cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Lake Trout Spawning: Evaluation of Traps for Measurement of Egg Abundance

Biologists in the Great Lakes have used circular egg traps to study lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) reproduction for the past several years; however, interpretation of egg trap data beyond the presence or absence of eggs has been speculative. The main objective of this study was to determine if trap data could be used to index egg abundance in spawning substrate. In 1990 and 1992 the number of eggs captured in traps on a reef in Lake Ontario was compared to the egg abundance in cobble substrate adjacent to each trap. Linear regression models indicated that the relationship between eggs captured in traps and egg abundance varied significantly, both among depth transects within years and between years (P < 0.05). However, within a given year, egg capture in traps generally increased as egg abundance increased. Wind-induced waves and water currents probably affected the proportion of eggs that were dislodged from the substrate and drifted into traps or off the reef and caused much of the variation observed in the eggs • trap−1–egg abundance relationship. Different substrate size and interstitial depth may also explain some of the within year variation among trap sites. Trap data should not be used to compare egg abundance among different Great Lakes spawning areas unless data interpretation includes sources of variation such as water currents and substrate type. Comparison of trap data among years for the same spawning area should only be made among years with similar water currents.
Selective reminding for analysis of memory and learning

A new and more appropriate paradigm for verbal learning is described and illustrated. Reminding a subject only of items not recalled on the immediately preceding trial, instead of presenting all items on each trial, shows retrieval from long-term storage when items are retrieved again without further presentation. This permits simultaneous analysis of long-term storage (LTS), retrieval from long-term storage (LTR), and recall from short-term storage (STR). Evaluating LTR in terms of items consistently retrieved on all subsequent trials (without further presentation) differentiates LTR into random and organized LTR, and also provides a measure of list learning for comparison with item learning. To illustrate the use of selective reminding for investigation of retrieval alone, an example is also presented of reminding only until first recall.
Monitor color and repetition as factors in human-computer interaction

Recall of new information is the basis for reading comprehension and is a fundamental skill that affects virtually every area of human activity in which information is displayed. Because the computer has become the primary means by which information is disseminated, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) factors play an important role in the effectiveness of the process. This paper describes the results of an experiment conducted to study the effect of color and repetition on the comprehension of information displayed by way of a computer monitor.
Dynamic Fatigue of Treated High‐Silica Glass: Explanation by Crack Tip Blunting

In previous papers, it was shown that when abraded high-silica glass is soaked in hot water or annealed in air, its crack tip becomes blunt. The dynamic fatigue characteristics in various liquids of high-silica glass with different treatments were examined. The stress rate dependence of fracture strength was determined for freshly abraded samples and for abraded and soaked (in hot water) or heat-treated samples, in water, hydrazine, formamide, and acetonitrile. The stress rate susceptibility of the fracture strength was represented by the commonly used n value. Freshly abraded samples exhibited approximately the same low n values for all the liquids, which is consistent with the slope of the slow crack growth data. Treated samples, on the other hand, showed a slightly larger n value in water and extremely large n values in nonaqueous liquids. When the crack tip is sharp, only slow crack growth is involved in the fatigue. When the crack tip is blunt, crack initiation is involved in addition to the crack growth. The equation of dynamic fatigue based upon slow crack growth was modified to incorporate this effect of crack initiation and was applied to the present experimental results. The analysis showed that the crack initiation stress is stress rate dependent in water and is stress rate independent in nonaqueous liquids. This conclusion was supported by the crack initiation behavior observed using the microhardness indenter.
Genetic Basis of Atherosclerosis: Part I New Genes and Pathways

Knowledge of genetic factors in the etiology of coronary heart disease has not so far been adequately utilized in attempts to combat premature CHD. The time has now come to utilize genetic information in a setting of family-oriented preventive medicine. This approach would greatly improve the efficiency of preventive efforts, utilizing predictive genetic testing and targeting counseling on those who need it most. 1 The optimistic predictions of the impact of genetics on the diagnosis and prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) have not been realized, and whether DNA testing will be incorporated into clinical cardiology practice in the next decades is unclear. Most of the genetic variations identified thus far either are rare or influence traditional risk factors such as low HDL, elevated LDL, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Several recent advances, however, make a case for renewed optimism (see Part I of this review). Studies in humans and mice have begun to reveal highly penetrant genetic factors that contribute to CHD susceptibility independent of traditional risk factors. As technical advances bring down genotyping costs, we may pass a threshold for the cost–benefit ratio in the near future. One important application in diagnosis is likely to involve the identification of different forms of CHD to allow individualized treatment (pharmacogenetics). The application of multilocus genotyping to assess risk or to screen populations for individuals who are highly susceptible to CHD also is a possibility. Perhaps most important, genetic studies are leading to many insights into disease mechanisms, and these studies, along with biochemical approaches, are pointing to new therapeutic concepts and treatments. Probably the most significant impact of genetic studies on medicine pertains to the development of therapies. The outstanding example is the impetus that genetic studies of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) provided in the development of hepatic hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme …
Affine Transformations, Polynomials, and Proportionality

