cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Remodeling of sperm chromatin following fertilization: nucleosome repeat length and histone variant transitions in the absence of DNA synthesis.

Abstract Within the first cell cycle following fertilization the average nucleosomal repeat length of sea urchin male pronuclear chromatin declines by 30–40 base pairs to a value typical of that found in the embryo. This decline occurs after a lag of about 30 min postfertilization, and is accompanied by replication of the male chromatin and accumulation of cleavagestage (CS) core histone variants. When replication is inhibited by >95% with aphidicolin, the decline in repeat length still occurs, although it is slightly retarded. The decline in repeat length also occurs when protein synthesis is blocked by >98% and DNA synthesis by 60–70% with emetine. The adjustment of nucleosome repeat length therefore can occur in vivo without extensive movement of replication forks across the length of the chromatin, or normal progression of the cell cycle, and appears to require no proteins synthesized postfertilization. Blocking of DNA synthesis or protein synthesis also does not prevent the normal histone variant transitions involved in male pronuclear chromatin remodeling. Although their accumulation is slowed, CS core variants eventually become the predominant male pronuclear histones in their classes when replication is inhibited. Since a shortening of the average nucleosomal repeat length of approximately 10–20% is not sufficient to account for this large acquisition of CS variants, some of the sperm (Sp) core histones are probably displaced from the replication-blocked pronucleus. Therefore, accumulation of CS H2A and CS H2B are temporally correlated with the repeat length transition, whereas replication, normal progression of the cell cycle, and the early histone transitions involving SpH1 and SpH2B are not.
Participation of blacks and immigrants in the American Merchant class, 1890–1910: Some demographic relations

Abstract During the late 19th and early 20th centuries many persons of minority ethnic status perceived that business enterprise offered an important opportunity for joining the mainstream of American economic life. To become a merchant was to acquire a measure of personal independence and a chance for higher rewards than those earned by industrial employees. To establish a business required the assumption of substantial risk, for the rate of failure among incipient enterprises was always great. Many would willingly bear the risk. But how many could survive, and where was the probability of success highest? The answers depended in part on the demographic features of the markets they undertook to serve. This article seeks, through an analysis of quantitative evidence, to answer some questions about the relation between demographic patterns and the extent of participation in retail merchandizing. Did urbanization promote such participation? Was the North or the South more stimulating to the merchant class? To what extent did participation in merchandizing differ among blacks, immigrants, and native whites? By employing quantitative evidence and multiple regression analysis, this paper offers more precise answers than traditional methods of historical inquiry would permit. But at the same time it raises questions that can only be answered by more traditional methods of study.
An accurate and efficient satellite long-term orbit predictor employing 'fictitious' mean orbital elements

By using Von Zeipel's generating function procedure the perturbing earth gravitational potential is averaged with respect to the fast variable (mean anomaly) and a set of 'fictitous' mean orbital elements which can be used as a long-term satellite orbit predictor is obtained. The set of elements is shown to be a function of the nonlinear square of the second zonal harmonic coefficient. It is found that the long-term orbit prediction using the 'fictitous' mean elements is as accurate as that using the osculating elements, but has a computing speed about two orders of magnitude faster. For short-term orbit predictions, the osculating elements approach must be used.
886 NO DIFFERENCES DETECTED SPECTROPHOTOMETRICALLY BETWEEN BLOOD PEPTIDES OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND NORMAL INDIVIDUALS FRACTIONATED BY COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY

886 NO DIFFERENCES DETECTED SPECTROPHOTOMETRICALLY BETWEEN BLOOD PEPTIDES OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND NORMAL INDIVIDUALS FRACTIONATED BY COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
The weakly bound complex NH3-CO: Observation and analysis of spectra in the infrared (C-O stretching) and millimetre wave (76–106 GHz) regions

The van der Waals complex NH3-CO has been studied in the infrared and millimetre wave regions, and analysed on the basis of the distinction between the ortho- and para- NH3-CO nuclear spin species. The spectrum and energy level pattern of ortho-NH3-CO are relatively simple, closely resembling those of the Ne-CO and Ar-CO complexes. The situation for para-NH3-CO is somewhat more complicated, with observed states having K values which differ by ±1 from that of the analogous orthoNH3-CO state. This indicates that the lowest energy orientation of para-NH3-CO in the complex lies in a II configuration. The present results correlate very well with the only previous study of NH3-CO, in the microwave region, and clarify the nature of the rotational series observed there. The infrared band centre of NH3-CO is only very slightly shifted (<0.2cm−1) from that of the free CO molecule, indicating that the CO vibration has little effect on the intermolecular forces.
Role of the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC).

The Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) is a committee independent of both the Steering Committee (SC) and any sponsor. It advises these bodies on continuation or stopping based upon safety and efficacy considerations. The primary objective is to assure safety for the patients in the trial. Blinding of the DSMC regarding type of treatment is usually avoided. The DSMC is composed of three to five members and should include one or two clinicians knowledgeable in the field of the trial, one or two statisticians and in some situations a pharmacologist and an ethicist. It is important that the members have experience from other trials and have high integrity. Rules for the statistical analyses have to be set up in the beginning of the trial. However, the DSMC cannot rely only upon statistical rules. Information from other sources may cause stopping before the scheduled end of the trial. The DSMC has to check that the overall quality of the data is good. Of special importance is that the Endpoint Committee is current with classification of endpoints. Timing of the DSMC meetings is dependent on several factors: (i) the incidence of events; (ii) the power of the study design; (iii) the effectiveness of the intervention. Legal requirements to report serious adverse events to legal authorities may be taken over by the DSMC, which ideally is the only body that has access to unblinded data.
Link between Chemotactic Response to Ni2+ and its Adsorption onto the Escherichia coli Cell Surface

Bacterial chemotaxis is of medical, biological, and geological significance. Despite its importance, current chemotaxis measurements fail to account for the speciation of the chemical effector and the protonation state of the bacterial surface. We hypothesize that adsorption of Ni2+ onto the surface of Escherichia coli can influence its effective concentration and therefore influence its ability to induce a repellent response. By measuring repellent response at different pH values, the influence of Ni2+ adsorption on chemotaxis was assessed. In addition, we tested the effect of different Ni2+ chelating agents. Our data indicate that adsorption reactions influence the chemotactic response to Ni2+. We use potentiometric titration and Ni2+ adsorption experiments to develop and constrain a thermodynamic model capable of quantifying the concentration of Ni2+ at the bacteria/solution interface. Results from this model predict that the concentration of adsorbed Ni2+ is linearly proportional to the magnitude of the chemotactic response in E. coli. If adsorption is linked to chemotaxis in other cases, then chemotactic responses in realistic settings depend on a number of environmental factors such as pH, competing binding agents (e.g., aqueous organic acids, natural organic matter, mineral surfaces, etc.), and ionic strength. Our modeling approach quantifies adsorbed species on bacterial surfaces and may be used to predict the responses of different species to a variety of chemoeffectors. Our data suggest that specified changes in environmental conditions can be used to tune chemotactic responses in natural biological and geological settings.
Integrating the Chief of Police into the Municipal Administrative Process

Police administration has been among the weakest aspects of municipal government. Frequently, the blame for the deficiencies in police administration has been placed on chiefs of police. The real problem, however, is not the people who serve as chiefs but the state of the administrative environment in which they serve. As a result of political and cultural factors, police administration has been cut off from the mainstream of general public administration. This paper examines thefactors which have produced the isolation of police administration. It then presents an approach to reforming the relationship between the municipal chief executive and the chief of police which can counteract the forces of isolation.
Tissue imaging utilizing the ultrasonic vibration potential

An ultrasonic vibration potential is generated when an acoustic wave propagates in an ionic or colloidal suspension. Measurement of the potential as an ultrasonic wave propagates in a body offers the possibility of a method of imaging. The resolution of the method ultimately is limited by the wavelength of the ultrasound; the contrast of the technique will depend on inertial quantities and the relative zeta potentials of the irradiated regions. The prospects for tissue imaging using the ultrasonic vibration potential are discussed.
Efficient Retrograde Neuronal Transduction Utilizing Self-complementary AAV1

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is frequently used for gene transfer into the central nervous system (CNS). Similar to adenovirus and rabies virus, AAV can be taken up by axons and retrogradely transported, resulting in neuronal gene expression distant from the injection site. We investigated the retrograde transport properties of self-complementary AAV (scAAV) serotypes 1–6 following peripheral injection. Injection of scAAV into either rat extensor carpi muscle or sciatic nerve resulted in detectable retrograde vector transport and reporter gene expression in spinal cord motor neurons (MNs). Serotype 1 resulted in the highest level of retrograde transport, with 4.1 ± 0.3% of cervical MNs projecting to the extensor carpi transduced following intramuscular injection, and 7.5 ± 3.1% of lumbar MNs transduced after sciatic nerve injection. In contrast to scAAV1, retrograde transduction with scAAV2 was undetectable following intramuscular injection, and was detected in only 0.81 ± 0.15% of MNs projecting to the sciatic nerve following intranerve injection. Furthermore, sciatic injection of single-stranded AAV1 required injection of tenfold higher numbers of viral particles for detectable transgene expression compared to scAAV1, and then only 0.91 ± 0.24% of lumbar MNs were transduced. Our data provide the basis for increased retrograde transduction efficiency using peripheral injections of scAAV1 vectors for therapeutic gene delivery to the spinal cord.
Impact of Quality of Service Constraints on the Performance of Spectrum Sharing Cognitive Users

