cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ATTITUDES OF GEORGIA PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TOWARD TEACHING AS A PROFESSION

Strmmmy.-This srudy examined the professional aspects of teaching and assessed differences in the attitudes of 1,436 Georgia public school teachers in 88 rural and 55 urban schools at the elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), and secondary (9-12) levels. Significant differences in attitude were noted by school level but not location. Whether teaching can be considered a profession has been of concern to educators for decades. Corwin (1965) defined a profession from a structural perspective as a vocacion which (1) has a legal monopoly over the application of theoretical knowledge to the solution of social problems and (2) has legal control over its membership including control of the licensing standards and code of ethics sanctioned by law. Greenwood and Soar (1969) agreed with Corwin but assett that the professional brings to the organization specialized knowledge or skills acquired through years of formal training which are needed to practice the profession. Carbino, cited by Gerwin ( 1974), on the other hand, emphasized the distinguishing characteristic of professionalism as a uadition of explicit recognition of obligations to the clientele. However, Cotwin (1965) emphasized that, while certain criteria do exist, it may be less important to decide whether teaching is a profession on the basis of objective standards than to decide whether teachers actually think of themselves as professionals. Studies over the last several years have concerned teachers' relation to teaching. Raenholrz (1985) stated thar "che greatest obstacle to the professional development of teachers is the isolated nature of their work (p. 350). Corwin ( 1965 ) noted that role conflict between the teacher's obligations as a professional and those as an employee lead to job dissatisfaction. Concurrently, Sergiovanni (1967) reported that while achievement and recognition were satisfying, interpersonal relationships with suhrdinates and peers were unsatisfying. Looking at professional and social integration of teachers, Chapman ( 1983) noted that the higher the involvement in professional aspects of teaching and the more social ties teachers had in schools, the more likely they would remain in the profession. In a similar srudy, Morgan (1979) contended that "when the subject of professional life of teachers is raised, a common area of
Enzymatic hydrolysis of O, O-diisopropyl thionothiolphosphate.

Abstract The K salt of the diisopropyl ester of thionothiolphosphoric acid, SP(OH) 2 (SH), is subject to enzymatic cleavage whereby isopropyl alcohol is split off.
Plastic liquid crystal displays from conducting polymer

In a conventional liquid crystal display device (LCD), glass substrates coated with an indium tin oxide layer are typically used for the application of an electric field to the liquid crystal material. For many applications including cockpit and avionic display applications, there is a need for a LCD with plastic substrates. We have demonstrated for the first time the operation of a fully multiplexed plastic LCD using conducting polymers as the substrates and the newly developed reflective cholesteric display technology. The resultant display has several features like light weight, low power consumption, increased ruggedness, bistability, sunlight readability and flicker-free operation. The functioning of the conducting polymer-based LCD is demonstrated and the features that make it attractive for cockpit applications are discussed.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
"International constraints and domestic choices: economic convergence and exchange rate policy in France and Italy"

As tensions in the European Monetary System demonstrate, international capital flows can have a decisive influence on countries' economic policies. The external constraint of high international capital mobility led the countries of Western Europe in the 1980s to attempt to stabilize their exchange rates and converge toward low levels of inflation. Yet this process was not uniform: French governments pursued a rigorous anti-inflationary policy of high interest rates and a strengthening currency, while Italian governments had difficulty controlling inflation and maintaining the lira in the European Monetary System. This difference is best explained by comparing political institutions and policymaking processes in the two countries. Particular attention is given to political leaders' access to economic policy tools and their capacity to design and implement long-term goals.
The Transformation of Tropical Storm Agnes into an Extratropical Cyclone. Part I: The Observed Fields and Vertical Motion Computations

Abstract This is the first of two papers dealing with the transformation of tropical storm Agnes (June 1972) into an extratropical cyclone. Synoptic analyses and vertical motion patterns are used to describe the behavior of Agnes over a five-day period subsequent to initial landfall during which time Agnes regained tropical storm strength prior to transforming into an extratropical cyclone and dissipating. Input data for all calculations are obtained from optimum interpolation objective analyses with a resolution of 1° latitude-longitude in the horizontal and 100 mb in the vertical. A modified, 9-level version of Krishnamurti's (1968a) diagnostic balance model is discussed and applied to the data set to determine the fields of vertical motion. Redevelopment of Agnes subsequent to initial landfall is the result of the spread of an area of appreciable cyclonic vorticity advection aloft over the periphery of the low-level circulation devoid of significant baroclinicity. Unlike a corresponding midlatitude sto...
Therapeutic potential and challenges of targeting receptor tyrosine kinase ROR1 with monoclonal antibodies in B-cell malignancies.

