cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postsecondary Educational Engagement Among Formerly-Incarcerated Transition-Age Young Men

In this study, the authors explore correlates of engagement in postsecondary educational programs (including technical/trade schools, 2-year colleges, and 4-year colleges) among young men who served mandatory probation camp sentences as juveniles. A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with a sample of 75 men (average age of 20.5) who had participated in a reentry program associated with the probation camp. Among the sample, 34.7% had not attempted any postsecondary education, 52.0% had attempted but not completed a program, and 13.3% had completed a postsecondary program, most commonly a technical/trade school certificate. Using multinomial logistic regression analysis, the authors found that controlling for high school/GED completion status, age, and months of participation in the reentry program, fathers were significantly less likely to attempt a postsecondary education program than those who were not fathers (OR =.14; p <.05). Neither employment history nor subsequent number of times incarc...
FLUIDIC OSCILLATOR AS A DYNAMIC CALIBRATION TOOL

A fluidic oscillator is proposed as an improved dynamic calibration device for pressure instrumentation such as pressure-sensitive paint (PSP). The fluidic oscillator is a device that generates an oscillating jet when supplied with a pressurized fluid. The jet oscillation frequency ranges up to 6.5 kHz, depending on supply pressure. The flowfield of the oscillating jet has higher-order frequency content of at least 40 kHz, making it ideal for high-frequency calibrations. The fluidic oscillator demonstrated in these experiments is small, simple to use, portable, and inexpensive. The fluidic oscillator calibration tool may be used to calibrate the frequency response of hot-film or hot-wire probes, as well as pressure instrumentation such as pressure transducers or pressure-sensitive paint (PSP). In this work, the fluidic oscillator is used to calibrate the response time of several PSP formulations. Pressure-sensitive paints with anodized aluminum, polymer/ceramic, and thin-layer chromatography binders are calibrated and compared to previous calibration results. Full-field measurements and pointmeasurements with PSP are presented. Typical response times of porous PSPs are on the order of 40 kHz.
The occurrence of congenital hypoplastic anemia in half brothers.

Summary A family is reported in which four childrenof the same father and two unrelated mothers are affected with congenital hypoplastic anemia. This further supports an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance of this disorder. The father and the younger two siblings have elevated concentrations of hemoglobin F. If further family studies confirm this as a consistent expression of congenital hypoplastic anemia, it provides a good marker by which to gain more accurate data on which to base genetic counseling for patients affected by this disorder and their families.
Mutagenesis in vitro by depurination of ΦX174 DNA

Depurination, the spontaneous release of purine bases from DNA, occurs by the breakage of the N- glycosylic bond between the purine base and the deoxyribose moiety. The resulting apurinic site is relatively stable, with an in vitro half life of up to several days1. The rate constant of depurination in vitro has been estimated to be 1.8×10−9 per min (ref. 2). This corresponds to the formation of 20,000 apurinic sites per mammalian cell per day. In addition, much of the damage to DNA by chemical carcinogens occurs through covalent binding to the N-3 and N-7 positions on the purine bases3,4, enhancing the rate of depurination of that base by three to four orders of magnitude5–7. The fact that cells have multiple pathways for removing apurinic sites8,9 and even a mechanism for reinserting purines10 suggests that the presence of apurinic sites may be highly detrimental. Apurinic sites in DNA have been postulated as potential mutagenic lesions11, although there has been little experimental support for this concept. We have previously demonstrated that depurination of synthetic polynucleotide templates leads to increased mis-incorporation of non-complementary nucleotides12,13. We now present evidence that a DNA polymerase can copy past apurinic sites on natural, biologically active DNA and further, that this leads to increased mutagenesis.
Humoral immune response in a marsupial Monodelphis domestica: Anti-isotypic and anti-idiotypic responses detected by species-specific monoclonal anti-immmunoglobulin reagentS

Abstract We examined the humoral immune response of the laboratory opossum ( Monodelphis domestica ) as a model marsupial species. To evaluate antibody responses, IgM and IgG preparations were purified from the sera of naive Monodelphis . These two immunoglobulin (Ig) preparations were used to generate specific murine monoclonal antibodies for use in ELISA-based serology. Individual Monodelphis were then immunized with a multidetenninant protein antigen, a murine monoclonal antibody (Mab) IgG preparation designated Pab 405. In contrast with the primary IgM response of eutherian mammals, the primary response of Monodelphis to mouse IgG involved both IgG and IgM. The specificity of this anti-mouse IgG response appeared isotypic in nature, specifically, the immune sera recognized Ig determinants common to both Pab 405 and a control IgG Mab. Further, to evaluate the antibody responses to mouse IgG, immune sera were adsorbed against a control IgG Mab to remove the anti-isotypic reactivity. The adsorbed Monodelphis sera recognized idiotope specificities expressed on Pab 405. Based on an inhibition ELISA, the anti-idiotype (anti-Id) response recognized an idiotope on Pab 405 associated with its antigen combining site. These results demonstrate that Monodelphis respond to a multidetenninant protein antigen such as murine IgG, similarly but not identically to eutherian mammals, and can serve as a useful marsupial model for additional comparative immunological studies.
Serum-free primary culture of human normal mammary epithelial cells in collagen gel matrix

