cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The nature of oxygen transport within minerals in the presence of hydrothermal water and the role of diffusion

Abstract Oxygen isotope exchange between minerals and hydrothermal waters can occur by means of solution—precipitation, chemical reaction, or diffusion. Further, minerals are known to exchange oxygen isotopes faster in the presence of water than when dry. Careful laboratory measurement of exchange rates by diffusion has been effected. The large differences in values of diffusion coefficients for different diffusing species in one mineral, the trivially small free-energy change for reaction involving only isotope exchange, and the excellent fit of 18O concentration profiles to a diffusion relation, all combine to demonstrate the diffusion process. The same diffusion coefficients are obtained whether the natural mineral sample is in contact with +80‰ (SMOW) water, or with 40% 18O water. Diffusion must happen if the mineral is above its closure temperature, although exchange will only occur if another phase is available with which it can exchange. The use of a “compensation law” to assess the validity of experimental data is, strictly speaking, limited to cases where the same diffusion mechanism is operating for the different diffusing species being compared in a given mineral.
Mother–Infant Vagal Regulation in the Face-To-Face Still-Face Paradigm Is Moderated by Maternal Sensitivity

Parents’ physiological regulation may support infants’ regulation. Mothers (N= 152) and 6-month-old male and female infants were observed in normal and disrupted social interaction. Affect was coded at 1-s intervals and vagal tone measured as respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Maternal sensitivity was assessed in free play. Mothers and infants showed opposite patterns of RSA change. During disrupted interaction, mothers’ RSA increased and infants’ decreased, suggesting self-regulation of distress. During reunion, although the typical pattern was for infants to return to baseline levels, infants of sensitive mothers and sensitive mothers both showed a significant decrease in RSA from baseline. Mothers’ and infants’ physiological responses may be a function of mutual responsiveness.
Spatial Arrangement of Organic Compounds on a Model Mineral Surface: Implications for Soil Organic Matter Stabilization

The complexity of the mineral-organic carbon interface may influence the extent of stabilization of organic carbon compounds in soils, which is important for global climate futures. The nanoscale structure of a model interface was examined here by depositing films of organic carbon compounds of contrasting chemical character, hydrophilic glucose and amphiphilic stearic acid, onto a soil mineral analogue (Al2O3). Neutron reflectometry, a technique which provides depth-sensitive insight into the organization of the thin films, indicates that glucose molecules reside in a layer between Al2O3 and stearic acid, a result that was verified by water contact angle measurements. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the thermodynamic driving force behind glucose partitioning on the mineral interface: The entropic penalty of confining the less mobile glucose on the mineral surface is lower than for stearic acid. The fundamental information obtained here helps rationalize how complex arrangements of organic carbon on soil mineral surfaces may arise.
Drug Interactions: Volatile Anesthetics and Opioids

Multiple drugs are used to provide anesthesia. Volatile anesthetics are commonly combined with opioids. Several studies have demonstrated that small doses of opioid (i.e., within the analgesic range) result in a marked reduction in minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of the volatile anesthetic that will prevent purposeful movement in 50% of patients at skin incision). Further increases in opioid dose provide only a further small reduction in MAC. Thus, a ceiling effect of the opioid is observed at a MAC value of the volatile anesthetic equal to its MAC awake. Recovery from anesthesia when an opioid is combined with a volatile anesthetic is dependent on the rate of decrease of both drugs to their respective concentrations that are associated with adequate spontaneous ventilation and awakening. Through an understanding of the pharmacodynamic interaction of volatile anesthetics with opioids and the pharmacokinetic processes responsible for the recovery from drug effect, optimal dosing schemes can thus be developed. A review of these pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic principles that will allow clinicians to administer drugs to provide a more optimal anesthetic is provided.
Satellite assessment of drought impact on native plant communities of southeastern New Mexico, U.S.A.

Abstract Low spatial resolution imagery from a polar orbiting meteorological satellite was utilized to detect short-term drought effects on native plant communities in southeastern New Mexico, U.S.A. rangelands. A spectrally derived Vegetation Index was compared to the Palmer Drought Severity Index, Crop Moisture Index, and monthly precipitation departures for a wet year (1988) and a dry year (1989). Differences between years as well as between plant communities were assessed. Plant communities consisting primarily of grass species were the most spectrally responsive to variation in precipitation, while forested areas were least affected.
Rituximab therapy leads to rapid decline of serum IgG4 levels and prompt clinical improvement in IgG4-related systemic disease.