Background: Based on its selective cell surface expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), receptor tyrosine kinase ROR1 has recently emerged as a promising target for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). To further assess the suitability of ROR1 for targeted therapy of CLL and MCL, a panel of mAbs was generated and its therapeutic utility was investigated. Methodology and Principal Findings: A chimeric rabbit/human Fab library was generated from immunized rabbits and selected by phage display. Chimeric rabbit/human Fab and IgG1 were investigated for their capability to bind to human and mouse ROR1, to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and internalization, and to agonize or antagonize apoptosis using primary CLL cells from untreated patients as well as MCL cell lines. A panel of mAbs demonstrated high affinity and specificity for a diverse set of epitopes that involve all three extracellular domains of ROR1, are accessible on the cell surface, and mediate internalization. The mAb with the highest affinity and slowest rate of internalization was found to be the only mAb that mediated significant, albeit weak, ADCC. None of the mAbs mediated CDC. Alone, they did not enhance or inhibit apoptosis. Conclusions and Significance: Owing to its relatively low cell surface density, ROR1 may be a preferred target for armed rather than naked mAbs. Provided is a panel of fully sequenced and thoroughly characterized anti-ROR1 mAbs suitable for conversion to antibody-drug conjugates, immunotoxins, chimeric antigen receptors, and other armed mAb entities for preclinical and clinical studies.
Cationic effects and levels in developing eggs of the grasshopper Aulocara elliotti

Abstract The embryo of the grasshopper, Aulocara elliotti, is subjected to a pH of 7·4 during diapause. At diapause termination rupture of membranes and blastokinetic movements result in a change to pH 6·6. It is shown that pH is highly influential in changing the hydration of diapausing embryos. Imidazole further enhanced hydration even though it caused an increase in pH. It is shown that intra-egg membranes are sufficiently protective to prevent hydration during diapause. The partition of sodium and potassium in egg compartments is given and discussed in relation to H ion concentration.
Sources of high-speed jet noise: Analysis of LES data and modeling

Abstract Results from recent LES studies of high-speed jet flows and its near and far-field noise (Mendez et al. AIAA2010-271) are reviewed with an emphasis on validation of the LES results. Far-field noise is predicted using data collected on a conical FW-H surface. Very good agreement with the measurement reported by Bridges & Wernet (AIAA-2008-2834) is observed. Data analysis of the flow disturbances within the jet and in the near-field is used to better characterize the sound source processes. We analyze LES data of Bodony and Lele (Phys. Fluids, vol. 46, 2005) using a filter in the wavenumber-frequency domain. The supersonic components of pressure and radial velocity fluctuation show peaks within the jet and show the U j 8 scaling behavior consistent with the far-field radiated j noise levels. The observed scaling is also consistent with a perturbation expansion of nearly incompressible turbulent fluctuations within the jet flow. Linear global mode analysis of the non-parallel jet mean flow is performed. Features of Mach wave radiation are evident in the global modes for supersonic convection. Large transient growth is found due to convective non-normality. Some implications of this analysis for jet noise modeling are discussed.
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Cefamandole in Infants and Children

Cefamandole, a new cephalosporin antibiotic, has greater activity against common pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, and Proteus (including indole-positive strains), than available cephalosporin drugs. We have evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of this drug in 30 infants and children. Blood levels and urinary excretion of the drug were similar to those previously found in adults. The only side effects were mild and transient elevation of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase in 12 patients and of blood urea nitrogen in 1 patient in whom serum creatinine remained normal and unchanged.
Big data spatial analytics for enterprise applications

Big data is present everywhere and it can help organization in any industry in many different ways. One of the main sources of this data is the increased digitization in every aspect of life. In general terms, digitization is the process of making something digital. That is, use computer technology in the middle of an activity that used to be done without computers. For example, people used to shoot pictures on film, but now most of the pictures are digital. People used to pay tolls with cash, and now it is digital. People used to drive cars with rack-and-pinion steering, now they are all drive-by-wire, fully digital rolling computers.
Growth of Silicon-On-Insulator Films using a Line-Source Electron Beam

A swept line-source electron beam has been used to study unseeded Si-on-insulator crystallization at beam scan speeds of 150 to 1500 cm/s. For a particular sample configuration a maximum linear crystallization velocity of approx. 350 cm/s was observed. At higher sweep speeds, competing nucleation occurred at intervals across the film. Both the limit in crystallization velocity and the intervals between nucleation are tentatively explained by a simple model.
Race and Discretionary Sentencing: An Analysis of "Obvious" and "Nonobvious" Cases

This study explores the effects of race on sentencing for 666 felony offenders. I found that whites were significantly more likely to be incarcerated than blacks after adjusting for crime seriousness and prior record, as measured by the sentencing guidelines employed by the courts in the jurisdiction from which the sample was obtained. Looking at "nonobvious" cases (as determined by the sentencing guideline), I found that whites were 2.5 times more likely to be imprisoned than were blacks. When sentence length was examined among those who were imprisoned, no significant racial effect was found. However, among those offenders who were placed on probation, significantly harsher probation terms were imposed on whites than were imposed on blacks.
Novel Regulation of Skp1 by the Dictyostelium AgtA α-Galactosyltransferase Involves the Skp1-binding Activity of Its WD40 Repeat Domain

