cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High Gains for Polymer Dynamic Holography

A variety of optical processes such as image amplification and filtering are possible with photorefractive materials. In his Perspective, Anderson discusses work reported in the same issue by [ Grunnet-Jepsen et al .][1] in which fullerene molecules were used to create large photorefractive effects in a polymer material. By stacking several layers of this material, the authors were able to achieve high optical gain for two-beam coupling. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/277/5325/549
Analytic modeling of metmaterial absorbers

We present a fully analytical model that describes ideal absorbing metasurfaces composed of film-coupled optical nanoantennas. The model predicts the spectrum and the angular dependence of the absorption and is compared to full-wave numerical simulations.
Identification of a human epidermal growth factor receptor-associated protein kinase as a new member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase family.

Abstract A putative mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has recently been identified, which potentially phosphorylates the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor at a physiological site (Thr-669) and is distinguished from other MAPKs/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs) on the basis of chromatographic, immunological, and kinetic data. Here we report that this newly discovered MAPK is physically associated with the EGF receptor in A431 cells and with the related receptor/tyrosine kinase HER2 (encoded by c-neu) in enzyme preparations obtained from Wilm's tumors. This human EGF receptor-associated kinase is characterized as a 40-kDa Thr-669 kinase that exists in a high molecular mass complex with the respective growth factor receptor. EGF treatment of A431 cells stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of p40 and increases Thr-669 kinase activity in p40-containing fractions. The 40-kDa kinase is recognized by affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies directed against the sea star p44mpk and a Pan-ERK antibody directed against the conserved subdomain VIII of MAPKs/ERKs, but is not recognized by antibodies selective for the rat p44erk1 and/or the p42mapk/erk2 isoforms, thus identifying the EGF receptor-associated kinase as a novel MAPK that may regulate receptor function in vivo.
New approximations for the rectilinear Steiner arborescence problem [VLSI layout]

A new approach for approximating the minimum rectilinear Steiner arborescence is presented. The approach yields a simple two-approximation algorithm that runs in O(nlogn) time. Unlike earlier approaches, this can be naturally extended to deal with situations where we have isothetic rectilinear obstacles. This gives us the first O(nlogn) two-approximation algorithm for the rectilinear Steiner arborescence problem in the presence of obstacles.
Assessing Psychosis in African American Clients

Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder that has been documented in nearly every culture in the world. However, the symptom patterns associated with schizophrenia do not manifest identically across cultures or people of different ethnicities. Evidences suggest that the schizophrenia diagnosis is more prevalent in African American clients, which may be attributed to factors such as diagnostic bias and error, immigration, and sociocultural factors (e.g., urban density and socioeconomic status). Given these diagnostic differences and the factors contributing to them, it would also be important to determine whether psychiatric rating scales used to evaluate the positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms of schizophrenia in clinical and research settings show differences in their psychometric properties and test characteristics in African American and Caucasian clients. The literature on this topic is scarce; however, in this chapter we report archival data on major clinical rating scales used to assess symptoms of schizophrenia in large samples of African American and Caucasian clients. These psychometric analyses suggested that the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms and Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms have good reliability and validity in both ethnic groups, supporting their use in African Americans with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
Carathéodory’s Theorem and moduli of local connectivity

We give a quantitative proof of the Caratheodory Theorem by means of the concept of a modulus of local connectivity and the extremal distance of the separating curves of an annulus.
In vivo guided numerical modeling of pulmonary venous waveforms: a paradigm for applied physiology research

The determination of pulmonary venous velocities from pulsed Doppler echocardiography is valuable for the assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, yet little is known regarding the relationship between actual pressure gradients and measured velocities. Combining results of in vivo experiments and numerical modeling, a linear relationship was observed between actual pulmonary venous-left atrial pressure gradients and measured velocities (convective forces) measured using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Strong model correlations were observed for the systolic (y=0.20x-0.13, r=0.97) and diastolic (y=0.25x-0.34, r=0.99) phases of the pulmonary venous waveform. In vivo results were similar for the systolic (y=0.234x+0.01x, r=0.82) and diastolic (y=0.22x+0.09, r=0.81) phases. Modeling, combined with in vivo experiments can complement each other in understanding complex physiology.
An evaluation of early bone changes after the insertion of metal endosseous implants into the jaws of rhesus monkeys

Abstract Twenty metal endosseous implants were placed into the jaws of rhesus monkeys. Clinical, radiographic, and histologic analysis of specimens for periods of up to 3 months after placement showed that, generally, the implants were well tolerated by these primate tissues.
Retinal polarization effects.

