cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory of thermal expansion of composites

The problem discussed is to find the overall thermal expansion of a composite consisting of inclusions in a matrix of material with different expansion coefficients and elastic moduli. The volume mismatch causes strain fields. The total strain energy must be a minimum. This problem was solved previously for inclusions which are either spheres or randomly oriented long cylinders. In these simple cases the matrix strain field consists of a short-range shear component and a uniform expansion; the inclusion suffers uniform strain. The matrix is replaced by an effective medium having the average properties of the composite. The overall expansion coefficient could be obtained in closed form. This separation of the strain field into short-range shear and long-range uniform dilation is valid, at least to a good approximation, for all inclusion shapes. Simple expressions can thus be obtained in terms of coefficients which, although not calculated exactly, can be deduced approximately or can be determined empirically. Plasticity can be accounted for by allowing the shear modulus to depend on the temperature and on the maximum shear strain. The size of the inclusions does not enter the theory except through the yield strain, which depends on the extent of the strain field.
ON THE INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL DIFFUSIONAL LIMITATIONS ON OPTIMUM TEMPERATURE OPERATIONS POLICIES IN DEACTIVATING FIXED-BED REACTORS

The influence of external mass transfer limitations on optimum temperature operations policies, and on the reaction and deactivation parameters is determined for a first-order primary reaction and first-and d th-order reactant-independent deactivation kinetics occurring in a fixed-bed reactor. This is now done using the correct optimum temperature operations criterion. The rate of temperature rise is lower when external mass transfer limitations are present compared to the diffusion-free condition. The apparent activation energy for reaction is not only different from its intrinsic value but it is also time-variant along the optimum temperature operations policy.
Capacitative Ca2+ entry exclusively inhibits cAMP synthesis in C6-2B glioma cells. Evidence that physiologically evoked Ca2+ entry regulates Ca(2+)-inhibitable adenylyl cyclase in non-excitable cells.

Elevation of cytosolic free Ca 2+ inhibits the type VI adenylyl cyclase that predominates in C6-2B cells. However, it is not known whether there is any selective requirement for Ca 2+ entry or release for inhibition of cAMP accumulation to occur. In the present study, the effectiveness of intracellular Ca 2+ release evoked by three independent methods (thapsigargin, ionomycin, and UTP) was compared with the capacitative Ca 2+ entry that was triggered by these treatments. In each situation, only Ca 2+ entry could inhibit cAMP accumulation (La 3+ ions blocked the effect); Ca 2+ release, which was substantial in some cases, was without effect. A moderate inhibition, as was elicited by a modest degree of Ca 2+ entry, could be rendered substantial in the absence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Such conditions more closely mimic the physiological situation of normal cells. These results are particularly significant, in demonstrating not only that Ca 2+ entry mediates the inhibitory effects of Ca 2+ on cAMP accumulation, but also that diffuse elevations in [Ca 2+] i are ineffective in modulating cAMP synthesis. This property suggests that, as with certain Ca 2+-sensitive ion channels, Ca 2+-sensitive adenylyl cyclases may be functionally colocalized with Ca 2+ entry channels.
1352 HYPERKALEMIA (HK) IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS (VLBW) WITH NON OLIGURC RENAL FAILURE

1352 HYPERKALEMIA (HK) IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS (VLBW) WITH NON OLIGURC RENAL FAILURE
Spherical radial approximation for nested mixed effects models

We consider a likelihood approximation in generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMM) with multilevel nested random effects. Likelihood evaluation in such models is difficult, hindered by the need for high dimensional integration, where the dimension is proportional to the number of units per level and the number of random effects per unit. Various integration approaches have been proposed, including the penalized quasi-likelihood method, Laplace approximation, quadrature approximation, simulation, and MCMC algorithms. We propose a new quadrature approximation method, which is based on the spherical radial integration approach of Monahan and Genz (J Am Stat Assoc 92:664---674 1997), and at the same time takes advantage of the hierarchical structure of the integration. Our new hierarchical spherical radial method has a time complexity that is linear in the number of units per level and the number of random effects per unit, in contrast to the exponential complexity of the adaptive Gaussian quadrature method of Pinheiro and Chao (J Comput Graph Stat 15:58---81 2006) for the same problem. Using a spline approximation, the generalized additive mixed models (GAMM) are GLMMs with two levels of nested random effects. We apply our method to estimation of GAMMs. We compare it with competing methods through simulations and apply our method to analyze virologic and immunologic responses in an AIDS clinical trial. An R package is written and available at http://users.wpi.edu/~jgagnon/software.html.
Fabrication of submicrometer features on curved substrates by microcontact printing

Microcontact printing (mu CP) has been used to produce patterned self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with submicrometer features on curved substrates with radii of curvature as small as 25 micrometers. Wet-chemical etching that uses the patterned SAMs as resists transfers the patterns formed by mu CP into gold. At present, there is no comparable method for microfabrication on curved surfaces.
Electromechanical Changes in Rat Gastrocnemius Following Exercise Training and Steroid Administration

