cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions among plant defense compounds: a method for analysis

Plants contain an enormous diversity and quantity of secondary metabolites, some of which are toxic and deterrent to herbivores and pathogens. This impressive diversity of plant compounds suggests a high probability of interactions among them. Synergistic interactions are those in which the combined activity of two or more chemicals is greater than that expected given their individual activities. On the other hand, antagonistic interactions are those in which the combined activity of two or more chemicals is less than that expected given their individual activities. Synergistic interactions could increase plant fitness whereas antagonistic interactions could decrease plant fitness. Interactions are thus potentially very important, not only in explaining the diversity of defense compounds within individual plants, but also in providing insight into plant defense strategies. Although synergistic interactions have received increased attention in the ecological literature in the last decade, the number of documented cases of synergy remains small and antagonistic interactions are rarely considered. The primary reason for this scarcity may be the difficulty of detecting, analyzing and displaying such interactions. Analysis by ANOVA, though sometimes used, often is not appropriate. We introduce a simple technique, isobolographic analysis, that is used in pharmacology for detecting and rigorously quantifying synergy and antagonism and provide an example using the brine shrimp toxicity assay. More statistically sophisticated approaches, such as isobolographic analysis, will allow ecologists to effectively document the role of chemical synergy and antagonism in interactions between species. Such chemical interactions may ultimately provide insight into longstanding, ecological questions.
Severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction to ibuprofen occurring after prolonged therapy

A 23-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus had a severe hypersensitivity reaction to the drug ibuprofen. The reaction, documented by rechallenge during hospitalization, was characterized by marked hypotension, fever, rigors, conjunctivitis, meningitis, nausea, arthralgias, and leukopenia. In addition to illustrating the potential diagnostic confusion with infection or lupus flare, this case is of interest in that the reaction developed suddenly despite the patient's uneventful use of the drug for over two years. Collected cases are reviewed from the literature, and the common features are summarized.
Parenting beliefs and academic achievement across African-American and Caucasian family contexts

The purpose of this research was to examine the role of parents' child-rearing beliefs in determining the academic achievement of African-American and Caucasian children, with a particular emphasis on describing the differential impact of parenting beliefs across these family contexts. Models were specified in which third-grade academic outcome measures (teacher ratings and standardised assessments) were regressed on a composite variable representing the cumulative parenting beliefs between infancy and the transition to school, along with demographic controls. Across models, traditional parenting beliefs uniquely negatively impacted subsequent achievement across ethnicities and there was a moderating impact of ethnicity such that African-American children were more adversely affected by traditional beliefs than were Caucasian children. These results suggest that traditional child-rearing beliefs represent a risk factor for poorer academic achievement for both African-American and Caucasian children and ma...
Midazolam amnesia and short-term/working memory processes

We examined whether midazolam impairs short-term/working memory processes. We hypothesize that prior dissociations in midazolam's effects on short-term/working memory tasks and episodic memory tasks arise because midazolam has a larger effect on episodic memory processes than on short-term/working memory processes. To examine these issues, .03 mg/kg of participant's bodyweight of midazolam was administered in a double-blind placebo-controlled within-participant design. Performance on the digit span and category generation/recall tasks was examined. The results of Experiment 1 demonstrated that: (1) midazolam impaired performance on the digit span task; (2) midazolam did not impair performance on the category generation task; (3) midazolam impaired performance on the category recall task; and (4) midazolam's effect on category recall was four times as large as its effect on digit span. The results of Experiment 2 demonstrated that midazolam did not impair digit span performance when the digit span task was administered at a later time. These results suggest that midazolam can impair short-term/working memory processes, but these effects are substantially smaller than midazolam's effect on episodic memory processes. Moreover, they demonstrate that conscious awareness of materials during study is not sufficient to produce episodic memory.
Self-Efficacy in Romantic Relationships: Prediction of Relationship Attitudes and Outcomes

ABSTRACT Three studies examine discriminant and predictive validity of a self-report measure of self -efficacy in romantic relationships (Self-Efficacy in Romantic Relationships; SERR). Study 1 indicates SERR scores predict relationship anxiety and expectations of relationship success when general self-efficacy, self-esteem, social desirability, and efficacy beliefs about relating to specific relationship partners are considered. Study 2 indicates SERR scores predict later relationship satisfaction and commitment when relationship type and length are considered. Study 3 indicates that SERR scores predict later relationship outcomes when other self-efficacy indicators are considered. The SERR assesses broad feelings of relationship self-efficacy, independent of specific relationships or partners.
Intergenerational health consequences of the 1959–1961 Great Famine on children in rural China

Abstract Using a difference-in-difference method and data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), this paper attempts to quantify the intergenerational health effects on children in rural China of the 1959–1961 Great Famine. By differentiating mother, father, both parents, and none of parents exposed to famine, the analysis puts mother's and father's famine exposure in one unifying framework. Therefore, the methodology achieves identification without concern for multicollinearity and omitted variable bias found in the previous literature. The results imply that children with both parents born in the Great Famine are significantly shorter by 0.37 standard deviations (1.89 cm for boys and 1.78 cm for girls) compared to children with no parents born in the mass starvation. There are also gender and age differences relative to the intergenerational effects of the famine. Girls suffer more than boys, and children between 8 and 12 years of age suffer more than the other age groups.
The naked truth: Sphynx and Devon Rex cat breed mutations in KRT71.

