cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive impact of a grade school field trip

The purposes of this study were to design and conduct a three-hour field experience for third and fourth graders on forestry and forest products and to determine the cognitive effects of participation in this field trip on the children. Approximately 700 third and fourth graders participated. These students were tested prior to the field experience, posttested within a week following the trip, and tested again three months after the field experience. Significant differences (p <.05) were found between the pre-and posttests. There was less than a half-point loss in mean scores after retesting three months later. Students not only increased their knowledge after participating in this experience, but they retained that knowledge. Possible reasons for these cognitive gains are offered and discussed.
Lipid Content in the Primary Leaf of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) After Ozone Fumigation

Summary Phospholipid composition was monitored in the primary leaves of 15-day-old pinto bean plants ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (age of maximum sensitivity) after exposure to ozone. At threshold doses, which produce spotting and flecking over 15-20 % of leaf surface area (0.3 µ/1 for 1 h), no significant losses of total lipid phosphate or individual fatty acids occurred for up to 24 h. No change in phospholipid composition (based upon mole percent) was noted for up to 5 h after treatment. After 5 h, there is relatively less PG and more PE in ozone-treated leaves. The molar ratio of galactolipids remained unchanged throughout the 24-h period. Exposure of leaves to 0.5 µ1/1 ozone, which induces necrotic regions covering greater than 50 % of the leaf surface area, caused no initial change in phospholipid composition. After 3-5 h, however, loss in PG and gain in PE exceeded the changes produced by the lower ozone doses. There is a significant decrease in the MGDG/DGDG molar ratio by 24 h. Thus, exposure of bean leaves to ozone causes only small alterations in PE and PG lipids, alterations which occur several hours after exposure. Such lipid changes are consistent with the loss of general cellular function, but are not the initial result of ozone exposure.
South African Zulu Widows in a Time of Poverty and Social Change

Interviews were carried out with 16 South African Zulu widows. Much of what the widows had to say seemed like what one might hear from widows in economically developed countries, but there were also striking differences. All the widows lived in poverty, and for some their grief seemed much more about the poverty than about the husband's death. Most widows observed a year of traditional ukuzila mourning practices, which made them a threat to others and which is difficult to carry out in the social upheaval of modern South Africa. Widowhood was in some cases a struggle with witchcraft--as cause of the death or as an accusation directed at the widow.
Differential expression of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptors in mouse pancreatic alpha and beta cells in two models of alpha cell hyperplasia

Glucose homeostasis is determined by a balance between insulin and glucagon, produced by beta and alpha cells of the pancreas respectively. The levels of circulating hormones is partly determined by the mass of these two endocrine cell types. However, in contrast to s cells, the identity of the signals regulating alpha cell number is not known. Mice with a global deletion of the glucagon receptor (Gcgr−/−) and mice with ablation of prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), the enzyme involved in the conversion of proglucagon into mature glucagon, develop alpha cell hyperplasia. These observations and the fact that Gcgr−/− mice exhibit high levels of circulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) suggested that members of the glucagon family of peptides could be directly involved in the regulation of alpha cell number. In this study we sought to determine whether alpha cells express receptors for Gcgr and/or the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1r). We examined the expression of these receptors in islets of Gcgr−/−, PC2−/− mice and control littermates, in an alpha (αTC1/9) and in a beta (βTC3) cell line. Gcgr was expressed exclusively by islet beta cells, but not by alpha cells, of the two lines of mice lacking glucagon signaling. Similarly, sTC but not αTC cells, expressed Gcgr. The expression of GLP-1r by alpha cells was determined by the genotype and age of the mice. In embryos, GLU+ cells of Gcgr+/+ mice cells express GLP-1r during early development, but not in adults. In contrast, alpha cells of Gcgr−/− mice were GLP-1r+ throughout life, reflecting the immature state of GLU+ cells when Gcgr is deleted. Unlike alpha cells, beta cells of all mice lines examined initiate GLP-1r expression after birth. These results suggest that GLP-1 may affect the maturation of postnatal but not prenatal beta cells. In addition, they also suggest that the incretin could mediate alpha cell proliferation, inducing the development of alpha cell hyperplasia in Gcgr−/− mice.
Differential modulation of dibenzo[def,p]chrysene transplacental carcinogenesis: Maternal diets rich in indole-3-carbinol versus sulforaphane

