cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin and extremity muscle mass in overweight and obese women

Obesity disproportionately affects women, especially those of African descent, and is associated with increases in both fat and muscle masses. Although increased extremity muscle mass may be compensatory to fat mass load, we propose that elevated insulin levels resulting from diminished insulin sensitivity may additionally contribute to extremity muscle mass in overweight or obese women. The following measurements were performed in 197 non-diabetic women (57% black, 35% white; age 46±11 years (mean±s.d.), body mass index (BMI) range 25.0–57.7 kg m−2): dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for fat and extremity muscle masses; exercise performance by duration and peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) during graded treadmill exercise; fasting insulin and, in 183 subjects, insulin sensitivity index (SI) calculated from the minimal model. SI (range 0.5–14.1 l mU−1min−1) was negatively, and fasting insulin (range 1.9–35.6 μU ml−1) positively associated with extremity muscle mass (both P<0.001), independent of age and height. Sixty-seven percent of women completed 6 months of participation in a weight loss and exercise program: we found a significant association between reduction in fasting insulin and a decrease in extremity muscle mass (P=0.038), independent of reduction in fat mass or improvement in exercise performance by VO2 peak and exercise duration, and without association with change in SI or interaction by race. Hyperinsulinemia in overweight or obese women is associated with increased extremity muscle mass, which is partially reversible with reduction in fasting insulin concentration, consistent with the stimulatory effects of insulin on skeletal muscle.
An Analysis of References Used in the 1960 Encyclopedia of Educational Research

OF THE COUNTLESS printed sources of information, which are the most useful for serious study in education? What are the characteristics of the references used for research in this field? As a means of throwing some light on this prob lem, it was decided to study the bibliographies at the ends of the articles in the Third (1960) Edi tion of the Encyclopedia of Educational Research (1). Recording of every tenth reference produced a total of 1525 bibliographic citations which then were sorted and analyzed according to form, sub ject, language and age. For the sake of observing trends, the results were compared with data gained from a previous study (2) of the Second (1950) Edition of the Encyclopedia (3).
Hypo-anxious phenotype of adolescent offspring prenatally exposed to LPS is associated with reduced mGluR5 expression in hippocampus.

Many studies have reported long-term modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) by inflammatory processes and a pharmacological modulation of mGluR5 is known to regulate anxiety level. However, it is not known if non-pharmacological modulation of mGluR5 by inflammation impaired the unconditional level of anxiety. In this study, we investigated this relation in LPS prenatal immune challenge (120 μg/kg, 3x i.p. injection in late gestation), a developmental model of neuroinflammation in which some studies have reported hypo-anxious phenotype. Using positron emission tomographic imaging (PET) approaches, we have demonstrated a decrease in the binding potential of [18F]fluoro-5-(2-pyridinylethynyl)benzonitrile([18F]FPEB, a radioligand for mGluR5) in hippocampus of adolescent offspring prenatally exposed to LPS, without significant change in the binding of [11C]peripheral benzodiazepine receptor 28 ([11C]PBR28), an inflammatory marker. In addition, dark-light box emergence test revealed a lower level of anxiety in LPS-exposed offspring and this behavioural phenotype was associated with the binding potential of [18F]FPEB in hippocampus. These results confirm that neuroinflammation during developmental phase modulates the physiology of mGluR5 and this alteration can be associated with behavioural phenotype related to anxiety. In addition, this study supports a hypotheses that mGluR5 could be used as a diagnostic target in anxiety.
NON‐QUANTAL FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS

When dealing with the foundations of quantum mechanics one has to distinguish among the formal calculation rules, such as the Born commutation theorem for coordinates and momenta, as against their application to atoms and solid bodies, electromagnetic and other fields, and problems such as whether matter consists of particles or waves. I am going to deal here only with the formal rules of quantum mechanics. These rules are problematic enough in themselves. Most experts seem to be satisfied to know the technique of calculation, “the tricks of the trade,” which work so well; they tell their students to “understand that there is nothing to be understood in quantum theory.” The adept, however, and the philosopher of science may not be ready to accept this pragmatic attitude. He may ask for general and fundamental reasons why Nature restricts mechanical action by certain quantal selection rules, why physical data are obtainable from a matrix calculus in which ab differs from ba, why probabilities interfere in a wavelike fashion, why a mechanical momentum p is to be replaced by an operator (h/2iπ)∂/∂q acting on a complex function ψ, and so forth. In short, the student will ask for an explanation of the various oddities of quantum physics and mathematics. These oddities are sometimes traced to a fundamental antimony — not further explained — namely to the contrast between the wave “picture” and the particle “picture.”
Mapping and characterization of the N-terminal I domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Pr55(Gag).

