cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prospective birth cohort study on cord blood folate subtypes and risk of autism spectrum disorder

Background We previously reported that extremely high concentrations of maternal plasma folate were associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. This study explored whether specific types of folate in cord blood have differential association with ASD. Objectives In the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC), we assessed the association between cord blood unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA), 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate (THF), and total folate and a child's ASD risk. In a subset, we explored whether the association between UMFA and ASD risk can be affected by the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genotype and cord plasma creatinine. We also examined prenatal correlates of cord UMFA concentrations. Methods This report included 567 BBC children (92 ASD, 475 neurotypical), who were recruited at birth and prospectively followed at the Boston Medical Center. ASD was defined from International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes documented in electronic medical records. Results Children with cord UMFA in the highest, versus lowest quartile, had a greater ASD risk (adjusted OR, aORquartile4: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.08, 4.75). When stratified by race/ethnicity, the association was limited to 311 (45 ASD) Black children (aORquartile4: 9.85; 95% CI: 2.53, 38.31); a test of interaction between race/ethnicity and cord UMFA concentrations was significant (P = 0.007). The UMFA-ASD association in Black children slightly attenuated after adjusting for cord plasma creatinine (P = 0.05). There was no significant association between cord 5-methyl THF, total folate, DHFR genotype, and ASD risk. Cord total folate and maternal supplement intake during second trimester were associated with higher cord UMFA. Conclusions Higher concentrations of cord UMFA, but not 5-methyl THF or total folate, were associated with a greater risk of ASD in Black children. This study in a preterm-birth-enriched cohort raises more questions than it could answer and underscores the need for additional investigations on the sources and role of cord UMFA in children's neurodevelopmental outcomes and underlying mechanisms.
Longitudinal relationships of cytokines, depression and anhedonia in depressed adolescents.

Abstract Background Depression has been associated with low-grade elevation of plasma cytokines (e.g. interleukin-6, IL-6; tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNFα) in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in adults. Preclinical and clinical studies also suggest that IL-6 and TNFα elevation are associated with anhedonia. However, few studies have examined longitudinal relationships between cytokines and depression/anhedonia in clinically depressed samples, particularly adolescents. Methods Thirty-six adolescents with a depressive disorder receiving standard-of-care community treatment were assessed at a baseline and a follow-up timepoint. Self-report and clinical measures of depression and anhedonia, along with plasma IL-6 and TNFα levels, were obtained at both timepoints. Baseline cytokine measures were examined in association with baseline and follow-up clinical measures. On an exploratory basis, change in clinical measures over time was examined in relation to change in cytokine levels over time. Results Higher baseline TNFα levels predicted higher follow-up depression severity after approximately four months (controlling for baseline depression). Higher baseline TNFα levels also associated positively with baseline anhedonia and predicted higher anhedonia at follow-up (controlling for baseline anhedonia). No association was found between change in clinical measures and change in cytokine levels over time. Conclusions Among adolescents receiving standard-of-care community treatment for depression, higher levels of TNFα predicted greater depressive symptoms at 4-month follow-up, suggesting this cytokine may be used to help identify patients in need of more intensive treatment. Elevated TNFα levels were also associated with concurrent and future anhedonia symptoms, suggesting a specific mechanism in which TNFα affects depression trajectories. Future studies should examine the relationships between cytokine levels and depression/anhedonia symptoms at multiple timepoints in larger cohorts of depressed adolescents.
Unusual Behaviors in a 7-year-old Boy.

1. Lawrence Chang, MD*,† 2. Diane D. Shao, MD, PhD‡ 3. Florian S. Eichler, MD§ 4. Siddharth Srivastava, MD‡ 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital; 2. †Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 3. ‡Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA; and 4. §Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 1. Address correspondence to Lawrence Chang, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: lawrence.chang{at}childrens.harvard.edu A 7-year-old boy with no significant abnormal medical history presents to the emergency department of a tertiary care children’s hospital with subacute progressive increase in unusual behaviors. For the past several weeks, his parents have noted instances during conversations when he pauses for a few seconds after being spoken to before asking, “What?” Usually after the words are repeated to him, he responds appropriately, although he has also sometimes had strange responses to questions; once when asked, “Can you get that shoe?” he appeared confused then replied, “There are no cows in the house.” The instances occurred only a few times daily at first but have progressively increased in frequency to multiple times per conversation. When they have been pointed out to him, he becomes defensive and blames them on his parents not speaking loudly enough or the room being too loud. Otherwise, he has behaved and interacted normally. His parents have not noticed any unusual movements, and he has not had any other symptoms including fever, vision changes, and gait abnormalities. He was performing well at school but has been on summer break during the course of his symptom onset. Due to concern for a hearing problem, he underwent an audiogram, which was normal, after which he was referred by his pediatrician to the children’s hospital …
"Moneyball" A new approach to practice:

It is well known that transition cow diseases negatively affect reproductive performance; thus, profitability and welfare of dairy herds. Prevention of diseases at the herd level requires a constant effort and effective coordination of the total system (animals, environment, nutrition, and personnel). Substantial knowledge exists to prevent many diseases or conditions; however, it must be translated into on-farm applications or practices to have a meaningful effect at the herd level. Reproductive data of dairy herds throughout the United States showed that more than 73% of the variation in pregnancy risk (between bottom 10% and top 10% of herds) was due to management practices and/or environment. Fully trained and competent workers know what to do and how to do it, and have the skills and abilities to do the work. However, competent workers will often fail to perform when conflict or lack of satisfaction, motivation, and/or communication occur, resulting in lower work performance which affects the overall herd productivity. Frequent assessment of performance, educational needs, and training of dairy personnel should be top priorities for dairy operations to achieve a consistent and efficient herd performance over time. Practicing veterinarians regularly visit their clients and are ideally placed to identify at-risk dairy herds likely to benefit from personnel training (e.g., calving management), conflict management, and development of preventive standard operating procedures.
An Adolescent with Transient Hyperthyroxinemia after Blunt Trauma to Head and Neck.

Background. Thyroid storm is a well-known complication of surgical procedures in the lower neck, but is rare after a blunt neck trauma. The cases described previously have mainly focussed on adults with pre-existent thyroid disease. In this case report, we describe the disease course of a previously healthy adolescent who had asymptomatic hyperthyroxinemia after a blunt trauma of the jaw and neck. Case Presentation. A 17-year-old girl presented at our emergency department after she fell on her head while roller blading. On physical examination, among other injuries, she had a swelling in the lower neck, which appeared to involve the thyroid gland. Subsequent laboratory analysis was indicative of primary hyperthyroxinemia, with a free T4 of 59 pmol/L (reference range: 12-22) and a TSH of 0.46 mU/L (reference range: 0.5-4.3), but the patient had no symptoms fitting with this. Four weeks after the initial presentation, the patient reported only complaints regarding tenderness in the jaw and neck region. She was no longer hyperthyroidic on biochemical evaluation (with a free T4 level of 15.6 pmol/L and a TSH level of 0.33 mU/L), and antibodies against thyroid peroxidase or TSH receptor were not present. Conclusions. This case might indicate that hyperthyroxinemia following a neck trauma may go unnoticed if hyperthyroid symptoms are mild or absent and thyroid function tests are not performed.
Are the Acute Effects of THC Different in Aging Adults

In recent years of expanding legalization, older adults have reported the largest increase in cannabis use of any age group. While its use has been studied extensively in young adults, little is known about the effects of THC in older adults and whether the risks of cannabis might be different, particularly concerning intoxication and cognition. The current study investigated whether age is associated with the deleterious effects of THC on cognitive performance and other behavioral measures before and after ad libitum self-administration of three different types of cannabis flower (THC dominant, THC + CBD, and CBD dominant). Age groups consisted of young adults (ages 21-25) and older adults (ages 55-70). Controlling for pre-use scores on all measures, the THC dominant chemovar produced a greater deleterious effect in younger adults compared with older adults in tests of learning and processing speed, whereas there were no differences between old and young in the effects of the other chemovars. In addition, the young group reported greater cannabis craving than the older group after using the THC chemovar. Consistent with some reports in the preclinical literature, the findings suggest that older adults may be less sensitive to the effects of THC on cognitive and affective measures.
4 Comparing the subjective sleepiness and social health of higher education students alongside a non-student sample

Introduction This paper will evaluate the difference between Sleepiness, Loneliness and Social Connectedness between a higher education and mundane sample. Although current literature evaluates the role of Sleepiness within Higher education (Araujo et al, 2021), to the best of our knowledge there are no papers comparing a student population to a non-student sample. A significant difference between the subjective sleepiness scores of a student and non-student population is expected, which would demonstrate that a student sample perceive themselves to be sleepier than their non-student counterparts. Methods An online survey was administered to 202 participants via Qualtrics. 94 were non-students and 108 were higher education students. Sleepiness was measured using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (Shahid et al, 2011), The UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to measure loneliness (Russell, 1980). Results An independent t-test showed that there was a significant difference between students and non-students subjective sleepiness scores. (t(200) = 2.23, p = 0.02) with students being significantly more like to rate themselves higher on the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. (Figure 1). Further analysis shows that Loneliness and Subjective Sleepiness are significantly correlated for a student sample (r (108) = 0.308, P = 0.001). Discussion This study suggests that students enrolled within higher education are more highly associated with the risks of Excessive daytime Sleepiness and the resultant detrimental effects on social health. Further research needs to be performed to determine the negative effects of Sleepiness on Student’s social health.
Troop fission in female Lemur catta at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar

A- Troop of Lemur cattaat Berenty Reserve, Madagascar, divided in July- August 1992. We observed the daughter troops— Al and A2— between Aug. 15 and Nov. 15. The subordinate female subgroup of A- Troop (A2) had been harassed for at least 3 years previously. After fission, it suffered high conflict and energy demands, wounding, and socially induced infant mortality. Costs of fission may be a pressure for remaining in large troops. In September, A2 ranged widely, was chased by all neighbor troops, but then it challenged the previously dominant subgroup, Al, and by late October occupied a portion of the previous A- Troop range in which it was consistently successful in confrontations. A2's acquisition of range may relate to its high affiliation and low conflict between females of the subgroup. Unlike previously reported fission in L. cattathere was no male involvement in defense, and the females that lost infants became more aggressive. This may be interpreted as female competition for resource control.
Intraspecific Variation among Social Insect Colonies: Persistent Regional and Colony-Level Differences in Fire Ant Foraging Behavior

Individuals vary within a species in many ecologically important ways, but the causes and consequences of such variation are often poorly understood. Foraging behavior is among the most profitable and risky activities in which organisms engage and is expected to be under strong selection. Among social insects there is evidence that within-colony variation in traits such as foraging behavior can increase colony fitness, but variation between colonies and the potential consequences of such variation are poorly documented. In this study, we tested natural populations of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, for the existence of colony and regional variation in foraging behavior and tested the persistence of this variation over time and across foraging habitats. We also reared single-lineage colonies in standardized environments to explore the contribution of colony lineage. Fire ants from natural populations exhibited significant and persistent colony and regional-level variation in foraging behaviors such as extra-nest activity, exploration, and discovery of and recruitment to resources. Moreover, colony-level variation in extra-nest activity was significantly correlated with colony growth, suggesting that this variation has fitness consequences. Lineage of the colony had a significant effect on extra-nest activity and exploratory activity and explained approximately half of the variation observed in foraging behaviors, suggesting a heritable component to colony-level variation in behavior.
Responsive regulation: A co-author's appreciation

In this comment, I try to do three things: (i) set the record straight about the disproportionate contributions of my co-author; (ii) briefly comment on the excellent articles by Etienne, Ford, and Westerman in this special issue; and (iii) describe how the Responsive Regulation concept of partial-industry regulation might usefully be extended to tradable licenses and randomized regulation experiments.
Open Access and the First Amendment: A Critique of Comcast Cablevision of Broward County, Inc. v. Broward County

To what extent does the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment bar the adoption of “open access” regulations? Open access (or “net neutrality”) refers to a policy that would require broadband Internet providers, such as cable and phone companies, to allow competitive Internet Service Providers (ISPs) onto their broadband lines at nondiscriminatory rates. A federal district court in Florida recently held Broward County’s open access ordinance unconstitutional on the grounds that it would force speech – in the form of Internet content – on to the local cable company. If the district court’s analysis is correct, then open access regulations are foreclosed by the Free Speech Clause. This article argues that open access regulations are, in fact, thoroughly consistent with the First Amendment. Broadband providers maintain the kind of “bottleneck” control over Internet content that justifies regulations aimed at facilitating the free flow of information. Broadband providers are already using their strategic position to interfere in the e-commerce and video-downloading markets, and they have the power to speed up or slow down the delivery of Web-pages and other Internet applications. By breaking the broadband provider’s bottleneck control over Internet content and applications, open access regulations serve the important government objectives of facilitating robust public discourse and free markets. The First Amendment does not stand in the way of this important policy proposal.
Diversity Within Diversity

Summary Asian American elderly form a heterogeneous group with respect to immigration history, ethnic/cultural background, socioeconomic position, and health and mental health status. This paper provides an overview of the internal heterogeneity within the Asian American elderly population and identifies those who experience multiple stressors affecting their quality of life. Then it discusses barriers to formal service utilization as well as strengths and deficits of informal support systems. To better serve Asian American elders with their multiple needs for health, mental health, and social services, increased funding is recommended for research on this group, diversification of social service programs in coethnic communities, and increased cultural competence in non-Asian social service agencies.
Diversification and Specialization Paradox in Developing Country Trade

Abstract This paper examines and resolves a puzzling issue associated with less developed country (LDC) exportcompositions.Sincethenewlyindustrializedcountry(NIC)takeoffduringtheearly1970s,LDCexportshaveinvolved an increasingly broader and diversiﬁed export base. Yet trade theories, both “old” that focus onclassic comparative advantage, and “new” which rely on scale economies, lead to expectations of growingspecialization as a concomitant of LDC takeoff.This study examines periods of rapid growth and structuraltransformationoftradeforarepresentativegroupofLDCscoveringawidegeographicandtemporalsample. 1. Introduction Economic Development literature generally agrees that increasing export diversiﬁca-tion is a concomitant to economic development.An accepted explanation for Africa’sexport stagnation in recent decades is its dependence on mono-culture,and on a singleor small number of commodities.The fact that African countries lag behind other lessdeveloped countries (LDCs) is often explained by its
Direct integration of Ge detectors and modulators on the Si microphotonics platform

