cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation and identification of root-inhibiting compounds from corn gluten hydrolysate

Interest has centered on the use of plantderived compounds as natural herbicides, and they are considered to represent an environmentally sound approach to weed control. Corn gluten hydrolysate, found to have a growth-regulating effect on the root system of germinating grass seeds, has been suggested as a natural herbicide. A protocol was developed to extract, isolate, and identify the root-inhibiting compounds from corn gluten hydrolysate aqueous solution and a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). A Petri dish bioassay was used to test the root-inhibiting activity. Five bioactive dipeptides were isolated by using Sephadex G-15 gel filtration, solid-phase extraction, and C18 reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography procedures. The five dipeptides were glutaminyl-glutamine, alaninyl-asparagine, alaninyl-glutamine, glycinyl-alanine, and alaninyl-alanine. Their root-inhibiting activity on perennial ryegrass was demonstrated in Petri dish bioassays.
Th e origins of The journal of Phenomenological Psychology and Some Difficulties in Introducing Phenomenology Into Scientific Psychology

A description of the founding of the Journal of Phenomenological Psychology and some of its vicissitudes during its first 25 years are described. Some of the difficulties the journal experienced are correlated with the minority status of phenomenological psychology in the world of psychology at large. Several factors are hypothesized to be the basis of Phenomenology's little impact on mainstream psychology: intrinsic difficulties in comprehending phenomenological philosophy, the fact that phenomenological psychology has not yet sufficiently diflerentiated itself from phenomenological philosophy; and mainstream psychology's clear non-openness to approaches that seem different to its established values.
Releasing multiply imputed, synthetic public use microdata: an illustration and empirical study

Summary. The paper presents an illustration and empirical study of releasing multiply imputed, fully synthetic public use microdata. Simulations based on data from the US Current Population Survey are used to evaluate the potential validity of inferences based on fully synthetic data for a variety of descriptive and analytic estimands, to assess the degree of protection of confidentiality that is afforded by fully synthetic data and to illustrate the specification of synthetic data imputation models. Benefits and limitations of releasing fully synthetic data sets are discussed.
The effect of medication and the role of postural instability in different components of freezing of gait (FOG).

Abstract Freezing of gait (FOG) is associated with gait asymmetry and arrhythmicity, cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of postural instability (PI) in and the effect of dopaminergic medication (meds) on FOG are unclear. We investigated the effect of meds on FOG using a validated metric, Stepping in Place (SIP) and the relationship between PI and FOG. Methods We assessed static posturography (off meds), SIP, UPDRS-III (off/on meds) and the FOG-questionnaire (FOG-Q) in 15 freezers/15 non-freezers and 14 healthy controls. Results UPDRS-III, rigidity, tremor ( P P P P P P V CoP ) in both directions were larger in freezers ( P V CoP ( R = 0.42; R = 0.40, P The improvement of FOG frequency and duration but not of gait asymmetry and arrhythmicity on meds suggests that both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic networks contribute to FOG. The correlations between postural instability and FOG severity and SIP asymmetry on meds, suggest that as the disease progresses, postural instability interferes with gait symmetry and lead to on meds FOG and falls.
Genetic evidence for a role of CREB in sustained cortical arousal.

The cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB) is an activity-dependent transcription factor important for synaptic plasticity and memory storage. Levels of phosphorylated CREB within the c...
Binding of [3H]2-(2-benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline (BFI) to human brain: Potentiation by tranylcypromine

Abstract Recently, a new imidazoline (I 2 ) ligand, [ 3 H]2-(2-benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline (BFI) was shown to be more selective for I 2 vs α 2 binding in rodent brain. We characterized [ 3 H]BFI binding in human brain cortex and lateral reticular nucleus (NRL). Membranes were incubated with [ 3 H]BFI at 22 °C in 50 mM Tris, 1.5 mM EDTA at pH 7.5. Saturation experiments with [ 3 H]BFI (0.5–80 nM) were analyzed using non-linear curve fitting. The NRL had 4X more binding sites than cortex with similar affinity (B max = 2085 ± 732 and 471 ± 41 fmol mg protein; K D = 9.3 ± 3.5 and 11.9 ± 2.7 nM, respectively). In competition studies, cortical [ 3 H]BFI binding was displaced in order of decreasing potency by clorgyline > BFI ≥ cirazoline > idazoxan ≥ guanabenz > clonidine > RX821002. The monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor tranylcypromine (TCP) (1 nM-10 μM), markedly enhanced [ 3 H]BFI binding in both NRL and cortex. Enhanced binding was maximal at 300 nM (12 X control) and returned to baseline at 30 μM. Potentiation was not seen with pargyline or clorgyline. TCP did not effect [ 3 H]BFI binding in rat cortex, or [ 3 H]idazoxan binding in human cortex and NRL. In human cortex, inhibition of MAO by preincubation with pargyline (10 μM) abolished the TCP effect. Upon preincubation with TCP, the stimulation of [ 3 H]BFI binding was dose-dependently related to a simultaneous inhibition of MAO. Thus, [ 3 H]BFI labels a site in human NRL and cortex that appears similar to the previously described I 2 site labeled by [ 3 H]idazoxan. However, [ 3 H]BFI binding is dramatically stimulated by TCP in human brain via a mechanism dependent on endogenous MAO activity.
The Effect of Various Insecticides on Trichogramma semifumatum and Certain Predators in Southern California