Abstract Collagen gel matrix has been used successfully to promote sustained growth of human normal mammary epithelial cells in primary culture using serum-containing medium supplemented with hormones and growth factors (Nandi et al., 1932). Sustained growth can now be accomplished in a serum-free medium consisting of a 1:1 mixture of Ham's F12 and DMEM supplemented with insulin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, cholera toxin, cortisol, and BSA. Human normal mammary epithelial cells derived from reduction mammoplasties can be routinely propagated in this serum-free medium. The extent of growth and the resulting three-dimensional outgrowths in this serum-free medium, using the collagen gel matrix system, are comparable to those seen in serum-containing medium. This is the first demonstration of sustained growth of human normal mammary epithelial cells in serum-free primary culture.
A graphical interpretation of a three-components theory of chromatic adaptation in terms of the CIE chromaticity diagram.

The effect of changed chromatic adaptation of the eye under source A (incandescent-lamp light), as compared with its adaptation under source C (average daylight) has been approximately explained by Helson, Judd, and Warren by means of a form of three-components theory. By this theory, each object-chromaticity point (x,y) for source A determines a corresponding object-chromaticity point (x′,y′) from which the predicted chromaticness (hue and saturation) of the color perception is read by interpolation in the Munsell renotation system. The present paper gives a geometrical interpretation of the theory directly in terms of the CIE chromaticity diagram, whereby without any computation it is possible to find the corresponding object-chromaticity point (x′,y′). The basic data for such an interpretation are given, not only for adaptation to source A, but also for adaptation to any source whatever.
Prevalence, trauma history, and risk for posttraumatic stress disorder among nulliparous women in maternity care.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate prevalence and assess the association of types of trauma with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sociodemographically and racially mixed sample of women from both predominantly Medicaid and privately insured settings who are expecting their first infant. METHODS: Structured telephone diagnostic interview data were analyzed for prevalence of trauma exposure, PTSD, comorbidity, risk behaviors, and treatment-seeking among 1,581 diverse English-speaking nulliparous women. RESULTS: The overall rate of lifetime PTSD was 20.2%, 17% in the predominantly private-payer settings, and 24% in the predominantly public-payer settings. The overall rate of current PTSD was 7.9%, 2.7% in the predominantly private-payer settings and 13.9% in the predominantly public-payer settings. Those with current PTSD were more likely to be African American, pregnant as a teen, living in poverty, with high school education or less, and living in higher-crime areas. Adjusted odds of having current PTSD were highest among those whose worst trauma exposure was abuse (odds ratio 11.9, 95% confidence interval 3.6–39.9), followed by reproductive trauma (odds ratio 6.1, 95% confidence interval 1.5–24.4). Health risk behaviors and exposures were concentrated among those with PTSD. CONCLUSION: These findings affirm that PTSD affects pregnant women. Women with PTSD in pregnancy were more likely to have had exposures to childhood abuse and prior traumatic reproductive event, to have cumulative sociodemographic risk factors, comorbid depression and anxiety, and to have sought mental health treatment in the past. Obstetric risk behaviors occur more in women with PTSD. (Obstet Gynecol 2009;114:839–47) LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Botulinum Toxin Injection Techniques for the Management of Adult Spasticity

Spasticity is often experienced by individuals with injury or illness of the central nervous system from etiologies such as stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, or other neurologic conditions. Although spasticity may provide benefits in some patients, it more often leads to complications negatively impacting the patient. Nonpharmacologic treatment options often do not provide long-term reduction of spasticity, and systemic interventions, such as oral medications, can have intolerable side effects. The use of botulinum neurotoxin injections is one option for management of focal spasticity. Several localization techniques are available to physicians that allow for identification of the selected target muscles. These methods include anatomic localization in isolation or in conjunction with electromyography guidance, electrical stimulation guidance, or ultrasound guidance. This article will focus on further description of each of these techniques in relation to the treatment of adult spasticity and will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, as well as review the literature comparing the techniques.
Quantitative real-time PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization approaches for enumerating Brevundimonas diminuta in drinking water.

