cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abrasion of Engineering Ceramics, AiMgB14-TiB2 Composite and other Hard Materials

ABSTRACT The abrasion resistance of hard materials makes these materials particularly suited for harsh situations such as earth moving, mining, rock drilling etc. where contact with abrasive materials is involved. In view of their commercial importance, the abrasion behavior of engineering ceramics such as alumina, silicon carbide and silicon nitride,  -BN, and Al-Mg borides, which are an emerging class of materials, is presented. The latter also include compositions modified by the addition of TiB 2 which, when optimized for microstructure and composition, approach the hardness of ( β -BN. The abrasion results reported pertain to single point scratching and belt abrasion methods which are described. The material removal in scratch tests was estimated by profilometry and in belt abrasion test by gravimetric measurements. The variation of material removal from abrasion with process variables such as load and belt speed is presented. The mechanisms of abrasion in these materials have been studied with the help of scanning electron microscopy.
Studies on Coenzyme Q THE ORIGIN OF THE CARBON METHYL GROUP AND ITS POINT OF ATTACHMENT TO THE AROMATIC PRECURSOR

Abstract Radioactive samples of coenzyme Q were obtained after administration of formate-14C and benzoate-1-14C (i.e. ring labeled) to rats. After reductive acetylation the hydroquinone diacetates were treated with ozone to obtain 3',6'-diacetoxy-4',5'-dimethoxy-2'-methylphenylacetic acid. The latter acid was, in turn, degraded (a) to tetramethylammonium iodide by the Zeisel reaction, and (b) to acetic acid by the Kuhn-Roth oxidation. The results of these degradations established that formate labels the two O—CH3 and the C—CH3 groups of coenzyme Q. The ingoing C—CH3 group does not displace the carboxyl group of the benzoate precursor of coenzyme Q.
Abstract 16695: Rapid Activation Patterns Identified by Computational Analysis of Multielectrode Endocardial Recordings During Atrial Fibrillation in Humans

Introduction: Computational analysis of 64-electrode basket catheter (BC) recordings of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been used to generate visually-identified electrical rotors and focal sources that are then targeted for radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to assess BC maps of right (RA) and left (LA) atria during AF in humans using a novel software, CartoFinder™ (CF) (Biosense Webster, CA, USA), which was developed to identify rapid activation patterns (RAP) and incorporate them into a 3D mapping system, CARTO. Methods: 20 patients who were undergoing RFA AF utilizing CARTO mapping and who consented were enrolled. 1 minute BC maps of the RA and LA were obtained after creation of a 3D virtual anatomic shell prior to and after RFA around the pulmonary veins (PV). There were no complications. BC maps were analyzed by CF post procedure. CF annotates the leading edge of RAP with red color (see figure). Results: Of these 20 patients, CF recordings were complete in 14 pts (mean age 59; 12 persistent AF). There were 2.8 RAP / pt. The RA RAP were located septum (n = 9), anterolateral (n=5), and posterior (n = 3) walls. The LA RAP were located anterior (n = 8), roof (n=7), and posterior (n = 7) walls. RFA was delivered on top of (n=10), within 5mm (n = 4), or distant (n=10) from any RAP. Post PV isolation, there was a 45% reduction in RAP vs pre-RFA; and, 11 pts converted to sinus (n=7) or transitioned to flutter (n=4). Conclusions: CF is a novel software algorithm incorporated into CARTO that identifies RAP in the RA and LA. RFA around the PV only results in 45% reduction of RAP, suggesting that RFA beyond traditional PV isolation is required to eliminate the bulk of RAP.
Biophysics of glomerular filtration.

Enlightened by William Bowman’s depiction of the anatomy in 1842, Carl Ludwig immediately proposed glomerular filtration as a physical process. Nuances of this process have come to light in a rather orderly progression over the past 150 years with essential contributions from clearance methods, renal micropuncture, physical theories of nonequilibrium thermodynamics and electrical double layers, morphometry, and mathematics. Herein, we describe that progression of knowledge. Ongoing work pertains to the nature, location, and efficiency of the barrier to protein sieving, induction of endothelial fenestrae by growth factors from the podocyte, and potential resistance faced by filtrate exiting the subpodocyte space. Published 2012 Compr Physiol 2:1671-1699, 2012.
Scaled measurements of mode-stirred HIRF penetration into an aircraft fuselage

HIRF stands for high intensity radiated fields, and includes all man-made sources of electromagnetic energy. Certification is necessary to ensure that on-board electronics are sufficiently hardened to withstand all likely electromagnetic threats without upsets. HIRF certification involves two steps. First, the fields local to the on-board electronic systems that have penetrated into the fuselage are predicted using numerical methods for the anticipated incident HIRF fields. Then, the electronics systems can be monitored for upsets while being subjected to those same local fields in the laboratory. In this paper, measurements of the electric field penetration into a scaled fuselage-like body were performed at four different locations as a function of mode stirrer orientation for over 10,000 frequencies. These measurements will be used to validate FDTD predictions and statistical analysis.
Properties of gonadotropin receptors in the cell membranes of bovine corpus luteum.

