cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival of diverse Bacillus thuringiensis strains in gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is correlated with urease production

Bacillus thuringiensis is an entomopathogenic bacterium that can kill a variety of pests, but seldom causes epizootics because it replicates poorly in insects. We have tested lepidopteran-toxic B. thuringiensis strains with diverse substrate utilization profiles for the ability to survive repeated passages through larvae of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, without intervening growth on artificial media. These experiments have revealed a remarkable correlation between the production of urease by the bacteria and its ability to survive repeated passages through larvae. Of 26 urease-positive strains tested, 23 were capable of surviving five passages through gypsy moth larvae. In contrast, none of the 24 urease-negative strains tested survived to the 4th passage, with only three strains surviving to the 3rd passage. Selection of B. thuringiensis strains with phenotypic traits favoring replication in the environment, such as urease production, may improve their efficacy as biological control agents.
LAURA Aerothermodynamic Computations for Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 Baseline and Damage Scenarios

*† Computational simulations for nominal and damaged Shuttle Orbiter configurations were performed in support of the STS-107 Columbia accident investigation. Orbiter baseline computations were performed for both hypervelocity flight and low-enthalpy wind tunnel conditions and contributed to the accident investigation by providing information to support a variety of damage scenario analyses. Computations at flight conditions were performed just prior to the peak heating trajectory point for two damage scenarios involving missing wing leading-edge reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) panels. The initial scenario modeled the Orbiter with an approximate missing RCC panel 6 to determine whether the damage could be the source of anomalous temperatures measured on the side fuselage during the STS-107 reentry. Results from that computation showed heating augmentation up to 5 times the nominal level on the side fuselage with smaller augmentation to the front of the OMS pod. This is consistent with the thermocouple and resistance temperature detector sensor outputs during the STS-107 re-entry which revealed off nominal high heating early in the re-entry trajectory. A second damage scenario modeled the Orbiter with missing RCC panel 9 and included ingestion of the flow into the outboard channel behind the RCC panels. For this scenario, the maximum side fuselage heating level was less than 3 times the nominal value and the location of heating augmentation moved aft and was confined nearer the wing fuselage juncture than in the previous case. Near nominal heating was predicted on the remainder of the side fuselage, with lower than nominal heating predicted for the front surface of the OMS pod. As this solution required supersonic flow into the RCC channel with a large accompanying mass ingestion, it is not a realistic model prior to flow penetration through the spar into the wing structure. The model may, however, be representative of the conditions after spar penetration and would be consistent with data from the STS-107 re-entry where the heating augmentation to the side fuselage and OMS pod sensors was observed to decrease at later times in the trajectory.
High-Resolution Maps of Real and Illusory Tactile Activation in Primary Somatosensory Cortex in Individual Monkeys with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Optical Imaging

Although blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been widely used to explore human brain function, questions remain regarding the ultimate spatial resolution of positive BOLD fMRI, and indeed the extent to which functional maps revealed by positive BOLD correlate spatially with maps obtained with other high-spatial-resolution mapping techniques commonly used in animals, such as optical imaging of intrinsic signal (OIS) and single-unit electrophysiology. Here, we demonstrate that the positive BOLD signal at 9.4T can reveal the fine topography of individual fingerpads in single-condition activation maps in nonhuman primates. These digit maps are similar to maps obtained from the same animal using intrinsic optical imaging. Furthermore, BOLD fMRI reliably resolved submillimeter spatial shifts in activation in area 3b previously identified with OIS (Chen et al., 2003) as neural correlates of the "funneling illusion." These data demonstrate that at high field, high-spatial-resolution topographic maps can be achieved using the positive BOLD signal, weakening previous notions regarding the spatial specificity of the positive BOLD signal.
Optimizing Cs-exchange in titanosilicate with the mineral pharmacosiderite topology: framework substitution of Nb and Ge

Abstract Titanosilicates with complete or partial substitution of Ge or Nb in the framework and having the mineral pharmacosiderite topology were hydrothermally prepared and their ion-exchange properties towards Cs were studied for Ti/Ge/Si, Ti/Si, Nb/Ti/Si and pure Ge phases. The basis for the differences in the ion exchange properties measured as distribution coefficients (Kd) for these materials are detailed via structural characterization using the Rietveld refinement technique on the X-ray powder diffraction data. The differences in affinity towards Cs+ result either from the degree of hydration of the exchanger resulting in different coordination environments or the position of cesium ion in the eight-ring channel.
Electric-field generated by the combustion of titanium in nitrogen