(2001). Affine Transformations, Polynomials, and Proportionality. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 108, No. 10, pp. 972-975.
The infrared spectra of nitriles and related compounds frozen in Ar and H2O

We present the 2320-2050 cm-1 (4.31-4.88 micrometers) infrared spectra of 16 solid-state nitriles, isonitriles, and related compounds in order to facilitate the assignment of absorption features in a spectral region now becoming accessible to astronomers for the first time through the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). This frequency range spans the positions of the strong C triple bond N stretching vibration of these compounds and is inaccessible from the ground due to absorption by CO2 in the terrestrial atmosphere. Band positions, profiles, and intrinsic strengths (A values) were measured for compounds frozen in Ar and H2O matrices at 12 K. The molecular species examined included acetonitrile, benzonitrile (phenylcyanide), 9-anthracenecarbonitrile, dimethylcyanamide, isopropylnitrile (isobutyronitrile), methylacrylonitrile, crotononitrile, acrylonitrile (vinyl cyanide), 3-aminocrotononitrile, pyruvonitrile, dicyandiamide, cyanamide, n-butylisocyanide, methylisocyanoacetate, diisopropylcarbodiimide, and hydrogen cyanide. The C triple bond N stretching bands of the majority of nitriles fall in the 2300-2200 cm-1 (4.35-4.55 micrometers) range and have similar positions in both Ar and H2O matrices, although the bands are generally considerably broader in the H2O matrices. In contrast, the isonitriles and a few exceptional nitriles and related species produce bands at lower frequencies spanning the 2200-2080 cm-1 (4.55-4.81 micrometers) range. These features also have similar positions in both Ar and H2O matrices, and the bands are broader in the H2O matrices. Three of the compounds (pyruvonitrile, dicyandiamide, and cyanamide) show unusually large shifts of their C triple bond N stretching frequencies when changing from Ar to H2O matrices. We attribute these shifts to the formation of H2O:nitrile complexes with these compounds. The implications of these results for the identification of the 2165 cm-1 (4.62 micrometers) "XCN" interstellar feature and the 4550 cm-1 (2.2 micrometers) feature of various objects in the solar system are discussed.
Computer-based advanced placement calculus for gifted students

A computer-based course in Advanced Placement Calculus AB, developed at the Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences at Stanford University, was completed by 13 gifted students in grades 7–10 from seven different junior and senior high schools. This article covers the selection procedures for students, the day-to-day progress of the calculus students during the 1990–91 school year, details of the derivation system developed, operational aspects of the hardware and software systems that were used, and analysis of individual differences that appear in the self-placed environment. The 13 students took the Advanced Placement Calculus AB examination in May 1991. All students passed. Six scored 5 (the highest grade); Six scored 4, and one scored 3, for an average score of 4.4.
Analyzing microarray data using cluster analysis

As pharmacogenetics researchers gather more detailed and complex data on gene polymorphisms that effect drug metabolizing enzymes, drug target receptors and drug transporters, they will need access to advanced statistical tools to mine that data. These tools include approaches from classical biostatistics, such as logistic regression or linear discriminant analysis, and supervised learning methods from computer science, such as support vector machines and artificial neural networks. In this review, we present an overview of another class of models, cluster analysis, which will likely be less familiar to pharmacogenetics researchers. Cluster analysis is used to analyze data that is not a priori known to contain any specific subgroups. The goal is to use the data itself to identify meaningful or informative subgroups. Specifically, we will focus on demonstrating the use of distance-based methods of hierarchical clustering to analyze gene expression data.
Chronic toxicity and oncogenicity bioassay of inhaled ethylene in Fischer-344 rats

The toxicity and oncogenicity of inhaled ethylene was determined in Fischer-344 rats. Nine hundred and sixty animals were randomly divided into four groups of one hundred twenty animals of each sex and were exposed 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for up to 24 months to concentrations of ethylene in air of 0, 300, 1000, or 3000 ppm. The maximum tolerated dose was not used as concentrations above 3000 ppm were considered hazardous because of the risks associated with ethylene's explosive properties. The calculated time-weighted average concentrations for the 24 months of exposure were 0.0, 301, 1003, and 3003 ppm, respectively. Randomly selected animals were necropsied and examined after 6, 12, and 18 months of exposure. All surviving rats were necropsied at 24 months. A complete selection of tissues and organs from all animals in the control and 3000-ppm groups were examined for microscopic lesions. All animals were examined for clinical changes throughout the course of the study and selected animals were used to determine ophthalmologic or hematologic effects and for clinical blood chemistry or urinalysis effects. There were 151 unscheduled deaths (15.7% of 960 animals). There was no difference in mortality between groups during the 2-year study. Gross examination of rats dying during the study, or of those that were sacrificed as scheduled, did not reveal any lesions attributable to ethylene exposure. Histologically, a variety of proliferative, degenerative, and inflammatory lesions were observed in both the control and 3000-ppm groups. These lesions were typical of those seen in this strain of animal and were considered unrelated to ethylene exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
R70-27 Tree Generating Regular Systems