Hair is a unique structure, characteristic of mammals, controlling body homeostasis, as well as cell and tissue integration. Previous studies in dog, mouse, and rat have identified polymorphisms in Keratin 71 (KRT71) as responsible for the curly/wavy phenotypes. The coding sequence and the 3′ UTR of KRT71 were directly sequenced in randomly bred and pedigreed domestic cats with different pelage mutations, including hairless varieties. A SNP altering a splice site was identified in the Sphynx breed and suggested to be the hairless (hr) allele, and a complex sequence alteration, also causing a splice variation, was identified in the Devon Rex breed and suggested to be the curly (re) allele. The polymorphisms were genotyped in approximately 200 cats. All the Devon Rex were homozygous for the complex alterations and most of the Sphynx were either homozygous for the hr allele or compound heterozygotes with the Devon-associated re allele, suggesting that the phenotypes are a result of the identified SNPs. Two Sphynx carrying the proposed hr mutation did not carry the Devon-associated alteration. No other causative mutations for eight different rexoid and hairless cat phenotypes were identified. The allelic series KRT71+ > KRT71hr > KRT71re is suggested.
Crime Victims’ Attributions for Survival

There is a substantial body of work on attribution theory, which describes the processes by which individuals determine the causes of events and their outcomes; however, little is known about survival attributions. To ascertain the kinds of attributions made by survivors of violent crime, we collected and analyzed televised interviews with survivors. Our analysis of 51 interviews indicated that crime survival attributions took one of two forms: survival because statements and survival for statements. Survival because statements detailed how individuals survived, and survival for statements described why they lived. Interviewees mentioned surviving for their families, justice, and the greater good. Survival because statements emphasized the roles that God, family, emergency workers, and the victims, themselves, played in their survival. The discussion articulates possible explanations for these findings.
Combination of the minor groove-binder U73-975 or the intercalator mitoxantrone with antitumor alkylating agents in MCF-7 or MCF-7/CP cells.

Abstract In an effort to improve the cytotoxicity of clinically used anticancer alkylating agents, the topoisomerase II inhibitory drugs U73-975 or mitoxantrone were added to cell cultures exposed to CDDP, carboplatin, BCNU, melphalan or thiotepa. In the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line and in the MCF-7/CP (CDDP resistant) subline, U73-975 and mitoxantrone were both potent cytotoxic agents (IC 50 0.002 μM and 0.006 μM for U73-975, respectively and 0.8 μM and 0.1 μM for mitoxantrone, respectively). As evaluated by isobologram analysis, the addition of either U73-975 or mitoxantrone to 1 h exposure to CDDP resulted in greater-than-additive killing in the MCF-7 parent cells. While U73-975 was also greater-than-additive in cytotoxicity with CDDP in the MCF-7/CP line, mitoxantrone and CDDP were only additive in cytotoxicity in these cells. In the case of carboplatin, the addition of U73-975 or mitoxantrone to treatment with the drug resulted in greater-than-additive cell killing in the MCF-7 parental cell line but in the MCF-7/CP cell line these combinations were only additive in cell killing. Addition of U73-975 to treatment with BCNU resulted in only additive cytotoxicity in both cell lines; however, the combination of mitoxantrone with BCNU resulted in greater-than-additive cell killing in both the parental and CDDP resistant cell lines. When either U73-975 or mitoxantrone was added to treatment with melphalan greater-than-additive cytotoxicity resulted in both cell lines except at low melphalan concentrations in the MCF-7/CP cell line. Finally, the addition of either modulator to treatment with thiotepa in the MCF-7 cell line produced variable interactions depending on thiotepa concentration, but in the MCF-7/CP cell line either modulator in combination with thiotepa caused greater-than-additive cell killing. These results indicate that the addition of topoisomerase II inhibitory drugs may substantially increase the cytotoxicity of some alkylating agents. In vivo experiments are necessary, however, to ascertain whether a therapeutic gain is achievable.
An Economic Model for the Division of Labor

The division of labor in assembly is facilitated by the conveyor line. Workers are stationed along the line on which the frame of the product being assembled moves. The total job is broken into elements of work and assigned in approximately equal shares to the workers on the line. Each operator adds his share of work as the product passes him. The measure of the division of labor is the amount of time the product spends at each operator's work station. This period is commonly called the “cycle time.” The problem of the economic extent of the division of labor is to determine the optimum cycle time, or that which yields the lowest unit direct labor cost of assembly.
Neurodegenerative disease and iron storage in the brain.

