cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortisol mediated suppression of salmonid lymphocyte responses invitro

The suppressive activity of cortisol on the invitro induction of coho salmon (Oncorhynchuskisutch) B cell activation was examined. Suppression was observed with splenic and pronephric (anterior kidney) derived lymphocytes. The kinetics of cortisol-induced suppression revealed distinct differences in the sensitivity of splenic and pronephric lymphocytes. Pronephric lymphocytes were only sensitive to cortisol early in the induction of the antibody response, whereas the splenic cells were sensitive to cortisol throughout the culture period. Addition of supernatants from antigen stimulated pronephric cultures completely restored the ability of pronephric lymphocytes to produce an antibody response, suggesting that this glucocorticoid-suppression may be mediated by inhibition of lymphokine production.
Optimizing the formation of 2,6-bis(N-alkyl-benzimidazolyl)pyridine-containing [3]catenates through component design

The 2,6-bis(N-alkyl-benzimidazolyl)pyridine (Bip) ligand has been utilized to access mechanically interlocked [3]catenanes via metal-templating. Components containing the Bip ligand, namely macrocycles and linear threads, were designed to self-assemble upon the addition of transition metal ions into [3]metallopseudorotaxanes that require a single olefin metathesis reaction to yield the [3]catenate. Utilizing two-dimensional diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) the crude reaction mixture resulting from the ring-closing reaction of this template was studied. It was shown that the yield of the [3]catenates was dependent on the preorganization and conformational flexibility of the thread-like component and the size of the N-alkyl substituents on the Bip in the macrocyclic component. Through judicious design of both components the resulting reaction distribution can be altered to predominantly favour the formation of the [3]catenate. Furthermore, after de-metalation and purification the resulting [3]catenanes were fully characterized by a variety of NMR and mass spectroscopy techniques.
Regional changes in rat brain choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activity resulting from undernutrition imposed during different periods of development.

— The severity of mental changes in malnourished children is related to both the period of development when the malnutrition occurs and the amount of environmental stimulation. In the present study the effect of imposing protein undernutrition during the period of gestation or postweaning period, and protein-energy undernutrition during the suckling period on cholinergic enzyme activity was investigated in the rat. Six different dietary treatments were given and the activity of ChAc, ChE, and AChE determined in the forebrain, brainstem, and cerebellum of male rats on day 49. Undernutrition imposed during gestation, suckling or postweaning all resulted in changes in cholinergic enzyme activity. The direction and degree of change of enzyme activity depended on the period when undernutrition was imposed as well as the brain region. In the forebrain ChE and AChE activities were altered, in the brainstem, ChAc, ChE and AChE activities were altered, and in the cerebellum ChAc activity was altered. The effect on the activity of the individual cholinergic enzymes was complex and was not the same in the different regions of the brain or even for the same brain region exposed to undernutrition during different periods of development. These results along with earlier work indicate that cholinergic enzyme activity in brain of undernourished rats can be altered by both the period of development when undernutrition is imposed and the amount of environmental stimulation.
Corneal haze induced by excimer laser photoablation in rabbits is reduced by preserved human amniotic membrane graft

We conducted a study to determine if preserved human amniotic membrane can reduce corneal haze induced by excimer laser photoablation. Excimer photoablation was performed bilaterally on 40 New Zealand white rabbits with a 6 mm ablation zone and 120 micrometer depth (PTK) using the VISX Star. One eye was randomly covered with a preserved human amniotic membrane and secured using four interrupted 10 - 0 nylon sutures; the other eye served as control. The amniotic membranes were removed at one week, and the corneal haze was graded with a slit-lamp biomicroscopy by three masked corneal specialists (WC, KH and RF) biweekly for the ensuing 12 weeks. Histology and in situ TUNEL staining (for fragmented DNA as an index for apoptosis) was performed at days 1, 3 and 7 and at 12 weeks. One week after excimer photoablation, the amniotic membrane-covered corneas showed more anterior stromal edema, which resolved at the second week. A consistent grading of organized reticular corneal haze was noted among the three masked observers. Such corneal haze peaked at the seventh week in both groups. The amniotic membrane-covered group showed statistically significant less corneal haze (0.50 plus or minus 0.15) than the control groups (1.25 plus or minus 0.35) (p less than 0.001). The amniotic membrane-covered corneas had less inflammatory response at days 1 and 3, showing nearly nil DNA fragmentation on keratocytes on the ablated anterior stromal and less stromal fibroblast activation. There is less altered epithelial cell morphology and less epithelial hyperplasia at 1 week in these amniotic membrane-treated eyes. We concluded from this study that amniotic membrane matrix is effective in reducing corneal haze induced by excimer photoablation in rabbits and may have clinical applications.
Isotope effect of vacancy diffusion in b.c.c. α-Fe

