cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How fast did developing country poverty fall during the 1990s? Capabilities-based tests of rival estimates

Abstract Non-nested hypothesis tests are used to rank eight widely used international per capita income and poverty measures with respect to how well they predict changes in capabilities: lower child mortality, higher enrollment rates, better nutrition, etc. National accounts based generally out-perform survey-based growth and poverty estimates in these tests.
Working with Arab American Families: Culturally Competent Practice for School Psychologists.

Individuals of Arab descent residing within the United States currently number between 1.2 million and 3.9 million. These families are characterized by considerable diversity depending upon their nationality, religion, and extent of acculturation to both Western and Arab cultures. More recently, Arab families have immigrated to the United States in response to traumatic events, such as war, a situation that has complicated their subsequent adjustment and acculturation to life in the United States. The growth in the Arab American population suggests that school psychologists are increasingly likely to work with their children and families. However, despite the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP; 2000) and American Psychological Association (APA; 2002) ethical guidelines requiring culturally competent practice, little has been written to guide the school psychologist's work with this population. This article draws on the available literature on Arab cultural values and acculturation to enhance culturally sensitive school psychology practice at the individual and systems levels. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 183–198, 2007.
E-Business in the Agricultural Input Industries

A variety of factors are creating pressure for increased use of information technologies and e-business concepts in the agricultural input industries. Understanding where information technology and e-business concepts will add value to the distribution channels for agricultural inputs requires an understanding of the needs of the two primary agents in the channel: agricultural producers and manufacturers. In this paper, a framework for understanding the changes information technology and e-business may bring to the distribution channel is developed. In addition, some of the attitudes of managers toward e-business and the impacts of information technologies for the agricultural inputs industries are considered.
Suggested Single Event Upset Figure of Merit

This paper examines a number of concepts that are connected, directly or indirectly, with the problem of assigning a single event upset figure of merit to a specific oevice. Single event rates depend both on device and circuitry, through the critical charge requisite for upset, and upon the device geometry and technology, which determine the target size and charge collection capability. Each of these factors must be taken into account when determining device susceptibility. Upset rates in space additionally depend on the environment. Device response in trapped proton belts and in the cosmic ray environment is sufficiently oifferent that a single susceptibility measure is inadequate. We conclude that devices should be characterizea by a proton susceptibility, and by an upset rate in a reference cosmic ray environment. We present a simple expression, based on laboratory measurement, that approximates the cosmic ray upset rate ano propose it as a figure of merit. Calculated and measured values for upset rates are sensitive to several factors. The field funneling effect is known to increase both the magnitude of collected charge and the effective sensitive circuit volume during single events relative to the static parameters. Thus, experimental sensitive area measurements obtained from single event data exceed values predicted from inspection of static circuit layout configurations. Also, more charge is collected from any specific event than is predicted by using depletion region extent to determine charge collection volumes. This effect must be included when critical upset charge values are determined from experimental upset thresholds.
Physical and immunological characterization of a recombinant secreted form of the membrane protein encoded by the vaccinia virus L1R gene

We reported that immunization with recombinant proteins derived from vaccinia virus (VV) particles could provide protection against infection. Here we describe the physical and antigenic properties of the L1R membrane protein. The recombinant protein (L1R(185t)) was secreted as a monomer and correct folding was suggested by the presence of three intramolecular disulfide bonds and binding to conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Furthermore, anti-L1R(185t) rabbit antisera exhibited potent virus-neutralizing activity against the IMV form of VV. We raised six MAbs against L1R(185t). Three recognized linear epitopes (residues 118–128) and neutralized IMV infectivity. These MAbs blocked binding of each other to L1R(185t) but failed to block binding of two previously described neutralizing anti-L1R MAbs, 7D11 and 2D5. The latter two antibodies blocked each other in binding L1R(185t). Thus, two antigenic sites on L1R overlap functional domains and based on recent structural studies these are found in accessible regions of the IMV L1R protein.
Sensitivity of gold nano-conductors to common contaminations: ab initio results

Gold nanowire chains are considered a good candidate for nanoelectronic devices because they exhibit remarkable structural and electrical properties. A previous study shows that the beryllium-terminated BeO (0001) surface may be a useful platform for supporting nano gold conductors, since it preserves the nano-wire configuration, does not restrict its conductivity, and even enhances it. However, the influence of contamination on the conductivity of such conductors is unknown. Here, ab initio simulations were performed to determine the effect of commonly adsorbed contaminants (H2O and O2) on the conductivity of gold nano-conductors. We found that the presence of adsorbed impurities does not alter the good conductive ability of the conductors under examination.
A combined segmenting and non-segmenting approach to signal quality estimation for ambulatory photoplethysmography

