cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of immunoglobulin genes in transgenic mice and transfected cells

Immunoglobulin (Ig) genes are expressed sequentially (first H-, then L-chain genes) during the development of B lymphocytes. These studies, performed with transgenic mice and transfected cells, were aimed at the regulation of turning on and off the rearrangement of Ig genes. The specific recombinase is active in pre-B cells, but not in plasma cells. Production of membrane mu, but not secreted mu or gamma-2b, turns off rearrangement of H genes. Feedback inhibition of kappa-gene rearrangement requires kappa and membrane mu. Kappa alone or in combination with secreted mu does not stop recombination. Mouse lambda genes were mapped by deletion analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The gene order is V2-C2,4-V1-C3,C1. The distance between V2 and C2 is 74 kb, but that between V1 and C3, 1 is only 20 kb. V2 and C3, 1 are over 190 kb apart. Lambda genes appear to be rearranged in a subset of B cells that do not respond to feedback inhibition at the pre-B cell stage. Lambda and kappa genes are both rearranged and potentially functional in these cells. Kappa genes may then be deleted by recombination of a sequence (described by Selsing and Siminovitch et al.) downstream of C-kappa with sequences upstream of C-kappa. Presumably the recombinase is eventually inactivated in kappa-lambda cells by a mechanism that is different from H-kappa feedback.
Production rate systematics of in-situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides in terrestrial rocks: Monte Carlo approach of investigating 35Cl (n, γ) 36Cl

Abstract A model is presented to investigate the systematics of in-situ low-energy neutron-capture-produced cosmogenic nuclides in terrestrial rocks, in particular 35 Cl(n, γ) 36 Cl, by using a Monte Carlo neutron transport code. The model is validated by comparison of its results with experimental measurements of low-energy cosmogenic neutrons on the Earth's surface. The dependence of 36 Cl production on the elemental composition and water content of rocks has been determined.
Characterization of Volcanic Ash-Influenced Forest Soils across a Geoclimatic Sequence

The pedogenic development of volcanic ash mantles within the interior U.S. Pacific Northwest is thought to be a function of the interaction between climatic regimes, plant communities, eolian reworking, and colluvial mixing with subsurface soil parent materials. Little research, however, quantitatively characterizes the extent of these interactions on soil property expression and nutrient retention. This study examined soil physical and chemical properties associated with volcanic ash mantles overlying extrusive and metasedimentary geologic parent materials across an array of precipitation zones. The results were then correlated with NO 3 , SO 4 , and BO 3 sorption isotherms to assess parent material influence and degree of mineral weathering on nutrient retention. Analyses indicated that ash-mantled extrusive soils had ∼25 to 50% more plant-available water, two to three times greater volcanic glass, two to five times less quartz, and up to five times more short-range-order Fe in the Bw1 and 2Bw2 horizons than ash-mantled metasedimentary soils. Mean annual precipitation zones showed a strong positive correlation with the development of short-range-order Al minerals. Anion sorption isotherms were in the order of SO 4 > BO 3 ≥ NO 3 for surficial Bw1 horizons, and SO 4 ≥ NO 3 > BO 3 for subsurface Bw2 and 2Bw2 horizons. Anion retention mechanisms were positively correlated with the presence of short-range-order AI and Al-substituted Fe oxides. Soil property characterization indicated that surficial ash soils often reflect the physical and mineral characteristics of subsurface soils, but climatic conditions control their chemical expression through the degree of mineral weathering.
Silane pyrolysis in a piston reactor

A piston reactor has been developed to examine some aspects of particle formation during the pyrolysis of silane (SiH4). This reactor generates conditions intermediate between a static pyrolysis reactor and a shock tube reactor. It effectively excludes contributions of wall reactions to the pyrolysis experiments. The apparent kinetics for this reactor do not conform to values published in the literature. A model that incorporates silane-particle reactions can account for the deviations. In addition, emission of visible light accompanies the sooting reactions. The source of this emission seems to be the sum of incandescence from the hot particles and continuum radiation from another source.
Polymeric controlled delivery for immunization

Current vaccine technology has limitations; for example, most vaccines require repeat administration for long-term protection, and immunity at mucosal surfaces is difficult to achieve. In animal models, polymeric controlled-release systems provide long-lasting systemic or mucosal immunoprotection, often after a single administration. Polymeric devices that deliver a controlled amount of antibody can provide passive immunity against genital herpes infections in mice; orally administered polymeric-microsphere-based vaccines produce enhanced immune responses in rodents and primates. These new delivery technologies have many desirable features, and so their use in humans could have a substantial impact on worldwide public health.
Acousto-Optic All-Fiber Modulator

At the present time phase modulation in optical fiber systems for communication, devices such as all-fiber gyroscopes, and active compensators for Mach-Zehnder interferometers in fiber optic sensors, is accomplished by using piezoelectric cylinders with wrapped fibers. However, the PZT cylinder cannot be modulated at high frequencies (above ~ 1 MHz), and also also its weight and size is a disadvantage. Elasto-optic interaction and modulation of the light beam propagating in an optical fiber in the MHz region would be extremely desirable for such applications as: heterodyning, active compensator schemes, small fiber gyroscopes and other devices.
A note on a sufficiency theorem for optimal control

