cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolic determinants of white matter hyperintensity burden in patients with ischemic stroke

Abstract Objective Increasing white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden is linked to risk of stroke and poor post-stroke outcomes. While the biology of WMH remains ill-defined, several lines of evidence implicate endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we sought to assess the association between metabolic markers of endothelial dysfunction and WMH severity in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods In this retrospective study, consecutive subjects, ≥18 years of age, admitted to our ED with AIS, brain MRI, and blood homocysteine (Hcy) and hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) measurements were eligible for this analysis. WMH volume (WMHV) was quantified using a validated semi-automated algorithm and log-transformed for linear regression analyses. Results There were 809 AIS subjects included (mean age 65.57 ± 14.7, median WMHV 6.25 cm 3 (IQR 2.8–13.1)). In univariate analysis, age, female gender, race, ethnicity, systolic blood pressure, history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, prior stroke, and current alcohol and tobacco use (all p Conclusions Elevated levels of Hcy and HgbA1c have been previously linked to endothelial dysfunction related to oxidative stress. The association between Hcy and HgbA1c and WMH burden in AIS suggests that the degree of endothelial dysfunction may be greater in patients with increased WMHV, and may in part explain the relationship between WMHV and poor post-stroke outcomes.
Three-qubit quantum-gate operation in a cavity QED system

A scheme is proposed to obtain three-qubit gates, such as quantum-phase gate and ${C}^{2}$-NOT gate operations, in a cavity QED system where highly detuned cavity-field modes interact with a four-level system in an inverted-Y configuration. The influence of the Stark shift is also included in such proposed gate operations. Since only the metastable lower levels are involved in the gate operations, the gates are not affected by the atomic decay rates. The potential application of such gates to realize Grover's algorithm is also discussed.
Human endonuclease VIII-like (NEIL) proteins in the giant DNA Mimivirus

Endonuclease VIII (Nei), which recognizes and repairs oxidized pyrimidines in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, is sparsely distributed among both the prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Recently, we and others identified three homologs of Escherichia coli endonuclease VIII-like (NEIL) proteins in humans. Here, we report identification of human NEIL homologs in Mimivirus, a giant DNA virus that infects Acanthamoeba. Characterization of the two mimiviral homologs, MvNei1 and MvNei2, showed that they share not only sequence homology but also substrate specificity with the human NEIL proteins, that is, they recognize oxidized pyrimidines in duplex DNA and in bubble substrates and as well show 5'2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate lyase (dRP lyase) activity. However, unlike MvNei1 and the human NEIL proteins, MvNei2 preferentially cleaves oxidized pyrimidines in single stranded DNA forming products with a different end chemistry. Interestingly, opposite base specificity of MvNei1 resembles human NEIL proteins for pyrimidine base damages whereas it resembles E. coli formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg) for guanidinohydantoin (Gh), an oxidation product of 8-oxoguanine. Finally, a conserved arginine residue in the "zincless finger" motif, previously identified in human NEIL1, is required for the DNA glycosylase activity of MvNei1. Thus, Mimivirus represents the first example of a virus to carry oxidative DNA glycosylases with substrate specificities that resemble human NEIL proteins. Based on the sequence homology to the human NEIL homologs and novel bacterial NEIL homologs identified here, we predict that Mimivirus may have acquired the DNA glycosylases through the host-mediated lateral transfer from either a bacterium or from vertebrates.
Metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene by mouse mammary epithelial cells cultured serum-free inside collagen gels.

Mammary epithelial cells from 3–4-month-old BALBc virgin mice were cultured inside collagen gels in the following serum-free media: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium/Ham's F-12 (1:1) supplemented with (A) insulin, bovine serum albumin, epidermal growth factor; (B) insulin, bovine serum albumin, progesterone, prolactin; (C) insulin, bovine serum albumin, progesterone, prolactin, linoleic acid. Cell number increased with all media used. At day 7 of culture, [3H]dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) was added to the cultures and its metabolism to water soluble and organic soluble compounds was determined. Mouse mammary epithelial cells were able to metabolize [3H]DMBA to water and organosoluble metabolites. By 72 h, 77– 94% of the added DMBA had been metabolized by the epithelial cells in the three media to water and organosoluble metabolites in equivalent amounts. The distribution between water soluble and organosoluble metabolites was approximately equivalent. The high pressure liquid chromatography profiles of organosoluble fractions from the media indicated that the major products appeared to be the phenols, 2-, 3-, or 4-hydroxydimethylbenz[a] anthracene, the hydroxymethyl derivatives, 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and 7-hydroxymethylbenz[a]anthracene, trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxydimethylbenz[a] anthracene and one or two major fractions eluting just behind the marker cis-5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxydimethylbenz[a]anthracene. The major fraction eluting just ahead of the cis-5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxydimethylbenz[a] anthracene was most likely trans-8,9-dihydro 8,9-dihydroxydimethylbenz[a] anthracene. The profiles were similar for the cells cultured in all three serum-free media. The results demonstrate that mouse mammary epithelial cells cultured inside collagen gels with serum-free media can metabolize DMBA to putative carcinogenic forms.
Educational production and teacher preferences

