cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methods for introducing morpholinos into the chicken embryo

The use of antisense morpholino oligos to inhibit the translation of a target transcript has been applied recently to studies of the chicken embryo. In contrast to other developmental systems such as in frog, sea urchin, and zebrafish that permit the direct microinjection of morpholinos into a blastomere, square pulse electroporation is used to introduce fluorescently tagged morpholinos into specific populations of chick embryo cells in ovo. This article reviews the methods that have proven successful, the types of controls that are necessary when performing knockdowns of gene expression in the chick embryo, and discusses the limitations of the current technique, as well as directions for further research.
Is There Social Capital in a Social Network Site?: Facebook Use and College Students' Life Satisfaction, Trust, and Participation

This study examines if Facebook, one of the most popular social network sites among college students in the U.S., is related to attitudes and behaviors that enhance individuals' social capital. Using data from a random web survey of college students across Texas (n = 2,603), we find positive relationships between intensity of Facebook use and students' life satisfaction, social trust, civic engagement, and political participation. While these findings should ease the concerns of those who fear that Facebook has mostly negative effects on young adults, the positive and significant associations between Facebook variables and social capital were small, suggesting that online social networks are not the most effective solution for youth disengagement from civic duty and democracy.
Reversible deposition of metals on solid electrodes by voltammetry with linearly varying potential

Abstract It has been shown by extending the treatment of Berzins and Delahay that for the reversible deposition of metals on solid electrodes by voltammetry with linearly varying potential, the plot of log (ip — i)vs. E approaches linearity over the approximate current range 0.5–0.9-ip the slope, being 2.2 nF/RT. The experimental data for the reduction of Ag(I) in i M KNO3 at silver and pyrolytic graphite electrodes, the reduction of Fe(II) in molten LiF—BeF2 (66-34 mole%) and LiF—NaF—KF (46.5-11.5-42 mole%) at 500°, and Ni(II) in LiF—NaF—KF (46.5-11.5-42 mole%) at pyrolytic graphite electrodes, agreed satisfactorily with the theory.
Sintering kinetics and alumina yield in lime-soda sinter process for alumina from coal wastes

An investigation of the application of the lime-soda sinter process to alumina extraction from coal wastes has been carried out. In the sintering stage, the optimal operating conditions have been obtained for the highest yield of alumina. The kinetics of sodium aluminate formation have also been studied in the sintering stage. The sinter mixes have been fired isothermally in air in the temperature range 1100 to 1350 °C. Alumina recovery of about 80 pct has been obtained by sintering coal-waste mixes having molar ratios of Na2O/Al2O3 = 1.3 and CaO/SiO2 = 1.8 at 1200 to 1250 °C for 20 to 30 minutes. Insoluble alumina compounds are responsible for the incomplete recovery. The major sinter components are identified as sodium aluminate and β-dicalcium silicate. The nucleation and growth kinetics equation is used to correlate the experimental data of sodium aluminate formation obtained under atmospheric pressure in the temperature range 1000 to 1200 °C. An activation energy of 286 kJ/mol has been calculated for fine coal-waste powder mixtures.
Collective sampling of intact anionic polysaccharide components and application in quantitative determination by LC–MS

Abstract Anionic polysaccharides, such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and alginate, readily undergo source-induced fragmentation when analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry with the use of high source cone voltage. The dissociation chemistry converts all components of a polysaccharide into a small set of structurally characteristic small saccharides. This chemistry enables the collective detection of a polysaccharide through the detection of one or more small saccharides. This ability, combined with the elution of polysaccharides as relatively compact bands using ion-pairing reverse phase liquid chromatography, created a unique opportunity for the development of LC–MS methods suitable for the quantitative analysis of intact anionic polysaccharides. Feasibility of this approach is demonstrated with a mixture of heparin, chondroitin sulfate A, and alginate.
Synthesis and Structure of the Ruthenium(II) Complexes [(η-C5Me5)Ru(NO)(bipy)]2+ and [(η-C5Me5)Ru(NO)(dppz)]2+. DNA Cleavage by an Organometallic dppz Complex (bipy = 2,2‘-Bipyridine; dppz = Dipyrido[3,2-a:2‘,3‘-c]phenazine)

The salts [(η-C5Me5)Ru(NO)(bipy)][OTf]2 (1[OTf]2) and [(η-C5Me5)Ru(NO)(dppz)][OTf]2 (2[OTf]2) are obtained from the treatment of (η-C5Me5)Ru(NO)(OTf)2 with 2,2‘-bipyridine (bipy) or dipyrido[3,2-a:2‘,3‘-c]phenazine (dppz) (OTf = OSO2CF3). X-ray data for 1[OTf]2: monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 11.553 (4) A, b = 16.517 (5) A, c = 14.719 (4) A, β = 94.01 (2)°, V = 2802 (2) A3, Z = 4, R1 = 0.0698. X-ray data for 2[OTf]2: monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 8.911 (2) A, b = 30.516 (5) A, c = 24.622 (4) A, β = 99.02 (1)°, V = 6613 (2) A3, Z = 8, R1 = 0.0789. Both 1[OTf]2 and 2[OTf]2 are soluble in water where they exhibit irreversible electrochemical oxidation and reduction. A fluorescence-monitored titration of a DNA solution containing 2[OTf]2 with ethidium bromide provides evidence that 22+ intercalates into DNA with a binding constant greater than 106 M-1. DNA cleavage occurs when the DNA solutions containing 2[OTf]2 are photolyzed or treated with H2O2 or K2S2O8.
Effects of abscisic acid on growth and leaf development in American pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus poir.)