A short temporal electrical impulse (duration of 30–150ms) was generated during the nitridation of mixtures of titanium and titanium nitride by a high temperature moving reaction front. The maximum voltage and current were generated in the combustion front region, in which the conversion of Ti to TiN was incomplete. The electric field (voltage up to 2V and current up to 60mA) decayed and vanished before the maximum combustion temperature was attained. The generation of an electric field during a rapid high-temperature nitridation is most probably due to the different diffusion velocities of charge carriers through the growing titanium nitride shell during the initial stage of the reaction. When the reactant mixture contained a high percentage of pure titanium (larger than 60wt%), partial melting led to irreproducibility in the amplitude and duration of the electrical signal.
Noise reduction for signals from nonlinear systems

ABSTRACT Methods are discussed for reducing noise from a discretely-sampled input signal where the underlyingsignal of interest has a broadband spectrum. The emphasis is on high-noise applications, in particular, forwhich the clean signal is contaminated with 100% or more noise (signal to noise ratio less than or equal tozero). We discuss conventional methods, and suggest a new method based on time delay embedding usingcoordinates generated by local low-pass filtering, which we call a low-pass embedding. The singular valuedecomposition can then be used locally in embedding space to distinguish between the dynamics and thenoise.Conventional algorithms and the proposed new algorithm are evaluated for chaotic signals generatedby the Lorenz and Rossler systems, to which Gaussian white noise has been added. 1. CHAOTIC SIGNALS AND NOISE Traditional data filtering techniques usually break down when applied to signals produced by chaotic dynamical systems. It is typical in such a case for the power spectrum of the signal of interest to be
Effect of Pin Density on Heat-Mass Transfer and Fluid Flow at Low Reynolds Numbers in Minichannels

Previous investigations on the performance of straight pins, pins with tip clearance, and profiled fins showed that closely packed cylindrical pin fins are very competitive with the modified pins. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of pin density on performance. Steady/time-dependent calculations are performed to investigate the effect of pin density on friction and heat transfer. Pins packed at distances of SD=1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3 pin diameters (D) are investigated for 10≤ReD≤600. Two performance measures are used to compare the different pin fin densities. The first measure is to maximize heat transfer capacity for a given pumping power compared with a plane channel. The second measure used is based on entropy generation minimization (EGM), where the objective is to reduce the total irreversibility of the pin fin array to obtain an optimal spacing. Based on the performance measure of maximizing heat capacity, it is shown that for plain channels operating in the laminar range using denser pin packing has distinct advantages with SD=1.1 providing the best augmentation. However, the augmentation in heat capacity becomes relatively independent of the pin density for a channel operating in the turbulent regime. Based on the EGM method, at ReD>200, SD=1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 are the most suitable, with the least entropy generation observed at SD=1.4. At ReD<200, SD=1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 are also suitable for keeping entropy generation low.
Caring for Persons with Early Childhood Trauma, PTSD, and HIV: a Curriculum for Clinicians

Access and adherence to medical care enable persons with HIV to live longer and healthier lives. Adherence to care improves quality of life, prevents progression to AIDS, and also has significant public health implications. Early childhood trauma-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one factor that has been identified as an obstacle to adherence to both risk reduction and HIV care. The authors developed a 4-h curriculum to provide clinicians with more confidence in their ability to elicit a trauma history, diagnose PTSD, and address trauma and its sequelae in persons with HIV to improve adherence to medical care, antiretroviral medications, and risk reduction. The curriculum was designed to address the educational needs of primary care physicians, infectious disease specialists, psychiatrists, other specialists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, residents, medical students, and other trainees who provide care for persons infected with and affected by HIV.
Effects of circulatory arrest and rewarming on regional blood flow during surface-induced hypothermia.

Abstract Regional blood flow and distribution of cardiac output (CO) were evaluated by the radioactive microsphere technique in rhesus monkeys during surface rewarming following the induction of deep hypothermia (20° C.) under deep ether anesthesia. A comparison of animals subjected to 30 minutes of circulatory arrest and those not arrested revealed cerebral, coronary, and renal vascular resistance and flow patterns consistent with a hyperemic response to circulatory arrest at 20° C. Throughout rewarming cerebral and coronary absolute flows tended to be at or above the flows noted at comparable cooling temperatures in a previous study. Renal flow fraction (% Qt) were well preserved during rewarming to 30° C., but a decrease was observed thereafter. Carcass (muscle, skin, bone) %Qt was also reduced following rewarming, especially in arrested animals. CO appeared to be similar to those noted at comparable cooling temperatures until 30° C. during rewarming; thereafter, CO did not fully recover to awake control levels. These data suggest that regional flow is redistributed from the carcass and renal circulations to cerebral and coronary circulations in response to hemodynamic alterations during surface rewarming. It was concluded that autoregulative responses to both circulatory arrest and hemodynamic factors are elicited during surface rewarming from deep hypothermia to 20° C. with the method described.
The system/semiconductor interface with complex integrated circuits