Abstract The isolated cell membranes from bovine corpora lutea bound 125I-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) with high affinity and specificity. The specific binding was saturable with respect to the amounts of membrane protein and 125I-HCG added. Approximately 8.4 x 10-10 m 125I-HCG saturated all the receptor sites in 1.0 mg of membrane protein. The specific binding of 125I-HCG was strong and not readily reversible in nature. The binding of 125I-HCG was inhibited in the presence of unlabeled HCG or luteinizing hormone (LH) in a dose-dependent manner. Prostaglandin E1, which mimicked LH in the stimulation of bovine corpus luteum adenylate cyclase and steroidogenesis, had no affinity for HCG-LH binding sites. The rate constants for association and dissociation, 5.9 x 106 m-1 s-1 and 1.1 x 10-3 s-1 were measured at 38°. The dis sociation constant, 1.9 x 10-10 m, was compared with the value of 1.2 x 10-10 m which was obtained from equilibrium data at 38°. Similar values for the dissociation constants (1.9 x 10-10 m at 38° versus 2.4 x 10-10 m at 22°) were obtained from the rate data at 38° and 22°. The free energy change for the dissociation of 125I-HCG from the receptor complex was calculated to be +14.1 Cal per mole. Maximum specific binding of 125I-HCG occurred at pH 6.2 from 30–38° in contrast to the maximum for nonspecific binding at pH 4.0. Brief exposure of the membranes (15 min) to temperatures of 50–90° resulted in irreversible losses of 125I-HCG binding. Various divalent and monovalent cations in concentrations of 10-1 m or higher markedly decreased binding. Estradiol-17β and progesterone either in combination or alone (10-9 m to 10-5 m) had no effect on 125I-HCG binding. Among several nucleotides tested, only 1 to 2 mm ATP, AMP, adenosine cyclic 3' : 5'-monophosphate, CTP, and guanosine cyclic 3' : 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) have significantly inhibited 125I-HCG binding; CTP and cGMP being most effective. These nucleotides also increased the dissociation of bound hormone when added at various times during incubation. Incubation of membranes with proteolytic enzymes resulted in a marked loss of 125I-HCG binding. Neuraminidases had either no effect or increased the binding by 20%. Phospholipase A and C markedly decreased 125I-HCG binding. In an attempt to restore the loss of 125I-HCG binding following phospholipase C treatment, phosphatidylserine seemed to be most effective. Treatment of the membranes with several protein modifying reagents suggested that tyrosyl residues but not sulfhydryl groups were involved in the binding interaction.
Subcortical intelligence: caudate volume predicts IQ in healthy adults.

This study examined the association between size of the caudate nuclei and intelligence. Based on the central role of the caudate in learning, as well as neuroimaging studies linking greater caudate volume to better attentional function, verbal ability, and dopamine receptor availability, we hypothesized the existence of a positive association between intelligence and caudate volume in three large independent samples of healthy adults (total N = 517). Regression of IQ onto bilateral caudate volume controlling for age, sex, and total brain volume indicated a significant positive correlation between caudate volume and intelligence, with a comparable magnitude of effect across each of the three samples. No other subcortical structures were independently associated with IQ, suggesting a specific biological link between caudate morphology and intelligence. Hum Brain Mapp 36:1407–1416, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Context-Centric Needs Anticipation Using Information Needs Graphs

Effective agent teamwork requires information exchange to be conducted in a proactive, selective, and intelligent way. In the field of distributed artificial intelligence, there has been increasing number of research focusing on need-driven proactive communication, both theoretically and practically. Among these works, CAST has realized a team-oriented agent architecture where agents, based on a computational shared mental model, are able to anticipate teammates' information needs and proactively deliver relevant information to the needers in a timely manner. However, the first implementation of CAST takes little consideration of the dynamics of the anticipated information needs, which can change in various ways as the context develops. In this paper we describe a novel mechanism for organizing and managing the "context" of information needs. This allows agents to dynamically activate and deactivate information needs progressively. It has been shown that the two-level context-centric approach can enhance team performance considerably.
Next generation of global land cover characterization, mapping, and monitoring

Abstract Land cover change is increasingly affecting the biophysics, biogeochemistry, and biogeography of the Earth's surface and the atmosphere, with far-reaching consequences to human well-being. However, our scientific understanding of the distribution and dynamics of land cover and land cover change (LCLCC) is limited. Previous global land cover assessments performed using coarse spatial resolution (300 m–1 km) satellite data did not provide enough thematic detail or change information for global change studies and for resource management. High resolution (∼30 m) land cover characterization and monitoring is needed that permits detection of land change at the scale of most human activity and offers the increased flexibility of environmental model parameterization needed for global change studies. However, there are a number of challenges to overcome before producing such data sets including unavailability of consistent global coverage of satellite data, sheer volume of data, unavailability of timely and accurate training and validation data, difficulties in preparing image mosaics, and high performance computing requirements. Integration of remote sensing and information technology is needed for process automation and high-performance computing needs. Recent developments in these areas have created an opportunity for operational high resolution land cover mapping, and monitoring of the world. Here, we report and discuss these advancements and opportunities in producing the next generations of global land cover characterization, mapping, and monitoring at 30-m spatial resolution primarily in the context of United States, Group on Earth Observations Global 30 m land cover initiative (UGLC).
Ion Beam Lithography System Using A High Brightness H2+ Ion Source

