cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
National Analysis of the Disciplinary Exclusion of Black Students with and without Disabilities

The objective of this study was to determine the current national results regarding school discipline for Black students. There are decades of data demonstrating the discriminatory discipline faced by Black children and adolescents in America’s K-12 public education system. Yet, there is limited research focusing exclusively on Black students with disabilities and no publically available research documenting the analysis of Black students with and without disabilities at the national level. The method was a quantitative analysis using rates and weighted risk ratios. The results indicated that ∼10% of Black students received a suspension, compared with 2.5% for all other racial/ethnic groups. For students with disabilities, ∼23% of Black students received a suspension, compared with ∼9% for Hispanic and White students with disabilities, almost 6% for Asian students with disabilities, and 21% for Native American students with disabilities. Risk ratio results vary by comparison group. Black students with and without disabilities continue to be grossly overrepresented in exclusionary discipline compared to their proportion within the population. Implications for research, policy, and practice are provided.
Intrazonal or interzonal? Improving intrazonal travel forecast in a four-step travel demand model

Conventional four-step travel demand models, used by most metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), state departments of transportation, and local planning agencies, are the basis for long-range transportation planning in the United States. Trip distribution—whether the trip is intrazonal (internal) or interzonal (external)—is one of the essential steps in travel demand forecasting. However, the current intrazonal forecasts based on a gravity model involve flawed assumptions, primarily due to a lack of considerations on differences in zone size, land use, and street network patterns. In this study, we first survey 25 MPOs about how they model intrazonal travel and find the state of the practice to be dominated by the gravity model. Using travel data from 31 diverse regions in the U.S., we develop an approach to enhance the conventional model by including more built environment D variables and by using multilevel logistic regression. The models’ predictive capability is confirmed using k-fold cross-validation. The study results provide practical implications for state and local planning and transportation agencies with better accuracy and generalizability.
AntiOD: A Smart City Initiative to Fight the Opioid Crisis

In the United States the opioid epidemic is on the rise with over 70.000 deaths by overdose in the last 20 years. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is an effective antidote that can be administered to people who are suffering an overdose. Currently, the public relies on Quick Response Teams, which are overly saturated with requests. The country and counties are facing a drug-abuse problem of epidemic proportions, where it is imperative for disciplines like design to bring about new methods to save lives. The purpose of this paper is to describe AntiOD, a smart community-access naloxone program that provides tools, training, and awareness to empower bystanders to rescue victims of overdose. The project proposing a two-part solution: (1) empowering the public to take action through communication, training, and outreach; and (2) providing the public with access to the means. The goal is to help alleviate quick responses teams and empower the community to become first responders.
Empty Minds and Blank Pages: The Scholarly Writer at Work

When you’re doing early drafts on something, I think what you’re really doing is knocking at that door saying, Let me in, let me in, ‘til finally you get to something and the door opens (Charles Jo...
Collaborative interactions of heterogenous ribonucleoproteins contribute to transcriptional regulation of sterol metabolism in mice.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are a group of functionally versatile proteins that play critical roles in the biogenesis, cellular localization and transport of RNA. Here, we outline a role for hnRNPs in gene regulatory circuits controlling sterol homeostasis. Specifically, we find that tissue-selective loss of the conserved hnRNP RALY enriches for metabolic pathways. Liver-specific deletion of RALY alters hepatic lipid content and serum cholesterol level. In vivo interrogation of chromatin architecture and genome-wide RALY-binding pattern reveal insights into its cooperative interactions and mode of action in regulating cholesterogenesis. Interestingly, we find that RALY binds the promoter region of the master metabolic regulator Srebp2 and show that it directly interacts with coactivator Nuclear Transcription Factor Y (NFY) to influence cholesterogenic gene expression. Our work offers insights into mechanisms orchestrating selective promoter activation in metabolic control and a model by which hnRNPs can impact health and disease states. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) play critical roles in the biogenesis, localization and transport of RNA. Here authors investigate a role for hnRNPs in sterol metabolism in mice and provide insights into their role in selective promoter activation.
Corneal Epithelial Thickness Measured Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography as a Diagnostic Parameter for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