Brevundimonas diminuta is a small Gram-negative bacterium used for validation of membranes and filters used in the pharmaceutical and drinking water treatment industries. Current assays are time consuming, nonselective, and may be subject to interference by competing indigenous microorganisms. The focus of this study is to develop rapid and specific enumeration methodologies for B. diminuta. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were developed based on the gyrB (1,166 bp) and rpoD (829 bp) gene sequences of B. diminuta ATCC 19146. Species-specific primers and probes were designed, and a 100–200 bp segment of each gene was targeted in the qPCR studies. For both the qPCR and FISH assays, an internal 25 bp sequence was selected for use as a TaqMan probe (labeled with 6-FAM and a Black Hole Quencher). Probe specificity studies, conducted against Gram-negative and Gram-positive reference strains as well as environmental strains, revealed high specificity of the primer/probe pairs to B. diminuta. Sensitivities of the qPCR reactions using purified genomic DNA from B. diminuta were determined to be 0.89 pg for rpoD and 8.9 pg for gyrB. The feasibility of using whole-cell B. diminuta suspensions directly with the rpoD qPCR protocol was also evaluated. The greatest sensitivity observed for B. diminuta was 1 × 103 colony forming units (CFU) per mL when tryptic soy broth was used as the growth medium. When compared with direct microscopic enumeration using a 5′ 6-FAM FISH probe, traditional plating methods showed significant underestimation of B. diminuta concentration (P = 0.01) when this organism was cultivated in saline lactose broth. The results of this investigation demonstrate that qPCR and FISH are effective methods for rapid (<4 h) enumeration of B. diminuta and may be viable alternatives to plating when validating drinking water filtration systems.
Preserving human cells for regenerative, reproductive, and transfusion medicine

Cell cryopreservation maintains cellular life at sub-zero temperatures by slowing down biochemical processes. Various cell types are routinely cryopreserved in modern reproductive, regenerative, and transfusion medicine. Current cell cryopreservation methods involve freezing (slow/rapid) or vitrifying cells in the presence of a cryoprotective agent (CPA). Although these methods are clinically utilized, cryo-injury due to ice crystals, osmotic shock, and CPA toxicity cause loss of cell viability and function. Recent approaches using minimum volume vitrification provide alternatives to the conventional cryopreservation methods. Minimum volume vitrification provides ultra-high cooling and rewarming rates that enable preserving cells without ice crystal formation. Herein, we review recent advances in cell cryopreservation technology and provide examples of techniques that are utilized in oocyte, stem cell, and red blood cell cryopreservation.
A satisfiability algorithm for AC0

We consider the problem of efficiently enumerating the satisfying assignments to AC0 circuits. We give a zero-error randomized algorithm which takes an AC0 circuit as input and constructs a set of restrictions which partitions {0, 1}n so that under each restriction the value of the circuit is constant. Let d denote the depth of the circuit and cn denote the number of gates. This algorithm runs in time |C|2n(1-μc,d) where |C| is the size of the circuit for μc,d>1/O[lg c + g lg d]d&minus1 with probability at least 1−2−n.As a result, we get improved exponential time algorithms for AC0 circuit satisfiability and for counting solutions. In addition, we get an improved bound on the correlation of AC0 circuits with parity.As an important component of our analysis, we extend the Hastad Switching Lemma to handle multiple k-cnfs and k-dnfs.
State-space structure of finite horizon optimal mixed H/sub 2//H/sub /spl infin// filters

We show that finite horizon optimal mixed H/sub 2//H/sub /spl infin// filters are not of fixed order. Moreover, when the underlying systems have state-space models of order n, the optimal finite horizon mixed H/sub 2//H/sub /spl infin//, filter has state-space model of order no greater than n+J where J is the multiplicity of the maximum singular value of T/sub 2/(K) equal to the H/sub /spl infin// bound /spl gamma/.
VISION: a framework for voltage island aware synthesis of interconnection networks-on-chip

High power dissipation has today become one of the major challenges in chip multiprocessor (CMP) design. Designers in recent years have proposed several techniques to alleviate the power challenge, one of which is the use of voltage islands (VIs) that can help reduce both switching and standby components of power. The use of VIs allows groups of cores to be powered by the same supply source and permits operating different portions of the chip at different voltage levels in order to optimize the overall chip power consumption. However, the problems of VI creation, core to VI mapping, and VI-aware network on chip (NoC) design to satisfy application performance constraints are non-trivial and will only get harder as the number of cores in CMPs increase into the hundreds. In this paper, we propose a novel framework (VISION) for automating the synthesis of regular networks on chip (NoC) with VIs, to satisfy application performance while minimizing chip power dissipation. Our proposed framework uses a set of novel algorithms and heuristics to generate solutions that reduce network traffic by up to 60% and power dissipation by up to 11%, compared to the best known prior work that also solves the same problem.
Why Nutritional Iron Deficiency Persists as a Worldwide Problem