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 particles assemble at the plasma membrane of cells in a manner similar to that of the type C oncoretroviruses. The Pr55Gag molecule directs the assembly process and is sufficient for particle assembly in the absence of all other viral gene products. The I domain is an assembly domain that has been previously localized to the nucleocapsid (NC) region of Gag. In this study we utilized a series of Gag-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins to precisely identify sequences that constitute the N-terminal I domain of Pr55Gag. The minimal sequence required for the I domain was localized to the extreme N terminus of NC. Two basic residues (arginine 380 and arginine 384) within the initial seven residues of NC were found to be critical for the function of the N-terminal I domain. The presence of positive charge alone in these two positions, however, was not sufficient to mediate the formation of dense Gag particles. The I domain was required for the formation of detergent-resistant complexes of Gag protein, and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the I domain was also required for the formation of punctate foci of Gag proteins at the plasma membrane. Electron microscopic analysis of cells expressing Gag-GFP fusion constructs with an intact I domain revealed numerous retrovirus-like particles (RVLPs) budding from the plasma membrane, while I domain-deficient constructs failed to generate visible RVLPs. These results provide evidence that Gag-Gag interactions mediated by the I domain play a central role in the assembly of HIV particles.
Cyclic HIV Protease Inhibitors: Design and Synthesis of Orally Bioavailable, Pyrazole P2/P2‘ Cyclic Ureas with Improved Potency

Highly potent HIV-1 protease (HIVPR) inhibitors have been designed and synthesized by introducing bidentate hydrogen-bonding oxime and pyrazole groups at the meta-position of the phenyl ring on the P2/P2' substituents of cyclic ureas. Nonsymmetrical cyclic ureas incorporating 3(1H)-pyrazolylbenzyl as P2 and hydrophilic functionalities as P2' show potent protease inhibition and antiviral activities against HIV and have good oral bioavailabilities. The X-ray structure of HIVPR.10A complex confirms that the two pyrazole rings of 10A form bidentate hydrogen bonds with the side-chain oxygen (C=O) and backbone nitrogen (N-H) of Asp30/30' of HIVPR.
Effect of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α on the expression of G-proteins in CD4+ T-cells of atopic asthmatic subjects

Chronic use of β2-agonists and increased production of inflammatory mediators during the late allergic reaction after the antigen challenge result in the desensitization of β-adrenoceptors in the airways with an accompanying rise in nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness. Several proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), play a significant role in orchestrating and perpetuating the inflammatory response and induce the decreased response to bronchodilators in vitro. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of two cytokines, IL-1β and TNF-α, on the expression of guanine nucleotide binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins), Gsα and Giα-3, by Western blotting in the CD4+ cells of nonatopic nonasthmatic (NANA), atopic nonasthmatic (ANA), and atopic asthmatic (AA) subjects. In the purified CD4+ cells, the basal expression of Gsα was higher in the ANA group, and significantly lower in the AA group as compared to th...
Synthesis of Chamaecypanone C Analogues from in Situ-Generated Cyclopentadienones and Their Biological Evaluation

A rhodium-catalyzed dehydrogenation protocol for the conversion of 3,5-diarylcyclopentenones to the corresponding 2,4-diarylcyclopentadienones has been developed. With this protocol, analogues of the cytotoxic agent chamaecypanone C have been synthesized via Diels–Alder cycloaddition between the cyclopentadienones and in situ-generated o-quinols. Biological evaluation of these analogues revealed a compound with higher activity as a microtubule inhibitor and cytotoxic agent in comparison with the parent structure.
Preparation of monolithic polymers with controlled porous properties for microfluidic chip applications using photoinitiated free‐radical polymerization

A broad variety of monolithic macroporous polymers with both controlled chemistry and porous properties was prepared using UV-initiated free-radical polymerization. The chemistry of the monoliths is defined by the composition of the monomer mixture used for the polymerization. The use of functional methacrylate monomers such as glycidyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, and [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride enabled the preparation of monoliths with reactive, hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and ionizable functionalities, respectively. The porous properties of these monoliths were mainly affected by the choice of the porogenic solvent system. Because the UV polymerization was carried out at room temperature, even low molecular weight alcohols and other low boiling point solvents could safely be used to create a versatile series of binary porogenic mixtures. Monoliths were prepared in spatially defined positions using the photolithographic technique within a fused silica capillary and on microfluidic chips, and the former was demonstrated with the separation of derivatized amines by means of capillary electrochromatography in the reversed-phase mode. Similarly, a monolith prepared in the microchip format was used to demonstrate a microextraction with enrichment of a solution of green fluorescent protein by a factor of 1000. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 755–769, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10155
Variation in plant quality and the population dynamics of herbivores: there is nothing average about aphids