Objective Using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), we investigated the epithelial thickness (ET) of the central cornea and limbal regions in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) as a diagnostic and staging parameter. Design Prospective, cross-sectional study. Methods The central corneal epithelium thickness (CET) and maximum limbal epithelium thickness (mLET) were measured in the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal limbus on AS-OCT images of the normal and eyes with LSCD. CET was obtained by 1-point (OCT-CET1) and 3-point measurement (OCT-CET3). The values of OCT-CET1 and OCT-CET3 were compared to the CET obtained with in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM-CET). Results Sixty-eight eyes of 50 patients with LSCD and 52 eyes of 34 normal subjects were included. The mean (±standard deviation) OCT-CET3 was 55.0 ± 3.0 μm (range, 50.6-62.0 μm) in the control group and 41.6 ± 10.8 μm (range, 0-56.3 μm) in the LSCD group (P Conclusions Both CET and mLET were thinner in patients with LSCD than in normal subjects. OCT-CET3 appears to be a reliable parameter to confirm LSCD when there is clinical suspicion.
The passivity of low-temperature carburized austenitic stainless steel AISI-316L in a simulated boiling-water-reactor environment

Abstract The passive film on low-temperature-carburized AISI-316L austenitic stainless steel was studied in an oxygenated, simulated boiling-water-reactor environment with normal water chemistry. The microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy, grazing-incidence X-ray diffractometry, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. For non-surface engineered AISI-316L, three distinct layers were observed after exposure: an outer layer of larger nickel-oxide enriched particles with the spinel structure, an intermediate layer of small Cr-oxide-enriched hematite particles, and a compact inner layer of Cr-enriched oxide also having the spinel structure. Exposure of low-temperature-carburized AISI-316L, in contrast, resulted in only two distinct layers. These layers did not include a compact Cr-rich inner layer. Instead, the innermost layer consisted of an oxide with the spinel structure that was a mixture of Fe, Cr and Ni oxide. The outer layer on the low-temperature-carburized specimen consisted of large loosely stacked particles with the spinel structure of mixed composition. In addition to passive-film characterization, the corrosion rate was studied by monitoring mass loss. After 500 h of immersion, the mass changes measured were relatively low for all specimens indicating good adhesion and low oxidation rates.
Fleeing Coastal Erosion: Kivalina and Isle de Jean Charles

This chapter presents the experiences of two communities in the United States that are gradually being reduced in size and habitability by coastal erosion due to rising sea levels. An Inupiat community located on the Bering Strait, Kivalina, is one of Alaska’s most eroded coastal villages and the only one that has begun a physical move. Located in Southeastern Louisiana, residents of Isle de Jean Charles represent the first allocation of federal tax dollars to move an entire community struggling with the impacts of climate change. The divisions within the community the effort has exposed and the logistical and moral dilemmas it has presented provide a microcosm the massive problems the world could face in the coming decades as it confronts a new category of displaced people known as climigrants. While the chapter will address the reasons for the relocation and the health and economic effects of relocation on community residents, it will focus primarily on the social conflicts that have arisen in response to relocation efforts. It will also examine how the experiences of these two communities serve as a model for the experience of other indigenous coastal communities around the world.
Sex- and Region-Specific Differences in the Transcriptomes of Rat Microglia from the Brainstem and Cervical Spinal Cord

The neural control system underlying breathing is sexually dimorphic with males being more vulnerable to dysfunction. Microglia also display sex differences, and their role in the architecture of brainstem respiratory rhythm circuitry and modulation of cervical spinal cord respiratory plasticity is becoming better appreciated. To further understand the molecular underpinnings of these sex differences, we performed RNA sequencing of immunomagnetically isolated microglia from brainstem and cervical spinal cord of adult male and female rats. We used various bioinformatics tools (Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Reactome, STRING, MAGICTRICKS) to functionally categorize identified gene sets, as well as to pinpoint common transcriptional gene drivers that may be responsible for the observed transcriptomic differences. We found few sex differences in the microglial transcriptomes derived from the brainstem, but several hundred genes were differentially expressed by sex in cervical spinal microglia. Comparing brainstem and spinal microglia within and between sexes, we found that the major factor guiding transcriptomic differences was central nervous system (CNS) location rather than sex. We further identified key transcriptional drivers that may be responsible for the transcriptomic differences observed between sexes and CNS regions; enhancer of zeste homolog 2 emerged as the predominant driver of the differentially downregulated genes. We suggest that functional gene alterations identified in metabolism, transcription, and intercellular communication underlie critical microglial heterogeneity and sex differences in CNS regions that contribute to respiratory disorders categorized by dysfunction in neural control. These data will also serve as an important resource data base to advance our understanding of innate immune cell contributions to sex differences and the field of respiratory neural control. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The contributions of central nervous system (CNS) innate immune cells to sexually dimorphic differences in the neural circuitry controlling breathing are poorly understood. We identify key transcriptomic differences, and their transcriptional drivers, in microglia derived from the brainstem and the C3-C6 cervical spinal cord of healthy adult male and female rats. Gene alterations identified in metabolism, gene transcription, and intercellular communication likely underlie critical microglial heterogeneity and sex differences in these key CNS regions that contribute to the neural control of breathing.
Additive manufacturing of copper-tool steel dissimilar joining: Experimental characterization and thermal modeling

