cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel Ascending Pathways from the Cochlear Nucleus: Neuroanatomical Evidence of Functional Specialization

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the neuroanataomical studies, which demonstrate that the cochlear nucleus is the origin of several distinct fiber pathways that have differing fiber diameters, routes, and terminations in the central nuclei of the auditory system. The chapter analyzes the projections of histologically defined subdivisions of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) and projections from the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). The projections of the cochlear nucleus present a comprehensibly small number of specialized ascending pathways, and the differences in neuronal composition in each part of the cochlear nucleus are associated with differences in the course and connections of its efferent fibers. A major similarity in neuronal composition between parts, namely, the nearly ubiquitous multipolar cell, is also reflected in similarities in projections from different subdivisions of the VCN. In the chapter, these findings are related to other pertinent anatomical data and, to a lesser extent, to electrophysiological findings.
Mass Spectrometric Studies of the Interaction of Laser Beams with Solids

When a solid is irradiated in vacuo by a focused laser beam, intense pulses of electrons, positive ions, and neutral species are observed. The mass and kinetic energy of the latter two types of particles can be determined in a mass spectrometer of suitable design, such as a time-of-flight instrument or a double-focusing spectrometer. This paper reviews the work done since 1963 in many laboratories with normal-mode lasers and Q-switched lasers on a variety of samples, including many elements and compounds.
Human Capital Development in Central and Eastern Europe : an Analysis of Trends and Challenges Facing Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia

The polish version of this article was published on free CD added to the paper version HRM(ZZL) 2012 6(89) [look at: Zarządzanie Zasobami Ludzkimi 2013 6(95)]
Structure and superconductivity of HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+ delta.

We have investigated the structure, defect concentration, and superconducting properties of ${\mathrm{HgBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ by neutron powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and ac susceptibility. Samples with three oxygen contents and ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$'s ranging from 135 to 94 K, obtained through different annealing conditions, were studied. Two defect sites were observed in all samples. The concentration of defect oxygen atoms located at a site in the center of the Hg-${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ plane, is found to vary from 0.18(2) to 0.10(2) oxygen atoms per formula unit as ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ decreases from 135 to 94 K. An additional defect, which we interpret as oxygen atoms associated with the substitution of Cu on the Hg site, is found to have a fixed concentration of \ensuremath{\sim}0.09(2) oxygen atoms per formula unit.
Distribution and synaptic localization of immunocytochemically identified NMDA receptor subunit proteins in sensory-motor and visual cortices of monkey and human

NMDA receptors are composed of multiple receptor subunit proteins, of which NMDAR1 appears to be a critical component for normal receptor function (Nakanishi, 1992). In this study, quantitative immunocytochemical methods were used at the light and electron microscopic levels to localize NMDAR1 subunits in the primary motor (M1) and somatic sensory (S1) cortex of monkeys, and in the primary visual cortices (V1) of monkey and human. Three principal features of NMDAR1 subunit organization were examined in detail in the monkey cortex: (1) the laminar and cellular distribution patterns, relying in part on double-labeling paradigms with the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calretinin (CR) as markers for discrete subpopulations of GABAergic interneurons; (2) the codistribution of NMDAR1 subunits with non-NMDA ionotropic receptor subunits; (3) a quantitative assessment of the percentages of asymmetrical synapses in layers II/III, IV, and V/VI that were NMDAR1 immunoreactive. In monkey M1, S1, and V1, NMDAR 1 immunoreactivity was present in all layers, localized primarily to large numbers of pyramidal cell somata and proximal apical dendrites, to presumptive spiny stellate cells in layer IV of V1, and to the vast majority (approximately 80-90%) of PV-immunoreactive cells. By contrast, NMDAR1 immunoreactivity was present in only a very small percentage of the CR-immunoreactive cells (approximately 6-9%). Colocalization with non-NMDA receptor subunits showed that all cells (100%) that contained GluR2/3 subunits were also NMDAR1 immunoreactive. In addition, the complete codistribution of GluR5/6/7 subunits with GluR2/3 subunits suggests, indirectly, that all GluR5/6/7-immunoreactive cells are also NMDAR1 immunoreactive. The laminar and cellular distribution patterns of immunostaining in human V1 were very similar to those in monkey V1. Electron microscopy of monkey sections confirmed an extensive dendritic and synaptic localization of NMDAR1 subunits. Labeling of synapses was present on asymmetrical postsynaptic densities associated with both dendritic shafts and spines. In supragranular layers of V1, a greater percentage of asymmetrical synapses were NMDAR1 immunopositive (44%) in comparison to layer IVC beta (34%) or deep layers (19%). In contrast, in area 3b of S1, the percentage of labeled synapses was greatest in layer IV (45%) in comparison to superficial (26%) and deep (37%) layers, while in M1, the percentages of labeled synapses were similar between superficial (46%) and deep (40%) layers. Taken together, these data indicate that NMDAR1-immunoreactive cells in neocortex represent a morphologically, functionally, and neurochemically heterogeneous population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cosmological Quantum Jump Dynamics I. The Principle of Cosmic Energy Determinacy, Equations of Motion, and Jumps Probabilities