The role of Skp1 as an adaptor protein that links Cullin-1 to F-box proteins in E3 Skp1/Cullin-1/F-box protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligases is well characterized. In the social amoeba Dictyostelium and probably many other unicellular eukaryotes, Skp1 is modified by a pentasaccharide attached to a hydroxyproline near its C terminus. This modification is important for oxygen-sensing during Dictyostelium development and is mediated by a HIF-α type prolyl 4-hydroxylase and five sequentially acting cytoplasmic glycosyltransferase activities. Gene disruption studies show that AgtA, the enzyme responsible for addition of the final two galactose residues, in α-linkages to the Skp1 core trisaccharide, is unexpectedly critical for oxygen-dependent terminal development. AgtA possesses a WD40 repeat domain C-terminal to its single catalytic domain and, by use of domain deletions, binding studies, and enzyme assays, we find that the WD40 repeats confer a salt-sensitive second-site binding interaction with Skp1 that mediates novel catalytic activation in addition to simple substrate recognition. In addition, AgtA binds similarly well to precursor isoforms of Skp1 by a salt-sensitive mechanism that competes with binding to an F-box protein and recognition by early modification enzymes, and the effect of binding is diminished when AgtA modifies Skp1. Genetic studies show that loss of AgtA is more severe when an earlier glycosylation step is blocked, and overexpressed AgtA is deleterious if catalytically inactivated. Together, the findings suggest that AgtA mediates non-enzymatic control of unmodified and substrate precursor forms of Skp1 by a binding mechanism that is normally relieved by switch-like activation of its glycosylation function.
The Construction of Shapley Value in Cooperative Game and its Application on Enterprise Alliance

Abstract On the base of the nature of Shapely Value, the construction of Shapely Value in cooperative game is analyzed in this paper, and it is concluded that Shapely Value is made up of two parts, one part depends on individual itself, and the other part depends on the state of individual in alliance. Then the construction of Shapely Value is used to discuss the enterprise alliance and the rent of enterprise alliance is put forward, finally some interesting conclusions are presented in the paper.
Commensurate Peierls transition in a quasi-one-dimensional compound: The bromide salt of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)

The x-ray crystal structure of the bromide salt of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-${\mathrm{Br}}_{0.79}$ shows incommensurate cation and anion sublattices, with a static modulation of each stack at the periodicity of the opposing stack. If the on-site Coulomb interactions were very small compared with the bandwidth, this modulation would induce an energy gap at twice the Fermi wave vector and hence a commensurate Peierls transition would be possible. If the Coulomb interactions were very large, (TTF)-${\mathrm{Br}}_{x}$ would be a room-temperature semiconductor. Transport, magnetic, thermal, and optical measurements are presented, which indicate that the Coulomb interactions are not very large compared with the bandwidth, estimated at $4t\ensuremath{\sim}1.1$ eV. Hence, the system can be viewed as undergoing a commensurate Peierls transition at \ensuremath{\sim} 170 K.
Simulation of radar signal on wind turbine

This describes the radar signal features of a typical wind turbine and the simulation of the wind turbine signal based on a high resolution Doppler radar. The simulated signal is under-sampled with lower PRF to match an air traffic control (ATC) radar. The simulated signal is compared to the ATC radar data collected at two different sites. Remarkable similarities of the signal features are identified. These features may help to improve the primary radar detection and tracking performance in the future.
21.6: Progress in ICEPIC simulation of commercial strapped magnetrons as HPM sources

We investigated the effects of heater filament current, input voltage, axial tube dimensions, grid resolution, and emission parameters on ICEPIC simulations of an experimental strapped 922 MHz magnetron with axial power extraction and a thermionic, helical cathode (Twisleton, J.R.G., “Twenty-kilowatt 890 MHz Continuous-Wave Magnetron.” Proc. IEEE, vol. 111, No. 1, January 1964). This type of device had not previously been successfully simulated using ICEPIC.
High concentrations of bisphenol A induce cell growth and prolactin secretion in an estrogen-responsive pituitary tumor cell line.

