cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Redox Considerations in Female Reproductive Function and Assisted Reproduction: From Molecular Mechanisms to Health Implications

Physiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important regulatory role through various signaling transduction pathways in folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, endometrial cycle, luteolysis, implantation, embryogenesis, and pregnancy. Persistent and elevated generation of ROS leads to a disturbance of redox potential that in turn causes oxidative stress (OS). Our literature review captures the role of ROS in modulating a range of physiological functions and pathological processes affecting the female reproductive life span and even thereafter (i.e., menopause). The role of OS in female reproduction is becoming increasingly important, as recent evidence suggest that it plays a part in conditions such as polycystic ovarian disease, endometriosis, spontaneous abortions, preeclampsia, hydatidiform mole, embryopathies, preterm labor, and intrauterine growth retardation. OS has been implicated in different reproductive scenarios and is detrimental to both natural and assisted fertility. Many ext...
Nuclear magnetic resonance of 113Cd and 199Hg in Cd-Mg and Cd-Hg solid solutions

The current theoretical and experimental situation with respect to Knight shifts and bulk susceptibility of Cd in pure Cd and in Cd-Mg and Cd-Hg alloys is reviewed. New experimental isotropic and anisotropic Knight shift data on /sup 113/Cd in Cd- Mg and Cd-Hg alloys and on /sup 199/Hg in Cd-Hg alloys are presented. The behavior of the /sup 199/Hg sites is found to be remarkably similar to that of the /sup 113/Cd site in the Cd--Hg alloys. However the ratio of isotropic Knight shift of /sup 199/Rg to /sup 113/Cd is somewhat greater than the ratio of /sup 199/Hg to /sup 113/Cd atomic hyperfine fields, suggesting that there is more local electronic s character at the Fermi surface in the alloy than in the pure metals. This is consistent with the theoretical picture of Cd in which phonon scattering induced by increasing temperature or alloying smears and weakens the lattice potential which in turn leads to a more s-like Fermi surface. Further, the /sup 113/Cd Knight shift is found to be a useful tool for monitoring the phase segregation that occurs in Cd-- Mg due to internal oxidation and for determining the concentrations of solutes such as Hg and Mgmore » in Cd-Hg and Cd--Mg alloys. (5 tables, 14 figures, 36 references) (auth)« less
A refactoring tool for Ada 95

Refactoring is a technique for restructuring code to improve its design. A tool for automatically applying refactoring transformations to Ada 95 programs is described. The tool is based on a language-neutral static-analysis toolset named CodeSurfer, and uses the ASIS interface to retrieve basic facts about a program. A higher-level object-oriented interface to the ASIS representation is described, which enables pattern-matching queries on the program's abstract semantic graph. The tool has been validated by using it to apply a set of transformations designed to bring a general-purpose code library into compliance with a safety-critical subset of Ada. Future plans for a set of tools based on these techniques are described.
High resolution spin labeled fatty acid: synthesis and EPR spectral characteristics

Abstract Stearic acid spin label substituted with deuterium in all positions and 15 N in the paramagnetic group has been synthesized and was found to display a 5.5 fold gain in sensitivity in the EPR spectrum and a 60% decrease in linewidth compared to the unmodified analog.
Out, Damned CLIP! Out, I Say!

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule displays peptide fragments of foreign proteins to trigger a defensive reaction from the immune system. Before insertion of the foreign peptides into the class II binding groove, a place-holding peptide CLIP must be removed. This is accomplished by the molecule DM, which is shown to increase the dissociation rate of a small class II-associated Ii peptide (CLIP) from class II (see report by Weber et al ., p. 618). Roche explains how DM can tell the difference between the class II-CLIP and foreign peptide-CLIP complexes.
Accent intolerance and occupational achievement in the United States

While much of the literature on ethnic pluralism in the United States is focussed on European nationality groups whose migration streams were nearly terminated man]; years ago and which are, albeit arguably, now approaching social as well as cultural assimilation, the ethnic groups which face the most viable choice of a culturally autonomous life in the U.S. are the peoples of the New Immigration, Third World peoples, many from Latin America. Preserving the use of an ethnic language in the home or neighborhood increases the likelihood that a person may have an audible accent in his or her spoken English and might be subjected to accent intolerance. This paper estimates the impact on occupational achievement of variables which put a person at risk of having an accent in spoken English: non-English mother tongue and use of a language other than English in the home. It is found that net of personal characteristics and a person’s ethnicity these variables of language behavior, on the average, do not affect occupational achievement. This finding confirms previous research lvhich indicates that the principal component in discrimination against an accent is the hearer’s reaction to the group to which the accent identifies the speaker as belonging. There is little cost in terms of occupational achievement, on the average, for an ethnic group to maintain the use of its ethnic language in the home.
NFQL: the natural forms query language

