cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cellulose microfibril orientation and cell shaping in developing guard cells of Allium: The role of microtubules and ion accumulation.

The role of microtubules and ions in cell shaping was investigated in differentiating guard cells of Allium using light and electron microscopy and cytochemistry. Microtubules appear soon after cytokinesis in a discrete zone close to the plasmalemma adjacent to the common wall between guard cells. The microtubules fan out from this zone, which corresponds to the future pore site, towards the other sides of the cell. Soon new cellulose microfibrils are deposited on the wall adjacent to the microtubules and oriented parallel to them. As the wall thickens, the shape of the cell shifts from cylindrical to kidney-like. Studies with polarized light show that guard cells gradually assume a birefringence pattern during development characteristic of wall microfibrils radiating away from the pore site. Retardation increases from 10 A when cells just begin to take shape, to 80–100 A at maturity. Both microfibril and microtubule orientation remain constant during development. Observations on aberrant cells including those produced under the influence of drugs such as colchicine, which leads to loss of microtubules, abnormal wall thickenings and disruption of wall birefringence, further support the role of microtubules in cell shaping through their function in the localization of wall deposition and the orientation of cellulose microfibrils in the new wall layer. Potassium first appears in guard mother cells before division and rapidly accumulates afterwards during cell shaping, as judged by the cobaltinitrite reaction. Some chloride and perhaps organic acid anions also accumulate. Thus, these ions, which are known to play a role in the function of mature guard cells, also seem to be important in the early growth and shaping of these cells.
Original thinking in preschool children: A validation of ideational fluency measures

Abstract: This investigation examined the original thinking of preschool children (N=48). The instruments were lenient and stringent solution‐standard measures of original problem solving and two subsets of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. Scores for popular and original responses were computed for the lenient and stringent measures. Findings supported the construct validity of conceptualizations of original problem solving based on ideational fluency within the lenient measures, but not within stringent measures. Findings also indicated that the lenient measures are better predictors of real‐world original behavior than stringent measures, especially for young children. The need for development of more reliable and valid measures for assessing real‐world creative behavior is discussed.
Novel Ab Initio Correlated Calculations for an Infinite Chain of Hydrogen Atoms

A novel cluster-expanded ab initio effective or model Hamiltonian is described and illustrated for a linear chain of hydrogen atoms. The method relies on expanding the model Hamiltonian in a sum of irreducible cluster interaction operators. A hierarchy of increasingly accurate ab initio Heisenberg spin Hamiltonians duplicate low eigenvalues of the more complete Schr\"odinger Hamiltonian. Finally these Heisenberg models are treated to obtain the ground-state energy and magnetic susceptibility of the infinite chain.
Coordinating standards and applications for optical water quality sensor networks

[1] Joint USGS-CUAHSI Workshop: In Situ Optical Water Quality Sensor Networks; Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 8–10 June 2011; Advanced in situ optical water quality sensors and new techniques for data analysis hold enormous promise for advancing scientific understanding of aquatic systems through measurements of important biogeochemical parameters at the time scales over which they vary. High-frequency and real-time water quality data also provide the opportunity for early warning of water quality deterioration, trend detection, and science-based decision support. However, developing networks of optical sensors in freshwater systems that report reliable and comparable data across and between sites remains a challenge to the research and monitoring community. To address this, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI), convened a 3-day workshop to explore ways to coordinate development of standards and applications for optical sensors, as well as handling, storage, and analysis of the continuous data they produce.
Injury and illness sustained by human competitors in the 2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race

Abstract Objective Alaska's 1049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is the world's longest sled dog race and the flagship event in the sport of sled dog racing. Race conditions are typically harsh. Physicians are not officially enlisted to care for human competitors. Instead, medical needs are met through an informal system of volunteers, local health care providers, and a fleet of bush planes. The goals of this study were to identify the types of human injury and illness experienced and the methods by which these conditions are treated. Methods Competitors in the 2010 Iditarod were surveyed at the halfway point and at the finish of the race. Survey elements included specific types and frequencies of injuries and illnesses, and the sources and types of treatments. Results Seventy-one teams entered the race, 62 participated in the halfway point survey, and 55 completed the finish line survey. Ninety-nine injuries were reported by 42 (68%) of the survey respondents. Frostbite was the most common injury, occurring in 20 (31%) of the respondents. Musculoskeletal pain was also commonly reported. Two mushers sustained closed head injuries, with 1 requiring evacuation. Twenty-three mushers (37%) reported an acute nontraumatic condition, most frequently an upper respiratory infection (9 respondents). In most instances, medical conditions were self-managed. Race veterinarians and support staff, as well as local village clinicians, administered the majority of care, typically wound care or oral antibiotic administration. Conclusions Most injuries and illnesses sustained by mushers in the Iditarod are minor and self-treatable. Life-threatening conditions are rare, and the need for an organized medical care system seems low.
Design Process Error-Proofing: Strategies for Reducing Quality Loss in Product Development