PR1 cells are a prolactin (PRL)-secreting cell line derived from pituitary lactotroph tumors found in 17beta-estradiol (E(2))-treated female Fischer 344 rats. Recently, we reported that as little as 0. 01 pM E(2) could induce half-maximal cell proliferation, whereas the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (ICI) inhibited proliferation. Interestingly, the cell proliferation response is 1000-fold more sensitive to E(2) than the PRL response (induction of prolactin protein synthesis), suggesting that there is a distinction between cell proliferation and the PRL response in PR1 cells. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer of plastics and epoxy resins that is widely used in dentistry and the food packaging industry. Although it has low estrogenic activity in somatolactotrophs and breast cancer cell lines, its presence in the environment and its long biological half-life have raised concerns about potential effects in humans. We analyzed the effect of BPA and compared its activity with E(2) in the PR1 cell line. PR1 cells show half-maximal proliferation upon treatment with 10 nM BPA, which is 10,000- to 100,000-fold less active than E(2). BPA-induced PR1 cell proliferation is decreased by the pure antiestrogen ICI, suggesting that BPA-induced PR1 cell proliferation is mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER). The decreased affinity of BPA for the ER is illustrated by the fact that 1 nM of ICI inhibited 100 nM BPA-induced cell proliferation, whereas 100 nM ICI was required to block 1 nM E(2)-induced cell proliferation. The PRL response to BPA required 1000 nM BPA to match the PRL secretion induced by 0.01 nM E(2). A competitive binding assay showed that the K(i) of BPA for the ER in PR1 cells is approximately 30-60 nM, which is 1000- to 2000-fold lower than that of E(2). Our study suggests the PR1 cell line can be used as an in vitro assay system for analyzing the effects of weak estrogens on ER-mediated responses and the activities of various estrogenic compounds present in small amounts in the environment.
Electrostatic interaction energies from a generalized Gaussian quadrature

Abstract When used in conjunction with a properly chosen curvilinear coordinate system, a generalized Gaussian quadrature affords a new versatile approach to the computation of energies of electrostatic interaction between two non-overlapping, continuous charge distributions. Compared with the conventional discretization of distributions, this approach offers a vast reduction in computational effort without a concomitant loss of accuracy. Although potentially slower than the fast multipole method, the present formalism is more general and less prone to discretization errors due to finite grid sizes. Results of test calculations on the energies of classical electrostatic interaction between AIMs demonstrate the power of the new method.
Treatment of postoperative low output syndrome with intraaortic balloon pumping: experience with 419 patients.

Four hundred nineteen patients with postoperative low output syndrome were supported with intraaortic balloon pumping between September 1, 1972 and June 1, 1979. Overall, 226 patients (54 percent) were successfully weaned from pumping support and 188 (45 percent) were subsequently discharged from the hospital. Approximately 10 percent of the patients died after apparently successful weaning from the balloon pump. Patients who underwent aortocoronary bypass operations had significantly better survival rates than patients who underwent combined aortocoronary bypass and valve procedures (60 versus 28 percent, p < 0.01). Two hundred sixty-three of the 419 patients have been serially classified hemodynamically since 1975. During intraaortic balloon pumping, 134 of these 263 patients ultimately achieved and maintained class A hemodynamic status (cardiac index greater than 2.1 liters/min, with systemic vascular resistance less than 2, 100 dynes s cm−5); all of these patients were successfully weaned from the balloon pump. Fortyone (16 percent) of the 263 patients achieved only class B status (cardiac index greater than 1.2 but less than 2.1 liters/min, systemic vascular resistance less than 2, 100 dynes s cm−5); the mortality rate in this group was 46.3 percent. Eighty-eight of the 263 patients failed to progress beyond class C status (cardiac index less than 1.2 liters/min or systemic vascular resistance greater than 2, 100 dynes s cm−5); the mortality rate was 96.6 percent during intraaortic balloon pumping. The differences in survival rates among patients in classes A, B and C were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean ages of survivors and nonsurvivors were not significantly different. Men had a 59 percent and women a 47.3 percent survival rate (p < 0.05). The duration of support was 60.2 ± 44.7 hours in survivors and 10.9 ± 21.1 hours in nonsurvivors, suggesting an early high attrition rate for unsuccessful postoperative support. Patients with balloons of 40 and 30 ml had significantly better survival rates (67 and 52 percent, respectively) than patients with 20 ml balloons (47 percent, p < 0.05).
Fractional anisotropy of water diffusion in cerebral white matter across the lifespan

Determining the time of peak of cerebral maturation is vital for our understanding of when cerebral maturation ceases and the cerebral degeneration in healthy aging begins. We carefully mapped changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) of water diffusion for eleven major cerebral white matter tracts in a large group (831) of healthy human subjects aged 11-90. FA is a neuroimaging index of micro-structural white matter integrity, sensitive to age-related changes in cerebral myelin levels, measured using diffusion tensor imaging. The average FA values of cerebral white matter (WM) reached peak at the age 32 ± 6 years. FA measurements for all but one major cortical white matter tract (cortico-spinal) reached peaks between 23 and 39 years of age. The maturation rates, prior to age-of-peak were significantly correlated (r=0.74; p=0.01) with the rates of decline, past age-of-peak. Regional analysis of corpus callosum (CC) showed that thinly-myelinated, densely packed fibers in the genu, that connect pre-frontal areas, maturated later and showed higher decline in aging than the more thickly myelinated motor and sensory areas in the body and splenium of CC. Our findings can be summarized as: associative, cerebral WM tracts that reach their peak FA values later in life also show progressively higher age-related decline than earlier maturing motor and sensory tracts. These findings carry multiple and diverse implications for both theoretical studies of the neurobiology of maturation and aging and for the clinical studies of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Commissioning experience with cone-beam computed tomography for image-guided radiation therapy.