A means by which ordinary forms can be exploited to provide a basis for nonprocedural specification of information processing is discussed. The Natural Forms Query Language (NFQL) is defined. In NFQL data retrieval requests and computation specifications are formulated by sketching ordinary forms to show what data are desired and update operations are specified by altering data on filled-in forms. The meaning of a form depends on a store of knowledge that includes extended abstract data types for defining elementary data items, a database scheme defined by an entity-relationship model, and a conceptual model of an ordinary form. Based on this store of knowledge, several issues are addressed and resolved in the context of NFQL. These issues include automatic generation of query expressions from weak specifications, the view update problem, power and completeness, and a heuristic approach to resolving computational relationships. A brief status report of an implementation of NFQL is also given.
Optical switching and n2 measurements in CS2

Abstract Optical switching of picosecond pulses in CS 2 has been observed to occur at the second critical power for self-focusing. This has been confirmed in an independent direct measurement of the nonlinear refractive index at 1.06 μm and 0.53 μm. The measurement technique involves observations of far field spatial distortions of gaussian beams after passing through a nonlinear material.
Copyright and innovation in electronic publishing: A commentary☆

Abstract Understanding copyright law will enable librarians to honor both the proprietary and public interest components of copyright, while using to full advantage new electronic information resources. This article looks at copyright issues in a changing information landscape.
Temporal offset optical data processing

Abstract Using television techniques, a real-time coherent data processing system has been investigated that makes efficient use of the pickup camera. The two input transparencies to be correlated are superimposed with the illumination of one temporally offset in frequency. The resultant electrical signal is processed to isolate the desired cross-correlation terms.
Perfluoroterephthalate bridged complexes with M-M quadruple bonds: ((t)BuCO(2))(3)M(2)(mu-O(2)CC(6)F(4)CO(2))M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(3), where M = Mo or W. Studies of solid-state, molecular, and electronic structure and correlations with electronic and Raman spectral data.

The compounds [(tBuCO2)3M2(μ-O2CC6F4CO2)M2(O2CtBu)3], M4PFT, where M = Mo or W, are shown by model fitting of the powder X-ray diffraction data to have an infinite “twisted” structure involving M···O intermolecular interactions in the solid state. The dihedral angle between the M2 units of each molecule is 54°. Electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory (Gaussian 98 and ADF2000.01, gradient corrected and time dependent) on the model compounds (HCO2)3M2(μ-O2CC6F4CO2)M2(O2CH)3, where M = Mo or W, reveal that in the gas phase the model compounds adopt planar D2h ground-state structures wherein M2 δ to bridge π* back-bonding is maximized. The calculations predict relatively small HOMO−LUMO gaps of 1.53 eV for M = Mo and 1.22 eV for M = W for this planar structure and that, when the “conjugation” is removed by rotation of the plane of the C6F4 ring to become orthogonal to the M4 plane, this energy gap is nearly doubled to 2.57 eV for M = Mo and 2.18 eV for M = W. The Raman and resona...
Arabidopsis thaliana auxotrophs reveal a tryptophan-independent biosynthetic pathway for indole-3-acetic acid.

Abstract We used tryptophan auxotrophs of the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana (wall cress) to determine whether tryptophan has the capacity to serve as a precursor to the auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Quantitative gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring-mass spectrometry (GC-SIM-MS) revealed that the trp2-1 mutant, which is defective in the conversion of indole to tryptophan, accumulated amide- and ester-linked IAA at levels 38-fold and 19-fold, respectively, above those of the wild type. Tryptophan and free IAA were isolated from the trp2-1 mutant grown in the presence of [15N]anthranilate and [2H5]tryptophan, and the relative 15N and 2H5 enrichments of tryptophan and IAA were determined via GC-SIM-MS. The 15N enrichment of tryptophan, 13% +/- 4%, was less than the 15N enrichment of the IAA pool, 39% +/- 4%; therefore, IAA biosynthesis occurs via a tryptophan-independent pathway. The amount of 2H5 incorporated by the plant into IAA from tryptophan (9% +/- 4%) was low and only slightly above the level of spontaneous, nonenzymatic conversion of [2H5]tryptophan to [2H5]IAA. These results show that the dicot Arabidopsis is similar to the monocot Zea mays in that the major route of IAA biosynthesis does not occur through tryptophan.
Assessing Body Fat Changes during Moderate Weight Loss with Anthropometry and Bioelectrical Impedance.

Summary Background/objectives: Monitoring changes in total fat mass and abdominal adiposity are important in understanding the impact of different types of weight loss interventions on health risks. Our objective was to assess the usefulness of anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in predicting fat mass changes during moderate weight loss. Subjects/methods: Fat mass changes were assessed in 34 overweight adults (24 females, 10 males) after a 12-week supervised weight loss induced by caloric restriction (−30% of requirement) using BIA and DXA. Agreement between BIA and DXA measurements was assessed by Bland—Altman plots. Linear regression modeling was used to predict body and truncal fat mass from anthropometric measures. Results: Diet intervention resulted in a significant decrease in body weight (−7.86 ± 2.87 kg), body mass index (BMI −2.69 ± 0.98 kg/m 2 ), total body fat (−5.22 ± 2.32 kg), truncal fat (−2.80 ± 1.94 kg) and waist circumference (−5.52 ± 3.57 cm). BMI and body weight were highly correlated with body fat (0.83 and 0.92 in females and 0.94 and 0.92 in males, respectively) and truncal fat (0.75 and 0.87 in females; 0.90 and 0.84 in males, respectively) during weight loss. Waist
Molecular phylogeny of the Pooideae (Poaceae) based on nuclear rDNA (ITS) sequences.

