cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in maternal gene expression in olfactory circuits in the immediate postpartum period.

Regulation of maternal behavior in the immediate postpartum period involves neural circuits in reward and homeostasis systems responding to cues from the newborn. Our aim was to assess one specific regulatory mechanism: the role that olfaction plays in the onset and modulation of parenting behavior. We focused on changes in gene expression in olfactory brain regions, examining nine genes found in previous knockout studies to be necessary for maternal behavior. Using a qPCR-based approach, we assessed changes in gene expression in response to exposure to pups in eleven microdissected olfactory brain regions. Over the first postpartum days, all nine genes were detected in all eleven regions (at differing levels) and their expression changed in response to pup exposure. As a general trend, five genes (Dbh, Esr1, FosB, Foxb1 and Oxtr) were found to decrease their expression in most of the olfactory regions examined, while two genes (Mest and Prlr) were found to increase expression. Nos1 and Peg3 levels remained relatively stable except in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), where greater than 4 fold increases in expression were observed. The largest magnitude expression changes in this study were found in the AOB, which mediates a variety of olfactory cues that elicit stereotypic behaviors such as mating and aggression as well as some non-pheromone odors. Previous analyses of null mice for the nine genes assessed here have rarely examined olfactory function. Our data suggest that there may be olfactory effects in these null mice which contribute to the observed maternal behavioral phenotypes. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that olfactory processing is an important sensory regulator of maternal behavior.
Antipyrine kinetics in liver disease and liver transplantation

Antipyrine kinetics were studied in seven normal subjects, 10 patients with liver disease, and 13 clinically stable patients who received a liver transplant. Five patients were studied both before and after liver transplantation. Antipyrine concentrations in saliva after oral dosing were measured by HPLC. The antipyrine t1/2 was significantly longer (P < 0.05) in patients with liver disease than in patients undergoing liver transplantation and normal subjects. Antipyrine clearance was not significantly different between patients undergoing liver transplantation and normal subjects, but it was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in patients with liver disease. In five patients who were studied before and after liver transplantation, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the antipyrine clearance and a marked reduction in its t1/2 after liver transplantation. These results indicate that liver transplantation improves the drug metabolizing ability of patients with liver disease and that the oxidative metabolizing capacity of the liver in clinically stable patients after liver transplantation is similar to that of normal subjects.
Microstructural analysis of high critical current density Ag-clad BiSrCaCuO (2:2:1:2) tapes

Abstract The critical current density (Jc) values of variously processed Ag-clad Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2Ox tapes are related to their microstructures as observed by TEM, SEM, and X-ray pole figure analysis. The coupled microstructure-Jc results confirm the general importance of a highly c-axis aligned microstructure for high critical current density. However, TEM experiments revealed a “colony” microstructure in all sample in which groups of several grains with nearly perfect c-axis alignment (colonies) are formed but where the c-axes of adjacent colonies are not parallel. SEM imaging of etched cross-sections showed that important features of this colony misalignment are not accurately reflected by stand alone X-ray pole-figure analysis or TEM imaging. Near-perfect alignment occurs within a few microns of the Ag cladding for all processing methods. However, the processing details control the macroscopic grain alignment within the bulk of the superconductor. In particular, second-phase particles disrupt the alignment of macroscopic colonies. These misalignments may control the transport critical current, yet they are not clearly evidenced by either macroscopic pole-figure analysis or by very local TEM examination.
Amplicon-plus Targeting Technology (APTT) for rapid production of a highly unstable vaccine protein in tobacco plants

High-level expression of transgenes is essential for cost-effective production of valuable pharmaceutical proteins in plants. However, transgenic proteins often accumulate in plants at low levels. Low levels of protein accumulation can be caused by many factors including post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) and/or rapid turnover of the transgenic proteins. We have developed an Amplicon-plus Targeting Technology (APTT), by using novel combination of known techniques that appears to overcome both of these factors. By using this technology, we have successfully expressed the highly-labile L1 protein of canine oral papillomavirus (COPV L1) by infecting transgenic tobacco plants expressing a suppressor of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) with a PVX amplicon carrying a gene encoding L1, and targeting the vaccine protein into the chloroplasts. Further, a scalable "wound-and-agrospray" inoculation method has been developed that will permit high-throughput Agrobacterium inoculation of Nicotiana tabacum, and a spray-only method (named "agrospray") for use with N. benthamiana to allow large-scale application of this technology. The good yield and short interval from inoculation to harvest characteristic of APTT, combined with the potential for high-throughput achieved by use of the agrospray inoculation protocol, make this system a very promising technology for producing high value recombinant proteins, especially those known to be highly labile, in plants for a wide range of applications including producing vaccines against rapidly evolving pathogens and for the rapid response needed to meet bio-defense emergencies.
Teacher Resistance and the Construction of More Educative Text.