The universe, as a closed system, is for all time in a state with a determinate value of energy, i.e., in an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian. That is the principle of cosmic energy determinacy. The Hamiltonian depends on cosmic time through metric. Therefore there are confluence and branch points of energy levels. At branch points, quantum jumps must happen to prevent the violation of energy determinacy. Thus quantum jumps are a reaction against the propensity of the universe dynamics to that violation. On the basis of this idea, an internally consistent quantum jump dynamics is developed.
Modulation of microglial activation state following passive immunization in amyloid depositing transgenic mice

Alzheimer's disease is a large and growing health problem. Several lines of transgenic mice overexpressing the amyloid precursor protein (APP) develop both diffuse and compacted amyloid deposits which increase in size and number with age. In the vicinity of compacted deposits, these mice develop neuritic dystrophy and activation of glia. Ultimately, these mice also develop memory deficits. Immunotherapy against the Aβ peptide has been effective in both clearing amyloid deposits from the brain, and improving the mnemonic performance of the transgenic mice. Associated with these actions, are changes in the expression of microglial markers. In some cases, the glial activation markers decline, consistent with reduced provocation from amyloid deposits. However, in a time course study, we found that some markers of microglial activation increase transiently once the immunotherapy is initiated. Still another marker continues to rise for up to 3 months of treatment, and remains elevated even after the parenchymal amyloid deposits are largely removed. These changes are consistent with a shift in the microglial phenotype, transitioning from a condition associated with inflammation and ineffective in clearing Aβ deposits to one with reduced inflammation, and capable of clearing deposited amyloid.
Usability of voting systems: baseline data for paper, punch cards, and lever machines

In the United States, computer-based voting machines are rapidly replacing other older technologies. While there is potential for this to be a usability improvement, particularly in terms of accessibility, the only way it is possible to know if usability has improved is to have baseline data on the usability of traditional technologies. We report an experiment assessing the usability of punch cards, lever machines, and two forms of paper ballot. There were no differences in ballot completion time between the four methods, but there were substantial effects on error rate, with the paper ballots superior to the other methods as well as an interaction with age of voters. Subjective usability was assessed with the System Usability Scale and showed a slight advantage for bubble-style paper ballots. Overall, paper ballots were found to be particularly usable, which raises important technological and policy issues.
Zur möglichen Rolle des protonengekoppelten Elektronentransfers (PCET) bei der Oxidation von Wasser durch das Photosystem II

Alle hoheren Lebensformen nutzen Sauerstoff als primare Energiequelle. Dieser Sauerstoff entsteht aus Wasser mithilfe von Sonnenlicht in Photosynthese-Membranen. Die Absorption von Licht im Photosystem II (PSII) gruner Pflanzen aktiviert den Elektronentransfer im Sauerstoff entwickelnden Komplex (OEC). Der Mechanismus der Wasseroxidation durch den OEC ist ein wichtiges Forschungsgebiet. Die Verfugbarkeit neuer Proteinstrukturen dank Rontgenkristallographie und EXAFS sowie die Resultate vielzahliger experimenteller und theoretischer Studien bilden nun die Grundlage fur einen Vorschlag, wie Wasser am OEC oxidiert werden konnte. Eine Folge lichtgetriebener Reaktionen, die einen gekoppelten Elektronen-Protonen-Transfer (EPT) nutzen, konnte der Schlussel zur Wasseroxidation sein. Werden diese Reaktionen mit einem Transport von Elektronen uber grose Entfernungen (uber sequenzielle lokale Protonenubertragungen) kombiniert, lasst sich der OEC als komplexe Struktur betrachten, die “fur Protonen geschaltet” wird.
Age-related changes in plasma catecholamine responses to acute swim stress.

Young adult (3 months) and aged (22 months) Fischer 344 male rats were prepared with chronic tail artery catheters. Three days after surgery, rats were exposed acutely to swim stress at 20, 25, 30, or 35°C for 15 min. Blood samples were obtained from each rat under basal conditions, at the end of the swim stress episode, and 15, 30, and 45 min after swim stress. Basal plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine (EPI) were similar for 3- and 22-month-old rats. In contrast, plasma catecholamine responses of aged rats were significantly greater than those of young adult rats following swim stress at 20 and 25°C. Plasma catecholamine responses were similar for rats of the two ages following swim stress at 30 or 35°C. These findings indicate that aged rats have exaggerated sympathetic-adrenal medullary responses to acute swim stress at the lower water temperatures. Given the modulatory effects of plasma EPI on memory, these age-related alterations in plasma catecholamine responses to acute swim stress may influence spatial memory performance of rats in the Morris water maze.
Reticulospinal fibers of the opossum, Didelphis virginiana. I. Origin.