This paper concerns itself with rooted trees which have labeled nodes. The labels are taken from a stratified alphabet (each label is associated with a nonnegative number, the number of branches descending from it). The alphabet is divided into terminal and nonterminal labels. Tree generating grammars called regular systems are introduced. A set of trees serve as "axioms" and production rules of the form Φ→Ψ, where Φ and Φ are trees, allow successive replacement of subtrees Φ by Ψ. The "language" generated by such a system is the set of trees generable from the axioms containing terminal labels only. Such languages, when trees are written linearly (prefix or postfix form) are context free.
On the Parameterization of Aerosol Fluxes to the Great Lakes

Simulations of the flux of pollutants into the Great Lakes from the atmosphere have usually been based on parameterization procedures that have tended to hide several apparently important phenomena. In the case of dry deposition, solubility, wind speed, and atmospheric stability appear to be critical factors. Including these factors in the special case of highly soluble gases results in predicted deposition velocities that range from an average of 1.5 cm s−1 in winter to about 0.5 cm s−1 in summer. A similar but probably somewhat weaker seasonal dependence should be expected in the cases of particles and partially-soluble gases. Wet deposition by other than convective rainfall is largely unstudied, however, the case of snowfall in particular should be expected to be considerably different; thus a seasonal variation of wet deposition might also be anticipated.
On the interactions of economics and technology

The purpose of this article is to examine some of the aspects of technological advancement as a source of economic development. Technological unemployment is discussed and arguments against its importance are reviewed. The suggestion that technological advancement will lead to a class division between those educated or trained in technical skills and those who are not is considered and rejected. The importance of free trade in both transmitting and utilizing technology is discussed. The role of democratic institutions and the upholding of human rights in the economic advancement of the postwar years is considered briefly. Finally, it is suggested that a combination of democratic institutions, human rights, free trade, and technological progress will develop unifying bonds among nations.
Lifetime measurements in jet-cooled indoles: Additional evidence for the 1La state

The jet-cooled indole derivatives 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-carboline, designated W(1a), and 1,2,3,4-hydrocarbazole (HC) have short (< 4 ns) lifetimes compared to indole when individual S1 vibronic states are excited. This effect has been explained by the proximity of a dissociative 1La state. However, complexes of W(1a)_and HC with one polar solvent molecule were found to have significantly lengthened lifetimes. This effect can be explained in terms of additional lowering of 1La relative to 1Lb.
Visual risk factors for driving difficulty among older drivers

This study sought to evaluate associations between visual function and self-reported difficulty with driving tasks. Drivers (N = 384) between the ages of 55 and 85 were selected from ophthalmology practices and optometry clinics; three out of four of the sample had cataracts and the remaining were cataract-free. Information on driving exposure and difficulty was obtained via self-report. Visual functional status of all participants was measured with respect to acuity, contrast sensitivity, disability glare and useful field of view. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mattis Organic Mental Syndrome Screening Examination. The results show a pattern of difficulty in high-risk driving situations among those with decreased visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, even after adjustments for age, gender, weekly mileage, and cognitive impairment.
Rituximab Therapy in a Patient with Recurrent Hashimoto's Encephalitis (HE), and Progressive Encephalomyelitis with Rigidity and Myoclonus (PERM) (P04.164)

Objective: To report the results of therapy with Rituximab in a patient with recurrent HE, and PERM. Background HE is a rare autoimmune disease with recurrent neurologic and psychiatric features. PERM is a rare disorder characterized by muscular rigidity, painful spasms, myoclonus associated with autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), glycine and NMDA receptors Design/Methods: Case report. Results: A 59-year old Caucasian woman developed new-onset generalized seizures. EEG monitoring showed bilateral focal temporal and occipital spikes with secondary generalization . Initial neurological examination, metabolic profile, brain MRI, lumbar puncture, were normal except for high anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (444 IU/ml) and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (55 IU/ml). Despite treatment with daily Prednisone (60 mg) and sequential addition of multiple anti-epileptic drugs (levetiracetam, topiramate, phenytoin, lacosamide and gabapentin), she had recurrent seizures and multiple admissions for status epilepticus. She received IV methylprednisone for five days without benefit. IVIg 2 gm/Kg was given twice at 1-month intervals with some improvement in the seizures for about one week. However, she relapsed and became confused, disoriented, agitated with visual hallucinations, appendicular rigidity and myoclonus and tested positive for anti-GAD antibody at 3.4 U/ml (normal 0-1.5U/ml). At this stage she was given IV Rituximab, 375 mg/m², twice at 1-week interval. There was marked improvement in cognition, rigidity and myoclonus and she was seizure-free after two cycles of Rituximab therapy. The anti-GAD antibody became undetectable. There were no immediate adverse effects from the therapy. Conclusions: Rituximab is a safe and effective treatment for HE and PERM associated with anti-GAD antibody when refractory to other immunomodulatory therapies. Disclosure: Dr. Kassar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Damodaram has nothing to disclose. Dr. Iyadurai has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chand has received personal compensation for activites with Teva Neuroscience and Allergan, Inc. as a speaker. Dr. Chand has received research support for the ANDANTE Study.
Predictability of bull merit from genetic evaluations of sires and maternal grandsires using an animal model.