Abstract By means of detailed calculations with the Finnis-Sinclair potential and short-memory augmented rate theory we have investigated the isotope effect for vacancy diffusion in b.c.c. α-Fe. The experimental value is consistent with a model in which a double barrier bars the diffusion path.
Reply to the comments of D.L. Pinti, R. Mineau and V. Clement, and of A.O. Marshall and C.P. Marshall on “Biogenicity of Earth's earliest fossils: A resolution of the controversy” by J. William Schopf and Anatoliy B. Kudryavtsev, Gondwana Research 22 (2012), 761-771

Abstract The abundant and diverse assemblage of filamentous microbial fossils permineralized in the ~ 3465 Ma Apex chert of northwestern Australia — among the oldest records of life — are arguably the “best studied,” by the most workers using the most advanced techniques, in the history of science. Despite the extensive body of data establishing the biogenicity of the demonstrably cellular carbonaceous Apex fossils, Pinti et al. (2013) and Marshall and Marshall (2013) have raised issues regarding the interpretation of their studies of the Apex chert presented in our recent review article (Schopf and Kudryavtsev, 2012). We agree with the assessment of both of the relevant papers by Pinti et al. (2009, 2013): the observations they report do not apply to the bona fide microscopic fossils of the Apex chert. Similarly, like the minute objects reported by Pinti et al. (2009, 2013), the “quartz and haematite-filled fractures” discussed by Marshall and Marshall (2013) are mineralic pseudofossils that are not relevant to interpretation of the Apex fossil microbes and their suggestion that “multiple populations of carbonaceous material may be a wide-spread issue through out the Precambrian” is without merit.
Cross-sectional geometric analysis of a foot bone assemblage from Mangaia, Cook Islands

This study describes a human foot bone assemblage from prehistoric Mangaia, Cook Islands in the context of diaphyseal cross-sectional strength measures. We use this sample to test the hypothesis that habitually unshod individuals who walk over rugged terrain will have stronger foot bones than a sample of habitually shod industrialized people. Specifically, we examine whether the Mangaian sample has a stronger size-adjusted metatarsal (MT) and phalangeal cross-sectional properties than the industrial sample, drawn from the Terry Collection. Contrary to expectations, residual analyses showed that most values of cross-sectional area (CA) and torsional resistance (J) of MTs 1-4 and the hallucal proximal phalanx (HPP) of the Mangaians are among those in the lower range of the Terry Collection sample. However, the bending strength ratios (Zy/Zx) of the Mangaian HPP are significantly greater than those of the Terry Collection. While characteristics such as forefoot shape variation between the sexes and among geographic populations cannot be ruled out as influential factors, cross-sectional properties of the hallucal proximal phalanges, but not the MTs, indicate terrain complexity in prehistoric populations.
Thyroid function studies in preterm infants recovering from the respiratory distress syndrome.

Thyroxine, tri-iodothyronine, and thyrotropin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay techniques used previously to study term infants at three days and six weeks of age, respectively. ~ Blood samples were obtained from 13 singleton infants and from five members of four twin pairs by heel-stick technique; written consent was obtained from the parents. Three or more serial samples were drawn at one-week intervals from six of the singletons and from one of the twins from seven to 50 days of age. One or two random samples at variot~s ages were obtained from the rest of the
A hybrid approach to Web forum interactional coherence analysis

Despite the rapid growth of text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC), its limitations have rendered the media highly incoherent. This poses problems for content analysis of online discourse archives. Interactional coherence analysis (ICA) attempts to accurately identify and construct CMC interaction networks. In this study, we propose the Hybrid Interactional Coherence (HIC) algorithm for identification of web forum interaction. HIC utilizes a bevy of system and linguistic features, including message header information, quotations, direct address, and lexical relations. Furthermore, several similarity-based methods including a Lexical Match Algorithm (LMA) and a sliding window method are utilized to account for interactional idiosyncrasies. Experiments results on two web forums revealed that the proposed HIC algorithm significantly outperformed comparison techniques in terms of precision, recall, and F-measure at both the forum and thread levels. Additionally, an example was used to illustrate how the improved ICA results can facilitate enhanced social network and role analysis capabilities. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sensory Evaluation of High Vacuum Flame Sterilized Clingstone Peaches, Using Ranking and Signal Detection Measures with Minimal Cross‐Sensory Interference

Seven peach varieties were canned conventionally with added syrup or added water and using high vacuum flame sterilization (HVFS) with and without added syrup. The treatments were assessed for sweetness, sourness, odor intensity, darkness of color, firmness by bite and firmness by visual appearance, using ranking and R-index measures. Cross-sensory interference was minimized by the excluding or reducing of the effects of inappropriate senses. Conventionally canned peaches were less firm to the bite but this did not correspond with visual appearance of firmness. Peaches canned with added syrup tended to be sweeter and less sour. Color and odor differences were less clear cut. Comparisons were also made with fresh peaches.
The piezoelectric transformer field effect transistor

