cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fundamentals of light-regulated gene expression in plants.

Plants must respond to light in order to live. By affecting gene expression both qualitatively and quantitatively, light is a major regulator of both plant development and metabolism. When a seedling emerges into the light, it undergoes a number of light-induced changes. Chloroplasts become organized, chlorophyll and the proteins required for assembling the photosynthetic apparatus are made, and the enzymes needed for carbon fixation are synthesized, preparing the plant for its autotrophic existence. Mature plants deal with diurnal fluctuations of light and adjust their metabolism accordingly. Gene expression is regulated in plants by light at many levels. The level of a gene product may be controlled by regulation of the level of transcription of its gene or, alternatively, by regulation of translation of its mRNA into protein. Turnover of the mRNA or the gene product is another point at which gene expression can be regulated. Finally, if the product of a gene is an enzyme, its activity level can respond to an environmental signal, thereby modulating the effective level of gene expression. As will be discussed in this review, light can regulate the expression of a given gene at one or more of these levels. Light also plays a critical role in plant development and a number of genes respond to light as both a developmental signal and a metabolic regulator.
Occurrence in the archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus of a ribosomal protein complex corresponding to Escherichia coli (L7/L12)4.L10 and eukaryotic (P1)2/(P2)2.P0.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of total protein from 50 S ribosomal subunits of the archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus demonstrated a complex between two proteins that was stable in 6 M urea, but dissociable in detergent or below pH 5.5. The proteins, numbered L1 and L10 according to their electrophoretic mobilities, corresponded to Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins L10 and L7/L12, respectively. The members of the complex were therefore designated Sso L10e and Sso L12e. Sso L12e had other properties in common with E. coli L7/L12: low molecular weight, relative acidity, selective release from the ribosome by high salt/ethanol, and dimeric structure. The Sso L12e.Sso L10e complex was isolated by gel filtration of total 50 S proteins in 4 M urea. The stoichiometry of the components was approximately four copies of Sso L12e to one copy of Sso L10e. The occurrence in an archaebacterium of a complex of acidic ribosomal proteins similar to E. coli (L7/L12)4.L10 and eukaryotic (P1)2/(P2)/.P0 strongly supports the concept that this element of quaternary structure is a major conserved feature of the ribosome and reaffirms its importance in the translocation step of protein synthesis.
Using Ordinal Data to Estimate Cardinal Values

We investigate methods developed in multiple criteria decision-making that use ordinal information to estimate numerical values. Such methods can be used to estimate attribute weights, attribute values, or event probabilities given ranks or partial ranks. We first review related studies and then develop a generalized rank-sum (GRS) approach in which we provide a derivation of the rank-sum approach that had been previously proposed. The GRS approach allows for incorporating the concept of degree of importance (or, difference in likelihood with respect to probabilities and difference in value for attribute values), information that most other rank-based formulas do not utilize. We then present simulation results comparing the GRS method with other rank-based formulas such as the rank order centroid method and comparing the GRS methods using as many as three levels of importance (i.e., GRS-3) with Simos' procedure (which can also incorporate degree of importance). To our surprise, our results show that the incorporation of additional information (i.e., the degree of the importance), both GRS-3 and Simos' procedure, did not result in better performance than rank order centroid or GRS. Further research is needed to investigate the modelling of such extra information. We also explore the scenario when a decision-maker has indifference judgments and cannot provide a complete rank order. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analytic nonintegrability in string theory

Using analytic techniques developed for Hamiltonian dynamical systems, we show that a certain classical string configuration in ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{X}_{5}$ with ${X}_{5}$ in a large class of Einstein spaces is nonintegrable. This answers the question of integrability of string on such backgrounds in the negative. We consider a string localized in the center of ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}$ that winds around two circles in the manifold ${X}_{5}$.
Bringing up turing's ‘child-machine'

Turing wrote that the "guiding principle" of his investigation into the possibility of intelligent machinery was "The analogy [of machinery that might be made to show intelligent behavior] with the human brain." [10] In his discussion of the investigations that Turing said were guided by this analogy, however, he employs a more far-reaching analogy: he eventually expands the analogy from the human brain out to "the human community as a whole." Along the way, he takes note of an obvious fact in the bigger scheme of things regarding human intelligence: grownups were once children; this leads him to imagine what a machine analogue of childhood might be. In this paper, I'll discuss Turing's child-machine, what he said about different ways of educating it, and what impact the "bringing up" of a child-machine has on its ability to behave in ways that might be taken for intelligent. I'll also discuss how some of the various games he suggested humans might play with machines are related to this approach.
Different populations of rheumatoid factor idiotypes induced by two polyclonal B cell activators, pokeweed mitogen and Epstein--Barr virus.