Abstract Synthetic abscisic acid (ABA) or natural ABA from avocado ( Persea americana Mill.) induces formation of “floating-type” leaves in American pondweed ( Potamogeton nodosus Poir.) at low concentrations (5 × 10 −7 M). Benzyladenine, gibberellic acid or kinetin counteract this effect. Winterbuds exposed to high levels of ABA (> 2 × 10 −5 M) do not germinate and 10 −5 M ABA reduces germinability, growth, inhibits protein synthesis, but allows some chlorophyll synthesis. Very short exposure to 5 × 10 −6 M ABA (2–4 h) is sufficient to cause formation of stomata (floating-type leaves). Cordycepin and actinomycin-D counteracted induction of “floating” leaves by ABA, which suggests that new RNA synthesis is required for this ABA effect.
Significance of epithelial membrane antigen in the work-up of problematic serous effusions

Differentiation of reactive and/or atypical mesothelial cells from malignant epithelial cells in serous effusions remains a frequent diagnostic problem. Since epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) positive malignant cells in serous effusions have been reported in almost all adenocarcinomas and most malignant mesotheliomas, immunoreactivity for EMA is felt to be less useful than other antibodies in the workup of problematic serous effusions. However, immunostaining of reactive and/or atypical benign mesothelial cells for EMA has not been well studied, with only a few series reporting either weak or negative staining for EMA. This study was undertaken to evaluate how often reactive and/or atypical appearing mesothelial cells stain positively for EMA. One hundred eighty serous effusions (115 pleural, 55 peritoneal, and 10 pericardial) from 123 females and 57 males ages 20 to 89 yr were evaluated in which an antibody panel including EMA was performed on cell blocks (141 cases), cytospins (36 cases), or both (3 cases). Of the 100 cytologically positive cases, EMA immunoreactivity was present in 97/100 (97%) cases. One EMA negative case suspicious for a metastatic renal cell carcinoma was lost to follow-up and not included in the analysis. The remaining three negative cases consisted of malignancies not expected to have EMA positive cells (small cell carcinoma, neuroblastoma, and synovial sarcoma). Therefore, EMA was positive in virtually 100% of the remaining malignant cases. In the 78 cytologically negative cases, EMA positivity was present in 3/78 (3.8%) cases. Clinical follow-up of up to 14 mo in these three cases revealed no evidence of malignancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Defining Sampling Districts for Household Travel Surveys: Case Study of the Baltimore, Maryland, Metropolitan Area

The character of land development affects the trip-making behavior of residents. The case is made for the careful demarcation of survey sampling districts from which to collect household travel data for forecasting travel demand. Household travel survey data from the Baltimore, Maryland, metropolitan area indicate that trip generation rates derived from areas with similar intensities of land development are more consistent than those derived according to political jurisdictions. Additional data from the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area support this hypothesis. In light of current and previous findings, trip rates for metropolitan areas clearly should be derived from and applied to areas of homogeneous character in recognition of the effects of density and mixture of land uses on trip making. This assertion is illustrated with empirical data from the Baltimore metropolitan area. Conceptually, area type is more appealing than demarcations by political jurisdictions. Results of visual plots and numerical ...
Psyttalia ponerophaga (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a potential biological control agent of olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in California.

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is a newly invasive, significant threat to California's olive industry. As part of a classical biological control programme, Psyttalia ponerophaga (Silvestri) was imported to California from Pakistan and evaluated in quarantine. Biological parameters that would improve rearing and field-release protocols and permit comparisons to other olive fruit fly biological control agents were measured. Potential barriers to the successful establishment of P. ponerophaga, including the geographic origins of parasitoid and pest populations and constraints imposed by fruit size, were also evaluated as part of this investigation. Under insectary conditions, all larval stages except neonates were acceptable hosts. Provided a choice of host ages, the parasitoids' host-searching and oviposition preferences were a positive function of host age, with most offspring reared from hosts attacked as third instars. Immature developmental time was a negative function of tested temperatures, ranging from 25.5 to 12.4 days at 22 and 30°C, respectively. Evaluation of adult longevity, at constant temperatures ranging from 15 to 34°C, showed that P. ponerophaga had a broad tolerance of temperature, living from 3 to 34 days at 34 and 15°C, respectively. Lifetime fecundity was 18.7±2.8 adult offspring per female, with most eggs deposited within 12 days after adult eclosion. Olive size affected parasitoid performance, with lower parasitism levels on hosts feeding in larger olives. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to field manipulation and selection of parasitoid species for olive fruit fly biological control in California and worldwide.
Coronary artery dimensions may be misclassified as normal in Kawasaki disease

