cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel full-scale external geothermal heating system for bridge deck de-icing

Abstract The utilization of geothermal energy for melting snow and ice on bridge decks has been shown to be effective. However, the existing geothermal heating systems work through hydronic loops embedded inside the bridge deck and therefore are only applicable to new bridges. A new external geothermal heating design for bridge de-icing has been explored in concept and tests in the laboratory, showing great implementation potential. This study presents the design and implementation procedure of a novel external geothermal heating system on a full-scale bridge deck for de-icing operations in field conditions for its first time. It tests and analyzes the system’s heating performance and the bridge deck’s thermal response under several winter events. The details and information pertaining to the design and construction of the hydronic loops, a ground loop heat exchanger (GLHE) monitoring system, are presented and can be pivotal for the designers of similar projects. The test results showed that the system was successful in de-icing the bridge deck and maintaining the bridge deck surface temperature above freezing in the event with a minimum ambient temperature of −6.2 °C. The de-icing system requires about 7–8 h of pre-heating to reach its maximum performance; however, less time is required during mild events. Moreover, this research investigated the performance of the system, and the experimental results showed an average system coefficient of performance (COP) of approximately 4.6 and a heating efficiency of about 55%.
Helical Covalent Polymers with Unidirectional Ion Channels as Single Lithium-Ion Conducting Electrolytes

Single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes have attracted great attention as safe alternatives to liquid electrolytes in high energy density lithium-ion batteries. Herein, we report the first examp...
Implanted Antenna Design on Pacemaker with Characteristic Mode Analysis

Characteristic mode analysis is applied to design antennas for an implantable medical device, a pacemaker. A resonant structure on the medical device at a 400 MHz band is built using the modal significance and current distribution obtained from CMA. The performance of the designed antenna is estimated in terms of impedance matching and radiation characteristics.
Choice of the Fractal Method For Visualization of Input Data While Designing Support Systems for Decision-Making by Navigator

Introduction. The constant increase in the amount and intensity of traffic requires organization and precise management.Problem Statement. In the present-day conditions, when the number of vessels engaged on internal and external routes has been growing, without the vessel driver/navigator all alone are not physically able to assess the navigation situation and to make the right decision how to operate his vessel. The need to develop and to implement algorithms that help address the issue of navigation safety is an important task, especially when it comes to the management of groups of vessels. The main approaches that allow generalizing the information flows to ensure continuous and safe navigation are the formation of a structured system of processing and evaluation of input factors and related output parameters. This enables controlling the ergatic system of vessel, given a significant number of factors.Purpose. The purpose of this research is to create new approaches to controlling the vessel ergatic system for making an optimal and timely decision.Materials and Methods. Fractal methods for representation of the primary information and applied computer programs of mathematical simulation have been used.Results. The proposed model of information processing as part of the vessel ergatic system is designed to comp­rehensively ensure the safety of vessels, while providing control and optimization of both operational and organizational parameters and diagnostic functions, with the ability to predict and to prevent failures of the vessel engineering system.Conclusions. The applicability of general algorithms for the processing of information and its structuring according to the degree of impact has been shown. The application of these approaches solves the problem of overloading the navigator with excessive navigational information and reduces decision-making time. The developedalgorithm allows creating an automatic control system for groups of vessels in real conditions of difficult navigation environment.
Hull, Clark L.

Clark L. Hull (1884–1952) was a prominent American behaviorist and learning theorist, known for his influential book Principles of Behavior. He designed machine simulations of intelligence and proposed a mechanistic psychology that bridged behaviorism and cognitive psychology. Keywords: behaviorism; learning theory; conditioning; artificial intelligence; simulation
Speech power estimation with a truncated normal distribution

Telephone speech power estimation and related issues in the satellite FDM transmission network are described. The capacity of an FDM transmission system in terms of number of voice channels is closely related to the multichannel loading. Speech is still a major part of the traffic in present day systems. Its characterization is thus an important step, especially in the design of the load-sensitive FDM/SSB/AM satellite transmission system. This paper presents a truncated normal distribution and its application to speech power estimation in the presence of channel and background noise. With the provision of a thresholding mechanism, the new truncated normal distribution is especially suited for the estimation of speech power in the presence of channel noise. It is further suggested that, even in the absence of noise, the truncated normal distribution is in general a more realistic model than the normal distribution.
Alcator C-MOD environmental health and radiation program development

The challenge of providing an integrated health and safety program for an advanced fusion facility within the university atmosphere is addressed in the environment, health, and safety program design for the Alcator C-MOD project at MIT. The hazards common to all fusion experiments, such as radiation, cryogenics, high power and voltage, confined spaces, hazardous chemicals, and heavy mechanical and machine equipment, must be controlled in an acceptable manner with the coordination of university and facility programs. The development of this program is detailed. The combination of programs, procedures, equipment, and training described includes effective control and coordination of activities when different types of occupational hazards occur on one job such as a confined entry into a radiologically contaminated area or during machining of potentially contaminated materials. Procedures provide a means for documentation of required activities and a means to ensure that checks and controls are in place before work begins at a hazardous job site. >
Sequence homology between purple acid phosphatases and phosphoprotein phosphatases Are phosphoprotein phosphatases metalloproteins containing oxide-bridged dinuclear metal centers?