The characteristics of the ion source determine the writing soeed and resolution that can be realized in direct writing ion beam lithography with focussed ion orobes. We have developed an H2+ ion source with very high brightness and low energy snread.1 Two ion beam lithography systems based on this source are being develoned. CAD has been used to design two ion optical-deflector systems to focus this source to high resolution, high current density Probes. The desicn narameters are calculated to produce ion probes 10 to 50 nm in diameter with current densities 100 amn/cm2. The systems will be use 1. to investigate and a' my ion beam lithogranhy: ion-resist interactions, resist eNnosure and develonment characteristics, resolution limits, ion beam structuring of devices, etc.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Simultaneous determination of twelve trace elements in estuarine and sea water using pre-irradiation chromatography

A procedure is described for the preconcentration of 100 ml of estuarine and seawater into a solid sample using Chelex-100 resin. This solid sample weighs less than half a gram and contains the transition metals and many other elements of interest, but is essentially free from the alkali metals, the alkaline earth metals, and the halogens. The concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sc, Th, U, V and Zn have been determined in seawater when this procedure was coupled to neutron activation analysis.
A Nonlinear Spectral Model of Convection in a Fluid Unevenly Heated from Below

Abstract A two-dimensional form of the Boussinesq equations is integrated numerically for the case of a rectangular channel with a temperature gradient maintained along the bottom. The side walls are insulating, the top wall has a constant temperature, and the velocity obeys free boundary conditions on all four walls. The fields of stream function and temperature departure are represented by truncated double Fourier series, and integration of the initial-value problem for the spectral amplitudes results in steady states which agree qualitatively with those of previous experimental and theoretical investigations. Calculations are presented at two levels of truncation (wave numbers 2 and 3) for a wide range of Prandtl numbers and a moderate range of horizontal Rayleigh numbers and top temperatures. For sufficiently large gravitational stability, a single asymmetric convection cell develops. Its intensity and asymmetry increase markedly with increasing horizontal Rayleigh number, decrease with increasing top...
Targeted disruption of DNMT1 , DNMT3A and DNMT3B in human embryonic stem cells

DNA methylation is a key epigenetic modification involved in regulating gene expression and maintaining genomic integrity. Here we inactivated all three catalytically active DNA methyltransferases in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to further investigate their roles and genomic targets. Disruption of DNMT3A or DNMT3B individually, as well as of both enzymes in tandem, creates viable, pluripotent cell lines with distinct effects on their DNA methylation landscape as assessed by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Surprisingly, in contrast to mouse, deletion of DNMT1 resulted in rapid cell death in human ESCs. To overcome the immediate lethality, we generated a doxycycline (DOX) responsive tTA-DNMT1* rescue line and readily obtained homozygous DNMT1 mutant lines. However, DOX-mediated repression of the exogenous DNMT1* initiates rapid, global loss of DNA methylation, followed by extensive cell death. Our data provide a comprehensive characterization of DNMT mutant ESCs, including single base genome-wide maps of their targets.
Effects of Retinoic Acid on Embryonic Chick Skin

The influence of vitamin A on differentiating epithelia was examined in explants of skin from 14-day chick embryos exposed to retinoic acid (RA) in low, moderate, and high doses. The changes observed in RA-treated cultures are both dose- and time-dependent and are reversible when explants are transferred to control medium. The periderm sloughs prematurely and horizontal stratification is lost. Keratinization is inhibited and fewer desmosomes and tonofilaments are seen. Surface epidermal cells develop microvilli, bulge upwards, and detach. Golgi elements, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and polyribosomes are unusually prominent. Mucin granules form and gland-like structures develop with intercellular canaliculi characterized by tight junctions, brush borders, and dense secretory contents. On the basis of present evidence there are several possible mechanisms by which RA could alter epidermal differentiation. RA-induced gaps in the basal lamina allow direct contact between epidermal basal cells and fibroblasts and collagen fibers which could result in inappropriate dermal signals reaching the epidermis. In younger embryos the entire epidermis, including the mitotically inactive surface cells, appears to respond to RA, and this could imply an epigenetic modulation of cell phenotype. Finally, after the formation of a stratum corneum in older embryos only the relatively undifferentiated basal layer shows a metaplastic response, indicating that RA could be acting directly on the genome.
Conservation biology: Genes are not enough

A study of correlated genotypic and phenotypic changes over a 2400-year period in a cave population of pocket gophers bolsters the idea that small, isolated populations can not only persist in a fluctuating environment, but may be able to adapt without genetic input from elsewhere.
Newly initiated RNA encounters a factor involved in splicing immediately upon emerging from within RNA polymerase II

