cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Degradable Poly(β-amino esters): Synthesis, Characterization, and Self-Assembly with Plasmid DNA

Poly(β-aminoesters) 1−3 were synthesized via the addition of N,N‘-dimethylethylenediamine, piperazine, and 4,4‘-trimethylenedipiperidine to 1,4-butanediol diacrylate. Polymerization proceeded exclusively via the conjugate addition of the secondary amines to the bis(acrylate ester). Polymers were isolated in up to 86% yields with molecular weights ranging up to 31 200 relative to polystyrene standards. The polymers degraded hydrolytically in acidic and alkaline media to yield 1,4-butanediol and β-amino acids 4a−6a and the degradation kinetics were investigated at pH 5.1 and 7.4. In general, the polymers degraded more rapidly at pH 7.4 than at pH 5.1. In initial screening assays, both the polymers and their degradation products were determined to be noncytotoxic relative to poly(ethylene imine), a polymer conventionally employed as a synthetic transfection vector. Polymers 1−3 interacted electrostatically with polyanionic plasmid DNA in water and buffer at physiological pH, as determined by agarose gel elec...
Spectroscopic studies of a phosphoinositide-binding peptide from gelsolin: behavior in solutions of mixed solvent and anionic micelles.

The peptide G(150–169) corresponds to a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and filamentous actin (F-actin) binding site on gelsolin (residues 150–169, with the sequence KHVVPNEVVVQRLFQVKGRR). The conformation of this peptide in trifluoroethanol (TFE) aqueous solution was determined by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance as the first step toward understanding the structural aspects of the interaction of G(150–169) and PIP2. The circular dichroism experiments show that G(150–169) adopts a predominantly alpha-helical form in both 50% TFE aqueous solution and in the presence of PIP2 micelles, therefore establishing a connection between the two conformations. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance experiments of G(150–169) in TFE co-solvent show that the helical region extends from Pro-154 to Lys-166. The amphiphilic nature of this helical structure may be the key to understanding the binding of the peptide to lipids. Sodium dodecyl sulfate micelle solution is used as a model for anionic lipid environments. Preliminary studies of the conformation of G(150–169) in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelle solution show that the peptide forms an alpha-helix similar to but with some structural differences from that in TFE co-solvent. Fluorescence experiments provide evidence of peptide clustering over a narrow range of peptide/PIP2 ratios, which is potentially relevant to the biological function of PIP2.
The filum terminale of the frog spinal cord, a nontransformed glial preparation: II. Uptake of serotonin

The uptake of 5-HT was measured in the frog filum terminale (FT), a preparation composed almost exclusively of normal glia. [3H]5-HT was taken up by the FT via a high-affinity, sodium-dependent, temperature-sensitive transport system having aK m of 0.7 μM. In addition, a variety of drugs and aromatic amines known to selectively inhibit 5-HT uptake by synaptosomes and brain slices affected the uptake of 5-HT by the FT in a qualitatively similar manner. The FT was shown to accumulate [3H]5-HT at rates significantly greater than the lumbar enlargement which contains both neurons and glia. The glial accumulation of 5-HT by the FT was verified by autoradiography. These findings strongly support the suggestion that glia may modulate aminergic transmission by competing with neurons for the reuptake of neuronally released amines.
Preventing interference between different memory tasks

When learned in quick succession, declarative and motor skill tasks interfere with one another and subsequent recall is impaired. Depending on the order of the tasks, we were able to prevent memory interference in humans by applying transcranial magnetic stimulation to either the dorsolateral prefrontal or the primary motor cortex, and neither memory was impaired. Our observations suggest that distinct mechanisms support the communication between different types of memory processing.
High-resolution plate reconstruction of the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

We use recently acquired magnetic and SeaBeam bathymetric data to examine the spreading rates and plate boundary geometry of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 30°–36° S. Using a statistically rigorous estimation of rotation poles we develop a precise spreading history of the African—South American plate boundary. The total opening rate for 1–4.23 Myr (Plio-Pleistocene) is nearly constant at 32.3 ± 1 km Myr−1. The spreading rate apparently is faster in the Late Miocene (7.3-5.3 Myr), though this may reflect inaccuracies in the geomagnetic time scale. The rotation poles enable a plate boundary reconstruction with an accuracy of 2–3 km. The reconstructions also show that the plate boundary geometry underwent several changes since the late Miocene including the growth of one ridge segment from 40 to 105 km in length, and the reorientation of another ridge segment which has spread obliquely from 7 to 1 Myr. Pole calculations using both right- and left-stepping fracture zones show an offset of 1–2 km between the deepest, most linear part of a fracture zone trough and the former plate boundary location. The high-resolution plate kinematics suggests that the plate boundary, as a whole, evolves 2-dimensionally as prescribed by rigid plates. On a local scale, asymmetric accretion, asymmetric extension, small lateral ridge jumps (< 3 km), and intra-segment propagation result in minor plate boundary adjustments and deformation to the rigid plates.
In vivo and in vitro processing of recombinant pro-von Willebrand factor