The amino acid sequences of mammalian purple acid phosphatases and phosphoprotein phosphatases are shown to possess regions of significant homology. The conserved residues contain a high percentage of possible metal-binding residues. The phosphoprotein phosphatases 1, 2A and 2B are proposed to be iron-zinc metalloenzymes with active sites isostructural (or nearly so) with those of the purple phosphatases.
PASSENGER CAR FUEL ECONOMY TRENDS THROUGH 1976

The fuel economy data compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been analyzed to determine the trends in passenger car fuel economy beginning with model year 1957. This paper adds the 1976 model year data to the historical trend and concentrates on comparisons between the 1976 and 1975 models. The net change in fuel economy for the 1976 new car fleet has been estimated at +12.8% compared to the 1975 new car fleet. System optimization is responsible for 8.8% of the improvement and model mix shifts are projected to account for +3.1% of the change. /GMRL/
Localization and Detection of Vector Logo Image Plagiarism

One of the main research issues in forensic computing is to protect intellectual properties. Logo images, one type of intellectual properties, are posted in the Internet and widely available. Logo image plagiarism and theft are not unusual. Detection and localization of logo image plagiarism are crucial to protect logo intellectual property. In recent years, logo images that are written in Scalable Vector Graphics format are able to be rendered efficiently in the web browser and accessed easily. In this paper, after introducing logo images edited and rendered from scalable vector graphics, we classify all possible types of logo image plagiarism, localize a possible set of logo images being infringed using distance functions, and detect and verify logo plagiarism using reversible transformation. We believe our work is valuable to businesses involving logo creation and development.
Modification of the rat sperm flagellar plasma membrane during maturation in the epididymis.

Previously, we demonstrated that surface radiolabeling of rat epididymal spermatozoa by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination reveals a major component with an apparent molecular weight of 26,000 to 28,000 daltons (26 kDa) on spermatozoa from the cauda but not the caput epididymidis. To characterize this surface component further, sperm surface constituents radiolabeled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination were separated by 2-D PAGE. The 26 kDa component was localized by autoradiography and appeared as the major labeled acidic spot on cauda spermatozoa, but neither a radiolabeled spot nor a corresponding stained spot was present on caput spermatozoa. The 26 kDa spot was excised from 2-D gels of plasma membranes from cauda spermatozoa and utilized for immunization. The monospecific antiserum stained a single band of 26 kDa on Western blots of SDS-PAGE-separated plasma membranes from cauda spermatozoa and in a 100,000 x g supernatant fluid of the luminal contents of the cauda epididymidis. Immunohistochemical staining of cauda spermatozoa revealed antigen exclusively on the flagellar domain; the antigen was not seen on caput spermatozoa but first appeared in spermatozoa from the proximal corpus epididymidis. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the 26 kDa component was localized to the external face of the flagellar plasma membrane. Immunohistochemical staining of caput spermatozoa incubated in vitro with cauda epididymal luminal fluid revealed the 26 kDa component specifically bound the flagellar domain of immature spermatozoa.
The Two-Part Tariff and Voluntary Market Participation

I. Introduction, 571. — II. The two-part tariff, 573. — III. Disconnection, 575. — IV. Specific functions and simulation, 577. — V. Conclusion, 583. — Appendix A, 584. — Appendix B, 585.
Extended pericranial flap and bone graft reconstruction in anterior skull base surgery.

Abstract Objectives The objectives of this study was to establish a rationale for repairing large anterior skull base defects with an extended pericranial flap and split calvarial bone graft; to define large anterior skull base defects as those spanning the anterior cranial measuring at least 3.0 × 4.0 cm; and to describe the surgical technique and compare it with alternative strategies. Study design Thirty-four patients underwent anterior craniofacial resection of anterior skull-based tumors of varying histology with reconstruction using an extended pericranial flap and split calvarial bone graft. Results The survival of the pericranial flap and bone graft was maintained in 33 of 34 patients. There was 1 episode of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, 1 episode of osteomyelitis of the bone graft and an epidural abscess, and 1 episode of asymptomatic pneumocephalus. Conclusion Split calvarial bone graft with an extended pericranial flap is an effective technique for reconstructing large anterior skull base defects.
Management of cardiovascular disease in Turner syndrome

As a result of the multitude of potential comorbidities, patients with Turner syndrome require lifelong cardiac care. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of the cardiovascular pathology present in patients with Turner syndrome and outlines recommendations for cardiac care from birth through to adulthood.
“We Both Have Reason to Feel Good About the Book”: Russell Long, T. Harry Williams, and Huey Long

