cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental changes in stomach, intestine, and skin glycoconjugates in summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus): A lectin histochemical study

Abstract This study asked whether the glycoconjugates of stomach, intestine, and skin epithelia and their mucous secretions change during metamorphosis in summer flounder. Larvae and juveniles were assayed histochemically with biotinylated lectins, and scored for differences in staining intensity and specificity between the two developmental stages. In the stomach epithelium, the number of positive lectins changed little from larvae to juveniles; however, the secreted mucus increased in staining with DBA, ECL, GSA II, PNA, and SBA lectins. In the intestine, a developmental decrease in the binding intensity of the intestinal brush border was noted for DSL, RCA 120 , VVA, SNA, and UEA I lectins, while intestinal goblet cells underwent a large increase in binding for GSA II. The skin mucous cells of the larvae were negative for DBA, DSL, ECL, PNA, RCA 120 , and SNA, but became positive in the juveniles. In conclusion, this study showed that changes in glycoconjugate expression occur during metamorphosis in the stomach, intestine, and skin of summer flounder. The changes in the gut glycoconjugates correlate developmentally with shifts in bacterial flora composition found by other studies, and therefore might be relevant to the study of bacteria–host relationships in summer flounder.
Daily and Circadian Variation in Survival From Ultraviolet Radiation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The survival of organisms depends on their ability to adapt to their environment, one important aspect of which is the daily cycle of day and night. During the day, organisms use a variety of strategies to protect themselves from deleterious ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths of sunlight. Among those strategies could be timing of UV-sensitive cellular processes to occur at night to avoid UV-induced damage. We tested whether the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii uses this strategy by measuring the survival of cells following exposure to UV radiation at different phases of the day. Chlamydomonas cells displayed a rhythm of survival from UV radiation where the most sensitive phases occurred during the end of the day and at the beginning of the night. This phase of sensitivity corresponds to the time of nuclear division. The rhythm continues in constant light indicating control by a circadian clock. The results presented here suggest a hypothesis of how circadian clocks may have evolved; a temporal program whereby light-sensitive processes are timed to avoid sunlight-induced damage would be advantageous and therefore selected.
Charge-nonconserving decays in ordinary matter

A geophysical technique for placing experimental limits on charge-nonconserving decays is discussed, with the results W(n..-->..p+neutrals) ..p+e/sup +/+neutrals)<10/sup -22/ yr/sup -1/. These limits hold for bound neutrons, averaged over the chemical composition of the Earth.
Doing the right thing: feedback control and p53

Recent evidence suggests that exposure of cells to DNA-damaging agents causes a rise in the levels of the p53 tumor suppressor protein and arrest of progression through the cell cycle. p53 may therefore resemble a member of the RAD gene class identified in yeast, RAD9, which allows cells to repair DNA before continuation of the cell cycle. The evidence that p53 is a sequence-specific, DNA-binding protein that can regulate transcription suggests several ways in which p53 might effect this growth cessation.
Non-parametric statistical methods for multivariate calibration model selection and comparison

Model selection is an important issue when constructing multivariate calibration models using methods based on latent variables (e.g. partial least squares regression and principal component regression). It is important to select an appropriate number of latent variables to build an accurate and precise calibration model. Inclusion of too few latent variables can result in a model that is inaccurate over the complete space of interest. Inclusion of too many latent variables can result in a model that produces noisy predictions through incorporation of low-order latent variables that have little or no predictive value. Commonly used metrics for selecting the number of latent variables are based on the predicted error sum of squares (PRESS) obtained via cross-validation. In this paper a new approach for selecting the number of latent variables is proposed. In this new approach the prediction errors of individual observations (obtained from cross-validation) are compared across models incorporating varying numbers of latent variables. Based on these comparisons, non-parametric statistical methods are used to select the simplest model (least number of latent variables) that provides prediction quality that is indistinguishable from that provided by more complex models. Unlike methods based on PRESS, this new approach is robust to the effects of anomalous observations. More generally, the same approach can be used to compare the performance of any models that are applied to the same data set where reference values are available. The proposed methodology is illustrated with an industrial example involving the prediction of gasoline octane numbers from near-infrared spectra. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The mechanical properties of extruded food foams

A pin indentation test has been used to obtain the local mechanical properties and porosity of extruded food foams. These local mechanical properties correlate better with the bulk foam density than more conventional bulk compression data. The Ashby treatment of cellular materials predicts the relationship between mechanical properties and density where they are normalized by the wall material values. However, the foam wall mechanical properties are not currently available for food foams. The pin indentation technique provides an alternative description of the physical properties of these foams.
Creation of drug-specific herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase mutants for gene therapy.