Design errors are a major source of quality loss in industry today. “Design Process Error-Proofing” seeks to prevent errors during product development by adapting quality management techniques. Poka-yoke solutions used in manufacturing and operation aim to prevent mistakes from occurring or detect them immediately after they are committed. The goal of design process error-proofing is to extend this strategy and develop innovative structured methods and tools that understand, predict, and prevent design errors. Because the research topic is fairly new, case studies are used to both explain and demonstrate the usefulness of solutions. Through a series of design initiatives at leading global organizations, important lessons were identified in the treatment of design errors. This paper discusses these error-proofing strategies and results.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Spatial-filtered expanded-window lasers for high-power operation of single-stripe lasers

We have investigated, via the beam propagation method, waveguide designs for wide window single-mode single-stripe lasers. The expanded window allows for higher power operation of the laser diode owing to the lower power density at the facets. Higher-order transverse mode suppression is achieved by incorporating a spatial filter in the waveguide that preferentially allows propagation of the fundamental mode. These devices can be fabricated using existing laser diode fabrication technologies such as reactive-ion-etching, native oxidation, or impurity- induced-disordering, and buried heterostructure processes. In our design and analysis of these devices we compare several expanding waveguides to determine the effects on mode selection. Additionally, the catastrophic optical damage power limit for these devices is expected to be significantly greater than for simple fundamental-mode single-stripe lasers.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Advancing the Field of Psychotherapy Through Innovation and Integration in Scholarly Works

Published articles on psychotherapy often incorporate a combination of integration and innovation, helping to advance the field through scholarly work. Many useful papers help to integrate the biological, psychological, and social or cultural factors that often play a role in the etiology and treatment of specific forms of mental illness. In addition, quality papers strive to integrate theory, science, and clinical applications throughout the text. Authors can encourage a series of minor innovations that could gradually shift the field over time. Useful papers often focus on a narrow topic that has a broad appeal to many members of the field. Authors can explore new ideas, expressing their opinions while supporting the ideas through various types of evidence. When submitting papers for publication, authors should expect it will require multiple revisions in order to sharpen the thinking and improve the writing.
Enantio- and stereoselective syntheses of the dihydroxyoctadienoic acid framents of the roridins and trichoverrins

Abstract Syntheses of protected versions of the dihydroxyoctadienoic acid fragments corresponding to roridin A and trichoverrin B are described.
Moving Beyond the Oval Office: Problems in Studying the Presidency

No student of the presidency can avoid coming to grips with the impact which the president, himself, has on political affairs in general and, more particularly, the conduct of the office in which he serves. As Fred Greenstein (1979: p. 63) has observed,
The pigmentation of the rat incisor as an index of metabolic disturbances.

Abstract An attempt has been made to classify the different conditions leading to lack of pigmentation of the rat incisors. Two main groups are suggested: one where the lack of pigmentation is associated with normal enamel structure and another with simultaneous defects in the structure of the enamel. In the first group belong conditions such as iron deficiency and vitamin B deficiency. The second group comprises hormonal disturbances, nutritional deficiencies, and intoxications. The present review of conditions associated with lack of pigmentation of the rat incisors is not intended to be complete. The main purpose is to suggest a classification which can be the basis for further discussion and investigation. Many problems are still unsolved. We have not succeeded in finding a common factor responsible for lack of pigmentation of the incisors. In spite of our limited knowledge, the pigmentation of the incisors can be used as an indicator of certain metabolic disturbances, just as the hard tissues of the incisors act as a kymographic record.56
Short bowel syndrome following bariatric surgical procedures

Abstract Background Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a potential postoperative complication that is occurring with increasing frequency after bariatric procedures (BP). As long-term follow-up data are available, unusual long-term complications are being identified. Our goal was to examine the mechanisms and outcomes of patients with SBS following BP. Study Design We retrospectively reviewed our SBS database for patients following BP and examined their demographics, indications for resection, clinical course, and outcomes. Results Eleven of 265 patients had SBS following BP. Mean age was 31 years (range 23 to 45). All were female. Operative procedures included open gastric bypass (GB) (n = 6), laproscopic GB (n = 2), jejunal-ileal bypass (JIB) (n = 1), revision of JIB (n = 1), and revision of open GB (n = 1). Five patients (45%) had internal hernia (IH). Two (18%) had bowel obstructions from adhesions that resulted in multiple resections. Two had mesenteric ischemia following revision of their BP. Two had mesenteric ischemia from a hypercoaguable state. Four SBS occurred in the initial 30-day postoperative period, 4 at 1 year, and 3 at greater than 10 years. Mean residual short bowel length was 54 cm (range 11.5 to 120 cm). All patients were on parenteral nutrition (PN) on presentation. Treatment included medical and surgical management. Currently 5 patients remain PN-dependent, 2 have died, and 4 are off PN after completing interstinal rehabilitation program/small bowel transplantation. Conclusions Complications of GB can require massive small bowel resections leading to SBS. The risk does not diminish with time. Prevention of adhesions, closure of mesenteric defects, early diagnosis of internal hernias, and conservative resections for ischemia can reduce the risk.
Vulvodynia in preadolescent girls.

