode of the particle tracking technique. This technique tracks the position of a single radioactive particle, dynamically identical to bed particles, by using a bank of scintillation detectors around the bed. Time-differentiation of the instantaneous tracer positions then yields the local velocities which were ensemble-averaged locally after long experimental runs to yield the mean velocity distribution. Lagrangian autocorrelation functions were obtained to determine the radial and axial dispersion coefficients, which were found to differ by an order of magnitude. These experimental data formed the basis of a numerical model of convective-diffusive mixing, formulated to predict the time-dependent concentration distribution for a given set of initial conditi...
DISCRIMINATION AND CLASSIFICATION WITH REPEATED MEASURES DATA UNDER DIFFERENT COVARIANCE STRUCTURES

We study the problem of classification with repeated measures on each individual. Various covariance structures and structures on mean vector are considered. Computation schemes for maximum likelihood estimates of required population parameters are provided. An extensive simulation study is conducted to compare the performance of the new classification rules.
A study of community design, greenness and physical activity in children using satellite, GPS and accelerometer data

This study examined relationships between greenness exposure and free-living physical activity behavior of children in smart growth and conventionally designed communities. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to quantify children's (n=208) greenness exposure at 30-s epoch accelerometer and GPS data points. A generalized linear mixed model with a kernel density smoothing term for addressing spatial autocorrelation was fit to analyze residential neighborhood activity data. Excluding activity at home and during school-hours, an epoch-level analysis found momentary greenness exposure was positively associated with the likelihood of contemporaneous moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This association was stronger for smart growth residents who experienced a 39% increase in odds of MVPA for a 10th to 90th percentile increase in exposure to greenness (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.36-1.44). An individual-level analysis found children who experienced >20 min of daily exposure to greener spaces (>90th percentile) engaged in nearly 5 times the daily rate of MVPA of children with nearly zero daily exposure to greener spaces (95% CI 3.09-7.20).
Decreased absorption of orally administered ammonia by clinoptilolite in rats.

AbstractSprague-Dawley growing rats were used in four experiments to determine the effect of a natural zeolite mineral, clinoptilolite, on portal blood ammonia concentration following oral administration of (NH4), CO4. Stomach tubing rats with 315, 472.5, 630, or 945 mg clinoptilolite/100 g body wt reduced portal vein blood ammonia concentrations of rats orally administered, simultaneously, 45 or 90 mg (NH4)2CO3/100 g body wt. The reduction was greater at the higher clinoptilolite concentration at each level of (NH4)CO3 administration (i.e., 472.5 mg clinoptilolite was more effective than 315 mg at a dosage of 45 mg (NH4)2C03/100 mg body wt, and 945 mg clinoptilolite was more effective than 630 mg at a dosage of 90 mg (NH4)2CO3/100 mg body wt). Inclusion of 5% clinoptilolite in a diet containing 4% (NH4)2CO3 did not decrease portal blood ammonia after a 30-min meal, but it did reduce portal blood ammonia concentration compared with that of rats fed the basal diet not containing clinoptilolite. It is concl...
Experimental Studies on Micas: A Synthesis

The principal end members of the micas believed to be common in sediments have been synthesized and some of their stability relations determined. The polymorphs of muscovite and paragonite, the principal dioctahedral end members, obtained were 1Md, 1M and 2M1, and those of phlogopite and annite, the principal trioctahedral end members, 1Md and 1M or 3T. The range of stability of each of the polymorphs could not be fixed accurately because of the slow rate of transformation; however, the transformations 1Md → 1M → 2M1 were effected for muscovite and paragonite and 1M → 1Md or 3T and 2M1 → 1M or 3T for phlogopite. The growth characteristics of these micas in the laboratory are believed to be analogous to the formation of micas in sediments. Knowledge of the synthetic mica.s contributes greatly to an understanding of the natural materials called illite, hydromica, and high-silica sericite. The dioctahedral members of these materials and related minerals may be delineated accurately in the system muscovite—Al-celadonite—pyrophyllite and their iron analogues. The trioctahedral members of some of the same materials may be outlined in the system phlogopite— eastonite—tale and their iron analogues. The postulated substitution schemes in these systems are mainly MgSi ⇌ AlVIAlIV, KAl ⇌ Si, and H3O ⇌ K. In materials intermediate between these systems, such as most biotites and vormiculites, the substitution of 3Mg ⇌ 2AlVI is of major importance. The mixed-layer structures involving micas are elucidated.
Useful AI tools-a review of heuristic search methods

The classic search methodologies used in artificial intelligence are illustrated. The methods covered are depth-first, breadth-first, best-first or heuristic search, and the uniform-cost method. The power and rationale of heuristic search is discussed. >
Effects of music in service environments: a field study

Reports the findings of a controlled field study examining the effects of background music on shopping behavior in a traditional service environment: a supermarket. Finds that musical preference influenced both the amount of time and money shoppers spent in the service environment, although musical tempo and volume had no observable effects. Provides additional insight into the effects of background music on shopping behavior as well as some important considerations for the design of retail and service environments and ambience.
Faces as releasers of contagious yawning: An approach to face detection using normal human subjects

The yawn-evoking potency of variations in a 5-min series of 30 videotaped repetitions of a yawning face were compared with each other and with a series of 30 videotaped smiles to determine the ethological releasing stimulus for the fixed-action pattern of yawning and to understand the more general process of face detection. Animate video images of yawning faces in several axial orientations evoked yawns in more subjects than did featureless or smiling faces, and no single feature, such as a gaping mouth, was necessary to evoke yawns. The yawn recognition mechanism is neither axially specific nor triggered by an isolated facial feature.
Should Men and Women be Managed Differently in Glaucoma