“How can we develop forms of collegial association that might support our efforts?” (Simon, 1988, p. 4) 1. Thanks to Cleo Cherryholmes for valuable feedback on an early draft of this paper.
Nonisothermal Droplet Growth in the Free Molecular Regime

The growth rates of nonane and D2O nanodroplets produced in supersonic expansions are characterized using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and pressure trace measurements (PTM). The experimental growth rates are compared to the predictions of a Hertz–Knudsen model that assumes either isothermal or nonisothermal droplet growth in the free molecular regime. For nonane, the predicted growth rates are insensitive to both droplet temperature and the evaporation coefficient, and agree well with the experimentally measured growth rates assuming a condensation coefficient of 1. For D2O, droplet growth rates are quite sensitive to droplet temperature, and the best agreement between experiments and theory are achieved for a condensation coefficient of 1 and an evaporation coefficient in the range from 0.5 to 1. Under our experimental conditions, incorporating coagulation is important to match the measured D2O growth rates but not those of nonane.Copyright 2013 American Association for Aerosol Research
Electromagnetic field enhancement in small liquid droplets using geometric optics

The EM field enhancement in the forward direction of a dielectric sphere was derived leading to high-energy density in a critical ring region where, experimentally, the nonlinear processes are observed for small liquid droplets.
Intrabeam viewing of extended-source lasers with telescopes

Magnifying optics can increase the hazards for intrabeam viewing of lasers. Although it is rather straightforward to evaluate these increased hazards for point-source lasers at distance, limited information is available for determining the hazards from viewing extended-source lasers from within the beam when magnifying optics are used. Since intrabeam viewing of nearly all lasers results in an extremely small retinal image, commonly known as a “point source,” extended-source maximum permissible exposures (MPEs) are seldom applicable; however, a substantial correction factor is allowed for extended-source lasers in the determination of the MPE. In those rare cases where an extended-source laser is viewed by an optical aid, it is important to avoid applying an incorrect and sometimes very large extended-source correction factor. Extended-source lasers were constructed and then measured to determine if standard hazard classification techniques, mainly developed for point-source lasers, would adequately assess the true optical viewing hazards from viewing extended-source lasers with telescopes. It was found that current techniques are adequate since telescopes would normally be expected to be used at tens or hundreds of meters from the laser source, although purposeful exposure at close distance would require specialized hazard evaluation techniques.
Organic chemistry: molecules in quarantine.

Intermediate compounds are often produced during a chemical reaction, but they are too short-lived to be easily observed. It seems that a molecular pyramid can persuade them to stick around for a little longer.
Changes in mitochondrial distribution and diffusion distances in muscle of goldfish upon acclimation to warm and cold temperatures

Transmission electron microscopy of myotomal muscle from goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) reveals significant differences in distribution and density of mitochondria in animals acclimated to cold temperature (5°C) as compared to those acclimated to warm temperature (25°C). Micrographs of red and white muscle from these animals have been analyzed quantitatively for the stereological parameters Vv (volume density), Sv (surface density), and S/V (specific surface); and diffusion distances between mitochondria have been calculated as the harmonic mean of spacings between clusters of mitochondria (τh). The most dramatic differences occur in Vv, Sv, and τh of red muscle, Vv and Sv being significantly greater in cold-acclimated animals and τh being smaller. In white muscle, Vv is significantly greater for cold-acclimated animals than warm-acclimated animals, but other parameters are not significantly different. Using our values of Sv as estimates of the surface area through which exchange of metabolites occurs and our values of τh as estimates of the distance over which diffusion occurs, we calculate that the diffusivity constant in the one-dimensional diffusion equation for metabolites may be reduced in cold-acclimated animals to as low as 0.29 that of warm-acclimated animals while still maintaining absolute rates of diffusive flux between cytoplasm and mitochondria. It appears reasonable to assume that cold-induced rises in the concentration of enzymes in fish muscle reflect changes in organellar densities–changes which may serve primarily to ameliorate the effect of temperature on diffusive exchange between mitochondria and cytoplasm rather than solely to overcome catalytic limitation as is widely assumed.
Thiamine in nerve membranes

Abstract Membrane fragments isolated from rat brain have been shown to be the site of the drug-induced release of thiamine. As a brain homogenate is purified to yield the membrane fraction, the concentration of thiamine triphosphate rises, suggesting that this may be the neurophysiologically active form of the vitamin. Attempts to find a concurrent release of other compounds along with thiamine were unsuccessful.
Life in the Balance: Cell Walls and Antibiotic Resistance

In her winning essay for the Pharmacia Biotech & Science Prize for Young Scientists, Jacobs describes her work on the control of cell wall synthesis in bacteria. Her results shed light on how one class of antibiotics (b-lactam antibiotics) kills bacteria and paves the way for the development of new antibacterial drugs.
The present status of energy use in China and its development perspectives

