cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of the College Student Reasons for Living Inventory

Two studies were carried out in an effort to develop and evaluate an instrument designed to assess suicidal risk in college students. Study 1 describes the development of the College Student Reasons for Living Inventory (CSRLI), an instrument that measures the extent to which college students place importance on various reasons for living even when contemplating suicide. The impetus for the current study was provided by Linehan et al., who in 1983 developed the Reasons for Living Inventory for use with adults. In the current study college students generated a series of 84 "reasons for living" items, which were reduced through factor analysis to a final inventory of 46 items. Six factors were extracted as follows: Survival and Coping Beliefs, College and Future-Related Concerns, Moral Objections, Responsibility to Friends and Family, Fear of Suicide, and Fear of Social Disapproval. Five of these factors reflect the same basic themes contained in the Linehan et al. (1983) study. The sixth factor (College and Future-Related Concerns) appears to be unique to college students. Linehan et al.'s Child-Related Concerns factor expectedly did not appear in this college sample. In Study 2 initial evaluation of the CSRLI was carried out through the use of correlational, confirmatory factor, and discriminant analyses. Results indicate that the CSRLI holds promise as an instrument to predict suicidal risk among college students.
The effects of TV program pacing on the behavior of preschool children

Most discussion and research concerning the effects of television on young children have centered on the impact of specific program content on social or cognitive behavior. There has been considerably less concern about the effects of watching television per se. Recently, however, a number of critics have been concerned with a structural aspect of the medium itself--program pacing. T. Berry Brazelton, the noted pediatrician, is foremost among the critics: "The disintegration of ego mechanisms which one sees in [the child's] hypersensitivity and in the screaming, thrashing, disorganized hyperactivity which ensues after a period of television watching in most children is evidence of the cost of such a period" (quoted by McDaniel, 1972). Sabin (1972) cites Brazelton in asserting "that television assailed young viewers with exhausting stimuli akin to the sounds, fears and tensions that have gradually killed prisoners in concentration camps." Brazelton is not alone in his concern: "To give a child 30 seconds of one thing and then to switch it and give him 30 seconds of another is to nurture irrelevance and to give reinforcement to a type of intellectual process that can never engage in sustained and developed thought" (Culhane, 1970).
The Relationship Between Gender and Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Homosexuality at a Conservative Christian University

This research looked at the relationships and differences between sex and race as it relates to religious fundamentalism, attitudes, and comfortability toward homosexuality. Patterns in previous research have shown that men and women do differ in their attitudes toward homosexuals. This study proposed that heterosexual men will show a significantly more negative attitude toward homosexuality than women. A strong relationship was found between religious fundamentalism and negative attitudes toward homosexuality (r = .67). Both heterosexual men and women were more comfortable with heterosexual situations than homosexual situations. However, men were more comfortable with lesbian situations and women were more comfortable with gay situations. Concerning race, Black men versus Black women had more significant differences in various proposed situations than White men versus White women.
A Raman spectroscopic study of the morphological structure of the polyethylenes

The method described by Strobl and Hagedorn to analyze the Raman spectrum internal modes of semi-crystalline polyethylene has been applied to a set of selected polyethylene samples crystallized under controlled conditions. The crystallite structure can be described in terms of the relative amounts of the crystalline orthorhombic phase, the liquid-like amorphous phase and the interfacial region. The dependence of the level of crystallinity on molecular weight and crystallization conditions is very similar to that found by other methods. However, this method allows for the quantitative determination of the interfacial content which becomes significant for molecular weights greater than about 1×105 for linear polyethylene fractions, and for all the branched samples and copolymers. The degree of crystallinity determined from density measurements is equal to the sum of the crystallinity and interfacial content obtained from the Raman analysis while enthalpy of fusion measurements yield values which are equal to just the crystallinity content. The difference between the level of crystallinity obtained from density and enthalpy of fusion is thus found to be primarily due to interfacial contributions.
Quantum effects in Kaluza-Klein theories

The phenomenon of dimensional reduction in quantum theories of gravity is studied. In the five-dimensional Kaluza-Klein model, the one-loop effective potential as a function of ${g}_{55}$ is computed. When the distance around the fifth dimension is larger than the Planck length, the loop expansion is reliable. The result leads to a force tending to make the fifth dimension contract to a size on the order of the Planck length. This can be interpreted as a gravitational version of the Casimir effect in electrodynamics.
Adaptive modal control of structural dynamic systems using recursivelattice filters