Abstract Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) thymidine kinase is currently used as a suicide agent in the gene therapy of cancer. This therapy is based on the preferential phosphorylation of nucleoside analogs by tumor cells expressing HSV-1 thymidine kinase. However, the use of HSV-1 thymidine kinase is limited in part by the toxicity of the nucleoside analogs. We have used random sequence mutagenesis to create new HSV-1 thymidine kinases that, compared with wild-type thymidine kinase, render cells much more sensitive to specific nucleoside analogs. A segment of the HSV-1 thymidine kinase gene at the putative nucleoside binding site was substituted with random nucleotide sequences. Mutant enzymes that demonstrate preferential phosphorylation of the nucleoside analogs, ganciclovir or acyclovir, were selected from more than one million Escherichia coli transformants. Among the 426 active mutants we have isolated, 26 demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to ganciclovir, and 54 were more sensitive to acyclovir. Only 6 mutant enzymes displayed sensitivity to both ganciclovir and acyclovir when expressed in E. coli. Analysis of 3 drug-sensitive enzymes demonstrated that 1 produced stable mammalian cell transfectants that are 43-fold more sensitive to ganciclovir and 20-fold more sensitive to acyclovir.
Crossed renal ectopia without fusion associated with carcinoma of the renal pelvis a case report

A case of crossed renal ectopia complicated by hydronephrosis, calculus, pyelonephritis, and tumour is described. The aetiology of the complications is discussed and the incidence of tumours in non-fused, crossed renal ectopia is described.
Antioxidant enzyme activity during prolonged exercise in amenorrheic and eumenorrheic athletes

Exogenous 17 beta-estradiol (E2) has been shown to be associated with elevated levels of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of endogenous E2, as defined by menstrual status (amenorrhea v eumenorrhea), on activity of blood antioxidant enzymes at rest and during prolonged exercise. Six amenorrheic (AMc) and six eumenorrheic (EUc) athletes were subjected to a treadmill running test at 60% VO2max for 90 minutes. Serial blood samples were taken from a forearm vein at rest, 30, 60, and 90 minutes during exercise, and 15 minutes into recovery. Resting estrogen levels were significantly lower in AMc athletes at rest and during exercise as compared with EUc athletes, whereas plasma cortisol levels in AMc were significantly higher. GPX activity was significantly higher in AMc than EUc at rest (46.9 +/- 7.7 v 30.2 +/- 2.2 nmol/min x mg Hb, P less than .05, respectively) and throughout exercise. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity was similar between the two groups at rest and was significantly higher (P less than .01) in AMc than EUc during exercise. Plasma lipid peroxidation and catalase activity did not change significantly in response to exercise, nor were they different between AMc and EUc athletes. GPX activity was found to be negatively correlated with E2 (r = -.64, P less than .01) and positively correlated with cortisol (r = .69, P less than .01). It is tentatively concluded that the alteration of hormonal status in amenorrhea has an influence on the blood antioxidant enzyme system.
Laser-target diagnostics instrumentation system

ABSTRACT An integrated diagnostic mstrumentauon suite has been developed for use in characterizing certain aspects of the interactionof an infrared high energy laser beam with target materials. The diagnostics include the temporal history of the target surfacetemperature at the focal plane, scattering and extinction by the target plume, high speed imaging of the microscopic particles spalled off the target, and a high-speed real-time digital data acquisition system which provides overall control of the insirumentation system. 1. OVERVIEW We describe a Target Diagnostics Instrumentation (TDI) system which is designed to measure selected effects arising when a high energy laser strikes a target. The purpose of the ThI is to provide scientific data relative to the interaction of theArmy's continuous wave MIRACL high energy laser beam with various samples of target materials. The MIRACL laserutilizes deuterium fluoride and lases at 3.8 pm. The ThI system is designed to measure target temperawre, laser beam
Family Size, Cognitive Outcomes, and Familial Interaction in Stable, Two-Parent Families: United States, 1997–2002

Measures of children's time use, particularly with parents and siblings, are used to evaluate three hypotheses in relation to the vocabulary and mathematical skills development: (1) the resource dilution hypothesis, which argues that parental and household resources are diluted in larger families; (2) the confluence hypothesis, which suggests that the intellectual milieu of families is lowered with additional children; and (3) the admixture ("no effect") hypothesis, which suggests that the negative relationship between family size and achievement is an artifact of cross-sectional research resulting from unobserved heterogeneity. Each hypothesis is tested using within-child estimates of change in cognitive scores over time with the addition of new children to families.
Scanning tunnelling microscopy of 1‐D and 2‐D charge‐density wave systems

SUMMARY We have used a new variable temperature scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) to study quasi-1D and 2-D charge-density wave (CDW) systems. The 1-D systems, typified by NbSe3 and TaS3, are of special interest since they exhibit unusual transport phenomena associated with moving CDW above a threshold electric field. In the case of NbSe3, room temperature STM images show both major and subtle details of the lattice structure. At present, however, images taken below the Peierls transition temperature of TP=144 K resolve major lattice details but are not sufficiently clear to resolve the CDW. On the other hand, for the fully gapped CDW system orthorhombic-TaS3, the CDW modulation superimposed on the lattice structure and having the correct period of four times the S-S spacing of 3·3 A, is observed below TP=215 K. Above TP, the main observable feature is the S-S spacing along the chains. STM measurements have also been performed on the 2-D CDW system 1T-TaS2 in its incommensurate, nearly commensurate, fully commensurate and trigonal phases. For the nearly commensurate phase, STM images show uniform commensurability with a relatively low concentration of small, time-varying discommensurations in contrast to models pradicting a regular domain structure. In the trigonal phase, however, evidence is seen for the striped phase composed of long, nearly parallel discommensurations.
Air embrittlement of a cobalt-base superalloy