Abstract Background: Current American Heart Association guidelines indicate that patients with Kawasaki disease and no coronary artery abnormalities on echocardiography at any stage of illness may be discharged from cardiologic follow-up 1 year after onset of illness. Methods and Results: To determine whether coronary artery dimensions in patients with Kawasaki disease whose vessels are classified as "normal" by Japanese Ministry of Health criteria have a distribution similar to expected population norms when adjusting for body surface area, we studied 125 patients during 4 intervals from onset of illness: (1) 10 days or less, (2) 2 weeks (11 to 21 days), (3) 6 weeks (22 days to 3 months), and (4) 1 year (4 months to 1.5 years). Using two-dimensional echocardiography, we measured the internal lumen diameter of the left main, proximal left anterior descending, and proximal right coronary arteries. Mean body surface area–adjusted dimensions of the proximal left anterior descending and right coronary arteries were significantly larger ( P P = .02); for the left main coronary artery, this difference achieved statistical significance in the period of 10 days or less, with a trend at 2 weeks ( P = .02). Among patients classified as having normal coronary arteries on all echocardiograms by the Japanese Ministry of Health criteria, 27% had at least 1 body surface area–adjusted coronary dimension more than 2 standard deviations above the expected mean. Conclusions: Coronary artery dilation in Kawasaki disease is thus more prevalent than previously reported, highlighting the need for systematic long-term surveillance of this population. (J Pediatr 1998;133:254-8)
Incremental budgeting: A test of the model

This research focuses on Budgetary behavior in a large industrial state in order to challenge the assumed incrementalism in public budgeting. It distinguishes between the overall budgetary pattern which is kept from fluctuating in order to avoid sudden tax increases and agency budgets which fluctuate substantially even in times of overall stability in order to accommodate special cases and changing Priorities. It concludes that although dominated by incremental thinking and bargaining, agency budgets do not conform to the incremental model nor does reality uphold the working assumption that starting from current spending necessarily yields small increments.
Expression of a recombinant bifunctional protein from a chimera of human lutropin receptor and human chorionic gonadotropin β-subunit

Human lutropin (hLH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are structurally and functionally similar and play important roles in reproduction via a common gonadal receptor (LH-R). However, hormone specific hCG-β subunit contains 24 additional amino acid carboxyl terminal peptide (CTP), which produce specific antibodies to hCG-β with little cross-reaction with LH. A chimeric protein containing both hLH-R and hCG-β would provide a unique bifunctional antigen for immunocontraception. In this study is described the synthesis of a chimeric DNA construct of full-length of hLH-receptor and hCG-β and its expression in Sf9 cells to produce a bifunctional protein. Recombinant protein was recognized by antibodies to LH-R as well as anti-hCG-β in Western Blots, thus indicating the preservation of immunological epitopes for both hLH-R and hCG-β in the chimera. Specific ligand binding of recombinant hLH-R component was demonstrated by the displacement of bound labeled hCG at increasing concentrations of unlabeled hCG, indicating that, the presence of hCG-β component of the chimera did not interfere with the binding of hCG to LH-R. hCG-β was also present in the recombinant chimeric protein as shown by a specific hCG-β chemiluminescence assay. Treatment of transfected Sf9 cells with hCG induced dose-dependent increase in the stimulation of intracellular cAMP production, which showed that the ligand binding had functional activity. These results demonstrate that the chimeric DNA construct of hLHR-hCG-β expressed a bifunctional protein containing both hLH-R and hCG-β activities, which could provide a unique potential antigen for immunocontraception in vertebrates.
Her versus his migraine: multiple sex differences in brain function and structure

Migraine is twice as common in females as in males, but the mechanisms behind this difference are still poorly understood. We used high-field magnetic resonance imaging in male and female age-matched interictal (migraine free) migraineurs and matched healthy controls to determine alterations in brain structure. Female migraineurs had thicker posterior insula and precuneus cortices compared with male migraineurs and healthy controls of both sexes. Furthermore, evaluation of functional responses to heat within the migraine groups indicated concurrent functional differences in male and female migraineurs and a sex-specific pattern of functional connectivity of these two regions with the rest of the brain. The results support the notion of a ‘sex phenotype’ in migraine and indicate that brains are differentially affected by migraine in females compared with males. Furthermore, the results also support the notion that sex differences involve both brain structure as well as functional circuits, in that emotional circuitry compared with sensory processing appears involved to a greater degree in female than male migraineurs.
Repopulation of adult and neonatal mice with human hepatocytes: A chimeric animal model

We report the successful transplantation of human hepatocytes in immunodeficient, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase-deficient (fah−/−) mice. Engraftment occurs over the entire liver acinus upon transplantation. A few weeks after transplantation, increasing concentrations of human proteins (e.g., human albumin and human C3a) can be measured in the blood of the recipient mouse. No fusion between mouse and human hepatocytes can be detected. Three months after transplantation, up to 20% of the mouse liver is repopulated by human hepatocytes, and sustained expression of lentiviral vector transduced gene can be observed. We further report the development of a hepatocyte transplantation method involving a transcutaneous, intrahepatic injection in neonatal mice. Human hepatocytes engraft over the entire injected lobe with an expansion pattern similar to those observed with intrasplenic transplantation.
Proteins of the cyanobacterial photosystem I