Abstract In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from two rheumatoid arthritis patients with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced differing sets of IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) idiotypes. Thus, in either patient. 71–82% of the IgM-RF induced by PWM, but only 30% of the IgM-RF induced by EBV, shared individually specific idiotypes with serum IgM-RF. These results suggest that differing populations of autoreactive B lymphocytes were induced by the two mitogens. PWM, a T-cell-dependent mitogen, induced the same RF-bearing B cells that were active in vivo . In contrast, EBV, a T-cell-independent mitogen, stimulated predominantly an inactive population of RF precursor B lymphocytes.
Printing Native History in David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations

As channels of print distribution and production widened in the early nineteenth century, Native Americans employed print as a means of expressing their pasts and thus their historical claims to territories coveted by the United States. In this essay, Radus shows how the nature of print in this period was at times incommensurate with the values and practices of Native historiography. Through an analysis of Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations (1827), Radus argues that Cusick, a Tuscarora historian, used various rhetorical and narrative techniques to alter the conventions of print so that the medium better conformed to the ideals of Haudenosaunee history telling. Sketches at once archives a history of Haudenosaunee territorial possession and subverts the presumption that printed texts afford access to any authoritative sense of the Haudenosaunee past. Cusick thereby assents to print modernity even as he refashions its premises in accord with his timely support for his nation's territorial sovereignty.
Isolation of a ubiquitin-ribosomal protein gene (ubi3) from potato and expression of its promoter in transgenic plants.

A genomic clone encoding the potato homolog of the yeast ubiquitin-ribosomal protein fusion gene ubi3 was isolated and characterized. Chimeric genes containing the ubi3 promoter (920 bp of 5′ to the ubiquitin start codon) were constructed in which the reporter gene β-glucuronidase (GUS) was either fused directly to the promoter, or introduced as a translational fusion to the ubiquitin-coding region. After introduction into the potato by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, GUS activities were measured in leaves and in tubers of transgenic clones. GUS activity was 5- to 10-fold higher in clones expressing the ubiquitin-GUS translational fusion than in clones containing GUS fused directly to the ubi3 promoter. For both types of constructs, GUS activity was highest in meristematic leaves and declined during leaf expansion, then rose again to near the meristematic levels during senescence. GUS activity in tubers was similar to that in young leaves. In contrast to the native ubi3 genes, the chimeric ubi3-GUS transgenes were not activated in the tuber by wounding.
An approximation manpower planning model for after-sales field service support

Manpower planning is a key part of after-sales field service support with a service guarantee. Accurate field travel distance approximation presents a good opportunity to lower the manpower level. By explicitly considering the uncertainties, a state-dependent travel distance approximation model is presented and used to find the optimized manpower solution. A simulation model is developed to study the relationship between staffing level, travel distance, and percentage of customers serviced on time. Numerical results show that the proposed travel distance approximation model performs much better than the classical ''square root law'' and other models in the literature.
When do type structures contain all hierarchies of beliefs

Abstract Hierarchies of beliefs play a central role in game theory. In practice, they are modeled by type structures. This allows the analyst to describe hierarchies without explicitly specifying an infinite sequence of beliefs. The focus of this paper is type structures that contain all hierarchies of beliefs. Can the analyst identify these structures without explicit reference to hierarchies? That is, does there exist a test, defined on the type structure alone, so that the structure passes this test only if it contains all hierarchies of beliefs? This paper investigates one such test. The test is based on the concept of completeness [Brandenburger, A., 2003. On the existence of a ‘complete’ possibility structure. In: Basili, M., Dimitri, N., Gilboa, I. (Eds.), Cognitive Processes and Economic Behavior. Routledge, pp. 30–34], a concept that has played an important role in epistemic game theory.
The spectrum of concentric macro EMG correlations. Part I. Normal subjects.

Using a concentric macro electrode, both the concentric and macro action potentials of a motor unit were analyzed for duration, area, and amplitude. Eighty-six different motor units were analyzed from the tibialis anterior muscle in 10 normal subjects. The aim of this work was to compare concentric and macro action potential measurements of the same motor unit. The study revealed significant correlations between concentric and macro samples, with the concentric potential's area correlating better with the macro potential than its amplitude. This shows that the 10 to 15 muscle fibers studied by the concentric electrode serve as a good sample of the motor unit as a whole. We briefly review the technique used in concentric macro EMG, as well as describe the methods used for collecting and comparing both concentric and macro action potentials. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Airborne atmospheric laser spectroscopy

Many important atmospheric constituents can be detected with infrared laser absorption spectroscopy. This talk reviews the engineering challenges, opportunities, and selected scientific results from recent airborne campaigns.
The spectrophotometric determination of complexing agent in a polynitroaromatic molecular compound

Abstract A spectrophotometric method for quantitative determination of complcxing agent in polynitroaromatic molecular compounds of naphthalene and its derivativcs is described. The procedure involves comparison of the absorbances of solutions of the molecular compounds and its complexing agent over a range of wavelengths where absorption by the complexed moiety is negligible. An absolute accuracy of 2% or less is indicated
Propagation of the Nth-Order Coherence Function in a Random Medium, II. General Solutions and Asymptotic Behavior