In the attempt to use results from small-scale studies to make large-scale predictions, it is critical that we take into account the greater spatial heterogeneity encountered at larger spatial scales. An important component of this heterogeneity is variation in plant quality, which can have a profound influence on herbivore population dynamics. This influence is particularly relevant when we consider that the strength of density dependence can vary among host plants and that the strength of density dependence determines the difference between exponential and density- dependent growth. Here, we present some simple models and analyses designed to examine the impact of variable plant quality on the dynamics of insect herbivore populations, and specifically the consequences of variation in the strength of density dependence among host plants. We show that average values of herbivore population growth parameters, calculated from plants that vary in quality, do not predict overall population growth. Furthermore, we illustrate that the quality of a few individual plants within a larger plant population can dominate herbivore population growth. Our results demonstrate that ignoring spatial heterogeneity that exists in herbivore population growth on plants that differ in quality can lead to a misunderstanding of the mechanisms that underlie population dynamics.
From Broken Windows to Busy Streets A Community Empowerment Perspective

In the present article, we introduce a community empowerment perspective to understanding neighborhoods. A preponderance of literature exists on neighborhood risk factors for crime. Yet less is known about positive factors that make neighborhoods safe and desirable. We propose community empowerment as a conceptual foundation for understanding neighborhood factors that promote social processes, and ultimately, lead to an improvement in structural factors. We suggest that neighborhoods are empowered because they include processes and structures for positive social interactions to emerge and develop. We present busy streets as a mechanism that creates a positive social context, in which social cohesion and social capital thrive. Thus, empowered communities are characterized by climates that promote busy streets. Our article underscores the need to examine both the broader, structural context and social processes operating within this context. Such an integrative perspective is necessary to fully understand how to empower neighborhoods, particularly in the face of structural challenges.
Conductivity of porous Sm2O3-doped CeO2 as a function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure

Abstract Porous samples of Sm 2 O 3 -doped CeO 2 (samaria-doped ceria, SDC) of composition Sm 0.15 Ce 0.85 O 2− δ were made by conventional ceramic processing and sintering in air at 1400 °C. Crystal structure and microstructure of the samples were characterized, respectively, by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrical conductivity was measured using a four probe DC method over a temperature range from 200 °C to 800 °C, and over a wide range of oxygen partial pressures corresponding to testing in oxygen and in nearly dry hydrogen. Conductivity rapidly stabilized at any given temperature consistent with the attainment of thermodynamic equilibrium corresponding to the imposed conditions. At and below 300 °C, the conduction was predominantly due to oxygen ion transport. At and above 400 °C, however, significant electronic conduction occurred in reducing atmospheres. The ionic transference number of SDC at 400 °C in hydrogen is only ∼0.4. This result shows that the electrolytic domain of SDC at and above 400 °C is rather narrow. These results also suggest that SDC (and possibly other rare earth oxide-doped CeO 2 ) is not a suitable electrolyte without a thin electron blocking layer such as yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ).
Shielding of solar cells against Van Allen belt protons.

Satellite solar cell life in Van Allen belt proton flux predicted as function of shielding thickness by computer program
Hyperspectral Image Correlation for Monitoring Membrane Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

Temporal image correlation provides a powerful fluorescence technique for measuring several biologically relevant parameters of molecules in living cells. These parameters include, but are not limited to local concentrations, diffusion dynamics, and aggregation states of biomolecules. However, the complex cellular environment presents several limitations, precluding high quantitative accuracy and constraining biological implementation. In order to address these issues, high speed spectral imaging was employed to compare the results of image correlation from spectrally unmixed and virtually implemented fluorescence emission filters. Of particular interest in this study is the impact of cellular autofluorescence, which is ubiquitous in fluorescence imaging of cells and tissues. Using traditional instrumentation, corrections for autofluorescence are commonly estimated as a static offset collected from a separate control specimen. While this may be sufficient in highly homogenous regions of interest, the low analyte concentrations requisite to fluctuation-based methods result in the potential for unbounded error resulting from spectral cross-talk between local autofluorescence inhomogeneities and the fluorescence signal of interest. Thus we demonstrate the importance of accurate autofluorescence characterization and discuss potential corrections using a case study focusing on fluorescence confocal spectral imaging of immune cells before and after stimulation with lipopolysaccheride (LPS). In these experiments, binding of LPS to the membrane receptor, YFP-TLR4, is observed to result in initiation of the immune response characterized by altered receptor diffusion dynamics and apparent heterogeneous aggregation states. In addition to characterizing errors resulting from autofluorescence spectral bleed-through, we present data leading to a deeper understanding of the molecular dynamics of the immune response and suggest hypotheses for future work utilizing hyperspectrally enabled multi-label fluorescence studies on this system of high biological import.
Analysis on the forward market equilibrium model

We establish the existence results for the Allaz-Vila [B. Allaz, J.-L. Vila, Cournot competition, forward markets and efficiency, J. Econ. Theory 59 (1993) 1-16] forward market equilibrium model when the M producers have different linear cost functions. We also consider an example with three asymmetric producers. The computational results supplement the conclusion in that the forward trading would increase market efficiency.
Anatomy of the dopamine system in the basal ganglia

