cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elastic Green's Function for Anisotropic Cubic Crystals

The Green's function describing the elastic displacement due to a unit force in an infinite cubic material is investigated in detail. Only for special cases can an exact solution be given, i.e., for ${c}_{11}\ensuremath{-}{c}_{12}\ensuremath{-}2{c}_{44}=0$ (isotropy), for ${c}_{12}+{c}_{44}=0$, and for 100g directions. Perturbation theory is applied to the cases where these conditions are only approximately fulfilled. Divergencies or strong maxima of the Greens' function, occurring in nearly unstable materials for ${c}_{11}\ensuremath{-}{c}_{12}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ or ${c}_{44}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$, are examined. Analytical approximations for the Green's function are given by fitting the exact known Fourier transform with a suitably chosen ansatz in certain directions. Other simple approximations are derived by variational techniques and give good results for crystals with small and medium anisotropy.
The biological treatment of focal articular cartilage lesions in the knee: future trends?

e r a s a t p he current interest in biological repair and resurfacing of articular cartilage defects of the knee ontinues to rapidly expand as more procedures beome available and accepted as mainstream techniques. espite the progress that has been achieved, significant hallenges and controversies remain when considering any of the available approaches to treat symptomatic ocal lesions. There are numerous factors that contribte to these clinical challenges and controversies.1-3 First, there is no one current technique that stands ut as an optimal surgical method and there are few vailable methods that restore zoned hyaline cartilage nd consistently produce histomorphologically similar nd biomechanically durable articular tissue. The exuisitely unique structural and functional characterisics of articular cartilage impart properties that permit t to respond to complex compressive loading in a obile, fluid-filled environment. That specific strucure has yet to be surgically reproduced in a predictble manner. Furthermore, variable lesion pathoetioloies, including chondral and osteochondral fractures, steochondritis dissecans and early degenerative leions, limit the classification of articular defects and nterpretation of treatment outcomes. Second, the tendency for articular cartilage to repond to injury in a disordered manner as well as the otential for unpredictable symptomatology results in poorly understood natural history, which is comounded by the biolatency of chondrocytes. That bioatency requires more comprehensive and extended
Calving seismicity from iceberg–sea surface interactions

[1] Iceberg calving is known to release substantial seismic energy, but little is known about the specific mechanisms that produce calving icequakes. At Yahtse Glacier, a tidewater glacier on the Gulf of Alaska, we draw upon a local network of seismometers and focus on 80 hours of concurrent, direct observation of the terminus to show that calving is the dominant source of seismicity. To elucidate seismogenic mechanisms, we synchronized video and seismograms to reveal that the majority of seismic energy is produced during iceberg interactions with the sea surface. Icequake peak amplitudes coincide with the emergence of high velocity jets of water and ice from the fjord after the complete submergence of falling icebergs below sea level. These icequakes have dominant frequencies between 1 and 3 Hz. Detachment of an iceberg from the terminus produces comparatively weak seismic waves at frequencies between 5 and 20 Hz. Our observations allow us to suggest that the most powerful sources of calving icequakes at Yahtse Glacier include iceberg-sea surface impact, deceleration under the influence of drag and buoyancy, and cavitation. Numerical simulations of seismogenesis during iceberg-sea surface interactions support our observational evidence. Our new understanding of iceberg-sea surface interactions allows us to reattribute the sources of calving seismicity identified in earlier studies and offer guidance for the future use of seismology in monitoring iceberg calving.
Synthesis of carbon‐14 labeled isocyanates. Determination of the carbon‐14 distribution in the isocyanate groups of 2, 4‐tolylene diisocyanate

Phosgenation procedure for synthesis of carbon-14 labeled isocyanates, noting isotope distribution in compounds
PecSys: in situ gelling system for optimised nasal drug delivery

PecSys (PS) is a proprietary pectin-based drug delivery system designed to gel when applied to mucosal surfaces and with potential areas of application for drugs used in local and systemic disease therapy. The current area of focus is intranasal drug delivery where PS is being used to optimise absorption of lipophilic drugs into the systemic circulation. Pectin is described as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) with an excellent regulatory position through its long history of pharmaceutical and food usage. Tests to measure the functional gelling properties of pectin raw material and PS have been devised and validated. The PS-based products at the most advanced stages of development are intranasal formulations containing opioid analgesics intended to provide rapid pain relief with simple and convenient dosing and minimal side effects. The profile of such drugs may not be optimal through current routes of delivery and the ability of PS to modulate their pharmacokinetic profiles, such as attenuation of the peak plasma concentration (Cmax), has been demonstrated in clinical testing. The lead product using PS is a fentanyl nasal spray formulation (NasalFent), which has successfully met the primary objective in a pivotal Phase III clinical study and is scheduled for regulatory filings in the first half of 2009.
Global regulation of alternative splicing during myogenic differentiation