The stress-rupture and tensile properties of a cast cobalt base superalloy, MM509, are compared after high temperature exposure in air and vacuum. A loss in tensile ductility after air exposure is observed over the entire temperature range from room temperature to 1000 °C with the effect being most severe at 400 ° to 600 °C. This appears to be related to grain boundary oxygen penetration and is compared and contrasted with similar observations in nickel base alloys. The cobalt base alloy has high intrinsic ductility at high temperatures and, even after air exposure, there is no loss in creep life associated with the embrittlement. It is argued that in this alloy the critical strain for fracture of embrittled grain boundaries is much higher than that for high strength nickel base superalloys.
Investigation of passive and adaptive passive dynamic absorbers applied to an automatic washer suspension design

Alternative vibration control systems are of interest to the appliance industry to improve the performance of the automatic washer suspension. Consumer benefits from improved suspension performance include noise and vibration reduction, lighter machines and larger baskets for increased clothes load capacity. Passive dynamic absorbers are investigated because of their ability to control system resonances and absorb energy from vibrating components. Since the suspended mass is variable due to different clothes loads and the amount of water in the clothes, performance limitations exist for the passive vibration absorber. Adaptive passive dynamic absorbers are investigated as an alternative vibration control system. A set of design variables and constraints for a fundamental model of an automatic washer suspension incorporating both passive and adaptive passive dynamic absorbers is presented. Numerical integration is used to obtain each system response. Optimization of the fundamental automatic washer model incorporating a passive dynamic absorber is performed. Design of experiment techniques and general design studies are used to gain information concerning the importance of the design variables on the performance of the adaptive passive dynamic absorber. Both ideal and real absorber stiffness controller schemes are investigated. The results suggest some benefit of applying adaptive passive dynamic absorbers. Design constraints are found to play a major role in the feasibility of application of this technology to the appliance industry. When considering design cost and performance, the optimum passive dynamic absorber is shown to be the better choice. Examples of various methods of implementation of both passive and adaptive passive dynamic absorbers to an automatic washer are presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Feature selection from high-dimensional hyperspectral and polarimetric data for target detection

Hyperspectral and polarimetric data contain spectral response information that provides detailed descriptions of an object. These new sensor data are useful in automatic target recognition applications. However, such high-dimensional data introduce problems due to the curse of dimensionality, the need to reduce the number of features used to accommodate realistic small training set sizes, and the need to employ discriminatory features and still achieve good generalization (comparable training and test set performance). In this paper, we evaluate both hyperspectral and polarimetric feature sets and identify features useful for distinguishing targets from background. Various feature selection algorithms are assessed in terms of the goodness of the selected features and computation time. Our results show that (1) the integration of branch and bound algorithm and floating forward selection algorithm is promising for hyperspectral and polarimetric target detection applications; and (2) the combination of both hyperspectral and polarimetric features yields significantly better classification results than either hyperspectral or polarimetric features alone.
Urolithiasis in 68 Horses

Medical records of 68 horses with urolithiasis were examined. Calculi were in the bladder in 47 horses, urethra in 11 horses, kidneys in 15 horses, and ureter in two horses. They occurred at several sites in six horses. Common clinical signs included hematuria, altered micturition (pollakiuria, dysuria, urinary incontinence), and tenesmus. Weight loss, possibly attributable to chronic renal failure and colic, was associated more commonly with renal and ureteral calculi. Weight loss also occurred in 13% of horses with cystic calculi only. In male horses, most cystic calculi were removed by perineal (ischial) urethrotomy under epidural anesthesia. Although there were few surgical complications with urethrotomy, seven of 15 horses with follow-up suffered recurrent urolithiasis.
Real-time microstructure of shock-compressed single crystals from X-ray diffraction line profiles