Batch-fabrication techniques in thin film, cryogenic and semiconductor technologies have been recognized for some time as potentially having a dramatic impact in computing systems, but the problem of how to translate batch-fabrication technology to advanced systems has been brought home by the recent flurry of activity in high complexity integrated circuits. In the classic tradition of keeping all existing computers obsolete, the emergence of orders of magnitude increase in device complexity comes just as the earliest conventional integrated circuit computers are available.
The subliminal characteristics of project managers: An exploratory study of optimism overcoming challenge in the project management work environment

Abstract The personality characteristics of project managers have been studied but have eluded a conclusive understanding of the motivations of project managers especially in regard to their work environment. The current research looked at the optimism of project managers and whether optimism, innate or learned, would allow project managers to overcome the impediments associated with the work environment. Based on a literature review and the testing of certain personality characteristics against negative work environment characteristics, we presented data from 858 project managers and discuss insights for future research of this topic.
Educational Supports for Students With Special Needs Preservice Music Educators’ Perceptions

Historically, music educators have expressed concerns about inadequate preparation to work with students with special needs, specifically desiring skills related to instruction adaptation. Research...
Maternal prepregnancy body mass index in relation to Hispanic preschooler overweight/obesity

The aim of the current study was to examine the role of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) on overweight/obesity among US Hispanic children ages 2 and 4 years old. We used US nationally representative data from preschoolers enrolled in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort study. The findings revealed that a significantly higher percent (41.6%) of Hispanic mothers were overweight/obese prior to pregnancy compared to white mothers (34.8%). At 2 years of age, 38.3% of the children born to Hispanic mothers were overweight/obese compared to 29.4% of children born to white mothers. By the age of 4, overweight/obesity increased significantly for both racial/ethnic groups with preschoolers whose mothers were Hispanic being more likely to be overweight/obese (44.6%) compared to children whose mothers were white (34.2%). Further, preschoolers born to overweight/obese Hispanic mothers were more than twice as likely [odds ratio = 2.74 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60, 4.69)] to be overweight/obese than those born to Hispanic mothers of normal prepregnancy BMI. Preschoolers born to overweight/obese white mothers were approximately 1.4 (95% CI 1.05, 1.93) times more likely to be overweight/obese in comparison to those born to mothers with a normal prepregnancy BMI. Maternal prepregnancy weight is potentially a modifiable risk factor for preschooler overweight/obesity. Study findings support the design of early and targeted interventions to reduce this risk to the long-term health of Hispanic maternal and child dyads.
ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION IN CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS WITH DUAL-PARALLEL ON-CAPILLARY ELECTRODES

A new approach for dual electrode electrochemical detection in capillary electrophoresis (CEEC) is described. In this approach, two identical capillaries, each containing an on-capillary electrode incorporated permanently onto its tip, were paired together for simultaneous sample injection and detection. This procedure permitted dual-parallel detection to be performed without the need for painstaking alignment of the electrodes with respect to one another and to the capillary outlet as is required for the off-capillary microelectrode systems usually employed in CEEC. As a result, independent detection at two electrodes held at different potentials or at two electrodes of different composition or structure could be performed simply and with wide flexibility. Fabrication of on-capillary electrodes was carried out by sputter-coating the exit end of the capillaries with a thin layer of Au or Pt. Dual electrode system performance was demonstrated by separation and analysis of phenol and catechol samples. In addition, the detection system was coupled with glucose oxidase for the selective detection of glucose.
Effect of intravenous testosterone on myocardial ischemia in men with coronary artery disease.

Background Studies on the effect of estrogen on atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in women have produced conflicting results. Similar confusion, but fewer data, exists on the effect of testosterone on CAD risk in men. Methods We used 99mTc sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging to examine the acute effect of intravenous testosterone in 32 men (mean age, 69.1 ± 6.4 years) with provocable myocardial ischemia on standard medical therapy. Patients performed 3 exercise (n = 18) or adenosine (n = 16) stress tests during the infusion of placebo or 2 doses of testosterone designed to increase testosterone 2 or 6 times baseline. Results Serum testosterone increased 137 ± 58% and 488 ± 113%, and estradiol levels increased 27 ± 46% and 76 ± 57%, (P <.001 for all) during the 2 testosterone infusions. There were no differences among the placebo or testosterone groups in peak heart rate, systolic blood pressure, maximal rate pressure product, perfusion imaging scores, or the onset of ST-segment depression. Conclusions Acute testosterone infusion has neither a beneficial nor a deleterious effect on the onset and magnitude of stress-induced myocardial ischemia in men with stable CAD. (Am Heart J 2002;143:249-56.)
On contrasting vertex contraction with relaxation-based approaches for negative cost cycle detection