Objective. Patients with IgG4-related systemic disease (IgG4-RSD) frequently show an incomplete response to treatment with glucocorticoids and traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). B lymphocyte depletion is a therapeutic strategy known to be effective for pemphigus vulgaris, an autoimmune condition mediated by IgG4 autoantibodies. This study was performed to assess the clinical and serologic responses to B lymphocyte depletion therapy with rituximab in patients with IgG4-RSD. Methods. Four patients with IgG4-RSD were treated with 2 intravenous doses (1 gram each) of rituximab. Clinical improvement was assessed by monitoring the tapering/discontinuation of prednisone and DMARDs, and by measuring the serum concentrations of B lymphocytes, immunoglobulins, and IgG subclasses before and after therapy. Results. Clinical features of IgG4-RSD in these 4 patients included autoimmune pancreatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, lymphoplasmacytic aortitis, salivary gland involvement, orbital pseudotumor, and lacrimal gland enlargement. The 3 patients with elevated serum IgG and IgG4 levels at baseline had a mean IgG concentration of 2,003 mg/dl (normal range 600–1,500 mg/dl) and a mean IgG4 concentration of 2,160 mg/dl (normal range 8–140 mg/dl). Among these patients, the serum IgG4 concentrations declined by a mean of 65% within 2 months of rituximab administration. All 4 patients demonstrated striking clinical improvement within 1 month of the initiation of rituximab therapy, and tapering or discontinuation of their treatment with prednisone and DMARDs was achieved in all 4 patients. A decrease in IgG concentration was observed for the IgG4 subclass only. Conclusion. Treatment with rituximab led to prompt clinical and serologic improvement in these patients with refractory IgG4-RSD, and is a viable treatment option for this condition. The decline in serum IgG4 concentrations was substantially steeper than that of the autoantibody concentrations in immune-mediated conditions in which rituximab is effective, such as in rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, the reduction in IgG-subclass levels appeared to be specific for IgG4. The swift improvement of IgG4-RSD suggests that rituximab achieves its effects in IgG4-RSD by depleting the pool of B lymphocytes that replenish short-lived IgG4-secreting plasma cells.
Validation of a Medicare Claims-based Algorithm for Identifying Breast Cancers Detected at Screening Mammography

Background The breast cancer detection rate is a benchmark measure of screening mammography quality, but its computation requires linkage of mammography interpretive performance information with cancer incidence data. A Medicare claims-based measure of detected breast cancers could simplify measurement of this benchmark and facilitate mammography quality assessment and research. Objectives To validate a claims-based algorithm that can identify with high positive predictive value (PPV) incident breast cancers that were detected at screening mammography. Research design Development of a claims-derived algorithm using classification and regression tree analyses within a random half-sample of Medicare screening mammography claims followed by validation of the algorithm in the remaining half-sample using clinical data on mammography results and cancer incidence from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC). Subjects Female fee-for-service Medicare enrollees aged 68 years and older who underwent screening mammography from 2001 to 2005 within BCSC registries in 4 states (CA, NC, NH, and VT), enabling linkage of claims and BCSC mammography data (N=233,044 mammograms obtained by 104,997 women). Measures Sensitivity, specificity, and PPV of algorithmic identification of incident breast cancers that were detected by radiologists relative to a reference standard based on BCSC mammography and cancer incidence data. Results An algorithm based on subsequent codes for breast cancer diagnoses and treatments and follow-up mammography identified incident screen-detected breast cancers with 92.9% sensitivity [95% confidence interval (CI), 91.0%-94.8%], 99.9% specificity (95% CI, 99.9%-99.9%), and a PPV of 88.0% (95% CI, 85.7%-90.4%). Conclusions A simple claims-based algorithm can accurately identify incident breast cancers detected at screening mammography among Medicare enrollees. The algorithm may enable mammography quality assessment using Medicare claims alone.
Photochemical behavior of metal complexes intercalated in zirconium phosphate

Abstract Intercalation compounds of α-Zr(HPO 4 ) 2 · H 2 O (α-ZrP) with Cr(NH 3 ) +3 6 , Cr(en) +3 3 (en = ethylenediamine), Co(NH 3 ) +3 6 , Co(en) +3 3 , and Fe(C 5 H 5 ) + 2 have been prepared by aqueous ion exchange with the n -butylamine derivative of α-ZrP, (C 4 H 9 NH 3 ) 2 Zr(PO 4 ) 2 . X-ray powder diffraction was used to determine interlayer spacings. Irradiation of intercalated Cr(en) +3 3 with a Hg-vapor lamp (λ max = 254nm) resulted in a red shift of the ligand field absorption maximum from 457 to 560 nm, suggesting loss of all coordinated ethylenediamine and substitution by lattice water and phosphate. Irradiation of Cr(NH 3 ) +3 6 results in a smaller red shift, suggesting kinetic stabilization of the ammine complex by inclusion in the phosphate host. The iron and cobalt complexes do not react under similar photolysis conditions, in contrast to their behavior in aqueous solution, where reduced complexes result. The potential for use of host lattices in stabilization of unstable species is discussed.
Ventricular fibrillation during programmed ventricular stimulation: Incidence and clinical implications

