cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ancylostoma secreted protein 2: cloning and characterization of a second member of a family of nematode secreted proteins from Ancylostoma caninum

Invading infective third-stage larvae (L3) of parasitic nematodes execute a series of programmed developmental events in response to a host-specific signal encountered during infection. One of these early events is the release of excretory/secretory products. Using an in vitro feeding assay that mimics these early events of infection, a protein released by in vitro activated larvae of the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum was identified. This protein, Ac-ASP-2, was partially sequenced, and the cDNA encoding it isolated by PCR and screening of an A. caninum L3 cDNA library. The Ac-asp-2 cDNA encodes a protein of 219 amino acids that is related to a previously identified protein, Ac-ASP-1, from hookworms. Both molecules are members of an evolutionarily diverse family of molecules that include the venom allergens of the Hymenoptera, and the testes specific proteins/sperm-coating glycoproteins of mammals. Homologues are present in nearly all nematodes tested, as demonstrated by PCR-hybridization and database searching. The Ac-asp-2 mRNA is synthesized in all life history stages, but the gene product is released only by L3 activated to feed in vitro. The wide distribution of the Ac-asp-2 in nematodes and its release in response to host specific signals suggests that Ac-ASP-2 serves an important function in nematode physiology and development, and possibly in the infective process of parasitic species.
Production of > 10 21 W/cm 2 from a large-aperture. Ti:sapphire laser system

We have successfully developed a laser system to produce pulses with a wavelength centered at 800 nm, energies above 15 J, temporally compressed to 75 fs and focused to power densities beyond 1021 W/cm2. Enabling technologies include chirped-pulse amplification (CPA), 10 cm aperture Ti:Al2O3 crystals, large diffraction gratings, and an energetic Nd:glass laser for pumping the final two amplifiers. Measurements of the compressed pulse spectrum, frequency resolved optical gating (FROG) diagnostic, and focal spot are presented. We have also investigated and developed a technique for suppression of transverse parasitic lasing in large-aperture Ti:sapphire crystal amplifiers.
The Mystery of the Spirit in Three Traditions: Calvin, Rahner, Florensky Or, You Keep Wondering Where the Spirit Went

Nineteenth- and twentieth-century North Atlantic theology has seen a succession of Trinitarian revivals. Some observers take as an index of a theologian's success whether he or she has much interesting to say about the Holy Spirit, and some, including Robert Jenson, have also noted a tendency to announce the Spirit and talk about the Son. While Rogers shares that concern, he qualifies the characterization to note that authors in three traditions sometimes admit the charge and demur, claiming that is how it should be, citing passages in Calvin, Rahner, and Pavel Florensky. Of these the boldest is Florensky, who anticipates Jenson's critique but, writing in 1913, makes it not of Barth but of Eastern Orthodox theology (usually seen as a model to follow here), even in its liturgy. Rogers leaves this puzzle unresolved.
Effects of fragmentation on cattle in African savannas under variable precipitation

Cattle move to access patches that vary in forage quantity and quality. Fragmentation can prevent animals from reaching patches. I used an integrative ecosystem model applied to three African landscapes to explore the sensitivity of cattle populations to fragmentation (here, changes in populations as parcel areas decreased) under different precipitation patterns. I hypothesized that low and high precipitation would yield populations relatively insensitive to fragmentation, intermediate precipitation would yield more sensitive populations, and more variable inter-annual precipitation would reduce sensitivity to fragmentation. Precipitation data were altered to yield averages of 100–1,000 mm year−1 and inter-annual coefficients of variation of 0–60%. A 1,000 km2 landscape in each area was divided into progressively smaller parcels and simulations conducted for each parcel. Rainfall at 100 mm year−1 supported low populations that were insensitive to fragmentation. Populations peaked at rainfall levels similar to those observed, and declined under higher precipitation, due in-part to shrub expansion. Fragmenting landscapes caused up to a 62% decline in cattle. High inter-annual variation in precipitation reduced sensitivity to fragmentation when precipitation was above that observed. The pattern was opposite when precipitation was below what was observed. Cattle on the landscape with fine-scale heterogeneity were relatively insensitive to fragmentation, and those on the heterogeneous but coarse-grained landscape were extremely sensitive. Fragmentation in landscapes where populations are sensitive will require more intensive inputs to offset losses, and changes in the frequency of extreme weather associated with climate change will alter the sensitivity of some populations to fragmentation.
Microfluidics Bioreactor: A Platform for Studying Capillary Morphogenesis in Response to Biochemical and Biophysical Cues

The in vivo microvasculature is a dynamic structure which is influenced by both biochemical (e.g. cytokines, growth factors) and biophysical factors (e.g. shear stress, interstitial flow). Important regulators of this structure are the endothelial cells which are normally quiescent but under certain conditions are able to form new vascular sprouts. Investigations into the mechanism of capillary morphogenesis of human endothelial cells warrant an in vitro model that closely mimics the physiological in vivo microenvironment. To this end, we have developed a novel microfabricated system which permits 2D and 3D culture of endothelial cells in biologically derived (e.g. type I collagen) or synthetic (self assembling peptides) scaffolds and delivers control flow rates and pressures. This system offers tremendous flexibility with regard to scaffold physical and chemical properties, physiologically relevant mechanical stress induced by surface shear and interstitial flow as well as chemotactic gradients. In addition we are able to directly monitor the progression of vascular networks in response to these critical factors.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Seasonal reproduction in a fluctuating energy environment: Insolation-driven synchronized broadcast spawning in corals