The earliest studies of food iron absorption employing biosynthetically incorporated radioisotopes were published in the 1950s. Wheat flour has been fortified with iron in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States since the 1940s. However, half a century later, nutritional iron deficiency (ID) is estimated to affect 1.5-2 billion people worldwide. The reasons for the apparently limited impact of health and nutrition policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of ID in developing countries are complex. They include uncertainty about the actual prevalence of ID, particularly in regions where malaria and other infections are endemic, failure of policy makers to recognize the relationships between ID and both impaired productivity and increased morbidity, concerns about safety and the risks to iron-sufficient individuals if mass fortification is introduced, and technical obstacles that make it difficult to add bioavailable iron to the diets of those at greatest risk. It is, however, likely that the next decade will see a marked reduction in the prevalence of ID worldwide. More specific assessment tools are being standardized and applied to population surveys. The importance of preventing ID during critical periods of the life cycle is receiving increased attention. Innovative approaches to the delivery of bioavailable iron have been shown to be efficacious. The importance of integrating strategies to improve iron nutrition with other health measures, and economic and social policies addressing poverty as well as trade and agriculture, are receiving increasing consideration.
Heterosexual evaluations of hypothetical friendship behavior based on sex and sexual orientation

Heterosexual college students’ assessments of friendship behavior are compared based on the sex and sexual orientation of the friend in a series of hypothetical vignettes. Respondents evaluated the appropriateness of a friend’s behavior both qualitatively and quantitatively. The quantitative results support the hypothesis that the sex of the respondent, as well as the sex and sexual orientation of the friend, result in differential evaluations of friendship behavior. Specifically, heterosexual male respondents evaluate the behaviors more favorably when the friend is a straight, rather than gay, male. Straight females evaluate the behavior of straight females more positively than friends from other identity categories. Qualitative comments provide evidence that heterosexism and sexism inform the respondents’ evaluations. In open-ended accounts, respondents apply conventional beliefs about sex and sexual orientation to friendship behaviors, employ identity work as a means of distancing themselves from the g...
Approaching the optimal transurethral resection of a bladder tumor

A complete transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT) is essential for adequately diagnosing, staging, and treating bladder cancer. A TURBT is deceptively difficult and is a highly underappreciated procedure. An incomplete resection is the major reason for the high incidence of recurrence following initial transurethral resection and thus to the suboptimal care of our patients. Our objective was to review the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations for performing an optimal TURBT. The European Association of Urology, Society of International Urology, and The American Urological Association guidelines emphasize a complete resection of all visible tumor during a TURBT. This review will emphasize the various techniques and treatments, including photodynamic cystoscopy, intravesical chemotherapy, and a perioperative checklist, that can be used to help to enable a complete resection and reduce the recurrence rate. A Medline/PubMed search was completed for original and review articles related to transurethral resection and the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The major findings were analyzed and are presented from large prospective, retrospective, and review studies.
Stachybotrys eucylindrospora, sp. nov. resulting from a re-examination of Stachybotrys cylindrospora

The holotype of Stachybotrys cylindrospora was examined and the morphological characters were found to fit the description of Stachybotrys chartarum. Thus Stachybotrys cylindrospora is a synonym of S. chartarum. However a number of isolates and specimens subsequently described and studied by several mycologists have typical cylindrical conidia with longitudinal striations. The conidia are much longer than those of S. chartarum. These conidial characters showed that those isolates and specimens are notably different from S. chartarum and of the holotype of S. cylindrospora. Therefore a new name, Stachybotrys eucylindrospora sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate these isolates and specimens.
Establishing and promoting the CPNP Collegiate Chapter at Purdue University

The Purdue collegiate chapter of CPNP, established in the fall of 2010, was one of four pilot chapters launched across the nation. This article will discuss the development, implementation, of the chapter. Chapter involvement in the community and fundraising events will also be discussed.
Capacitance of the Surface and Transverse Tubular Membrane of Frog Sartorius Muscle Fibers

The passive electrical properties of glycerol-treated muscle fibers, which have virtually no transverse tubules, were determined. Current was passed through one intracellular microelectrode and the time course and spatial distribution of the resulting potential displacement measured with another. The results were analyzed by using conventional cable equations. The membrane resistance of fibers without tubules was 3759 ± 331 ohm-cm2 and the internal resistivity 192 ohm-cm. Both these figures are essentially the same as those found in normal muscle fibers. The capacitance of the fibers without tubules is strikingly smaller than normal, being 2.24 ± 0.14 µF/cm2. Measurements were also made of the passive electrical properties of fibers in a Ringer solution containing 400 mM glycerol (which is used in the preparation of glycerol-treated fibers). The membrane resistance and capacitance are essentially normal, but the internal resistivity is somewhat reduced. These results show that glycerol in this concentration does not directly affect the membrane capacitance. Thus, the figure for the capacitance of glycerol-treated fibers, which agrees well with previous estimates made by different techniques, represents the capacitance of the outer membrane of the fiber. Estimates of the capacitance per unit area of the tubular membrane are made and the significance of the difference between the figures for the capacitance of the surface and tubular membrane is discussed.
Construction of rational and negative powers of a formal series