Phylogenetic relationships of the Poaceae subfamily, Pooideae, were estimated from the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. The entire ITS region of 25 species belonging to 19 genera representing seven tribes was directly sequenced from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA fragments. The published sequence of rice, Oryza saliva, was used as the outgroup. Sequences of these taxa were analyzed with maximum parsimony (PAUP) and the neighbor-joining distance method (NJ). Among the tribes, the Stipeae, Meliceae and Brachypodieae, all with small chromosomes and a basic number more than x=7, diverged in succession. The Poeae, Aveneae, Bromeae and Triticeae, with large chromosomes and a basic number of x=7, form a monophyletic clade. The Poeae and Aveneae are the sister group of the Bromeae and Triticeae. On the ITS tree, the Brachypodieae is distantly related to the Triticeae and Bromeae, which differs from the phylogenies based on restriction-site variation of cpDNA and morphological characters. The phylogenetic relationships of the seven pooid tribes inferred from the ITS sequences are highly concordant with the cytogenetic evidence that the reduction in chromosome number and the increase in chromosome size evolved only once in the pooids and pre-dated the divergence of the Poeae, Aveneae, Bromeae and Triticeae.This paper reports factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.
Mechanism of hypochlorous acid-mediated heme destruction and free iron release

Abstract Here, we show that hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent neutrophil-generated oxidant, can mediate destruction of free heme (Ht) and the heme precursor, protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). Ht displays a broad Soret absorbance peak centered at 365 and 394 nm, indicative of the presence of monomer and μ-oxo-dimer. Oxidation of Ht by HOCl was accompanied by a marked decrease in the Soret absorption peak and release of free iron. Kinetic measurements showed that the Ht–HOCl reaction was triphasic. The first two phases were HOCl concentration dependent and attributable to HOCl binding to the monomeric and dimeric forms. The third phase was HOCl concentration independent and attributed to Ht destruction with the release of free iron. HPLC and LC-ESI-MS analyses of the Ht–HOCl reaction revealed the formation of a number of degradation products, resulting from the cleavage or modification of one or more carbon–methene bridges of the porphyrin ring. Similar studies with PPIX showed that HOCl also mediated tetrapyrrole ring destruction. Collectively, this work demonstrates the ability of HOCl to modulate destruction of heme, through a process that occurs independent of the iron molecule that resides in the porphyrin center. This phenomenon may play a role in HOCl-mediated oxidative injury in pathological conditions.
A Tribological Investigation of Carbon-Carbon Composites and the Effect of Roughness and Waviness Parameters on Friction Performance

Friction tests for two types of carbon-carbon (C-C) composites were performed using a sub-scale aircraft brake dynamometer for 100 stops. Worn surface profiles were measured using a surface profilometer. Roughness and waviness parameters from the profilometry measurements were compared to weight loss, thickness loss, effectiveness, stop time, and torque for each C-C composite type. The results show that when roughness is analyzed, for an increase in torque and effectiveness and a decrease in stop time, there is a decrease in skewness and high spot count; and an increase in maximum valley depth, mean spacing of local peaks, and mean arithmetic wavelength. For waviness profiles, for an increase in torque and effectiveness and a decrease in stop time, there is a decrease in skewness; and an increase in high spot count, maximum valley depth, mean spacing of local peaks, and mean arithmetic wavelength. Furthermore, there are differences in both friction performance and surface topography between the CC composite types which can be attributed to the differences in fiber orientation and microstructure at the wear surfaces.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Chronic Underactivity of Medial Frontal Cortical β2-Containing Nicotinic Receptors Increases Clozapine-Induced Working Memory Impairment in Female Rats