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is synthesized in endothelial cells as pre-pro-vWF and processed intracellularly to propeptide (vWFpp) and mature vWF. Recombinant pro-vWF when infused into animals can also be processed extracellularly in vivo. Within 1 h of infusion in a dog and mice the multimer pattern changed to that typically seen in mature vWF indicating that propeptide cleavage from unprocessed vWF occurs extracellularly in the circulation. Incubation of a recombinant pro-vWF preparation with canine and human vWF-deficient plasma induced a time-dependent decrease in pro-vWF antigen and an increase in vWFpp antigen without changing total vWF antigen or collagen-binding activity. Multimer analysis showed the gradual transformation of the pro-vWF multimers to mature vWF multimers and cleaved vWFpp was visualized on autoradiograms of SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels using 125I-labeled pro-vWF. When recombinant pro-vWF was incubated with increasing amounts of purified thrombin, the extent of pro-vWF processing was dose dependent. The specific cleavage of vWFpp was confirmed by immunoblots using an anti-vWFpp antibody and by amino-terminal amino acid analysis. Hirudin preconditioning of vWF-deficient mice attenuated processing of infused recombinant pro-vWF suggesting that thrombin plays a part in the processing events in vivo.
Gestational and neonatal factors in the etiology of schizophrenia

This study evaluates research on gestational and neonatal factors implicated as causes of schizophrenia. These include obstetrical complications (particularly gestational hypoxia), viral infections, autoimmune agents, developmental deficits, and maternal stress. Evidence strongly suggests that these factors are importantly connected to the onset of adult schizophrenia.
On Gary Steiner's Animals and the Limits of Postmodernism : "Postmodern" Critical Animal Theory: A Defense

Book Symposium on Gary Steiner's Animals and the Limits of Postmodernism . New York: Columbia University Press, 2013. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE
A priority forwarding technique for efficient and fast flooding in wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper, we propose a new technique, called priority forwarding, for efficient and fast flooding operations in wireless ad hoc networks. The new scheme is featured by dynamic delay and priority checking. The former feature allows a host to wait as long as possible to refrain from retransmission, minimizing retransmission overhead. The priority checking feature, on the other hand, allows a flooding packet to be propagated as quickly as possible, keeping flooding latency low. Unlike many location-aided flooding techniques, priority forwarding requires each host to know only the distance of its 1-hop neighbors, instead of their exact locations. Therefore, it has low implementation cost. For performance evaluation, we compare priority forwarding with some existing techniques using simulation. Our results show that under most scenarios, the new technique performs many times better in reducing packet retransmissions and flooding latency.
Saturated control of flexible-joint manipulators using a Hammerstein strictly positive real compensator

In this paper the control of flexible-joint manipulators while explicitly avoiding actuator saturation is considered. The controllers investigated are composed of a bounded proportional control term and a Hammerstein strictly positive real angular rate control term. This control structure ensures that the total torque demanded of each actuator is bounded by a value that is less than the maximum torque that each actuator is able to provide, thereby disallowing actuator saturation. The proposed controllers are shown to render the closed-loop system asymptotically stable, even in the presence of modeling uncertainties. The performance of the controllers is demonstrated experimentally and in simulation.
Social Inference Risk Modeling in Mobile and Social Applications

The emphasis of emerging mobile and Web 2.0 applications on collaboration and communication increases threats to user privacy. A serious, yet under-researched privacy risk results from social inferences about user identity, location and other personal information. In this paper, after analyzing the social inference problem theoretically, we assess the extent of the risk to users of computer-mediated communication and location based applications through 1) a laboratory experimentation, 2) a mobile phone field study, and 3) simulation. Our experimentation involved the use of 530 user-created profiles and a 292-subject laboratory chat-study between strangers. The field study explored the patterns of collocation and anonymity of 165 users using a location-aware mobile-phone survey tool. The empirical data was then utilized to populate large-scale simulations of the social inference risk. The work validates the theoretical model, highlights the seriousness of the social inference risk, and shows how the extent and nature of the risk differs for different classes of social computing applications. We conclude with a discussion of the system design implications.
Background surface and horizon effects in the perception of relative size and distance

The projected height of an object in a scene relative to a ground surface influences its perceived size and distance, but the effect of height should change when the object is moved above the horizon. In four experiments, observers judged relative size or relative distance for pairs of objects varying in height with respect to the horizon. Higher objects equal in projected size were judged larger below the horizon, but the relative size effect was reversed either when one object was on the horizon and one was above the horizon or when both objects were above the horizon. With the real horizon not explicitly present in the display, relative size judgements were affected both by the boundary of the visible surface and the vanishing point implied by the converging lines. For relative distance judgements, the higher object was judged more distant regardless of the height of the objects relative to the perceptual horizon, resulting in a reversal of the relation between size and distance judgements for objects ...
Effect of micellar beta-sitosterol on cholesterol metabolism in CaCo-2 cells