Three field tests were conducted to determine the effect of Sevin® (1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate), Dylox® ( O , O -dimethyl 2,2,2-trichloro-1-hydroxyethyl phosphonate), Phosdrin® (a mixture of the alpha isomer of 2-carbomethoxyl-1-methyl-vinyl dimethyl phosphate (not less than 60%) and related compounds (not more than 40%)), methoxychlor, parathion, and demeton on the veg parasite Trichogramma semifumatum (Perkins). The materials were applied at dosages commonly used for controlling various pests of field and vegetable crops in California. Sevin was extremely toxic to the adult parasites, and to the parasites developing within Colias eurytheme Boisduval eggs or to those attempting to emerge from the host egg. Demeton, Dylox, and Phosdrin were not nearly as toxic as Sevin. Phosdrin and Sevin were moderately toxic to Geocoris spp., while Dylox and demeton had less effect. Dylox and Phosdrin were more toxic to Nobis ferus (Linn.) and Orills tristicolor (White) than Sevin.
Absolutism and Relativism in Philosophy and Politics

Since there exists philosophy, there exists the attempt to bring it in relation with politics; and this attempt has succeeded in so far as it is today recognized to the degree of a truism that political theory and that part of philosophy we call ethics are closely connected with each other. But it seems strange to assume—and this essay tries to verify this assumption—that there exists an external parallelism, and perhaps also an inner relationship, between politics and other parts of philosophy such as epistemology, that is, theory of knowledge, and theory of values. It is just within these two theories that the antagonism between philosophical absolutism and relativism has its seat; and this antagonism seems to be in many respects analogous to the fundamental opposition between autocracy and democracy as the representatives of political absolutism on the one hand and political relativism on the other.IPhilosophical absolutism is the metaphysical view that there is an absolute reality, i.e., a reality that exists independently of human knowledge. Hence its existence is objective and unlimited in, or beyond, space and time, to which human knowledge is restricted. Philosophical relativism, on the other hand, advocates the empirical doctrine that reality exists only within human knowledge, and that, as the object of knowledge, reality is relative to the knowing subject. The absolute, the thing in itself, is beyond human experience; it is inaccessible to human knowledge and therefore unknowable.To the assumption of absolute existence corresponds the possibility of absolute truth and absolute values, denied by philosophical relativism, which recognizes only relative truth and relative values.
On a weak solution for a transonic flow problem

On essaie d'etablir l'existence de solutions faibles pour un ecoulement stationnaire, bidimensionnel, irrotationnel, compressible, non visqueux dans un canal de longueur infinie ou autour d'un profil aerodynamique, la vitesse de l'ecoulement etant donnee a l'infini
Telomerization by free‐radical mercaptan chain transfer. IV. Effects of structure, solvent and initiator variation on the stereochemistry of acrylate ester–mercaptan telomers

Chain-transfer constants for radicals one to five units in length were determined for the methyl acrylate–isopropanethiol system. Effects of varying ester alkyl group, mercaptan solvent and initiator on three-unit diastereomer ratio were also investigated. It was found that the proportion of syndiotactic isomer increased as the size of either the ester alkyl group or the mercaptan increased, the latter result being equivalent to a penultimate effect. Polar solvents, on the other hand, favored the formation of the isotactic form. This effect was observed in the free-radical telomerization and to an even greater degree in the base-initiated anionic telomerization. Possible reasons for solvent effects are discussed.
Elastic‐Plastic Contact Damage in a Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate

Spherical indenters were used to produce elastic-plastic contact damage in a lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) under conditions of quasi-static and impact loading. The extend of radial cracking produced under both loading conditions showed good correlation with the response predicted by an earlier fracture mechanics analysis for quasi-static conditions. Calculated radial crack lengths corresponding to conditions of impact loading exhibited excellent agreement with experimentally measured values. The dynamic hardness of the PLZT was determined to be approx. =1.5 times the quasi-static hardness. Differences in the radial crack lengths produced under the two loading conditions were attributed primarily to this difference in hardness response.
Value of preoperative PSA in predicting pathologic stage of patients undergoing salvage prostatectomy.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the relationship of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and pathologic stage in patients with prostate cancer treated with radiation therapy and undergoing salvage radical prostatectomy. Method Retrospective analysis of preoperative PSA levels and final pathology in 24men undergoing salvage prostatectomy following prior radiation therapy. Results Although preoperative PSA values were significantly higher in patients with positive surgical margins, preoperative PSA levels failed to predict the presence or absence of extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle involvement, or lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Our results suggest that PSA is not a reliable method of accurately predicting the pathologic stage of patients who are candidates for salvage radical prostatectomy.
Faithful consensus methods for n-trees