Retinal photographs taken with crossed polarizers in the input and recording light paths show a cross or brush pattern overlying the macula. Experiments were done indicating that this pattern is due to the birefringence in cone-photoreceptor outer segments. Haidinger’s brushes are also attributed to cone outer segments, but the effect is due to a combination of the dispersion in the birefringence and the dichroism of the outer segments. The objective, polarized-light retinal pattern is shown to be a useful clinical tool for diagnosing diseases affecting the macula.
Canons, classics, and inclusion in the histories of geography:

In responding to reflections by Keighren et al. (2012) on the place of ‘classics’ within geographical literature and on the possibilities of identifying canonical works, I focus on the criteria for...
Bifurcation of the periodic orbits of Hamiltonian systems: An analysis using normal form theory.

We develop an analytic technique to study the dynamics in the neighborhood of a periodic trajectory of a Hamiltonian system. The theory begins with Poincar\'e and Birkhoff; major modern contributions are due to Meyer, Arnol'd, and Deprit. The realization of the method relies on local Fourier-Taylor series expansions with numerically obtained coefficients. The procedure and machinery are presented in detail on the example of the ``perpendicular'' (z=0) periodic trajectory of the diamagnetic Kepler problem. This simple one-parameter problem well exhibits the power of our technique. Thus, we obtain a precise analytic description of bifurcations observed by J.-M. Mao and J. B. Delos [Phys. Rev. A 45, 1746 (1992)] and explain the underlying dynamics and symmetries. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
pH-Dependent Conformational Change of Gastric Mucin Leads to Sol-Gel Transition

We present dynamic light scattering (DLS) and hydrophobic dye-binding data in an effort to elucidate a molecular mechanism for the ability of gastric mucin to form a gel at low pH, which is crucial to the barrier function of gastric mucus. DLS measurements of dilute mucin solutions were not indicative of intermolecular association, yet there was a steady fall in the measured diffusion coefficient with decreasing pH, suggesting an apparent increase in size. Taken together with the observed rise in depolarized scattering ratio with decreasing pH, these results suggest that gastric mucin undergoes a conformational change from a random coil at pH >/= 4 to an anisotropic, extended conformation at pH < 4. The increased binding of mucin to hydrophobic fluorescent with decreasing pH indicates that the change to an extended conformation is accompanied by exposure of hydrophobic binding sites. In concentrated mucin solutions, the structure factor S(q, t) derived from DLS measurements changed from a stretched exponential decay at pH 7 to a power-law decay at pH 2, which is characteristic of a sol-gel transition. We propose that the conformational change facilitates cross-links among mucin macromolecules through hydrophobic interactions at low pH, which in turn leads to a sol-gel transition when the mucin solution is sufficiently concentrated.
Effects of Initial Material Conditions on the High Temperature Surface Oxidation of Press-Hardening Steels

The 22MnB5 steel of Wuhan Iron with three early treatment (pickling, cold-rolling and cold-rolled annealing), then high-temperature oxidation, surface morphology and element of the oxide layer were observed after oxidation testing. The result shows that the oxide layer thickness of cold-rolled annealed sheet is maximal, followed by cold rolled sheet, the pickling sheet is minimum; The surface roughness is associated with degree of oxidation; Si and Cr content increase sharply in oxide layer of 22MnB5 steel after annealing, annealing and cold rolling have little effect of Mn content in the oxide layer.
Abstract B74: Behavioral and social science: Recruitment/retention/adherence research.

Background: Enrollment in interventional therapeutic clinical trials is a small fraction of all patients who might participate given reasonable access. A case series of new prostate cancer cases are evaluated for their participation in a clinical trial. Methods: A hierarchical approach is utilized in measuring staged participation from trial availability to patient enrollment. Our framework suggests that concern for justice comes in the design and eligibility criteria for clinical trials; attention to beneficence is given in the eligibility and physician triage stages. The remaining four stages (doctor discussion with the patient, patient interest, patient consent, patient enrolled) rely on respect for persons. Reasons for nonparticipation or barriers to participation in prostate cancer clinical trials are examined within the seven step framework. Ninety-seven medical oncology patients with an initial six month consultation are tracked from one stage to the next to assess comparability of participation by race. Results: We illustrated seven transitions from being a patient to enrollment in a clinical trial in a case series of prostate cancer cases who consulted medical oncology in early 2010 (n=97). Pilot data suggest transition probabilities as follows for patients 65% had trial availability, of those 84% were eligible, of those 92% were triaged, of those 100% have trials discussion, of those 51% were interested, of those 71% consented, and of those 94% enrolled. The average transition probability was 77.7%. Trial availability, patient interest and patient consented were three transitions that were below average; none were statistically significant however. We combined steps to obtain the probability of a patient-trial-fit, 50%; the probability of opportunity, 51%; and the probability of acceptance, 66.7%. there were no differences in enrollments by race. Conclusions: The framework may serve to streamline comprehensive and improved reporting of clinical trial participation to the benefit of patients and toward the ethical conduct of clinical trials. The seven step framework may aid trouble shooting of flagging trial enrollment. Citation Format: Norma F. Kanarek, Marty Kanarek, Dare Olatoye, Michael Carducci. Behavioral and social science: Recruitment/retention/adherence research. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B74.
PREDICTION of METHIONINE RETENTION DURING EXTRUSION PROCESSING of FORTIFIED SOYBEAN MODEL SYSTEMS

