cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of RAD51-stimulatory compound 1 (RS-1) and its vehicle, DMSO, on pig embryo culture.

Abstract Pigs have become an important model for agricultural and biomedical purposes. The advent of genomic engineering tools, such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system, has facilitated the production of livestock models with desired modifications. However, precise site-specific modifications in pigs through the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway remains a challenge. In mammalian embryos, the use of small molecules to inhibit non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or to improve HDR have been tested, but little is known about their toxicity. The compound RS-1 stimulates the activity of the RAD51 protein, which plays a key role in the HDR mechanism, demonstrating enhancement of HDR events in rabbit and bovine zygotes. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the dosage and temporal effects of RS-1 on porcine embryo development and viability. Additionally, we assessed the effects of its vehicle, DMSO, during embryo in vitro culture. Transient exposure to 7.5 μM of RS-1 did not adversely affect early embryo development and was compatible with subsequent development to term. Additionally, low concentrations of its vehicle, DMSO, did not show any toxicity to in vitro produced embryos. The transient use of RS-1 at 7.5 μM during in vitro culture seems to be the best protocol of choice to reduce the potentially toxic effects of RS-1 while attempting to improve HDR in the pig. Direct injection of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, combined with strategies to increase the frequency of targeted modifications via HDR, have become an important tool to simplify and accelerate the production of genetically modified livestock models.
Lecture Notes on Enormous Integers

We are going to discuss enormous integers and rates of growth after [PH77]. This breakthrough was based on a variant of the classical finite Ramsey theorem. Since then, examples have been given of greater relevance to a number of standard mathematical and computer science contexts, often involving even more enormous integers and rates of growth.
Partnerships For Vitalizing Communities And Neighborhoods: Celebrating a "Return"!

L'A. porte son attention sur les experiences de partenariat menees aux Etats-Unis et destinees a vitaliser les communautes et les voisinages. Il decrit la vie sociale au sein des communautes ainsi que dans le cadre des relations de voisinage. Il montre, au travers de programmes mis en place a New York et a Chicago, le role des structures de partenariat
Size characterization of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guérin) vaccine, Tice substrain.

Reconstituted, lyophilized, attenuated Mycobacterium bovis, Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine, Tice™ substrain, was characterized using a Coulter Multisizer and a HIAC/Royco counter. The primary organism has an equivalent spherical diameter approximating 1 µm but the BCG cell suspension is heavily aggregated. The cumulative size distribution of the suspension fits a log-probit plot and this information can be used to determine the total number of particles per ampoule. The instrumental count may be related to the viable count. The state of dispersion was unaffected by mild shear (syringe aspiration or ultrasound) and only slightly affected by the addition of cetylpyridinium chloride or sodium tauroglycolate.
The handedness of rhesus monkeys—I: Distribution

Abstract Among 171 rhesus monkeys there were approximately equal numbers of left and right-handed individuals. Strongly handed animals tended to increase the strength whereas all animals increased the consistency of their hand preference upon repeated testing. The youngest animals had an average initial hand preference approximating chance levels whereas older animals had more obvious biases toward their ultimately preferred hand, even on the first reach. With repeated testing both young and older animals appeared to reach and maintain average levels of preference for their preferred hands of about 85%.
The distribution and localization of the fucose-binding lectin in rat tissues and the identification of a high affinity form of the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine-binding lectin in rat liver.

A small-scale affinity chromatographic procedure was developed to screen for the presence of fucose and mannose/N-acetylglucosamine-binding lectins in small amounts of rat tissues. Of all tissues examined, only the liver contained the fucose-binding lectin, whereas both liver and blood serum contained the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine lectin. By means of immunocytological methods using antibodies to hepatic lectins, the fucose lectin was shown to be uniquely present in Kupffer cells and absent in all other types of rat macrophages examined. The binding and uptake of different neoglycoproteins by nonparenchymal cell fractions of liver indicated that the fucose-binding lectin was either not responsible for the uptake or that more than one lectin was acting. With the identification of another lectin (Mr = 180,000) by the above screening procedure for hepatic lectins and the results of studies in the following paper (Haltiwanger, R.S., and Hill, R. L. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 7440-7444) two lectins appear to be involved. A small amount of the hepatic mannose/N-acetylglucosamine lectin was found by the above screening procedure to have a higher affinity for L-fucosyl-bovine serum albumin-Sepharose than the majority of the lectin in hepatocytes. This lectin, called the high affinity form, was purified and its properties examined. On a weight basis the high affinity form bound 7-12 times more ligand than the normal form. Its Ka for L-fucosyl-bovine serum albumin was 2.3 X 10(9) M-1 compared to 3.5 X 10(8) M-1 for the normal form. Moreover, the concentrations of monosaccharides required to inhibit the high affinity form were about 3 times less than those required to inhibit binding of the normal form. The two forms, however, have identical molecular weights (32,000) under reducing and nonreducing conditions, bind anti-lectin antibodies in the same way, and give identical peptide maps after V-8 protease digestion. The structural basis for the different binding affinities of the two forms remains unknown.
Volunteerism and Social Work Educators: Findings from a National Survey