Colonies of spawning corals reproduce in mass-spawning events, in which polyps within each colony release sperm and eggs for fertilization in the water column, with fertilization occurring only between gametes from different colonies. Participating colonies synchronize their gamete release to a window of a few hours once a year (for the species Acropora digitifera we study experimentally). This remarkable synchrony is essential for successful coral reproduction and thus, maintenance of the coral reef ecosystem that is currently under threat from local and global environmental effects such as pollution, global warming and ocean acidification. The mechanisms determining this tight synchrony in reproduction are not well understood, although several influences have been hypothesized and studied including lunar phase, solar insolation, and influences of temperature and tides. Moreover, most corals are in a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae (Symbiodinium spp.) that live within the host tissue. Experiments supported by detailed bioenergetic modeling of the coral-algae symbiosis have shown that corals receive >90% of their energy needs from these symbionts. We develop a bioenergetic integrate-and-fire model in order to investigate whether annual insolation rhythms can entrain the gametogenetic cycles that produce mature gametes to the appropriate spawning season, since photosynthate is their primary source of energy. We solve the integrate-and-fire bioenergetic model numerically using the Fokker-Planck equation and use analytical tools such as rotation number to study entrainment. In the presence of short-term fluctuations in the energy input, our model shows that a feedback regulatory mechanism is required to achieve coherence of spawning times to within one lunar cycle, in order for subsequent cues such as lunar and diurnal light cycles to unambiguously determine the “correct” night of spawning. Entrainment to the annual insolation cycle is by itself not sufficient to produce the observed coherence in spawning. The feedback mechanism can also provide robustness against population heterogeneity due to genetic and environmental effects. We also discuss how such bioenergetic, stochastic, integrate-and-fire models are also more generally applicable: for example to aquatic insect emergence, synchrony in cell division and masting in trees.
The creation and interpretation of nominal predicates: Bi + ann in Scottish Gaelic

Abstract In this paper I analyze a construction in Scottish Gaelic that presents challenges for our understanding of the individual level/stage level distinction, the mechanics of nonverbal predication, and the semantics of lexical items like ‘sit’, ‘stand’, and ‘lie’. I argue that this “stage-level” construction, with the verb bi ‘be’, the preposition ann ‘in’, and a noun or “verbal noun”, appears when a very specific kind of nominal predicate is required, not just one that is stage-level. This type of predicate requires functional structure not available in the nominal domain for creation, so the material is merged with prepositional structure. The “verbal nouns” that appear with bi + ann form an intuitive semantic class; I argue that what unites them is a root-internal specification for (a) posture of body or mind and (b) homogeneity in nonverbal environments. This analysis resolves several open questions about the construction, including the semantic characterization of the roots that occur with ann and the categorization and interpretation of the predicates it creates. The analysis has implications for our understanding of the creation of nonverbal predicates cross-linguistically and provides insight into the puzzling meanings of sit/stand/lie roots.
Four different views of the heliostat flux density integral

Abstract The image due to a single heliostat is represented by its flux density, which can be formulated as an integral over the solid angle of the incoming rays. The initial formulation is transformed into three alternative representations, each having some particular utility. The incoming ray formulation leads to analytic results for flat heliostats with polygonal boundaries. The mirror plane formulation leads to a numerical integration over the mirror plane which can be used to study effects due to distortions of the mirror. The pin-hole view leads to an approximate expression for the flux density integral as a convolution of the image due to a point Sun with respect to the brightness distribution of the real Sun. This formulation allows us to treat the Sun size as though it were a source of guidance errors or alternatively, we can introduce a degraded Sun which includes the guidance errors.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Murine Staf cDNA Encoding a Transcription Activating Factor for the Selenocysteine tRNA Gene in Mouse Mammary Gland

We have isolated and characterized a cDNA encoding a transcription activating factor for the mouse selenocysteine tRNA (tRNAsec) gene from mouse mammary gland. The full-length cDNA, designated m-Staf, has a 1878-base pair open reading frame encoding 626 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence of m-Staf is highly homologous to that of Staf, another selenocysteine tRNA gene transcription activating factor of Xenopus laevis. Like Staf, m-Staf contains seven tandemly repeated zinc fingers and four repeated motifs. Gel shift assays indicated that the recombinant m-Staf specifically bound to the activator element region in the mouse tRNAsec gene. Transient co-transfection experiments in Drosophila Schneider cells, which lack endogenous Staf-like binding activity, showed that m-Staf increased the mouse tRNAsec gene transcription about 15-fold, whereas it stimulated Pol II-dependent thymidine kinase promoter only 2-fold. Northern blot analysis detected the presence of a 3.4-kilobase pair m-Staf transcript, which was widely but differentially expressed in various murine tissues. The binding activity of m-Staf in mouse mammary gland was undetectable during virgin and postlactating periods but increased markedly in parallel with the increase of tRNAsec transcript during the periods of pregnancy and lactation, when the gland undergoes growth and development. These results indicate that m-Staf is a transcriptional activator of the mouse tRNAsec gene and that its binding activity in the mammary gland undergoes developmental alterations.
Serotonergic phase advances of the mammalian circadian clock involve protein kinase A and K+ channel opening

