cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiobiological Inactivation of Epstein-Barr Virus

Abstract Lymphocyte transforming properties of B95-8 strain Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are very sensitive to inactivation by either UV or X irradiation. No dose of irradiation increases the transforming capacity of EBV. The X-ray dose needed for inactivation of EBV transformation (dose that results in 37% survival, 60,000 rads) is similar to the dose required for inactivation of plaque formation by herpes simplex virus type 1 (Fischer strain). Although herpes simplex virus is more sensitive than EBV to UV irradiation, this difference is most likely due to differences in the kinetics or mechanisms of repair of UV damage to the two viruses. The results lead to the hypothesis that a large part, or perhaps all, of the EBV genome is in some way needed to initiate transformation. The abilities of EBV to stimulate host cell DNA synthesis, to induce nuclear antigen, and to immortalize are inactivated in parallel. All clones of marmoset cells transformed by irradiated virus produce extracellular transforming virus. These findings suggest that the abilities of the virus to transform and to replicate complete progeny are inactivated together. The amounts of UV and X irradiation that inactivate transformation by B95-8 virus are less than the dose needed to inactivate early antigen induction by the nontransforming P3HR-1 strain of EBV. Based on radiobiological inactivation, 10 to 50% of the genome is needed for early antigen induction. Inactivation of early antigen induction is influenced by the cells in which the assay is performed. Inactivation proceeds more rapidly in EBV genome-free cells than in genome carrier Raji or in P3HR-1 converted EBV genome-free cells clone B1. These results indicate that the resident EBV genome participates in the early antigen induction process. Variation in radio-biological killing of B95-8 and P3HR-1 EBV is not attributable to variations in the repair capacities of the cells in which the viruses were assayed, since inactivation of HSV was the same in primary lymphocytes and in all lymphoid cell lines tested.
Metamorphosis of research on ion-coupled metabolite transport.

A defining moment in the history of active transport research came in August 1960, in a symposium at the Czeckoslovak Academy of Sciences, which became known among membrane biologists as the Prague Symposium (Kleinzeller and Kotyk, 1961). By that date, the enzymatic nature of sodium transport in animal cells had been demonstrated (Skou, 1957) and a generalized concept of transport-related, vectorial metabolism was being formulated (Mitchell, 1961). Specifically concerning uptake of organic metabolites, a pivotal observation had been made by Riklis and Quastel (1958): that active transport of sugars by intestinal villus membrane is dependent upon sodium ions in the luminal bathing solution. This finding was extended by Crane et al. (1961), who suggested in Prague that sugar and sodium ions might be simultaneously transported, and was further discussed by Mitchell. Subsequently, both Crane and Mitchell elaborated hypotheses of ion-coupled sugar transport: Na+–glucose in mammalian intestine (Crane, 1962) and H+–galactoside in Escherichia coli (Mitchell, 1962), which became incorporated into a comprehensive picture of proton-linked ‘chemiosmotic’ processes in bioenergetics. Despite an initial hard resistance to these hypotheses, particularly among established bioenergeticists, the two decades following the Prague Symposium saw major research efforts in active transport focus upon thermodynamic ‘proofs’ of coupling between the movements of ions and sundry organic metabolites, upon detailed kinetic modelling of ‘cotransport’ mechanisms and upon elementary chemical characterization of selected transporters. Like ion pumps, most ion–metabolite symports and some antiports were shown to transport electric charges, therefore being termed ‘rheogenic’ to denote their generation of transmembrane currents (Schultz, 1980), or ‘electrophoretic’ to denote the normal action of membrane voltage in driving metabolite transport. [The term ‘electrogenic’ has also been applied, but this is a misnomer, since the normal physiological action of these ion-coupled porters is membrane depolarization.] The ability of ion-coupled porters to concentrate (or exclude) specific metabolites depends, therefore, upon the transmembrane electrochemical potential difference for the coupled ion(s), Dmk, where k is usually Na+ or H+, or – as recently shown in certain insect tissues – K+ (Wieczorek et al. 1991). In animal cells, the total ion-motive force, Dmk/zkF=DC2Ek, is normally small, often positive to 2100 mV. Because 59 mV corresponds to a transmembrane
Inhibitory neuromuscular transmission to ileal longitudinal muscle predominates in neonatal guinea pigs