Abstract This study reports the results of a national survey designed to identify the nature and levels of volunteer work that social work educators contribute to the social welfare sector. Findings reveal that nearly all social work educators engage in formal volunteer work and perform a variety of roles in human service agencies. The most common volunteer activities are advocacy, administration and consultation. The least common volunteer activities are evaluation, data management and emergency services. Study results also indicate that tenure status and primary teaching area are positively associated with the amount and type of volunteer work performed.
Observations on fetal heart rate and fetal biochemistry

One hundred eighty-seven fetuses were studied during labor with continuous recording of fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine contractions. The FHR patterns preceding delivery by 30 minutes were correlated with the base deficit values of the umbilical artery and vein bloods and with the A-V differences at the time of delivery. Generally, the mean umbilical artery base deficit was lowest with innocuous FHR patterns and increased with the degree of severity of ominous FHR patterns. These findings are similar to those previously reported when the base deficit of fetal scalp blood samples was correlated with FHR patterns.
Binding of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor to the extracellular matrix of cultured bovine endothelial cells.

Abstract The binding of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells was investigated using purified 125I-labeled or L-[35S]methionine-labeled PAI-1 as probes. Little specific binding of latent PAI-1 to ECM previously depleted of endogenous PAI-1 could be demonstrated. In contrast, the guanidine-activated form of PAI-1 bound to ECM in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and binding was saturable. The dissociation constant (Kd) for this interaction was estimated to be 60 nM by Scatchard analysis, and approximately 6 pmol of activated PAI-1 was bound per cm2 of ECM. Binding was relatively specific since unlabeled, activated PAI-1 competed with 35S-labeled PAI-1 for binding to ECM, but latent PAI-1 did not. Moreover, PAI-2, protein C inhibitor (i.e. PAI-3), protease nexin-1, and alpha 2-antiplasmin were not able to compete. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) also inhibited binding, but diisopropyl fluorophosphate-inactivated tPA did not. Pretreatment of ECM with tPA, urokinase-type PA, or thrombin had no effect on its ability to subsequently bind PAI-1, whereas trypsin, plasmin, and elastase pretreatment greatly reduced its ability to bind PAI-1. Guanidine-activated, radiolabeled PAI-1 resembled active endogenous PAI-1 since it was unstable in solution but stable when bound to ECM. In addition, it formed complexes with tPA that had a relatively low affinity for ECM. These data suggest that ECM of bovine aortic endothelial cells contains a protease-sensitive structure that binds active PAI-1 tightly and relatively selectively and that this association stabilizes PAI-1 against the spontaneous loss of activity that occurs in solution.
Design Science for Business Management

This issue of the Journal of Integrated Design and Process Science explores the connection between design science and business management. The relationship may not be obvious since it is rather subtle in some instances. However, the nature of problems that design science is confronted with is analogous to the nature of problems business management tackles. Both design science and business management, are concerned with open ended solutions rather than closed solutions and one correct answer. Also, both disciplines’ approach to finding solutions is process oriented. The process may involve taking two steps forward and, after finding the outcome not satisfactory, taking one step back – simply because there may be not just one correct answer but rather several answers differing in quality. Creativity and the selection of one of a variety of options constitute the essence of product design; consequently, exploring the connection between design science and business management can benefit both of these complex disciplines and also enhance the innovation of organizations. The first paper in this issue is entitled “Towards Formalizing and Formulating the Successful Organizational Innovation Process.” The authors, while pointing out the importance of innovation as the main factor of successful organization, present the application of a design model to a model for innovation processes. The model is able to separate two aspects of innovation, namely, the innovation process and the organizational innovative behaviour. Furthermore, the Axiomatic Theory of Design Modelling is used to analyse the organizational innovation process from a design point of view. The paper demonstrates clearly that strategic planning methods (business management) are similar to product design methods. At Concordia University in Montreal, it was shown that Design Thinking can be used as a basis for organizational innovation change (de Guerre et al., 2013). The organization on which the study was performed was the School of Extended Learning. The change process that resulted had four phases, namely, Connect, Innovate, Design, and Implement. The resulting organization (School of Extended Learning) had innovation design and Design Thinking fused into the organizational infrastructure. The second paper, “Engineering Design as Hearing,” uses the metaphor of “Hearing” to approach the teaching of design. The author presents the pedagogical challenges and opportunities related to the introduction of design into the engineering curricula, pointing out the differences between open-ended problem/solution sets (central to design) and closed problem/solution sets. By nature, the open-ended sets typical for design are more vague and abstract. Therefore, the use of metaphor is particularly effective for
A study of vertebra number in pigs confirms the association of vertnin and reveals additional QTL