The mammalian circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) continues to oscillate when isolated in a brain slice preparation, and can be phase shifted in vitro by a variety of serotonergic (5-HTergic) agents. We have previously shown that 5-HT and a 5-HT agonist, quipazine, induce phase advances in the daytime and phase delays at night; the phase advances are mimicked by the 5-HT1A-selective agonist 8-OH-DPAT, by analogs of cyclic AMP, and by treatments that increase endogenous levels of cyclic AMP. Here we investigated the intracellular pathway through which these daytime phase advances occur. We find that quipazine- and 8-OH-DPAT-induced phase advances are blocked by two inhibitors of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, PK-A (H8 and Rp-cAMPS) as well as by a variety of K+ channel blockers (BaCl2, apamin, and charybdotoxin). Furthermore, we confirm previous work showing that a cyclic AMP analog induces phase advances in the daytime, and show that these phase advances are also blocked by BaCl2 and apamin. Finally, we show that a K+ ionophore induces similar phase advances in the subjective day, and these phase advances are blocked by Rp-cAMPS. These results indicate that both activation of PK-A and opening of K+ channels are necessary for 5-HT-induced phase advances of the SCN circadian clock. We propose a model that can account for our results.
Effects of surface roughness and strain range on the low-cycle fatigue behavior of type 304 stainless steel

The low-cycle fatigue behavior of steel specimens having well-characterized surface properties introduced in smooth specimens by a SiC technique was studied. It was found that by introducing an initial surface roughness, the percent of life in crack initiation decreases from 46 to 26 percent at the largest strain range and from 91 to 75 percent at the smallest strain range investigated. The significant point of this comparison is that at lower strain ranges, even when the surface contains irregularities of the kind described, crack initiation occupies a major portion of total life. (JRD)
Hormones and bone health in postmenopausal women.

Although it has been known for some time that estrogen deficiency is a major pathogenetic factor for osteoporosis related fractures among postmenopausal women, the capability of estrogen (with or without a progestin) to prevent fractures has often been questioned. The publication of the data from the two hormone clinical trials of the Women’s Health Initiative lays that discussion to rest. In both studies what have been considered a standard dose of conjugated estrogen with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate significantly reduced the risk of all fractures, including clinical vertebral fractures and hip fracture, in a population of postmenopausal women, average age 63 yr, not selected for osteoporosis by BMD. These results are particularly impressive given the difficulty of finding a fracture benefit in lower risk populations with other anti-resorptive agents. Surrogate data on lower doses of hormone therapy suggest a fracture benefit would be seen if studies were to be done. The other outcomes in WHI make it important to define appropriate clinical guidelines for use of hormone therapy for prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women.
Caffeine Affects Cardiovascular Responses to Stress

The effects of caffeine on cardiovascular activity at rest and during psychological stress were examined in 33 healthy male college students who did not normally ingest caffeinated products. Caffeine (250 mg) and placebo were administered double-blind in separate sessions. Heart rate, blood pressure, and forearm blood flow and vascular resistance were assessed at rest and during the stressful, competitive performance of a mental arithmetic task. Comparisons of caffeine and placebo sessions revealed that caffeine elevated resting blood pressure 4–6 mmHg, an effect which added to the elevation produced by stress. Caffeine did not affect resting forearm blood flow but potentiated the forearm blood flow response to stress and led to higher levels of flow during stress. No caffeine effects appeared in heart rate or in task performance. Family history of hypertension and Type A behavior were examined as potential modulating factors of caffeine effects but results were generally negative. These results suggest possible mechanisms through which caffeine could enhance the pathogenic effects of stress on the cardiovascular system.
Correction to the paper

The right hand side of Equation (3.10) of this paper should read g(x, Uo)NAlb(x) Uo rather than g(x, Uo)+NAlb(X)Uo. This error in sign is sufficient to invalidate partially the results claimed. With the corrected sign the right hand side of (3.10) is always positive if (i) N = 0 or if (ii) g(x, u )>NAlb (x ) u for u > 0 for some positive integer N > 0. In the first case our analysis demonstrates existence of a positive solution under hypotheses H-1 to H-5 for all 2 in 0 NAt b(x) u for u > 0 for some integer N > 0 ; we then conclude that a positive solution exists for all 2 in the internal 0__ O. The author wishes to point out that for the problem (1.1), (1.2) of nonlinear reactor dynamics the existence of a solution for all 2 > 0 follows from the work of NORMAN LEVJNSON (Dirichlet Problem for A u=f(P, u), J. Math. Mech. 12, 567-575 (1963)). We have not yet been able to establish that a positive solution must exist for 2>A~. An unpublished theorem of H. B. KELLER shows that positive solutions are unique for 2 > 0. Thus, on the basis of the corrected results we know that there exists a unique positive solution for all 2 in 0 A~ still remains open, though we conjecture that it must be valid.
Pollen vigour and the potential for sexual selection in plants