Abstract Cyanobacterial photosystem (PS) I is remarkably similar to its counterpart in the chloroplast of plants and algae. Therefore, it has served as a prototype for the type I reaction centers of photosynthesis. Cyanobacterial PS I contains 11–12 proteins. Some of the cyanobacterial proteins are modified post-translationally. Reverse genetics has been used to generate subunit-deficient cyanobacterial mutants, phenotypes of which have revealed the functions of the missing proteins. The cyanobacterial PS I proteins bind cofactors, provide docking sites for electron transfer proteins, participate in tertiary and quaternary organization of the complex and protect the electron transfer centers. Many of these mutants are now being used in sophisticated structure–function analyses. Yet, the roles of some proteins of the cyanobacterial PS I are unknown. It is necessary to examine functions of these proteins on a global scale of cell physiology, biogenesis and evolution.
A chimeric human-cat fusion protein blocks cat-induced allergy

Animal allergens are an important cause of asthma and allergic rhinitis. We designed and tested a chimeric human-cat fusion protein composed of a truncated human IgG Fcgamma1 and the major cat allergen Fel d1, as a proof of concept for a new approach to allergy immunotherapy. This Fcgamma-Fel d1 protein induced dose-dependent inhibition of Fel d1-driven IgE-mediated histamine release from cat-allergic donors' basophils and sensitized human cord blood-derived mast cells. Such inhibition was associated with altered Syk and ERK signaling. The Fcgamma-Fel d1 protein also blocked in vivo reactivity in FcepsilonRIalpha transgenic mice passively sensitized with human IgE antibody to cat and in Balb/c mice actively sensitized against Fel d1. The Fcgamma-Fel d1 protein alone did not induce mediator release. Chimeric human Fcgamma-allergen fusion proteins may provide a new therapeutic platform for the immune-based therapy of allergic disease.
Wide-Band Spectroscopy of Two Radio Bursts on AD Leonis

We report high time-resolution broadband spectroscopic observations of two radio bursts on the classical flare star AD Leonis. The observations were acquired by the 305 m telescope at Arecibo Observatory on 2003 June 13-14. Using the Wideband Arecibo Pulsar Processor, these observations sampled a total bandwidth of 400 MHz, distributed over a 500 MHz frequency range, 1120-1620 MHz, with a frequency resolution of 0.78 MHz and a time resolution of 10 ms. The radio burst observed on June 13 is characterized by the presence of multitudes of short-duration (Δt ~ 30 ms), high brightness temperature (Tb > 1014 K), highly circularly polarized, fast-drift radio sub-bursts, with median bandwidths Δν/ν ~ 5%. The inverse drift rates are small and have a symmetric distribution (both positive and negative frequency drifts), with a Gaussian FWHM inverse drift rate of 4.5 × 10-4 s MHz-1. The fast-drift sub-bursts occur at a mean rate of 13 s-1 and show no evidence for periodic recurrence. The fast-drift radio events on AD Leo are highly reminiscent of solar decimetric spike bursts. We suggest that the emission is due to fundamental plasma radiation. A second highly circularly polarized radio burst, recorded June 14, has markedly different properties: a smoothly varying intensity profile characterized by a slow drift in frequency with time (-52 MHz s-1). Under the assumption that the source is due to a disturbance propagating through the low corona, a source size of 0.1-1 R is inferred, implying a brightness temperature range 6 × 1011-6 × 1013 K; another example of a coherent radio burst.
Interaction between acetate fed sulfate reducers and methanogens

Abstract During anaerobic treatment of sulfate containing wastewaters, sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and methane producing bacteria (MPB) can compete for acetate as the common primary substrate. Since acetate is an intermediate of anaerobic degradation of complex wastes, the outcome of the competition between SRB and MPB can affect the treatment efficiency. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of feed acetate to sulfate ratio and redox potential on the interaction between SRB and MPB. Both batch serum bottles and chemostats were used for this study. The acetate degradation rate constants ( k in Monod model), were found to be 2.4 and 3.2/d for SRB and MPB, respectively, and the Monod half velocity coefficients ( K s ) were found to be 102 and 116 mg/l for SRB and MPB, respectively. As the feed acetate/SO 2− 4 ratio was increased from 0.66 to 3.33, the percent acetate utilized by SRB decreased from 71 to only 4% in chemostats and from 40 to 12% in batch serum bottles. The percent acetate utilized by the SRB increased from 19 to 35% when the redox potential was changed from −175 to −75 mV in additional Eh-stat experiments.
Analysis error as a function of observation density for satellite temperature soundings with spatially correlated errors

