cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining Students’ Online Course Perceptions and Comparing Student Performance Outcomes in Online and Face-to-Face Classrooms

Through the use of existing grade and student survey data, this study investigated online courses offered at a public four-year university. Specifically, the study explored differences in student success rates between online and face-to-face courses for traditional undergraduate students as well as the climate of student perceptions towards online courses. Our general results suggest that students performed better in, and had higher levels of preference toward, traditional face-to-face formats. However, overall perceptions of online courses were positive, with students viewing instructional technologies as reliable and easy to use, as well as reporting that online technologies facilitated prompt feedback, enhanced their problem-solving skills, and met their learning needs. Alongside this, students exhibited positive views towards their instructors’ skill level and use of technology to support academic success. Logistic regression analyses of differences in student success across instructional formats revealed interaction effects with variables of age (nontraditional/traditional), aid status and whether or not courses were taken to fulfill general education or major requirements, suggesting a more complex effect of instructional format across student subpopulations. The variability in the results observed in the current study warrant further exploration before definitive conclusions on the impact of instructional format on student outcomes and perceptions can be made.
Minimal artifact actively shimmed metallic needles in MRI.

PURPOSE Signal voids caused by metallic needles pose visualization and monitoring challenges in many MRI applications. In this work, we explore a solution to this problem in the form of an active shim insert that fits inside a needle and corrects the field disturbance (ΔB0 ) caused by the needle outside of it. METHODS The ΔB0 induced by a 4 mm outside-diameter titanium needle at 3T is modeled and a two-coil orthogonal shim set is designed and fabricated to shim the ΔB0 . Signal recovery around the needle is assessed in multiple orientations in a water phantom with four different pulse sequences. Phase stability around the needle is assessed in an ex-vivo porcine tissue dynamic gradient echo experiment with and without shimming. Additionally, heating of the shim insert is assessed under 8 min of continuous operation with 1A current and concurrent imaging. RESULTS An average recovery of ~63% of lost signal around the needle across orientations is shown with active shimming with a maximum current of 1.172 A. Signal recovery and correction of the underlying ΔB0 is shown to be independent of imaging sequence. Needle-induced phase gradients outside the perceptible signal void are also minimized with active shimming. Temperature rise of up to 0.9° Celsius is noted over 8 min of continuous 1A active shimming operation. CONCLUSION A sequence independent method for minimization of metallic needle induced signal loss using an active shim insert is presented. The method has potential benefits in a range of qualitative and quantitative interventional MRI applications.
Loop Models with Crossings in 2D

It is tempting to think that two-dimensional critical phenomena are completely classified and understood, thanks to conformal field theory and other exact techniques, but this is far from true.
Serum bile acids concentration in captive black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)

This study was conducted in order to determine serum bile acids concentration in captive black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Sixteen healthy intact prairie dogs of both sexes were studied as part of an overall clinical health evaluation performed under general isoflurane anesthesia. Each animal underwent a complete physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, whole body radiology, and cardiographic examination. Blood samples were collected from the Jugular vein and submitted for a serum bile acids analysis. The mean and median serum bile acids concentration for the black-tailed prairie dog in this study was 12.5 μmol/L (min = 2 μmol/L, max = 24 μmol/L). The data presented in this report can promote better physiological understanding and improve clinical management of this rodent species.
-adic Geometry: Lectures from the 2007 Arizona Winter School

Non-archimedean analytic geometry: first steps by V. Berkovich Several approaches to non-archimedean geometry by B. Conrad The $p$-adic upper half plane by S. Dasgupta and J. Teitelbaum An introduction to Berkovich analytic spaces and non-archimedean potential theory on curves by M. Baker $p$-adic cohomology: from theory to practice by K. S. Kedlaya.
Memory considerations for high performance SIMD systems with on-chip control

Although arrays of SIMD PEs can be built with very high operating frequencies, problems exist in keeping the array busy. The inherent mismatch between host and array makes it difficult to maintain high array utilization: either the rate of instruction issue is very low or PE data locality is compromised, having the same effect. Our solution is based on an array control unit (ACU) design that expands macroinstructions in two stages, first by data tile and then into microinstructions. The expansion itself solves the issue problem; decoupling the expansion modalities maintains data locality. Several issues involving host/ACU interaction need to be resolved to effect this solution. We present experimental results showing that our approach delivers substantial improvement in memory hierarchy performance: a cache of only one fourth the size is sufficient to achieve the same performance as previous approaches
Elder Abuse: Policy and Procedure

This article describes how elder abuse has been conceptualized and defined in public policy at the state and national levels. It focuses on the development of abuse reporting laws, criminal and civil remedies, services to prevent abuse and treat its effects, and the use of multidisciplinary teams. It further describes such complexities as evaluating and defining cognitive capacity and undue influence in policy and practice. Keywords: mandatory reporting; multidisciplinary teams; capacity; undue influence; elder justice
Value Judgments and Efficiency in Publicly Supported Research

