cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A composite index of lead effects. Comparative study of four occupational groups with different levels of lead absorption.

Biological indicators of lead effects on the central nervous system (CNS), hematogenous bone marrow, and kidney function as measured by performance tests, hemoglobin (Hgb) and BUN levels respectively were combined in an integrative index (INDEX). Such an index was calculated by removing age effects in measures of performance and kidney function and then transforming all the variables to Z (standard) units. The relationships between INDEX and biological indicators of lead exposure and absorption (Pb-B and ZPP) were studied in four groups: 191 non-lead exposed males (control group), 169 copper smelter workers, 133 autobody shop workers and 87 secondary lead smelter workers. We found that: 1) the magnitude of the correlation coefficient between INDEX and ZPP was much higher than were the correlations between the various single indicators of lead effects (performance test scores, Hgb, and BUN); and 2) the magnitude of the correlation coefficients was related to the degree of lead exposure and absorption (as reflected in distribution patterns of Pb-B and ZPP)) in each group. The concept of an integrative index of biological effects of lead is important for the evaluation of early manifestations of lead toxicity and also for the correct assessment of adverse health effects of lesser intensity than those characteristic for the classic picture of overt lead poisoning.
Influence of narcotic antagonist drugs upon nitrous oxide analgesia in mice.

Abstract Nitrous oxide produced a concentration-related suppression of phenylquinone-induced abdominal constriction in mice. This analgesic effect was significantly reduced (but not abolished) by systemic pretreatment with (−)-naloxone or naltrexone but not (+)-naloxone. Systemic pretreament with methylnaltrexone failed to appreciably influence nitrous oxide analgesia: however, methylnaltrexone, administered centrally, significantly attenuated the drug effect. Furthermore, nitrous oxide analgesia was significantly reduced by MR-2266 (which is relatively selective for κ-opioid receptors) but notby β-funaltrexamine (which is selective for μ-opioid receptors) at the doses employed in this study. These findings suggest that nitrous oxide analgesia might involve an activation of κ-opioid receptors in the central nervous system; however, a possible involvement of μ-opioid receptors is not absolutely precluded by this study.
Reconsidering Evidence of Tasmanian Fishing

Abstract For many years it has been accepted that prehistoric Tasmanians lost the ability to fish. This has led to the suggestion that small populations can become intellectually and culturally disadvantaged as a result of isolation and population size. This conclusion was based on assumptions regarding the value of fishing and on the significance of fish fauna found within archaeological contexts. A review of this issue suggests that fish remains from Tasmania are, instead, the result of primary butchering of juvenile seals at a few unique sites and that the prehistoric and ethnohistoric records are consistent. A framework is provided to test the contrasting interpretations.
Wire length prediction in constraint driven placement

Experiments show that lengths of individual wires are different for different placement algorithms. To achieve accurate wire length prediction, some knowledge of a placer's details is necessary. We postulate that wire length prediction should be coupled with placement flow to obtain accurate results. In this paper, we embed wire length prediction into our constraint-driven placer, developed in Fast Placer Implementation (FPI) framework [15]. We predict individual wire lengths during the clustering step. The predicted wire lengths act as constraints for the simulated annealing refinement stage, which guides the placement towards a solution fulfilling the predictions. Experimental results show that our wire length prediction process yields accurate results without quality loss at a small cost of placement effort. This is the first time that constraints have been used to guide placement and thus increase the accuracy of wire length prediction.
Using UML and agile development methodologies to teach object-oriented analysis & design tools and techniques

The world of software development and systems integration continues to evolve into an object-oriented (OO) based environment. The advent of new development platforms such as Microsoft's .Net and Sun's J2EE has accelerated the adoption rate of OO based tools and the object-oriented development paradigm. Tomorrow's workers need to be equipped to describe a world made up of objects - whether the objects are self created or inherited from an existing object framework. In addition to offering OO software development classes, educational institutions must also begin educating analysts to create informative models based on OO principles. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) has emerged as the standard for defining modeling principles and techniques. This paper describes our series of classes that teach students how to elicit requirements and turn them into analysis and design level artifacts based on the UML standard. The classes also teach and use a development methodology which is less methodical and more contingency (agile) based. We also introduce the students into the world of object patterns. Course models and examples of learning assessments are included. The paper also maps the learning outcomes from our classes to those purposed in the IS'97 model curriculum document adopted by ACM, AITP, and AIS.
Education as Growth: Life-Long Learning

wenty years ago, Horace Kallen wrote, "Adult education is today's frontier of education for the American people." That frontier was first defined by Henry Adams, who referred to a life devoted to lifelong adult education. John Dewey further refined that concept with the statement that education was "a preparation for life." Today, life-long learning is defined by Richard Peterson as the "conceptual framework for conceiving, planning, implementing, and coordinating activities designed to facilitate learning by all Americans throughout their lifetimes."
Language policy and the reconceptualization of religions as and in institutions