This article investigates the impact of choosing a specific quality of service constraint on the performance of the cognitive users in a spectrum sharing cognitive environment. To communicate over a wireless channel reserved to a primary user, the cognitive user has to satisfy the primary user's quality of service constraint. Cognitive systems under interference temperature and outage probability constraints are investigated in this work. The outage probability of the primary user in an interference temperature-constraint environment is analyzed, and the performance measures of the cognitive users are developed. A comparative study of the cognitive user's performance under equivalent outage probability and interference temperature constraints is conducted as well. Numerical results are presented to verify the theoretical analysis and compare the performance measures under these constraints. Results of this work illustrate the effects of the communication environment parameters on the cognitive users and detail the performance differences between the equivalent outage probability-constraint and interference temperature-constraint cognitive systems.
Care Giver Perception of Children's Obesity-Related Health Risk: A Study of African American Families

Objective: To examine care giver perception of children's weight-related health risk in African American families. Research Methods and Procedures: One-hundred and eleven families (representing 48 boys and 63 girls) screened for participation in a diabetes prevention study participated. Care givers completed a health awareness questionnaire that assessed their perception of the child's weight, eating habits, appearance, exercise habits, and health risk. The care givers also reported each subject's family history of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. After a physical examination, height and weight were used to compute an age- and sex-adjusted body mass index for each child. Results: Despite the fact that a substantial number of children were obese (57%) and super-obese (12%), only 44% of the care givers perceived the child's weight to be a potential health problem. Regression analysis showed that 21% of the variance in parental perception of obesity-related health risk could be predicted by child age, body mass index, perception of frame size, and perception of exercise habits. Discussion: A number of reasons for the apparent minimization of child health risk are discussed, including cultural differences in the acceptance of a large body habitus, lack of knowledge about the connection between childhood obesity and future health risk, and an optimistic bias in the perception of personal health risk.
Causes and Consequences of the Relation Between Split-Adjusted Share Prices and Subsequent Stock Returns

Abstract: In this manuscript, we document and explain an empirical artifact — a persistent and substantial negative relation between split-adjusted share prices and subsequent stock returns — that has potentially important ramifications for capital markets research design. This relation pervades all commonly-used commercial databases and is insensitive to the choice of database used for either prices or returns. We investigate four potential causes of the empirical regularity: survivorship bias, asymmetric returns to low-priced stocks, extreme returns, and the effects of stock-split adjustments on portfolio classifications. We find that survivorship bias accounts for approximately half of the returns documented to a share-price-based hedge strategy and that re-classifications caused by stock split adjustments account for substantially all of the remaining returns. We do not find that controlling for either low-priced stocks or extreme returns is effective in purging the data of the empirical price artifact. These findings and our explanations thereof are important, as they show that there are potentially troublesome consequences of using share price as a deflator in markets-based research. In particular, we note and illustrate cause for concern when interpreting associations between share-price-scaled variables and subsequent returns as evidence of market inefficiency.
Association of constipation and fecal incontinence with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Functional constipation and fecal incontinence are common childhood gastrointestinal conditions. Both conditions may be associated with behavioral problems. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder of childhood, characterized by shortened attention span and hyperactivity. We hypothesize that a diagnosis of ADHD increases the risk for functional constipation and fecal incontinence. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of children was performed by using the military health system database. Children of active-duty military personnel, aged 4 to 12 years, from October 2005 to September 2007, were included. ADHD, constipation, and fecal incontinence were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes. Relative risks and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated. A subgroup analysis of subjects receiving medical therapy was performed. RESULTS: There were 742 939 children identified in the study, 32 773 (4.4%) of whom had ADHD. Children with ADHD had an increased prevalence of constipation (4.1% of children with ADHD vs 1.5% children without ADHD; P P P = .57) or fecal incontinence visits ( P = .32). CONCLUSIONS: Children with ADHD are significantly more likely to have constipation and fecal incontinence. Medical therapy for ADHD does not impact visit rates for defecation disorders.
Why Northern income growth is not the solution to Southern poverty

Abstract Decreasing Southern poverty is arguably today's main goal of economic development. The two main views on how this can be achieved are not compatible. The traditional view, held by most economists and development agencies, is not working well. The traditional view is that rich Northern high-consumption societies should consume yet more in order to help the South by providing larger markets. This paper outlines the alternative view: that the North should stabilize its resource consumption and reduce its damage to global life-support systems. Any higher consumption must come from productivity improvements rather than from increased throughput growth. If natural resources were infinite, then growth would be unreservedly good. Since resources are finite, more Northern growth inevitably means less room for Southern growth. For example, the North has consumed much global sink capacity by its CO 2 and CFC emissions. Productivity improvements must replace throughput growth as the path of progress for the North and eventually for the South as well.
A procedure for quantitation of total oxidized uranium for bioremediation studies.