This work discusses direct integration of Ge detectors and modulators on the Si microphotonics platform. In addition, this paper also describes the challenges and examples of Si microphotonics.
Wave-Particle Correlator Instrument Design

Particle correlator instruments measure oscillatory perturbations in particle distributions generated by plasma waves. Several types have been used on spacecraft. We concentrate on the direct wave-particle correlation technique that has been used in the FAST (Fast Auroral SnapshoT) satellite, the Wind satellite, and several University of California at Berkeley sounding rockets. These wave-particle correlators integrate the product of the wave electric field and particle flux to determine the amplitude and phase of oscillatory currents. Resistive currents (in phase with the electric field) signify wave growth or damping while reactive currents (in phase with wave potential) can be used to analyze plasma wave evolution. In this article, we review how plasma waves generate oscillatory perturbations in particle distributions, and demonstrate how the direct particle correlator technique measures these perturbations. The technical aspects of particle correlator instrument design are detailed and issues such as statistical errors, instrumental errors, and particle detector dead time are discussed.
Endothelial Glycocalyx and Apoptosis in Atherosclerosis

Elevated permeability of vascular endothelium to low density lipoprotein (LDL) is characteristic of focal sites within the vasculature that are prone to the development of atherosclerosis. Previous experiments have suggested that both increased endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis and endothelial surface glycocalyx (GCX) shedding could play a role in the elevated LDL permeability of athero-prone regions. In this work, we sought to confirm that GCX shedding and increased EC apoptosis do occur in lipid plaque filled vessel areas. Six 4- to 6-week old male C57Bl/6 apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE) mice were fed a Western diet for 10 weeks and developed raised plaques in their brachiocephalic arteries (BCA). Our results show that EC apoptosis is significantly increased throughout the vasculature of ApoE mice compared with wild type mice fed a normal diet. More importantly, we demonstrate that the number of apoptotic ECs per unit length is 3 times higher in the plaque region of the BCA of ApoE mice than in the non-p...
Enhanced survival of cultured cerebellar Purkinje cells by plating on antibody to thy-1

1. Survival of newborn mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells in dissociated monolayer cultures was substantially enhanced when the dissociated cells were plated on a substrate containing antibody to the Purkinje cell surface antigen Thy-1. Cells were identified by size, asymmetric arbors, uptake of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and failure to express glial fibrillary acidic protein. 2. This selective enhancement was specific for antibody to the Thy-1.2 allele.
Methodological Considerations in Pretrial Publicity Research: Is the Medium the Message?

Two methodological issues within the pretrial publicity (PTP) literature were examined in the present experiment: the effect of emotional versus factual PTP and the effect of presenting PTP through different media. Emotional and factual PTP were constructed that differed in level of emotionality, but produced the same degree of bias. The PTP was presented in either a videotaped or written format. Although there was a significantly biasing effect of PTP overall compared to a control condition, no significant difference was found either between factual and emotional PTP or between video and written PTP.
Transposition of the visual projection from the nasal hemiretina onto the foreign rostral zone of the optic tectum in goldfish

Abstract The temporal hemiretina was destroyed by electrical cauterization and the caudal half of the tectum innervated by the surviving nasal hemiretina was also ablated in a group of juvenile goldfish. About 4 months after these complementary surgical operations, the visual projection from the intact nasal hemiretina was found to become transposed onto the entire extent of the foreign rostral half-tectum in correct retinotopic order. Subsequent interruption of the retinotectal projection by crushing the optic nerve was followed by orderly reestablishment of the transposed projection from the surviving nasal hemiretina onto the entire extent of the remaining rostral half-tectum. It is suggested that the transposition of retinotectal projection may be a combined result of the expansion due to regulation of the halved nasotemporal gradient of synaptogenic intercellular affinity factors into a complete gradient within the surviving hemiretina and of the compression due to regulation of the halved rostrocaudal gradient into a complete gradient within the remaining half-tectum.
Problems which interest and/or annoy me

Abstract A few problems about Jacobi polynomials and Bessel functions are stated and discussed.
A primary care weight management intervention for low-income African-American women.