Complete and partial cervical cord hemisections were placed at different levels according to a modification of the Gudden method (Brodal, '40), as applied to the opossum. Nissl staining techniques were employed and either acute retrograde cellular change of cell loss was studied following 7to 65 day survival periods. The results of a previous cytoarchitectonic study which followed the terminology of Meessen and Olszewski ('49) and Olszewski and Baxter ('54) served as controls. Chromatolysis or cells loss was found in medium-sized (20–29 μ), large (30–44 μ) and giant (45–60 μ) cells in the pontine and medial medullary reticular formation. Retrograde changes in the pontine reticular formation were found in the nucleus pontis centralis oralis, the nucleus pontis centralis caudalis and the rostral nucleus gigantocellularis. Within the pons, chromatolysis was particularly evident in the large and giant cells. Following cervical cord lesions, the medullary reticular formation contained chromatolytic neurons within the nucleus gigantocellularis, the nucleus paragigantocellularis dorsalis, the paramedian reticular nucleus and the nucleus interfascicularis hypoglossi. At pontine levels, chromatolytic cells were present mainly on the side of the lesion. However, cells were found to have undergone retrograde changes in specific areas of the contralateral side. Although the greatest number of reactive cells within the medullary reticular formation were also located on the side of the lesion, there was more contralateral involvement than was the case in the pons.
Analysis of the allosteric basis for positive and negative co-operativity and half-of-the-sites reactivity in yeast and rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

A general model of co-operativity, which combines the concepts of preferential ligand binding, molecular constraints, and nearest-neighbor constraints, is used to analyze quantitatively the co-operative properties of yeast and rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The model is found to fit equilibrium dialysis and spectrophotometric measurements of NAD binding, measurements of the NAD dependence of proteolytic inactivation, and measurements of the NAD dependence of enzyme activity with consistent sets of parameter values. It is concluded that this enzyme has two quaternary conformations and that the change from the quaternary conformation of the apoenzyme to the quaternary conformation of the holoenzyme occurs roughly when the first NAD molecule is bound; this change is responsible for the fact that in the yeast enzyme the second NAD molecule has a higher binding affinity than the first and that the resistance of the yeast and rabbit muscle enzymes to proteolysis increases sharply when the first one or two NAD molecules bind. In addition, within the quaternary conformation of the holoenzyme, NAD binding at different sites is coupled by a tetrahedral (rather than square or dimer) pattern of interactions; these interactions are responsible for negative co-operativity in glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Pairwise asymmetry (induced or pre-existing) is excluded as the basis for the co-operativity observed in NAD binding. Analysis of the temperature-dependence of model parameters shows that the change from the apo to the holo quaternary conformation is a strongly endothermic process, accompanied by an increase in entropy, whereas binding of NAD to the enzyme in the holo quaternary conformation is a strongly exothermic process, accompanied by a decrease in entropy. The enthalpy and entropy associated with nearest-neighbor constraints change with temperature, suggesting that an effector is present which influences the strength of these constraints. When the enzyme is in the quaternary conformation characteristic of the apoenzyme, it is essentially inactive. Half-of-the-sites reactivity can be explained by supposing that modification of the cysteine-149 sulfhydryl groups stabilizes an inactive quaternary conformation of the enzyme. In contrast to other proposed explanations of half-of-the-sites reactivity, the explanation given here does not assume molecular asymmetry or direct interactions between sites, and is therefore also applicable to enzymes which show no negative co-operativity. Numerous phenomena related to half-of-the-sites reactivity are also shown to be consistent with the present model. Whereas in the past different models have often been used to explain different properties of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase the present model consistently explains a very wide variety of data.
Resolving the world's commercial disputes: an integrated model for e-learning and ODR

This article describes a ground-breaking development in the online dispute resolution (ODR) field that makes ODR more adaptable and useful for professional disputants and their advisers. It first addresses the need for appropriate processes to prevent and resolve commercial disputes, particularly those in the online, national, and international contexts. Second, it provides a brief history of the development of ODR, and then describes its current limitations. Third, the article proposes a new integrated model of e-learning that can be used to educate both dispute resolution neutrals and disputants, and a new ODR tool with marked advantages over the current systems for preventing and resolving disputes. Finally, it concludes by suggesting some next steps to be taken in order to implement the new model.
Cell-surface carbohydrate recognition by animal and viral lectins