Abstract A simple numerical experiment demonstrates that if the errors in satellite-derived temperatures are correlated spatially, the error of an optimum interpolation objective analysis using such temperature data is increased. Moreover, increasing the density of such observations beyond a, threshold value (a spacing of about 400 km in the experiment) does not yield any significant improvement in analysis accuracy, in contrast to the cage of observations with spatially uncorrelated errors.
Subsurface Stratigraphy and Structure of Sauk Sequence of Northern Ohio: ABSTRACT

The lower Paleozoic Sauk sequence of northern Ohio represents a carbonate and clastic sedimentary sequence deposited during the late Late End_Page 1440------------------------------ Cambrian Saint Croixan and early Early Ordovician Canadian. It is bounded below by the unconformity on the Precambrian basement and above by the Knox unconformity. The Sauk sequence was deposited throughout the study area of northern Ohio, which includes the western portion of the Appalachian basin, the Ohio-Indiana platform to the west, and the southernmost portion of the Michigan basin northwest of the Ohio-Indiana platform. The major lithostratigraphic units, all in the subsurface, are the Cambrian Mount Simon Sandstone, Shady Dolomite, Eau Clair Formation, Rome Formation, and Kerbel Formation, and the Cambrian-Ordovician Knox Group. Stratigraphic interpretations generally show that the Sauk sequence begins with clastic deposition occurring in the north-central and western portions of Ohio and predominantly carbonate and open-marine clastic deposition occurring in eastern and south-central Ohio. The location of the present Cincinnati arch marks a transition zone between the two sedimentary regimes. The final stage of Sauk sequence deposition was marked by a major marine transgression that resulted in deposition of the Knox Dolomite over the entire study area. Producing reservoirs occur in four stratigraphic-structural settings. The Copper Ridge Dolomite (Knox Group) on the eastern edge of the Ohio-Indiana platform has oil production from glauconitic sandstone reservoirs. Basinward, the Cambrian dolomitic Rose Run Sandstone Member occurs at the top of the Copper Ridge Dolomite. Mainly gas has been discovered in the Rose Run in secondary reservoirs formed during erosion of the Knox unconformity. Middle Ordovician shales and impermeable limestones are the seals. The majority of hydrocarbon production from the Knox Dolomite is located in central Ohio's Morrow County where erosional remnants of vuggy dolomite on the Knox unconformity form paleotopographic highs with Middle Ordovician shale as the seal. Other small pools consist of vuggy dolomite reservoirs with small structural closures. Although no significant amounts of hydrocarbons have been discovered below the Copper Ridge Dolomite, high porosities and permeabilities in the Mount Simon Sandstone and Eau Claire Formation lend potential to these rocks for liquid waste disposal. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1441------------
Effects of Processing Stage and Storage Conditions on Cholesterol Oxidation Products in Butter and Cheddar Cheese

Abstract Capillary gas chromatography was utilized to determine the amounts of cholesterol oxidation products in butter and Cheddar cheese. Butter was analyzed for COPS at five stages of processing, and there was little or no effect due to the processing conditions. Cholesterol oxidation products that did occur originated with the raw material. Storage of butter for up to 6 mo had little effect on cholesterol oxidation. Cheddar cheese was analyzed at various stages of processing. Again, there was little effect due to processing, and cholesterol oxidation products originated with the raw material. The ripening process did not result in any appreciable increase in cholesterol oxidation products.
Autoantibody to the nucleosome subunit (H2A-H2B)-DNA is an early and ubiquitous feature of lupus-like conditions.

Chromatin, a huge polymer of nucleosomes, has been implicated as an important target of autoantibodies in idiopathic and drug-induced lupus for decades, but the antigenicity of chromatin has only recently been dissected. IgG reactivity with the (H2A-H2B)-DNA complex, a subunit of the nucleosome, is present in the majority of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, in >90% of patients with lupus induced by procainamide and in individual patients with lupus induced by a variety of other drugs, but is not seen in people taking these medications who are clinically asymptomatic. Anti-[(H2A-H2B)-DNA] accounted for the bulk of the anti-chromatin activity in drug-induced lupus. The earliest detectable autoantibody in lupus-prone mice recognized similar epitopes in the (H2A-H2B)-DNA subnucleosome complex; as the immune response progressed, native DNA and other constituents of chromatin became antigenic. The importance of chromatin-reactive T cells in the anti-[(H2A-H2B)-DNA] response is suggested by the presence of somatic mutations in antibody VH and VL regions, their perdominant IgG isotype and the similarity in kinetics of their production to that of conventional T cell dependent antigens. Together with the serologic data from human lupus-like disease, these results are consistent with chromatin being a common stimulant for both B and T cells. While chromatin-reactive antibodies are closely associated with systemic disease and have recently been implicated in glomerulonephritis in SLE, the absence of renal disease in drug-induced lupus indicates that additional abnormalities are required to manifest the serious pathogenic potential of anti-[(H2A-H2B)-DNA] antibodies.
Grade level and achievement of immigrants' children: academic redshirting in Hong Kong