This special issue considers the diverse ways that the field of language policy intersects with the study of ‘‘lived religion’’: religious practices and imagination in ongoing, dynamic relations with the realities and structures of everyday life in particular times and places (Orsi 2002, p. xiii). In recent years, the idiom of lived religion has marked a clear departure from the binary distinctions of public/private, sacred/mundane, and institutional/individual to a closer analysis of the dialectical relationship between them (Bender 2003). For the field of language policy and planning, examining how individuals and groups conceptualize language(s), invest in their meanings, and use them to talk about and practice religion allows us to see how religious language policy is inherently connected to and penetrates everyday life. Such a perspective situates religious language policy as a form of cultural work and underscores the role of language ideologies in shaping what are considered legitimate practices, sanctioned ways of learning, and authentic theologies. Lived religion does not discount the influence that official religious institutions wield nor does it neglect organized religion; rather, it questions what counts as an institution and who decides. Governments, schools and religious establishments have traditionally been seen as sites for (especially top–down) language policy. But can families, with their implicit and explicit norms and expectations, be considered
In Vivo three-dimensional bioluminescence tomography of gene expression: Pilot results

We report on for the first time in vivo 3D bioluminescence tomography of gene expression based on our finite element reconstruction algorithm. The initial results obtained show that luciferase can be clearly detected .
Neurologic Presentations of Sarcoidosis

Neurosarcoidosis is a diagnostic consideration in diverse clinical settings. Efforts should be made to secure pathologic confirmation of systemic sarcoidosis ; only rarely is central nervous system (CNS) pathologic confirmation available. CNS infection and malignancy should be reasonably excluded before making a diagnosis of CNS sarcoidosis. Corticosteroid therapy alone may not be sufficient to treat neurosarcoidosis; adjunct immunosuppressive agents are increasingly used to achieve an optimal clinical outcome.
Acid-base effects on colonic electrolyte transport revisited

duction and colonic absorption of potential base have Colonic Effects on Acid-Base similar effects. These issues are discussed in detail elseBalance where. Nonvolatile fixed acids refer to those acids that The development of systemic acid-base disorders durmust be excreted by the kidney to maintain acid-base ing gastrointestinal disease is perhaps the most obvious balance. A major source of these acids is intermediary clinical evidence that systemic acid-base balance and cometabolism, which generates sulfuric, lactic, acetic, and lonic function are closely linked. The metabolic acidosis uric acids from dietary sulfur containing amino acids, or alkalosis of watery diarrhea are the most common glucose, triglycerides, and nucleoproteins, respectively. and significant of the metabolic derangements. Whether The diet also contains organic salts that may be absorbed metabolic acidosis or metabolic alkalosis results during and metabolized and thereby contribute to or detract diarrhea depends on three factors: (1) the relative decrease from the acid load generated by intermediary metaboin absorption and stool losses of potential acids and bases, lism. For this reason, they are referred to as potential (2) the relative importance of the exchange of unabsorbed acids and bases. small intestinal Na for cellular H ion in the colon Other important sources of potential acids and bases compared with the exchange of luminal Cl for cellular are unabsorbed dietary carbohydrates, fats, and proteins HCO3 , and (3) the presence of active colonic Cl and that can be metabolized by intestinal bacteria. In addiHCO3 0 secretion should the secretory process involve the tion, these anaerobic microorganisms metabolize luminal colon. The quantity per unit time of acid or base lost as urea that crosses the intestinal mucosa and glycoproteins a result of diarrhea will, of course, determine the severity that are present in mucus and shed intestinal cells. The of the acid-base abnormality. That is, the rate of loss metabolic products of these exogenous and endogenous must exceed the capacity of the kidney to excrete the substrates include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (potennet gain of acid or base. tial bases) and ammonium (potential acid). The SCFAs,
Flow characteristics of water in straight and serpentine micro-channels with miter bends

Abstract Flow characteristics of pressure-driven de-ionized water were investigated experimentally in straight and serpentine micro-channels with miter bends. The micro-channels had rectangular cross-sections with hydraulic diameters of 0.209 mm, 0.395 mm and 0.549 mm. To evaluate bend loss coefficient in the serpentine micro-channel and micro-scale size effect on it, the additional pressure drop due to the miter bend must be obtained. This additional pressure drop can be achieved by subtracting the frictional pressure drop in the straight micro-channel from the total pressure drop in the serpentine micro-channel. Since currently there still has a debate on the relationship between the friction factor and Re number in the straight micro-channel, the frictional pressure drop had to be obtained experimentally here. Three groups of micro-channels were fabricated to remove the inlet and outlet losses. The experimental results show that after considering the measurement uncertainties the experimental Poiseuille number can be well predicted by the conventional laminar incompressible flow theory when Re number is less than some value around 1500, the discrepancy observed by the former researchers can be attributed to not accounting for the additional pressure drop in the entrance region. The onset of transition to turbulence might be at 1500–1700. For serpentine micro-channels, the additional pressure drop can be divided into two regions. One is Re Re larger than some value in 100–200. At this time the circulation appears and develops at the inner and outer wall of the bend. The additional pressure drop increases sharply with Re number. The bend loss coefficient was observed to decrease and tend to be a constant with decreasing Re number. It is found to be larger than the predicted value for macro-channel turbulent flow and related with the channel size when flow separation appears, namely Re > 100–200.
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer Observations of the Evolution of Massive Star-forming Regions