This paper is concerned only with research that is intended to guide, influence, or illuminate public policy choices. As professionals, we economists exhibit an unfortunate contradiction in values. Economists insist on making value judgments because they are needed to do research on public policy issues, and, simultaneously, insist on not discussing them, thereby keeping ourselves ignorant about what we are doing.
Gads−/− Mice Reveal Functionally Distinct Subsets of TCRβ+ CD4−CD8− Double-Negative Thymocytes

TCRbeta expression in CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative (DN) thymocytes induces signaling pathways that promote survival and proliferation, as well as differentiation into CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive thymocytes. The signaling pathways that regulate survival, proliferation, and differentiation remain unclear. We used Gads-deficient mice to investigate the signaling pathways that regulate these cell fates. During this investigation, we focused on TCRbeta(+) DN thymocytes and found that there are at least three functionally distinct subsets of TCRbeta(+) DN thymocytes: TCRbeta(+) DN3E, TCRbeta(+) DN3L, and TCRbeta(+) DN4. Survival and proliferation of TCRbeta(+) DN3E were independent of Gads, but survival and proliferation of TCRbeta(+) DN3L cells were Gads dependent. Likewise, expression of Bcl-2 in TCRbeta(+) DN3E cells was Gads independent, but Gads was necessary for Bcl-2 expression in TCRbeta(+) DN3L cells. Bcl-2 expression was not dependent on Gads in TCRbeta(+) DN4 cells, but proliferation of TCRbeta(+) DN4 cells was Gads dependent. Gads was not required for the differentiation of DN thymocytes into DP thymocytes. In fact, Gads(-/-) DN3E cells differentiated into DP thymocytes more readily than wild-type cells. We conclude that signaling pathways required to initiate TCRbeta-induced survival and proliferation are distinct from the pathways that maintain survival and proliferation. Furthermore, signaling pathways that promote survival and proliferation may slow differentiation.
An N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase from Human Blood Group A Plasma II. KINETIC AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract An N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase has been purified over 1,000-fold from human plasma of blood group A individuals. The enzyme catalyzes the transfer of N-acetylgalactosamine from UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine only to glycoprotein and oligosaccharide acceptors which have blood group H activity. Using O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-d-glucopyranose (2'-fucosyllactose) as the acceptor, the product formed co-chromatographed with an authentic blood group A oligosaccharide produced from 2'-fucosyllactose. The Km value for UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine was 4.6 x 10-5 m and for 2'-fucosyllactose was 9 x 10-5 m. The enzyme has a molecular weight between 80,000 and 95,000.
Qualitative comparison of visual models in an iterative halftoning procedure

Visual models are increasingly being incorporated in digital halftoning algorithms. In order to select the most appropriate visual model, it is important to gain an understanding of the visual effects of the different visual models on the halftone output. This work compares the effects of two single-channel visual models on halftone output by using an iterative technique that explicitly shapes the quantization error in the Fourier domain. By operating on the spectrum of the quantization error, we are able to directly apply a frequency sensitivity visual model as an error-spectrum shaping function. Our results clearly indicate that a low-pass visual model produces better quality halftones than a conventional contrast sensitivity function model. In addition, we introduce an image adaptive method for shaping the spectrum in a way that preserves perceptually important high frequencies without sacrificing the desirable effects of visual model based constraints.
Ultra-Lightweight Structures and Space Observatories thrust area

The Ultra-Lightweight Structures and Space Observatories thrust area is an element of NASA's Cross Enterprise Technology Development Program that develops revolutionary technology in structures, materials, and optical systems to enable new visions of the Earth and the Universe, and to expand the frontiers of exploration with lower cost and more capable spacecraft.
Carbon suboxide polymer, an explanation for the wave of darkening on Mars

The carbon suboxide thermal polymer or its irradiated product is affected by water vapor. The polymerized carbon suboxide simulates the Martian wave of darkening on the inner wall of a glass tube when humidified by passage of water vapor through the tube. The polymer was visibly darkened by the advancing vapor front. With increasing polymer thickness and/or water vapor concentration the wave of darkening similarly intensifies simulating the dark fringe in the Martian circumpolar areas. Surfaces are lightened constantly being renewed by particulate material settling from the atmosphere. It is hypothesized that light and dark areas have polymer coatings, but light areas have small particles which scatter white light more effectively and appear brighter on the surface of Mars.
Ancient Roots Forced into Modern Pots

Lost Discoveries . The Ancient Roots of Modern Science --from the Babylonians to the Maya. Dick Teresi. Simon and Schuster, New York, 2002. 463 pp. $27, C$41. ISBN 0-684-83718-8. Writing for a popular audience, Teresi offers an account of the contributions of non-Western societies to modern science.
Multi-Level Distributed Real-Time Simulation Based On The Tmo Modeling