The dopaminergic nigropallidal and nigrosubthalamic projections control the activity of the globus pallidus and subthalamic nucleus neurons in both normal and pathological conditions. Intrastriatal dopaminergic neurons increase substantially in animal models of Parkinson's disease. They contain GABA, display the ultrastructural features of interneurons and form axo-axonic synapses with putative cortical-like glutamatergic boutons. The local dendritic release of dopamine by neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental also influences basal ganglia functions. Thus, the long-term belief that the effects of dopamine in the basal ganglia were solely mediated through the nigrostriatal system must be changed to take into account extrastriatal dopaminergic projections and intrastriatal dopaminergic neurons.
Education and Health among U.S. Working-Age Adults: A Detailed Portrait across the Full Educational Attainment Spectrum

This article presents detailed estimates of relative and absolute health inequalities among U.S. working-age adults by educational attainment, including six postsecondary schooling levels. We also estimate the impact of several sets of mediating variables on the education-health gradient. Data from the 1997-2009 National Health Interview Survey (N = 178,103) show remarkable health differentials. For example, high school graduates have 3.5 times the odds of reporting "worse" health than do adults with professional or doctoral degrees. The probability of fair or poor health in mid-adulthood is less than 5 percent for adults with the highest levels of education but over 20 percent for adults without a high school diploma. The probability of reporting excellent health in the mid-forties is below 25 percent among high school graduates but over 50 percent for those adults who have professional degrees. These health differences characterize all the demographic subgroups examined in this study. Our results show that economic indicators and health behaviors explain about 40 percent of the education-health relationship. In the United States, adults with the highest educational degrees enjoy a wide array of benefits, including much more favorable self-rated health, compared to their less-educated counterparts.
Fe, Ru, and Os disilicides: Electronic structure of ordered compounds

Electronic structure properties of {ital M}Si{sub 2}, where {ital M}=Fe, Ru, or Os, in the orthorhombic {beta} phase are investigated using the linear muffin-tin orbital method in the atomic sphere approximation. Selective substitution of Fe with Ru, Os, and Cr in {beta}-FeSi{sub 2} is also studied. These compounds are small-gap semiconductors with theoretical energy band gaps ranging from 0.06 to 0.50 eV, with the exception of the metallic Cr-substituted disilicides. Substitution of Ru or Os for Fe in {beta}-FeSi{sub 2} leads to a reduction of the gap width, an increase in volume of the unit cell, and a bulk modulus similar to or slightly smaller than for {beta}-FeSi{sub 2}. Although the theoretical lattice constant of {beta}-OsSi{sub 2} agrees well with experiment, the calculated band gap (0.06 eV) is much smaller than the band gap in {beta}-FeSi{sub 2}. This strongly contrasts with experimental observations that suggest a larger band gap in {beta}-OsSi{sub 2} (1.4 {endash} 1.8 eV). Consideration of a proposed metastable monoclinic form of OsSi{sub 2} does not remedy this discrepancy, since it is found to be a semimetal. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography of the fetal coronary sinus.

Objective To document fetal coronary sinus dimensions in normal pregnancy. Methods Two hundred and sixty-five normal fetuses in which congenital cardiac defects had been excluded were examined cross-sectionally between 21 and 38 weeks of gestation. From the apical or basal four-chamber view the transducer was tilted towards the inferior cardiac surface in order to visualize the coronary sinus by real-time ultrasound. Maximum systolic and diastolic diameters were measured using M-mode. Reference ranges were constructed and the ratio of systolic and diastolic diameters calculated. Data from two fetuses, one with supraventricular tachycardia and a second one with hydrops secondary to anemia, were also compared. Results Visualization and measurement of the coronary sinus were successful in 258 (97.4%) patients. The coronary sinus systolic and diastolic diameters increased significantly with gestational age (maximum systolic diameter, 1.6 mm at 21 weeks to 4 mm at 38 weeks; maximum diastolic diameter, 0.9 mm at 20 weeks to 2.2 mm at 38 weeks). The ratio of systolic to diastolic diameters remained relatively constant (range, 1.7–2.1) and therefore was unrelated to gestational age. In the fetuses with supraventricular tachycardia and hydrops, both diameters of the coronary sinus were increased and diminished fluctuation in size during the cardiac cycle was observed. Conclusions The described sonographic approach provides an effective method for measurement of coronary sinus dimensions. The normative data may facilitate the detection of coronary sinus dilation as an indirect marker for abnormalities in venous return to the heart.
Maximal harmonic group actions on finite graphs

This paper studies groups of maximal size acting harmonically on a finite graph. Our main result states that these maximal graph groups are exactly the finite quotients of the modular group ? = { x , y ? x 2 = y 3 = 1 } of size at least 6. This characterization may be viewed as a discrete analogue of the description of Hurwitz groups as finite quotients of the ( 2 , 3 , 7 ) -triangle group in the context of holomorphic group actions on Riemann surfaces. In fact, as an immediate consequence of our result, every Hurwitz group is a maximal graph group, and the final section of the paper establishes a direct connection between maximal graphs and Hurwitz surfaces via the theory of combinatorial maps.
Metaplastic induction of scales and feathers in the corneal anterior epithelium of the chick embryo