Cruciferous vegetable components have been documented to exhibit anticancer properties. Targets of action span multiple mechanisms deregulated during cancer progression, ranging from altered carcinogen metabolism to the restoration of epigenetic machinery. Furthermore, the developing fetus is highly susceptible to changes in nutritional status and to environmental toxicants. Thus, we have exploited a mouse model of transplacental carcinogenesis to assess the impact of maternal dietary supplementation on cancer risk in offspring. In this study, transplacental and lactational exposure to a maternal dose of 15mg/Kg B.W. of dibenzo[def,p]chrysene (DBC) resulted in significant morbidity of offspring due to an aggressive T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. As in previous studies, indole-3-carbinol (I3C, feed to the dam at 100, 500 or 1000ppm), derived from cruciferous vegetables, dose-dependently reduced lung tumor multiplicity and also increased offspring survival. Brussels sprout and broccoli sprout powders, selected for their relative abundance of I3C and the bioactive component sulforaphane (SFN), respectively, surprisingly enhanced DBC-induced morbidity and tumorigenesis when incorporated into the maternal diet at 10% wt/wt. Purified SFN, incorporated in the maternal diet at 400ppm, also decreased the latency of DBC-dependent morbidity. Interestingly, I3C abrogated the effect of SFN when the two purified compounds were administered in equimolar combination (500ppm I3C and 600ppm SFN). SFN metabolites measured in the plasma of neonates positively correlated with exposure levels via the maternal diet but not with offspring mortality. These findings provide justification for further study of the safety and bioactivity of cruciferous vegetable phytochemicals at supplemental concentrations during the perinatal period.
The impact on behavioral training upon the knowledge and effectiveness of juvenile probation officers and volunteers

The feasibility of studying the effects of behavioral training for probation workers upon both the workers and their probationers was examined by randomly assigning ten probation officers and volunteers to a training group and a control group. Pre-and post-tests were administered to assess the knowledge and competence of the probation workers, various kinds of problem behaviors that the workers and parents observed in the delinquent youth, and various kinds of problem behaviors that the youth observed in themselves. The training included both didactic and experiential elements. The behavioral training significantly improved the knowledge and the competetnce of the probation workers and significantly decreased the number of problem behaviors observed by both the workers and the parents. No evidence was found that the workers' behavioral training affected the number of problem behaviors that the youth observed in themselves. The difficulties of conducting such a study are discussed along with recommendations for addressing these difficulties in future research.
Field comparison of passive air samplers with reference monitors for ambient volatile organic compounds and nitrogen dioxide under week-long integrals

This study evaluates performance of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and volatile organic compound (VOC) passive samplers with corresponding reference monitors at two sites in the Detroit, Michigan area during the summer of 2005. Ogawa passive NO2 samplers and custom-made, re-useable Perkin-Elmer (PE) tubes with Carbopack X sorbent for VOCs were deployed under week-long sampling periods for six weeks. Precise results (5% relative standard deviation, RSD) were found for NO2 measurements from collocated Ogawa samplers. Reproducibility was also good for duplicate PE tubes for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX species, all ≤ 6% RSD). As seen in previous studies, comparison of Ogawa NO2 samplers with reference chemiluminescence measurements suggested good agreement. Generally good agreement was also found between the PE tubes and reference methods for BTEX species.
Transient behavior of diffusion-induced creep and creep rupture

Steady state solutions to three types of diffusion problems: creep, grain boundary sliding and intergranular crack growth, have been published in the literature. This paper considers, in detail, the events which occur between the time when the external stress is applied and the time when the steady state is eventually reached. The time constant of the transient has been calculated. It is shown how the grain boundary tractions change with time from the initial “elastic” configuration (when sliding has been elastically accommodated) to the steady state “diffusional” configuration (when the sliding rate is diffusionally accommodated). This requires infusion of excess grain boundary dislocations; the distribution of these dislocations is calculated. The results are applied to problems of diffusional creep, grain boundary sliding and intergranular crack growth.
Linear-time computation of optimal subgraphs of decomposable graphs

Abstract A general problem in computational graph theory is that of finding an optimal subgraph H of a given weighted graph G . The matching problem (which is easy) and the traveling salesman problem (which is not) are well-known examples of this general problem. In the literature one can also find a variety of ad hoc algorithms for solving certain special cases in linear time. We suggest a general approach for constructing linear-time algorithms in the case where the graph G is defined by certain rules of composition (as are trees, series-parallel graphs, and outerplanar graphs) and the desired subgraph H satisfies a property that is “regular” with respect to these rules of composition (as do matchings, dominating sets, and independent sets for all the classes just mentioned). This approach is applied to obtain a linear-time algorithm for computing the irredundance number of a tree, a problem for which no polynomial-time algorithm was previously known.
The Architectural Metaphor as a Foundation for Systems Engineering

Over the history of systems engineering, there have been numerous attempts to establish the foundations of that field on other disciplines. In this paper, we explore a new approach, founding systems engineering on an architectural metaphor. This approach is based upon our work of the past five years to establish a discipline of systems architecture. We outline the key principles of our approach and discuss their relevance to the broader field of systems engineering.
Vibrational spectroscopy and mode assignments for an analog of the green fluorescent protein chromophore