The effect of extrusion on the nutritional quality of processed products is vastly unknown. This investigation has explored the possibility of predicting methionine losses in fortified soy-model systems using a twin-screw extruder. Since the rate of degradation of methionine has been found to be greatly affected by temperature, mathematical models to describe the extrusion behavior of a system in which sample temperature varies according to location within the extruder and process temperature were established. In this investigation, heat transfer through the barrel wall and frictional heat generated from the rotation of the screws were considered the major factors in determining the actual temperature of the sample. In order to calculate methionine retention during extrusion, it was highly important to determine residence time distribution. the time required for the material to travel through the individual zones of the extruder was of critical importance to accurately predict methionine retention. Mathematical models describing the kinetics of methionine degradation as a function of all parameters and mathematical models describing extrusion behavior were combined to predict the retention of methionine. the simulation was verified by comparing predicted values with experimental data. It was found that the calculated values from this simulation presented the same trends for methionine degradation as those of experimental data with regard to moisture content, protein content, initial methionine concentration and temperature. In general, a reasonable agreement between predicted and experimental values was obtained.
Search for superheavy nuclei with lifetimes longer than 2 ps

Abstract The reaction 469 MeV 86 Kr + 208 Pb was used to search for superheavy elements which decay at rest by fission. The technique searches with equal sensitivity over a lifetime range from 2 ps (the stopping time of the fused system) to many hours and thus covers a broad spectrum of lifetimes not yet examined for superheavy element production. No evidence for such formation was found; the upper limit on the cross section is 1.5 μb.
Local Management and Landscape Use Intensity Associated with a Coffee Leaf-Chewing Beetle

Agroecological factors at local-management and landscape scales influence organisms residing in agriculture. Management for control of insect pests of agricultural commodities can be facilitated by our knowledge of these factors. We sampled for a minor coffee pest, a leaf-chewing beetle (Rhabdopterus jansoni), across sites that varied in coffee shade management and landscape land use composition. We show that R. jansoni abundance increased with higher local shade tree density, and the percentage of high-shade plantations and habitat diversity in the surrounding landscape. Sites at lower elevations also had more R. jansoni than at higher elevations. This study suggests that this minor pest prefers high-shade plantations, landscapes dominated by high-shade coffee land use, and lower elevations. These results will be useful for understanding this pest’s population dynamics with continuing shade intensification and climate change occurring in the Mexican and Central American coffee growing region.
Visualization of human coronary arteries with quantification results from 3-D and 4-D computational hemodynamics based upon virtual endoscopy

Abstract Intravascular ultrasound and X-ray angiography are commonly used modalities to assess coronary atherosclerosis. To utilize the full potential of both imaging methods, 3-D and 4-D models of diseased vessel segments are reconstructed by data fusion. These models accurately depict plaque accumulations and stenoses. Especially, they allow geometrically correct quantifications of flow and shear stresses using computational fluid dynamics. This paper outlines the reconstruction of the 3-D model, its extension into 4-D by assigning the image data along the heart cycle, the application of steady-flow computational hemodynamics to obtain local shear stress parameters, and the visualization of the results using platform-independent virtual reality modeling and scripting languages.
QUANTIFICATION OF ETHANOL'S ANTIPUNISHMENT EFFECT IN HUMANS USING THE GENERALIZED MATCHING EQUATION

Increases in rates of punished behavior by the administration of anxiolytic drugs (called antipunishment effects) are well established in animals but not humans. The present study examined antipunishment effects of ethanol in humans using a choice procedure. The behavior of 5 participants was placed under six concurrent variable-interval schedules of monetary reinforcement. In three of the six concurrent schedules, punishment, in the form of monetary loss, was superimposed on one alternative. Data were analyzed according to the generalized matching equation which distinguishes between bias (allocation of behavior beyond what matching to relative reinforcer densities would predict) and sensitivity to reinforcement (how well behavior tracks relative reinforcer densities). In addition, participants completed a pencil-tapping test. Under placebo punishment conditions, all participants demonstrated low response rates and a bias against the alternative associated with punishment, despite a resultant loss of available reinforcers. Bias against the punished alternative was dose-dependently reduced in participants shown to be most sensitive to ethanol (0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 g/kg) in measures of overall responding and on the pencil-tapping test. No ethanol-induced change in bias was noted when punishment was not imposed. Sensitivity to reinforcement also decreased for participants shown to be sensitive to ethanol. In addition to extending antipunishment effects to humans, these results also show that antipunishment effects can be quantified via the matching equation.
Assessment of plant biomass and nitrogen nutrition with plant height in early-to mid-season corn