A procedure was developed for the quantitation of complexed U(VI) during studies on U(VI) bioremediation. These studies typically involve conversion of soluble or complexed U(VI) (oxidized) to U(IV) (the reduced form which is much less soluble). Since U(VI) freely exchanges between material adsorbed to the solid phase and the dissolved phase, uranium bioremediation experiments require a mass balance of U in both its soluble and adsorbed forms as well as in the reduced sediment bound phase. We set out to optimize a procedure for extraction and quantitation of sediment bound U(VI). Various extractant volumes to sediment ratios were tested and it was found that between 1:1 to 8:1 ratios (v/w) there was a steady increase in U(VI) recovered, but no change with further increases in v/w ratio. Various strengths of NaHCO(3), Na-EDTA, and Na-citrate were used to evaluate complexed U(VI) recovery, while the efficiency of a single versus repeated extraction steps was compared with synthesized uranyl-phosphate and uranyl-hydroxide. Total recovery with 1 M NaHCO(3) was 95.7% and 97.9% from uranyl-phosphate and uranyl-hydroxide, respectively, compared to 80.7% and 89.9% using 450 mM NaHCO(3). Performing the procedure once yielded an efficiency of 81.1% and 92.3% for uranyl-phosphate and uranyl-hydroxide, respectively, as compared to three times. All other extractants yielded 7.9-82.0% in both experiments. Biologically reduced U(IV) was treated either alone or mixed with uncontaminated sediment slurries to ensure that the procedure was not interfering with subsequent U(IV) quantitation. While U(VI) was recovered, it represented 0.07% of the total uranium alone or 7.8% when mixed with sediments. Total uranium recovered did not change. The procedure was then used to monitor changes in complexed U(VI) levels during uranium-reduction in pure culture and sediments. There was no appreciable complexed U(VI) concentration in pure culture. In sediments however, once soluble U(VI) levels and reduction rates decreased, complexed U(VI) levels began to decrease while U(IV) levels continued to increase. This indicated that once soluble U(VI) was nearly exhausted, sorbed U(VI) became bioavailable and was reduced microbiologically.Typically, uranium is quantified in two steps, soluble U(VI) and U(IV). However, the present study shows that after successive washings with water to remove soluble U(VI), a significant pool of oxidized uranium remains which may be mistakenly quantified as U(IV). This procedure can be used to quantified this pool, does not interfere with U(IV) quantitation, and has an overall efficiency of 95.8%.
Strategies and Resources to Evaluate the Impact of Inclusion Programs on Students

Educators have expressed a considerable need for guidelines to assist them in evaluating the effectiveness of their inclusion programs. This article provides strategies and resources that educators can use to assess the impact of their inclusion programs on the academic performance and social and behavioral development of their students with and without disabilities. The guidelines presented also are designed to help educators document strengths in their inclusion programs and pinpoint aspects of their programs in need of revision.
War Chests as Precautionary Savings

I present a model of campaign spending and saving in repeated elections which yields empirical implications on the creation of war chests. As previous studies disagree whether war chests deter potential challengers from running against incumbents, I present an alternative model that intentionally excludes deterrence as a motivation and formalizes under what circumstances (if any) a war chest would be created for savings. The model predicts that an incumbent creates a war chest when she faces a weaker challenger, i.e. as precautionary savings for future elections. The model yields several other predictions of incumbent fund-raising, spending, and saving behavior. Using incumbents from 1982–1998 U.S. House elections, I find strong empirical support for the predictions of the model.
Active learning for logistic regression: an evaluation

Which active learning methods can we expect to yield good performance in learning binary and multi-category logistic regression classifiers? Addressing this question is a natural first step in providing robust solutions for active learning across a wide variety of exponential models including maximum entropy, generalized linear, log-linear, and conditional random field models. For the logistic regression model we re-derive the variance reduction method known in experimental design circles as `A-optimality.' We then run comparisons against different variations of the most widely used heuristic schemes: query by committee and uncertainty sampling, to discover which methods work best for different classes of problems and why. We find that among the strategies tested, the experimental design methods are most likely to match or beat a random sample baseline. The heuristic alternatives produced mixed results, with an uncertainty sampling variant called margin sampling and a derivative method called QBB-MM providing the most promising performance at very low computational cost. Computational running times of the experimental design methods were a bottleneck to the evaluations. Meanwhile, evaluation of the heuristic methods lead to an accumulation of negative results. We explore alternative evaluation design parameters to test whether these negative results are merely an artifact of settings where experimental design methods can be applied. The results demonstrate a need for improved active learning methods that will provide reliable performance at a reasonable computational cost.
Adenosine 5′-monophosphate increases levels of leukotrienes in breath condensate in asthma