T. Harry Williams's biography Huey Long, published in October 1969, received critical and scholarly acclaim almost as soon as it hit the shelves. George Brown Tindall, in the American Historical Re...
Differences in Challenging Behaviors Between Children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder

A longstanding debate has existed as to whether High-Functioning Autism (HFA) and Asperger’s Disorder are dimensional versus distinct disorders. The impending changes to the upcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders have rejuvenated this debate as the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are scheduled to be collapsed into one diagnosis. Challenging behaviors are prevalent within ASD but have seldom been examined with respect to differences between these groups. As such, the purpose of the current investigation was to examine challenging behavior differences between children with HFA, Asperger’s Disorder, and typical development, as well as the ability of verbal communication impairments to predict the presence of these challenging behaviors. Participants were 185 children ages 4 through 16 years who had been diagnosed with Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, or typical development and who did not have comorbid intellectual disability. Their overall scores on the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Behavior Problems for Children were compared as were their individual behavior item scores. Children with HFA demonstrated the greatest amount of challenging behaviors in comparison to children with Asperger’s Disorder; however, these differences were not evident with respect to individual behavior items. Verbal communication deficits differed in a similar fashion, and verbal communication deficits were able to reliably predict the presence of challenging behaviors. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Vision-fair neuropsychological assessment in normal aging, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

We examined performance of healthy older and younger adults and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) on digit cancellation, a task putatively sensitive to cognitive impairment, but possibly affected by visual impairment, particularly in contrast sensitivity. Critical contrast thresholds were established to create custom stimulus arrays that were proximally matched across individuals. Age- and PD-related differences in search were fully accounted for by the sensory deficit. Increased contrast benefited AD patients, but could not override cognitive impairment. We conclude that visually fair neuropsychological testing can effectively compensate for normal age- and PD-related visual changes that affect cognitive performance.
New Evidence on the Stubborn English Mule and the Cotton Industry, 1878‐1920*

W ~hy was the English cotton industry so much slower than the rest of the world to make the switch from mules to ring-frame spinning? This paper presents new evidence on this hardy historical question by drawing on the records of six textile machinery companies. These records are now available at the Lancashire Record Office in Preston. The new figures show that Lancashire's commitment to mule-spinning prior to World War I was indeed overwhelming, so much so that it calls into question attempts to explain the choice in terms of demand patterns and labour skills. The data also allow the direct testing of subsidiary hypotheses in a comparative international setting. Our evidence bears directly on the recent debate between William Lazonick and Lars Sandberg, which is one chapter in the broader controversy over entrepreneurial failure in the Victorian economy. In an influential article subtitled 'The Role of Economic Rationality', Sandberg argued that the industry was making a gradual but smooth transition to ring-spinning on lower-count yarns, but at British factor prices the mule was more profitable at yarn counts above 40. The persistence of the mule, therefore, was attributable to the pattern of demand for British cotton goods. In contrast, Lazonick found that the preference for mules was more thorough-going, chiefly because vertical specialization reduced the benefits of the ring to individual firms and prevented a modernizing transformation for the industry as a whole.1 Our data confirm and extend Lazonick's assertion that British firms continued to make massive new investments in mules for all yarn counts up to the eve of World War I. The international comparisons, however, raise doubts about
Memory-basedsame-different conceptualization by pigeons

We first trained pigeons to peck one button (same) after the successive presentation of 16 identical pictures and to peck a second button (different) after the successive presentation of 16 nonidentical pictures. Later, we tested the birds with other lists ofsame anddifferent items composed of completely novel pictures. Accuracy to the testing lists reliably exceeded chance levels, thus demonstratingsame-different conceptualization by pigeons under conditions that, for the first time, (1) eliminated purely perceptual mechanisms of discrimination learning and transfer and (2) required memory-based processing of the experimental stimuli.
Malagasy clefts from a Western Malayo-Polynesian perspective: Commentary on the paper by Hans-Martin Gärtner

This commentary primarily addresses Gartner’s critique of the “pseudo-cleft” analysis for Malagasy. First, it is shown that this analysis is almost certainly correct for focus constructions in three other Western Malayo-Polynesian languages. Next, it is shown that certain unexpected semantic patterns observed in Malagasy (including the potential for strong quantifiers to occur within the focused predicate phrase, and the non-entailment of exhaustivity) hold in these other languages as well. Thus, the semantic arguments against the pseudo-cleft analysis for Malagasy are not conclusive. Finally, on the basis of comparative evidence from Tagalog, it is suggested that the structure of adjunct-focus in Malagasy may actually be quite different from that of subject-focus, even though both constructions must satisfy the same morphological constraints.
Powerful resistance against a long-running personal crusade: the impact of Silvio Berlusconi on the Italian judicial system