BACKGROUND: The physiological basis for using non-destructive high-resolution measurements of plant height through plant height sensing to guide variable-rate nitrogen (N) applications on corn (Zea mays L.) during early (six-leaf growth stage, V6) to mid (V12) season is largely unknown. This study was conducted to assess the relationships of plant biomass and leaf N with plant height in early- to mid-season corn under six different N rate treatments. RESULTS: Corn plant biomass was significantly and positively related to plant height under an exponential model when both were measured at V6. This relationship explained 62–78% of the variations in corn biomass production. Leaf N concentration was, in general, significantly and positively related to plant height when both were measured at V6, V8, V10 and V12. This relationship became stronger as the growing season progressed from V6 to V12. The relationship of leaf N with plant height in early- to mid-season corn was affected by initial soil N fertility and abnormal weather conditions. CONCLUSION: The relationship of leaf N concentration with plant height may provide a physiological basis for using plant height sensing to guide variable-rate N applications on corn. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
GenStar: a method for de novo drug design

A novel method, which we call GenStar, has been developed to suggest chemically reasonable structures which fill the active sites of enzymes. The proposed molecules provide good steric contact with the enzyme and exist in low-energy conformations. These structures are composed entirely of sp3 carbons which are grown sequentially, but which can also branch or form rings. User-selected enzyme seed atoms may be used to determine the area in which structure generation begins. Alternatively, GenStar may begin with a predocked 'inhibitor core' from which atoms are grown. For each new atom generated by the program, several hundred candidate positions representing a range of reasonable bond lengths, bond angles, and torsion angles are considered. Each of these candidates is scored, based on a simple enzyme contact model. The selected position is chosen at random from among the highest scoring cases. Duplicate structures may be removed using a variety of criteria. The compounds may be energy minimized and displayed using standard modeling programs. Also, it is possible to analyze the collection of all structures created by GenStar and locate binding motifs for common fragments such as benzene and naphthylene. Tests of the method using HIV protease, FK506 binding protein (FKBP-12) and human carbonic anhydrase (HCA-II) demonstrated that structures similar to known potent inhibitors may be generated with GenStar.
The homogeneous gas phase H2 ? D2 metathesis at room temperature: Reaction induced by specific vibrational excitation

We have demonstrated that reactions for which substantial activation energies are needed can be induced to occur at room temperature via specific vibrational excitation. Indeed, the indications are that the atom-switching reactions for which Ea > 25 kcal take place with high probability only when the activation energy is localized in the vibrational mode. In this preliminary report on the utilization of the stimulated Raman effect to generate substantial populations in the critical vibrational states required for the homogeneous atom exchange between H2 and D2, we first summarized the historical development of the concept. The experimental arrangement is then described and the analytical results tabulated; the observed dependence on relative concentrations is semiquantitatively rationalized on the basis of a model proposed in 1964. Independent shock tube and molecular beam investigations were similarly accounted for. Attention is called to the discrepancy between the generally concordant experimental results and the ab initio quantum mechanical calculations of the potential energy surface for 4H atoms.
A Model of Tropical Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction

Abstract A model is used to study ocean-atmosphere interaction in the tropics. The model ocean consists of the single baroclinic mode of a two-layer ocean. Thermodynamics in the upper layer is highly parameterized. If the interface is sufficiently shallow (deep), sea surface temperature is cool (warm). The model atmosphere consists of two wind states that interact with the ocean according to the ideas of Bjerknes. When the eastern ocean is cool, the trade winds expand equatorward in the central Pacific, simulating an enhanced Walker circulation (WC). When the eastern ocean is warm, the trade winds expand eastward, simulating an enhanced Walker circulation (WC) there. For reasonable choices of parameters, the model oscillates at all time scales associated with the Southern Oscillation. The WC has positive feedback with the ocean. This interaction generates persistence, and thereby makes it possible for solutions to oscillate at long time scales. Interaction of the HC with the ocean prevents the model from ...
Cancer Vaccines: Targeting an Infectious Cause