Data from Hong Kong PISA 2003 show that 15-year-old Hong Kong students who have immigrant parents from mainland China are grossly overrepresented in grades below the modal grade attended by most native Hong Kong students. Same-age comparison, when grade level is not taken into account, puts immigrants' children at a disadvantaged position in the mathematics, reading, and science literacy tests. The academic advantage of immigrants' children in Hong Kong is only revealed after grade is statistically controlled. Also, mainland immigrant students who are repeaters outperform native Hong Kong repeaters. Immigrant redshirting is a possible driving force behind these results.
Travel and location behavior: State of the art and research opportunities

Abstract This review is divided into two main sections. The first section reviews the theoretical and methodological basis of current travel-demand analysis, with particular emphasis on the role of utility theory. The main concepts and techniques associated with utility-theoretic travel demand models are summarized, important outstanding questions concerning the utility-theoretic approach are identified, and the relations between utility-based and alternative approaches to travel demand analysis are discussed. The second section treats substantive problems in travel demand analysis. The success that has been achieved so far in solving substantive problems is summarized, and a variety of important unsolved problems are identified.
Kinetic analysis of the binding of monomeric and dimeric ephrins to Eph receptors: Correlation to function in a growth cone collapse assay

Eph receptors and ephrins play important roles in regulating cell migration and positioning during both normal and oncogenic tissue development. Using a surface plasma resonance (SPR) biosensor, we examined the binding kinetics of representative monomeric and dimeric ephrins to their corresponding Eph receptors and correlated the apparent binding affinity with their functional activity in a neuronal growth cone collapse assay. Our results indicate that the Eph receptor binding of dimeric ephrins, formed through fusion with disulfide-linked Fc fragments, is best described using a bivalent analyte model as a two-step process involving an initial monovalent 2:1 binding followed by a second bivalent 2:2 binding. The bivalent binding dramatically decreases the apparent dissociation rate constants with little effect on the initial association rate constants, resulting in a 30- to 6000-fold decrease in apparent equilibrium dissociation constants for the binding of dimeric ephrins to Eph receptors relative to their monomeric counterparts. Interestingly, the change was more prominent in the A-class ephrin/Eph interactions than in the B-class of ephrins to Eph receptors. The increase in apparent binding affinities correlated well with increased activation of Eph receptors and the resulting growth cone collapse. Our kinetic analysis and correlation of binding affinity with function helped us better understand the interactions between ephrins and Eph receptors and should be useful in the design of inhibitors that interfere with the interactions.
Mismeasuring “unfair advantage”: A response to Michael Davis

One prominent contemporary retributivist theory is built on the notion that crime yields an “unfair advantage” over law-abiding citizens which punishment removes or nullifies. Michael Davis has defended this theory by constructing a market model of “unfair advantage” that he contends answers critics' objections to the retributivist enterprise. I seek to demonstrate the inadequacy of Davis's approach, arguing in particular that the market model rests on an incoherent notion of “demand” and would not, even if coherent, link “unfair advantage” to the seriousness of crimes in any acceptable fashion. The salience of traditional objections to retributivism is thus unaffected by Davis's theory.
Effects of phorbol-12,13-diesters on prostaglandin production and phospholipase activity in canine kidney (MDCK) cells

Abstract Two tumor promoting phorbol-12,13-diesters, 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and phorbol-12,13-didecanoate, at concentrations of 10−9 to 10−10 M, stimulated prostaglandin production by dog kidney (MDCK) cells cultured in serum-supplemented medium. The non-tumor producing phorbol diester, 4α-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate, at a concentration of 10−7 M, had no effect. The two biologically active phorbol diesters, but not the non-tumor promoting analog, stimulated deacylation of the cellular phospholipids of MDCK cells radioactively labelled with [3H]arachidonic acid. Most of the arachidonic acid was converted into prostaglandins.
Hail to the Chief: Using Honorifics to Refer to the President in Cable News

Have cable news networks used the titles “President” and “Mr.” differently when referring to Barack Obama than when referring to George W. Bush? Content analysis of 140 cable news transcripts from the first 100 days of each presidency shows Fox News used honorifics similarly when referring to each president, but CNN was significantly more likely to use honorifics when referring to Obama than when referring to Bush. Both networks’ use of honorifics declined during the president's first 100 days in office. Implications are discussed using literature on news coverage of African American politicians, partisan news bias, and presidential honeymoons.
Relationships within the Munnopsidae (Crustacea, Isopoda, Asellota) based on three genes