Abstract Hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a key physiological abnormality in asthma. In clinical and research studies AHR is measured bronchial challenge, with methacholine (MCh), but more recently with adenosine-5′-monophosphate (AMP). In the search for markers of airway inflammation in asthmatic patients, we measured the concentrations of histamine and cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs) before and after MCh and AMP challenges in the exhaled breath condensate of 13 patients with mild asthma (FEV 1 78.5%pred) and nine healthy non-smokers, using specific enzyme immunoassays. With methacholine challenge we did not find any differences between asthmatics and normal subjects in the pre- and post-challenge concentrations of cys-LTs: 27.2±1.4 vs. 29.2±1.2pg/ml and 26.3±2.2 vs. 27.5±4.2pg/ml, respectively or histamine: 5.1±0.4 vs. 5.1±0.6nM and 4.5±0.4 vs. 4.4±0.3nM; P >0.05). In asthmatic patients cys-LT levels were significantly higher after AMP challenge (56.2±9.7 vs. 31.7±6.9pg/ml; P In conclusion, our results show that the cys-LTs are increased in exhaled breath condensate after AMP challenge, which may indicate that the AMP acts indirectly by releasing cys-LTs from primed mast cells. The detection of LTs and histamine in exhaled breath condensate may be useful in monitoring asthma.
Lentiviral transduction of green fluorescent protein in retinal epithelium: evidence of rejection.

Abstract This paper demonstrates lentiviral transduction of the humanized form of the Aequoria victoria gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) into human fetal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in vitro and rabbit RPE in vivo. In vitro GFP expression of cultured human fetal RPE begins within two to three days after 12–16 h of maintained exposure to the virus at titers of 108–109 infectious units (IU)/ml. Both stationary and dividing cells are transduced using a lenti viral vector with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Expression remains stable for at least three to four months without evidence of toxicity and continues through cell division. In vivo expression is followed non-invasively in rabbit eye using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO), which can detect single fluorescing retinal cells. In vivo expression begins within a few days after a viral solution is introduced into the subretinal space. A solution of 109 IU/ml produces fluorescence within three to four days. Less concentrated solutions lead to slower and less expression. No expression is detectable at concentrations of 106 IU/ml. Within one to two weeks after introduction of the viral solution, there is evidence of rejection seen by SLO as a loss of GFP fluorescence and disruption of the RPE. Histology shows damage to the RPE layer and monocytic cell infiltrates in the choroid and subretinal space within the area receiving the viral solution. Strong GFP expression leads to rejection within two weeks. With less expression, rejection is delayed and in some cases undetectable for at least six months. If the GFP gene is not included in the viral vector or if the viral concentration is insufficient to produce detectable GFP expression, rejection is not seen. Using a rhodopsin promoter or injecting the virus intra rather than subretinally produces weak expression and no rejection. Lentivirus can induce expression of a foreign gene in the RPE. Viral induced transduction and GFP expression have no effect on the viability of the RPE in vitro. Continued expression of GFP after cell division implies chromosomal integration of the gene. In vivo expression of GFP in RPE encounters rejection. Rejection may not occur with low GFP expression. The latter occurs with low viral titers, a rhodopsin promoter or intra-retinal injection of viral solution. The results are relevant to gene therapy in retina when gene transduction leads to the expression of foreign proteins.
A new method to predict neural excitation thresholds for applied electric fields

We have developed a method to predict excitation thresholds of axons based on the response of passive cable models. An expression describing the transmembrane potential induced in passive cables by an applied electric field is presented. Two terms were found to drive the polarization of a node: a source term described by the activating function at the node, and an ohmic term resulting from redistribution of current from sources at other nodes. The expression is used to predict accurately threshold currents, and greatly reduces the computation time necessary to determine the current required to excite a large number of fibers.
Thermal Conductivity of Nanocomposite Silicon Aerogels

We have developed a novel nanoengineering method to prepare modified silica aerogels, in which a small amount (less than 10%) of water-soluble organic is added. The molecular-level synergism between silica nanoparticles and molecular cross-linkers inverts the relative host-guest roles in glass-polymer composites, leading to new strong low-density materials. The synthesized composite monoliths are much more robust than the pure silica. The mechanical strength of the aerogels synthesized is measured using the 3-point bending, and the apparent thermal conductivity is measured using the hot wire method. The elasticity of the nanocomposite is significantly reduced (i.e., the rigidity is reduced) and rapture strength.is increased. The thermal conductivity of the nancomposite is increased slightly.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Molecular collision processes in the presence of picosecond laser pulses

Radiative transitions in molecular collision processes taking place in the presence of picosecond pulses are studied within a semiclassical formalism. An expression for adiabatic potential surfaces in the electronic-field representation is obtained, which directly leads to the evaluation of transition probabilities. Calculations with a Landau-Zener-type model indicate that picosecond pulses can be much more effective in inducing transitions than a single long pulse of the same intensity and the same total energy, if the intensity is sufficiently high that the perturbation treatment is not valid.
BCL-2 improves oxidative phosphorylation and modulates adenine nucleotide translocation in mitochondria of cells harboring mutant mtDNA.