Real-time simulation is the mode of simulation in which the simulation objects show the timing behavior that are the same as or similar to the timing behavior of the simulation targets. The author has been establishing a new approach called the distributed time-triggered simulation (DTS) scheme which is conceptually simple and easy to use but widely applicable. The concept was initiated in the course of developing a new-generation object-oriented (OO) real-time programming scheme called the time-triggered message-triggered object (TMO) programming scheme. The TMO, which is a real-time extension of the well-established object structure, is capable of uniformly and accurately representing both real-time embedded computer systems and application environments. This paper discusses the core techniques of the DTS scheme that have been refined recently as well as those of TMO modeling. Implementation issues relevant to the efficiency of the distributed real-time simulation are also discussed.
Validation of a novel transgenic mouse model for the isolation of endothelial-specific transcripts by ribonucleoprotein (RNP) tagging

B8 Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is required for the progression of proliferative diseases such as cancer. The identification of angiogenesis as a “common denominator” in society’s most important diseases has lead to a widespread effort to define the molecular mechanisms that regulate the growth, remodeling, and maintenance of new blood vessels. Studying the abnormalities of the tumor vasculature will guide the development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents that directly target cancer. Additionally, selectively identifying markers of pathological angiogenesis is critical in order to avoid potential side effects caused by targeting general angiogenic processes. We have developed a novel ribonucleoprotein (RNP) technology that enables the isolation of tumor endothelium-specific mRNAs from bulk tumor and host tissues. The RNP-tag is an engineered RNA-binding protein, PABP (Poly A binding protein) that binds almost all actively translated mRNAs within a cell. The PABP is tagged with an engineered epitope to enable specific co-immunoprecipitation of all tagged PABP complexes within a tissue sample. Specific expression of the RNP-tag using the Tie2 endothelium-specific promoter in transgenic mice ensures that RNP-tag is expressed only within the vascular endothelium of any transgenic tissue. Addition of tag-specific antibodies to a total tissue extract from a tumor formed in a transgenic mouse therefore enables the robust enrichment of tumor endothelium mRNAs. The enriched mRNAs can be read out using a number of sensitive analytic methods, including RNAse protection assay, quantitative real-time PCR, microarrays, and deep sequencing approaches. We present here the construction and validation of a transgenic mouse expressing FLAG-tagged PABP under the control of the Tie2 promoter. Our preliminary data show that in our transgenic mouse model, FLAG-tagged PABP is expressed specifically in the vascular endothelium. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR and microarray analyses indicate that mRNA recovered with this technology will enable both global and targeted gene expression studies of tumor versus normal endothelium. Since tumor endothelial cells are involved in the complex cross-talk that takes place among the varied cell types comprising a tumor, it is essential that they are investigated within the context of their native environment and that their transcriptional messages are evaluated in a robust manner. The RNP-tag platform represents a specific and efficient tool that can be used to discover changes in vascular endothelial gene expression. We anticipate use of the technology to identify novel vascular addresses that could significantly improve cancer diagnostics, therapeutics and imaging.
Are Investment Managers Selecting Styles or Securities? A New Look at the Data

Many studies throughout the past years have questioned the performance of actively-managed mutual fund performance and have generally attributed out-performance due to luck rather than skill. In this study, we take a new look at the data by analyzing returns of mutual funds and hedge funds in the U.S. We calculate the alphas for each fund relative to the CAPM and Fama-French 4-Factor models, and also relative to a self-created Quantitative Equity model. The results are suggestive of the existence of skilled managers, but conclusions must be tempered by potential data issues and the possible existence of survivor-bias.
Evolution of Social Behavior by Reciprocation

Abstract A general model is presented for the evolution of social behavior by reciprocation. The results of our model apply to social traits which are transmitted from one generation to the next by a process which guarantees that the frequency of the trait in one generation is directly related to its fitness in the preceding generation. The basic parameters of the model are α, the number of interactions per generation, and β, the number of these interactions which are with individuals who are perceived as strangers. It is shown that so long as α/β can be made large, social reciprocation may increase when arbitrarily rare even in the absence of population structure. This conclusion appears to be at odds with several recent investigations of Axelrod & Hamilton (1981) and Boorman & Levitt (1980). We use our model to reconcile these various approaches. By casting Axelrod & Hamilton's (1981) single-partner model in terms of the general parameters, α and β, we show that social reciprocation can increase when arbitrarily rare in a homogeneous population dominated by non-cooperators. Using a gene frequency approach, Boorman & Levitt (1973, 1980) demonstrated the existence of a selection threshold in frequency of the social trait, which must be surmounted for social reciprocation to increase. We show our analysis of reciprocation to be consistent with Boorman and Levitt's result, since for our general model the cost to the social individuals of learning the non-social's identity goes to zero as the ratio α/β gets large. We also use our general model to study two multi-partner models not considered elsewhere, which differ in regards to the memory capabilities assigned to the organism. Finally we use our model to compare directly the evolution of social behavior by reciprocation with the main alternate hypothesis, kin selection. We show that an act which accrues some cost −c to the fitness of the donor while benefiting a recipient by b, will increase in frequency so long as c/b
Inhibition of the Na+glucose cotransporter functional lysyl residues by 4-(4-methoxy-3-sulfophenyl)-2,6-bis(4-sulfophenyl)pyrylium