In order to reduce the power consumption of modern electronics, the operating voltage needs to be significantly reduced. Unfortunately, conventional transistors fundamentally require around half a volt to switch. On the other hand, electrical wires only need millivolts to overcome noise and communicate information. This voltage mismatch results in a significant amount of power being wasted by charging the wires to a high voltage. To overcome this mismatch, either a new low voltage switch[1-5] or a voltage transformer is needed. In this paper we propose a new CMOS compatible piezoelectric voltage transformer that can be placed on the gate of each transistor to reduce the voltage needed for switching. This allows for a low voltage to be used to charge the wires while increasing the voltage at the transistor where it's needed. This results in the Piezoelectric Transformer Field Effect Transistor, or PT-FET.
GLOBAL SYMMETRIES OF QUANTUM HALL SYSTEMS: LATTICE DESCRIPTION

I analyze nonlocal symmetries of finite-size Euclidean three-dimensional lattice Chern-Simons models in the presence of an external magnetic field and nonzero average current. It is shown that under very general assumptions the particle-vortex duality interchanges the total Euclidean magnetic flux $\mathbf{\ensuremath{\Phi}}/2\ensuremath{\pi}$ with the total current I in a given direction, while the flux attachment transformation increases the flux in a given direction by the corresponding component of the current, $\mathbf{\ensuremath{\Phi}}/2\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathbf{\ensuremath{\Phi}}/2\ensuremath{\pi}+2\mathbf{I},$ independently of the disorder. In the language of $2+1$ dimensional models, appropriate for describing quantum Hall systems, these transformations are equivalent to the symmetries of the phase diagram known as the correspondence laws, and the nonlinear current-voltage mapping between mutually dual points, recently observed near the quantum Hall liquid-insulator transitions.
Specific Iodination Reaction in the Analysis of a Mixture of Alkenyl Acyl- and Diacyl Choline Phosphatides

Specific iodination reaction has been used in separating alkenyl acyl choline phosphatides from the accompanying diacyl choline phosphatides by thin-layer chromatography. The isolated fractions have been analyzed for their fatty acid chains. Spezifische Jodierung bei der Analyse einer Mischung von Alkenylacyl- und -diacyl-Cholin-Phosphatiden Eine spezifische Jodierungsreaktion wurde bei der dunnschicht-chromatographischen Trennung der Alkenylacyl-Cholin-Phosphatide von den daneben vorkommenden Alkenyldiacyl-Cholin-Phosphatiden angewandt. Die Fettsaurereste der isolierten Fraktionen wurden untersucht.
Modeling future trends in wetland loss and brown shrimp production in Louisiana using thematic mapper imagery

Abstract The land-water interface of coastal marshes may influence the production of estuarine-dependent fisheries more than the area of these marshes. To test this hypothesis, we created a spatial model to explore the dynamic relationship between land-water interface and degree of land loss in disintegrating coastal marshes of Louisiana's Barataria, Terrebonne, and Timbalier basins. Calibrating our model with Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery, we found a parabolic relationship between land-water interface and marsh disintegration. Aggregated simulation data suggested that the land-water interface in the study area will soon reach its maximum and then decline. We found a statistically significant positive linear relationship between brown shrimp catch and total interface length over the past 28 years. This relationship suggests that shrimp yields will decline when interface declines, possibly beginning about 1995.
Vetting Mobile Apps

Billions of copies of apps for mobile devices have been purchased in recent years. With this growth, however, comes an increase in the spread of potentially dangerous security vulnerabilities. Because of an app's low cost and high proliferation, the threat of these vulnerabilities could be far greater than that of traditional computers. Thus, purchasing organizations or third-party labs should vet the apps before selling them, and consumers need to understand the risks of apps and the prospects for ensuring their security.
Field aligned airglow observations of transequatorial bubbles in the tropical F-region

Abstract It is possible to form images of the tropical F -region ionization structures, variously labelled as ‘bubbles’, ‘plumes’, or ‘depletions’, in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic field by observing the airglow emissions associated with them in a field aligned direction. Structures which are present at altitudes from 250 km to more than 700 km above the dip equator map down to the 250–350 km region, where recombination and associated airglow emissions occur, ranging from the equator to dip latitudes of 15° or more. The structures can be viewed in a field aligned direction from sites in the range 17°–23° dip latitude. Measurements with high angular resolution (as small as 0.1° in the meridian) could show structures as small as 2 km. It is possible to make simultaneous measurements in both 6300 and 7774 A recombination emissions, from which the height h max of the peak plasma concentration n ( e ) max on the field line can be estimated from a ratio of the emission rates. It is possible to make maps of n ( e ) max and h max either by raster scanning the sky in the two emissions or by imaging them onto an imaging detector. Useful data can be obtained from one site over a range of 20° in dip latitude and 10° in dip longitude. Observations in the same magnetic meridian as a backscatter radar system are desirable, as also are observations from near magnetic conjugate points. Imaging characteristics for the observation sites in the range of dip latitude 17°–23° have been calculated.
Source mechanism of the September 19, 1985 Michoacan Earthquake and its implications