A sufficiency theorem for optimal control is given; this theorem is somewhat more general than one given earlier by the author. The theorem is applied to a linear, time-optimal problem.
An unusual trimerization reaction of an alkyne on iridium

Abstract Reactions between mer-(Me3P)3Ir(H)(H)(Cl) and 2-ethynylpyridine in water or mer-(Me3P)3Ir(H)(Ph)(Cl) and 2-ethynylpyridine and Tl[PF6] in CH2C2 both lead to the formation of an unusual 3.3.0-azairidabicyclooctatriene, 3. Complex 3 was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and was found to crystallize in the triclinic space group P 1 with a = 12.060(3) A, b = 12.512(3) A, c = 14.833(3) A, α = 87.25(2)°, β = 73.21(2)°, γ = 69.93(2)°, and V = 2009.4(9) A3 for Z = 2. Complex 3 appears to form via a sequence of reactions involving (i) coupling of two equivalents of 2-ethynylpyridine at iridium (I) to yield a metallacylopentadiene complex; (ii) addition of a third equivalent of 2-ethynylpyridine; (iii) rearrangement of the third equivalent of 2-ethynylpyridine to a vinylidene; and (iv) nucleophilic attack of a pendant pyridine on the α carbon of the vinylidene.
Human Transforming Growth Factor-β Activates a Receptor Serine/Threonine Kinase from the Intravascular ParasiteSchistosoma mansoni

The biology of the helminth parasiteSchistosoma mansoni is closely integrated with that of its mammalian host. SmRK1, a divergent type I transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor of unknown ligand specificity, was previously identified as a candidate for a receptor that allows schistosomes to respond to host-derived growth factors. The TGF-β family includes activin, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and TGF-β, all of which can play crucial roles in metazoan development. The downstream signaling protein of receptors that respond to TGF-β and activin is Smad2, whereas the receptors that respond to BMPs signal via Smad1. When a constitutively active mutant of SmRK1 was overexpressed with either schistosome Smad1 (SmSmad1) or SmSmad2, a receptor-dependent modulation of SmSmad phosphorylation and luciferase reporter activity occurred only with SmSmad2. To evaluate potential ligand activators of SmRK1, a chimeric receptor containing the extracellular domain of SmRK1 joined to the intracellular domain of the human type I TGF-β receptor was used. The chimeric receptor bound radiolabeled TGF-β and could activate a luciferase reporter gene in response to both TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 but not BMP7. Confirmatory results were obtained using full-length SmRK1. These experiments implicate TGF-β as a ligand for SmRK1 and as a potential host-derived regulator of parasite growth and development.
An Examination of the Mori-Tanaka Effective Medium Approximation for Multiphase Composites

The Mori-Tanaka method is considered in the context of both scalar thermal conductivity and anisotropic elasticity of multiphase composites, and some general properties are deduced. Particular attention is given to its relation to known general bounds, and to the differential scheme. It is shown that the moduli predicted by the method always satisfy the Hashin-Shtrikman and Hill-Hashin bounds for two-phase composites. The Mori-Tanaka approximation has to be used with caution in multiphase applications, but is on firmer ground for two-phase composites
Effect of optical clearing agents on the in vivo optical properties of squamous epithelial tissue.

Background and Objectives Optical clearing agents (OCAs) have previously been shown to increase depth penetration within turbid tissue ex vivo. This paper quantifies tissue optical properties of the hamster cheek pouch model in order to provide a means to assess the effect of OCAs quantitatively in vivo. Study Design/Materials and Methods Diffuse reflectance spectra were obtained from both cheeks of 12 hamsters before and after immersion in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol or a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) control for 20 minutes. A Monte Carlo model was then utilized to derive the wavelength dependent reduced scattering and absorption coefficients. Results DMSO caused a statistically significant decrease in the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients derived by the model. Glycerol caused a statistically significant increase in the wavelength dependent absorption coefficient, but no statistically significant changes in the reduced scattering coefficient. Conclusions DMSO and glycerol act upon tissues differently as reflected by the tissue optical properties, implying that not all OCAs are equally effective in optically clearing tissues. Lasers Surg. Med. 38:920–927, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Population dependence of early relaxation.