Abstract A class of new consensus methods for n -trees (hierarchical clusterings) is proposed. These methods apply systematically to an arbitrary collection of given classifications of a fixed set of taxa, and produce a single consensus classification. They are motivated by the desire that the consensus classification retain as much information as possible from the given classifications, even in the case of only approximate agreement among them. A focus of the paper is the concept of faithfulness of consensus methods; this concept explicates the informal notion of adequate retention of information referred to above, and is proposed as a desirable requirement for consensus methods in general. The new methods are all faithful; they have the additional property that they take hierarchical level into account. Other general properties of consensus methods are investigated, especially with reference to their relation with faithfulness. The most important of these properties is neutrality; loosely speaking a consensus method is neutral if all nontrivial clusters are treated equally in the conditions on the given classifications required to guarantee the appearance of a cluster in the consensus. A central result of the paper is an analogue of the classical impossibility theorem of K. Arrow: with trivial exceptions it is impossible to have a consensus method that is simultaneously faithful and neutral. Thus two intuitively very appealing general properties of consensus methods are seen to be incompatible.
Phase separation properties of fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons and their copolymers

Abstract In spite of their apparently similar structures, fluorocarbons (FC) and hydrocarbons (HC) possess very different properties, and their mixtures produce experimental evidences for the formation of microdomains in the solid and in the liquid state as well. Some theoretical treatments have been proposed to explain the surprising and highly non-ideal phase separation behavior of fluorocarbons/hydrocarbons mixtures, but none of them can exhaustively offer a general and realistic framework in agreement with the experimental results. The addition of semifluorinated copolymers to FC/HC mixtures enhances their mutual solubility, and leads to the formation of supramolecular structures in the liquid state.
Experimental influenza in sheep.

Summary and conclusionsOf 9 lambs given viable Type A influenza virus via the intratracheal route, only the first 2 inoculated suffered clinical illness. Their illness was not respiratory in nature. Infectious virus was not recovered from 4 animals using nasal swab materials or lung and tracheal tissues. All lambs responded immunologically to primary intratracheal inoculation of virus, and second inoculations resulted in significant rises in homologous HI antibody titer. Further inoculations of virus served to broaden the antibody response without increasing the peak homologous antibody titer. The antibody titers reached suggest the feasibility of using lambs for large-volume production of anti-influenza typing sera.
A pH-control model for heterotrophic and hydrogen-based autotrophic denitrification.

Abstract This work presents a model to predict the alkalinity, pH, and Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) in heterotrophic and H2-based autotrophic denitrification systems. The model can also be used to estimate the amount of acid, e.g. HCl, added to the influent (method 1) or the pH set point in the reactor (method 2: pH can be maintained stable by CO2-sparge using a pH-control loop) to prevent the pH from exceeding the optimal range for denitrification and to prevent precipitation from occurring. The model was tested with two pilot plants carrying out denitrification of groundwater with high hardness: a heterotrophic system using ethanol as the electron donor and an H2-based autotrophic system. The measured alkalinity, pH, and LSI were consistent with the model for both systems. This work also quantifies: (1) how the alkalinity and pH in Stage-1 significantly differ from those in Stage-2; (2) how the pH and LSI differ significantly in the two denitrification systems while the alkalinity increase is about the same; and (3) why CO2 addition is the preferred method for autotrophic system, while HCl addition is the preferred method for the heterotrophic system.
The Case for Coherence in Scientific Explanations: Quantitative Details Can Hurt Qualitative Understanding.

In Experiments 1A and 1B, students read a concise booklet containing 653 words and 6 illustrations describing the formation, propagation, and dispersion of ocean waves (concise group) or an expanded booklet containing 327 additional words and 5 additional illustrations describing relevant mathematical formulas and computations interspersed throughout the lesson (expanded group). In Experiment 2, students viewed a multimedia presentation of narrated animations based on the concise or expanded booklet. In both studies, the expanded group performed more poorly than did the concise group on problem-solving transfer tests. The added quantitative details may have distracted the learner from constructing a qualitative model of the process of ocean waves.
What do families and professional organisations really think about assisted dying

Noble highlights some dilemmas around assisted dying for the terminally ill, but—despite his personal anecdotes—there is little hard evidence about how families pressurise patients into making clinical decisions, let alone whether these pressures agree with the wishes of the patient.1 Families generally push for more aggressive treatment, even when this seems inappropriate medically. We …
SYNTAX SCORE BY CORONARY CT ANGIOGRAPHY FOR PREDICTION OF COMPLEX PCI

The SYNTAX score is an invasive coronary angiographic (ICA) score that is commonly used to determine the complexity of coronary artery disease prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To date, whether the SYNTAX score can be reliably determined from coronary CT angiography (CCTA), or
Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of large neutral and basic amino acids in Macaca mulatta: diurnal variations and responses to chronic changes in dietary protein intake.