Moment tensor inversion of low frequency teleseismic data for the September 19, 1985 Michoacan, Mexico earthquake gave an average strike 298°, slip 268°, and seismic moment 10.3×1027 dyne-cm. Low frequency body waves clearly show the complex nature of this event. Cross-correlation of the September 19 P-wave with that of the smaller, and colocated October 25, 1981 Playa Azul earthquake, show that the Michoacan earthquake consisted of two subevents separated in time by 25 s, and located approximately 30 km northwest and 40 km southeast respectively, of the Playa Azul epicenter. Body wave inversion of the first subevent gave strike 298°, slip 266°, and seismic moment 3.0×1027 dyne-cm. The second subevent had a comparable seismic moment. The cumulative moment for large earthquakes occurring along the Michoacan-northwest Guerrero coast indicate that seismic displacement along this segment of the Mexican subduction zone is similar to that occurring on other portions, indicating that the "former" Michoacan gap was not anomalously aseismic.
A scanning electron microscope study of surface textures of quartz grains from glacial environments

Surface textures of quartz sand grains from several glacial environments at the Feegletscher, Switzerland examined by means of scanning electron microscopy are described. The difference between supraglacial and subglacial material is very slight. At the moment the interpretation of these textures must be done with care until the full statistical relation to environments can be ascertained. This does not necessarily invalidate earlier investigations although it does mean that glacial and extraglacial environments in the vicinity of glaciers are apparently not distinguishable. Examination of surface precipitation features suggests a sequence of events which can be used to help discriminate between different ages of deposits in an area. A similarity between some of the surface debris from moraine samples and those seen in loess and quickclay deposits is also suggested.
The influence of religious commitment on consumer perceptions of closed-on-Sunday policies: an exploratory study of Chick-fil-A in the southern United States

Many businesses operate long hours that often include nights and weekends to accommodate consumers. However, a few businesses maintain a closed-on-Sunday policy and do so while still operating successfully although closed-on-Sunday policies mean forgoing potential sales hours. As most Christian faiths consider the Sabbath as a day of rest, an oft-used rationalization for the success of businesses maintaining this policy is that they must be supported by consumers with strong religious beliefs, who appreciate the message sent by the company and as a result perceive the company favorably. The purpose of this paper was to investigate whether consumers' religious commitment influences their ethical judgment of a company's closed-on-Sunday policy and to determine whether this ethical judgment impacts a company's corporate or brand image and consumer loyalty intentions. The results suggest that consumers with higher levels of intra-personal religious commitment are more likely to hold favorable ethical judgment...
Directed evolution experiments reveal mutations at cycloartenol synthase residue His477 that dramatically alter catalysis.

Cycloartenol synthase cyclizes and rearranges oxidosqualene to the protosteryl cation and then specifically deprotonates from C-19. To identify mutants that deprotonate differently, randomly generated mutant cycloartenol synthases were selected in a yeast lanosterol synthase mutant. A novel His477Asn mutant was uncovered that produces 88% lanosterol and 12% parkeol. The His477Gln mutant produces 73% parkeol, 22% lanosterol, and 5% Δ7-lanosterol. These are the most accurate lanosterol synthase and parkeol synthase that have been generated by mutagenesis.
The nutrient chemistry of the sea surface

Abstract The concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, phosphate, ammonia, and nitrite are statistically higher at the sea surface than at 1 m. Silicate shows no significant difference at the 0·05 probability level in these two water strata. The possible mechanisms causing the accumulation of these nutrients at the sea surface are discussed.
THE ISOLATION OF PRECURSORS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSOLUBLES FORMATION IN MID-DISTILLATE DIESEL FUELS

Extraction of mid-distillate fuels with methanol has been found to reduce the tendency of the fuels tested to form insolubles under conditions of accelerated aging. The effect is most pronounced among those fuels which contain catalytically cracked light cycle oils. Extraction of four test fuels, 70/30 blends of straight run stocks and light cycle oils, with aqueous base indicated that base extraction had little to no effect on insolubles formation. A fuel blending experiment, which involved blending several straight runs with various light cycle oils, implicates the catalytically cracked light cycle oils as primary repositories of the precursor materials which bring about the formation of insolubles. The methanol extract may serve as a chemical probe for the sediment precursors and may thus function as an indicator for instability under long term storage conditions.
An analysis of precursors accumulated by several chlorophyll biosynthetic mutants of maize

Several mutants of maize defective in chlorophyll synthesis are analysed. By feeding shoots of dark-grown seedlings δ-aminolevulinic acid, the regulatory step in chlorophyll biosynthesis is bypassed and chlorophyll precursors accumulate. In normal plants this results in a buildup of protoporphyrin IX and protochlorophyllide, while mutants accumulate precursors, depending on the site of the mutant-induced lesion. Mutants at three loci, l*-Blandy4, 113, and oy, are defective in conversion of protoporphyrin IX to Mg-protoporphyrin. Mutants at the oro and oro2 loci are defective in conversion of Mg-protoporphyrin monomethyl ester to protochlorophyllide. A dominant modifier gene, Orom, which allows oro seedlings to bypass their lesion is also described.
Beyond affirmation: how the school context facilitates racial/ethnic identity among Mexican American adolescents.