This paper reports on the commissioning of the Elekta Cone Beam CT system which was performed as one of the first sites in the US to install a ?regular?, off-the-shelf Elekta Synergy accelerator system. A QA procedure is presented as a guide for other users. The commissioning was sixfold: (1) System safety (2) Geometric accuracy ? Agreement of MV and kV beam isocenters, (3) Image quality (4) Algorithm accuracy (5) Dose to patient (6) Quality assurance procedures. The system passed the safety tests and the agreement of the isocenters was found to be within 1 mm. Using a precisely moved skull phantom, the reconstruction and alignment algorithm was found to be accurate within 1mm and 1 degree in each dimension. Of 12 measurement points spanning a 9x9x15cm3 volume in a RANDO phantom the average agreement in the x, y, and z coordinates was 0.10mm, -0.12mm, 0.22mm (SD: 0.21mm, 0.55mm, 0.21mm; Largest deviations: 0.6mm, 1.0mm, 0.5mm, respectively). The larger deviation for the y-component can be partially attributed to the CT slice thickness of 1 mm along that direction. Dose to the patient depends on the machine settings and patient geometry. To monitor dose consistency air kerma (output) and half value layer (beam quality) are measured for a typical clinical setting. Air kerma was 6.3cGy (120kVp, 40mA, 40ms per frame, 360° scan, S20 field of view), half value layer 7.1 mm Al (120 kV, 40 mA). We suggest to perform items (1), (2) and (3) on a monthly basis and (4) and (5) annually. In addition we devised a daily QA to verify the agreement of MV and kV isocenter using a simple phantom with three small steel balls.
Domestic and foreign bias in real estate mutual funds

The purpose of the study is to seek a better understanding of the investment allocation behaviour of the real estate mutual funds by focusing on asset allocation at the country level. Analysing the country allocation of 553 real estate mutual funds domiciled in 20 countries, we attempt to trace how investment bias exists across countries and affects their country allocations. Our results evidence the existence of disproportionate country allocation to their domestic markets (domestic bias) and to each foreign market (foreign bias). We also find each bias is influenced by different sets of variables: real estate market influences for domestic bias and familiarity influences for foreign bias. This difference in factors influential for each bias in part explains the conflated relationship between the two biases.
Does Being “Included” Preclude Being “Inclusive”? Constructing a Contested Organizational Identity in a Nascent Jewish Communal Group

The identity “Jew” can be religious or ethnic, or both religious and ethnic. This ethnographic case study of an emergent communal organization of young adult secular Jews explores the reconciliation of organizational issues when these two elements of identity conflict. Findings suggest that religious elements take priority over secular ones when inclusion in the broader Jewish community is a salient concern.
Effect of actinomycin D and mitomycin C on sigma virus multiplication in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract When injected into virus-free Drosophila melanogaster imagos, actinomycin D (10 or 20 μg/ml) inhibited RNA synthesis, as measured by 3 H-uridine incorporation. Incorporation was found to be substantially higher in females than in males. Actinomycin D also completely inhibited egg-laying in females. Actinomycin D (10 μg/ml) did not inhibit multiplication of sigma virus when injected together with viral extracts into virus-free flies. Mitomycin C had no consistent inhibitory effect on viral multiplication at concentrations ranging from 100 to 500 μg/ml. The failure of actinomycin D and mitomycin C to inhibit sigma virus multiplication favors the hypothesis that the nucleic acid of sigma virus is RNA.
Hydrothermal Growth and Thermal Property Characterization of ThO2 Single Crystals

Single crystals of ThO2 exceeding 8 mm in length have been produced by hydrothermal synthesis in aqueous cesium fluoride solutions at 750 °C. Solubility studies have confirmed ThO2 is congruently saturating in aqueous cesium fluoride with positive solubility with respect to temperature and increasing mineralizer concentration. Bulk transport growth of ThO2 was performed to determine the viability of large-scale production of ThO2 single crystals for possible nuclear fuel applications. The thermal conductivity and thermal expansion properties of single crystal ThO2 were measured and are reported here for the first time. The single crystal sample, in regard to nuclear fuel applications, showed improved thermal performance compared with previously reported polycrystalline values.
A method for integrating multiple components in a decision support system

We present a flexible, extensible method for integrating multiple tools into a single large decision support system (DSS) using a forest ecosystem management DSS (NED-2) as an example. In our approach, a rich ontology for the target domain is developed and implemented in the internal data model for the DSS. Semi-autonomous agents control external components and communicate using a blackboard. We illustrate how this multi-agent approach with its blackboard architecture supports the expansion of a DSS (in this case, NED-2) to incorporate new models and decision support tools as they become available. The exemplar NED-2 DSS developed using this method is a goal-driven DSS that integrates a sophisticated inventory system, treatment plan development, growth-and-yield models, wildlife models, fire risk models, knowledge based systems for goal satisfaction analysis, and a powerful report generation system.
Acidification of the Oxygen Scavenging System in Single-Molecule Fluorescence Studies: In Situ Sensing with a Ratiometric Dual-Emission Probe