Ventricular fibrillation occurred in 10 (3.3 percent) of 300 patients consecutively studied with programmed ventricular stimulation. One hundred twenty-five of these patients were studied with double ventricular extrastimuli including 68 patients with and 57 patients without documented or suspected ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, or both. Ventricular fibrillation did not develop in response to a single ventricular extrastimulus delivered during sinus rhythm, ventricular pacing or ventricular tachycardia or in response to ventricular pacing at cycle lengths of 300 msec or greater and occurred only in response to double ventricular extrastimuli. All 10 patients who manifested ventricular fibrillation during programmed stimulation were in the group of patients with suspected or documented ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation was initiated in seven patients with double ventricular extrastimuli delivered during sinus rhythm or ventricular pacing and in three patients with double ventricular extrastimuli delivered during ventricular tachycardia. Four patients had spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm and the remainder underwent defibrillation without sequelae. Recurrent ventricular fibrillation occurred clinically in 7 of the 10 patients. This study suggests that ventricular fibrillation occurs uncommonly during programmed ventricular stimulation and only in response to double ventricular extrastimuli in patients in whom spontaneous episodes are likely to occur.
Computer vision approach to detect colonic polyps in computed tomographic colonography

In this paper, we present evaluation results for a novel colonic polyp classification method for use as part of a computed tomographic colonography (CTC) computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithm. Inspired by the interpretative methodology of radiologists using 3D fly-through mode in CTC reading, we have developed an algorithm which utilizes sequences of images (referred to here as videos) for classification of CAD marks. First, we generated an initial list of polyp candidates using an existing CAD system. For each of these candidates, we created a video composed of a series of intraluminal, volume-rendered images focusing on the candidate from multiple viewpoints. These videos illustrated the shape of the polyp candidate and gathered contextual information of diagnostic importance. We calculated the histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) feature on each frame of the video and utilized a support vector machine for classification. We tested our method by analyzing a CTC data set of 50 patients from three medical centers. Our proposed video analysis method for polyp classification showed significantly better performance than an approach using only the 2D CT slice data. The areas under the ROC curve for these methods were 0.88 (95% CI: [0.84, 0.91]) and 0.80 (95% CI: [0.75, 0.84]) respectively (p=0.0005).
Secondary Amenorrhea With Severe Intrauterine Adhesions and Chronic Uterine Torsion After Cesarean Section in a Teenage Girl

This is a case of a 19-year-old patient who developed secondary amenorrhea after Cesarean section and severe postpartum hemorrhage. The pelvic examination revealed narrowing of the upper vagina and inaccessible cervix. Laparotomy revealed a dextrorotated uterus with massive intrauterine adhesions. All adhesions were excised with reconstruction of normal uterine anatomy. The patient regained normal menstrual cycles. There was no evidence of any endocrinopathies. According to a 10-year MEDLINE search of the literature, chronic torsion of the uterus after Cesarean section has not been previously described.
The beta decay of 134Cs

Abstract A detailed investigation of the beta decay of 134Cs was made by means of a magnetic spectrometer employing an energy selection technique which provides a high degree of discrimination against scattering and background. A careful analysis of the beta groups populating the 1401 and 1643 keV levels in 134Ba reveals that each of them has an essentially statistical shape. The endpoint energies, intensities, and log10ft values for the five beta groups are: 89 keV (27±2%, 6.4), 415 keV (3.0±0.5%, 9.5), 658.0±0.4 keV (70±2%, 8.8), 891 keV (0.045±0.015%, 11.7±0.2), and 1454 keV (0.008±0.004%, 13.3±0.3). The Qβ value is 2058.5±0.4 keV.
Role of canyons in the growth of the Campeche Escarpment

At least 14 deeply incised V-shaped canyons transect the Campeche Escarpment between long. 88°00′W and 92°35′W. The canyons all appear to be erosional features that may have been initiated during Cretaceous time; considerable erosion occurred probably during Pleistocene time. It is suggested that the canyons act as a balancing mechanism in sediment dispersal. At times when sediment supply is large, such as times of Pleistocene lowering of sea level, the canyons act as a conduit for the transfer of sediment from the shelf region directly to the deep ocean. Thus the lateral rate of growth of a carbonate platform is not necessarily a linear function of sediment supply. The canyons do not appear to be transporting sediment actively at the present time.
Audiogenic seizure tests of ethanol addiction/withdrawal are unaffected by previous tests

In previous work (Trapold & Sullivan, 1979), we reported the results of a new method of deriving a quantitative index of the severity of the withdrawal process in ethanol-addicted rats. Initial results suggest that the audiogenic seizure response that provides this index is not seriously affected by the subjects’ past history of testing for this response. The paper presents the results of two further experiments, one involving alcohol-naive rats, the other involving alcohol-addicted rats; these results further support the conclusion that subjects may be repeatedly tested for audiogenic seizure without fear that the seizure elicited on a particular test will be seriously influenced by the subjects’ past history of such testing.
Parental attachment, drug use, and facultative sexual strategies.