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine the combined effects of exercise and anabolic steroid treatment on muscle contractile and electromechanical properties in male and female rats. The exercised animals were trained to perform a 16-cm vertical jump with an increasing load over an 8-week period. Steroid-treated animals were given nandrolone phenpropionate (Durabolin; 0.2 mg/day) over the last 3 weeks. Contractile properties and electromechanical delay (interval between electrical activation and mechanical onset, [EMD]) were measured in the gastrocnemius muscle after 8 weeks. The steroid treatment produced a greater effect in the female animals as indicated by increases in body weight and twitch force and a decrease in EMD. The exercise protocol produced increases in tetanic tension. Faster EMD scores occurred following both exercise and steroid treatments which were independent of muscle mass. These results demonstrate that 1) exercise and anabolic steroid administration produce distinct gende...
Biosensors: surface structures and materials.

Nanotechnology literally means any technology done on a nanoscale that has applications in the real world. Nanotechnology encompasses production and application of physical, chemical and biological systems at scales ranging from individual atoms or molecules to submicrometre dimensions, as well as the integration of the resulting nanostructures into larger systems. Nanotechnology is likely to have a profound impact on our economy and society in the early twenty-first century, comparable with that of semiconductor technology, information technology, or cellular and molecular technology. Science and technology research in nanotechnology promises breakthroughs in areas such as materials and manufacturing, nanoelectronics, medicine and healthcare, energy, biotechnology, information technology and national security. It is widely felt that nanotechnology will be the next industrial revolution. There is an increasing need for a multi-disciplinary, system-oriented approach to design and manufacturing of micro/nanodevices that function reliably. This can only be achieved through the cross fertilization of ideas from different disciplines and the systematic flow of information and people among research groups.
Elevated C-Reactive Protein in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background—Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been increasingly linked to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Inflammatory processes associated with OSA may contribute to cardiovascular morbidity in these patients. We tested the hypothesis that OSA patients have increased plasma C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods and Results—We studied 22 patients (18 males and 4 females) with newly diagnosed OSA, who were free of other diseases, had never been treated for OSA, and were taking no medications. We compared CRP measurements in these patients to measurements obtained in 20 control subjects (15 males and 5 females) who were matched for age and body mass index, and in whom occult OSA was excluded. Plasma CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with OSA than in controls (median [range] 0.33 [0.09 to 2.73] versus 0.09 [0.02 to 0.9] mg/dL, P0.0003). In multivariate analysis, CRP levels were independently associated with OSA severity (F6.8, P0.032). Conclusions—OSA is associated with elevated levels of CRP, a marker of inflammation and of cardiovascular risk. The severity of OSA is proportional to the CRP level. (Circulation. 2002;105:2462-2464.)
On the design of non-(bi)orthogonal pulse-shaped FDM for doubly-dispersive channels

We consider the design of max-SINR pulse-shaped (PS) frequency domain modulation (FDM), where the signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) is defined in accordance with inter-symbol and intercarrier interference (ISI/ICI) shaping rather than complete ISI/ICI suppression. Because the transmitter is assumed to know the channel scattering function but not the channel realization, the resulting max-SINR pulses are non-(bi)orthogonal. For this case, numerical results suggest that max-SINR systems designed for ISI/ICI-shaping achieve higher outage capacity than those designed for ISI/ICI-suppression. An outage capacity analysis is also used to obtain rough design guidelines for max-SINR non-(bi)orthogonal PS-FDM, since the design paradigm differs from that of (bi)orthogonal PS-FDM.
PP2A Counterbalances Phosphorylation of pRB and Mitotic Proteins by Multiple CDKs Potential Implications for PP2A Disruption in Cancer

Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) consists of a collection of heterotrimeric serine/threonine phosphatase holoenzymes that play multiple roles in cell signaling via dephosphorylation of numerous substrates of a large family of serine/threonine kinases. PP2A substrate specificity is mediated by B regulatory subunits of four different families, which selectively recognize diverse substrates by mechanisms that are not well understood. Among the many signaling pathways with critical PP2A functions are several deregulated in cancer cells, and PP2A is a know tumor suppressor. However, the precise composition of the heterotrimeric PP2A complexes with tumor supressor activity is not well understood. This review is centered on the emerging role of the B regulatory subunit B55α and related subfamilly members in the modulation of the phosphorylation state of pocket proteins and mitotic CDK substrates, as well as the implications of PP2A function disruption in cancer in the context of these activities.
Solubility Constraint: An Important Consideration in Safety Assessment of Nuclear Waste Disposal