We employed RNA-protein cross-linking to map the path of the nascent RNA as it emerges from within RNA polymerase II. A UV-cross-linkable uridine analog was incorporated at two positions within the first five nucleotides of the transcript. Only the two largest subunits of RNA polymerase II cross-linked to the transcript in complexes containing 17-24-nucleotide (nt) RNAs. Extension of the RNA to 26 or 28 nt revealed an additional strong cross-link to the splicing factor U2AF65. In U17 complexes, in which the RNA is still contained within the polymerase, U2AF65 is tightly bound. In contrast, U2AF65 is more loosely bound in C28 transcription complexes, in which about 10 nt of transcript have emerged from the RNA polymerase. Cross-linking of U2AF65 to RNA in a C28 complex was eliminated by the addition of an excess of an RNA oligonucleotide containing the consensus U2AF65 binding site, but U2AF65 was not displaced by a nonconsensus RNA. These findings indicate that U2AF65 shifts from protein-protein to protein-RNA interactions as the RNA emerges from the polymerase. During transcription of one particular template at low UTP concentration, RNA polymerase II pauses just after synthesizing a transcript segment that is a U2AF65 binding site. Dwell time of the polymerase at this pause site was significantly and specifically reduced by the addition of recombinant U2AF65 to the transcription reaction. Therefore, the association of U2AF65 with RNA polymerase II may function not only to deliver U2AF65 to the nascent transcript but also to modulate efficient transcript elongation.
Fluorescence study of the effects of aging and diabetes mellitus on human lens α-crystallin

Human α-crystallins were separated from fetal, young, senile nondiabetic and diabetic lenses. The effects of aging and diabetes uiellitus were studied by fluorescence measurements, including emission maximum, quantum yield and polarization, using both intrinsic probes (tryptophan and non-tryptophan) and extrinsic probes [4-(N-iodoacetoxy) N-methylamino-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (IANBD) and 6-(p-toluidinyl)naphthalene-2-sulfonate (TNS)]. Results indicate that diabetic effects (glycation and aggregation) give fluorescence change to a far greater extent than that of aging. This was demonstrated by a large decrease in tryptophan quantum yield and an increase in non-tryptophan quantum yield, and also by a decrease in polarization of non-tryptophan. The sulfhydryl (SH)-specific probe IANBD shows a blue-shift in emission maximum, a decrease in intensity and an increase in polarization. The hydrophobic probe TNS shows a decrease in both intensity and polarization. These results suggest that tryptophan oxidati...
The Immunomodulatory Effects of Albumin In Vitro and In Vivo

Albumin appears to have proinflammatory effects in vitro. We hypothesized that albumin would induce a state of tolerance to subsequent administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro and in vivo. RAW264.7 and primary peritoneal macrophages were treated with increasing doses of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and harvested for NF-κB luciferase reporter assay or TNF-α ELISA. In separate experiments, RAW264.7 cells were preconditioned with 1 mg/mL BSA for 18 h prior to LPS (10 μg/mL) treatment and harvested for NF-κB luciferase reporter assay or TNF-α ELISA. Finally, C57Bl/6 mice were preconditioned with albumin via intraperitoneal administration 18 h prior to a lethal dose of LPS (60 mg/kg body wt). Blood was collected at 6 h after LPS administration for TNF-α ELISA. Albumin produced a dose-dependent and TLR-4-dependent increase in NF-κB activation and TNF-α gene expression in vitro. Albumin preconditioning abrogated the LPS-mediated increase in NF-κB activation and TNF-α gene expression in vitro and in vivo. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be elucidated.
Zebrafish embryology and neural development

The zebrafish is rapidly increasing in popularity with developmental biologists. Driving this interest are the elegant methods for in vivo observations and recovery of early developmental mutations. The past year has seen the introduction of additional methods for in vivo manipulation of identified cells and the application of these methods to mutant analysis.
The role of phonotactic frequency in sentence repetition by children with specific language impairment.

Purpose Recent work suggests that specific language impairment (SLI) results from a primary deficit in phonological processing. This deficit is most striking in nonword repetition tasks, where semantic and syntactic demands are eliminated. Children with SLI repeat nonwords less accurately than do their unimpaired peers, which may reflect difficulty extracting phonological regularities from their lexicons. However, recent evidence suggests that having children with SLI respond to meaningless syllables such as nonwords underestimates their language abilities. Therefore, phonological processing was measured by having children repeat meaningful sentences containing target words differing in phonotactic pattern frequency (PPF). Method Eighteen children with SLI (mean age = 9;0 [years;months]) and 18 age-matched controls repeated acoustically degraded sentences containing CVC target words differing in PPF, occurring in either subject position or sentence-final position. Results Accuracy results revealed signifi...
A convenient route for the synthesis of s,s-and R,R-warfarin alcohols

S,S-and R,R-warfarin alcohols 3 are prepared in good yield and in 99% d.e. (diastereomeric excess) by the reaction of S- or R-warfarin 1 with S or R-Alpine-Hidride 2.
A T cell epitope for experimental allergic neuritis is an amphipathic α-helical structure

Abstract The bovine P2 protein is known to produce experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) in Lewis rats. The longest region of amphiphatic α-helix within the bovine P2 protein was identified as residues 61–72. A synthetic peptide representing this sequence was synthesized and shown to have the ability to (1) produce EAN in Lewis rats by direct sensitization, (2) produce a lymphoproliferative response in a P2-specific T cell line, and (3) stimulate a P2 protein-specific T cell line sufficiently to transfer EAN to naive recipient Lewis rats. Residues 61–72 is the shortest sequence thus far identified that will produce EAN in the Lewis rat and supports the contention that T cell determinants tend to be amphipathic α-helices.
Concentration of glucosinolates in relation to habitat and insect herbivory for the native crucifer Cardamine cordifolia