Abstract It is often asserted that sexual promiscuity and drug abuse appears to share a common etiology in poor parental attachment. This study explores this claim empirically among 480 college students. Other variables—religiosity, masculinity/femininity, sex, age, and physical appearance—that may enhance or reduce the incidence of promiscuity and drug use were included in multivariate analyses. Parental attachment was significantly related to both variables, and the combination of poor parental attachment and drug use was a strong predictor of promiscuity for both males and females. In multivariate analyses, religiosity was the most important predictor of promiscuity for males, and attachment was the most important for females. The findings are examined guided by the three desiderata commonly accepted as relevant to biosocial attachment theory.
Technical communique: A characterization of the generalized spectral radius with Kronecker powers

Based on Turan's power sum theory, we extend a recent result obtained by Blondel and Nesterov [Blondel, V. D., & Nesterov, Y. (2005). Computationally efficient approximations of the joint spectral radius, SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications, 27, 256-272], by deriving a new characterization of the generalized spectral radius in terms of Kronecker powers.
Comparison of self‐reported and expert‐observed physical activities at work in a general population

Concerns about exposure assessment quality have impeded research to identify risk factors for ergonomic disorders. We compared self-reported and expert-observed estimates of work-related physical factors for participants in a study of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We analyzed data from 61 subjects, including 28 CTS cases and 33 controls randomly sampled from a case-control study with 417 participants. For 11 posture and manual materials handling factors, the median difference in mean exposure between self-reported and expert-observed exposure at work was less than 1/2 hour a day. Measurements by the two methods in this study agreed more often than expected by chance (median kappa 0.31 in cases and 0.28 in controls). Kappa differed significantly by case-control status for two factors: bending at the waist (kappa 0.79 in cases versus 0.28 in controls, P = 0.01) and twisting of the forearm (kappa 0.45 in cases versus −0.02 in controls, P = 0.02). Although imperfect, exposure information collected from workers' self-reports is useful for many ergonomic epidemiology studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:29–35, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Group up-and-down designs for dose-finding

Let toxicity to treatment be a Bernoulli random variable for which the probability of failure increases with dose. Consider the problem of identifying a dose μ having pre-specified probability of failure using data from groups of subjects who arrive sequentially for treatment. There is considerable theory available in this setting for fully sequential up-and-down procedures. This paper presents asymptotic and finite theoretical results for Markovian up-and-down procedures when subjects are treated in groups. Practical instructions are given on how to select the design parameters so as to cause the treatments to cluster around the unknown dose μ. Examples are given to illustrate how this group procedure behaves for small sample sizes.
Broken Bodies of God: The Christian Eucharist as a Locus for Ecological Reflection

The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report attests to the reality of a warming global climate and describes potential ecosystem changes that may be devastating to communities—both human and non-human—across the globe. I contend that the Christian practice of sharing the Eucharist meal provides an opportune moment for Christians to engage in ecological reflection. To defend this claim I draw upon Christian theologian Sallie McFague's metaphorical understanding of the world as God's body in order to connect environmental plight to the Eucharist meal and to show why that plight should be a concern for Christian communities. Next, I turn to the work of anthropologist Claude Fischler in order to make a connection between sharing the Eucharist and communal and individual identity formation. Finally, I draw upon the Slow Food movement in order to provide specific suggestions for adapting the Eucharist to make it more conducive to ecological reflection. I also briefly discuss the growing green sisters movement and suggest that this movement provides a model of ecological-awareness and practice for other religious communities, and for North American Christian churches in particular.
Re-determination of the structure of an anionic oxo-vanadium arsenate framework

In this contribution we report the re-determination of the crystal structure of a previously reported anionic oxo-vanadium arsenate framework [(As6VIV12VV3O51)−9]∞ (1) with piperazinium counterions; we also present supporting spectroscopic and elemental data.
Large field renormalization. II. Localization, exponentiation, and bounds for the R operation

In this paper we conclude the discussion of the basic properties and bounds for theR operation. This allows us to complete the proof of the ultraviolet stability of four-dimensional pure gauge field theories, as formulated in Theorem 1.
Binding pattern of anti-rhodopsin monoclonal antibodies to photoreceptor cells: An immunocytochemical study

A panel of anti-rhodopsin monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of defined epitope specificity has been evaluated by immunocytochemistry. Most of the IgG class MAbs (23/27) gave positive results, but only a few of the IgM class MAbs (2/21) were useful for this application. MAbs specific to the N-terminal region stained rod outer segments most strongly, with progressively less staining in the Golgi, perikarya, plasma membrane of the inner segment, and synaptic region. Phagosomes located basally in the pigment epithelium were stained; cone cells were consistently negative. Antibodies to the C-terminus of rhodopsin labeled the same cell structures (except for phagosomes) but showed diversity in their binding pattern. Many of these MAbs bound to cone outer segments in addition to rods, and showed different patterns of binding to red/green and blue cones. Antibodies specific for rhodopsin sequence 340-348 labeled different types of cone cells, indicating differences in their binding sites. Two MAbs were found to label hydrophilic loop sequences which connect rhodopsin's transmembrane segment: MAb K42-41 which binds loop 5-6, and MAb A1-55 which binds loop 2-3. At least these two regions of the rhodopsin sequence in addition to the C- and N-termini, are available for antibody reaction in fixed retina.
Ionic current devices-Recent progress in the merging of electronic, microfluidic, and biomimetic structures.