CaCo-2 cells were used to address the effect of the plant sterol, beta-sitosterol, on cholesterol trafficking, cholesterol metabolism, and apoB secretion. Compared to cells incubated with micelles (5 mM taurocholate and 250 microM oleic acid) containing cholesterol, which caused an increase in the influx of plasma membrane cholesterol to the endoplasmic reticulum and increased the secretion of cholesteryl esters derived from the plasma membrane, beta-sitosterol did not alter cholesterol trafficking or cholesteryl ester secretion. Including beta-sitosterol in the micelle together with cholesterol attenuated the influx of plasma membrane cholesterol and prevented the secretion of cholesteryl esters derived from the plasma membrane. Stigmasterol and campesterol had effects similar to beta-sitosterol, although campesterol did not promote a modest influx of plasma membrane cholesterol. Including beta-sitosterol in the micelle with cholesterol decreased the uptake of cholesterol. Compared to cholesterol, 60% less beta-sitosterol was taken up by CaCo-2 cells. No observable esterification of beta-sitosterol was appreciated and the transport of the plant sterol to the basolateral medium was negligible. Cholesterol synthesis and HMG-CoA reductase activities were decreased in cells incubated with beta-sitosterol. This was associated with a decrease in reductase mass and mRNA levels. Cholesteryl ester synthesis and ACAT activities were unaltered by beta-sitosterol. Both stigmasterol and campesterol decreased reductase activity, but only campesterol increased ACAT activity. beta-sitosterol did not affect the secretion of apoB mass. The results suggest that beta-sitosterol does not promote cholesterol trafficking from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum. beta-sitosterol interferes with the uptake of micellar cholesterol causing less plasma membrane cholesterol to influx and less cholesteryl ester to be secreted. Despite its lack of effect on cholesterol trafficking, beta-sitosterol decreases cholesterol synthesis at the level of HMG-CoA reductase gene expression.
In Vivo Urea Kinetic Studies in Conscious Mice

Stable isotope studies in conscious mice have been limited by the invasive catheterization procedures and relatively large sample size required. We developed minimally invasive catheterization protocols that together with the ability to analyze small samples have allowed for the study of urea kinetics in conscious mice. A single dose of 15N15N-urea followed by multiple sampling in mice (n = 6) showed that a primary pool of urea exchanged rapidly [70.65 +/- 14.96 mmol/(kg x h)] with a secondary pool. The urea entry rate determined with this protocol was 3.36 +/- 0.30 mmol/(kg x h). Continuous infusion of 15N15N-urea (n = 6) achieved plateau enrichment values at 3.3 +/- 0.2.h from which the urea entry rate was determined by isotope dilution [3.24 +/- 0.23 mmol/(kg x h)]. The urea entry rate measured by the single dose or continuous infusion protocol did not differ (P = 0.76). The minimally invasive methods described allow us to study not only ureagenesis and urea cycle disorders in vivo, but also urea transport and transporter function and nitrogen metabolism in general in mouse models. This is especially relevant because mouse targeting technologies will likely facilitate the generation of organ and tissue specific nulls of the various urea cycle enzymes.
Deciduous enamel defects in prehistoric Americans from Dickson Mounds: prenatal and postnatal stress.

The month of onset, duration, and incidence of dental enamel hypoplasia and hypocalcification was determined in sub-adults from the Dick- son Mounds (Illinois) skeletal series (A.D. 950-1300). The onset of enamel defects occurred predominantly during the intrauterine period, suggesting maternal stress. There are marked differences in survivorship and the dura- tion of enamel disruption in those affected prenatally and postnatally. The relationship between these data and studies of adult dentition is examined.
Nuclear Emancipation: A Platelet Tour de Force

Mammalian platelets are anucleate cells produced by the polyploid megakaryocyte. Platelets are more than just key players in hemostasis (blood clotting in response to injury); they also have important roles in inflammation, immunity, tumor progression, and thrombosis. Complex systems of homeostasis have been described for platelets, including posttranscriptional and translational mechanisms to regulate platelet function. Platelets contain transcription factors, and these proteins have essential roles in regulating nongenomic processes. A study provides evidence for a previously unknown negative feedback pathway for limiting platelet activation that occurs through the nuclear factor κB transcription factor family. This pathway is mediated by an adenosine 39,59-monophosphate–independent protein kinase A activity in response to platelet stimulation. Our appreciation of the role of transcription factors in mammalian platelet biology is nascent but holds great promise for both understanding platelet function and translation into clinical uses.
An algorithm for “Ulam's Game” and its application to error correcting codes

Abstract A near-optimal algorithm for “Ulam's Game” is presented. The relationship between the game and multiple error correcting codes is discussed. For many cases, codes derived from winning strategies of the game are optimal for the communication scheme with noisy forward and noiseless feedback channels.
Mutations in the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ highlight the role of GTP binding and longitudinal subunit interactions in assembly and function