Formation of the vertebral column is a critical developmental stage in mammals. The strict control of this process has resulted in little variation in number of vertebrae across mammalian species and no variation within most mammalian species. The pig is quite unique as considerable variation exists in number of thoracic vertebrae as well as number of lumbar vertebrae. At least two genes have been identified that affect number of vertebrae in pigs yet considerable genetic variation still exists. Therefore, a genome-wide association (GWA) analysis was conducted to identify additional genomic regions that affect this trait. A total of 1883 animals were phenotyped for the number of ribs and thoracolumbar vertebrae as well as successfully genotyped with the Illumina Porcine SNP60 BeadChip. After data editing, 41,148 SNP markers were included in the GWA analysis. These animals were also phenotyped for kyphosis. Fifty-three 1 Mb windows each explained at least 1.0 % of the genomic variation for vertebrae counts while 16 regions were significant for kyphosis. Vertnin genotype significantly affected vertebral counts as well. The region with the largest effect for number of lumbar vertebrae and thoracolumbar vertebrae were located over the Hox B gene cluster and the largest association for thoracic vertebrae number was over the Hox A gene cluster. Genetic markers in significant regions accounted for approximately 50 % of the genomic variation. Less genomic variation for kyphosis was described by QTL regions and no region was associated with kyphosis and vertebra counts. The importance of the Hox gene families in vertebral development was highlighted as significant associations were detected over the A, B and C families. Further evaluation of these regions and characterization of variants within these genes will expand our knowledge on vertebral development using natural genetic variants segregating in commercial swine.
Correlates of drinking and drug use by higher education faculty and staff: implications for prevention.

The prevalence and frequency of drug and alcohol abuse among higher education faculty and staff is not known. Higher education is a cultural environment which, on the one hand, is stressful and, on the other, permits a high degree of autonomy. This relationship of stress and autonomy is predicted to produce drug and alcohol abuse. Information is gathered by anonymous, self-report questionnaires, on the frequency and prevalence of faculty and staff drug and alcohol use at a regional university. Responses show alcohol and drug use within the last year and month among four higher education occupational groups: faculty, administrators, clerical staff, and physical plant/custodial staff. While stress was found to be weakly correlated with some drug use in the last month, depression was consistently correlated with drug use and moderately correlated with suicidal thoughts and tendencies, as well as job dissatisfaction. Drug and alcohol abuse is a factor in behavioral problems that affect faculty/staff and can b...
Application of the DNDC model to the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial: challenges for the validation of drainage and nitrate leaching in agroecosystem models.

Ecosystem models are increasingly used to guide natural resource management policy decisions. In this study, we build on available agroecosystem policy modeling tools by testing two methodologies for applying the Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model to naturally-drained, temperate grain cropping systems. We used long-term observations from the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial (FST) to validate the DNDC model for application to grain cropping systems on silty clay loam soils typical of mid-Atlantic farmlands. Based on modeling efficiency (EF), Theil’s Inequality (U 2), and correlation coefficient (r) metrics, the DNDC model showed moderate fit between observations and simulations at annual time scales for drainage (EF = 0.34, U 2 = 0.12, r = 0.74) and nitrate leaching (EF = −0.05, U 2 = 0.4, r = 0.86). Replication of observed seasonal water flux and nitrate leaching trends were difficult to capture in model simulations, resulting in a weak fit between observations and simulations for drainage (EF = −1.2, U 2 = 0.89, r = 0.28) and nitrate leaching (EF = −2.5, U 2 = 2.1, r = 0.3). Our comparison of observations and model outcomes highlights the challenge of scaling up belowground fluxes to farm or watershed scales. Ecosystem model representation of water transport generally assumes highly homogeneous soil conditions. In contrast, data from lysimeter sampling represents a small percentage of the total study area and is unlikely to capture average soil field properties. Additionally, our Rodale work highlights the limitation of biogeochemistry models which use vertical mass movement to describe water drainage and nitrate leaching. The application of the DNDC model to the Rodale FST demonstrates that model studies are not a simple substitute for field observation. The predictive utility of model outcomes can only be broadened through rigorous testing against long-term field observations.
Single Passive Condenser Failure During a Large-Break LOCA in the SBWR-1200 Reactor

The performance of the safety systems of a new design of the 1200-MWe simplified boiling water reactor during a large-break, loss-of-coolant accident transient was investigated when one of three passive condenser system failed. The accident considered was a break in the main steam line which is the major design basis accident. The integral test was performed to assess the safety systems and the response of the emergency core cooling systems to accident conditions in a scaled facility called PUMA. The loss of single condenser system did not affect the LOCA transient indicating that the existing safety system will adequately handle the large break LOCA with single condenser failure. The details of the safety system behavior are presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Inverse relationship between ovarian aromatase cytochrome P450 and 5α-reductase enzyme activities and mRNA levels during the estrous cycle in the rat