Recent genome-wide analyses have elucidated the extent of alternative splicing (AS) in mammals, often focusing on comparisons of splice isoforms between differentiated tissues. However, regulated splicing changes are likely to be important in biological transitions such as cellular differentiation, or response to environmental stimuli. To assess the extent and significance of AS in myogenesis, we used splicing-sensitive microarray analysis of differentiating C2C12 myoblasts. We identified 95 AS events that undergo robust splicing transitions during C2C12 differentiation. More than half of the splicing transitions are conserved during differentiation of avian myoblasts, suggesting the products and timing of transitions are functionally significant. The majority of splicing transitions during C2C12 differentiation fall into four temporal patterns and were dependent on the myogenic program, suggesting that they are integral components of myogenic differentiation. Computational analyses revealed enrichment of many sequence motifs within the upstream and downstream intronic regions near the alternatively spliced regions corresponding to binding sites of splicing regulators. Western analyses demonstrated that several splicing regulators undergo dynamic changes in nuclear abundance during differentiation. These findings show that within a developmental context, AS is a highly regulated and conserved process, suggesting a major role for AS regulation in myogenic differentiation.
Dynamic Stress on a Partially Bonded Fiber

The dynamic stress on a partially bonded fiber is analyzed for shear wave incidence, with particular attention given to the stress intensity factor at the neck joining the fiber to the matrix. The problem is formulated in terms of the unknown stress across the neck and the remainder of the fiber-matrix interface is modeled as a curved interfacial crack
Occurrence of Myrica-nodulating Frankia in Hawaiian volcanic soils

The ability of Hawaiian volcanic soils to nodulate actinorhizal Myrica cerifera, Casuarina equisetifolia, and Alnus glutinosa was determined using a host-plant bioassay. Myrica-nodulating Frankia occurred in five volcanic deposits with depositional ages ranging from 20 to 162 years before present. The oldest deposit had a mean estimated nodulation capacity from 450 to 1200 times greater than those of the younger deposits. Only the oldest deposit had high moisture content, high organic matter content, and increased vegetative cover, including an abundance of actinorhizal M. faya. Casuarina- and Alnus-nodulating Frankia were not detected in any of these volcanic deposits.
Spectroelectrochemical sensors: new polymer films for improved sensitivity

The selectivity of an optical sensor can be improved by combining optical detection with electrochemical oxidation or reduction of the target analyte to change its spectral properties. The changing signal can distinguish the analyte from interferences with similar spectral properties that would otherwise interfere. The analyte is detected by measuring the intensity of the electrochemically modulated signal. In one form this spectroelectrochemical sensor consists of an optically transparent electrode (OTE) coated with a film that preconcentrates the target analyte. The OTE functions as an optical waveguide for attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy, which detects the analyte by absorption. Sensitivity relies in part on a large change in molar absorptivity between the two oxidation states used for electrochemical modulation of the optical signal. A critical part of the sensor is the ion selective film. It should preconcentrate the analyte and exclude some interferences. At the same time the film must not interfere with the electrochemistry or the optical detection. Therefore, since the debut of the sensor’s concept one major focus of our group has been developing appropriate films for different analytes. Here we report the development of a series of quaternized poly(vinylpyridine)-co-styrene (QPVP-co-S) anion exchange films for use in spectroelectrochemical sensors to enable sensitive detection of target anionic analytes in complex samples. The films were either 10% or 20% styrene and were prepared with varying degrees of quaternized pyridine groups, up to 70%. Films were characterized with respect to thickness with spectroscopic ellipsometry, degree of quaternization with FTIR, and electrochemically and spectroelectrochemically using the anions ferrocyanide and pertechnetate.
Nutrition of Critically Ill Horses

Nutritional supplementation is becoming the standard of practice in equine medicine, although there are minimal data on nutritional support in critically ill horses and its association or effect on morbidity and mortality or length of hospital stay. Horses can be fed orally and when that is not possible, intravenously or parenterally. Enteral feeding is less expensive, more physiologic, improves immunity, and is easier and safer. This article reviews available information on the development of a nutritional plan for critically ill horses, and describes methods for and complications of enteral and parenteral feeding.
The Comparative Feeding Value of Corn and Wheat with and Without an Enzyme Supplement in Turkey Breeder Rations

Abstract Five experiments were conducted to compare the feeding value of corn and different wheat varieties with and without an enzyme supplement in turkey breeder rations. In each of 5 years, 200 Medium White turkeys were used in four treatments of five 10-hen replicates. There were no significant statistical differences for either within and between year grain effects, or from enzyme effect with either corn or wheat singly, or for combined grain-enzyme effect. The experiments demonstrate wheat can replace corn in turkey breeder hen rations and that the higher protein values in wheat can be utilized for replacing other protein supplements. In areas with high freight rates for importing corn, feed costs can be reduced.
Spot Treatments with Malathion Dust for Control of the Northern Fowl Mite on Hens in Individual Wire Cages

Effective control of the northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (C. &. F.), by means of spot treatments with 4% malathion dust was demonstrated on three southern California chicken ranches, each with a history of chronic infestation. Infested hens were detected by looking for mites on the eggs each day as they were gathered. Each week, dust was applied only to the infested cage and the three adjacent cages on both sides of the infested cage in the same row. The amount of insecticide needed and the time required for application were markedly reduced from that of previous control programs in which all the cages were treated at each application.
Influence of a motor skill intervention on fundamental motor skill development of disadvantaged preschool children.