DISCOVERING whether paternal fecundity varies within popula-tions is crucial for evaluating whether male-male competition and/or female choice can lead to sexual selection1–3. In natural populations of plants, pollinators often deposit mixtures of 'surplus' pollen from several individuals onto receptive stigmas4–7. Therefore within-flower competition among pollen-tubes for ovules could lead to nonrandom paternal success. We found that pollen competition was common in populations of wild rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos). Co-occurring individuals often differed in mean pollen-tube growth rates, and this trait was correlated with the number of seeds the plants sired when pollen mixtures were applied to stigmas. Differences between pairs of individuals in pollen-tube growth rates were consistent across maternal plants, suggesting that sexual selection can occur. This unexpected varia-tion in pollen vigour could lead to nonrandom fertilization whenever pollen-tubes compete for access to ovules.
EFFECT OF ELEVATING TISSUE AMMONIA CONCENTRATION ON RENAL FUNCTION IN DOGS1

SUMMARY Experiments have been carried out to test the hypothesis that renal damage caused by ischsemia is due to the intrarenal build-up of ammonia. It has been shown that the ammonia concentration in dog kidneys after prolonged ischcemia is approximately 4 micromoles/gram of kidney. Renal function studies (creatinine clearance, TmPAH, osmolar clearance, renal plasma flow) have been carried out on 6 unilaterally nephrectomised dogs before, during and after the concentration of ammonia in renal tissue had been artificially raised by an infusion of ammonia into the renal artery. In one dog ammonia injections sufficient to raise the blood ammonia to 1,000 micrograms/100 ml. caused circulatory collapse and death. A second dog, with elevation of tissue ammonia to 12 micromoles per gram of kidney, showed a temporary reduction in renal function which returned to normal when the injection was discontinued. In the other animals, an ammonia infusion which raised tissue ammonia to 3.4–7.1 micromoles per gram had little effect on renal function. It seems unlikely that the ammonia produced by the ischemic kidney contributes significantly to ischsemic renal damage.
Types of Two-Dimensional Pendulums and Their Uses in Education

Pendulums which swing in two dimensions simultaneously and are designed to leave a record of their motion are termed ‘harmonographs’. The curves which they draw are known, alternatively, as ‘Bowditch curves’ or ‘Lissajous curves’. A variety of designs of harmonographs have been invented over the years. These may be a ‘Y-suspended’ ‘simple’ pendulum, or they may be a complex ‘physical’ pendulum system. Harmonographs have been built as demonstration apparatus in physics (or mathematics) or as ‘art’ machines for enjoying the aesthetics of the curves produced.
The status of community advisory committees in dental education.

Summary A questionnaire survey was undertaken to determine how prevalent community advisory committees have become in the nation's dental schools and what types of committees have been formed. Responses were received from 52 (90 percent) of the 58 dental schools. The data revealed the following: 1. Nine schools (17 percent) have developed consumer committees. 2. The number of committee members varies from five to 29. 3. All the committees are composed of consumer members and school representatives, and, in all but one committee, health care providers are represented. 4. Four (44 percent) committees have advisory functions only, while the remaining five (56 percent) play an advisory and policy-making role. 5. No committee planned formal training sessions for their consumer members. 6. Of the 43 schools (83 percent) without such a committee, seven (16 percent) replied they foresee implementing a consumer committee in the future.
Strategic maneuvering and mass-market dynamics : the triumph of VHS over Beta

This article deals with the diffusion and standardization rivalry between two similar but incompatible formats for home videocassette recorders (VCRs): the Betamax, introduced in 1975 by the Sony Corporation, and the VHS (Video Home System), introduced in 1976 by the Victor Company of Japan (Japan Victor or JVC). Despite being first to the home market, the Beta format fell behind the VHS in market share during 1978 and declined thereafter. By the end of the 1980s, Sony and its partners had ceased producing Beta models. This study analyzes the history of this rivalry and examines its context—a mass consumer market with a dynamic standardization process subject to “bandwagon” effects that took years to unfold and that were largely shaped by the strategic maneuvering of the VHS producers.
Chemically induced Jahn–Teller ordering on manganite surfaces

Physical and electrochemical phenomena at the surfaces of transition metal oxides and their coupling to local functionality remains one of the enigmas of condensed matter physics. Understanding the emergent physical phenomena at surfaces requires the capability to probe the local composition, map order parameter fields and establish their coupling to electronic properties. Here we demonstrate that measuring the sub-30-pm displacements of atoms from high-symmetry positions in the atomically resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy allows the physical order parameter fields to be visualized in real space on the single-atom level. Here, this local crystallographic analysis is applied to the in-situ-grown manganite surfaces. In particular, using direct bond-angle mapping we report direct observation of structural domains on manganite surfaces, and trace their origin to surface-chemistry-induced stabilization of ordered Jahn-Teller displacements. Density functional calculations provide insight into the intriguing interplay between the various degrees of freedom now resolved on the atomic level.
Early structural effects of oestrogen on pudendal nerve regeneration in the rat.