The Munnopsidae are a diverse group of asellote isopods that are an important component of deep-sea fauna. Morphologically-based phylogenetic inference attempts have proven to be of limited use due to the ecological and morphological diversity within the clade. Monophyly of the family is well-established but relationships within the group remain unresolved. This project is the first molecularly-based effort focused specifically on resolving phylogenetic relationships within the Munnopsidae. Partial 28S and COI and complete 18S genes were sequenced for 28 asellotes, 15 additional taxa were included from which only one or two of the three target sequences could be obtained, and 18S sequences for five additional taxa were available from GenBank. Sequences were analysed both as individual genes and in combination using Bayesian and maximum parsimony approaches. Each gene provided a phylogenetic signal that could be identified in the combined analyses, with 18S analyses providing the most resolution of phylogenetic relationships. The available representatives of subfamilies Munnopsinae and Ilyarachninae were monophyletic, as was the genus Munneurycope. Relationships within the subfamily Munnopsinae were well-resolved by thorough taxon sampling, several new species were placed, and the need for taxonomic revision of Munnopsis/Munnopsoides was supported. These analyses supported putative Eurycope paraphyly and emphasized the need for careful revision of this highly variable genus. Tytthocope was sister to Munnopsurus. Syneurycope was suggested as the sister group to the ilyarachnines. Combined analyses provided increased support for clades suggested in at least two individual gene analyses and for clades not strongly contradicted by individual analyses. Further work is required to fully resolve the munnopsid phylogeny and should consist of increased taxon sampling for the complete 18S sequence and possibly identification of at least one slowly evolving, nuclear protein-coding gene to resolve the basal polytomy and enable placement of the root.
Beyond the Campus Unacknowledged Rape Among Low-Income Women

Studies of college rape victims have found that many are unacknowledged; that is, they do not label their experience rape. The current study investigated factors associated with unacknowledged rape among low-income women. Out of a sample of 1,033 women, 167 reported having experienced rape. Unacknowledged victims, relative to acknowledged victims, reported less violent assaults and more alcohol use before the assault and were more likely to have been assaulted by a romantic partner. Unacknowledged victims also disclosed less often and reported fewer feelings of stigma. Implications of the work for future studies of unacknowledged rape are discussed.
Matrix Proteins and Mineralization: An Overview

There is a wealth of information on the mineral and matrix components in bones and teeth, in the exoskeletons of invertebrates, and in dystrophic calcific deposits. This information includes detailed characterization of their physical and chemical composition and details on the gene localization and regulation of gene expression for the major and minor protein constituents. The reason that mineral deposition occurs in some tissues and not in others remains unclear. In this review, studies in solution, cell culture studies, and investigations in mutant animals will be surveyed to indicate which matrix proteins may affect mineralization. Most of the molecules that appear to be involved in initiation and regulation of biological mineral formation are anionic; they have structural features that facilitate interaction with mineral, cells, and other matrix molecules, and they can have more than one function. Despite extensive data it is not yet clear which of these molecules is absolutely essential for physiologic calcification in each of the calcified tissues.
On a decomposition of multivariable forms via LMI methods

In this paper, it is shown that some of the convenient characteristics of LMI-based methods can be extended to a class of nonlinear systems. The main idea is to use a computationally tractable sufficient condition for positivity of a function, namely the existence of a "sum of squares" representation. By using an extended set of variables and redundant constraints, it is shown that the conditions can be written as linear matrix inequalities in the unknown parameters. To illustrate the method, we present an example dealing with the Lyapunov stability of systems described by polynomial vector fields.
High dry matter whole-plant corn as a biomass feedstock

Abstract This research investigated the harvest, ambient pre-treatment, and storage of whole-plant corn as an alternative to conventional systems where corn grain and stover are fractionated at harvest. Harvesting the whole-plant, both grain and most of the above ground stover, after physiological maturity can reduce the intense logistics challenges typically associated with corn harvest and expand the harvest window. To determine the feasibility of the proposed system, corn was harvested at 350–840 g kg −1 whole-plant dry matter (DM) using a forage harvester and then ensiled in pilot-scale silos. Ambient pretreatment during storage was investigated using both dilute acid and lime. Both pretreated and control whole-plant silages were very well conserved during anaerobic storage with DM losses generally less than 40 g kg −1 . Hydrodynamic separation of the grain and stover fractions after storage was found to be more effective at fractionating starch and fiber than conventional dry grain harvest, and both fractions had desirable composition. The effects of pretreatment on the silage were very pronounced at 30 and 100 g (kg DM) −1 sulfuric acid loading with less than 100 g (kg DM) −1 of the hemicellulose still bound in the cell wall at DM contents greater than 500 g kg −1 . The whole-plant harvest and storage system was shown to be a viable alternative to conventional corn grain and stover systems for producing feedstocks for biochemical conversion.
Paleomagnetic Differentiation and Correlation of the Late Triassic Volcanic Rocks in the Central Appalachians (with Special Reference to the Connecticut Valley)

During the late Triassic and early Jurassic, the location of the earth9s magnetic pole changed rapidly. As a result of these changes the inclination of the magnetic field in North America increased considerably in a relatively short time. The igneous rocks emplaced during the late Triassic and early Jurassic, show thermo-remanent directions (T.R.M.) of magnetization with progressively higher positive inclinations. In Connecticut four periods of late Triassic-early Jurassic volcanic activity have been dis­tinguished geologically. They are from old to young: the Talcott, Holyoke, Hampden, and Higganum volcanic events. The mean inclination of the T.R.M. is + 12° for the Talcott, + 25° for the Holyoke, + 42° for the Hampden, and + 35° for the Higganum volcanic units. This paleomagnetic stratigraphy enables one to differentiate between the volcanic units and to correlate the units of one basin, with contemporaneous outflows or intrusions in other basins. By means of their distinctive paleomagnetic data it is possible to correlate the volcanics of the Newark and Gettysburg basins (Pennsylvania) with the Holyoke volcanic event, and the vol­canics of the Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia) with the Hampden volcanic event of Connecticut. Such correlations suggest the possibility of a northeastward displacement of the volcanic activity in late Triassic time. This would indicate a progressive northeastward expansion of the broad geanticlinal arching of the Appalachians in the early Mesozoic time. The origin of the rapid shift is unknown. It appears, however, that the shift is related to a high order reversal of the magnetic field. The shift occurred in an interval of relatively low field strength separating the Permian positive magnetic era from the Cretaceous negative magnetic era. The same interval was characterized by an increase in the frequency of lower order reversals (magnetic epochs and events).
Probability tails of wavelet coefficients of magnetometer records