Infectious agents, such as viruses, can be noxious stimuli and induce cancer growth in much the same way as tobacco or radiation does—by provoking the abnormal growth of cells. However, for some cancers, infection directy leads to cancer development: In cervical cancer, for example, the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes approximately 100% of cancers. For other cancers, such as anal cancer, a smaller percentage of cancers may be caused by infections, whereas the remainder could be caused by other noxious stimuli or arise spontaneously. Thus, it is important to estimate the percentage of cancers attributable to infectious agents so that vaccines can be developed to prevent infections and consequently prevent disease, including cancer. Two recent papers estimated the fraction of anal and laryngeal cancer caused by HPV. Anal cancer incidence is increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly those living with HIV, despite antiretroviral therapy. Sahasrabuddhe and colleagues followed 363 HIV-positive MSM and estimated the proportion of precancerous lesions attributable to HPV. They estimated that the HPV vaccine in development, which would protect against 7 HPV types, could prevent 39 to 89% of precancerous anal lesions, whereas the existing HPV vaccine could protect against 12 to 62% of precancerous lesions. Laryngeal cancer is the sixth most common cancer globally. Li and colleagues systematically reviewed studies on HPV infection and laryngeal cancer. In summarizing the data from 55 studies, they found that HPV virus was detectable in 28% of laryngeal cancers. The two most common HPV types, 16 and 18, are covered by existing HPV vaccines and represent 20 and 6% of laryngeal cancers, respectively. Infectious agents cause 18% of the world’s cancer cases annually. Vaccination to prevent infections and prompt diagnosis and treatment could serve to avert these cases. As our understanding of the role of infectious diseases in cancer grows, development of new prevention tools, such as vaccines, will aid the fight against cancer in addition to preventing infectious diseases. V. V. Sahasrabuddhe et al ., Human papillomavirus genotype attribution and estimation of preventable fraction of anal intraepithelial neoplasia cases among HIV-infected men who have sex with men. J. Infect. Dis. 207 , 392–401 (2013).[[ABSTRACT]][1] X. Li et al ., Human papillomavirus infection and laryngeal cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Infect. Dis . 207 , 479–488 (2013). [[ABSTRACT]][2] [1]: http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/207/3/392.abstract [2]: http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/207/3/479.abstract
Development, validation and use of an insulin sensitivity score in youths with diabetes: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study

The ability to measure insulin sensitivity across the phenotypic spectrum of diabetes may contribute to a more accurate characterisation of diabetes type. Our goal was to develop and validate an insulin sensitivity (IS) score using the euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp in a subset (n = 85) of 12- to 19-year-old youths with diabetes participating in the SEARCH study in Colorado, USA. Youths with a diagnosis of type 1 (n = 60) or type 2 diabetes (n = 25) underwent a 3 h clamp to measure glucose disposal rate (GDR, mg kg−1 min−1). Demographic (age, sex, race), clinical (BMI, waist, Tanner stage) and metabolic characteristics (HbA1c, lipids, blood pressure, urine albumin:creatinine) were used to estimate logeIS score via stepwise linear regression on a model-development set (n = 53). Estimated IS score was evaluated for reproducibility on two validation sets: youths with diabetes (n = 33) and healthy control youths (n = 22). The best model included waist, triacylglycerol (TG) and HbA1c levels (R 2 = 0.74). Diabetes type did not enter the model and there were no significant interactions between diabetes type and other predictors. Estimated IS score correlated well (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001; r = 0.62, p = 0.002) with GDR on the two validation sets. Based on this analysis, we propose the following formula to estimate insulin sensitivity in youths with diabetes: $$ {\hbox{lo}}{{\hbox{g}}_{\rm{e}}}{\hbox{IS}} = {4}.{64725}-0.0{2}0{\hbox{32 (waist}},{\hbox{ cm)}} - 0.0{\hbox{9779 (Hb}}{{\hbox{A}}_{\rm{1c}}},{ }\% {)} - 0.00{235}\,({\hbox{TG}},{\hbox{ mg}}/{\hbox{dl}};{\hbox{to}}\,{\hbox{convert TG values from mmol}}/{\hbox{l to mg}}/{\hbox{dl}},{\hbox{ divide by }}0.0{113}) $$ . Insulin sensitivity can be estimated in adolescents with diabetes using routinely collected measures. This score can be applied to epidemiological studies of youths with diabetes to characterise relationships between dimensions of diabetes type.
Assembly and Organization of Macromolecular Complexes

This Teaching Resource provides lecture notes and slides for a class covering the roles of scaffold proteins in signal transduction and is part of the course "Cell Signaling Systems: A Course for Graduate Students." The lecture includes an overview of scaffold proteins in signal integration and focuses on the following scaffold proteins: A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs), WAVE-1, and proteins that contain PDZ domains.
Prostaglandin- and theophylline-induced Cl secretion in rat distal colon is inhibited by microtubule inhibitors

The aim of the present study was to examine the possible role of microtubules in chloride secretion by distal rat colon stimulated by prostaglandin (PGE2) and theophylline. Distal colonic tissue from male rats was mounted in Ussing chambers, and short-circuit current (Isc) was measured to assess chloride secretion. Three microtubule inhibitors, colchicine, nocodazole, and taxol, all inhibited the stimulated Isc and reduced the 60-min integrated secretory response to PGE2 and theophylline (▪Iscdt) by 39–52%, whereas the inactive colchicine analog lumicolchicine did not. Atropine and tetrodotoxin had no effect on stimulated chloride secretion. To confirm the source of Isc, unidirectional22Na+ and36Cl− fluxes were measured in tissues exposed to lumicolchicine (control) or colchicine. Control tissues absorbed both chloride [5.0 (1.1–8.6) (median and 95% confidence interval) μeq/cm2/hr] and sodium [2.8 (0.9–7.2) μeq/cm2/hr], and this net absorption was reduced by 96% and 79%, respectively, by treatment with PGE2 and theophylline due to an increase in serosal-to-mucosal chloride and sodium movement. Colchicine-treated tissues exhibited similar net basal chloride and sodium absorption that was reduced by 71% and 75%, respectively, by treatment with PGE2 and theophylline. Thus the PGE2- and theophylline-induced increase in chloride secretion was significantly reduced by colchicine (P<0.05 by Wilcoxon rank-sum test), whereas colchicine had no effect on PGE2- and theophylline-induced changes in sodium fluxes. Furthermore, the colchinine-related changes in stimulated chloride secretion were numerically similar to colchicine-related changes in stimulated Isc. These findings indicate that microtubules are required for normal PGE2- and theophylline-induced chloride secretion in distal rat colon and suggest that induced chloride secretion may involve vesicular insertion of ion transporters into the plasma membrane or other microtubule-dependent regulatory processes.
Guidelines for Managing Wildlife Habitats in Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Forests of the United States