Some methods are described for the generation of fractional and negative powers of any formal series, such as Poisson series or Chebyshev series. It is shown that, with the use of the three elementary operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication, all rational (positive and negative) powers of a series can be constructed. There are basically two approaches: the binomial theorem and the iteration methods. Both methods are described here, and the relationship between them is pointed out. Some well-known classical formulas are obtained as particular cases, and it is shown how the convergence properties of these formulas can be improved with very little additional computations. Finally, at the end of the article, some numerical experiments are described with Chebyshev series and with Fourier series.
Stimulus-responsive nanopreparations for tumor targeting

Nanopreparations such as liposomes, micelles, polymeric and inorganic nanoparticles, and small molecule/nucleic acid/protein conjugates have demonstrated various advantages over “naked” therapeutic molecules. These nanopreparations can be further engineered with functional moieties to improve their performance in terms of circulation longevity, targetability, enhanced intracellular penetration, carrier-mediated enhanced visualization, and stimuli-sensitivity. The idea of application of a stimulus-sensitive drug or imaging agent delivery system for tumor targeting is based on the significant abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment and its cells, such as an acidic pH, altered redox potential, up-regulated proteins and hyperthermia. These internal conditions as well as external stimuli, such as magnetic field, ultrasound and light, can be used to modify the behavior of the nanopreparations that control drug release, improve drug internalization, control the intracellular drug fate and even allow for certain physical interactions, resulting in an enhanced tumor targeting and antitumor effect. This article provides a critical view of current stimulus-sensitive drug delivery strategies and possible future directions in tumor targeting with primary focus on the combined use of stimulus-sensitivity with other strategies in the same nanopreparation, including multifunctional nanopreparations and theranostics.
Reflections on Nation: American Undergraduates and Education Abroad

Study abroad is increasingly a key component of U.S. universities' efforts to both create and solidify their commitments to international education. This article specifically examines how American undergraduates negotiate their national identity in the context of studying abroad. Although universities often promote study abroad through paradigms that emphasize global awareness, national sentiments and identity are still fundamental elements of how Americans see and position themselves in the world, particularly in the post—September 11 context. Drawing on Craig Calhoun's scholarship on national identity, the author argues that students negotiate a middle path between what he terms a “thin” (cosmopolitan) and a “thick” (ethnocentric) sense of national identity. In conclusion, the author suggests that although global awareness is a broad and often nebulous pedagogical goal of study abroad, critical reflection on national identity is both obtainable and an important step toward global citizenship.
Targeting Akt3 Signaling in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is currently the only major breast tumor subtype without effective targeted therapy and as a consequence in general has poor outcome. To identify new therapeutic targets in TNBC we performed an shRNA screen for protein kinases commonly amplified and overexpressed in breast cancer. Using this approach, we identified AKT3 as a gene preferentially required for the growth of TNBCs. Downregulation of Akt3 significantly inhibits the growth of TNBC lines in 3D spheroid cultures and in mouse xenograft models whereas loss of Akt1 or Akt2 have more modest effects. Akt3 silencing markedly upregulates the p27 cell cycle inhibitor and this is critical for the ability of Akt3 to inhibit spheroid growth. In contrast to Akt1, Akt3 silencing results in only a minor enhancement of migration and does not promote invasion. Depletion of Akt3 in TNBC sensitizes cells to the pan-Akt inhibitor GSK690693. These results imply that Akt3 has a specific function in TNBCs, thus, its therapeutic targeting may provide a new treatment option for this tumor subtype.
Reflections on 19th-Century Experience with Knowledge Diffusion: The Sixth Annual Howard Davis Memorial Lecture, April 11, 1991.

In 1826, the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge was formed in London to disseminate expert knowledge to the British working classes. It faced many of the same dilemmas as its modern coun...
China's Peasants: The Anthropology of a Revolution

This landmark study of Zengbu, a Cantonese community, is the first comprehensive analysis of a rural Chinese society by foreign anthropologists since the Revolution in 1949. Jack and Sulamith Potter examine the revolutionary experiences of Zengbu's peasant villagers and document the rapid changeover from Maoist to post-Maoist China. In particular, they seek to explain the persistence of the deep structure of Chinese culture through thirty years of revolutionary praxis. The authors assess the continuities and changes in rural China, moving from the traditional social organization and cultural life of the pre-revolutionary period through the series of large-scale efforts to implement planned social change which characterized Maoism - land reform, collectivization, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution. They examine in detail late Maoist society in 1979–80 and go on to describe and analyse the extraordinary changes of the post-Mao years, during which Zengbu was decollectivized, and traditional customs and religious practices reappeared.
The search for authenticity An exploration of an online skinhead newsgroup