Objective To determine whether a tailored weight management program, addressing the needs of obese, low-income African-American women, would produce greater weight loss than standard medical care. Research methods and procedures A randomized, controlled trial was conducted between 1999 and 2003 with 144 overweight or obese women (predominantly African-American) enrolled at two primary care clinics. Four physicians at each clinic were randomly assigned to provide either tailored weight management interventions or standard care. The tailored condition consisted of six monthly outpatient visits lasting approximately 15 minutes each, which included personalized materials and messages. The main outcome was body weight change. Results The intervention group lost more weight than the standard care group (p = 0.03). The tailored group lost a mean (standard deviation) of 2.0 (3.2) kg by Month 6. The standard care group gained 0.2 (2.9) kg. More participants in the tailored group lost weight (79% vs. 47%; p = 0.04). Discussion Obese, low-income, African-American women provided with 90 minutes of physician-delivered, tailored weight management instruction over 6 months achieved greater weight loss than those receiving standard medical care. The primary care physician can be effective in delivering weight loss interventions, and the primary care clinic may be a useful setting to implement weight management interventions.
Detection of monobasic phosphorus acid esters by conversion to cholinesterase inhibitors

Abstract Many monobasic acids of quinquevalent phosphorus form cholinesterase inhibitors when exposed to ketene. Based upon this finding, a sensitive test to detect the presence of these compounds on filter paper has been developed. Seventeen out of nineteen of these acids tested gave positive results. Negative results obtained with the remaining two are attributable to steric factors or to the high hydrolysis rate of the acetylated product. Only one of eighteen phosphorus compounds other than the monobasic acids examined, namely n -butylphosphonic acid, gave a positive test; an explanation is offered to account for this exception.
Predicting 7-day and 3-month functional outcomes after an ED visit for acute nontraumatic low back pain

Abstract Background Recent work has shown that two-thirds of patients report functional disability 1 week after an emergency department (ED) visit for nontraumatic musculoskeletal low back pain (LBP). Nearly half of these patients report functional disability 3 months later. Identifying high-risk predictors of functional disability at each of these 2 time points will allow emergency clinicians to provide individual patients with an evidence-based understanding of their risk of protracted symptoms. Object The aim of the present study was to determine whether 5 high-risk features previously identified in various primary care settings predict poor functional outcomes among patients in the ED. The hypothesized predictors are as follows: LBP-related functional disability at baseline, radicular signs, depression, a work-related injury, or a history of chronic or recurrent LBP before the index episode. Methods We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients in the ED with a chief complaint of nontraumatic LBP, which the ED attending physician classified as musculoskeletal. We interviewed patients in the ED before discharge and performed a baseline assessment of functional disability using the 24-item Roland-Morris questionnaire. We also trichotomized the patient's baseline history of LBP into chronic (defined as 30 straight days with continuous LBP or a history of acute exacerbations more frequently than once per week); episodic (acute exacerbations more frequently than once per year but less frequently than once per week), or rarely/never (less frequently than once per year or no history of LBP). We performed telephone follow-up 1 week and 3 months after ED discharge using a scripted closed-question data collection instrument. The primary outcome was any functional limitation attributable to LBP at 1 week and 3 months, defined as a score greater than zero on the Roland-Morris questionnaire. We used logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, and educational level, to assess the independent association between functional disability and each of the 5 hypothesized predictors listed above. Results We approached 894 patients for participation and included 556. We obtained follow-up on 97% and 92% of our sample at 1 week and 3 months, respectively. Two of the 5 hypothesized variables predicted functional disability at both time points: higher baseline Roland-Morris score (odds ratio [OR], 4.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-6.9) and chronic LBP (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-4.8) were associated with 7-day functional disability. These same 2 variables predicted functional disability 3 months after ED discharge—higher baseline Roland-Morris score (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.9) and chronic LBP (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5-5.2). The remaining 3 hypothesized predictors (depression, radicular signs, and on-the-job injury) did not predict functional outcome at either time point. Conclusions Patients in the ED with worse baseline functional impairment and a history of chronic LBP are 2 to 4 times most likely to have poor short- and longer-term outcomes.
Progressive constriction of the anterior capsular opening following intact capsulorhexis

The continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis has rapidly increased in popularity as the procedure of choice when using phacoemulsification for cataract extraction. Only recently, however, have complications of this technique been reported. We review the complications of a continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and present three cases involving progressive constriction of the postoperative anterior capsular opening. One patient had a history of myotonic muscular dystrophy, another had pars planitis, and the third had high myopia. A review of ocular findings in myotonic dystrophy and pars planitis is also presented, and the possible pathophysiology of this progressive constriction is explored.
Scaling behavior near a valence instability: The magnetic susceptibility of Ce In 3 − x Sn x