Abstract In high-pressure die casting applications, efficient cooling of the die/mold is critical to reduce cycle time. Tool steel such as H13 is widely adopted to make these components due to its excellent mechanical properties. However, the low thermal conductivity of tool steel largely impedes its cooling capability. Therefore, joining tool steel with copper to enhance the overall thermal conductivity is critical. In this study, pure copper was deposited on H13 substrates using a laser-aided additive manufacturing process. Depositing Cu on H13 directly and via interlayers of a nickel-based alloy Deloro 22 (D22) were employed. Both experimental characterization and computational analysis were conducted to study the properties of these structures. The results highlight the cracking failure in direct depositing copper on H13 while these cracks have been successfully eliminated when the D22 interlayers were introduced. Evidence of strong bonding at the Cu/D22 and D22/H13 interfaces was obtained. A sharp drop of hardness was observed over the Cu/H13 direct joint interface, while this descend was largely smoothed when D22 was inserted as interlayers. The directly joined Cu/H13 structure has a high longitudinal tensile residual stress (~385 MPa) at the Cu/H13 interface. By adding D22 interlayers, a reduced longitudinal tensile residual stress (~192 MPa) is obtained at the Cu/D22 interface. D22 interlayers have mitigated residual stress at the dissimilar joints.
Hot water drilling in the firn layer of Greenland's percolation zone

The intermixed thermal and structural framework of cold firn, water-saturated firn and ice layers in Greenland's percolation zone can be challenging to penetrate with core drills. Here, we present our experiences using a hot water drill for research on the firn layer of the percolation zone. We built and deployed a lightweight and easily transportable system for drilling a transect of ~15 cm diameter boreholes through the full firn column thickness, to depths exceeding 100 m. An instrumented drill stem provides a scientific measurement of the firn properties while drilling. The system was successful at gaining rapid access to the firn column with mixed wet and cold conditions, was easily transported to the site and across the glacier surface, and required a small field crew to operate. The boreholes are well suited for in situ investigations of firn processes in Greenland percolation zone.
Metacognition: It’s Thinking Time in Science

Proponents of inquiry-based science teaching laud its potential to develop science content knowledge and science and engineering practices in addition to skills such as reasoning and critical thinking. The teachers in the PD were teaching a middle school science curriculum that had all the hallmarks of the current reform in science education. However, all students were not learning in a manner consistent with the expectations of the curriculum. The teachers expressed concerns about students’ abilities to be metacognitive in the context of their science learning – displaying the habits of mind necessary to think about their own thinking and in the process, develop an awareness of their learning. In this chapter, the teachers have embraced the importance of metacognition in science learning. They questioned the extent to which their practices were effective and consciously explored strategies to facilitate the development of metacognitive skills. The teachers have approached the inclusion and development of metacognitive skills from three different strategic aspects. Collectively, they share images of their classrooms, the students’ responses, and the efforts to adjust their practices. Their stories provide possibilities that can be adapted or at least, will provide a framework for other middle school science teachers.
The impact of public education expenditure on human capital, growth, and poverty in Tanzania and Zambia: a general equilibrium approach

Abstract The impact of public education expenditure on human capital, the supply of different labor skills, and its macroeconomic and distributional consequences is appraised within a multisector CGE model. The model is applied to and calibrated for two Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs), Tanzania and Zambia. The simulation results suggest that education expenditure can raise economic growth. However, to maximize benefits from education expenditure, a sufficiently high level of physical investment is needed, as are measures that improve the match between the pattern of educational output and the structure of effective demand for labor. An important result of the simulation experiments is that a well-targeted pattern of education expenditure can be effective for poverty alleviation.
Decreased skeletal muscle density is an independent predictor of mortality in necrotizing pancreatitis- A single tertiary center experience in 507 patients.