In the popular imagination skinhead identity has come to be inextricably connected to a white-racist identity. This article explores this tenet through an ethnographic exploration of an online skinhead newsgroup, a milieu where racial markings are seemingly absent. The empirical findings expose that ‘racism’ is read ambivalently by the newsgroup's skinheads. ‘Racism’ is not viewed as a constituting component of skinhead identity; however, there is widespread commitment to a ‘white identity’. This article concentrates on the processes which give rise to a digitalized (white) skinhead identity, (re)established online in and through textual performances. Narratives of whiteness articulated through the node of skinness, reveal the salience of racial bodies in the virtual world. However, the imagined relationship between skinheads and racism is not straightforward. The skinheads of this research do not enact an explicit discriminatory racism, but rather they imagine whiteness as a performative condition of ski...
A robust set of black walnut microsatellites for parentage and clonal identification

We describe the development of a robust and powerful suite of 12 microsatellite marker loci for use in genetic investigations of black walnut and related species. These 12 loci were chosen from a set of 17 candidate loci used to genotype 222 trees sampled from a 38-year-old black walnut progeny test. The 222 genotypes represent a sampling from the broad geographic distribution of the species. Analysis of the samples using the 12 loci revealed an average expected heterozygosity of 0.83, a combined probability of identity of 3×10−19, and a combined probability of exclusion for paternity analysis of >0.999. The 222 genotyped trees from the progeny test comprised 39 open-pollinated families, 29 of which (having at least five sampled progeny) were used to estimate the outcrossing rate for the progeny trial. The same 29 families were used to construct a Neighbor-Joining dendrogram based upon allele sharing between individuals. The multilocus estimate of the outcrossing rate was 100% (standard error of zero), higher than the 90% level found in previous studies at the embryo stage, suggesting that both artificial and natural selection against selfs may have occurred over the 38-year lifespan of the progeny trial. In the Neighbor-Joining dendrogram, the majority of the putative siblings grouped together in 21 out of the 29 families, showing that the microsatellites were able to discern most of the family structure in the dataset. Our results indicate that errors were sometimes committed during the establishment of the progeny test. This set of microsatellite loci clearly provides a powerful tool for future applications in black walnut.
Hypertonic induction of COX-2 in collecting duct cells by reactive oxygen species of mitochondrial origin.

Abstract Our previous studies have documented MAPK mediation of the hypertonicity-induced stimulation of COX-2 expression in cultured renal medullary epithelial cells (Yang, T., Huang, Y., Heasley, L. E., Berl, T., Schnermann, J. B., and Briggs, J. P. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 23281-23286). The present study extends this observation by examining the role of reactive oxygen species (ROSs). ROS levels, determined using dichlorodihydrofluorescence diacetate and cytochrome c, were rapidly and significantly increased following exposure of mIMCD-K2 cells to media made hypertonic by adding NaCl. Hypertonic treatment (550 mosmol/kg) for 16 h induced a 5.6-fold increase in COX-2 protein levels and comparable increases in prostaglandin E2 release, both of which were completely abolished by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (25-50 μm). The general antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (6 mm), and the superoxide dismutase mimetic TEMPO (2.0 mm) reduced COX-2 levels by 75.6 and 79.8%, respectively. Exposure of mIMCD-K2 cells to exogenous generated by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system mimicked the effect of hypertonicity on COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 release. The increases in phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 were detected 20 min following the hypertonic treatment and were both prevented by N-acetyl-l-cysteine. The increases in ROSs in response to hypertonic treatment were completely blocked by any one of the mitochondrial inhibitors tested, such as rotenone, thenoyltrifluoroacetone, or carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, associated with remarkable inhibition of COX-2 expression. In contrast, the increases in ROSs were not significantly altered in IMCD cells deficient in either gp91phox or p47phox, nor were the increases in COX-2 expression. We conclude that ROSs derived from mitochondria, but not NADPH oxidase, mediate the hypertonicity-induced phosphorylation of MAPK and the stimulation of COX-2 expression.
Symbolic computation of degree-three covariants for a binary form

We use elementary linear algebra to explicitly calculate a basis for, and the dimension of, the space of degree-three covariants for a binary form of arbitrary degree. We also give an explicit basis for the subspace of covariants complementary to the space of degree-three reducible covariants. The study of invariant functions was one of the main influences on the development of modern algebra. Consider the following simple example. The group GD Z acts on R by addition: g xD gC x. We define a G-invariant function to be a real-valued function f.x/ on R such that f gD f for all g2 G. In other words, f.x/D f.gC x/ for all g2 Z, x2 R. The invariant functions are precisely the real-valued functions with period one. Hence, geometric information, such as periodicity, can be recovered by studying functions with certain algebraic properties. In Section 1, we introduce the concepts of an invariant and covariant function for a binary form Q.x; y/. The problem of determining the complete set of these functions was widely worked on during the late nineteenth century. Gordan [1868] proved that the ring of invariants (and the ring of covariants) for a degree-n binary form is finitely generated. A milestone in the history of modern algebra was Hilbert’s nonconstructive proof [1890] of the following fundamental theorem. Theorem [Hilbert 1890]. The ring of invariants (and the ring of covariants) for a degree-n homogeneous polynomial in m variables is finitely generated. Hilbert’s theorem says that all invariants (resp. covariants) for a homogeneous polynomial can be expressed as polynomials in a certain finite set of invariants (resp. covariants). Hilbert [1893] subsequently gave a constructive proof of this theorem. The minimal size of the generating set is only known for a few values of .m; n/. When mD 2, this number has been determined for n 8 [Bedratyuk 2009; Bedratyuk and Bedratyuk 2008].
Developmental differences in the triceps and subscapular fatfolds during adolescence in boys and girls