Abstract Infrared absorption (IR), Raman, and resonance Raman spectra have been obtained from 500 to 1700 cm −1 for 4-hydroxybenzylidene-2,3-dimethyl-imidazolinone (HBDI), an analog of the green-fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore. Numerous transitions are evident in both the IR and Raman spectra, with the resonance Raman spectrum of HBDI dominated by a subset of transitions in the 1430–1700 cm −1 region. Assignment of the transitions in this frequency region to the corresponding normal coordinates is accomplished through computational studies employing density functional and Hartree–Fock theory. The computational results indicate that the vibrational transitions in this frequency range are dominated by in-plane stretching modes that are localized to the imidazolinone or tyrosine portions of the chromophore, rather than being delocalized over the entire chromophore. No evidence is obtained for significant excited-state structural evolution along the O–H stretching coordinate. The implications of these findings with respect to the excited-state proton transfer dynamics of GFP are discussed.
Design That Enables Diversity: The Complications of a Planning Ideal

This article reviews the literature on place diversity and the quest to use design to promote social and economic mix in human settlements. The article fits together a large literature on the subje...
The volumetric method for petroleum resource estimation

The volumetric method for estimating amounts of undiscovered oil and gas resources is superior to areal value abundance and straight Delphi estimation. It is possibly inferior to deposit modeling, the comparison being tenuous because of the difficulty in defining the boundary between the 2 methods--volumetric and modeling. All other oil and gas is inferior to integrated synthesis, which presumably chooses only the strongest elements from each. The chief advantage of straight volumetric analysis, as exemplified by Mallory (1975), is its simplicity, objectivity, and versatility with respect to data aggregation. The virtue of the integrated approach, for which volumetric calculations are significant input, is the variety of techniques utilized in the attempt to gain full understanding of the rock sequence and its contained hydrocarbons. 34 references.
Reclassification of patients for aggressive cholesterol treatment: additive value of multislice coronary angiography to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.

Background: National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines have been used to define treatment goals in patients with hypercholesterolemia. However, epidemiology-based guidelines are unable to identify all subjects with coronary artery disease for aggressive lipid intervention. Objective: We sought to evaluate the additive value of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiography to the NCEP guideline classification for lipid treatment. Methods: Multislice computed tomography was performed in 114 consecutive patients (mean age57±14 y; 59% male) without known coronary artery disease. Subjects were classified into 3 categories (low-, intermediate-, and high-risk) according to their Framingham risk scores (FRS). Results: Traditional cardiac risk factors were common: hypertension 59%, diabetes 13%, and smoking 22%. On the basis of the FRS, 11% (n = 12/114) of the patients met high-risk criteria requiring aggressive cholesterol reduction. Of those in the low- and intermediate-risk groups, MSCT found coronary plaque in 76% (n = 77/102), with moderate or severe plaque in 38% (n = 39/102), thus reclassifying them in the high-risk category. Use of statin drugs increased from 32% at baseline to 53% (p = 0.002) based on MSCT results; statin dose was increased in 31% of the patients who were already on a statin. The mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) decreased from 114 mg/dL to 91 mg/dL after MSCT (p<0.001). Conclusion: Multislice computed tomography reclassifies a high percentage of patients considered to be lowto intermediate-risk into the high-risk category based on their coronary artery lesions. Thus, the rise in MSCT use at present may have a large impact on clinician practice patterns in lipid-lowering therapy.
Three-Dimensional FDTD Simulation of Nonlinear Ferroelectric Materials in Rectangular Waveguide

Nonlinear transmission lines have numerous applications in the communications and defense industries due to their ability to form and propagate short-duration ultrawideband pulses. This paper simulates a short-duration Gaussian transient exciting low-order TEm,0 modes in a nonlinear ferroelectric-filled conducting waveguide. A 3-D finite-difference time-domain simulation is employed in the analysis, and the ferroelectric-filled waveguide model is based on a nonlinear polarization relationship extrapolated from measurements. A small portion of the frequency band operates in the nonlinear polarization region. These components will propagate at higher velocity than lower amplitude components, and this effect counteracts dispersion and results in compression of the pulses into solitons as they propagate.
THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY CARBOHYDRATE LEVELS ON PROTEIN UTILIZATION IN THE AMERICAN LOBSTER (Homarus americanus)

The protein sparing action of dietary carbohydrate levels in formulated feeds for the American lobster has been investigated. The formulated feeds were pelletized shrimp meal based feeds varying in both protein content (16.7–23.3%) and carbohydrate content (22.9–31.3%) and the protein: carbohydrate ratio (0.5-1.0). Respiration rates, ammonia excretion rates, O:N ratios and protein efficiency ratios of post-larval lobsters fed the various formulated feeds were compared with lobsters fed brine shrimp (Artemia salina; 51% protein, P:C ratio = 5.1). Respiration rates measured immediately after feeding were highest among lobsters fed brine shrimp and were ˜37% higher than the standard respiration rates measured 24 hours later. There were no significant differences in respiration rates of lobsters fed the three formulated feeds. Ammonia excretion rates measured in the four groups of lobsters were directly correlated with the protein level of each feed; however, the O:N ratios and protein efficiency ratios for each group were inversely correlated with the protein level of each feed. The increase in these parameters with decreasing protein levels in the formulated feeds is a strong indication of the increased dependence on dietary carbohydrate as an energy source in post-larval lobsters.
H 2 Antagonist-induced thrombocytopenia: is this a real phenomenon?