Background Inhibitory neurotransmission to the longitudinal muscle is more prominent in the neonatal than in the adult guinea pig ileum. Methods Inhibitory neuromuscular transmission was investigated using in vitro ileal longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) preparations made from neonatal (≤48 h postnatal) and adult (∼4 weeks postnatal) guinea pigs. Key Results Amperometric measurements of nicotine-induced nitric oxide (NO) release (measured as an oxidation current) from myenteric ganglia revealed larger currents in neonatal (379 ± 24 pA) vs adult (119 ± 39 pA, P < 0.05) tissues. Nicotine-induced oxidation currents were blocked by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, nitro-l-arginine (NLA, 100 μmol L−1). Nicotine-induced, NLA-sensitive oxidation currents could be detected in the tertiary plexus of neonatal but not adult tissues. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated stronger NOS immunoreactivity in neonatal compared with adult myenteric ganglia. Western blot studies revealed higher levels of NOS in neonatal compared with adult LMMP. Cell counts revealed that the total number of myenteric neurons in the small intestine was greater in adults than in neonatal guinea pigs, however, the ratio of NOS : Calbindin neurons was significantly higher in neonatal compared with adult tissues. Conclusions & Inferences Nitric oxide signaling to the longitudinal muscle is stronger in neonatal compared with adult guinea pig ileum. Nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons are diluted postnatally by cholinergic and other, as yet unidentified neuronal subtypes.
Effects of pH on Glucose Measurements With Handheld Glucose Meters and a Portable Glucose Analyzer for Point-of-Care Testing

Abstract Objectives.—To determine pH effects on glucose measurements obtained with the latest generation of glucose devices, to quantitate changes in glucose measurements obtained over a wide pH range, and to assess the potential clinical risks of pH effects with use of point-of-care glucose testing. Design.—Paired differences of glucose measurements between pH-altered and parallel control samples with target pH 7.40 were calculated. Setting.—A pH range of 6.94 to 7.84 was used to evaluate pH effects on glucose measurements in vitro with 6 handheld glucose meters and a portable glucose analyzer at both normal, 4.81 mmol/L (86.6 mg/dL), and high, 11.16 mmol/L (201 mg/dL), glucose levels. Main Outcome Measures.—Glucose measurements obtained from test samples and control samples were compared by calculating paired differences, which were plotted against pH to show pH effects on glucose meter measurements. Results.—At the normal glucose level, different pH levels did not interfere significantly with glucose m...
Sissela Bok on the analogy of deception and violence

Bok defines lying in the same way as Augustine and Kant. But she wants to oppose their position that one cannot lie to save an innocent life. This position was successfully and consistently opposed by Constant and Grotius who did so by redefining lying so that the untruth one tells to save an innocent life does not count as a lie since it does not violate a right. Bok refuses to use this way. She instead uses her analogy of deception and violence. But this analogy is not, as she believes it is, intuitively clear or a good a fortiori argument. Still, if one pays attention to the ordinary sense of the words Bok uses in her confused analogy, deception and lying, force and violence, one realizes that Bok's analogy has some persuasive power, not because violence and lying are right means to save a life, but because force and deception, or force or deception are. And to see why this is so requires that Constant and Grotius's way of opposing Kant, and their definition of lying, must be adopted. Bok's apparent success with her analogy of force and lying is due to the fact that it is a shadow of the more genuine success of the analogy of force and violence and deception and lying which requires Constant and Grotius's definition of deception and lying. Thus her way of opposing Augustine and Kant is weak in trying to do it in a new approach and demonstrates the advantages of Constant and Grotius's approach.
Suggestion for a new two-photon cross section

Abstract We suggest a new two-photon (TP) absorption cross section which is independent of the wavelength of the two laser beams. The different wavelengths may cause changes in the regular cross section by orders of magnitude in the same absorbing molecule. This effect is not due to the resonance term, but to the number of modes.
Teaching and Learning in Two Languages: Bilingualism & Schooling in the United States

This is the most comprehensive, up-to-date volume on the state of bilingual education in the United States and, in particular, on effective curriculum and instructional approaches. Eugene Garcia, renowned authority, depicts the vast scope and complexity of the problem of educating English language learners. He sets forth a conceptual framework to guide educational policy and practice that reflects democratic ideals and values.
Peripheral Protein Organization on Biomimetic Membranes: Protein-protein and Protein-lipid Interactions

Protein organization on the plasma membrane and their dynamics are essential for cellular function; however it is not clear how protein binding arranges the underlying lipids or how the membrane structure leads to functional protein organization. To answer these fundamental questions, we are using fluorescence imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to investigate the effects of annexin A5 binding to biomimetic membranes. Annexin A5, a peripheral intracellular protein that plays an anti-coagulation role, binds specifically to anionic (e.g., phosphatidylserine) membranes in the presence of calcium, with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 8 nM, as assessed by quartz crystal microbalance measurements. We find that annexin A5 exhibits clustering in addition to a more dispersed population when it binds to biomembranes, which is reflected in lateral diffusion coefficients of ∼10−10 cm2/s and ∼10−8 cm2/s, respectively. These two populations are also observed for the lateral diffusion of the headgroup-labeled Texas Red-phosphatidylethanolamine (TR-PE) when found under clustered annexin A5. We then investigated the effect of annexin binding on the lateral diffusion specific acyl chain-labeled phospholipid analogs, NBD-phosphatidylcholine (NBD-PC) and NBD-phosphatidylserine (NBD-PS). We find that the numbers of both NBD-labeled lipids are greater under annexin clusters, as compared to off-annexin clusters. However, only NBD-PS exhibits two-component lateral diffusion under annexin clusters, whereas NBD-PC is unaffected whether it is measured on or off of annexin clusters. We are also investigating these effects in the presence of cholesterol-containing anionic membranes and find that annexin binding induces phase separation. These results suggest that upon binding to membranes, the peripheral protein annexin organizes the underlying lipids into domains, which may have functional implications in vivo.
Maps for the Ages: An Overview of the Preservation of Sheet Maps