Many animal and viral lectins are specific for monosaccharides found in particular glycosidic linkages, or for larger oligosaccharide structures. Recent crystal structures of complexes between these proteins and receptor fragments have provided insights into the recognition of linkage isomers and oligosaccharide conformation.
Evolution of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Through Plio-Pleistocene Glaciation

A tropical Pacific climate state resembling that of a permanent El Nino is hypothesized to have ended as a result of a reorganization of the ocean heat budget ∼3 million years ago, a time when large ice sheets appeared in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. We report a high-resolution alkenone reconstruction of conditions in the heart of the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) cold tongue that reflects the combined influences of changes in the equatorial thermocline, the properties of the thermocline's source waters, atmospheric greenhouse gas content, and orbital variations on sea surface temperature (SST) and biological productivity over the past 5 million years. Our data indicate that the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation ∼3 million years ago did not interrupt an almost monotonic cooling of the EEP during the Plio-Pleistocene. SST and productivity in the eastern tropical Pacific varied in phase with global ice volume changes at a dominant 41,000-year (obliquity) frequency throughout this time. Changes in the Southern Hemisphere most likely modulated most of the changes observed.
Core polarization and the nucleon-nucleus spin-spin interaction

Abstract A simple model of core polarization is used to show that the spin-spin part of the nucleon-nucleus optical potential is quenched in the same way that magnetic moments are shifted from the Schmidt single-particle values.
Natural products isolated from Mexican medicinal plants: Novel inhibitors of sulfotransferases, SULT1A1 and SULT2A1

Summary Calophyllum brasiliense, Lonchocarpus oaxacensis, and Lonchocarpus guatemalensis are used in Latin American folk medicine. Four natural xanthones, an acetylated derivative, and two coumarins were obtained from C. brasiliense. Two flavanones were extracted from L. oaxacensis and one chalcone from L. guatemalensis. These compounds were tested as substrates and inhibitors for two recombinant sulfotransferases (SULTs) involved in the metabolism of many endogenous compounds and foreign chemicals. Assays were performed using recombinant phenol-sulfotransferase (SULT1A1) and hydroxysteroidsulfotransferase (SULT2A1). Three of the five xanthones, one of the flavonoids and the coumarins tested were substrates for SULT1A1. None of the xanthones or the flavonoids were sulfonated by SULT2A1, whereas the coumarin mammea A/BA was a substrate for this enzyme. The natural xanthones reversibly inhibited SULT1A1 with IC50 values ranging from 1.6 to 7 μM whereas much higher amounts of these compounds were required to inhibit SULT2A1 (IC50 values of 26-204 μM). The flavonoids inhibited SULT1A1 with IC50 values ranging from 9.5 to 101 μM, which compared with amounts needed to inhibit SULT2A1 (IC50 values of 11 to 101 μM). Both coumarins inhibited SULT1A1 with IC50 values of 47 and 185 μM, and SULT2A1 with IC50 values of 16 and 31 μM. The acetylated xanthone did not inhibit either SULT1A1 or SULT2A1 activity. Rotenone from a commercial source had potency comparable to that of the flavonoids isolated from Lonchocarpus for inhibiting both SULTs. The potency of this inhibition depends on the position and number of hydroxyls. The results indicate that SULT1A1, but not SULT2A1, is highly sensitive to inhibition by xanthones. Conversely, SULT2A1 is 3-6 times more sensitive to coumarins than SULT1A1. The flavonoids are non-specific inhibitors of the two SULTs. Collectively, the results suggest that these types of natural products have the potential for important pharmacological and toxicological interactions at the level of phase-II metabolism via sulfotransferases.
Three Native Cellulose-Depolymerizing Endoglucanases from Solid-Substrate Cultures of the Brown Rot Fungus Meruliporia (Serpula) incrassata.

Abstract Three extracellular cellulose-depolymerizing enzymes from cotton undergoing decay by the brown rot fungus Meruliporia (Serpula) incrassata were isolated by anion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies. Depolymerization was detected by analyzing the changes in the molecular size distribution of cotton cellulose by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. The average degree of polymerization (DP; number of glucosyl residues per cellulose chain) was calculated from the size-exclusion chromatography data. The very acidic purified endoglucanases, Cel 25, Cel 49, and Cel 57, were glycosylated and had molecular weights of 25,200, 48,500, and 57,100, respectively. Two, Cel 25 and Cel 49, depolymerized cotton cellulose and were also very active on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Cel 57, by contrast, significantly depolymerized cotton cellulose but did not release reducing sugars from CMC and only very slightly reduced the viscosity of CMC solutions. Molecular size distributions of cotton cellulose attacked by the three endoglucanases revealed single major peaks that shifted to lower DP positions. A second smaller peak (DP, 10 to 20) was also observed in the size-exclusion chromatograms of cotton attacked by Cel 49 and Cel 57. Under the reaction conditions used, Cel 25, the most active of the cellulases, reduced the weight average DP from 3,438 to 315, solubilizing approximately 20% of the cellulose. The weight average DP values of cotton attacked under the same conditions by Cel 49 and Cel 57 were 814 and 534; weight losses were 9 and 11% respectively.
The Omission of Comprehensive Care: An Analysis of the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987