This paper describes the way in which a parameter identification scheme can be interfaced with a modal control scheme in order to achieve adaptive control of structural dynamic systems. The identification scheme is based on recursive least square lattice filters and the control scheme is a modal pole placement technique for vibration suppression. To achieve stable adaptive control and meet performance requirements, the identification and control schemes must be properly interfaced. This has been done by analyzing the control law to determine the range of parameter errors that will result in stability and acceptable performance. This information is used to determine the requirements for accuracy of an on-line parameter identification scheme. The general philosophy considers the testing of the suitability of the identified parameters for control system design. The tests consist of checking the fit error, convergence of the parameters, and the signal-to-noise level in the measurement data. After all the tests are passed, the new parameters are used to modify the control system feedback gains and the control forces are applied. This paper presents a detailed description of the test procedures and their application to the simulations of closed-loop adaptive control for the 12-ft, free-free beam apparatus at NASA Langley Research Center.
Study of Nuclear-Magnetic-Resonance Line Shapes in Solid H 2

A detailed study of the NMR line shapes in solid ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ has been carried out. The ortho-${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ concentration $c$ was between 0.09 and 0.95, and the temperature ranged from $T=0.5 \mathrm{to} 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K. In the hcp phase, a systematic compilation of the second and fourth moments as a function of $c$ and $T$ was made. In the cubic phase the splitting of the doublet structure was measured as a function of temperature. From an extrapolation of the measurements in the hcp phase to the limiting case of pure ortho-${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, it is concluded that in the temperature region where thermal diffusion is unimportant, the second and fourth moments are independent of temperature, their values being, respectively, 80\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 k${\mathrm{Hz}}^{2}$ and (14.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{3}$ k${\mathrm{Hz}}^{4}$. The contribution to the second moment from intermolecular nuclear dipole interactions (this is the second moment extrapolated to $T=\ensuremath{\infty}$) is obtained as a function of orthoconcentration and is compared with theoretical predictions. Good agreement is found if one takes into account the correlation between nearest ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ neighbors, an effect that decreases the average value $〈{R}^{\ensuremath{-}3}〉$, where $R$ is the distance between nearest neighbors. Experiments with $0.64lcl0.74$ indicate that, as the temperature is increased, the rotational ordering in the cubic phase disappears at almost the same temperature as does the last evidence of this phase. Extrapolation of this result to pure ortho-${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ indicates that the rotational ordering disappears at about 3.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. No evidence of a transition to a rotationally ordered phase is observed at concentrations below $c=0.60$. This would indicate that the critical ordering concentration is approximately ${c}_{\mathrm{crit}}=0.6$, which is much higher than anticipated for theoretical models of cubic ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. For the concentration of $c=0.71$, the cubic-to-hcp transition is followed by plotting the ratio of the intensity of the nearly Gaussian line (representing the signal from the hcp phase) to the total intensity. This ratio is compared with the results from x-ray measurements. The present data are discussed in connection with entropy results and the theory of rotational ordering in this phase. The doublet splitting in the cubic phase, extrapolated to $T=0$, has been obtained as a function of orthoconcentration $c$ and has been found to decrease slightly with $c$, which is in qualitative agreement with theoretical expectations.
Integrin β3 Haploinsufficiency Modulates Serotonin Transport and Antidepressant-Sensitive Behavior in Mice

Converging lines of evidence have identified genetic interactions between the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene and ITGB3, which encodes the β3 subunit that forms the αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 integrin receptor complexes. Here we examine the consequences of haploinsufficiency in the mouse integrin β3 subunit gene (Itgb3) on SERT function and selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) effectiveness in vivo. Biochemical fractionation studies and immunofluorescent staining of murine brain slices reveal that αvβ3 receptors and SERTs are enriched in presynaptic membranes from several brain regions and that αvβ3 colocalizes with a subpopulation of SERT-containing synapses in raphe nuclei. Notably, we establish that loss of a single allele of Itgb3 in murine neurons is sufficient to decrease 5-HT uptake by SERT in midbrain synaptosomes. Pharmacological assays to elucidate the αvβ3-mediated mechanism of reduced SERT function indicate that decreased integrin β3 subunit expression scales down the population size of active SERT molecules and, as a consequence, lowers the effective dose of SSRIs. These data are consistent with the existence of a subpopulation of SERTs that are tightly modulated by integrin αvβ3 and significantly contribute to global SERT function at 5-HT synapses in the midbrain. Importantly, our screen of a normal human population for single nucleotide polymorphisms in human ITGB3 identified a variant associated with reductions in integrin β3 expression levels that parallel our mouse findings. Thus, polymorphisms in human ITGB3 may contribute to the differential responsiveness of select patients to SSRIs.
Participant-centered adaptations in caregiver trials: strategies for managing confounds.