Abstract In the present study, we examined the changes in enzyme activity and mRNA levels of aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450AROM) and 5α-reductase in ovarian tissue from adult cyclic rats. For each stage of the estrous cycle, the enzymatic activities were quantified by means of the 3H2O-release assay in the case of P450AROM and thin-layer chromatography in the case of 5α-reductase. Levels of mRNA encoding P450AROM and 5α-reductase in the ovary were determined by the Northern blot analysis utilizing 32P-labeled rat cDNAs as probes. Serum LH levels were determined by RIA. Three P450AROM mRNA species were detected (at 1.7, 2.2 and 2.7 kb) in ovarian tissue from cyclic rats. All three P450AROM levels were highest during in a co-ordinated fashion throughout the cycle. The P450AROM levels were highest during diestrus and proestrus, decreased during estrus while at metestrus the levels were nearly nondetectable. Conversely, one 5α-reductase mRNA species at 2.5 kb was detected in ovarian tissue from cyclic animals. Ovarian 5α-reductase mRNA levels were lowest during diestrus and proestrus, increased at estrus and were most abundant during metestrus; a pattern opposite to that of P450AROM. The pattern of change in P450AROM and 5α-reductase activities paralleled that of the respective mRNA profiles but lagged behind the mRNA profiles by about 24 h, or one stage of the estrous cycle. Aromatase activity was 1.5 pmol/h/mg protein during diestrus, increased over 3-fold at proestrus (≈5.5 pmol/h/mg protein), decreased at estrus and declined to the lowest values at metestrus (≈1.0 pmol/h/mg protein). In contrast, the 5α-reductase activity pattern was essentially the mirror image of the P450AROM activity pattern during the estrous cycle. 5α-Reductase levels were lowest during proestrus (≈5 pmol/h/mg protein) and estrus (≈8 pmol/h/mg protein), increased over 3-fold during metestrus, while the highest activity levels occurred during diestrus (≈36 pmol/h/mg protein). The normalization of the P450AROM and 5α-reductase mRNA levels and their respective enzyme activities revealed a correspondence between mRNA abundance and subsequent increases (24 h later) in enzyme activity levels during the estrous cycle. These findings suggest follows the changes in the levels of their respective mRNAs and (b) an inverse pattern exists between P450AROM and 5α-reductase in terms of both enzymatic activity and mRNA expression during the estrous cycle in rat.
The Orientation and Training of New Librarians for Business Information

ABSTRACT New business librarians and nonbusiness librarians serving business needs require training and orientation to the unique aspects of business librarianship. Formal training programs can be devised to raise competencies in providing core business information services. Given the pace of change, such programs must emphasize flexible and adaptable approaches to finding information, rather than reliance on specific sources. Trends in the business information environment will likely favor greater use of just-in-time training and knowledge databases.
Pb isotope evolution in the earth: A proposal

A model is proposed in which Pb is preferentially partitioned into the melt during partial melting of the mantle resulting in a higher U/Pb ratio in the residual mantle. The degree of increase is suggested to be inversely correlated with the degree of melting. By combining subduction of oceanic crust (..mu../sub crust/<..mu../sub source/) into the lower mantle with intra-crustal fractionation of U/Pb through magmatic and metamorphic differentiation, this model can explain the J-type Pb in both the upper mantle (i.e., young oceanic volcanics) and the upper continental crust. It obviates the need for an extended period of core formation or recycling of continental materials into the mantle to explain the J-type leads although it does not preclude the occurrence of either of these mechanisms.
A Human Disease Mutation (D50N) Reveals Insights on the Mechanisms for Ca2+ Regulation in Human Connexin26 (hCX26) Hemichannels

Connexin hemichannels allow the release of small metabolites, such as ATP and glutamate, which play important roles in autocrine/paracrine signaling in a variety of cell types. Exacerbated hemichannel opening, however, leads to loss of electrochemical gradients and metabolites, causing cell death. Control of hemichannel opening is indispensable, and is achieved by physiological extracellular Ca2+, which drastically reduces hemichannel activity. Here, we explore the molecular mechanism of Ca2+ regulation in hCx26 hemichannels. We found that outward and tail currents are greatly increased with reduction of external Ca2+. The data show that deactivation kinetics are accelerated as a function of Ca2+ concentration suggesting that Ca2+ facilitates closing of the channels. In addition, we found that an Asp to Asn mutation at position 50 (D50N) - a human mutation that causes disease - has lower apparent affinity for Ca2+ compared with wild-type. Strikingly, unlike wild-type channels, the deactivation kinetics of D50N channels were unaffected by changes in Ca2+. To explore the role of Ca2+ interactions with a negatively charged residue at position 50, we substituted this position by a cysteine residue (D50C) and performed chemical modification with positively or negatively charged methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents. The D50C mutant hemichannels display similar properties to those of D50N mutants. Chemical modification of D50C with a negatively charged reagent, MTSES, causes the channels to largely return to wild-type sensitivity to Ca2+. Conversely, positively charged MTS reagents have no effect. In the crystal structure of hCx26 channels, position D50 faces the pore lumen and forms an inter-subunit salt bridge interaction with position K61. Because this interaction appears to take place in open conformation, we propose that Ca2+ facilitates the closing of hCx26 hemichannels by disrupting this salt bridge.
Structural phase transitions in GaAs to 108 GPa.