Purpose of reviewIron is very important for normal regulation of various metabolic pathways. Neurons store iron in the form of ferrous ion or neuromelanin. In specific disorders the axonal transport of iron is impaired, leading to iron deposition which in the presence of reactive oxygen species resu
Proposed role of drug-metabolizing enzymes: regulation of steady state levels of the ligands that effect growth, homeostasis, differentiation, and neuroendocrine functions.

Every ligand known to bind to a receptor in the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily is involved in a variety of signal transduction pathways effecting growth, morphogenesis, homeostasis, proliferation, and neuroendocrine functions. Often these ligands are associated with increases in particular subsets of cytochromes P450 and other drug-metabolizing enzymes. Interestingly, certain of these enzymes participate in the metabolism (synthesis as well as degradation) of these ligands. It appears that genes coding for certain drug-metabolizing enzymes might have existed on this planet at least 1 billion years before the presence of plants, animals, and drugs. An early role for oxidative enzymes in prokaryotes most likely involved energy substrate utilization: insertion of oxygen into various inaccessible carbon and other food sources, thereby rendering them accessible to further metabolism. It is proposed that a later development of these “drug-metabolizing enzymes” in prokaryotes and early eukaryotes might be ...
Pyroelectric anemometry: Vector and swirl measurements

Abstract The characteristics of a vector pyroelectric anemometer that measures the orthogonal components of mass flow are presented. This anemometer consists of three measuring electrodes and two heater elements on a 6 mm × 6 mm chip that form two orthogonal linear anemometers. The characteristics of a single pair of electrodes forming an in-line linear anemometer are in good agreement with recent measurements and theory. A wall-mounted vector pyroelectric anemometer is used to measure the decay of swirl in air flowing through a 45 mm inner diameter, 5 m long flow system. The swirl flow is produced by a 90° out-of-plane double elbow at the flow system inlet. The tube flow generated by a squirrel-cage fan has a Reynolds number of ≈ 24 000, well into the turbulent regime. Measurements are conducted at the wall at a uniform distance along the length of the flow section for both straight and swirl flow. The measured decay length is ≈ 40 pipe diameters, in good agreement with measurements on water.
The Rush to Counsel: Lessons of Caution in the Aftermath of Disaster

Mental health professionals were quick to respond [after the 9/11 disaster], offering counseling, psychological debriefing, and an array of mental health services to people who were believed to need professional help to allevate the psychological symptoms of trauma and potential posttraumatic stress disorder. The preponderance of randomized and controlled studies now shows that psychological debriefing is not only largely ineffective but may also have long-term adverse effects on victims of trauma. Although additional research is needed... Given the fact that the preponderance of studies in this area have shown that debriefing can lead to adverse outcomes, widespread and indiscriminate use of this method for trauma victims is both risky and potentially dangerous.
Microbial Models of Mammalian Metabolism: Production of Novel α-diketone Metabolites of Warfarin and Phenprocoumon Using Aspergillus Niger

1. The coumarin anticoagulants warfarin and phenprocoumon were metabolized by Aspergillus niger via oxidative ring cleavage to yield the corresponding α-diketone metabolites.2. Structural identification was based upon physical, spectral, and chromatographic comparisons of isolated metabolites and synthetic standards generated by the oxidative cleavage of warfarin or phenprocoumon with pyridinium chlorochromate.3. This pathway of metabolism has been previously observed for coumarin anticoagulants in mammalian systems.
Experimental investigation on two-phase pulse detonation engine

Abstract This paper presents some results of experimental investigation on a two-phase pulse detonation engine (PDE) model. Proof-of-principle experiments of this model with liquid C8H16/air mixture were successfully conducted. Efforts were focused on initiation and propagation of detonation waves by means of one-step detonation initiation method, low-energy ignition system (total stored energy of 50 mJ), and effective Schelkin spiral. Three PDE models with different sizes were tested: 30 mm-I.D. by 2 m-length; 56 mm-I.D. by 2 m-length and 50 mm by 1 m, which were operated over a repetition frequency range from 1 Hz to 36 Hz. One-way valves were used to adaptively control intermittent supplies of air and fuel flows. The results of detonation velocity, over-pressure and impulse measurements were presented. The measured pressure ratio of detonation wave was close to that of C-J detonation. The effects of equivalence ratio, PDE diameter, length, and detonation frequency on its performance were experimentally investigated. The obtained results have demonstrated that the averaged thrust of PDE is approximately proportional to the volume of detonation chamber and detonation frequency. For liquid C8H16/air mixture, the PDE operation with as short a length as 1000 mm and detonation frequency up to 36 Hz was successfully realized, which made an important step to practical PDE.
Norms and sensitivity of the adolescent version of the Drug Use Screening Inventory