Assembly of the tubulin-like GTPase, FtsZ, at the future division site initiates the process of bacterial cytokinesis. The FtsZ ring serves as a platform for assembly of the division machinery and constricts at the leading edge of the invaginating septum during cytokinesis. In vitro, FtsZ assembles in a GTP-dependent manner, forming straight filaments that curve upon GTP hydrolysis. FtsZ binds but cannot hydrolyze GTP as a monomer. Instead, the active site for GTP hydrolysis is formed at the monomer-monomer interface upon dimerization. While the dynamics of GTP hydrolysis and assembly have been extensively studied in vitro, significantly less is known about the role of GTP binding and hydrolysis in vivo. ftsZ84, a GTPase defective allele of Escherichia coli ftsZ, provides a striking example of the disconnect between in vivo and in vitro FtsZ assembly. Although ftsZ84 mutants are defective for FtsZ ring formation and division under nonpermissive conditions, they are near wild type for ring formation and division under permissive conditions. In vitro, however, purified FtsZ84 is defective in GTP binding, hydrolysis and assembly under standard reaction conditions. To clarify the nature of the FtsZ84 assembly defect, we isolated and characterized three intragenic suppressors of ftsZ84. All three suppressor mutations increased the apparent affinity of FtsZ84 for GTP, consistent with improved subunit-subunit interactions along the longitudinal interface. Although kinetic analysis indicates that the suppressor mutations increase the affinity of FtsZ84 for GTP, all three exhibit reduced rates of GTP hydrolysis and fail to support assembly in vitro. Together, our data suggest that FtsZ, and potentially other enzymes whose assembly is similarly regulated, can compensate for defects in catalysis through increases in substrate binding and subunit-subunit interactions. In addition, these results highlight the dichotomy between commonly used in vitro assembly conditions and FtsZ ring formation in the complex intracellular milieu.
Induced Heme Oxygenase-1 Upregulation Protects Pancreatic Beta Cells from Apoptosis In Vitro

INTRODUCTION. Transplantation of islets of Langerhans represents a viable therapeutic approach for the treatment of Type I diabetes mellitus (1). Unfortunately, transplanted islets are susceptible to allogeneic recognition and rejection, recurrence of autoimmunity and destruction by local inflammation at the site of implant. The latter phenomenon is characterized by microenvironment activation with production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and oxygen radicals that might result in functional impairment and death of islet cells, and also contribute to amplifying the subsequent specific immune response (2,3). Islet β−cells are exquisitely susceptible to oxidative stress because of their insufficient anti-oxidant pool. Induction of islet cell protection against inflammation could therefore represent a viable strategy to improve overall graft fate. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) has been described as an inducible stress protein capable of cytoprotection via radical scavenging and apoptosis prevention (4). The purpose of the present study was to analyze whether upregulation of HO-1 in a beta cell line (β-TC3) and in freshly isolated murine islets could result in protection from apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS. HO-1 upregulation was reproducibly induced, in a dose dependent fashion, by incubating the beta cell line and isolated islets for 24 hours in the presence of iron protoporphyrin (FePP), as assessed by western blot and quantitative RT-PCR analysis. A 24-hr incubation in the presence or absence of FePP was performed in both BetaTC3 cells and islets before induction of apoptosis. Subsequently, β-TC3 cells were incubated for 24-hrs in the presence of IL-1α (10U/ml) and IFN-γ (100U/ml) to induce the expression of Fas on their surface. A pro-apoptotic stimulus was then delivered via engagement of Fas by an agonistic anti-Fas antibody, followed by addition of protein G to induce cross-linking, and cells were cultured for 48-hrs before assay. In freshly isolated murine islets, the pro-apoptotic signal was delivered by addition of TNF-α (5000U/ml) and cyclohexamide (CHX, 50 µg/ml) for additional 48 hours. Control islets were similarly treated in the presence or absence of FePP, without TNF-α and CHX. At the end of culture, β-TC3 and islet cell suspension were obtained by trypsinization, stained with propidium iodide, and analyzed by flow cytometry on a linear scale, considering apoptotic the cells within the distinct sub-G1 peak, in which DNA condensation and fragmentation results in decreased staining. Analysis of apoptosis in the β-TC3 showed that the rate of apoptotic cells was inversely correlated to the concentration of FePP in the media, strongly suggesting a dose
Defining and measuring the mean residence time of lateral surface transient storage zones in small streams