Abstract Background and aims Necrotizing pancreatitis has a variable clinical course and it is essential to identify determinants associated with high risk of mortality and poor clinical outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between CT-assessed body composition parameters such as visceral fat area (VFA), skeletal muscle index (SMI) and skeletal muscle density (SMD) and inpatient mortality in NP patients. Secondary outcomes include organ failure on admission, persistent organ failure, length of stay (LOS), need for ICU admission, need for endoscopic, percutaneous or surgical interventions for NP and 30-day unplanned readmission. Methods All NP patients managed at a single center between 2009 and 2019 with a CT scan within a week of admission were included. SMI, SMD and VFA was calculated from CT imaging at the third lumbar vertebra and multivariable analysis was performed after correcting for age, sex, BMI, ASA classification, multi- organ failure on admission to determine independent association with inpatient mortality and secondary outcomes. Results 507 NP patients [males = 349 (68.8%), median age 53 (IQR 37–65) years were included in this study. The lowest tertile SMD was independently associated with inpatient mortality on multivariable analysis: adjusted OR 3.36 (1.57–7.2), P = 0.002. The lowest SMI tertile and highest VFA tertile were not independently associated with mortality. Lowest tertile SMD was significantly associated with persistent organ failure (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.34–3.01, p = 0.001), need for percutaneous drainage (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.21–2.8, p = 0.004), need for ICU admission (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.59–3.38, p Conclusion Low SMD was independently associated with in-hospital mortality in NP patients and can be usefully incorporated in CT based predictive scoring models as a prognostic marker.
Targeting WEE1 Inhibits Growth of Breast Cancer Cells That Are Resistant to Endocrine Therapy and CDK4/6 Inhibitors

Despite the success of antiestrogens in extending overall survival of patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast tumors, resistance to these therapies is prevalent. ER+ tumors that progress on antiestrogens are treated with antiestrogens and CDK4/6 inhibitors. However, 20% of these tumors never respond to CDK4/6 inhibitors due to intrinsic resistance. Here, we used endocrine sensitive ER+ MCF7 and T47D breast cancer cells to generate long-term estrogen deprived (LTED) endocrine resistant cells that are intrinsically resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitors. Since treatment with antiestrogens arrests cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, we hypothesized that a defective G1 checkpoint allows resistant cells to escape this arrest but increases their dependency on G2 checkpoint for DNA repair and growth, and hence, targeting the G2 checkpoint will induce cell death. Indeed, inhibition of WEE1, a crucial G2 checkpoint regulator, with AZD1775 (Adavosertib), significantly decreased cell proliferation and increased G2/M arrest, apoptosis and gamma-H2AX levels (a marker for DNA double stranded breaks) in resistant cells compared with sensitive cells. Thus, targeting WEE1 is a promising anti-cancer therapeutic strategy in standard therapy resistant ER+ breast cancer.
Saving Energy with Delayed Information in Connected Vehicle Systems

In this paper, we design an energy-optimal longitudinal controller for connected automated trucks driving in mixed traffic with lean penetration of connected vehicles. The controller utilizes information received via vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity from vehicles traveling ahead of the truck, and additional delays are introduced into the control law to improve energy efficiency. We evaluate the robustness of the energy-optimal control parameters and calculate the amount of energy benefits. Simulation results show 18% improvement of energy efficiency compared to a non-connected design, and 3% improvement compared to the connected design without additional delay.
Rational and Irrational Bubbles

The subject of this conference is an esoteric issue in rational expectations, general equilibrium modeling. The issue arises because it is not possible to show that models of this kind converge to a unique, stationary equilibrium or dynamic equilibrium path. There are potentially multiple equilibria, and among them are some in which prices of assets or output do not converge to finite values. Prices can explode. A technical reason why a model may have bubble solutions is that there may not be an infinitely lived rational decision-maker who breaks the bubble.
An expert system prototype for aiding in the development of software functional requirements for NASA Goddard's command management system: A case study and lessons learned

At NASA Goddard, the role of the command management system (CMS) is to transform general requests for spacecraft opeerations into detailed operational plans to be uplinked to the spacecraft. The CMS is part of the NASA Data System which entails the downlink of science and engineering data from NASA near-earth satellites to the user, and the uplink of command and control data to the spacecraft. Presently, it takes one to three years, with meetings once or twice a week, to determine functional requirements for CMS software design. As an alternative approach to the present technique of developing CMS software functional requirements, an expert system prototype was developed to aid in this function. Specifically, the knowledge base was formulated through interactions with domain experts, and was then linked to an existing expert system application generator called 'Knowledge Engineering System (Version 1.3).' Knowledge base development focused on four major steps: (1) develop the problem-oriented attribute hierachy; (2) determine the knowledge management approach; (3) encode the knowledge base; and (4) validate, test, certify, and evaluate the knowledge base and the expert system prototype as a whole. Backcasting was accomplished for validating and testing the expert system prototype. Knowledge refinement, evaluation, and implementation procedures of the expert system prototype were then transacted.
Network-Conscious Compressed Images over Wireless Networks

We apply the concept of network-consciousness to image compression, an approach that does not simply optimize compression, but which optimizes overall performance when compressed images are transmitted over a lossy packet-switched network such as the Internet. Using an Application Level Framing philosophy, an image is compressed into path MTU-size Application Data Units (ADUs) at the application layer. Each ADU carries its semantics, that is, it contains enough information to be processed independently of all other ADUs. Therefore each ADU can be delivered to the receiving application out-of-order, thereby enabling faster progressive display of images. We explain why this approach is useful in general and specifically for wireless/heterogeneous environments.
chapter 18 – MECHANICAL WAVES