Abstract The anterior epithelium of the embryonic chick cornea has differentiated by the fourth day of incubation, and has been engaged in the deposition of a subepithelial collagenous stroma for 24 hours or longer. To test whether the corneal epithelium can be induced to participate in the formation of other ectodermal derivatives at this early stage in its differentiation, we confronted it with mesenchyme taken from feather, scale, or hair-forming regions. The lenses of 5-day chick embryos were replaced with blocks of mesenchyme derived from suitable locations in donor animals of appropriate species and age and the host eyes were examined histologically at intervals ranging up to 12 days after surgery. Dermis from the scale-forming foot region of 13-day-old donor chick embryos promoted scale formation in the anterior epithelium of most of the hosts; in some cases feathers were associated with the scales. Prospective dermis from the periotocystal feather-forming area of 5-day-old chick embryos elicited the formation of feathers in the corneal anterior epithelium of most of the hosts. Dermis from the flanks of mouse embryos at 13.5–14.5 days of gestation also produced feather formation in host corneas. The anterior epithelium of the cornea of the 5-day-old chick embryo is one of the few metazoan tissues in which a change from one relatively advanced state of differentiation to another has been induced.
Electroreactivity of [Mo2Fe6S8(SR)9]3− double cubane cluster complexes

Abstract Hydrodynamic and cyclic voltammograms were recorded in solutions of [Mo2Fe6S8(SR)9]3− (where R = p-C6H4Cl, C6H5, p-C6H4CH3, and C2CH5 and [Mo2Fe6S8(OCH3)3(SC6H5)6] 3− clusters. The solvent was dimethylformamide and the supporting electrolyte 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate. Rotation rates between 400 and 10,000 rpm were employed for the hydrodynamic experiments, while scan rates between 0.050 and 100 V s−1 were used for the cyclic experiments. The experimental results indicate that the compounds are electroreducible and undergo two successive one-electron transfer steps. The corresponding standard heterogeneous electrochemical rate constants were k°1 ≈ k°2 ≈ 2 × 10−2 cm s−1.
Legal status of the Paracel and Spratly Islands

Abstract The four groups of uninhabited coral islets scattered in the South China Sea have been the object of territorial claims by the surrounding coastal states for the past few decades. The ownership issue became a serious territorial dispute in January 1974, when the forces of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Vietnam clashed over the Paracel Islands. In many points, this South China Sea dispute is so similar to the Tiaoyut'ai‐Senkaku dispute of the East China Sea between China and Japan that the settlement of one is likely to bear on that of the other as well as on the development of marine resources in the two China Seas. It is not possible to determine the validity of the conflicting claims in either case. Relying on the available historic facts, however, China's claim to the Paracel and Spratly islands appears to be relatively stronger than that of Vietnam.
Review of “ARL SPEC Kit 335: Digital Image Collections and Services,” by Mary Kandiuk, Aaron Lupton, and Catherine Davidson

ARL SPEC Kit 335: Digital Image Collections and Services (August 2013) is a detailed report that examines how libraries and their institutions are responding to the growth of digital image collecti...
Intrachromosomal gene mapping in man: The gene for tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase maps in region q21→qter of chromosome 14

A gene for tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.2), the enzyme which attaches tryptophan to its tRNA, has previously been assigned to human chromosome 14 by analysis of man-mouse somatic cell hybrids. We report here a method for the electrophoretic separation of Chinese hamster and human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetases and its application to a series of independently derived Chinese hamster-human hybrids in which part of the human chromosome 14 has been translocated to the human X chromosome. When this derivative der (X),t(X;14) (Xqter → Xp22::14q21 → 14qter) chromosome carrying the human gene for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase was selected for and against in cell hybrid lines by the appropriate selective conditions, the human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase activity was found to segregate concordantly. These results provide additional confirmation for the assignment of the tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase gene to human chromosome 14 and define its intrachromosomal location in the region 14q21 → 14qter. Our findings indicate that the genes for tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase and for ribosomal RNA are not closely linked on chromosome 14.
Reaction sintering of gel derived ceramic composites

Abstract Fibrous SiC/SiO 2 matrix monolithic composites which have previously been fabricated using the sol-gel technique showed difficulty in densification. To enhance the sinterability of the SiC/SiO 2 composites, reactive ceramic species including furfuryl alcohol, alumina, and chromia were added to SiO 2 sol which was obtained by hydrolyzing tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). Physical and mechanical properties of these composites as a function of the reactive additives and of temperatures are presented.
Observation of a peculiar phenomenon in the cerium-ion-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinskii oscillator with acetylacetone in CSTR mode