OBJECTIVE To determine the early effects of oestrogen on the ultrastructure of the pudendal nerve and distal nerve fascicles near the external urethra sphincter (EUS) after a pudendal nerve crush injury. The pudendal nerve is one of the pelvic floor tissues injured during vaginal delivery, possibly contributing to the development of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women, the symptoms of which often do not appear until menopause, implicating hormonal factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-seven virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized and underwent ovariectomy. Three days later, they had one of four procedures: bilateral pudendal nerve crush plus implant of a subcutaneous oestrogen-containing capsule (NC+E); nerve crush plus implant of a sham saline-containing capsule (NC+S); no nerve crush with an oestrogen capsule; or no nerve crush with a sham capsule. After 2 weeks the pudendal nerves and urethral tissues were prepared for light and electron microscopy. The number of axons, myelin figures and endoneurial nuclei in the pudendal nerve segment distal to the lesion were counted. Nerve fascicles near the EUS were also counted and categorized as normal or showing signs of degeneration and/or regeneration. The location of each nerve fascicle was specified as either ventral or dorsal. RESULTS As there were no significant differences between the two control groups they were combined to form a single control group. In the distal pudendal nerve there were significantly fewer myelinated axons and large myelinated axons in the NC+E and NC+S groups than in the control group. There were three times as many large unmyelinated axons in the NC+E group than in either the NC+S or control groups (P < 0.05). There were only half as many nerve fascicles near the ventral side of the EUS in the NC+S group than in both the control and NC+E groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Oestrogen appears to affect large unmyelinated axons in both the injured pudendal nerve and at the denervated EUS target. After pudendal nerve crush, nerve fascicles with evidence of degeneration or regeneration near the EUS appear to be spared with oestrogen treatment, particularly in the ventral region. These observations may reflect the early stages of a neuroregenerative effect of oestrogen. Additional studies are needed to confirm these results at later periods and with functional methods.
Precipitating change or sustaining traditions: Social patterns of a Bronze Age community from the Upper Pearl River drainage in Yunnan before the Han imperial period

This paper expands on current understanding of indigenous communities in southwestern China before the Han imperial conquest by examining mortuary practices at two multigenerational cemetery mounds dating from the 8 th century BC to the 1 st century AD. Using published excavation reports and new data from the Qujing plain in Yunnan, this study investigates long term trends in local organization in order to assess the meaning of material culture change in a region increasingly drawn into interaction with Central Plains states.
Racial differences in the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy among chronic cocaine abusers

There are racial differences in the prevalence and pattern of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in hypertension. This study was performed to determine whether racial differences also exist in LV hypertrophy among chronic cocaine users. We studied 112 chronic cocaine abusers or = 134 g/m2, was present in 24 blacks (30%) and 2 whites (6%) (p = 0.011). When defined as a posterior wall thickness > or = 1.2 cm and a 2-dimensional echocardiographic LV mass index > or = 105 g/m2, LV hypertrophy was present in 37 of 79 blacks (47%) and in 6 of 33 whites (18%) (p = 0.0086). Cocaine-related LV hypertrophy is more prevalent in black men than in white men.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Beyond initial certification: the assessment and maintenance of competency in professions

Abstract Professional competency is an issue of central concern to all professional fields and to the consumers of the services they provide. Wide-ranging views exist, however, as to how competency should be defined, maintained and regulated. In this paper, key issues related to competency evaluation and maintenance are described, and viable alternatives for enhancing the fidelity and adequacy of professional services are presented.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE NORMAL CANINE SPINAL CORD AND CORRELATION WITH HISTOPATHOLOGY AFTER INDUCED SPINAL CORD TRAUMA

