cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of electrical stimulation of efferent olivocochlear neurons on cat auditory-nerve fibers. I. Rate-level functions

In previous studies describing the effects of electrically stimulating the olivocochlear bundle, it seems possible that both medial and lateral (MOC and LOC) efferents may have been stimulated. To selectively stimulate MOC efferents, we used an electrode placed at the origin of the MOC efferents in the brainstem (MOC stimulation). For comparison, a stimulating electrode was placed in the fourth ventricle at the decussation of the crossed olivocochlear bundle where both MOC and LOC efferents are present (midline-OCB stimulation). Rate versus sound level functions from auditory-nerve fibers were obtained with and without efferent stimulation. Stimulation at either location shifted rate vs. level functions to higher sound levels and depressed the rate in the plateau. For fibers with high spontaneous rates, the level shifts and plateau depressions had slightly different distributions as a function of characteristic frequency. The average amplitudes of these effects were largest for midline-OCB stimulation, next largest for crossed MOC stimulation and smallest for uncrossed MOC stimulation. The qualitative pattern of the effects, however, did not depend on the location of the stimulus electrode. The amplitudes of the efferent-induced effects were different for auditory-nerve fibers with different spontaneous rates (by as much as a factor of three for the plateau depression). The results support several hypotheses: (1) the effects of midline-OCB stimulation are due only to the action of MOC efferents, (2) individual crossed and uncrossed MOC fibers produce similar effects, and (3) efferents differentially change the information carrying properties of auditory-nerve fibers in different spontaneous-rate categories. These results, taken together with anatomical data in the literature, are consistent with the hypothesis that, in the cat, MOC and midline-OCB stimulation have their effect solely through synapses on outer hair cells. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the level shifts are produced by MOC efferents acting on outer hair cells to reduce the mechanical stimulus to inner hair cells. It seems likely that some other mechanism is required to produce the plateau depressions, at least for auditory-nerve fibers with high spontaneous rates.
The world turned upside down? IBM in the 1990s

I t sometimes seems that computer industry watchers spent much of the latter half of the 1980s laying odds on the fall of IBM. And IBM's performance in that period, concluding in 1989--its 75th birthday as a public corpora t ionhas not always met the standards people have set for Big Blue. Sales revenues in 1989 reached only $62.7 billion, not the $100 billion forecast by Wall Street five years earlier. Return on equity (ROE) stood at less than half its 1984 high. F igure 1 shows long-term trends in return on sales (ROS), return on assets (ROA), and return on equity. IBM dropped to 45th place in Fortune's 1989 ranking of "America's Most Admired Companies." In the early and mid-1980s the company consistently ranked first. Wall Street analysts took IBM off their "buy" lists. How did it happen? More important, will IBM work its way out of a long slump, or is it in trouble for keeps? The company has long been so successful that even its logo is a near-icon, a symbol of American managerial and technological excellence. If the slump is a chronic condition, then perhaps it really is "The World Turned Upside Down." What follows is an attempt to answer questions about a possible turnaround. The discussion proceeds in four parts: a look at IBM's challenges and problems; an examination of its enduring strengths; an analysis of its management strategy; and an investigation of three possible outcomes as IBM heads into the twenty-first century. CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS
Muscles and innervation of the genital and postgenital abdominal segments of the female american cockroach Periplaneta Americana (L.) (Dictyoptera : Blattidae)

Abstract The locations of skeletal muscles in abdominal segments 7–10 of female Periplaneta americana (Dictyoptera : Blattidae) are described, and the action of some of those attached to the gonapophyses is hypothesized. The muscles are innervated from a terminal synganglion, a composite formed by fusion of embryonic neuromeres of abdominal segments 7–11. Pathways of the 5 pairs of segmental nerves and 3 pairs of transverse nerves that issue from the synganglion are documented. In addition to supplying skeletal muscles, certain of the nerves can be traced to the oviducts, spermatheca, colleterial glands, ventral glands, hindgut, and apparently, to sensilla of the cerci, gonapophyses, paraprocts, tergum, pleura, and sternum. Homologous relationships of the nerves are proposed, and the observations are compared to those reported by others who have, for the most part, examined males only. Putative neurosecretory somata occur in abdominal segments 7 and 8, at the junction of the transverse and segmental nerves. The association may be comparable to the “link nerve” complex described by others.
The gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, a model for Rift Valley fever viral encephalitis.