The distribution and the statistical accuracy of scores on the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) and the discriminative power of the DUSI for identifying individuals who qualify for a DSM-III-R diagnosis of Psychoactive Substance Use Disorder (PSUD) were examined in 846 adolescents. The subjects with PSUD had higher mean scores, and the distribution of their scores approximated a normal distribution in each of the 10 domains measured by the DUSI. All of the DUSI domains yielded more precise trait estimates for the subjects who had more severe PSUD. Within the normal sample, using a score of 30 on the overall problem density index as the cutoff score, the DUSI correctly classified 95% of the normal sample and 81% of the PSUD cases.
The deformation of thin foils under hydrostatic pressure

Abstract Thin, circular, aluminum foil membranes have been tested under hydrostatic pressure. The shape of pressurized membranes has been statistically determined from deflection measurements along meridian sections of approximately 100 deformed specimens. It has been found that for central deflections that are greater than 0.1 times the membrane radius, the meridian is elliptic, whereas it may be characterized as hyperbolic for central deflections that are less than 0.1 times the membrane radius. The shape determination permits the direct expression of pressure versus deflection behavior of the membrane in terms of the material properties and specimen geometry, without recourse to graphical or iterative computation. Pressure versus central deflection expressions have been derived for both an elliptically shaped meridian and a circular approximation of the meridian shape. For given deflections the expressions may be used for predicting the elastic behavior of the foil for the plastically bulged zero pressure condition. The pressure predicted by the above expressions and the pressure predicted by the classical techniques of ellipitical membrane theory have been compared with the pressure-deflection data of over one hundred experiments. The elliptical expression is slightly more reliable than the spherical formula and both predicted the measured pressure within 10% accuracy about half the time. The classical membrane expression consistently predicted pressures that were about 40% higher than those measured.
Large-scale experimental landscapes reveal distinctive effects of patch shape and connectivity on arthropod communities

The size, shape, and isolation of habitat patches can affect organism behavior and population dynamics, but little is known about the relative role of shape and connectivity in affecting ecological communities at large spatial scales. Using six sampling sessions from July 2001 until August 2002, we collected 33,685 arthropods throughout seven 12-ha experimental landscapes consisting of clear-cut patches surrounded by a matrix of mature pine forest. Patches were explicitly designed to manipulate connectivity (via habitat corridors) independently of area and edge effects. We found that patch shape, rather than connectivity, affected ground-dwelling arthropod richness and beta diversity (i.e. turnover of genera among patches). Arthropod communities contained fewer genera and exhibited less turnover in high-edge connected and high-edge unconnected patches relative to low-edge unconnected patches of similar area. Connectivity, rather than patch shape, affected the evenness of ground-dwelling arthropod communities; regardless of patch shape, high-edge connected patches had lower evenness than low- or high-edge unconnected patches. Among the most abundant arthropod orders, increased richness in low-edge unconnected patches was largely due to increased richness of Coleoptera, whereas Hymenoptera played an important role in the lower evenness in connected patches and patterns of turnover. These findings suggest that anthropogenic habitat alteration can have distinct effects on ground-dwelling arthropod communities that arise due to changes in shape and connectivity. Moreover, this work suggests that corridors, which are common conservation tools that change both patch shape and connectivity, can have multiple effects on arthropod communities via different mechanisms, and each effect may alter components of community structure.
Many-to-many information connection connections in a distributed digital library portal

The Ensemble computing education portal is part of the US NSF's National Science Digital Library (NSDL). The underlying assumption in Ensemble's design is that people will not come just because we build something new. The information must be available from wherever potential users are. This poster describes early efforts to provide multiple community oriented entry points to multiple sources relevant to computing educators.
Measuring Farm Sector Wealth and Income: Data Comparisons for Illinois Farms

The farm sector balance sheet, income statement, and the Farm Costs and Returns Survey (FCRS) data are utilized to evaluate the financial conditions of American agriculture. This study compares estimated balance sheet and income statements using USDA and FCRS constructs with actual farm records for farms participating in the Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) record-keeping program. Results suggest a tendency for USDA and FCRS to report lower amounts of both assets and liabilities than FBFM records show, but this is explained in part by the inclusion of only farm business assets in the FCRS and USDA data sets. Income estimates do not vary greatly between the data sources.
Paying for technology: student fees and libraries

Abstract Technology resource fees provide a possible source of funding for library technology. Integrating these student funds into libraries’ budgets requires strategic planning, good communication, and student involvement. Through a review of peer institutions and a broad student survey, this study explored how libraries may tap into these funds.
The Construction of Nonlinear Normal Modes for Systems With Internal Resonance: Application to Rotating Beams