We present the results of a mid-infrared survey of 11 outer Galaxy massive star-forming regions and 3 open clusters with data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). Using a newly developed photometric scheme to identify young stellar objects and exclude extragalactic contamination, we have studied the distribution of young stars within each region. These data tend to support the hypothesis that latter generations may be triggered by the interaction of winds and radiation from the first burst of massive star formation with the molecular cloud material leftover from that earlier generation of stars. We dub this process the "fireworks hypothesis" since star formation by this mechanism would proceed rapidly and resemble a burst of fireworks. We have also analyzed small cutout WISE images of the structures around the edges of these massive star-forming regions. We observe large (1-3 pc size) pillar and trunk-like structures of diffuse emission nebulosity tracing excited polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules and small dust grains at the perimeter of the massive star-forming regions. These structures contain small clusters of emerging Class I and Class II sources, but some are forming only a single to a few new stars.
(Z)-4-Tridecenal, a pheromonally active air oxidation product from a series of (Z,Z)-9,13 dienes inMacrocentrus grandii Goidanich (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

(Z)-4-Tridecenal was identified as a sex pheromone component ofMacrocentrus grandii, a larval parasitoid of the European corn borer. The aldehyde was found to be a common air oxidation product from a series of (Z,Z)-9,13-dienes of 27–33, 35, 37, 39, and 41 carbon atoms in female wasps. Synthetic (Z)-4-tridecenal and (Z,Z)-9,13-heptacosdiene each elicited flight initiation, upwind anemotaxis, casting, landing on the source, walking, wing fanning, and copulatory attempts by male wasps in a wind-tunnel. Field studies demonstrated that both compounds are synergized by a more polar component. Synthetic (E)-4-tridecenal was not attractive.
Glucocorticoids Downregulate Cyclooxygenase-1 Gene Expression and Prostacyclin Synthesis in Fetal Pulmonary Artery Endothelium via Activation of Endothelial Glucocorticoid Receptors ♦ 116

Prostacyclin is a key mediator of pulmonary vasomotor tone and lung function in the early postnatal period. We have previously demonstrated that its production in the ovine pulmonary vasculature rises markedly during early newborn life as a result of increasing expression of the constitutive isoform of cyclooxygenase (COX-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in prostacyclin synthesis. The postnatal rise in COX-1 gene expression may be due to the release of inhibition by glucocorticoids, since plasma glucocorticoid levels fall dramatically after birth and glucocorticoids decrease prostacyclin synthesis in certain nonpulmonary cell types. We therefore studied the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on COX-1 gene expression in fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC). Early passage ovine fetal PAEC were treated with 10-10 to 10-6M DEX for 24-48 h, and COX-1 mRNA expression was assessed using a semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. DEX caused a dose-related decrease in COX-1 mRNA expression that was evident by 24 h and maximal at 10-6M (50% inhibition). To determine how this affects PAEC function, prostacyclin synthesis was measured over 60 min in control and DEX-treated cells (10-8M for 48 h). In control cells, basal prostacyclin synthesis was 349±12 pg/well, and synthesis was readily stimulated by bradykinin (7-fold), by the calcium ionophore A23187 (9-fold), and by arachidonic acid (24-fold), each at 10-5M. DEX caused a 93% fall in basal prostacyclin production, and bradykinin- and A23187-stimulated prostacyclin were diminished 96% and 94%, respectively. Furthermore, prostacyclin synthesis from arachidonic acid fell 86% with DEX, all consistent with the downregulation in COX-1 expression. The glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 (10-6M) completely blocked the inhibitory effect of DEX. Thus, glucocorticoids downregulate COX-1 gene expression and prostacyclin synthesis in fetal PAEC through the activation of PAEC glucocorticoid receptors. Loss of this inhibitory effect may contribute to the postnatal rise in COX-1 gene expression in the pulmonary circulation, thereby optimizing the capacity for prostacyclin production in the newborn lung.
Overexpression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X‐ray studies of Vibrio cholerae EpsG

EpsG is the major pseudopilin protein of the Vibrio cholerae type II secretion system. An expression plasmid that encodes an N-terminally truncated form of EpsG with a C-terminal noncleavable His tag was constructed. Recombinant EpsG was expressed in Escherichia coli; the truncated protein was purified and crystallized by hanging-drop vapor diffusion against a reservoir containing 6 mM zinc sulfate, 60 mM MES pH 6.5, 15% PEG MME 550. The crystals diffracted X-rays to a resolution of 2.26 A and belonged to space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 88.61, b = 70.02, c = 131.54 A.
Polishing of pre-polished CVD ZnS flats with altered magnetorheological (MR) fluids