Abstract In rats, dietary protein intake influences brain concentrations of tryptophan, tyrosine, and other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) and the neurotransmitters to which they are linked. Few experiments have examined these dietary protein–amino acid relationships in nonhuman primates, in relation to time of day or dietary protein content. We therefore examined the effect in monkeys of changes in chronic protein intake on 24-hour plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of LNAAs (tyrosine, phenylalanine, branched-chain amino acids) and basic amino acids. Juvenile male monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) consumed for sequential 4-week periods diets differing in protein content (∼23% → ∼16% → ∼10% → ∼6% protein [percentage of energy]). The daily ration was presented as a morning meal of fruit and an afternoon meal of fruit and a commercial diet to mimic feeding patterns in the wild . During week 4 on each diet, blood and CSF were sampled repeatedly over a 48-hour period via indwelling catheters. Plasma and CSF LNAA concentrations varied markedly with time of day and dietary protein content, showing up to 4-fold variations. Diurnal variations in plasma and CSF basic amino acids were smaller in magnitude and generally not strongly linked to dietary protein content. A measure of the competitive transport of LNAAs across the blood-brain barrier, calculated using plasma concentrations of the LNAAs and their blood-brain barrier kinetic constants, predicted the observed CSF concentration of each LNAA examined remarkably well, except for phenylalanine. Based on observations in rats, the variations in the CSF concentrations of the LNAAs in monkeys may be large enough to influence metabolic and signaling pathways in brain to which they have been linked.
Intact forests at risk

Many of the world's remaining intact forests are at risk from degradation due to unsustainable development practices, according to a series of new reports issued by the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Global Forest Watch on 3 April. In six regional reports covering nearly half of the world's forests, the group used a combination of remote sensing and ground-based data to chart where a number of remaining intact forests are and to analyze the various threats they face. The reports point to legal and illegal logging, agriculture, overgrazing, infrastructure development, and other threats.
Kinetics of the bicarbonate effect and the number of bicarbonate-binding sites in thylakoid membranes

Abstract In HCO3−-depleted thylakoids in which the basal activity was less than 7% of the fully restored activity after readdition of HCO3−, the restored activity at a half-saturating HCO3− concentration was non-linear with the chlorophyll concentration. This indicates that there was still some endogenous HCO3− remaining in these thylakoids, even though they appeared to be well depleted of HCO3−. A kinetic analysis of the activity curve for these thylakoids, as a function of HCO3− concentration, indicates that there are at least two high-affinity sites of HCO3− in Photosystem II (PS II), apparently with cooperative binding. An additional low-affinity site has been shown to exist earlier (Stemler, A. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 460, 511–522; Blubaugh, D.J. and Govindjee (1984) Z. Naturforsch. 39c, 378–381). Illumination was shown to convert non-exchanging membrane HCO3− to an exchanging one. It is suggested that HCO3− is an essential activator for PS II electron transport, and that a complete removal of HCO3− would result in zero activity.
Ten new microsatellite loci for the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Ten novel microsatellite loci were isolated from an enriched genomic library from the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) to aid in landscape genetics studies and rabies virus control planning. Average observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.653 and 0.744, respectively. Mean number of alleles was 7.8 (ranging from 2 to 11). Two loci were not in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, likely due to the presence of null alleles. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium was found between the loci. Cross-species amplification tests indicated all markers successfully amplified and were polymorphic in the closely related hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura), while its applicability to other mephitids varied.
Interaction of Penicillium notatum phospholipase B with divalent cations

Abstract The interaction between Penicillium notatum phospholipase B and divalent cations such as Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ was studied. When the purified enzyme, present at concentrations of submicrogram to microgram per ml, was incubated with submillimolar to millimolar concentrations of CaCI 2 , or MgCI 2 , the enzymatic activity was remarkably decreased (to no more than 30% of original activity, when the enzyme was incubated with 2 mM CaCl 2 for 15 min). The inhibitory effect of divalent cations was reversible, since dialysis against a metal chelator, such as EDTA or EGTA, substantially restored the enzymatic activity. Atomic absorption analysis showed the purified enzyme molecule to be present in a complex with Ca 2+ at a ratio approaching 1:1, and this Ca 2+ binding was shown to be extremely tight, since repeated dialyses of the enzyme molecules against EDTA or EGTA could remove the divalent cations only in a gradual manner. During this process, the enzyme activity increased also gradually. The remnant fraction of tightly bound Ca 2+ was released from the enzyme molecule after the denaturation of the enzyme by treatment with guanidine hydrochloride, and the apoenzyme recovered its substantial activity after removal of the denaturing agent by dialysis. On the other hand, the content of Mg 2+ in the purified enzyme molecule was lower than that of Ca 2+ , and the association of Mg 2+ with the enzyme was much weaker in comparison to that of Ca 2+ . Atomic absorption analysis of the enzyme exposed to exogenous Ca 2+ showed a fast removal, by dialysis, of unbound and weakly bound divalent cation, followed by a gradual removal of endogenous Ca 2+ and a concomitant increase of enzymatic activity, which are similar to data obtained for the purified enzyme. Results shown in this report suggest some regulatory roles of divalent cations, especially of Ca 2+ , in the enzymatic function of P . notatum phospholipse B.
Hypoxia and Trophoblast Differentiation: A Key Role for PPARγ