Abstract The commonly accepted definitions of what is the “best” energy usage have also been espoused in China. Goals aimed at energy conservation and policies and methods for achieving them are outlined in the paper. They are substantially in line with the overall consensus of the international community. The first stage, saving fuel in existing industrial plants by tightening management and eliminating waste, is being successfully implemented. There is still great scope for improvement in this area, because industry in China accounts for three-quarters of total commercial energy consumption. The next stage is to further improve energy efficiency by gradually replacing existing obsolete industrial equipment and by converting to more modern technological processes. The beginning of this stage takes the form of a scientific study and evaluation of possibilities, and of arousing awareness of the problem by educating the people concerned. This also is being implemented. However, the follow-up requires substantial capital investment and is, therefore, of necessity a long-term program. The People's Republic of China is undergoing nationally an economic readjustment. Most of our industrial installations are old-fashioned and some of the technologies are out of date, but I cannot give you a detailed account of what is happening in this area. Being an academician, I must emphasize that what I am going to talk about has to be considered as my own personal opinions, and not in any way representing official views.
Ratings of Translucency in Manual Signs as a Predictor of Sign Learnability

Increased interest has begun to be shown toward manual sign as an augmentative communication mode for language-impaired individuals. Unfortunately, relatively less attention has been given to delineating psycholinguistic variables which might affect sign learning. One attribute shown to facilitate sign learning is the perceived translucency (relatedness) between sign and gloss. The current project was an attempt to obtain translucency ratings for a large sample of manual signs as well as a comparison of the relative translucency of nouns to verbs.
Direct conversion of methanol to formaldehyde in the absence of oxygen on Cu(210)

Abstract In the previous literature, people have prepared supported copper catalysts which were modestly active for the direct conversion of methanol to formaldehyde in the absence of oxygen. However, single crystal catalysts have shown much less activity. In this paper, the direct conversion of methanol to formaldehyde was attempted using a very basic copper surface, Cu(210). TPD measurements show that when one adsorbs methanol onto a clean, 100 K, Cu(210) sample, about half of the methanol desorbs intact and about half of the methanol reacts to form formaldehyde and hydrogen: CH 3 OH → H 2 CO + H 2 . The formaldehyde desorbs in a peak centered at 390 K. Some of the hydrogen desorbs in a broad peak between 150 and 350 K, while the remainder desorbs in a peak centered at 390 K. These results show that the Cu(210) surface is special in that it is the only face of copper examined so far that is able to convert a significant amount of methanol to formaldehyde in the absence of oxygen.
Persistence-time models for use in viability analyses of vanishing species

Mathematical models can provide guidance as to the size and number of wildlife refuges required for long-term persistence of various species. Simple mathematical models for rough estimation of persistence time have been developed, but efficient algorithms for calculating persistence time using these models are unavailable. In addition, the mathematical relations required between critical parameters in the models have not been thoroughly studied. In this investigation, an efficient algorithm for implementing the models is developed and several different relations among the parameters in the models are tested against mammalian persistence data available for montane habitat of the south-western U.S.A. Furthermore, these models are compared with a new persistence-time model which is described in the present investigation.
Mitochondrial permeability transition in acetaminophen-induced necrosis and apoptosis of cultured mouse hepatocytes.

Acetaminophen overdose causes massive hepatic failure via mechanisms involving glutathione depletion, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The ultimate target of acetaminophen causing cell death remains uncertain, and the role of apoptosis in acetaminophen-induced cell killing is still controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) as a key factor in acetaminophen-induced necrotic and apoptotic killing of primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. After administration of 10 mmol/L acetaminophen, necrotic killing increased to more than 49% and 74%, respectively, after 6 and 16 hours. MPT inhibitors, cyclosporin A (CsA), and NIM811 temporarily decreased necrotic killing after 6 hours to 26%, but cytoprotection was lost after 16 hours. Confocal microscopy revealed mitochondrial depolarization and inner membrane permeabilization approximately 4.5 hours after acetaminophen administration. CsA delayed these changes, indicative of the MPT, to approximately 11 hours after acetaminophen administration. Apoptosis indicated by nuclear changes, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling, and caspase-3 activation also increased after acetaminophen administration. Fructose (20 mmol/L, an adenosine triphosphate–generating glycolytic substrate) plus glycine (5 mmol/L, a membrane stabilizing amino acid) prevented nearly all necrotic cell killing but paradoxically increased apoptosis from 37% to 59% after 16 hours. In the presence of fructose plus glycine, CsA decreased apoptosis and delayed but did not prevent the MPT. In conclusion, after acetaminophen a CsA-sensitive MPT occurred after 3 to 6 hours followed by a CsA-insensitive MPT 9 to 16 hours after acetaminophen. The MPT then induces ATP depletion–dependent necrosis or caspase-dependent apoptosis as determined, in part, by ATP availability from glycolysis. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;40:1170–1179.)
Structural Basis of Energy Transduction in the Transport Cycle of MsbA

We used site-directed spin-labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to characterize the conformational motion that couples energy expenditure to substrate translocation in the multidrug transporter MsbA. In liposomes, ligand-free MsbA samples conformations that depart from the crystal structures, including looser packing and water penetration along the periplasmic side. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding closes the substrate chamber to the cytoplasm while increasing hydration at the periplasmic side, consistent with an alternating access model. Accentuated by ATP hydrolysis, the changes in the chamber dielectric environment and its geometry provide the likely driving force for flipping amphipathic substrates and a potential exit pathway. These results establish the structural dynamic basis of the power stroke in multidrug-resistant ATP-binding cassette (MDR ABC) transporters.
Differential assembly kinetics of alpha-tubulin isoforms in the presence of paclitaxel.