In the first paper, we derived the governing equations for all the statistical moments of the radiation field in a random medium. In this paper, we use generalized Wiener integrals to derive the general solutions of these equations. We also study the asymptotic behavior of the solutions for both large and small values of propagation distance.
Repetitive responses to ventricular extrastimuli: incidence, mechanism, and significance

Abstract Repetitive ventricular responses (RVR) to programmed ventricular stimulation were observed in 238 of 400 patients (59.5%). Two types of RVR with different mechanisms and clinical significance in relation to ventricular arrhythmias could be identified. 1. 1. Repetitive ventricular responses resulting from bundle branch reentry occurred in 53% of patients without any significant difference of incidence in the presence (52.9%) or absence (54.1%) of organic heart disease. 2. 2. Repetitive ventricular responses resulting from intraventricular reentry occurred in 19.5% of patients with a significantly higher incidence in patients with (23.9%) than without (8.1%) organic heart disease. Thirty-eight of 41 (92.7%) patients with inducible ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation also had intraventricular reentry, but only 9.1% of patients without these arrhythmias manifested intraventricular reentry (p It is concluded that bundle branch and intraventricular reentry are different phenomena, both in mechanism and relationship, to spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias. Bundle branch reentry appears to be a benign phenomenon which represents a physiological response of the His-Purkinje system and is not directly related to ventricular arrhythmias. On the other hand, our data suggest that intraventricular reentry may be a “pathologic” phenomenon closely related to ventricular arrhythmias. The presence of intraventricular reentry may identify patients who are prone to develop ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.
Compliance of Child Care Centers in Pennsylvania With National Health and Safety Performance Standards for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness

OBJECTIVES: To determine the preparedness of child care centers in Pennsylvania to respond to emergencies and disasters based on compliance with National Health and Safety Performance Standards for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs. METHODS: A questionnaire focusing on the presence of a written evacuation plan, the presence of a written plan for urgent medical care, the immediate availability of equipment and supplies, and the training of staff in first aid/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as delineated in Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs, 2nd Edition, was mailed to 1000 randomly selected child care center administrators located in Pennsylvania. RESULTS: Of the 1000 questionnaires sent, 496 questionnaires were available for analysis (54% usable response rate). Approximately 99% (95% confidence interval CI., 99%-100%) of child care centers surveyed were compliant with recommendations to have a comprehensive written emergency plan (WEP) for urgent medical care and evacuation, and 85% (95% CI, 82%-88%) practice their WEP periodically throughout the year. More than 20% of centers did not have specific written procedures for floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards, or bomb threats, and approximately half of the centers did not have specific written procedures for urgent medical emergencies such as severe bleeding, unresponsiveness, poisoning, shock/heart or circulation failure, seizures, head injuries, anaphylaxis or allergic reactions, or severe dehydration. A minority of centers reported having medications available to treat an acute asthma attack or anaphylaxis. Also, 77% (95% CI, 73%-80%) of child care centers require first aid training for each one of its staff members, and 33% (95% CI, 29%-37%) require CPR training. CONCLUSIONS: Although many of the child care centers we surveyed are in compliance with the recommendations for emergency and disaster preparedness, specific areas for improvement include increasing the frequency of practice of the WEP, establishing specific written procedures for external disasters and urgent medical emergencies, maintaining the immediate availability of potentially life-saving medications, and ensuring that all child care center staff are trained in first aid and CPR. Language: en
Computational Alanine Scanning To Probe Protein−Protein Interactions: A Novel Approach To Evaluate Binding Free Energies

Noncovalent interactions are important in many physiological processes of complexation which involve all components of the living cells. Here we report an approach to computationally study the interaction free energies in protein−protein complexes which allows from a single simulation an estimate of the individual contribution of each residue to the binding. We developed this new techniquecomputational alanine scanningand applied it to study the interactions of the oncoprotein Mdm2 to the N-terminal stretch of tumor suppressor protein p53. Excellent agreement has been found between the calculated and experimental data. This residue mutation methodology could prove to be a useful general design tool for moleculesnucleotides, peptides, lipids, or any other organic compoundoptimized for interactions or stability, since one can qualitatively estimate the free energy consequences of many mutations from a single molecular dynamics trajectory.
Parameterization of middle atmospheric water vapor photochemistry for high-altitude NWP and data assimilation

This paper describes CHEM2D-H2O, a new parameterization of H 2 O photochemical production and loss based on the CHEM2D photochemical-transport model of the middle atmosphere. This parameterization accounts for the altitude, latitude, and seasonal variations in the photochemical sources and sinks of water vapor over the pressure region from 100–0.001 hPa (~16–90 km altitude). A series of free-running NOGAPS-ALPHA forecast model simulations offers a preliminary assessment of CHEM2D-H2O performance over the June 2007 period. Results indicate that the CHEM2D-H2O parameterization improves global 10-day forecasts of upper mesospheric water vapor compared to forecasts using an existing one-dimensional (altitude only) parameterization. Most of the improvement is seen at high winter latitudes where the one-dimensional parameterization specifies photolytic H 2 O loss year round despite the lack of sunlight in winter. The new CHEM2D-H2O parameterization should provide a better representation of the downwelling of dry mesospheric air into the stratospheric polar vortex in operational analyses that do not assimilate middle atmospheric H 2 O measurements.
Time-Dependent Conjugate Heat Transfer Characteristics of Self-Sustained Oscillatory Flows in a Grooved Channel