Prior to trauma, intraoperative ultrasound of the spinal canal in 31 normal dogs was performed through a hemilaminectomy in the left pedicle of L2. A ventral compressive model of spinal cord injury was performed as part of a clinical drug trial. Maximum ultrasonographic spinal cord diameter ranged from 4.9–7.2 mm (5.7 × 0.6). Significant positive correlation (p = 0.023, r = 0.49) was found between age and spinal cord diameter. The dura mater was a separate, well-defined, echogenic horizontal line in 28 (90%) dogs, dorsally, and in 29 (94%) dogs, ventrally. Cerebrospinal fluid was anechoic. Eighteen (58%) dogs had a well-defined anechoic dorsal subarachnoid space, whereas 22 (71%) had a well-defined ventral space. Pia mater was thin but strongly echogenic and covered spinal cord. Central canal was a double hyperechoic line in 17 (55%) dogs and a single-line in 14 (45%) dogs. A difference in the ultrasonographic appearance between gray and white matter was not seen. Epidural fat and connective tissue was a lobular echogenic material in the ventral epidural space. The periosteal-vertebral body interface was seen as a bright curvilinear echo with distal acoustic shadowing. Spinal cord parenchyma could be classified subjectively into four groups based upon ultrasonographic appearance. Spinal cord parenchyma had a uniform hypoechogenicity in 8 (27%) dogs (Group 1), subtle low level echoes in 7 (23%) dogs (Group 2), multiple clusters of defined echogenic foci in 12 (37%) dogs (Group 3), and multiple sharply-defined linear echoes in 4 (13%) dogs (Group 4). There was a significant relationship between pre-trauma ultrasonographic appearance of the spinal cord and histopathology 21 days after trauma. One (13%) dog in Group 1, 4 (57%) dogs in Group 2,10 (91%) dogs in Group 3, and 3 (75%) dogs in Group 4 had malacia on histological evaluation. Therefore, dogs with echogenic spinal cords or linear echoes within cord parenchyma were significantly more likely to develop malacia rather than Wallerian degeneration after induced spinal cord trauma (p = 0.002). Spinal cord echogenicity may indicate vascularity in a segment of spinal cord and might be prognostic following spinal cord trauma. No complications were found related to intraoperative ultrasound. Hematoma or fibrous tissue formation appeared to impede percutaneous ultrasound of the spinal cord in dogs re-evaluated forty-eight hours and one week after surgery.
Temperature effects on embryonic abscisic acid levels during development of wheat grain dormancy.

Abscisic acid (ABA) levels were determined in both the embryo and remaining grain remnant during development of wheat caryopses under temperature conditions which produced either high or low levels of dormancy in mature grain. Higher levels of grain dormancy were produced in grain from plants grown at 15°C as compared to 25°C. In grain grown at 15°C, embryonic ABA levels steadily increased during development, reaching a maximum at stage IV, just before grain desiccation. At 25°C, ABA levels were very high at the earliest stages of embryonic development, but dropped rapidly during maturation. Only small cultivar differences in ABA levels were observed during development at either temperature. In general, higher levels of dormancy in mature grain correlated with prolonged elevation of ABA levels during grain maturation.
BUFFERING CAPACITY OF THE LOCOMOTOR MUSCLE IN CETACEANS: CORRELATES WITH POSTPARTUM DEVELOPMENT, DIVE DURATION, AND SWIM PERFORMANCE

Skeletal muscles of marine mammals must support the metabolic demands of exercise during periods of reduced blood flow associated with the dive response. Enhanced muscle buffering could support anaerobic metabolic processes during apnea, yet this has not been fully investigated in cetaceans. To assess the importance of this adaptation in the diving and swimming performance of cetaceans, muscle buffering capacity due to non-bicarbonate buffers was measured in the longissimus dorsi of ten species of odontocete and one mysticete. Immature specimens from a subset of these species were studied to assess developmental trends. Fetal and neonatal cetaceans have low buffering capacities (range: 34.8–53.9 slykes) that are within the range measured for terrestrial mammals. A lengthy developmental period, independent of muscle myoglobin postnatal development, is required before adult levels are attained. Adult cetacean buffering capacities (range: 63.7–94.5 slykes) are among the highest values recorded for mammals. Cetacean species that demonstrate extremely long dive durations or high burst speed swimming tend to have greater buffering capacities. However, the wide range of body size across cetaceans may complicate these trends. Enhanced muscle buffering capacity may enable small-bodied species to extend breath-hold beyond short aerobic dive limits for foraging or predator evasion when necessary.
Multiscale manifold representation and modeling

Many real world data sets can be viewed as points in a higher-dimensional space that lie concentrated around a lower-dimensional manifold structure. We propose a new multiscale representation for such point clouds based on lifting and perfect matching. The result is an adaptive wavelet transform that decomposes a point cloud into manifold approximations and details at multiple scales. We illustrate with several examples that the transform can extract an unknown smooth manifold from noisy point cloud samples using simple wavelet thresholding ideas.
Global Efforts to Engage Men in Preventing Violence Against Women An International Survey

This research note expands on the limited body of knowledge about men's engagement in preventing violence against women. One hundred and sixty-five individuals representing organizations from around the world participated in a brief online survey about their efforts to engage men in violence prevention. This study reveals a large and diverse global community working to engage men in preventing violence against women. The level of involvement is broad, from locally contained organizations to global collaborations. This study is a first step toward building a comparative knowledge base to inform program design and implementation.
Collaborative Learning Using a Project across Multiple Business Courses: A Cognitive Load and Knowledge Convergence Approach

Four business professors at a state university in the Midwestern United States launched a collaborative learning project grounded in cognitive learning theory and knowledge convergence theory with the objective of assessing student learning gains in cross-functional knowledge (CFK), course-related knowledge (CRK), and overall satisfaction with this teaching approach. The project involved the start-up and operation of an entrepreneurial campus lunch delivery service from local restaurants to university faculty, students, and staff. A total of 46 students participated in the project, and comprised seven groups across four business courses: Strategy, Project Management, Marketing Promotion, and Marketing Research. A survey instrument was developed comprising 21 items. Survey results indicated significant increases in cross-functional and course-related knowledge, and in student involvement and teamwork when using this cross-functional, multicourse approach to an entrepreneurial endeavor.
Neural Network Control of Robot Formations using RISE Feedback