Critically ill patients routinely receive H(2) antagonists for stress ulcer prophylaxis while at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding. In these patients it is often difficult to assess accurately the cause of adverse effects such as thrombocytopenia. We evaluate the literature to better define thrombocytopenia related to H(2) antagonist administration and discuss mechanism, potential as a risk factor and case reports describing the severity and duration of thrombocytopenia.
Labor Market Effects from Involuntary Job Losses in Layoffs, Plant Closings: The Role of Human Capital in Facilitating Reemployment and Reduced Wage Losses

Abstract. Wage loss and reemployment following involuntary Job loss are examined, using a nationally representative sample of young men and women in their late twenties. Workers with increased human capital are less likely to suffer wage loss and unemployment after job termination. Workers characterized as having little commitment to the labor market—low skill levels, clerical and sales workers, females, and low contributors to family income—are more likely to suffer unemployment and wage loss after job loss. This suggests that human capital characteristics serve as a signal of desirable, or undesirable, worker traits to a new firm.
Persistent postsurgical pain after abdominal surgery

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) syndrome has received recognition in literature for over a decade, yet preventive measures are limited in the perioperative period. Given the large number of abdominal surgeries performed worldwide, CPSP presents both social and economic burden on society. The incidence of CPSP varies between 15% and 30% after minor and major abdominal or pelvic procedures. Intraoperative nerve damage and severe acute postoperative pain are two main predictors of CPSP. Central sensitization may be an underlying mechanism behind CPSP. Because the same pathway has been proposed to cause wound hyperalgesia, studies have proposed using multimodal analgesic techniques with ketamine and neuraxial anesthesia to reduce the incidence of CPSP after abdominal surgeries. Similarly, effective multimodal preemptive analgesia that blocks both the segmental and the heterosegmental nociceptive inputs (vagus, phrenic nerve) has been recommended to prevent central neuroplasticity. The focus of this review article is chronic pain after abdominal and pelvic surgery, highlighting issues unique to this surgical model.
The Genetics of Schizophrenia: A Review

Family, twin, and adoption studies have produced strong evidence that genes play a major role in schizophrenic conditions. These conventional approaches, however, are not able to reveal anything about the way in which genes influence that disease except that the family prevalence of schizophrenia is too low to fit a classical Mendelian transmission mode. New molecular biological techniques offer bright possibilities for identifying the chromosomal loci of genetic diseases, but these techniques rely for their effectiveness on a Mendelian distribution of the trait under investigation. We show how psychological methods can play a decisive role in making these new biological techniques available for the study of schizophrenia by expanding the phenotype (schizophrenia) to include associated behaviors that fit a model of transmission by major loci.
Prostate cancer: too much dogma, not enough data.

In our management of prostate cancer, dogma often outweighs real data. Well-designed, randomized clinical trials are the answer.
Family history and the risk of prostate cancer.

A case-control study was performed to estimate the relative risk of developing prostate cancer for men with a positive family history. Extensive cancer pedigrees were obtained on 691 men with prostate cancer and 640 spouse controls. Fifteen percent of the cases but only 8% of the controls had a father or brother affected with prostate cancer (P < .001). Men with a father or brother affected were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as men with no relatives affected. In addition, there was a trend of increasing risk with increasing number of affected family members such that men with two or three first degree relatives affected had a five and 11–fold increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Recognizing that 9–10% of U.S. men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, men with a family history of prostate cancer should be advised of their significantly increased prostate cancer risk and should undergo appropriate screening measures for this disease.
Stability effects in dendritic crystal growth

Abstract We propose that the maximum-velocity principle conventionally used in theories of dendritic crystal growth be replaced by a stability criterion of the form ʋρ 2 = constant, where ʋ is the growth velocity and ρ is the tip radius. Our argument is based on a linear stability analysis of the nearly-paraboloidal steady-state solution in the case of small but nonvanishing capillary. We find that dendrites which are too broad and slow suffer tip-splitting instabilities, whereas those which are too sharp and fast tend to broaden and slow down because of a side-branching instability. Our calculated operating point (with no free parameters) determines a curve of growth versus undercooling which is in substantial agreement with the data of Glicksman, Schaefer and Ayers.
Different responses of congeneric consumers to an exotic food resource: who gets the novel resource prize?