Abstract We develop a simple model of teacher behavior that offers a solution to the “class size puzzle” and is useful for analyzing the potential effects of the No Child Left Behind Act. When teachers must allocate limited classroom time between multiple instructional methods, rational teachers may respond to reductions in class size by reallocating classroom time in a way that reduces average educational achievement. This result is possible even when students are not sorted by ability. Teacher preferences for the achievement of heterogeneous students play a fundamental role in our model, and we derive necessary conditions for reductions in average educational achievement. We also provide an analysis of the distributional consequences of changes in class size and teacher preferences. Monte Carlo simulations predict both positive and negative class size effects, suggesting that the model supports the findings of several leading econometric studies.
Evolution of longevity in primates

Abstract Evolution of maximum lifespan potential ( MLP ) and its possible relation to the evolution of extra-brain functions are investigated in the primates. MLP is related to a species' characteristic aging rate and is considered a basic biological property of an organism. MLP may be of more importance than realized in the past in determining the evolutionary success of a species. It is related to the postnatal development rate, the length of time general vigor is maintained, the length of reproductive period, generation time and the time available for learning and teaching behavior. Three other parameters are considered to be importantly related to MLP : MLP calorie consumption ( MCC ), encephalization quotient ( EQ ) and extra number of cortical neurons ( N c ). MCC is calculated as the product of MLP and specific metabolic rate ( SMR ) and is considered to represent total “life-capacity” of an organism. It is of potential value in studying the biological mechanisms involved in the evolution of MLP . Brain function is estimated by the Jerison EQ and N c parameters. These parameters estimate the “extra” brain capacity involved in functions beyond normal body requirements. The rate of change in MLP and N c per unit time occurring during an ancestral-descendant sequence is used to estimate the biological complexity of the genetic processes which have evolved in governing the rate of expression of the general aging process and increasing brain function. The average rate of change of MLP during the emergence of the primates was analyzed by the difference between MLP in closely related living primate species and the evolutionary time of appearance of a common ancestor. MLP, SMR, MCC, EQ and N c were estimated from fossil cranial capacity and body weight measurements. The rate of change in these values was calculated according to the time of appearance of the fossil species. MLP and N c were found to increase together and reached their highest rate of increase approximately 200,000 years ago along the hominid ancestral-descendant sequence leading to modern man. The high rate of increase of these parameters suggests that few genetic changes were responsible. The general increase in MLP during the evolution of the primate species indicates that a corresponding general decrease in mutation rate may have occurred. The high levels of MLP , MCC, EQ and N c represented in the living primates, as compared to other mammals, are considered to represent a major characteristic determining their evolutionary success.
Predicting yield using model based OPC verification: calibrated with electrical test data

Electrically testable structures (such as serpentines for testing opens and serpentine/combs for testing shorts) with varying post-OPC dimensions have been incorporated into test reticles, which were then used to process wafers through electrical test. Process window OPC verification was run on the same structures, thus allowing correlation of electrical yield to OPC-verification results. By combining OPC verification results with probability of occurrence for the various process conditions used in OPC verification, a predicted yield can be calculated. Comparisons of electrical yield to predicted yield are used to demonstrate a methodology for verifying (or setting) failure limits. Although, in general, the correlation between electrical and predicted yield is reasonable, various issues have been identified which impact this correlation, and make the task of accurately predicting yield difficult. These issues are discussed in detail in this paper.
292 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FETAL BREATHING MOVEMENTS (FBM) AND CIRCULATING PROSTAGLANDIN E 2 CONCENTRATIONS ([PG-E 2 ]) IN SHEEP

292 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FETAL BREATHING MOVEMENTS (FBM) AND CIRCULATING PROSTAGLANDIN E 2 CONCENTRATIONS ([PG-E 2 ]) IN SHEEP
Educational States of Suspension

AbstractIn response to the growing emphasis on learning outcomes, life-long learning, and what could be called the learning society, scholars are turning to alternative educational logics that problematize the reduction of education to learning. In this article, we draw on these critics but also extend their thinking in two ways. First, we use Giorgio Agamben and Gilles Deleuze to posit two educational logics—tinkering and hacking, respectively—that suspend and render inoperative learning logics, expectations, and evaluative metrics. Second, we argue that contemporary artists and designers such as Katerina Kamprani and Grupo de Arte Callejero have much to offer educational philosophers and theorists interested in practices of suspension. In conclusion, we suggest ways in which educators can tinker with and hack into the curriculum by playing with the quintessential embodiment of learning: the test.
Tutorials in clinical research: part V: outcomes research.