Nicotinic receptor decreases in the frontal cortex and hippocampus are important mediators of cognitive impairment in both schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Drug treatments for these diseases should take into account the impacts of compromised brain function on drug response. This study investigated the impact of compromised nicotinic receptor activity in the frontal cortex in rats on memory function. Since both Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia can involve psychosis, antipsychotic drugs are often given. The impacts of antipsychotic drugs on cognitive function have been found to be quite variable. It is the hypothesis of this and previous studies that the cognitive effects of antispychotic drugs on cognitive function depend on the integrity of brain systems involved in cognition. Previously in studies of the hippocampus, we found that chronic inhibition of beta2-containing nicotinic receptors with dihydro-beta-erythrodine (DHbetaE) impaired working memory and that this effect was attenuated by the antipsychotic drug clozapine. In contrast, chronic hippocampal alpha7 nicotinic receptor blockade with methyllycaconitine (MLA) potentiated the clozapine-induced memory impairment which is seen in rats without compromised nicotinic receptor activity. The current study determined medial frontal cortical alpha7 and beta2-containing nicotinic receptor involvement in memory and the interactions with antipsychotic drug therapy with clozapine. Chronic DHbetaE and MLA infusion effects and interactions with systemic clozapine were assessed in female rats tested for memory on the radial-arm maze. Antipsychotic drug interactions with chronic systemic nicotine were investigated because nicotinic procognitive treatment has been proposed. The same local infusion DHbetaE dose that impaired memory with hippocampal infusion did not impair memory when infused in the medial frontal cortex. Frontal DHbetaE infusion potentiated clozapine-induced memory impairment, whereas previously the memory impairment caused by hippocampal DHbetaE infusion was attenuated by clozapine. Frontal cortical MLA infusions at a dose that previously was found to potentiate the clozapine-induced memory impairment with hippocampal infusion had no significant effect when infused into the medial frontal cortex. The location and subtype of nicotinic receptor underactivity are critical determinates for clozapine effects on memory. Patients with hippocampal beta2-containing nicotinic receptor loss may be well treated with clozapine therapy, while those with frontal cortical beta2-containing receptor loss may have a potentiated memory impairment caused by clozapine.
Ductile Superconducting Copper-Base Alloys

A new class of ductile superconductors has been prepared by casting and appropriate heat treatments. These alloys superconduct between 4° and 18°K and contain at least 90 atom percent copper and a superconducting phase such as Nb 3 Sn or niobium. They can be processed into wires by conventional metallurgical techniques.
Migrating common bile duct stones.

In this case report a rare complication of choledocholithiasis is presented. Gallstones originally demonstrated in the common bile duct were documented to migrate into the pancreatic duct and in so doing produce acute pancreatitis. This observation lends further support to the etiological association between gallstones and acute pancreatitis.
Childhood anger: so common, yet so misunderstood.

PURPOSE. To review findings of recent research studies on anger in children and adolescents, the outcomes of mishandled anger and interuentions to promote appropriate anger management. SOURCE. Published literature. CONCLUSIONS. Anger may be a healthy or unhealthy response in children experiencing small frustrations or great injustices. Research findings vary and there is a need to clearly define anger and the correlates of anger in children and adolescents. In addition, there are limited studies on anger management strategies and theiv efctiveness that would assist healthcare professionals.
Metabolism of progestogens during in vitro meiotic maturation of follicle‐enclosed oocytes of the goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Progestogens are known to elicit meiotic maturation of fish oocytes in vitro. Exogenous 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (HP), as assessed by radioimmunoassay (RIA), decreased exponentially to less than 10% of the initial level in media during a 48 hr incubation with large (i.e., 1 mm dia.) ovarian follicles of goldfish undergoing meiotic maturation in vitro. During follicle incubation, media, into which [3H]-HP was introduced, showed exponential showed exponential reduction of [3H]-HP with a concomitant increase in the number of [3H]-HP metabolites. Analysis of follicle extracts revealed that small amounts of [3H]-HP were taken up by the follicles early in the incubation (i.e., 3 hr) and converted to several metabolites; the major one of these, which accumulated in the follicle, comigrated with 17α, 20β dihydroxy 4-pregnen 3-one (DHP). Autoradiography of extracts run on TLC revealed an increasing number of metabolites with time, i.e., 9 major spots for media, 6 major spots for follicles incubated 24 hr with [3H]-HP. Three of the more prominent metabolites, DHP, 3α, 17α-dihydroxy5β-pregnan 20-one, and 5β-pregnan3α, 17α, 20β-triol, were identified tentatively by comigration with standards on TLC and crystallization to constant specific activity. HPLC of extracts revealed a selective accumulation of DHP in follicles over time i.e., this steroid was the major metabolite peak associated with follicles by 24 hr incubation. Nevertheless, the process of oocyte maturation had already been initiated before the peak level of DHP had been reached. By contrast, HP diminished with time in follicles despite the relatively high levels occurring in the media. This research indicates that a complex steroid milieu at the level of individual, fully grown, ovarian follicles is produced in vitro from exogenous HP; significant HP metabolism occurs by 6 hr incubation, well before the process of oocyte maturation (i.e., germinal vesicle migration and dissolution) has begun.
A scheduling scheme for communicating tasks

Heuristic methods are proposed for assigning a set of soft tasks to a set of PEs (processing elements) in such a way that the set of tasks has a minimum execution time. The objective is to try to meet the performance requirements of applications, especially of real-time applications. Emphasis is placed on specific applications where there are more PEs than active tasks. Two criteria are proposed to measure the quality of an interconnection for these applications. A simple grain-size decision algorithm that groups tasks that communicate with each other into one node is presented. >
Molecular-level simulations of shock generation and propagation in polyurea