Members of the BCL-2-related antiapoptotic family of proteins have been shown previously to regulate ATP/ADP exchange across the mitochondrial membranes and to prevent the loss of coupled mitochondrial respiration during apoptosis. We have found that BCL-2/BCL-xL can also improve mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in cells harboring pathogenic mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes. The effect of BCL-2 overexpression in mutated cells was independent from apoptosis and was presumably associated with a modulation of adenine nucleotide exchange between mitochondria and cytosol. These results suggest that BCL-2 can regulate respiratory functions in response to mitochondrial distress by regulating the levels of adenine nucleotides.
Simulating grain yield and plant development of ratoon grain sorghum over diverse environments

Abstract Crop simulation may provide an inexpensive means to evaluate the feasibility of different cropping practices to optimize productivity and profitability. One practice, ratoon-cropping, may increase productivity and reduce per-unit production costs associated with conservation tillage farming systems in tropical and subtropical regions. sorkam , a dynamic plant growth model for grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], was used to evaluate the potential of rainfed ratoon grain sorghum over diverse climatic regions of Texas. Eleven independent data sets collected in the U.S.A. from sites in Georgia and Texas were used to determine the model's accuracy. The model produced realistic estimates of grain yield for planted, ratoon, and combined (planted + ratoon) crops. Simulated grain yields usually were within 25% of the observed yield for the planted, ratoon, and combined crops with cultivars that produced the highest ratoon grain yield at each location. Ratoon grain yield results of multi-year simulations (10–30 years) from 14 locations over the eastern half of Texas using historic, location-specific, meteorological data indicated that the probability of obtaining ratoon grain yield > 3.0 Mg/ha was confined to the upper coastal plain region of Texas. The area best suited for rainfed ratoon grain sorghum appeared to be confined south and east of a line running from west of Corpus Christi to Beeville to College Station to west of Center, Texas. Use of crop models can play an important role in identifying strengths and weaknesses of potential cropping systems when used in combination with historical climatic data and/or computer weather generators.
Hydrolysis and Oxidation in Subcritical and Supercritical Water: Connecting Process Engineering Science to Molecular Interactions

Key engineering issues influencing the development of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) for waste treatment were reviewed. Major chemical pathways and kinetics for hydrolysis and oxidation reactions of model organic wastes were discussed. In selective examples, results from extensive laboratory-scale measurements were compared with molecular simulations of solvation and reaction effects in supercritical water. Connections between reaction chemistry and observed corrosion in SCWO processing equipment were discussed to underscore the importance of understanding electrochemical phenomena over a wide range of temperature and density conditions. Research needs for improved understanding of physical and chemical effects in supercritical fluids were identified.
Role of Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus (MPMV) Constitutive Transport Element (CTE) in the Propagation of MPMV Vectors by Genetic Complementation Using Homologous/HeterologousenvGenes

To study Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) replication over a single round, virus particles were generated that contain a replication-defective vector encoding a dominant selectable marker, the hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hyg) gene. Genetic complementation with a homologous MPMV envelope glycoprotein (Env-gp) or pseudotyping by several heterologous Env-gps from a variety of viruses resulted in infectious MPMV particles containing the replication-defective RNA. Recently, it has been shown that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Rev and Rev-responsive element (RRE) functions can be substituted in vitro by a cis-acting sequence, the constitutive transport element (CTE), from simian type D retroviruses like MPMV and simian retrovirus type 1 (SRV-1). To determine whether CTE of MPMV is necessary for MPMV nucleic acid propagation, an MPMV vector that lacked the terminally located CTE was generated. Propagation of this vector was completely abrogated in the absence of CTE, showing the importance of CTE in MPMV replication. Insertion of CTE back into the MPMV genome in the sense orientation rescued replication to wild-type levels. Slot-blot analysis of nuclear versus cytoplasmic RNA fractions revealed that most of the messages were sequestered in the nucleus of cells transfected with the CTE(-) vectors and very little was transported to the cytoplasm. To test whether HIV-1 or SIV RREs could complement CTE function, the HIV-1 or SIV RREs were inserted in the CTE(-) vectors, trans complementation of CTE(-)RRE(+) vectors with Env-and Rev-expression plasmids rescued propagation of the CTE(-) vectors. Computer analysis predicted an RNA secondary structure in MPMV CTE analogous to the HIV-1 and SIV RREs that could form three stable stem loops, the first of which contains a site similar to the Rev-binding domain in the HIV-1 RRE. The presence of a higher-order CTE structure was analyzed by mutational analysis. We conclude that CTE is important in the replication of MPMV and affects the nucleocytoplasmic transport and/or stability of viral messages similar to the Rev/RRE regulatory system of HIV-1 and SIV.
Religious Commitment, Skepticism, and Struggle Among U.S. College Students: The Impact of Majority/Minority Religious Affiliation and Institutional Type

Using a longitudinal sample of over 14,000 undergraduate students, this study explores whether and how students’ religious transformations during the college years are associated with their religious affiliation, religious experiences, and the institutional characteristics of their college or university. Hierarchical linear modeling reveals that students from religious majority groups (i.e., mainline and evangelical Protestants) generally experience increased religious commitment and decreased religious skepticism as compared with students from religious minority groups. Interestingly, though, students from these majority groups also report greater levels of religious struggle compared to minority group students. Moreover, institutional religious affiliation and an inclusive campus religious climate often attenuate the relationship between students’ religious affiliation and their religious transformation. Environments at both the macro (campus) and micro (friendship groups) levels contribute critically to young adults’ religious commitment.
Quantifying the predictive skill in long-range forecasting. Part II: Model error in coarse-grained Markov models with application to ocean-circulation regimes