For most of the single-molecule fluorescence studies to date, biomolecules of interest are labeled with small organic dyes which suffer from their limited photostability evidenced by blinking and photobleaching. An enzymatic oxygen scavenging system of glucose oxidase and catalase is widely used to improve the dye photostability but with the unfavorable side effect of producing gluconic acid. It is known that accumulation of this byproduct in solution can lead to considerable acidification, but the uncertainty in its severity under experimentally relevant conditions has been a long-standing area of concern due to the lack of a suitable assay. In this paper we report a fluorescence-based analytical assay for quantitatively assessing the acidification of oxygen scavenging systems in situ. By using a ratiometric, dual-emission dye, SNARF-1, we observed the presence and, for the first time, measured the severity of solution acidification due to the oxygen scavenging system for a number of conditions relevant ...
Potassium Dynamics in the Epileptic Cortex: New Insights on an Old Topic:

The role of changes in the extracellular potassium concentration [K(+)](o) in epilepsy has remained unclear. Historically, it was hypothesized that [K(+)]( o) is the causal factor for epileptic seizures. This so-called potassium accumulation hypothesis led to substantial debate but subsequently failed to find wide acceptance. However, recent studies on the pathophysiology of tissue from epileptic human patients and animal epilepsy models revealed aberrations in [K(+)](o) regulation. Computational models of cortical circuits that include ion concentration dynamics have catalyzed a renewed interest in the role of [K(+)](o) in epilepsy. The authors here connect classical and more recent insights on [K(+)]( o) dynamics in the cortex with the goal of providing starting points for a next generation of [K(+)](o) research. Such research may ultimately lead to an entirely new class of antiepileptic drugs that act on the [K(+)](o) regulation system.
Immune Modulation Therapy in Heart Failure

Several lines of evidence suggest that inflammation plays a pathogenic role in the development and progression of congestive heart failure, influencing heart contractility and hypertrophy, promoting apoptosis, and contributing to the myocardial remodeling process. As the prevalence of heart failure continues to increase, novel therapeutic strategies are employed to decrease the burden of this disease. Although multiple studies have suggested a potential for immunomodulatory therapy in heart failure patients, the precise role of this targeted approach still remains to be determined. Further research is needed to identify the key factors in the immunopathogenesis of heart failure, identify the patients who are most likely to respond, and develop management strategies that result in consistent benefit leading to decreased morbidity and mortality in the heart failure patient population.
Resonances in continuous spectra of three-body systems with finite-range two-body interaction.

It is shown that mutual interference cancellation of waves emitted by different two-body potentials can serve as a binding factor in continuous spectra of three-body systems. The nature of this effect is purely geometrical and it exists in wave functions of the same particular symmetry properties for all finite-range two-body interactions. At the same time this effect can manifest itself in the form of a real bound state or a resonance in the continuous spectrum only if the attraction is sufficiently strong. The wave function of such a state would fall off as a power of hyperradius. The possibility of this effect is proven for {ital s} and {ital p} waves of identical spinless bosons, and fermions with spin and isospin equal to 1/2.
Enalapril reverses high-fat diet-induced alterations in cytochrome P450-mediated eicosanoid metabolism.

Metabolism of arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450 (CYP) to biologically active eicosanoids has been recognized increasingly as an integral mediator in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. CYP epoxygenase-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic and dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (EET + DHET) and CYP ω-hydroxylase-derived 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) exhibit divergent effects in the regulation of vascular tone and inflammation; thus, alterations in the functional balance between these parallel pathways in liver and kidney may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of metabolic syndrome. However, the impact of metabolic dysfunction on CYP-mediated formation of endogenous eicosanoids has not been well characterized. Therefore, we evaluated CYP epoxygenase (EET + DHET) and ω-hydroxylase (20-HETE) metabolic activity in liver and kidney in apoE−/− and wild-type mice fed a high-fat diet, which promoted weight gain and increased plasma insulin levels significantly. Hepatic CYP epoxygenase metabolic activity was significantly suppressed, whereas renal CYP ω-hydroxylase metabolic activity was induced significantly in high-fat diet-fed mice regardless of genotype, resulting in a significantly higher 20-HETE/EET + DHET formation rate ratio in both tissues. Treatment with enalapril, but not metformin or losartan, reversed the suppression of hepatic CYP epoxygenase metabolic activity and induction of renal CYP ω-hydroxylase metabolic activity, thereby restoring the functional balance between the pathways. Collectively, these findings suggest that the kinin-kallikrein system and angiotensin II type 2 receptor are key regulators of hepatic and renal CYP-mediated eicosanoid metabolism in the presence of metabolic syndrome. Future studies delineating the underlying mechanisms and evaluating the therapeutic potential of modulating CYP-derived EETs and 20-HETE in metabolic diseases are warranted.
What You Use Depends on What You Have Information Effects on the Determinants of Electoral Choice