Traditional materials in a map library collection, particularly unbound paper maps, provide specific challenges for preservation and conservation. General preservation concerns and basic repair techniques that can be performed in-house on paper maps will also be addressed.
Recreation Vehicles: The Economics of Ownership

A breakeven point analysis of selected modes of recreational travel in which the costs of ownership and travel use of representative self-contained recreation vehicles are compared with the costs of lodging and travel by private automobile.
MiniBooNE Search for ν¯μ→ν¯e Oscillations

Abstract The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab searches for ν ¯ μ → ν ¯ e oscillations using a data sample corresponding to 5.66 × 10 2 0 protons on target. An excess of events is observed which, when constrained by the observed ν ¯ μ a probability for consistency with the background-only hypothesis of 0.5% in the energy range of 475 E ν Q E 1250 MeV . Fitting for ν ¯ μ → ν ¯ e oscillations, the probability of the ratio of the likelihood of the background-only fit to the likelihood of the best oscillation fit is 0.6%. The data are consistent with ν ¯ μ → ν ¯ e oscillations in the 0.1 to 1.0 eV2 Δ m 2 range and with the evidence for antineutrino oscillations from the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Positive and Negative Childhood and Adolescent Identity Memories Stemming from One’s Country and Culture-of-origin: A Comparative Narrative Analysis

The initial cognitive ability to coordinate experience into a hierarchically organized, multi-episode narrative occurs in youth, beginning a narrative record of ego identity development that continues throughout the life span (Habermas and Bluck in Psychological Bulletin 126:748–769, 2000; Habermas and de Silveira in Developmental Psychology 44:707–721, 2008). The following case studies explore how two high-functioning women integrate potentially conflicting bicultural identity expectations in adulthood by causally connecting identity memories stemming in youth from their country and culture-of-origin to their current life values and structures. It is hypothesized that the co-constructivist nature of meaning-making, described by Erikson (Insight and responsibility. Norton, New York, 1964; Identity and the life cycle. W.W. Norton & Co., New York, 1980) as the ego, personal and socio-organismic features of ego synthesis, includes inter-related factors of personal and cultural others which affect both individual and future generational bicultural identity integration.
Pinning forces in a disk-shaped superconducting niobium film

Abstract Using finite-element analysis, we have developed a numerical method to obtain vortex pinning forces by fitting magnetic hysteresis loops in a disk-shaped thin film superconductor in the framework of the critical state model at very low applied fields. Magnetic hysteresis loops were measured using a superconducting pick-up loop coupled to a SQUID. Pinning forces obtained from our analysis were found to obey approximately a power law.
Regional Hydrogeochemical Exploration for Sandstone Uranium Deposits in South Texas--The Solution-Mineral Equilibria Approach: ABSTRACT

Because the chemical composition of groundwater in contact with a buried uranium deposit should be quite distinct from that of groundwater flowing through barren rock, analysis of the groundwater may provide 3-dimensional information useful to the explorationist. Because of the complex geochemistry of uranium, analysis for uranium only will not lead to an appropriate interpretation. The solution-mineral equilibria approach, using the computer program WATEQF, has shown to be useful for a regional exploration program in south Texas. The technique has outlined areas with known mineralization and with a high potential for mineralization. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for a single aquifer in existing water wells on a 1-2-mi grid over an area of approximately 169 mi2 (438 km2). The WATEQF computer program uses the chemical analyses to calculate saturation indices, which describe the state of saturation of the groundwater with respect to a particular mineral. In the study area, saturation indices for the uranium minerals coffinite and uraninite were highest over the most prospective areas. Hydrogeochemical information obtained in this study supports our geologic data that the known mineralization occurs as small reduced islands in oxidized ground. The solution-mineral equilibria approach suggests that larger deposits may exist downdip of the present-day redox front, which has moved updip since the main mineralizing event. Updip movement of the redox front may have resulted from leakage of H2S from downdip faults. End_of_Article - Last_Page 494------------
Orientational ordering in solid D2 from NMR studies. I. The hcp phase