Abstract Understanding plant-insect interactions requires further data on herbivory in relation to the variation in concentration of characteristic secondary compounds. We report here analyses of the glucosinolate contents for a native perennial, montane crucifer Cardamine cordifolia in relation to: (a) plant characteristics; (b) insect herbivory; and (c) habitat. The only pattern of variation of glucosinolate content with leaf characteristics found was an inverse correlaton between leaf weight and total isothiocyanate-yielding glucosinolates (IYG) in shaded plants. There was a highly significant, negative relationship between total IYG and leaf damage by insects, particularly in typical shaded habitats. Higher insect-caused damage on denser, smaller leaves of plants from the driest soils was observed. Additionally, plants occurring in sun-exposed habitats from the beginning of the growing season, both naturally and experimentally, had similar (or lower) concentrations of total IYG, and were significantly more damaged by insects, than those in the more usual shaded habitats. The experimental removal of shade cover in mid-season resulted in significantly elevated quantities of total IYG in the first year, with a relaxation of that stress-induced response in the second year. We suggest that the insect herbivore guild on Cardamine cordifolia responds to concentration and composition of glucosinolates and exerts its greatest pressure on plants with lower concentrations. Differential herbivory, consumption mediated in part by glucosinolate concentration, appears to contribute to microhabitat occurrence of C. cordifolia .
Access to Hospitals in the Wake of Terrorism: Challenges and Needs for Maintaining Public Confidence

The problem of surge capacity in the wake of a terror-related emergency has lead to a number of interesting proposals designed to mitigate the effects of crowds as well as deficiencies in patient care capacities. The most controversial of these is a proposal to close hospital doors in the wake of a mass casualty terror event. However, several specific challenges posed by mass casualty events make closing hospitals doors undesirable. These include the need for efficient movement of resources, maintenance of social order, and providing the moral reassurance needed by the general public in times of crisis. Importantly, these challenges are related to features of terrorist events that distinguish such events from circumstances of "normal" surge that might result in, for example, closure of emergency rooms.
Demonstration of Oriented Multilayers through Asymmetric Metal Coordination Chemistry

We report on the growth of oriented multilayer assemblies where the layers are connected through coordination to Zr4+ and Hf4+ ions. Layer orientation is achieved by asymmetric coordination at each layer. We demonstrate R−O−PO32-−M4+−-O3S−R and R−O−PO32-−M4+−-O2C−R directional coordination in multilayer assemblies. The synthetic approach to the formation of oriented multilayers is to use a ω-hydroxyalkanoic acid or a ω-hydroxyalkanesulfonic acid in combination with phosphorylation chemistry at the hydroxyl group to activate the interface at each step, allowing for the growth of additional, oriented layers. The resulting interface is resistant to chemical attack, and Fourier transform IR data reveal only limited order of the aliphatic portions of the layers.
Precision timing measurements for high energy photons

Particle colliders operating at high luminosities present challenging environments for high energy physics event reconstruction and analysis. We discuss how timing information, with a precision on the order of 10 ps, can aid in the reconstruction of physics events under such conditions. We present calorimeter based timing measurements from test beam experiments in which we explore the ultimate timing precision achievable for high energy photons or electrons of 10 GeV and above. Using a prototype calorimeter consisting of a 1.7×1.7×1.7 cm^3 lutetium–yttrium oxyortho-silicate (LYSO) crystal cube, read out by micro-channel plate photomultipliers, we demonstrate a time resolution of 33.5±2.1 ps for an incoming beam energy of 32 GeV. In a second measurement, using a 2.5×2.5×20 cm^3 LYSO crystal placed perpendicularly to the electron beam, we achieve a time resolution of 59±11 ps using a beam energy of 4 GeV. We also present timing measurements made using a shashlik-style calorimeter cell made of LYSO and tungsten plates, and demonstrate that the apparatus achieves a time resolution of 54±5 ps for an incoming beam energy of 32 GeV.
Child‐rearing expectations and developmental knowledge according to maternal age and parity

A convenience sample of 6% mothers was surveyed according to their attitudes toward childrearing and knowledge of developmental milestones. A majority of mothers, regardless of age, were incorrect in their assessment of when key infant abilities occur. When the responses were analyzed according to age, the youngest group of mothers (16 years and less) were least knowledgeable and had the least desirable child-rearing attitudes of the three age groups, although these differences were no more than would be expected by chance alone. Parity (operationalized as no child versus at least one child) had few associations with maternal knowledge or attitudes within any of the three age groups analyzed. The results are discussed in terms of future research as well as in the context of the ongoing expansion of parenting programs for mothers and fathers of all ages. Un echantillon de commodite de 696 meres a fait I'objet d'une etude portant sur leurs attitudes envers la facon d'elever un enfant et leurs connaissances des evenemenets determinants dans le developpement. On a constate qu'une majorite de meres, sans distinction d'ǎge, se trompaient dans leur estimation du moment auquel se presentent les capacites-cles de I'enfant. Lorsque ces reactions ont ete analysees en fonction de I'ǎge, le groupe de meres les plus jeunes (seize ans et moins) eait celui qui avait le moins de connaissances et que posstdait, au sein des trois groupe d'ǎge, les attitudes relatives a la maniere d'elever les enfants les moins souhaitables, bien que ces difftrences ne fussent pas suptrieures a ce que I'on aurait pu escompter par pur hasard seulement. Au sein de n'impote lequel des trois groupes d'ǎge analysd'Igees la paritk (opeerationnalisee sur aucun enfant, par opposition a au moins un enfant) avait peu d'associations avec les connaissances ou aux atitudes maternelles. Les resultats sont examines aussi bien en termes de recherche future que dans le contexte d'une expansion en cours des programmes parentaux pour les meres et les peres de tous ǎges.
Association between the proportion of sampled transition cows with increased nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate and disease incidence, pregnancy rate, and milk production at the herd level