The III-V compound GaAs was studied using energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction with a synchro- tron source up to a pressure of 108 GPa. When the pressure was increased to 16.6 GPa, the GaAs sample transformed from the zinc-blende structure to an orthorhombic structure [GaAs(II)], space group Pmm2, consisting of a primitive orthorhombic lattice with a basis of (0,0,0) and (0,(1/2,\ensuremath{\alpha}), where \ensuremath{\alpha}=0.35. Upon a further increase of pressure to 24\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 GPa, GaAs(II) transformed to another orthorhombic structure [GaAs(III)], space group Imm2, consisting of a body-centered orthorhombic lattice with a basis of (0,0,0) and (0, (1/2,\ensuremath{\Delta}), where \ensuremath{\Delta} is 0.425 at 28.1 GPa. With increasing pressure, \ensuremath{\Delta} approached (1/2 and the GaAs(III) structure gradually assumed the symmetry of the simple hexagonal structure. The transition to the simple hexagonal structure [GaAs(IV)] was completed in the vicinity of 60--80 GPa. The structure remains simple hexagonal up to at least 108 GPa, the highest pressure reached in this study.
Age-related differences in the adaptive potential of type I skeletal muscle fibers.

Abstract This study was designed to investigate whether the relationship of fiber size and force is maintained with aging and inactivity. We hypothesized that fiber size and fiber force-generating capacity would decrease in parallel, thus resulting in no change in specific force with either age or inactivity. Thirty male Fischer 344/Brown Norway F1 hybrid rats, 6–23-month old (young adult), 24–33-month old (middle-aged) and 34–40 month old (old) were hindlimb unweighted for 14 days. Single permeabilized type I fibers from the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were evaluated for size and contractile function. The diameter of the fibers from the soleus muscle declined with age and unweighting. In contrast, the fibers from the gastrocnemius showed no age-related atrophy. In both the soleus and gastrocnemius, there was a significant decrease in the force generation with age and unweighting. When comparing size and peak absolute force in the type I fibers from control young and middle-aged animals a positive relationship was observed whereas no significant relationship between size and peak absolute force was observed in the old animals. Following unweighting, fibers from young and middle aged rats showed a significant relationship between force and size. Fibers from old animals did not exhibit a relationship between size and force following unweighting. These results suggest aged skeletal muscle has an attenuated ability to adapt to inactivity by altering its size in response to inactivity.
130,000-yr continuous pollen record from Clear Lake, Lake County, California

Pollen analysis of a 115-m sediment core from Clear Lake, Lake County, California, provides a climatic record that is continuous for the past 130,000 yr. The pollen record reflects migrations of the tree species of the California Coast Ranges in response to the climatic changes of the last glacial cycle. During interglacials, the Clear Lake pollen rain was dominated by Quercus (oak) pollen. During cooler periods, oak pollen was replaced by pollen of coniferous species. The curve for Quercus pollen strongly resembles and is used to correlate with both deep-sea oxygen-isotope curves and the climatic record from certain European pollen studies.
Pascal's law and the death of Cromwell.

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the British Isles, probably died of the complications of recurrent urinary tract infection and obstruction, not of a ‘bastard tertian ague’ as claimed soon after his death. Blaise Pascal, a pioneer in hydraulics and a contemporary of Cromwell, shortly thereafter accurately reported course and historical consequence of his death, an event which seems at least partly attributable to the effects of Pascal’s law on the Protector’s kidneys.
Electronic structure studies on deprotonation of dithiophosphinic acids in water clusters.

We report herein a computational study of proton transfer reactions between dithiophosphinic acids (HAs) and water clusters using B3LYP and MP2 methods. The ground-state and transition-state structures of HA−(H2O)n (n = 1, 2, 3) cluster complexes have been calculated. The influence of water molecules on energy barrier heights of proton transfer reactions has been examined in the gas phase and solution for bis[o-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]- and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acids (HA1 and HA2, respectively). Gas-phase calculations indicate that electron-withdrawing substituents and trifluoromethyl groups in the ortho position favor deprotonation of HA1 when three water molecules are included in the cluster. This suggests that at least three water molecules are necessary to solvate the abstracted proton in the presence of the anion. In the case of HA2, the electron-donating groups favor the reverse proton transfer reaction, namely, protonation of dithiophosphinate anion. Bulk solvent effects have ...
Shear load transfer in high and low stress tendons

Abstract Background Tendon is an integral part of joint movement and stability, as it functions to transmit load from muscle to bone. It has an anisotropic, fibrous hierarchical structure that is generally loaded in the direction of its fibers/fascicles. Internal load distributions are altered when joint motion rotates an insertion site or when local damage disrupts fibers/fascicles, potentially causing inter-fiber (or inter-fascicular) shear. Tendons with different microstructures (helical versus linear) may redistribute loads differently. Method of approach This study explored how shear redistributes axial loads in rat tail tendon (low stress tendons with linear microstructure) and porcine flexor tendon (high stress with helical microstructure) by creating lacerations on opposite sides of the tendon, ranging from about 20% to 60% of the tendon width, to create various magnitudes of shear. Differences in fascicular orientation were quantified using polarized light microscopy. Results and conclusions Unexpectedly, both tendon types maintained about 20% of pre-laceration stress values after overlapping cuts of 60% of tendon width (no intact fibers end to end) suggesting that shear stress transfer can contribute more to overall tendon strength and stiffness than previously reported. All structural parameters for both tendon types decreased linearly with increasing laceration depth. The tail tendon had a more rapid decline in post-laceration elastic stress and modulus parameters as well as a more linear and less tightly packed fascicular structure, suggesting that positional tendons may be less well suited to redistribute loads via a shear mechanism.
Orientation-dependent surface tension functions for surface energy minimizing calculations