A distinguishing feature of the Berlusconi era has undoubtedly been his personal conflict with the judiciary. Therefore, this article explores the impact of Berlusconi's 20 years in politics on the Italian judicial system. The main argument developed in this analysis is that, thanks to a strong institutional framework built with the 1948 constitution, the Italian judiciary continued to guarantee an effective mechanism of checks and balances. In spite of reiterated attempts by the centre–right majority to modify judicial procedures and organisation to advantage Berlusconi in solving his judicial troubles (ad personam laws), the judiciary was, in the long run, successful in restraining these actions. In fact, several of the ad personam laws were abrogated by rulings of the Constitutional Court, or made substantially ineffective in the implementation stage. Moreover, no substantial reforms of the judicial system have been accomplished, although they were frequently announced. Nevertheless, it may be argued t...
Bioavailability of riboflavin from a gastric retention formulation

A gastric retention formulation (GRF) made of naturally occurring carbohydrate polymers and containing riboflavin was tested in vitro for swelling and dissolution characteristics as well as in fasting dogs for gastric retention. The bioavailability of riboflavin, a drug with a limited absorption site in the upper small intestine, from the GRF was studied in fasted healthy humans and compared to an immediate release formulation. It was found that when the GRF is dried and immersed in gastric juice it swells rapidly and releases its drug content in a zero-order fashion for a period of 24 h. In vivo studies in dogs showed that a rectangular shaped GRF stayed in the stomach of fasted dogs for more than 9 h, then disintegrated and reached the colon in 24 h. Endoscopic studies in dogs showed that the GRF hydrates and swells back to about 75% of its original size in 30 min. These in vivo results correlated with in vitro results. Pharmacokinetic parameters determined from urinary excretion data from six human subjects under fasting conditions showed that bioavailability depended on the size of the GRF. The biostudy indicated that bioavailability of riboflavin from a large size GRF was more than triple that measured after administration of an immediate release formulation. Deconvolved input functions from biostudy data suggest that the large size GRF stayed in the stomach for about 15 h.
In vivo radiotracers for vesicular neurotransmitter transporters

The vesicular monoamine transporter is a specific presynaptic protein involved in the transport of monoamines from the cytosol to storage vesicles of monoaminergic nerve terminals. Recently, radioligands for this transporter have been developed and utilized for in vivo positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging of monoaminergic nerve terminals in the human brain. In this review, the characteristics of vesicular transport and storage that provided the impetus for development of these radioligands are presented and discussed.
A review of the role of food insecurity in adherence to care and treatment among adult and pediatric populations living with HIV and AIDS

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical for reducing HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality. Food insecurity (FI) is emerging as an important barrier to adherence to care and treatment recommendations for people living with HIV (PLHIV), but this relationship has not been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we reviewed the literature to explore how FI may impact ART adherence, retention in medical care, and adherence to health care recommendations among PLHIV. We found data to support FI as a critical barrier to adherence to ART and to other health care recommendations among HIV-infected adults, HIV-infected pregnant women and their HIV-exposed infants, and child and adolescent populations of PLHIV. Associations between FI and ART non-adherence were seen in qualitative and quantitative studies. We identified a number of mechanisms to explain how food insecurity and ART non-adherence may be causally linked, including the exacerbation of hunger or ART side effects in the absence of adequate food and competing resource demands. Interventions that address FI may improve adherence to care and treatment recommendations for PLHIV.
Valley phase transition of a Si inversion layer in high magnetic fields

The change of valley degeneracy in a Si(111) inversion layer due to the intravalley exchange and correlation at high magnetic fields is mapped out as a function of the density and of the strength of the interaction compared with the impurity scattering. The calculated magnetoconductivity is used to explain the observed splitting of the last Landau level in the Shubnikov-de Haas measurements.
A comparison of pigment cell development in albino, steel, and dominant-spotting mutant mouse embryos

Abstract The mutations albino, steel, and dominant-spotting were investigated through a method of introducing normal melanoblasts into skin from mutant embryos of various ages. The skin-melanoblast combinations were cultured in the chick embryo for 15 days, and the development of pigmentation in the grafted skin and host tissues was determined. Eleven-day embryonic albino skin combined with normal melanoblasts resulted in the appearance of pigment in the graft and host tissues. Thirteen day and older albino embryonic skin-melanoblast combinations yielded pigment only in the host tissues. Melanocytes were absent in the large majority of the grafts themselves. Thirteen- to 18-day W v W v embryonic skin-melanoblast combinations resulted in pigment formation in both the grafted skin and host tissues in all cases. Sl d Sl d skin-melanoblast combinations of 13–18 days resulted in pigment development in neither the grafted skin nor the host tissues in the large majority of the cases. These results demonstrated that the presence of amelanotic melanoblasts in albino skin at 13 days and older prevented the entrance of normal melanoblasts. The receptivity of W v W v skin to normal melanoblasts indicated that skin of this genotype did not possess melanoblasts in any form at the ages tested. W v W v melanoblasts either never entered the skin of prospective black-eyed white embryos, or they did not survive because of some intrinsic factor immediately after colonizing the skin. The skin of steel mice either prevented the differentiation of the normal melanoblasts or it inhibited their migration. This action of steel skin was rather potent, for the inhibition affected not only itself but the appearance of pigment in the host tissues as well.
The effect of tubificid oligochaetes on the uptake of zinc by Lake Erie sediments