Significant deviations from Vegard's law in $\mathrm{Ce}{\mathrm{In}}_{3\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{x}$ suggest a continuous valence transition from trivalence for $xl2.3$ to a small amount of mixed-valence character for $xg2.3$. Results for the magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}(x;T)$ in the range 2-340 K (with the background $d$-orbital contribution estimated from the susceptibility of $\mathrm{La}{\mathrm{In}}_{3\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{x}$ and subtracted off) exhibit several significant features: (i) For $0.8lxl3.0$ the effective moment ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}=\frac{T\ensuremath{\chi}}{C}$ is, to within a few percent, a function of a single scaled variable ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}(T,x)={\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}(\frac{T}{{T}_{\mathrm{sf}}(x)})$. This is interpreted as single-energy-scale characteristic-energy behavior, where $k{T}_{\mathrm{sf}}$ is a characteristic energy for spin fluctuations which varies from 50 to 200 K. (ii) ${T}_{\mathrm{sf}}(x)$ oscillates with $x$ proportionally to the conduction-electron density of states $N({\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{F};x)$ (deduced from the electronic properties of $\mathrm{La}{\mathrm{In}}_{3\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{x}$); this provides strong evidence that the spin fluctuations arise form interactions of the $4f$ spins with conduction electrons. (iii) The indium-rich alloys order magnetically at low temperature in some version of antiferromagnetism. The phase diagram, in which there is a $T=0$ phase transition from the antiferromagnetic ground state to a nonmagnetic trivalent spin-fluctuation ground state, is presented. This transition may correlate with an increase in the coupling $\mathcal{I}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}}_{f}$ of conduction electrons to the $4f$ spins, as recently proposed. The scaling behavior breaks down in the vicinity of the ordered phase as the magnetic interactions stabilize the low-temperature moment.
Sensitivity distribution of Septoria tritici isolates to flusilazole for consecutive years 1993, 1994 and 1995 in France, Germany and the United Kingdom

Sensitivities of Septoria tritici populations to flusilazole were stable across Europe during the three seasons, 1993–1995 inclusive. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry
Isotope edited product ion assignment by α-N labeling of peptides with [2H3(50%)]2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene

An isotopic modification of Sanger’s method for identifying peptide N-termini has been developed to assist peptide sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry. Tryptic peptides, such as Val-His-Leu-Thr-Pro-Val-Glu-Lys, are derivatized with an equimolar mixture of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene and [2H3]2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Under optimized derivatization conditions, the α-amino group could be derivatized while the e-amine of the lysine side chain and the imidazole of histidine remained underivatized. The α-dinitrophenyl modified peptides were characterized by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography (LC)-ESI-MS. The [M + H]+ ions showed a doublet pattern with a Δm/z of 3 and the [M + 2H]2+ ions were recognized as doublets with a Δm/z of 1. 5. MS/MS was employed where both isotopic [M + 2H]2+ ions were alternately subjected to collision-induced dissociation in the second quadrupole. Fragmentation in the ionization source generated identical product ion patterns that were observed during fragmentation in the second quadrupole. In the product ion mass spectra, the N-terminal a and b ions (no c ion observed) are doublets with a Δm/z of 3 or 1. 5, while the C-terminal y and z ions (no x ion observed) are singlets appearing at identical masses. Thus, the product ions containing the N-terminus derivatized with a dinitrophenyl group are unequivocally distinguished from the product ions containing the C-terminus. The dinitrophenyl modification generally enhanced the production of a and b ions without diminishing y and z ion yields.
Detection of environmental depigmenting substances

We systematically screened the depigmenting capacity of several phenols, catechols and organic antioxidants. Clear-cut depigmentation was achieved with monomethyl ether of hydroquinone (MMH) and tertiary butyl catechol (TBC) using black guinea pigs and black mice as animal models. A goal was to establish a reliable in vivo method to demonstrate or to predict the depigmenting action of chemicals on mammalian melanocytes. There was no universal solvent or optimal body site, although all tested areas could be depigmented. Irritation induced by some vehicles and test materials produced false positive responses. False negative responses with known depigmenting chemicals were observed. Utilising these observations, we propose a model for screening medicinal and industrial chemicals for depigmenting capacity.
Learning‐goals‐driven design model: Developing curriculum materials that align with national standards and incorporate project‐based pedagogy

