cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Beverage Intake Questionnaire: Determining Initial Validity and Reliability

Consuming energy-containing beverages may lead to weight gain, yet research investigating this issue is limited. An easily administered beverage intake assessment tool could facilitate research on this topic. The purpose of this cross-sectional investigation was to determine the validity and reliability of a self-administered beverage intake questionnaire (BEVQ) that estimates mean daily intake of beverages consumed across 19 beverage categories. Participants (N=105; aged 39+/-2 years) underwent assessments of height, weight, body mass index, and dietary intake using 4-day food intake records from June 2008 to June 2009. The BEVQ was completed at two additional visits (BEVQ1, BEVQ2). Urine samples were collected to objectively determine total fluid intake and encourage accurate self-reporting. Validity was assessed by comparing BEVQ1 with food intake record results; reliability was assessed by comparing BEVQ1 and BEVQ2. Analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, paired samples t tests, and independent samples t tests. Self-reported water and total beverage intake (in grams) were not different between the BEVQ1 and food intake records (mean difference 129+/-77 g [P=0.096] and 61+/-106 g [P=0.567], respectively). Total beverage and sugar-sweetened beverage energy intake were significantly different, although mean differences were small (63 and 44 kcal, respectively). Daily consumption (in grams) of water (r=0.53), total beverages (r=0.46), and sugar-sweetened beverages (r=0.49) determined by the BEVQ1 were correlated with reported intake determined by the food intake record, as was energy from total beverages (r=0.61) and sugar-sweetened beverages (r=0.59) (all P values <0.001). Reliability was demonstrated, with correlations (P<0.001) detected between BEVQ1 and BEVQ2 results. The BEVQ is a valid, reliable, and rapid self-administered dietary assessment tool.
Syndecan Promotes Axon Regeneration by Stabilizing Growth Cone Migration

Summary Growth cones facilitate the repair of nervous system damage by providing the driving force for axon regeneration. Using single-neuron laser axotomy and in vivo time-lapse imaging, we show that syndecan, a heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan, is required for growth cone function during axon regeneration in C. elegans . In the absence of syndecan, regenerating growth cones form but are unstable and collapse, decreasing the effective growth rate and impeding regrowth to target cells. We provide evidence that syndecan has two distinct functions during axon regeneration: (1) a canonical function in axon guidance that requires expression outside the nervous system and depends on HS chains and (2) an intrinsic function in growth cone stabilization that is mediated by the syndecan core protein, independently of HS. Thus, syndecan is a regulator of a critical choke point in nervous system repair.
Characterization of interactions of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase with its binding protein in the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Unlike pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes (PDCs) from prokaryotes, PDCs from higher eukaryotes have an additional structural component, E3-binding protein (BP), for binding of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) in the complex. Based on the 3D structure of the subcomplex of human (h) E3 with the di-domain (L3S1) of hBP, the amino acid residues (H348, D413, Y438, and R447) of hE3 for binding to hBP were substituted singly by alanine or other residues. These substitutions did not have large effects on hE3 activity when measured in its free form. However, when these hE3 mutants were reconstituted in the complex, the PDC activity was significantly reduced to 9% for Y438A, 20% for Y438H, and 18% for D413A. The binding of hE3 mutants with L3S1 determined by isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that the binding affinities of the Y438A, Y438H, and D413A mutants to L3S1 were severely reduced (1019-, 607-, and 402-fold, respectively). Unlike wild-type hE3 the binding of the Y438A mutant to L3S1 was accompanied by an unfavorable enthalpy change and a large positive entropy change. These results indicate that hE3-Y438 and hE3-D413 play important roles in binding of hE3 to hBP.
Progression of Atrophy in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders

Longitudinal MRI is a powerful tool that allows the assessment of progression of brain changes over multiple imaging time-points and has been increasingly employed in the study of neurodegenerative dementias, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Early studies demonstrated that AD was associated with increased rates of whole brain loss and hippocampal atrophy. A number of sophisticated voxel-level techniques have now been developed that have provided additional information describing regional atrophy over time in the temporal, parietal, and frontal lobes in AD. Studies have also focused on subjects in the prodromal phase of AD in order to describe the earliest changes that are occurring in the brain. Atrophy has been shown to start in the medial temporal lobes and fusiform gyrus at least 3 years before subjects reach a diagnosis of AD, and then spread to the posterior temporal lobes and parietal lobes, and then eventually the frontal lobes. These patterns of atrophy correlate well with the progression of neurofibrillary tangles observed on pathology. Rates of atrophy have also been shown to accelerate over the course of the disease as a subject progresses from cognitively normal to a diagnosis of AD. Similar techniques have also been applied to other neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal dementia which show higher rates of atrophy and different patterns of progression to those observed in AD. Hence, longitudinal MRI shows promise as a biomarker of disease progression in neurodegenerative disease.
Learning by Doing Something Else: Variation, Relatedness, and the Learning Curve