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effect of tubificid worms on the flux of zinc into lake sediments. Forty-six cores of Lake Erie sediment, with and without (control) tubificid worm populations, were exposed to aquarium water with a zinc concentration of about 5 mg 1−1 for 139 days. Pore water and exchangeable particulate zinc concentrations in the top 12 cm of sediment were periodically determined in pairs of cores — one with worms and one without worms — at 1 cm depth increments. After 139 days, pore water zinc concentrations in sediments with and without worms were nearly identical in the 0–1 cm interval (4.1 and 4.3 mg 1−1 respectively), but were significantly greater in the sediments with worms in the 1–2 cm (4.4 vs. 0.3 mg1−1) and the 2–3 cm (1.3 vs. 0.3 mg 1−1) intervals. Exchangeable particulate zinc concentrations in the 0–1, 1–2, and 2–3 cm intervals in sediments with worms were 612.3, 750.7, and 191.5 µg g−1 dry sediment respectively, whereas in sediments without worms, concentrations were 375.4, 5.9, and 3.2 µg g−1 dry sediment. The increased flux of zinc into tubificid-inhabited sediments was caused by the ‘conveyor belt’ feeding activity of the worms, which continuously exposed sedimentary particles to the overlying water. Movement of zinc into sediments with worms was dominated by adsorption and by particle movement, whereas movement of zinc into control sediments was by adsorption at the sediment-water interface and diffusion. The increased concentration of zinc in tubificid-inhabited sediments has important implications with respect to the trophic transfer of zinc through the aquatic food chain.
BAR, F-BAR (EFC) and ENTH/ANTH domains in the regulation of membrane-cytosol interfaces and membrane curvature.

BAR and ENTH domains are families of α-helical lipid bilayer binding modules found in proteins that function in endocytosis, actin regulation and signaling. Several members of these families not only bind the bilayer, but also participate in the regulation of its curvature. These properties are thought to play physiological roles at sites of membrane budding and at other sites where narrow tubular membranes occur in vivo. Studies of BAR and ENTH domains and of their flanking regions have provided new insights into mechanisms of membrane deformation and curvature sensing, and have emphasized the importance of amphipathic helices, thought to intercalate in one of the leaflets of the lipid bilayer, in the generation of membrane curvature. Structural studies and database searches are rapidly expanding the BAR and ENTH domains families, with the identification of new related domains and subfamilies, such as F-BAR (also called EFC) domains and ANTH domains, respectively. Here we present a short overview of the properties of these domains based on evidence obtained from genetics, cell biology, biochemistry and structural biology.
Zebrafish as a model for cancer self-renewal.

Abstract Self-renewal is the process by which normal stem cells and cancer cells make more of themselves. In cancer, this process is ultimately responsible for the infinite replicative potential of malignant cells and is likely found in residual cell populations that evade conventional therapy. Two intrinsically opposing hypotheses have emerged to explain how self-renewal occurs in cancer. The cancer stem cell hypothesis states that self-renewal is confined to a discrete subpopulation of malignant cells, whereas the stochastic model suggests that all tumor cells have the potential to self-renew. Presently, the gold standard for measuring cancer self-renewal is limiting dilution cell transplantation into immune-matched or immune-deficient animals. From these experiments, tumor-initiating frequency can be calculated based on the number of animals that engraft disease following transplantation of various doses of tumor cells. Here, we describe how self-renewal assays are performed, summarize the current expe...
Remember-Know and Source Memory Instructions Can Qualitatively Change Old-New Recognition Accuracy: The Modality-Match Effect in Recognition Memory.

Remember-Know (RK) and source memory tasks were designed to elucidate processes underlying memory retrieval. As part of more complex judgments, both tests produce a measure of old-new recognition, which is typically treated as equivalent to that derived from a standard recognition task. The present study demonstrates, however, that recognition accuracy can be qualitatively changed by a RK or source-retrieval orientation. Visual and auditory presentations of words were varied at encoding and at test. The memory test was either a standard (old-new) recognition test, the RK test, or a source (modality) test. No effect of modality match was found on standard recognition. However, recognition accuracy in the RK and modality tests was greater when study and test modalities matched—a result obtained for both 1-step (e.g., R, K, or new?) and 2-step (e.g., old-new decision followed by RK decision for items judged old) versions of these tests. Thus, the RK and source (modality) memory procedures produced a measure of old-new recognition that was qualitatively different than standard recognition, having a greater sensitivity to perceptual information.
Novel instrumentation for multifield time-lapse cinemicrography