Background Randomized trials have been criticized for being more protocol than participant-centered, with concerns raised about higher subject attrition and limited generalizability under controlled conditions. Informal caregivers are similar to other participants in community-based trials: many are unlikely to remain in a trial without procedural adaptations to meet some of their needs. Purpose This article discusses design and statistical strategies for tracking potential confounds associated with 3 participant-centered adaptations that may be made in community-based caregiver trials: tailoring multi-component interventions, using interpersonal contacts for participant maintenance, and non-blinding of trial participants. The intent of the article is to initiate dialogue on the seldom-discussed issue of participant-centered adaptations in community-based trials. Conclusions Participant-centered adaptations may reduce subject attrition and enhance generalizability, but protocol adaptation can compromise trial integrity. The challenge for investigators is to develop scientifically sound methods for tracking / controlling potential confounds associated with each adaptation.
The political economy of dilatory reform: Egypt in the 1980s

Abstract The paper explores the political economy of Egypt's failure to implement policy reforms during the 1980s despite mounting problems of international indebtedness, macroeconomics imbalances, microdistortions, lack of employment creation, and the need for poverty alleviation. After reviewing the size and origins of these problems, the causes of reform failure are analyzed. These causes lie in domestic blockages, particularly the role of interest groups, and especially in “strategic rents”: the Egyptian government's skillful exploitation of its political role in the region to extract unique favors from the United States and, with US influence, from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The paper concludes with an interpretation of the May 1991 agreement with the IMF reached after the Gulf war.
Correlations for transport coefficients in textile fiber spinning

The Chilton−Colburn j-factor is used to analyze the relation between published drag and heat-transfer correlations in fiber spinning, and a proposal of consistent correlations for transport coefficients is presented.
Weaving the web: Using the world wide web in library acquisitions

Cet article etudie l'utilisation du World Wide Web pour les acquisitions des bibliotheques. Des exemples d'utilisations sont presentes de facon a presenter les differentes fonctions du WWW pour ce travail d'acquistion. De plus les consequences de cette methode d'acquisition sur l'activite professionnelle du bibliothecaire specialise dans les acquisitions sont discutees
Iodophilic polysaccharide synthesis by human and rodent oral bacteria.

Abstract The majority of the cultivable bacteria present in dental plaque possess the potential to form iodine-staining polysaccharide. Streptococci, diphtheroids, fusobacteria and Bacteroides produced abundant amounts of polysaccharide, whereas Veillonella , anaerobic streptococci, Vibro sputorum and lactobacilli formed little to none. Cultures of each of three hamster streptococci known to be non-cariogenic consisted of mixtures of strong and non-polysaccharide producing types. Sub-cultures of each polysaccharide type continued to give rise to mixtures of strong and non-polysaccharide producing cells. Five of six cariogenic rodent streptococci uniformly and consistently formed abundant amounts of polysaccharide and no polysaccharide negative variants were observed. Variation of polysaccharide production was found to occur in vivo by non-cariogenic streptococci, but not by cariogenic streptococci. Sixty per cent of the cultivable bacteria from human carious lesions were found to be strong polysaccharide producers, while only 13% of those from caries-inactive plaque were strong producers. After prolonged incubation only 6 of 95 streptococcal strains derived from carious debris gave rise to negative variants, whereas 40 of 44 strains from caries-inactive plaque formed negative variants.
Patient Perspectives on Criminal Prosecutions of Pain Management Practitioners

The profound effect of the filing of criminal drug trafficking charges against health professionals on the patients are described. Two high profile cases in which a physician, Frank Fisher, and a pharmacist, Stephen Miller, were prosecuted for providing opioid analgesics for pain patients are described. The patients' personal perspectives on their being labeled as drug abusers for using prescribed analgesics that improved their quality of life and the way in which other health professionals and society related to them are described. In spite of the fact that the charges were dismissed, lasting harm to the professionals, their patients and society resulted from this prosecution.
Continuous slurry hydrogenation of soybean oil with nickel catalysts

Soybean oil was hydrogenated continuously in the presence of nickel catalysts. The iodine value of the products was varied by changing the oil flow rate and temperature of the reaction. Sulfur-promoted nickel catalyst increased the selectivity for linolenate hydrogenation, but formed much higher proportions oftrans isomers. Linoleate selectivity improved with temperature with both nickel and sulfur-promoted nickel catalysts, buttrans isomerization also increased. The feasibility of this continuous reactor system was demonstrated as a practical means to prepare hydrogenated stocks of desired composition and physical characteristics at high throughput.
Landcover predicts isolation in Ambystoma salamanders across region and species

Anthropogenic modification of the landscape can have important consequences for dispersal of terrestrial organisms. If certain landcover types consistently act as barriers to movement, their occurrence could serve as a proxy for population isolation. We tested the fit of a general a priori landcover model on genetically-inferred isolation in ambystomatid salamander species. The landcover model included terms for pond size, geographic isolation, and amount of surrounding agriculture. In all cases, agriculture was associated with increased population isolation, while deciduous forest was almost always associated with decreased isolation. The full model described over 70% of the variation in a genetically-inferred measure of isolation in the system for which it was developed, and 30-45% of variation in novel systems. We suggest that landscape analyses can serve as a proxy for population isolation in ambystomatid salamanders. Our findings suggest that preserving well-forested regions without substantial agriculture will protect salamanders through increased population connectivity. These results have important implications for conservation, as genetic analyses are costly and time-consuming, and decisions to purchase or preserve land must often occur quickly.
Estimating the Query Difficulty for Information Retrieval