The gerbil,Meriones unguiculatus, was investigated as a model for the encephalitic form of Rift Valley fever. Resistance to necrotizing encephalitis was age-dependent with 100% mortality at 3 weeks, decreasing to approximately 20% by 10 weeks of age in outbred gerbils inoculated subcutaneously. Fatal encephalitis in the 10-week-old adults was dose-independent [1.0–7.0 log10 plaque forming units (PFU), subcutaneously]. Viral replication and histological lesions were followed serially throughout the course of the infection in young (4 week) and adult (10 week) gerbils. Viral replication was evident in the brain tissue of young gerbils from day 4 (3.0 log10 PFU/g) through day 7 (6.0 log10 PFU/g), the last day the young gerbils survived. Virus was only detected in the brain tissue of a single adult gerbil (day 7, 4.0 log10 PFU/g) of 26 studied in the sequential survey. In contrast, two moribund adult gerbils had approximately 7.0 log10 PFU/g of virus in the brain tissue on days 8 and 11. When young and adult gerbils were inoculated with a low dose (50 PFU) of virus intracranially, there were no detectable differences in the course of infection with all animals succumbing to fatal necrotizing encephalitis aproximately 7 days postinoculation. The young gerbil becomes the first animal model in which uniformly fatal RVFV-induced encephalitis is produced without significant extraneural lesions.
Effects of apamin on the discharge properties of putative dopamine-containing neurons in vitro.

Abstract An in vitro brain slice preparation was used to evaluate the effects of apamin, a selective inhibitor of calcium-activated potassium channels, on the discharge characteristics of presumed dopamine-containing neurons within the substantia nigra. Apamin administration (1 μM) was associated with an increase in neuronal excitability as evidenced by the emergence of both sustained irregular and intermittent bursting activity similar to that seen spontaneously in vivo. These data suggest that the characteristic regular activity observed among putative dopamine-containing neurons in vitro is mediated, in part, by a calcium-activated potassium conductance.
Viscometer for Measuring Glass Viscosity by Means of Flow Through an Orifice

A method is described by which the viscosity of glass can be estimated in the range 100 to 450 poises by determining the relationship between temperature and the quantity of glass in fiber form which can be drawn from an orifice in unit time. Results are based on a comparison with an arbitrarily chosen standard glass. The method is relatively rapid, yields good precision, and can be used to make samples of fibers valuable for other tests.
Regeneration of plantlets from leaf and petiole explants of Pelargonium x hortorum

The in vitro plant regeneration potential of vegetatively propagated geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) has been investigated. Using various combinations of growth regulators and a choice of different explants, a regeneration protocol has been developed to raise in vitro plantlets from young petiole and leaf explants from three different cultivars of geraniums. In all three cultivars, very young petiole explants exhibited a higher regeneration potential as compared with leaf explants. Regeneration efficiencies were found to be highly dependent on the cultivar, with cv. Samba showing the highest regeneration potential, followed by cvs. Yours Truly and then Sincerity. Samba also showed the highest number of shoots from both the petiole [57 shoot buds per petiole explant in the presence of 3 μM zeatin and 1 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and leaf explants (43 shoots per leaf explant with 10 μM zeatin and 2 μM IAA). Shoot buds transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.44 μM N6-benzyladenine and 0.11 μM IAA grew vigorously and attained 1–2 cm in length in 3–4 wk. These shoots rooted with 100% efficiency on MS basal medium, and plants developed that showed normal growth and flowering under greenhouse conditions.
‘By Force of Participation and Conjunction in Him’: John Jewel and Richard Hooker on Union with Christ

The author of a Christian Letter cited a passage from John Jewel's A Reply to Harding's An- swer in which the first major apologist of the Elizabethan Settlement spoke of the role of faith and the sacraments in union with Christ. Andrew Willet, the likely author of this work, quoted it against Rich- ard Hooker in order to show how the latter contravened the sacramental theology of the national Church as interpreted by Jewel as one of the foremost expositors of its doctrine. Jewel, however, in his Reply to Harding's Answer , enumerates four means of the Christian's union with Christ: the Incarnation, faith, baptism, and the Eucharist —a fact overlooked in A Christian Letter by its author in his endeavor to impeach Hooker's orthodoxy. Proceeding from the observation that both Jewel and Hooker believed that the locus of Christian salvation is union with Christ, this essay compares the two div ines' respective views of this union by examining the manner in which they understand the role of each of these means forming and maintaining this union. On the basis of this comparison, the essay argues that A Christian Letter misrepresented Jewel's position and that Hooker's view of union with Christ was essentially the same as the late bishop of Salisbury's, notwithstanding some differences in detail and emphases. The article concludes with the opinion that Hooker represents continuity of a particular soteriological em- phasis in the Elizabethan Church that can possibly be traced back to Jewel as a representative of the Reformed tradition stressing this doctrine.
Numerical and in vivo validation of fast cine displacement-encoded with stimulated echoes (DENSE) MRI for quantification of regional cardiac function.