Abstract The antitumor drug paclitaxel (PTX) inhibits cell growth by binding to microtubules, the eukaryotic structures consisting of α- and β-tubulin. PTX also promotes the assembly of tubulin in the absence of microtubule-associated proteins. Although recent studies have implicated β-tubulin as the site of PTX binding, no information is available that relates α-tubulin to the binding site. In an effort to understand whether the α-tubulin is involved in the drug binding, we have studied the assembly of α-tubulin isoforms in the presence of PTX. The assembly results in the presence of 10 μM paclitaxel (PTX) show that the isoforms assemble at differential rates. The rate of assembly for tyrosinated Mα1/2 is about three-fold higher than that of the nontyrosinated Mα1/2 isoform. Such a strikingly different assembly behavior of the α-tubulin isoforms indicates that α-tubulin may be involved in the interaction of PTX with microtubules.
Neuropilin-1-mediated vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor-dependent endothelial cell migration

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) has been found to be expressed by endothelial cells and tumor cells as an isoform-specific receptor for vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Previous studies were mainly focused on the extracellular domain of NRP-1 that can bind to VEGF165 and, thus, enables NRP-1 to act as a co-receptor for VEGF165, which enhances its binding to VEGFR-2 and its bioactivity. However, the exact functional roles and related signaling mechanisms of NRP-1 in angiogenesis are not well understood. In this study we constructed a chimeric receptor, EGNP-1, by fusing the extracellular domain of epidermal growth factor receptor to the transmembrane and intracellular domains of NRP-1 and transduced it into HUVECs with a retroviral expression vector. We observed that NRP-1/EGNP-1 mediates ligand-stimulated migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) but not proliferation. Our results show that NRP-1 alone can mediate HUVEC migration through its intracellular domain, and its C-terminal three amino acids (SEA-COOH) are essential for the process. We demonstrate that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor Ly294002 and the p85 dominant negative mutant can block NRP-1-mediated HUVEC migration. NRP-1-mediated migration can be significantly reduced by overexpression of the dominant negative mutant of RhoA (RhoA-19N). In addition, Gq family proteins and Gβγ subunits are also required for NRP-1-mediated HUVEC migration. These results show for the first time that NRP-1 can independently promote cell signaling in endothelial cells and also demonstrate the importance of last three amino acids of NRP-1 for its function.
“WORSE THAN MEN” Gendered Mobilization in an Urban Brazilian Squatter Settlement, 1971-91

Although women's movements have received considerable scholarly attention, the role of women in movements that are not overtly gender based has not. Gender, however, plays a significant role in generic movements (i.e., movements seeking general benefits that are not necessarily restricted to one sex). Over a 20-year period, an urban squatter settlement in Brazil experienced five collective campaigns, not one of which was gender conscious, but all of which were shaped by gender. In these collective campaigns, everything from participation to strategies to outcomes was grounded in the gender-based division of labor in the community.
Nonlinear Processes in Laser Cooling of Semiconductors

The conditions for attaining net laser cooling in semiconductors are theoretically and experimentally investigated. The nonlinear processes of band-filling and many body recombination are essential in determining the lowest attainable temperatures.
Energy dissipation of water drops striking an undisturbed water surface

The impact of water drops on an undisturbed water surface is studied by cine shadow photography. Quantitative analysis of the film data shows a quasi-exponential rate of energy dissipation away from the impact region. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1963.tb01400.x
Upper Temperature Tolerance of Four Species of Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera)

ABSTRACT Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM) were determined for fifth instar larvae of Hydropsyche simulans Ross and Chimarra obscura (Walker) acclimated to 12, 19 and 26°C, and Ceratopsyche morosa (Hagen) and Chimarra aterrima Hagen acclimated to 19°C. The selected CTM endpoint yielded consistent data as the coefficients of variation for all eight species—temperature acclimation combinations were less than 10%. Mean CTM's ranged from 31.4°C to 38.5°C. At the common acclimation temperature of 19°C, a SNK multiple range test separated the mean CTM's of the four species into two distinct groups: C. obscura = H. simulans > C. aterrima = C. morosa. CTM was directly related to acclimation temperature in both Hydropsyche simulans and Chimarra obscura. The two species representing populations from more northern latitudes (Missouri) had lower CTMs than their congeners or closely related species from more southern latitudes (Texas).
2-Chloroacetaldehyde and 2-chloroacetal are potent inhibitors of DNA synthesis in animal cells