Many organizational learning studies have an implicit assumption that the learning rate is maximized through specialization: the more an individual or organization focuses on a particular task, the faster it will improve. However, through contrasting the various learning process theories described in the research on organizational, group, and individual learning, we develop a set of competing hypotheses that suggest some degree of variation might improve the learning rate. Furthermore, such comparison yields competing arguments about how related or unrelated such task variation should be to improve the learning rate. This research uses an experimental study to answer the following research questions: Is the learning rate maximized through specialization? Or does variation, related or unrelated, enhance the learning process? We find that the learning rate under conditions of related variation is significantly greater than under conditions of specialization or unrelated variation, indicating the possibility of synergy between related learning efforts consistent with an implicit learning or insight effect. We find no significant differences in the rates of learning under the conditions of specialization and unrelated variation. These results yield important implications for how work should be organized, and for future research into the learning process.
Dexras1 inhibits adenylyl cyclase

Dexras1 is a steroid hormone-induced Ras family G protein that acts as a receptor-independent activator of signaling by Gi/o family heterotrimeric G proteins. We examined the effects of Dexras1 on the activity of adenylyl cylase, a target of inhibitory regulation by Gialpha x GTP. Constitutively active Gsalpha (Q227L) increased cAMP levels 43-fold above baseline, and Dexras1 expression inhibited cAMP levels by 61% (P < 0.01). Dexras1 mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase was blocked by treatment pertussis toxin or by co-expression of RGS4, but was not inhibited by with dominant-interfering (G203T or G204A) mutants of Gi alpha2. Dexras1 decreased forskolin-stimulated CREB activation (P < 0.01) and this activity was also inhibited by co-expression of RGS4. These findings indicate that Dexras1 expression leads to ligand-independent activation of both Gialpha- and G(beta)gamma-dependent arms of the Gi signaling cascade, and suggest that Dexras1 may exert physiologically relevant inhibitory effects on the cAMP-PKA-CREB.
Porosity reduction and its associated effect on the diametral tensile strength of activated acrylic resins

Abstract Each acrylic resin tested is basic to the armamentarium of the clinical dentist. From this study it is apparent that there exist several possible mechanisms that will aid in the reduction of porosity and subsequently enhance the tensile strength properties of chemically activated acrylic resins. With the manufacturer's recommended powder to liquid ratio mixtures, indications are that only small increases in curing pressure (approximately 0.68 MPa) are required to substantially enhance strength levels of the test materials. Therefore, when cured under conditions that avoid residual stress buildup, the small increases in pressure attainable by modified pressurization devices may indeed be of benefit in reducing porosity and enhancing the tensile strength of the acrylic resins. Similar increases in strength appear possible with various combinations of powder particle sizes and powder/liquid ratios used in an effort to reduce the monomer concentration in clinically desirable acrylic mixtures. It is important to realize that alteration of powder/liquid ratio and powder particle size mixtures offers a method of reducing porosity without the addition of external pressure. However, at this time it is not recommended that these sophisticated alterations of the basic resin components be performed by the clinician.
Evidence of pheromonal queen control over the production of male and female sexuals in the fire ant,Solenopsis invicta

Two hypotheses that could explain social regulation of the production of sexuals inSolenopsis invicta were investigated: (1) differences in worker/larva ratios; and (2) pheromonal regulation by queens. Small laboratory units (fragments of multiple-queen, i.e. polygyne, colonies) were found to be capable of producing sexuals and to be sensitive in this regard to differences in queen number; the presence of even a single queen inhibited the numbers of sexuals (male and female) produced in comparison with queenless controls. To determine whether differences in worker/larva ratios were involved in this inhibition, a greater number of eggs than could be laid by a single queen was added daily to queenless units. These units produced more sexuals than similar units containing one queen, but did not differ from queenless controls which did not receive eggs. These results rule out the possibility that differences in worker/ larva ratios significantly affected the production of sexuals in such experimental units. They also exclude the possibility that chemical cues were transmitted by queens via their eggs. To test the hypothesis that queen pheromones were involved, freshly killed corpses of functional (egg-laying) queens were added daily to queenless units. These effectively inhibited the production of sexuals, although not as effectively as living queens. On the other hand, corpses of alate virgin (non-egg-laying) queens did not inhibit the production of sexuals. The addition of live queens to previously queenless units in which large sexual larvae had developed resulted in the execution of most of these larvae by workers, indicating that queen control over the production of sexuals can act retroactively after larvae are sexualized. A similar but less pronounced result was obtained by the addition of functional queen corpses. These results provide evidence that functional queens exert control over the production of sexuals inS. invicta through pheromones that influence the behavior of workers toward both male and female larvae.
Enhancement of parametric efficiency by saturation suppression