Quantitative assessment of regional cardiac function can improve the accuracy of detecting wall motion abnormalities due to heart disease. While recently developed fast cine displacement-encoded with stimulated echoes (DENSE) MRI is a promising modality for the quantification of regional myocardial function, it has not been validated for clinical applications. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to validate the accuracy of fast cine DENSE MRI with numerical simulation and in vivo experiments. A numerical phantom was generated to model physiologically relevant deformation of the heart, and the accuracy of fast cine DENSE was evaluated against the numerical reference. For in vivo validation, 12 controls and 13 heart disease patients were imaged using both fast cine DENSE and myocardial tagged MRI. Numerical simulation demonstrated that the echo-combination DENSE reconstruction method is relatively insensitive to clinically relevant resonance frequency offsets. The strain measurements by fast cine DENSE and the numerical reference were strongly correlated and in excellent agreement (mean difference=0.00; 95% limits of agreement were 0.01 and −0.02). The strain measurements by fast cine DENSE and myocardial tagged MRI were strongly correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.92) and in good agreement (mean difference=0.01; 95% limits of agreement were 0.07 and −0.04).
Racial Camouflage: Thinking Race Apart From Sexuality: Commentary on Harris's “The House of Difference”

This article uses Adrienne Harris's (this issue) “The House of Difference, or White Silence” as a jumping-off point to think about the overlap between a queer of color critique and the poststructuralist methodology of relational psychoanalysis that Harris proposes. Although queer of color critiques have not tended to draw on psychoanalysis, they do provide ways to understand the epistemological construction of race. As such, reading Harris in conjunction with Chandan Reddy (2011), this article attempts to find a method for understanding race according to an epistemology that is separate from sexuality. Drawing on Harris's discussion of the unconscious and Reddy's analysis of amendments, this article attempts to make legible some of the nonoverlapping space between race and sexuality.
A comprehensive framework enabling data-minimizing authentication

Classical authentication mechanisms have various drawbacks such as the weak security properties they achieve, users' privacy, service providers' data quality, and the necessary protection of the collected data. Credential-based authentication is a first step towards overcoming these drawbacks. When used with anonymous credentials, the personal data disclosed can be reduced to the minimum with respect to a business purpose while improving the assurance of the communicated data. However, this privacy-preserving combination of technologies is not used today. One reason for this lack of adoption is that a comprehensive framework for privacy-enhancing credential-based authentication is not available. In this paper we review the different components of such an authentication framework and show that one remaining missing piece is a translation between high-level authentication policies and the cryptographic token specification level. We close this gap by (1) proposing an adequate claim language specifying which certified data a user wants to reveal to satisfy a policy and by (2) providing translation algorithms for generating the anonymous credentials (cryptographic tokens) providing the data to be revealed. For the latter we consider the Identity Mixer and the U-Prove technologies, where we provide detailed translation instructions for the former.
Teachers' Pedagogical Differences During ESL Block Among Bilingual and English-Immersion Kindergarten Classrooms in a Randomized Trial Study

Using a low-inference observational instrument, the authors empirically described and compared pedagogical behaviors in bilingual and structured English-immersion programs serving Spanish-speaking English language learners in a large urban school district in Southeast Texas. The two programs included both intervention/control of each type during ESL block. The 9,508 observations were collected four times during the kindergarten year from 54 classrooms in 23 schools. Findings indicated that within the English-immersion program, teachers in experimental, as opposed to control, classrooms allocated more instructional time (p < 0.01) in (a) cognitive areas and expressive-language-related tasks in English, (b) teacher-ask/student-answer types of activities, (c) academic visual scaffolding and leveled questions, and (d) encouraging student interactions. Similar differences were found in teachers between experimental and control bilingual classrooms.
Refinement of the critical region for MCKD1 by detection of transcontinental haplotype sharing.

Refinement of the critical region for MCKD1 by detection of transcontinental haplotype sharing. Background Autosomal-dominant medullary cystic kidney disease type 1 (MCKD1) [OMIM 174000] is a hereditary nephropathy that leads to renal salt wasting and end-stage renal failure at a median age of 62 years. In a Welsh MCKD1 kindred we have recently demonstrated linkage to the MCKD1 locus on chromosome 1q23.1 and refined the critical MCKD1 region to Methods In order to refine the candidate gene region for MCKD1 , high-resolution haplotype analysis in three large kindreds with MCKD1 was performed. Results We report here on high-resolution haplotype analysis in this Welsh kindred, as well as in the Arizona kindred, which was used for the first definition of MCKD as a disease entity, and in a kindred from the Dutch/German border. We detected extensive haplotype sharing among all affected individuals of all three kindreds. Scrutinization of the genealogy of the Arizona kindred revealed an origin from Germany in the 17th century, thereby providing historical data for haplotype sharing by descent at the MCKD1 locus. Conclusion Under the hypothesis of haplotype sharing by descent, we refined the critical genetic interval to
Adiponectin levels do not change with moderate dietary induced weight loss and exercise in obese postmenopausal women.

Adiponectin levels do not change with moderate dietary induced weight loss and exercise in obese postmenopausal women
Effect of Petroleum Products on Neoprene Vulcanizates. I. Effect of Lubricating Oils

Abstract The aniline point and the viscosity-gravity constant of petroleum derived oils may be used as criteria of the swelling effect of the oils on Neoprene vulcanizates. One or other of the constants should be used to describe or identify any oil to be used as a testing medium in swelling tests forming part of control or purchase specifications for Neoprene fabricated parts. Such a step will insure comparable results between different laboratories, and will enable samples of oils to be duplicated insofar as their swelling action is concerned. The aniline point and the viscosity-gravity constant are equally reliable, except in the case of high viscosity index hydraulic oils (containing polybutene), where the aniline point is preferred. The dark color of some oils may dictate the use of the viscosity-gravity constant. Other things being equal, the aniline point is preferred because of the ease of determination and lack of specialized apparatus.
Changes in tissue cyclic AMP concentrations following an intravenous lethal dose of cholera enterotoxin in rabbits.