A numerical method for constructing nonlinear normal modes for systems with internal resonances is presented based on the invariant manifold approach. In order to parameterize the nonlinear normal modes, multiple pairs of system state variables involved in the internal resonance are kept as ‘seeds’ for the construction of the multi-mode invariant manifold. All the remaining degrees of freedom are constrained to these ‘seed’ variables, resulting in a system of nonlinear partial differential equations governing the constraint relationships, which must be solved numerically. The solution procedure uses a combination of finite difference schemes and Galerkin-based expansion approaches. It is illustrated using two examples, both of which focus on the construction of two-mode models. The first example is based on the analysis of a simple three-degree-of-freedom example system, and is used to demonstrate the approach. An invariant manifold that captures two nonlinear normal modes is constructed, resulting in a reduced-order model that accurately captures the system dynamics. The methodology is then applied to a more large system, namely an 18-degree-of-freedom rotating beam model that features a three-to-one internal resonance between the first two flapping modes. The accuracy of the nonlinear two-mode reduced-order model is verified by time-domain simulations.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Using Aggregated Federal Data to Model Freight in a Medium-Sized Community

In most urban areas, freight volumes are not explicitly considered in the transportation planning process. This is primarily due to the proprietary nature of freight data, causing any freight data that are released to be highly aggregated. This paper examines a multitiered methodology to utilize freight data from a federally available, highly aggregated source within an urban planning model to accurately model truck transportation. A case study is included that demonstrates the modeling methodology for a medium-sized urban area, complete with international port, and contains validation results of the freight transportation in the area.
Long-term seizure outcome in 74 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: effects of incorporating MRI head imaging in defining the cryptogenic subgroup.

Summary: Purpose: To determine if using more stringent criteria for cryptogenic Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) would result in an improved prognosis for that group. Cryptogenic, symptomatic, and non-cryptogenic LGS patients without etiology (indeterminate) were compared with respect to seizure and cognitive outcome. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed on 245 patients seen at the Mayo Clinic Rochester from 1976 to 1997, with a diagnosis of either LGS or slow spike wave on EEG. LGS was confirmed in 107 (64 male, 43 female) patients. This group was divided into cryptogenic, symptomatic, and indeterminate groups containing 23, 47, and 37 patients, respectively. In this study, cryptogenic patients all had normal development before onset of LGS, absence of dysmorphic features, normal neurologic examination, and normal magnetic resonance (MRI) brain imaging. Of the 107 patients, 74 had ≥3 years of follow-up. Results: LGS onset in the 107 patients occurred at a median age of 4.0 years (range, 0.6–28.9 years). When last seen, 63% of those with symptomatic LGS had more than three seizures a day compared with 50% of cryptogenic and 34% of indeterminate patients. The most common seizure types were tonic (77%), atypical absence (61%), and generalized tonic-clonic (56%). Only three patients, all part of the indeterminate group, were seizure free at last follow-up. Conclusions: Using stringent criteria in defining the cryptogenic subgroup resulted in no significant difference in seizure outcome. Individuals with a normal cognitive outcome did not segregate into one etiologic subgroup, but did have LGS onset at an older age.
Alignment aberrations of the New Solar Telescope

The New Solar Telescope (NST) is an off-axis Gregorian telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO). This paper presents the expected aberrations due to misalignments of the secondary mirror for a general Gregorian telescope using an optical model of the on-axis "parent" telescope version of NST. The sensitivities of linear astigmatism and constant coma found by perturbing the axisymmetric model are presented and shown to match those predicted by the theory. Then we discuss how the actual aberrations are different due to the off-axis nature of the NST. Finally, we discuss the effect of the misalignments on the pointing of the telescope.
Improved electrodeposition process for the preparation of superconducting thallium oxide films

Abstract We report on developing a two-layer process to deposit biaxially textured Tl-oxide films by electrodeposition (ED) on Ag-coated, single-crystal substrates. Pole-figure measurements of two-layer, electrodeposited (Tl,Bi)–(Sr,Ba)–Ca–Cu–O (TBSBCCO) films on 300 A Ag/LaAlO 3 (LAO), with thickness between 1 and 5 μm, clearly show strong biaxial texturing. The omega scan and phi scan of 1.6 μm (TlBi) 0.9 Sr 1.6 Ba 0.4 Ca 2 Cu 3 Ag 0.2 O x films indicate the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of only 0.92° and 0.6°, respectively, indicating a very high-quality film prepared by the ED process. Transport measurements for the electrodeposited, thallium-oxide-based superconductor films show values above 10 6 A/cm 2 at 77 K in zero field.
Topological design of computer communication networks — The overall design problem

Abstract Mathematical formulations of the topological design problem of computer communication networks are developed. The topological design of computer networks involves decisions on where to place network control processors (NCPs), selecting the set of backbone links to connect NCPs, linking end user nodes to the NCPs, and deciding on the set of routes which support communications between communicating end user node pairs. The overall design problem is formulated as a nonlinear combinatorial optimization problem, a Lagrangean relaxation of the problem is presented and effective solution procedures of the Lagrangean problem are developed. The Lagrangean solutions provide lower bounds on the optimal solutions to the complete problem. The Lagrangean-based solutions are further improved using subgradient optimization procedures. Three heuristics are developed for generating feasible solutions to the problem. The heuristic solutions are demonstrated on problems involving 200 end user nodes and up to 30 NCP locations.
Calculation of the energy deposition in nanovolumes by protons and HZE particles: geometric patterns of initial distributions of DNA repair foci