In this study the herd alarm level was defined as the proportion of sampled transition cows per herd with increased prepartum nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), postpartum beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), or NEFA concentrations that were associated with herd-level incidence of displaced abomasum (DA) or clinical ketosis (CK), pregnancy rate (PR), and milk production. The objectives were to 1) identify the herd alarm level for excessive negative energy balance and 2) describe the herd-level prevalence of this proportion. This was a prospective cohort study of 60 free-stall herds fed total mixed rations in the northeast United States. Two cohorts of approximately 15 animals were assessed for prepartum NEFA and postpartum BHBA and NEFA. The herd alarm level (i.e., the proportion of sampled animals above a certain metabolite threshold) was as follows: 15% had prepartum NEFA of 0.27 mEq/L; 15 and 20% had BHBA of 10 and 12 mg/dL, respectively; and 15% had postpartum NEFA of 0.60 and 0.70 mEq/L. The different herd alarm levels correspond to differences between the metabolites and respective herd-level effect. The herd-level effects for herds above the herd alarm level for prepartum NEFA were 3.6% increase in DA and CK incidence, 1.2% decrease in PR, and 282 kg decrease in average mature equivalent 305-d (ME 305) milk. For BHBA, the herd-level effects were a 1.8% increase in DA and CK, 0.8% decrease in PR, and 534 and 358 kg decrease in projected ME 305 milk yield for heifers and cows, respectively. For postpartum NEFA, the herd-level effects were 1.7% increase in DA and CK, 0.9% decrease in PR, and 288 and 593 kg decrease in projected ME 305 milk yield for heifers and cows, respectively. The prevalence of herds in which more than 15% of animals sampled had prepartum NEFA concentration >or=0.30 mEq/L was 75%, BHBA >or=12 mg/dL was 40%, and postpartum NEFA >or=0.70 mEq/L was 65%. This study showed that there were detrimental herd-level effects if a large enough proportion of cows had increased metabolite concentrations, and further demonstrated that a high prevalence of herds have opportunity for improvement.
Effects of catecholamines and β-alanine on tanning of pupal cuticle of Manduca sexta in vitro

Abstract When epidermis from wandering stage tobacco hornworm ( Manduca sexta ) larvae was exposed to 5 μg/ml 20-hydroxyecdysone for 3 days, then exposed to hormone-free Grace's medium, the newly formed pupal cuticle tanned slowly up to 35% of its area by day 12. The addition of 1.3 mM dopamine on either day 4 or 5 slightly increased the area tanned and addition of β-alanine (to 11.2 mM) on days 3–5 enhanced tanning 2–2.5-fold by day 8. Later addition had no effect. When pharate pupal cuticle about 24 h before ecdysis was explanted to Grace's medium, little tanning occurred in 24 h unless dopa or dopamine or their derivatives were added; β-alanine up to 4.4 mM had no effect. Partial tanning occurred in 10 mM dopa or dopamine. More effective were N -β-alanylnorepinephrine and N -β-alanyldopamine which produced nearly maximal tanning at 1 and 5 mM respectively. Up to 10 mM N -β-acetylnorepinephrine had little effect. Thus, dopamine and β-alanine are important to cuticular tanning in vitro and apparently need to be incorporated into the exocuticle during its synthesis. Maximal tanning of this exocuticle then requires further incorporation of β-alanyl conjugates.
Complex partial seizures of frontal lobe onset statistical analysis of ictal semiology

Abstract Objective: To identify the ictal semiology of complex partial seizures originating from the frontal lobe (FLCPS) and mesial temporal lobe (MTLE) in patients who became seizure free after surgery. Methods: We analysed 149 seizures from 42 patients, 28 with MTLE (75 seizures) and 14 with FLCPS (74 seizures) seizure free for at least 1 year after surgery. Fifty-eight symptoms and signs were looked for in every seizure and their time of onset and ending noted. Statistical analysis was then used to define the frequency, time of onset and cluster analysis of these symptoms/signs. Results: Epigastric aura was more frequent in MTLE while an aura of a general body sensation or indescribable feeling occurred only in FLCPS. Alimentary automatisms were more common and occurred earlier in MTLE ( P Conclusion: The earliest symptoms and signs as well as their order of appearance allow one to distinguish between complex partial seizures arising from the frontal lobe and mesial temporal lobe.
Introduction to Distributed-Software Engineering