Methods to obtain and analyze high-resolution real-time X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements from shock-compressed single crystals are presented. Procedures for extracting microstructural information – the focus of this work – from XRD line profiles are described. To obtain quantitative results, careful consideration of the experimental geometry is needed, including the single-crystal nature of the sample and the removal of instrumental broadening. These issues are discussed in detail. Williamson–Hall (WH) and profile synthesis (PS) analysis procedures are presented. More accurate than WH, the PS procedure relies on a forward calculation in which a line profile is synthesized by convoluting the instrumental line profile with a line profile determined from a diffraction simulation. The diffraction simulation uses the actual experimental geometry and a model microstructure for the shocked crystal. The shocked-crystal microstructural parameters were determined by optimizing the match between the synthesized and measured line profiles. XRD measurements on an Al crystal, shocked along [100] to 7.1 GPa using plate-impact loading, are used to demonstrate the WH and PS analysis methods. In the present analysis, the microstructural line broadening arises because of a distribution of longitudinal elastic microstrains. The WH analysis resulted in FWHM longitudinal micro­strain distributions of 0.22 and 0.38% for Lorentzian and Gaussian line shape assumptions, respectively. The optimal FWHM longitudinal microstrain for the PS method was 0.35% with a pseudo-Voigt distribution (40% Lorentzian–60% Gaussian). The line profile measurements and PS analysis presented in this work provide new insight into the heterogeneous distribution of elastic strains in crystals undergoing elastic–plastic deformation during shock compression. Such microstrain distribution measurements are complementary to continuum measurements, which represent averages of the heterogeneous strains or stresses. The PS analysis is a general method capable of incorporating microstructural models more complex than the microstrain distribution model used in this work. As a next step, the PS method will be applied to line profiles of multiple diffraction peaks to separate strain- and size-broadening effects in shocked crystals.
Global Mindedness As the “Goal”: Soccer As a Pedagogical Tool in the Social Studies

As evidenced by the Super Bowl, the Olympics, and the World Cup, sports is a major part of global society, as millions of people throughout the world tune in to view renowned sporting events each and every week. This is especially true for soccer, which is the world's most popular and global sport. Because soccer is played in nearly every country throughout the world, its impact extends far beyond the dimensions of the soccer field or stadium. This article discusses how soccer can be used as a pedagogical tool to create global-mindedness among students. The implications of incorporating soccer into the classroom are far-reaching and vital to equipping students with the ability to think globally.
Hydrogen and chlorine detection at the SiO2/Si interface

Hydrogen and chlorine depth profiles were obtained on a series of silicon oxides thermally grown in HCl/O/sub 2/ and Cl/sub 2//O/sub 2/ ambients at 1100/sup 0/C for 15 minutes using the /sup 19/F nuclear reaction and SIMS techniques. The data show close correlation between the H and Cl profiles in both the HCl/O/sub 2/ and Cl/sub 2//O/sub 2/ oxides. While the H and Cl appear to be enriched at the SiO/sub 2//Si interface of the HCl/O/sub 2/ oxides, they are higher in concentration and more evenly distributed in the oxide bulk of the Cl/sub 2//O/sub 2/ oxides.
TOGETHER – A Couples’ Program to Improve Communication, Coping, and Financial Management Skills: Development and Initial Pilot-Testing

The accumulated knowledge about the negative impact of financial strain on couple's relationship functioning and the magnitude of the latest economic downturn have brought together the fields of financial counseling and couples' therapy. This article describes the development of a new interdisciplinary program that aims at helping couples under financial strain improve their financial management, communication, and dyadic coping skills. The article also reports the results from its initial pilot-testing with data collected from 18 financially distressed couples before and after participation in the program and 3 months later. Results from repeated measures ANOVAs suggest that the program may help reduce both partners' financial strain and the male negative communication and improve both partners' financial management skills and strategies to cope together with financial strain, and the male relationship satisfaction. These findings together with the high satisfaction reported by participants regarding the structure and content of the sessions and homework suggest that this program may be a promising approach to help couples experiencing financial strain. Gender differences, clinical implications, and possibilities for further research are also discussed.
Considering the Nature of Individual Research Results

To characterize the range of opinions in the current debate over disclosure of individual genetic research results, Ravitsky and Wilfond (2006) describe the opposing ends of the spectrum as a “rese...
Self‐assembled monolayer electron beam resist on GaAs

We present results on electron beam exposure of a self‐assembled monolayer film as a self‐developing positive resist on GaAs. A 1.5 nm thick monolayer of n‐octadecanethiol (C18H37SH) deposited on a GaAs (100) substrate showed a electron beam sensitivity of about 100 μC/cm2. The monolayer resist was used as a mask for chemical etching of the GaAs. Patterns in GaAs have been created with widths approximately equal to the exposing electron beam width of 50 nm.
Auxin modification of the incompatibility response in Theobroma cacao

The time course and control of floral abscission and fruit set in Theobroma cacao were studied after spray application of growth regulators. 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) prevented flower abscission in a concentration dependent manner and induced the early stages of fruit development. The cytokinin benzylaminopurine (BAP) counteracted NAA but resulted in longer fruit retention. Measurements of endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid showed an inverse correlation between the number of flowers per plant and auxin content. The results suggest that the genetic control of self-incompatibility in T. cacao may be modulated by the hormonal content of the flower.
The Voices of Senior Scholars on Mentoring Graduate Students and Junior Scholars

Our objective is to document recommendations from senior scholars on effective strategies to mentor graduate students and junior faculty. Mentors' recommendations stated at a national symposium and...
Weak production of strangeness at threshold with polarization observables