With the large increase in the older adult population, the number of people in need of nursing home services is expected to grow rapidly. The challenge is to attain or maintain the highest possible physical, mental and psychological well-being of residents through provision of medically-related social services as required by the Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) of 1987. However, the basis of psycho-social service provision in NHRA is the size of the nursing home, which is questionable and is therefore making legislation less equitable. This policy analysis of NHRA will include suggestions of feasible policy alternatives to make the current legislation more equitable and effective. The article recognizes and endorses the contribution of social workers in psycho-social service provision and advocates for an increase in the ratio of mental health professionals to residents, therefore meeting the psycho-social service needs of the residents.
Effects of oxygen partial pressure on lead content of PLZT thin films produced by excimer laser deposition

Abstract Excimer laser ablation has been used to produce thin films of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT), or Pb1−xLax(Zr1−yTiy)1−x/4O3. PLZT is an interesting class of materials since it has a wide range of compositionally dependent electro-optical properties and strong non-linear optical characteristics. PLZT thin films of 7/0/100, 28/0/100 and 0/0/100 compositions have been deposited onto crystalline Si〈100〉 and amorphous fused silica substrates. Effects of oxygen backfill pressure on the Pb:(Ti + La) ratios were investigated. The results indicate that controlling the oxygen backfill pressure during laser deposition strongly influences the stoichiometry and crystal structure of PLZT thin films.
Skewness, sampling risk, and the importance of diversification

Abstract Recent papers have extended portfolio theory to include skewness along with mean return and variance to explain security preferences. Because the positive skewness typically present in individual assets such as stocks and call options is rapidly reduced through diversification, several authors have suggested that a preference for positive skewness can lead to antidiversification as investors attempt to capture the greatest amount of positive skew. These analyses ignore the sampling risk (the probability that the skewness of a particular portfolio of size n will be near its expected value) that exists when less than fully diversified portfolios are held. This analysis presents skewness statistics for three security populations over three market periods to illustrate the relationship between sampling risk and diversification. Small portfolios of stocks or call options are shown to possess greater expected skewness than larger portfolios for each sample period examined, but small portfolios also exhibit the greatest sampling risk for skewness. Depending upon an investor's skewness preference, some diversification in these assets appears appropriate to increase the confidence regarding the actual skewness that will be observed for a particular portfolio chosen. Expected skewness for covered call portfolios is negative for all portfolio sizes and sample periods and declines as portfolio size inreases. The elimination of sampling risk and the reduction of negative expected skewness can be accomplished through complete diversification in these assets.
New Hamiltonian formalism and quasilocal conservation equations of general relativity

I describe the Einstein’s gravitation of 3+1 dimensional spacetimes using the (2,2) formalism without assuming isometries. In this formalism, quasi-local energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum are identified from the four Einstein’s equations of the divergencetype, and are expressed geometrically in terms of the area of a two-surface and a pair of null vector fields on that surface. The associated quasi-local balance equations are spelled out, and the corresponding fluxes are found to assume the canonical form of energy-momentum flux as in standard field theories. The remaining non-divergence-type Einstein’s equations turn out to be the Hamilton’s equations of motion, which are derivable from the nonvanishing Hamiltonian by the variational principle. The Hamilton’s equations are the evolution equations along the out-going null geodesic whose affineparameter serves as the time function. In the asymptotic region of asymptotically flat spacetimes, it is shown that the quasi-local quantities reduce to the Bondi energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum, and the corresponding fluxes become the Bondi fluxes. The quasi-local angular momentum turns out to be zero for any two-surface in the flat Minkowski spacetime. I also present a candidate for quasi-local rotational energy which agrees with the Carter’s constant in the asymptotic region of the Kerr spacetime. Finally, a simple relation between energy-flux and angular momentum-flux of a generic gravitational radiation is discussed, whose existence reflects the fact that energy-flux always accompanies angular momentum-flux unless the flux is an s-wave.
Links and cycles in Dehn quandle homology I: Torus links

We examine some questions regarding which torus links admit colorings by elements of a Dehn quandle.
Nanoscale structure of the magnetic induction at monopole defects in artificial spin-ice lattices