In this paper, we present a comprehensive empirical analysis of the Vertex Contraction (VC) algorithm for the problem of checking whether a directed graph with positive and negative costs on its edges has a negative cost cycle (NCCD). VC was first presented in [K. Subramani, L. Kovalchick, Contraction versus relaxation: a comparison of two approaches for the negative cost cycle detection problem, in: P.M.A. Sloot et al. (Ed.), Proceedings of the third international conference on computational science (ICCS), Lecture notes in computer science, vol. 2659, Springer-Verlag, 2003, pp. 377-387] and is the only known purely greedy strategy for the NCCD problem. In [K. Subramani, L. Kovalchick, Contraction versus relaxation: a comparison of two approaches for the negative cost cycle detection problem, in: P.M.A. Sloot et al. (Ed.), Proceedings of the third international conference on computational science (ICCS), Lecture notes in computer science, vol. 2659, Springer-Verlag, 2003, pp. 377-387], we compared the performance profiles of a naive implementation of VC and the ''standard'' Bellman-Ford (BF) algorithm for negative cost cycle detection; we observed that VC performed an order of magnitude better than the BF algorithm. Our experiments were conducted on a range of randomly generated inputs over multiple classes of networks and the results conclusively demonstrated the superiority of VC over a naive implementation of BF. Our observations are surprising given that VC is asymptotically inferior to BF on sparse networks. This paper continues the study of contrasting greedy and dynamic programming (relaxation-based) approaches for the NCCD problem, by comparing sophisticated variants of VC with sophisticated implementations of the BF algorithm. Variants of VC are obtained by employing different heuristics to determine the vertex contraction sequence, in precisely the same manner as variants of BF are obtained by employing different heuristics to determine the edge relaxation sequence. Our experiments indicate that on most classes of networks, there is at least one VC variant with a performance profile that is comparable to the more sophisticated BF implementations. Our results are most surprising for the case of planar networks, where a variant of VC performs almost as well as the best relaxation-based algorithm. One of the principal conclusions of our work is that a simple, greedy approach involving vertex contraction is a good choice on sparse networks. On a more fundamental note, we establish that the selection of an algorithm for the NCCD problem should involve an analysis of the input and the architecture of the computing machine, in order to maximize performance.
Nonequilibrium quasiparticles and 2e periodicity in single-Cooper-pair transistors.

We have fabricated single-Cooper-pair transistors in which the spatial profile of the superconducting gap energy was controlled by oxygen doping. The profile dramatically affects the switching current vs gate voltage curve of the transistor, changing its period from $1e$ to $2e$. A model based on nonequilibrium quasiparticles in the leads explains our results, including the observation that even devices with a clean $2e$ period are ``poisoned'' by small numbers of these quasiparticles.
Birefringence Measurement Techniques Applied to Stress Evaluation in Optical Devices

Residual stress affects the reliability and the performance of optical devices. The Two-Waveplate Compensator (TWC) and the Brace-Kohler techniques are implemented for full-field retardation measurements. Stress profiles are computed in various optical fibers.
Shuffling Cards and Stopping Times

(1986). Shuffling Cards and Stopping Times. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 93, No. 5, pp. 333-348.
Differential expression of ARIA isoforms in the rat brain

ARIA, heregulin, neu differentiation factor, and glial growth factor are members of a new family of growth and differentiation factors whose effects have been assayed on Schwann cells, skeletal muscle cells, and mammary tumor cell lines. To gain insight into their roles in the CNS, we studied the expression of ARIA in the rat brain. We found ARIA mRNA in all cholinergic neurons throughout the CNS, including motor neurons and cells of the medial septal nucleus and the nucleus basalis of Meynert. We also found that ARIA induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a 185 kDa protein in central and peripheral targets of these cholinergic neurons. ARIA mRNA, however, is not restricted to cholinergic neurons, suggesting that it may also play a role at other types of synapses. Its distribution in germinal layers of the telencephalon and cerebellum suggests that it may also play a role in the proliferation and/or migration of neuronal and glial precursor cells.
A Monte Carlo study of ranked efficiency estimates from frontier models

Parametric stochastic frontier models yield firm-level conditional distributions of inefficiency that are truncated normal. Given these distributions, how should one assess and rank firm-level efficiency? This study compares the techniques of estimated (a) the conditional means of inefficiency and (b) probabilities that firms are most or least efficient. Monte Carlo experiments suggest that the efficiency probabilities are more reliable in terms of mean absolute percent error when inefficiency has large variation across firms. Along the way we tackle some interesting problems associated with simulating and assessing estimator performance inthe stochastic frontier environment.
Contradictions in China's affordable housing policy: Goals vs. structure