Abstract The differential cross section for the charged current electroweak reaction e → +p→ ν → e + Λ → at threshold with polarization observables is presented. The form of the cross section at threshold for the reaction is simplified compared to higher energy. An expression is given for the invariant matrix element appropriate for the reaction when the incident electron is polarized, and the final state hyperon polarization is determined. The energy dependence of the resulting cross section is shown near threshold. Under the right kinematic conditions, there can be a sizeable enhancement in the cross section, making an experimental measurement of the weak axial-vector form factor feasible.
Electron-impact induced fragmentation of thiirene and thiophene dioxides

The electron impact mass spectra of several substituted thiirene and thiophene oxides and dioxides have been investigated using both low and high resolution mass spectrometry. The predominant fragmentation process in the spectra of the thiirene compounds is the elimination of the hetero (SO or SO2) function and formation of a substituted acetylene ion. The 5-membered ring thiophene dioxides exhibit mainly elimination of SO rather than SO2. Plausible mechanisms leading to the formation of the principal ions are proposed on the basis of metastable transitions.
The treatment of acute leucemias of childhood with folic acid antagonists

Summary 1. Twenty-four children with acute leucemia were treated with the folic acid antagonists Aminopterin and A-Methopterin. Hematologic or symptomatic improvement, or both, occurred in twenty. 2. A dosage regimen is described. 3. Roentgen changes of the skeleton were present in thirteen children on the initial examination. Three children developed skeletal lesions during treatment. Four types of lesions were observed. 4. At autopsy, evidence of leucemia was sometimes minimal or absent. Severe hypoplasia of the marrow was encountered. 5. Infection and hemorrhages were frequent complications in these cases. 6. The mechanism of action of the antagonists is through production of a folic acid deficiency, although the action cannot be readily reversed by administration of folic acid. 7. Toxicity was manifested by ulcerative lesions of the oral mucous membranes. 8. While the antagonists did not constitute a satisfactory form of therapy for leucemia, they were more effective than other forms of treatment.
Changes in FDG Tumor Uptake during and after Fractionated Radiation Therapy in a Rodent Tumor Xenograft.

Abstract Objective: The uptake of FDG was measured before, during, and after fractionated radiation in order to evaluate the potential of FDG-PET imaging as an indicator of tumor response. Methods: The study was performed with nude rats bearing the human neuroblastoma BE(2)C tumor xenografts. Tumors were irradiated with 10 fractions of 2 Gy using a 320 kV p X-ray unit. Following a baseline FDG-PET scan, repeat scans were performed weekly until animal sacrifice. The rodents were given up to 10 FDG-PET scans, over a period of up to 75 days posttreatment. Results and Conclusions: Neither, the average and maximum activity/cc of FDG tumor uptake, nor the respective standardized uptake values (SUV), correlated with tumor response. Instead, the total FDG uptake (defined as the product of the average FDG activity/cc with the tumor volume) correlated better with tumor response.
Processes which mediate behavior‐environment congruence

The behavior setting is a useful unit for study of man-environment relationships, but research on this unit should go beyond static description to consider the question, “What events or processes mediate the influence of environments (behavior settings) on behavior?” In this context, several psychological theories are discussed: operant learning, observational learning, behavior setting theory, and social exchange theory. For each theory, research problems relevant to environmental planning and design are suggested.
Does Core Self-Evaluation Have a Place Among Restaurant Employees?

This study seeks to examine how applicable the core self evaluation concept is to employees within the food and beverage sector of the hospitality industry. Quick service restaurant employees made up the sample for this study. Participants completed a paper questionnaire that assessed core self evaluation, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. The results of this research support the previously supported relationship between core self evaluation and job satisfaction. This research also provided an extension of previous research regarding core self evaluation by supporting organizational commitment as sharing a direct relationship with core self evaluation. Implications of this study are discussed as are limitations and future research possibilities.
Design, Synthesis, and X-ray Structural Characterization of New Dinucleating Macrocyclic Ligands and a Novel Phenolate-Bridged Dilanthanum(III) Complex

The [2+2] template condensation of 6,6‘-bis(aminomethyl)-2,2‘-bipyridyl with 2,6-diformyl-p-cresol in the presence of lanthanum acetate yields a homodinuclear complex of a Schiff base macrocycle (babp)2(dfc)2, 1. The crystal of [La21(OAc)4]·4CH3CN·3H2O is triclinic, space group P1, with cell constants a = 10.986(6) A, b = 12.231(8) A, c = 23.818(12) A, α = 86.63(5)°, β = 85.99(5)°, γ = 79.45(4)°, V = 3135(3) A3, and Z = 2. The decacoordination geometry around each identical La3+ ion is a bicapped dodecahedron made up of two bidentate acetate anions, two phenolate oxygens, and four imine nitrogens. The 1H, 13C, and 2D-COSY NMR and UV−visible spectra of the complex are consistent with the solid state structural information obtained by IR and X-ray diffraction studies. Treatment of a solution of La21(OAc)4 in methanol with sodium cyanotrihydroborate yields the hydrogenated octaaza macrocycle R(babp)2(dfc)2, 2. The [2+2] metal-free condensation of 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)-p-cresol with 2,6-diformylpyridine yield...
Computational identification and functional predictions of long noncoding RNA in Zea mays.