Artificially frustrated spin-ice systems are of considerable interest since they simulate the spin frustration and concomitant rich behavior exhibited by atoms on a crystal lattice in naturally occurring spin-ice systems such as pyrochlores. As a result of the magnetic frustration, these systems can exhibit 'magnetic monopole' type defects, which are an example of an exotic emergent quasiparticle. The local magnetization structure of such monopole defects determines their stability and thus is critical to understanding their behavior. In this paper, we report on the direct observation at room temperature of the nanoscale magnetic structure of individual magnetic monopoles in an artificially frustrated two-dimensional square spin-ice lattice, using high-resolution aberration-corrected Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. By combining the high-resolution microscopy with micromagnetic simulation, we demonstrate how nucleation of defect strings, reminiscent of Dirac strings, connecting monopole defects controls the demagnetization process in these spin-ice lattices.
SV40 defectives selected during low multiplicity passage on A172 human glioblastoma cells

Abstract The gliobastoma line, A172, is unusual among human cell lines in being permissive for SV40 infection, and differs from many host cell types in allowing the accumulation of viral defectives on low multiplicity passage. We have characterized these A172-derived defectives and find that most are reiteration mutants, containing multiple copies of both the viral replication origin (including the Bgl I site at map position 0.659) and sequences from the opposite side of the standard genome (around the Bam HI site at map position 0.143). This distinguishes them from defectives accumulated during high-multiplicity passage in monkey cells, which generally have only reiterated origins. When well characterized, monkey cell-derived defectives (ev-1101, d 5 a 3 , a′ 4 ) were passed in A172 cells, the characterized defectives were lost, and sometimes replaced by other defectives present in the same stock. Surprisingly, this was true even when the characterized defective carried sequences from the Bam HI region of standard SV40. These findings are taken to support the notion that sequences in addition to the viral replication origin are positively selected during defective propagation, but that different requirements for such sequences are set by monkey cells and A172 cells.
Kinetic, dynamic, ligand binding properties, and structural models of a dual-substrate specific nudix hydrolase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe Aps1 is a nudix hydrolase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of both diadenosine 5′,5′′′-P1,Pn-oligophosphates and diphosphoinositol polyphosphates in vitro. Nudix hydrolases act upon a wide variety of substrates, despite having a common 23 amino acid catalytic motif; hence, the residues responsible for substrate specificity are considered to reside outside the common catalytic nudix motif. The specific residues involved in binding each substrate of S. pombe Aps1 are unknown. In this study, we have conducted mutational and kinetic studies in combination with structural homology modeling and NMR spectroscopic analyses to identify potential residues involved in binding each class of substrates. This study demonstrates several major findings with regard to Aps1. First, the determination of the kinetic parameters of Km and kcat indicated that the initial 31 residues of Aps1 are not involved in substrate binding or catalysis with respect to Ap6A. Second, NMR spectroscopic analyses revealed...
Cascading Failures in Smart Grid - Benefits of Distributed Generation

Smart grid is envisioned to incorporate local distributed power generation for better efficiency and flexibility. Distributed generation, when not used carefully, however, may compromise the stability of the grid. Recently, researchers have proposed innovative architectures (e.g., microgrid, LoCal grid) that virtualize a local generator as a constant load, source, or zero load to the grid, thus offering great promise to connect distributed generation into the grid without sacrificing its reliability. In fact, intuitively, using these architectures, distributed generation may enhance the stability of the power grid. In this paper, we develop a simulation model to quantify how much distributed generation can mitigate cascading failures. Applying this model to IEEE power grid test cases, we find that local power generation, even when only using a small number of local generators, can reduce the likelihood of cascading failures dramatically.
Variations in the Rate of Sediment Accumulation in a Backwater Lake, Pool 2, Mississippi River

Abstract The rates of sediment deposition in a backwater lake were examined in the summers of 1987, 1988, and 1989 in River Lake (RM 826). To ascertain the spatial variation in sediment accretion, deposition was measured using PVC tubes (height: diameter ratio, 10:1 = 38.1:3.81 cm). Nine replicates were placed at each of three stations along each of three N/S transects of the lake for two-week periods. These transects were parallel to the flow of the river. In 1987 and 1988 the total dry weight and ash-free dry weight of the accumulated sediment was measured in a subsample of the traps. For 1987–1989, the volume of sediment was also assessed. Significant differences were found among transects and stations in the rates of deposition and in the percent organic matter in the deposited sediment. Temporal variation in sediment accretion in the 10:1 traps was noted with deposition being more pronounced in July and August. Analyses indicate that for the 10:1 traps there was a small negative correlation between s...
Antibiotics in the Laboratory-Rearing of Cecropia Silkworms

A mixture of aureomycin and kanamycin prevents a fatal intestinal infection that usually occurs in all cecropia silkworms reared in the laboratory. Thus, for the first time, laboratory experimentation with these larvae and with those of other wild silkworms is practical.
Circulatory effects of adrenocortical lack and excess observed in the hamster cheek pouch