Convective heat transport in a grooved channel is numerically investigated using a time-dependent formulation. Conjugate conduction/convection and uniform heat-flux representations for the solid domain are considered. For the conjugate representation, the solid domain is composed of multiple materials and concentrated heat generation. The associated cooling flows include laminar and transitional regimes. Steady and time-dependent contours of the streamfunction and local skin-friction coefficients are presented. Additionally, local distributions of Nusselt number and surface temperature are displayed for both the conjugate and convection-only representations. These results are contrasted over the range of Reynolds numbers explored to demonstrate the significance of including time-dependency and conjugation in the study of convective heat transport. Such considerations are found to be important in the design and analysis of heat exchanger configurations with spatially varying material composition and concentrated heat generation.
Response to Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate vaccine in children undergoing splenectomy

Asplenic children are at increased risk for serious infection with polysaccharide encapsulated bacteria including Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB), Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis. Immunization with polysaccharide vaccines is recommended for children undergoing splenectomy. In 1987 a new more immunogenic HIB vaccine was licensed in the US to replace the pure HIB polysaccharide vaccine that was licensed in 1985. This polysaccharide-conjugate vaccine consists of the HIB polysaccharide linked to a protein carrier, diphtheria toxoid. Therefore, we evaluated the immune response of children undergoing splenectomy to HIB-conjugate vaccine. Thirteen children (7 with Hodgkin's disease, 4 with idiopathic thrombocytopenia, 2 with hereditary spherocytosis) aged 3 to 19 years were immunized with HIB-conjugate vaccine prior to splenectomy and serum was obtained following splenectomy. In addition, 15 healthy control children aged 2 to 14 years were immunized with the pure polysaccharide HIB vaccine for comparison. The patients undergoing splenectomy who received the HIB-conjugate vaccine had a geometric mean IgG anti-HIB antibody concentration of 48,106 ng/mL versus 10,786 ng/mL for the control patients who received the pure polysaccharide vaccine (P = .01). The presumed protective level of antibody is 1,000 ng/mL and all children were well above this concentration. Therefore, we propose that children undergoing splenectomy be immunized with an HIB-conjugate vaccine.
207 Racial disparity in maternal and fetal cord bisphenol A exposure

Resources,Charleston,SC, 4 MedicalUniversityofSouth Carolina,HollingsMarineLaboratory,Charleston,SC OBJECTIVE: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with estrogenic action. A role for environmental toxins as a cause of racial disparities in obstetric outcomes has been suggested. Our objective was to determine if racial disparities exist in maternal and fetal cord serum levels of BPA or in the placental transfer of BPA. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed using biologic samples from a cohort of 600 healthy nulliparas at term. We chose 27 patients(8Caucasian,8African-American,and11Hispanic)livingin closeproximitytopointsofheavysedimentcontaminationidentified bythestateDepartmentofNaturalResources.Termpre-labormaternalserumandcorrespondingfetalcordserumwereanalyzedforBPA byID-LC/MS/MS,followingaliquid-liquidextractionofthesamples. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall median BPA levels were 10-fold higher in maternal samples than in fetal samples (14.1 vs. 1.3 ng/mL; p0.001). This difference was only significant for African-Americans and Hispanics, in whom fetal levels were 1% and 8% of maternal levels, respectively (p0.02and0.002).African-Americanshadthehighestmaternallevels, approximately 10x higher than Caucasians (30.13 vs. 3.14 ng/mL; p0.038). Hispanics had intermediate levels with a trend towards higher BPA levels compared with Caucasians (24.46 vs. 3.14 ng/mL; p0.051).Inthefetalsamples,Hispanicshadsignificantlyhigherlevels than non-Hispanics (2.05 vs. 0.35 ng/mL; p0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Racial and ethnic disparity in maternal BPA levels exists with values that are 10-fold and 8-fold higher in African-Americans and Hispanics, respectively, compared with Caucasians. Fetal BPA levels are significantly lower than maternal levels, with the most marked differences seen in African-Americans. Ethnic differences persisted in the fetal samples, with Hispanics having significantly higher levels than non-Hispanics. Further study is needed to determineifthesedifferencesreflectdisparitiesinexposure,metabolismor placental transfer.
Interactive effects of pH and metals on mitochondrial functions of intertidal bivalves Crassostrea virginica and Mercenaria mercenaria.