Abstract : The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a generalized increase in tissue cAMP concentrations after an IV injection of cholera enterotoxin may play a role in the development of biochemical and pathological changes leading to death. Dutch rabbits allocated as control (n equals 9) and challenged (n equals 13) groups were injected IV with highly purified cholera enterotoxin at a dose of 100 or 200 micrograms/kg. When death appeared imminent (20-30 hr after inoculation), rabbits were anesthetized; plasma urine and 13 different tissue samples were obtained for cAMP determinations. When results from toxin-injection rabbits (100 micrograms/kg) were compared with those of controls, no significant changes were observed in any tissue studied. A higher dose of enterotoxin (200 micrograms/kg) produced significant increases in cAMP concentrations in lung, spinal cord, skeletal muscle, renal cortex, renal medulla and liver. The elevation of cAMP values in selected tissues suggests differences in tissue sensitivity to cholera enterotoxin; the data fail to support in toto the proposed hypothesis. (Author)
Interpersonal contact and heterosexuals’ attitudes toward gay men: Results from a national survey

The association between heterosexuals’ attitudes toward gay men and their interpersonal contact experiences with a lesbian or gay person was examined with data from a national AIDS telephone survey with a probability sample of English‐speaking adults in the United States (n = 937). When asked whether any friends or relatives had “let you know that they were homosexual,” approximately one‐third of the respondents gave an affirmative answer. Regression analyses indicated that interpersonal contact predicted attitudes toward gay men better than did any other demographic or social psychological variable included in the equation. Interpersonal contact was more likely to be reported by respondents who were highly educated, politically liberal, young, and female. The data indicate that interpersonal contact is strongly associated with positive attitudes toward gay men and that heterosexuals with characteristics commonly associated with positive attitudes are more likely than others to be the recipients of disclo...
Functionalization of a cotton fabric surface with titania nanosols: applications for self-cleaning and UV-protection properties.

In this study, cotton fabric was successfully modified by titania nanosols prepared by means of the sol−gel process with tetrabutyl orthotitanate [Ti(OC4H9)4] as the active ingredient. The cotton fabric was padded with the nanosol solution, dried at 60 °C, and cured at 150 °C. Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of a titania film on the fiber surface. The photocatalytic properties of titania-nanosol-treated cotton fabric were investigated. The results showed that stains of coffee and red wine were successfully decomposed by exposure of the stained fabric to UV radiation. Furthermore, titania-nanosol treatment imparted to the cotton fabric a very good protection against UV radiation. The durability of the treatment was investigated by performing repeated home laundering, and the results showed no effect of laundering on the UV-protection efficiency.
Evaluation of stocking density and subtherapeutic chlortetracycline on Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica shedding in growing swine.

Abstract The objective of this research was to determine the effect of stocking density and inclusion of subtherapeutic chlortetracycline in the diet on Salmonella fecal prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in growing swine. A 2 × 2 factorial design was employed on a privately owned commercial swine farm. Four finisher rooms were included in the study. Two of the rooms received 50 g/tonnes of chlortetracycline in the ration, two rooms received no antimicrobials in the feed. In each room, alternate pens were assigned to either high stocking density (0.60 m 2 /pig) or low stocking density (0.74 m 2 /pig). Pigs were placed in the finisher rooms at 10 weeks of age and followed for 6 weeks. Individual fecal samples were collected from the floors of each pen and cultured once weekly. Antimicrobial resistance phenotypes were determined. Data were analyzed using multilevel, multivariable logistic regression. Pigs fed chlortetracycline were at increased odds (OR 6.88, 95% CI 2.77–17.12) to shed Salmonellae . No other associations between treatments (CTC and stocking density) and Salmonella prevalence or reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials were identified. Variance in the odds of a fecal sample to be positive was distributed mostly at the lowest level, the individual fecal sample. The increased risk of shedding associated with inclusion of subtherapeutic chlortetracycline in swine diets is discordant with previous results by our group, suggesting farm or strain specific factors may impact this association. Understanding this risk may provide a potential intervention for controlling Salmonella pre-harvest.
Identification of the parameters of a trivariate normal vector by the distribution of the minimum