As shown in more than 44,000 individuals from three major nutrition surveys in the U.S.A., boys show a complex series of changes in the triceps fatfold during adolescence that is not matched by the subscapular fatfold or either of these two fatfolds in girls. There is a transient and sizeable gain in triceps fatfold thickness in boys during early adolescence, followed by a rapid decrease and then an increase or a “recovery” which necessitates additional developmental information when making nutritional assessments. These findings also indicate problems in calculating and comparing fatfold ratios during the adolescent period in boys (but not in girls) and emphasize the hazards of excessive smoothing in preparing fatfold percentile graphs.
Public goods with high-powered punishment: high cooperation and low efficiency

A laboratory experiment where human subjects play a repeated public goods game with high-powered punishment technology (50:1). Results on three attributes are similar to lower-powered punishment settings (e.g., 3:1): Subjects contribute almost 100 % to the public good, punishment rates are low (under 10 % of maximum), and punishment is directed more toward low contributors. In contrast to lower-powered punishment settings, however, subjects earn less money than they would have in the same setting without punishment. These results contribute to the debate about the origins and maintenance of cooperation.
Advances in In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging of Gene Expression

▪ Abstract To advance our understanding of biological processes as they occur in living animals, imaging strategies have been developed and refined that reveal cellular and molecular features of biology and disease in real time. One rapid and accessible technology for in vivo analysis employs internal biological sources of light emitted from luminescent enzymes, luciferases, to label genes and cells. Combining this reporter system with the new generation of charge coupled device (CCD) cameras that detect the light transmitted through the animal's tissues has opened the door to sensitive in vivo measurements of mammalian gene expression in living animals. Here, we review the development and application of this imaging strategy, in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI), together with in vivo fluorescence imaging methods, which has enabled the real-time study of immune cell trafficking, of various genetic regulatory elements in transgenic mice, and of in vivo gene transfer. BLI has been combined with fluorescen...
Studies of the Behavior of heavy Particles in a Turbulent Fluid Flow

Abstract A statistical analysis has been made of individual particle transport in a homogeneous, turbulent fluid flow. Expressions for dispersion, correlation coefficients, and turbulent energy content have been obtained. In the course of the development two parameters were found to characterize particulate transport, one of which relates to inertial effects acting on the particle, while the other describes the effects of crossing trajectories. As in previous studies by others, crossing-trajectories effects are found to he of particular importance; inertial effects, however, even for heavy particles, are not insignificant. Comparison of theoretical predictions with experimental data shows good agreement.
Thermoplastic composite structural insulated panels (CSIPs) for modular panelized construction

Abstract: Modular panelized construction is a modern form of construction technique in which precast multifunctional structural panels are used. In this technique, precast panels are fabricated in the manufacturing facility and are transported to the construction site. Traditional structural insulated panels (SIPs) consist of oriented strand boards (OSB) as facesheets and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam as the core. These panels are highly energy efficient but have issues in terms of poor impact resistance and higher life cycle costs. Proposed panels consist of E-glass/polypropylene (PP) laminates as facesheets and EPS foam as core and are called composite structural insulated panels (CSIPs). Proposed CSIPs overcome the issues of traditional SIPs and retain all the energy-saving benefits of the traditional SIPs. This chapter describes manufacturing techniques developed for CSIPs and connection details for bonding CSIPs on the construction site. Based on the experimental investigation, ultrasonic welding was found to be the most suitable technique for joining the proposed CSIPs.
Beyond Roll Calls: Institutional Change and Partisanship in the U.S. House of Representatives

Congressional polarization is one of the most important topics in American politics, yet over-time comparisons are particularly difficult. For example, Theriault (2008) has found considerably different levels of partisanship across vote types, and Roberts and Smith (2003) have shown that the voting record has changed dramatically during the last half of the 20th century due to institutional change. I argue that institutional reforms changed the voting record in two ways that obscure just how much partisanship has increased since the 1950s. First, the reforms led to an open process that substantially reduced overall party voting. Secondly, as leaders attempted to structure process, procedural partisanship increased dramatically. As a result, polarization studies using roll call votes and beginning at the start of the post-reform era overstate the growth in partisanship during the last four decades.
Evaluating the Impact of Curriculum Infusion on US College Students' Alcohol Use and Academic Performance.