Forest management practices, particularly timber harvesting activities, affect the habitats of a large number of wildlife species found in southwestern ponderosa pine forests of the United States. Timber harvesting activities and other vegetative treatments often change the relative abundances of food and cover. Wildlife habitats for some wildlife species are benefited, while the habitats for other wildlife species are detrimentally impacted. The guidelines presented in this paper should be helpful to foresters, wildlife managers, and other interested in maintaining or increasing wildlife habitat qualities in the forest ecosystems investigated. While the wildlife species considered are indigenous to the southwestern ponderosa pine forests, many of the wildlife management principles implied in the guidelines are likely to have applications in other ecosystems throughout the world.
Authigenic uranium: Relationship to oxygen penetration depth and organic carbon rain

We have measured U in benthic incubation chambers, sediment pore waters, and in sediments along the California continental margin. Sedimentary U uptake rates, based on a combination of sediment pore water profiles and benthic incubation chambers, generally agree with those predicted from sediment accumulation rate data. This agreement supports the view that most of the continental margin sedimentary U is delivered by diffusion across the seawater-sediment boundary. The average rate of authigenic U accumulation for all the sites examined here is ∼−0.2 nmol cm-2 y-1, which is consistent with published global estimates of sedimentary U uptake. In addition, the accumulation rate of U in sediments exhibits a nonlinear relationship with the oxygen penetration depth and a linear relationship with the organic carbon rain rate. These relationships highlight the potential utility for the U accumulation rate as a proxy for these processes.
Molecular cloning and characterization of murine cyclin E.

Abstract Using a monoclonal antibody developed to a mouse trophectodermal carcinoma stem cell line E6496D lysate, we have identified the gene that encodes murine cyclin E. The cDNA contains a consensus cyclin box and a long 3′ untranslated region and shares over 75% homology with human cyclin E cDNA. We show that the gene is expressed in fetal tissues, embryonal carcinoma F9 cells and yolk sac carcinoma PYS-2 cells, but is not expressed in preimplantation stages of development. In adult tissues, cycE mRNA is detectable in the spleen and to a lesser extent in the testis and brain. These data show that cycE is developmentally regulated and unevenly expressed in fetal and adult mouse tissues.
Quantifying seedbed condition using soil physical properties

Soil physical condition following tillage influences crop yield, but the desired condition cannot be adequately evaluated with current techniques. This study was conducted to determine a soil condition index (SCI) that could be used to select the type of implement needed to achieve an optimal seedbed with minimum energy input. Effects of bulk density, moisture content, and penetration resistance resulting from three tillage systems (no-till, chisel plow and moldboard plow), on the growth of corn (Zea mays L.) were studied. The experiment was conducted in Boone County, Ames, IA, on soils that are mostly Aquic Hapludolls, Typic Haplaquolls and Typic Hapludolls with slopes ranging from 0 to 5%. The results are from the 2000 season, which had normal weather conditions and yield levels for the Iowa state. The average corn grain yield at this site was 9.36 Mg/ha. At the V2 corn growth stage, the average dry biomass was 1.34 g per plant. The soil physical properties were normalized with respect to reference values and combined via multiple regression analysis against corn biomass at V2 stage into the SCI. Mean SCI values for the no-till, chisel and moldboard plow treatments were 0.86, 0.76, and 0.73, respectively, all with a standard error of 0.0127. The lower the SCI, the more optimum the soil physical conditions. An analysis of variance showed significant differences among mean SCI for each treatment (p-value=0.001). The use of the SCI could improve the tillage decision-making process in environments similar the one studied.
WISCS'15: The 2nd ACM Workshop on Information Sharing and Collaborative Security

The mission of the 2nd ACM Workshop on Information Sharing and Collaborative Security is to advance the scientific foundations for sharing threat and security-related data among organizations. The call for better information sharing continues to be an important theme in the computer security community and with policy makers. The expectation is that sharing will significantly improve the ability of defenders to detect and mitigate attacks on their networks and systems. Several commercial offerings by security vendors that enable automated sharing have gone live and existing communities have begun to use them. Sharing of security and threat data at scale raises a number of interesting research questions, including on how to best collect, analyze and make use of these data to address important security concerns. In addition sharing raises privacy and other policy issues that need to be addressed. The 2nd ACM Workshop on Information Sharing and Collaborative Security (WISCS'15) aims to bring together experts and practitioners from academia, industry and government to present innovative research, case studies, and legal and policy issues. WISCS'15 is held in Denver, Colorado, USA on October 12, 2015 in conjunction with the 22nd ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (ACM CCS 2015).
A nonfluorescent, broad-range quencher dye for Förster resonance energy transfer assays.