The ability of animal model evaluations to predict the genetic potential of a bull from his sire and maternal grandsire was investigated. Theoretical coefficients were derived for different combinations of progeny records on the bull, sire, and maternal grandsire. Coefficients >0.50 for sires and >0.25 for maternal grandsires were associated with bulls with few daughters. Ten animal model evaluations of Holsteins, July 1989 to January 1994, were used to estimate coefficients realized in three populations: 1) all AI bulls (n = 6924), 2) current AI bulls (n = 1344), and 3) elite AI bulls (n = 6116). The PTA were analyzed for milk, fat, and protein yields, and for fat and protein percentages. Birth year of sons nested within the birth year of their sire was included as a random effect with a first-order autoregressive process for the regression model used to estimate the realized coefficients for sires and maternal grandsires. After adjustment for the genetic trend for estimates of sires, the correlation coefficient between predicted merit of sons from 2 consecutive yr ranged from 0.34 to 0.87. The PTA of bulls from first-crop evaluation were accurately predicted from PTA of sire and maternal grandsire for yield and percentage traits.
Origins and divergence of Aleuts, Eskimos, and American Indians.

SummaryThe apportionment of average gene frequency differences into within and between groups of Aleuts, Eskimos and Athabascans reveals a testable model of the time of origin and differentiation of these populations. Based on the ratio of average difference between Aleuts and Eskimos, to the average difference between Bering Sea Mongoloids and Athabascans, we estimate that Athabascans diverged from Bering Sea Mongoloids at approximately 15 000 BP. The ratio of Aleut/Eskimo to Yupik/Inupiaq suggests the split between the latter occurred 5100 BP. Similarly, the within-group average gene frequency differences suggest that North American natives originated some 19 000 BP and that Bering Sea Mongoloids originated 10 200 BP. These estimates are highly concordant with independent archaeologic, linguistic and biological data.
Political Manipulation of Foreign Policy in The Duran Ballén Presidency

AbstractDuring the first two years of his presidency, Sixto Duran Ballen acquired an increasingly abysmal reputation in regional and international matters. His poor management of Ecuador's withdrawal from OPEC and his vote for Cesar Gaviria as secretary-general of the OAS illustrated his foreign policy incompetence. Early in 1995, this image changed dramatically. Duran Ballen's skillful political manipulation of the border war with Peru demonstrated that the president could manage both domestic and regional crises. He succeeded in achieving a cease-fire with Peru, while simultaneously boosting his domestic approval ratings. What accounts for this change in Duran Ballen's foreign policy behaviour? Two explanations are considered. First, his successful management of the border may be an example of political learning. Second, the fact that the border war was not a North-South issue allowed Duran Ballen domestic political latitude that he did not enjoy in developing the OPEC and OAS policies. Whereas on North...
Therapist Judgments of Clients' Sex‐role Problems

Thirty therapists belonging to the Michigan Society of Consulting Psychologists rated the bipolar adjectives of the Sex-Role Stereotypes Questionnaire as to which pole was a problem for their average male and female clients. Female clients were viewed as too feminine on both socially desirable and socially undesirable adjectives. The problems of male clients were not viewed in sex stereotypic ways on the specific stereotypes. Asked directly, therapists reported that sex-role expectations create problems for both male and female clients. The findings contradict the hypothesis that therapists see the problems of women in therapy as nonconformity to the feminine stereotype.
Effects of the expression level of epidermal growth factor receptor on the ligand-induced restructuring of focal adhesions: a QCM-D study

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a major role in cell migration and invasion and is considered to be the primary source of activation of various malignant tumors. To gain insight into how elevated levels of EGFR influence cellular function, particularly cell motility, we used a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) to examine restructuring of focal adhesions in MCF-10A cells induced by epidermal growth factor. Engineered cells that overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exhibited a very different kinetic profile from wildtype MCF-10A cells that have a lower level of EGFR with a higher rate for the initial disassembly of focal adhesion and a much lower rate for the later reassembly of focal adhesions. It is conceivable that these effects exhibited by EGFR-overexpressing cells may promote the initiation and maintenance of a more favorable adhesion state for cell migration. This study has demonstrated the capability of the dissipation monitoring function of the QCM-D to quantitatively assess kinetic aspects of cellular processes with a high temporal resolution and sensitivity.
SPIDERS OF THE GENUS TETRAGNATHA (ARANEAE, TETRAGNATHIDAE) IN THE SOCIETY ISLANDS