This paper continues the work started by Basu and Ghosh (J. Mult. Anal. (1978), 8, 413–429), by Gilliland and Hannan (J. Amer. Stat. Assoc. (1980), 75, No. 371, 651–654), and then continued on by Mukherjea and Stephens (Prob. Theory and Rel. Fields (1990), 84, 289–296), and Elnaggar and Mukherjea (J. Stat. Planning and Inference (1990), 78, 23–37). Let (X1, X2,..., Xn) be a multivariate normal vector with zero means, a common correlation ρ and variances σ21, σ22,..., σ2n such that the parameters ρ, σ21, σ22,..., s2n are unknown, but the distribution of the max{Xi: 1≤i≤n} (or equivalently, the distribution of the min{Xi: 1≤i≤n}) is known. The problem is whether the parameters are identifiable and then how to determine the (unknown) parameters in terms of the distribution of the maximum (or its density). Here, we solve this problem for general n. Earlier, this problem was considered only for n≤3. Identifiability problems in related contexts were considered earlier by numerous authors including: T. W. Anderson and S. G. Ghurye, A. A. Tsiatis, H. A. David, S. M. Berman, A. Nadas, and many others. We also consider here the case where the Xi's have a common covariance instead of a common correlation.
Design of an RF-Heated Bulk AlN Growth Reactor: Induction Heating and Heat Transfer Modeling

An induction heating and thermal model was developed to design an inductively heated reaction system for bulk AlN crystal growth by powder sublimation. The electromagnetic field and induction heat generation were calculated using the Maxwell equations, and transient temperature distribution was simulated considering conduction and radiation between various components. The complex dependence of the temperature distribution on the radio frequency (RF) coil current and position was demonstrated by numerical studies. A custom-designed high-temperature reactor was constructed and tested. To provide proper temperature control during envisioned sublimation growth, the response of temperature and temperature difference of the bottom and top external surfaces of the growth crucible to power consumption and coil position was measured. The experimental results corresponded well with the simulated temperature responses.
Breathing Exercises and Inspiratory Muscle Training in Heart Failure

Breathing exercises (BE) and inspiratory muscle training (IMT) have been demonstrated to improve ventilation and ventilation-to-perfusion matching, and to improve exercise, functional performance, and many pathophysiologic manifestations of heart failure (HF). This article provides an extensive review of BE and IMT in patients with HF and identifies several key areas in need of further investigation, including the role of expiratory muscle training, IMT targeted at various locations of inspiration (early, mid, or late inspiration), and alteration of the ratio of inspiratory time to total breath time, all of which have substantial potential to improve many pathophysiologic manifestations of HF.
Cell surface expression of the prion protein in yeast does not alter copper utilization phenotypes

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders that result from conversion of a normal, cell surface glycoprotein (PrPC) into a conformationally altered isoform (PrPSc) that is thought to be infectious. Although a great deal is known about the role of PrPSc in the disease process, the physiological function of PrPC has remained enigmatic. In this report, we have used the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to test one hypothesized function of PrPC, as a receptor for the uptake or efflux of copper ions. We first modified the PrP signal peptide by replacing its hydrophobic core with the signal sequence from the yeast protein dipeptidyl aminopeptidase B, so that the resulting protein was targeted cotranslationally to the secretory pathway when synthesized in yeast. PrP molecules with the modified signal peptide were efficiently glycosylated, glycolipid-anchored, and localized to the plasma membrane. We then tested whether PrP expression altered the growth deficiency phenotypes of yeast strains harboring deletions in genes that encode key components of copper utilization pathways, including transporters, chaperones, pumps, reductases, and cuproenzymes. We found that PrP did not rescue any of these mutant phenotypes, arguing against a direct role for the protein in copper utilization. Our results provide further clarification of the physiological function of PrPC, and lay the groundwork for using PrP-expressing yeast to study other aspects of prion biology.
Mycotoxins produced by toxic Fusarium isolates obtained from agricultural and nonagricultural areas (Arctic) of Norway.

Twenty-five isolates of F. acuminatum, 38 of F. avenaceum, 1 of F. culmorum, 31 of F. oxysporum and 56 of F. sambucinum were obtained in 1983, 1984 and 1986 from cereal grains and soil from various parts of Norway. The isolates were grown on an autoclaved Uncle Ben's parboiled rice medium and examined for production of trichothecenes and other toxins and for toxicity in rat feeding tests. F. culmorum N46C(2) and Fusarium sambucinum 45-86-A produced zearalenone (F-2) 864 and 665 ppm, respectively and caused uterine enlargement in rats. Most of these isolates produced no known trichothecene mycotoxins that could account for the toxicity that was demonstrated in the rat feeding tests. All but F. avenaceum N26B produced fusarin C (1.5 ppm) but caused no toxic effects in rat feeding test. None of the isolates produced fusarochromanone (TDP-1). Thirteen isolates of F. acuminatum, 16 of F. avenaceum, 14 of F. oxysporum and 3 of F. sambucinum produced a cytotoxic factor which we named HM-8. One isolate of F. avenaceum, 12 of F. oxysporum and 46 of F. sambucinum produced a hemorrhagic factor which we named H-1 (wortmannin). Twenty isolates of F. acuminatum, 22 of F. avenaceum, 17 of F. oxysporum and 1 of F. sambucinum produced moniliformin. Four isolates of F. acuminatum, 9 of F. avenaceum, 25 of F. oxysporum and 52 of F. sambucinum caused death to rats. Three isolates of F. avenaceum, 19 of F. oxysporum and 47 of F. sambucinum induced hemorrhage in various organs. All isolates caused decreased weight gain, relative to the control diets.
A protein kinase from neutrophils that specifically recognizes Ser-3 in cofilin.