Solubilities of key solid compounds that are either present in the waste form or can readily precipitate from waste package leachates under repository conditions can be used to set maximum limits on radionuclide concentrations expected in groundwater. This is because the solubility limited concentrations are independent of the release scenarios, hydrologic transport characteristics, and adsorption/desorption reactions. Some of the important factors that control solubilities are pH, pe, type of solid phase, and nature of complexing ligands in the ground waters. Most of the above factors are affected by radiolysis due to the inherent radiation field of the waste form. Experimental results pertaining to the solubilities of selected Am, U, Np, and Pu compounds and the effects of radiolysis are discussed. These results show that: 1) at expected repository pH and reducing conditions, solubility controlled concentrations of several actinides are low and near acceptable limits, 2) the redox conditions at the waste form-water interface may be very oxidizing due to radiolyticeffects, despite the fact that normal repository conditions are assumed to be reducing, 3) additional data on solubility limits and key thermodynamic parameters are needed.
Reducing alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk in college women: Initial outcomes of a clinical trial of a motivational intervention

A significant number of college women are at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP) owing to binge drinking paired with using contraception ineffectively. This article describes a randomized controlled trial of a one-session motivational interviewing-based intervention to reduce AEP risk among college women and presents 1-month outcomes demonstrating the early impact of this intervention. There were 228 female students from a mid-Atlantic urban university enrolled in the trial. Eligibility criteria were being in the age range of 18–24 years and being at risk for AEP. Risk for AEP was defined as having sexual intercourse with a man in the past 90 days while using contraception ineffectively (no use, incorrect use of an effective method, or use of an ineffective method only); drinking at risky levels was defined as engaging in at least one binge in the past 90 days or consuming an average of eight standard drinks per week. One-month outcome data were available for 212 of the 228 enrolled women (a follow-up rate of 93%), with complete data available for 105 women assigned to the control condition and 94 assigned to the intervention condition. At 1-month follow-up, 15% of the control subjects and 25% of the intervention women reported no risk drinking, a significant difference favoring the intervention group. Significantly fewer control subjects (48%) used effective contraception at 1-month follow-up as compared with intervention women (64%), χ2(1) = 5.1, p < .03. Significantly more intervention women (74%) were no longer at risk for AEP at 1 month as compared with control subjects (54%), χ2(1) = 8.15, p < .005. Factors that were associated with continued AEP risk at 1-month follow-up were a higher number of standard drinks per day consumed in the month prior to baseline (odds ratio, 1.1) and assignment to the control condition (odds ratio, 2.9). The risks of unintended pregnancy and AEP among drinking women in college merit greater prevention efforts. The results of this study show the promise of one preventive intervention that warrants additional study.
An Autoradiographic Study of the Sensory Innervation of Teeth. I. Dentin

Autoradiography of axoplasmically transported proteins revealed that the coronal dentin of rat molar teeth receives sensory innervation from the trigeminal ganglion. The labeled processes appear to run in dentinal tubules and sometimes reach the peripheral dentinal region near the enamel.
The Selection of Special Educators and Learning Disability Specialists

The process that should determine the selection procedures for learning disability specialists is conceptualized. The base represents the essential qualities necessary for all special educators before they are admitted for training in the field. The second level represents qualities that can be taught and enhanced, and the third are the style of behavior and the temperament that can and should be matched with the child to form “a treatment alliance.”
Enhancing web page readability for non-native readers

Readers face many obstacles on today's Web, including distracting content competing for the user's attention and other factors interfering with comfortable reading. On today's primarily English-language Web, non-native readers encounter even more problems, even if they have some fluency in English. In this paper, we focus on the presentation of content and propose a new transformation method, Jenga Format, to enhance web page readability. To evaluate the Jenga Format, we conducted a user study on 30 Asian users with moderate English fluency and the results indicated that the proposed transformation method improved reading comprehension without negatively affecting reading speed. We also describe Froggy, a Firefox extension which implements the Jenga format.
The living-dying interval in nursing home-based end-of-life care: family caregivers' experiences

Guided by concepts from the living-dying interval ( Pattison, 1977 ) this study sought to explore family members' experiences with a dying nursing home resident. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 caregivers of residents who had died. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Themes that illuminated families' experiences on the living-dying interval were: an acute medical crisis (trigger events, accumulation of stressors, level of care crisis); the living-dying phase (advance care planning, hospitalization, end-stage decisions); and the terminal phase (beginning of the end, awareness of dying). The results illustrate critical periods for social work intervention with families of dying nursing home residents.
Hybrid PCA based shape from shading for 3D head reconstruction

This paper describes a novel method for 3D head reconstruction by shape from shading (SFS) with initial conditions estimated using hybrid principal component analysis (HPCA). Prevalent Shape from Shading methods do not achieve good results on realistic images if a close initial estimation of the true surface is unavailable. This happens frequently in practical situations. To overcome this problem, we propose a novel shape from shading method which is based on multiple-level optimization with initial conditions derived by HPCA algorithm. We find that the HPCA algorithm provides reliable surface estimation that serves as initial conditions for the multiple-level optimization. The proposed method is also insensitive to albedo variations that frequently occur on head surfaces. Experimental results show that the method achieves accurate reconstruction of human heads.
University Students Leaving Relationships (USLR): Scale Development and Gender Differences in Decisions to Leave Romantic Relationships