AbstractObjective.Although vulvodynia occurs in approximately 7% of adult American women, we hypothesize that vulvodynia also occurs in young girls and that they respond to treatments that are similar to those used in women with this disorder.Materials and Methods.This is a retrospective case study
WIN-WIN PUBLIC POLICY ACROSS SIX POLICY FIELDS

Win-win policy analysis in this context can be defined as handling policy problems by finding solutions that exceed the best initial expectations of conservatives, liberals, Republicans, Democrats,...
Mode selection in a caricature of eutectic solidification

We have studied the problem of mode selection, specifically, selection of the lamellar spacing, in eutectic solidification, by constructing a caricature of a thin-film eutectic solidifying at constant velocity in the presence of a finite temperature gradient and in a slightly noisy environment. Our model incorporates mechanisms which allow termination of substable lamellae and creation of new lamellae by the splitting of lamellae larger than a spacing λmax. We have studied this model both by a simple analytic approximation and by computer simulation. We find that both the steady state spacing and the regularity of the pattern are sensitively dependent on the ratio λmax/λmin, where λmin is the minimum spacing required for steady state stability. An additional result to emerge from our investigation is that when λmax becomes less than a critical value, the system apparently undergoes a transition into a chaotic state.
Induction of apoptosis by iridovirus virion protein extract.

Chilo iridescent virus (CIV; IIV-6) is the type member of the genus Iridovirus (family Iridoviridae, large icosahedral cytoplasmic DNA viruses). CIV induces death and deformity in the cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, replicates productively in larvae of the cotton boll weevil, and significantly reduces laboratory populations of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii. CIV virion protein extract (CVPE) shuts down host protein synthesis in several insect cell lines and induces mortality in neonate boll weevil larvae. We report here that CVPE induces apoptosis in spruce budworm and boll weevil cell lines, as detected by blebbing, DNA fragmentation, and TUNEL assay. Tissue culture toxicity dose assays (TCTD50) showed that spruce budworm cells were eight times more sensitive to CVPE than boll weevil cells. Pancaspase inhibitor suppressed apoptosis but had marginal effect on inhibition of host protein synthesis. Moreover, the CVPE dose for apoptosis was 1000-fold lower than the dose for shutdown of host synthesis. We also detected protein kinase activity in CVPE. Heating CVPE at 60 °C for 30 min destroyed all three activities. Our results suggest that one or more polypeptides in CIV induce apoptosis. This is the first study demonstrating apoptosis induction by a member of the genus Iridovirus and by virion extracts of a member of the family Iridoviridae.
Factors associated with physician involvement in care management.

BACKGROUND Enthusiasm for the concept of care management (CM) has led to unprecedented growth in the number of guidelines and protocols, but provider organizations have struggled to enlist the active support and participation of physicians in CM activities. OBJECTIVES To empirically examine the factors influencing physician participation in and attitudes toward CM activities. METHODS Data on 1,514 physicians were used to predict physician attitudes toward CM and their perceptions of group CM behaviors. Dependent variables were modeled using two-stage Heckman selection bias models with fixed effects corrections. Independent predictors included physician- and group-level controls as well as six potential CM participation and attitude facilitators. RESULTS Physician participation in the implementation phase of CM activities was positively related to participation and attitude. However, physician participation in the development phase may be negatively related to later participation in CM activities. Management involvement in development phase has mixed effects (positive or no effect), but their involvement in the implementation phase was somewhat negatively related to CM participation and attitude. Financial incentives for participation in CM activities and presence of a useful management information system also appeared to be positively related to attitude and participation. CONCLUSIONS Appropriate physician and management involvement, as well as financial incentives and useful management information systems may facilitate physician participation in CM activities. Physician involvement in implementation of CM practices appears to be important, whereas their involvement in the development phase may be negatively related to later attitudes and participation. The findings call for a more in-depth understanding of the timing of physician input in CM activities.
Copolymerization of carbon monoxide and aziridine

Alternating copolymerization of carbon monoxide with aziridine was realized, which serves as a prototype of a novel route for synthesis of poly-β-peptides.
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Occurrence of Calcium Sulfate Minerals: ABSTRACT