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of mechanical waves. Mechanical waves are waves—such as sound waves and water waves—that involve the displacement of ordinary matter. The chapter explains transverse waves that are conceptually simple. It also describes the wave equation that governs the propagation of mechanical waves. In the chapter, the origin of the wave equation is traced to Newton's second law and the empirical equations, describing the elastic properties of the medium. The chapter describes several different kinds of mechanical waves to show how their speeds are related to the elastic and inertial properties of the medium. The chapter introduces the concept of intensity as a measure of the rate at which the wave transports energy. It discusses standing waves to illustrate how material boundaries give rise to boundary conditions that must be satisfied by the solutions of the wave equation.
Hexachlorophene-induced myelin lesions in the amphibian central nervous system

Abstract Myelin membranes in the optic nerves and spinal cord of Xenopus laevis tadpoles were studied with the freeze-fracture technique during the pathogenesis of edematous lesions induced by hexachlorophene (HCP) intoxication. Freeze-fracture replicas of myelin exposed to HCP for as long as 12 days revealed that even chronic intoxication did not significantly alter particle strands associated with zonulae occludentes between tongue processes and their adjacent layers of myelin. Furthermore, experiments using electron-dense tracers demonstrated that the permeability characteristics of these junctions were unchanged. Following subcutaneous perineural injection of lanthanum or horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the tracers easily penetrated the optic nerve and were uniformly distributed throughout its parenchyma. While only limited amounts of lanthanum could penetrate myelin and enter the vacuoles, no HRP was found within the large myelin vacuoles after either brief or long-term exposure to HCP. In contrast to the tight junctions, some modifications were observed in the distribution of other intramembranous particles associated with myelin lamellae adjacent to swollen regions of the sheath. These alterations primarily involved formation of multifocal, particle-free elevations which corresponded to areas in which the fused inner glial leaflets, forming the major dense line, had separated. Such particle-deficient areas were absent in myelin of control as well as normal sheaths of HCP-intoxicated animals. Thus, these findings demonstrated that the structural and physiological characteristics of a tight junctional component of myelin were not affected by HCP. Sparing of these junctions may account for the relatively low incidence of demyelination and reversible nature of HCP lesions. The development of particle-deficient blisters on glial leaflets suggests, however, that HCP may be capable of modifying other aspects of the chemical organization of myelin, thereby producing local alterations in the compact arrangement of myelin lamellae.
Comparison of the Virion Polymerase of Reovirus with the Enzyme Purified from Reovirus-Infected Cells

Abstract Reovirus has in its protein coat an enzyme which catalyzes the net synthesis of the three size classes of virus-specific, single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA). For synthesis of 24, 19, and 14S single-stranded RNA, Mn++ was the preferred divalent cation, and ammonium sulfate at an optimal concentration of 4.2% of saturation was an absolute requirement. During synthesis, the parental double-stranded RNA was conserved in the viral core and the newly synthesized completed RNA chains were released as free RNA. The viral cores synthesizing RNA had properties consistent with the presence of nascent RNA on their outer surface. The enzyme-template complex from the infected cells described in an earlier paper was comprised of viral cores already active in the in vivo synthesis of single-stranded RNA. This pool of viral cores was newly made during infection, and exponential increase in the number of particles in this pool, as detected by the increase in enzymatic activity, occurred 2 hr earlier than that in mature virus.
Forced Sahel rainfall trends in the CMIP5 archive

[1] The simulations of the fifth Coupled Models Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) strengthen previous assessments of a substantial role of anthropogenic emissions in driving precipitation changes in the Sahel, the semiarid region at the southern edge of the Sahara. Historical simulations can capture the magnitude of the centennial Sahel drying over the span of the 20th century and confirm that anthropogenic forcings have contributed substantially to it. Yet, the models do not reproduce the amplitude of observed oscillations at multidecadal timescales, suggesting that either oscillations in the forcing or the strength of natural variability are underestimated. Projections for Sahel rainfall are less robust than the 20th century hindcast and outlier projections persist, but overall the CMIP5 models confirm the CMIP3 results in many details and reaffirm the prediction of a rainy season that is more feeble at its start, especially in West Africa, and more abundant at its core across the entire Sahel. Out of 20 models, four buck this consensus. Idealized simulations from a subset of the CMIP5 ensemble—simulations designed to separate the fast land-atmosphere response to increased greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the slow response mediated through changes in sea surface temperature (SST)—confirm that the direct effect of CO2 is to enhance the monsoon, while warmer SST induce drying over the Sahel. At the same time, these simulations suggest that the seasonal evolution of the rainfall trends in the scenario simulations, spring drying and fall wetting, is an inherently coupled response, not captured by the linear superposition of the fast and slow response to CO2.
Renal excretory responses produced by the delta opioid agonist, BW373U86, in conscious rats.