Tissue oxygen tension regulates differentiation of multiple types of stem cells. In the placenta, hypoxia has been associated with abnormal trophoblast differentiation and placental insufficiency syndromes of preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in many cellular processes, including differentiation. We have previously shown that PPARγ-null trophoblast stem (TS) cells show a defect in differentiation to labyrinthine trophoblast, instead differentiating preferentially to trophoblast giant cells (TGC). Since PPARγ is known to be regulated by hypoxia in adipose tissue, we hypothesized that there may be a link between oxygen tension, PPARγ expression, and trophoblast differentiation. We found that hypoxia reduced PPARγ expression by a mechanism independent of both hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). In addition, PPARγ partially rescued hypoxia-induced inhibition of labyrinthine differentiation in wild-type TS cells but was not required for hypoxia-induced inhibition of TGC differentiation. Finally, we show that induction of labyrinthine trophoblast differentiation by HDAC inhibitor treatment is independent of both PPARγ and Gcm1. We propose a model with two pathways for labyrinthine trophoblast differentiation of TS cells, one of which is dependent on PPARγ and inhibited by hypoxia. Since hypoxia is associated with PE and IUGR, we propose that PPARγ may at least partially mediate hypoxia-induced placental insufficiency and as such may be a promising therapeutic target for these disorders.
Familial Vesicoureteral Reflux and Reflux Related Morbidity in Relatives of Index Patients with High Grade Vesicoureteral Reflux

Purpose: The familial nature of vesicoureteral reflux is well recognized. However, there is little information about the prevalence of vesicoureteral reflux and reflux related morbidity in the relatives of index patients with vesicoureteral reflux. Therefore, we determined the prevalence of vesicoureteral reflux and reflux related morbidity in first, second and third-degree relatives of index patients with high grade vesicoureteral reflux.Materials and Methods: Between 1998 and 2010 the parents of 259 index patients with grade III-V vesicoureteral reflux were asked permission to screen siblings younger than age 6 years for vesicoureteral reflux. Parents of index patients with affected siblings were contacted to obtain detailed information regarding vesicoureteral reflux, recurrent urinary tract infections, end stage renal disease, hypertension and nephrectomy among first, second and third-degree relatives.Results: A total of 300 siblings of the 259 index patients were found to have vesicoureteral reflux o...
Redox potential control by drug binding to cytochrome P450 3A4.

The cytochrome P450s are ubiquitous heme proteins that utilize two reducing equivalents to cleave a ferrous iron - dioxygen complex to produce a single water molecule with the insertion of one oxygen atom into a bound substrate. For the case of soluble cytochrome P450 CYP101, it has been shown that there is a linear free energy relationship between heme redox potential and the spin state of the ferric protein. However, the universality of this relationship has been challenged in the case of mammalian enzymes. Most cytochrome P450s are integral membrane proteins, and detailed redox potential measurements have proved difficult due protein aggregation or the necessary presence of detergent. In this communication we utilize a soluble nanometer scale membrane bilayer disc (Nanodisc) to stabilize monomeric human cytochrome P450 CYP3A4. The Nanodisc system allows facile redox potential measurements to be made on substrate-free CYP3A4 as well as with several drug molecules bound at the active site. We show that substrate binding can dramatically effect the redox potential of the heme protein through modulation of the ferric spin state. A linear free energy relationship is observed, analogous to that noted for the soluble P450s, indicating a common mechanism for this linkage and providing a means for control of electron input in response to the presence of a metabolizable substrate, this potentially limiting the unwanted production of reduced oxygen species.
The Effects of Teaching Students How To Invent.

Teachers encourage students to develop inventions, organizations sponsor invention contests, and publishers sell guidebooks on inventing. Only a few studies have examined the relationship between these materials or opportunities to invent and students' inventiveness. The purpose of this experimental study was to provide an instructional unit on the invention process and to investigate the degree to which training influenced students' inventiveness. Students in the experimental group received eight lessons that were designed to provide training in the invention process and encourage the development of inventions, and students in the control group received one introductory lesson and opportunity to develop inventions. Using the Invention Evaluation Scale, experts assessed three aspects of students' inventions: originality, technical goodness, and aesthetic appeal. Regression analyses indicated that group membership was a significant predictor of the quantity of inventions, but not a significant predictor of the quality of students' inventions.
Coherent light scattering by in vitro cell arrays observed with angle-resolved low-coherence interferometry