We review the recent progress in the emerging area of devices and circuits operating on the basis of ionic currents. These devices operate at the intersection of electrochemistry, electronics, and microfluidics, and their potential applications are inspired by essential biological processes such as neural transmission. Ionic current rectification has been demonstrated in diode-like devices containing electrolyte solutions, hydrogel, or hydrated nanofilms. More complex functions have been realized in ionic current based transistors, solar cells, and switching memory devices. Microfluidic channels and networks—an intrinsic component of the ionic devices—could play the role of wires and circuits in conventional electronics.
The prechordal region lacks neural inducing ability, but can confer anterior character to more posterior neuroepithelium

The avian equivalent of Spemann’s organizer, Hensen’s node, begins to lose its ability to induce a nervous system from area opaca epiblast cells at stage 4 + , immediately after the full primitive streak stage. From this stage, the node is no longer able to induce regions of the nervous system anterior to the hindbrain. Stage 4 + is marked by the emergence from the node of a group of cells, the prechordal mesendoderm. Here we have investigated whether the prechordal region possesses the lost functions of the organizer, using quail-chick chimaeras to distinguish graft- and hostderived cells, together with several region-specific molecular markers. We find that the prechordal region does not have neural inducing ability, as it is unable to divert extraembryonic epiblast cells to a neural fate. However, it can confer more anterior character to prospective hindbrain cells of the host, making them acquire expression of the forebrain markers tailless and Otx-2. It can also rescue the expression of Krox-20 and Otx-2 from nervous system induced by an older (stage 5) node in extraembryonic epiblast. We show that these properties reflect a true change of fate of cells rather than recruitment from other regions. The competence of neuroectoderm to respond to anteriorizing signals declines by stages 7-9, but both posteriorizing signals and the ability of neuroectoderm to respond to them persist after this stage.
Language analysis in the humanities

The use of the computer in the language-oriented humanities for exhaustive listing of detail (as in indices and concordances) is widespread and accepted as desirable. The implications of the computer for a “science” of the humanities—a science entailing gathering data for the construction and testing of models—are neither widely recognized nor accepted. This paper argues that the computer's major role as to language analysis in the humanities will be the establishing of such a science. Thus, for those areas of the humanities for which rigor and precision are necessary (e.g. analyzing literature or teaching a student to write a composition) the computer can be a critically important facilitator.
Operative findings in antenatal abdominal masses of unknown etiology in females

Abstract Background Perinatal findings of abdominal masses pose a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. This study presents the operative findings of patients who underwent exploration for perinatally identified abdominal masses of unknown etiology. Methods Retrospective review of all patients with abdominal masses of unknown etiology identified in the antenatal period was conducted from January 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010. Patient demographics were collected. Preoperative radiographic studies, operative findings, and pathologic evaluation were reviewed. Results There were 17 patients identified within the study period. The median age was 30 d at the time of operation (range 0–287 d). The median height was 51 cm (range 45–77 cm), and the median weight was 4.0 kg (range 2.6–10.4 kg). All patients were asymptomatic. After birth, ultrasound identified abdominal masses in 14 patients, and computed tomography scan was used in four patients where one patient had both an ultrasound and a computed tomography scan. Mass resection was performed using laparoscopy in 15 patients, whereas two patients underwent open resection. At the time of surgery, 11 patients were diagnosed with ovarian cysts, four patients with ovarian torsion with an associated cyst, and two patients with an enteric duplication cyst. On final pathology, eight patients had benign ovarian cysts, seven patients had hemorrhagic ovarian necrosis, and two patients had duplication cysts. Conclusion Females with antenatally identified abdominal masses of unknown etiology appear to be benign in nature. In this series, a benign ovarian cyst is the most common diagnosis, and these lesions can be approached laparoscopically.
Functional Analysis of a Replication Origin from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Identification of a New Replication Enhancer