Abstract We report here a novel, water-soluble, nonfluorescent dye that efficiently quenches fluorescence from a broad range of visible and near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores in Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) systems. A model FRET-based caspase-3 assay system was used to test the performance of the quencher dye. Fluorogenic caspase-3 substrates were prepared by conjugating the quencher, IRDye® QC-1, to a GDEVDGAK peptide in combination with fluorescein (emission maximum ∼540 nm), Cy3 (∼570 nm), Cy5 (∼670 nm), IRDye 680 (∼700 nm), IRDye 700DX (∼690 nm), or IRDye 800CW (∼790 nm). The Forster distance R0 values are calculated as 41 to 65 A for these dye/quencher pairs. The fluorescence quenching efficiencies of these peptides were determined by measuring the fluorescence change on complete cleavage by recombinant caspase-3 and ranged from 97.5% to 98.8%. The fold increase in fluorescence on caspase cleavage of the fluorogenic substrates ranged from 40 to 83 depending on the dye/quencher pair. Because IRDye QC-1 effectively quenches both the NIR fluorophores (e.g., IRDye 700DX, IRDye 680, IRDye 800CW) and the visible fluorophores (e.g., fluorescein, Cy3, Cy5), it should find broad applicability in FRET assays using a wide variety of fluorescent dyes.
Degree of interdependence among atmospheric optical thicknesses in spectral bands between 0.36-2.4 micron

The degree of dependence among the atmospheric optical thicknesses that are measured in nonselective absorption bands is studied. The observations were made previously in many spectral bands within the range 0.36-2.4 micron from near sea level in two continents where urban and industrial pollutions were weak. The sample covariance matrices and corresponding eigenvalues and eigenvectors are computed. The two highest eigenvalues account for 90% of the total variance in 10 spectral bands within the range 0.4-1.6 micron. The linear regression of the optical thickness on the total precipitable water vapor is computed to determine the attenuation coefficient that is associated with water vapor. This coefficient shows a rapid power-law decrease with wavelength in the visible spectrum and indicates that numerous water particles of radius 0.03-0.06 micron cause the attenuation.
Physiological responses of men and women to barley and oat extracts (Nu-trimX). II. Comparison of glucose and insulin responses

ABSTRACT This study was designed to compare the glucose, insulin, and glucagon responses to consumption of high-soluble β-glucan compounds from oats and barley. After an initial medical evaluation that included blood and urine testing, 11 men and 11 women, nondiabetics, 35–57 years, were selected. Subjects consumed a controlled diet for three days. On the third day of five successive periods, subjects consumed 1 g/kg of body weight of carbohydrate as glucose or 0.66 g/kg of body weight pudding (predominantly sucrose) and 0.33 g/kg of body weight as oat bran, barley flour, oat or barley extract (Nu-trimX) in a Latin square design. Order of treatment was randomly assigned. Glycemic responses were calculated using the trapezoid method. Data were analyzed using mixed procedure analysis of variance program. Glucose responses to oats, barley, and both extracts, and areas under the curve were significantly lower than responses to the glucose solution (P < 0.0001). Insulin responses for the barley extract were lo...
Quantitative RNA-polymerase chain reaction-DNA analysis by capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence

Quantitative RNA-polymerase chain reaction (RNA-PCR) is an extremely powerful analytical tool owing to its specificity and high level of sensitivity. Quantitative RNA-PCR is, however, highly labor intensive. No analytical method currently exists that can accurately and rapidly quantitate the small quantities of DNA in RNA-PCR reaction mixtures. We have developed a method using capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence to detect YOYO-1 complexes of DNA produced by PCR. RNA-PCR mixtures can be analyzed either directly (without primer and protein removal) or by electrokinetic injection following desalting. Modified competitive and multiplex competitive RNA-PCR assays for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and P4501A1 were tested in a series of mixtures containing equal concentrations, but different proportions, of RNA from untreated (essentially no P4501A1 mRNA) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-treated (high levels of P4501A1 mRNA) HepG2 cells. Twofold differences in concentrations between two P4501A1 mRNA solutions could be detected by competitive RNA-PCR. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase concentrations were constant throughout. Multiplex competitive PCR produced more variable results due to the presence of contaminating peaks, which hindered accurate area integration. These data demonstrate the potential usefulness of capillary electrophoresis in a variety of quantitative PCR applications.
Fenton electrochemical treatment of aqueous atrazine and metolachlor