Previous numerical methods that calculate equilibrium particle shape to study thermodynamic and kinetic processes depend on interfacial (surface) free energy functions γ(\(\skew7\hat{n}\)) that have cubic symmetry and thus produce Wulff shapes W of cubic symmetry. This work introduces a construction yielding the minimal surface energy density γconvex(W) that can be determined for any W. Each γ(\(\skew7\hat{n}\)) that belongs to the equivalence class γ(W) bounded by γconvex(W) can be used in an energy-minimizing calculation that depends only on W. For practical numerical calculations, this work gives two methods taking directional distance from specified orientation minima as a parameter to produce analytic forms of γ(\(\skew7\hat{n}\)) giving W as the equilibrium shape for (an otherwise unconstrained) fixed volume. Included are several two- and three-dimensional examples that demonstrate the application and utility of the model γ(\(\skew7\hat{n}\)) functions.
Synthesis and Characterization of Photo-Cross-Linked Networks Based on l-Lactide/Serine Copolymers†

New lactide-based polydepsipeptide polymer networks and cross-linked beads have been prepared by UV photopolymerization of acrylated poly(l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid-co-l-serine) [PLA(Glc-Ser)]. These materials have been developed for use as polymer scaffolds in tissue engineering, cell encapsulation, and injectable drug delivery, which have ligand-immobilizable and biodegradable characteristics. The acrylated PLA(Glc-Ser) cross-linked polymer networks obtained were glassy and transparent, and the gel content was approximately 90%. The networks showed relatively low swelling in water, due to their cross-linked nature, but are easily swelling in chloroform and in dimethyl sulfoxide. The acrylate polymers on copolymerization with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) resulted in cross-linked networks [PLA(Glc-Ser)/HEMA], which were swelling in water and in DMSO showing the potential of the polymer in hydrogel applications. The modified PLA(Glc-Ser) beads prepared by UV-initiated suspension polymerization we...
Benchmark pregnancy rates and the assessment of post-coital contraceptives: an update

Objective In 2001, we provided benchmark estimates of probability of pregnancy given a single act of intercourse. Those calculations assumed that intercourse and ovulation are independent. Subsequent research has shown that this assumption is not valid. We provide here an update of previous benchmark estimates.
Formulas for Reliable and Abnormal Differences in Raw Test Scores

Sztmmay.-The formulas for reliable and abnormal differences used for analyzing the di€ference between two test scores are useful when the scores come from distributions having the same mean and standard deviation. This paper presents formulas that can be used For unsrandardized scores. The analysis of the difference between two test scores is aided by the use of the reliable and abnormal difference statistics (Silverstein, 1981). The reliable ddference is defined as the cut-off point beyond which the dlHerence between two scores is significant at a specified probability level. The reliable difference is useful when the clinician wants to know if an observed ddference between two scores is significantly greater than might be expected by measurement error but does not provide information as to whether that difference is large enough to be considered abnormal. This is the where the value derived by the abnormal ddference helps. The abnormal difference is defined as the Merence between two scores that wdl be exceeded by a given percentage of subjects in the standardization sample. The rehable difference is found by 2 1/2 z = D/(SEM~~ + SEM2 ) where z is the obtained z score, D is the difference between two test scores and SEMl and SEM2 are the standard errors of measurement for Tests 1 and 2. The abnormal dlfference is found by where r12 is the correlation between the scores on Tests 1 and 2, and SDl and SD2 are the standard deviations for Tests 1 and 2. The above formulas require the test scores to be standardized to the same mean and standard deviation. When the test scores are not standardized the following formulas will work. The raw score formula for the rehable difference is
Relativistic Classical Mechanics with Time as a Dynamical Variable

A relativistically invariant classical Hamiltonian mechanics is presented, in which each particle is described by the eight dynamical variables of position, time, momentum, and energy. The two-particle scattering problem which consists of both inelastic scattering and elastic scattering is completely solved and reduced to quadratures. Special attention is given to elastic scattering, and it is shown that the two particles participating in elastic scattering remain at a spacelike separation with respect to each other throughout their trajectories. It is also shown that this theory is capable of describing the decay of one particle into two particles.
Influence of Diethyl Maleate and Cysteine on Tissue Glutathione and Growth in Broiler Chickens