Abstract This study revises the status of knowledge of the spider fauna of the Society Islands. Until recently, the literature on the spider fauna in these islands has suggested that the genus Tetragnatha in particular is noticeable for its poor representation in comparison with the large radiation in the Hawaiian Islands. Expeditions were conducted to determine whether this genus is indeed poorly represented in the islands as the literature would suggest. The results indicate that the islands actually have a number of endemic Tetragnatha, although there is no noticeable adaptive radiation as is seen in the Hawaiian Islands. Results of field expeditions in 1999–2000 and studies on historical collections have shown that: (1) Reports of the cosmotropical species T. mandibulata in the Society Islands are probably not valid; these were misidentifications for either T. macilenta or T. nitens. (2) Tetragnatha huahinensis is a synonym of T. macilenta. (3) There are three new species of Tetragnatha, all of which ...
Staining of phospho-proteins on acrylamide gel electropherograms.

Abstract The paper describes a method for staining the phosphate moiety of phospho-proteins after electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. The method depends on hydrolysis of the phospho-protein phosphoester linkage using dilute base in the presence of calcium ions. The gel containing the newly formed insoluble calcium phosphate is then treated with ammonium molybdate in dilute nitric acid. The resultant insoluble nitrophospho-molybdate complex is finally stained with the basic dye, methyl green, dissolved in dilute acetic acid. After destaining, a green band is observed on the gel at the locus of the phospho-protein. One nanomole of protein-bound phosphate is detectable.
Concordant Evolution of a Symbiont with Its Host Insect Species: Molecular Phylogeny of Genus Glossina and Its Bacteriome-Associated Endosymbiont, Wigglesworthia glossinidia

Many arthropods with restricted diets rely on symbiotic associations for full nutrition and fecundity. Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) harbor three symbiotic organisms in addition to the parasitic African trypanosomes they transmit. Two of these microorganisms reside in different gut cells, while the third organism is harbored in reproductive tissues and belongs to the genus Wolbachia. The primary symbiont (genus Wigglesworthia glossinidia) lives in differentiated epithelial cells (bacteriocytes) which form an organ (bacteriome) in the anterior gut, while the secondary (S) symbionts are present in midgut cells. Here we have characterized the phylogeny of Wigglesworthia based on their 16S rDNA sequence analysis from eight species representing the three subgenera of Glossina: Austenina (=fusca group), Nemorhina (=palpalis group), and Glossina (=morsitans group). Independently, the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) regions from these species were analyzed. The analysis of Wigglesworthia indicated that they form a distinct lineage in the gamma subdivision of Proteobacteria and display concordance with their host insect species. The trees generated by parsimony confirmed the monophyletic taxonomic placement of Glossina, where fusca group species formed the deepest branch followed by morsitans and palpalis groups, respectively. The placement of the species Glossina austeni by both the traditional morphological and biochemical criteria has been controversial. Results presented here, based on both the ITS-2 and the symbiont 16S rDNA sequence analysis, suggest that Glossina austeni should be placed into a separate fourth subgenus, Machadomyia, which forms a sister-group relationship with the morsitans group species.
Homogeneous nucleation of a solid-solid dilatational phase transformation

Abstract The problem of homogeneous coherent nucleation of a spherical particle in an infinite matrix is considered. A Landau—Ginzburg type potential is used to describe the material response. The underlying Landau potential is taken to be of the 2-3-4 type and the gradient energy contribution is taken to be quadratic. The nucleation problem is posed as an energy extremum problem and the finite element method, in conjunction with a perturbed Lagrangian algorithm, is used to obtain solutions with nucleus structure. The present nonlinear model spans the range from classical to nonclassical nucleation and exhibits many of the physical phenomena associated with nonclassical nucleation including divergence in radius and interface thickness of the critical nucleus and vanishing of the nucleation energy as the instability temperature is approached.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with MUNC13‐4 gene mutation or reduced natural killer cell function prior to onset of childhood leukemia

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare histiocytic reactive process due to mutations in the perforin, MUNC13-4 or syntaxin 11 genes, or secondary to malignancy, infection or autoimmune disorder. HLH as a preceding diagnosis to leukemia is rare. We report two cases with progression to acute leukemia, one heterozygous for MUNC13-4 and the other with reduced NK cell function and perforin expression. These defects may predispose to a secondary HLH-like presentation of pre-clinical leukemia or confer increased susceptibility to malignancy. HLH patients with genetic mutations or NK cell function abnormalities need monitoring for future malignancy even if the HLH resolves.
IFN-gamma induces endocytosis of epithelial tight junction transmembrane proteins into a vacuolar apical compartment