Abstract The influence of a 12-week (24, 45-min motor sessions) motor skill intervention on fundamental motor skill (FMS) development of disadvantaged preschoolers was examined. Pre-and postintervention measures of the object control (OC) and locomotor subscales of the Test of Gross Motor Development were obtained for both groups. Prior to the intervention, developmental delays in FMS were reported. Two separate 2×2 (Group × Pre-Postintervention) analyses of variance with repeated measures yielded a significant Group × Pre-Postintervention interaction for locomotor, F(l, 57) = 134.23, p = .000, h2=. 70, and OC, F(1, 5) = 161.55, p =. 000, h2 =. 74) skills. Compared to the Control group, the motor skill intervention group revealed significantly higher locomotor and OC scores following the intervention than prior to the intervention.
Dynamical Heterogeneity in Soft-Particle Suspensions Under Shear

We present experimental measurements of dynamical heterogeneities in a dense system of microgel spheres, sheared at different rates and at different packing fractions in a microfluidic channel, and visualized with high-speed digital video microscopy. A four-point dynamic susceptibility is deduced from video correlations, and is found to exhibit a peak that grows in height and shifts to longer times as the jamming transition is approached from two different directions. In particular, the time for particle-size root-mean square relative displacements is found to scale as ${\ensuremath{\tau}}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}{(\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, where $\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ is the strain rate and $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\varphi}=|\ensuremath{\varphi}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{c}|$ is the distance from the random close-packing volume fraction. The typical number of particles in a dynamical heterogeneity is deduced from the susceptibility peak height and found to scale as ${n}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}{(\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4})}^{\ensuremath{-}0.3}$. Exponent uncertainties are less than ten percent. We emphasize that the same power-law behavior is found at packing fractions above and below ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{c}$. Thus our results considerably extend a previous observation of ${n}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}{\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}}^{\ensuremath{-}0.3}$ for granular heap flow at fixed packing below ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{c}$. Furthermore, the implied result ${n}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}{({\ensuremath{\tau}}^{*})}^{0.3}$ compares well with the expectation from mode-coupling theory and with prior observations for driven granular systems.
Fission yeast Alp14 is a dose-dependent plus end–tracking microtubule polymerase

XMAP215/Dis1 proteins are conserved tubulin-binding TOG-domain proteins that regulate microtubule (MT) plus-end dynamics. Here we show that Alp14, a XMAP215 orthologue in fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has properties of a MT polymerase. In vivo, Alp14 localizes to growing MT plus ends in a manner independent of Mal3 (EB1). alp14-null mutants display short interphase MTs with twofold slower assembly rate and frequent pauses. Alp14 is a homodimer that binds a single tubulin dimer. In vitro, purified Alp14 molecules track growing MT plus ends and accelerate MT assembly threefold. TOG-domain mutants demonstrate that tubulin binding is critical for function and plus end localization. Overexpression of Alp14 or only its TOG domains causes complete MT loss in vivo, and high Alp14 concentration inhibits MT assembly in vitro. These inhibitory effects may arise from Alp14 sequestration of tubulin and effects on the MT. Our studies suggest that Alp14 regulates the polymerization state of tubulin by cycling between a tubulin dimer–bound cytoplasmic state and a MT polymerase state that promotes rapid MT assembly.
A Partial Characterization of the Major Fluorophore of Bovine Ligamentum Elastin

Several chemical methods were used to partially characterize the structure of the major fluorophore of bovine ligament elastin. The fluorophore was not soluble in ether and, therefore, is not a lipid. Based on the spectra of the fluorophore when dissolved in water-saturated n-butanol and the lack of an ionization effect on the fluorescence between pH 2 and 10, it is concluded that the fluorophore has neutral charge in this pH range. Below pH 2, changes noted in fluorescence most likely reflected protonation of the fluorophore. No derivatization occurred with phenylisothiocyanate, o-phthaladehyde orcarbodiimide, indicating that the fluorophore is unlikely to be an amino acid. Fluorescence was diminished by strong acid, alkali and ultraviolet irradiation. It is concluded that the fluorophore is a nitrogen-heterocyclic compound distinct from previously reported elastin fluorophores. The precursor for this compound is not apparent, though it appears to be exogenous to elastin.
Neonatal outcome after preterm delivery for preeclampsia.