Cofilin promotes the depolymerization of actin filaments, which is required for a variety of cellular responses such as the formation of lamellipodia and chemotaxis. Phosphorylation of cofilin on serine residue 3 is known to block these activities. We now report that neutrophils contain a protein kinase that selectively catalyzes the phosphorylation of cofilin on serine 3 (≥70%) and a nonspecific kinase that recognizes multiple sites in this protein. The selective serine 3 cofilin kinase binds to a deoxyribonuclease I affinity column, whereas the nonspecific cofilin kinase does not. Deoxyribonuclease I forms a very tight complex with actin, and deoxyribonuclease affinity columns have been utilized to identify a variety of proteins that interact with the cytoskeleton. The serine 3 cofilin kinase did not react with antibodies to LIM kinase 1 or 2, which can catalyze the phosphorylation of cofilin in other cell types. The activity of the serine 3 cofilin kinase was insensitive to a variety of selective antagonists of protein kinases but was blocked by staurosporine. This pattern of inhibition is similar to that observed for the kinase that is active with cofilin in intact neutrophils. Thus, neutrophils contain a protein kinase distinct from LIM kinase-1/2 that selectively recognizes serine 3 in cofilin.
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT STUDIES

Recent evaluations of ACT programs have produced equivocal findings, often leading to the invocation of methodological problems as responsible for the lack of positive results. This paper discusses issues of theory and methodology as they pertain to improving research of ACT, with particular attention paid to issues of sampling, process evaluation, measurement, and data analysis.
Random energy flow in the dissociation of energy selected bromobenzene and bromobenzene-d5 ions

The absolute rates of bromine atom loss in bromobenzene and deutorobromobenzene ions were measured as a function of the internal energy. The ions were prepared at selected energies by photoion photoelectron coincidence. The results were compared to the rates predicted by the statistical theory. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment indicates that the CH or CD vibrational modes participate fully in the energy flow of the isolated molecular ions, even though the CH and CD bonds are not involved in the formation of product C6D+5 fragment ions.
A distributed rendering environment for teaching animation and scientific visualization

This article outlines the development of a DRE at Purdue University. Faculty and students are currently beta testing the DRE. The project's goal is to make DREs available to faculty and students throughout the US at no cost. The design addresses several pedagogical paradigms that are critical for enhanced positive learning outcomes. Critical to the development of Purdue's DRE is the notion of an enhanced positive user experience. To address this goal, the project team is focusing on engineering methods for one-touch job deployment; ease of job status monitoring; anywhere, anytime job submission; rendering and animation error correction; and reduced job wait times.
Correlation of D-region absorption and the 10-mb winds and temperature during the IQSY

Abstract The relations between absorption and some meteorological parameters have been studied for the entire period of the IQSY. The method is to calculate the correlation coefficient between the D -region HF radio wave absorption at local noon and 10-mb level winds and temperature at 12Z for nine stations in the northern hemisphere. The results show that the absorption correlates negatively with the zonal wind (positive toward east) but positively with the temperature for the majority of cases, and that the meridional wind (positive toward north) is correlated with absorption in the winter season. It is suggested that the northward transport of atomic oxygen by large-scale eddies is related to the winter D -region abnormal absorption and some correlations with airglow data are presented to support this suggestion.
Utility of corticosteroid injection for temporomandibular arthritis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective. To assess the effects of computed tomography (CT)–guided injection of corticosteroid into the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of TMJ inflammation. Methods. Twenty-three children ages 4–16 years with JIA and MRI evidence of TMJ inflammation received CT-guided TMJ injections of corticosteroid (triamcinolone acetonide [n 16] or triamcinolone hexacetonide [n 7]). Jaw pain or dysfunction and maximal incisal opening (MIO) distance were assessed before and after injection. Fourteen patients had followup MRI studies of the TMJ 6–12 months after injection. Results. Of the 13 patients with symptoms of jaw pain prior to corticosteroid treatment, 10 (77%) had complete resolution of pain (P < 0.05). Prior to corticosteroid injection, MIO in all 23 patients was below age-matched normal values. After injection, the MIO was improved by at least 0.5 cm in 10 patients (43%) (P 0.0017). Patients under 6 years of age at the time of injection showed the best response, with a postinjection MIO similar to that in age-matched controls (P 0.2267). There was involvement of 23 TMJs in the 14 patients who had followup MRI studies; resolution of effusions was observed in 11 (48%) of the TMJs. Other than short-term facial swelling in 2 patients, there were no side effects. Conclusion. The majority of children with symptomatic TMJ arthritis improved after intraarticular corticosteroid injection. Approximately half the patients experienced significant improvement in MIO and TMJ effusion. These data suggest that corticosteroid injection may be a useful procedure for the prevention and treatment of morbidities associated with TMJ arthritis in JIA.
How big is the debt overhang problem

Abstract I re-examine the debt overhang problem where the flexible investment level, rather than the irreversible decision whether or not to operate, is used to measure the underinvestment caused by debt financing. I measure a large overhang cost with long-term debt or short-term debt. As is standard, underinvestment with long-term debt is more severe when investment opportunities are poor and is mitigated as opportunities improve. In contrast, underinvestment with short-term debt remains significant even when investment opportunities are good. Firms lever up as opportunities improve to take advantage of tax shields, so that equity claimants still face the incentive to underinvest.
Retinal detachment in a battered infant.