Abstract The energy conservation equations due to Westervelt are used to show that saturation effects in a finite amplitude wave can in principle be suppressed, if the attenuation coefficient at the second harmonic frequency of the primary wave can be selectively increased. Introduction of microscopic air bubbles which are resonant at the second harmonic frequency is proposed as a scheme for applying this idea to a parametric array operating in water. The parameter of non-linearity also increases when the bubbles are introduced; hence parametric efficiency would be enhanced by both of these effects.
Residential mobility orientations of children and youth

This article addresses itself to issues in the socialization of young people to residential mobility orientations. Our conceptual framework emphasizes the importance of social context and active experience in the development of these orientations. Data from samples of youth from sixth to twelfth grades show them to have reasonable, if slightly conservative, mobility expectations. Other findings in the paper are consistent with the importance of social location and interpersonal relationships in youth socialization.
A lightweight extruder for accurate sectioning of soft-bottom lake sediment cores in the field

A new extrusion device is described for time-efficient sectioning of high quality cores of soft-bottom lake sediments, in particular piston cores and core samples that include the undisturbed sediment-water interface. The instrument is lightweight, versatile, and easy to operate in the field while maintaining maximum accuracy in sectioning a sediment profile in predefined increments.
Neuropsychological sequelae of a pituitary germinoma: A case study

Abstract We report the case of a right-handed adolescent male with a history of a pituitary germinoma. Developmental history was reportedly unremarkable and a conservative estimate of the level of cognitive function before his illness, based on reported academic performance, places this individual in the low average range of intellectual ability. Subsequent resection of the tumor resulted in a lesion in the right mesial basal orbitofrontal region involving the tuber cinereum, lamina terminalis, gyrus rectus, olfactory gyrus and diagonal band of Broca. Initial evaluation revealed profoundly impaired memory for both verbal and visual-spatial information. Follow-up evaluations at 4, 24 and 42 months further substantiated profound impairments in memory for both verbal and visual-spatial information, as well as behavioral problems involving emotional lability and disinhibition. Given the location of this lesion, it is suggested that this patient's profound deficits in memory are due to disruption of both the P...
Cholinergic stimulation of the ventrolateral striatum elicits mouth movements in rats: pharmacological and regional specificity.

Cholinomimetic drugs are known to induce changes in perioral behavior in rodents, characterized primarily by “purposeless” chewing mevements, but little is known about their central sites of action. Using observational methods, the effects of direct microinfusion of a mixture of physostigmine and acetylcholine (PS/Ach, 0, 0.5, 2.5, 5.0 μg of each in 0.5 μl saline) into the ventrolateral striatum (VLS) were assessed. Cholinergic stimulation of this region produced a dose-dependent induction of mouth movements, characterized by chewing movements, jaw opening and closing, tongue protrusions and jaw tremors. These movements were not directed toward any stimulus. In some rats, cholinergic stimulation of the VLS also induced stereotyped self-biting, although this effect was less prominent and of shorter duration. Induction of mouth movements by cholinergic stimulation of the VLS was blocked by prior administration of atropine, either systemically (50 mg/kg) or directly into the VLS (10 μg). Systemic administration of methylatropine (50 mg/kg) did not block the mouth movements. Pretreatment with haloperidol (2.5 μg into VLS) had no effect on PS/Ach-induced mouth movements. Infusion of PS/Ach (0, 2.5, 5.0 μg) into the dorsolateral or ventromedial striatum did not produce significant changes in oral behavior, although the level of mouth movements was somewhat higher at the medial site. The three sites studied were also differentiated with respect to spontaneous moto behaviors (locomotion and rearing) following direct cholinergic stimulation. These findings are considered as further evidence for the role of the ventrolateral striatum in oral motor behavior.
Engineering strategies to enhance nanoparticle-mediated oral delivery.

Oral delivery is the most preferred route of drug administration due to convenience, patient compliance and cost-effectiveness. Despite these advantages it remains difficult to achieve satisfactory bioavailability levels via oral administration due to the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly for biomacromolecules. One promising method to increase the bioavailability of macromolecular drugs such as proteins and nucleic acids is to encapsulate them in nanoparticles before oral administration. This review describes innovative strategies for increasing the efficacy of nanoparticle-mediated delivery to the GI tract. Approaches to optimize nanoparticle formulation by exploiting mucoadhesion, environmental responsiveness and external delivery control mechanisms are discussed. The application of recent advances in nanoparticle synthesis using supercritical fluids, microfluidics and imprint lithography to oral delivery are also presented, as well as possible strategies for incorporati...
Membrane β-catenin and adherens junctions in early gonadal patterning.