Abstract A non-equilibrium molecular dynamics method is employed in order to study various phenomena accompanying the generation and propagation of shock waves in polyurea (a micro-phase segregated elastomer). Several recent studies reported in the literature suggested that polyurea has a relatively high potential for mitigation of the effects associated with blast and ballistic impact. This behavior of polyurea is believed to be closely related to its micro-phase segregated microstructure (consisting of the so-called “hard domains” and a soft matrix) and to different phenomena/processes (e.g. inelastic-deformation and energy-dissipation) taking place at, or in the vicinity of, the shock front. The findings obtained in the present analysis are used to help elucidate the molecular-level character of these phenomena/processes. In addition, the analysis yielded the shock Hugoniot (i.e. a set of axial stress vs. density/specific-volume vs. internal energy vs. particle velocity vs. temperature vs. shock speed) material states obtained in polyurea after the passage of a shock wave. The availability of a shock Hugoniot is critical for construction of a high deformation-rate, large-strain, high pressure material models which can be used within a continuum-level computational analysis to capture the response of a polyurea-based macroscopic structure (e.g. blast-protection helmet suspension pads) to blast/ballistic impact loading.
Violence, Drug Markets and Racial Composition Challenging Stereotypes through Spatial Analysis

Places in which there is a strong spatial connection between violence and drug activity can often evoke particular stereotypes. They are believed to be places marked by high levels of social disorganisation, unemployment, disorder and racial heterogeneity. Yet scholars have argued that the spatial relationship between drug market activity and violence is more complicated and that other factors may explain this geographical connection. In the first article of this two-part series, different types of spatial analysis were employed to describe crime concentrations of drugs and violence. Evidence was found that challenges the notion that places with drug activity are inevitably more violent. This second paper examines what factors predict these variations in drug–violence spatial patterns in Seattle when derived using different spatial methods. The findings indicate that racial composition, disorder and unemployment may not be as salient as once believed in predicting places that are violent drug markets.
Active protection in pulse cavitational ultrasound therapy (histotripsy)

The overall goal of active protection is to preserve a selected zone (e.g., critical structures) during pulsed cavitational ultrasound therapy (histotripsy) using local suppression of cavitation. A specific application of active protection, focal sharpening, was investigated where a ring area immediately surrounding the focus was selected to be preserved. We have developed a pulse-by-pulse spatial-temporal pulsing strategy for focal sharpening. Treatments in cell-gel phantoms showed that the peripheral damage was substantially suppressed by 77 ± 13 % while desired treatment outcome in the center (i.e., complete fractionation) was maintained. High speed imaging of the bubble clouds showed a significant decrease in the maximum width of bubble clouds by 48 ± 23 % using focal sharpening. Preliminary experiments in ex vivo tissues demonstrated that active focal sharpening produced more confined lesions in real tissues.
Angiotensin II reduces calcium uptake into bone

Children with neonatal Bartter syndrome (NBS) have hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, and osteopenia. A complex of basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) and a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan has been identified in the serum and urine of NBS patients. This complex increases bone resorption in a bone disc bioassay system. Angiotensin II (AT II), which is increased in Bartter syndrome, increases the synthesis of b-FGF by cultured endothelial cells. Addition of 10(-8) M AT II to the bioassay, a concentration reported in Bartter syndrome patients, significantly decreased calcium uptake into bone discs [E/C 0.60 (0.04), P 0.90]. Adding b-FGF monoclonal antibody at 10 microg/ml [E/C 0.90 (0.06), P=NS] or indomethacin [E/C 1.00 (0.03), P=NS] to 10(-8 )M AT II neutralized this effect. In separate experiments, newborn rats were given intraperitoneal injections of AT II. Bone discs from these animals were used in the bioassay system and calcium uptake was markedly reduced compared with discs from rats injected with phosphate-buffered saline [AT II 6.6 x 10(-9), E/C 0.10 (0.04), P<0.001, AT II 3.3 x 10(-8), E/C 0.10 (0.05), P<0.001]. AT II decreases calcium uptake in the bone disc bioassay system. This effect can be abrogated by antibody to b-FGF or prostaglandin synthetase inhibition. These results support the hypothesis that in children with NBS, elevated levels of AT II stimulate local skeletal b-FGF synthesis, with a resultant increase in bone resorption via a prostaglandin-dependent pathway.
Activin responsiveness of the murine gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene is mediated by a composite enhancer containing spatially distinct regulatory elements.

The promoters of mouse and rat GnRH receptor (GnRHR) genes differ markedly in regard to activin regulation. Activin stimulates the mouse GnRHR promoter, although it has no impact on that of the rat. To test whether this difference was due to a single nucleotide change in the rat GnRHR activating sequence (GRAS) homolog, we tested a mouse promoter with the rat GRAS homolog and a rat promoter with intact mouse GRAS. The single change in GRAS eliminated activin responsiveness of the mouse GnRHR promoter; however, intact mouse GRAS did not confer activin responsiveness to the rat promoter. Thus, although necessary, GRAS is not sufficient for activin responsiveness of the murine GnRHR promoter. Use of chimeric rat and mouse promoters led to the identification of a 36-bp region residing immediately downstream of GRAS that is necessary for activin responsiveness of the mouse GnRHR gene promoter. Scanning mutagenesis of the 36-bp region localized the functional boundaries of the key regulatory element to adjacent...
Use of Theory-Driven Research in Counseling Investigating Three Counseling Psychology Journals From 1990 to 1999