Magnetorheological (MR) fluid composition and chemistry were altered to study the finishing of pre-polished CVD ZnS flats. Surface roughness did not exceed 2 nm rms after removing as much as 2 ?m of material.
The sequence of the 5'-end of the rat CYP17 gene, the transcription initiation site and a comparison with the homologous genes of other species

A clone bearing the rat CYP17 gene has been isolated and the sequence determined for 417 nucleotides 5' to the translation start site. The sequence shows one difference, a G-C inversion, with that published by Zhang et al. (1992). A transcription initiation site has been located at position -41 relative to the translation start site; this confirms the location published by Nason et al. (1992) with the caveat of the G-C inversion, so that the transcription start site becomes G instead of C. Overall percent similarities of this sequence with those of bovine, human, pig and mouse show values of 58, 64, 65, and 82, respectively. Similar comparisons done for the cAMP-responsive sequences, CRS-1 and CRS-2 (Lund et al., 1990), show 42, 55, 47 and 95% similarities for CRS-1, and 56, 77, 71 and 90% for CRS-2. These comparisons suggest that the highly conserved rat and mouse gene sequences corresponding to the bovine CRS-1 and CRS-2 may be important for either negative regulation of this gene in the adrenal or positive regulation in the gonads of these two species.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbosacral Spine in Children with Chronic Constipation or Non-Retentive Fecal Incontinence: A Prospective Study

Objective To determine the prevalence of lumbosacral spine (LSS) abnormalities in children with defecation disorders, intractable constipation, or non-retentive fecal incontinence (NRFI) and evaluate whether LSS abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are clinically detected by neurologic examination. Study design MRI of the LSS and complete neurologic examination by a pediatric neurologist blinded to the MRI results were performed in patients with intractable defecation disorders. Results Patients with intractable constipation (n = 130; 76 males; median age, 11 years; range, 6-18 years), and patients with NRFI (n = 28; 18 males; median age, 10 years; range, 7-15 years) participated. One occult spina bifida (OSB) and 3 terminal filum lipomas were found in patients with a normal neurologic examination. One patient had a terminal filum lipoma and neurologic complaints. Gluteal cleft deviation was found in 3 of 4 patients with LSS abnormalities. Neurosurgical treatment was not required in any patient during the 12-week follow-up. Conclusions MRI showed LSS abnormalities in 3% of patients with defecation disorders and normal neurologic examination, all of whom reported symptom relief at the 12-week follow-up without neurosurgical intervention. Thus, whether or not LSS abnormalities play a role in defecation disorders remains unclear.
The Bookshelf and the Skirt: how a prop tool saved a character rigger

A prop distortion tool saves a TD's sanity on a rigging a characters skirt on the student film "Collectible."
Achieving equity and excellence: The role of school mental health providers in shrinking excellence gaps

The United States is becoming more racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse, yet the educational attainment of various student groups has been very uneven. For decades, educators and policy...
Species composition of bird communities and the conservation benefit of large versus small forests

Abstract Preservation of many species depends on the existence of parks and wildlife reserves that form islands of natural habitat. Isolated patches of forest provide habitat islands for many bird species in the heavily farmed region of east-central Illinois. Here we use data collected from 12 forest patches, ranging in size from 1·8 to 600 ha, to examine the benefit of two small reserves relative to a single large reserve. Observed and predicted species overlap values are used to determine whether one or two forest patches are more likely to support a greater number of species. Two reserves were more likely to support a greater species total. However, long-distance migrants and forest-interior species were poorly represented in small forests and a single large reserve was more likely to support greater species totals for these groups. The reverse was true for short-distance migrants and permanent residents.
Spatial and Temporal Control of Transgene Expression in Zebrafish

Transgenic zebrafish research has provided valuable insights into gene functions and cell behaviors directing vertebrate development, physiology, and disease models. Most approaches use constitutive transgene expression and therefore do not provide control over the timing or levels of transgene induction. We describe an inducible gene expression system that uses new tissue-specific zebrafish transgenic lines that express the Gal4 transcription factor fused to the estrogen-binding domain of the human estrogen receptor. We show these Gal4-ERT driver lines confer rapid, tissue-specific induction of UAS-controlled transgenes following tamoxifen exposure in both embryos and adult fish. We demonstrate how this technology can be used to define developmental windows of gene function by spatiotemporal-controlled expression of constitutively active Notch1 in embryos. Given the array of existing UAS lines, the modular nature of this system will enable many previously intractable zebrafish experiments.
Echocardiographic evidence of pericardial effusion in severe chronic pulmonary hypertension