Abstract Introduction: Tight junctions (TJ) are critical regulators of epithelial barrier function, which is compromised in intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Intestinal inflammation was modeled in vitro by incubating a model intestinal epithelial cell line, T84 with the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interferon (IFN)-gamma. Previously we have shown that IFN-gamma induces internalization of the TJ proteins Occludin, Junction Adhesion Molecule (JAM)-1 and Claudin-1. Our aim was to determine the fate of internalized TJ proteins. Methods: Three major endocytic pathways involving clathrin-coated pits, caveolae and macropinocytosis were analyzed using pharmacological inhibitors and co-localization with markers of these pathways. Affiliation of TJ-proteins with early, late, recycling endosomes and lysosome was analyzed by immunofluorescence labeling and confocal microscopy. Results: Both pharmacological and morphological approaches ruled out the involvement of clathrin- and caveolar-mediated pathways in the endocytosis of TJ proteins. In contrast, wortmannin or EIPA, inhibitors of macropinocytosis blocked TJ proteins internalization. Internalized TJ proteins were observed in large vacuolaes coated with F-actin and markers of the apical membrane, that resemble the vacuolar apical compartment (VAC). VACs were enriched in markers of early endosome (EEA-1). TJ-proteins colocalized with early/recycling endosomes (EEA-1, Rab-4 and Rab-11) but not late endosomes and lysosome (Rab-9 and LAMP-1). Withdraw of IFN-gamma resulted in a monensin-sensitive recycling of TJ proteins to plasma membrane. Conclusions: These results indicate that IFN-gamma induces internalization of Occludin, JAM-1 and Claudin1 via a macropinocytosis-like pathway into a vacuolar apical compartment and subsequently into early/recycling endosomes.
Subjective Feelings of Alcohol Intoxication in Asians with Genetic Variations of ALDH2 Alleles

Asian-American men who possess ALDH2*2 alleles and who experience a facial flush after consuming alcohol were carefully matched on drinking history and demographic variables with nonflushing Asian males with only ALDH2*1 alleles. Each man was tested following placebo and a challenge dose of 0.75 ml/kg alcohol. Following alcohol, flushers reported experiencing significantly more positive feelings of intoxication than nonflushers, despite equivalent blood alcohol concentrations. These data suggest that Asians who flush after drinking, particularly those with ALDH2*1/2*2 genotype, have a more intense, although not necessarily a more negative, response to alcohol than comparable nonflushing Asians. This alcohol sensitivity reaction that many Asian flushers experience may contribute to their lower tendency to drink excessively, even though their response to alcohol is not predominantly negative.
sREVEAL: Scalable extensions of REVEAL towards regulatory network inference

Most of the popular approaches towards gene regulatory networks inference e.g., Dynamic Bayesian Networks, Probabilistic Boolean Networks etc. are computationally complex and can only be used to infer small networks. While high-throughput experimental methods to monitor gene expression provide data for thousands of genes, these methods cannot fully utilize the entire spectrum of generated data. With the advent of information theoretic approaches in the last decade, the inference of larger regulatory networks from high throughput microarray data has become possible. Not all information theoretic approaches are scalable though; only methods that infer networks considering pair-wise interactions between genes such as, relevance networks, ARACNE and CLR to name a few, can be scaled upto genome-level inference. ARACNE and CLR attempt to improve the inference accuracy by pruning false edges, and do not bring in newer true edges. REVEAL is another information theoretic approach, which considers mutual information between multiple genes. As it goes beyond pair wise interactions, this approach was not scalable and could only infer small networks. In this paper, we propose two algorithms to improve the scalability of REVEAL by utilizing a transcription factor list (that can be predicted from the gene sequences) as prior knowledge and implementing time lags to further reduce the potential transcription factors that may regulate a gene. Our proposed S-REVEAL algorithms can infer larger networks with higher accuracy than the popular CLR algorithm.
A commercial off the shelf (COTS) packet communications subsystem for the Montana EaRth-Orbiting Pico-Explorer (MEROPE) CubeSat