Abstract Intertidal bivalves experience broad fluctuations of environmental temperature, pH and oxygen content which could change their intracellular pH. They are also exposed to trace metals such as cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) that accumulate in their tissues and may negatively affect mitochondrial functions and bioenergetics. We determined the interactive effects of pH and trace metals (25 μM Cd or Cu) on mitochondrial functions (including respiration and membrane potentials in both ADP-stimulated (state 3) and resting (state 4) states) of two common marine bivalves, the hard clams ( Mercenaria mercenaria ) and eastern oysters ( Crassostrea virginica ). In the absence of the trace metals, mitochondrial functions of C. virginica and M. mercenaria were insensitive to pH in a broad physiologically relevant range (6.6–7.8). Mitochondrial respiration was generally suppressed by 25 μM Cd or Cu (with the stronger effects observed for ADP-stimulated compared to the resting respiration) while the mitochondrial membrane potential was unaffected. pH modulated the effects of Cu and Cd on mitochondrial respiration of the bivalves. In oysters, Cu suppressed ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration at high and low pH values (6.6 and 7.8, respectively), but had no effect in the intermediate pH range (7.0–7.4). In clams, the negative effect of Cu on ADP-stimulated respiration was only observed at extremely high pH (7.8). A decrease in pH was also protective against Cd in mitochondria of clams and oysters. In clams, 25 μM Cd suppressed ADP-stimulated respiration at all pH; however, at low pH (6.6–7.0) this suppression was paralleled by a decrease in the rates of proton leak thereby effectively restoring mitochondrial coupling. In oysters, the inhibitory effects of Cd on ADP-stimulated respiration were fully abolished at low pH (6.6–7.0). This indicates that moderate acidosis (such as occurs during exposure to air, extreme salinities or elevated CO 2 levels in the intertidal zone) may have a beneficial side-effect of protecting mitochondria of clams and oysters against the toxic effects of trace metals in polluted estuaries.
The Si 3 N 4 /Si ion-sensitive semiconductor electrode

In this paper we investigate the suitability of silicon nitride as a pH-sensitive coating in the EIS (electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor) half cell. The admittance of the EIS capacitor is measured at various pH. The role of the nitride as both gate insulator and ion conducting glass is presented. Hysteresis effects ascribed to changes in the depth of ionic penetration in the Si 3 N 4 are found to be significant. We conclude that the dual use of the "gate insulator" as both insulator and ion-conducting material does not appear to be the best route for preparing ion-sensitive semiconductor electrodes.
Stimulus generalization by fenfluramine in a quipazine-ketanserin drug discrimination is not dependent on indirect serotonin release.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if animals trained to discriminate a serotonin 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptor agonist from a 5-HT 2A receptor antagonist would also be sensitive to alterations in serotonin neurotransmission brought about by 5-HT reuptake inhibitors and releasers. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that the quipazine–ketanserin discrimination is mediated solely by the 5-HT 2A receptor, thus providing a behavioral continuum of 5-HT 2A receptor function. Rats were trained to discriminate quipazine (0.35 mg/kg) from ketanserin (1.0 mg/kg) on a variable interval-30 schedule of reinforcement. Following acquisition, substitution tests were conducted with the training drug, quipazine, and agents that have been shown to alter the synaptic levels of 5-HT, including fenfluramine, norfenfluramine, 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan (MMAI) and fluoxetine. All compounds substituted, except fluoxetine. Antagonist tests with mianserin and MDL 100,907 indicated that fenfluramine's and MMAI's substitution for quipazine was mediated by the 5-HT 2A receptor. Animals were pretreated with PCPA to determine whether 5-HT release or direct agonism mediated the discriminative stimulus effects of fenfluramine and MMAI. PCPA blocked the substitution of MMAI but not of fenfluramine for quipazine. Analysis of 3 H-IP formation in cells showed that norfenfluramine dose-dependently stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis to levels similar to that of serotonin and quipazine. These results indicate that fenfluramine's substitution for quipazine in rats trained on a quipazine–ketanserin discrimination are due to direct agonism at the 5-HT 2A receptor likely mediated by norfenfluramine, an active metabolite.
Models of exposure to carbon monoxide inside a vehicle on a Honolulu highway.

This paper presents statistical models of passenger exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) inside a motor vehicle as it traveled a coastal highway in Honolulu, Hawaii during morning periods between November, 1981 and May, 1982. The 3.85-mile study site was divided into three links. The models predict the average CO concentration inside the vehicle's passenger cabin on the third link as a function of several variables: the average CO concentrations inside the cabin on previous links; traffic, temporal, and meteorological variables; motor vehicle CO emission factors; and ambient CO concentrations. Based on data for 80 trips, the three most powerful models (adjusted R2=0.69) were nonlinear combinations of four variables: the average CO concentration inside the cabin for the second link; wind speed and direction; and either the travel time, vehicle speed or CO emission factor for the third link. Several nonlinear models were based on data for 62 trips for which nonzero, ambient CO concentrations were available. For this database, the most practical models (adjusted R2=0.67) combined three variables: the ambient CO concentration; the second-link travel time; and either the travel time, vehicle speed or CO emission factor for the third link. Two factors of third-link CO exposure varied seasonally. Relatively lighter traffic flows and stronger winds lowered cabin exposures during late fall, while heavier traffic flows and calmer winds elevated cabin exposures during winter and spring. This study confirms the importance of seasonal effects on cabin exposure, as observed by a California study, and adds new insights about their effects.
Do Newer Prescription Drugs Pay For Themselves? A Reassessment Of The Evidence