A 12-week-old battered infant boy had bilateral retinal detachments. The retina in the left eye was considered inoperable, but retinal detachment surgery was performed in the right eye. This retina was reattached and limited vision was restored. The history, the location of the retinal pathology, and the absence of a lens coloboma helped differentiate this result of physical abuse from a congenital retinal detachment. Language: en
A Time-Lag Analysis of the Relationships Among PISA Scores, Scientific Research Publication, and Economic Performance

Due to the poor performance of US students in international math and science tests, many authors worry that the US lead in science is in jeopardy. A recent study by Chen and Luoh (Soc Indic Res 96: 133–143, 2010) challenged this pessimistic view by delinking test performance and labor force quality. It was found that measures such as researchers per capita or scientific journal articles per capita can better account for economic performance. Because it takes time for education and R&D to yield returns, this project replicated the preceding study using a time-lag structure. Although the results partly concur with previous findings, it is important to point out that GDP might depend on multiple variables acting together. Instead of solely focusing on reforming STEM education as partly measured by international test scores, improving the R&D infrastructure and openness in trade could also be crucial to the future of the economy.
Simulations of scanning electron microscopy imaging and charging of insulating structures

We present a three-dimensional simulation of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and surface charging. First, the field above the sample is calculated using Laplace's equation with the proper boundary conditions; then, the simulation algorithm starts following the electron trajectory outside the sample by using electron ray tracing. When the electron collides with the specimen, the algorithm keeps track of the electron inside the sample by simulating the electron scattering history with a Monte Carlo code. During this phase, secondary and backscattered electrons are emitted to form an image and primary electrons are absorbed; therefore, a charge density is formed in the material. This charge density is used to recalculate the field above and inside the sample by solving the Poisson equation with the proper boundary conditions. Field equation, Monte Carlo scattering simulation, and electron ray tracing are therefore integrated in a self-consistent fashion to form an algorithm capable of simulating charging and imaging of insulating structures. To maintain generality, this algorithm has been implemented in three dimensions. We shall apply the so-defined simulation to calculate both the global surface voltage and local microfields induced by the scanning beam. Furthermore, we shall show how charging affects resolution and image formation in general and how its characteristics change when imaging parameters are changed. We shall address magnification, scanning strategy, and applied field. The results, compared with experiments, clearly indicate that charging and the proper boundary conditions must be included in order to simulate images of insulating features. Furthermore, we shall show that a three-dimensional implementation is mandatory for understanding local field formation.
Science and/in the community: context and goals in practical work

In general, science educators call for less fact‐oriented, more integrated, and more project‐based work in the science classroom as a means of achieving the goals of science education. In addition, some call for action‐taking on the part of the student, preferably on local scientific or environmental issues. This paper attempts to shed light on what a commitment to this kind of science education might look like. Based on a case study of two classes of ninth graders engaged in a project in which the students collected data and reported on a recently restored wetlands area in their community, I argue that community‐and/or field‐based, service‐oriented projects can be a powerful way to address concerns of science literacy. I suggest that this approach represents scientific practice more authentically to include more complex notions of context and purpose. I propose that the goals of science education include transformation of the sciences, and part of that transformation needs to embrace movement towards mor...
Comparison of column ozone retrievals obtained by UV multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer with those from Brewer and Dobson spectrophotometers

A limited evaluation of Ultraviolet Multifilter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (UVMFRSR) based monitoring was conducted for instruments operated at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii 2/1/04 - 5/31/04. Two UV radiometers were installed, an UVMFRSR (shadowband) and a tracker mounted UVMFR (no shadowband). Measurements from the two UVMFR's, collocated Brewer and Dobson UV spectrophotometers, and the TOMS satellite, allowed a number of intercomparisons. The Langley-Forgan calibration technique proved more effective than lamp or Langley-SLR (simple linear regression) techniques when applied to an UVMFR that exhibited substantial change in response. Direct irradiance from an UVMFRSR compared very well with direct irradiance measured by a tracker mounted UVMFR for full-sun days (r 2 's = 1). Mean ratios of the UV-MFRSR column ozone retrievals to the collocated Dobson and Brewer were 1.015 and 1.011 respectively. The mean ratio of UVMFRSR ozone to TOMS satellite ozone was 0.907. The UVMFRSR advantages of relatively low cost, unattended operation, automated calibration stability checks using Langley plots, and minimal maintenance make it a unique instrument for column ozone measurement.
PPARs in Rhythmic Metabolic Regulation and Implications in Health and Disease