Distributed-software is made up of a fixed set of software processes that are allocated to various interconnected computers but that closely cooperate to achieve a common goal. Interconnected computers are loosely coupled in the sense that interprocessor communication is done by message passing, not by sharing memory. Distributed-software engineering poses a host of new and challenging problems for software developers. This article addresses several of these problems, using the software life cycle as a guide.
Do humans belong with nature? The influence of personal vs. abstract contexts on human–nature categorization at different stages of development

Abstract Previous research examining the influence of context (e.g., using a more subjective vs. objective frame of reference) on thinking about humans and the rest of nature has focused on shared biological properties and environmental attitudes ( Gutheil, Vera, & Keil, 1998 ; Schultz, 2000 ). More research is needed to examine the influence of context on human–nature categorization more directly, especially given other research showing that perceived self-nature overlap predicts pro-environmental behaviors. The goal of the present research was to investigate whether there are differences in categorizing pictures of humans and other nature items as belonging together depending on whether children and adults are first primed to think about personal experiences in nature (i.e., a personal frame of reference condition), or abstract knowledge of nature (i.e., an abstract frame of reference condition). The results showed that 5- to 8-year-old children are more likely to categorize humans as belonging with nature when thinking about nature from a personal frame of reference compared to an abstract frame of reference, and that the reverse is true for adults. The 9- to 12-year-old children did not exhibit differences in human–nature categorization across conditions. Overall, there was no main effect of age in categorizing humans as belonging with nature when collapsing across priming conditions. Possible explanations and implications of developmental shifts in associations between concepts of self, human, and nature are discussed.
Mass-Spring Model for Simulation of Heart Valve Tissue Mechanical Behavior

Heart valves are functionally complex, making surgical repair difficult. Simulation-based surgical planning could facilitate repair, but current finite element (FE) studies are prohibitively slow for rapid, clinically oriented simulations. Mass-spring (M-S) models are fast but can be inaccurate. We quantify speed and accuracy differences between an anisotropic, nonlinear M-S and an efficient FE membrane model for simulating both biaxial and pressure loading of aortic valve (AV) leaflets. The FE model incurs approximately 10 times the computational cost of the M-S model. For simulated biaxial loading, mean error in normal strains is <1% for both FE and M-S models for equibiaxial loading but increases for non-equibiaxial states for the M-S model (7%). The M-S model was less able to simulate shear behavior, with mean strain error of approximately 80%. For pressurized AV leaflets, the M-S model predicts similar leaflet dimensions to the FE model (within 2.6%), and the coaptation zone is similar between models. The M-S model simulates in-plane behavior of AV leaflets considerably faster than the FE model and with only minor differences in the deformed mesh. While the M-S model does not allow explicit control of shear response, shear does not strongly influence shape of the simulated AV under pressure.
Absolutely continuous global solutions of the initial value problem for neutral functional differential equations of mixed type

The paper considers initial value problems for functional differential equations of neutral type with deviations dependent on the required function and its derivative. By the help of the method of accretive operators natural sufficient conditions have been obtained which guarantee the existence and uniqueness of the absolutely continuous global solution of the problem set to be solved.
Fusion toxin BLyS-gelonin inhibits growth of malignant human B cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) is a member of the TNF superfamily of cytokines. The biological activity of BLyS is mediated by three cell surface receptors: BR3/BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA. The expression of these receptors is highly restricted to B cells, both normal and malignant. A BLyS-gelonin fusion toxin (BLyS-gel) was generated consisting of the recombinant plant-derived toxin gelonin fused to the N-terminus of BLyS and tested against a large and diverse panel of B-NHL cell lines. Interestingly, B-NHL subtypes mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and B cell precursor-acute lymphocytic leukemia (BCP-ALL) were preferentially sensitive to BLyS-gel mediated cytotoxicity, with low picomolar EC50 values. BLyS receptor expression did not guarantee sensitivity to BLyS-gel, even though the construct was internalized by both sensitive and resistant cells. Resistance to BLyS-gel could be overcome by treatment with the endosomotropic drug chloroquine, suggesting BLyS-gel may become trapped within endosomal/lysosomal compartments in resistant cells. BLyS-gel induced cell death was caspase-independent and shown to be at least partially mediated by the “ribotoxic stress response.” This response involves activation of p38 MAPK and JNK/SAPK, and BLyS-gel mediated cytotoxicity was inhibited by the p38/JNK inhibitor SB203580. Finally, BLyS-gel treatment was shown to localize to sites of disease, rapidly reduce tumor burden, and significantly prolong survival in xenograft mouse models of disseminated BCP-ALL, DLBCL, and MCL. Together, these findings suggest BLyS has significant potential as a targeting ligand for the delivery of cytotoxic “payloads” to malignant B cells.
Observations on the postnatal development of neuronal structures in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rat by electron microscopy.