Abstract We have frequently observed pericardial effusions in patients with severe chronic pulmonary hypertension. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed all echocardiographic data from 66 patients with chronic severe pulmonary hypertension for evidence of pericardial effusion and, if present, whether it was associated with particular hemodynamic characteristics.
The analysis of observed chaotic data in physical systems

Chaotic time series data are observed routinely in experiments on physical systems and in observations in the field. The authors review developments in the extraction of information of physical importance from such measurements. They discuss methods for (1) separating the signal of physical interest from contamination ("noise reduction"), (2) constructing an appropriate state space or phase space for the data in which the full structure of the strange attractor associated with the chaotic observations is unfolded, (3) evaluating invariant properties of the dynamics such as dimensions, Lyapunov exponents, and topological characteristics, and (4) model making, local and global, for prediction and other goals. They briefly touch on the effects of linearly filtering data before analyzing it as a chaotic time series. Controlling chaotic physical systems and using them to synchronize and possibly communicate between source and receiver is considered. Finally, chaos in space-time systems, that is, the dynamics of fields, is briefly considered. While much is now known about the analysis of observed temporal chaos, spatio-temporal chaotic systems pose new challenges. The emphasis throughout the review is on the tools one now has for the realistic study of measured data in laboratory and field settings. It is the goal of this review to bring these tools into general use among physicists who study classical and semiclassical systems. Much of the progress in studying chaotic systems has rested on computational tools with some underlying rigorous mathematics. Heuristic and intuitive analysis tools guided by this mathematics and realizable on existing computers constitute the core of this review.
Alkali Metal NMR Chemical Shielding as a Probe of Local Structure: An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Rb+ in Halide Lattices‖

When Rb+ is incorporated into different cubic halide lattices at very low concentrations, the 87Rb NMR chemical shift becomes more shielded by as much as 282 ppm when the cation is changed from Na+ to Cs+. Similarly, in mixed crystals of KCl and RbCl, the average resonance frequency shifts with the degree of incorporation. The 87Rb chemical shift data for each halide show a near-linear correlation with the average alkali metal−halide interionic distance in the different crystals studied, in good agreement with ab initio calculations which show that indeed the chemical shielding has a strong dependence on the nearest neighbor shell of halide anions and their distance from the Rb+. When the Rb concentration is increased as in KCl/RbCl solid solutions, the 87Rb NMR spectra are influenced by a large distribution of K/Rb configurations in the next-nearest-neighbor shell of 12 cations. While the total shift is still largely dependent on the Rb−Cl distance, shells containing both K and Rb atoms give rise to seco...
Epithelial cells respond to proteolytic and non-proteolytic detachment by enhancing interleukin-6 responses.

Intestinal inflammatory disease or infection often results in the loss of the epithelial layer as a result mainly of the action of proteases, including the leucocyte serine proteinases (neutrophil elastase), lysosomal cathepsins and the matrix metalloproteinases from recruited inflammatory cells. Previous studies have shown that bronchial or intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) can respond to proteolytic attack by producing cytokines. In this study, we have determined the effect of protease treatment on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production by IEC lines. Both neutrophil elastase and trypsin treatment induced elevated levels of mRNA for IL-6 in rat IEC-6 cells. Non-proteolytic detachment of the IEC-6 cells also induced elevated levels of IL-6 mRNA, suggesting that the effect was not caused by a specific protease or degradation product, but probably by an effect on cell shape or cell detachment. Similar results were seen with the IEC-18 cell line. Trypsin treatment of the IEC-6 cells also enhanced unstimulated and IL-1β costimulated IL-6 secretion, but not MCP-1 secretion or mRNA levels. Finally, nuclear levels of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β (C/EBP-β) were rapidly enhanced after proteolytic detachment of the IEC-6 cells, suggesting a mechanism for the enhancement of IL-6 mRNA responses. These data indicate that epithelial cells can respond to proteolytic attack or cell detachment by producing IL-6, a cytokine with several anti-inflammatory and antiprotease effects, which may be important in moderating the loss of the epithelial layer by its effects on nearby epithelial or inflammatory cells.
Surface topography and interactions between mouse peritoneal cells allowed to settle on an artificial substrate: observations by scanning electron microscopy.

Abstract Identical mouse peritoneal lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes incubated on VS Millipore filters have been identified by light microscopy and then studied by scanning electron microscopy. The surface of the lymphocyte is covered with varying numbers of microvilli, and it has very little interaction with the substrate. The spherical macrophage has a surface composed of several levels of tight ridges and folds which become more separated and even disappear as the cell spreads out. The mast cell has both long and short microvilli and folds spread unevenly over an undulating surface through which the impression of granules can frequently be seen. The surface of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte is thrown into ridges and elaborate ruffles and waves but is devoid of microvilli. Lymphocytes, macrophages, and mast cells that are within a certain distance (about 6 μ M ) of each other extend characteristic “direction-oriented processes” toward many of their nearest neighbors. These delicate projections arise from a roughly circular region of the cell circumference; they vary in length up to approximately 1.5 μ M and it is suggested that they are related to communication between these free cells that do not join together into a tissue.
Aggregation kinetics of alginate-coated hematite nanoparticles in monovalent and divalent electrolytes.