Continuous cardiac monitoring of healthy and unhealthy patients can help us understand the progression of heart disease and enable early treatment. Optical pulse sensing is an excellent candidate for continuous mobile monitoring of cardiovascular health indicators, but optical pulse signals are susceptible to corruption from a number of noise sources, including motion artifact. Therefore, before higher-level health indicators can be reliably computed, corrupted data must be separated from valid data. This is an especially difficult task in the presence of artifact caused by ambulation (e.g. walking or jogging), which shares significant spectral energy with the true pulsatile signal. In this manuscript, we present a machine-learning-based system for automated estimation of signal quality of optical pulse signals that performs well in the presence of periodic artifact. We hypothesized that signal processing methods that identified individual heart beats (segmenting approaches) would be more error-prone than methods that did not (non-segmenting approaches) when applied to data contaminated by periodic artifact. We further hypothesized that a fusion of segmenting and non-segmenting approaches would outperform either approach alone. Therefore, we developed a novel non-segmenting approach to signal quality estimation that we then utilized in combination with a traditional segmenting approach. Using this system we were able to robustly detect differences in signal quality as labeled by expert human raters (Pearson's r = 0.9263). We then validated our original hypotheses by demonstrating that our non-segmenting approach outperformed the segmenting approach in the presence of contaminated signal, and that the combined system outperformed either individually. Lastly, as an example, we demonstrated the utility of our signal quality estimation system in evaluating the trustworthiness of heart rate measurements derived from optical pulse signals.
Microbial oceanography and the Hawaii Ocean Time-series programme.

The Hawaii Ocean Time-series programme recently completed 25 years of continuous operation. Matthew Church and David Karl look back on some of the major discoveries that have come from this long-term programme and its contribution to our evolving understanding of microbial oceanography.
A NEW APPROACH TO FATIGUE THRESHOLD

―Conventionally, the fatigue threshold of a long-crack is obtained by load shedding using a constant normalized K-gradient, as recommended by ASTM E-647. However, this load shedding procedure often causes the crack opening displacement to decrease with increasing crack length, which may trigger crack closure. In this study, load shedding tests were conducted in load control following a power-law load shedding schedule such that the crack opening displacement was kept at a relatively constant level. Using this new testing procedure, it is shown that crack closure is not always as high as that associated with the ASTM recommended procedure at a given AK. Comparisons of fatigue crack growth rates under identical testing parameters, but with different closure levels produced by the two load shedding procedures, have been made for several structural alloys. The extrinsic shielding of the crack tip zone via crack closure has also been examined using an energy approach for these alloys. On the basis of these analyses, the true effective stress intensity range is evaluated for fatigue crack propagation and the role of crack closure in creating a fatigue threshold is re-assessed.
DataHigh: Graphical user interface for visualizing and interacting with high-dimensional neural activity

The activity of tens to hundreds of neurons can be succinctly summarized by a smaller number of latent variables extracted using dimensionality reduction methods. These latent variables define a reduced-dimensional space in which we can study how population activity varies over time, across trials, and across experimental conditions. Ideally, we would like to visualize the population activity directly in the reduced-dimensional space, whose optimal dimensionality (as determined from the data) is typically greater than 3. However, direct plotting can only provide a 2D or 3D view. To address this limitation, we developed a Matlab graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to quickly navigate through a continuum of different 2D projections of the reduced-dimensional space. To demonstrate the utility and versatility of this GUI, we applied it to visualize population activity recorded in premotor and motor cortices during reaching tasks. Examples include single-trial population activity recorded using a multi-electrode array, as well as trial-averaged population activity recorded sequentially using single electrodes. Because any single 2D projection may provide a misleading impression of the data, being able to see a large number of 2D projections is critical for intuition-and hypothesis-building during exploratory data analysis. The GUI includes a suite of additional interactive tools, including playing out population activity timecourses as a movie and displaying summary statistics, such as covariance ellipses and average timecourses. The use of visualization tools like the GUI developed here, in tandem with dimensionality reduction methods, has the potential to further our understanding of neural population activity.
Myself that I remake.

Suggested citation for this article: Potter P. … Myself that I remake. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2009 Feb [date cited]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/15/2/361.htm
Monozygotic Twins Concordant for Congenital Neuroblastoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

To date, five sets of monozygotic twins concordant for neuroblastoma have appeared in the literature. Review of the clinical information available for these cases suggests that they represent congenital, versus acquired, diseases in both twins from each twin pair. The question arises, then, whether some or all sets of twins represent simultaneous-onset malignancy of both twins within a twin pair or whether metastasis via placental anastomoses from one twin with congenital disease to the cotwin occurs. This report includes a sixth set of monozygotic twins concordant for congenital neuroblastoma. From analysis of the clinical data from all cases, it appears that two of six twin pairs may represent simultaneous-onset tumors in each twin from a twin pair, and two of the remaining four twin pairs, including the present case, may represent placental metastases from one twin with congenital neuroblastoma to the other. In the remaining two twin pairs insufficient data are available upon which to draw any conclusions. Now that molecular and genetic methodology is available to characterize neuroblastomas, these techniques may be utilized in future cases of monozygotic twins concordant for congenital neuroblastoma, to help clarify whether the neoplasms represent simultaneous primary tumors versus metastatic spread from one twin to another.
Improving Operative Flow During Pediatric Airway Evaluation: A Quality-Improvement Initiative