Identity development is a dynamic process which involves reconciling multiple messages. While ethnic minority adolescents' development is affected profoundly by discrimination, positive racial/ethn...
Effect of Angiotensin II on Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Proliferation

Angiotensin II (AII) induced the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) isolated from murine bone marrow or human cord blood. The formation of colonies with more than 50 cells increased approximately five-sevenfold in cultures of murine lineage-negative (Lin(-)) bone marrow cells both in the presence (day 10) and absence (day 13) of colony-stimulating factors (CSF). This could be blocked with addition of Losartan, an antagonist of AIITR1. The increase in proliferation of early hematopoietic progenitors (Lin(-)Sca l(+) cells) by AII was approximately threefold and occurred only in the presence of CSF, suggesting that AII may affect mesenchymal stromal cells to induce CSF production and might directly affect early HPC. These in vitro studies were replicated with human HPC isolated from cord blood. AII also accelerated the proliferation and formation of colony-forming units (CFU)-granulocyte/erythroid/macrophage/megakaryocyte and CFU-granulocyte/macrophage colonies by CD34(+)CD38(-) enriched progenitors but only in the presence of CSF. Additional studies also indicated that AII can act to increase proliferation in suspension culture. Exposure of CD34(+) cells to AII in suspension culture, prior to placement in a semisolid medium with erythropoietin, increased the formation of colonies with more than 50 cells and erythroid progenitors approximately five- and 20-fold, respectively. Further, mRNA for the AT1a receptor was expressed by human bone marrow CD34(+)CD38(-) cells, CD34(+)CD38(-) cells, and lymphocytes, but not mature myeloid cells. Similarly, mRNA for the AT1a receptor was expressed on human stromal cell clones, offering further support to the hypothesis that AII acts partially through the mesenchymal compartment of the bone marrow. These data suggest that AII may be a factor which stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors.
The Meanings of Labor: East German Women's Work in the Transition from Nazism to Communism

In Christoph Wetzel's 1988 painting, An Everyday Story, the divided canvas proudly depicts women's accomplishments in the German Democratic Republic (Figure 1). On one side, a woman operates a large piece of heavy machinery in a rolling mill, cool and competent behind the enormous mass of metal and gears. On the other side, the same woman helps her two children prepare for school in the morning. In the act of combing her daughter's hair, she looks out directly at the viewer, her expression asking: “And what are you surprised at?” This painting, displayed as part of a 1995 exposition on art commissioned by government agencies in the GDR, graphically displays that government's ideological commitment to women's paid labor, especially in jobs that, in capitalist societies, are often thought to be inappropriate for women.
Time-series models for identifying damage location in structural members subjected to ambient vibrations

This paper compares two different approaches to identify damage locations in structural members subjected to ambient vibrations. The concept is demonstrated using a simply supported two span steel beam. An electro-hydraulic actuator was used to simulate ambient loading by applying random loads. The vibration time histories were collected for the undamaged and damaged conditions. The structural damages were introduced by cutting notches of different sizes in the flange at different locations. The two different approaches used time-series models in the context of statistical pattern recognition to extract sensitive damage features. In the first method, the damage features were extracted using the errors from fitting autoregressive models with exogenous inputs (ARX) to the collected time histories. The fitted ARX models had been developed based on the undamaged beam. The calculated damage probability from this method could not clearly discriminate the physical damage locations although the change in the condition of the beam was identified. In the second method, variations in the coefficients of multivariate autoregressive models which had been fitted to the acceleration time histories were investigated, and the damage features were extracted by measuring the magnitude of these variations. The findings showed the sensors close to the physical damage locations are related to the larger damage features.
Translational Control of BACE1 May Go Awry in Alzheimer's Disease

Our understanding of the mechanisms whereby BACE1, the aspartyl protease required for the initial cleavage of APP to generate amyloid-β (Aβ), is regulated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains incomplete. In this issue of Neuron , O'Connor and coworkers show how energy deprivation, a potential risk factor in AD, triggers the phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α to elevate the translation efficiency of a set of stress-related transcripts, including that of BACE1, and increases the level of BACE1, thereby accelerating amyloidogenesis.
A continuing evolution in U.S. agricultural and food policy - The 1990 Act