The University Students Leaving Relationships scale was developed to identify student concerns when contemplating dissolution of romantic relationships. Participants included 1,106 students who rat...
The Squeeze Play Will RtI Unite or Divide and Conquer

This case, which was developed for courses in special education leadership, concerns the overidentification of students and minorities in special education at an elementary school. The case describ...
Race, Roll‐Off, and Racial Transition: The Influence of Political Change on Racial Group Voter Roll‐Off in Urban Elections*

Objectives. Many cities in the United States have undergone or are undergoing racial transition from a majority white to a majority black population. Accompanying this is a change in the racial makeup of elections and officeholders. This article seeks to explain racial patterns in voter roll-off as a city undergoes racial transition. Methods. Using a fixed-effects regression model, we analyze the level of voter roll-off (from the top-of-the-ballot mayoral contest) among black and white voters across Memphis City Council elections, from 1967 through 2003. Results. The level of voter roll-off among racial groups is sensitive to the racial aspect of political change. Black voters are most likely to continue to vote in council contests when there is a racial choice among candidates, when blacks have previously been elected, and when blacks occupy the mayoralty and a majority of council seats. Whites are most likely to vote in racially competitive council contests, as well as when there are a large number of white candidates, and when whites hold a majority of the council seats. Conclusions. In settings such as Memphis, where race has played a pronounced historic role, the racial context of political empowerment has a strong influence on electoral participation. Elections below the top-of-the-ballot become more salient, and political efficacy grows among racial group members when that cohort occupies institutional positions, particularly the majority of positions in a governing institution.
Assessing the export competitiveness of Chinese industries

This article presents a framework for measuring, illustrating and comparing industry export competitiveness that takes into account (i) industry specialization, (ii) industry export growth rate and (iii) relative industry size. We apply the framework to a data set of 97 different industries from China over a 5-year period (2001–2005). According to our results, over 70 per cent of Chinese industries are ‘dynamic’, meaning that their export growth is higher than the world average export growth. Almost 50 per cent of the Chinese industries examined are competitive in global markets, with 20–25 per cent of the world export market share in their respective industry. Our results also suggest that the more an industry becomes specialized, the higher its world market share in terms of exports. The framework developed is innovative in its conceptualization and can be used in a variety of contexts to model industry export competitiveness.
Radioprobing of DNA: distribution of DNA breaks produced by decay of 125I incorporated into a triplex-forming oligonucleotide correlates with geometry of the triplex

The distribution of breaks produced in both strands of a DNA duplex by the decay of 125I carried by a triplex-forming DNA oligonucleotide was studied at single nucleotide resolution. The 125I atom was located in the C5 position of a single cytosine residue of an oligonucleotide designed to form a triple helix with the target sequence duplex. The majority of the breaks (90%) are located within 10 bp around the decay site. The addition of the free radical scavenger DMSO produces an insignificant effect on the yield and distribution of the breaks. These results suggest that the majority of these breaks are produced by the direct action of radiation and are not mediated by diffusible free radicals. The frequency of breaks in the purine strand was two times higher that in the pyrimidine strand. This asymmetry in the yield of breaks correlates with the geometry of this type of triplex; the C5 of the cytosine in the third strand is closer to the sugar-phosphate backbone of the purine strand. Moreover, study of molecular models shows that the yield of breaks at individual bases correlates with distance from the 125I decay site. We suggest the possible use of 125I decay as a probe for the structure of nucleic acids and nucleoprotein complexes.
Executive functional experience and its relationship to the financial performance of nonprofit organizations

This study examines the relationship between a chief executive's functional business experience and multiple financial measures of Nonprofit organization performance within higher education foundations. Executive experience in specific business disciplines was found to be associated with two financial performance outcomes examined in this study. Specifically, prior functional experience of CEOs in the areas of accounting, production, and marketing were significant and positive predictors of financial performance.
Functional expression of heterologous proteins in yeast: insights into Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+-transporting ATPases.

The baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a well-developed, versatile, and widely used model organism. It offers a compact and fully sequenced genome, tractable genetics, simple and inexpensive...
Is the Emotion-Health Connection a “First-World Problem”?