Pyrylium salts react exclusively with the ϵ-amino group of lysyl moieties and display a degree of selectivity exceeding all other known amino group reagents. This study represents the first use of a pyrylium salt in positively identifying the functional role of lysyl residues in a biologically active molecule, the Na+glucose cotransporter protein. We synthesized a hydrophilic pyrylium salt, 4-(4-methoxy-3-sulfophenyl)-2,6-bis(4-sulfophenyl)pyrylium perchlorate, which formed a stable pyridinium cation upon reaction with Nα-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester. This pyrylium inhibited Na+glucose cotransporter activity in purified brush border membranes, in a concentration-dependent manner. The data unequivocally establish that critical lysyl residues are responsible for the activity of the membrane-bound glucose cotransporter protein.
Maternal Thimerosal Exposure Results in Aberrant Cerebellar Oxidative Stress, Thyroid Hormone Metabolism, and Motor Behavior in Rat Pups; Sex- and Strain-Dependent Effects

Methylmercury (Met-Hg) and ethylmercury (Et-Hg) are powerful toxicants with a range of harmful neurological effects in humans and animals. While Met-Hg is a recognized trigger of oxidative stress and an endocrine disruptor impacting neurodevelopment, the developmental neurotoxicity of Et-Hg, a metabolite of thimerosal (TM), has not been explored. We hypothesized that TM exposure during the perinatal period impairs central nervous system development, and specifically the cerebellum, by the mechanism involving oxidative stress. To test this, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) or Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat dams were exposed to TM (200 μg/kg body weight) during pregnancy (G10-G15) and lactation (P5-P10). Male and female neonates were evaluated for auditory and motor function; cerebella were analyzed for oxidative stress and thyroid metabolism. TM exposure resulted in a delayed startle response in SD neonates and decreased motor learning in SHR male (22.6%), in SD male (29.8%), and in SD female (55.0%) neonates. TM exposure also resulted in a significant increase in cerebellar levels of the oxidative stress marker 3-nitrotyrosine in SHR female (35.1%) and SD male (14.0%) neonates. The activity of cerebellar type 2 deiodinase, responsible for local intra-brain conversion of thyroxine to the active hormone, 3',3,5-triiodothyronine (T3), was significantly decreased in TM-exposed SHR male (60.9%) pups. This coincided with an increased (47.0%) expression of a gene negatively regulated by T3, Odf4 suggesting local intracerebellar T3 deficiency. Our data thus demonstrate a negative neurodevelopmental impact of perinatal TM exposure which appears to be both strain- and sex-dependent.
Theoretical analysis of the porphyrin-porphyrin exciton interaction in circular dichroism spectra of dimeric tetraarylporphyrins.

Chiral bis-porphyrins are currently the subject of intense interest as chiral receptors and as probes in the determination of structure and stereochemistry. To provide an improved framework for interpreting the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of bis-porphyrins, we have calculated the CD spectra of chiral bis-porphyrins from three classes: I, where porphyrins can adopt a relatively wide range of orientations relative to each other; II, porphyrins have a fixed relative orientation; III, porphyrins undergo π-stacking. The calculations primarily utilized the classical polarizability theory of DeVoe, but were supplemented by the quantum mechanical matrix method. Class I was represented by three isomers of the diester of 5α-cholestane-3,17-diol with 5-(4‘-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphin (2-αβ, 2-βα, 2-ββ). Careful analysis of the torsional degrees of freedom led to two to four minimum-energy conformers for each isomer, in each of which the phenyl−porphyrin bonds had torsional angles near 90°. Libratio...
Orbital Eccentricity of Mercury and the Origin of the Moon

The results of some recent work conducted by Anderson (1972) are considered. If Anderson is correct in his conclusion that the bulk composition of the moon resembles that of the Allende inclusions, then the natural place for the formation of the moon in the solar system is inside the orbit of Mercury, through planetary accumulation from the condensed material to be found there. This explains the anomalous large eccentricity of the orbit of Mercury.
Amino acid starvation in an Escherichia coli auxotroph II. Acid-soluble purine and pyrimidine derivatives in normal and starved cells

1. 1. The acid-soluble purine and pyrimidine compounds of a leucine auxotroph of E. coli K12 have been fractionated of Dowex-2 formate, followed by paper chromatography and electrophoresis. 2. 2. The acid-soluble fraction contains large amounts of free hypoxanthine and uracil, as well as nucleotide co-enzymes and some nucleoside di- and tri-phosphates, but has only very small amounts of nucleoside monophosphates. Derivatives of adenine and uracil predominate. 3. 3. Leucine starvation increases the concentrations of most but not all of the bases and nucleotides. No new nucleotide compounds have been found in starved cells.
Quality of chronic pain websites.