Yeast replication origins have a modular arrangement of essential DNA sequences containing the ARS consensus sequence (ACS) flanked by auxiliary DNA elements which stimulate origin function. One of the auxiliary elements identified at several origins is a DNA replication enhancer that binds the Abf1p protein. We have isolated an ARS sequence from Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on its ability to bind Abf1p. Here we present a detailed molecular dissection of this ARS, designated ARS 1501, and we demonstrate that it functions as a genomic replication origin on chromosome XV . Mutagenesis of the Abf1p DNA-binding sites revealed that these sequences did not contribute significantly to ARS function. Instead, a new DNA element important for replication, designated REN1501, has been located 5' to the T-rich strand of the ACS. We show that REN1501 functions in either orientation and at variable distances from the ACS, defining this element as a DNA replication enhancer. Most significantly, point mutations within this element decreased the stability of plasmids bearing ARS 1501, suggesting that REN1501 binds a protein important for replication initiation. Only three elements found at origins are known to specifically bind proteins. These include the ARS essential sequences and the Abf1p and Rap1p DNA-binding sites. We show that the function of REN1501 at the origin cannot be replaced by a Rap1p DNA-binding site or a site that binds the transcriptional factor Gal4p and can only be partially substituted for by an Abf1p recognition sequence. This implies that the role of the REN1501 element at the ARS 1501 origin is specific, and suggest that the frequency of origin firing in eukaryotic cells may be regulated by origin-specific enhancers.
Monolithically integrated optical arbitrary waveform generators by line-by-line amplitude and phase modulation

We discuss optical arbitrary waveform generation by line-by-line amplitude and phase manipulation of coherent optical comb source using monolithically integrated photonic chips containing arrayed waveguide gratings and amplitude and phase modulators.
Factors that contribute to the ecological risks of salmon and steelhead hatchery programs and some mitigating strategies

State and federal agencies in the United States annually release millions of hatchery salmon and steelhead into public waters. Many of the hatchery programs are located in areas where the wild populations are now listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1544). These hatchery programs pose genetic and ecological risks to wild fish populations. Genetic risks occur when hatchery and wild fish interbreed and usually occur within a taxonomic species. Ecological risks occur when the presence of hatchery fish affects how wild fish interact with their environment or with other species and may affect whole species assemblages. This paper reviews some of the factors that contribute to ecological risks. Important contributing factors include the relative abundance of hatchery and wild fish in natural production areas, hatchery programs that increase density-dependant mortality, residual hatchery fish, some physical advantages that hatchery fish can have over wild fish, and life history characteristics that may make some species especially vulnerable to the effects of ecological risks. Many of these risk factors can be mitigated by management activities that reduce the level of interactions between hatchery and wild fish. This paper concludes by recommending twelve mitigation strategies that may be useful when agencies need to bring hatchery programs into compliance with the take provisions of the ESA.
Changes in community readiness among key school stakeholders after Ready for Recess

School community readiness (CR) for health promotion efforts may be critical to the effectiveness of school-based interventions aimed at promoting youth physical activity and reducing childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to: (i) identify key informants who scored highest on school CR at baseline and (ii) determine the effects of Ready for Recess on changes in CR among school key informants from baseline to post-intervention. Key informants (N = 98) across 17 schools participated in CR interviews. Interview questions focused on school CR for physical activity and childhood obesity efforts across six dimensions. At baseline, principals scored higher than teachers in overall readiness and knowledge of the issue and higher than recess staff and nurses in leadership. Leadership readiness decreased across key informants at post-intervention and principals demonstrated greater decreases when compared with recess staff. Baseline disparities between principals and other key informants suggest principals may have overestimated the readiness of staff implementing the intervention. Declines among principals indicate that they may not have been prepared to deliver adequate support to successfully implement the intervention. These results illuminate the importance of assessing/improving school readiness prior to interventions. The CR model may provide an opportunity to improve school-based physical activity interventions.
Modeling constant best delay-sensitive neurons and tracking neurons in the auditory cortex of the FM bat with a back-propagation neural network

Constant delay-sensitive neurons (CDNs) and tracking neurons (TNs) function as delay-dependent multipliers for cross-correlation processing of biosonar signals in the auditory cortex of the FM bat, Myotis lucifugus. Models of these two kinds of neurons using artificial neural networks (ANNs) which implement the back-propagation algorithm are presented. The ANNs were trained using data collected from neurophysiological experiments with an awake bat. Nonlinear transformations and parameters used in the models are discussed. An ANN model is presented for CDNs and another for TNs. The dynamic responses obtained from these models are observed to be comparable with the recorded signals of FM bats during actual hunting. >
Ubiquitin C‐terminal hydrolase L3 (Uchl3) is involved in working memory