The biological effects of high-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation are different from those caused by low-LET radiation due to the difference in the patterns of energy deposition in cells. In this work, we studied the role of the track structure in the spatial distribution of radiation-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs). In the first part, the irradiation of a cubic volume of 12??m of side by 300 MeV protons (LET ?0.3?keV ?m?1) and by 1 GeV/amu iron ion particles (LET?150?keV ?m?1) was simulated with the Monte Carlo code RITRACKS (relativistic ion tracks) and the dose was calculated in voxels of different sizes. In the second part, dose calculations were combined with chromosomes simulated by a random walk (RW) model to assess the formation of DSBs. The number of DSBs was calculated as a function of the dose and particle fluence for 1 GeV protons, 293 MeV/u carbon, and 1 GeV/u iron particles. Finally, the DSB yield was obtained as a function of the LET for protons, helium, and carbon. In general, the number and distribution of calculated DSBs were similar to experimental DNA repair foci data. From this study, we concluded that a stochastic model combining nanoscopic dose calculations and chromosomes simulated by RWs is a useful approach to study radiation-induced DSBs.
Smooth-muscle-specific expression of neurotrophin-3 in mouse embryonic and neonatal gastrointestinal tract

Vagal gastrointestinal (GI) afferents are essential for the regulation of eating, body weight, and digestion. However, their functional organization and the way that this develops are poorly understood. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is crucial for the survival of vagal sensory neurons and is expressed in the developing GI tract, possibly contributing to their survival and to other aspects of vagal afferent development. The identification of the functions of this peripheral NT-3 thus requires a detailed understanding of the localization and timing of its expression in the developing GI tract. We have studied embryos and neonates expressing the lacZ reporter gene from the NT-3 locus and found that NT-3 is expressed predominantly in the smooth muscle of the outer GI wall of the stomach, intestines, and associated blood vessels and in the stomach lamina propria and esophageal epithelium. NT-3 expression has been detected in the mesenchyme of the GI wall by embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) and becomes restricted to smooth muscle and lamina propria by E15.5, whereas its expression in blood vessels and esophageal epithelium is first observed at E15.5. Expression in most tissues is maintained at least until postnatal day 4. The lack of colocalization of β-galactosidase and markers for myenteric ganglion cell types suggests that NT-3 is not expressed in these ganglia. Therefore, NT-3 expression in the GI tract is largely restricted to smooth muscle at ages when vagal axons grow into the GI tract, and when vagal mechanoreceptors form in smooth muscle, consistent with its role in these processes and in vagal sensory neuron survival.
Solder ball connect (SBC) assemblies under thermal loading: I. deformation measurement via moiré interferometry, and its interpretation

Thermal deformations that result from mismatches of coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) in Solder Ball Connect (SBC) assemblies were investigated. The CTE mismatches of the materials and the components in the package have both macro and micro effects on the strain distributions in the SBC interconnections. The geometry of the SBC joint also has a strong influence on the solder strains in the SBC package. An experimental technique with high sensitivity and resolution, moire interferometry, was used to obtain whole-field displacements. Thermal strains in SBC packages, especially the strain concentrations in the SBC joints, were then determined from the displacement fields. The experimental results played an important role in failure analysis, structural design optimization, and finite element model verification in the IBM SBC program. The results also show that moire interferometry is a very powerful and effective tool in experimental studies of electronic packaging.
Ring Finger Protein 34 (RNF34) Interacts with and Promotes γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type-A Receptor Degradation via Ubiquitination of the γ2 Subunit

We have found that the large intracellular loop of the γ2 GABAA receptor (R) subunit (γ2IL) interacts with RNF34 (an E3 ubiquitin ligase), as shown by yeast two-hybrid and in vitro pulldown assays. In brain extracts, RNF34 co-immunoprecipitates with assembled GABAARs. In co-transfected HEK293 cells, RNF34 reduces the expression of the γ2 GABAAR subunit by increasing the ratio of ubiquitinated/nonubiquitinated γ2. Mutating several lysines of the γ2IL into arginines makes the γ2 subunit resistant to RNF34-induced degradation. RNF34 also reduces the expression of the γ2 subunit when α1 and β3 subunits are co-assembled with γ2. This effect is partially reversed by leupeptin or MG132, indicating that both the lysosomal and proteasomal degradation pathways are involved. Immunofluorescence of cultured hippocampal neurons shows that RNF34 forms clusters and that a subset of these clusters is associated with GABAergic synapses. This association is also observed in the intact rat brain by electron microscopy immunocytochemistry. RNF34 is not expressed until the 2nd postnatal week of rat brain development, being highly expressed in some interneurons. Overexpression of RNF34 in hippocampal neurons decreases the density of γ2 GABAAR clusters and the number of GABAergic contacts that these neurons receive. Knocking down endogenous RNF34 with shRNA leads to increased γ2 GABAAR cluster density and GABAergic innervation. The results indicate that RNF34 regulates postsynaptic γ2-GABAAR clustering and GABAergic synaptic innervation by interacting with and ubiquitinating the γ2-GABAAR subunit promoting GABAAR degradation.
BIOMASS ALLOCATION IN AN AGROPYRON SMITHII-GLOMUS SYMBIOSIS