The most significant feature of the system that is described is its ability to image essentially simultaneously the growth of up to 99 single cells into macroscopic colonies, each in its own microscope field. Operationally, fields are first defined and programmed by a trained observer. All subsequent steps are automatic and under computer control. Salient features of the hardware are stepper motor-controlled movement of the stage and fine adjustment of an inverted microscope, a high-quality 16-mm cine camera with light meter and controls, and a miniature incubator in which cells may be grown under defined conditions directly on the microscope stage. This system, termed MUTLAS, necessitates reordering of the primary images by rephotographing them on fresh film. Software developed for the analysis of cell and colony growth requires frame-by-frame examination of the secondary film and the use of a mouse-driven cursor to trace microscopically visible (4X objective magnification) events.
On volatile element trends in gas-rich meteorites

Ten volatile elements (and non-volatile Co) in co-existing light and dark portions of 5 gas-rich chondrites were studied. Patterns of distinct but non-uniform enrichment by dark admixing material are revealed. The dark admixing material is enriched in Cs; Bi and Tl covary in it. It is compositionally unique from known types of primitive materials and is apparently not derived by secondary processes from such materials.
Epigenetic regulation and the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is incompletely understood. Studies in both lupus animal models and human disease indicate a clear role for epigenetic defects, particularly DNA methylation, in the pathogenesis of lupus. T-cell DNA from active lupus patients is hypomethylated, which results in overexpression of methylation-regulated genes, T-cell autoreactivity, and autoimmunity in vivo. Inducing an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling defect in T cells using a transgenic mouse model resulted in reduced DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expression, overexpression of methylation-sensitive genes, and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody production. ERK signaling is known to be defective in lupus T cells, and this defect is now explained by impaired T-cell protein kinase C (PKC) delta activation. Herein, we discuss how defective epigenetic regulation is involved in the pathogenesis of lupus, which includes both DNA methylation and histone modification changes.
Doing more with less: Implementing direct amplification with the PowerPlex® 18D System

Abstract Time and labor savings continue to be key goals for database and paternity labs. Increasing sample numbers and tightening government budgets necessitate that database laboratories seek process improvements. Similarly, efficiency gains are key for commercial paternity testing organizations to remain competitive. Recently, the STR-typing community has begun to adopt the concept of "direct amplification" from unpurified samples on FTA ® cards. Significant time and labor savings can be achieved by eliminating DNA purification and amplifying samples directly from buccal or blood samples on FTA ® cards. Another time-consuming process is the PCR itself—often three hours or more. The duration of this step often dictates daily workflow for laboratories, and when combined with DNA purification and capillary electrophoresis, the process often requires more than one day. Although thermal cycling is a hands-off step, decreasing sample time on an instrument with rapid amplification allows samples to be processed in a single day. The PowerPlex ® 18D System allows direct amplification and reduced thermal cycling time to provide a simpler and faster genotyping system for database and paternity laboratories. Additionally, the 18 loci amplified represent all markers commonly typed in CODIS laboratories. A validation of the PowerPlex ® 18D System was completed according to SWGDAM guidelines [1] to demonstrate effectiveness and performance of the assay. This testing included sensitivity, concordance, variation of thermal cycling parameters, variation of reaction component concentrations, and tolerance to contaminating substances. The results support that the PowerPlex ® 18D System is a robust and reliable identification assay fit for human identification purposes and the kit has subsequently been approved for use by NDIS CODIS-participating laboratories.
DISTRIBUTION OF RIVER SHRIMP IN THE GUADALUPE AND SAN MARCOS RIVERS OF CENTRAL TEXAS, U.S.A. (DECAPODA, CARIDEA)

[Quatre especes de crevettes d'eau douce existent dans la riviere Guadalupe, Texas, U.S.A. Macrobrachium carcinus a ete recueilli sur tout le cours de cette riviere, alors que M. acanthurus, M. ohione et M. olfersii n'ont ete trouves qu'en aval du premier barrage. Il ne semble pas que M. carcinus puisse se reproduire avec succes dans la partie superieure du reseau hydrographique de ce fleuve, et les barrages sur le cours principal semblent restreindre la remontee de la plupart des crevettes., Quatre especes de crevettes d'eau douce existent dans la riviere Guadalupe, Texas, U.S.A. Macrobrachium carcinus a ete recueilli sur tout le cours de cette riviere, alors que M. acanthurus, M. ohione et M. olfersii n'ont ete trouves qu'en aval du premier barrage. Il ne semble pas que M. carcinus puisse se reproduire avec succes dans la partie superieure du reseau hydrographique de ce fleuve, et les barrages sur le cours principal semblent restreindre la remontee de la plupart des crevettes.]
Likelihood of additional work-up among women undergoing routine screening mammography: the impact of age, breast density, and hormone therapy use.