Many information retrieval (IR) systems suffer from a radical variance in performance when responding to users' queries. Even for systems that succeed very well on average, the quality of results returned for some of the queries is poor. Thus, it is desirable that IR systems will be able to identify "difficult" queries in order to handle them properly. Understanding why some queries are inherently more difficult than others is essential for IR, and a good answer to this important question will help search engines to reduce the variance in performance, hence better servicing their customer needs. The high variability in query performance has driven a new research direction in the IR field on estimating the expected quality of the search results, i.e. the query difficulty, when no relevance feedback is given. Estimating the query difficulty is a significant challenge due to the numerous factors that impact retrieval performance. Many prediction methods have been proposed recently. However, as many researchers observed, the prediction quality of state-of-the-art predictors is still too low to be widely used by IR applications. The low prediction quality is due to the complexity of the task, which involves factors such as query ambiguity, missing content, and vocabulary mismatch. The goal of this tutorial is to expose participants to the current research on query performance prediction (also known as query difficulty estimation). Participants will become familiar with states-of-the-art performance prediction methods, and with common evaluation methodologies for prediction quality. We will discuss the reasons that cause search engines to fail for some of the queries, and provide an overview of several approaches for estimating query difficulty. We then describe common methodologies for evaluating the prediction quality of those estimators, and some experiments conducted recently with their prediction quality, as measured over several TREC benchmarks. We will cover a few potential applications that can utilize query difficulty estimators by handling each query individually and selectively based on its estimated difficulty. Finally we will summarize with a discussion on open issues and challenges in the field.
Temperature and time-resolved total internal reflectance fluorescence analysis of reusable DNA hydrogel chips.

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) coupled with hydrogel−DNA droplet microarrays covalently bound on PMMA substrates presents a reusable, sensitive platform for evaluating DNA hybridization and for rapid biochip development. Hydrogel microarrays, which contain covalently bound DNA probes, are created via a simple printing and photocross-linking process. TIRF measurements of the arrays display robust reusability, show linear sensitivity down to 5 fmol of fluorescently labeled target DNA, and are sensitive to single basepair mismatches. Additionally, the ability to interrogate larger DNA is shown through studies with PCR amplification hybridization. We conclusively demonstrate an efficient, reproducible, low cost platform for DNA hybridization studies that could be used for fast high-throughput diagnostics as well as biochip development.
Experimental Gingivitis in the Albino Hamster

Chronic gingivitis is an inflammatory disorder of the gingiva. Past investigations have demonstrated that microbial plaque lying adjacent to the host's gingival tissues is the primary etiologic factor, initiating gingival inflammation and the ensuing periodontal disease.1 A table of the normal human oral flora is given in Table I. Much of the research concerned with periodontal disease has depended upon the use of experimental animals, especially rodents. The model of choice in this study, the albino hamster, has been successfully used in periodontal studies2,3 (see Table II). Numerous studies have implicated various strains of Actinomyces as primary etiologic agents in gingivitis and Periodontitis 3-5 (see Table II). In addition, specific antibody activity against Actinomyces naeslundii, A. israelii, A. viscosus, and Streptococcus mutans has been demonstrated in the gingiva of patients with chronic periodontal disease by use of the fluorescent antibody technique.6 The fluorescent antibody technique, used in this study, has provided rapid and specific identification of several Actinomyces species, including A. naeslundii, both in clinical material and isolated in pure culture.7,8 That specific serum antibodies are produced in patients with periodontal disease has been documented.9"12 Further, both immediate hypersensitivity to Actinomyces and the presence of serum antibodies in humans has been reported.10"12 The antigenic activity of cell portions of A. naeslundii has been demonstrated.13 The purpose of this investigation is to demonstrate an induction of specific antibody activity against A. naeslundii in albino hamsters resulting from an oral administration of this organism to these animals experimentally. The role of A. naeslundii in the initiation of experimental gingivitis in these animals will also be investigated.
Sedimentary processes in the inner New York Bight: Evidence from excess210Pb and239,240Pu