The early stage aggregation kinetics of bare and alginate-coated hematite nanoparticles are acquired through time-resolved dynamic light scattering (DLS). Varying concentrations of monovalent (NaCl) and divalent (MgCl2 and CaCl2) electrolytes are employed to induce aggregation. In the presence of NaCl and MgCl2, the alginate-coated hematite nanoparticles undergo aggregation through electrostatic destabilization as described by the classic Derjaguin−Landau−Verwey−Overbeek (DLVO) theory. This is ascertained through examination of the favorable and unfavorable regimes of the stability curves depicting the attachment efficiency as a function of salt concentration. Additional evidence may be found in the aggregation kinetics of alginate-coated particles, which, under favorable aggregation conditions, are reasonably close to that of bare hematite nanoparticles. However, in the presence of CaCl2, the aggregate growth rate of alginate-coated hematite nanoparticles is much higher than that which conventional diffu...
Enhanced delivery of molecules into cells using laser-induced stress waves

This study investigated the ability of laser-induced stress waves to enhance delivery of molecules into cells. Our experiment involved irradiating a thin layer of gel containing India ink at the tip of a capillary tube containing cells. The laser pulses (10 ns, 532 nm) deposited energy in the gel layer and generated intense stress waves which propagated into the capillary tube and affected the cells. The gel surface of irradiation was open to the air therefore the boundary condition was a free surface. The cell medium contained fluorescein attached to dextran of various molecular weights. After repeated laser pulses, the cells were collected on a glass slide and observed by fluorescence microscopy. Irradiated cells were observed to have taken up dye relative to unirradiated controls. The results indicate the ability of stress waves to enhance the uptake of large molecular weight reagents by cells.
Long-Term Effects of a Structured Life Review Process

This study examined the long-term effects of a structured life review process in a group of 52 homebound elderly clients. Subjects in three groups were tested three times on four dependent variables. At 8 weeks the experimental group, after receiving the life review process, showed significant gains on two dependent variables, life satisfaction and psychological well-being, with analyses of covariance of F = 11.52, p less than .0001 and F = 9.90, p less than .003, respectively. Two other dependent variables, depression and activities of daily living, demonstrated no significant change at the 8 weeks posttest. Retesting 35 survivors at 1 year revealed little significant change for any group. There was, however, an upward trend in the experimental group on the outcome measure of life satisfaction and a downward trend in all groups on measures of activities of daily living and depression.
Determination of Desmethyldiazepam in Plasma by Electron-Capture GLC: Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies of Clorazepate

Plasma desmethyldiazepam concentrations were quantitated by a rapid and sensitive technique using electron-capture GLC. Following addition of diazepam as the internal standard, plasma is extracted at physiological pH into benzene-isoamyl alcohol. The extract is evaporated to dryness and reconstituted with toluene-isoamyl alcohol prior to chromatography. Both diazepam and desmethyldiazepam are quantitatively extracted. The variation of identical samples is 5%, and the sensitivity is 5 ng of desmethyldiazepam/ml of original sample. The method is applicable to pharmacokinetic studies of clorazepate, a benzodiazepine derivative transformed to desmethyldiazepam prior to absorption.
Lignocellulose conversion and the future of fermentation biotechnology

Abstract The cost of many important fermentation products depends very strongly on the cost of the carbohydrate raw material. Even ‘high value' products are not immune from these effects. The future scope and importance of the fermentation biotechnology industry will therefore depend in large measure on the cost of its carbohydrate raw materials. Lignocellulose conversion offers the potential for less expensive fermentable sugars. Two crucial research and development objectives to realize this potential are: (1) integrated use of all of the components of the heterogeneous lignocellulosic material (the ‘biomass refinery' approach) and (2) the development of effective and economical pretreatments to increase the yield of glucose from cellulose hydrolysis.
BMP type II receptor regulates positioning of outflow tract and remodeling of atrioventricular cushion during cardiogenesis