A bench-scale Fenton electrochemical system was used to study the degradation of two widely used herbicides, atrazine and metolachlor. In this system the degradation of the herbicides occurs by attack of hydroxyl radicals which are produced from reaction of hydrogen peroxide with electrochemically generated ferrous iron. The goals of the study were to achieve degradation of the herbicides by optimizing reagent concentrations and to identify degradation pathways. Herbicide degradation was determined with respect to iron and hydrogen peroxide concentrations and their rate of addition. Effects of near-UV illumination and herbicide concentration on the degradation of the herbicides were also studied. Adding hydrogen peroxide in multiple smaller doses resulted in enhanced removal of the herbicides, especially metolachlor (greater than 99% degradation), as compared to adding it all at once at the beginning of the treatment. The degradation of atrazine, which was initially difficult, was enhanced (greater than 9...
Electric Field Effects on Excitons in Cuprous Oxide

The electric field induced changes of the 1S and 2S exciton states created at the E and E ± Δ0 transitions in cuprous oxide have been investigated. The ground exciton states exhibit polarization effects which have been attributed to the action of the applied field on electronic wave functions. A removal of the degeneracy of the Γ conduction band is suggested. Les changements induits par un champ electrique sur les etats excitoniques 1S et 2S crees a partir des transitions E et E + Δ0 ont ete etudies. L'etat 1S demontre des effects de polarisation qui ont ete attribues a l'action du champ electrique sur les fonctions d'ondes electroniques. On suggere la levee de degenerescence de la bande de conduction Γ commune aux deux transitions.
Reproduction of bobwhites fed different dietary concentrations of an organophosphate insecticide, methamidophos

Pairs of first-year breeding bobwhites were fed constant or variable concentrations of methamidophos for 15 days, or a control diet in a pair-fed design in which they were matched by body weights to pairs in the constant group. Treatments for the constant group were 5.0, 7.8, 12.3, 19.2, and 30.0 ppm for 5 pairs at each concentration. The number of pairs per concentration and peak concentrations for the variable pairs were identical to the constant dosages. Concentrations for the variable group were increased by a factor of four during two 3-day periods in order to reach the peak concentrations on days 7–9 after which they were decreased by 18% every 3 days to correspond to an environmental half-time of 10.5 days. Food consumption, egg production, hatchability of eggs under artificial incubation, and survival of hatched chicks for 2 weeks were recorded for each pair during 15-day treatment and 21-day posttreatment periods. Mortality was high in the highest constant dosage (2/10) and the associated pair-fed groups (3/10). Food consumption and egg production rates were negatively dose-related during the treatment period in the constant and variable groups. The laying rate of pair-fed hens was reduced to the same extent as in the constant group. Reproductive inhibition was not permanent and pairs resumed laying after a dose-related recovery interval. No dose-related effects on hatchability or chick survival were detected. Furthermore, there was no evidence of a pesticide effect on reproduction in addition to that exerted through pesticide-induced anorexia.
Computer simulation of random sequential adsorption of two interacting species on a lattice

A computer-simulation model is introduced to study the variation in the coverage and porosity in a binary system by random sequential adsorption on a periodic square lattice. We study the effects of the range of the repulsive interaction between unlike species and of the probability of deposition of each particle type. For all choices of the interaction range there is a minimum in the total coverage of the lattice which occurs for equal deposition probability of the two species. The saturation coverage decreases on increasing the range of the interaction. For proper choices of the parameters of the model, regimes exist in which either pores or particles of one type form an infinite percolating network.
Weakly synchronized larval release maintained in the presence of predatory fishes

Many marine species minimize predation during hatching or spawning by releasing larvae or gametes synchronously during nocturnal spring ebb tides. Propagules are then rapidly transported away from high densities of predatory fishes into deeper waters under the cover of darkness. Females also suspend foraging in the presence of predators, but it is unknown whether they are able to delay releasing larvae. In a previous study, we found that larval release is only weakly synchronized to the safe period in a cold upwelling region, although the study was conducted on outdoor seawater tables in the absence of tides that reinforce endogenous rhythms. In this study, we experimentally determined whether larval release 1) is better synchronized in the field and 2) delayed in the presence of predatory fishes. Larval release was weakly synchronized to tidal amplitude, tidal and diel cycles, occurring from late flood to late ebb tide on both intermediate and spring tides during twilight as well as darkness. Weak synchrony likely arises because cold temperatures extend incubation of externally brooded embryos, increasing exposure to environmental variation. Larval release was not delayed in the presence of predatory fishes; nor was refuge use or other behaviors of females altered by fishes. Behaviors were not affected by predators presumably because larvae are already being released near the safe period from refuges. Our results likely apply to other cold regions of the world, but it remains to be determined whether predators alter the activities of nonovigerous female and male shore crabs, which may not spend as much time in refuges as ovigerous females, potentially resulting in cascading effects on communities.