Abstract Though China has achieved great strides in improving housing provision, it is still plagued by a lack of affordable housing. Over the last two decades, China has launched several affordable housing programs to help low- and moderate-income households own or rent decent homes. However, critics argue that those programs increase housing inequality. This research analyzes the contradictions in China's affordable housing policy. Based on a comprehensive and critical assessment of the country's major affordable housing programs, this research finds that the division of powers, incentives, responsibilities, and revenue sources between the central government and local governments has worked against the state's affordable housing goals. This research also examines the innovations that the government has introduced to improve affordable housing policies in recent years.
Regulating methanol feed concentration in direct methanol fuel cells using feedback from voltage measurements

Abstract Regulating methanol feed concentration in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) is important for improving electrical performance and fuel utilization. Low methanol concentration reduces the reaction rate at the anode due to Nernstian effects resulting in a lower operating voltage. However, simply increasing the methanol concentration does not always lead to improved performance due to increased methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode resulting in mixed-potential losses and the associated fuel loss. Hence, there exists an optimal intermediate value of methanol concentration for each current density that will yield the highest electrical performance (V). In this paper, we describe the development of an in situ methodology which uses the measured cell voltage as the feedback to regulate the methanol feed concentration for maximum power density. This methodology is demonstrated at the current densities of 50, 100, and 250 mA cm−2and the results for optimal concentration are presented. Fuel loss as a function of methanol concentration is evaluated by oxidizing the crossover methanol at the cathode exhaust and measuring the CO2 mass flux.
Bootstrap methods for assessing the performance of near‐infrared pattern classification techniques

Two parametric bootstrap techniques were applied to near-infrared (NIR) pattern classification models for two classes of microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel® PH101 and PH102, which differ only in particle size. The development of pattern classification models for similar substances is difficult, since their characteristic clusters overlap. Bootstrapping was used to enlarge small test sets for a better approximation of the overlapping area of these nearly identical substances, consequently resulting in better estimates of misclassification rates. A bootstrap that resampled the residuals, referred to as the outside model space bootstrap in this paper, and a novel bootstrap that resampled principal component scores, referred to as the inside model space bootstrap, were studied. A comparison revealed that classification rates for both bootstrap techniques were similar to the original test set classification rates. The bootstrap method developed in this study, which resampled the principal component scores, was more effective for estimating misclassification volumes than the residual-resampling method. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Climatological aspects of cyclone development and decay in the Arctic

Abstract Climatological aspects of Arctic cyclones are examined for winter and summer over a 20‐year (1973–1992) period. The primary objective is to characterize patterns of cyclone distribution examined in previous studies in terms of cyclone sea level pressure tendency (SLPT), maximum deepening rates and the frequency of cyclogenesis and cyclolysis. Results rely on output from a system detection and tracking algorithm applied to twice‐daily National Meteorological Center sea level pressure fields. Winter peaks in cyclonic activity off the east coast of southern Greenland, over the Norwegian and Kara seas, Baffin Bay/Davis Strait, and south of Baffin Island are in general associated with frequent cyclogenesis and cyclolysis. The Atlantic side of the Arctic is the most synoptically active, characterized by a more frequent occurrence of deepening and larger mean latitude‐adjusted maximum deepening rates, peaking at ‐6.8 mb (12 h‐1) for the Greenland Sea/N. Atlantic sector. Average adjusted maximum deepenin...
A sweet spot to control complement-induced inflammation.

Complement is intricately involved in inflammatory processes, yet the mechanisms that modulate the actions of its key mediator C5a are poorly understood. A new study uncovers a molecular partnership between three neutrophil receptors in the recognition of differentially glycated immune complexes and sheds light on regulatory processes in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (pages 1401–1406).
Emergency postcoital treatment: practical and ethical barriers to use.

Abstract Emergency postcoital treatment—the morning-after pill—has been used on college campuses for about 20 years, but it is little used in other populations. Some of the possible reasons for its sparse use, including lack of awareness, the fact that the oral contraceptives have not been approved for this use, the fear of liability, and ethical considerations, are discussed. The author's major focus is on the ethical considerations.
Lysine uptake in cultured Trypanosoma cruzi: interactions of competitive inhibitors.

SYNOPSIS Three sites are involved in lysine transport in Trypanosoma cruzi, as inferred from interactions of inhibitory neutral amino acids. Phenylalanine and tyrosine inhibit one site; proline and the straight-chain amino acids, alanine, methionine and cysteine inhibit another; and glycine and the branched-chain valine, leucine, and isoleucine inhibit a 3rd. The curved rather than straight line obtained with a Lineweaver-Burk plot of uptake rates presumably results from the functioning of qualitatively different transport sites. Blocking every site but one results in the linear double-reciprocal plot characteristic of adsorption kinetics. The partial competitiveness of most of the inhibitions appears to denote qualitatively different sites for lysine transport and the reaction of the inhibitor with more than one site. Since most of the inhibitions were partially competitive, the specificities of the 3 lysine transport sites must overlap considerably.
Operons in eukaryotes.