In this paper, a combined kinematic/torque control law is developed for leader-follower based formation control using backstepping in order to accommodate the dynamics of the robots and the formation in contrast with kinematic-based formation controllers that are widely reported in the literature. A neural network (NN) is introduced along with robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) feedback to approximate the dynamics of the follower as well as its leader using online weight tuning. It is shown using Lyapunov theory that the errors for the entire formation are asymptotically stable and the NN weights are bounded as opposed to uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) stability which is typical with most NN controllers. Theoretical results are demonstrated using numerical simulations.
Catalytic Production of 1-Octadecanol from Octadecanoic Acid by Hydrotreating in a Plug Flow Reactor

1-Octadecanol (stearic alcohol) has uses ranging from lubricants to perfumes. The production of 1-octadecanol from octadecanoic acid (stearic acid) was investigated in a liquid-phase trickle-bed reactor by hydrogenating octadecanoic acid using a Ni/Co/Mo sulfide catalyst. The primary reactions occurring in the reactor were the desired conversion of octadecanoic acid to 1-octadecanol and the subsequent undesired conversion of 1-octadecanol to octadecane. A model was developed to predict these two reactions. The model found to be most useful for this system was a series–parallel reaction first order in octadecanoic acid and 1-octadecanol and pseudo-zero order in hydrogen for both reactions. The activation energies of the first and second reactions were 63.7.8 and 45.6 kJ/mol, respectively. From these values, the conversion of octadecanoic acid and the selectivity to the desired product as functions of temperature, space velocity, and inlet octadecanoic acid concentration were estimated. The model predicts the maximum productivity of 1-octadecanol occurs at higher temperatures with short residence times. Parametric plots show productivity to be ≥0.48 g 1-octadecanol/g octadecanoic acid at 566 °F and a 0.1 h residence time.
Double Jeopardy: Suicide Rates in Forensic Hospitals.

While a number of studies have described high and increasing rates of completed suicide among psychiatric patients, the suicide risk of forensic hospital patients is virtually unknown. This paper reports on the suicides that have taken place in the country's oldest continually operating institution housing persons formerly labeled "criminally insane," the Bridgewater State Hospital. The results show considerable variation in the suicide rate by historical period, with suicide prior to 1968 a considerably more infrequent event. By contrast, the post-'68 rate of 232 per 100,000 is comparable to data reported in a series of studies of psychiatric suicides, and significantly higher than that found in U.S. studies of correctional populations. These differences are discussed. The results strongly suggest that forensic hospital populations have suicide rates broadly comparable to other psychiatric populations.
Non-thermal oxygen-rich helium plasmas using theta shaped tubing for evaluation of plasmid DNA strand breaks

Summary form only given. While atmospheric pressure plasmas based on mixtures of helium and oxygen have been used for biomedical applications benefiting from reactive oxygen species (ROS)1,2, the large electron affinity and heavy mass/large size of the oxygen ions precludes stable plasma discharge at low voltage driving conditions. Here, non-thermal oxygen-rich helium plasmas were investigated to achieve enhanced reactive oxygen species concentration without deficiencies in driving conditions. A theta-shaped tube-based atmospheric pressure oxygen-rich helium plasma device has been fabricated and its potential has been investigated for use in topological alteration of plasmid DNA. The optical emission spectra of the plasma from the device showed even if an oxygen plasma is not produced directly, the oxygen flow clearly participates in the plasma process and affects the plasma properties. The oxygen-rich helium plasma generated by our proposed plasma jet device was observed to induce the strand breaks of plasmid DNA in a plasma dose-dependent manner. Further, the effect of the plasma treatments on DNA was enhanced with an increase of oxygen gas concentration while other parameters were held constant. Based on optical emission spectra (OES) and DNA analysis, the atmospheric pressure helium plasmas with oxygen-rich atmosphere increased the ROS in the plasma medium and resulted in a significant enhancement of DNA strand breaks than when only a helium plasma was used. This ROS controllable non-thermal helium plasma device driven at low operating voltage provides a method for sterilizations/decontaminations, plasma cancer therapy, tooth bleaching, wound healings, skin regenerations, as well as providing further insight into apoptosis mechanisms in biomedical applications.
Distribution of Rest Periods Between Electrically Generated Contractions in Denervated Muscles of Rats