The type of response the steppe grass Agropyron smithii Rydb. exhibits to mycorrhizal fungi is dependent upon where along the resource gradient the experiment is conducted. At the lower end of a soil-phosphorus (P) gradient (2 {mu}g P g{sup {minus}1} soil) mycorrhizal A. smithii biomass was 35% greater than its nonmycorrhizal counterpart; while at the high end of the gradient (20 {mu}g P g{sup {minus}1} soil) no difference in host biomass production was evident. Mycorrhizal plants were shorter in stature and produced more tillers than nonmycorrhizal plants. The stature and tiller response was more pronounced at the high end of the soil-P gradient. The partitioning of the mycorrhizal fungus was influenced by the soil-P gradient. At the lower end of the gradient the majority of the fungus was produced extramatrically, where over 5,000 cm of hyphae per plant were encountered after 10 wk growth. While at the high end of the gradient, the majority of fungus was produced internally. The highest mycorrhizal dependency values were measured at the lower end of the soil-P gradient where cost to the host (as measured by fungus biomass expressed as a percentage of the root system) was also highest. Increasing shoot and root-P concentrationsmore » were correlated with decreasing external fungus biomass. A positive association between tiler production and internal fungus biomass also existed.« less
Coherent optical CDMA networks

Recent work in optical code-division multiple access (CDMA) is reviewed, progressing from incoherent to coherent techniques. It is shown that under appropriate conditions, coherent CDMA can in principle rival wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) in terms of aggregate network throughput. Furthermore, it is shown that at high data rates, some of the components for WDM are coherent CDMA networks are nearly identical, indicating a similarity between the two approaches. CDMA retains a coding aspect which may prove attractive in security applications. >
Association between XRCC1 polymorphism 399 G->A and glioma among Caucasians: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The x-ray cross complementing group 1 gene (XRCC1) is crucial to proper repair of DNA damage such as single-strand DNA breaks. A non-synonymous polymorphism in XRCC1, 399 G → A, has been shown to reduce effectiveness of such DNA repair and has been associated with the risk of certain cancers. The known risk for glioma from high dose ionizing radiation makes associations between this polymorphism and glioma of particular interest. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted to explore the association between XRCC1 399 G → A and glioma. Subgroup analyses by grade, gender, genotyping method, country in which study was conducted, and study size were conducted when data were available and validity of the results were assessed by influence analyses and exploration of potential publication bias. Six studies were eligible for meta-analysis including data on 2,362 Caucasian glioma cases and 3,085 Caucasian controls. Pooled analysis yielded a significant association between the variant of interest and risk of glioma (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05-1.30) which was found to be disproportionately driven by a single study. Exclusion of this study, in an influence analysis, produced no statistically significant evidence of association with glioma (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.98-1.23), and no evidence of publication bias. This meta-analysis does not suggest a major role of the XRCC1 399 G → A polymorphism in influencing risk of glioma among Caucasians. Future studies should report data separately for glioma subtypes to permit stratified analyses for Grade III and Grade IV glioma and examine other polymorphisms in this gene.
Hemarthrosis and sickle cell trait

A case of sickle cell trait associated with hemarthrosis in several joints is presented. It is suggested that coincidental acute inflammation of the synovial membrane enhanced the sickling phenomenon and produced the resultant bleeding disturbance. The articular changes associated with sickle cell anemia and those found in sickle cell traits are compared and contrasted. The need for careful joint fluid analysis in patients with molecular diseases of hemoglobin is emphasized.
Cellulase facilitated squash preparations of Vicia faba chromosomes for quinacrine fluorescent staining.

This paper is partially based on work performed under contract with the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission at The University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project and has bcen assigned Report No. UR-3490-238, and has also been partially supported by Grant USPHS GM0933.
Aquinas and Hauerwas on the Religious and the Secular

This essay supports William Cavanaugh's thesis in The Myth of Religious Violence that the distinction between the “religious” and the “secular” is arbitrary. This essay also accepts the claim that this arbitrary distinction can be used to form unhelpful inversely-valued dichotomies for the sake of ideological or sectarian ends. However, the current essay seeks to show that this binary goes in the opposite direction as well. Sectarian outlooks of various kinds also postulate a strict and inversely valued dichotomy between the believing community and the world, where the former is the locus of truth and life and the latter, falsehood and death. Instead of this model of ethics, I commend an approach that upholds the prospect of concord between the believing community and the world, of the religious and the secular, even if these are somewhat inevitably arbitrary categories. In this approach, religious and civil loyalties are not pitted against each other, but rather exist on a continuum of provenance and perfection.
Direct free-hole absorption induced in germanium by 1.06 &#181;m picosecond pulses