[1] Surface transient storage (STS) has functional significance in stream ecosystems because it increases solute interaction with sediments. After volume, mean residence time is the most important metric of STS, but it is unclear how this can be measured accurately or related to other timescales and field-measureable parameters. We studied mean residence time of lateral STS in small streams over Reynolds numbers (Re) 5000–200,000 and STS width to length (W/L) aspect ratios between 0.2–0.75. Lateral STS have flow fields characterized by a shear layer spanning the length of the STS entrance, and one primary gyre and one or more secondary gyre(s) in the STS. The study's purpose was to define, measure, and compare residence timescales: volume to discharge ratio (Langmuir timescale); area under normalized concentration curve; and characteristic time of exponential decay, and to compare these timescales to field measureable parameters. The best estimate of STS mean residence time—primary gyre residence time—was determined to be the first characteristic time of exponential decay. An apparent mean residence time can arise, which is considerably larger than other timescales, if probes are placed within secondary gyre(s). The Langmuir timescale is the minimum mean residence time, and is linearly correlated to channel velocity and STS width. The lateral STS mean residence time can be predicted using a physically based hydromorphic timescale derived by Uijttewaal et al. (2001) with an entrainment coefficient of 0.031 ± 0.009 for the Re and W/L studied.
Integrated Subsurface and Outcrop Sedimentological, Mineralogical, and Geochemical Characterization of Late Cretaceous Mancos Shale, SouthwesternPiceance Basin, Southern Douglas Creek Arch, and Southeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah

In early 2013, a study of the Mancos Shale was initiated at Colorado Mesa University with initial funding from the CMU Unconventional Energy Center and industry donations. The goal of this project is to generate a stratigraphically calibrated mineralogical, geochemical, radiometric, and sedimentological dataset for the total Mancos in the southwest Piceance Basin, southern Douglas Creek Arch, and southeast Uinta Basin. The total project area is about 4,185 mi 2 , extending from Cisco, UT, to Delta, CO. Input comes from four sources: 1) publicdomain well-log data; 2) public-domain organic and inorganic geochemical data; 3) spectral gamma-ray, mineralogical, and inorganic geochemical analyses of cuttings from a well about 16 mi north of Fruita, CO; and 4) measured sections from the outcrop belt near Grand Junction, CO. In the project area, the Mancos is 3,697 to 4,751 feet thick (average = 4,059 ft) and is subdivided into four "assessment/inventory" intervals: Upper Mancos, Prairie Canyon, Niobrara, and Lower Mancos. These intervals are clearly defined on well logs and in outcrop, and have average thicknesses of 865, 1,231, 1,656, and 329 feet, respectively. Currently, public-domain data have been harvested from 38 wells in the project area, including 559 total-organiccarbon (TOC), 513 RockEval, 95 vitrinite-reflectance (VR), 175 total-carbonate (TC), 12 x-ray diffraction (XRD for bulk mineralogy), and 596 x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses (El Attar, 2013). Most analyses (~95%) come from the lower Mancos and Niobrara equivalent. New data generated from cuttings in the Fees Federal 2-6-8-101 (API 05-045-07432), include 169 XRD, TC (calcimeter), and spectral gamma-ray (SGR) analyses. These samples span the total Mancos and part of the overlying Mesaverde Group and underlying Dakota Sandstone. Outcrop work includes 16 measured sections (2,245 ft) with foot-by-foot gamma-ray measurements (total count and SGR) for about half of the sections. It is anticipated that when completed, the results will provide a platform that will enhance exploration and exploitation of the Mancos, plus allow researchers to better understand its depositional history, stratigraphy, and sedimentology. Additionally, the inorganic-geochemical data will allow environmental studies on Mancos intervals that could influence disposal of produced water and drill cuttings. Data on mineralogic characteristics will also contribute to a better understanding of the mechanical-stratigraphy of the Mancos, which will aid well completions. Introduction The Mancos Shale is present over much of western Colorado and eastern Utah. In western Colorado, it exceeds 4,000 feet in thickness and has an outcrop width that can reach 17 miles (Whitney, 1981; Gaultieri, 1988). The Mancos has a long history of oil and gas production in the western Piceance Basin, Douglas Creek Arch, and eastern
Ionophore-based ion-selective potentiometric and optical sensors

This paper describes ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) and optodes with a focus on the fundamental mechanisms, response characteristics, and recognition elements (ionophores) described to date for these sensors. The topics covered review the most frequently encountered ideas about ionophore-based sensors, including the theoretical and experimental parameters that influence response, typical ionophore structures, useful membrane compositions, and applications. Since these sensors are applicable in a number of fields, such as clinical, environmental, and process monitoring, as well as more novel approaches such as microfluidic-based systems and micro/nanoprobes, this article provides descriptions that are oriented toward a more general audience. Furthermore, a large portion of this review describes the ionophore component itself in hopes of inspiring ideas in readers of how novel molecular architectures with new ionic targets or improved selectivity can be developed.
Empirical fear profiles among American youth.