Importance Microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures (MLBs) are short-duration, high-acuity procedures that carry risk. Poor case flow and communication exacerbate such potential risk. Efficient operative flow is critical for patient safety and resource expenditure. Objectives To identify areas for improvement and evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary quality-improvement (QI) initiative. Design, Setting, and Participants A QI project using the “Plan-Do-Study-Act” (PDSA) cycle was implemented to assess MLBs performed on pediatric patients in a tertiary academic children’s hospital. Forty MLBs were audited using a QI evaluation tool containing 144 fields. Each MLB was evaluated for flow, communication, and timing. Opportunities for improvement were identified. Subsequently, QI interventions were implemented in an iterative cycle, and 66 MLBs were audited after the intervention. Interventions Specific QI interventions addressed issues of personnel frequently exiting the operating room (OR) and poor preoperative preparation, identified during QI audit as areas for improvement. Interventions included (1) conducting “huddles” between surgeon and OR staff to discuss needed equipment; (2) implementing improvements to surgeon case ordering and preference cards review; (3) posting an OR door sign to limit traffic during airway procedures; and (4) discouraging personnel breaks during airway procedures. Main Outcomes and Measures Operating room exiting behavior of OR personnel, preoperative preparation, and case timing were assessed and compared before and after the QI intervention. Results Personnel exiting the OR during the MLB was identified as a preintervention issue, with the surgical technologist, circulator, or surgeon exiting the room in 55% of cases (n = 22). The surgical technologist and circulator left the room to retrieve equipment in 40% of cases (n = 16), which indicated the need for increased preoperative preparation to improve case timing and operative flow. The QI interventions implemented to address these concerns included education regarding break timing, improvements in communication, and improvements in ordering and preparation of equipment. After the QI intervention, the surgical technologist exiting rate decreased from 20% (n = 8) to 8% (n = 5), and the circulator exiting rate decreased from 38% (n = 15) to 27% (n = 17). In addition, the rate of surgeon exiting decreased significantly (from 25% [n = 10 of 40] to 9% [n = 6 of 66]) ( P = .03). The surgical technologist and circulating nurse remaining in the room were significantly associated with decreased operating time (1.84-minute decrease for surgical technologist [ P = .04] and 1.95-minute decrease for circulating nurse [ P = .001]). Conclusions and Relevance Gains were made in personnel exiting behavior and case timing after implementation of the QI interventions, potentially leading to decreased risk. This process is easily reproduced and is widely accepted by stakeholders.
Aqueous iron-sulfur systems in rice field soils of Louisiana

A phase diagram of an aqueous iron-sulfur system constructed from thermodynamic data for initial concentrations of 100 ppm H2S and 100 ppm Fe permitted us to predict that the principal precipitate found in the Eh - pH range of flooded Louisiana rice paddys would be FeS2. Analysis of precipitates formed in the laboratory at Eh and pH levels simulating paddy conditions showed that both FeS2 and FeS were present; however more FeS than predicted was actually precipitated in the FeS2 field of dominance.
Importance of calcitonin in physiology, clinical pharmacology, and medicine.

This certainly is a great occasion. Thank you, Harold, for bringing together 20 or so eminent worthies in the history of calcitonin. Phil Hirsch and I are more than delighted to join with you all in this celebration. Our paper is in three parts: 1) our role in the discovery of calcitonin; 2) importance of calcitonin; 3) our current research on a second set of hypocalcemic hormones, the glucocorticoids .
Growth responses of prostatic epithelial cells from male mice neonatally exposed to diethylstilbestrol in serum-free collagen gel culture

Growth of anterior and ventral prostatic epithelial cells from mice neonatally exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) and from unexposed control mice was compared at different time points in serum-free collagen gel culture. A longer maintenance of the initial plating density (lag in growth) was observed in cultured DES-exposed ventral prostatic cells. Neonatal DES exposure resulted in two colony types: one similar to colonies arising from unexposed cells and one which appears to be non-growing. Keratinization was observed in some DES-exposed anterior prostatic cell colonies. Removal of epidermal growth factor from the serum-free medium significantly decreased growth in 3 of the 4 groups compared with their growth in the complete serum-free medium.
NSLS dipole power source

An SCR DC to DC converter is described which will operate at an output of 275 kW and will supply current to electron storage ring magnets requiring 5 hr. stability of 50 ppm. The operation of this modified chopper is described and design equations are presented, along with the system control loop description.
Simian virus 40 regulatory region structural diversity and the association of viral archetypal regulatory regions with human brain tumors.