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of diethyl maleate (DEM) and l-cysteine (L-Cys) on tissue glutathione (GSH) and growth in male broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, broilers were treated with DEM (0, 1.5, 3, 6, or 12.0 mmol/kg BW, i.p.). After 1 h, maximum GSH depletions were to 9, 24, 20, 19, and 35% of control (0 mmol DEM/kg) for liver, lung, kidney, heart, and brain, respectively. In Experiment 2, time-course changes following 1.5 mmol DEM/kg (i.p.) were determined; time-controls received an equal amount of corn oil (CO, .25 mL/kg BW). Levels of GSH in all tissues were low at 1 and 2 h after DEM in comparison to time-control values. Tissue GSH concentrations returned to values that were not different from controls by 5 h in liver and kidney, by 12 h in heart, and by 24 h in brain and lung. In Experiment 3, the effects of feeding a control diet (0% L-Cys) or one supplemented with 1% L-Cys from 3 to 7 wk of age with weekly i.p. injections (at 3,4,5, and 6 wk of age) of DEM (1.5 mmol/kg BW) or CO (.25 mL/kg BW) on growth rate and tissue GSH were determined. There were no differences in BW among treatment groups between 3 and 6 wk of age. Although there were no differences in 7-wk BW between controls (0% L-Cys/CO) and birds treated with DEM fed either diet, the 1% L-Cys/CO group was heavier (P < .05) than either the 0% or 1% L-Cys/DEM groups, and heavier (P = .066) than controls at 7 wk of age. At 5 wk of age, 1% L-Cys raised GSH concentrations in liver, kidney, lung, and duodenum, but had no effect on heart GSH in birds treated with either CO or DEM. Control hepatic GSH concentrations were higher at 7 than at 5 wk of age. With the exception of duodenal GSH in CO birds, 1% L-Cys had no effect on tissue GSH concentrations in 7-wk-old birds. The results of this study provide an initial characterization of GSH metabolism in commercial male broilers and indicate that DEM produced dose- and time-dependent changes in GSH similar to reported changes in mammals. Results of this study also indicate that increased tissue GSH may be beneficial for growth.
Second-order elastic constants for the Lennard-Jones solid

The elastic constants of a classical nearest-neighbor Lennard-Jones solid are evaluated with the use of molecular-dynamics calculations in order to make comparisons with similar quantities derived from Monte Carlo calculations. Following Parrinello and Rahman, we use both strain fluctuations in the ($p,H,N$) ensemble and uniaxial loading to obtain the adiabatic elastic compliances and hence the elastic constants. While there is broad agreement between the three methods, Monte Carlo evaluation seems to be the most efficient procedure. The relationship between the elastic constants of the fcc and hcp solids is also discussed.
The microbiological production of 10-hydroxystearic acid from oleic acid.

Abstract A pseudomonad isolated from fatty material was found to hydrate oleic acid at the unsaturated 9,10-position. 10-Hydroxystearic acid was produced in an over-all yield of 14%. The structure of the compound was proved by gas chromatography, infrared analysis, and mass spectrometry and by conversion to 10-ketostearic acid which was compared to a reference specimen obtained by synthesis. No other product of the microbial nondegradative modification of oleic acid was found in this survey.
Generalised cognitive motor interference in multiple sclerosis.

Researchers have examined cognitive motor interference (CMI) for lower extremity function in MS, but have not examined this in the upper extremity. This study examined CMI for both lower and upper extremity motor tasks in persons with MS and without MS. Eighty-two persons walked on a GAITRite electronic walkway (velocity) and performed the nine-hole peg test (NHPT, seconds) without (single task) and with a cognitive challenge (dual task). The data were analysed with mixed-factor ANOVA and Pearson correlations. When comparing MS and controls, there were statistical significant and exceptionally large Task main effects on gait velocity (ηp(2)=.41; F1,60=55.78; p .450). CMI occurs in both the lower and upper extremities, and is comparable between persons with and without MS and across MS disability level.
Inhibition of wild-type and mutant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proteases by GW0385 and other arylsulfonamides.

The arylsulfonamide derivatives described herein were such potent inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease (enzyme, E) that values for the inhibition constants (Ki) could not be determined by conventional steady-state kinetic techniques (i.e., the minimal enzyme concentration usable for the activity assay was much greater than the value of the dissociation constant). Consequently, two alternative methods were developed for estimation of Ki values. The first method employed kinetic determinations of values for k1 and k-1, from which Kiwas determined (k-1/k1). The second method was a competitive displacement assay used to determine binding affinities of other inhibitors relative to that of GW0385. In these assays, the inhibitor of unknown affinity was used to displace [3H]GW0385 from E·[3H]GW0385. From the concentration of E·[3H]GW0385 at equilibrium, the concentrations of enzyme-bound and free inhibitors were calculated, and the ratio of the Ki value of the unknown to that of GW03...
Intermittent Search Strategies for Delivering mRNA to Synaptic Targets

We model the motor--driven transport of an mRNA containing granule along a dendrite in terms of a random intermittent search for a synaptic target. The granule is injected at one end of a one--dimensional track with an absorbing boundary at the other end. The particle switches between a stationary phase and a mobile phase that is biased in the anterograde direction. A single hidden target is located at a fixed but unknown location on the track. We calculate the hitting probability and conditional mean first passage time for finding the target, and determine conditions for an optimal search strategy.
Methylglyoxal Is an Intermediate in the Biosynthesis of 6-Deoxy-5-ketofructose-1-phosphate: A Precursor for Aromatic Amino Acid Biosynthesis in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii†