Using a coherent pulsed NMR spectrometer operating at 5.9 MHz, measurements have been made of the free induction decay and of the solid echo in hcp solid D2. From these data, and using Fourier transform techniques, the NMR line shapes and longitudinal relaxation times have been found for both o-D2 (angular momentumJ=0 and spinI=2) and p-D2 (withJ=1 andI=1) separately. The concentration and temperature extended over the ranges 0.05≤X(J=1)≤0.56 and 0.04 σ(D2). The orientational polarization of theJ=0 molecules in D2 by the surroundingJ=1 molecules is measured from the ratio of the lineshape second moments and is found to be in order-of-magnitude agreement with the predictions by A. B. Harris in the high-temperature limit. An analysis and correlation of the various measured relaxation times via energy diffusion models is presented. From the spin-lattice relaxation times of theJ=1 molecules, the orientational fluctuation rates are estimated for various concentrations as a function ofT and compared with the results from H2. Good agreement is found. Some unusual features in the intensity ratio of theI=1 andI=2 signals that is different from the expected one are described. In an Appendix, corrections made to the observed line shapes to compensate for the instrumental limitations of the pulse spectrometer are outlined.
Solitons and solar cells: The non-equilibrium thermodynamics of the photovoltaic effect in polyacetylene

Abstract The production of photovoltages by trans -(CH) x based devices is analyzed in terms of the non-equilibrium thermodynamics of the photovoltaic effect and compared with the model of photogenerated charged soliton pairs. It is concluded that the source of (CH) x photovoltages is a photo-reaction channel in which photoexcitations remain as band electrons and holes for appreciable lifetimes.
Effects of gelatin on mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite-gelatin nano-composites

A biomimetic reactor has been developed to synthesize hydroxyapatite- gelatin (HAP-GEL) nanocomposites that mimic ultra-structures of natural bone. We hypothesize that in the reactor, gelatin concentration controls morphology and packing structures of HAP crystals. To test the hypothesis, three types of mechanical tests were conducted, including nanoindentation, compression, and fracture tests. Nanoindentation tests in conjunction with computer modeling were used to assess effects on gelatin-induced microstructures of HAP. The results showed that increasing gelatin content increased both the plane strain modulus and the fracture toughness. The gelatin appeared to shorten the HAP crystal distance, which consolidated the internal structure of the composite and made the material more rigid. The fracture toughness KIC increased partially due to the effect of fiber bridging between gelatin molecules. The highest fracture toughness (1.12 MPa·1/2) was equivalent to that of pure hydroxyapatite. The compressive strength of the HAP-GEL (107.7±26.8 MPa) was, however, less sensitive to microstructural changes and was within the range of natural cortical bone (human 170 MPa, pig: 100 MPa). The compression strength was dominated by void inclusions while the nanoindentation response reflected ultra-structural arrangement of the crystals. The gelatin concentration is likely to modify crystal arrangement as demonstrated in TEM experiments but not void distribution at macroscopic levels. © 2006 Materials Research Society.
Effects of ration size and temperature on the growth of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Abstract The potential for growth (scope for growth) by juvenile carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) fed various ration sizes, was examined for fish acclimated to temperatures over the range 12–30°C. Maximum growth rates of 0.71, 2.31, 3.12 and 3.32% body weight per day were recorded for fish acclimated to 12, 18, 24 and 30°C, respectively. For the same temperatures, respectively, maintenance rations were estimated as 0.40, 0.75, 1.20 and 1.90% of body weight per day. The overall maximum scope for growth, defined as the difference between the ration size for maximum growth and maintenance ration size, was estimated to occur at a temperature of 27°C. Food conversion efficiencies generally increased with higher acclimation temperature and always were higher at an intermediate ration.
Comparing insulin vials to pens--comparison of charges, not healthcare benefits.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive disease. Insulin resistance is an underlying pathophysiological mechanism in T2DM. However, insulin deficiency also plays a role, especially with di...
Effects of interstitial impurities on the high pressure martensitic α to ω structural transformation and grain growth in zirconium

Static high pressure diamond anvil cell experiments were performed on three polycrystalline Zr samples having varying interstitial impurity concentrations. Systematic increase in transition pressure with the increase in the amount of interstitial impurities is observed for the martensitic structural phase transition in Zr. Significant room temperature crystal grain growth is also observed for the two highest purity samples at the transition. In the case of the lowest purity sample interstitial impurities obstruct the transition, while possibly helping impede grain growth?even as the sample is heated to 1279?K.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the IL-20-IL-20R1-IL-20R2 complex.

Interleukin-20 (IL-20) is an IL-10-family cytokine that regulates innate and adaptive immunity in skin and other tissues. In addition to protecting the host from various external pathogens, dysregulated IL-20 signaling has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of human psoriasis. IL-20 signals through two cell-surface receptor heterodimers, IL-20R1–IL-20R2 and IL-22R1–IL-20R2. In this report, crystals of the IL-20–IL-20R1–IL-20R2 ternary complex have been grown from polyethylene glycol solutions. The crystals belonged to space group P41212 or P43212, with unit-cell parameters a = 111, c = 135 A, and diffracted X-­rays to 3 A resolution. The crystallographic asymmetric unit contains one IL-­20–IL-20R1–IL-20R2 complex, corresponding to a solvent content of approximately 54%.
Time Trends of the Returns to Education: Cross-National Evidence.