Abstract Particle-reactive radionuclides were determined in sediments from the inner New York Bight to trace transport and storage of fine-grained sediments and associated reactive materials. Seven sediment ☐ cores 20–50 cm in length were analyzed for water content, loss on ignition (LOI) and excess 210 Pb; three of these were also analyzed for 239,240 Pu. Excepting some depth horizons in a core from a dredge-spoil dumpsite, every sample analyzed contained excess 210 Pb. Variations in the concentration of excess 210 Pb with depth in the sediment at all stations correlated strongly with LOI, which apparently traces that fraction of the sediment which is active in removing reactive elements from the water column. In the cores analyzed for 239,240 Pu, every sample contained finite Pu, and Pu concentrations correlated strongly with excess 210 Pb. The radionuclide distributions may be simply viewed as products of steady-state sediment accumulation or of mixing. Geochemically reasonable accumulation rates are very high (0.5–2.6 g/cm 2 y) and could probably only be sustained by offshore transport of dumped materials. At the other extreme the relationships between excess 210 Pb and LOI are compatible with rapid mixing of a 210 Pb carrier phase (traced by LOI) into the pre-existing substrate with little or no actual accumulation. Other non-steady-state processes, such as sediment gravity flow, could also explain the observed distributions. Measured sediment inventories (dpm/cm 2 ) of excess 210 Pb and Pu at these stations are greatly in excess of those supportable by direct atmospheric deposition: lateral supply is required. Incorporation of sedimentary fines into the sand substrate could make the inner New York Bight an important repository of reactive materials.
Impact of Nicotine Metabolism on Nicotine's Pharmacological Effects and Behavioral Responses: Insights from a Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null Mouse

Nicotine metabolism is believed to affect not only nicotine’s pharmacological effects but also nicotine addiction. As a key step toward testing this hypothesis, we have studied nicotine metabolism and nicotine’s pharmacological and behavioral effects in a novel knockout mouse model [named Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null] lacking a number of cytochrome P450 genes known to be or possibly involved in nicotine metabolism, including two Cyp2a and all Cyp2b genes. We found that, compared with wild-type mice, the Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null mice showed >90% decreases in hepatic microsomal nicotine oxidase activity in vitro, and in rates of systemic nicotine clearance in vivo. Further comparisons of nicotine metabolism between Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null and Cyp2a5-null mice revealed significant roles of both CYP2A5 and CYP2B enzymes in nicotine clearance. Compared with the behavioral responses in wild-type mice, the decreases in nicotine metabolism in the Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null mice led to prolonged nicotine-induced acute pharmacological effects, in that null mice showed enhanced nicotine hypothermia and antinociception. Furthermore, we found that the Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null mice developed a preference for nicotine in a conditioned place preference test, a commonly used test of nicotine’s rewarding effects, at a nicotine dose that was 4-fold lower than what was required by wild-type mice. Thus, CYP2A/2B-catalyzed nicotine clearance affects nicotine’s behavioral response as well as its acute pharmacological effects in mice. This result provides direct experimental support of the findings of pharmacogenetic studies that suggest linkage between rates of nicotine metabolism and smoking behavior in humans.
Rhetoric and religion in the 1984 campaign

Abstract This study analyzes the ways in which the issue (or issues) of religion and politics were shaped during the 1984 campaign partially by the exigencies of political rhetoric and partially by the logic of the problem itself. The form in which the issue(s) of religion and politics came into view is traced in four addresses: one each by President Reagan, Walter Mondale, Senator Edward Kennedy, and Governor Mario Cuomo. One premise of this study is that such political speeches are in some sense and to some extent rational discourse aimed at persuading the unpersuaded that the speakers’ moral, political, and constitutional perceptions are cognitively superior to opposing perceptions. The author finds two substantive issues in the argument: the “toleration/church and state” issue and the “relation of Catholic moral principles and public policy” issue. The manner in which the speakers defend their position on these issues is explicated so as to reveal the strengths and weaknesses in each speaker's formula...
THE THEORY OF IRREGULAR WAVEGUIDES AND OPEN RESONATORS

Variational techniques are exploited to develop systematic approximations to the electromagnetic fields in beam-carrying irregular waveguides and open resonators containing dielectric and magnetic materials. For an axisymmetric system the simplest, so-called single mode approximation, requires only the numerical solution of a second order ordinary differential equation. Comparison of the results with numerical solutions of the governing partial differential equation indicates that the approximation is good. Higher order approximate descriptions are derived, and the so-called double mode approximation is shown to be very good indeed. The general theory is presented for the case of linear waveguides of arbitrary cross section joined by a section of arbitrary shape.
Identification of consensus epitope structures expressed in recombinant DNA libraries.

Abstract In the course of screening cDNA expression libraries with a monospecific polyclonal antibody to topoisomerase I, we isolated three different immunopositive cDNA clones. By comparing their derived amino acid sequences, a consensus region of similarity in otherwise completely dissimilar sequences was identified as an epitope. The approach described here should identify both continuous and discontinuous topological epitopes. The probability of occurrence of “spurious” immunopositive clones is shown to depend on the number of codons of each critical amino acid within the antigenic determinant.
Evaluation of two finite element formulations for one-dimensional consolidation