Exotic species can provide abundant food resources for native consumers, but predicting which native species will respond positively remains a challenge. We studied the foraging behavior of black-capped (Poecile atricapillus) and mountain (P. gambeli) chickadees in western Montana to compare the degree to which these congeric and syntopic consumers exploited larvae of Urophora, an exotic biological control insect living within the seedheads of the invasive forb, spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe). Chickadees typically forage within tree or shrub cover, whereas knapweed and hence Urophora larvae thrive in open grassland away from cover. We found that black-capped chickadees were much more likely than mountain chickadees to forage for Urophora. Black-capped chickadees strategically minimized time spent in open habitats by flying out from cover to retrieve knapweed seedheads and immediately returning to cover to extract the larvae. Black-capped chickadees also employed an atypical hovering technique nearly twice as often as their congeners did, particularly when foraging away from cover. Via this hovering technique, birds were able to gather knapweed seedheads from erect plants rather than searching for seedheads on the ground. These shifts in foraging behavior allowed black-capped chickadees to exploit Urophora larvae to a much greater degree than their congeners while minimizing exposure to a high-risk habitat, an outcome with potentially important community-wide consequences. Behavioral flexibility has been used to predict the success of invading species. We suggest that behavioral flexibility may also be used to predict how native species will respond to invasions, particularly the availability of exotic food resources.
Oxygen-Limiting Conditions Enrich for Fimbriate Cells of Uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli

MR/P fimbriae of uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis undergo invertible element-mediated phase variation whereby an individual bacterium switches between expressing fimbriae (phase ON) and not expressing fimbriae (phase OFF). Under different conditions, the percentage of fimbriate bacteria within a population varies and could be dictated by either selection (growth advantage of one phase) or signaling (preferentially converting one phase to the other in response to external signals). Expression of MR/P fimbriae increases in a cell-density dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. However, rather than the increased cell density itself, this increase in fimbrial expression is due to an enrichment of fimbriate bacteria under oxygen limitation resulting from increased cell density. Our data also indicate that the persistence of MR/P fimbriate bacteria under oxygen-limiting conditions is a result of both selection (of MR/P fimbrial phase variants) and signaling (via modulation of expression of the MrpI recombinase). Furthermore, the mrpJ transcriptional regulator encoded within the mrp operon contributes to phase switching. Type 1 fimbriae of Escherichia coli, which are likewise subject to phase variation via an invertible element, also increase in expression during reduced oxygenation. These findings provide evidence to support a mechanism for persistence of fimbriate bacteria under oxygen limitation, which is relevant to disease progression within the oxygen-restricted urinary tract.
Improving the Centralized Control of Thermostatically Controlled Appliances by Obtaining the Right Information

This letter presents a performance enhancement for a previously developed direct load control scheme that controls (toggles on/off) thermostatically controlled appliances (TCAs) through two-way communication infrastructure for providing load balancing services. In addition to device operating temperature and on/off status (TCA states), two more pieces of information, rates of temperature increase and decrease (RTI/RTD), are calculated at each TCA and communicated to the central controller. By communicating the RTI/RTD to the central controller, the same or even better control performance can be achieved at 2-3 times longer sampling periods, showing significant reduction of the communication needs from each TCA to the central controller.
Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of (π-allyl)palladium(II) wrap-around complexes with 1,3-dienes

Abstract Synthesis of a series of cationic “wrap-around” complexes, η3-, η2- (CH2–CH–CHR–CH2–CH2–CH CHX) Pd(II)L+ (R = H, CH3; X = H, Cl, CO2Me; L = PPh3, P(C4H4N)3), is described. These chelate complexes were prepared by exposure of π-allyl chloride dimers, (η3-(CH2-CX-CH2)PdCl)2, to either 1,3-butadiene or isoprene to yield π-allyl chloride dimers of the type (η3-CH2CHCRCH2CH2CH = CH(X)PdCl)2 which result from insertion of the diene into each π-allyl unit. Abstraction of chloride with either AgSbF6 or NaB(ArF)4 in the presence of L gives the cationic wrap-around complexes in high yields. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 8a (R = –CH3, X = –Cl, L = PPh3) and 9a (R = –H, X = –Cl, L = PPh3) show that Pd(II) adopts essentially a square planar geometry and the chelate arm occupies a syn orientation with respect to the allyl unit. Exposure of these wrap-around complexes to nitriles of differing basicities displaces the chelated alkene to varying extents and allows assessment of the relative strengths of chelation as a function of substituents, X and R. Initial rapid displacement of the chelated alkene yields a syn-π-allyl isomer which equilibrates with the anti-π-allyl isomer which cannot close to form a chelate. Treatment of 8b with 1,3-butadiene gives not polybutadiene but 2-chloro-4-methyl-1,E-4,6-heptatriene and 2-chloro-4-methyl-1,Z-4,6-heptatriene. Formation of these trienes is first-order in butadiene. This reaction serves as a model for chain-transfer in the polymerization of butadiene.
Z dependence of the laser-intensity threshold for inhibited electron thermal conduction

Temporally resolved sub-kiloelectronvolt x-ray emission pulses have been obtained from disk targets illuminated with 1.06-\ensuremath{\mu}m wavelength laser light at 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{14}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. Striking variations in the x-ray pulse shape from Be, Ti, Sn, Au, and U targets indicate the onset of strongly inhibited electron thermal conduction during the rise of the laser intensity. The laser intensity threshold for this strong inhibition is found to increase with target atomic number $Z$.
Performance Limitations in Laterally Constrained Movements