Three major journals in counseling psychology were sampled from 1990 to 1999 to assess the percentage of quantitative, empirical articles that were theory driven. Only 43% of the studies utilized a theory or model, and 57% predicted the relation between the variables, with few studies specifying the strength of the relation. Studies sampled in the Journal of Counseling Psychology (63%) and the Journal of Vocational Behavior (65%) reported a significantly higher percentage of theory-driven research than the Journal of Counseling and Development (43%). A higher proportion of Journal of Counseling Psychology studies compared with Journal of Counseling and Development studies anchored findings to theory. Few studies replicated previous studies. This paucity implies that replication is underutilized by the field as a potentially fruitful way to substantiate empirical knowledge. A binary logistic regression was conducted to examine trends over time. No trends emerged. Suggestions for future implementation of th...
Treatment of Sleep Onset Insomnia by Paradoxical Instruction: A Multiple Baseline Design

Four adult outpatients suffering from severe, chronic sleep onset insomnia participated in a five-session paradoxical instruction treatment program. A multiple baseline design across subjects was utilized with major dependent measures consisting of eight behaviorally-specific daily sleep indices. Counterdemand manipulations were applied so as to evaluate and control for change attributable to expectancy and therapeutic demand. Results indicated significant improvement on five of the daily sleep chart measures, with treatment gains maintained at 4-, 8-, and 12-week follow-up. These findings are discussed with regard to interruption of hypothesized exacerbation cycle phenomenon.
A class-oriented replacement technique for lost speech packets

A replacement technique for lost speech packets is presented. This technique is based on the classification of the packets into four distinct classes: background noise, voiced speech, fricatives, and other. Different encoding schemes and lost packet replacement techniques are used for each class. Results of subjective tests indicate that giving preferential delivery treatment to packets based on class can be used to improve subjective quality. The replacement strategy renders the reconstructed signal indistinguishable from the original utterance for packet loss rates up to 47% for background noise packets, 8% for fricative packets, and 4% for other packets. For voiced packets, the replacement is distinguishable from the original signal even for packet loss rates lower than 5%, but significant improvement may be possible by reducing the memory associated with the voiced speech coding process. >
Hetero-oligonucleotide nanoscale tiles capable of two-dimensional lattice formation as testbeds for a rapid, affordable purification methodology

New nanoscale hetero-oligonucleotide tiles are assembled from DNA, RNA and morpholino oligos and purified using size exclusion filtration. Homo-oligonucleotide tiles assembled from RP-cartridge processed DNA oligos are purified by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. These tiles' purity and homogeneity are demonstrated by gel electrophoresis and their incorporation into two-dimensional arrays visualized by AFM. This purification methodology increases throughput and decreases costs for researchers who wish to screen multiple tiles for utilization in structural or analytical studies.
Statistics for microfossil concentration measurements employing samples spiked with marker grains

Microfossil abundance in sediment is often expressed as the proportion each taxon comprises in the total assemblage. A different way to calculate abundance involves adding a known quantity of exotic markers to a measured quantity of sediment and using the markers as a standard to which the indigenous taxa are compared. By this means a taxon's concentration (microfossils per cm3 or per g) and influx (microfossils per cm2 per yr) can be estimated. Although such measurements have potential value, they are all but useless unless experimental error can be assessed. This paper uses examples from palynology to describe a method using parametric statistics for assigning confidence limits to the true concentration of a taxon in a single sample of sediment. I discuss options for keeping the confidence intervals as small as possible. A test of the null hypothesis that the concentration of a taxon is the same in two independent samples is presented, and a method is developed for assigning confidence limits to the true concentration of a taxon in N independent samples which are combined. The exotic marker technique produces a positive null model correlation coefficient for the concentrations of the separate taxa; an observed correlation coefficient should be tested to see whether it differs significantly from the nonzero constraint coefficient. The concept of “influx index” is introduced to acknowledge the ambiguities caused in influx data by uncertainties in sedimentation rates.
Splitting Hairs: History and the Politics of Daily Life in Nineteenth-Century Japan

This essay examines the changes in hairstyles that have become overdetermined signs of Japan's transition to modernity in histories of the Meiji era (1868-1912). It demonstrates that Japanese men's adoption of short styles, relentlessly cited as a key example of modernization (understood as Westernization), was a much longer and more complex process than most accounts suggest. It explores the politics of pervasive assumptions about how and why men and women cut their hair in the 1870s, and concludes that knowledge about daily life must be understood not simply as concrete facts but also as politically charged represen tations of social life that have served diverse agendas both during the Meiji era and since.
Protective effects of felbamate against hypoxia in the rat hippocampal slice.