Background Computational analysis of cDNA sequences from multiple organisms suggests that a large portion of transcribed DNA does not code for a functional protein. In mammals, noncoding transcription is abundant, and often results in functional RNA molecules that do not appear to encode proteins. Many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) appear to have epigenetic regulatory function in humans, including HOTAIR and XIST. While epigenetic gene regulation is clearly an essential mechanism in plants, relatively little is known about the presence or function of lncRNAs in plants.
Decentralized Management and School Finance.

per pupil in U.S. schools have been rising at substantially high rates (National Center for Education Statistics, 1992). Yet while education spending goes up, average student achievement does not. This article addresses this concern by making connections among school reform, school organization, and school finance. A premise of the article is that, in the future, achievement needs to rise much faster than resources if the nation is to attain the goal of high levels of cognitive achievement for all students. The first section discusses the nature of fund-
Acute neuroactive steroid withdrawal in withdrawal seizure-prone and withdrawal seizure-resistant mice.

Abstract Allopregnanolone (3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one) is an endogenously derived metabolite of progesterone, and a potent positive modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABA A ) receptors. A withdrawal syndrome, characterized by central nervous system (CNS) hyperexcitability, has been demonstrated following abrupt discontinuation of high progesterone levels in rats, which was due in part to altered levels of allopregnanolone. The purpose of the present study was to determine if a single administration of pregnanolone or allopregnanolone could produce an acute withdrawal response in mice selected for susceptibility (Withdrawal Seizure-Prone, WSP) or resistance (Withdrawal Seizure-Resistant, WSR) to ethanol withdrawal convulsions. WSP mice administered 75 mg/kg pregnanolone showed a significant increase in handling-induced convulsion (HIC) scores over a 25-h testing period. In contrast, HIC scores in WSR mice were negligible after acute administration of 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg pregnanolone. WSP mice also showed a similar increase in HIC after withdrawal from 75 mg/kg allopregnanolone. This effect was evident at both the 10-h and 25-h overall withdrawal severity assessment. These results demonstrate that neuroactive steroids can elicit an acute withdrawal response similar to that of other positive modulators of GABA A receptors in WSP mice, supporting the notion that a common set of genes underlie acute and chronic withdrawal severity from multiple agents with depressant effects on the central nervous system.
InGaAs/GaAsP/InGaP strain-compensated quantum well (λ=1.17 um) diode lasers on GaAs

In this paper, we will discuss the growth, material characterization and device studies of the highly strained InGaAs-QW on GaAs, operating at (lambda) equals 1.17 micrometers . Variations in structure and MOCVD growth conditions will be discussed. High performance, (lambda) equals 1.165 micrometers laser emission is achieved from InGaAs-QW/GaAsP strain-compensated single quantum well laser structures, with threshold current densities of 65 A/cm 2 for 1500-micrometers -cavity devices and transparency current densities of 50 A/cm 2 .
Cerebellectomy Eliminates the Motor Syndrome of the Genetically Dystonic Rat

The genetically dystonic (dt) rat is a neurological mutant that displays a movement disorder characterized by repetitive twisting movements of the trunk and limbs. Previous work has identified the cerebellum of the dt rat as a site of biochemical, metabolic, and functional abnormality. In order to test the hypothesis that a cerebellar defect is critical to the expression of the motor syndrome, groups of dt rats and phenotypically normal littermates underwent cerebellectomy (CBX) at either 15 or 20 days of age. The performance of these animals on a battery of motor tasks was compared with their preoperative performance. Age-matched unoperated rats of the same phenotype and a group of dt rats with lesions in the entopeduncular nuclei (ENTO) served as controls. In dt rats, CBX permanently eliminated all motor signs of the disease except pivoting movements without reducing overall levels of activity. In the dt rats, CBX also caused significant improvement in several tests of motor function. The ENTO group, however, showed an increase in motor signs and no improvement in motor function. The results of this study provide the first evidence that the abnormalities detected in the cerebellum of the dt rat are causally related to the motor syndrome and suggest that abnormal cerebellar output may contribute to the expression of motor signs in some human dystonias.
23.2 A 1.1nW energy harvesting system with 544pW quiescent power for next-generation implants

A wireless sensor that is powered from the endocochlear potential (EP), a 70-to-100mV bio-potential inside the mammalian ear, has been demonstrated in [1]. Due to the anatomical size and physiological constraints inside the ear, a maximum of 1.1 to 6.25nW can be extracted from the EP. The nanowatt power budget of the sensor gives rise to unique challenges with power conversion efficiency and quiescent current reduction in the power management unit (PMU). While [1] presents the system aspects of the biomedical harvesting including the biologic interface and system measurements, this work presents the details of the nanowatt PMU required to power the electronics. More specifically, it focuses on the low-power circuit design techniques needed to realize a nW power converter that is applicable to a broad spectrum of emerging biomedical applications with ultra-low energy-harvesting sources.
High capacity fine coal cleaning using an enhanced gravity concentrator