The cerium-ion-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction with acetylacetonate as the organic substrate was investigated in flow reactor (CSTR) mode. Most behavior observed could be readily rationalized in terms of the Oregonator model of the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction. However, at high acetylacetone concentrations (>0.07 M) and rapid flow rates, the system behaved peculiarly. Large-amplitude oscillations in the response of a Ag/AgBr electrode appeared while the response of a shiny platinum electrode was flat, suggesting the absence of oscillations in redox potential. This phenomenon was reproducible and disappeared when the flowrate was decreased.
Phase field modeling of the effect of porosity on grain growth kinetics in polycrystalline ceramics

We present a phase field model for investigating grain growth in polycrystalline ceramics containing porosity. Grain growth in such materials is complicated by the interaction between the pores and the grain boundaries, which tends to hinder the kinetics of grain growth. In addition to grain-boundary migration, the model takes into consideration pore-surface diffusion and, whenever effective, other diffusion mechanisms such as volume diffusion and grain-boundary diffusion. The pore-surface diffusion controls the pore mobility. A direct relationship between the model parameters and the material properties is established, which facilitates the quantitative analysis of grain growth. The model is used to investigate the conditions under which porosity is effective in controlling grain growth. Application of the model to ceria shows that grain growth law in this material is sensitive to the level of porosity. In particular, the grain growth in ceria gradually changes from boundary controlled growth to pore controlled growth as porosity increases. The effects of porosity, temperature, grain boundary and surface mobility on grain growth were investigated. The model results agree well with published grain growth experiments.
Oxidation of nitrided si(100) by gaseous atomic and molecular oxygen.

The nitridation of Si(100) by ammonia and the subsequent oxidation of the nitrided surface by both gaseous atomic and molecular oxygen was investigated under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Nitridation of Si(100) by the thermal decomposition of NH 3 results in the formation of a subsurface nitride and a decrease in the concentration of surface dangling bond sites. On the basis of changes in the N1s spectra obtained after NH 3 adsorption and decomposition, we estimate that the nitride resides about four to five layers below the vacuum- solid interface and that the concentration of surface dangling bonds after nitridation is only 59% of its value on Si(100)-(2 x 1). Oxidation of the nitrided surface is found to produce an oxide phase that remains in the outer layers of the solid and interacts only weakly with the underlying nitride for oxygen coverages up to 2.5 ML. Slight changes in the N1s spectra observed after oxidizing at 300 K are suggested to arise primarily from the introduction of strain within the nitride, and by the formation of a small amount of Si 2 =N-O species near the nitride-oxide interface. The nitrogen bonding environment changes negligibly after oxidizing at 800 K, which is indicative of greater phase separation at elevated surface temperature. Nitridation is also found to significantly reduce the reactivity of the Si(100) surface toward both atomic and molecular oxygen. A comparison of the oxygen uptake on the clean and nitrided surfaces shows quantitatively that the decrease in dangling bond concentration is responsible for the reduced activity of the nitrided surface toward oxidation, and therefore that dangling bonds are the initial adsorption site for both gaseous oxygen atoms and molecules. Increasing the surface temperature is found to promote the uptake of oxygen when O 2 is used as the oxidant, but brings about only a small enhancement in the uptake of gaseous O-atoms. The different effects of surface temperature on the uptake of O versus O 2 are interpreted in terms of the efficiency at which dangling bond pairs are regenerated on the surface at elevated temperature and the different site requirements for the adsorption of O and O 2 .
Perceptions of Restructuring in the Rural West: Insights from the "Cultural Turn"

Migration, human-environment relationships, changing social values, economic transformations, and cultural transitions are all forces impacting rural regions in the 1990s, yet our understanding of the intersections between these forces is limited. This article contributes to our knowledge of rural restructuring by combining economic and cultural perspectives on regional change through a focus on land use. The analysis highlights how rural restructuring in the 1990s is a deeply penetrating process inclusive of both economic and cultural dimensions of social life. Data from a survey of 422 rural households are used to show how people's opinions and perceptions of recent land use changes are influenced by economic and cultural logic simultaneously; by recognizing the intersection of economics and culture, we can better plan for and respond to contemporary processes of change.
Analysis of binding and activating functions of the chick muscle acetylcholine receptor γ-subunit upstream sequence