The general view of galactic evolution suggests an early period of ``violent'' relaxation followed by the establishment of a long-lived quasiequilibrium state which is associated with a stationary or steady-state solution of the Vlasov equation. The predicted time scale for the initial violent period, which has been supported by a number of simulations, is of the order of a few galactic crossing times. However, the formation of stellar clusters may constrain the early mixing to a slower diffusion which precedes the violent phase. To explore this possibility, we report on a recent study of the relaxation of a highly virialized (large ratio of kinetic to potential energy) model of a one-dimensional ``galaxy'' consisting of N parallel mass sheets interacting solely through their mutual gravitational attraction. We show that (1) relaxation consists of a long diffusive phase which can be of the order of a thousand crossing times and depends sensitively on the system population, followed by a short-lived ``violent'' period lasting less than 100 crossing times, and (2) the overall relaxation time has a minimum for a system consisting of about 30 sheets, suggesting that dynamics is most ``chaotic'' for this population. However, regardless of the population, the ultimate stationary state exhibits the expected core-halo structure in \ensuremath{\mu} (position, velocity) space. Possible implications of the study for both nonlinear dynamics and astrophysics are considered.
Genetic variability and large scale differentiation in two species of littorinid gastropods with planktotrophic development, Littorina littorea (L.) and Melarhaphe (Littorina) neritoides (L.) (Prosobranchia: Littorinacea), with notes on a mass occurrence of M. neritoides in Sweden

A planktotrophic larval development suggests a relatively high gene flow over long distances. Both Littorina littorea and Melarhaphe neritoides have an egg capsule and planktotrophic larvae which taken together are pelagic over a period of 4–8 weeks. In the absence of differential selection one would expect low levels of genetic differentiation over large distances in these two species. In this study of allozyme variation, low levels of differentiation were found over thousands of kilometres (Norway to Spain for L. littorea and Sweden to Greece for M. neritoides). This supports the hypothesis of two species with a high dispersal potential. A second expectation from neutral theory is that effective population size is positively correlated with average levels of genetic variation within species. In light of the generally high densities of local populations of these species and the high interpopulation migration rate, both L. littorea and M. neritoides may be considered as having high Ne s. Contrary to neutral expectation, L. littorea revealed very low levels of heterozygosity over its whole European range (mean Hexp= 0.015, 15 loci), while average heterozygosity of M. neritoides (Hexp= 0.084, 11 loci) was no more than in other littorinid species. This paper also reports the occurrence of M. neritoides on the Swedish west coast in 1988, 89 and 90, and two factors which may have promoted this unusually large invasion are discussed.
Progesterone Receptors in the Myometrium of Pregnant Rabbits

The primary purpose of the present experiments was to determine the concentration of cytoplasmic progesterone receptor sites in the myometrium of the rabbit during the course of gestation, and to examine the relationship of the concentration of receptor sites to those of steroids in the myometrium and plasma. Receptor-site concentration was measured by multiple equilibrium dialysis. Preliminary density gradient analysis experiments demonstrated a 4S protein which binds progesterone specifically and with limited capacity. The association constant (Ka), determined by dialysis, was 1.02 ± 0.10 (SE) × 109M−1 at 5 C innonpregnant rabbits. The single symmetrical peak observed on density gradients and the linearity of the Scatchard plot of the high-affinity binding observed by dialysis support the presence of a single receptor-like component. The receptor-site concentration was approximately 1.3 pmoles/mg protein during the first half of pregnancy, decreased to half of this value after midpregnancy, and increase...
Social Media and Corporate Data Warehouse Environments: New Approaches to Understanding Data

This paper argues that organizations need to prepare for the integration of social media data into their data warehouses in order to fully understand their customers. Social media has quickly gained acceptance in its adoption and use and firms are eager to get their hands on it to better understand customer sentiment. However, social media data is different and more complex than traditional data and most data warehouses are not structured in a way for BI applications to easily make sense it. As a result, it is becoming critical for business intelligence teams to begin to understand the challenges this data presents and to better plan for the integration of this information into corporate data warehouses.
A radix-8 wafer scale FFT processor

Wafer Scale Integration promises radical improvements in the performance of digital signal processing systems. This paper describes the design of a radix-8 systolic (pipeline) fast Fourier transform processor for implementation with wafer scale integration. By the use of the radix-8 FFT butterfly wafer that is currently under development, continuous data rates of 160 MSPS are anticipated for FFTs of up to 4096 points with 16-bit fixed point data.
Danon disease: characteristic late gadolinium enhancement pattern on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Danon disease is a rare entity associated with the clinical triad of mental retardation, skeletal myopathy, and severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We report two cases of Danon disease and describe the results of the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies that were conducted to assess the pattern of cardiac hypertrophy.
Global Information Security Factors

The Internet has changed security and because the Internet is borderless, security threats are now on a global scale. In this paper, the authors explore the global nature of information security from the perspectives of corporate professionals. Through an empirical study with corporate professionals, who have first-hand information security knowledge, the authors confirm that the proposed knowledge topics are relevant toward a comprehensive understanding of information security issues. Analyzing the empirical data, the authors found two global security factors: business protection of data and government/social issues.
Rules, Policy and Rent Seeking: A Cross-Border Comparison

The United States and Canada are similar in many ways, yet they have taken different approaches to agricultural policy. This paper discusses what affect the different constitutional arrangements have had on the development of agricultural policy. Constitutions can affect the policy bargaining process in several ways: they determine who has access to the bargaining process, what is the legal set of policy options and what is the admissible coalition. The two countries' Constitutions differ in where regions have access to the bargaining process, the use of the courts and the size of the admissible coalition. These differences have led to divergent policies, which are evidenced by the response to the recent drop in commodity prices.
GEE type inference for clustered zero-inflated negative binomial regression with application to dental caries