The subsurface distribution of gypsum and anhydrite, the lack of subsurface bassanite, and variations in trace-element ratios between mineral phases confirm experimentally determined stability relations and indicate that the replacement of one mineral phase by another proceeds by a dissolution-reprecipitation process. The earth surface occurrence of calcium sulfate minerals indicates that long-lived metastability is almost the rule and that in many situations kinetic factors dominate over equilibrium controls. In a standing body of brine, gypsum apparently is the only phase precipitated, either at the brine-air interface with elongate growth forms indicative of rapid rate of crystal growth, or at the brine-sediment interface, commonly as cemented layers of discs with thei c crystallographic axes almost horizontal. Significant anhydrite deposits are known today only from the warmer salt-flat or sabkha environments of the Persian Gulf and Baja California, precipitated interstitially within host sediments as an early diagenetic mineral. The anhydrite is present as contorted layers and nodules, commonly with a felted lath texture. These structures, textures, and other associations are characteristic of anhydrite occurrences. Experimental studies and Holocene gypsum and anhydrite occurrences provide the information needed to determine which mineral was formed first in a particular situation. Where gypsum is the mineral buried, when and at what depth did it dehydrate, in which direction did the large volumes of dehydration water move, and what diagenetic effects did this dehydration water have on adjacent rocks and pore fluids? Where End_Page 855------------------------------ anhydrite is the mineral buried, when did it lose its large primary porosity, and has it recrystallized since initial formation? By (1) defining the first-formed mineral and its structures, textures, and chemical composition and (2) making analogous studies of ancient subsurface calcium sulfate minerals, we can, hopefully, answer some of these questions. End_of_Article - Last_Page 856------------
Band structure and x-ray resonant inelastic scattering.

We present the results of a tight-binding calculation of the soft-x-ray emission spectra obtained in an earlier study of resonant inelastic scattering of x rays at the carbon k edge of diamond. The close agreement between the calculated spectra and the experimental observations lends support to a picture of momentum conservation restricting the emission process to the same point in the Brillouin zone sampled by the initial excitation. We thus demonstrate qualitatively the feasibility of band-structure determinations with this technique.
Inhibition of gastric secretion in dogs by hexamethonium.

SummaryIn dogs with gastric fistulas (vagally innervated) and in dogs with pouches of the entire stomach (vagally denervated), the secretion of acid in response to Urecholine or histamine is depressed for at least 3 hours following intravenous administration of 4 mg/kg of hexamethonium bis-trimethylam-monium chloride. The inhibition is greater in the vagally innervated than in the vagally denervated stomach preparations.
Contribution of chloride conductance increase to slow EPSC and tachykinin current in guinea‐pig myenteric neurones.

1. Single electrode voltage clamp recordings were obtained from myenteric neurones of guinea-pig ileum in vitro. Slow excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) were elicited by focal stimulation of interganglionic nerve strands in twenty-four of thirty neurones more than 30 min after impalement. In seventeen of twenty-four neurones, sEPSCs were associated with a conductance decrease and reversed polarity at -96 +/- 3 mV (near the reversal potential for potassium, EK); this response was due to inhibition of resting potassium conductance, gK. In seven of twenty-four neurones, there was either no net conductance change or a biphasic conductance change during the sEPSC; a reversal potential for peak currents could not be determined. 2. Application of senktide (3 microM), a neurokinin-3 receptor agonist, caused an inward current in forty-one of fifty-three neurones more than 30 min after impalement. In twenty of forty-one neurones, senktide-induced currents were due to inhibition of resting gK. In eleven of forty-one neurones there was either no net conductance change or a biphasic conductance change; a reversal potential for peak currents could not be determined. In ten out of forty-one neurones, senktide-induced currents were associated with a conductance increase (ginc); the estimated reversal potential was -17 +/- 3 mV. 3. Application of forskolin (1 microM) caused an inward current that occluded the decrease in gK caused by senktide and the sEPSC. In neurones in which sESPCs and senktide responses were associated with an unclear or biphasic conductance change, forskolin did not reduce the peak current and residual currents were usually associated with a ginc. 4. In neurones in which senktide-induced currents were associated with a ginc, reducing extracellular Cl- to 13 mM reduced senktide-induced currents by 79%. Reducing extracellular Na+, or adding tetraethylammonium (TEA, 50 mM), cobalt (2 mM) or picrotoxin (30 microM) did not change senktide-induced currents. The chloride transport/channel blockers niflumic acid and mefenamic acid (both at 100 microM) blocked senktide-induced currents. It was concluded that senktide increases chloride conductance (gCl). 5. Chord conductance measurements made between -70 and -90 mV during sEPSCs were used to determine the contribution of an increase in gCl to sEPSCs. These measurements indicated that the peak sEPSC is composed of a 90% decrease in gK and a 10% increase in gCl. Similar data were obtained from measurements made during senktide responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Methemoglobinemia occurring in infants fed milk diluted with well water of high nitrate content.