The regulatory region (RR) of simian virus 40 (SV40) contains enhancer/promoter elements and an origin of DNA replication. Natural SV40 isolates from simian brain or kidney tissues typically have an archetypal RR arrangement with a single 72-basepair enhancer element. A rare simpler, shorter SV40 RR exists that lacks a duplicated sequence in the G/C-rich region and is termed protoarchetypal. Occasionally, SV40 strain variants arise de novo that have complex RRs, which typically contain sequence reiterations, rearrangements, and/or deletions. These variants replicate faster and to higher titers in tissue culture; we speculate that such faster-growing variants were selected when laboratory strains of SV40 were initially recovered. SV40 strains with archetypal RRs have been found in some human brain tumors. The possible implications of these findings and a brief review of the SV40 RR structure are presented.
Evidence-based librarianship: what might we expect in the years ahead?

Objective: To predict the possible accomplishments of the Evidence-Based Librarianship (EBL) movement by the years 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. Methods: Predictive. The author draws upon recent events, relevant historical events and anecdotal accounts to detect evidence of predictable trends. Results: The author develops a set of probable predictions for the development of EBL. Although incomplete evidence exists, some trends still seem discernible. Conclusion: By 2020, EBL will have become indistinguishable from mainstream health sciences librarianship/informatics practices.
Computer Graphics Achievement Award

ACM SIGGRAPH recognizes Richard Szeliski with the 2011 Computer Graphics Achievement Award for his pioneering contributions at the intersection of computer graphics and computer vision, particularly his work in image-based modeling and rendering. His work has significantly advanced our ability to capture the world in photographs and video and has shown how these advances enable a wide variety of new applications.
The importance of silica type for reverse-phase protein separations.

Abstract Various large-pore-diameter silicas have been coated with n-alkylchlorosilanes and tested for efficacy in protein separation. The optimal silica has been characterized for loading and column-length effects by means of resolution, load capacity, and desorption tests. The mechanism of interaction between protein and stationary phase is discussed. Theoretical plate values determined for small, unretained molecules are found to be noncorrelative to protein resolution. A test mixture is proposed for comparing the ability of commercial columns to resolve proteins.
Effect of seasonal changes in the pathways of methanogenesis on the δ13C values of pore water methane in a Michigan peatland

The δ13C value of pore water methane produced in a Michigan peatland varied by 11‰ during the year. This isotopic shift resulted from large seasonal changes in the pathways of methane production. On the basis of mass balance calculations, the δ13C value of methane from CO2 reduction (average = −71.4 ± 1.8‰) was depleted in 13C compared to that produced from acetate (−44.4 ± 8.2‰). The dissolved methane at the site remained heavy (approximately −51‰) during most of the year. Tracer experiments using 14C-labeled CO2 indicated that during January 110 ± 25% of the methane was produced by CO2 reduction. Because of low-methane production rates during the winter, this 13C-depleted methane had only a slight effect on the isotopic composition of the methane pool. In early spring when peat temperatures and methane production rates increased, the δ13C value of the dissolved methane in shallow peat was influenced by the isotopically light methane and approached −61‰. Peat incubation experiments conducted at 15°C in May and June (when the peat reaches its maximum temperature) indicated that an average of 84 ± 9% of the methane production was from acetate and had an average δ13C value of −48.7 ± 5.6‰. Rising acetate concentrations during April-May (approaching 1 mmol L−1(mM)) followed by a rapid decrease in acetate concentrations during May-June reflected the shift toward methane production dominated by acetate fermentation. During this period, dissolved methane in shallow peat at the site returned to heavier values (approximately −51‰) similar to that produced in the incubation experiments.
Crystal Structure of the Carboxyltransferase Domain of Acetyl-Coenzyme a Carboxylase in Complex with Cp-640186

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylases (ACCs) are important targets for the development of therapeutic agents against obesity, diabetes, and other diseases. CP-640186 is a potent inhibitor of mammalian ACCs and can reduce body weight and improve insulin sensitivity in test animals. It is believed to target the carboxyltransferase (CT) domain of these enzymes. Here we report the crystal structure of the yeast CT domain in complex with CP-640186. The inhibitor is bound in the active site at the interface of a dimer of the CT domain. CP-640186 has tight interactions with the putative biotin binding site in the CT domain and demonstrates a distinct mode of inhibiting the CT activity as compared to the herbicides that inhibit plant ACCs. The affinity of inhibitors for the CT domain has been assessed using kinetic and fluorescence anisotropy binding studies. The structural information identifies three regions for drug binding in the active site of CT.
Mg-2,4-divinyl pheoporphyrin a5: The product of a reaction catalyzed in vitro by developing chloroplasts☆