Abstract Recent research has shown that enhanced gravity separators provide the opportunity to effectively clean 1 mm x 37 micron coal. A detailed experimental program was performed on a continuous Falcon Concentrator, which was found to achieve separations at mass throughput capacity values in excess of 75 tonnes/hour. The apparent particle separation density for 1 mm x 75 micron coal was about 1.60 with relatively high efficiency ( Ep = 0.12). Typical ash and sulfur rejection values of 85% and 70%, respectively, were achieved while recovering 85% of the combustible material. Metallurgical and efficiency data from the evaluation are presented in this publication.
Involuntary Smoking in the Restaurant Workplace A Review of Employee Exposure and Health Effects

Objective. —To determine the relative exposure to environmental tobacco smoke for bar and restaurant employees compared with office employees and with nonsmokers exposed in the home (part 1) and to determine whether this exposure is contributing to an elevated lung cancer risk in these employees (part 2). Data Sources. —MEDLINE and bibliographies from identified publications. Study Selection. —In part 1, published studies of indoor air quality were included if they reported a mean concentration of carbon monoxide, nicotine, or particulate matter from measurements taken in one or more bars, restaurants, offices, or residences with at least one smoker. In part 2, published epidemiologic studies that reported a risk estimate for lung cancer incidence or mortality in food-service workers were included if they controlled, directly or indirectly, for active smoking. Data Extraction. —In part 1, a weighted average of the mean concentration of carbon monoxide, nicotine, and respirable suspended particulates reported in studies was calculated for bars, restaurants, offices, and residences. In part 2, the relative lung cancer risk for food-service workers compared with that for the general population was examined in the six identified studies. Data Synthesis. —Levels of environmental tobacco smoke in restaurants were approximately 1.6 to 2.0 times higher than in office workplaces of other businesses and 1.5 times higher than in residences with at least one smoker. Levels in bars were 3.9 to 6.1 times higher than in offices and 4.4 to 4.5 times higher than in residences. The epidemiologic evidence suggested that there may be a 50% increase in lung cancer risk among food-service workers that is in part attributable to tobacco smoke exposure in the workplace. Conclusions. —Environmental tobacco smoke is a significant occupational health hazard for food-service workers. To protect these workers, smoking in bars and restaurants should be prohibited. ( JAMA . 1993;270:490-493)
New method of preparation of acyl- and sulfonylsulfoximines. Ruthenium tetroxide oxidation of sulfilimines

Zur Oxidation der Acyl- und Sulfonylsulfoimine (I) wird als Oxidationsmittel Rutheniumtetroxid eingesetzt, das in situ aus (katalytischen Mengen) Rutheniumdioxid und Natriumperiodat hergestellt werden kann.
The Role of Culture in the Context of School-Based BMI Screening

The high prevalence of overweight and obesity is a significant public health concern in the United States. Minority populations are disproportionately affected, and the impact of obesity on minority children is especially alarming. In this article we discuss school-based BMI reporting, which is intended to increase parental awareness of their children's weight status. This information could potentially lead parents of overweight and obese children to carefully examine and possibly change their children's diet and activity patterns. However, any program related to child weight status must consider culturally defined aspects of body size and shape. In other words, the cultural context in which information on child BMI is presented to and received by parents must be considered. In this article we review parental perceptions of child weight. Multiple studies have shown that parents of overweight or obese children often fail to correctly perceive their children as overweight. Possible reasons for, and implications of, this misperception of child weight status among minority parents are then explored within a cultural framework. The PEN-3 model is used to examine influences on health behaviors and could help inform the development of a culturally sensitive BMI-notification program for minority parents. Reporting materials congruent with the social and cultural values and practices of the target audience are likely to maximize program effectiveness. A culturally based BMI-notification program should be conceptualized as a small step in a comprehensive plan to reduce childhood obesity and improve the current and future health of minority children.
Application of a three-tier framework to assess ecological condition of Gulf of Mexico coastal wetlands

A multi-level coastal wetland assessment strategy was applied to wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to evaluate the feasibility of this approach for a broad national scale wetland condition assessment (US Environmental Protection Agency’s National Wetlands Condition Assessment). Landscape-scale assessment indicators (tier 1) were developed and applied at the sub-watershed (12-digit hydrologic unit code (HUC)) level within the GOM coastal wetland sample frame with scores calculated using land-use maps and geographic information system. Rapid assessment protocols (tier 2), using a combination of data analysis and field work, evaluated metrics associated with landscape context, hydrology, physical structure, and biological structure. Intensive site monitoring (tier 3) included measures of soil chemistry and composition, water column and pore-water chemistry, and dominant macrophyte community composition and tissue chemistry. Relationships within and among assessment levels were evaluated using multivariate analyses with few significant correlations found. More detailed measures of hydrology, soils, and macrophyte species composition from sites across a known condition gradient, in conjunction with validation of standardized rapid assessment method, may be necessary to fully characterize coastal wetlands across the region.
Napping promotes inter-session habituation to emotional stimuli