The paper presents evidence on the over-time behavior of the rate of return to investment in education in a large number of countries. The emerging pattern is one of declining returns through time, a fact that is interpreted in the context of alternative theories on the relationship between education and earnings, such as human capital, screening, labor market segmentation and the maintenance of the status quo from generation to generation. The evidence lends support to a human capital view of the world. Finally, the slow rate of decline of the returns to education over time dispells fears that education might have overexpanded, especially in developing countries.
Discussion Map and Cooking Classes: Testing the Effectiveness of Teaching Food Safety to Immigrants and Refugees

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a food safety map as an educational method with English language learners. Methods English language learner community members (n = 73) were assigned randomly to participate in 1 of 3 experimental conditions: food safety map, cooking class, and control. Participants in the food safety map and cooking class conditions completed a pre-education demographic and cooking history questionnaire, a post-education knowledge and intention questionnaire, and a 2-week post–cooking and food safety habits assessment. Participants in the control group received no educational training but completed the pre- and 2-week post-education assessments. Results The cooking class and the map class were both effective in increasing food safety knowledge. Specifically, by comparing with the control group, they significantly increased participants' knowledge of safely cooking large meat (χ2 [df = 2, n = 66] = 40.87; P Conclusions and Implications The food safety map is simple to use and prepare, beneficial for oral and visual learners, and inexpensive. Compared with a food safety cooking class, the map produces similar learning and behavioral outcomes.
Confidence intervals on variance components in regression models with balanced (Q-1)-fold nested error structure

Multi-stage cluster designs provide data that possess a nested structure. The variability of the effects associated with the levels of nesting can be described using a variance component model. Constructing confidence intervals on variance components is the problem considered in this paper. Specifically, confidence intervals are proposed for variance components in a regression model with balanced nested error structure. A method proposed by Ting, Burdick, Graybill, Jeyaratnam, and Lu (1990) is used to construct the confidence intervals on the variance components. This method requires a set of jointly independent chi-squared random variables. A set of quadratic forms that meets this requirement for the regression model with balanced nested error structure is derived in this paper. The proposed confidence intervals are compared using computer simulation with intervals based on the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimators of the variance components.
Host detection by chemically mediated associative learning in a parasitic wasp

Parasitic insects use chemical cues to locate their hosts, and prior experiences can modify their responses to these odours1–4. Females of the parasitic wasp Microplitis croceipes experienced by contact with host faeces, orient and fly upwind to odours from their hosts, larvae of the moth Heliothis zea5. We use flight tunnel studies to show that associative learning occurs during encounters with host faeces. When females touch the faeces with their antennae they learn to recognize and subsequently fly to various volatile odours, even novel and otherwise unattractive odours like vanilla, associated with the faeces. They link these volatile odours with a water extractable nonvolatile chemical in the faeces, evidently a host-specific recognition cue. The association of tracking cues with host by-products, without the need for direct contact with the host, is a valuable adaptation for locating cryptic and evasive hosts.
Gas Analysis System on Chip With Integrated Diverse Nanomaterial Sensor Array

A polydimethylsiloxane micromolded separation column is presented with monolithically integrated gas injection, temperature control, and a nanomaterial chemiresistor array for multiparametric gas detection in complex mixtures on a unique single chip platform. Sensor arrays are made of carbon nanotubes, vanadium oxide, and reduced graphene oxide nanomaterials. The functionality of a micromolded gas separation device as opposed to the conventional etched silicon $\mu $ GC column opens the door to disposable, easily manufactured, stand-alone gas chromatography for clinical diagnostics or remote fieldwork. Combining separation column with a diverse nanomaterial sensor array provides multiparametric detection of gases in a single chip device. The device has the dimensions of a glass slide while drawing <2 W of power and capable of separation and detection of gases verified using a standard analytical mixture of aliphatic compounds.
Microcup Arrays for the Efficient Isolation and Cloning of Cells

Arrays of transparent, releasable micrometer-scale structures termed "microcups" were created for the purpose of patterning and isolating viable cells from small cell samples. Cells were captured by the microcups without the need for barriers or walls on the intervening substrate. Furthermore, in contrast to prior methods for creating cell arrays with releasable elements, no chemical modification of the substrate was required. Individual microcups were released from the array using a pulsed laser at very low energy. Improvements in microcup design enabled cells in suspension to be loaded into the microcups with greater than 90% efficiency. Cells cultured within the microcups displayed 100% viability and were cultured over 4 days yielding colonies that remained sequestered within the microcups to generate pure clonal populations. Standard microscopic imaging was used to identify cells or colonies of interest, and the microcups containing these cells were then released and collected. Individual target cells isolated in this manner remained viable as demonstrated by clonal expansion of 100% of collected cells. Direct comparisons with cell isolation by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and magnetic-bead-based isolation systems demonstrated that the microcup cell isolation procedure yielded higher purity, yield, and viability than these standard technologies when separating samples with small numbers of cells. The power of this technique was demonstrated by the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells from a human bone marrow aspirate possessing only 4000 total cells.
Uncontrolled manifold analysis of single trials during multi-finger force production by persons with and without Down syndrome