The major product of an aerobic reaction mixture containing developing chloroplasts, Mg-protoporphyrin IX, S-adenosylmethionine, and other cofactors was isolated and purified. Structural studies using nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed earlier reports, based on fluorescence and absorption spectra, that this compound is Mg-2,4-divinyl pheoporphyrin a5. The molecular weight determined by secondary-ion mass spectroscopy further confirmed the assigned structure. Absorption and fluorescence spectra indicate that this compound is identical to that reported previously by various workers in less-purified biological extracts. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the Mg-free base also supports the assigned structure.
EFFECT OF GENDER ON DEVELOPMENT AND DIURNAL RHYTHM OF PROSTAGLANDIN RECEPTORS IN RAT AORTA

1 The prostaglandin endoperoxide H2 analogue, U-46619 (15-hydroxy-11, 9-epoxymethanoprosta-5Z, 13E-enoic acid), was used to determine the effect of gender on the isotonic contractile response of the superfused rat aorta preparation over a 24 h period and at 10 and 16 weeks of age. 2 The maximal responses of the male aortae were 20 +/- 3% and 36 +/- 4% (P less than 0.001) greater than the female at 10 and 16 weeks, respectively. Similarly, sensitivity of the male aorta to the PGH2 analogue increased with age. 3 The male but not the female exhibited a diurnal rhythm in which both the maximum contractile response and sensitivity were significantly decreased at night. 4 We conclude that these gender differences may be related to the secretion of androgen, since reported peak serum testosterone over a 44 h period and testosterone changes with maturation are coincident with the maximum response of male aortae to the PGH2 analogue.
Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

A 3-month-old boy presented with respiratory tract infection and was found to have a posterior mediastinal mass on chest radiography. CT of the chest (Fig. 1) showed an aortic dissection in the descending thoracic aorta causing a pseudoaneurysm measuring approximately 4×4 cm. The child had a family history of intracranial aneurysms. MR angiography of the head (Fig. 2) showed elongated, tortuous intracranial vessels. The child also had a bifid uvula. The thoracic pseudoaneurysm was repaired with an end-to-end anastomosis.
A vector algorithm for lattice gas hydrodynamics

A code implementing a cellular automaton for simu lating fluid flows is presented in the style of Fortran 8X. Major data structures and the boundary characteristics are represented by bit vectors, resulting in efficient use of memory. Use of vector-length, bitwise operations yields significant speedup. The code is equally applicable to other vector supercomputers that support the full range of boolean operations.
Etravirine: A novel nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for managing human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Purpose The pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of etravirine and its clinical utility with respect to the available alternative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment options are reviewed. Summary While single mutations confer resistance to earlier nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), etravirine exhibited an increased barrier to resistance by requiring multiple mutations for resistance to occur in preclinical studies. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of etravirine in achieving HIV RNA viral loads of <50 copies/ mL and a significant increase in baseline CD4+ lymphocyte count in treatment-experienced patients. There has been a trend toward increased rates of death, progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and opportunistic infections in patients using placebo during Phase III trials. Baseline patient characteristics that correlate with changes in etravirine efficacy are reported. Mild-to-moderate rash and nausea are the most common adverse effects of etravirine. If rash is suspected, etravirine should be discontinued and rechallenge should be avoided due to the risk of severe and possibly fatal skin reactions. Unlike some antiretrovirals, increased risks of hepatic, lipid, or neuropsychiatric abnormalities are not correlated with its use. Several drug interactions are expected with etravirine use, and some may require dosage adjustment or substitution of concurrent drugs. No dosage adjustments are recommended for patients with mild-to-moderate hepatic or renal impairment. Conclusion Etravirine, a second-generation NNRTI, is efficacious in achieving viral suppression and improving the immune function in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients.
Long‐Term Ethanol and Nicotine Treatment Elicit Tolerance to Ethanol

Several previous studies have shown that 1 to 2 weeks of treatment with ethanol elicits tolerance to several effects produced by ethanol and cross-tolerance to nicotine-induced hypothermia. Similarly, short-term, high-dose nicotine treatment produces tolerance to nicotine and cross-tolerance to ethanol-induced hypothermia. In the studies reported here, C57BL/6 mice were force-fed ethanol, nicotine, or an ethanol/nicotine combination in the drinking water for 6 months. All of the chronic drug-treated mice developed tolerance to ethanol as measured by open-field activity, body temperature, and sleep-time tests. Ethanol tolerance is due, in part, to enhanced metabolism and reduced CNS sensitivity in the two ethanol-treated groups but only to reduced CNS sensitivity in the nicotine-treated group. Similar levels of tolerance to nicotine developed in those two groups that were nicotine-treated, but no tolerance to nicotine was seen in those animals treated with ethanol alone. The tolerance to nicotine may be related to an upregulation of brain (cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus) [3H]-nicotine binding, but ethanol tolerance is not readily explained by changes in the number of the brain high affinity nicotine binding sites.
Ethylene-induced Leaf Abscission Is Promoted by Gibberellic Acid

Gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) promoted leaf abscission from cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants exposed to ethylene. With mature plants, only the rate of abscission was increased, but when vegetative plants were exposed to ethylene for 4 days or less, the amount of abscission was increased markedly. Promotion of abscission occurred at near saturating ethylene levels (10 μl/liter), over a wide range of GA 3 concentrations, and with both GA 3 and GA 7 . GA 3 promoted abscission when Ethephon was substituted for ethylene and at locations not receiving direct application of GA 3 . The magnitude of the abscission promotion by GA 3 was greater than that resulting from auxin transport inhibitors or abscisic acid. The characteristic inhibition of abscission by auxin occurred. The responses suggest that endogenous gibberellins may be involved in rapid abscission of apical leaves from vegetative cotton plants exposed to ethylene. Application of GA 3 may offer an additional option in agricultural manipulation of abscission and dehiscence.
Cocaine inhibits 5-HT3 receptor function in neurons from transgenic mice overexpressing the receptor.

Abstract Studies have shown that cocaine alters the function of recombinant 5-HT 3 receptors and that behavioral responses to cocaine are affected by 5-HT 3 receptor ligands. However, the actions of cocaine on brain 5-HT 3 receptors have not been characterized because these receptors are not abundantly expressed in most neuronal populations. We examined the effect of cocaine on 5-HT 3 receptor function in cultured hippocampal neurons from transgenic mice overexpressing the receptor. Cocaine competitively inhibited 5-HT 3 receptors with an IC 50 of ∼4 μM, indicating that brain 5-HT 3 receptors are important targets for the actions of this commonly abused substance.
A testbed for studying and choosing predictive tracking algorithms in virtual environments

We present a testbed for comparing predictive tracking algorithms that allows virtual environment system developers to make better choices about which predictors to use in their environments and aids researchers in determining how predictors work across various virtual environment configurations. Our testbed saves the virtual environment developer and researcher both time and effort with the important task of reducing dynamic tracking error and masking latency. The testbed consists of three components: a prediction algorithm library, a motion data repository, and a graphical testing application which provides users with the ability to test different predictive tracking algorithms across a variety of user motion sequences. The testbed provides enough generality for testing across different algorithmic and system parameters such as sampling rate, prediction time, and noise variance. The paper describes the contents of the predictor library and how to extend it, the types of motion data sets collected thus far, the motion data preparation methodology, and the graphical testing application's functionality and architecture. A simple testing scenario showing output from the testbed is also presented.
A Model to Estimate Worker Exposure to Spray Paint Mists

Abstract Exposure models traditionally have emphasized the statistical association between process parameters and measured exposures. These empirical-statistical models can identify factors important in controlling exposure, but are difficult to generalize for various reasons. Different modeling techniques may have wider applicability. Known as empirical-conceptual models, they are based on a conceptual analysis that identifies contaminant generation and transport processes leading to the exposure. Dimensional analysis is used to group important process parameters into independent, nondimensional ratios. The relationship among these ratios is then determined from experiment. This research develops an empirical-conceptual model of exposure to mists generated during a spray painting task. Dimensional analysis is used to identify four important dimensionless quantities. Laboratory wind tunnel experiments with a mannequin, flat plate, and spray nozzle provided data to determine the mathematical relationship b...
Obstacle avoidance using hierarchical dynamic programming

Studies the problem of finding the optimal path or trajectory of a robot or other unmanned device through an obstacle field for a given start and goal position. In the most general problem, the obstacle field would be modeled by a finite array of time dependent analog valued pixels. Moreover since the field of vision of the unmanned device is limited, the authors could not assume perfect knowledge of the full obstacle field at any given time. The author discuss approximate optimal paths constructed using hierarchical methods. The hierarchical methods entail constructing a coarse resolution version of the original obstacle array and then using multipass dynamic programming to find an optimal coarse path. >
Touch modulates gravity sensing to regulate the growth of primary roots of Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants must sense and respond to diverse stimuli to optimize the architecture of their root system for water and nutrient scavenging and anchorage. We have therefore analyzed how information from two of these stimuli, touch and gravity, are integrated to direct root growth. In Arabidopsis thaliana, touch stimulation provided by a glass barrier placed across the direction of growth caused the root to form a step-like growth habit with bends forming in the central and later the distal elongation zones. This response led to the main root axis growing parallel to, but not touching the obstacle, whilst the root cap maintained contact with the barrier. Removal of the graviperceptive columella cells of the root cap using laser ablation reduced the bending response of the distal elongation zone. Similarly, although the roots of the gravisensing impaired pgm1-1 mutant grew along the barrier at the same average angle as wild-type, this angle became more variable with time. These observations imply a constant gravitropic re-setting of the root tip response to touch stimulation from the barrier. In wild-type plants, transient touch stimulation of root cap cells, but not other regions of the root, inhibited both subsequent gravitropic growth and amyloplast sedimentation in the columella. Taken together, these results suggest that the cells of the root cap sense touch stimuli and their subsequent signaling acts on the columella cells to modulate their graviresponse. This interaction of touch and gravity signaling would then direct root growth to avoid obstacles in the soil while generally maintaining downward growth.
Serological differentiation of the citrus tristeza virus isolates causing stem pitting in sweet orange.