AbstractAn information-theoretic framework is developed to assess the predictive skill and model error in imperfect climate models for long-range forecasting. Here, of key importance is a climate equilibrium consistency test for detecting false predictive skill, as well as an analogous criterion describing model error during relaxation to equilibrium. Climate equilibrium consistency enforces the requirement that long-range forecasting models should reproduce the climatology of prediction observables with high fidelity. If a model meets both climate consistency and the analogous criterion describing model error during relaxation to equilibrium, then relative entropy can be used as an unbiased superensemble measure of the model’s skill in long-range coarse-grained forecasts. As an application, the authors investigate the error in modeling regime transitions in a 1.5-layer ocean model as a Markov process and identify models that are strongly persistent but their predictive skill is false. The general techniq...
Colloidal spheres confined by liquid droplets: Geometry, physics, and physical chemistry

I discuss how colloidal particles organize when they are confined by emulsion droplets. In these systems, the interplay between surface tension and interparticle repulsion drives the formation of complex, non-crystalline 3D arrangements. These can be classified into three groups: colloidosomes, or Pickering emulsions, structures that form when particles are bound to the interface of a spherical droplet; colloidal clusters, small polyhedral configurations of colloids formed by capillary forces generated in an evaporating emulsion droplet; and supraparticles, ball-shaped crystallites formed in the interior of emulsion droplets. I discuss the preparation, properties, and structure of each of these systems, using relevant results from geometry to describe how the particles organize.
Correction for volatile fractionation in ascending magmas: noble gas abundances in primary mantle melts

Abstract Accurate relative noble gas abundances of mantle-derived melts are required in order to further understand the distribution of noble gases in the mantle and fractionation of noble gases during the melting process. Noble gas relative abundances in the majority of oceanic basalts are highly fractionated, at least in part due to late stage, solubility controlled fractionation. Noble gas concentrations in the volatile phase (≡ noble gas:CO2 ratio) will vary systematically during solubility controlled degassing of a magma. This contribution models the noble gas concentrations in the volatile phase during degassing at different pressures and vesicularities in order to develop a method for correcting fractionation resulting from magmatic degassing, and thereby estimate the “initial” (pre-degassing) noble gas compositions. Correcting for fractionation during magmatic degassing requires: a) a method for determining the volatile fractionation trajectory during degassing; and b) one well constrained mantle volatile composition with which to “fix” the extrapolation. The trajectory of volatile fractionation can be estimated by sequential crushing of basaltic glasses. Vesicles grow during ascent, therefore large vesicles trap early (less fractionated) volatiles while small vesicles trap late (fractionated) volatiles. Sequential crushing of basaltic glasses releases volatiles from progressively smaller vesicles, thereby allowing the fractionation trajectory resulting from degassing to be determined on individual samples. The production rate of both 21Ne and 4He in the mantle is a function of U concentration only, resulting in a constant 21Ne/4He production ratio in the mantle which can be used to “fix” the degassing fractionation trajectory determined by sequential crushing. This correction then allows fractionation of 4He from 40Ar prior to degassing to be assessed. This method is illustrated using multiple crushes of a single basaltic glass from the mid-Atlantic Ridge that shows that 4He appears to have been fractionated from 40Ar before degassing.
Untersuchungen Über Die Induktionsfähigkeit der Hinteren Medullarplattenbezirke.