It was thought that polycistronic transcription is a characteristic of bacteria and archaea, where many of the genes are clustered in operons composed of two to more than ten genes. By contrast, the genes of eukaryotes are generally considered to be monocistronic, each with its own promoter at the 59 end and a transcription terminator at the 39 end; however, it has recently become clear that not all eukaryotic genes are transcribed monocistronically. Numerous instances of polycistronic transcription in eukaryotes, from protists to chordates, have been reported. These can be divided into two broad types. Dicistronic transcription units specify a messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding two separate genes that is transported to the cytoplasm and translated in that form. Presumably, internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), or some form of translational re-initiation following the stop codon, are responsible for allowing translation of the downstream gene. In the other type, the initial transcript is processed by 39 end cleavage and trans-splicing to create monocistronic mRNAs that are transported to the cytoplasm and translated. Like bacterial operons, eukaryotic operons often result in coexpression of functionally related proteins.
Dynamic interactions between accommodation and convergence

Frequency-domain equations are derived for the current dual-interaction model of accommodation and convergence control, and its adaptive behavior is related to the system's parameters. Contrary to predictions based on the steady-state performance of the model, dynamic analysis shows that the AC/A is sensitive to the method of measurement, and a procedure is established for its reliable determination. The results provide theoretical support for the empirical finding that low AC/A and CA/C ratios are associated with high accommodative and convergence adaption, respectively. The derived equations should help future studies relate the physiological behavior of accommodative and convergence to specific model parameters. >
Multitasking across generations: Multitasking choices and difficulty ratings in three generations of Americans

This study investigated whether changes in the technological/social environment in the United States over time have resulted in concomitant changes in the multitasking skills of younger generations. One thousand, three hundred and nineteen Americans from three generations were queried to determine their at-home multitasking behaviors. An anonymous online questionnaire asked respondents to indicate which everyday and technology-based tasks they choose to combine for multitasking and to indicate how difficult it is to multitask when combining the tasks. Combining tasks occurred frequently, especially while listening to music or eating. Members of the ''Net Generation'' reported more multitasking than members of ''Generation X,'' who reported more multitasking than members of the ''Baby Boomer'' generation. The choices of which tasks to combine for multitasking were highly correlated across generations, as were difficulty ratings of specific multitasking combinations. The results are consistent with a greater amount of general multitasking resources in younger generations, but similar mental limitations in the types of tasks that can be multitasked.
Linearized slip flow past a semi-infinite flat plate

Incompressible slip flow past a semi-infinite flat plat at zero incidence is treated in terms of the linearized viscous flow equations. A formal solution is obtained using Fourier transforms and the Wiener-Hopf technique. Explicit inversion of the transform is not possible, but asymptotic expansions are discussed. These reveal the inadequacy of boundary-layer theory in predicting the nature of the solution, even at the plate surface. For example, the local shear forces on the plate are significantly different from boundary-layer values, even far downstream, where slip effects are small. The boundary-layer limit is approached as the Reynolds number based on the mean free path or, equivalently, the free-stream Mach number tends to infinity.
Disrupted Proteolipid Protein Trafficking Results in Oligodendrocyte Apoptosis in an Animal Model of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease

Abstract. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is a dysmyelinating disease resulting from mutations, deletions, or duplications of the proteolipid protein (PLP) gene. Distinguishing features of PMD include pleiotropy and a range of disease severities among patients. Previously, we demonstrated that, when expressed in transfected fibroblasts, many naturally occurring mutant PLP alleles encode proteins that accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum and are not transported to the cell surface. In the present communication, we show that oligodendrocytes in an animal model of PMD, the msd mouse, accumulate Plp gene products in the perinuclear region and are unable to transport them to the cell surface. Another important aspect of disease in msd mice is oligodendrocyte cell death, which is increased by two- to threefold. We demonstrate in msd mice that this death occurs by apoptosis and show that at the time oligodendrocytes die, they have differentiated, extended processes that frequently contact axons and are expressing myelin structural proteins. Finally, we define a hypothesis that accounts for pathogenesis in most PMD patients and animal models of this disease and, moreover, can be used to develop potential therapeutic strategies for ameliorating the disease phenotype.
Consensus or compliance? Foreign-policy change and external dependence