Use of zero-inflated count data models is common in applications where the number of zero counts exceeds that predicted from a traditional count data model such as Poisson or negative binomial. When count data exhibiting inflated zero counts are correlated among subjects, a natural approach will be to fit a marginal model with the help of generalized estimating equations (GEE) that can incorporate subject-to-subject correlations. A GEE based zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model is proposed to fit clustered counts with excessive zeros. However, the corresponding sandwich variance estimator appears to underestimate the true variance. The theoretical reasons for its failure are explained and a correction under additional modeling assumptions is offered. In addition, a clustered resampling (bootstrap) procedure is proposed to estimate the variance and it is shown that the bootstrap procedure captures the correct variance under no additional model assumptions. Utility of this marginal GEE based ZINB model over two other competing models has been assessed using a thorough simulation study. The resulting inference procedure is applied to study the association between the dental caries and fluoride exposures using a dataset extracted from the Iowa Fluoride Study. A number of risk factors of clinical significance are reliably identified using the proposed model.
A system of parallel septa in crayfish nerve fibers.

Certain axons in the abdominal roots and nerve cord of crayfish contain a system of regularly spaced, parallel transverse septa with a periodicity of about 2 µ. Each septum is composed of two roughly parallel membranes, separated by a gap of 150–400 A. The two membranes are frequently fenestrated by pores 550–2000 A in diameter, each occupied by a microtubule. Filaments are occasionally seen bridging the gap between the microtubule and the edge of the pore. The membranes of the septa are continuous with longitudinal membranous tubules. In small- and medium-sized axons the septa are continuous across the axon, while in large axons they seem to be intact only at the periphery as annuli. It is suggested that such structures be called "fenestrated septa." With horseradish peroxidase as a tracer, no communication between the septal lumen and the periaxonal space was found.
The strategic use of managerial incentives in a non-profit firm mixed duopoly

A mixed duopoly setting is examined where a private non-profit firm (NPO) competes with a private profit-maximizer. The NPO's stakeholders select a contract for their managers. A novel NPO objective function is utilized which takes into account all the likely returns to the NPO's stakeholders (NPO profits and the surplus accruing to the NPO stakeholders) in such a commercial setting. In sub-game perfect equilibria, it is shown that the NPO's managers generally will not be given the NPO's true objective to optimize. It is also shown that aggregate social welfare may increase or decrease due to this managerial contracting behavior or the use of NPO membership fees. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mollwo-Ivey relations for the alkaline earth oxides and fluorides

Abstract The Mollwo-Ivey power law is found to be valid for the F and F' center transitions in the alkaline earth oxides with exponents of 2.4 and 3.2 respectively. In the fluorides the exponents is found to be 2.4 for the F band. Curvature reported earlier, results from an incorrect assignment of the BaO and BaF2 transitions.
Sorption–desorption behavior of phenanthrene elucidated by pyrolysis–gas chromatography-mass spectrometry studies of soil organic matter

Commonly used partitioning models of hydrophobic organic contaminant sorption in soil, which treat all soil organic matter (SOM) as having identical structure, are unable to explain differences in organic carbon-normalized sorption coefficients (K OC ) among sorbents, isotherm nonlinearity, and sorption-desorption hysteresis. This study relates one index of SOM composition, structural fragments quantified by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, to aqueous and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO 2 ) sorption-desorption parameters. Results show positive correlations between aqueous K OC s and hydrocarbon fragment peak areas and negative correlation to N- and O-containing peaks, which is consistent with hypotheses attributing sorption of phenanthrene to hydrophobic sorbent domains. Positive correlation between Freundlich n values in SC CO 2 and hydrocarbon fragments with negative correlation to N- and O-containing fragments suggests that energetic heterogeneity of polar environments controls nonlinearity in this solvent of limited polarity. Aqueous sorption-desorption hysteresis appears to be surpressed by N- and O-containing moieties and correlates with decreased thermal desorption of phenanthrene at 800°C. The SC CO 2 extraction efficiency and, to a lesser degree, the desorption response when methanol is added as a cosolvent indicate that polar functional groups play a role in retarding phenanthrene desorption during SC CO 2 extraction. Organic matter pyrolysis under varying time and temperature conditions indicates that pyrolysis fragments that do not significantly correlate with functional trends likely evolve by a different pyrolytic mechanism and are generally poorly correlated with sorption-desorption properties. The level of structural detail utilized in structure-function correlations in this work exceeds previous efforts to relate sorption behavior to sorbent structure. However, the work reveals that certain sorption parameters, notably Freundlich n values in aqueous systems, require even more detailed characterization of sorbent structures.
Scheduling on a two-machine flowshop subject to random breakdowns with a makespan objective function

Abstract Two-machine flowshop scheduling problems have been discussed in the literature extensively under the assumption that machines are continuously available. We address the problem of minimizing makespan in a two-machine flowshop when the machines are subject to random breakdowns. We first show that it is sufficient to consider the same sequence of the jobs on each machine. After providing an elimination criterion for minimizing makespan with probability 1, we show that under appropriate conditions Johnson's algorithm stochastically minimizes makespan.
Role of a pediatric department chair: factors leading to satisfaction and burnout.