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether maternal preeclampsia per se has a beneficial effect on neonatal outcome after delivery before 35 weeks. Study design: A matched cohort study design was used. Two hundred twenty-three infants of strictly defined preeclampsia women were matched for gestational age, race, gender, and mode of delivery with infants of normotensive women with preterm labor and delivery. Pregnancies with multiple gestation, premature rupture of membranes, known fetal anomalies, diabetes, or maternal medical disease were excluded. Information was obtained by review of maternal and neonatal charts. Paired categoric and continuous data were compared by McNemar's test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, respectively. Results: There was no difference in the incidence of neonatal death (4.5% vs 4.5%, p = 0.82), respiratory distress syndrome (22.0% vs 22.0%, p = 0.88), grades 3 and 4 intraventricular hemorrhage (2.2% vs 2.2%, p = 0.72), grades 2 and 3 necrotizing enterocolitis (5.8% vs 4.0%, p = 0.48), and culture-proved sepsis (9.0% vs 9.0%, p = 0.85). Results were similar when analysis was limited to infants born at ≤ 32 weeks, infants born to mothers with severe preeclampsia, and infants with intrauterine growth restriction. Conclusion: Maternal preeclampsia per se does not have a beneficial effect on the postnatal course] of infants born at 24 to 35 weeks' gestation.
Moisture Redistribution and Phase Transitions During Bread Staling

ABSTRACT Standard white breads were stored with or without crust at 25°C in hermetic pouches. During two weeks of storage, the crumb moisture content and water activity (aw) decreased significantly when stored with crust. When stored without crust, moisture content and aw remained relatively unchanged. The causes of the initial firming of both breads over zero to seven days were not conclusive. But when stored beyond seven days, bread stored with crust was significantly firmer in texture and higher in amylopectin recrystallization than bread stored without crust. Moisture redistribution from crumb to crust played a significant role. This was accompanied by a decrease in freezable water in the bread crumb stored with crust. This loss in freezable water coincided with changes in the thermomechanical profile only in the case of sample stored with crust intact (and with a significant total and freezable water loss). Bread crumb stored without crust did not change in total and freezable water and showed less c...
Temporal Self-Regulation Theory: a step forward in the evolution of health behaviour models

Hall and Fong (2007) have taken on a major challenge by attempting to improve on existing health behaviour models, of which there are many (Glanz, Rimer, & Viswanath, 2008). Crafting their Temporal...
A new function for the γ -tubulin ring complex as a microtubule minus-end cap

Microtubule nucleation from centrosomes involves a lockwasher-shaped protein complex containing gamma-tubulin, named the gamma-tubulin ring complex (gammaTuRC). Here we investigate the mechanism by which the gammaTuRC nucleates microtubules, using a direct labelling method to visualize the behaviour of individual gammaTuRCs. A fluorescently-labelled version of the gammaTuRC binds to the minus ends of microtubules nucleated in vitro. Both gammaTuRC-mediated nucleation and binding of the gammaTuRC to preformed microtubules block further minus-end growth and prevent microtubule depolymerization. The gammaTuRC therefore acts as a minus-end-capping protein, as confirmed by electron-microscopic examination of gold-labelled gammaTuRCs. These data support a nucleation model for gammaTuRC function that involves capping of microtubules.
A comparative analysis of methods for constructing weak orders from partial orders

This paper compares three methods (sequel, cardinal, maximal) for constructing a weak order from a partial order on a finite set. The constructed weak orders include the partial order. To evaluate the methods, several different selection disciplines were used to stochastically generate partial orders from a fixed linear order. The error of a weak order which includes a generated partial order is a function of the number of ordered pairs added to the partial order to get the weak order which are the reverse of ordered pairs in the fixed linear order. In all cases, the sequel and cardinal mean errors were much lower than the maximal mean error. In most but not all cases, the cardinal mean error was lower than the sequel mean error.
Estimating Suspended Solids from Turbidity in the Robeson Creek, NC Watershed†

The purpose of this project was to assess the effect of estimating total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations from turbidity on TSS loads for streams in the Robeson Creek watershed. Discharge was monitored continuously and base-flow grab and storm event composite samples were collected and analyzed for TSS and turbidity from five sites during five years of monitoring. For base-flow samples, the TSS-turbidity relationship for all five sites was poor indicating that TSS concentrations in base flow cannot be estimated from a TSS-turbidity relationship. To test the effect of analyzing fewer samples, TSS from every third and the first 20 samples collected from each site was used to develop TSS-turbidity relationships. In addition, the TSS-turbidity relationship developed from the most downstream site was used to estimate TSS concentrations from turbidity measured at the other four sites. For four of the five sites, analyzing every third sample for TSS and using the TSS-turbidity relationship to estimate the missing TSS concentrations would result in mean TSS loads that were not significantly different from the observed. Using the TSS-turbidity relationship from the outlet to estimate TSS from turbidity measured at the other four sites resulted in significantly different mean TSS loads at three of the four sites. These results indicate that estimating TSS concentrations from turbidity using a TSS-turbidity relationship developed from a subset of the overall dataset should be done with great caution.
Defect creation and hydrogen evolution in amorphous Si:H