Objectives This is the fifth in a series of sequential “Tutorials in Clinical Research.” The objective of the present report is to give the reader a broad overview of the field of outcomes research. This summary is intended to enable the reader to understand outcomes research methodology and to start the design of an outcomes research study. Study Design Tutorial. Methods The authors developed the report from available materials and refined it to be concise but complete for use by the practicing clinician. Results We describe the basic steps of record-based and patient-based outcomes research, including development of a staging system, identification of comorbid conditions, and creation or identification of an outcomes instrument. Conclusion Outcomes research is a unique methodology that uses patient-based outcomes to assess the effectiveness of medical treatment.
Spirituality and religion: intertwined protective factors for substance use among urban American Indian youth.

Background and objective: This article explores the aspects of spirituality and religious involvement that may be the protective factors against substance use among urban American Indian (AI) youth. Methods: Data come from AI youth (N = 123) in five urban middle schools in a southwestern metropolis. Results: Ordinary least squares regression analyses indicated that following Christian beliefs and belonging to the Native American Church were associated with lower levels of substance use. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Following AI traditional spiritual beliefs was associated with antidrug attitudes, norms, and expectancies. Having a sense of belonging to traditions from both AI cultures and Christianity may foster integration of the two worlds in which urban AI youth live.
Process optimization and characterization of deep metal-junction contact

In this paper, we elaborate a process optimization of deep metal contact in 0.25 µm embedded DRAM technology and investigate its electrical characteristic. The contact size is 0.32 µm and its height is varied between 2.1 and 3.8 µm which give aspect ratio from 6.7 to 11.9. It appears that both Ti thickness and aspect ratio play important role on contact resistance. Especially, P+ contact resistance is more sensitive to these parameters. P+ contact resistance in contact array is increased from 1 to 4 KΩ per contact when Ti thickness decreases from 900 to 500 A, while N+ contact resistance is just increased from 300 to 400 Ω. TEM image reveals that the degree of Ti silicidation depends on the Ti thickness. The boundary between silicon and TiSi2 is non-uniform with Ti thickness of 500 A, however, it becomes uniform and flat with Ti thickness of 900 A. To characterize the behavior of current flow in various contacts, both contact array and Kelvin resistor patterns are used. It appears that Schottky barrier plays major role at low voltage region, while the spreading resistance dominates at high voltage region and thus contact resistance approaches to 220 Ω at high voltage region regardless of process condition. The Schottky barrier evaluated by thermionic emission model increases with decreasing Ti thickness and increasing aspect ratio. It appears that a relationship between Schottky barrier and process parameters is given by Schottky barrier energy = (Ti thickness)-0.26 × (aspect ratio)0.53.
Spatial combination of optical channels in a multimode waveguide

Spatial domain multiplexing allows co-propagation of multiple channels of same wavelength over a single strand of optical fiber. Spatial multiplexer in multimode waveguides is presented and contrasted with spatial multiplexers in the branching waveguides.
Cleavage rates for radiolysis-produced radical anions of naphthylmethyl phenyl ethers and naphthyl benzyl ethers

Cleavage reactions of α- and β-naphthylmethyl phenyl ethers and of α- and β-naphthyl benzyl ethers were studied by pulse radilysis. Transient spectra indicate that reactions occur via electron capture followed by cleavage of the resultant radical anions to give arylmethyl radicals and aryloxide ions. Product studies of extensively irradiated samples are consistent with this scheme and show patterns which are informative for radiation studies in general. The reactions were studied in several solvents. The behavior of transient spectra obtained in acetonitrile for these ethers shows clearly that radical anions of the naphthylmethyl ethers cleave more rapidly than do the radical anions of the naphthyl benzyl ethers.
Histological comparisons of plant and Rhizobium induced ineffective nodules in alfalfa

Abstract Root nodule tissues from an effective association and two ineffective associations between Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and Rhizobium meliloti were compared histologically. In nodule tissue formed by ineffective R. meliloti strain 1021726, rhizobia released into host cells sometimes became enveloped in large masses of an apparent polysaccaride-like material and did not develop into bacteroids. Bacteroids produced by this strain were smaller and showed fewer pleomorphic shapes than bacteroids in effective nodules. Nodules induced by this strain senesced much more rapidly than effective nodules. MnPL-480 is an alfalfa genotype that produces ineffective nodules with most effective strains of R. meliloti . These nodules were strikingly different than either effective or ineffective nodules induced by wild type R. meliloti strains. MnPl-480 nodules were tumour-like and most cells were filled with starch. In contrast to either effective or bacterial induced ineffective associations on other lines of alfalfa, MnPL-480 nodules had few infected cells and little proliferation of infection threads. Plant (MnPL-480) induced ineffectiveness appears to be expressed differently than bacterial (strain 1021726) induced ineffectiveness. In either association ineffectiveness may be expressed at more than one level within the nodule.
Endoscopic Inferior Turbinate Reduction: An Outcomes Analysis