Recently, the framework of the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis has been used to study multi-finger synergies based on analysis of motor variability across large sets of trials. We introduce a similar method of analysis, which can be applied to single trials, and hence may be more relevant to studies of atypical populations. In one experiment, results of across-trials and single-trial UCM analysis were compared for control participants who performed accurate ramp force production trials by pressing with four fingers of the hand. Both types of analysis revealed selective stabilization of total force by co-variations of individual finger forces. The stabilization was more pronounced at higher forces. When the participants purposefully varied the relative involvement of fingers during the ramp, significantly higher UCM effects were observed. However, high-pass filtering of the data at 4 Hz made these results similar to those observed in trials with natural patterns of force production. These observations allow assessment of the contribution of processes at two levels of a hypothetical hierarchical control system to the stabilization of total force. We also applied the single-trial UCM method to re-analyze previously published data from another experiment to study the motor variability in a group of persons with Down syndrome (DS) because these persons have difficulty in motor planning and timing as well as in force stabilization. Results of single-trial UCM analysis demonstrated force stabilization in these persons. The degree of force stabilization improved significantly after three days of practice. The analysis also showed that the total pronation/supination moment generated by the four fingers with respect to the midpoint was stabilized. The degree of moment stabilization did not change with practice. We conclude that the single-trial method of UCM analysis allows the analysis of hypotheses about stabilization of different performance variables by alleged multi-finger synergies in both typical individuals and individuals with DS.
School Principal Expertise: Putting Expert-Aspiring Principal Differences in Problem Solving Processes to the Test

This article reports on differences between expert and aspiring principals. Following the work of Leithwood and colleagues, we asked expert and aspiring principals to respond to ill-structured written problem scenarios. Our sample of 44 included 20 expert principals and 24 aspiring principals. The aspiring principals were from a cohort of participants in a professional development program for aspiring principals in a large Midwestern urban school district. Drawing from that same school district, the expert principals were selected based on an analysis of longitudinal teacher survey data and student achievement data. We found statistically significant differences between expert and aspiring principals on five problem-solving processes, three of which were in line with prior hypotheses generating research on principal expertise.
Community metabolism of aquatic Closed Ecological Systems: Effects of nitrogen sources

Abstract To investigate the effect of nitrogen sources on Closed Ecological Systems (CESs), three nitrogen sources (NaNO 3 , sodium nitrate; NH 4 Cl, ammonium chloride; and NH 4 NO 3 , ammonium nitrate) were each tested in freshwater CESs consisting of a chemically defined medium, three species of green algae ( Ankistrodesmus , S cenedesmus , and Selenastrum ), the grazer Daphnia magna , and associated microbes, under 12 h light/12 h dark cycles. It had been hypothesized that the development of high pH in earlier CESs was the result of nitrate utilization, and that ammonium might result in acid conditions, while ammonium nitrate might result in more moderate pH. The three nitrogen sources supported similar densities of algae (estimated by in vivo fluorescence) and similar Daphnia populations. The experiments showed that pH levels rapidly increased when grazers were absent or at low abundances irrespective of the nitrogen source. Consequently, it is hypothesized that carbon cycles, rather than nitrogen sources, are responsible for the pH dynamics. Oxygen diurnal (light:dark) cycles tended to come into balance more quickly than pH. It may be more feasible to convert O 2 data to energy units (using “oxycalorific” values) than CO 2 data since CO 2 dynamics may include other chemical reactions than just photosynthesis and respiration. The feasibility of sustaining grazer populations for at least several weeks in small, simple CESs was demonstrated, along with the ability to monitor algae-grazer dynamics, and the recording of O 2 and pH measurements.
Microscale Manipulation by Ndfeb-Based Magnetic Tweezers: Applications to Microrheology

NdFeB-based magnetic tweezers allow well-controlled forces (fN - nN range) to be applied to micron-scale particles, and offer an attractive alternative to optical tweezers for materials characterization. Here, instrument design, testing, and implementation will be presented.
The importance of the insulin inactivating properties of the liver (insulinase) in the mechanism of action of antidiabetic sulfonamide preparations