This article examines the effects on the use of determinants of electoral choice of varying levels of politically-relevant information in the electorate. A theoretical framework is introduced that accounts for different usages of cues to vote choice, even among voters with similar goals, based on differing amounts of information. The 1972-74-76 Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research Panel Study is used to test the hypothesis that low information voters will emphasize different cues to vote choice than medium information voters, who will also differ from high information voters. This hypothesis is confirmed by the findings, and a number of conclusions about the nature of electoral choice are drawn.
Abstract A54: The association of county level characteristics with the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in Hispanic women.

Purpose: To evaluate the association of county level characteristics with the incidence of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix among Hispanic women. Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program's 18 registries from 2000-2009 were queried and average annual age-adjusted incidence rates per 100,000 Hispanic women for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCC) were calculated. Patients were stratified by residence in a county with high versus low percent language isolation, percent of Hispanics with less than a high school education and percent of Hispanic families below the poverty level. Results: Between 2000-2009, 5,534 Hispanic women were diagnosed with SCC in SEER. Incidence rates were highest among those living in counties with high levels of LI (8.9 v 10.7), or low levels of education (8.9 v 10.8) or income (8.7 v 11.0). The incidence of SCC was significantly less in women living in counties with higher levels of education and income and lower levels of LI than among those living in counties with lower levels of education and income and higher levels of LI (8.6 v. 11.3). Counties that have higher levels of income and education are less likely to be LI whereas counties with lower levels of income and education are more likely to be LI. Conclusions: Among Hispanic women, county level characteristics such as LI, education, and income have a complex interaction that appears to be associated with the incidence of SCC. Community level interventions need to be evaluated to decrease the high incidence of SCC in this population. Citation Format: Kristy K. Ward, Angelica M. Roncancio, Steven C. Plaxe. The association of county level characteristics with the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in Hispanic women. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A54.
Convergence, scale and the relative productivity performance of Canadian—US manufacturing industries

This research is a comparative investigation of productivity performance within the manufacturing sectors of Canada and the United States. Labour and multifactor productivity levels and growth rates are measured and analysed for an exhaustive sample of two-digit level manufacturing industries. An aggregate analysis is conducted by grouping industries in accordance with their degree of capital intensity. The findings generally suggest that productivity in Canadian manufacturing industries initially converged upon, but has more recently diverged from, those level displayed by their US counterparts. An empirical analysis focuses on the convergence hypothesis and scale effects in explaining differences in measured productivity growth rates.
Efficacy of sonography as a screening method in renal insufficiency

Ultrasonographic records of 239 patients with unexplained renal insufficiency were reviewed to determine the efficacy of renal ultrasonography as a screening examination. Ninety-five (40%) examinations were normal; 24 (10%) examinations showed no renal lesion, but some important incidental finding was discovered; 120 (50%) examinations showed a renal abnormality, including 24 (10%) that showed bilateral urinary tract obstruction. The discovery of bilateral urinary tract obstruction was of particular importance and, in the majority of cases (16/24), led to some type of definitive interventional procedure. Sonography in patients with renal insufficiency, whether normal or abnormal, provides useful information to the practicing physician with a potentially significant impact on the patient's clinical course.
High-level expression of pseudogenes in Mycobacterium leprae.

Recent studies have revealed that some RNAs are transcribed from noncoding DNA regions, including pseudogenes, and are functional as riboregulators. We have attempted to assess the gene expression profile throughout the Mycobacterium leprae genome using an array technique. Twelve highly expressed gene regions were identified that show an alteration in expression levels upon infection. Six of these were pseudogenes. Although M. leprae has an exceptional number and proportion of pseudogenes among species, our results suggest that some of the M. leprae pseudogenes are not just ‘decayed’ genes, but may have a functional role.
Direct Measurement of Hot-Wall Heat Flux

The implementation and use of high-temperature-capable heat flux sensors is investigated in several different hotwall measurement scenarios. A graphite flat-plate heater was used to generate high heat fluxes representative of hypersonic flight. This allowed the comparison of cold-wall and hot-wall heat flux measurements under carefully controlled experimental conditions by using a high-temperature heat flux sensor mounted on three very different substrates, froman actively cooled body to awell-insulated body.Awater-cooledGardonheatflux sensorwas used to measure the incident radiation in all cases. Incident radiation heat fluxes as high as 65 W cm 2 and hightemperature heat flux sensor surface temperatures as high as 1130 C were realized. A unique data-processing scheme rendered the high-temperature heat flux sensor virtually insensitive to the material on which it is mounted and accounted for the sensor’s temperature-dependent properties. Because of the emitted radiation and natural convection from the high-temperature heat flux sensor surface, the net heat flux was very different from the incident heat flux measured by the cold sensor (water-cooled Gardon). For these idealized cases, the incident radiation could bepredicted from the hot-wall total heatfluxmeasurements. Formore realistic conditions, however, it is important to be able to measure the actual heat flux desired.
Selective ethylene oligomerization: Recent advances in chromium catalysis and mechanistic investigations