Objectives/Hypothesis: In a previous publication, we introduced an endoscopic technique for the treatment of nasal obstruction caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The technique, a modification of the procedure popularized by Mabry, involves resecting the inferior and lateral aspects of the inferior turbinate with a microdebrider under endoscopic guidance, Our preliminary postoperative results were favorable. All 20 patients experienced improvement by postoperative day 5 and the incidence of complications over the first 6 months after surgery was low. The objective of this study is to perform a long-term outcomes analysis of patients undergoing the procedure. Study Design: Follow-up survey questionnaire and analysis. Methods: We sent questionnaires to 60 patients, ranging from 6 to 40 months after surgery, inquiring about continued use of nasal medications, need for further surgery, presence of adverse effects, and improvement in symptoms. Nasal airway obstruction was assessed on a subjective scoring scale from 1 (no obstruction) to 6 (complete obstruction). Results: Of the 28 (47%) patients who returned questionnaires, the severity of daytime nasal obstruction was rated as 2.3 and nighttime nasal obstruction as 2.7. The use of nasal steroids and oral decongestants was 25% and 21%, respectively. Adverse effects were minimal and all but one patient (96%) experienced improvement in their nasal airway. Conclusion: These results confirm the long-term effectiveness of this procedure for the relief of nasal obstruction.
Fractional Order Statistics, with Applications

Abstract Based upon Ferguson's Dirichlet process, we introduce an order-statistic process, a technical device which may be viewed as defining a continuum of fractional order statistics for any sample size. The order-statistic process provides an alternative to the quantile function essentially based on stochastic rather than linear interpolation. Its use in large-sample theory is suggested, and a simple proof is given that the order-statistic process, suitably normalized, converges to a Gaussian process. Applications to small-sample theory and to the passage-time distribution of Yule processes are also considered, and a class of censored-data problems is related to mixtures of these processes.
A computer-aided test for global asymptotic stability of digital filters

The problem of determining the existence of limit cycles in direct form digital filters with quantization nonlinearities under zero-input conditions is considered. A method based on an exhaustive search is introduced. It is independent of the number or the type of quantizers and is applicable to filters of any order. The advantage of this algorithm over previous methods is its ability to always determine the stability or instability of a particular realization. The method was implemented for second-order direct form digital filters. Significant improvements over previous results were obtained for the following cases of quantization schemes: one two's complement truncation quantizer and two two's complement truncation quantizers. >
BLASTING PRACTICES IN CLAY MINES1

Blasting materials and methods are described and detail discussion given on the comparative effectiveness of the various explosives under the several conditions met with in clay mining. handle.
Determination of the amount and the type of quinones present in single crystals from reaction center protein from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis

Abstract The identity and amount of quinone in single crystals from reaction center protein from Rhodopseudomonas viridis have been determined using HPLC, optical spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The ratio menaquinone-9/ubiquinone-9 for solutions of reaction center protein of Rps. viridis was 0.93 ± 0.05. After crystallization of the reaction center solution, the quinone ratio was 1.6 ± 0.1. These observations show that about half of the ubiquinone-9 can be lost during crystallization.
Cooperative target localization by multiple unmanned aircraft systems using sensor fusion quality

Over the past several years, researchers at the U.S. Air Force Academy developed cooperative, distributed aerial sensor networks (Pack et al. in IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern Part B Cybern 39(4):959–970, 2009) using multiple small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs) to search, detect, and locate ground targets. The use of distributed SUAVs, however, introduced a set of problems, including difficulties in reliable air-to-air communication and clock synchronization among onboard systems of multiple SUAVs. The communication problems further aggravate the synchronization problem contributing to a large target localization error. Conventional methods use multiple sensor outputs of the same target seen from different perspectives to increase the target localization accuracy. These methods are effective only when the pose errors of sensor platforms based on GPS data are modeled accurately, which is not a reasonable assumption for SUAVs, especially when SUAVs operate in an environment with wind gusts. In this paper, we propose a robust, novel technique that analyzes what we call ‘sensor fusion quality’ to assign an appropriate sensor reliability value to each set of updated sensor data. In the proposed approach, we characterize the quality of a set of newly acquired sensor data, containing a target, by examining the joint target location probability density function. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated using flight test data.
Microgravity growth of GaSb single crystals by the liquid encapsulated melt zone (LEMZ) technique

A liquid encapsulated melt zone (LEMZ) technique was used to grow [1 0 0] GaSb single crystals under microgravity conditions aboard the STS-77 Shuttle Endeavor mission. One tellurium-doped and two undoped single crystals, encapsulated in a eutectic mixture of sodium chloride and potassium chloride, were regrown from 16 mm diameter single-crystal rods at translation speeds ranging from 1 to 6 mm/h. The quality of the crystals was compared to those grown on ground using the LEMZ technique at translation speeds ranging from 3 to 18 mm/h. It was found that the microgravity-grown crystals, particularly the Te-doped crystal, exhibited lower dislocation densities than those grown on ground. The dislocation density was also found to depend on the solid/liquid interface shape with a planar interface resulting in a lower density. Reduction of rotational and nonrotational striations was obtained with the encapsulation technique in all crystals. Moreover, the use of the encapsulant allowed for longer and more stable melt zones for those samples processed on ground.
Clovis Beveled Rod Manufacture: An Elephant Bone Experiment:

Cylindrical beveled bone rods, upon their initial discovery in 1936 at the Clovis type-site (Blackwater Locality No. 1, NM), were recognized as a component in the subsistence technology of Paleoindian groups. Additional specimens from across North America have since expanded our knowledge of Clovis lifeways. Repeatedly it has been suggested that long bone from either mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius, M. columbi, M. jeffersonii) or American mastodon (Mammut americanum) was used in rod manufacture. This notion is logical, given that these artifacts have a dense, massive structure, and remains of both megamammals occur at Clovis sites. Proboscidean limb bone as material for making beveled rods, while likely, remains an untested assumption. This report demonstrates that cortical bone from Elephas maximus (Asian elephant) femur serves well in simulating manufacture of the uni-beveled rod (36-19-6) from Blackwater Draw.
Experimental and theoretical studies of single excess electrons in sodium chloride cluster anions.

We have obtained photoelectron spectra for the photodetachment of (NaCl) n - (n=1-13) cluster anions that are in excellent, quantitative agreement with our calculated values. These anions have a single excess electron attached to a neutral, ionically bound molecule. Their predicted structures, determined by constant-temperature molecular dynamics and simulated annealing, identify three modes for electron attachment. In most cases, the excess electron significantly deforms the cluster anion away from its neutral geometry
Assortative mating for relative weight: genetic implications.

Most work on the genetics of relative weight has not considered the role of assortative mating, i.e., mate selection based on similarity between mates. We investigated the extent to which engaged men and women in an archival longitudinal database were similar to each other in relative body weightprior to marriage and cohabitation. After controlling for age, a small but statistically significant mate correlation was found for relative weight (r=.13,p=.023), indicating some assortative mating. Furthermore, we examined whether mate similarity in relative weight prior to marriage predicts survival of the marriage. No significant effects were found. In sum, these results are consistent with those of other studies in suggesting that there is a small but significant intermate correlation for relative weight. However, they are unique in showing that these results cannot be explained on the basis of (a) cohabitation, (b) age similarity, or (c) selective survival of marriages between couples more similar in relative weight. The implications of these findings for heritability studies, linkage studies, and the estimation of shared environmental effects are discussed.
Thallium concentrations in seawater

Measurements of the concentration of thallium in seawater collected from numerous ocean locations ranged from 12 to 16 ng kg^(−1). Variations between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, between the northern and southern hemispheres of the Pacific Ocean, and between surface and deep waters of both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans were comparable with the precision of the analyses. This relatively constant distribution indicates that the element's cycle in seawater may be similar to those of the alkali metals which are its principal biogeochemical analogues.
Diminished luteinizing hormone release in prenatally stressed male rats after exposure to sexually receptive females.

Abstract Prenatally stressed (P-S) males show reductions in male sexual behavior, medial preoptic area volume, and levels of circulating testosterone. We examined the luteinizing hormone (LH) response to the presence of a sexually receptive female, a known index of sexual arousal. Adult male offspring from mothers stressed on days 15–22 of pregnancy (thrice-daily exposures to heat, light, and restraint) were implanted with an intraatrial catheter. Forty-eight h later they were placed into test chambers divided by a wire mesh partition; the catheter was extended outside the chamber. Thirty min later a baseline blood sample (time 0 min) was taken and a sexually receptive female was then placed on the side of the partition opposite the male for 60 min. Blood samples were collected 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 min, and 24 h after introduction of the female. Prenatally stressed males exhibited significantly lower LH levels following exposure to the female at each time point, 5 min to 24 h. Furthermore, at no point were P-S males' LH levels significantly increased above baseline levels. These data suggest that attenuations in female-induced LH release are associated with the marked reductions in male sexual behavior characteristic of the P-S male.
Light-induced intravesicular pH changes in Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores

Abstract The nature of the kinetics of proton movements in subcellular fractions of photosynthetic bacteria can be of importance in determining whether these protons arise primarily from electron transfer reactions or secondarily from high energy chemical “inside” of vesicular chromatophores. Bromthymol blue has been tested in detail intermediates of these electron transfer reactions. In the first case, protons must move in synchrony with electrons; in the second case, no compulsory relationship is involved. More rapid and more sensitive measurements of proton movements can be obtained by optical measurements of absorbance changes of pH indicators bound on the “inside” of vesicular chromatophores. Bromthymol blue has been tested in detail with mitochondria and submitochondrial particles, and has been found to be an “inside” indicator of proton movement. This technique has been applied to suspensions of chromatophores prepared from Rhodospirillum rubrum. At about 4 n-Einsteins/ cm2/second no accelerated proton movement can be detected in the interval that electron transport pigments are approaching their steady state levels ( t 1 2 ~ 50 msec ). In the following 200 msec, proton movements amount to one per 500 chlorophylls, and this rate does not exceed the rate in the following several seconds. The quantum efficiency of hydrogen ion production is low and appears to fall from 0.1 to 0.02 over the range of light intensities employed here. Over this range, the light-induced pigment oxidation is essentially light-limited and its rate is proportional to the light intensity. Thus the rate of proton movement appears to be more closely related to phosphorylation and ion movements in chromatophores than to their electron transport rate. These data afford no experimental evidence for fast hydrogen ion movements compulsorily linked to light-activated electron transport in R. rubrum chromatophores.
Current methods for the cyropreservation of human leukocytes (granulocytes)