Angle-resolved low coherence interferometry enables depth-resolved measurements of scattered light. The scattered light measurements can be used to recover structural information from sub-surface layers, such as the size of cell nuclei. Measurements of nuclear morphology, however, can be complicated by coherent scattering between adjacent cell nuclei. Previous studies have eliminated this component by applying a window filter to Fourier transformed data based upon the justification that the coherent scattering must necessarily occur over length scales greater than the cell nucleus size. To fully study this effect, we now present results of experiments designed to test the validity of this approach. We examine light scattered by regular cell arrays, created using stamped adhesive micro-patterned substrates. By varying the array spacing, the influence of cell-to-cell correlations on light scattering distributions is determined. The impact on nuclear morphology measurements within intact tissue samples is discussed.
Analysis and research of digitized sampling characteristics in smart substations

Digitized sampling adopts decentralized, independent sampling mode, which introduces a new problem of data synchronization to secondary system of substations, especially for relay protections. This paper analyzes the time delay of every sections in sampling and the causes of non-synchronized sampling data. It states two general applied data synchronization method in smart substations at present, one method is based on external synchronizing signal while the other is based on interpolation method for resampling. The paper also compares two important indexes of digital sampling, rated delay time and phase error. Then the paper presents two methods, steady-state indirect method and time-scale direct method, to measure sampling delay and in turn to solve the problems of data synchronization. The test data of practical project shows that both two methods are able to achieve microsecond precision, but time-scale direct method is more accurate and stable. At last, the paper gives some precautions and recommendations for application of digital sampling in smart substations.
Circadian Rhythm: Population of Interacting Neurons

The circadian rhythm in the requency of compound action potentials recorded from the isolated eye of Aplysia is a consequence of interactions among the cells of the retinal population. As the population number is reduced to a critical 20 percent, progressively shorter circadian periods and ranges are expressed. Below the critical number, the population oscillates at ultradian frequencies.
U-Th-Pb geochronology of the Massabesic Gneiss and the granite near Milford, South-Central New Hampshire: New evidence for avalonian basement and taconic and alleghenian disturbances in Eastern New England

U-Th-Pb systematics for zircon and monazite from Massabesic Gneiss (paragneiss and orthogneiss) and the granite near Milford, New Hampshire, were determined. Zircon morphology suggests that the paragneiss may be volcaniclastic (igneous) in origin, and thus the age data probably record the date (minimum of 646 m.y.) at which the rock was extruded. A two-stage lead-loss model is proposed to explain the present array of data points on a concordia diagram. Orthogneiss ages range only narrowly and are clustered around 475 m.y. Data for the granite of Milford, New Hampshire, are scattered, but may be interpreted in terms of inheritance and modern lead loss, yielding a crystallization age of 275 m.y. This is the only known occurrence of Avalonian-type basement in New Hampshire and as such provides evidence for the location of the paleo-Africa-paleo- North America suture. The geochronology also further documents the occurrence of disturbances during the Ordovician and Permian.
An experimental study of environmental complexity as seen by robots

Robots are being called upon to perform increasingly complex tasks in ever more complex environments. One popular strategy for designing robot control systems is to imitate creatures in the natural world. Since living organisms are usually adapted to the environment they exist in, the question becomes how can robots be designed to be adapted to their surroundings? To answer this, we must know how complex an environment is, or how well a robot can perform a given task in it. This paper examines a complexity measure that was previously proposed [36] for a robot searching task and shows the measure can predict the average number of steps a robot needs to complete a task to within 10%.
MORPHOLOGY AND DICHOTOMOUS VASCULATURE OF THE LEAF OF KINGDONIA UNIFLORA

FOSTER, ADRIANCE S. (U. California, Berkeley), and HOWARD J. ARNOTT. Morphology and dichotomous vasculature of the leaf of Kingdonia uniflora. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(8): 684-698. Illus. 1960.-An intensive study of the nodal anatomy, petiolar vasculature and open dichotomous venation of the leaf of Kingdonia has revealed a type of foliar vascular system of unusual morphological and phylogenetic interest. The vascular supply at the nodal level consists of 4 collateral traces which diverge from a single gap into the sheathing leaf base. This type of nodal anatomy is perhaps primitive, and comparisons are made with the unilacunar nodes and the 2and 4-parted leaf trace systems characteristic of many angiospermous cotyledons and the foliage leaves of certain woody ranalian genera. The petiole of Kingdonia is vascularized by 2 pairs of bundles which represent the upward continuation of the 4 leaf traces. A transition from an even (4) to an odd (3) number of strands occurs near the point of attachment of the 5, lobed, cuneiform lamina segments to the petiole. Each of the 2 abaxial bundles dichotomizes and the central derivative branches fuse to form a double bundle which enters the base of the median lamina segment. The 2 adaxial petiolar bundles diverge right and left into the bases of the paired lateral segments of the lamina. An analogous type of transition from an even to an odd number of veins occurs in many angiospermous cotyledons which develop a definable mid-vein. But, in Kingdonia, the bundles which enter the bases of the lamina segments give rise to systems of dichotomizing veinlets devoid of "mid-veins." Although the majority of the terminal veinlets enter the marginal teeth of the lamina segments, "blind" endings, unrelated to the dentations, occur in all the leaves studied. Typically, all of the vein endings in a given lobule of a lamina segment are derived from the same dichotomous vein system. However, in some leaves, a veinlet dichotomizes directly below a sinus and the branches diverge into the marginal regions of 2 separate lobules. The phylogenetic significance of the occurrence of open dichotomous venation in such an herbaceous angiosperm as Kingdonia is briefly discussed. From a purely morphological viewpoint, the Kingdonia type of venation invites direct comparison with the venation of Sphenophyllum, certain ferns or Ginkgo rather than with any of the known reticulate venation patterns of modern angiosperms. Although the foliar venation of Kingdonia may represent the result of evolutionary reversion, the very rare anastomoses which occur seem primitive in type rather than "vestiges" of a former system of
Can a party represent its constituency