Signaling of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) via type I and type II receptors is involved in multiple processes contributing to cardiogenesis. To investigate the role of the BMP type II receptor (BMPRII) in heart development, the BMPRII gene was deleted throughout the embryo during gastrulation using a Mox2-Cre transgene. BMPRIIflox/−;Mox2-Cre mice exhibited cardiac defects including double-outlet right ventricle, ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrioventricular (AV) cushion defects, and thickened valve leaflets. To characterize the tissue-specific functions of BMPRII in cardiogenesis, a series of Cre transgenes (αMHC-, Tie2-, Wnt1-, and SM22α-Cre) was employed. Interestingly, myocardial development was normal when the BMPRII gene was deleted in myocardial cells using Mox2-Cre, αMHC-Cre, or SM22α-Cre transgenes, suggesting that signaling by other BMP type II receptors may compensate for the absence of BMPRII in the myocardial cells. AV cushion defects including atrial septal defect, membranous VSD, and thickened valve leaflets were found in BMPRIIflox/−;Tie2-Cre mice. Abnormal positioning of the aorta was observed in BMPRIIflox/−;Wnt1-Cre and BMPRIIflox/−;SM22α-Cre mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate that endocardial BMPRII expression is required for septal formation and valvulogenesis. Moreover, mesenchymal BMPRII expression in the outflow tract cushion is required for proper positioning of the aorta.
Multifunctional integration of thin-film silicon solar cells on carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

Multifunction integration of solar cells in load-bearing structures can enhance overall system performance by reducing parasitic components and material redundancy. The article describes a manufacturing strategy, named the co-curing scheme, to integrate thin-film silicon solar cells on carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites and eliminate parasitic packaging layers. In this scheme, an assembly of a solar cell and a prepreg is cured to form a multifunctional composite in one processing step. The photovoltaic performance of the manufactured structures is then characterized under controlled cyclic mechanical loading. The study finds that the solar cell performance does not degrade under 0.3%-strain cyclic tension loading up to 100 cycles. Significant degradation, however, is observed when the magnitude of cyclic loading is increased to 1% strain. The present study provides an initial set of data to guide and motivate further studies of multifunctional energy harvesting structures.
Adjusting the estimated proportion of breast cancer cases associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations: Public health implications

Purpose: Mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increase breast cancer risk. Assuring reliability of information about these mutations is increasingly important to the health care community; mutation testing is becoming more widespread. We describe a methodology for assessing such information. Methods: Our approach integrates four interdependent epidemiologic parameters: (1) the probability of developing breast cancer, (2) the proportion of breast cancer cases with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, (3) the proportion of women that carries a mutation, and (4) the proportion of women with a mutation that develops cancer. We assess the plausibility of estimates of these parameters from published reports and commonly accessed information sources. Results: Assuming a fixed probability of developing breast cancer, the following estimates for the other three epidemiologic parameters are derived for women by age 70: 1% to 2% of all breast cancer cases are associated with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation; 1 in 300 to 1 in 465 women carry a mutation; and 35 to 65% of mutation carriers develop breast cancer. Within these ranges, however, only selected combinations are plausible. The proportion of mutation-related breast cancer is lower than listed in some common information sources (1 to 2% vs 6%). Also, penetrance is somewhat lower and the carrier rate somewhat higher. Conclusions: The four epidemiologic parameters can be integrated to test their plausibility. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are associated with only one-third as many breast cancer cases in the general population as reported by commonly accessed information sources.
Escargots through time : an energetic comparison of marine gastropod assemblages before and after the Mesozoic Marine Revolution

The modern structure of marine benthic ecosystems was largely established during the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous (200-100 Ma), a transition that has been termed the Mesozoic Marine Revolution (MMR). Although it has been suggested that the MMR marks an increase in the average energy consumption of marine animal ecosystems, this hypothesis has not been evaluated quantitatively. In this study, we integrate body size and abundance data from the fossil record with physiological data from living representatives to estimate mean per capita metabolic rates of tropical to subtropical assemblages of shallow-marine gastropods—a major component of marine ecosystems throughout the Meso-Cenozoic—both before and after the MMR. We find that mean per capita metabolic rate rose by ,150% between the Late Triassic and Late Cretaceous and remained relatively stable thereafter. The most important factor governing the increase in metabolic rate was an increase in mean body size. In principle, this size increase could result from secular changes in sampling and taphonomic biases, but these biases are suggested to yield decreases rather than increases in mean size. Considering that post-MMR gastropod diversity is dominated by predators, the net primary production required to supply the energetic needs of the average individual increased by substantially more than 150%. These data support the hypothesis that benthic energy budgets increased during the MMR, possibly in response to rising primary productivity.
The effects of contextual threat and anxiety on affective startle modulation.

Abstract The startle reflex is attenuated and potentiated when participants are viewing pleasant and unpleasant images, respectively. Research demonstrates that threatening contexts also potentiate startle, but it remains unclear how a threatening context might impact startle modulation to emotional images, especially as a function of trait anxiety. The present study measured startle reactivity while 43 participants viewed pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral images across conditions of threat-of-shock and safety (i.e., no shock). Compared to neutral images, startle was potentiated during unpleasant images and attenuated during pleasant images. Threat-of-shock potentiated startle during all picture types, suggesting that threat-of-shock broadly sensitized the defensive system but did not change affective modulation of startle. Lastly, higher levels of trait anxiety were associated with less startle potentiation during unpleasant images across both conditions—a finding in line with previous research demonstrating deficient threat mobilization in response to unpleasant stimuli among highly anxious individuals.
PEROXIDASE REACTIONS AND ORANGE JUICE QUALITY