Objective To determine factors associated with satisfaction and burnout in pediatric department chairs. Study design A 1-time online survey of 250 current and former pediatric chairs who were members of Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs anytime between 1993 and 2005. The questionnaire included demographics, satisfaction levels, stress experienced, and time spent on various work activities. We also included the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey and the abbreviated Workplace Climate Questionnaire. Burnout was defined as high scores on the depersonalization or emotional exhaustion subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey. Results Our response rate was 62%; most chairs (65%) reported being very satisfied with their job. Approximately 30% of chairs for 5 years ( P 1 night worked per week (OR, 5.9; 95% CI, 1.5-22.9), high workload (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3-6.7), and lack of supportive work environment (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.2). Conclusion Steps should be taken to decrease burnout in chairs, including policies that promote physician well being as integral to successful departments.
A Case of Sudden, Painless, and Persistent Urinary Incontinence

Abstract Background Urinary incontinence is not a common emergency department (ED) complaint, and it is hard to imagine that a case involving this complaint could turn out to be interesting. We report the case of a patient who presented with the complaint of sudden onset of painless urinary incontinence for 1 day, who had an unexpected diagnosis. Objectives To describe a case of incontinence with an unexpected diagnosis and to review the various causes of incontinence. Case Report A 52-year-old woman with a history of kidney stones recently treated with lithotripsy, nephrostomy tubes, and ureteral stents, presented to the ED complaining of new-onset incontinence. The patient had awakened on the morning of presentation with urinary incontinence that persisted throughout the day. On examination she had normal vital signs, and other than a functioning nephrostomy tube, she had a normal examination. In addition to a urinalysis, a KUB (kidney, ureter, and bladder) X-ray study was performed, which showed that her recently placed right ureteral stent had migrated from its original location into the urethra. The stent was found by the urologist protruding from the urethral meatus and removed without difficulty. The patient’s incontinence resolved immediately after the stent was removed. Conclusion Emergency physicians frequently see patients with ureteral stents, but may not be aware of how frequently those stents can migrate or malfunction. Our experience suggests that radiologic determination of stent location may be helpful in patients who present with new-onset stress or overflow incontinence.
Insulin receptor substrate proteins create a link between the tyrosine phosphorylation cascade and the Ca2+-ATPases in muscle and heart.

Abstract Following phosphorylation by the insulin receptor kinase, the insulin receptor substrates (IRS)-1 and IRS-2 bind to and activate several Src homology 2 (SH2) domain proteins. To identify novel proteins that interact with IRS proteins in muscle, a human skeletal muscle cDNA expression library was created in the λEXlox system and probed with baculovirus-produced and tyrosine-phosphorylated human IRS-1. One clone of the 10 clones which was positive through three rounds of screening represented the C terminus of the human homologue of the adult fast twitch skeletal muscle Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA1) including the cytoplasmic tail and part of transmembrane region 10. Western blot analysis of extracts of rat muscle demonstrated co-immunoprecipitation of both IRS-1 and IRS-2 with the skeletal muscle Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA1) and the cardiac muscle isoform (SERCA2). In both cases, injection of insulin stimulated a 2- to 6-fold increase in association of which was maximal within 5 min. In primary cultures of aortic smooth muscle cells and C2C12 cells, the insulin-stimulated interaction between IRS proteins and SERCA1 and -2 was dose-dependent with a maximum induction at 100 nm insulin. This interaction was confirmed in a “pull down” experiment using a glutathioneS-transferase fusion protein containing the C terminus of the human SERCA isoform and phosphorylated IRS-1 in vitroand could be blocked by a FLVRES-like domain peptide present in the human SERCA sequence. Affinity chromatography of phosphopeptide libraries using the glutathione S-transferase fusion protein of the C terminus of SERCA1 indicated a consensus sequence for binding of XpYGSS; this is identical to potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites at position 431 of human IRS-1 and at position 500 of human IRS-2. In streptozotocin diabetic rats the interaction between IRS proteins and SERCA1 in skeletal muscle and SERCA2 in cardiac muscle was significantly reduced. Taken together, these results indicate that the IRS proteins bind to the Ca2+-ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in an insulin-regulated fashion, thus creating a potential link between the tyrosine phosphorylation cascade and effects of insulin on calcium.
Steelhead Migration: Potential Temperature Effects as Indicated by Gill Adenosine Triphosphatase Activities

Yearling steelhead trout held in fresh water at cold temperatures (6.5° or 10°C) showed an increase in gill microsomal Na+, K+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity during parr-smolt transformation, whereas trout held in warm water (15° or 20°C) did not. Adenosine triphosphatase activity increased and other indications of transformation were observed in fish transferred from warm to cold water, whereas the reverse occurred on transfer from cold to warm water.
Neutron-Capture Cross Sections by Capture-Gamma Counting