1. The skeletal muscle acetylcholine receptor comprises several subunits whose coordinated expression during myogenesis is probably controlled bycis elements in the individual subunit genes. We have previously analyzed promoter regions of theα andδ genes (Wanget al., 1988, 1990); to gain further insight into receptor regulation, we have now studied the promoter of the chick muscleγ-subunit gene. 2. This analysis was faciliated by the close upstream proximity of the coding region of theδ-subunit gene and the consequent brevity (740 bp) of the untranslated linker connecting the two genes (Nefet al., 1984). Nuclease protection and primer extension analysis revealed that transcription of theγ-subunit gene starts at position 56 upstream of the translational initiation site. 3. Nested deletions of the promoter region were employed to identify functionally important elements. A 360-bp sequence (-324 to +36) was found to activate transcription, in a position- and orientation-independent manner, during myotube formation. This sequence comprises 5 M-CAT (Nikovitset al., 1986) similarities and contains, at positions -52/-47 and -33/-28, two CANNTG (Lassaret al., 1989) motifs. 4. Binding experiments were performed by means of gel retardation, gel shift competition, and footprint analysis. The CANNTG motifs were found to bind MyoD and myogenin fusion proteins and to interact with proteins in nuclear extracts from cultured myotubes. 5. Point mutations in the CANNTG motifs revealed that these elements are crucial for full promoter activity in myotubes and essential in fibroblasts cotransfected with a myogenin expression vector. 6. We conclude that the activity of theγ-subunit gene is determined largely by E boxes, whichin vivo are likely to be activated by MyoD family proteins; in addition, other transactivators such as the M-CAT binding protein presumably play a role. Both CANNTG elements and M-CAT motifs are also present in theα- andδ-subunit enhancer and may therefore account for the coordinate expression of the three subunits during muscle differentiation.
Political Economy Today and Tomorrow: The Contribution of The Oxford Handbook of Political Economy

Barry Weingast and Donald Wittman (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Political Economy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006), xvii + 1093 pp., £85.00, ISBN 0199272220 (hbk) What is political economy? ...
Knife cuts while you wait: A simple and inexpensive procedure for producing knife cuts in freely moving animals☆

Abstract A simple procedure is described which allows the transection of fiber bundles in the freely moving animal for a total cost of less than one dollar. Observations of this technique indicate that nonspecific trauma is minimal, thereby allowing the assessment of the effects of specific transections on ongoing behavior.
Introduction to the special issue of IG&A on methodological issues of large-N research on interest representation

The last decade has seen a remarkable transformation in the study of European national and EU interest representation toward mid-range theories tested with large-N research. One result of these developments is renewed anticipation about the emergence of a true comparative theory of interest representation, one fully attentive to the importance of institutional and issue context. Given this expansion of large-N research on interest representation, the articles in this special issue examine several of the most important methodological issues inherent in such analyses as typified by the still on going INTEREURO (Comparative Research on Interest Group Politics in Europe) Project, sponsored by the European Science Foundation (10-ECRP-008).
Implementing polymorphic typing in a logic programming language

Introducing types into a logic programming language leads to the need for typed unification within the computation model. In the presence of polymorphism and higher-order features, this aspect forces analysis of types at run-time. We propose extensions to the Warren Abstract Machine (WAM) that permit such analysis to be done with reasonable efficiency. Much information about the structures of types is present at compile-time, and we show that this information can be used to considerably reduce the work during execution. We illustrate our ideas in the context of a typed version of Prolog. We describe a modified representation for terms, new instructions and additional data areas that in conjunction with existing WAM structures suffice to implement this language. The nature of compiled code is illustrated through examples, and the kind of run-time overheads that are incurred for processing types is analyzed, especially in those cases where others have shown that type checking can be eliminated during execution. The ideas presented here are being used in an implementation of the higher-order language called @l Prolog.
Effect on Growth of Prolactin Deficiency Induced in Infant Mice

The effect of lowering PRL levels in blood during early infancy on subsequent growth and development was studied in mice. PRL was reduced by injecting either an antiserum raised against homologous PRL or a PRL-inhibiting drug, 2- chloro-6-methylergoline-8β-acetonitrile methanesulfonate (ergoline), into 4-day-old mice for a period of 4 or 5 days. Both the anti-PRL serum and ergoline rapidly killed some of the injected animals, but the effect of anti-PRL serum was much more severe than that of ergoline (39% vs. 8.7% mortality during the period of injection). Similar administration of an antiserum against mouse GH or the GH-inhibiting peptide somatostatin did not cause a significant number of deaths. The deaths from the anti-PRL serum largely ceased when the antiserum was neutralized with rat PRL (NIH-RP-1) before injection. The gain in body weight of baby mice was markedly retarded within 24 h of injecting anti-PRL serum and ergoline, in contrast to the anti-GH serum and somatostatin injections, which took ...
Sexual health E-courses available through the Archives for Sexology*

One of the promises of the World Wide Web was the dissemination of information. Nowhere is this promise more realized than the possibility of making accurate and balanced sexuality health education...
The Traveling Eye Photography, Tourism and Ethnography

This essay tells a tale of modern tourism, in which the tourist is seen as both alienated and culturally energized. The essay both addresses and uses photographs to explore the ironies of the tourist experience.
The Homogenizing of Minnesota Lake Fish Assemblages

Abstract The loss of unique fish assemblages in Minnesota lakes was evaluated by comparing species presence in historical and most-recent surveys of both stocked and unstocked lakes. Fish stocking resulted in greater species richness but reduced fish assemblage diversity among stocked lakes. No significant changes occurred among unstocked lakes. Short-term goals of additional fishing opportunities were partially achieved through stocking by creating more opportunities to fish for walleye in more lakes. However, the resulting loss of fish assemblage diversity within a local management area was apparently not considered. Fisheries managers should consider the potential for loss of community diversity and preserve unique fish communities where they still exist.
Correction for Absorption in Raman Measurements Using the Backscattering Geometry

Correction for sample absorption in resonance Raman measurements employing the backscattering geometry has been re-examined. A widely used procedure [see Appl. Spectrosc. 28, 319 (1974)] fails to provide adequate correction under most measurement conditions. A method which accounts for the effect of the transfer function of the collection optics is shown to provide excellent results for a variety of measurement conditions. The required calculations and a method for obtaining the optical transfer function are described. Measurements on solutions of a strongly absorbing azo dye with the use of 514.5-nm excitation have been used to test the approaches.
Ligation of RNA-containing duplexes by vaccinia DNA ligase.