Abstract Two finite element formulations involving use of linear and cubic approximating models for solution of one-dimensional deformations in porous elastic soil media are compared. Such factors as accuracy, stability, and computational effort that affect the selection of a solution scheme for practical applications are examined. The most suitable scheme is used for analysis of consolidation phenomenon in multilayered soil systems. Comparisons are obtained between the numerical solutions, laboratory experiments, and closed form solutions.
Sexual Maturity and Fecundity in Brown Trout of the Platte River, Michigan

Abstract Sexual maturity in brown trout (Salmo trutta) of the Platte River begins in males when they are between 177 and 202 mm in length, and in females essentially when they are between 202 and 228 mm. At these sizes, incidence of maturity in the two sexes is the same, 35%. At age I, 32% of the males and 16% of the females are mature. Incidence is virtually 100% in males when they reach 253 mm or age III, and 100% in females at 304 mm or age IV. In the length range of 202–354 mm, the average number of eggs produced per female trout ranges from 241 to 936. The largest number found among 89 fish (202–472 mm) was 2,419. Although fecundity varies widely between individuals of similar size and identical age, it is, as a whole, positively correlated with both size and age. The formula for regression of egg number, N, on the length is: N = 7.3 (total length, mm) - 1,498.8. The formula for egg number by age is: N = 353.3 (age group) - 155.7. Size of eggs also varies considerably between individual fish, but lik...
Spectroscopically Determined Force Fields for Macromolecules. 2. Saturated Hydrocarbon Chains

Our methodology for producing a spectroscopically determined force field (SDFF) (i.e., a molecular mechanics energy function) that, in addition to structures and relative energies, reproduces vibrational frequencies to spectroscopic standards, has been extended from its previous implementation on the linear to include branched saturated hydrocarbon chains. To the ab initio force fields of the 14 stable conformers of n-pentane and n-hexane, we have now added those of the 7 stable conformers of isopentane, 3-methylpentane, and neopentane, plus specific force constants from a secondary set of branched molecules, to optimize the parameters of the SDFF. This SDFF reproduces 791 ab initio non-CH stretch frequencies with a root-mean-square deviation of 6.2 cm-1. When applied to other molecules not in the optimization set, viz., cyclobutane, cyclohexane, isobutane, tri-tert-butylmethane, and tetra-tert-butylmethane, not only are ab initio as well as experimental geometries and frequencies well reproduced, but the...
THE VALIDITY OF CHRONIC HEPATIC BLOOD FLOW MEASUREMENTS OBTAINED BY THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOW METER.

Summary Techniques of long term implantation of electromagnetic flow sensors on the canine ascending aorta, thoracic inferior vena cava, hepatic artery, superior mesenteric artery and portal vein are presented, with a method of obtaining zero flow in the vessels being monitored. Technical problems are discussed and solutions outlined. Hepatic blood flow was measured for periods up to 19 days in the unanesthetized animals. EHBF obtained by the BSP method through implanted catheters correlated well with values for hepatic blood flow obtained by the flow meter. Instantaneous cardiac output may be followed simultaneously with hepatic blood flow in the preparations described.
Choreographing Metastasis to the Tune of LTBP

Latent Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ) Binding Proteins (LTBPs) are chaperones and determinants of TGFβ isoform-specific secretion. They belong to the LTBP/Fibrillin family and form integral components of the fibronectin and microfibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM). LTBPs serve as master regulators of TGFβ bioavailability, functioning to incorporate and spatially pattern latent TGFβ at regular intervals within the ECM, and actively participate in integrin-mediated stretch activation of TGFβ in vivo. In so doing they create a highly patterned sensory system where local changes in ECM tension can be detected and transduced into focal signals. The physiological role of LTBPs in the mammary gland remains largely unstudied, however both loss and gain of LTBP expression is found in breast cancers and breast cancer cell lines. Importantly, elevated LTBP1 levels appear in two gene signatures predictive of enhanced metastatic behavior. LTBP may promote metastasis by providing the bridge between structural and signaling components of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Autocrine transformation by chimeric signal peptide-basic fibroblast growth factor: reversal by suramin.

Abstract NIH 3T3 cells transfected with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) fused to an immunoglobulin signal peptide sequence are transformed in vitro and tumorigenic in vivo. The transformed phenotype of chimeric signal peptide-bFGF (spbFGF) cells is characterized by an enhanced proliferation rate compared to parental NIH 3T3 cells, density- and anchorage-independent growth, a transformed morphology, and lack of cell adhesion. The rate of spbFGF cell proliferation is not diminished by anti-bFGF neutralizing antibodies. 125I-labeled bFGF receptor cross-linking and binding studies suggest that surface FGF receptors in spbFGF cells are unavailable and down-regulated. The FGF receptors are also down-regulated in K-fgf-transformed cells but not in parental 3T3, native bFGF-transfected, and ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. The addition of suramin to spbFGF and K-fgf cells rapidly promotes the up-regulation of FGF receptors. Suramin also induces lowering of the proliferation rate to that of parental cells, anchorage-dependent growth, assembly of cytoskeletal filaments, cellular adhesion, and spreading. These results suggest that spbFGF cells undergo autocrine transformation, possibly by an internal autocrine loop, in which there is constitutive activation of the FGF receptor. Suramin inhibits autocrine transformation, leading to a normal untransformed phenotype.
Optimal Contracts in a Continuous-Time Delegated Portfolio Management Problem