Insulinase activity is either entirely absent or is considerably lower in sexually immature rats weighing from 30 to 50 gm. Nadisan (BZ 55) has no hypoglycemic effect in the animals of this age. It comes with the sexual maturity and then nadisan exerts a hypoglycemic effect in these animals. Administration of chorionic gonadotropine or sex hormones to sexually immature rats is associated with appearance or intensification of insulinase activity and hypoglycemic effect of nadisan. Injection of testosterone propionate to adult rats affects neither the hepatic insulinase activity nor the hypoglycemic effect of nadisan. This shows that sex hormones have no direct activating action on insulinase but only promote the development of this enzyme system during ontogenesis. These data may lead to the conclusion that inactivation of hepatic insulinase by sulfonamides plays an important role in the mechanism of their hypoglycemic effect.
Orientation contrast effects in the rod-and-frame test

Previous research indicates that a tilted visual display is capable of inducing eye torsion and an illusion of self-tilt in objectively upright observers. These effects may contribute to performance errors on the rod-and-frame test by rotating the perceived axes of visual space toward the tilted frame. The kinesthetic-matching method was used in the present study to see whether an effect of the visual orientation contrast between red and frame sides might also contribute to rod-and-frame test performance. Observers aligned invisible hand-held rods with the visual rod at various tilts under a control condition when the frame was absent, and under experimental conditions with the frame upright or set at 45°. The frame induced matching errors in the direction away from the frame sides which were most nearly parallel to the rod. Since no rotation of apparent visual axes should occur under these conditions, the data suggest that an orientation contrast effect is involved in the rod-and-frame test.
A simple regression model to assess environmental effects on fish growth

Multiple regression was used to assess relationships between annular growth and environmental variables. This approach (1) tests for the significance of environmental changes on fish growth and (2) can be successfully used to predict fish growth using different environmental conditions. Age usually explains a large proportion of the variation in growth increments measured in length, and these two variables are inversely related. Since length increments decline as age increases, environmental impacts on growth will be reduced as fish grow older. To account for within-age growth variation and incorporate this age-dependent factor, the inverse of age (1/age in years) is multiplied by the value of an environmental variable (ENV) that may be related to growth. This interaction term and age are regressed against mean annular growth increments in length (TLINC; lt+1—l1): TLINC = b0—b1AGE±b2(1/AGE)*ENV where b0, b1, and b2 are the regression coefficients for intercept and slope, respectively. Additional variables that measure environmental factors can be added to the model. Environmental effects associated with growth rates of black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus (LeSueur), are presented as an example.
The role of the new information technologies in emergency mitigation, planning, response and recovery

Multimedia, CD‐ROM, DVD, Internet, Web Sites and e‐mail are all part of a constantly changing, emerging array of the new information technologies which are being utilized in public education and are increasingly being applied to emergency planning and training activities to enhance emergency preparedness. Illustrations are presented which demonstrate the utility of multimedia, CD‐ROM, and Internet applications to this process. These technologies will be applied to demonstrate how emergency planners may more effectively accomplish their mission to educate the larger community on a variety of issues such as the need to adopt proposed mitigation strategies, to respond to disaster warnings and evacuation suggestions. These technologies will also be applied to demonstrate how response and recovery information can be readily disseminated to an impacted area. Applications will also be provided which demonstrate the utility of these technologies in enhancing training activities for emergency personnel as well as extending the opportunity for such training beyond the time and place of the original trainer.
Correlation of radiation creep theory with experimental evidence

Abstract A review is presented of theoretical models related to irradiation creep and to the evolution of the dislocation structure in irradiated stainless steels. The results of detailed analysis for stress-induced loop alignment and stress-induced preferential absorption (SIPA) of point defects at dislocations is presented. Stress-induced rotation of tri-interstitials is shown to be too small to account for the observed variations in loop densities on different crystallographic planes. However, it is possible to predict large variations with the SIPA mechanism. Predictions of irradiation creep by the SIPA mechanism are in agreement with measured data at intermediate fluences. At low fluences, additional contributions to irradiation creep must come from dislocation glide. The evolution of the dislocation structure can be explained by the continuous formation of interstitial type loops and by the radiation-induced recovery of the dislocation network.
Study of Parameters Affecting Impulse Response Method

Even though the impulse response method is widely used in detecting defects under rigid pavements, the sensitivity of the method is not well understood. Modal time-history analyses were used to numerically simulate the impulse response method. Parameters such as the thickness and the elastic modulus of the slab, the modulus of subgrade of the soil, the length and width of the slab, location of the impact, and size and location of defects were studied. The sensitivity of flexibility spectrum, the major function measured in the field to detect defects, to each of these parameters was studied. It was found that the elastic modulus and dimensions of the slab have small effects, while the thickness of the slab and the modulus of subgrade more significantly affect the flexibility spectrum. For most practical applications, corner voids that are twice the thickness of the slab should be detectable. For edge and midslab, the defect has to be four and five times the slab thickness (respectively) to be detectable.
A p, q-Analogue of the Generalized Derangement Numbers