Stimulation protocols for denervated muscles distribute the generated contractions either within treat- ment sessions followed by hours of rest, or repeated 24 h per day with each contraction followed by a constant interval of rest. Our purpose was to directly compare the effects of the same number of identically generated con- tractions having different temporal daily distributions. For 5 weeks in denervated extensor digitorum longus muscles of rats, between 100 and 800 contractions were generated daily, distributed either within worksets that alternated periods of activity and rest, or separated by constant intervals of rest. Most of the tested protocols maintained muscle mass and maximum force near values of innervated controls. Although 100 contractions daily generated at constant intervals were sufficient to maintain mass and force, 100 contractions during a 4-h treatment session followed by 20 h of rest were not sufficient, and mass and force were not different from values of denervated muscles. Key Words: Extensor digitorum longus— Activity—Contractility—Depolarization—Workset.
Development and inheritance of molecular markers in the kelp bass Paralabrax clathratus

Keywords Mendelian Microsatellite Mitochondrial Paralabrax SerranidaeWhile molecular tools have transformed ﬁsheries biology,their development and implementation can necessitate theuse of delicate equipment, be expensive, and requireextensive optimization [1]. Counting only consumables, wehave calculated that in-house sequencing of 500–700 baseson a Beckman CEQ 8000 (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton,CA, USA) costs *$4–5 per sample under ideal conditions.It is a process not amenable to isolated or rudimentary labconditions and is not easily performed as a quick-returnassay. Loci scored as dye-labeled fragments on an auto-mated sequencer are also expensive [2]; they requiredevelopment of a microsatellite library and cost commer-cially *US$12,500 [3]. Conﬁrmation of Mendelianinheritance in the marker set is yet another cost burden andrepresents an important but infrequently performed pre-requisite for statistical testing. A recent survey found 1 in15 microsatellite loci, as expressed in their data scores, hadnon-Mendelian patterns [4].The reporting of methodologies and inheritance studiesthat are cost effective and have minimal equipmentrequirements can therefore be invaluable to a new researchprogram or a monitoring effort that requires fast turn-around times. A set of markers will be available for thespecies in question and frequently its congeners; thestrategies for developing the markers, such as our inheri-tance methodology below, can have even widerapplication. Based on this rationale, this short paper pre-sents genetic methods developed for the kelp bass,Paralabrax clathratus, that conﬁrm the robustness ofmarkers and allow for economical and expeditious assays.Kelp bass are a temperate serranid found abundantly fromPoint Conception, CA, to just south of Punta Eugenia,Mexico [5], and are an important component of the$300 million California sport ﬁshing industry [6, 7]. P.clathratus occurs in current and proposed southern Cali-fornia marine reserves and has been the subject of adiversity of research [8–11].We document a restriction fragment length polymor-phism (RFLP) assay of the mitochondrial control regionthat can assess a substantial amount of the sequencediversity with only a thermal cycler and an agarose gel box.We also present a series of controlled crosses to conﬁrmMendelian inheritance for previously published microsat-ellite markers [12], a task generally difﬁcult to performwith many marine ﬁsh [13].Development of RFLPsSequences for the mitochondrial control region of 105 kelpbass from ten locations (Genbank accession numbersDQ192295–DQ192399) were used. Sequences werealigned in Sequencher 4.5 (Gene Codes, Ann Arbor, MI,USA) and surveyed with the program’s restriction enzymelibrary. Pairwise U
QUIET Coherent Polarimeter Modules

The Q/U Imaging ExperimenT (QUIET) consists of a pair of radiometer arrays designed to measure the B-mode polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) at 44 GHz (Q-band) and 95 GHz (W-band) with 19 and 90 modules at each frequency. The architecture of both arrays is based on miniaturized coherent polarimeters using High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) chips for amplification; QUIET is the largest coherent microwave array ever fielded. We describe the detector technology used in Phase I of QUIET and our efforts to improve both the W-band module design and the fundamental performance of the HEMT amplifiers. These technology developments have wide application in the field of radio astronomy.
On coding concurrent transmissions in wireless networks

In this paper we identify a specific class of collisions called asymmetric collisions where the nature of collisions is different at the receivers of the colliding signals. We show that, with appropriate handling, asymmetric collisions allow the receiver to decode its intended reception successfully. Due to the natural combining of signals from multiple senders, the received symbol can be represented as a function of the transmitted symbols fc. We identify this property of concurrent coded wireless transmissions and propose a solution called collision coding to leverage such collisions.
Memory Efficient LDPC Code Design for High Throughput Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes have been adopted in the physical layer protocol of many communication systems because of their superior performance. A direct implementation of the LDPC decoder on an existing platform, such as a software defined radio (SDR), is likely to be inefficient. Our approach is to design the LDPC code in a way that takes into account the constraints imposed by the existing architecture, without compromising the communication performance. In this paper, a procedure for architecture-aware LDPC code design which minimize the number of global memory accesses in a memory constrained system is derived. The procedure is built on top of existing super-code based LDPC code design. The proposed code construction procedure also results in reduction in the number of iterations and thereby increases the throughput significantly.
SnCl4-mediated reaction of ozonides with allyltrimethylsilane: Formation of 1,2-dioxolanes

Abstract SnCl4-mediated reaction of ozonides (1,2,4-trioxolanes) with allyltrimethylsilane furnishes trimethylsilylmethyl-1,2-dioxolanes via metalated carbonyl oxides. The carbonyl oxides can arise through initial ionization of either the ether or peroxide oxygens.