Background: Mechanisms involved in early patterning of the mammalian gonad as it develops from a bipotential state into a testis or an ovary are as yet not well understood. Sex-specific vascularization is essential in this process, but more specific mechanisms required to, for example, establish interstitial vs. cord compartments in the testis or ovigerous cords in the ovary have not been reported. Adherens junctions (AJs) are known for their roles in morphogenesis; we, therefore, examined expression of AJ components including β-catenin, p120 catenin, and cadherins for possible involvement in sex-specific patterning of the gonad. Results: We show that, at the time of early gonadal sex differentiation, membrane-associated β-catenin and p120 catenin colocalize with cell-specific cadherins in both sex-nonspecific and sex-specific patterns. These expression patterns are consistent with an influence of AJs in overall patterning of the testis vs. ovary through known AJ mechanisms of cell–cell adhesion, cell sorting, and boundary formation. Conclusions: Together these complex and dynamic patterns of AJ component expression precisely mirror patterning of tissues during gonadogenesis and raise the possibility that AJs are essential effectors of patterning within the developing testis and ovary. Developmental Dynamics 241:1782–1798, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Three-dimensional motion of a large flexible satellite

Utilizing a method for the stability analysis of coupled rigid-elastic systems, the effect of flexible antennas upon the stability of motion of a gravity-gradient satellite is investigated. The satellite is assumed to consist of a compact rigid-body containing four antennas located at right angles to each other, two in the orbit plane and two perpendicular to the orbit plane. The conditions for stability are found to include the well-known rigid-body stability criteria, and, in addition, requirements on the elastic and coupled rigidelastic motion.
Topical implantation of Oxytetracycline cones in extraction sockets

Abstract : The purpose of this study was to observe by routine histologic and fluorescent microscopic technics the effect of oxytetracycline dental cone implantation of the osseous healing of extraction wounds. (Author)
SYNTHESIS OF 1,2-OXAPHOSPHOLANE OXIDES BY OXYGEN INSERTION INTO THE C-P BOND OF PHOSPHETANE OXIDES

Abstract A number of phosphetane oxides with a variety of aromatic substituents on phosphorus underwent oxygen insertion into a C—P bond by the action of m-chloroperbenzoic acid, resulting in formation of 1,2-oxaphospholane oxides in high yield. The products were easily isolated and were characterized by 31P and 13C NMR. For 2,2,3,4,4-pentamethyl-substituted phosphetane oxides only one site of attack is possible and the reaction is assumed to proceed with retention of the stereochemistry of the starting material. For 2,2,3-trimethyl-substituted phosphetane oxides, regioisomers were formed, with that derived from O-insertion at the least substituted carbon accounting for 80–90% of the product.
Dyscontrol syndrome: Long-term follow-up

This is a 38- to 57-month follow-up of 50 patients referred for drug-activated electroencephalograms (EEG) because of the suspicion that a limbic complex partial seizure was a crucial mechanism behind their episodic behavior. Hence, an anticonvulsant regimen might be an effective therapeutic option. The primary referral diagnoses were intermittent explosive disorder (N = 33) panic disorder (N = 6), or formes frustes of epilepsy (N = 11). None of the patients had a significant history of typical seizures and previous routine EEGs had all been normal. Twenty nine patients also had a second axis I and three a second axis II diagnosis. On the basis of EEG findings, as well as a symptom checklist of dyscontrol behavior and a history of episodic disorders, I recommended an anticonvulsant regimen in 39 patients; this was initiated by the referring psychiatrist in 25. Of the 11 patients for whom no anticonvulsant was recommended, three were nevertheless placed on such a regimen. At the end of the follow-up period, 12 patients were still on this regimen, eight were on other regimens that probably raised seizural thresholds, and 10 were treated with antidepressants, antimanic, antipsychotic, or anti-anxiety medications. Twenty were not receiving any medication. An analysis of the diagnostic procedure and the response to the various regimens, including psychotherapy, did not demonstrate any reliable data that would aid the clinician in selecting the appropriate regimen. However, of the 20 patients on regimens that raised seizural threshold, 10 reported marked and six reported moderate improvement.
Cine MR enterography grading of small bowel peristalsis: evaluation of the antiperistaltic effectiveness of sublingual hyoscyamine sulfate.

Rationale and Objectives To use a cine balanced steady-state free precession magnetic resonance enterography (cine MRE) pulse sequence to assess the effectiveness of a sublingual (SL) antiperistaltic agent, hyoscyamine sulfate. Materials and Methods Institutional review board approval was granted with an exemption for informed consent in this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant, retrospective, single-institution study. Of the 288 MRE examinations performed between October 1, 2007 and January 15, 2011, 92 using SL hyoscyamine sulfate for antiperistalsis were included for review, each with cine MRE before and after medication. These 184 cine MRE data sets were randomized, blinded for treatment, and independently reviewed by five attending abdominal radiologists, who rated the degree of whole abdomen bowel motility on each cine MRE data set on a 5-point scale. Pre- and postmedication mean peristalsis ratings, standard deviation, mean difference, and treatment effect sizes were calculated. A repeated measures analysis of variance test was performed using a significance threshold of P = .05. Interobserver reliabilities were also calculated. Results Mean peristalsis ratings ranged 2.63–3.34 and 2.36–3.03, before and after medication administration, respectively. The mean differences ranged from 0.22 to 0.46, which are treatment effect sizes of 0.20 to 0.37. The decrease in peristalsis observed by the five reviewing radiologists after SL hyoscyamine sulfate administration was significant (df = 1/182, f = 7.35, P Conclusions Although cine MRE sequences show decreased bowel peristalsis after the use of SL hyoscyamine sulfate, the small size of the observed treatment effect is likely insufficient to justify its use for MRE.
California noise: Tinkering with hardcore and heavy metal in southern California