Summary The low temperature preservation of leukocytes has been emphasized recently owing to its inherent application in the treatment of leukopenic individuals. Ten per cent dimethyl sulfoxide has evolved as the additive of choice for this cell system. Parameters used as criteria of white blood cell integrity have included dye exclusion, pseudopod formation, and in vitro phagocytosis. The latter is preferable relative to frozen-thawed leukocytes (−195°C). Recent studies have shown that a lowering of the concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide to 1% by washing of the white cells is needed to obtain optimum phagocytosis. Yeast is now used in studies of leukocyte ingestion as it is more clearly delineated within the cell membrane. Application to animal model systems will be needed to determine in vivo circulation with the eventual requirement of clinical trials of preserved granulocytes.
To 40 years of defects in semiconductors: may the problem never be solved!

Abstract In the closing remarks presented at the end of ICDS-20, the ICDS meetings held in 1959 and 1980 were contrasted with ICDS-20 to provide perspective on progress in the field of defects in semiconductors.
A Martingale Approach to Regenerative Simulation

The standard regenerative method for estimating steady-state parameters is extended to permit cycles that begin and end in different states. This result is established using the Dynkin martingale and a related solution to Poisson's equation. We compare the variance constant that appears in the associated central limit theorem with that arising from cycles that begin and end in the same state. The standard regenerative method has a smaller variance constant than does the alternative.
Retinoids in the bovine pineal gland

Using high performance liquid chromatography, the level of retinoids was determined in the bovine pineal gland, retina, retinal pigment epithelium, cortical and subcortical brain tissues, skeletal muscle and the liver. Except the retina, the bovine pineal gland possesses levels of retinol and retinyl esters significantly higher than other brain tissues and muscle. However, unlike the retina, the bovine pineal gland does not possess a significant level of retinal, the chromophore for visual pigments in the retina. This finding suggests that the bovine pineal gland does not possess rhodopsin nor the property of phototransduction which has been fully established in the retina and pineal glands of lower vertebrates.
Patriarchy and the ‘Fighting Sioux’: a gendered look at racial college sports nicknames

The use of Native American nicknames and symbols by US college athletics is a long‐standing practice that embodies various forms of authoritarian oppression. One type of authoritarianism is that of patriarchy and it has been present in the struggle over the nickname at the University of North Dakota, the ‘Fighting Sioux’. This article explores philosophical connections of the dynamics of patriarchy to the resistance that this movement has faced at the University of North Dakota. A short history is provided, and these connections are illustrated in terms of sports and violence, the ‘old boys’ club’, the ‘father knows best’ syndrome, objectification and the disparagement of ‘liberal women’. Suggestions are offered for countering the engrained dynamics of patriarchy in regards to this issue, and thus working towards a more respectful and anti‐racist future at American universities.
The Effects of Antioxidants on Skin Tumor Initiation and Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylase

Summary Butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, and vitamins C and E are effective inhibitors of 7,12-dimethylbenz( a )anthracene tumor initiation in a two-stage system of tumorigenesis. These antioxidants did not significantly induce epidermal aryl hydrocarbon [benzo( a )pyrene]hydroxylase, nor did they have any effect when added directly to the in vitro aryl hydrocarbon [benzo( a )pyrene]hydroxylase assay. However, butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole, when applied topically to mice, inhibited the in vitro , epidermally mediated, covalent binding of radioactive benzo( a )pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz( a )anthracene to DNA. When butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole were added in vitro , they did not inhibit the epidermally mediated covalent binding of the hydrocarbons to DNA. The inhibition of polycyclic hydrocarbon tumorigenesis by antioxidants may be related to the ability of antioxidants to prevent the in vivo activation of hydrocarbons to carcinogenic epoxides and/or other electrophilic intermediates or may be related to their ability to increase detoxification of the reactive intermediate that requires intact cells to be operational. In any event, the results suggest that the antioxidants have an indirect effect on the epidermal metabolizing system which leads to a decrease in covalent binding to DNA.
Factors Associated with Distance and Time Traveled to Cleft and Craniofacial Care