This article studies the contracting problem between an individual investor and a professional portfolio manager in a continuous-time principal-agent framework. Optimal contracts are obtained in closed form. These contracts are of a symmetric form and suggest that a portfolio manager should receive a fixed fee, a fraction of the total assets under management, plus a bonus or a penalty depending upon the portfolio’s excess return relative to a benchmark portfolio. The appropriate benchmark portfolio is an active index that contains risky assets where the number of shares invested in each asset can vary over time, rather than a passive index in which the number of shares invested in each asset remains constant over time. Fund managers’ compensation schemes in a delegated portfolio management setting have been of special interest to both academics and practitioners. Academic interest stems in part from the rapid growth of managed funds over the last two decades. Gompers and Metrick (1998) report that by December 1996, mutual funds, pension funds, and other financial intermediaries held discretional control over more than half of the U.S. equity market. It is thus of importance to study the impact of institutional trading on asset prices and to integrate into one model both asset pricing and delegated portfolio management compensation, as advocated by Brennan (1993), Allen and Santomero (1997), and Allen (2001). It is also important to understand the relationship between a manager’s trading strategies and his implicit incentives or career concerns [see, e.g., Brown, Harlow, and Starks (1996), Brown, Goetzmann, and Park (1997), Chevalier and Ellison (1999), and Chen and Pennacchi (2000)]. These concerns include internal promotion from a small to a large fund, higher outside offers, and the flow of money through the fund under management. 1 The importance of fund manager compensation is also underscored by Congressional passage in 1970 of the Amendment to
taveRNA: a web suite for RNA algorithms and applications

We present taveRNA, a web server package that hosts three RNA web services: alteRNA, inteRNA and pRuNA. alteRNA is a new alternative for RNA secondary structure prediction. It is based on a dynamic programming solution that minimizes the sum of energy density and free energy of an RNA structure. inteRNA is the first RNA–RNA interaction structure prediction web service. It also employs a dynamic programming algorithm to minimize the free energy of the resulting joint structure of the two interacting RNAs. Lastly, pRuNA is an efficient database pruning service; which given a query RNA, eliminates a significant portion of an ncRNA database and returns only a few ncRNAs as potential regulators. taveRNA is available at http://compbio.cs.sfu.ca/taverna.
Minimization of Parathyroid Hormone: NOVEL AMINO-TERMINAL PARATHYROID HORMONE FRAGMENTS WITH ENHANCED POTENCY IN ACTIVATING THE TYPE-1 PARATHYROID HORMONE RECEPTOR

Abstract The amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal portions of the 1–34 fragment of parathyroid hormone (PTH) contain the major determinants of receptor activation and receptor binding, respectively. We investigated how the amino-terminal signaling portion of PTH interacts with the receptor by utilizing analogs of the weakly active fragment, rat (r) PTH(1–14)NH2, and cells transfected with the wild-type human PTH-1 receptor (hP1R-WT) or a truncated PTH-1 receptor which lacked most of the amino-terminal extracellular domain (hP1R-delNt). Of 132 mono-substituted PTH(1–14) analogs, most having substitutions in the (1-9) region were inactive in assays of cAMP formation in LLC-PK1 cells stably expressing hP1R-WT, whereas most having substitutions in the (10-14) region were active. Several substitutions (e.g.Ser3 → Ala, Asn10 → Ala or Gln, Leu11 → Arg, Gly12 → Ala, His14→ Trp) enhanced activity 2–10-fold. These effects were additive, as [Ala3,10,12,Arg11,Trp14] rPTH(1–14)NH2 was 220-fold more potent than rPTH(1–14)NH2 (EC50 = 0.6 ± 0.1 and 133 ± 16 μm, respectively). Native rPTH(1–11) was inactive, but [Ala3,10,Arg11]rPTH(1–11)NH2achieved maximal cAMP stimulation (EC50 = 17 μm). The modified PTH fragments induced cAMP formation with hP1R-delNt in COS-7 cells as potently as they did with hP1R-WT; PTH(1–34) was 6,000-fold weaker with hP1R-delNt than with hP1R-WT. The most potent analog, [Ala3,10,12,Arg11,Trp14]rPTH(1–14)NH2, stimulated inositol phosphate production with hP1R-WT. The results show that short NH2-terminal peptides of PTH can be optimized for considerable gains in signaling potency through modification of interactions involving the regions of the receptor containing the transmembrane domains and extracellular loops.
Making sense of the Food and Drug Administration