Regulated proteolysis by the ubiquitin pathway has been implicated in control of the cell cycle, transcriptional activation, cell fate and growth, and synaptogenesis. The ubiquitin-proteasome system is involved in synaptic plasticity and is proposed to be part of a molecular switch that converts short-term synaptic potentiation to long-term changes in synaptic strength. In Aplysia, a component of the ubiquitin system termed ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (Ap-Uch) has been shown to be essential for long-term facilitation. To examine whether Uch plays a role in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity in mammals, we have analyzed mice homozygous for a targeted mutation in ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3 (Uchl3), an orthologue of Ap-Uch. Mice homozygous for the mutation in Uchl3 are viable, with no obvious developmental, histological, or fertility abnormalities. We demonstrate that Uchl3-/- mice have a significant learning deficit relative to wild type littermates in the spatial version of the Morris water maze and the 8-arm radial maze. Further, the impaired performance in the 8-arm radial maze of Uchl3-/- mice is due to significantly increased working memory errors. Examination of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity thought to underlie memory storage, revealed no significant differences in LTP in hippocampal slices from Uchl3-/- mice. Our results suggest a novel role for ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase enzymes in mammals in spatial learning and working memory.
The Role of Ecology in Speciation by Sexual Selection: A Systematic Empirical Review

Theoretical and empirical research indicates that sexual selection interacts with the ecological context in which mate choice occurs, suggesting that sexual and natural selection act together during the evolution of premating reproductive isolation. However, the relative importance of natural and sexual selection to speciation remains poorly understood. Here, we applied a recent conceptual framework for examining interactions between mate choice divergence and ecological context to a review of the empirical literature on speciation by sexual selection. This framework defines two types of interactions between mate choice and ecology: internal interactions, wherein natural and sexual selection jointly influence divergence in sexual signal traits and preferences, and external interactions, wherein sexual selection alone acts on traits and preferences but ecological context shapes the transmission efficacy of sexual signals. The objectives of this synthesis were 3-fold: to summarize the traits, ecological factors, taxa, and geographic contexts involved in studies of mate choice divergence; to analyze patterns of association between these variables; and to identify the most common types of interactions between mate choice and ecological factors. Our analysis revealed that certain traits are consistently associated with certain ecological factors. Moreover, among studies that examined a divergent sexually selected trait and an ecological factor, internal interactions were more common than external interactions. Trait–preference associations may thus frequently be subject to both sexual and natural selection in cases of divergent mate choice. Our results highlight the importance of interactions between sexual selection and ecology in mate choice divergence and suggest areas for future research. Subject areas: Reproductive strategies and kinship analysis
Probing interfacial organization in surface monolayers using tethered pyrene. 2. Spectroscopy and motional freedom of the adsorbates.

We have studied the steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy of the pyrene-containing monolayers reported in the previous article, where in this work we have bound the monolayers to SiOx. We find that these monolayer structures are sensitive to the identity of the solvent overlayer, with the solvent playing a significant role in the organization of the surface-bound monolayers. We discuss our findings in the context of the known polarity dependence of the pyrene emission spectrum and find that the motional freedom of the chromophores varies with both the monolayer composition and the identity of the solvent overlayer. Our data point to the importance of neighbor-neighbor interactions within the monolayer structures in mediating the motional freedom of the tethered pyrene chromophores.
Sending a political message: lessons from the American 1790s

Political communication should be understood as a field of human activity comprised not only of discrete political messages but of the political framework in which messaging takes place. A case study of the American public sphere in the 1790s reveals that the American Founders objected to political parties, voluntary associations that discussed politics, and electoral campaigning. They offered very limited support for public education and only intermittently endorsed a free press. This case dramatizes the point that understanding political communication requires seeing it in the context of state structures and political norms.
Stress analysis of a SPF/DB composite sandwich panel

Abstract The process of superplastic forming with diffusion bonding is first introduced. The stress analysis of a bending problem of a SPF/DB sandwich panel consisting of four projections and subjected to a concentrated load at the middle is carried out by a FEM method where triangular elements are used. Principal stresses and maximum shear stresses in a projection wall are presented. Attention is focused on the general understanding of the overall effect due to a load on the stress distribution over the projection walls in a sandwich core.
Differential Effects of Feedback as a Function of Task Distribution in Teams

Variables affecting the outcome of cooperative team efforts have garnered increased research attention in recent years. Of these variables, feedback may have one of the greatest effects. Questions, however, remain about what kind of feedback to give and to whom. Previous research has indicated that team members maximize those tasks for which they are given feedback. These gains appear to occur at the expense of other tasks for which no feedback is provided and sometimes result in reduced overall team performance. The current experiment investigated the differential effects of feedback in triads with different task distributions. The results of the study indicated that feedback given to team members who had to complete two tasks simultaneously resulted in tradeoffs: Team members optimized that task for which they received feedback, sometimes at the expense of the competing task. When the team members receiving feedback had no competing tasks, these tradeoffs did not occur. In contrast, feedback in this set...
Assigning error to an M 2 measurement