Studies were performed in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats to characterize the changes in renal excretory function produced by activation of delta opioid systems. The intravenous infusion of 50 μg/kg/min, BW373U86 (BW), a nonpeptide delta opioid receptor agonist, produced a significant increase in urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion. The infusion of BW at a dose of 30 μg/kg/min produced diuresis without affecting urinary sodium excretion. In contrast, BW did not alter either renal excretory parameter at a dose of 10 μg/kg/min. The renal responses produced by BW occurred without changes in heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure. The diuretic and natriuretic responses produced by the i.v. infusion of BW (50 μg/kg/min) were prevented by pretreatment of animals with the selective delta opioid receptor antagonist, naltrindole (1 mg/kg, i.v.). When administered alone, naltrindole (1 mg/kg, i.v.) failed to change any systemic cardiovascular or renal excretory parameter. In other groups of animals, the peripheral administration of the delta opioid receptor agonist, SNC80, also evoked a profound diuretic and natriuretic response (naltrindole sensitive) similar to that produced by BW. In contrast to these findings, the diuretic and natriuretic response produced by BW infusion (30 or 50 μg/kg/min, i.v.) was abolished in rats having undergone chronic bilateral renal denervation. Together, these results demonstrate that the peripheral administration of BW373U86 or SNC80 produce marked diuretic and natriuretic responses in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats via a delta opioid receptor pathway and that intact renal nerves are required for mediating these responses. Although endogenous delta opioid systems do not appear to exert a tonic influence under basal conditions, these findings suggest that delta opioid pathways may evoke significant changes in renal excretory function under conditions in which these systems are activated.
Opening pathways of the DNA clamps proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Rad9-Rad1-Hus1

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen and the checkpoint clamp Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 topologically encircle DNA and act as mobile platforms in the recruitment of proteins involved in DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation. To fulfill these vital cellular functions, both clamps need to be opened and loaded onto DNA by a clamp loader complex—a process, which involves disruption of the DNA clamp’s subunit interfaces. Herein, we compare the relative stabilities of the interfaces using the molecular mechanics Poisson−Boltzmann solvent accessible surface method. We identify the Rad9-Rad1 interface as the weakest and, therefore, most likely to open during clamp loading. We also delineate the dominant interface disruption pathways under external forces in multiple-trajectory steered molecular dynamics runs. We show that, similar to the case of protein folding, clamp opening may not proceed through a single interface breakdown mechanism. Instead, we identify an ensemble of opening pathways, some more prevalent than others, characterized by specific groups of contacts that differentially stabilize the regions of the interface and determine the spatial and temporal patterns of breakdown. In Rad9-Rad1-Hus1, the Rad9-Rad1 and Rad9-Hus1 interfaces share the same dominant unzipping pathway, whereas the Hus1-Rad1 interface is disrupted concertedly with no preferred directionality.
Present and future implementation of high-speed networks at 4200 m: the Mauna Kea Observatories communications network

The University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy is developing a high-bandwidth data communications system that will connect the telescope facilities of the Mauna Kea Observatories with base support facilities at lower elevation and with other institutions worldwide. A key component of this project is an extensive fiber-optic cable plant that links the observatories at the Mauna Kea summit with each other and with a mid-level support facility. The first application of the fiber-optic system, a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) token ring with a circumference of over 32 km and seven nodes, is in operation. Plans are underway to install an OC-12 or OC-24 Sonet ring to improve the efficiency of fiber use. We describe the needs and applications of the multinational Mauna Kea Observatories, the current network configuration, impending network development, and future networking plans to accommodate additional users and applications. We summarize our experiences in dealing with FDDI token rings over single-mode fibers.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Impression Materials and Techniques Used for Cast Restorations in Eight States

A total of 3,737 dentists were surveyed to disclose preferences for specific impression material. Data on use of stock or full-arch trays and pouring times were also collected and compared.
A New Optical Laser Pump

In this paper a new efficient laser pump consisting of a tube and two axicons is discussed. The pumping system is simple in fabricating and alignment. Its efficiency is first estimated using geometrical optics and it seems to compare favorably with the well-known elliptical pump. Then experimental data were given which give qualitative agreement with the prediction.
When will Low-Contrast Features be Visible in a STEM X-Ray Spectrum Image?