A model of self-paced tracking performance developed earlier (Drury 1971) predicted a linear increase in spued of movement with increases in the width of a course between lateral barriers, except that for very wide courses the speed would be constant at some limiting speed. Three experiments were run to test this hypothesis using the task of drawing along straight courses with a pen-like stylus. It was found that the linear portion of the relationship continued up to widths six times those used in the previous study. The overall results showed a slow change from the linear portion of the relationship to the flat portion. The hypothesis that this was duo to the artifact of averaging across subjects was supported by data from the final experiment.
Vibrational analysis of crystalline triglycine

Abstract We have refined vibrational force fields for polypeptides that permit excellent reproduction of the normal mode frequencies of such molecules. This is demonstrated in the present study, in which 80 IR and Raman bands of crystalline triglycine between 1800 and 200 cm −1 are reproduced with an average error of 6 cm −1 . A deuterated sample is shown by normal mode analysis to have remained protonated at the C-terminal peptide group. Such results show that normal mode analysis can now provide a rigorous base for spectral studies of conformation in peptides and proteins.
Laboratory Rearing of the Southwestern Corn Borer, Zeadiatraea grandiosella, on a Wheat Germ Medium

An artificial medium and laboratory-rearing techniques are described on which 18 successive generations of the southwestern corn borer, Zeadiatraea grandiosella (Dyar), have been reared. Larval development required 16–20 days when reared individually in 1/2-oz glass coffee creamers at 80°F. Larval mortality averaged less than 5%. Females averaged 5 eggs per mass and 75 masses or 375 eggs per female throughout the 18 generations.
Installing extra bicarbonate transporters in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 enhances biomass production

As a means to improve carbon uptake in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803, we engineered strains to contain additional inducible copies of the endogenous bicarbonate transporter BicA, an essential component of the CO2-concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria. When cultured under atmospheric CO2 pressure, the strain expressing extra BicA transporters (BicA+ strain) grew almost twice as fast and accumulated almost twice as much biomass as the control strain. When enriched with 0.5% or 5% CO2, the BicA+ strain grew slower than the control but still showed a superior biomass production. Introducing a point mutation in the large C-terminal cytosolic domain of the inserted BicA, at a site implicated in allosteric regulation of transport activity, resulted in a strain (BicA+(T485G) strain) that exhibited pronounced cell aggregation and failed to grow at 5% CO2. However, the bicarbonate uptake capacity of the induced BicA+(T485G) was twice higher than for the wild-type strain. Metabolic analyses, including phenotyping by synchrotron-radiation Fourier transform Infrared spectromicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and lectin staining, suggest that the excess assimilated carbon in BicA+ and BicA+(T485G) cells was directed into production of saccharide-rich exopolymeric substances. We propose that the increased capacity for CO2 uptake in the BicA+ strain can be capitalized on by re-directing carbon flux from exopolymeric substances to other end products such as fuels or high-value chemicals.
A High Quantum Efficiency, Front-Side Illuminated CCD Area Image Sensor

AbstractA high performance CCD area image sensor has been designed and fabricated with a maximized averagequantum efficiency over the wavelength range 500 to 900 nm; an average quantum efficiency of 50 percent was achieved. A multi- deposition polysilicon gate technology, supplemented by silicon nitride, was used. The measured response spectrum has the same major features as the computer generated spectrum for the optimumstructure, although the measured spectrum is distinctly smoother. The CCD image sensor is of the time delayand integration (TDI) type. This paper describes the CCD image sensor configuration, the details of theunit cell, and the computer model boundary conditions, such as what layer thicknesses were allowed. A largenumber of layer- thickness designs were run on computer; the results are summarized. The wafer processingsequence is outlined. Possible explanations for the differences between theory and experiment are presented.IntroductionSilicon integrated- circuit image sensor designs of various types have been reported for many years now.One of the earliest of these, named the Scanistor and reportel in 1964, is a linear photodiode array scannedby a voltage ramp with the aid of an array of diode switches.11) Since then these image sensor designs havebecome much more sophisticated. One goal in the design and development of almost all of these has been tomaximize quantum efficiency, for example, to the degree achieved in the silicon solar cell.
Suppression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor recovery from homologous down-regulation by 8-bromo-cGMP in endothelial cells.