Abstract The circulation in the everted, transillumined cheek pouch of adrenalectomized hamsters and the microscopic appearance of the small blood vessels remained essentially normal until twenty-four hours before death at five to seven days. The rate of blood flow then diminished and stasis developed. In terminal stages of adrenal insufficiency, the arterioles were frequently constricted. The threshold of the vascular smooth muscle to direct electrical stimulation with a microelectrode remained low as compared with normal values, but the threshold to topically applied nor-epinephrine increased slightly. An increased susceptibility to petechial formation from negative pressure occurred at one to three days after adrenalectomy, but an increased resistance developed terminally, paralleling the onset of vasoconstriction. Cortisone acetate (5 mg. daily doses) produced arterial vasoconstriction in the cheek pouch of normal hamsters with intact adrenal glands, persisting from an early period until death at fourteen to thirty days. The threshold of the vascular smooth muscle to the microelectrode test and also to the norepinephrine test was elevated. The persistent vasoconstriction may explain clinical findings such as the tendency for infection to occur. Furthermore, vasoconstriction may also explain the increased resistance to petechial formation induced by negative pressure. A significant finding may be the sticking of leukocytes to the endothelial lining of venules and the concomitant leukocytosis during prolonged cortisone treatment. DCA (1 mg. daily plus 1 per cent saline) produced no significant changes in the microscopic appearance of cheek pouch blood vessels until the period of severe weight loss prior to death. An increased vascular fragility persisted during DCA administration as indicated by the negative pressure test. Although vascular spasm was observed occasionally, DCA did not produce vasoconstriction comparable to that caused by cortisone.
Boundaries and the Use and Misuse of Power and Authority: Ethical Complexities for Clergy Psychotherapists

Acknowledging their power and authority and establishing and maintaining clear and safe professional boundaries tend to be complex issues for clergy psychotherapists. The legacy of dual training, insufficient attention to professional ethics, as well as differing role expectations and professional socializations as clergy and counselor make it imperative for clergy psychotherapists to be particularly thoughtful about boundary issues in counseling. This article discusses the vulnerabilities and complexities clergy psychotherapists encounter, particularly matters of multiple relationships, confidentiality, and practice policies. It also proposes preventive actions to raise awareness and safeguard ethical conduct.
Self-Correcting Magnetic Tracking in Dynamic Medical Environments

We propose a novel self-correcting tracking technique that can minimize the dynamic distortion during magnetic tracking. In our method, the magnetic field distortion is estimated through field expansion and then minimized in an iterative tracking procedure. Sparse sensor arrays are designed to measure the spatial gradient tensors of the magnetic field for our method. Numerical results demonstrate that the tracking error caused by field distortion could be reduced from several tens of millimeters to below 2 mm.
The role of spatial and temporal scale in colonization and spread of invasive shrubs in early successional habitats

Abstract Early successional habitats are becoming increasingly scarce in the northeastern United States and may require additional management to support the diverse groups of plants and animals that are dependent on them. Because these habitats require some form of disturbance to maintain them, they may be especially vulnerable to exotic plant invasions. We examined the vulnerability to invasion of 44 early successional sites in southeastern New Hampshire using a two-tiered approach. Colonization (Tier 1, based on presence/absence) and establishment and spread (Tier 2, based on percent coverage of an occupied site) of invasive shrubs among patches of early successional habitat were related to landscape and local habitat features. Landscape elements (e.g., amount of disturbed lands within 1 km of the invaded patch) and features described at a local scale (e.g., soil pH and clay content) were associated with colonization, whereas spread of invasive shrubs at a patch of early successional habitat was described exclusively by local features. Prevalence of agricultural fields (historic and present day) was the most influential feature affecting both colonization and spread of invasive shrubs. Results of this study provided an approach for identifying early successional habitats that may be especially prone to exotic shrub invasions. Although our models explained only a portion of the vulnerability of a site to invasion, we suggest that an evaluation of factors that operate at different spatial scales provided new insight on the habitat characteristics that influence the range expansion of invasive plants.
Denial-of-Service Resistant Bandwidth Allocation for MANETs

We consider the problem of allocating bandwidth to a set of traffic flows at a statistical multiplexer to provide both quality-of-service (QoS) and resistance to a class of denial- of-service (DoS) attacks. The target application is QoS signaling in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) environment where the channel bandwidth is variable and the mobile device handles bandwidth requests arriving from multi-hop flows. An admission controller maintains a reserved rate to limit the aggregate traffic rate and to make admission decisions. We analyze the behavior of a rate adjustment scheme based on a Markov Modulated Poisson Process (MMPP) model, which captures the flow-level and burst-level characteristics of variable bit rate traffic. We propose a scheme for adjusting the reserved rate using traffic measurements and an MMPP parameter estimation applied to a reduced MMPP model. Finally, we develop a scheme to estimate parameters for a heuristic rate adjustment scheme that can be executed in real-time. We present numerical results that illustrate the modeling approach and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed bandwidth allocation schemes.
Toward a User-Centric Digital Ecosystem

Digital platforms are transforming into a series of personal companions that are as much an extension of the user as they are a data processing machine. To build a cohesive digital brand that truly connects with and influences users, designers and developers must apply human-centered design to reshape their digital strategy, whether that strategy is to develop Web applications, manage and tailor content, or launch new services.
Correlates of self-worth and body size dissatisfaction among obese Latino youth.