Emotions have been shown to play a critical role in health outcomes, but research on this topic has been limited to studies in industrialized countries, which prevents broad generalizations. This study assessed whether emotion-health connections persist across various regions, including less-developed countries, where the degree to which people’s fundamental needs are met might be a better predictor of physical well-being. Individuals from 142 countries (N = 150,048) were surveyed about their emotions, health, hunger, shelter, and threats to safety. Both positive and negative emotions exhibited unique, moderate effects on self-reported health, and together, they accounted for 46.1% of the variance. These associations were stronger than the relative impact of hunger, homelessness, and threats to safety and were not simply attributable to countries’ gross domestic products (GDPs). Furthermore, connections between positive emotion and health were stronger in low-GDP countries than in high-GDP countries. Our ...
Flexural extension of the upper continental crust in collisional foredeeps

Normal faults on the outer slopes of trenches and collisional foredeeps reveal that high-amplitude lithospheric flexure can result in inelastic extensional deformation of the convex side of a flexed plate. This process, which we call "flexural extension," differs fundamentally from rifting in that the lower lithosphere contracts while the upper lithosphere extends. In the Taconic foreland of New York, a >100-km-wide zone of brittle failure propagated ahead of the convergent plate boundary, rupturing the upper crust to an estimated depth of 15-20 km. Dip-slip displacement on normal faults in the Taconic and Arkoma foredeeps produced water depths like those in the closest modern analogue, the Timor Trough. Structural evidence does not support common illustrations of flexural normal faults as planar-irrotational structures which simply die out at shallow crustal depths. Instead, the surface geology shows that flexural normal faulting must be rotational with respect to the enveloping surface of the flexed plate. This toppled domino geometry implies the presence at depth of a detachment or zone of distributed ductile simple shear where fault displacement and block rotation are accommodated.
High-accuracy finite-difference equations for dielectric waveguide analysis II: dielectric corners

For part I see ibid., p. 1210, 2002. We present a discussion of the behavior of the electric and magnetic fields satisfying the two-dimensional Helmholtz equation for waveguides in the vicinity of a dielectric corner. Although certain components of the electric field have long been known to be infinite at the corner, it is shown that all components of the magnetic field are finite, and that finite-difference equations may be derived for these fields that satisfy correct boundary conditions at the corner. These finite-difference equations have been combined with those derived in the previous paper to form a full-vector waveguide solution algorithm of unprecedented accuracy. This algorithm is employed to provide highly accurate solutions for the fundamental modes of a previously studied standard rib waveguide structure.
New studies on the radioactivity of the atmosphere

I. The effect of the gamma rays from the various radioactive substances floating in the atmosphere—previously only estimated theoretically—was determined directly by measuring the total ionization with and without a 1,2 cm. iron plate on top of the ionization chamber which was shielded on the bottom and on all sides by 10 cm. iron. The absorption of the soft component of cosmic radiation in 1,2 cm. iron was taken into account. It was found that the gamma radiation from the radioactive substances in the atmosphere (“air radiation”) amounts, on the average to 0,15I (ion pairs per cm.3·sec) near the ground. It varies considerably from day to day. These variations can exaggerate or mask actual fluctuations which may occur in the soft component of cosmic rays. II. To find the total ionization produced by radon, thoron and their decay products in the atmosphere near the ground, samples of air (13 liters) were taken in the garden of the Seismic Station of Fordham University (in the Northern suburbs of New York), at 1 meter above ground and introduced in an evacuated large ionization chamber which was completely, shielded from local radiations by 10 cm. iron on all sides. By following up the “decay” of ionization with time it was possible to determine the ionizing effects of the radon and thoron decay products separately. It was found that radon and its decay products give, on the average (autumn 1949) an ionization of 0,93I (by their alpha rays) while thoron and its decay products contribute 0,83I (47% of the total alpha ray effect). The radon, content alone amounted to 46·10−18 curie/cm.4 in November and December 1949.
Heterogeneous three-dimensional strain fields during unconfined cyclic compression in bovine articular cartilage explants

Articular cartilage provides critical load-bearing and tribological properties to the normal function of diarthrodial joints. The unique properties of cartilage, as well as heterogeneous deformations during mechanical compression, are due to the nonuniform microstructural organization of tissue components such as collagens and proteoglycans. A new cartilage deformation by tag registration (CDTR) technique has been developed by the authors to determine heterogeneous deformations in articular cartilage explants. The technique uses a combination of specialized MRI methods, a custom cyclic loading apparatus, and image processing software. The objective of this study was to use the CDTR technique to document strain patterns throughout the volume of normal bovine articular cartilage explants during cyclic unconfined compression at two physiologically-relevant applied normal stress levels (1.29 and 2.57 MPa). Despite simple uniaxial cyclic compressive loading with a flat, nonporous indenter, strain patterns were heterogeneous. Strains in the thickness direction (E(yy)) were compressive, varied nonlinearly with depth from the articular surface from a maximum magnitude of 11% at the articular surface, and were comparable despite a 2-fold increase in applied normal stress. Strains perpendicular to the thickness direction (E(xx) and E(zz)) were tensile, decreased linearly with depth from the articular surface from a maximum of 7%, and increased in magnitude 2.5-fold with a 2-fold increase in applied normal stress. Shear strains in the transverse plane (E(xz)) were approximately zero while shear strains in the other two planes were much larger and increased in magnitude with depth from the articular surface, reaching maximum magnitudes of 2% at the articular cartilage-subchondral bone interface. In general, strain patterns indicated that cartilage osteochondral explants exhibited depth-dependent nonisotropic behavior during uniaxial cyclic loading. These results are useful in verifying constitutive formulations of articular cartilage during cyclic unconfined compression and in characterizing the micromechanical environment likely experienced by individual chondrocytes throughout the tissue volume.
TGF beta 1 inhibits branching morphogenesis and N-myc expression in lung bud organ cultures