Vaccinia virus DNA ligase repairs nicked duplex DNA substrates consisting of a 5‘-phosphate-terminated strand and a 3‘-hydroxyl-terminated strand annealed to a bridging template strand. This study ...
Breast cancer metastasis driven by ErbB2 and 14-3-3zeta: A division of labor.

Metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. ErbB2, a metastasis-promoting oncoprotein, is overexpressed in 50-60% of noninvasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). However, only 25% of invasive breast cancer (IBC) overexpress ErbB2, indicating that ErbB2 alone is not sufficient to drive metastasis and additional risk factors are necessary for the progression of ErbB2-overexpressing DCIS to IBC. A recent study published in Cancer Cell identified 14-3-3ξ as a risk factor aiding the transition of ErbB2-overexpressing DCIS into IBC. Furthermore, the study elucidated molecular mechanisms by which ErbB2 and 14-3-3ξ co-overexpression drives metastasis. Namely, ErbB2 promotes cell motility and migration via the activation of Src, while 14-3-3ξ induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition by activating TGFβ pathway to reduce cell adhesion. On the other hand, two studies recently published in the British Journal of Cancer and Oncogene provide mechanistic insight into how ErbB2 signalling is t...
Jordan's International Reserve Position: Justifiably Strong

Jordan has seen a large increase in its international reserve holdings in recent years. While a healthy reserve buffer is needed under a fixed exchange rate regime, determining optimal reserve levels is not straightforward. In this paper, we first use several traditional measures of reserves adequacy to compare Jordan's reserve holdings with other emerging market (EM) countries. Subsequently, we analyze Jordan's reserve holdings using a reserves-optimizing model, based on Jeanne and Ranciere (2006) (J-R), but extended to allow reserve holdings to influence the likelihood of a sudden stop. The overall analysis suggests that Jordan's reserve holdings provide sufficient support to sustain the dinar peg and to deal with the most extreme capital account disruptions.
Relation of β-casomorphin to apnea in sudden infant death syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the most common cause of death in infants and its pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial. The aim of this review is to summarize recent novel findings regarding the possible association of beta-casomorphin (beta-CM) to apnea in SIDS, which has not been widely appreciated by pediatricians and scientists. beta-CM is an exogenous bioactive peptide derived from casein, a major protein in milk and milk products, which has opioid activity. Mechanistically, circulation of this peptide into the infant's immature central nervous system might inhibit the respiratory center in the brainstem leading to apnea and death. This paper will review the possible relationship between beta-CM and SIDS in the context of passage of beta-CM through the gastrointestinal tract and the blood-brain barrier (BBB), permeability of the BBB to peptides in infants, and characterization of the casomorphin system in the brain.
Distorted Affective Communications in Abused/Neglected Infants and Their Potential Impact on Caretakers

Abstract This report explores the ways in which personality traits of the child may contribute to disturbances in caretaker-infant interaction and lead to abuse and neglect. Forty-eight abused and/or neglected infants were observed in a structured laboratory setting. Compared with normal infants observed in the same setting, the abused/neglected infants showed a variety of distorted affective communications which interfered with mutual engagement and/or elicited negative responses in caretakers. The distortions are described under six different headings: affective withdrawal, lack of pleasure, inconsistency and unpredictability, shallowness, ambivalence/ambiguity, and negative affective communications. Clinical vignettes are presented, and the implications for therapeutic work with caretakers are discussed.
Structure and Function of Fas/Fas Ligand

Fas is a member of the TNF receptor family, that contain 2-6 cysteine-rich domains (CRDs) in their extracellular regions, a single transmembrane domain and variably sized intracytoplasmic domains. Fas belongs to a subgroup of family members that have a "death domain" near the carboxy-terminal region of the molecule. This domain binds to adaptor molecules that transmit a death signal to the cell. Signal transduction is complex and involves caspases, ceramides and stress pathways. Fas ligand is biologically active as a homotrimer. Receptor binding has been localized to the C-terminus and a self-association motif to the N-terminus of the ligand extracellular domain. Expression of ligand in a functionally active form is highly regulated at the transcriptional level as well as by cleavage by metalloproteinases. Since Fas/Fas ligand delete activated cells in the peripheral immune system, defects in this pathway predispose to autoimmune disorders.