The intervalence-band absorption coefficient in germanium is calculated as a function of the hole density and temperature for light with a wavelength of 1.06 μm. At this wavelength, the direct free-hole transitions in germanium occur between the heavy-and split-off hole bands, and between the light- and split-off hole bands. This absorption mechanism is normally negligible compared to the interband absorption; however, for a sufficiently dense electron-hole plasma, the free-hole intervalence-band absorption can become comparable to the inter-band absorption. Furthermore, the interaction of the intense 1.06 μm light alters the distribution of resonantly coupled hole states, and leads to an intensity dependence in the intervalence-band absorption cross section. For a fixed hole density, the intervalence-band cross sections due to free-hole transitions between the heavy- and split-off hole bands and between the light- and split-off hole bands are found to decrease with increasing intensity in a manner closely approximated by an inhomogeneously broadened two-level model. Values for the saturation intensity of each resonant transition are calculated as a function of the hole density and temperature. The intensities required to begin to saturate the direct free-hole transitions are easily attainable using picosecond pulses.
Asymptotic expansions for the means and variances of error rates

SUMMARY The problem of classifying an observation X into one of k multivariate normal distributions is considered. When samples are used to estimate the population parameters, the probabilities of correct classification, and the associated error rates, are random variables. Asymptotic expansions for the expected values and variances of these random variables, in terms of the inverses of the sample sizes, are found. Simulations have been performed to evaluate the expansions.
Five Applications of Computers in the Chemistry Curriculum.

Abstract This paper describes a systematic application of courseware to help meet three educational challenges: provide remedial education for poorly prepared students; provide a stimulating and challenging learning environment for well prepared and highly motivated students: and minimize the time spent by instructors on clerical tasks. Five applications of computers to the undergraduate chemistry curriculum have evolved during the past decade at the University of Pittsburgh as a result of this work: a library of computer-assisted instruction lessons: a computer-assisted test construction system: a library of simulation and data reduction programs: a library of computer-managed instruction programs: and a senior-level elective course. “Numerical Methods in Chemistry”. This paper contains a discussion of this software and its use in several chemistry courses.
ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN WELL-BEING: A CROSS-NATIONAL ANALYSIS

Economic institutions are widely thought to be important in enhancing human well-being. Other scholars emphasize geography in determining economic deprivation and development. This paper examines both types of factors and finds that property rights and economic freedom substantially reduce poverty and enhance economic development.
Seeing or Coming to the Child of the Living One? More on Gospel of Thomas Saying 37

Riley questions the translation of the portion of the saying in Nag Hammadi Codex II, p. 39, at the end of line 34 (the last line), where the papyrus is damaged, and proposes that the reading "the[n yo]u [w]ill come" is preferable to "then [you] will see." The proposed reading, if adopted, would significantly change the traditional interpretation of this saying, which has been understood to refer to enlightenment that comes from ritual participation in baptism or unction.3
Self-Generation Enhances Verbal Recall in Individuals Infected with HIV

Despite the prevalence of HIV-associated episodic memory impairment and its adverse functional impact, there are no empirically validated cognitive rehabilitation strategies for HIV-infected persons. The present study examined the self-generation approach, which is theorized to enhance new learning by elaborating and deepening encoding. Participants included 54 HIV-infected and 46 seronegative individuals, who learned paired word associates in both self-generated and didactic encoding experimental conditions. Results revealed main effects of HIV serostatus and encoding condition, but no interaction. Planned comparisons showed that both groups recalled significantly more words learned in the self-generation condition, and that HIV+ individuals recalled fewer words overall compared to their seronegative counterparts at delayed recall. Importantly, HIV+ participants with clinical memory impairment evidenced similar benefits of self-generation compared to unimpaired HIV+ subjects. Self-generation strategies may improve verbal recall in individuals with HIV infection and may, therefore, be an appropriate and potentially effective cognitive rehabilitation tool in this population.
Correctional Administrators’ Perceptions of Prison Nurseries:

As more pregnant women are incarcerated, states are forced to determine the most cost-efficient methods of addressing childbirth and motherhood in prison. Traditionally, newborn babies are removed from the prison setting, and their mothers, within a few days. Research shows that women who are allowed to keep their babies with them in the correctional setting have reduced recidivism rates. This study explores perceptions of the prison nursery as a form of correctional programming. Correctional administrators from all 8 states currently operating nursery programs were interviewed, as were administrators from 20 states that do not have prison nurseries (N = 28). Findings indicate that barriers to the implementation of prison nursery programs include a lack of knowledge about these programs and the impact they have on recidivism rates, concerns about legislative budgeting given current economic conditions, and for a small number of administrators, the consequences of housing infants within the prison environment.