Abstract Background. Mammography screening can involve subsequent work-up to determine a final screening outcome. Understanding the likelihood of different events that follow initial screening is important if women and their health care providers are to be accurately informed about the screening process. Methods. We conducted an analysis of additional work-up following screening mammography to characterize use of supplemental imaging and recommendations for biopsy and/or surgical consultation and the factors associated with their use. We included all events following screening mammography performed between 1/1/1998 and 12/31/1999 on a population-based sample of 37,632 New Hampshire women. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for supplemental imaging and recommended biopsy and/or surgical consultation as function of age, menopausal status and HRT use, breast density, and family history of breast cancer. Results. Ninety-one percent of women (n = 34,445) did not require supplemental imaging. Among those who did (n = 3187), 84% had additional views, 9% ultrasound, and 7% received both. Supplemental imaging was affected by age (OR 0.84; 95% CI = 0.76–0.94 for 50–59; OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.58–0.75 for ≥60 versus Conclusions. Breast density and HRT use are both independent predictors of use of supplemental imaging in women. With advancing age (age 60 and older), women were less likely to require follow-up imaging but more likely to receive a recommendation for biopsy and/or surgical consultation. This information should be used to inform women about the likelihood of services received as part of the screening work-up.
Effect of Beef Product Physical Structure on Salmonella Thermal Inactivation

: Numerous studies have assessed thermal inactivation of Salmonella in beef. However, the impact of muscle structure has been considered only recently, with several studies reporting enhanced thermal resistance in whole-muscle as compared to ground meat. The functional relationship between meat product physical structure and Salmonella thermal resistance has not been reported; therefore, it is not known whether thermal resistance is affected by the degree of grinding (that is, size of resulting particles). The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between thermal resistance of Salmonella and degree of grinding (whole-muscle, coarsely ground, finely ground, and beef puree). Each of the 4 product types was irradiated to sterility and inoculated with a marinade containing an 8-serovar Salmonella cocktail to achieve approximately 107.8 CFU/g. Samples (5 g each) were packed into sterile brass tubes, which were sealed, held at 60 °C in a water bath, and removed at 30 s intervals. Samples were then serially diluted and plated on Petrifilm™ aerobic count plates to enumerate surviving salmonellae. All samples had the same composition, thermal history, and initial Salmonella counts; therefore, differences in thermal resistance were due entirely to the degree of grinding. Overall, thermal resistance of Salmonella was highest (P < 0.0001) in whole-muscle (D = 2.7 min), but there were no differences among the 3 ground products (Dmean= 1.2 min). Therefore, it would be prudent for Salmonella thermal inactivation models to consider whether a product is whole-muscle or ground, but not necessarily the degree of grinding. Practical Application: The results of this study suggest that thermal process validations for ready-to-eat meat products should also consider the structure of the product (which in this study was changed by the physical act of grinding). Salmonella was more resistant to heat in whole-muscle beef than in ground products; however, the degree of grinding did not affect the resistance.
Conversion of Parameters Among Variants of Scatchard’s Neutral-Electrolyte Model for Electrolyte Mixtures that Have Different Numbers of Mixing Terms

Various model equations are available for representing the excess Gibbs energy properties (osmotic and activity coefficients) of aqueous and other liquid mixed-electrolyte solutions. Scatchard’s neutral-electrolyte model is among the simplest of these equations for ternary systems and contains terms that represent both symmetrical and asymmetrical deviations from ideal mixing behavior when two single-electrolyte solutions are mixed in different proportions at constant ionic strengths. The usual form of this model allows from zero to six mixing parameters. In this report we present an analytical method for transforming the mixing parameters of neutral-electrolyte-type models with larger numbers of mixing parameters directly to those of models with fewer mixing parameters, without recourse to the source data used for evaluation of the original model parameters. The equations for this parameter conversion are based on an extension to ternary systems of the methodology of Rard and Wijesinghe (J. Chem. Thermodyn. 35:439–473, 2003) and Wijesinghe and Rard (J. Chem. Thermodyn. 37:1196–1218, 2005) that was applied by them to binary systems. It was found that the use of this approach with a constant ionic-strength cutoff of I≤6.2 mol⋅kg−1 (the NaCl solubility limit) yielded parameters for the NaCl+SrCl2+H2O and NaCl+MgCl2+H2O systems that predicted osmotic coefficients φ in excellent agreement with those calculated using the same sets of parameters whose values were evaluated directly from the source data by least-squares, with root-mean-square differences of RMSE(φ)=0.00006 to 0.00062 for the first system and RMSE(φ)=0.00014 to 0.00042 for the second. If, however, the directly evaluated parameters were based on experimental data where the ionic strength cutoff varied with the ionic-strength fraction, i.e., because they were constrained by isopiestic ionic strengths (MgCl2+MgSO4+H2O) or solubility/oversaturation ionic strengths (NaCl+SrCl2+H2O and NaCl+MgCl2+H2O), then parameters converted by this approach assuming a constant ionic-strength cutoff yield RMSE(φ) differences about an order of magnitude larger than the previous case. This indicates that for an accurate conversion of model parameters when the source model is constrained with variable ionic strength cutoffs, an extension of the parameter conversion method described herein will be required. However, when the source model parameters are evaluated at a constant ionic strength cuttoff, such as when source isopiestic data are restricted to ionic strengths at or below the solubility limit of the less soluble component, or are Emf measurements that are commonly made at constant ionic strengths, then our method yields accurate converted models.
Effects of protease inhibitors on sperm-related events in sea urchin fertilization.