When will a small or low-contrast feature, such as an embedded second-phase particle, be visible in a scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) X-ray map? This work illustrates a computationally inexpensive method to simulate X-ray maps and spectrum images (SIs), based upon the equations of X-ray generation and detection. To particularize the general procedure, an example of nanostructured ferritic alloy (NFA) containing nm-sized Y2Ti2O7 embedded precipitates in ferritic stainless steel matrix is chosen. The proposed model produces physically appearing simulated SI data sets, which can either be reduced to X-ray dot maps or analyzed via multivariate statistical analysis. Comparison to NFA X-ray maps acquired using three different STEM instruments match the generated simulations quite well, despite the large number of simplifying assumptions used. A figure of merit of electron dose multiplied by X-ray collection solid angle is proposed to compare feature detectability from one data set (simulated or experimental) to another. The proposed method can scope experiments that are feasible under specific analysis conditions on a given microscope. As a result, future applications, such as spallation proton–neutron irradiations, core-shell nanoparticles, or dopants in polycrystalline photovoltaic solar cells, are proposed.
Ideal Shear Strengths of fcc Aluminum and Copper

The ideal shear strength is the minimum stress needed to plastically deform an infinite dislocation-free crystal and is an upper bound to the strength of a real crystal. We calculate the ideal shear strengths of Al and Cu at zero temperature using pseudopotential density functional theory within the local density approximation. These calculations allow for structural relaxation of all five strain components other than the imposed shear strain and result in strengths on ${111}$ planes of 1.85 and 2.65 GPa for Al and Cu, respectively ( $8%$-- $9%$ of the shear moduli). In both Al and Cu, the structural relaxations reduce the ideal shear strengths by $35%$ to $45%$, but the directions of relaxation strain in each are qualitatively different.
The identification and localization of 33 pea chloroplast transcription initiation sites.

We have used a novel approach to produce a comprehensive transcription initiation map of the pea chloroplast genome. Sites were mapped by measuring the ability of DNA probes to protect 5′ ends of transcripts that have been capped in vitro. Using this approach, at least 33 probes appear to contain one or more transcription start sites. A more precise location of some of these sites was obtained by hybrid selecting certain of these RNAs and determining their size both before and after RNase treatment. We have found at least one initiation site in front of every chloroplast gene cluster for which appropriate clones were available. In addition, we have found initiation sites within gene clusters previously shown to be co-transcribed. In one such case, we were able to locate a transcription start site for psbC within the coding sequence of psbD.
Silicone-suppressed 3D MRI of the breast using rotating delivery of off-resonance excitation.

Objective A new silicone-suppressed MR technique was developed, and its efficacy in identifying free silicone and differentiating it from other breast tissues was investigated. Materials and methods Silicone-suppressed MRI was performed using the RODEO (rotating delivery of excitation off-resonance) pulse sequence, which selectively eliminated signal from the narrow range of (CH3)4Si resonance. Ninety breasts in 61 patients were evaluated with both a fat-suppressed 3D MR sequence and a silicone-suppressed 3D MR sequence. Results Extracapsular free silicone and silicone injections demonstrated a unique appearance compared with normal breast tissue in all cases. Magnetic resonance identified free silicone in 26 breasts, 10 of which were confirmed pathologically or from a history of previous silicone injections. No free silicone was present on MR in 64 breasts; 8 of these were confirmed by biopsy or mastectomy as showing no evidence of free silicone. This technique was useful in evaluation of prosthesis integrity, free silicone, focal palpable or mammographic lesions, and the breast with silicone injections. Conclusion Silicone-suppressed RODEO MRI of the breast can accurately identify free and intracapsular silicone and can distinguish silicone from other tissues. This provides unique information about the breast in a number of specific applications.
Different effects of reoxygenation on the electrical activity of ventricular muscle

Abstract Response of a hypoxic and acidotic (HA, with exogenous lactate) ventricular muscle tissue to subsequent reoxygenation in the absence of substrate (0 mM dextrose) was different from that of a Purkinje fiber. The K + concentration in this solution (4.6 mM) was slightly higher than that in Tyrode solution (2.7 mM). The observed effects of reoxygenation of such a ventricular tissue were also variable. The ventricular muscle tissue exhibited the following different responses on reoxygenation after hypoxia and acidosis: (1) arrhythmias, without much depolarization of the membrane potential, (2) oscillatory afterpotentials (OAPs) during the late diastole, which lessened in amplitude as the time of reoxygenation increased, but no arrhythmias, or (3) a pronounced slowed phase of repolarization (hump), but no arrhythmias. These different effects of reoxygenation did not occur if concentration of K + in HA was very much higher than 4.6 mM. Common to these three different responses was the prolongation of the action potential durations during reoxygenation at the 50% and 90% levels of repolarization (APD 50 and APD 90 ) and a slight increase in the resting tension after 30–40 minutes of reoxygenation. Some of the observed responses of ventricular muscles were well mimicked by increasing extracellular calcium, but the different and variable effects of arrhythmias, OAPs, and prolonged APD require further analysis.
Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of a complicated cholesteatoma.