Tinkering has long figured prominently in the history of the electric guitar. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, two guitarists based in the burgeoning Southern California hard rock scene adapt...
Photo- and Thermal-Induced Isomerization of Diels–Alder Adducts of Pentacene and TCNE

Herein we report the formation of the second-ring Diels–Alder adduct together with the central-ring adduct in a reaction of pentacene and tetracyanoethylene at room temperature. DFT calculations showed that the difference between the free energy of the two isomers is about 3.9 kcal/mol. Photo- and thermal-induced isomerization between the central-ring adduct and the second-ring adduct were studied in solution and in polymer films. In solution, the less-stable second-ring adduct can be converted into the more-stable central-ring adduct either thermally or photochemically, but the reverse transformation does not occur. In a polymer matrix, isomerization can be photochemically induced in both directions at different wavelengths, which results in a photoswitchable system. Formation of pentacene in the photochemical experiments was also observed, which supports an isomerization process involving a photo-retro-Diels–Alder reaction.
The self-energy corrections to the light-cone two-body equation in ø3-theories

Abstract The light-cone ladder approximation in the Wick-Cutkosky model is extended to the lowest order light-cone Tamm-Dancoff approximation which includes the self-energy corrections and counter-terms. The light-cone two-body equation is modified by the term corresponding to the self-energy corrections and counter-terms. The analytic relation between the coupling constant, α, and the binding energy, β, which was previously derived for all nl states with l = n −1 under the light-cone ladder approximation is also modified by these corrections and compared with the numerical results obtained by a variational principle. The numerical estimate of this modification shows that self-energy effects are as repulsive as relativistic kinematic corrections and retardation effects and makes β become frozen as α increases. The probability of finding the three-body component inside the bound-state is also compared with that of finding the two-body component and the ratio of two probabilities is calculated for several different α values investigating the self-energy effects to this ratio.
Aging, gender, and the elderly adult brain: an examination of analytical strategies

We sought to examine the relations between age, gender and brain volumes in an elderly population; we also sought to examine ways of measuring these relations. Three sets of analyses were used: correlational analyses, in which correlations between independent variables and brain volumes were calculated without correction for intracranial volume (ICV); covariational analyses, in which ICV was used as a covariate in regression equations; and ratio analyses, in which the dependent variable was the ratio of brain volume to ICV. These analyses yielded similar results, except that (as expected) adjusting for ICV altered estimates of gender differences. Analyses of age showed decreases in left caudate, putamen, and right hippocampus and an increase in CSF, a result generally in accord with previous findings. However, we also found a significant decrease of white-matter volumes and no significant decrease in total gray-matter volumes. Correlational analyses showed that men did not always have larger volumes despite their larger head size; women generally had larger volumes after adjusting for ICV. We found no age-gender interactions.
Dental fear and anxiety as a barrier to accessing oral health care among patients with special health care needs

Persons with special health care needs due to physical and cognitive impairment can be at increased risk for dental disease which can be attributed to, as well as exacerbate, existing medical conditions. This study assessed the nature of perceived barriers to obtaining oral health care among a special-needs population and the influence of these factors (in particular, fear and anxiety) on utilization of dental services. A total of 27.9% of the sample reported fear/anxiety about dental visits, with approximately half of those reporting to be very nervous or "terrified". There was an inverse relationship between the frequency of dental visits and the proportion of respondents reporting themselves as very nervous or terrified, and between the perception of oral health status and the level of dental fear/anxiety (P < 0.001). A large difference was reported between patient preference for pharmacologic modalities for anxiety control and those received at dental visits, with 40% of the youngest age group indicating that they would go to the dentist more frequently if sedation or general anesthesia were offered. The levels of self-reported fear/anxiety and the high proportion of respondents indicating an unmet need for adjunctive anesthesia services suggest that fear/anxiety acts as a barrier to dental care among this special-needs group which could be ameliorated with greater use of these services.
Performance-Based Seismic Design of Six-Story Woodframe Structure

This paper presents a performance-based seismic design of a six-story light-frame wood building using a new direct displacement design (DDD) procedure specifically developed for mid-rise wood build...
Effect of micromolar concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on herpes simplex virus type 2 replication in vitro.