Citing evidence from studies conducted by Frank Lichtenberg, some health policy advocates have argued that, on average, use of new prescription drugs reduces total health care costs. While recogniz...
Optimization of DNA polymerase mutation rates during bacterial evolution

Mutation rate is an important determinant of evolvability. The optimal mutation rate for different organisms during evolution has been modeled in silico and tested in vivo, predominantly through pairwise comparisons. To characterize the fitness landscape across a broad range of mutation rates, we generated a panel of 66 DNA polymerase I mutants in Escherichia coli with comparable growth properties, yet with differing DNA replication fidelities, spanning 103-fold higher and lower than that of wild type. These strains were competed for 350 generations in six replicate cultures in two different environments. A narrow range of mutation rates, 10- to 47-fold greater than that of wild type, predominated after serial passage. Mutants exhibiting higher mutation rates were not detected, nor were wild-type or antimutator strains. Winning clones exhibited shorter doubling times, greater maximum culture densities, and a growth advantages in pairwise competition relative to their precompetition ancestors, indicating the acquisition of adaptive phenotypes. To investigate the basis for mutator selection, we undertook a large series of pairwise competitions between mutator and wild-type strains under conditions where, in most cases, one strain completely overtook the culture within 18 days. Mutators were the most frequent winners but wild-type strains were also observed winning, suggesting that the competitive advantage of mutators is due to a greater probability of developing selectably advantageous mutations rather than from an initial growth advantage conferred by the polymerase variant itself. Our results indicate that under conditions where organism fitness is not yet maximized for a particular environment, competitive adaptation may be facilitated by enhanced mutagenesis.
Charge fluctuation model of lattice vibrations

Abstract A new phenomenological model is proposed for the lattice dynamics of transition metals. It is based on the microscopic model of Sinha and Harmon and includes the effect of charge fluctuations coupled to atomic motions. The model has been found to reproduce very accurately the phonon dispersion curves for Nb with short-range charge fluctuations and interatomic interactions.
Combining flow and dependence analyses to expose redundant array accesses

The success of large-scale, hierarchical and distributed shared memory systems hinges on our ability to reduce delays resulting from remote accesses to shared data. To facilitate this, we present a compile-time algorithm for analyzing programs with doall-style parallelism to determine when read and write accesses to shared data areredundant (unnecessary). One identified, redundant remote accesses can be replaced by local accesses or eliminated entirely. This optimization improves program performance in two ways. First, slow memory accesses are replaced by faster ones. Second, the time to perform other remote memory accesses may be reduced as a result of the decreased traffic level. We also show how the information obtained through redundancy analysis can be used for other compiler optimizations such as prefetching and cache management.
Risk factors for nursing home placement in a population-based dementia cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To examine risk factors for nursing home placement in a population-based dementia cohort. METHODS: The Mayo Clinic Medical Records linkage system was used to identify all patients with onset of dementia between 1980 and 1984. The patient group included 314 cases who met DSM-III-R criteria for dementia, including 220 cases who were community dwelling at onset. All dementia patients were followed until death. A control group included 323 patients who did not, at any point, meet DSM-III-R criterion for dementia. The groups were initially matched on age, gender, and year of initial registration. Demographic, medical, social, and functional predictors were examined as static and time-dependent risk factors for nursing home placement in the initial community-dwelling subgroups, using stepwise Cox regression modeling. RESULTS: Of the 314 dementia patients, 282 took residence in licensed skilled nursing homes for at least 6 weeks, suggestive of custodial care, at some point during the course of their illness. In the control group, 162 of the 323 people required nursing home placement. Within controls, the predictor variables of time to nursing home placement included initial age, being divorced, living in a townhome, apartment or assisted living apartment, change in Charlson comorbidity score, and change in amount of daily assistance required. Within the dementia sample, seven predictors were eventually determined to be associated with time to nursing home placement. These included total number of years of education, age at onset of dementia, being single, living in a retirement or supervised apartment at onset, change in Charlson comorbidity score, and a change in the amount of daily assistance required. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative incidence of placement was 90% in the dementia cohort and 50% in the controls. Certain variables seem to impact time to nursing home placement in all older persons, whether they have dementia or not. Among these are age, living in assisted living settings, increasing comorbidity scores, and increasing need for functional assistance. Certain additional factors may have a specific impact in dementia. Among these is education, which seems to provide a protective effect. These predictors may be important covariates in clinical dementia studies that include time to nursing home placement as an outcome variable. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 519–525, 2000.
Transport of granules by wind and water: Micromechanics to macromechanics in geology and engineering