A theorem from number theory is utilized to derive conditions for existence, and to characterize, a list of candidates that a party forms for a proportional-representation election, so that this list would truly represent the constituency of the party.
INTRACLUSTER POLYMERIZATION REACTIONS OF ALKENE CLUSTER IONS

The unimolecular dissociation dynamics of selected alkene cluster ions (ethene, propene, 1-butene, trans-2-butene, and cis-2-butene) and their fast fragment ions has been investigated using a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. These ions were prepared by the supersonic expansion of a premixed sample gas containing 20% alkene in Ar, followed by multiphotoionization (MPI) using a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser. From the unimolecular decomposition patterns of all the ions investigated, we conclude that after photoionization a radical cation initiated intracluster polymerization takes place in these cluster ions. But, due to steric hindrance, it does not continue indefinitely as the cluster size increases. For ethene, pentamerization can be observed, and for propene, trimerization; while in the case of the three isomeric butenes, 1-butene is partially trimerized and only dimerization is observed in 2-butene.
Exploring the influence of demographic and medical characteristics of African-American and Latinas on enrollment in a behavioral intervention study for breast cancer survivors.

To better understand research participation among hard-to-reach populations, this exploratory investigation examined characteristics of enrollees and non-enrollees from a population-based longitudinal study with African-American and Latina-American breast cancer survivors. A mixed-method recruitment approach was utilized to enroll participants from cancer registries and community groups who were 1–6 years post-diagnosis. Four hundred and sixty-eight participants agreed to participate constituting an 81 % participation rate; 65 and 55 % completed Time-1, and both Time-1 and Time-2 assessments, respectively. African-Americans were more likely to agree to participate and complete the T1 assessment (73 %) than Latinas (62 %) (p < 0.05). Participation was influenced by educational attainment and comorbidities (p < 0.05) for African-Americans. Among Latinas, language proficiency, comorbidities and psychological difficulties (p < 0.01) influenced participation. Our findings suggest that enrollment in research studies may be influenced by complex and multi-dimensional factors stemming from subjects’ characteristics including ethnicity, culture, language proficiency and literary, and socioeconomic status, as well as medical characteristics including co-occurring chronic illness and psychological status. Thus, comprehensive, multi-method research studies are urgently needed to better understand and address the challenge of minority recruitment in biomedical research. To increase research participation among cancer survivors, it is imperative to implement focused strategies that will support and encourage individuals’ enrollment and continued participation in studies.
Wind effects on estimates of sea level rise

[1] Variability in sea level at the longest periods observable in modern records has recently been found to be well correlated with local atmospheric pressure. At shorter periods, however, longshore winds are known to be one of the primary mechanisms for forcing sea level variability on the eastern margins of the ocean. There is a remarkable ∼80 mm drop in mean sea level on both the eastern North Pacific and North Atlantic coasts between the late 1800s and early 1900s; it is found here to be in agreement with longshore wind forcing from the equator up to the latitude of the observed tide stations. Better-resolved data beginning in 1960 show that the delay near the annual period between wind forcing and sea level is approximately 1 month. The relative high in sea level in the late 1800s on the west coast of Europe appears to have propagated westward across the Atlantic as a long Rossby wave and then to have been seen on the east coast of the United States. Because many features in long-term sea level variability are correlated with wind forcing on time scales from annual to decades, it will be prudent to base conclusions about long-term sea level rise on the longest records available. The results here are based on forcing by longshore winds; the related issue of the extent to which open ocean wind curl may also be responsible is not addressed here, nor the extent to which coastal sea level observations are representative of the open ocean.
Shot boundary detection and label propagation for spatio-temporal video segmentation