The effect of 2-chloroacetaldehyde, CAA, a metabolite of vinyl chloride and 2-chloroacetal, CAC, an ethyl diester of chloroacetaldehyde, on DNA synthesis in animal cells has been investigated. Both compounds drastically inhibited DNA synthesis at 10 to 20 microM. The inhibitory effect of the chemicals appears to be directly on DNA synthesis rather than on the uptake of thymidine or the formation of nucleotides. Residual DNA made in the presence of CAA had an average chain length of 300 nucleotides compared to a length of several thousand nucleotides in the absence of CAA. Synchronization experiments revealed that the inhibitory effect is reversible if 2-chloroacetaldehyde is removed within two hours but not after longer exposures.
Constrained least-squares analysis of petrologic problems with an application to lunar sample 12040

Many petrologic problems, which may be expressed as a set of linear equations, have been solved by least-squares analysis. In many cases insufficient attention has been paid to the physical conditions of the model resulting in incorrect application of the method. This paper presents a systematic treatment of the application of least-squares analysis to petrologic problems including the direct utilization of physical constraints and weighting factors in the problem, and the assessment of uncertainties in the solution. As an example, least-squares analysis is used to examine, in detail, the mass balance equations for lunar rock 12040 and to determine the consistency of the available analytical data.
Chemical Vapor Infiltration Process Modeling and Optimization

Chemical vapor infiltration is a unique method for preparing continuous fiber ceramic composites that spares the strong but relatively fragile fibers from damaging thermal, mechanical, and chemical degradation. The process is relatively complex and modeling requires detailed phenomenological knowledge of the chemical kinetics and mass and heat transport. An overview of some of the current understanding and modeling of CVI and examples of efforts to optimize the processes is given. Finally, recent efforts to scale-up the process to produce tubular forms are described.
The demand for residents.

Abstract This paper develops an empirical model of the demand for medical residents. Not-for-profit teaching hospitals are viewed as firms facing shadow prices that differ from market prices, and the impacts of variations in stipends, in the quality of training, in the cost of teaching, and in hospitals' objectives on the shadow cost of hiring residents are made explicit. Empirical results from three data sets are shown to be consistent with a simple derived demand model, and the indirect effects of increased competition and cost control initiatives on the demand for residents are assessed.
Patterns of hysterical hemianopia

… hysteria behaves as though anatomy did not exist . . . -Freud (*RF reference 1*, p. 169) Every decade proclaims the death of hysteria, but simulated neurologic disorders continue to be common and confusing, if less fashionable than a century ago. Recognizing pseudoneurologic defects is particularly important in the current parsimonious era of medical cost-effectiveness. Hysterical signs represent the patient's conception of disease modified by suggestions from the examining physician. Diagnosis depends on recognition of the patient's nonanatomic patterns. Hysterical visual field loss, often confusing when tested by automated perimetry,2 can be recognized quickly using simple confrontation techniques. Because spurious field defects rarely coincide with anatomic reality, they are especially helpful in identifying suggestible patients. To delineate the patterns of hysterical hemianopic visual field loss, I analyzed my experienced with patients having spurious visual field defects. Patients. I reviewed my notes on inpatients with hysterical visual field defects, personally examined on the wards of the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center during the past 25 years. Visual field examinations utilized double simultaneous finger-counting confrontation followed by centripetal presentation of moving fingers. Selected patients also were …
New advances in methodology for statistical tests useful in geostatistical studies

Methodology for statistical procedures to perform tests of hypothesis pertaining to various aspects of geostatistical investigations has been slow in developing. The correlated nature of the data precludes most classical tests and makes the design of new tests difficult. Recent studies have led to modifications of the classical t test which allow for the intercorrelation. In addition, results for certain nonparametric tests have been obtained. The conclusions of these studies provide a variety of new tools for the geostatistician in deciding questions on significant differences and magnitudes.
Binding of [3H]serotonin to lymphocytes in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Based on recent studies of neuroimmune networks, the lymphocyte binding of serotonin neurotransmitter was studied in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, idiopathic mental retardation, and autism. The specific binding to lymphocytes of [3H]serotonin, at a single concentration of 100 nM, was significantly reduced in Alzheimer’s disease patients as compared to aged controls (group mean of 3.667 ± 2.301 v 7.506 ± 1.717 picomoles;p=0.001), and in children with idiopathic mental retardation as compared to healthy children (group mean of 3.694±1.627 v 5.792±1.902 picomoles;p=0.003).
Precipitate behavior in zirconium-based alloys in BWRs