Lung buds isolated from 11.5 days post coitum mouse embryos survive and undergo branching morphogenesis in culture. This organ culture system was used to examine the role of TGF beta 1 and N-myc expression in lung branching morphogenesis. By 24 hours, TGF beta 1 reversibly inhibited branching morphogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner. N-myc is known to be expressed during embryonic development in epithelial cells involved in branching morphogenesis and homozygous null N-myc mice have defects in lung development. In the present study, TGF beta 1 was shown to inhibit the steady-state level of N-myc RNA 3- to 4-fold at 14 and 48 hours of treatment as measured by northern blot and RNase protection analysis. Suppression of N-myc expression in epithelium was confirmed by in situ hybridization. Since inhibition of N-myc occurred prior to the observed changes in morphology and previous genetic studies have demonstrated and important role for N-myc in lung development, a model is proposed in which TGF beta 1 inhibits tracheobronchial development by inhibiting expression of N-myc.
Asparagine-linked Oligosaccharides Present on a Non-consensus Amino Acid Sequence in the CH1 Domain of Human Antibodies

We report that N-linked oligosaccharide structures can be present on an asparagine residue not adhering to the consensus site motif NX(S/T), where X is not proline, described in the literature. We have observed oligosaccharides on a non-consensus asparaginyl residue in the CH1 constant domain of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies. The initial findings were obtained from characterization of charge variant populations evident in a recombinant human antibody of the IgG2 subclass. HPLC-MS results indicated that cation-exchange chromatography acidic variant populations were enriched in antibody with a second glycosylation site, in addition to the well documented canonical glycosylation site located in the CH2 domain. Subsequent tryptic and chymotryptic peptide map data indicated that the second glycosylation site was associated with the amino acid sequence TVSWN162SGAL in the CH1 domain of the antibody. This highly atypical modification is present at levels of 0.5–2.0% on most of the recombinant antibodies that have been tested and has also been observed in IgG1 antibodies derived from human donors. Site-directed mutagenesis of the CH1 domain sequence in a recombinant-human IgG1 antibody resulted in an increase in non-consensus glycosylation to 3.15%, a greater than 4-fold increase over the level observed in the wild type, by changing the −1 and +1 amino acids relative to the asparagine residue at position 162. We believe that further understanding of the phenomenon of non-consensus glycosylation can be used to gain fundamental insights into the fidelity of the cellular glycosylation machinery.
Using Quickbird and Landsat imagery to analyze temporal changes in mountain resort development: Big Sky, Montana 1990-2005.

Documenting patterns of land use and land-cover change in mountain resort development (MRD) is important for understanding the effects of these changes of fragile mountain environments. High-spatial-resolution imagery can be useful for mapping MRD, but lack of a long-term record of such imagery hampers our ability to analyze temporal patterns. We use the results from classification of high-spatial-resolution imagery (Quickbird and LiDAR) to calibrate concurrent moderate-resolution imagery (Landsat). We then use historical moderate-resolution imagery to analyze changes in spatial patterns of MRD over time. Analyses revealed that increases in MRD occurred disproportionately close to streams, which raises concerns for impacts on water quality.
RANGE EXPANSION OF THE BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (EMPIDONAX FULVIFRONS) INTO THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA

Abstract We detected buff-breasted flycatchers (Empidonax fulvifrons) while conducting surveys in the Rincon Mountains, Arizona, in 2000 (n = 2), 2004 (n = 4), and 2005 (n = 5). Our detections represent the first records of buff-breasted flycatchers in the Rincon Mountains since 1911, suggesting that this rare species has recolonized a portion of its historical breeding range.
Further evidence for selective differences between isoalleles in Drosophila.

A number of separate strains of Drosophila pseudoobscura were inbred for 38 generations of brother-sister mating with forced heterozygosity for two alleles of either the octanol dehydrogenase or esterase-5 locus. Crosses were set up within each of these inbred lines such that simple mendelian ratios were expected, and eggs from these crosses were placed on media with additions of simple chemicals likely to interact with alleles of the two loci—octanol and ethanol for the ODH locus and tributyrin and triacetin for the E-5 locus. Similar crosses were set up involving parental flies with normally heterozygous genetic background as a control.—Significant deviations from mendelian expectation were observed in inbred E-5 flies grown on tributyrin, inbred ODH males grown on octanol, and inbred ODH females grown on ethanol. There was also a strong effect of octanol medium on males of one of the inbred E-5 lines, and a weak effect of tributyrin medium on ODH inbred females.—The probability that these results reflect interactions between these loci and the environment is assessed in the light of differences between the present results and those obtained at earlier stages of inbreeding.
Joan of Arc: Sanctity, witchcraft or epilepsy?