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) complex comprises a number of isolates or strains producing several economically important disease syndromes in commercial Citrus spp. The stem pitting syndrome is the most important, and causes substantial losses in many citrus-producing regions of the world. In an attempt to develop a serological tool to rapidly differentiate stem pitting isolates of CTV, we evaluated many combinations of trapping and detecting antibodies in an indirect double-antibody sandwich (I-DAS) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two combinations of trapping and detecting antibodies were found suitable for differentiating stem pitting isolates in extracts of infected sweet orange plants. One used a polyclonal serum raised against bacterially expressed CTV coat protein (CP) for trapping and a conformational monoclonal antibody 3E10 for detection, and the other used two polyclonal antisera generated against bacterially expressed CTV CP. Seventy-six CTV isolates from 20 countries, including 35 that cause stem pitting in sweet orange plants, were analyzed in I-DAS-ELISA using different combinations of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for trapping and as intermediate detecting antibodies. The ELISA format developed produces a strong positive signal for CTV isolates that cause stem pitting in sweet orange plants and a negative ELISA signal for CTV isolates that do not cause stem pitting. When combined with data on a universal ELISA format, i.e., reacting with a broad range of CTV isolates, these selective ELISA formats allowed reliable serological differentiation of CTV isolates that caused stem pitting in infected sweet orange plants.
Volatility in US and European Equity Markets: An Assessment of Market Quality

The paper examines intra–day share price volatility over the year 2000 for five market centres: the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris and Deutsche Borse. In each of these markets, we observe a U–shaped intra–day volatility pattern, a particularly sharp spike for the opening half hour, and a general level of intra–day volatility that is accentuated vis–a–vis volatility over longer differencing intervals, e.g. daily and weekly periods. We suggest that the volatility accentuation is attributable to spreads, market impact, price discovery and momentum trading — all of which are either trading costs or exist because of trading costs. Because the magnitude of trading costs depends in part on market design, we also suggest that a link exists between intra–day volatility and market structure, and that market quality/efficiency on both sides of the Atlantic could be improved.
Stem Cells with Neural Crest Characteristics Derived from the Bulge Region of Cultured Human Hair Follicles

In this study, we demonstrate that we can isolate stem cells (SCs) with neural crest characteristics from the bulge area of cultured human hair follicles (HFs). These SCs can proliferate in situ and form spheroid structures attached to the bulge area of HFs, and they express immature neural crest cell markers but not differentiation markers. An expression profiling study showed that they share a similar gene expression pattern with murine skin immature neural crest cells. These human SCs are label-retaining cells and are capable of self-renewal through asymmetric cell division in vitro . They exhibit clonal multipotency that can give rise to myogenic, melanocytic, and neuronal cell lineages after in vitro clonal single cell culture. In addition, these SCs show differentiation potential toward mesenchymal lineages, and they can be differentiated into adipocyte, chondrocyte, and osteocyte lineages. Neuronal differentiation of these cells induces global gene expression changes with a significantly increased expression of neuron-associated genes. Differentiated neuronal cells can persist in mouse brain and retain neuronal differentiation markers. The presence of SCs with neural crest characteristics in HFs may offer new opportunities for the use of these cells in regenerative medicine. JID JOURNAL CLUB ARTICLE: For questions and answers about this article, please go to http://www.nature.com/jid/journalclub
An Interactivist-Hermeneutic Metatheory for Positive Psychology

Drawing on Bickhard's interactivism along with philosophical hermeneutics, we outline a plausible ontology of human action and development that might serve as a metatheory for positive psychology. Our nondualistic metatheory rests on a distributed notion of agency. The kinds of morally imbued social practices that are identified by hermeneutic theorists constitute one level of agency. At the first level of agency, persons are already committed, at least by implication, to folk psychologies that cover positive emotion, positive traits, and positive institutions. Higher levels of agency and knowing emerge through the process of development. The higher knowing levels incorporate the capacity for conscious self-reflexive awareness, which permits the person to consciously deliberate and form theories of the good person and the good life. These more consciously formed positive folk psychologies are always in a dialectical relationship with the more implicit and embodied understandings of the good life as manife...
Efficacy and safety of an attenuated live QX-like infectious bronchitis virus strain as a vaccine for chickens