Abstract This paper reports the results of a study of the economic content and the decision-making process of the recently adopted U.S. 1990 agricultural and food policy. It is the most comprehensive policy of its type. It represents the broadest participation of private individuals and interests groups, and will affect the economy of not only the United States, but also the economies of trading countries around the world. The study examines the economic conditions leading up to the policy, a theoretical foundation of public policy determinants, the role of economic analysis in that policy development, the provisions of the Act compared with the previous policy, and its extensive economic implications. Results of the study support features of a conceptual framework for economic policy of a participatory government. The study also reveals the unique policy process of the United States and the provisions of its price and income policy for the food and agricultural sector. Finally, this article identifies the interrelations between the 1990 policy and on-going GATT negotiations, the emerging importance of environmental and food quality issues in agricultural and food policy, and sources for further study of this Act.
Substrate study of tungsten nano-gratings deposited by a single femtosecond laser beam

Sub-wavelength tungsten nano-gratings were grown using a single femtosecond laser beam on many substrates. Quantitative study of substrate reveals that substrates play a significant role in controlling the growth conditions and physical attributes of tungsten-nano-gratings.
Improving multi-tier security using redundant authentication

Multi-tier web server systems are used in many important contexts and their security is a major cause of concern. Such systems can exploit strategies like least privilege to make lower tiers more secure in the presence of compromised higher tiers. In this paper, we investigate an extension of this technique in which higher tiers are required to provide evidence of the authentication of principals when they make requests of lower tiers. This concept, which we call redundant authentication, enables lower tiers to provide security guarantees that improve significantly over current least privilege strategies. We validate this technique by applying it to a practical Building Automation System (BAS) application, where we explore the use of redundant authentication in conjunction with an authentication proxy to enable interoperation with existing enterprise authentication services.
GENES AFFECTING SENSITIVITY TO SEROTONIN IN CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS

Regulating the response of a postsynaptic cell to neurotransmitter is an important mechanism for controlling synaptic strength, a process critical to learning. We have begun to define and characterize genes that may control sensitivity to the neurotransmitter serotonin in the nematode Caenorhabditis ekgans by identifjmg serotonin-hypersensitive mutants. We reported previously that mutations in the gene unc-2 , which encodes a putative calcium channel subunit, result in hypersensitivity to serotonin. Here we report that mutants defective in the unc-36 gene, which encodes a homologue of a calcium channel auxiliary subunit, are also serotonin-hypersensitive. Moreover, the unc-36 gene appears to be required in the same cells as unc-2 for control of the same behaviors. Mutations in several other genes, including unc-8, unc-10, unc-20, unc-35, unc-75, unc-77 , and snt-1 also result in hypersensitivity to serotonin. Several of these mutations have previously been shown to confer resistance to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, suggesting that they may affect acetylcholine release. Moreover, we found that mutations that decrease acetylcholine synthesis cause defective egg-laying and serotonin hypersensitivity. Thus, acetylcholine appears to negatively regulate the response to serotonin and may participate in the process of serotonin desensitization.
Induction of LacZ mutations in Muta™Mouse can distinguish carcinogenic from non-carcinogenic analogues of diaminotoluenes and nitronaphthalenes

2,4-Diaminotoluene (2,4-DAT) is a liver carcinogen in rats and mice whereas 2,6-DAT is not. Both are genotoxic in vitro. Tests for mutations in transgenic mice, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS), DNA damage and enhancement of initiated foci in vivo have shown some discrimination between these two analogues, but only after oral administration. 1- and 2-nitronaphthalene (1- and 2-NNT) are also both genotoxic in vitro, although, unlike 2,4- and 2,6-DAT, they do not require metabolic activation. There is some evidence that 2-NNT may be able to induce liver and bladder tumours, and there is some evidence that 1-NNT is not carcinogenic to rats or mice, but none of the data are convincing. When tested for induction of LacZ mutations in Muta Mouse after topical exposure (human occupational exposure route) at their maximum tolerated doses, 2,4-DAT induced a positive response in liver and a marginal response in kidney, whereas 2,6-DAT was negative. 2-NNT also induced a positive mutagenic response in liver, and a marginal response in bladder, whereas 1-NNT was negative. Neither 2,4- nor 2,6-DAT induced mutations at the site of application (skin) as might be expected for chemicals requiring activation by liver enzymes. 2-NNT, which is a direct-acting mutagen in vitro, gave a marginal response for induced mutation at the site of application, but 1-NNT was negative. This study shows that investigation of induction of LacZ mutations after topical application in vivo can provide useful data to help discriminate potentially carcinogenic from non-carcinogenic chemicals that are mutagenic in vitro. Robust carcinogenicity data are needed to determine whether 2-NNT can induce tumours in the liver and bladder.
The Association of Radial Deficiency with Thumb Hypoplasia