Summary 1. Two cases of proved methemoglobinemia in newborn infants probably caused by the ingestion of water with a high concentration of nitrate ion are reported. A third case of suspected methemoglobinemia from the same cause is also added. 2. The efficacy of methylene blue in the treatment of this condition iscorroborated. 3. It is suggested that special precautions be taken in rural areas to see that any water used in the feeding of infants is safe in respect to its nitrate content.
Atypical central nervous system lymphoma at the cranial base: report of four cases

Objective and importance Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a disease with increasing incidence. Atypical presentations are becoming more frequent. Clinical presentation Three patients bearing cavernous sinus lesions presented initially with periorbital pain and diplopia. Tolosa-Hunt syndrome was the initial presumptive diagnosis for two patients, and meningioma was the diagnosis for the third patient. A fourth patient presented with left ear pain, and a mass in the left internal auditory canal was thought to represent an acoustic neuroma. Intervention For all four patients, an operative pathological diagnosis was obtained and was compatible with central nervous system lymphoma. All patients were treated with osmotic blood-brain barrier disruption with intra-arterial chemotherapy using a methotrexate-based regimen. Conclusion All four cases included atypical presentations of lymphoma. These cases again illustrate that a correct diagnosis cannot be obtained based only on imaging and clinical findings.
Lidocaine hydrochloride versus lidocaine bicarbonate for epidural anesthesia in outpatients undergoing arthroscopic surgery.

Abstract In a randomized, double-blind .study, 24 patients undergoing outpatient arthroscopic knee surgery were divided into two groups. Group 1 received 2% lidocaine hydrochloride; group 2 received pH-adjusted 1.73% lidocaine made by adding 1 ml of NaHCO 3 44.6 meg/L to 10 ml of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride. Epidural anesthesia was administered in the sitting position. Group 1 consisted of 12 males; group 2 consisted o J 6 males and 6 females ( p t -test and the Mann-Whitney test found no significant differences between the two groups regarding time o J onset o J analgesia, degree of spread of analgesia, time to maximum motor blockade, degree of motor blockade, length of surgical procedure, total anesthesia time, regression of anesthesia, dosage of lidocaine used, and serum lidocaine levels. Intraoperative conditions were satisfactory in all cases. Postoperatively, all patients reported having experienced a satisfactory anesthetic without any complications. The authors conclude that epidural anesthesia is a satisfactory technique for outpatient arthroscopic surgery. There appears to be no advantage to adding bicarbonate to lidocaine anesthetic solutions for use in epidural anesthesia.
A bootstrap method for gain calibration and resolution determination of a lead-glass calorimeter

Abstract We describe a method for calibration of a lead-glass calorimeter that does not require a beam of known energy. The technique was used to calibrate the radphi lead-glass calorimeter at Jefferson Lab. The technique described can be applied to any segmented electromagnetic calorimeter capable of detecting all-photon decays of mesons, for example, π 0 → 2 γ , η → 2 γ or ω → π 0 γ . We also demonstrate how the measured 2 γ mass width of the π 0 and η mesons can be unfolded to extract the single-shower energy and position resolution functions of the calorimeter.
The histone deacetylase Rpd3p is required for transient changes in genomic expression in response to stress

Background: Yeast responding to stress activate a large gene expression program called the Environmental Stress Response that consists of approximately 600 repressed genes and approximately 300 induced genes. Numerous factors are implicated in regulating subsets of Environmental Stress Response genes; however, a complete picture of Environmental Stress Response regulation remains unclear. We investigated the role of the histone deacetylase Rpd3p, previously linked to the upstream regions of many Environmental Stress Response genes, in producing Environmental Stress Response gene expression changes in response to stress. Results: We found that the Rpd3-Large complex is required for proper expression of both induced and repressed Environmental Stress Response genes under multiple stress conditions. Cells lacking RPD3 or the Rpd3-Large subunit PHO23 had a major defect in Environmental Stress Response initiation, particularly during the transient phase of expression immediately after stress exposure. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation showed a direct role for Rpd3-Large at representative genes; however, there were different effects on nucleosome occupancy and histone deacetylation at different promoters. Computational analysis implicated regulators that may act with Rpd3p at Environmental Stress Response genes. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that Rpd3p is required for binding and action of the stress-activated transcription factor Msn2p, although the contribution of these factors differs for different genes. Conclusions: Our results implicate Rpd3p as an important co-factor in the Environmental Stress Response regulatory network, and suggest the importance of histone modification in producing transient changes in gene expression triggered by stress.
A general algorithm fob, univariate and multivariate goodness of pit tests based on graphical representation

This paper presents a general algorithm tor assessing the distributional assumptions. Empirical distributions of the corresponding test statistics are obtained and examples are given to illustrate various applications of the proposed test. By using the squared radii and angles, it is shown that the problem of assessing multivariate normality can be reduced to that of testing for a univariate distribution. A limited comparison is made to investigate the power of the proposed test. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant NO.G88135. Support from the Computer Applications ami Software Engineering (CASE) Center of Syracuse University is also gratefully acknowledged
Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy of an alkane SAM

Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) of an alkanedithiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is investigated using a nanometer scale device. The IETS spectrum of the octanedithiol device clearly shows vibrational signatures of an octanedithiolate, -SC8 H16S-, bonded to gold electrodes. The pronounced IETS peaks correspond to vibrational modes perpendicular to the junction interface, which include the stretching modes of Au-S (at 33 mV) and C-C (at 133 mV), and wagging mode of CH2 (at 158 mV). The observed peak intensities and peak widths are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.
Self-Assembling Nucleic Acid Delivery Vehicles via Linear, Water-Soluble, Cyclodextrin-Containing Polymers

Non-viral (synthetic) nucleic acid delivery systems have the potential to provide for the practical application of nucleic acid-based therapeutics. We have designed and prepared a tunable, non-viral nucleic acid delivery system that self-assembles with nucleic acids and centers around a new class of polymeric materials; namely, linear, water-soluble cyclodextrin-containing polymers. The relationships between polymer structure and gene delivery are illustrated, and the roles of the cyclodextrin moieties for minimizing toxicity and forming inclusion complexes in the self-assembly processes are highlighted. This vehicle is the first example of a polymer-based gene delivery system formed entirely by self-assembly.
Direct repeats in the 3' untranslated regions of mosquito-borne flaviviruses: possible implications for virus transmission.

Direct repeats (DRs) of 20–45 nucleotide conserved sequences (CS) and repeated CS (RCS), separated by non-conserved sequences up to 100 nucleotides long, were previously described in the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of the three major mosquito-borne flavivirus (MBFV) subgroups, represented by Japanese encephalitis virus, Yellow fever virus and Dengue virus. Each subgroup exhibits a specific pattern of DRs, the biological significance of which has not yet been adequately addressed. The DRs were originally identified using conventional alignment programs based on the assumption that genetic variation is driven primarily by nucleotide substitutions. Since there are no recognized alignment programs that can adequately accommodate very divergent sequences, a method has been devised to construct and analyse a substantially improved 3′UTR alignment between these highly divergent viruses, based on the concept that deletions and/or insertions, in addition to substitutions, are important drivers of 3′UTR evolution. This ‘robust alignment’ approach demonstrated more extensive homologies in the 3′UTR than had been recognized previously and revealed the presence of similar DRs, either intact or as sequence ‘remnants’, in all the MBFV subgroups. The relevance of these observations is discussed in relation to (i) the function of DRs as elements of replication enhancement, (ii) the evolution of RNA secondary structures and (iii) the significance of DRs and secondary structures in MBFV transmissibility between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
Evaluation of differential vs. single-ended sensing and asymmetric cells in 90 nm logic technology for on-chip caches

SRAM arrays using differential sensing (DS) and single-ended sensing (SE) are designed and fabricated in a test chip and their power and performance behaviors are studied in this paper. Sense amplifier offset (DC condition), which is one of the main criterion to determine the required bit-line differential, is measured. A novel SE scheme is proposed to overcome the delay degradation due to large bit line leakage in scaled technology. With marginal switching power savings, the SE array is 56% slower than the DS array in 90 nm technology with a single high-Vt at 350 mV. The difference narrows down to 30% in low-Vt case. Using asymmetric cells, instead of symmetric cells, in single-ended large signal arrays improves delay by 3%, while the power consumption remains approximately the same.
State-Level Uterine Corpus Cancer Incidence Rates Corrected for Hysterectomy Prevalence, 2004 to 2008

Background: The interpretation of uterine cancer rates is hindered by the inclusion of women whose uterus has been surgically removed in the population at risk. Hysterectomy prevalence varies widely by state and race/ethnicity, exacerbating this issue. Methods: We estimated hysterectomy-corrected, age-adjusted uterine corpus cancer incidence rates by race/ethnicity for 49 states and the District of Columbia during 2004 to 2008 using case counts obtained from population-based cancer registries; population data from the U.S. Census Bureau; and hysterectomy prevalence data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Corrected and uncorrected incidence rates were compared with regard to geographic and racial/ethnic disparity patterns and the association with obesity. Results: Among non-Hispanic Whites, uterine cancer incidence rates (per 100,000 woman-years) uncorrected for hysterectomy prevalence ranged from 17.1 in Louisiana to 32.1 in New Jersey, mirrored regional hysterectomy patterns, and were not correlated with obesity prevalence (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.06, two-sided P = 0.68). In comparison, hysterectomy-corrected rates were higher by a minimum of 30% (District of Columbia) to more than 100% (Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Oklahoma), displayed no discernible geographic pattern, and were moderately associated with obesity ( r = 0.37, two-sided P = 0.009). For most states, hysterectomy correction diminished or reversed the Black/White deficit and accentuated the Hispanic/White deficit. Conclusion: Failure to adjust uterine cancer incidence rates for hysterectomy prevalence distorts true geographic and racial patterns and substantially underestimates the disease burden, particularly for Southern states. Impact: Correction for hysterectomy is necessary for the accurate evaluation of uterine cancer rates. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(1); 25–31. ©2012 AACR . This article is featured in Highlights of This Issue, [p. 1][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/22/1?iss=1
Teaching Students to Comprehend Informational Text Through Rereading