[1] The ground-based magnetometer network has long been a powerful tool for monitoring and observing the variations of the currents flowing in the magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) system. The time series of magnetograms are nonstationary and their frequency behavior changes over time. They are therefore not amenable to traditional time domain or spectral (Fourier) analysis. In recent years, various new mathematical techniques have been developed to analyze magnetometer data and the wavelet technique has stood out as being particularly relevant. In order to correctly make statistical inferences based on wavelet analysis, the wavelet coefficient distributions of magnetograms must be examined. In this work, we apply the discrete wavelet transform to the 1-min magnetometer records and then use several statistical techniques to analyze the probability distributions of the wavelet coefficients. It is found that the distributions of these coefficients for both storm and quiet times are highly nonnormal and can be classified as being heavy tailed. This finding suggests that when applying statistical techniques to the wavelet coefficients of the magnetograms, one must make sure that these techniques are robust to large departures from Gaussianity manifested by the presence of heavy probability tails. It is also found that the tail indexes for storm times are on average smaller than those of quiet times, which reflects the stronger impulsive and nonstationary features in magnetometer data during storm times, and the shifts are most significant for the wavelet coefficients corresponding to physical scales of 4–8 min.
Service-Learning Pedagogy: Benefits Of A Learning Community Approach

Service-learning is, by nature, continually evolving. Seifer (1996) stressed the importance of partnerships between communities and schools, and stated that reflection should facilitate the connection between practice and theory, and lead to critical thinking. Before these reflective activities occur, however, much can be done to maximize student impacts and facilitate critical thinking. When students are included as partners, within a learning community, they can experience significant professional development through the mentoring and modeling of professional behaviors, by faculty members. During a three month pilot, a team of junior-level, undergraduate nursing students joined together, in one such learning community, called “FOCUS”. The common agenda was to update evidence-based program materials, prepare for a federally-funded, five-year study, and to begin educating local females, regarding pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) strategies. This article reviews key impacts for the pilot team, and explores student-identified outcomes, in reflection of their learning community experience.
The concave cusp as a determiner of figure-ground.

The tendency to interpret as figure, relative to background, those regions that are lighter, smaller, and, especially, more convex is well known. Wherever convex opaque objects abut or partially occlude one another in an image, the points of contact between the silhouettes form concave cusps, each indicating the local assignment of figure versus ground across the contour segments. It is proposed that this local geometric feature is a preattentive determiner of figure—ground perception and that it contributes to the previously observed tendency for convexity preference. Evidence is presented that figure—ground assignment can be determined solely on the basis of the concave cusp feature, and that the salience of the cusp derives from local geometry and not from adjacent contour convexity.
Gasification of Coal in Practical Flames

Gasification of coal is a process which occurs when coal or char is reacted with an oxidizer to produce a fuel-rich product. Principal reactants are coal, oxygen, steam, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, while desired products are usually carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. The principal purpose for gasifying coal is to produce a gaseous, fuel-rich product. Potential uses of this product are for: 1. Production of substitute natural gas. 2. Use as a synthesis gas for subsequent production of alcohols, gasoline, plastics, etc. 3. Use as a gaseous fuel for generation of electrical power. 4. Use as a gaseous fuel for production of industrial steam or heat.
Implantable microelectrode arrays for simultaneous electrophysiological and neurochemical recordings

Implantable microfabricated microelectrode arrays represent a versatile and powerful tool to record electrophysiological activity across multiple spatial locations in the brain. Spikes and field potentials, however, correspond to only a fraction of the physiological information available at the neural interface. In urethane-anesthetized rats, microfabricated microelectrode arrays were implanted acutely for simultaneous recording of striatal local field potentials, spikes, and electrically evoked dopamine overflow on the same spatiotemporal scale. During these multi-modal recordings we observed (1) that the amperometric method used to detect dopamine did not significantly influence electrophysiological activity, (2) that electrical stimulation in the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) region resulted in electrochemically transduced dopamine transients in the striatum that were spatially heterogeneous within at least 200 microm, and (3) following MFB stimulation, dopamine levels and electrophysiological activity within the striatum exhibited similar temporal profiles. These neural probes are capable of incorporating customized microelectrode geometries and configurations, which may be useful for examining specific spatiotemporal relationships between electrical and chemical signaling in the brain.