Abstract We present two examples of micromechanical simulations and show how the calculations can be used to draw useful conclusions at the macroscopic level. In bedload transport by water we examine the mixing-depth of sediments undergoing shear-traction. In transport of dry sand grains by wind we examine the development of periodic bedforms and the burial and preservation of bedding surfaces.
Aqueous Solution Deposition Kinetics of Iron Oxyhydroxide on Sulfonic Acid Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers

The deposition kinetics of iron oxyhydroxide on sulfonic acid terminated self-assembled monolayers were studied. The thin films of FeOOH were formed on the substrates by thermal hydrolysis of millimolar aqueous solutions of Fe(NO[sub 3])[sub 3] at a pH of approximately 2.0. The thickness of the films was measured ellipsometrically at various times. Both Fe(NO[sub 3])[sub 3] and HNO[sub 3] concentrations were independently varied to provide varying degrees of solution supersaturation. Depending on these concentrations, an induction time was observed before film growth commenced. The correlation between supersaturation and induction time was modeled using classical nucleation theory. Very good agreement was observed regardless of whether supersaturation was varied via the concentration of Fe(NO[sub 3])[sub 3] or HNO[sub 3]. From these results an interfacial free energy for nucleation of 148 mJ/m[sup 2] was calculated. The critical nucleus species was identified as a tetrameric iron species by considering the order of nucleation. 49 refs., 11 figs., 1 tab.
On the Doppler Shifts of Solar Ultraviolet Emission Lines

We examine emission-line profiles observed with the Solar Ultraviolet Measurement of Emitted Radiation (SUMER) instrument during the roll of the SOHO spacecraft on 1997 March 20. SUMER data were acquired in selected wavelength bands including lines from the low chromosphere to the corona. Our main aim is to determine the center-to-limb behavior of emission lines formed in the chromosphere, transition region, and corona, especially of the observed Doppler shifts, to try to form a consistent picture of the basic kinematic properties of the emitting plasmas. To achieve this we combine the roll data with data from the full disk discussed elsewhere and fitted Gaussian profiles to the cores of the line profiles. The Doppler-shift data at large spatial scales (>50'') clearly reveal center-to-limb redshift behavior consistent with a cos variation in all transition region lines. The three "coronal" lines in the data set (of Ne VIII and Mg X) reveal center-to-limb behavior consistent with disk-center blueshifts, in contradiction to some previous work. The redshift to blueshift transition occurs at electron temperatures of about 5 × 105 K. Furthermore, we present evidence for an outflow of the fast solar wind from the coronal holes throughout the whole transition region. These results confirm and extend earlier work and point toward a (re-) measurement of rest wavelengths of lines formed at coronal temperatures in the laboratory. Together these results provide a firmer observational foundation for the development of classes of models to account for the well-known redshifts and point to the need to develop models that can also account for the coronal-line blueshifts.
Automated rover positioning and instrument placement

Technologies to enable automated placement of a rover arm mounted instrument with the rover starting about three meters from the specified instrument target on a terrain feature have been developed and demonstrated on a prototype Mars rover. The technologies are automated rover base placement, collision-free arm path planning, and vision guided manipulation. These technologies were integrated with rover visual tracking to provide a complete capability for automated rover approach and instrument placement.
Mobility of the β1-γ 1 ′ martensitic interface in Cu-Al-Ni: Part I. Experimental measurements

The mobility of theβ 1-γ 1 ′ martensitic interface in thermoelasticβ-Cu-Al-Ni alloys has been investigated using stress-assisted single interface transformation over the temperature range 180 to 410 K. The imposed interfacial velocities varied between 10-6 and 10-2 ms-1. The kinetic behavior is found to be consistent with thermally-activated interfacial motion, although an anomalous temperature dependence is observed below 210 K. This low temperature anomaly is attributed to the effect of the experimentally verified elastic softening. At higher temperatures, measured activation energies of 1.5 × 10-20 to 3.5 × 10-20 J and activation volumes of 103 to 104 atomic volumes are rationalized in terms of the rate-controlling interaction of the moving interface with fine-scale lattice displacements, the tweed structure, observed by transmission electron microscopy. Coarse particles ofγ- and 2H-phase, detected by the TEM, are found to give rise to noncontact particle/interface interactions which are too long-range to be surmounted by thermal activation. Consequently, they produce athermal friction stresses opposing interface motion.
A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance

The article reviews the book “A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance,” by Edwin A. Locke and Gary P. Latham.
Monocyte phosphodiesterase abnormalities and dysregulation of lymphocyte function in atopic dermatitis