Abstract The metallic elements Cr, Fe, Ni, Nb, and Mo have low solubilities in zirconium, so that zirconium-based alloys made with these elements contain numerous small precipitates. Some of these undergo substantial changes in composition, crystalline structure, and size during in-reactor exposure. Data on these phenomenon have been obtained using the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) to study precipitates before and after reactor exposure. Results on the following alloys are reported here: Zircaloy-2 (Zr-1.5Sn-0.15Fe-0.10Cr-0.05Ni), Zry-0.2Nb (Zircaloy-2 with 0.2Nb), NoCr (Zr-1.5Sn-0.17Fe-0.17Ni), NSF-2 (Zr-1Nb-1Sn-0.2Fe), and XLL (Zr-1.5Sn-0.3Nb-0.3Mo). The dissolution of Fe from various precipitates is apparent from direct compositional measurements. The dissolution of Cr can be inferred in Zry-0.2Nb from Cr:Nb gradients in amorphous Cr-Fe-Zr-Nb precipitates and from the formation of intergranular, Cr,Fe-rich precipitates during postirradiation annealing. Two types of phase change have been seen. First, crystalline phases can become amorphous, as with hexagonal Laves Zr(Fe,Cr)2 in Zircaloy-2 and cubic Fe(Zr,Nb)2 in NSF-2. In the second type, long-range order is eliminated, as with Laves (Mo,Nb)2Zr precipitates in XLL which become BCC. The precipitate size distributions can change in reactor. The greatest changes were measured in small, Cr,Fe-rich precipitates.
Generation and modeling of near-LTE plasmas using ultrashort pulse laser heated, tamped mid-Z targets

Abstract High-intensity, high-contrast (≈ 10−7), ultrashort laser pulses generated at the Ultrashort Pulse Laser (USP) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have been used to study near solid density plasmas and to investigate whether these plasmas approach local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions. Typical targets consisted of a 200 A thick germanium layer tamped by 100–1000 A of CH and heated by a 400 nm, 130 fs laser pulse of intensity 3 × 1017 W cm−2. The measured L-shell x-ray spectra was compared to various LTE and non-LTE LASNEX hydrodynamic simulations using a simple average atom model, and using a non-LTE/STA package similar to the RADIOM non-LTE methodology of Busquet (M. Busquet, Phys. Fluids B, 1993, 5, 4191). Very good qualitative agreement was found with the non-LTE/STA simulations.
Selective cytotoxicity of certain 9-substituted ellipticines for leukemia cells in a variety of leukemia cell cultures

Abstract Certain 9-substituted ellipticines, including 9-hydroxymethylellipticine, displayed selective in vitro cytotoxicity for leukemia cells in a variety of leukemia cell cultures. The selective cytotoxicity was apparent in all of the leukemia cell lines examined, which included CCRF-CEM, HL-60 (TB), K-562, MOLT-4, RPMI-8226, and SR cells.
Stimulations of arachidonate release and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation are mediated by distinct G-proteins in human platelets

Addition of fluoroaluminate to human platelet suspension stimulated thromboxane synthesis and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation in a time and dose dependent manner. Neomycin inhibited markedly fluoroaluminate induced inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation without significantly affecting thromboxane synthesis. Preincubation of platelets with PGE1, also inhibited significantly inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation with modest reduction of thromboxane synthesis. On the contrary, pretreatment of platelets with pertussis toxin inhibited fluoroaluminate stimulated thromboxane synthesis without affecting inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation. Similarly, preincubation of platelets with phorbol ester, PMA, inhibited markedly thromboxane synthesis with modest reduction of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation. These results indicate that inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate formation and arachidonate release and thromboxane synthesis are controlled separately and are mediated by different G-proteins which are coupled to phospholipase C and phospholipase A2 respectively in platelets.
Performing Cultural Work in Demographically Changing Schools: Implications for Expanding Transformative Leadership Frameworks

Purpose: Marginalizing dynamics can emerge in school communities that are experiencing rapid demographic change, even when led by equity-oriented principals.The purpose of this article is to consid...
In vivo CRF release in rat amygdala is increased during cocaine withdrawal in self-administering rats.

Previous studies have suggested a role for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) in the aversive and anxiogenic effects of withdrawal from opiates and ethanol. To test whether this role of CRF extends to cocaine withdrawal as well, the release of CRF in rat amygdala was monitored by intracranial microdialysis during a 12-hour session of intravenous cocaine self-administration and subsequent 12-hour cocaine withdrawal period. Cocaine self-administration tended to lower dialysate CRF concentrations to approximately 75% of CRF levels in controls. In contrast, subsequent cocaine withdrawal produced a profound increase in CRF release, which reached peak levels of approximately 400% of baseline between 11 and 12 hours post-cocaine. These results provide evidence that cocaine withdrawal activates CRF neurons in the amygdala, a site that has been implicated in emotional and anxiogenic effects of stress and drug withdrawal syndromes. Synapse 32:254–261, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Analgesic activity of substance P following intracerebral administration in rats.