BACKGROUND Information on travel distance and time to care for children with birth defects is lacking. We examined factors associated with travel distance and time to cleft care among children with orofacial clefts. METHODS In 2006, a mail/phone survey was administered in English and Spanish to all resident mothers of children with orofacial clefts born 2001 to 2004 and identified by the North Carolina birth defects registry. We analyzed one-way travel distance and time and the extent to which taking a child to care was a problem. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between selected sociodemographic factors and travel distance (≤60 miles and >60 miles) and time (≤60 min and >60 min) to cleft care. RESULTS Of 475 eligible participants, 51.6% (n = 245) responded. Of the respondents, 97.1% (n = 238) were the child's biological mother. Approximately 83% (n = 204) of respondents were non-Hispanic White; 33.3% (n = 81) were college educated; and 50.0% (n = 115) had private health insurance. One-way mean and median travel distances were 80 and 50 miles, respectively (range, 0–1058 miles). One-way mean and median travel times were 92 and 60 min, respectively (range, 5 min to 8 hr). After adjusting for selected sociodemographics, travel distance varied significantly by maternal education, child's age, and cleft type. Travel time varied significantly by child's age. Approximately 67% (n = 162) reported taking their child to receive care was not a problem. CONCLUSION Approximately 48% of respondents traveled > 1 hr to receive cleft care. Increasing access to care may be important for improving health outcomes among this population Birth Defects Research (Part A) 97:685–695, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Yield characteristics of prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), with fish polycultures at low feeding rates

Abstract. As currently practiced, freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), aquaculture in Hawaii requires large inputs of supplementary feed, water and labour. The high cost of these inputs greatly restricts profit potential. An experiment was conducted to compare an alternative prawn production system which used lower feeding rates and fish polycultures to reduce inputs. Three treatments were run in quadruplicate: (1) control—prawns stocked at standard densities (11.5 per n2) in monoculture and fed standard prawn pellets at the commercial ration recommendations by New & Singholka (1982); (2) low feed—prawns at standard densities and fish [silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes), grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), and grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (L.)] fed one-half commercial ration; and (3) maintenance feed—prawns at standard densities and fish fed one-tenth commercial ration. Although prawn yield characteristics (mean weights, harvestable sizes, survival, net yields) were not significantly different (P > 0.05) based on an analysis of variance in the three treatments over the approximately 9.5-month culture period, this lack of significance most likely resulted from interpond variability and the lack of a large number of replicates. The relatively poor survival (60–63%) of gray mullet and an almost twofold difference in prawn yields in the control and maintenance feed treatments suggest that there was in fact competition for resources in the nominally polyculture systems. Nevertheless, the wet weight yield of biomass from all species was twice as high in the low feed ponds as in the control ponds.
Femtosecond Laser Ablation Reveals Antagonistic Sensory and Neuroendocrine Signaling that Underlie C. elegans Behavior and Development

The specific roles of neuronal subcellular components in behavior and development remain largely unknown, even though advances in molecular biology and conventional whole-cell laser ablation have greatly accelerated the identification of contributors at the molecular and cellular levels. We systematically applied femtosecond laser ablation, which has submicrometer resolution in vivo, to dissect the cell bodies, dendrites, or axons of a sensory neuron (ASJ) in Caenorhabditis elegans to determine their roles in modulating locomotion and the developmental decisions for dauer, a facultative, stress-resistant life stage. Our results indicate that the cell body sends out axonally mediated and hormonal signals in order to mediate these functions. Furthermore, our results suggest that antagonistic sensory dendritic signals primarily drive and switch polarity between the decisions to enter and exit dauer. Thus, the improved resolution of femtosecond laser ablation reveals a rich complexity of neuronal signaling at the subcellular level, including multiple neurite and hormonally mediated pathways dependent on life stage.
Regulation of Lhb and Egr1 Gene Expression by GNRH Pulses in Rat Pituitaries Is Both c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK)- and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK)-Dependent

Pulsatile GNRH regulates the gonadotropin subunit genes in a differential manner, with faster frequencies favoring Lhb gene expression and slower frequencies favoring Fshb. Early growth response 1 (EGR1) is critical for Lhb gene transcription. We examined GNRH regulation of EGR1 and its two corepressors, Ngfi-A-binding proteins 1 and 2 (NAB1 and NAB2), both in vivo and in cultured rat pituitary cells. In rats, fast GNRH pulses (every 30 min) stably induced Egr1 primary transcript (PT) and mRNA 2-fold (P < 0.05) for 1–24 h. In contrast, slow GNRH pulses (every 240 min) increased Egr1 PT at 24 h (6-fold; P < 0.05) but increased Egr1 mRNA 4- to 5-fold between 4 and 24 h. Both GNRH pulse frequencies increased EGR1 protein 3- to 4-fold. In cultured rat pituitary cells, GNRH pulses (every 60 min) increased Egr1 (PT, 2.5- to 3-fold; mRNA, 1.5- to 2-fold; P < 0.05). GNRH pulses had little effect on Nab1/2 PT/mRNAs either in vivo or in vitro. We also examined specific intracellular signaling cascades activated by GNRH. Inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase 8/9 (MAPK8/9 [also known as JNK]; SP600125) and MAP Kinase Kinase 1 (MAP2K1 [also known as MEK1]; PD98059) either blunted or totally suppressed the GNRH induction of Lhb PT and Egr1 PT/mRNA, whereas the MAPK14 (also known as p38) inhibitor SB203580 did not. In summary, pulsatile GNRH stimulates Egr1 gene expression and protein in vivo but not in a frequency-dependent manner. Additionally, GNRH-induced Egr1 gene expression is mediated by MAPK8/9 and MAPK1/3, and both are critical for Lhb gene transcription.
Constitutionalist Public Administration Paradigm: The Predominant Paradigm in OMB Circular A-76