The objective of this article is to describe whether Joan of Arc had epilepsy and how that may have influenced her sense of mission and ability to encourage thousands of people to help her to chase the English out of France.
Cyberbullying matters: Examining the incremental impact of cyberbullying on outcomes over and above traditional bullying in North America.

Bullying among youth is a relatively widespread problem as estimates at the number of youth affected in the USA suggest that nearly 14.6 million youth may experience traditional bullying and 6.2 million may experience cyberbullying as either a victim or perpetrator. Traditional bullying and cyberbullying share many features in common, and research suggests that the two phenomena overlap to a great extent, with as many as 88 % of victims (or perpetrators) of traditional bullying also being cyberbullying victims (or perpetrators). This finding has caused some researchers to question whether cyberbullying is really a unique phenomenon that can negatively impact youth. The current study adds to our understanding of this overlap by examining the extent to which cyberbullying predicts unique variance in several individual health and behavioral outcomes over and above traditional bullying. The data are drawn from two large-scale samples of youth from the USA. Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicate that cyberbullying explained between 1 and 4 % unique variance in several outcomes (e.g., absenteeism, depression, grades in school) over and above traditional bullying. These results suggest that cyberbullying represents a unique form of bullying that has the potential to impact youth negatively. Future bullying researchers are encouraged to measure both forms of media through which bullying can occur (i.e., traditional and cyber) to obtain a fuller understanding of the bullying context and the subsequent impact on youth.
The continuing saga of the nerve compression block technique.

In response to Bairstow and Laszlo (1976) the present paper points out the inconsistencies of their arguments relative to Laszlo’s previous work and that of Kelso, Stelmach, and Wanamaker (1974). Data are presented indicating that the nerve compression block, as a tool, fails to meet the stringent requirements necessary for examining motor performance in the absence of kinesthetic information. Some possibilities for the discrepancy between Laszlo’s performance data and those from Kelso et al. are discussed. These hinge on the availability of sensory information rather than any artifact in the Kelso et al. nerve conduction procedures as Bairstow and Laszlo (1976) suggest.
Subgrid Two-Phase Mixing and Combustion Modeling for Large-Eddy Simulations

A subgrid scalar mixing and combustion model originally developed for gas phase combustion has been extended to include the liquid phase. This approach includes a more fundamental treatment of the effects of the final stages of droplet vaporization, molecular diffusion, chemical reactions and small scale turbulent mixing than other LES closure techniques. As a result, Reynolds, Schmidt and Damkohler number effects are explicitly included. This model has been implemented within an Eulerian-Lagrangian two phase large-eddy simulation (LES) formulation. In this approach, the liquid droplets are tracked using the Lagrangian approach up to a pre-specified cut-off size. The evaporation of the Lagrangian droplets and the evaporation and mixing of the droplets smaller than the cutoff size is modeled within the subgrid using an Eulerian two-phase model. The issues related to the implementation of this subgrid model within the LES are discussed in this paper along with some preliminary results that demonstrate its capabilities.© 1998 ASME
Mechanisms of Avian Egg Recognition: Possible Learned and Innate Factors

THE belief that at least some passerine birds reject nonmimetic eggs placed in their nests was confirmed long ago by the experiments of Swynnerton (1916, 1918) and Rensch (1924). The latter worker (Rensch 1925) went on to question whether such birds actually recognize their own eggs (rejection by true egg recognition) or whether they simply reject any egg that differs from the majority (rejection by discordancy). Rensch was interested in egg recognition because he believed it to be vital to the evolutionary interactions between brood parasites and their hosts. Whether birds rejected eggs on the basis of true recognition or discordancy, the behavior would still function as an efficient antiparasite adaptation because brood parasites generally deposit only one egg in each host nest. Although Rensch's (1925) experiments have been widely interpreted as demonstrating rejection by discordancy (e.g. Welty 1963), the bulk of his results actually indicate true egg recognition (Rothstein 1970). Numerous recent experiments and a literature review suggest that most or all passerines that reject foreign eggs practice true egg recognition (Rothstein 1974). Nearly all these recent experiments, though, were conducted on birds that had completed their clutch. The fact that birds that reject foreign eggs practice true egg recognition after completing their clutch prompts two significant questions: (1) Is this recognition as highly developed at earlier stages of the breeding cycle? (2) Which components of rejection by true egg recognition are primarily learned and which are primarily innate? This paper reports on experiments that were designed to deal with these two questions. The new experiments reported here were done on naturally breeding Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis). Previous experiments showed that catbirds are extremely intolerant of foreign eggs placed in their nests. Single artificial or real cowbird eggs experimentally added to 30 catbird nests in eastern North America (Connecticut, Maryland, and Michigan) were all removed by the catbirds. Catbirds in western North America (Manitoba and Nebraska) may be slightly more tolerant, with 22 of 25 nests yielding ejections of single cowbird eggs. In 17 additional catbird nests (from Connecticut and Maryland), where experiments resulted in clutches consisting of only cowbird eggs or of only one catbird egg and two or more cowbird or other type of foreign eggs, the catbirds ejected the foreign eggs in every instance (see Rothstein 1974 for details).
Nutrient Concentrations and Proportions in Particle Size Fractions of Corn Steam Flaked to Different Bulk Densities12