Abstract Substance P was found to be a potent, long-lasting analgesic in the tail flick test in rats following intracerebral administration, via chronically indwelling cannulae, into the midbrain periaqueductal gray. Substance P was approximately five times as potent as morphine sulfate on a weight basis; however, it was 25 times more potent than morphine on a molar basis. The analgesic activity produced by Substance P was significantly antagonized by pretreatment with naloxone, a narcotic antagonist. The analgesic activity of Substance P exhibited a rapid onset (1 min.), peaked by 3 minutes post infusion and its duration of activity was between 30 and 60 minutes. Thus, Substance P may be yet another endogenous analgesic peptide.
The Collapse of North Korea: Military Missions and Requirements

In North Korea, the upcoming leadership transition in the Kim Jong-il regime will be a precarious time for the Kim family’s hold on power. A collapse of the North Korean government could have several dangerous implications for East Asia, including “loose nukes,” a humanitarian disaster, a regional refugee crisis, and potential escalation to war between China and the United States. To respond to a collapse and these problems, neighboring countries may perform several military missions to stabilize North Korea. These include the location and securing of North Korean weapons of mass destruction, stability operations, border control, conventional disarmament, and combat/deterrence operations. Assuming that collapse occurs in a relatively benign manner, military missions to stabilize North Korea could require 260,000 to 400,000 troops. If collapse occurs after a war on the peninsula, or if it sparks civil war in North Korea, the number of missions—and their requirements—would grow. Because of the size and complexity of these missions, and because of the perils associated with mismanaging them, advance and combined planning is essential. Combined planning should include those actors (e.g., China, South Korea, and the United States) that could otherwise take destabilizing action to protect their own interests.
An ab initio quantum chemical investigation of carbon-13 NMR shielding tensors in glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, serine, and threonine: Comparisons between helical and sheet tensors, and the effects of (χ1) on shielding

The carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance shielding surfaces for the isotropic and anisotropic shielding components, σ11, σ22, and σ33, for Cα in N-formylglycine amide, and Cα and Cβ in N-formylalanine amide, N-formylvaline amide (χ1 = 180°, −60°, 60°), N-formylisoleucine amide (all χ1 = −60° conformers), N-formyl serine amide (χ1 = 74.3°), and N-formylthreonine amide (χ1 = 180°, −60°, 60°) have been computed at the Hartree−Fock level by using large, locally dense basis sets. The results for Cα in glycine and alanine show the expected ∼4−5 ppm increase in isotropic shielding of sheet over helical geometries, and the overall breadths of the shielding tensors are very similar for both helical and sheet fragments (|σ33 − σ11| ∼ 31−37 ppm). However, for each of the Cβ substituted amino acids (valine, isoleucine, serine, and threonine) our results for Cα indicate not only the expected ∼4−5 ppm increase in shielding of sheet fragments over helical ones but also a large increase in the overall tensor breadths for...
Structural Characterization of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymeric (NFRP) Laminates for Building Construction

This study focuses on the structural characterization of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymeric (NFRP) laminates for their potential application in structural insulated panels in order to replace traditional Oriented Strand Board (OSB) laminates. To this end, mechanical testing such as bending test and low velocity impact test were performed on the laminates made up of bleached and unbleached jute fibers and the results were compared with OSB laminates and Glass/Polypropylene (G/PP) laminates. The results showed significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the resulting laminates such as bending strength by 176%, the modulus of elasticity by 129% and, the load carrying capacity by 179%. The energy absorbed by NFRP was 18% higher than OSB and 26% higher resistance to impact loading.
Race in biology and anthropology: A study of college texts and professors

Information about social issues is underemphasized in college science education. This article takes the race concept as an example of this neglect. We review the history of the race concept and report the current status of the concept in textbooks and among professors. Responses to surveys of faculty at Ph.D.-granting departments indicate that 67% of biologists accept the concept of biological races in the species Homo sapiens, while only 50% of physical anthropologists do so. Content analysis of college textbooks indicates a significant degree of change over time (1936–1984) in physical anthropology but a lesser degree in biology. We suggest several reasons for the dissimilarity in the two disciplines. We propose continued use of the concept for some infrahuman species, while abandoning its application to Homo sapiens. For those biologists and anthropologists who continue to use the concept, scientific accuracy can be achieved by the presentation in lecture and text of the following ideas: first, consensus among scientists on the race concept's utility and accuracy does not exist; second, there is more variation within than between so-called races; third, discordant gradations due to natural selection, drift, and interbreeding make consistent racial boundary lines impossible to identify; fourth, past use of the race concept has had harmful consequences; fifth, the most precise study of human hereditary variation maps one trait at a time; and sixth, racial labels are misleading, especially as most populations have a cultural designation.
Symmetrically exploiting XML