An examination of and recommendations regarding the approval process for medical devices are presented. The typical pathways and hurdles laid out by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are discussed, and options for marketing and use of medical devices are addressed. The first step in the regulatory process is to establish that the new product is, in fact, a medical device. From there, the appropriate classification and the corresponding level of regulatory control that will be required can be identified. The appropriate marketing application will be submitted and is supported by the data necessary to reasonably assure safety and effectiveness. Once the application is submitted, reviewed, and eventually approved, the manufacturer may legally market and sell the medical device. The active involvement of physicians as advisors and innovators in medical device development is imperative to the successful development of safe and effective medical devices. Physicians also fulfill the important obligation of adverse event reporting with all medical devices that they use. The pediatric physician should additionally be aware of the FDA regulations and expectations with respect to devices that will serve pediatric patient populations, of the regulatory options for approval and unapproved use for some devices, and of the special measures taken to protect the rights, safety, and welfare of pediatric patients participating in investigational studies.
The Complex Wars of the Congo: Towards a New Analytic Approach

Since 1996, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the battleground for wars within wars, where networks of conflict interact to produce different patterns of local resource extraction and different patterns of local and regional violence, resulting in one of the most devastating, yet surprisingly understudied, humanitarian disasters of our day. This article analyzes these transboundary networks of conflict using a network-centered approach, and examines how normative changes in the international system may have contributed to the processes of these wars.
Time-resolved auger electron spectroscopy combined with modulated molecular beam techniques for gas-surface reaction kinetics studies

An Auger electron spectrometer is combined with a modulated molecular beam system and the time-dependent concentration of adsorbed oxygen on a molybdenum surface subject to a chopped O 2 beam is measured and compared to predictions of a reaction kinetic model derived from modulated molecular beam spectroscopy alone.
A gravitational theory of the μ-meson and leptons in general

A gravitational theory of leptons is proposed in which the mass of the electron and that of the muon are the roots of a simple quadratic equation. This equation is obtained from the Reissner-Weyl metric for a charged particle by assuming that the gravitational constant suffers a sharp discontinuity at the surface of a particle, and by imposing the condition that dr/dt=0 along the null line ds=0.
An examination of mitigating devices in the argument interactions of L2 Spanish learners

Abstract The present study investigates the use of mitigation and indirectness in argument discourse produced in an institutional setting by Spanish learners (L2). For the study, advanced-level L2 Spanish learners and native Spanish speakers completed a conversational protocol that was designed to elicit arguments as the participants discussed problems and concerns related to the university they attended. Among the mitigating devices examined are the use of parenthetical verbs, hedges, pauses, tag questions, challenge questions, and discourse markers. Results obtained from the analysis reveal differences between the learners and the native speakers in the repertoire of mitigating devices and indirect speech strategies employed by each group. Overall, the learners exhibited redundant uses of devices while native speakers employed a variety of devices which in many instances co-occurred with other strategies. Nonetheless, pragmatic violations in the use of mitigation and indirect speech that adversely affected learners’ arguments were not detected.
A Revised Strategy of Type a Research

Summay.-This paper proposes a program of Type A research in which labor is divided between those concerned with the relations of Type A status and stress on the one hand, and those interested in the relations berween confirmed stress and biological pathology on the other. A review of research illustrates the value of restricting Type A studies to determining the Eacton that enhance the vulnerability or immunity of individuals to excessive stress loads.
Redesign and improved performance of the JPL-TMF tropospheric lidars

We describe improvements to two lidar systems for measurements of ozone and aerosols in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. These changes are primarily related to the receiver optical sub-systems and the principal topics presented are the telescopes, the ozone DIAL receiver, and the aerosol lidar receiver. The data acquisition systems were also replaced. The goals of these modifications were to increase the spatial and temporal resolution of the lidars, to extend the altitude range covered, and to improve the quality of the raw data.
Long-term human pluripotent stem cell self-renewal on synthetic polymer surfaces

Realization of the full potential of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in regenerative medicine requires the development of well-defined culture conditions for their long-term growth and directed differentiation. Current practices for maintaining hPSCs generally utilize empirically determined combinations of feeder cells and other animal-based products, which are expensive, difficult to isolate, subject to batch-to-batch variations, and unsuitable for cell-based therapies. Using a high-throughput screening approach, we identified several polymers that can support self-renewal of hPSCs. While most of these polymers provide support for only a short period of time, we identified a synthetic polymer poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMVE-alt-MA) that supported the long-term attachment, proliferation and self-renewal of HUES1, HUES9, and iPSCs. The hPSCs cultured on PMVE-alt-MA maintained their characteristic morphology, expressed high levels of markers of pluripotency, and retained a normal karyotype. Such cost-effective, polymer-based matrices that support long-term self-renewal and proliferation of hPSCs will not only help to accelerate the translational perspectives of hPSCs, but also provide a platform to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that regulate stem cell proliferation and differentiation.