Selective production of linear α-olefins is of significant commercial interest. Recently discovered catalytic systems based on titanium, tantalum, and chromium show remarkable selectivity and productivity for the oligomerization of ethylene to 1-hexene or 1-octene. Chromium-based catalysts are the most selective and active and show the highest structural diversity. This paper discusses the most recent advances in chromium chemistry related to selective olefin oligomerization. Aspects regarding ligand design, catalyst generation, selectivity for different products, and reaction mechanism are presented. Isotopic labeling protocols designed to distinguish between various mechanisms of catalysis are reviewed.
NCS-1 stirs somnolent synapses.

How is synaptic facilitation mediated? New work suggests that a calcium-sensing molecule, neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) transduces a residual calcium signal into an enhancement of transmitter release at excitatory synapses in the hippocampus.
Spawning Season and Habitat Use of Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) in Southeastern Minnesota

ABSTRACT Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) in Winona County, Minnesota spawned in late March and early April when water temperature reached 10°C. Relatively large rocks were preferentially used for spawning, and individual nests contained clutches from as many as nine females. Although artificial rock shelters were not used for spawning, large shelters were used for cover more often and small shelters less often than expected if shelter use was random with respect to shelter size. Use of shelters of different sizes did not differ significantly between large and small sculpins.
A model of oxygen exchange between an arteriole or venule and the surrounding tissue.

A mathematical model is developed to study the effect of capillary convection on ox­ ygen transport around segments of arterioles and venules that are surrounded by capillaries. These capillaries carry unidirectional flow perpendicular to the vessel. The discrete capillary structure is distributed in a manner determined by the capillary blood flow and capillary density. A nonlinear oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve described by the Hill equation is used in the analysis. Oxygen flux from the vessel is expressed as a relationship between Sherwood and Peclet numbers, as well as other dimensionless combinations involving parameters of the capillary bed. A numerical solution is obtained with a finite difference method. The numerical results obtained within the physiological range of parameters allow the prediction of longitudinal gradients of hemoglobin-ox ygen saturation along the arterioles and venules.
Mineralogic variability of the uppermost mantle along mid-ocean ridges

Abstract Modal analyses of 273 different peridotites representing 43 dredge stations in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Indian Oceans define three separate melting trends. Peridotites dredged in the vicinity of “mantle plumes” or hot spots have the most depleted compositions in terms of basaltic components, while peridotites dredged at locations removed from such regions are systematically less depleted. The modal data correlate well with mineral compositions, with the peridotites most depleted in pyroxene also having the most refractory mineral compositions. This demonstrates that they are the probable residues of variable degrees of mantle melting. Further, there is a good correlation between the modal compositions of the peridotites and the major element composition of spatially associated dredged basalts. This demonstrates for the first time that the two must be directly related, as is frequently postulated. The high degree of depletion of the peridotites in basaltic major element components in the vicinity of some documented mantle plumes provides direct evidence for a thermal anomaly in such regions—justifying their frequent designation as “hot spots”. The high incompatible element concentrations in these “plume” basalts, however, are contrary to what is expected for such high degrees of melting, and thus require either selective contributions from locally more abundant enriched veins and/or contamination by a volatile-rich metasomatic front from depth.
A study of the kidney in the LAF mouse after continued daily gamma-irradiation, with particular reference to progressive intercapillary glomerulosclerosis.

SummaryBeginning at 100 days of age, LAF1 mice were exposed to 12 or 14 r per day of 60Co γ-rays. In the unirradiated animals, the degree of intercapillary glomerulosclerosis was relatively constant from 100 to 500 days of age, after which it progressively increased. The animals receiving 24 r per day did not survive beyond 500 days of age; their kidneys were like those of the unirradiated animals. In animals receiving 12 r per day, the degree of intercapillary glomerulosclerosis after 300 days of age was only a little greater than in the unirradiated animals, though consistently so. This was true even in 700-day-old animals that had received an accumulated dose of 6600 r. The small renal arteries and arterioles were not altered. Thus continued small daily doses of γ-radiation resulted in much less renal damage than had been found in a previous study with single doses of x-rays.
Different sized luminescent gold nanoparticles

After a decade's efforts, a large amount of highly luminescent metal nanoparticles with different sizes and surface chemistries have been developed. While the luminescence is often attributed to particle size effects, other structural parameters such as surface ligands, valence states of metal atoms and crystallinity of nanoparticles also have a significant influence on emission properties and mechanisms. In this review, we summarized the strategies used to create luminescent gold nanoparticles with sizes from few to millions of atoms and discussed how these structural factors affect their photoluminescence.