Fears among children can range from relatively innocuous fears of simple objects to significant phobias that affect youths’ everyday functioning in the home, school, or community environments. This study investigated empirically derived fear profiles among American youth ages 7–19 ( N = 556). Based upon youths’ scores on the 5 factors of the Fear Survey Schedule for Children—II (FSSC—II; Burnham & Gullone (Behav Res Ther, 35, 1997)), multistage Euclidean grouping was applied and produced 5 replicable fear cluster profiles with unique contours. Logistic regression odds ratios revealed specific associations of profile group membership with demographic characteristics such as child age, sex, and ethnicity.  2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Helping Your Local Amphibians (HYLA): An Internet-Based Amphibian Course for Educators

A pilot on-line course on amphibians was offered free to 20 educators around the United States in 1999. This course, called Helping Your Local Amphibians (HYLA), was the first of its kind on-line course for educators dealing with amphibian issues. It also used these animals as a focus to teach about the environment. The course lasted 9 weeks with some additional time for continued discussions and used various aspects of Internet technology (including a virtual conference center), media, and traditional paper-based products to complete the learning process. Five teachers were selected to attend a national amphibian summit hosted by the Center for Global Environmental Education, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. The course was aimed primarily at upper elementary and middle school teachers, but participants included formal and nonformal educators. For the most part, educators expressed satisfaction with the course and the content, as well as the structure of the web site. For 80% of the group, this was their first Internet-based course. In addition, as part of the course, the educators were expected to take some action with their primary audiences to help local amphibian populations. This mainly took the form of surveys or habitat clean-ups. The development of the course was underwritten by grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Best Buy Children's Foundation, and Hamline University.
The effectiveness of subgingival scaling and root planing: an evaluation of therapy with and without the use of the periodontal endoscope.

Background: A fiber-optic periodontal endoscope was developed to aid in the visualization of subgingival structures and to improve the diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of the periodontal endoscope with scaling and root planing (SRP) resulted in a decrease in residual calculus compared to SRP alone.Methods: Fifteen subjects with 50 tooth pairs participated in this study. Each tooth per pair was randomized to receive SRP with or without the endoscope. Teeth were extracted, and a stereomicroscope and digital image analysis was used to determine percent residual calculus present in a masked fashion.Results: There was 2.14% (P < 0.001) more residual calculus at control versus test sites. At buccal/lingual and interproximal surfaces, mean differences in residual calculus were 1.30% (P <0.015) and 2.93% (P < 0.001), respectively. Test treatment time decreased significantly as operator experience increased. There were no statistically signifi...
Distribution of Red Fir and Noble Fir in Oregon Based on Dwarf Mistletoe Host Specificity

The distribution of California red fir (Abies magnifica) and noble fir (Abies procera) in Oregon has long been debated. The objective of this study was to determine if selective parasitism of these true firs by subspecies of hemlock dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugense) could be used to provide additional data supporting one of the geographic distributions proposed for these conifers. A total of ten mixed-conifer stands in California and Oregon infested with mountain hemlock dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugense subsp. mertensianae) and 11 stands in Oregon infested with Pacific silver fir dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugense subsp. amabilae) were sampled to compare host susceptibility to these parasitic plants. Populations of true firs morphologically resembling noble fir south of latitude 44° N in Oregon were immune to infection by both dwarf mistletoes. Populations of noble fir north of latitude 44° N in Oregon were principal hosts of Pacific silver fir dwarf mistletoe. The complete immunity of Cal...
Oblique scattering from lossy strip structures with one-dimensional periodicity

The intentional addition of loss to a periodic structure can be used as a technique to alter its scattering characteristics. The problem of an oblique plane wave incident on an array with one-dimensional periodicity is examined. The unit cell of the array is composed of a number of thin resistive strips. The obliqueness of the incident plane wave combined with the lossy nature of the structure causes the transverse electric (TE) to z and the transverse magnetic (TM) to z fields to couple. To analyze the described problem, two coupled electric field integral equations that have as unknowns the equivalent surface currents on the strips in the unit cell are derived. The integral equations are discretized and solved approximately using the method of moments with subdomain basis and testing functions. The periodic Green's function is efficiently calculated using the Poisson summation formula. The interaction of the structure with the surrounding environment is described in terms of a generalized scattering matrix. Results are presented showing the TE/TM coupling behavior as strip resistance is increased for representative structures. >
Self-organizing learning array and its application to economic and financial problems

A new self-organizing learning array (SOLAR) system has been implemented in software. It is an information theory based learning machine capable of handling a wide variety of classification problems. It has self-reconfigurable processing cells (neurons) and an evolvable system structure. Entropy based learning is performed locally at each neuron, where neural functions and connections that correspond to the minimum entropy are adaptively learned. By choosing connections for each neuron, the system sets up the wiring and completes its self-organization. SOLAR classifies input data based on weighted statistical information from all neurons. Unlike artificial neural networks, its multi-layer structure scales well to large systems capable of solving complex pattern recognition and classification tasks. This paper shows its application in economic and financial fields. A reference to influence diagrams is also discussed. Several prediction and classification cases are studied. The results have been compared with the existing methods.
Taking a Second Look: Immunization Requirements for Nursing Students

Abstract To comply with clinical agency agreements, nursing administrators and faculty need to be attentive to the management of immunization requests, especially those that are divergent from CDC or state recommendations. As nursing students usually bear the cost of additional immunizations and testing, immunization requirements may represent a barrier in using all available clinical sites. Medical insurers will often reject payment for immunization tests or vaccines that are identified as unnecessary or inconsistent with state or national recommendations. The creation of a consistent immunization process that addresses all guidelines is recommended.
Mentoring: Who And How