Informational text presents many obstacles to comprehension for striving readers. Although teachers use many evidence-based practices to support instruction with this type of text, in some situations, readers may be able to increase their comprehension by rereading. Teachers can help students recognize situations in which rereading is helpful. This article presents features of informational text that readers may find challenging and specific ways to scaffold rereading these sections of text to promote comprehension. يعرض النص المعلوماتي لعواقب كثيرة للاستيعاب عند القراء المجتهدين. ومع أن المعلمين يستخدمون ممارسات كثيرة مبنية على براهين لتدعيم التعليم مع هذا النوع من النص وفي بعض الظروف فقد يستطيع القراء أن يحسنوا استيعابهم بواسطة إعادة القراءة. ويمكن المعلمون أن يساعدوا الطلاب في تمييز الظروف التي تفيد فيها إعادة القراءة. لذا تقدم هذه المقالة معالم النص المعلوماتي التي قد يجدها القراء صعبة وأيضا تقدم طرقا خاصة لسياقة إعادة قراءة هذه الأجزاء من النص لتحسين الاستيعاب. 对于努力克服阅读困难的阅读者来说，要理解资讯性文本，可谓障碍重重。虽然教师可以使用很多循证教学方法来支援这类型文本的教学，但是在某些情况下，阅读者可以透过重读的方法来增强他们的阅读理解。教师可以帮助学生认识在什么情况下，重读是有帮助的。本文阐述一些对阅读者来说可能是具挑战性的资讯性文本结构特征，并提供一些特定的方法，支援阅读者重读这些部分，以促进他们对文本的阅读理解。 Le texte informatif comporte de nombreux obstacles pour sa comprehension par des lecteurs en difficulte. Quoique les enseignants recourent a de nombreuses pratiques reposant sur l'experience pour soutenir l'enseignement de ce type de texte, dans certaines situations, les lecteurs reussissent a augmenter leur comprehension par la relecture. Les enseignants peuvent aider les eleves a reconnaitre les situations dans lesquelles il peut etre utile de faire une relecture. Cet article presente les proprietes d'un texte informatif qui peuvent constituer un defi pour les lecteurs et des facons appropriees d'etayer la relecture de ces parties du texte pour ameliorer sa comprehension. Для школьников, имеющих проблемы с чтением, особенно трудно иметь дело с информационным текстом. Наряду с апеллированием к жизненному опыту учеников и другими наглядными методами, благодаря которым такой текст можно сделать более доступным для детей, в некоторых ситуациях текст необходимо обязательно перечитывать. Детям надо научиться определять, когда именно это следует делать, а учителя должны им в этом помочь. В статье описаны особенности информационного текста, которые делают его столь сложным для слабочитающих детей, и предложены методы для эффективного перечитывания и углубления понимания прочитанного. Textos informativos presentan muchos obstaculos a la comprension de lectores con dificultades. Aunque los maestros usan muchas practicas basadas en evidencia para apoyar la instruccion con este tipo de texto, bajo ciertas circunstancias, los lectores podrian mejorar su comprension volviendo a leer el texto. Los maestros pueden ayudar a los estudiantes a darse cuenta de situaciones en las que la relectura ayudaria. Este articulo presenta aspectos de textos informativos que los lectores considerarian un desafio y maneras especificas de incluir la relectura de estos textos para ayudar a la comprension.
CAD/CAM for dental restorations-some of the curious challenges

The current state of the art for production of dental restorations is reviewed, and DentiCAD, a system being developed by Maryland University and Minnesota University which is capable of producing dental crowns, is described. DentiCAD can produce dental restorations that fit at least as well as those that are cast. Some of the challenges and difficulties that have arisen during development are addressed. Some of the questions that, because of the new technology, can now be addressed and that are presenting new challenges are discussed. >
Evidence for the Presence in Arterial Walls of Intracellular-Molecular Mechanism for Action of Mineralocorticoids

Data from clinical and experimental studies indicate that mechanism(s) for action of mineralocorticoids, other than renal, must be involved in the overall effect of mineralocorticoids on circulation - increased peripheral resistance and hypertension. We have postulated existence of such a mechanism in the arterial wall and have looked for the evidence for its presence. We have found high affinity, specific binders for mineralocorticoids, and glucocorticoids, with characteristics of steroid receptors, in the cytosol of rabbit aorta and femoral and carotid arteries. These binders possess physicochemical properties of steroid receptors and, moreover, they translocate to cell nuclei (as steroid-receptor complexes) and bind to relatively specific “acceptor-sites” on nuclear chromatin. This provides evidence for the existence of an intracellular-molecular mechanism for a direct in situ action of mineralocorticoids, and also glucocorticoids, in the arterial wall. We postulate that the demonstrated previously eff...
Age of initiating selected health-risk behaviors among high school students in the united states