A method is described for determining neutron capture cross sections and locating capture resonances by capture gamma counting. Breit-Wigner parameters for the strong resonance in cadmium are determined to be ${E}_{0}=0.177$ ev, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{c0}=7600$ barns, $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=0.110$ ev. Resonances have been found in cadmium at 19 and 28 ev with evidence of unresolved resonances at about 100 ev and above; ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{c0}\ensuremath{\Gamma}\ensuremath{\cong}3$ barn-ev for the 19-ev level, and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{c0}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}^{2}\ensuremath{\cong}9$ barn ${(\mathrm{ev})}^{2}$ for the 28-ev level. Comparison transmission measurements on cadmium show the capture-gamma method to be quicker and more sensitive under some circumstances than transmission measurements for locating weak capture levels. Factors affecting the relative sensitivity of the two methods are discussed. A resonance was found in strontium at 3.58 ev; its strength (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{c0}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}^{2}$) is approximately 8 barn-${(\mathrm{ev})}^{2}$. Resonances were found in barium at energies of 25, 93 and 380 ev, with strengths (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{c0}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}^{2}$) estimated to be 8, 90, and 550 barn ${(\mathrm{ev})}^{2}$, respectively. Measurements on a thick silver sample show that the method can be used to measure $\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{c}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{t}}$ through a resonance over a fairly large range of values of transmission and cross sections. The strength of the 5.13-ev resonance in silver is determined to be ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{c0}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}^{2}=345\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30$ barn ${(\mathrm{ev})}^{2}$.
Changes in Yield and Seed Growth Traits in Soybean Cultivars Released in the Southern USA from 1945 to 1983

The successive release of new cuitivars over time implies that crop yield, and perhaps the physiological traits which influence it, have been improved or altered. For soybean [ (L.) Merr] cultivars released in the southern USA, there is little information on the impact of cultivar improvement on physiological traits. The objectives of our studies were to (i) estimate the genetic change in seed yield relative to year of cultivar release for a set of cultivars released over nearly a 40-yr period, and (ii) assess what concomitant changes occurred in the above-ground biomass at the beginning of seed growth, dates of reproductive stage R5 (beginning seed-fill) and R7 (physiological maturity), final harvest index, dry matter allocation during seed growth, and seed filling duration. Eighteen determinate soybean cultivars of Maturity Groups (MG) VI through VIII released in USA from 1945 to 1983 were field tested in eight environments, four in Florida and four in Argentina. Annual rates of genetic gain in seed yield were significant and positive in only two U.S. environments (1.59 and 1.87 g m yr). The newest cultivars exhibited superior yields over the oldest cultivars only within MG VII and VIII, when the analysis included all four USA environments. In Argentina, no increase in yield was observed in relation to year of cultivar release, even in an environment where the mean seed yield exceeded 4000kg ha, which was 73% higher than the best USA trial. In fact, some of the oldest released cultivars were found to have the highest yields in the Argentina environments. None of the physiological traits measured at the USA locations were found to change appreciably with year of cultivar release. In fact, seed yield within and across environments was not found to be consistently associated with any of the measured seed growth traits. Seemingly, a number of alternatives for combining seed growth traits have been used in the succession of released soybean cultivars.
Chemical Composition and Physical Characteristics of Unpopped Popcorn Hybrids

Abstract Kernel number, individual kernel weight, individual kernel volume, crude fat, crude protein, reducing sugars, starch content, amylose/amylopectin ratio and fatty acid composition were determined for six popcorn hybrids, grown in Colorado or Nebraska and harvested in 1997. The popcorn hybrids were A358W, 353W, BKH, 019, 1601 and 5501. Also, popcorn hybrids were categorized based on their popped color and popped shape as hybrid types, where A358W and 353W were white butterfly-type popcorn hybrids, BKH and 019 were yellow butterfly-type hybrids and 1601 and 5501 were yellow mushroom-type hybrids. Yellow mushroom hybrids showed significantly fewer number of kernels than the white and yellow butterfly-type hybrids. The number of kernels per 250 g of popcorn hybrids at 14% moisture content ranged from 1454 to 2219. Individual kernel weight of the popcorn hybrids ranged from a low mean of 112.6 mg for hybrid 353W to a high mean of 172.0 mg for hybrid 1601. Individual kernel volume of popcorn hybrids containing 14% moisture ranged from a low mean of 0.130 cm 3 for hybrid 353W to a high mean of 0.200 cm 3 for hybrid 1601. The popcorn hybrids contained 3.8–4.6% crude fat, 8.1–10.5% crude protein, 0.07–0.23% reducing sugars and 61.0–67.9% starch, in which 27.0–28.5% of the starch was amylose. Individual kernel volume (size of the kernel) was correlated with starch content ( r =0.84). Fat content was highly correlated with starch content ( r =−0.82). Popcorn hybrids contained on an average approximately 12.6% palmitic, 2.0% stearic, 25.5% oleic, 58.4% linoleic and 1.5% linolenic acids, respectively. The major fatty acids in the popcorn hybrids were linoleic and oleic acids.
Is Internalized Homonegativity Related to Body Image