The immunologic aberrations associated with atopic dermatitis include the paradox of reduced cell-mediated immune responses in the setting of increased cell-mediated immunity features that resemble allergic contact dermatitis. In this review, we present evidence that abnormalities in monocytes and Langerhans cells alter the function of T-helper-cell subpopulations to cause the immunologic defects associated with atopic dermatitis. Increased monocyte prostaglandin E2 production inhibits Th1 responses, accentuating interleukin (IL)-4 secretion by Th2 cells. Elevated prostaglandin E2 secretion correlates with abnormally increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate-phosphodiesterase activity in monocytes and this, along with other defective inflammatory cell responses, can be normalized in vitro by phosphodiesterase inhibitors. It appears that in addition to prostaglandin E2, IL-10 acts to regulate the balance between Th1 and Th2 functional responses accounting for many atopic features, including increased IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6 production by T cells; increased IgE synthesis; decreased interferon-gamma production; and impaired cell-mediated immune responses. All of these abnormalities can be related to increased phosphodiesterase activity in atopic monocytes, and inhibition of this key enzyme appears to reverse atopic dermatitis inflammatory abnormalities in vitro and in vivo.
Shortcomings of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Serology 7 Panel

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to compare the predictive values of the Prometheus Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Serology 7 (IBD7) panel (Prometheus Laboratories, San Diego, CA) with the predictive values of routine blood tests in a population of children referred for initial evaluation of suspected IBD. METHODS: Medical records of pediatric patients referred for evaluation of IBD for whom IBD7 testing was performed at Prometheus Laboratories between January 2006 and November 2008 were reviewed. Patients underwent diagnosis by pediatric gastroenterologists on the basis of clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, and pathologic evaluations. RESULTS: A total of 394 records were identified. We excluded 90 records on the basis of age of >21 years, previous diagnosis of IBD, or unclear diagnosis. The prevalence of IBD in this cohort was 38%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and κ value for the serological panel were 67%, 76%, 63%, 79%, and 42%, respectively, compared with values for a combination of 3 abnormal routine laboratory test results of 72%, 94%, 85%, 79%, and 47%. The antiflagellin antibody assay, the newest assay added to the panel, had sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 53%. Repeat serological testing failed to produce consistent results for 4 of 10 patients. CONCLUSION: Despite its recent inclusion of the antiflagellin assay, the IBD7 panel has lower predictive values than routine laboratory tests in pediatric screening for IBD.
Measurements of electron density irregularities in the ionosphere of Jupiter by Pioneer 10

It is demonstrated that when the frequency spectrum of log amplitude fluctuations is used, the radio-occultation experiment is a powerful tool for detecting, identifying, and studying ionospheric irregularities. Analysis of Pioneer 10 radio-occultation measurements reveals that the Jovian ionosphere possesses electron-density irregularities which are very similar to those found in the earth's ionosphere. This is the first time such irregularities have been found in a planetary ionosphere other than that of the earth. The Pioneer 10 results indicate that the spatial wave-number spectrum of the electron-density irregularities is close to the Kolmogorov spectrum and that the outer scale size is greater than the Fresnel size (6.15 km). This type of spectrum suggests that the irregularities are probably produced by the turbulent dissipation of irregularities larger than the outer scale size.
Domperidone induces a probenecid-sensitive rise in immunoreactive prolactin in cerebroventricular perfusates in female rats.

Abstract The present study examined immunoreactive prolactin (ir-PRL) access into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by monitoring ir-PRL levels in the blood and cerebroventricular perfusates of ovariectomized (ovx) rats treated with the dopamine antagonist, domperidone (DOMP). In Expt. 1 PRL plasma levels were measured in rats treated with DOMP i.p. (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg). All doses of DOMP significantly increased PRL plasma levels. In Expt. 2 animals were treated i.p. with DOMP (10 mg/kg) or DOMP plus the active transport blocking agent, probenecid (PROB; 250 mg/kg). Plasma PRL and ir-PRL in cerebroventricular perfusates were measured in separate sets of animals using catheters and a push-pull perfusion system, respectively. DOMP induced an increase in plasma PRL that was followed 30–40 min later by a rise in ventricular perfusates ir-PRL levels. PROB treatment induced a greater increase in plasma PRL levels in DOMP-treated animals, but delayed the DOMP-induced increase in ir-PRL ventricular perfusate ir-PRL levels. The delay in the rise of ir-PRL in ventricular perfusates observed in rats treated with DOMP plus PROB may be due to a PROB's interference with the transport of PRL from the blood into CSF. These results suggest that under some conditions ir-PRL in CSF originates from the pituitary.
Palatometric Specification of Stop, Affricate, and Sibilant Sounds

This investigation used palatometry to study stops, sibilants, and affricates in CV syllables (C = t,d,k,g,t∫,d; V = i,) spoken by nine normal 6- to 14-year-old children. The measures focused on pl...
Notes: Vertical Distribution of Adult American Shad in the Connecticut River

Abstract Adult American shad Alosa sapidissima were sampled with vertical gill nets during the 1986 and 1987 spawning and postspawning migrations in the Connecticut River. Most (83%) were caught in the lower half of the water column, but not on the river bottom. The vertical distributions of gravid and spent fish were similar for both males and females. American shad showed no diel, seasonal, or yearly changes in depth distributions. Larger gravid fish swam deeper in the water column than did smaller gravid fish.