The particle size distribution that results from steam flaking corn could be responsible for the difference in the chemical composition noted between steam-flaked corn and unprocessed grain. Steam-flaked corn processed to bulk densities of 283, 335, and 386 g/L (22, 26, and 30 lb/bu, respectively) was dry-sieved to determine the proportions in particle size fractions ranging from > 8,000 to 8,000-μm fraction, with the smallest proportion associated with the 600-μm sieve fraction. The proportions of NDF, P, EE, and ash present in particles > 8,000 μm decreased (P < 0.05) as flake bulk density decreased. In addition, the proportions of total starch within particle sizes of 4,760 to 8,000 μm and 1,180 to 2,360 μm were greater (P ≤ 0.02) for 283 g/L flakes than for 335 and 386 g/L flakes. Within the range of bulk density of steam-flaked corn evaluated, certain nutrients were more concentrated in the finer particles created during the steam-flaking process. If smaller particles are disproportionately sampled, flaked corn will appear to differ chemically from the grain being flaked.
Application and Research of Special Waste Plasma Disposal Technology(In Chinese)

The basic concept of plasma and the principle of waste hot plasma disposal technology are simply introduced.Several sides of application and research of solid waste plasma disposal technology are sumed up.Compared to the common technology,the advantages of waste hot plasma disposal technology manifest further.It becomes one of the most prospective and the most attended high tech disposal technology in particular kind of waste disposal field.The article also simply introduces some experiment results in Southwest Institute of Physics and some work on the side of importation,absorption,digestion,development of foreign plasma torch technology and researching new power sources for plasma torch.
Inside the solid planets and moons

The Earth is but one of many large solid bodies in the solar system, and just one of an enormous number of planets that are thought to orbit other stars. So why is the Earth such a special place? Why is it the only object in our solar system to provide a favourable environment for life? Why does it have a magnetic field and – uniquely – a surface divided into tectonic plates? How did it form and evolve into its present state, with continents, oceans, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes?
Perspectives on Shock Wave Lithotripsy: An Environmental Assessment—Report from the American Hospital Association

The major issues associated with shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in 1988 are quality of patient care, service capacity and utilization, market demand, and pricing of technology and service.
Ion flux studies of voltage-sensitive sodium channels in synaptic nerve-ending particles.

Neurotoxins which activate voltage-sensitive sodium channels cause a 10-fold increase in the initial rate of 22Na+ uptake in synaptic nerve-ending particles (synaptosomes). Batrachotoxin is a full agonist in activating synaptosomal sodium channels, whereas veratridine and aconitine are partial agonists acting at the same receptor site. The 22Na+ uptake induced by alkaloid toxins is completely blocked by tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin. The Ki for saxitoxin (6 nM) is identical with the Kd for 3H-labeled saxitoxin binding to sodium channels in synaptosomes. The polypeptides scorpion toxin, Anemonia sulcata toxin II, and Anthopleurin A enhance activation of sodium channels by alkaloid toxins, reducing the K0.5 for all alkaloid toxins and increasing the fraction of sodium channels activated by the partial agonists. Scorpion toxin and A. sulcata toxin II are full agonists in this respect, whereas Anthopleurin A is a partial agonist. The three polypeptide toxins bind to a common receptor site, and the concentration dependence of binding and activation of 22Na+ influx are closely correlated. Alkaloid toxins markedly enhance 125I-labeled scorpion toxin binding to its receptor site, demonstrating bidirectional allosteric coupling between the receptor sites for polypeptide and alkaloid toxins. The concentration-effect curves for alkaloid toxin enhancement of 125I-labeled scorpion toxin binding and 22Na+ uptake are closely correlated. Depolarization enhances the effect of alkaloid toxins on 125I-labeled scorpion toxin binding but does not alter the effect of saturating concentrations of scorpion toxin on batrachotoxin activation. In depolarized synaptosomes, this allosteric coupling between the alkaloid toxin and polypeptide toxin receptor sites is quantitatively fit by a model which assumes that both the alkaloid and polypeptide toxins act by binding selectively to active states of sodium channels.
Percutaneous Catheter-Aided Infarction of Renal Tumors: A Preliminary Report

AbstractThree patients with moderate-sized renal cell carcinomas underwent percutaneous catheter-aided gelfoam embolization several days prior to an operation. Reduction of the vascular bed of the tumors shortened operative time and simplified the procedure. In the future these patients, along with others, will be followed to determine if reduction of tumor size by necrosis will alter the immune mechanism of the metastases. Even our small series and short followup illustrate that embolization is a simple and logical extension of diagnostic catheterization.