The foreign-policy behavior of weak states, conventional wisdom holds, is largely determined by a process of bargaining with a dominant state. Compliance with the dominant state's preferences is viewed as necessary to the maintenance of economic exchange relations that benefit the weak state. Evidence for such a theory has been found in cross-sectional correlations of aid and trade with UN voting. However, such empirical studies have ignored alternative explanations, overlooked elements of the statistical record, and failed to examine the logic of the bargaining model. The assumptions of the bargaining model are vulnerable to criticism; an alternative model emphasizes multiple constraints on the behavior of both the strong and the weak nation in an asymmetrical dyad. Reanalysis of the data uncovers strong evidence of an explanation for foreign-policy continuity rooted in dependency. Dependency permeates and transforms the political system of dependent nations, thus bringing about constrained consensus rather than compliance. Furthermore, the data provide strong evidence for an explanation of foreign-policy change in both nations that centers on regime change, not on bargaining with an external actor.
Dilute Bose gas in a torus: vortices and persistent currents

We consider the excitation spectrum and stability of quantized vortices in a weakly-interacting Bose gas trapped in a toroidal container, and discuss the driven rotation of such a condensate.
Design of inductors in organic substrates for 1-3 GHz wireless applications

High Q inductors with maximum quality factors in the range of 180-60 have been obtained at frequencies in the 1-3 GHz band for inductances in the range of 1 nH to 20 nH using a low-temperature organic laminate build-up process. This is the first time such high Q inductors have been demonstrated in this technology. The different inductor designs, optimization schemes, and trade-offs between different topologies, have been discussed in this paper.
Renal artery stenosis and aneurysms associated with neurofibromatosis

Renal artery lesions associated with neurofibromatosis may involve stenosis and aneurysm formation at all levels of the renal artery to the intraparenchymal branches, and usually are associated with hypertension. A 13-year-old boy with type I neurofibromatosis and severe hypertension presented with multiple aneurysms and multiple stenotic lesions in the renal artery and segmental arteries. The patient underwent ex-vivo renal artery repair with autologous hypogastric artery and autotransplantation to the iliac fossa and was clinically improved. The characteristic histologic findings are presented. A review of the recent literature comparing different treatment modalities for renovascular hypertension in children with neurofibromatosis suggests that surgery remains the best treatment alternative.
Approach to the Patient with Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) occurs in about 1:4000 live births and describes females with a broad constellation of problems associated with loss of an entire sex chromosome or a portion of the X chromosome containing the tip of its short arm. TS is associated with an astounding array of potential abnormalities, most of them thought to be caused by haploinsufficiency of genes that are normally expressed by both X chromosomes. A health care checklist is provided that suggests screening tests at specific ages and intervals for problems such as strabismus, hearing loss, and autoimmune thyroid disease. Four areas of major concern in TS are discussed: growth failure, cardiovascular disease, gonadal failure, and learning disabilities. GH therapy should generally begin as soon as growth failure occurs, allowing for rapid normalization of height. Cardiac imaging, preferably magnetic resonance imaging, should be performed at diagnosis and repeated at 5- to 10-yr intervals to assess for congenital heart abnormalities and t...
Circulatory and renal effects of β-adrenergic-receptor stimulation in pregnant sheep

The effects of beta-adrenergic-receptor stimulation with ritodrine on systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and on renal handling of water and electrolytes were studied in unanesthetized, chronically instrumented pregnant sheep. Each animal was studied during control, ritodrine, and recovery periods, each lasting 60 minutes, with the use of three different modes of hydration. beta-receptor stimulation produced a significant increase in heart rate and cardiac output and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. Pulmonary arterial and wedge pressures tended to increase. These circulatory effects were similar for the three types of hydration and they persisted after cessation of infusion. In terms of its renal effects, beta-receptor stimulation elicited a profound decrease in urine flow and in the excretions of sodium and potassium, irrespective of the mode of hydration. The antidiuresis and antinatriuresis were accompanied by no changes in plasma osmolality and sodium concentration, whereas plasma potassium levels decreased. All of these effects persisted for 60 minutes after the cessation of infusion. In the water-loaded experiments, the antidiuresis seemed to be related to increased antidiuretic hormone secretion; in the saline-loaded experiments, however, both the antidiuresis and antinatriuresis appeared to be related to increased renal reabsorption. The changes in renal hemodynamics seemed to have an insignificant role. The amount of fluid retained in the body was greater when ritodrine was infused with saline solution than with dextrose solution. These cardiovascular and renal studies suggest that a circulatory overload may be the major factor in the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema observed during beta-adrenergic-receptor stimulation.
Avionics integration for CNS/ATM

Commercial aviation is changing around the globe. As the number of travelers increases, parts of the system experience severe congestion. Airports, air traffic controllers, communication networks, and the airspace itself (governed by laws stipulating minimum vertical, lateral, and head-to-tail separation of aircraft) are near their capacity during peak times. The ramifications of this congestion are many, encompassing economics, union workload issues, safety and performance. One prediction is that as the entire system becomes saturated around 2005, small average delays will highly perturb the system, resulting in large variances in actual arrival times. Basically, the entire air transportation system will become unpredictable. The paper discusses a possible solution in the form of the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management system (CNS/ATM).
Severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia improved by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation: a case report