Reform efforts in science education emphasize the importance of rigorous treatment of science standards and use of innovative pedagogical approaches to make science more meaningful and successful. In this paper, we present a learning-goals-driven design model for developing curriculum materials, which combines national standards and a project-based pedagogical approach. We describe our design model in the context of the Investigating and Questioning our World through Science and Technology (IQWST) project, which is developing a three-year coordinated series of middle grades science curriculum materials. From using this model in the development and enactment of the curriculum, we identified three important characteristics: unpacking national science standards, developing a learning performances approach to specifying learning goals, and aligning learning goals, instructional activities, and assessments. Using a case study of an IQWST unit from initial development through two cycles of enactment, we describe how these three characteristics help guide curriculum design, identify design issues in curriculum enactments, and guide the development of design solutions. The iterative use of the learning-goals-driven design model coupled with the analysis of multiple data sources informed our revision of the curriculum materials, resulting in substantial student learning gains for the targeted science content and scientific inquiry learning goals. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed92:1–32, 2008
Interaction of G-protein β3 Subunit and Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphisms on Carotid Artery Intima-media Thickness in Young Adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Alterations in arterial wall structure measured in terms of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) has been increasingly recognized as a strong predictor of subsequent cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality.1,2 Although carotid IMT is adversely associated with CV disease risk factors and their clustering,3–5 much of the variability is unexplained. Recent studies have suggested that variation in carotid IMT may be in part explained by genetic factors.6,7 Heritability of carotid IMT measures has been estimated to be 0.92 and 0.86 for common carotid and internal carotid segments, respectively.6 Information on genetic locus (or loci) contributing to the interindividual variability in carotid IMT is beginning to emerge.8–10 C825T polymorphism in exon 10 involving a thymidine for a cytosine of the G-protein β3 subunit (GNB3) gene has been identified.11 G proteins are expressed in all cells of the human body, and their pivotal role is to translate signals from the cell surface into a cellular response.12 Studies have shown that GNB3 C825T polymorphism adversely relates to CV risk factors, type 2 diabetes and carotid atherosclerosis.13–15 G894T polymorphism of the eNOS gene within exon 7 showed a transversion of G to T at nucleotide position 894 (G894T) resulting in a change of Glu298 to Asp298.16 Studies have found that eNOS gene G894T polymorphism was associated with carotid IMT.17–19 However, there is a paucity of information regarding the interaction effect of GNB3 C825T and eNOS G894T polymorphisms on carotid IMT, independent of blood pressure, in healthy young adults. As part of Bogalusa Heart Study, a community-based study of the early natural history of CV disease,20 this study investigates both the independent and joint effect of these two gene polymorphisms on carotid IMT, after controlling for CV risk factors including blood pressure.
The effect of different storage methods on the subsequent biochemical performance of perfused canine livers

Abstract Canine livers were stored in 4 different ways prior to an evaluation by a normothermic dilute blood test perfusion. The storage modalities were hypothermia alone, hypothermic low-flow perfusion with Tis-U-Sol, hypothermic low-flow perfusion with cryoprecipitated plasma and normothermic perfusion with dilute blood. In a subsequent normothermic dilute blood test perfusion, glucose production was found to correlate with the perfusion characteristics of the liver. Storage with cryoprecipitated plasma resulted in organs which demonstrated the most satisfactory perfusion, and which yielded the highest glucose levels. The values of these parameters were similar to those seen in unstored livers. Clearance of bromsulphthalein by the livers stored in different ways was not a satisfactory indicator of damage produced by the storage.
Functional role of charged residues in the transmembrane segments of the yeast plasma membrane H+-ATPase.

As defined by hydropathy analysis, the membrane-spanning segments of the yeast plasma membrane H+-ATPase contain seven negatively charged amino acids (Asp and Glu) and four positively charged amino acids (Arg and His). To explore the functional role of these residues, site-directed mutants at all 11 positions and at Glu-288, located near the cytoplasmic end of M3, have been constructed and expressed in yeast secretory vesicles. Substitutions at four of the positions (Glu-129, Glu-288, Asp-833, and Arg-857) had no significant effect on ATP hydrolysis or ATP-dependent proton pumping, substitutions at five additional positions (Arg-695, His-701, Asp-730, Asp-739, and Arg-811) led to misfolding of the ATPase and blockage at an early stage of biogenesis, and substitutions of Asp-143 allowed measurable biogenesis but nearly abolished ATP hydrolysis and proton transport. Of greatest interest were mutations of Glu-703 in M5 and Glu-803 in M8, which altered the apparent coupling between hydrolysis and transport. Three Glu-703 mutants (E703Q, E703L, E703D) showed significantly reduced pumping over a wide range of hydrolysis values and thus appeared to be partially uncoupled. At Glu-803, by contrast, one mutant (E803N) was almost completely uncoupled, while another (E803Q) pumped protons at an enhanced rate relative to the rate of ATP hydrolysis. Both Glu-703 and Glu-803 occupy positions at which amino acid substitutions have been shown to affect transport by mammalian P-ATPases. Taken together, the results provide growing evidence that residues in membrane segments 5 and 8 of the P-ATPases contribute to the cation transport pathway and that the fundamental mechanism of transport has been conserved throughout the group.
A property of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Summary form only given. In his classic paper, Taylor [1] considered the instability on the surfaces of a fluid slab of a finite thickness that is accelerated by a much lighter fluid on either side of the fluid slab. The maximum number of e-foldings in the amplitude growth of the Taylor instability of this fluid slab is given by sqrt(2ks), where k is the wavenumber of the interface perturbation, and s is the distance traveled by the accelerated fluid slab, according to the linear theory. We show that this bound is independent of the magnitude and sign of the acceleration, of the magnitude and sign of the initial velocity of the slab, and of the width of the fluid slab. The primary dependence on the accelerated distance is illustrated in the resistive MHD radiation-hydrodynamics code, HYDRA [2], in which an aluminum slab with an initial sinusoidal surface ripple is accelerated by an intense magnetic pressure. Despite the nine times increase in magnetic pressure (from B = 200 T to 600 T), there is little difference in the Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth after the slab is accelerated for the same distance. This insensitivity to B appears to be the case in the simulation with or without the stabilization effect of the magnetic tension.
Dissemination of carcinoma: Unusual complication of percutaneous nephrostomy