1. Ausgehend von der Frage, ob die Medullarplatte auch die Fahigkeit hat, mesodermale Organe wie Urwirbel und Scitenplatten zu induzieren, wurde mit den als Induktor dienenden Medullarplattenbezirken ein relativ undifferenziertes Zusatzmaterial (prasumptive Medullarplatte oder prasumptive Epidermis der beginnenden Gastrula) mitverpflanzt. Dabei zeigte es sich, das die vorderen und mittleren Medullarplattenbezirke diese Fahigkeit nicht besitzen; die hinteren Medullarplattenbezirke konnen Urwirbel und Seitenplatten induzieren, jedoch nur im Zusammenhang mit der Bildung eines Schwanzes. 2. Die hier mitgeteilten Versuche befassen sich vor allem mit dem Verhalten der hinteren Medullarplattenbezirke (IV und V). Ubereinstimmend mit den Farbmarkierungen von W.Vogt, J. H.Bijtel u. M. W.Woerdemann ergeben die Transplantationsversuche, das der Bereich des Schwanzneuralrohres nicht bis zum Blastoporusrand reicht, sondern ein gutes Stuck davor aufhort (Abschnitt IV); das direkt vor dem Blastoporus gelegene Material (Abschnitt V) besitzt mesodermale Bedeutung und wird im Laufe der Neurulation noch eingestulpt; es enthalt kein Chordamaterial, sondern nur Urwirbel und ungegliedertes Mesoderm. 3. Das Schwanzneuralrohr und das Schwanzmesoderm haben als gemeinsame Eigenschaften: eine starke Streckungs- bzw. Knospungsfahigkeit und eine noch weitgehend vorhandene Formregulationsfahigkeit. Dadurch unterscheiden sie sich vom cranial gelegenen Material. 4. Das Schwanzneuralrohr und das Schwanzmesoderm haben, wie alle Bezirke der Medullarplatte und der Chorda, die Fahigkeit, Medullarplatte zu induzieren. 5. Das Schwanzneuralrohr und das Schwanzmesoderm haben aber, unabhangig von der Fahigkeit, Medullarplatte zu induzieren, auch diejenige, einen Schwanz zu induzieren; diese Fahigkeit fehlt nach den bis jetzt vorliegenden Versuchen den vorderen und mittleren Medullar-plattenbezirken. 6. Im induzierten Schwanzchen konnen vorhanden sein:
USING MULTIMEDIA IN LARGE‐SCALE COMPUTER‐BASED TESTING PROGRAMS

To make substantial improvements in how and what we measure, future generations of tests will need to tap nontraditional constructs, base test designs on cognitive principles, and increase the diversity of problem types. The advent of computer-based tests makes some of these improvements more feasible, especially diversifying problem types. One means of diversification is by including dynamic stimuli such as audio, video, and animation. We give examples of how such stimuli might be employed to assess skill in history, physical education, and the sciences. In addition, we pose an initial set of issues for consideration by operational testing programs.
On a principle of virtual work for thermo-elastic bodies with couple stresses

A principle of virtual work is proposed for thermo-elastic bodies with couple stresses. From it are derived the equations of motion, the stress principles of Cauchy and the Cosserats, and the stress, couple stress and entropy relations. The principle is also used to analyze the effects of an internal constraint on the response of the body.
Pancreatic sonography: Past and present

Prior to the advent of cross-sectional imaging, the diagnosis of pancreatic disease and its extent could not be obtained without surgery. Ultrasound is a noninvasive modality which has been evolving over the last 7-10 years. The purpose of this review will be to determine the present status of ultrasound in the evaluation of adult and pediatric pancreatic disease. Also, its role with regard to computed tomography (CT) and interventional techniques will be discussed.
Effects of ischemia on pulmonary dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract Background . Pulmonary hypertension and lung injury secondary to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are probably caused by a combination of ischemia and inflammation. This study was undertaken to investigate the potential ischemic effects of cessation of pulmonary arterial flow during CPB on pulmonary injury. Methods . Twenty neonatal piglets (2.5 to 3.1 kg) were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (n = 10) underwent 90 minutes of CPB at full flow (100 mL · kg −1 · min −1 ) and clamping of the main pulmonary artery (PA). Group B (n = 10) underwent 90 minutes of partial CPB (66 mL · kg −1 · min −1 ) with continued mechanical ventilation and without clamping of the PA. All hearts were instrumented with micromanometers and a PA ultrasonic flow probe. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring endothelial-dependent relaxation (measured by change in pulmonary vascular resistance after PA infusion of acetylcholine) and endothelial-independent relaxation (measured by change in pulmonary vascular resistance after ventilator infusion of nitric oxide and PA infusion of sodium nitroprusside). Results . All groups exhibited signs of pulmonary injury after CPB as evidenced by significantly increased pulmonary vascular resistance, increased alveolar–arterial O 2 gradients, and decreased pulmonary compliance ( p p Conclusions . This study suggests that although exposure to CPB alone is enough to cause pulmonary injury, cessation of PA flow during CPB contributes significantly to this pulmonary dysfunction.
Crop coefficients for drip-irrigated processing tomato

Abstract Drip irrigation of processing tomato is increasing in the San Joaquin Valley of California (USA), a major tomato production area. Efficient management of these irrigation systems requires reasonable estimates of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) between irrigations. A common approach for estimating ETc is to multiply a reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) by a crop coefficient. However, a review of literature revealed mid-season crop coefficients for processing tomato to range from 1.05 to 1.25. Because of this variability, uncertainty exists in the crop coefficients appropriate for drip irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley. Thus, a study was initiated to determine the ETc of processing tomato for drip irrigation in commercial fields and then calculate crop coefficients from the ETc and ETo data for the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. Crop ETc was determined at five locations using the Bowen Ratio Energy Balance Method (BREB). Canopy coverage was also measured using a digital infrared camera. Average crop coefficients ranged from about 0.19 at 10% canopy coverage to 1.08 for canopy coverage exceeding about 90%. A second order regression equation reasonably described a relationship between crop coefficient and canopy coverage. Generic curves describing crop coefficient versus time of year were developed for various planting times.