Background. The Web not only can play a role in helping patients learn about their chronic pain, but can also be a source of misleading or untrue information. This study evaluates the quality of Internet information available concerning chronic pain at different sites, and determines the relation between quality and the source and character of the Websites. Methods. A survey was conducted of patients seen at the Pain Management Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). Patients with access to the Internet identified the five most common keywords they used to look up information: pain, chronic pain, back pain, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. A focus group of pain clinicians at DHMC then chose the quality criteria to evaluate Websites. The criteria consisted of 16 items in five domains: etiology, diagnosis, goals of treatment, treatment options, and substance abuse. The first two pages of links displayed by each of three major search engines then were assessed for quality. Results. A total of 240 Websites were evaluated. The mean score, the Quality Website Index (QWI), was 2.17 (SD = 3.3), (range from −16 [poorest] to +16 [best]). The overall quality of this group of Websites is rather poor, although there were several excellent sites. Websites located on the main search page had a significantly higher score than those in the sponsored section, and Websites based on standards had a significantly higher score than those that were not. Conclusion. Based on QWI scores, clinicians can recommend chronic pain Websites to provide their patients with accurate and pertinent information.
Late-formed metaphloem sieve-elements in Zea mays L

Late-formed metaphloem sieve-elements in the vascular bundles of the leaf and pedicels of Zea differ from the typical sieve elements by having thicker cell walls and larger, elongate plastids. The plastids contain a quasi-crystalline structure which is different from that observed in the spherical plastids of sieve elements of other monocotyledons.
Dust formation and evolution in a Ca–Fe–SiO–H2–O2 vapour phase condensation experiment and astronomical implications

Here, we report on a kinetically controlled vapour phase condensation experiment using a low-calcium Ca―Fe―SiO―H 2 ―O 2 vapour. Under these conditions of extreme disequilibrium, the condensate properties become predictable. They are amorphous solids with (predictable) deep metastable eutectic compositions. This study also shows how chemical evolution of the condensate grains will lead to chemically complex amorphous solids. The highly disordered structure of the deep metastable eutectic condensates is the very key to this predictable chemical evolution to grains with a silicate mineral composition, yet being amorphous. We compare our results with astronomical observations of dust around young stellar objects.
Monoclonal antibodies for detection of Histoplasma capsulatum variety capsulatum antigen in patients with histoplasmosis

Abstract A radioimmunoassay for Histoplasma capsulatum variety capsulatum antigen is an important test for making the rapid diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis. However, the performance of this test is restricted to one laboratory because it has not been possible to make large quantities of high quality rabbit polyclonal antibody used in the test. Since monoclonal antibodies are usually produced more reliably, we attempted to make murine monoclonal antibodies against H. capsulatum var. capsulatum antigen to substitute for the rabbit polyclonal antibody in the assay. Two monoclonal antibodies, MHPA 1 and MHPA 2, were made from mice immunized with H. capsulatum antigen from the urine of two patients with disseminated histoplasmosis. MHPA 1 was IgG1, and MHPA 2 was IgM. In enzyme immunoassays, neither monoclonal antibody reacted with a panel of H. capsulatum antigens, but the polyclonal antibody did. Both monoclonal antibodies detected urinary H. capsulatum antigen in small percentages of patients with disseminated histoplasmosis who had positive radioimmunoassay results, 12.5% for MHPA 1 and 2.1% for MHPA 2. They did not detect H. capsulatum antigen in patients without histoplasmosis. These data suggest that H. capsulatum var. capsulatum antigen may have multiple epitopes. We conclude that these monoclonal antibodies react with H. capsulatum antigen, but they are unsuitable for replacing the rabbit polyclonal antibody used in the radioimmunoassay for the antigen.
The Effect of Aging on the Relaxation of Residual Stress in Cast Aluminum

Most cast aluminum-engineered components are water quenched after the solution-treatment cycle of the casting process. This rapid water quenching has the potential to induce high residual stresses in regions of the castings. Reducing the amount of residual stress can have a promising effect on the life of the component. This study was conducted to quantify how aging affects the amount of residual stress in an aluminum casting. An engineered high residual stress test sample and quenching technique has been developed, and a relaxation study has been completed. The study focused on four different temperatures: 463 K, 493 K, 513 K, and 533 K (190 °C, 220 °C, 240 °C, and 260 °C) and a range of aging times (0.3 to 336 hours). The aging data were used to verify a stress relaxation model. The results indicated that as the aging temperature increased, the amount of relaxation of the residual stress increased.
Effect of Size on Analog Circuit Based Emulation of Steady-State Power System Behavior

This paper further examines the use of analog circuit based emulation to study the behavior of multi-bus power systems, specifically the effect of power system size on the hardware design and performance. The goal is to demonstrate that these effects are minimal and analysis of large power systems through emulation methods is not only a viable but favorable alternative to popular simulation methods.
The Caenorhabditis elegans heterochronic gene lin-14 encodes a nuclear protein that forms a temporal developmental switch

During wild-type development, a protein product of the Caenorhabditis elegans heterochronic gene lin-14 is localized to nuclei of specific somatic cells in embryos and early larvae, but is absent in late larvae and adult soma. Gain-of-function lin-14 mutations cause the level of lin-14 protein to remain high throughout development, resulting in developmental reiterations of early cell lineages. The normal down-regulation of the lin-14 nuclear protein level encodes a temporal switch between early and late cell fates.
Prevention of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity by propylthiouracil in the glutathione depleted rat