Objectives:This paper explores the extent to which curriculum infusion (CI) impacted undergraduate students’ alcohol use, perceived peer alcohol use, use of protective behavioural strategies, academic performance and course engagement.Design:Two faculty members infused content on norms and protective behavioural strategies into selected academic courses.Setting:This study was conducted in a small liberal arts university in the northeastern part of the USA.Methods:A sample of 215 undergraduates from research design and statistics courses in the fall semester of 2013 and the spring and fall semesters of 2014 were selected. CI was experienced by 100 students and 115 students comprised the comparison group. Surveys were distributed at the end of each semester to these selected groups and the results were analysed.Results:Students who witnessed CI showed no improvement in alcohol use outcomes; however, there was a trend level effect for frequency of use. CI students reported higher expected final grades and si...
Predictors of metabolic control at one year in a population of pediatric patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study.

Background/Objectives: The rising prevalence of pediatric type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and non-adherence to diabetes regimens pose challenges to obtaining optimal control. This study evaluated factors that may impact glycemic control (HbA 1c ): age, Tanner stage, body mass index (BMI), total daily insulin (TDD), metformin dose (MET), activity level, frequency of clinic visits and adherence. Methods: One-year data from 72 patients (ages 8.6-17.8 years) were collected retrospectively. From that sample, 57 patients who continued to attend clinic for the entire year were assessed and divided into optimal and suboptimal HbA 1c control groups. Results: All factors measured were similar in the two groups, except for lower initial and 1.0-year HbA 1c , TDD, and rates of missing MET and insulin in the optimal HbA 1c control group. Conclusions: Initial glycemic status and adherence rate predicted metabolic control at one year. Early identification of DM2 may improve metabolic outcome, which may improve medical regimen adherence.
Reducing the Negative Vocal Effects of Superficial Laryngeal Dehydration With Humidification

Objectives:Environmental humidification is a simple, cost-effective method believed to reduce superficial laryngeal drying. This study sought to validate this belief by investigating whether humidification treatment would reduce the negative effects of superficial laryngeal dehydration on phonation threshold pressure (PTP). Phonation threshold pressure data analysis may be vulnerable to bias because of lack of investigator blinding. Consequently, this study investigated the extent of PTP analysis reliability between unblinded and blinded investigators.Methods:Healthy male and female adults were assigned to a vocal fatigue (n = 20) or control group (n = 20) based on their responses to a questionnaire. PTP was assessed after 2 hours of mouth breathing in low humidity (dehydration challenge), following a 5-minute break in ambient humidity, and after 2 hours of mouth breathing in high humidity (humidification).Results:PTP significantly increased following the laryngeal dehydration challenge. After humidificat...
Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry Studies on Copper and Chromium Diffusion in Polyimide

Diffusion of Cu in polyimide(PI) film was observed after Cu evaporation on PI at room temperature. Annealing treatment significantly enhanced the diffusion of Cu. The diffusion coefficient measured at 200 and 400 C using the Fickian erfc solution are 3 × 10−14 and 1 × 10−13 cm2/sec, respectively. Cu shows the Fickian diffusion behavior. In contrast to Cu, no clearly measurable diffusion had occurred for an as-deposited Cr specimen and a specimen annealed at 400 C for 1 hour. However, for longer annealing times a slight amount of Cr diffused into PI because of the growth of the intermixed region. The diffusion coefficients of Cr at 200 and 400 C for less than 20 hours are 2 × 10−15 and 7 × 10−15 cm2/sec, respectively. The diffusion of Cr in PI shows non-Fickian behavior.
Emphasizing the ‘Complex’ in the ‘Immigration Industrial Complex’

This article contributes to scholarship that conceptualizes an ‘immigration industrial complex’, but argues against assertions that the complex represents a ‘confluence of interests’ or an unintend...
Research advance on ceramic bond of high performance CBN grinding wheel

At present the research on ceramic bond CBN grinding wheel has focused on the choice of the binder composition and determine the proportion.In this paper,the foundation systems of ceramic bond was introduced firstly,and then the fundamental of selection and matching on ceramic bond was elaborated.The research of recent years on ceramic bond in adding metal oxide,metal elemental and nanometer material were summarized.Finally,ceramic bond preparation were discussed by combining the latest preparation process.
Biosafety and Biosecurity:Two Different Words,One Conceptual Framework

Although both used to express the methods to prevent the biohazards in biotechnology and microbiology area,there are still differences between preventing an unintended release into the environment(referred to as "biosafety") and preventing abuse or theft(referred to as "biosecurity") of the biotechnological or microbial hazards.A wide and world shared conceptual framework that integrates sectoral notions of "biosafety" and "biosecurity" is required in order for each sector(modern biotechnology,laboratory biosafety and biosecurity,agriculture and food safety,pathogens and toxins control,epidemic and public health management,bioweapons control and biowar preventing) that addresses them to be efficient and effective.