Abstract Background A cholesteatoma, also known as an epithelioma, is a mass of soft tissue that results from the accumulation of keratin protein debris enclosed by a layer of stratified squamous epithelium. Case Report A patient with cholesteatoma surrounding both internal carotid arteries presented with cerebral ischemic symptoms expressed as visual and ocular symptoms. Because of its location, mass effect, and potential stenosis of the internal carotids, this slow-growing tumor is potentially sight threatening. Asymmetric cupping of the optic nerves associated with symptoms such as dizziness, diplopia, or facial pain should be worked up carefully. Conclusion The primary care optometrist can play an important role in the diagnosis and continued management of a patient with a cholesteatoma, carefully monitoring early signs of progression or change. This case illustrates how an intracranial lesion, away from the eye, can impact a number of ocular and visual functions.
Manipulation of crystal shape by cycles of growth and dissolution

A method for the manipulation of crystal shape by using cycles of growth and dissolution is presented, representing a unique process-based solution to an important product quality concern. Using 3-D shape evolution models for faceted crystal growth and dissolution, results are reported for cycling both an illustrative crystal system, as well as a physical plate-like system. The results show that crystal shape can be manipulated by cycling when the relative growth and dissolution rates are anisotropic, which can be caused by differences in growth mechanism, asymmetry in super/undersaturation, and by the use of surface active additives. Since this method of crystal shape enhancement uses the existing liquid solution, it could be a valuable alternative to the traditional methods which often require changes in the chemical nature of the solution, for example, by changing solvent. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Hyperglycemia not hypoglycemia alters neuronal dendrites and impairs spatial memory

Background/Objective: We previously reported that chronic hyperglycemia, but not hypoglycemia, was associated with the reduction of neuronal size in the rat brain. We hypothesized that hyperglycemia-induced changes in neuronal structure would have negative consequences, such as impaired learning and memory. We therefore assessed the effects of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia on neuronal dendritic structure and cognitive functioning in young rats. Design/Methods: Experimental manipulations were conducted on male Wistar rats for 8 wk, beginning at 4 wk of age. At the completion of the treatments, all rats were trained in the radial-arm water maze, a spatial (hippocampus-dependent) learning and memory task. Three groups of rats were tested: an untreated control group, a streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) group, and an intermittent hypoglycemic group. Following behavioral training, the brains of all animals were examined with histologic and biochemical measurements. Results: Peripheral hyperglycemia was associated with significant increases in brain sorbitol (7.5 ± 1.6 vs. 5.84 ± 1.0 μM/mg) and inositol (9.6 ± 1.4 vs. 7.1 ± 1.1 μM/mg) and reduced taurine (0.65 ± 0.1 vs. 1.3 ± 0.1 mg/mg). Histologic evaluation revealed neurons with reduced dendritic branching and spine density in STZ-D rats but not in control or hypoglycemic animals. In addition, the STZ-D group exhibited impaired performance on the water maze memory test. Conclusions: Hyperglycemia, but not hypoglycemia, was associated with adverse effects on the brain polyol pathway activity, neuronal structural changes, and impaired long-term spatial memory. This finding suggests that the hyperglycemic component of diabetes mellitus has a greater adverse effect on brain functioning than does intermittent hypoglycemia.
Purely convective models for tubular reactors with non-Newtonian flow

Abstract A model relating non-Newtonian laminar flow reactor performance to a velocity profile index is developed. Any of four commonly used tracer displacement techniques can be used to obtain an empirical profile index if rheological properties are not accurately known. First order conversion can ordinarily be calculated using only a few terms of the analytical solution presented. The distribution of products resulting from a sequence of first order reactions can also be readily calculated using the model.
DNA Synthesis during Meiotic Prophase in Male Mice

DNA synthesis is thought to be confined to a specific segment of interphase (S) preceding cell division and to be completed prior to the onset of either mitosis or meiosis1. Chromosome pairing and crossing over between homologous chromosomes in meiosis are separate events, both of which involve the DNA moiety of the chromosomes. An explanation of these processes in terms of DNA synthesis has only recently been suggested2,3. Hotta et al.4–6 have demonstrated by biochemical techniques that approximately 0.3 per cent of the total DNA complement of the cell is synthesized in the zygonema-pachynema stages of meiotic prophase in lily microsporocytes. We have cytological evidence of a little DNA synthesis during early pachytene stage in the male mouse.