This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of PTU pretreatment against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in rats whose hepatic GSH had been depleted by prior diethylmaleate (DEM) administration. A single injection of DEM depleted hepatic GSH showing lowest level after 90 min in both control and PTU pretreated rats. Triple injection schedule kept the hepatic GSH concentrations consistently very low up to 6 hr. Whereas a toxic dose of acetaminophen administration did not effect SGOT and SGPT levels after 30 hr in PTU pretreated rats given either a single or multiple injections of DEM, the same dose of acetaminophen in the control rats raised these transaminases to a very high level. High activity of transaminases was associated with significant histological hepatic damage. Our results suggest that PTU pretreatment affords significant protection against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity even under conditions when hepatic GSH concentrations have been significantly depleted prior to acetaminophen administration.
Cold Sensitivity as a New Side Effect After Sympathicotomy for Hyperhidrosis

Extremity cold sensitivity is a previously unreported side effect of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy. We report a case of a young man who underwent thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for hyperhidrosis, after which cold sensitivity developed in his sympathicotomized right hand and arm. When exposed to cold, the right hand and forearm become numb and the skin temperature drops to uncomfortable levels, while the left extremity remains comfortably warm.
Observations of Jupiter and Saturn at 5–8 μm

Abstract Moderate-resolution spectrophotometry ( Δλ / λ ∼0.015) has shown the effects of known atmospheric constituents (NH 3 , CH 4 , C 2 H 6 ) on the 5–8 μm spectrum of Jupiter. Broadband observations of Saturn at 6.5 μm are also reported.
The characterization of x‐ray photocathodes in the 0.1–10‐keV photon energy region

A method and an instrument are described for the measurement of the absolute quantum yield for front‐surface and transmission photocathodes in the 0.1–10‐keV photon energy region. The total and the secondary electron photoemission yields have been measured for the Al, Au, CuI, and CsI photocathodes as required for the absolute calibration of the x‐ray diode detectors and for the x‐ray streak cameras. The relative secondary electron yields have also been measured for the same photocathodes by high resolution electron spectroscopy of the secondary electron energy distributions, which are in good agreement with the absolute yield measurements. The secondary electron yield of CsI is ten to one‐hundred times higher than that for Au in the 0.1–10‐keV region and with a secondary energy distribution that is appreciably sharper. For these reasons, CsI should be an effective photocathode for sensitive, time‐resolved spectroscopy into the picosecond region. It is verified experimentally that the secondary electron quantum yield varies approximately as Em(E), with E as the photon energy and m(E) as the photoionization cross section, and that the primary (fast) electron quantum yield is a small fraction of the total yield and varies approximately as E2m(E). A simple model for x‐ray photoemission is described which leads to semiempirical equations for front‐ and back‐surface secondary electron photoemission as based upon an escape depth parameter that may be obtained from yield‐versus‐photocathode thickness data. The model predictions are in good agreement with experiment.
On qualitative axiomatizations for probability theory

In the literature, there are many axiomatizations of qualitative probability. They all suffer certain defects: either they are too nonspecific and allow nonunique quantitative interpretations or are overspecific and rule out cases with unique quantitative interpretations. In this paper, it is whown that the class of qualitative probability structures with nonunique quantitative interpretations is not first order axiomatizable and that the class of qualitative probability structures with a unique quantitative interpretation is not a finite, first order extension of the theory of qualitative probability. The idea behind the method of proof is quite general and can be used in other measurement situations.
Epigenetic regulation of spinal cord gene expression controls Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia

Background The long term use of opioids for the treatment of pain leads to a group of maladaptations which includes opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). OIH typically resolves within few days after cessation of morphine treatment in mice but is prolonged for weeks if histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity is inhibited during opioid treatment. The present work seeks to identify gene targets supporting the epigenetic effects responsible for OIH prolongation.
Residential smoking therapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a pilot 4-day residential smoking treatment program for smokers who had relapsed after participation in an outpatient smoking program.
Control of Dead-Time Processes (J.E. Normey-Rico and E.F. Camacho; 2007) [Book Review]

This book presents three widely used control strategies in a textbook format, which until recently were available only through multiple sources. Some topics covered include: examples of processes with dead time; approximations of dead time; design methods and configurations of PID control; dead-time compensators; model predictive control (MPC); robust analysis and control design; linear MIMO systems; MPC for MIMO systems; and predictors for control purposes. The book contains a generous number of practical examples. The material is well organized and nicely presented. The book is suitable as a textbook for a graduate level course or as a reference for practicing engineers. The first eight chapters can also be considered as a textbook for a final year undergraduate course.
Vegetable seed treatment