The ISO 11146:1999 standard has been published for 6 years and set forth the proper way to measure the M 2 parameter. In spite of the strong experimental guidance given by this standard and the many commercial devices based upon ISO 11146, it is still the custom to quote M 2 measurements without any reference to significant figures or error estimation. To the author's knowledge, no commercial M 2 measurement device includes error estimation. There exists, perhaps, a false belief that M 2 numbers are high precision and of insignificant error. This paradigm causes program managers and purchasers to over-specify a beam quality parameter and researchers not to question the accuracy and precision of their M 2 measurements. This paper will examine the experimental sources of error in an M 2 measurement including discretization error, CCD noise, discrete filter sets, noise equivalent aperture estimation, laser fluctuation and curve fitting error. These sources of error will be explained in their experimental context and convenient formula given to properly estimate error in a given M2 measurement. This work is the result of the author's inability to find error estimation and disclosure of methods in commercial beam quality measurement devices and building an ISO 11146 compliant, computer- automated M 2 measurement device and the resulting lessons learned and concepts developed.
Novel HIV integrase inhibitors with anti-HIV activity: insights into integrase inhibition from docking studies

The mechanism of integrase is generally accepted to be dependant on the presence of two divalent metal ions in the active site. However, the only available crystal structures of HIV-1 integrase contain either one or no metal ions, hampering structure-based design studies of integrase inhibitors. For this reason, a two-metal ion model of integrase was constructed. This model was used for computational docking studies with novel diketoacid integrase inhibitors containing pyrimidine nucleobase scaffolds. The docking protocol allowed for some steric contact between the ligand and protein during docking simulations, which implicitly accounted for potential conformational changes in the protein as a result of binding viral DNA or the ligand. The results suggest that the aromatic rings in these diketo acids bind to regions close to the viral DNA and may interfere with mobility of a vital catalytic loop. The docking data also suggest that the ligand can be prevented from adopting a favourable conformation by changes in the relative orientation of its diketo side-chain and aromatic rings. The docked pose of each of the active compounds coordinated both of the metal ions present in the active site of integrase through the diketo acid functionality of these compounds. This result is more consistent with theoretical data on inhibitor mechanism, and thus recommends this docking approach over rigid use of one-metal ion models derived from current crystal structures of integrase.
Electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine and of the dimethylhydrazines in dimethylsulfoxide at a platinum electrode

Summary The electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in DMSO has been studied by chronopotentiometry, controlled-potential coulometry, and cyclic voltammetry at platinum electrodes. For these compounds the overall reaction is a one-electron oxidation in DMSO. The heterogeneous kinetic parameters for the rate-controlling electrode reaction for the three hydrazines have been evaluated. The values of (1−α) and log ( k s,h /cm s −1 ) for hydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine, and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, respectively, are: 0.33, −6.5; 0.46, −9.0; and 0.44, −7.5. The oxidation products have been identified, and oxidation mechanisms consistent with the data are proposed.
Dietary fructose enhances intestinal fructose transport and GLUT5 expression in weaning rats

Rates of fructose uptake by the small intestine of neonatal rats are typically very low from parturition through weaning but undergo a dramatic increase immediately after weaning is completed. In this study, we used intestinal fructose transport as a model to determine whether nutrient transport, normally enhanced only after completion of weaning, can be enhanced earlier during development. We found that ontogenetic changes in levels of GLUT5 mRNA correlate well with already known ontogenetic changes in rates of intestinal fructose transport: low levels and rates during suckling and weaning, and high levels and rates after weaning. In contrast, levels of GLUT2 and SGLT1 mRNA were relatively more elevated throughout the suckling and weaning periods. We then found that increased expression of GLUT5 mRNA caused by dietary fructose or sucrose paralleled diet-dependent increases in brush-border fructose uptake. Rates of brush-border glucose uptake and levels of SGLT1 and GLUT2 mRNA were not enhanced by dietary fructose, glucose, or sucrose. Finally, we found that rates of fructose uptake, levels of GLUT5 mRNA, and specific sucrase activity each increased with increasing concentrations of dietary fructose given precociously to midweaning rats. In contrast, brush-border glucose uptake was independent of dietary fructose concentration. Thus precocious introduction of dietary fructose causes enhanced expression of fructose transporters earlier during development. This effect is specific: only luminal fructose is effective, and only brush-border fructose transport can be modulated. These results unveil the potential for regulating nutrient transport early in development.
The fault recording and reporting method

The patent-pending Fault Recording and Reporting Method uses a large amount of diverse information output from various line-replaceable units (LRUs) and other components of the aircraft during a mission through bulk storage on electronic media. After the aircraft lands, the electronic media are removed, accessed by an appropriate apparatus, and presented in a format that can be read with a personal computer (PC). This information provides the user, typically a service technician, with information relating to the aircraft's flight; specifically, various fault indications provided by LRUs and other components. From this information, the service technician can determine whether or not a fault indication recorded during the flight is a legitimate fault requiring removal of the affected LRU or component for further diagnostic testing. The method significantly reduces incidents of no-fault-found (NFF) diagnostic test results and saves labor hours that would otherwise be spent testing properly operating LRUs and components. The method minimizes on-aircraft data interpretations, rendering unnecessary on-board maintenance processors and technicians for LRU troubleshooting.