This paper examines the concept of mentoring, defined here as a process where one individual, the mentor, passes on knowledge, experience and advice to another individual, the mentee, in trust and confidence. This process is initiated by a corporation whose purpose it is to recruit, retain and grow talented people in their organization. A survey of the history of the process is reviewed. The benefits and issues of acquiring a mentor and advancing are also covered. Four interviews are reported, the authors feel that this overview of mentoring has many applications and need not be confined to the business community.
Inside South Ossetia: a survey of attitudes in a de facto state

South Ossetia was the main site of the August 2008 war between Georgian military forces, local South Ossetian forces, and the Russian military. Soon thereafter, the Russian Federation recognized the territory as a state, the South Ossetian Republic. This article reviews the contending scripts used to understand South Ossetia and the basis of its claim to be a state. Presenting the results of a public opinion survey of Ossetians living in the territory in late 2010, we discuss the trust in local institutions and leadership, ethnic Ossetian attitudes toward other groups, return and property, as well as relations with Russia and Georgia.
Testing by Monitoring Material Properties

Various methods for testing for material composition, material properties and chemical properties are used as indicators in nondestructive testing. The major effect is that of changes of the dielectric constant of the material. If losses in materials do not change (as, for example, with curing degree in some materials), then only the real part of the dielectric constant causes measurable changes. More often, both real and imaginary parts vary (i.e. the loss tangent varies) and can be used for testing. Although the permeability of materials may also change this is less common than changes in dielectric constant. Thus, measurements based on monitoring material properties are most often based on variations dielectric constant. This, in turn, causes changes in reflection, transmission and attenuation constants. These can be tested using the methods described in the previous two chapters or, as will be shown shortly, using resonant techniques.
Grading Dental Students in a “Nongraded” Clinical Assessment Program

This article details how Baylor College of Dentistry (BCD) merges graded and nongraded aspects of student assessments into grade point averages (GPAs); explains the use of its assessment tools to evaluate students, faculty, and curriculum simultaneously; and calls for continuous progress and quality improvement toward educational excellence among all levels of the oral health education community. “Nongraded” student assessments at BCD are only applicable to preclinical and chairside activities that involve direct patient care. We further summarize how we have attempted to improve the accuracy of grading while providing objective numeric grades to measure student performance and generate a class rank. We suggest that faculty evaluation and curricular change require appropriate evaluation methods and continuous quality improvement based on the chosen assessment methodologies. We then summarize how we merge graded and nongraded assessments into a final student evaluation that realistically discriminates among students’ performance and present our numeric-to-letter grade conversion table. We conclude that 1) multiple strategies are required, available, and adequate to provide graduates with the numerical GPAs demanded by postdoctoral programs and that 2) continuous quality improvement among all levels of the oral health education community should be vigorously pursued by administration and faculty alike.
Keloids: Animal models and pathologic equivalents to study tissue fibrosis

Animal models are crucial for the study of fibrosis. Keloids represent a unique type of fibrotic scarring that occurs only in humans, thus presenting a challenge for those studying the pathogenesis of this disease and its therapeutic options. Here, several animal models of fibrosis currently in use are described, emphasizing recent progress and highlighting encouraging challenges.
Colonization and Resurgence of Insect Pests of Soybean in Response to Insecticides and Field Isolation

Treatment of soybean with methyl parathion and methomyl caused resurgence of populations of Plathypena scabra F., Heliothis spp., Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, and Epilachna varivestis Mulsant. Less resurgence occurred when monocrotophos was applied. Removal of the natural biotic agents by the insecticides was probably the major reason for the resurgence. Newly-established soybean fields in isolated situations were more susceptible to outbreaks of these pests than fields which were cultivated annually.
Über experimentelle alimentäre Atherosklerose

1. Die Spontansklerose ist beim Kaninchen eine auserst seltene Erkrankung, sofern nur Tiere zur Entscheidung dieser Frage herangezogen werden, die moglichst unter naturlichen Ernahrungsbedingungen gehalten werden, die nicht zu anderweitigen Experimenten benutzt wurden, bei denen irgendwelche chemische Schadigungen des Blutes oder Beeintrachtigungen des Stoffwechsels statthatten oder die Infektionskrankheiten uberstanden haben. 2. Durch mechanisch bedingte Steigerung des Aortendruckes, Digitalkompression, Momburgsche Blutleere, Aufhangen an den Hinterextremitaten, gelingt es bei unter naturlichen Lebensbedingungen gehaltenen gesunden Kaninchen nicht, Aortenveranderungen hervorzurufen. 3. Bei Infektionskrankheiten, speziell septischen Prozessen, konnen ausgedehnte sklerotische Veranderungen in der Aorta auftreten. 4. Es gelingt, Kaninchen an fast reine tierische Eiweisnahrung zu gewohnen und bis zu 3 Monaten am Leben zu erhalten. 5. Die hauptsachlichste Folge der Ernahrung von Kaninchen mit tierischem Eiweis ist neben regelmasiger Glykosurie eine Erkrankung des Aorten- und peripheren Schlagadersystems, die identisch ist mit den durch Adrenalininjektionen erzeugten Aortenveranderungen. Der Grad der Erkrankung des Gefassystems wachst mit der Dauer des Versuches. 6. Eine geringe vegetabilische Beikost zur Futterung mit tierischem Eiweis ermoglicht, das Leben der Tiere fast beliebig zu verlangern. 7. Bei dieser Modifikation des Versuches andert sich der Gefasbefund in bemerkenswerter Weise. Die Veranderungen treffen im wesentlichen die Intima, in geringerem Grade die Media, und stehen den von der menschlichen Atherosklerose her bekannten Intimaerkrankungen histologisch sehr nahe.
Polar axis fixation in Fucus zygotes: components of the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix.