The treatment of agricultural seeds as a control of disease began as early as the seventeenth century. Apparently the first chemical used was sodium chloride. Arsenic and mercuric chloride were suggested in 1756 (5), but neither was adopted. At that time attention was being directed almost entirely to wheat and to control of bunt (Tilletia tritici (Bjerk.) Wint.). Lime water was used with some success in 1755 (67). Copper sulfate solution as a seed drench was reported in 1761 (63), and its use increased gradually for a century. Prevost (61) in 1807 demonstrated that copper prevents germination of spores of the bunt fungus. Addition of lime to copper sulfate to reduce toxicity of the latter to seed had come into practice by 1862 (12). By 1889 wheat seed treatment with copper sulfate had become quite common in England (58). While control of bunt was fairly satisfactory it became recognized that loose smut (Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr.) is not affected by the copper-sulfate treatment (58). Suspecting that the latter fungus was more deep-seated in the seed than the bunt organism, Jensen (42), in Denmark, devised the hot water treatment, described in 1888, which is still used for loose smut of barley (Ustilago nuda (Jens.) K. & S.) and loose smut of wheat. The European work was confirmed and extended in United States (8, 44, 45, 46, 47). In 1895 Guether (33) in Germany was the first to report the treatment of grain seed with formaldehyde solution. Bolley (11) in 1897 reported favorable results with the latter chemical in United States, particularly on oats for the control of loose smut (Ustilago avenae (Pers.) Jen.) and covered smut (Ustilago levis (K. & S.) Magn.). By the turn of the twentieth century, methods had been worked out for the control of several seed-borne pathogens of cereals. Little attention had been given to methods of treatment for vegetable seeds.
Point-of-Care device for quantification of zinc in serum

With 42,000 cases reported annually in the United States and an approximate 10% mortality rate, [1] pediatric septic shock is a major health problem that is often difficult to treat effectively. Several studies have shown that children experiencing pediatric septic shock often have critically low levels of serum zinc (Zn), suggesting supplementation of Zn to be an effective therapeutic strategy. However, to protect the safety and well-being of the patient, it is extremely important to monitor blood serum concentration of Zn during supplementation in order to ensure that levels remain at or near the physiological norm and thus minimize the risk of heavy metal toxicity from over supplementation. Current methods for quantifying Zn in serum typically require sending serum samples to external laboratory facilities resulting in turnaround times ranging from hours to a few days. Therefore, timely monitoring of Zn levels in serum is often not possible in the clinical setting which ultimately limits the ability to use Zn supplementation as a therapeutic intervention. This paper reports on the development of a Point-of-Care device for rapid electrochemical measurement of Zn in serum. The device is centered on a three electrode sensor which uses Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) for sensing Zn levels. The Cu based sensor is read using a reader that has been developed using commercially available embedded system parts in combination with custom analog circuitry that is able to produce quantification results in approximately 6 minutes.
Identification of estrogen receptors in granulosa cells of immature rats

Abstract Nuclear and cytoplasmic binding sites for estradiol (E2-17 β) in granulosa cells of immature rats were characterized. These binding sites for estrogen were high affinity, low capacity with an affinity constant (Kd) of 1.9 × 10−10 M (binding capacity, Ro = 80 pM) for nuclear sites and a Kd = 3.5 × 10−10 M (Ro = 45 pM) for cytosol sites. Binding was specific for biologically active estrogens. The estrogen receptor in granulosa cells is a protein and heat-labile as treatment with protease or pre-incubation at 37° C for 1 h significantly diminished binding. RNase and DNase had no effect on estrogen binding. Sedimentation coefficients for nuclear and cytosol binding components were 5S and 8S respectively, similar to values obtained with uteri. Finally, translocation was demonstrated after a s.c. injection of E2-17 β. Forty-five minutes post-injection, cytosol binding sites for estradiol were depleted concomitant with accumulation of nuclear binding sites. We concluded that granulosa cells of immature rats have binding sites specific for estradiol which have characteristics similar to the classical estrogen receptor in uteri.
Extracting micro air vehicles aerodynamic forces and coefficients in free flight using visual motion tracking techniques

This paper describes a methodology to extract aerial vehicles’ aerodynamic characteristics from visually tracked trajectory data. The technique is being developed to study the aerodynamics of centimeter-scale aircraft and develop flight simulation models. Centimeter-scale aircraft remains a largely unstudied domain of aerodynamics, for which traditional techniques like wind tunnels and computational fluid dynamics have not yet been fully adapted and validated. The methodology takes advantage of recent progress in commercial, vision-based, motion-tracking systems. This system dispenses from on-board navigation sensors and enables indoor flight testing under controlled atmospheric conditions. Given the configuration of retro-reflective markers affixed onto the aerial vehicle, the vehicle’s six degrees-of-freedom motion can be determined in real time. Under disturbance-free conditions, the aerodynamic forces and moments can be determined from the vehicle’s inertial acceleration, and furthermore, for a fixed-wing vehicle, the aerodynamic angles can be plotted from the vehicle’s kinematics. By combining this information, we can determine the temporal evolution of the aerodynamic coefficients, as they change throughout a trajectory. An attractive feature of this technique is that trajectories are not limited to equilibrium conditions but can include non-equilibrium, maneuvering flight. Whereas in traditional wind-tunnel experiments, the operating conditions are set by the experimenter, here, the aerodynamic conditions are driven by the vehicle’s own dynamics. As a result, this methodology could be useful for characterizing the unsteady aerodynamics effects and their coupling with the aircraft flight dynamics, providing insight into aerodynamic phenomena taking place at centimeter scale flight.
Approaches to research and development performance assessment in the United States: An analysis of recent evaluation trends