The authors examined relationships among internalized homonegativity, body image, eating disturbance, and self-esteem of gay men. Internalized homonegativity is believed to be experienced by all gay men and is tied to self-esteem, which is a factor in the etiology of eating disorders and body image disturbance. It was hypothesized that internalized homonegativity would predict body image, self-esteem, and eating disturbance. A total of 213 gay men participated in an online survey that used established measures. Results showed that specific components of internalized homonegativity predict body image, self-esteem, and bulimic behaviors. Findings imply that internalized homonegativity is a viable link for assessing body image and self-esteem among gay men. This study adds new dimension to the literature by linking internalized homonegativity with body image and by demonstrating a specific component of internalized homonegativity as predicting the variables tested. Future research and limitations are discussed.
Private costs and public benefits: unraveling the effects of altruism and noisy behavior

An increase in the common marginal value of a public good has two effects: it increases the benefit of a contribution to others, and it reduces the net cost of making a contribution. These two effects can be decomposed by letting a contribution have an "internal" return for oneself that differs from the "external" return to someone else (Carter et al., 1992). We use this framework in a series of one-shot public goods games in which subjects make choices in ten treatments with no feedback. Contributions are generally increasing in the external return and group size, which suggests that altruism in this context is not simply of the "warm glow" variety, i.e. giving only for the sake of giving. Contributions are also increasing in the internal return, indicating that decisions are sensitive to the costs of helping others. We specify a logit equilibrium model in which individuals are motivated by own and others' earnings, and in which choice is stochastic. Maximum likelihood estimates of (representative-agent) altruism and logit parameters are significant and of reasonable magnitudes, and the resulting two-parameter model tracks the pattern of contributions across the ten treatments. A richer model reveals some differences in individual altruism coefficients, with more dispersion among male subjects.
Characterization of a resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing process

Resistive ribbon thermal transfer printers transfer ink from a ribbon to paper as the result of localized Joule heating of the ribbon structure. For this printing process, this paper discusses the voltage-versus-current response of the electrode-ribbon current path, the temperature distributions throughout the ribbon structure, and the correlation of print response with electrical input power and average ribbon temperatures. Nominal input power per electrode is approximately 190 mW. For input power near this level, thermal models predict that ribbon materials which pass directly under energized electrodes reach the highest temperatures; the hottest zone in the ribbon surrounds the composite-aluminum interface. Approximately 0.1 mm downstream from the electrodes, the heated ribbon materials come to nearly constant temperature. The area of the printed image correlates with this average ribbon temperature and input power.
Task feedback effects on conflict monitoring and executive control: Relationship to subclinical measures of depression.

Emerging evidence suggests that depression is associated with executive dysfunction, particularly after committing errors or receiving negative performance feedback. To test this hypothesis, 57 participants performed two executive tasks known to elicit errors (the Simon and Stroop Tasks) during positive or negative performance feedback. Participants with elevated depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory scores >or= 13) were characterized by impaired posterror and postconflict performance adjustments, especially during emotionally negative task-related feedback. Additionally, for both tasks, depressive symptoms were inversely related to postconflict reaction time adjustments following negative, but not positive, feedback. These findings suggest that subclinical depression is associated with impairments in behavioral adjustments after internal (perceived failure) and external feedback about deficient task performance.
Boundary Mixing and Topographic Blocking on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the South Atlantic*

Abstract It is commonly observed in hydrographic sections crossing midocean ridges that the isopycnals on the ridge flanks slope downward toward the crests. Although the observed vertical scales of isopycnal dipping are not consistent with steady diffusive boundary layers on slopes, the cross-flank density gradients can nevertheless be caused by diapycnal mixing acting on timescales of several years. The corresponding pressure gradients are usually inferred to be associated with cyclonic along-flank flows. Recent observations of southward flow along the highly corrugated western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 20°S are inconsistent with this conceptual picture, however. Data from seven zonal cross-ridge sections and from four meridional along-ridge sections were used to analyze the hydrography on the flanks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 2°N and 30°S. The majority of the hydrographic stations were occupied over deep cross-flank canyons, which extend over a total length of ∼90 000 km in the tropica...
Local mass transfer measurements in an inclined enclosure at high Rayleigh number

An electrochemical technique is used to study local mass transfer coefficients on surfaces of inclined enclosures over the range 1.1×104 < RaH < 1.4×1010 for a nominal Schmidt number of 2280. Scaling with gcosθ instead of g in the Rayleigh number correlates the data well at low angles of inclination; however, as either the aspect ratio or the angle of inclination increase, the longitudinal density stratification causes the data to deviate from a power law scaling.
Expression and function of integrin α4β1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) during sympathetic innervation of the heart