Abstract The origin and nature of electrically active defects created by annealing are studied by luminescence, electron spin resonance, infrared absorption and hydrogen manometry. The initial defect density decreases similarly for all samples in annealing to ∼250°C. The temperature dependence of the subsequent increase in defect density is dominated by the effects of diffusion and sample microstructure and depends only indirectly on hydrogen bonding configurations. The peak in the rate of hydrogen evolution near 420°C is assigned to immediate release from isolated ≡SiH and/or =SiH 2 sites; this peak is found to shift to > 700°C because of diffusive delays in thick, homogeneous samples. Peaks at temperatures below 420°C are ascribed to hydrogen bonding sites on or near microstructural surfaces.
Reverberation Chamber Techniques for Determining the Radiation and Total Efficiency of Antennas

Reverberation chambers are becoming a popular alternative testing facility for a wide range of electromagnetic applications. Because of the statistical environment created inside a reverberation chamber, they offer a unique test facility. In particular, these chambers are ideally suited for performing radiated power measurements of either an antenna or device under test, and as such, it is possible to determine the efficiency of antennas. There have been several reverberation chamber techniques proposed over the years for measuring the antenna efficiency; however, these techniques require either the use of a reference antenna (i.e., an antenna with a known efficiency) and/or require the assumption that the two antennas used in the test have identical efficiencies. In this paper, we present three different approaches for determining both the radiation and total efficiencies of an unknown antenna that overcome these limitations and assumptions. We present a one-antenna approach, a two-antenna approach, and a three-antenna approach. We present measured data for three different antennas in order to compare these three approaches. We also discuss the uncertainties related to these types of measurements.
MsGC-β3 forms active homodimers and inactive heterodimers with NO-sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclase subunits

SUMMARY Soluble guanylyl cyclases are typically obligate heterodimers, composed of a single alpha and a single beta subunit. MsGC-β3, identified in the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta , was the first example of a soluble guanylyl cyclase that exhibited enzyme activity without the need for coexpression with additional subunits. Subsequent studies have revealed that the mammalian β2 subunit also shares this property. Using a combination of gel filtration chromatography, coprecipitation and site-directed mutagenesis we show that, as predicted, MsGC-β3 forms active homodimers. We also demonstrate that MsGC-β3 is capable of forming heterodimers with the nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive guanylyl cyclase subunits MsGC-α1 and MsGC-β1. These heterodimers, however, show no enzyme activity and, like mammalian β2 subunits, act in a dominant negative manner when combined with the NO-sensitive subunits to disrupt their activation by NO. In addition, we show that the unique C-terminal domain of MsGC-β3 is not necessary for enzyme activity and might act as an auto-inhibitory domain.
Metabolic engineering as a tool for enhanced lactic acid production

Metabolic engineering is a powerful biotechnological tool that finds, among others, increased use in constructing microbial strains for higher lactic acid productivity, lower costs and reduced pollution. Engineering the metabolic pathways has concentrated on improving the lactic acid fermentation parameters, enhancing the acid tolerance of production organisms and their abilities to utilize a broad range of substrates, including fermentable biomass-derived sugars. Recent efforts have focused on metabolic engineering of lactic acid bacteria as they produce high yields and have a small genome size that facilitates their genetic manipulation. We summarize here the current trends in metabolic engineering techniques and strategies for manipulating lactic acid producing organisms developed to address and overcome major challenges in the lactic acid production process.
Cleavage of DFF-45/ICAD by Multiple Caspases Is Essential for Its Function during Apoptosis

Apoptosis involves the proteolysis of specific cellular proteins by a group of cysteine proteases known as caspases. Many of these cellular targets are either functionally inactivated (e.g. poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase) or activated (e.g. other caspases, gelsolin) by such processing, thereby facilitating the cell death process. Caspase 3 is involved in the processing of many of these proteins. Recently, however, it was reported that caspase 3 is dispensable for the cleavage of a large number of cellular caspase substrates during apoptosis. Among these substrates is DFF-45/ICAD, a subunit of the heterodimeric DNA fragmentation factor (DFF), otherwise known as caspase-activated DNase (CAD), that mediates genomic DNA degradation during apoptosis. Conversely, others have reported that caspase 3 is essential for the cleavage and activation of DFF-45/ICAD. To resolve this controversy we examined DFF-45/ICAD processing during apoptosis in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells that lack functional caspase 3 and in MCF-7 cells expressing caspase 3. We found that DFF-45/ICAD is cleaved by two distinct caspases, one of which is caspase 3. Furthermore, cleavage of the carboxyl-terminal region of DFF-45/ICAD, which is necessary for activation of the enzyme, requires functional caspase 3. In the absence of caspase 3 cleavage of the amino-terminal region of DFF-45/ICAD by another caspase occurs, but the DFF-45 enzyme remains inactive.
Breathing Patterns in Infants Utilizing Respiratory Inductive Plethysmography

Respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) is a method that can be used to assess breathing patterns in infants without an airway connection. Ribcage and abdomen transducers are used which require gain factor calculation for calibration. We employed a single position graphic (SPG) calibration technique for gain factor calculation in RIP to obtain breathing pattern data for 70 infants in the quietly awake state. The SPG technique utilizes selection of two breaths from a 20s run of breaths with different ribcage/pneumotachograph (RC/PNT) and abdomen/pneumotachograph (AB/PNT) ratios for the gain factor calculation. Validation of gain factors was performed by comparing volumes obtained simultaneously by RIP and PNT. In 46 of the infants, maintenance of gain factor accuracy was confirmed following position reversal. Revalidation after position change could not be accomplished in 24 infants who were aroused into an agitated state. Breathing patterns were collected by RIP alone on the 46 infants who remained accurately calibrated in the supine and prone positions. No significant correlations were found between breathing pattern data and anthropometric characteristics. When the infants were repositioned, no consistent pattern of change could be identified. This study suggests that the SPG technique provides time-efficient and accurate calibration of RIP in the newborn infant. Furthermore, accuracy is maintained through position change if the infant remains in the same behavioral state. Breathing pattern data presented is representative of normative values in the quietly awake state for our study population.
Autonomous renormalization of the one-loop effective potential and a 2 TeV Higgs in SU(2) × U(1)

Abstract Branchina et al. and Consoli have recently shown that the one-loop effective potential (1LEP) of massless γφ 4 theory can be renormalized in two distinct ways. One of these is the conventional renormalization of Coleman and Weinberg. The other requires an infinite wavefunction renormalization, and is very similar to the “autonomous” renormalization of the gaussian effective potential. We apply the “autonomous” renormalization to the 1LEP of the SU(2) × U(1) electroweak theory with zero bare Higgs mass. The predicted physical Higgs mass is 1.9 TeV.
Intraspecific variation in aphid resistance and constitutive phenolics exhibited by the wild blueberry Vaccinium darrowi.

Illinoia pepperi (MacGillivray) infests cultivated highbush blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum L., in the Northeastern United States. Allopatric resistance to I. pepperi was examined in Vaccinium darrowi Camp, which evolved in the absence of I. pepperi in the Southeastern U.S. V. corymbosum cv. “Elliott”, was used as a susceptible control. Between population variability in I. pepperi resistance was assessed by measuring length of the prereproductive period, fecundity, and survivorship on 14 V. darrowi accessions representing 11 discrete wild populations. Length of I. pepperi’s prereproductive period and survivorship were not significantly affected. However, differences were detected in fecundity and the intrinsic rate of increase (rm). Within population variability in resistance was measured by confining first instars to 24 accessions from a single wild population of V. darrowi (NJ88-06). Significant differences in the mean total number of aphids occurring after 20 d were only detected between 2 of the 24 V. darrowi accessions. A greater degree of diversity in I. pepperi resistance exists between populations of V. darrowi compared to within a population. Constitutive leaf and stem polyphenolics were identified by HPLC-MS and quantified from 14 of the V. darrowi accessions. The accessions varied in concentrations of five phenolic acids and seven flavonol glycosides, but a correlation was not found between individual or total phenolics and aphid performance. Overall, screening within and between populations of V. darrowi identified promising sources of aphid resistance, but phenolic acid and flavonol glycoside profiles did not predict resistance levels. The mechanism of resistance remains to be identified.
Nursing care of special populations: issues in caring for elderly people with mental retardation.

Topic Changes in the life expectancy of people with mental retardation (MR) and its impact on nursing. Purpose To outline issues associated with health care of an aging MR population. Advances in medicine and technology have contributed to gains in life expectancy for people with MR. Nurses, therefore, will be providing increased care for these individuals in both acute and community settings. Nurses and other healthcare providers must be educated concerning the special needs of individuals with MR. Sources Review of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PUBMED, government documents, and policy papers from 1993 to 2003. Conclusions Nurses need education and increased exposure to the special clinical challenges of caring for individuals with MR. In addition, accessible and appropriate community-based services are required to enhance the quality of life for people with MR.
A Study of Dentists’ Preferred Maxillary Anterior Tooth Width Proportions: Comparing the Recurring Esthetic Dental Proportion to Other Mathematical and Naturally Occurring Proportions