Recent trends associated with performance assessment and evaluation in US Government R&D agencies are analyzed by, first, giving a contextual overview of three Government-wide performance assessment schemes and, second, illustrating how these and other approaches are employed in four federal R&D funding agencies. While focusing on the rise of bibliometric analysis as an evaluation technique, the broader aim is to help those interested in performance assessment, domestically and internationally, to understand the system of R&D evaluation in the USA. Major trends in standardization of performance assessment practices, the utilization of quantitative evaluation methodologies, and the development of new hybrid approaches have emerged over recent years. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
Predictors of Mental State Understanding in Preschoolers of Varying Socioeconomic Backgrounds.

Two studies investigated the influence of age, language, and family background on the development of preschoolers' social cognitive skills. Study 1 examined variability in economically disadvantaged preschoolers' understanding of fantasy and evaluated the relation of age and language to children's skill in this area. Children were shown drawings of fantasy and real-life events and asked if the event could happen in real life and to justify their responses. Children were more likely to answer correctly when the drawing depicted real-life events. Age and language were positively related to children's overall understanding of fantasy. In Study 2, both low- and middle SES preschoolers were included and two false belief understanding measures were added to the battery of tasks. As before, age and language were related to fantasy understanding as well as to false belief performance. In addition, SES was predictive of fantasy understanding, but not false belief performance, regardless of how it was assessed. Soc...
The polarized i.r. spectrum of crystalline acrylic acid

Abstract The polarized i.r. spectrum of oriented polycrystals of acrylic acid has been investigated in the 4000-300 cm −1 frequency range and has been shown to be consistent with the reported crystal structure. It is found that the spectrum may be equally well-interpreted in terms of monomer units with certain vibrational modes highly perturbed by hydrogen bonding or in terms of hydrogen-bonded dimer units. Earlier vibrational assignments made on liquid acrylic acid are confirmed.
Case Study Bipolar Disorder in Mentally Retarded Adolescents

Abstract A descriptive series of five retarded adolescents with clear-cut bipolar illness is presented. The authors suggest that bipolar illness is commonly misdiagnosed in retarded patients because of difficulties in eliciting histories of mood change and overemphasis on psychotic and pseudo-organic symptoms. Standard treatments for bipolar illness appear to be well tolerated and reasonably effective in this population. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1988, 27, 4:494–499.
Two RNAi Complexes, RITS and RDRC, Physically Interact and Localize to Noncoding Centromeric RNAs

RNAi-mediated heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast requires the RNA-induced transcriptional silencing (RITS) complex and a putative RNA-directed RNA polymerase (Rdp1). Here we show that Rdp1 is associated with two conserved proteins, Hrr1, an RNA helicase, and Cid12, a member of the polyA polymerase family, in a complex that has RNA-directed RNA polymerase activity (RDRC, RNA-directed RNA polymerase complex). RDRC physically interacts with RITS in a manner that requires the Dicer ribonuclease (Dcr1) and the Clr4 histone methyltransferase. Moreover, both complexes are localized to the nucleus and associate with noncoding centromeric RNAs in a Dcr1-dependent manner. In cells lacking Rdp1, Hrr1, or Cid12, RITS complexes are devoid of siRNAs and fail to localize to centromeric DNA repeats to initiate heterochromatin assembly. These findings reveal a physical and functional link between Rdp1 and RITS and suggest that noncoding RNAs provide a platform for siRNA-dependent localization of RNAi complexes to specific chromosome regions.
Glibenclamide Induces Collagen IV Catabolism in High Glucose-Stimulated Mesangial Cells

We have shown the full prevention of mesangial expansion in insulin-deficient diabetic rats by treatment with clinically-relevant dosages of glibenclamide (Glib). Studies in mesangial cells (MCs) also demonstrated reduction in the high glucose (HG)-induced accumulation of collagens, proposing that this was due to increased catabolism. In the present study, we investigated the signaling pathways that may be implicated in Glib action. Rat primary MCs were exposed to HG for 8 weeks with or without Glib in therapeutic (0.01 μM) or supratherapeutic (1.0 μM) concentrations. We found that HG increased collagen IV protein accumulation and PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression, in association with decreased cAMP generating capacity and decreased PKA activity. Low Glib increased collagen IV mRNA but fully prevented collagen IV protein accumulation and PAI-1 overexpression while enhancing cAMP formation and PKA activity. MMP2 mRNA, protein expression and gelatinolytic activity were also enhanced. High Glib was, overall, ineffective. In conclusion, low dosage/concentration Glib prevents HG-induced collagen accumulation in MC by enhancing collagen catabolism in a cAMP-PKA-mediated PAI-1 inhibition.