An essential question for American public administration scholarship is to what degree does (and should) our constitutional heritage influence our approach to administering the public sphere, and h...
Using beta binomials to estimate classification uncertainty for ensemble models

Quantitative structure-activity (QSAR) models have enormous potential for reducing drug discovery and development costs as well as the need for animal testing. Great strides have been made in estimating their overall reliability, but to fully realize that potential, researchers and regulators need to know how confident they can be in individual predictions. Submodels in an ensemble model which have been trained on different subsets of a shared training pool represent multiple samples of the model space, and the degree of agreement among them contains information on the reliability of ensemble predictions. For artificial neural network ensembles (ANNEs) using two different methods for determining ensemble classification – one using vote tallies and the other averaging individual network outputs – we have found that the distribution of predictions across positive vote tallies can be reasonably well-modeled as a beta binomial distribution, as can the distribution of errors. Together, these two distributions can be used to estimate the probability that a given predictive classification will be in error. Large data sets comprised of logP, Ames mutagenicity, and CYP2D6 inhibition data are used to illustrate and validate the method. The distributions of predictions and errors for the training pool accurately predicted the distribution of predictions and errors for large external validation sets, even when the number of positive and negative examples in the training pool were not balanced. Moreover, the likelihood of a given compound being prospectively misclassified as a function of the degree of consensus between networks in the ensemble could in most cases be estimated accurately from the fitted beta binomial distributions for the training pool. Confidence in an individual predictive classification by an ensemble model can be accurately assessed by examining the distributions of predictions and errors as a function of the degree of agreement among the constituent submodels. Further, ensemble uncertainty estimation can often be improved by adjusting the voting or classification threshold based on the parameters of the error distribution. Finally, the profiles for models whose predictive uncertainty estimates are not reliable provide clues to that effect without the need for comparison to an external test set.
West Nile Virus: Biology, Transmission, and Human Infection

SUMMARY West Nile Virus was introduced into the Western Hemisphere during the late summer of 1999 and has been causing significant and sometimes severe human diseases since that time. This article briefly touches upon the biology of the virus and provides a comprehensive review regarding recent discoveries about virus transmission, virus acquisition, and human infection and disease.
Expanding research and development of novel agents for the treatment and prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is the most common side effect of medication. This phenomenon is a common patient complaint and a source of significant psychological and physical distress. A major challenge in treating chemotherapy-induced alopecia is to protect the hair without altering the effects of the chemotherapeutic treatment regimen. The search for compounds that can significantly reduce or block damage to the hair follicle by chemotherapeutic agents is an active and dynamic area of research. At present, there are no FDA-approved treatments or preventative measures for chemotherapy-induced alopecia. To address this problem, a variety of new agents have emerged in patent applications. This report reviews 19 patents that have been submitted since 2000 for the treatment or prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
Osmoregulation in Marine Mammals

Osmoregulation in marine mammals has been investigated for over a century; however, a review of recent advances in our understanding of water and electrolyte balance and of renal function in marine mammals is warranted. The following topics are discussed: (i) kidney structure and urine concentrating ability, (ii) sources of water, (iii) the effects of feeding, fasting and diving, (iv) the renal responses to infusions of varying salinity and (v) hormonal regulation. The kidneys of pinnipeds and cetaceans are reniculate in structure, unlike those of terrestrial mammals (except bears), but this difference does not confer any greater concentrating ability. Pinnipeds, cetaceans, manatees and sea otters can concentrate their urine above the concentration of sea water, but only pinnipeds and otters have been shown to produce urine concentrations of Na+ and Cl- that are similar to those in sea water. This could afford them the capacity to drink sea water and not lose fresh water. However, with few exceptions, drinking is not a common behavior in pinnipeds and cetaceans. Water balance is maintained in these animals via metabolic and dietary water, while incidental ingestion and dietary salt may help maintain electrolyte homeostasis. Unlike most other aquatic mammals, sea otters commonly drink sea water and manatees frequently drink fresh water. Among the various taxonomic groups of marine mammals, the sensitivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system appears to be influenced by the availability of Na+. The antidiuretic role of vasopressin remains inconclusive in marine mammals, while the natriuretic function of atrial natriuretic peptide has yet to be examined. Ideas on the direction of future studies are presented.