The circadian rhythm, controlled by a complex network of cellular transcription factors, orchestrates behavior and physiology in the vast majority of animals. The circadian system is comprised of a master clock located in central nervous system with 24-hour rotation and periphery clocks to ensure optimal timing of physiology in peripheral tissues. Circadian expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), members of the nuclear receptor superfamily and key mediators of energy homeostasis and metabolism, is regulated by clock genes. PPARs serve as sensors of nutrient and energy/metabolism status to temporally entrain peripheral clock. Metabolism and circadian clocks are tightly intertwined: clock genes drive metabolism, and various metabolic parameters affect clock genes, producing a reciprocal feedback relationship. Due to PPARs' robust relationship with energy status and metabolism, the aberration of PPARs in the biological clock system leads to abnormal expression of genes in metabolic pathways, thus, contributing to etiology of metabolic syndrome. Studying PPARs' functions under the context of the mammalian circadian system could advance our understanding of how energy and metabolic status are maintained in the body, which may ultimately lead to rhythmic medical treatment against metabolic syndrome.
Inference procedures under uncertainty for the problem-reduction method

Abstract From the viewpoint of efficient utilization of human knowledge in complex decision-making problems, the inference procedure under uncertainty is becoming more important for the problem-reduction method and expert systems. Unlike intuitive procedures employed so far in some expert systems, rational inference procedures are described in this paper on the basis of established Bayesian theory and Dempster and Shafer's theory of evidence. These results are extended to include fuzzy knowledge. As an alternative to the two probabilistic approaches which require idealized assumptions, fuzzy reasoning is introduced.
Predicate transfer and timeout in message passing systems

Abstract Timeout in a message passing system is studied with emphasis on the notion of predicate transfer. Under certain conditions, a predicate describing the state of the sender can be transferred to the receiver when a timeout occurs. These conditions relate to the way the message passing system is implemented. This relationship is discussed and a technique for formally describing the semantics of message passing with timeout is presented.
Assessing competitive advantage of emerging markets in knowledge intensive business services

Purpose – The dramatic growth and international scope of knowledge‐intensive business services (KIBS) are evident in emerging markets such as China and India. Nations, like firms, seek to capitalize on their available resources and capabilities (e.g. people, technology, skills) in order to build and maintain core competencies in certain industry sectors. This paper has the following objectives: to discuss the classification of KIBS, to marshal conceptual and statistical evidence on KIBS in major emerging markets, to compare and contrast selected major emerging markets in regard to their KIBS activities, and to discuss policy implications.Design/methodology/approach – In this conceptual paper, extant literature is reviewed and discussed pertaining to the KIBS sectors. Several existing data sources are used to assess the comparative performance of major emerging markets in the KIBS sectors.Findings – The emphasis is on finding comparative longitudinal statistics that are useful for comparison and contrast a...
Considerations for Sizing Water Delivery Systems

The purpose of a water delivery system is to deliver irrigation water to a farm and its design should be based on meeting the requirements of farm water use. The rate, duration and frequency of water delivery and the related method of control will determine the size of the delivery system and directly influence farm water use. A model is presented to show how the optimum size of a water delivery system can be determined from an economic analysis of water used under different farm irrigation scenarios, and an example of the model's application is given.
Novel light-emitting diodes involving heterocyclic aromatic conjugated polymers

We report the fabrication and properties of three-, four-, and five-layer electroluminescent devices fabricated from light emissive N-based heterocyclic novel polymeric derivatives of PPP and PPV with which they are isoelectronic. They include poly(pyridine vinylene), (PPyV), and poly(2,5-dihexadecanoxy phenylene vinylene pyridyl vinylene), (PPV.PPyV). Some of the devices operate in both forward and reverse bias modes thus enabling operation in an ac mode. One type of device has the general construction: M/I/polymer/I/ITO where M equals Cu or Al, I equals polyaniline (emeraldine base, EB) or poly(3-hexylthiophene), (P3HT), and polymer equals PPV.PPyV. Under low frequency ac (sinusoidal) driving, light pulses with twice the driving frequency were observed in a device where M equals Al or Cu, I equals EB and polymer equals PPV.PPyV; and in a device where M equals Al, I equals P3HT and polymer equals PPV.PPyV. In the latter device the electroluminescence spectrum in the reverse bias mode differed from that in the forward bias mode. It was also shown that blends of PPyV in Nylon 6,6 exhibit a lower operating voltage than the pure polymer.
Highly Accurate Coupled Cluster Potential Energy Curves for the Benzene Dimer: Sandwich, T-Shaped, and Parallel-Displaced Configurations

State-of-the-art electronic structure theory has been applied to generate potential energy curves for the sandwich, T-shaped, and parallel-displaced configurations of the simplest prototype of arom...