Purpose: To estimate and compare the age of initiation of alcohol use, cigarette smoking, sexual intercourse, and marijuana use among female and male students in U.S. high schools. Methods: Using data from the 1991 and 1993 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, life-table analysis was used to create hypothetical cohorts to estimate age of initiation of selected health-risk behaviors. The sample size was 12,272 in 1991 and 16,296 in 1993, with an overall response rate of 68% in 1991 and 70% in 1993. Results: Male students initiate each of these behaviors earlier than female students, but the pace of initiation for females accelerates so that by age 15 years the cumulative proportion of male and female students who have initiated these behaviors is similar. For both female and male students, the youngest cohort appears to initiate use of alcohol and sexual intercourse at earlier ages than older cohorts. Similarly, the younger cohorts of female students appear to initiate smoking cigarettes and using marijuana at earlier ages than older cohorts. Conclusions: Many high school students are initiating alcohol use, cigarette smoking, sexual intercourse, and marijuana use at early ages. These data suggest a need for intensive intervention programs by middle/junior high school to motivate and prepare students to avoid these behaviors. Clinicians should begin screening and counseling for risk behaviors in early adolescence.
MEMS Failure Probability Prediction and Quality Enhancement Using Neural Networks

The work reported here establishes a neural network-based methodology for failure probability prediction and quality enhancement of microengine MEMS using attribute data derived from actual measurements on microengines. Two complementary backpropagation neural networks were employed - one for failure probability prediction where microengine attributes constituted the inputs while time-to-failure statistics (mean, median and shape parameters) constituted network outputs. The second neural network was for quality enhancement through attribute refinement - inputs were time-to-failure statistics and outputs microengine attributes. Once neural network training was complete, independent data was used to validate results. Correct prediction of failure statistics as well as determination of optimal MEMS attributes for specified failure probability levels was achieved with high confidence (0.88-0.92). Low humidity (0-10%) for example and high microengine resonant frequency coupled with microengine operation at 0.4 of resonant frequency was found to result in median times-to-failure of at least 200 million cycles
A fine-grain Phased Logic CPU

A five-stage pipelined CPU based on the MIPs ISA is mapped to a self-timed logic family known as Phased Logic (PL). The mapping is performed automatically from a netlist of D-Flip-Flops and 4-input Lookup Tables (LUT4s) to a netlist of Phased Logic gates. Each PL gate implements a 4-input Lookup Table in addition to control logic required for the PL control scheme. PL offers a speedup technique known as Early Evaluation that can be used to boost performance at the cost of additional PL gates. Several different PL gate-level implementations are produced to explore different architectural tradeoffs using early evaluation. Simulations run for five benchmark programs show an average speedup of 1.48 over the clocked netlist at the cost of 17% additional PL gates.
Herpesvirus quiescence in neuronal cells IV: Virus activation induced by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) involves the protein kinase A pathway

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a naturally occurring peptide found in the central nervous system that plays a role in somatosensory processing and activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC). Because activation of PKA or PKC results in reactivation of HSV-1 from latently infected embryonic neuronal cells, PACAP was used to evaluate HSV-1 activation from quiescently infected (QIF)-PC12 cells. Our studies demonstrate that physiologically relevant concentrations of PACAP38 and PACAP27 induce HSV-1 activation from QIF-PC12 cell cultures in a dose-dependent fashion. PACAP-induced activation of virus was significantly impaired by the PKA-inhibitor, H-89 (20 μM), whereas treatment with the PKC-inhibitor, GF109203X (1 μM), was without affect. Additionally, direct activation of PKA with cAMP analogs, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)- and dibutyryl-cAMP, only partially mimicked the effect of PACAP on virus activation. Taken together, PACAP induced HSV-1 activation from QIF-PC12 cells involves the PKA and possibly cAMP-independent pathways. This report is the first to demonstrate that PACAP induces HSV-1 activation from a quiescent state and that this in vitro cell model is useful for studying early inductive events that lead to virus production from quiescence.
Dynamic models for micro-turbines and fuel cells

Distributed resources (DR) include a variety of energy sources, such as micro-turbines, photovoltaics, fuel cells, and storage devices, with capacities in the 1 kW to 10 MW range. Deployment of DR on distribution networks could potentially increase their reliability and lower the cost of power delivery by placing energy sources nearer to the demand centers. By providing a way to by-pass conventional power delivery systems, DR could also offer additional supply flexibility. The trends in technology points toward smallness, under the 500 kW level. An example are the small gas fired micro-turbines in the 25-100 kW range that can be mass produced at low cost. Fuel cells are also well suited for distributed generation applications. There are two basic classes of micro-source systems; one is a DC source, such as fuel cells, photovoltaics, and battery storage, the other is a high frequency AC source such as the micro-turbine which needs to be rectified. Power electronic interfaces introduces new control issues and new possibilities. This paper discusses micro-turbine and fuel cell models, and the instanteous power issue. An inverter model is also presented.