This is the first report to describe the feasibility and effectiveness of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the secondary treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A former male preterm of Caucasian ethnicity delivered at 29 weeks gestation developed severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. At the age of six months he was in permanent tachypnea and dyspnea and in need of 100% oxygen with a flow of 2.0 L/minute via a nasal cannula. Intermittent nocturnal noninvasive positive pressure ventilation was then administered for seven hours daily. The ventilator was set at a positive end-expiratory pressure of 6 cmH2O, with pressure support of 4 cmH2O, trigger at 1.4 mL/second, and a maximum inspiratory time of 0.7 seconds. Over the course of seven weeks, the patient's maximum daytime fraction of inspired oxygen via nasal cannula decreased from 1.0 to 0.75, his respiratory rate from 64 breaths/minute to 50 breaths/minute and carbon dioxide from 58 mmHg to 44 mmHg. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation may be a novel therapeutic option for established severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In the case presented, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation achieved sustained improvement in ventilation and thus prepared our patient for safe home oxygen therapy.
MEDIATING EFFECTS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON FIREFIGHTERS' SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PERCEPTIONS OF CARE

This study examined the relationship between psychological sense of community, social-support networks, and care-giver stress and satisfaction among firefighters. No significant gender differences were obtained, but zero-order correlates demonstrated significant relationships among all four variables. In examining the mediating effects of social-support satisfaction, partial mediation for psychological sense of community on care-giver satisfaction was determined, as well as full mediation for psychological sense of community on care-giver stress. Therefore, firefighters who are satisfied with the support they receive may experience less stress with their care giving than those who experience low levels of support satisfaction. Future studies should assess these relationships more extensively in other areas of civic responsibility among public-service employees to delineate effective support avenues. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mapping the Hydrogen Bond Networks in the Catalytic Subunit of Protein Kinase A Using H/D Fractionation Factors

Protein kinase A is a prototypical phosphoryl transferase, sharing its catalytic core (PKA-C) with the entire kinase family. PKA-C substrate recognition, active site organization, and product release depend on the enzyme’s conformational transitions from the open to the closed state, which regulate its allosteric cooperativity. Here, we used equilibrium nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) fractionation factors (φ) to probe the changes in the strength of hydrogen bonds within the kinase upon binding the nucleotide and a pseudosubstrate peptide (PKI5–24). We found that the φ values decrease upon binding both ligands, suggesting that the overall hydrogen bond networks in both the small and large lobes of PKA-C become stronger. However, we observed several important exceptions, with residues displaying higher φ values upon ligand binding. Notably, the changes in φ values are not localized near the ligand binding pockets; rather, they are radiated throughout the entire enzyme. We conclude that,...
Mineral Deposits and Metallogeny: Indicators of Earth’s Evolution

Major types of mineral deposits exhibit distinct changes in composition and geological setting from Archean to Recent time. These changes include extinctions of ancient types, appearances of new ones, proliferations, and diversifications, and thus are comparable to those seen in biological evolution. The changes are responses to evolutionary changes in the earth’s asthenosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. All these reflect changing geotectonic environments, and consequently must be considered and explained in conjunction with global tectonic evolution, to which they provide additional, independent guides.
Epigraphy and Demography: Birth, Marriage, Family, and Death

In recent years, the adoption of key concepts and models of modern population studies has greatly advanced our understanding of the demography of the Greco-Roman world. Epigraphic evidence has made a vital contribution to this development: statistical analysis of tens of thousands of tombstone inscriptions has generated new insights into mortality regimes, marriage practices, and family structures in various parts of the ancient Mediterranean. In conjunction with papyrological material, these data permit us to identify regional differences and facilitate long-term comparisons with more recent historical populations. After a brief survey of the principal sources of demographic information about the classical world, this paper focuses on the use of inscriptions in the study of population size, mortality, fertility, nuptiality, sex ratios, family formation, and household organization.
(MIS)Representing risk: Headline accounts of HIV-related assaults

The news media construct order by defining which events are sig-nificant and interpreting these events for the public. Sometimes, though, the media distort reality. The current study focuses on the media exaggeration of the threat posed by nonsexual HIV-related assaults. Although such assaults are widely perceived as serious threats, the likelihood of HIV being transmitted through a biting, spitting, or needlestick incident is quite small. Based on news accounts culled from 17 of the largest newspapers in the United States, the findings illustrate how headlines rely upon sensational language, negative stereotyping of offenders, and the cloak of “neutral and objective” court decisions to articulate a sense of order and morality while simultaneously exaggerating the threat people with HIV pose to the general public.