Abstract The current study examined self-worth and body size dissatisfaction, and their association with maternal acculturation among obese Latino youth enrolled in a community-based obesity intervention program. Upon entry to the program, a sample of 113 participants reported global self-worth comparable to general population norms, but lower athletic competence and perception of physical appearance. Interestingly, body size dissatisfaction was more prevalent among younger respondents. Youth body size dissatisfaction was associated with less acculturated mothers and higher maternal dissatisfaction with their child's body size. By contrast, although global self-worth was significantly related to body dissatisfaction, it was not influenced by mothers’ acculturation or dissatisfaction with their own or their child's body size. Obesity intervention programs targeted to Latino youth need to address self-worth concerns among the youth as well as addressing maternal dissatisfaction with their children's body size.
The Modern Use of Thoracoplasty

Thoracoplasty is a time-honored but, at present, rarely indicated procedure for reducing thoracic cavity volume. This study reviews a series of 30 patients treated with thoracoplasty over a 14-year period (1970 through 1983). Indications were to close a persistent pleural space in 28 patients and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept diminished lung volume concomitant with a pulmonary resection in 2 patients. Persistent pleural space, often associated with a bronchopleural fistula (24 patients), occurred after operation in 19 patients: following pulmonary resection in 17 patients, resection of mesothelioma in 1 patient, and following decortication without resection in 1. In the remaining 9 patients with a persistent pleural space, problems developed from primary lung destruction due to tuberculosis (4 patients), postpneumonic empyema (1 patient), or as late infection of a residual pleural space many years after therapeutic pneumothorax and collapse therapy for tuberculosis (4 patients). The overall success rate of thoracoplasty in eliminating intrathoracic space problems was 73%. There were 3 deaths (10%) and 5 failures to heal, representing a 33% failure in the first half of the series (to 1976) and a 17% failure rate thereafter (1 death and 1 nonhealing patient). The primary underlying disease was tuberculosis in 23 patients, 8 of whom had concomitant aspergilloma and 1, atypical tuberculosis. The failures were analyzed and reviewed to clarify the principles for the successful use of thoracoplasty. It is concluded that thoracoplasty is a rarely required salvage-type procedure applicable to moderately debilitated patients in whom it is considered desirable to eliminate open drainage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Molecular evolution of the fibulins: Implications on the functionality of the elastic fibulins

The fibulins form a family of secreted proteins associated with the basement membrane, cell adhesive structures, and elastic fibers characterized by the presence of a unique fibulin-like C-terminal domain preceded by a rod-like tandem array of calcium-binding EGF modules. We traced the origin of the fibulin gene family to the base of the metazoans. In invertebrates, Fibulin-1 and Hemicentin comprise the fibulin gene set. Diversification of the fibulins took place in the last common ancestor to the chordates by gene duplication of an ancestral Fibulin-1 gene. Further duplications at the vertebrate stem and in teleost fishes increased the number of fibulin genes to nine, including the novel Fibulin-8. Extensive gene loss has happened repeatedly, including Fibulin-8 in placental mammals and Fibulin-4 in birds. The Fibulin-3/4/5 clade of elastic fibulins branched out at the sequence level after relaxation of selective constraints immediately after the two gene duplication events in quick succession that originated the individual vertebrate Fibulin-3, -4, and -5 genes. Divergence took place mostly in the Fibulin-5 branch, at the atypical first EGF module and at the fibulin-like C-terminal region. Differentiation in gene expression further split Fibulin-5 from the other elastic fibulins, likely contributing to its nonredundant role in elastic fiber assembly.
Epitaxial crystal growth of hcp metals on bcc metals: Dysprosium on tungsten

Abstract Surface diffusion of dysprosium on tungsten is discussed and activation energies for multilayer diffusion over various substrate planes are measured. Nucleation and epitaxial crystal growth are investigated and it is shown that single crystal or polycrystal layers can be grown under controlled conditions in the field emission microscope. The epitaxial relationships found were: (0001) Dy | (011) W with either [11 2 0] Dy | [001] W or [11 2 0] Dy | [111] W.