Introduction To assess differences in associations of ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) as well as retinal and retrobulbar blood flow between men and women with primary open angle glaucoma (OAG).
Monte carlo simulation of simulateous gas flow and diffusion in an asymmetric distal pulmonary airway model

In order to evaluate the effect of anatomic asymmetries on the gas concentration distribution in the pulmonary airways, a Monte Carlo simulation of combined bulk flow and molecular diffusion was carried out in a realistic distal airway model (Parkeret al., 1971). This airway model, composed of branches distal to the 0.5-ram diameter airways, contained an upper symmetric segment consisting of four generations of conducting airways and a lower asymmetric segment of alveolar ducts and sacs arranged in five transport paths of varying lengths. In accounting for the volume increases of these ducts and sacs occurring during normal respiration, uniform alveolar filling rates and a fixed length-to-diameter ratio of all airways were assumed. For a pulse injection of inert tracer gas, the simulation was employed to determine the longitudinal concentration profiles in the conducting airways. In the alveolated airways, not only were the longitudinal profiles determined along each path, but radial transport from the core to the periphery of the airways was considered.
Varieties of Realism: Geometries of Representational Art

Varieties of Realism argues that it is not possible to represent the layout of objects and surfaces in space outside the dictates of formal visual geometry, the geometry of natural perspective. The book examines most of the world's coherent representational art styles, both in terms of the geometry of their creation and in terms of their perceptual effects on the viewer. A lucid exposition of modern geometrical principles and relations, accessible to the nonmathematical reader, is followed by an analysis of all known styles as variants of natural perspective, as true varieties of realism. Delineating the physical and mechanical constraints that determine the act of visual representation in painting and drawing, the author traces the intimate relations among seemingly distant styles and considers the kind of perceptual information about the world each can carry. Margaret Hagen is a perceptual psychologist with an ecological point of view. Her rigorous but readable presentation of visual theory and research offers provocative new insights into the connections among vision, geometry, and art.
Changing teachers’ perceptions about the writing abilities of emerging bilingual students: towards a holistic bilingual perspective on writing assessment

This study explored the application of a holistic bilingual view to assess the writing of emerging bilingual children. The study is part of a 5-year longitudinal research and intervention project t...
Life history and personality correlates of dominant-submissive behavior.

The purpose was to investigate family background and personality variables related to dominance-submissive behavior. 80 males and females interacted in a decision-making task, first with a partner ...
Circulatory and Respiratory Effects of Adenosine Triphosphate in Man

The authors have studied the acute effects of the intravenous and intra-arterial injection of the sodium salt of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in man. Rapid injection causes a frightening sensation in the chest and hyperpnea. The changes found agree with those reported in cats and are consistent with the concept that adenosine triphosphate is a vasodilator in somatic structures but causes an increase in pulmonary vascular and possibly in splanchnic resistance. Its principal action seems to be pharmacologic rather than in its role as an intracellular metabolite.
The behavior of postreproductive females in a wild population of toque macaques (Macaca sinica) in Sri Lanka

I compared the behavior of three old postreproductive females in a wild population of toque macaques (Macaca sinica)in Polonnaruwa with those of reproductive females via focal-animal sampling techniques. Postreproductives foraged less, slept more, and were less active overall than reproductive females were. They also had significantly lower rates of agonistic behavior, were more peripheral, and had lower frequencies of overall affiliative contact. Although postreproductives initiated contact with others as frequently as reproductives did, group members initiated contact with them significantly less than they did with reproductive females. Postreproductives associated more with adult females than reproductives did and less with adult and subadult males than high-ranking reproductives did. Juvenile and infant females associated more frequently with reproductive females of high or low rank than with postreproductives. Postreproductives resembled low-ranking reproductive females in giving less grooming to others than they received. This contrasts with high-ranking females, which gave more grooming to others than they received. The results suggest that old age and cessation of reproduction are evident through the manifestation of distinct behavioral characteristics in toque macaque females.
B-Myb Regulates the A2B Adenosine Receptor in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) has been described to control various vascular functions, including inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation. Here, we sought to understand the regulation of A2BAR gene expression in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), with a focus on the proliferation phase. Assays with A2BAR-β-gal aortic VSMCs, in which the endogenous A2BAR gene promoter drives the expression of prokaryotic β-galactosidase (β-gal) instead of the endogenous A2BAR gene, show that β-gal expression is upregulated when the cells are induced to exit from cell cycle arrest. Similarly, the level of A2BAR mRNA is upregulated in proliferating primary aortic VSMCs. In search of related mechanisms, it was noted that the A2BAR gene promoter contains several putative binding sites for the proliferation-inducing transcription factor, B-Myb. Using a clone of the 5′ region upstream of the mouse A2BAR gene linked to a reporter gene, B-Myb site deletion mutants were generated. It was determined that B-Myb upregulates the A2BAR gene promoter, and specific promoter binding sites were identified as functional. In accordance, B-Myb also elevates endogenous A2BAR mRNA and receptor activity, and this activity decreases cell proliferation. Our data are novel in that they show that this proliferation-inhibiting A2BAR is itself an inducible receptor regulated by B-Myb. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 1962–1974, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.