The effect of micromolar concentrations of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (delta‐9‐THC) on the in vitro replication and biosynthesis of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) was determined. A 100‐fold increase in extracellular virus was recorded for infected Vero cells pretreated with 10 −6 M or 10 −5 M drug when compared to infected vehicle‐treated controls. However, no significant differences were observed in the production of total infectious virus for any of the vehicle or drug‐treated cultures. Immunofluorescence of virus‐infected cells revealed that delta‐9‐THC did not alter the intracellular compartmentalization of virus‐specified proteins. Analytical sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of isotopically labeled, cell‐associated virus‐specified proteins revealed that delta‐9‐THC had no major effect on the production of early nonstructural proteins but decreased the synthesis of late structural proteins. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy revealed bl...
Lanthanide complexes with tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid: the effect of ligand rigidity on cation size-selectivity

Abstract The stoichiometry and stability of lanthanide complexes with tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid (THFTCA) have been investigated by potentiometric titration. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the monohydrate has confirmed identification of the THFTCA as the trans-cis-trans geometric isomer, having the 2,5 and 3,4 carboxylate groups on opposite sides of the THF ring. THFTCA·H2O crystallizes in the centric space group P 1 with a = 7.594(2), b = 8.137(3), c = 9.404(4) A , α = 107.08(3), β = 101.48(3), γ = 101.30(2)° and Dcalc = 1.70 g cm−3 for Z = 2. A variety of protonated complexes having M:L stoichiometries of 1:1 and 1:2 are propoed to describe the results of titrations with lanthanum(III), neodymium(III), europium(III), dysprosium(III) and thulium(III) (at 25.0 ° C and I = 0.1 M). The 1:1 complexes increase in strength from La to Dy, but Dy complexes are of similar strength to Tm species (except at pH>7). Stepwise stability constants for the 1:2 complexes suggest a size selectivity for Nd, but the overall stability of the 1:2 lanthanide complexes demonstrates no trend with the cation size. The complexes are significantly stronger than the structurally analogous lanthanide complexes with oxydiacetic acid. The increased stability and size selectivity reflects the influence of the favorable preorientation of the cation binding groups in THFTCA.
Dynamical electroweak breaking and latticized extra dimensions

Using gauge invariant effective Lagrangians in 1+3 dimensions describing the Standard Model in 1+4 dimensions, we explore dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking. The Top Quark Seesaw model arises naturally, as well as the full CKM structure. We include a discussion of effects of warping, and indicate how other dynamical schemes may also be realized.
New mechanism of flavor symmetry breaking from Supersymmetric Strong Dynamics

We present a class of supersymmetric models in which flavor symmetries are broken dynamically, by a set of composite flavon fields. The strong dynamics that is responsible for confinement in the flavor sector also drives flavor symmetry breaking vacuum expectation values, as a consequence of a quantum-deformed moduli space. Yukawa couplings result as a power series in the ratio of the confinement to Planck scale, and the fermion mass hierarchy depends on the differing number of preons in different flavor symmetry-breaking operators. We present viable non-Abelian and Abelian flavor models that incorporate this mechanism.
Microspaeropsis olivacea keratitis and consecutive endophthalmitis

Abstract PURPOSE: To report a case of fungal keratitis with consecutive endophthalmitis caused by Microsphaeropsis olivacea . METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 51-year-old man developed fungal keratitis and consecutive endophthalmitis after sustaining a penetrating injury to the right eye. Cultures of the aqueous humor yielded M. olivacea . Infection resolved after intraocular fungal debridement, intravitreous amphotericin B, and aggressive topical natamycin and oral fluconazole. Persistent, low-grade smoldering corneal and intraocular inflammation required topical corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSION: M. olivacea is an exceedingly rare ocular pathogen. The intraocular portion of the infection responded quickly to intravitreal antifungal treatment; however, the course was prolonged by smoldering corneal inflammation. Prompt recognition of intraocular spread and aggressive treatment may be beneficial in fungal infections caused by unusual organisms with uncertain virulence.
Time-dependent absorption of TiO2 optical thin films under pulsed and continuous wave 790 nm laser irradiation.

The time-dependent absorption at 790 nm of TiO2 films prepared by ion-beam sputtering (IBS) and electron-beam evaporation (EBE) was measured. The pump source was a Ti:sapphire oscillator that was operated in CW and pulsed (50 fs) modes. The absorption coefficient of the IBS film under CW illumination was 8 cm−1, independent of time and power. Under pulsed illumination, there was evidence of three-photon absorption, and the total absorption increased 10-fold over time at the highest measured irradiance. The absorption of the EBE film had higher initial absorption (∼24 cm−1) and increased under both CW and pulsed illumination with time. An electron state model based on band-to-band excitation and electron trapping is presented that explains the observed results. The implications for laser-induced damage of oxide coatings are discussed.
Disruption of protein-protein interactions: design of a synthetic receptor that blocks the binding of cytochrome c to cytochrome c peroxidase.