Representative samples of fresh orange juice (OJ) with various flavor scores were assayed for peroxidase activity. In thk assays, pphenyl-enediamiue (PPDA), the hydrogen donor, was oxidized by H2 O2 after a short time lag (about 1 min) caused by interaction of ascorbic acid in the juice with a PPDA-oxidation intermediate. A search was made for compounds that are native substrates of OJ peroxidase. Thus, the peroxidase activity of a protein fraction precipitated from neutralized OJ with ammonium sulfate and dialyzed free of ascorbic acid was tested with H2O2 and a number of hydrogen donor compounds that are normal juice constituents. Ascorbic acid was very reactive, as were the phenolic acids (caffeic, gentisic and coumaric). The flavonoids, criodic-tyol, hesperidin and naringin were unreactive. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was also reactive in the presence of hydroquinone and other compounds that mediate electron transfer through intermediate states. The dialyzed protein fraction also catalyzed the oxidation of pyridoxal-PO4, indoleacetic acid. dihvdroxv-maleic acid, and NADH + p-cresol by O2 plus Mn++. Although OJ appears to contain many compounds that are reactive with peroxidase, their reactivities in OJ are apparently very slow due to the level of H2 O2. Concentrations of ascorbic and caffeic acids did not change in OJ incubated at 30°C for 4 hr. Processing conditions that increased peroxidase activity and pulp content in OJ decreased quality of the juice.
Hydrographic relations between the so‐called Gulf Stream and the Gulf Of Mexico

The following is an abbreviated report on hydrographic observations in the Gulf of Mexico. A full account of the investigations will be published shortly as Bulletin of the Bingham Oceanographic Collection, Volume 5, Article 1. Previous to 1932, only a few temperature-sections through the Gulf of Mexico were available, but there was no record of any general oceanographic survey, combining temperature-observations with determinations of the chemical properties of the water-masses. To supply this want, an oceanographic expedition to the Gulf of Mexico was sent out by Yale University during the winter of 1932, under the auspices of the Bingham Oceanographic Foundation, on the schooner Mabel Taylor, with the cooperation of its owner, Mr. Drayton Cochran.
Instrumentation and First Results of the Reflected Solar Demonstration System for the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory

The Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) mission key goals include enabling observation of high accuracy long-term climate change trends, use of these observations to test and improve climate forecasts, and calibration of operational and research sensors. The spaceborne instrument suites include a reflected solar spectroradiometer, emitted infrared spectroradiometer, and radio occultation receivers. The requirement for the RS instrument is that derived reflectance must be traceable to Sl standards with an absolute uncertainty of <0.3% and the error budget that achieves this requirement is described in previo1L5 work. This work describes the Solar/Lunar Absolute Reflectance Imaging Spectroradiometer (SOLARIS), a calibration demonstration system for RS instrument, and presents initial calibration and characterization methods and results. SOLARIS is an Offner spectrometer with two separate focal planes each with its own entrance aperture and grating covering spectral ranges of 320-640, 600-2300 nm over a full field-of-view of 10 degrees with 0.27 milliradian sampling. Results from laboratory measurements including use of integrating spheres, transfer radiometers and spectral standards combined with field-based solar and lunar acquisitions are presented. These results will be used to assess the accuracy and repeatability of the radiometric and spectral characteristics of SOLARIS, which will be presented against the sensor-level requirements addressed in the CLARREO RS instrument error budget.
Comparing theoretical and experimental backbone-dependent sidechain conformational preferences for linear, branched, aromatic and polar residues

Abstract An Ecepp-3 conformational study based on a φ-ψ grid search with sidechain minimization was carried out on the N-acetyl N′-methyl amides of four representative amino acids: Met, Phe, Ile, and Ser, and the distribution of ξ 1 backbone-dependent rotamer preferences was compared with the similar distribution obtained from the backbone-dependent rotamer library for proteins developed by Dunbrack and Karplus (J. Mol. Biol. 230 (1993) 543). The experimental distribution is best reproduced theoretically in the case of the linear sidechain of Met, reasonably well for the bulky sidechains of the aromatic Phe and asymmetrically β-branched Ile, and only partially for the short polar sidechain of Ser. In the case of the Ser dipeptide the difference is accounted for by the missing H bonds.
African American Fathers Focus on the Family: A Group Approach to Increasing Visibility in Research

ABSTRACT African American men have virtually been ignored in the family literature. This paper challenges the misperception that African American men are not interested or actively involved in family issues. In an effort to increase visibility among African American men in the literature, barriers to research participation are explored and strategies to overcome these obstacles are discussed. An example of a study which successfully recruited African American men to participate in research groups is provided. The preparatory phase is identified as a very significant determinant of the group outcome. This study supports a group approach to research with African American men.