A biosynthetic pathway is proposed for creating 6-deoxy-5-ketofructose-1-phosphate (DKFP), a precursor sugar for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. First, two possible routes were investigated to determine if a modified, established biosynthetic pathway could be responsible for generating 6-deoxyhexoses in M. jannaschii. Both the nucleoside diphosphate mannose pathway and a pathway involving nucleoside diphosphate derivatives of fructose-1-P, fructose-2-P, or fructose-1,6-bisP were tested and eliminated. The established pathways did not produce the expected intermediates nor did the anticipated enzymes have the predicted enzymatic activities. Because neither anticipated pathway could produce DKFP, M. jannaschii glucose-6-P metabolism was studied in detail to establish exactly how glucose-6-P is converted into DKFP. This detailed analysis showed that methylglyoxal and a fructose-1-P- or fructose-1,6-bisP-derived dihydroxyacetone-P fragment are key intermediates in DKFP production. Glucose-6-P readily converts to fructose-6-P, which in turn converts to fructose-1,6-bisP. Fructose-6-P and fructose-1,6-bisP convert into glyceraldehyde-3-P (Ga-P-3), which converts into methylglyoxal by a 2,3-elimination of phosphate. The MJ1585-derived enzyme catalyzes the condensation of methylglyoxal with a dihydroxyacetone-P fragment, which is derived from fructose-1-P and/or fructose-1,6-bisP, generating DKFP. The elimination of phosphate from Ga-P-3 proceeds by both enzymatic and chemical routes in cell extracts, producing sufficient concentrations of methylglyoxal to support the reaction. This work is the first report of methylglyoxal functioning in central metabolism.
Macromonomer Purification Strategy for Well‐Defined Polymer Amphiphiles Incorporating Poly(ethylene glycol) Monomethacrylate

Commercial hydroxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylates (PEG-MAs) contain poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate, which leads to unfavorable gel formation on polymerization. Here, hydroxy-terminated PEG-MA is readily isolated using a dimethylsilyl resin chlorinated with 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. Solution polymerization of the isolated PEG-MA by free radical routes gives a high-molecular-weight amphiphilic graft copolymer without cross-linking. The resulting polymer is stable for long periods in ambient conditions with preservation of the hydroxy end groups of PEG.
Drop-Shock Failure Prediction in Electronic Packages by Using Peridynamic Theory

Peridynamic (PD) theory is used to investigate the dynamic responses of electronic packages subjected to impact loading arising from drop-shock. The capability of the PD theory to predict failure is demonstrated by simulating a drop test experiment of a laboratory-type package. The failure predictions and observations are exceptionally similar. For the drop test simulation of a production-type package, the finite element method (FEM) and PD theory are coupled via a submodeling approach. The global modeling is performed using the FEM while the PD theory is employed for the submodeling and failure prediction. The analysis yielded the outermost solder joint as the critical joint, with failure at the interface between the solder and copper pad on the printed circuit board side.
Measurements of 1/f noise in a-Si:H pin diodes and thin-film-transistors

We measured the equivalent noise charge of a-Si:H pin diodes (5 ~ 45 μm i-layer) with a pulse shaping time of 2.5 μ.sec under reverse biases up to 30 V/μm and analyzed it as a four component noise source. The frequency spectra of 1/f noise in the soft-breakdown region and of the Nyquist noise from contact resistance of diodes were measured. Using the conversion equations for a CR-RC shaper, we identified the contact resistance noise and the 1/f noise as the main noise sources in the low bias and high bias regions respectively. The 1/f noise of a-Si:H TFTs with channel length of 15 μm was measured to be the dominant component up to ~100kHz for both saturation and linear regions.
Spatial vagueness and imprecision in databases

The impossibility of current spatial database systems and GIS to handle spatial vagueness and imprecision has been recognized as an important problem in the spatial database domain. For years, researchers have focused on identifying the appropriate concepts that are necessary to effectively and efficiently deal with the vagueness and imprecision that not seldomly appears, but is widespread amongst spatial objects (especially those that are naturally occurring such as forests, mountains, and rivers). In this paper, we analyze the most popular formalisms for dealing with spatial uncertainty in databases. The analysis in this paper is centered around the definition of our Vague Spatial Algebra (VASA) which exemplifies a complete approach to handle vagueness in spatial databases. We compare VASA with existing concepts based on rough set theory and fuzzy set theory.
Laying Down the Law? Interest Group Influence on State Adoption of Animal Cruelty Felony Laws

Since the late 1960s, the number and types of organized interest groups working at the state level have increased dramatically, but research shows that traditional organized interest groups, such as business and labor unions, are still the most influential in state policymaking (Thomas and Hrebenar 1996). Less is known, however, about the influence of non-economically focused interest groups in the state policy process. Using pooled cross-sectional data from the American states, I explore the effect that nontraditional organized interests can have on state policy. Specifically, I examine the influence of the Humane Society of the United States on state adoption of animal cruelty felony laws. Although the Humane Society is not one of the traditional groups expected to have a significant influence in state policymaking, my results suggest that it has played a significant role. However, I also find that the Humane Society's influence on the stringency of these laws is less pronounced.