In this paper, we study the numbers Dn, k which are defined as the number of permu- tations σ of the symmetric group Sn such that σ has no cycles of length j for j ≤ k. In the case k = 1, Dn, 1 is simply the number of derangements of an n-element set. As such, we shall call the numbers Dn, k generalized derangement numbers. Garsia and Remmel (4) defined some nat- ural q-analogues of Dn, 1, denoted by Dn, 1(q), which give rise to natural q-analogues of the two classical recursions of the number of derangements. The method of Garsia and Remmel can be easily extended to give natural p, q-analogues Dn, 1(p, q) which satisfy natural p, q-analogues of the two classical recursions for the number of derangements. In (4), Garsia and Remmel also suggested an approach to define q-analogues of the numbers Dn, k. In this paper, we show that their ideas can be extended to give a p, q-analogue of the generalized derangements numbers. Again there are two classical recursions for generalized derangement numbers. However, the p, q-analogues of the two classical recursions are not as straightforward when k ≥ 2.
The Athenian Treasury at Delphi and the Material of Politics

Abstract This study makes a pair with the author's ““Framing the Gift: The Politics of the Siphnian Treasury at Delphi,”” Classical Antiquity 20 (2001): 273––336. Like that essay, it argues that the function of a treasury is to provide a civic frame for ostentatious dedications by wealthy citizens: in effect, to ““nationalize”” votives. In this sense, the Athenian Treasury is a material trace, or fossil, of city politics in the 480s. The article tracks this function through the monument's iconography; its use of marble from the medizing island of Paros; its relation to the ““Alkmeonid”” temple of Apollo; and the responses it evoked at Delphi and in Athens. Special attention is given to the methodological problem of finding meaning in non-iconic or non-representational features, such as building materials. The article concludes with a new reading of Pindar's sixth Pythian , for Megakles of Athens, which neatly encapsulates what was at stake in this building project.
High resolution neuroimaging at 4.1 T

In this article we report on acquisition of high resolution 512 × 512 images at 4.1 T using an inversion recovery gradient-echo sequence and a volume head coil developed for high field applications. The T1 values for cerebral white and grey matter were measured to be 834 and 1282 ms, respectively. The partial saturation inversion recovery sequence (Tir 800 ms and TR 2500 ms) provided excellent contrast-to-noise for white to grey matter. Consequently, the images consistently visualized the thalamic nuclear groups, hippocampal fine structure, as well as small draining vessels of the white matter.
Vitronectin decreases microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis.

Angiogenesis after tissue injury occurs in a matrix environment consisting of fibrin, fibronectin, and vitronectin as the major extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents. ECM-integrin interactions is critical for angiogenesis and failure to bind a ligand to certain integrin receptors (αvβ3 or αvβ5) inhibits angiogenesis. The ligand that binds to αvβ3 or αvβ5 integrin receptors during microvascular angiogenesis has not been identified. Our hypothesis is that provisional matrix molecules provide the environmental context cues to microvascular endothelial cells and promote angiogenesis by decreased programmed cell death. Using cultured human microvascular endothelial cells, we show that vitronectin, in comparison to growth on alternative provisional matrix molecules (fibronectin, fibrinogen plus thrombin), collagen I, and basement membrane molecules (collagen IV), significantly reduces microvascular endothelial cell death in vitro. This reduction was observed using morphologic criteria, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, histone release into the cytoplasm, and thymidine release into the supernatant. Though our data confirm that vitronectin may bind to more than one integrin receptor to reduce MEC apoptosis, binding to the αv component appears to be the critical integrin subcomponent for reducing apoptosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 175:149–155, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A CONVEX PROGRAMMING APPROACH TO THE MULTIPLE CONSTRAINT INVENTORY PROBLEM

SUMMARY The calculation of economic lot sizes with more than one constraint on the system is a recognized problem in inventory control theory. This paper presents a simplex like solution procedure. The algorithm as presented can be readily adapted to other constraints which may arise in a specific application. The essential conditions for application are that the non-linear constraints and/or objective function be differentiable, convex functions.
Expression of the acidic stretch of nardilysin as a functional binding domain.

Kinetic evidence suggests an acidic region in nardilysin binds polyamines and acts as a regulatory domain. The binding of ∼5 mol of spermine/mol of nardilysin was demonstrated. The binding curve was sigmoidal exhibiting an IC50 of ∼118 μM and a Hill coefficient of 1.8. Spermine diminished the tryptophan fluorescence of the enzyme and increased its sensitivity to protease V8. The acidic stretch from mouse and human nardilysin were expressed as glutathione transferase fusion proteins. All fusion proteins bound spermine with an IC50 of 40 to 110 μM. The mouse fusion protein bound ∼7 mol of spermine exhibiting a sigmoidal binding curve and a Hill coefficient of 1.4. The human acidic stretch, containing fewer acidic residues, bound ∼5 mol of spermine/mol with a hyperbolic binding curve. Chimeric fusion proteins containing the N-terminus of the mouse acidic region fused to the C-terminus of the human acidic region bound ∼10 mol of spermine, while the opposite chimera bound ∼4 mol of spermine/mol. The N-terminal...