Postnatal stages of development of the lateral geniculate nucleus from the rat were investigated by electron microscopy. As compared with the adult, a gradient of increased number of vesicle-filled processes per unit area developed in the second week after birth and before the animal had opened its eyelids. Myelinization started in this material at about the same time as the animal opened its eyelids. Extracellular space was more abundant compared to that in the adult stage. Other ultrastructural features are described and related to the adult structure, such as membrane differences and abundance of α -cytomembranes.
Kuznecov Sum Formulae and Szegˇ Limit Formulae on Manifolds

(1992). Kuznecov Sum Formulae and Szegˇ Limit Formulae on Manifolds. Communications in Partial Differential Equations: Vol. 17, No. 1-2, pp. 221-260.
Women as authority figures: The use and nonuse of authority

This paper reports the results of two experiments designed to investigate the effect of sex-role stereotypes on evaluations of authority figures. Female and male subjects read short accounts of various situations in which an authority figure confronted a subordinate who had transgressed in some way and then evaluated the authority figure on a variety of dimensions. Sex of the authority figure and of the subordinate were varied factorially. In Experiment 1, where the authority figure took a hard line with the transgressing subordinate, it was found that a female authority figure being firm with a male subordinate was evaluated most negatively. In Experiment 2, where the authority figure was lenient with the subordinate, it was found that a female authority figure being lenient with a female subordinate was evaluated most negatively. Implications of the results are discussed.
A coulometric iodimetric procedure for measuring the purity of lewisite

A new analytical method for the determination of the purity of CASARM Lewisite samples (Chemical Agent Standard Analytical Reference Materials) has been developed and tested. The method essentially replaces the volumetric iodimetric procedures currently in use with the in-situ electrochemical generation of iodine. Tests on both arsenious acid and Lewisite/CVAA solutions show that the method is capable of achieving high accuracy and precision. Sample preparation and analysis times are considerably less than the current titrimetric method. The coulometric iodimetric method has been shown capable of determining not only total organic trivalent arsenic, but also total trivalent arsenic merely by adjusting the pH. Organic arsenic is determined at pH 4, and total trivalent arsenic at pH 8.
Amino acids as putative transmitters: failure to bind to synaptic vesicles of guinea pig cerebral cortex.

Abstract— The levels of free amino acids in subcellular fractions of guinea pig cerebral cortex have been determined. Putative transmitter amino acids are not bound to synaptic vesicles in a manner analogous to acetylcholine, as shown by the failure of hypo-osmotic shock to cause a specific release of the excitant and depressant amino acids.
Tensile modulus modeling of carbon‐filled liquid crystal polymer composites

Electrically and thermally conductive resins can be produced by adding conductive fillers to insulating polymers. Mechanical properties, such as tensile modulus, are also important. This research focused on performing compounding runs followed by injection molding and tensile testing of carbon-filled Vectra liquid crystal polymer. The two carbon fillers investigated were Thermocarb synthetic graphite particles and Fortafil carbon fiber at varying filler amounts. The tensile modulus experimental results were compared to results predicted by several different models. It was found that the Halpin Tsai 2D Randomly Oriented fiber model provided the best fit to the experimental data. The degree of filler-polymer adhesion was also studied with nanoscratch tests for synthetic graphite and carbon fiber fillers in three polymers: Vectra, nylon 6,6, and polycarbonate. The adhesion trends seen in the nanoscratch tests showed qualitative agreement with the tensile modulus, and should be considered in formulating advanced tensile modulus models. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Exacerbation of NMDA, AMPA, and L-glutamate excitotoxicity by the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor malonate

We report that a subtoxic dose of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitor malonate greatly enhances the neurotoxicity of three different excitatory amino acid agonists: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), S-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (S-AMPA), and L-glutamate. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, intrastriatal stereotaxic injection of malonate alone (0.6 mumol), NMDA alone (15 nmol), S-AMPA alone (1 nmol), or glutamate alone (0.6 mumol) produced negligible toxicity as assessed by measurement of lesion volume. Coinjection of subtoxic malonate with NMDA produced a large lesion (15.2 +/- 1.4 mm3), as did coinjection of malonate with S-AMPA (11.0 +/- 1.0 mm3) or glutamate (12.8 +/- 0.7 mm3). Administration of the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 (5 mg/kg i.p.) completely blocked the toxicity of malonate plus NMDA (0.5 +/- 0.3 mm3). This dose of MK-801 had little effect on the lesion produced by malonate plus S-AMPA (9.0 +/- 0.7 mm3), but it attenuated the toxicity of malonate plus glutamate by approximately 40% (7.5 +/- 0.9 mm3). Coinjection of the AMPA antagonist 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)-quinoxaline (NBQX; 2 nmol) had no effect on malonate plus NMDA or malonate plus glutamate toxicity (12.3 +/- 1.8 and 14.0 +/- 0.9 mm3, respectively) but greatly attenuated malonate plus S-AMPA toxicity (1.5 +/- 0.9 mm3). Combination of the two antagonists conferred no additional neuroprotection in any paradigm. These results indicate that metabolic inhibition exacerbates both NMDA receptor- and non-NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Assessment and diagnosis of mental retardation in death penalty cases: introduction and overview of the special "Atkins" issue.

This special issue grew out of a symposium on “Controversies in Determination of Mental Retardation in Death Penalty Appeals” that took place at the 2007 annual convention of the American Psycholog...