The attenuation of infectious bronchitis (IB) QX-like virus strain L1148 is described. The virus was passaged multiple times in embryonated specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken eggs, and at different passage levels samples were tested for safety for the respiratory tract and kidneys in 1-day-old SPF chickens. There was a clear decrease in pathogenicity for the respiratory tract and kidneys when the virus had undergone a large number of passages. Passage level 80 was investigated for safety for the reproductive tract in 1-day-old and 7-day-old SPF chickens. In 1-day-old chickens, 12.5% of the vaccinated birds had macroscopic lesions. No lesions were observed if the chickens had been vaccinated at 7 days of age. Passage level 80 was investigated for its ability to spread from vaccinated to non-vaccinated chickens and for dissemination in the body. The virus was able to spread from vaccinated chickens to groups of non-vaccinated chickens, and in the vaccinated birds the virus was found frequently in oro-pharyngeal and cloacal swabs. A fragment of the hypervariable region of the S1 protein of passage level 80 was sequenced and revealed nucleotide changes resulting in two amino acid substitutions. Passage level 80 was given additional passages to levels 82 and 85. Both passage levels were tested for efficacy in SPF chickens and passage level 85 was tested for efficacy in commercial chickens with maternally derived antibodies (MDA) against a challenge with QX-like strain IB D388. In both SPF chickens and chickens with MDA, the vaccines based on strain IB L1148 were efficacious against challenge.
EARLY ESTRUS IN THE CAT FOLLOWING INCREASED ILLUMINATION

THE BREEDING CYCLE of the cat is characterized by a definite anestrous period. The data of Foster and Hisaw (1) indicate that in the region of Madison, Wisconsin, cats are usually anestrous from September to January although a few may be found in this phase of the cycle at still later dates. Extensive observations by Windle (2) on several hundred cats over a period of 11 years show that estrus rarely occurs (under laboratory conditions in Chicago, Illinois) during the season beginning with July and ending with January. Accordingly, Windle regards the period from February to June, inclusive, as the normal estrous season. Experience over the past 3 years in Cambridge, Massachusetts also confirms these observations on the duration of the anestrous period. Few animals exhibited spontaneous estrus in the early part of January (table 1). Many investigators have induced estrus during the anestrous period by the injection of appropriate hormones.
1,3,5‐Triacetylbenzene

trans-4-Methyl-3-buten-2-one 1,3, 5-Triacetylbenzene Keywords: Triacetylbenzene; Dendrimers; Glasses; Cyanine dyes; Transition metal catalysts; Grignard reagents; Cost-effective process; Solvents; Nontoxic waste
Reading Between the Lines of Cancer and Fertility: A Provider’s Story

As oncologists with experience in the growing area of oncofertility, there are some standard elements we think of with new patients in regards to oncofertility, such as sperm donation, egg harvesting, ovarian cryopreservation, cost of the procedures now and in the future, and cost of storage. We try to think of everything to tell our patients – all their options, the benefits and risks, and the odds of various outcomes. And while we know the issue is monumental for our patients, we can sometimes lose sight of the lifelong impact of their cancer and oncofertility decisions, and the myriad of ways these decisions will shape their lives and manifest themselves in surprising ways unique to each patient. We can also forget that the discussion of oncofertility itself may create an issue for a patient with which he or she might not otherwise have struggled.
78-Year-Old Man With Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Dyspnea, and Hypotension

A 78-year-old man with a 30 pack-year smoking history, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presented with several months of fatigue, nausea, vomiting, cough, and shortness of breath. Chest radiography suggested a right pulmonary mass and cardiomegaly. Subsequent computed tomography of the chest and abdomen revealed the following: a mass measuring 4.8 × 4.0 cm in the right middle lobe of the lung, right and left lower lobe nodules, abnormal perihilar lymph nodes, possible left adrenal metastasis, and a small pericardial effusion. Follow-up bronchoscopy with biopsy confirmed grade II squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was referred to Mayo Clinic for further work-up.
Forward resource reservation for QoS provisioning in OBS systems

This paper addresses the issue of providing QoS services for optical burst switching (OBS) systems. We propose a linear predictive filter (LPF)-based forward resource reservation method to reduce the burst delay at edge routers. An aggressive reservation method is proposed to increase the successful forward reservation probability and to improve the delay reduction performance. We also discuss a QoS strategy that achieves burst delay differentiation for different classes of traffic by extending the FRR scheme. We analyze the latency reduction improvement gained by our FRR scheme, and evaluate the bandwidth cost of the FRR-based QoS strategy. Our scheme yields significant delay reduction for time-critical traffic, while maintaining the bandwidth overhead within limits.