ABSTRACT Statement of the Problem: Presently, there are no generally accepted standards for designing smiles using tooth proportion relationships. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether North American dentists prefer smile designs created using the recurring esthetic dental (RED) proportion, other mathematically defined tooth proportion relationships, or naturally occurring tooth-to-tooth width proportions previously reported to occur in the North American population. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and one North American dentists were surveyed to determine their preferences of imaged smiles exhibiting different anterior tooth width proportions and the primary proportion influencing their decision. One-sample t-tests were used to compare preferences of constructed smiles. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to assess the independence of the relationship between the subjects’ demographic attributes and the factors reported as being instrumental in their decision processes. Results: Fifty-seven percent of dentists surveyed preferred the smiles with the 70% RED proportion over the smiles with the naturally occurring maxillary anterior tooth width proportions in normal-length teeth. Dentists preferred the smiles of the naturally occurring maxillary tooth proportions (70%) and the 70% RED proportion (75%) over the golden proportion. In smiles with tall teeth, the golden proportion was preferred by 58% of the surveyed dentists over the naturally occurring tooth-to-tooth width proportions as previously defined by Preston. Sixty-two percent of dentists cited the overall balance as the primary factor affecting their selection. Twenty-three percent made their selection based on the size of the maxillary central incisors, whereas 15% used other teeth or factors. Conclusion: Smiles created using the principles of the RED proportion were preferred by a majority of dentists surveyed. The majority of dentists reported that overall balance was the primary factor affecting their selection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The RED proportion may be useful in creating smiles preferred by North American dentists. Seventy-five percent of North American dentists preferred using the RED proportion when designing smiles with normal-length teeth over using the golden proportion, which has been a pseudostandard in esthetic dentistry. Applying the golden proportion universally in smile design should be reconsidered as it was found to be the least pleasing and accepted in this study for normal-length teeth. (J Esthet Restor Dent 19:324–339, 2007)
Effect of Juvenile Hormone and Juvenile Hormone Mimics on Sperm Transfer from the Testes of the Male Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

Sperm transfer into the epididymis was completed without a blood meal, when newly emerged male cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche), were exposed to filter papers treated with juvenile hormone III or the juvenile hormone mimics fenoxycarb, methoprene, or pyriproxyfen. As the concentration of juvenile hormone or the time of flea exposure to juvenile hormone or the juvenile hormone mimics increased, the percentage of fleas that transferred sperm also increased. The percentage of pyriproxyfen-treated males that transferred sperm reached 100% after 3 d; whereas, 7 d exposure to juvenile hormone, fenoxycarb and methoprene was required for 100% of the males to transfer sperm. Although sperm were present in the epididymis of treated fleas, insemination of females did not take place off the host either on juvenile hormone-treated filter paper or on juvenile hormone-treated dog hair.
Is RAS blockade routinely indicated in hypertensive kidney transplant patients

There is a high incidence of hypertension after kidney transplantation, which has been associated with the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, an increased risk for acute rejection, lower graft survival, and increased mortality. The pathogenesis of post-transplant hypertension is multifactorial, and therefore optimum therapy for it is not clearly defined. Historically, use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade in post-transplant hypertension has been limited given concerns of inducing worsening allograft function. Recent data demonstrated that subjects with post-transplant hypertension can be treated effectively with RAS blockers, and that these agents may offer significant additional benefits beyond blood pressure control. Review of the literature suggests that RAS blockers should be considered as useful agents for treatment of post-transplant hypertension not due to transplant renal artery stenosis.
Simple optimizations for an applicative array language for graphics processors

Graphics processors (GPUs) are highly parallel devices that promise high performance, and they are now flexible enough to be used for general-purpose computing. A programming language based on implicitly data-parallel collective array operations can permit high-level, effective programming of GPUs. I describe three optimizations for such a language: automatic use of GPU shared memory cache, array fusion, and hoisting of nested parallel constructs. These optimizations are simple to implement because of the design of the language to which they are applied but can result in large run-time speedups.
Nitric oxidergic cells related to ejaculation in gerbil forebrain contain androgen receptor and respond to testosterone

Two clusters of forebrain neurons-one in the posterodorsal preoptic nucleus (PdPN) and one in the lateral part of the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MeApd)-are activated at ejaculation in male rats and gerbils as seen with Fos immunocytochemistry. To understand the functions of these cells and how they respond synchronously, it may be useful to identify their neurotransmitters. Nitric oxide (NO) was of interest because its levels in the preoptic area affect ejaculation, and it could synchronize clustered neurons through paracrine/volume transmission. Thus, we determined whether the ejaculation-related cells produce NO by assessing Fos co-localization with NO synthase (NOS) in recently mated male gerbils. We also studied NOS-Fos co-localization in the medial part of the medial preoptic nucleus (MPNm), where half of the neurons that express Fos after mating reflect ejaculation. We also quantified NOS co-localization with androgen receptor (AR) and NOS sensitivity to androgens at these sites. Without quantification, we extended these analyses throughout the hypothalamus and amygdala. Many mating-activated PdPN, lateral MeApd, and MPNm cells contained NOS (32-54%), and many NOS neurons at these sites expressed Fos (34-51%) or AR (25-69%). PdPN and MPNm NOS cells were sensitive to testosterone but not its androgenic metabolite dihydrotestosterone. The overall distribution of NOS and NOS-AR cells was similar to that in rats. These data suggest that NO may help to synchronize the activation of PdPN and lateral MeApd neurons at ejaculation and that NOS in PdPN and MPNm cells is regulated by testosterone acting via estradiol or without undergoing metabolism.
Polar cap size during 14–16 July 2000 (Bastille Day) solar coronal mass ejection event: MHD modeling and satellite imager observations