Background: Congenital longitudinal deficiencies of the radius and thumb are known to be associated with one another; however, the details of their relationship are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased severity of radial deficiencies is associated with increased severity of thumb deficiencies and to review the relationship between radial deficiency and reconstructibility of a hypoplastic thumb. Methods: Radiographs and charts of 227 affected upper extremities of 139 patients with radial longitudinal deficiency were reviewed. The associated thumb deficiency was classified according to a modification of the Blauth and Schneider-Sickert scheme and the radial deficiency was classified according to a modification of the Bayne and Klug criteria for 191 extremities of 119 patients. Results: The severity of the thumb deficiency was directly proportional to the severity of the radial deficiency (p < 0.0001). Half of the extremities had either a thumb deficiency or thumb and carpal deficiencies without radial deficiency. Two-thirds (sixty-three) of the ninety-five limbs with a normal radius had a thumb that could be surgically reconstructed. Seventy-one (91%) of seventy-eight extremities with a thumb amenable to surgical reconstruction had a radius that did not require surgical reconstruction. All extremities with a radial and/or carpal deficiency had a thumb deficiency. Forty-eight (94%) of fifty-one extremities with complete absence of the radius had a thumb that was not reconstructible. Conclusions: This study supports the growing body of evidence that the components of radial longitudinal deficiency represent a progressive spectrum of upper extremity abnormalities, and a distal progression of severity, with distal structures likely to be more involved than proximal structures. Level of Evidence: Prognostic study, Level II-1 (retrospective study). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The behavioral pharmacology of effort-related choice behavior: dopamine, adenosine and beyond

For many years, it has been suggested that drugs that interfere with dopamine (DA) transmission alter the “rewarding” impact of primary reinforcers such as food. Research and theory related to the functions of mesolimbic DA are undergoing a substantial conceptual restructuring, with the traditional emphasis on hedonia and primary reward yielding to other concepts and lines of inquiry. The present review is focused upon the involvement of nucleus accumbens DA in effort-related choice behavior. Viewed from the framework of behavioral economics, the effects of accumbens DA depletions and antagonism on food-reinforced behavior are highly dependent upon the work requirements of the instrumental task, and DA-depleted rats show a heightened sensitivity to response costs, especially ratio requirements. Moreover, interference with accumbens DA transmission exerts a powerful influence over effort-related choice behavior. Rats with accumbens DA depletions or antagonism reallocate their instrumental behavior away from food-reinforced tasks that have high response requirements, and show increased selection of low reinforcement/low cost options. Nucleus accumbens DA and adenosine interact in the regulation of effort-related functions, and other brain structures (anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, ventral pallidum) also are involved. Studies of the brain systems regulating effort-based processes may have implications for understanding drug abuse, as well as symptoms such as psychomotor slowing, fatigue or anergia in depression and other neurological disorders.
Influences of Multisensory Experience on Subsequent Unisensory Processing

Multisensory perception has been the focus of intense research in recent years. It is now well established that crossmodal interactions are ubiquitous in perceptual processing and endow the system with improved precision, accuracy, processing speed, etc. While these findings have shed much light on principles and mechanisms of perception, ultimately it is not very surprising that multiple sources of information provide benefits in performance compared to a single source of information.Here, we argue that the more surprising recent findings are those showing that multisensory experience also influences the subsequent unisensory processing. For example, exposure to auditory-visual stimuli, can change the way auditory or visual stimuli are processed subsequently even in isolation. We review three sets of findings that represent three different types of learning ranging from perceptual learning, to sensory recalibration, to associative learning. In all these cases exposure to multisensory stimuli profoundly influences the subsequent unisensory processing. This diversity of phenomena may suggest that continuous modification of unisensory representations by multisensory relationships may be a general learning strategy used by the brain.
Electron Microscopic Studies of Macromolecules Without Appositional Contrast

In pursuing electron microscopic studies of individual biomacromolecules without contrast-enhancing stains, conventional transmission electron microscopy was improved by the use of thin, large area carbon support films. Contrast of the bright-field appearance of the unstained macromolecules and complexes was strongly enhanced in a dark field obtained by insertion of a dark-field objective aperture or by tilting the condenser system. The results are exemplified by various biological macromolecules such as DNA-protein monolayers or ferritin molecules.
Modifications to COBRA-TF to model dispersed flow film boiling with two flow, four field Eulerian–Eulerian approach – Part 2

Abstract In the first part of the paper, the modifications performed to improve the dispersed flow film boiling model in COBRA-TF have been described. The improvements were achieved by adding a small droplet field to the code’s solution scheme. The conservation equations, the source terms for the equations and the models developed were summarized. In this paper, the effects of spacer grids on the dispersed flow heat transfer and COBRA-TF modifications for the spacer grid models are presented. The results of the code predictions are presented by comparing the experimental data from Rod Bundle Heat Transfer experiments with the results of code simulations performed with original and modified code. Measurements and calculations for the spacer grid temperature have been compared. The results of the analysis performed with the modified code indicate the improvement in code predictions for the spacer grid temperature.
Contingent Conclusions: Year of Initiation Influences Ecological Field Experiments, but Temporal Replication is Rare