This paper proposes a two stage algorithm for streaming video segmentation. In the first stage, shot boundaries are detected within a window of frames by comparing dissimilarity between 2-D segmentations of each frame. In the second stage, the 2-D segments are propagated across the window of frames in both spatial and temporal direction. The window is moved across the video to find all shot transitions and obtain spatio-temporal segments simultaneously. As opposed to techniques that operate on entire video, the proposed approach consumes significantly less memory and enables segmentation of lengthy videos. We tested our segmentation based shot detection method on the TRECVID 2007 video dataset and compared it with block-based technique. Cut detection results on the TRECVID 2007 dataset indicate that our algorithm has comparable results to the best of the block-based methods. The streaming video segmentation routine also achieves promising results on a challenging video segmentation benchmark database.
Coulomb distortion effects in ( e , e ’ γ) processes

Using Coulomb distorted waves for the electron wave functions, we investigate (e,e'\ensuremath{\gamma}) processes where the nucleus is excited by inelastic electron scattering and the subsequent decay photon is detected in coincidence with the scattered electron with the nonavoidable bremsstrahlung process which must be coherently included. We examine the effects of Coulomb distortion on the resulting cross sections and compare our results with plane-wave analyses and with previous approximate calculations. In addition to examining other calculations, we compare our results with the available data and discuss the possibilities of using this reaction to determine multipole admixtures and extracting transition charge and current distributions for medium and heavy nuclei.
The reinforcing effects of light onset in chicks as a function of light intensity and CRF, FR3 and FR6 reinforcement schedules

The reinforcing effects of light onset for chicks with two light intensities and three ratio schedules was studied. The results indicated that the highest response rate was associated with the smallest ratio schedule and the strongest intensity. A marked differential effect was also observed.
Viral pathogenesis and central nervous system infection.

Abstract Both host defense and viral genetic factors influence the development of viral infection and disease. Due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier, infection of the central nervous system creates additional complexities in interactions between a virus and its host. Stages in viral pathogenesis defined as (1) virus entry, (2) spread, (3) tropism, (4) virulence and injury to the host, and (5) the outcome of infection are discussed for viral infections in general and those aspects unique to infections of the central nervous system. Information about neuronal physiology and function has also been revealed through studying virus infection. An increased understanding of viral pathogenetic mechanisms and host response to infection raises interesting possibilities for vaccine development and for basic studies in neurology and neurobiology.
The ease of breathing test tracks clinical changes in cystic fibrosis

Abstract Introduction The EOB is a measure of dyspnea that correlates with CF pulmonary function and exercise tolerance, but has not been shown to track clinical changes. Methods The EOB was administered before and after treatment for twelve episodes of exacerbations in eleven pediatric CF subjects. Each subject performed the EOB Sustained Phonation and Single Breath Counting measures before and after treatment both at rest and after exercise. Results Phonation was significantly better pre-exercise after treatment than initially (Z=−2.20, p=0.028). Phonation post-exercise was longer at follow-up than pre- antibiotics (Z=−1.91, p=0.056). Changes in post-exercise Phonation correlated significantly with changes in FEV1 before and after treatment (R=0.66, p=0.020). Conclusions The EOB Sustained Phonation is a validated tool for tracking improvement of pediatric CF patients after antibiotic therapy and has potential as a research tool to gauge efficacy of new therapies.
Well I May Be Exaggerating But Self-Qualifying Clauses in Negotiation of Opinions Among Japanese Speakers

The present study investigates the ways in which Japanese speakers negotiate their opinions in conversational interaction. On the one hand, speakers are apt to exaggerate a particular aspect of a given issue in asserting their opinion, on the other hand, they may also incorporate a self-qualification admitting a potential problem in their claim. By expressing their awareness of the problem before it is pointed out by the co-participants, the speakers seem to get license to proffer an exaggerated or overgeneralized claim and to increase their chance of receiving an affiliative response. This study explicates the mechanism through which such a self-qualifying clause emerges in the development of opinion-negotiation sequences. Further, as a contribution to a growing body of research on "interaction and grammar" (Ochs, Schegloff, and Thompson, 1996), this study explores the use of "contrastive" markers, -kedo and demo, in constructing turns and sequences in opinion-negotiation. The data demonstrate these two structurally different types of markers play distinct roles in differentiating and yet conjoining the speakers' assertion and self-qualification.
Effectiveness of perturbation theory approaches for computing non-condon electron transfer dynamics in condensed phases.

A description of electron transfer in condensed-phase media requires models that adequately describe the coupling of the electronic degrees of freedom to the surrounding nuclear coordinates. The spin-boson model has been the canonical model used to understand quantum dynamic processes in condensed-phase media over the last 25 years. Inherent in the standard model of a two-state quantum system coupled to a bosonic bath is the assumption that the Condon approximation is valid. In this context, the Condon approximation assumes that the bath configurations (coordinates) have no effect on the nonadiabatic coupling matrix element. While this is a useful model for electron transfer in small molecular systems, the validity of this approximation is less likely when large-scale motions of solvent molecules are strongly coupled to the electron transfer event, e.g., in molecular clamps and long-range electron transfer in biopolymers. In the present paper a general model for two-state electron transfer which allows fo...