Abstract Evidence for sperm-borne proteolytic enzymes exposed during the acrosome reaction in sea urchin sperm has been accumulating. To investigate the possible role(s) such enzymes have in fertilization, we studied the effects of several protease inhibitors on sperm-related events. Soybean trypsin inhibitor, Nα-p-tosyl- l -lysine, chloromethyl ketone, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and chymostatin neither reduced the number of acrosome reactions nor interfered with gamete binding. p-Nitrophenyl-p′-guanidinobenzoate caused sperm to fuse into irregular clumps, rendering them unable to fertilize eggs. However, l -1-tosylamide-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), an inhibitor of chymotrypsin, prevented the acrosome reaction in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, S. droebachiensis, and Lytechinus pictus. The effects of TPCK on sperm in subsequent steps of fertilization were also investigated. First, gamete binding assays were performed on fixed eggs. This precluded any effects TPCK might have had on egg-derived secretions (e.g., proteases). Binding of prereacted sperm occurred with both fixed and living eggs. However, fertilization of living eggs in the presence of TPCK was greatly reduced, even though sperm had been prereacted with egg jelly. Vitelline coats were then removed from eggs by trypsin treatment. Eggs in TPCK fertilized and developed normally after the above treatment. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis of a sperm protease participating in the acrosome reaction and the penetration of the egg vitelline coat in the sea urchin.
Predicting anisotropic electrical conductivities of a magnetic insulator on the basis of its magnetic properties

Our analysis of the spin exchange interactions and the anisotropic electrical conductivities of the orthosilicate, fayalite Fe2SiO4 indicates that the anisotropic electrical conductivities of a mag...
Contributions of the home literacy environment to preschool‐aged children’s emerging literacy and language skills

This paper reports on a study that examined both the concurrent and logitudinal connections between multiple components of the home environment and indicators of preschool‐aged children’s literacy and language development. Data were collected from 85 parents and their children at two different times. Results of structural path models indicated that (a) parental literacy habits were positively associated with parental reading beliefs, (b) parental reading beliefs were positively associated with parent–child literacy and language activities in the home, and (c) parent–child literacy and language activities were positively associated with children’s print knowledge and reading interest. Parental demographic characteristics were associated with children’s expressive and receptive language skills. The results highlight how different components of the home literacy environment are associated with different components of preschool‐aged children’s literacy and language abilities, findings that become more importa...
Duplication of chromosome region 4q28.3-qter in monozygotic twins with discordant phenotypes.

We describe monozygotic twins with partially discordant phenotypes who were found to have a duplication of chromosome region 4q28.3-qter. The duplicated region of chromosome 4 resulted from an unbalanced segregation of a balanced maternal (4;22)(q28.3;p13) translocation. Duplication of the long arm of chromosome 4 has been described in >60 patients; however, it usually results from the unbalanced segregation of a parental balanced translocation and has an associated monosomy. Twenty cases of dup 4q without an associated monosomy have been reported, and this is the only case of dup 4q28.3-qter. All cases of dup 4q are reviewed, and phenotypic aspects are analyzed. Issues of monozygotic twinning and other birth defects also are addressed. Am. J. Med. Genet. 94:125–140, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A single nephron model of acute tubular injury: role of tubuloglomerular feedback.

A single nephron model of acute tubular injury: Role of tubuloglomerular feedback. A single nephron model of nephrotoxic tubular injury was established to examine the mechanism whereby acute tubular damage contributes to reductions in nephron filtration rate (SNGFR). Acute microperfusion of 0.5ng of uranyl nitrate (UN) into the early proximal tubule produced a significant reduction (16 to 30%) in SNGFR measured in both distal and proximal tubules of the same nephron and a decrease in absolute proximal reabsorption. Microperfused inulin was retained in the tubule suggesting this finding reflected a true reduction in SNGFR. Concurrent infusion of high dose furosemide (2 × 10 -4 M) and bumetanide (2 × 10 -5 M), but not low dose furosemide (2 × 10 -5 M), prevented the UN induced reduction in SNGFR. High dose furosemide begun after UN perfusion also prevented reduction in SNGFR. Continuous direct measurement of glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure revealed no change. Distal intratubular Na + and CI - concentration increased significantly after UN perfusion. Activation of tubuloglomerular feedback mechanisms best explains the reduction in glomerular ultrafiltration that is characteristic of nephrotoxic forms of tubular injury.