The interaction between the integrin α4β1 receptor on superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in cardiac tissue has been implicated in proper development of the sympathetic innervation of the heart (Wingerd et al. [2002] J Neurosci 22:10772–10780). In this study, we examined the expression and function of α4β1 and VCAM-1 in developing rat SCG and heart. In vitro, the α4β1-dependent neurite outgrowth on VCAM-1 decreased by approximately 50% from postnatal day 1 to 6. This down-regulation was correlated with a shift in α4 isoform and a shift in α4 localization from neurites to cell bodies. This altered localization was also observed in vivo but on a different time scale. α4 was detected on most developing SCG neurons and on macrophages and blood vessels. In the heart, α4 was detected on sympathetic axons, but the percentage of α4-positive fibers decreased with age. VCAM-1 immunoreactivity was abundant in heart tissue throughout development, in close proximity to sympathetic axons. The regulation of α4β1 function, and localization of α4 and VCAM-1, are consistent with a role for the α4β1–VCAM-1 interaction in extension of sympathetic axons into the myocardium. Developmental Dynamics 231:359–369, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Effect of CXCL12 Processing on CD34+ Cell Migration in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and polycythemia vera (PV) are chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms. PMF and, to a lesser degree, PV are characterized by constitutive mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and progenitor cells (HPC) into the peripheral blood (PB). The interaction between the chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 plays a pivotal role in determining the trafficking of CD34(+) cells between the bone marrow (BM) and the PB. PMF, but not PV, is associated with downregulation of CXCR4 by CD34(+) cells due to epigenetic events. Both PV and PMF patients have elevated levels of immunoreactive forms of CXCL12 in the BM and PB. Using electrospray mass spectrometry, the PB and BM plasma of PV and PMF patients was shown to contain reduced amounts of intact CXCL12 but significant amounts of several truncated forms of CXCL12, which are lacking in normal PB and BM plasma. These truncated forms of CXCL12 are the product of the action of several serine proteases, including dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, neutrophil elastase, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and cathepsin G. Unlike CXCL12, these truncates either lack the ability to act as a chemoattractant for CD34(+) cells and/or act as an antagonist to the action of CXCL12. These data suggest that proteolytic degradation of CXCL12 is characteristic of both PV and PMF and that the resulting truncated forms of CXCL12, in addition to the reduced expression of CXCR4 by CD34(+) cells, lead to a profound mobilization of HSC/HPC in PMF.
Response to "When can AQP4 assist transporter-mediated K⁺ uptake?".

We thank [Hertz et al.][1] for their comments and suggestions in this issue regarding alternative mechanisms that might be involved in the apparent coupling of K+ and water in brain extracellular space (ECS). The mechanism examined in our model ([Jin et al., 2013][2]) is based on simple physical
BUILDING LABOR'S POWER IN CALIFORNIA: RAISING STANDARDS AND EXPANDING CAPACITY AMONG CENTRAL LABOR COUNCILS, THE STATE LABOR FEDERATION, AND UNION AFFILIATES

Union leaders in California have been engaged in an ongoing strategic planning process to build labor's power in the nation's largest state. This effort is being driven by a leadership committee of the California Labor Federation, which was established in 2004, after unions lost a strategically important ballot initiative by less than 1 percent of the votes cast. What began as a critical analysis of that political setback has since evolved into a systematic effort to identify and overcome weaknesses in the state's labor movement, to develop a common and coherent program for organized labor, to articulate standards and benchmarks to guide power building in California, and to encourage greater unity of purpose among various labor organizations across the state. The experience of California's unions provides an important model that other state labor movements should study and replicate wherever possible.
PD-1HIGH Follicular CD4 T Helper Cell Subsets Residing in Lymph Node Germinal Centers Correlate with B Cell Maturation and IgG Production in Rhesus Macaques

Follicular CD4+ T helper (TFH) cells guide development and maturation of B cells and are crucial for effective antibody responses. Here we found rhesus macaque TFH cells, defined as CXCR5+CD4 T cells, contain two major populations: PD-1INT and PD-1HIGH cells. Of these, PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells highly co-express ICOS but little CCR7, and reside in lymph node germinal centers, but not in blood. These cells secrete IL-21 and express transcriptional factor-Bcl-6 at higher levels than CXCR5+PD-1INTCD4+ T cells. In addition, the frequency of PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells is low in lymph nodes of newborns, but increases with age. Levels of PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells correlate with mature B cells in lymph nodes, and PD-1 blockade in PD-1HIGHCD4+T and B cell co-cultures significantly inhibits IgG production. In summary, PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells residing in GC represent a specific TFH subset that contributes to maturation of B cells and IgG production.
The pediatric surgeon–patient relationship

Though technical aspects of surgical practice are commonly emphasized, communication is the most frequent “procedure” employed by surgeons. A good patient–physician relationship enhances the quality of surgical care by improving outcomes and patient and family satisfaction. There are general principles that can enhance communication with all children and families. Employing a developmentally sensitive approach that adjusts communication style based on a child's cognitive abilities and emotional concerns can further enhance the relationship with children of different ages. These communication skills can be learned and are improved by practice and self-reflection.