Abstract In a previous study we reported that cyclic GMP (cGMP) selectively down-regulates the atrial natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (C-ANP receptor) in the culture bovine pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE) cell line. Our efforts in the current study are directed towards determining the effects of cGMP on C-ANP receptor recycling and de novo synthesis following homologous down-regulation by atriopeptin III (APIII, rat ANP 103–126). [125I]APIII binding to CPAE cells was decreased to 45.3 ± 1.0% of control following the pretreatment with 100 nM APIII for 24 h. After the removal of APIII, the decreased [125I]APIII binding gradually recovered up to 68.8 ± 1.8% of control for 24 h: a ‘long-term recovery’. When CPAE cells were pretreated with 1 nM APIII for 30 min, [125I]APIII binding was also decreased to 62.6 ± 2.6% of control. Following the removal of APIII, the decrease in [125I]APIII binding quickly recovered to 87.7 ± 2.7% of control for 1 h: a ‘short-term recovery’. 8-bromo-cGMP suppressed the long-term recovery of ANP receptor in a dose-dependent manner, while it had no effect on the short-term recovery. Both actinomycin D (1 ng/ml) and cycloheximide (10 ng/ml) significantly (P
Renewing the American Dream: Obama's Political Philosophy

The American moment is not over, but it must be seized anew. We must bring the war to a responsible end and then renew our leadership – military, diplomatic, moral – to confront new threats and capitalize on new opportunities. America cannot meet this century’s challenges alone; the world cannot meet them without America. The mission of the United States is to provide global leadership grounded in the understanding that the world shares a common security and a common humanity. (Obama, 2007)
Effects of frequency modulated tones and vowel formants on perioral muscle activity during isometric lip rounding

Summary Two studies were conducted to assess the sensitivity of perioral muscles to vowel-like auditory stimuli. In one study, normal young adults produced an isometric lip rounding gesture while listening to a frequency modulated tone (FMT). The fundamental of the FMT was modulated over time in a sinusoidal fashion near the frequency ranges of the first and second formants of the vowels /u/ and /i/ (rate of modulation = 4.5 or 7 Hz). In another study, normal young adults produced an isometric lip rounding gesture while listening to synthesized vowels whose formant frequencies were modulated over time in a sinusoidal fashion to simulate repetitive changes from the vowel /u/ to /i/ (rate of modulation = 2 or 4 Hz). The FMTs and synthesized vowels were presented binaurally via headphones at 75 and 60 dB SL, respectively. Muscle activity from the orbicularis oris superior and inferior and from lip retractors was recorded with surface electromyography (EMG). Signal averaging and spectral analysis of the rectified and smoothed EMG failed to show perioral muscle responses to the auditory stimuli. Implications for auditory feedback theories of speech control are discussed.
Comparison of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for acute nonperforated and perforated appendicitis in the obese population

Abstract Background Use of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been increasing in obese patients. We evaluated the outcomes of LA compared with open appendectomy (OA) in obese patients. Methods By using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, clinical data of obese patients who underwent LA and OA for suspected acute appendicitis (perforated or nonperforated) from 2006 to 2008 were examined. Results A total of 42,426 obese patients underwent an appendectomy during this period. In acute nonperforated cases, LA had a lower overall complication rate (7.17% vs 11.72%; P Conclusions LA can be performed safely with superior outcomes compared with OA in obese patients and should be considered the procedure of choice for perforated and nonperforated appendicitis in these patients.
THE EFFECT OF STRYCHNINE AND LIGHT ON PIGMENTATION IN BLEPHARISMA UNDULANS STEIN

The effect of strychnine sulfate and light on pigmentation in the ciliate protozoan Blepharisma undulans has been determined. Upon exposure of cells to strychnine, the pigment granules become loosened from their surrounding membranes. Eventually these membranes break and the granules are simultaneously released from the cell. At the cell surface, a fusion occurs between adjacent membraneless granules with the incorporation of membrane fragments. This fusion of granules and membrane fragments results in the formation of a pigmented "capsule" around the organism. After elimination of the pigment, the granule membranes remaining in the cytoplasm fuse to form apparently empty vesicles. Other cell organelles are generally undisturbed. A similar situation occurs upon exposure of cells to artificial light for 12 to 18 hr, however, the slow elimination of granules from the cells under these conditions does not result in the formation of a pigmented "capsule." The possible mechanisms of these reactions are discussed.
Long‐term persistence in the real interest rate: some evidence of a fractional unit root

This study examines the long-term persistence in ex ante real interest rates. According to the long-run Fisher effect, ex ante real rates—the difference between nominal rates and expected inflation—should be mean-reverting and have no unit root. Empirical evidence on mean reversion has been mixed and less than supportive, however. Prior analyses are restricted to integer orders of integration only. This study provides a reappraisal of the evidence using fractional integration analysis. In addition, expected inflation is measured by inflation forecasts and not just by realized inflation rates. Empirical results strongly support that ex ante real interest rates exhibit mean reversion, but in a special manner not captured by the usual stationary processes. This finding is also corroborated by empirical results based upon ex post real rates. # 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing Decision Making Quality in Face-to-Face Teams versus Virtual Teams in a Virtual World

Virtual teams use communication technologies to interact and accomplish work without physical presence. Prior research has shown that virtual teams can encounter difficulties in making decision. Ho...
Novel role for vitamin B6 in steroid hormone action: a link between nutrition and the endocrine system☆