Polar axis formation and polar axis stabilization (or fixation) can be separated and analyzed in synchronously developing zygotes of the brown alga Fucus. Extensive experimental evidence points to a role for both the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the process of axis fixation in Fucus. A structural complex composed of the cytoskeleton and the ECM has been postulated to stabilize membrane asymmetries generated as a result of axis-forming vectors. This axis stabilizing complex (ASC) may take the form of transmembrane connections between the cytoskeleton on the cytoplasmic face and the ECM on the external side of the plasma membrane, similar to focal contacts in animal cells. At present we know of two components in the proposed ASC of Fucus: an adhesive sulfated glycoprotein which is localized in the ECM, and an actin network which is localized on the adjoining cytoplasmic face. This preliminary report describes evidence for the presence of molecules in two-celled Fucus embryos that are similar to those found in focal contacts in animal cells, i.e. vinculin, integrin and vitronectin. However, their localization and interaction with each other relative to the polar axis has yet to be determined. These initial observations will provide the basis to pursue further an analysis of these components in the process of polar axis fixation.
Investigation on Epidemiological Relevance of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Human and Livestock

To explore the epidemiological relevance of Hepatitis E virus infection in human and livestock revealing risk factors of hepatitis E.The data of health behaviors related with livestock analyzed by multivariate COX regression analysis were collected by 1∶2 matched case-control study of 134 patients in case group.Samples of the faeces of pig and chicken,pig gallbladder,pig liver and environmental water in study site were collected and tested by nucleic acid detection with positive samples of the patient and pig for genetic analysis.Multivariate analysis indicated that significant differences were found in history of exposure to pigs(OR=7.21,95% CI:1.65-31.45)and history of eating raw fruits and vegetables(OR=2.95,95% CI:1.19-7.36)between the case and control group.The rates of positive detection of the faeces of pig,pig gallbladder,and pig liver were 10.2%,23.5%and 30.8%,respectively.The HEV infection in human and pig was mainly genotype 4with nucleotide homology of 89.9%-99.3%.The result indicated that history of exposure to pigs and eating raw fruits and vegetables were risk factors of HEV infection,and HEV could be discharged by pig faeces with high titer in pig gallbladder and liver.The homology of HEV between human and pig was high indicating pig as a host animal of Hepatitis E possibly in the locality.Prevention work combined with epidemic characteristics should be implemented while strengthening the education of preventing Hepatitis E and protection of key population.
Hedgehog signaling promotes basal progenitor expansion and the growth and folding of the neocortex.

During evolution, the neocortex has expanded dramatically and folded in certain species, providing superior sensorimotor and cognitive abilities. Expansion of neural progenitors called bRGs and IPCs plays key roles in expansion and folding of the neocortex. Using mouse models, comparative genomics and human cerebral organoids, this study shows that Shh signaling expands bRG and IPC populations, leading to neocortical expansion and folding.
Writing the Haitian Diaspora: The Transnational Contexts of Edwidge Danticat’s The Dew Breaker

In a May 2008 investigative series published in four installments in the Washington Post, reporters Dana Priest and Amy Goldstein uncovered what they called the “unseen network of special prisons for foreign detainees” scattered across the United States, and into which “[s]ome 33,000 people are crammed … on [any] given day, waiting to be deported or for a judge to let them stay” in the country. The series of reports, which devotes considerable attention to a roster of detailed case studies charting abuses of both physically and mentally ill detainees, many of whom die while in detention, purports thereby to put a human face on what it more generally calls “the human cost of increasingly strict policies in the post—September 11 United States and [the] lack of preparation for the implementation of those policies.” In the case of this network of shadowy detention centers, Priest and Goldstein suggest, the problem started with the conversion of the former federal Immigration and Naturalization Service into what we now call the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau, which in turn is now subsumed into the Department of Homeland Security. According to the reporters, detention in the system, which can often result from simple misunderstandings about a given detainee’s immigration status, can turn out to be a death sentence for anyone unlucky enough to find themselves held while also suffering from serious medical conditions that the staffs in many of the system’s facilities are neither trained nor equipped to handle.