[1] This study investigates the development of the polar cap area as simulated by global magnetohydrodynamic models of the Earth's magnetosphere during the 14-16 July 2000 (Bastille Day) event. Around 1440 UT on 15 July, a magnetic cloud hit the magnetosphere and in the following hours high levels of activity in the magnetosphere and ionosphere were driven by the frequent changes in solar wind conditions. We compare the size of the polar cap (region of open magnetic field lines) as computed with two MHD models (UCLA-GGCM and BATSRUS) with observation data obtained from the IMAGE and Polar satellites. The two models in general reproduce the changes of the polar cap size that are seen by the satellite imagers. The range of modeled polar cap sizes, however, is limited to about 50-80% of the size range seen by the imagers and the shapes of the polar caps sometimes differ considerably among the models and compared to the observations. We found that a smoothing of solar wind parameters occurs, suggesting that solar wind inputs are stored in the magnetospheric system over a certain memory timescale. Cross-correlations are computed between smoothed solar wind input and the time history of the resulting polar cap size. Modeled magnetospheric memory timescales are estimated to be less than 12 min, whereas the satellite image data suggest a timescale of more than 20 min. The driver of magnetospheric activity in the models was found to be the B z (north-south) component of the solar wind magnetic field and to a lesser degree, the Akasofu e parameter which is closely related to B z but is also influenced by the solar wind velocity V x and magnetic field By N, V x , and P dyn NV 2 x show some degree of anticorrelation with observed polar cap sizes, but anticorrelations are barely significant for polar caps computed from either model. Memory timescales and reaction time delays could be derived from some of the parameters within the limits of statistical significance of the correlation coefficients.
Population variation and hybridization: Comparison of finches from two archipelagos

Some populations of Darwin's Finches (Emberizinae) are exceptionally variable in body size and beak traits as a result of introgressive hybridization. A study of museum specimens of honeycreeper-finches (Carduelinae) from the Hawaiian islands was undertaken to see if the same phenomenon was manifested by a different phyletic group of finches in a different archipelago. Five hundred and twenty-four specimens of the seven species with finch-like bills were measured and their coefficients of variation were compared with those of the ground finch group (six species) of Darwin's Finches. Coefficients were smaller in the Hawaiian finches. Sympatric and, hence, potentially hybridizing species on the island of Hawaii were not consistently more variable than the allopatric species on other islands in the archipelago. The one species with both sympatric and allopatric populations did not show greater variation in the sympatric population. There is little evidence from these comparisons of hybridization occurring in the last 100 years. The difference between the two finch faunas can be explained in terms of two factors. Finches have been present for a longer time in the Hawaiian archipelago than in the Galapagos archipelago and have had more time to not only diversify but to evolve pre- and post-zygotic isolating mechanisms. In the generally less seasonal and floristically richer Hawaiian islands they have evolved greater dietary specializations. Beak traits adapted to specialist feeding may have been under stronger stabilizing selection and hybrids (if formed) may have been at a strong disadvantage in the absence of an ecological niche intermediate between the niches of the two parental species. Results of published electrophoretic studies of genetic variation suggest that the early phase of differentiation, involving occasional introgressive hybridization, may last for up to 5 million years.
Transgression narratives, dialogic voicing, and cultural change1

The narrative discursively analyzed in this paper is taken from a larger study involving life history interviews with Latina/o immigrants in California. It exemplifies a type of narrative among these interviews in which tellers recount how they or their family members have broken with cultural expectations. In this story, the teller, a Nicaraguan woman, recounts how her uncle violated traditional values in her family by enlisting in the Sandinista army during wartime. Despite discursively distancing herself from this transgression, she ends by evaluating the transgressor and his recent accomplishments positively. Through an analysis of the appraisal strategies and interdiscursivity within this narrative, the paper contends that the narrators of such stories can go beyond managing deviations to dialogically position themselves among competing ‘social and historical voices’(Bakhtin 1981). Thus, the paper contends that transgression narratives represent the tellers’ efforts to come to terms with cultural changes in their communities.
When Pastors Go Public: Richard Furman's Public Letter on Slavery

Early in the history of South Carolina, leaders questioned pastoral influence as a potential threat to public discourse. The form of the public letter helped realize such a threat, by giving the eloquent and powerful Richard Furman a way to turn private correspondence into a multi-audience, transcendent appeal for the extension of slavery. The public letter was a hybrid genre of modern discourse, combining civic argument with intimate and social functions. The form allowed Furman to conceal his agency as a pastor delivering a written sermon on a timely political issue.