The MEROPE communications subsystem consists almost entirely of commercial off the shelf components. Simple and robust, it is centered around a Paccomm Picopacket terminal node controller (TNC) operating continuously in "transparent" mode, whereby all serial data from the processor are immediately packetized and transmitted through a Yaesu VX-1R dual-band radio. The entire subsystem weighs less than 140 grams and occupies a total volume (including antennas and interconnects) of 180 cm/sup 3/ - less than 1/5 of the total spacecraft weight and volume budgets - with a hardware cost of less than $400. MEROPE communications uses the AX.25 packet radio protocol at 1200 baud. Uplink is at a frequency of 145.835 MHz with 20 kHz of available bandwidth. Downlink is at 437.445 MHz with a 30 kHz bandwidth. Communications flow is controlled by the Motorola HC12 flight processor, which is linked through a 9600 baud RS232 serial connection to the TNC. The entire communications link (ground-MEROPE-ground) is seamless, initialized by a single encrypted uplink command. The MEROPE antenna is a center-fed dipole tuned to the 2m uplink, which is nearly harmonic with the 70 cm downlink.
Effects of Pyramided Bt Corn and Blended Refuges on Western Corn Rootworm and Northern Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, and the northern corn rootworm, Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), are major pests of corn (Zea mays L). Several transgenic corn events producing insecticidal toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) kill corn rootworm larvae and reduce injury to corn roots. However, planting of Bt corn imposes selection on rootworm populations to evolve Bt resistance. The refuge strategy and pyramiding of multiple Bt toxins can delay resistance to Bt crops. In this study, we assessed the impact of four treatments--1) non-Bt corn, 2) Cry3Bb1 corn, 3) corn pyramided with Cry3Bb1 and Cry34/35Ab1, and 4) pyramided corn with a blended refuge--on survival, time of adult emergence, and size of western and northern corn rootworm. All treatments with Bt corn led to significant reductions in the number of adults that emerged per plot. However, at one location, we identified Cry3Bb1-resistant western corn rootworm. In some cases Bt treatments reduced size of adults and delayed time of adult emergence, with effects most pronounced for pyramided corn. For both species, the number of adults that emerged from pyramided corn with a blended refuge was significantly lower than expected, based solely on emergence from pure stands of pyramided corn and non-Bt corn. The results of this study indicate that pyramided corn with a blended refuge substantially reduces survival of both western and northern corn rootworm, and as such, should be a useful tool within the context of a broader integrated pest management strategy.
The Beginning Capacity to Teach Writing

This paper investigates prospective teachers' declarative knowledge about writing instruction at two points in the beginning of their teacher education program prior to the opportunity to teach. Interview protocols are described and interpreted as they relate to prospective teachers' knowledge of the writing process, writing strategies that underlie the components of the writing process, and teaching procedures for communicating information about process and strategies to pupils. Of particular interest is the distance traveled by prospective teachers in their declarative knowledge about writing instruction as a result of course work in methods of teaching writing, and especially as their changing knowledge may affect their ability to instruct special education writers. The results of the interview analysis indicate that prospective teachers readily receive information about writing instruction from coursework, but reveal little knowledge of how to implement such instruction. The paper concludes by discuss...
A Critique of Pure String Theory: Heterodox Opinions of Diverse Dimensions

I present a point of view about what M Theory is and how it is related to the real world that departs in certain crucial respects from conventional wisdom. I argue against the possibility of a background independent formulation of the theory, or of a Poincare invariant, Supersymmetry violating vacuum state. A fundamental assumption is black hole dominance of high energy physics.Much of this paper is a compilation of things I have said elsewhere. I review a crude argument for the critical exponent connecting the gravitino mass and the cosmological constant, and propose a framework for the finding a quantum theory of de Sitter space.
Pregnancy Intention and Contraceptive Use Among Low Income Women

Poster Presentation Objective To describe pregnancy intention and proper use of contraceptive methods among low income, mostly minority women living in underserved neighborhoods to provide appropriate contraceptive education. Design A descriptive study using baseline survey data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial, the Preconception Reproductive Knowledge Promotion Project (PREKNOP). Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Promotion Model were used as the guiding frameworks for the study. Setting Three racially diverse, low income, underserved, urban neighborhoods in a Midwestern state. Sample Participants were women of childbearing age who were enrolled in PREKNOP. Women who completed the baseline survey and reported not planning on getting pregnant in the next 6 months (n = 61) were included in the analysis. Methods A descriptive design was used to collect baseline survey data. Questions were asked about participants' plans to get pregnant in the next 6 months and incorrect use of contraception during sexual intercourse within the past month. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted using STATA 11. Results Approximately 50% of the women had a household income of less than $10,000; 65% were not married; 44% were Hispanic; and approximately 38% were Black. Women's ages ranged from 18 to 51 years (mean = 30 years). More than one third of the women (34%) reported having sex without using contraceptives properly. Most Black (70%) and Hispanic (89%) women definitely did not want to become pregnant but were more likely to have sexual intercourse without proper use of contraception (43% Black, 30% Hispanic). Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Unintended pregnancy often results from lack of, inconsistent use of, or incorrect use of contraceptive methods. Rates of unintended pregnancies are greatest among poor and minority women and are associated with increased health risks for the mother and infant. Limited research has been done on pregnancy intention and proper contraceptive use in low income and minority women. Our findings suggest a need for education on the importance of using contraceptives properly to prevent unintended pregnancies, especially in low income Black and Hispanic women. In addition, there is a need to investigate further reasons why some low income and minority women fail to use contraceptives properly and put themselves at risk for unwanted pregnancies.
Improvement of a mine fire simulation program — incorporation of smoke rollback into MFIRE 3.0