Felbamate is a new dicarbamate anticonvulsant with low toxicity currently being investigated in human clinical epilepsy trials. In this study, we examined the protective effects of felbamate against hypoxia.We exposed paired rat hippocampal slices to hypoxia with and without felbamate treatment while monitoring the CA1-evoked population spike.Felbamate provided dose-dependent neuroprotection against hypoxia at concentrations of 45 mg/l and greater (p less than 0.05). At a felbamate concentration of 300 mg/l, recovery of CA1 evoked population spike amplitude after hypoxic exposure was 99% compared with 0.5% for unmedicated paired slices. The appearance and disappearance of the hypoxic injury potential was delayed in slices treated with 300 and 400 mg/l (p less than 0.05).In this model of hypoxia, felbamate provided neuroprotection against hypoxia at concentrations similar to serum felbamate levels currently being used in human clinical epilepsy trials.
PDGF-BB inhibits intervertebral disc cell apoptosis in vitro

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) results in deterioration of the spinal motion segment and can lead to debilitating back pain. Given the established mitotic and anti-apoptotic effects of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB) in a variety of cell types we postulated that rhPDGF-BB might delay disc cell degeneration through inhibition of apoptosis. To address this hypothesis, we treated human IVD cells isolated from five independent patients with rhPDGF-BB in monolayer and 3D pellet cultures. The anti-apoptotic potential, cell proliferative capacity, morphology/pellet differentiation, and gene expression of PDGF-treated IVD cells were evaluated via flow cytometry/immunohistochemistry, MTT assays, histology, and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. We found that rhPDGF-BB treatment significantly inhibited cell apoptosis, increased cell proliferation and matrix production, and maintained mRNA expression of critical extracellular matrix genes. This study suggests two possible mechanisms for the anti-degenerative effects of rhPDGF-BB on human IVD cells. First, PDGF treatment strongly inhibited IVD cell apoptosis in 3D cultures. Second, rhPDGF-BB acts as an anabolic agent, promoting maintenance of IVD cell phenotype in 3D culture, based on the molecular and protein expression analysis. We speculate that rhPDGF-BB may be used as a biologic treatment to target early degenerative IVD disease in the future.
A Hybrid Selection and Testing Procedure with Curtailment for Comparative Clinical Trials

Abstract In this paper we use the idea of strong curtailment to define a hybrid selection and testing procedure for finding the best among several experimental Bernoulli populations, provided that it is better than a control Bernoulli population. Our curtailment procedure is based on the fixed-sample-size selection and testing procedure proposed by Thall et al. (1988). Our curtailment procedure reaches the same probability of a correct selection as the original procedure, but requires fewer observations.
Adsorption and coupled chemical reactions in the electroreduction of ferriheme in alkaline solutions

Abstract Electroanalytical techniques were used to investigate adsorption, charge transfer, and coupled chemical reactions in the electroreduction of a ferriheme dimer at mercury electrodes in 0.1 M NaOH over a wide range of experimental conditions. Current-sampled polarography confirmed that the overall reaction is a two-electron, Fe(III) dimer to Fe(II) monomer process, as previously found in solutions of KOH. A preceding reaction influences the shape of the wave at higher concentrations. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) at low concentrations (c 0.3 m M and v
The Basal Ganglia and Cognitive Pattern Generators

This article introduces the notion of cognitive pattern generators and suggests, by analogy with the central pattern generators of the motor system, that these pattern generators operate to organize neural activity underlying aspects of action-oriented cognition. It is further proposed that the basal ganglia are involved in the control of cognitive as well as motor pattern generators. Disorders of the basal ganglia may thereby contribute to neural circuit dysfunctions that are expressed as positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Predictive ratio closed-loop power control for CDMA wireless systems

In this work, we discuss the limitations of conventional closed loop power control (CLPC). We derive a closed-form expression for the control error. We then propose two algorithms that reduce this error. Simulations show a reduced power error compared to current CLPC techniques.
A path analysis to identify the psychosocial factors influencing physical activity and bone health in middle-school girls.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify pathways used by psychosocial factors to influence physical activity and bone health in middle-school girls. Methods: Baseline data from the Incorporating More Physical Activity and Calcium in Teens (IMPACT) study collected in 2001 to 2003 were used. IMPACT was a 1 1/2 years nutrition and physical activity intervention study designed to improve bone density in 717 middle-school girls in Texas. Structural Equations Modeling was used to examine the interrelationships and identify the direct and indirect pathways used by various psychosocial and environmental factors to influence physical activity and bone health. Results: Results show that physical activity self-efficacy and social support (friend, family engagement, and encouragement in physical activity) had a significant direct and indirect influence on physical activity with participation in sports teams as the mediator. Participation in sports teams had a direct effect on both physical activity (β= ...
Amplification of Autoimmune Response through Induction of Dendritic Cell Maturation in Inflamed Tissues

Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential in T cell-mediated destruction of insulin-producing β cells in the islets of Langerhans in type 1 diabetes. In this study, we investigated T cell induction of intra-islet DC maturation during the progression of the disease in both autoimmune-prone NOD and resistant C57BL/6 mice. We demonstrated steady-state capture and retention of unprocessed β cell-derived proteins by semimature intra-islet DCs in both mouse strains. T cell-mediated intra-islet inflammation induced an increase in CD40 and CD80 expression and processing of captured Ag by resident DCs without inducing the expression of the p40 subunit of IL-12/23. Some of the CD40high intra-islet DCs up-regulated CCR7, and a small number of CD40high DCs bearing unprocessed islet Ags were detected in the pancreatic lymph nodes in mice with acute intra-islet inflammation, demonstrating that T cell-mediated tissue inflammation augments migration of mature resident DCs to draining lymph nodes. Our results identify an amplification loop during the progression of autoimmune diabetes, in which initial T cell infiltration leads to rapid maturation of intra-islet DCs, their migration to lymph nodes, and expanded priming of more autoreactive T cells. Therapeutic interventions that intercept this process may be effective at halting the progression of type 1 diabetes.
Laboratories which produce veterinary vaccines

Summary Borders, continents and oceans no longer provide a significant barrier to the movement of goods and services. Under the regulations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the World Trade Organisation, governments may no longer prevent the importation of veterinary vaccines without scientific proof that the product would pose a threat to the health and safety of the nation. The origins of production laboratories for veterinary vaccines and the management of those laboratories are as diverse as the government programmes by which they are regulated. Both processed-based and performance-based approaches can be equally effective in the quality assurance of products. Seven international and regulatory initiatives have been developed to review these regulatory systems and, where possible, to harmonise standards and/or recognise equivalents to ease the movement of products. Continued exchange of information on a regional and world-wide basis can ensure the quality and availability of veterinary vaccines for animal health programmes around the world.
Different definitions of neurodegeneration produce similar amyloid/neurodegeneration biomarker group findings

We recently demonstrated that the frequencies of biomarker groups defined by the presence or absence of both amyloidosis (A+) and neurodegeneration (N+) changed dramatically by age in cognitively non-impaired subjects. Our present objectives were to assess the consequences of defining neurodegeneration in five different ways on the frequency of subjects classified as N+, on the demographic associations with N+, and on amyloidosis and neurodegeneration (A/N) biomarker group frequencies by age. This was a largely cross-sectional observational study of 1331 cognitively non-impaired subjects aged 50-89 drawn from a population-based study of cognitive ageing. We assessed demographic associations with N+, and A/N biomarker group frequencies by age where A+ was defined by amyloid PET and N+ was defined in five different ways: (i) abnormal adjusted hippocampal volume alone; (ii) abnormal Alzheimer's disease signature cortical thickness alone; (iii) abnormal fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography alone; (iv) abnormal adjusted hippocampal volume or abnormal fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography; and (v) abnormal Alzheimer's disease signature cortical thickness or abnormal fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. For each N+ definition, participants were assigned to one of four biomarker groups; A-N-, A+N-, A-N+, or A+N+. The three continuous individual neurodegeneration measures were moderately correlated (rs = 0.42 to 0.54) but when classified as normal or abnormal had only weak agreement (κ = 0.20 to 0.29). The adjusted hippocampal volume alone definition classified the fewest subjects as N+ while the Alzheimer's disease signature cortical thickness or abnormal fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography definition classified the most as N+. Across all N+ definitions, N+ subjects tended to be older, more often male and APOE4 carriers, and performed less well on functional status and learning and memory than N- subjects. For all definitions of neurodegeneration, (i) the frequency of A-N- was 100% at age 50 and declined monotonically thereafter; (ii) the frequency of A+N- increased from age 50 to a maximum in the mid-70s and declined thereafter; and3 (iii) the frequency of A-N+ (suspected non-Alzheimer's pathophysiology) and of A+N+ increased monotonically beginning in the mid-50s and mid-60s, respectively. Overall, different neurodegeneration measures provide similar but not completely redundant information. Despite quantitative differences, the overall qualitative pattern of the A-N-, A+N-, A-N+, and A+N+ biomarker group frequency curves by age were similar across the five different definitions of neurodegeneration. We conclude that grouping subjects by amyloidosis and neurodegeneration status (normal/abnormal) is robust to different imaging definitions of neurodegeneration and thus is a useful way for investigators throughout the field to communicate in a common classification framework.
Decay of 160Er* in 16O+144Nd and 64Ni+96Zr fusion reactions.

The population of evaporation residue entry states in the decay of the compound nucleus $^{160}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{*}}$(54 MeV) is investigated in a cross-bombardment employing the reactions $^{16}\mathrm{O}$${+}^{144}$Nd and $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$${+}^{96}$Zr. Evaporation residue cross sections and entry state \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray fold distributions of the dominant exit channels were obtained for each reaction, using a 4\ensuremath{\pi} \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray detection system. An entrance-channel dependence of the \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray fold distributions of the xn products is observed. This effect is described successfully by the statistical model making use of compound nucleus angular momentum distributions obtained with a fusion model that provides a good description of the bombarding energy dependence of fusion data for both reactions. In accordance with recent findings on the decay of $^{164}\mathrm{Yb}^{\mathrm{*}}$, it is suggested that the observed differences in the population of the dominant exit channels originate from the primary spin distributions rather than a possible dependence of the compound nucleus decay on the formation mode.