Vitamin B 6 is a water soluble vitamin necessary for normal growth, development, and biological function.~'2 The physiologically active form of the vitamin, synthesized from precursors obtained through the diet, is historically known for its role as a cofactor in many enzymatic reactions regulating amino acid metabolism 3 and nervous system function. 47 In addition, the vitamin is also involved in modulating lipid metabolism, gluconeogenesis, s and immune function. 9t° While these enzymatic reactions represent the bestcharacterized functions of vitamin B 6, m o r e recent evidence suggests a role for this vitamin in a nontraditional aspect of metabolism, steroid hormone action. This novel and provocative aspect of vitamin B6 function has been suggested through indirect results obtained in several laboratories ~1 and elucidated through more direct molecular studies of the glucocorticoid hormone receptor. ~2 The purpose of this review is to present the information currently available pertaining to the relationship between vitamin B 6 and steroid hormone action. We will begin with a synopsis of the synthesis and distribution of vitamin B 6 throughout the body, followed by a brief discussion of the role of the vitamin in growth and development, neural function, and immune surveillance. We will then concentrate on the role for vitamin B 6 in steroid hormone action, ending with a speculative discussion on the future directions and significance of research in this area.
Weight control in women: A challenge to the obstetriciangynecologist

Obesity is a major problem in American women, and there is great concern with regard to weight control among both the obese and the nonobese. Vast sums of money are spent in the area of weight reduction, often with little or no benefit. Although obesity affects longevity adversely, weight loss has not been clearly associated with a decrease in mortality risk. Reduction in weight, however, can decrease risk factors for certain diseases and improve the quality of life. Current methods of weight control include diet, exercise, surgery, and medication. Several studies have shown that, in contrast to previous supposition, medical management should be long term. Recent investigations into the basic mechanisms of appetite control, moreover, suggest that more physiologic management methods will be available in the near future.
Ultrastructure of cardiac muscle from dystrophic mice.

The ultrastructure of cardiac muscle from dystrophic mice was compared with that of their non-dystrophic littermates. Among the abnormalities observed in the fine structure of the muscle fibers in the dystrophic animals were increased lipid, swollen mitochondria, swollen tubules of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, supercontracted myofibrils, and partially separated intercalated discs. The ventricular muscle appeared to be the region most often affected; in only one of eleven animals did the atrium show discernible effects of the dystrophy. Although a progression of degenerative events seemed to occur, a time schedule could not be determined because of the large variation among hearts of dystrophic animals. The ultrastructure of the hearts from non-dystrophic littermates was normal. It appears that the depressed cardiac function caused by the myopathy may play a major role in the early death of the dystrophic mice, as in the case of dystrophic hamsters and men. Most of the ultrastructural abnormalities observed could be accounted for if there were an elevation of intracellular free Ca++ concentration.
Digital implementation of sliding mode fuzzy controllers for boost converters

Nonlinear controllers such as fuzzy controllers and sliding mode controllers have been applied to boost converters because of their nonlinear properties. Although both fuzzy and sliding mode controllers have desirable characteristics, they have disadvantages in practice which prevent them from being applied extensively. A sliding mode fuzzy controller is proposed to control boost converters. The sliding mode fuzzy controller combines the advantages of both fuzzy controllers and sliding mode controllers. It also has advantages of its own that are well suited for digital control design and implementation. A sliding mode fuzzy controller is designed and verified with experimental results using a prototype boost converter with a DSP-based digital controller. Experimental results indicate that the sliding mode fuzzy controller is able to obtain the desired transient response under varying operating points. There is no chattering in steady state.
Substitutions of Thr30 provide mechanistic insight into tryptophan-mediated activation of TRAP binding to RNA

ABSTRACTTRAP is an 11 subunit RNA binding protein thatregulates expression of genes involved in trypto-phan biosynthesis and transport in Bacillus subtilis.TRAP is activated to bind RNA by binding up to11 molecules of L -tryptophan in pockets formed byadjacent subunits. The precise mechanism by whichtryptophan binding activates TRAP is not known.Thr30 is in the tryptophan binding pocket. A TRAPmutant in which Thr30 is substituted with Val (T30V)does not bind tryptophan but binds RNA con-stitutively, suggesting that Thr30 plays a key rolein the activation mechanism. We have examinedthe effects of other substitutions of Thr30. TRAPproteins with small b-branched aliphatic sidechains at residue 30 bind RNA constitutively,whereas those with a small polar side chain showtryptophan-dependent RNA binding. Several mutantproteins exhibited constitutive RNA binding thatwas enhanced by tryptophan. Although the try-ptophan and RNA binding sites on TRAP aredistinct and are separated by 7.5 A˚, several sub-stitutions of residues that interact with the boundRNA restored tryptophan binding to T30V TRAP.These observations support the hypothesis thatconformational changes in TRAP relay informationbetween the tryptophan and RNA binding sites ofthe protein.INTRODUCTIONIn Bacillus subtilis, genes involved in tryptophan biosynthesisand transport are regulated by a tryptophan-activated RNAbinding protein called TRAP (trp RNA binding attenuationprotein) (1,2). TRAP regulates both transcription and trans-lation of these genes in response to changes in intracellularlevels of