Synthetic receptor 1 has been found via fluorescence titration to compete effectively with cytochrome c peroxidase for binding cytochrome c (Cc), forming 1∶1 Cc∶1 complex with a binding constant of (3 ± 1) × 108 M−1, and to disrupt Cc∶Apaf-1 complex, a key adduct in apoptosis.
Passivity-Based Impact and Force Control of a Pneumatic Actuator

To carry out stable and dissipative contact tasks with an arbitrary environment, it is critical for a pneumatic actuator to be passive with respect to a supply rate consisting of the spool valve position input and the actuation force output. A pseudo-bond graph model with the inner product between spool valve position input and actuation force output as a pseudo-supply rate is developed. Using this pseudo-bond graph model, an open-loop pneumatic actuator controlled by a four-way proportional valve can be proven to not be passive with respect to the pseudo-supply rate. Conversely, it can also be proven to be passive with respect to the pseudo-supply rate under a closed-loop feedback control law. The passivity of the closed-loop pneumatic actuator is verified in impact and force control experiments. The experimental results also validate the pseudo-bond graph model. The pseudo-bond graph model is intended for passivity analysis and controller design for pneumatic actuation applications where contact stability (such as robotic assembly) and/or stable interaction with a passive environment (such as human-robot interaction) is required. DOI: 10.1115/1.2837430
Enhancement of the fluorescence cancer diagnostic method of tissues using diffuse reflectance and the analysis of oxygenation state

We report on an analysis of diffuse reflectance spectra measured in conjunction with the fluorescence from normal human breast tissues and malignant breast tumors. The diffuse reflectance spectra from excised, air-equilibrated, human breast tissue samples show lower fractions of oxygenated hemoglobin and higher content of ferric (Fe3+) heme in malignant breast tumor samples than in normal breast tissues. Normal tissues are found to be easily deoxygenated and reoxygenated, but malignant tumors usually do not change their state as much. An analysis of tissue oxygenation parameters is discussed with respect to an enhancement of predictive power of fluorescence diagnostic method. The oxygenation state of tissues may be used as an additional marker in cancer diagnostics.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Provincial View of Economic Integration

This paper develops a method of testing levels of economic integration based upon consumption smoothing, and tests it using data on trade balances across Canadian provinces. The results indicate the provinces are highly integrated within Canada, but integration between Canada and the rest of the world is partial. Provincial trade balances respond only about half as much to events in the rest of the world as they do to events within Canada. In short, national borders appear to matter for intertemporal trade.
Variable structural ordering in lead scandium tantalate-lead titanate materials

Abstract A phase region of variable order-disorder [VOD] has been identified in this study for compositions in the range [x- 0.0–0.075] (x: mole fraction PbTiO3). Materials from this region retain some degree of long-range ordering of 5-site cations as evidenced by x-ray and electron diffraction which is enhanced with post-sintering annealing. Annealed ceramics exhibit sharp dielectric responses [K(T] and near-normal first-order ferroelectric behavior while as-fired specimens with lesser degrees of long-range ordering show the more diffuse and dispersive characteristics of a relaxor ferroelectric.
Athletic Exemplars in Context: General Exemplar Selection Patterns in Relation to Sex, Race, and Age

The study of exemplars—people who are admired, considered heroic, or viewed as worthy of emulation—is a means of comparing some of sport's symbolic or interpretive mechanisms with those of other mass phenomena that have symbolic dimensions such as television, motion pictures, and politics. An initial step is an examination of exemplar selection patterns, which is the main focus of this paper. In order to situate this examination theoretically, hypothesized functions of exemplars are discussed and related to two processes—modeling, and social interaction with reference others. Major emphasis is placed on reviewing research (including a number of previously obscure reports) concerning exemplar selections made by young people and adults in North America, limited primarily to black, white, and heterogeneous groups. Sex, race, and age of admirers and their exemplars is emphasized. Famous athletes, mostly males, seem to be one special exemplar focus of youths, and black athletes seem to be particularly salient....
Eolian and soil stratigraphy at a Paleoindian site along the South Platte River valley, Nebraska, U.S.A.

Eolian and soil stratigraphy and radiocarbon ages of soil humates were used to reconstruct landscape evolution at a site (25KH67) in western Nebraska along the South Platte River. The site is on the bluff of a short, deeply incised, dune-blocked tributary to the South Platte. The Paleoindian component is in the lower part of the Brady Soil. The age of the lower Brady Soil where cultural material was recovered is 10,360 yr B.P., and the age of the upper Brady Soil is 6090 yr B.P. The Brady Soil formed over a longer interval at site 25KH67 than at other upland localities in southern Nebraska and Kansas. Three episodes of eolian deposition occurred after 6090 yr B.P. Discovery of additional Paleoindian sites along the South Platte River valley and across the central Great Plains will be hampered by Holocene eolian deposits that blanket the Brady Soil. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dealing with conflicts of interest.