Percutaneous nephrostomy is a safe and highly effective means of urinary diversion. We report a case of unusual complications: severe peritonitis and massive intraperitoneal dissemination of carcinoma.
The sixties then and now

A former colleague of mine, now prematurely and unfortunately deceased, once brought a seminar we were attending to a stunned (though of course temporary) silence when he asked what the difference was between "fanaticism and devotion" (to principle). The topic at hand had been right-wing extremism, and "fanaticism" was one of the words prominently and frequently invoked in the discussion. My late colleague's point was to suggest that in a culture of conflicting principles one was likely to designate certain behavior as devoted or fanatical depending on whether one approved of the principle it expressed. But it's also relevant that this ironic and relativist observation came from a formerly avant-garde intellectual who had grown increasingly conservative in the '70s, reacting against the "excesses" of the '60s, and wanting to remind that scholarly seminar that "fanaticism" was an ideologcally loaded word. I was reminded of this long-gone event when reading this fascinating book of mostly short documentary pieces recording and evoking the movements of "the sixties." More comprehensively than any of the many other books of the same sort with which I am familiar, it covers just about every facet of "the move ment," from the lunch-counter sit-ins in the South early in the decade through the high sixties of the New Left, student radicalism, the civil rights movement, the anti-Viet Nam war actions, the hippies, communes, the Black Panthers and other ethnic/nationalist movements, to the rise of feminism, the factional part ings of the New Left and the distancing of the counterculture from the political left. Woodstock and Altamont are here, as well as the killings at Kent State and Jackson State; there are a hundred pages on the women's movement alone, and, surprisingly, even a few snippets of fiction from counterculture novelists. There's
Discriminant analyses of heavy minerals in beach and dune sediments of the Outer Banks barrier, North Carolina

A stepwise multiple discriminant-function analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness in differentiating between heavy-mineral assemblages of the foreshore, berm, and dune subenvironments along the Outer Banks barrier island system of North Carolina. Samples from each of the three subenvironments were collected from 23 regularly spaced localities along the barrier island system. Ten heavy-mineral variables were determined for each sample. The discriminant method using heavy-mineral analyses resulted in extremely limited differentiation between these three subenvironments. The discriminant analyses were performed in two designs. The first analysis, using a total of 69 samples from all three subenvironments, yielded a correct assignment of 43% of the samples, based on their tourmaline content. A second analysis consisted of three separate discriminant analyses of the heavy-mineral assemblages, differentiating the following pairs of subenvironments: (1) foreshore and dune, (2) foreshore and berm, and (3) berm and dune. A total of 74% of the samples were correctly assigned in the analysis of foreshore and dune subenvironments, based on amphibole and tourmaline as significant discriminators; 63% of the samples were correctly assigned in the foreshore and berm subenvironments, based on tourmaline as the most significant discriminator; and 0% of the samples were assigned in the berm and dune subenvironments where none of the heavy-mineral variables was determined as a significant discriminator. Thus, the discriminant-function analysis recorded a general lack of success in differentiating between the heavy minerals of the three subenvironments. More specifically, our study suggests that equidimensional heavy minerals, and to some degree elongate heavy minerals, are not useful for discriminating between subenvironments in the nearshore area.
Physics: Heavy calcium nuclei weigh in.

The configurations of calcium nuclei make them good test cases for studies of nuclear properties. The measurement of the masses of two heavy calcium nuclei provides benchmarks for models of atomic nuclei. See Letter p.346 The calcium atom provides an ideal system for the study of nuclear shell evolution, from the valley of stability to the limits of existence. Although predictions for the masses of the neutron-rich isotopes 51Ca and 52Ca have been tested by direct measurements, it is an open question as to how nuclear masses evolve for heavier calcium isotopes. Frank Wienholtz and colleagues report the mass determination of the exotic calcium isotopes 53Ca and 54Ca, using a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The results provide key information for theoretical models and show that a description of extreme neutron-rich nuclei can be closely connected to a deeper understanding of nuclear forces.