Path expressions are the principal means of locating data in a hierarchical model. But path expressions are brittle because they often depend on the structure of data and break if the data is structured differently. The structure of data could be unfamiliar to a user, may differ within a data collection, or may change over time as the schema evolves. This paper proposes a novel construct that locates related nodes in an instance of an XML data model, independent of a specific structure. It can augment many XPath expressions and can be seamlessly incorporated in XQuery or XSLT.
Adolescent transformations of behavioral and neural processes as potential targets for prevention

Adolescence is a transitional period in development that is marked by a distinct, typical behavioral profile of high rates of exploration, novelty-seeking, and emotional lability. While these behaviors generally assist the adolescent transition to independence, they can also confer vulnerability for excessive risk-taking and psychopathology, particularly in the context of specific environmental or genetic influences. As prevention research depends on the identification of targets of vulnerability, the following review will discuss the interplay among motivational systems including reward-related, avoidance-related, and regulatory processes in typical and atypical adolescent development. Each set of processes will be discussed in relation to their underlying neural correlates and distinct developmental trajectories. Evidence suggests that typical adolescent behavior and the risk for atypical development are mediated by heightened adolescent responsiveness of reward-related and avoidance-related systems under specific conditions, concurrent with poor modulation by immature regulatory processes. Finally, we will propose strategies to exploit heightened reward processing to reinforce inhibitory control, which is an essential component of regulatory processes in prevention interventions.
Preparation, purification, and characterization of lanthanide complexes for use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

Polyaminopolycarboxylate-based ligands are commonly used to chelate lanthanide ions, and the resulting complexes are useful as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Many commercially available ligands are especially useful because they contain functional groups that allow for fast, high-purity, and high-yielding conjugation to macromolecules and biomolecules via amine-reactive activated esters and isothiocyanate groups or thiol-reactive maleimides. While metalation of these ligands is considered common knowledge in the field of bioconjugation chemistry, subtle differences in metalation procedures must be taken into account when selecting metal starting materials. Furthermore, multiple options for purification and characterization exist, and selection of the most effective procedure partially depends on the selection of starting materials. These subtle differences are often neglected in published protocols. Here, our goal is to demonstrate common methods for metalation, purification, and characterization of lanthanide complexes that can be used as contrast agents for MRI (Figure 1). We expect that this publication will enable biomedical scientists to incorporate lanthanide complexation reactions into their repertoire of commonly used reactions by easing the selection of starting materials and purification methods.
Copper ionic liquids: Tunable ligand and anion chemistries to control electrochemistry and deposition morphology.

Abstract A multi-technique investigation was performed on three copper-based ionic liquids to elucidate the influence of coordinating ligands and charge-balancing anions on the electrochemical properties of the materials. Galvanostatic cycling of Cu(OHCH 2 CH 2 NH 2 ) 6 (BF 4 ) 2 ( Cu1 ) in 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate gave partially reversible plating of copper that was consistent with cyclic voltammetry data (collected using an ionic liquid-based reference electrode verified with measurements of ferrocene, cobaltocene, and lithium). Scanning electron microscopy also showed pitting in the copper-coated surface of the electrode that was consistent with the stripping wave observed by cyclic voltammetry. Potentiostatic deposition in neat Cu1 showed significant dendrite formation. The substitution of the OHCH 2 CH 2 NH 2 ligands of Cu1 with stronger coordinating NH(CH 2 CH 2 OH) 2 in Cu(NH(CH 2 CH 2 OH) 2 ) 6 (BF 4 ) 2 ( Cu2 ) resulted in the complete suppression of both copper stripping and dendrite formation. Substitution of the BF 4 - anions of Cu2 with CF 3 SO 3 - in Cu(NH(CH 2 CH 2 OH) 2 ) 6 (CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 ( Cu3 ) shifted the copper deposition 0.1 V more negative and produced slightly larger spherical particles (1.5 μm versus 5 μm). The results suggested that while the anion composition influenced particle size, and the metal–ligand bond strength helped control particle morphology, both factors affected the electrochemical properties including the plating and stripping of copper.
The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome presenting with flank pain.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a heterogeneous disease of the connective tissues, is diagnosed by a triad of symptoms that include skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility and connective tissue fragility. We report a case of undiagnosed Ehlers-Danlos syndrome presenting with symptomatology consistent with a stone.
Equation of state of the hard-sphere solid: The modified weighted-density approximation with a static solid reference state

We have investigated the high-density hard-sphere solid through density-functional theory by applying our recent formulation of the modified weighted-density approximation (MWDA) with a static solid reference state. Our model utilizes both information about the fluid state, modeled by the Percus-Yevick approximation, as well as physical insight into the static solid. We find very good agreement with computer simulation data for the equation of state, as well as for the ideal and excess components of the pressure, and are able to improve the results from the original MWDA model over a wide range of packing fractions. The degree of particle localization and the value of the Lindemann parameter for the high-density hard-sphere solid are also improved over the original MWDA theory. Finally, we comment on the result that the excess pressure is negative for most packing fractions, suggesting possible physical means for this observation.