Interannual variation in experimental field conditions produce variability in the results of experiments monitored over multiple years, termed here “year effects.” When experimental treatments are replicated in separate years, interannual variation may influence treatment effects and produce significant treatment by initiation-year interactions. Understanding the frequency and strength of these effects requires initiating identical experiments across years. We conducted a review of literature covering more than 500 experimental articles published in 7 journals between 1966 and 2008. Only 5% of the 276 general ecological field studies initiated experiments in multiple years. This rarity was even more evident in the journal Restoration Ecology, in which none of the 173 surveyed experimental studies initiated experiments in multiple years. In contrast, 48% of the 58 field experiments published in an agronomy journal were replicated across years. We found only 17 studies that tested treatment by initiation-year interactions. Despite their rarity, 76% of these studies found significant interactions between treatment and initiation year. We conclude that the results of many ecological field experiments are likely to be contingent on the year in which they are implemented. We discuss the importance of treatment by initiation-year interactions in ecology and restoration, factors that have hindered the inclusion of temporal replication in the past, and some suggestions for the appropriate design and analysis of temporally replicated experiments. We argue for more deliberate investigation of temporal contingency in ecological experimentation, especially in the field of restoration ecology, which may be particularly sensitive to treatment by initiation-year interactions.
INDEPENDENT EVOLUTION OF COMPLEX LIFE HISTORY ADAPTATIONS IN TWO FAMILIES OF FISHES, LIVE-BEARING HALFBEAKS (ZENARCHOPTERIDAE, BELONIFORMES) AND POECILIIDAE (CYPRINODONTIFORMES)

We have previously documented multiple, independent origins of placentas in the fish family Poeciliidae. Here we summarize similar analyses of fishes in the family Zenarchopteridae. This family includes three live-bearing genera. Earlier studies documented the presence of superfetation, or the ability to carry multiple litters of young in different stages of development in the same ovary, in some species in all three genera. There is also one earlier report of matrotrophy, or extensive postfertilization maternal provisioning, in two of these genera. We present detailed life-history data for approximately half of the species in all three genera and combine them with the best available phylogeny to make inferences about the pattern of life-history evolution within this family. Three species of Hemirhamphodon have superfetation but lack matrotrophy. Most species in Nomorhamphus and Dermogenys either lack superfetation and matrotrophy or have both superfetation and matrotrophy. Our phylogenetic analysis shows that matrotrophy may have evolved independently in each genus. In Dermogenys, matrotrophic species produce fewer, larger offspring than nonmatrotrophic species. In Nomorhamphus; matrotrophic species instead produce more and smaller offspring than lecithotrophic species. However, the matrotrophic species in both genera have significantly smaller masses of reproductive tissue relative to their body sizes. All aspects of these results are duplicated in the fish family Poeciliidae. We discuss the possible adaptive significance of matrotrophy in the light of these new results. The two families together present a remarkable opportunity to study the evolution of a complex trait because they contain multiple, independent origins of the trait that often include close relatives that vary in either the presence or absence of the matrotrophy or in the degree to which matrotrophy is developed. These are the raw materials that are required for either an analysis of the adaptive significance of the trait or for studies of the genetic mechanisms that underlie the evolution of the trait.
The prion strain phenomenon: Molecular basis and unprecedented features

Prions are unconventional infectious agents responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Compelling evidences indicate that prions are composed exclusively by a misfolded form of the prion protein (PrP(Sc)) that replicates in the absence of nucleic acids. One of the most challenging problems for the prion hypothesis is the existence of different strains of the infectious agent. Prion strains have been characterized in most of the species. Biochemical characteristics of PrP(Sc) used to identify each strain include glycosylation profile, electrophoretic mobility, protease resistance, and sedimentation. In vivo, prion strains can be differentiated by the clinical signs, incubation period after inoculation and the lesion profiles in the brain of affected animals. Sources of prion strain diversity are the inherent conformational flexibility of the prion protein, the presence of PrP polymorphisms and inter-species transmissibility. The existence of the strain phenomenon is not only a scientific challenge, but it also represents a serious risk for public health. The dynamic nature and inter-relations between strains and the potential for the generation of a large number of new prion strains is the perfect recipe for the emergence of extremely dangerous new infectious agents.
Transcriptional Regulation by Trithorax-Group Proteins

The trithorax group of genes (trxG) was identified in mutational screens that examined developmental phenotypes and suppression of Polycomb mutant phenotypes. The protein products of these genes are primarily involved in gene activation, although some can also have repressive effects. There is no central function for these proteins. Some move nucleosomes about on the genome in an ATP-dependent manner, some covalently modify histones such as methylating lysine 4 of histone H3, and some directly interact with the transcription machinery or are a part of that machinery. It is interesting to consider why these specific members of large families of functionally related proteins have strong developmental phenotypes.