The effects of a daytime nap on inter-session habituation to aversive visual stimuli were investigated. Healthy young adult volunteers viewed repeated presentations of highly negative and emotionally neutral (but equally arousing) International Affective Picture System (IAPS) photographs during two afternoon sessions separated by 2.5 hrs. Half of the photographs were shown at both sessions (Repeated Sets) and half differed between sessions (Novel Sets). For each stimulus presentation, evoked skin conductance response (SCR), heart rate deceleration (HRD) and corrugator supercilii EMG response (EMG), were computed and range corrected using respective maximum session-1 responses. Following each presentation, subjects rated each photograph on dimensions of pleasantness and arousability. During the inter-session interval, Nap subjects had a 120-min polysomnographically monitored sleep opportunity, whereas Wake subjects watched a non-stimulating video. Nap and Wake subjects did not differ in their subjective ratings of photographs. However, for Repeated-Set photographs, Nap subjects demonstrated greater inter-session habituation in SCR and EMG but a trend toward lesser inter-session habituation in HRD. These group differences were absent for Novel-Set photographs. Group differences across all measures were greater for negative stimuli. Occurrence of SWS during the nap was associated with greater inter-session habituation of EMG whereas occurrence of REM was associated with lesser inter-session habituation of SCR to negative stimuli. Sleep may therefore promote emotional adjustment at the level of somatic responses. Physiological but not subjective inter-session habituation to aversive images was enhanced by a daytime nap.
Using Live Supervision in Field Education: Preparing Social Work Students for Clinical Practice

This article presents a qualitative study exploring respondents’ perceptions of live supervision as the primary field instruction method for MSW students participating in an internship that emphasi...
The evolutionary neuroscience of musical beat perception: the Action Simulation for Auditory Prediction (ASAP) hypothesis

Every human culture has some form of music with a beat: a perceived periodic pulse that structures the perception of musical rhythm and which serves as a framework for synchronized movement to music. What are the neural mechanisms of musical beat perception, and how did they evolve? One view, which dates back to Darwin and implicitly informs some current models of beat perception, is that the relevant neural mechanisms are relatively general and are widespread among animal species. On the basis of recent neural and cross-species data on musical beat processing, this paper argues for a different view. Here we argue that beat perception is a complex brain function involving temporally-precise communication between auditory regions and motor planning regions of the cortex (even in the absence of overt movement). More specifically, we propose that simulation of periodic movement in motor planning regions provides a neural signal that helps the auditory system predict the timing of upcoming beats. This “action simulation for auditory prediction” (ASAP) hypothesis leads to testable predictions. We further suggest that ASAP relies on dorsal auditory pathway connections between auditory regions and motor planning regions via the parietal cortex, and suggest that these connections may be stronger in humans than in nonhuman primates due to the evolution of vocal learning in our lineage. This suggestion motivates cross-species research to determine which species are capable of human-like beat perception, i.e., beat perception that involves accurate temporal prediction of beat times across a fairly broad range of tempi.
An example in the dimension theory of metrizable spaces

Abstract A dense G δ (completely) metrizable subspace Z of ω ω 1 is described which satisfies Ind( Z ) = 1 while (trivially) ind( Z ) = 0. Necessarily, Z has weight equal to ℵ 1 . Furthermore, it is shown that if C is a separable closed subspace of Z , and K is any other closed subspace of Z disjoint from C , then there is a clopen set O with C ⊂ O ⊂ Z ⧹ K .
Amino acid transport in peripheral nerve: energy and sodium dependence.

— The energy and sodium dependence of the several carrier-mediated mechanisms for amino acid uptake have been studied in frog sciatic nerve. The different transport mechanisms are found to be variable in their dependence on sodium and metabolic energy. Saturable uptakes of lysine, phenylalanine and valine are relatively independent of the presence or absence of sodium in the incubation medium, indicating that uptakes by those mechanisms subserving basic, large neutral amino acids, and those amino acids containing aromatic or heterocyclic ring structures are largely sodium independent. Saturable uptakes of glutamic acid, proline, glycine and β-alanine are considerably reduced in the absence of sodium; thus carrier mechanisms for uptake of acidic, small neutral amino acids, β-alanine and proline are highly sodium dependent. The efficacies of several cations in substituting for sodium is variable; greatest inhibitions are found when potassium is used to replace sodium. With the exception of proline, those mechanisms found to be sodium dependent are also found to be energy dependent, since they are inhibited by both DNP and lowered temperature. Although proline uptake is sodium dependent, proline uptake is stimulated by DNP and relatively insensitive to lowered temperature.