Smoke rollback is a dangerous threat to miners and firefighters in an underground mine fire. The ability to predict smoke rollback can greatly improve the chances for safe miner evacuation and mine...
Continuity analysis of programs

We present an analysis to automatically determine if a program represents a continuous function, or equivalently, if infinitesimal changes to its inputs can only cause infinitesimal changes to its outputs. The analysis can be used to verify the robustness of programs whose inputs can have small amounts of error and uncertainty---e.g., embedded controllers processing slightly unreliable sensor data, or handheld devices using slightly stale satellite data.Continuity is a fundamental notion in mathematics. However, it is difficult to apply continuity proofs from real analysis to functions that are coded as imperative programs, especially when they use diverse data types and features such as assignments, branches, and loops. We associate data types with metric spaces as opposed to just sets of values, and continuity of typed programs is phrased in terms of these spaces. Our analysis reduces questions about continuity to verification conditions that do not refer to infinitesimal changes and can be discharged using off-the-shelf SMT solvers. Challenges arise in proving continuity of programs with branches and loops, as a small perturbation in the value of a variable often leads to divergent control-flow that can lead to large changes in values of variables. Our proof rules identify appropriate ``synchronization points'' between executions and their perturbed counterparts, and establish that values of certain variables converge back to the original results in spite of temporary divergence.We prove our analysis sound with respect to the traditional epsilon-delta definition of continuity. We demonstrate the precision of our analysis by applying it to a range of classic algorithms, including algorithms for array sorting, shortest paths in graphs, minimum spanning trees, and combinatorial optimization. A prototype implementation based on the Z3 SMT-solver is also presented.
Sintering of Zirconia Nanopowder by Microwave‐Laser Hybrid Process

A new hybrid sintering process has been developed by replacing all but one laser by microwaves in the existing simultaneous multiple laser process (SIMPLE). Microwave energy has been used to preheat the material before laser radiation, and the synergism between microwave and laser energies could effectively heat the material to temperatures of 1700°C and beyond in just a few minutes. Using this process, rapid sintering of 3Y–ZrO2 (3Y–TZP) pellets has been achieved in a few minutes. Microstructural investigations reveal that the microwave–laser hybrid sintered pellets of 3Y–ZrO2 have nanograins averaging about 20 nm. The microwave–laser hybrid sintering process can clearly be a new approach for fabrication of nanoceramics and nanocomposites.
Microscopic Character of Marine Sediment Containing Disseminated Gas Hydrate: Examples from the Blake Ridge and the Middle America Trench

Abstract: The presence of disseminated gas hydrate was inferred based on pore fluid geochemistry and downhole logging data, but was rarely observed at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 164 (Blake Ridge), and Leg 170 (Middle America Trench, offshore from Costa Rica) drilling sites. Gas hydrate nucleation is likely to occur first in larger voids rather than in constricted pore space, where capillary forces depress the temperature-pressure stability field for gas hydrate formation. Traditional macroscopic descriptions of sediment fail to detect the microscopic character of primary and secondary porosity in sediment hosting disseminated gas hydrate. Light transmission and scanning electron microscopy of sediments within and below the depth of gas hydrate occurrences reveal at least four general types of primary and secondary porosity: (1) microfossils (diatoms, foraminifera, and spicules) void of infilling sediment, but commonly containing small masses of pyrite framboids; (2) infauna burrows filled with unconsolidated sand and or microfossil debris; (3) irregularly shaped pods of nonconsolidated framboidial pyrite; and (4) nonlithified volcanic ash.
A resource-based view of electronic commerce

A management theory known as the resource-based view of the firm states that resources foster organizational success. Our study of e-commerce retailers applied this theory to examine the effects of human, business, and e-commerce technology resources on firm competitiveness. An e-mail and Web-based survey used 458 responses from site managers. Business and e-commerce technology resources, as well as the individual business resource of process redesign, were found to predict e-commerce performance, whereas human resources did not. E-commerce performance, in turn, predicted firm performance. These findings partially support the resource-based view and coincide with differences between physical and e-commerce retailing.
Struggling to Reconnect: Women's Perspectives on Alcohol Dependence, Violence, and Sexual Function.

Until recently, substance use disorders and sexual function were two areas in which women received comparatively less attention then men. Recent studies have challenged sexual stereotypes about women who drink and use other substances. This study explores the experiences of women dependent on alcohol and/or other substances who have stopped their use. These women were subjected to significant abuse during both childhood and adulthood. A pattern of using alcohol and other substances as a means of managing negative feelings, disconnecting from abuse, reconnecting to form new relationships, and disconnecting from subsequent abuse was prominent in the women's stories. The women in this study also experienced problems with sexual function both while using and following cessation of use. Findings highlight the complex relationships among substance abuse, trauma, and sexual problems as well as the importance of routinely assessing for sexual problems. Suggestions for treatment and future research are offered.