The medical profession in this country has always had its entrepreneurs and hustling businessmen, but until recently they were on the fringe and in a small minority. Most practicing physicians concentrated on providing or supervising services to their patients, and their professional income was largely limited to the fees or salaries paid for such services. Lately, however, a new entrepreneurial fever has begun to affect the profession, and what was formerly on the fringe seems to be moving into the mainstream. More and more practitioners are seeking profits from business arrangements with hospitals, equipment manufacturers, and most recently, companies providing . . .
Application of Probabilistic Methods to the Structural Analysis of Liquid Rocket Engine Components

Probabilistic Design Analysis (PDA) methodology and related tools are evolving in conjunction with the needs and requirements for designs that are robust with quantified reliability and risk. The implementation of these methodologies through a concurrent engineering process is ideal for integrating the results in a quantified manner. Each critical element of the analysis is given an observable input and relationship to the objective of the robustness and desired results. Several rocket engine components have been case studies of PDA as it has evolved toward this risk–based approach. These hardware components include a turbine blade, LOX post (Liquid Oxygen injector element), transfer duct, system ducting, and combustion chamber liner hardware. The methodology evolution in loads, structural response, damage assessment, reliability, and risk analyses is discussed in the context of the PDA of these components. The current areas of research and approach to structural risk and certification methodologies for minimizing development costs and testing are addressed.Copyright © 1993 by ASME
Studying the American Indian through government documents and the national archives

Abstract This article surveys the leading guides to Indian materials located in government publications and in the National Archives. It assesses the usefulness of these guides for advanced researchers, college students and Indian peoples.
TGFβ loss activates ADAMTS-1-mediated EGF-dependent invasion in a model of esophageal cell invasion

The TGFβ signaling pathway is essential to epithelial homeostasis and is often inhibited during progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Recently, an important role for TGFβ signaling has been described in the crosstalk between epithelial and stromal cells regulating squamous tumor cell invasion in mouse models of head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Loss of TGFβ signaling, in either compartment, leads to HNSCC however, the mechanisms involved are not well understood. Using organotypic reconstruct cultures (OTC) to model the interaction between epithelial and stromal cells that occur in dysplastic lesions, we show that loss of TGFβ signaling promotes an invasive phenotype in both fibroblast and epithelial compartments. Employing immortalized esophageal keratinocytes established to reproduce common mutations of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, we show that treatment of OTC with inhibitors of TGFβ signaling (A83-01 or SB431542) enhances invasion of epithelial cells into a fibroblast-embedded Matrigel/collagen I matrix. Invasion induced by A83-01 is independent of proliferation but relies on protease activity and expression of ADAMTS-1 and can be altered by matrix density. This invasion was associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL1 and EGFR ligands HB-EGF and TGFα. Altering EGF signaling prevented or induced epithelial cell invasion in this model. Loss of expression of the TGFβ target gene ROBO1 suggested that chemorepulsion may regulate keratinocyte invasion. Taken together, our data show increased invasion through inhibition of TGFβ signaling altered epithelial-fibroblasts interactions, repressing markers of activated fibroblasts, and altering integrin-fibronectin interactions. These results suggest that inhibition of TGFβ signaling modulates an array of pathways that combined promote multiple aspects of tumor invasion.
CO Adsorption on Pt−Ru Surface Alloys and on the Surface of Pt−Ru Bulk Alloy

We present results of first-principle studies for energetics and structural properties of CO adsorbed on the Pt−Ru surface alloys and on the surface of a bulk Pt−Ru alloy. The results showed that t...
Alternative implementations of multitrajectory simulation

Multitrajectory simulation allows random events in a simulation to generate multiple trajectories and explicitly manage the set of trajectories. The original prototype combat simulation used to demonstrate and test the concept used code embedded in the functional modules, e.g. those that implement "move", "shoot", etc. A much improved method provided a class library that hid the messy details. When a random choice is made, a random choice method appears to return twice (or more) for a given call, once in the context of the original state, and once each for the new trajectories. These techniques both have significant shortcomings. For example, the second (more preferable) technique really needs to be able to overwrite the C++ "this" variable, an option unavailable on C++ compilers. Since these issues surfaced, three additional implementation techniques have been developed. These include periodic copying of states to provide reference copies and duplication of trajectories up to the branch point, reformulation of the simulation into a discrete event style, and reformulation into a tail recursive style. We review these techniques. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Multitrajectory simulation is not dependent on the particular limitations of any one method.
Introduction: Fifty Years of Wildlife in America

AbstractHistorians who have written about wildlife in North America have told their stories in many ways: as tales of ecological decline, tragedies of the commons, chronicles of scientific discover...
Hematologic and radiologic study of infantsreceiving massive doses of vitamin D in rickets prophylaxis

Summary 1. The use of a single massive oral dose of an electrically activatedvaporized ergosterol, containing 600,000 U. S. P. units of vitamin D, was effective in preventing rickets in a group of infants studied during the fall and winter months. 2. The use of repeated smaller doses of 100,000 U. S. P. units of thesame antirachitic agent given monthly during this period of time (October to April) was also effective in preventing rickets in each of the infants studied. 3. No toxic clinical or laboratory findings occurred in any of the infants receiving this type of prophylaxis.