cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma: Evaluating the prognostic impact of primary tumor site.

Abstract Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is one of the most common salivary gland malignancies. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic impact of primary tumor site in patients with MEC. Material and Methods This cohort identified 308 patients with MEC who underwent primary surgery between 1985 and 2015. Survival outcomes were determined using the Kaplan–Meier method. Hazard ratios for primary site were determined using the Cox proportional-hazards model. Results One hundred eighty (58%) patients were diagnosed with minor and 128 (42%) with major salivary gland cancer. Primary site in the minor salivary gland group included 137 (44%) oral cavity, 38 (12%) pharynx, 3 (0.9%) nasal cavity, and 2 (0.6%) trachea and larynx. The major salivary gland group included 118 (38%) parotid, 8 (3%) submandibular, and 2 (0.6%) sublingual. With a median follow-up of 73 months, 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival were 84% and 91%, respectively. Patients with tumors located in the hard palate and retromolar trigone had the best survival, while patients with tumors located in the paranasal sinuses and submandibular gland had the poorest survival. After controlling for tumor grade and stage, MEC primary site was not predictive of survival or recurrence. On multivariate analysis, worse DSS was associated with stage III–IV tumors (HR: 7,11; 95% CI: 1.19–26.43; p = 0.0034) and high-grade tumors (HR: 19.12; 95% CI: 2.26–162.77; p = 0.0068). Conclusions While high grade and advanced overall stage were found to be independent predictors of worse survival, primary tumor site was not predictive of poor outcome.
On Assembly of Four-Connected Graphs (Extended Abstract)

A set of operations on 4-connected graphs is introduced in which only line addition and vertex splitting are involved. It is shown that every 4-connected graph can be assembled from either the complete graph K5 or the double-axle wheel W 4 2 on four vertices using only these operations, with 4-connectivity preserved.
Abstract 1966: A unique cross-talk between HER2 and sonic hedgehog signaling promotes anoikis resistance in breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Metastatic cancer cells possess a unique capacity to survive without appropriate signaling from the extracellular matrix (ECM). The epithelial cells surrounded by proper ECM within tissues are designed to grow and differentiate whereas epithelial cells lacking suitable EMC are destined to anoikis, a form of apoptosis. The metastatic cancer cells resist anoikis to survive under the absence of ECM. Current study identifies a novel interplay between HER2 and sonic hedgehog signaling in promoting anoikis resistance. MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited an up-regulation of HER2 expression in cells cultured under anchorage- independent conditions as compared to adherent cells. Similar phenomenon was also observed in 4T-1 cells. The survival of MDA-MB-231 cells with stable HER2 overexpression (HH) was significantly enhanced when cultured under anchorage-independent conditions. However, the enhanced survival of MDA-MB-231 (HH) was reduced when HER2 was silenced using shRNA. These observations indicate the obligatory role of HER2 in anoikis resistance. Furthermore cells grown under anchorage-independent conditions induced the expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH). Increase in SHH was accompanied with enhanced expressions of PTCH2 and GLI2, the receptor and subsequent transcription factors of the sonic hedgehog signaling. Our results further showed that the induction of SHH was significantly higher in MDA-MB-231 (HH) cells relative to parent cells when cultured under anchorage-independent conditions, suggesting a correlation between HER2 and SHH signaling. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 and 4T-1 cells with cyclopamine (SHH signaling inhibitor) reduced the survival of cells under anchorage-independent conditions. Interestingly, cyclopamine treatment also inhibited the induction of HER2 during anchorage-independent culture conditions. Taken together, our study suggests a SHH-mediated induction of HER2 to promote anoikis resistance in breast cancer cells. Further mechanistic and in vivo studies are under progress. [Supported in part by R01 grant CA129038 (to S.K.S) awarded by the National Cancer Institute]. Citation Format: Parul Gupta, Sanjay K. Srivastava. A unique cross-talk between HER2 and sonic hedgehog signaling promotes anoikis resistance in breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1966. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1966
Improved k-space-based MR thermometry by joint PRF phase shift and T1/T2* attenuation estimation

MR temperature mapping based on the proton resonance frequency (PRF) shift is used in MR-guided focused ultrasound procedures for dosimetry and safety monitoring. While conventional PRF-shift thermometry is based on calculating a phase difference between two reconstructed MR images, Gaur et al [1,2] have recently described two algorithms that estimate temperature-induced phase shifts directly from MR k-space data, prior to image reconstruction. The approach enables large dynamic scan acceleration factors[1] and the correction of chemical-shift (CS) effects that geometrically distort the temperature maps.[2] However, that work neglected image attenuation that accompanies the PRF phase shift and is primarily caused by increasing T1 with temperature.[3] Here it is shown that attenuation degrades the accuracy of k-space-based reconstructions, but that it can be accounted for in the reconstructions.
In the Matter of Green v. Recht

Let us ask ourselves: What is the significance of this historic event? The answer lies in a few words, the meaning of which we can barely begin to understand. The words are: "The last bastion has fallen." The walls of the city have at last been overrun. The walls of the city were its shelter: they kept out of the city what did not belong in it. With its walls overrun, with its walls no longer serving as walls, wall-less, the city has lost its power to exclude and expel what does not belong. It has dissolved into what had surrounded it. The city no longer is, and we whose home it was have become homeless. We also have ceased to be as the people we were. Now remember what the Greek poet knew: The walls of the city are its laws.1 If the invasion of law by social sciences means that "the last bastion has fallen," law and . . . announces our lawlessness, our having been thrown into the anonymous mass of the "stateless people," "displaced persons," that roam across the surface of the earth. How can that be? Let us first clear a few small obstacles that may stand on our way to that thought. First, what is the social science that has invaded the law? It consists of all the academic disciplines that not so long ago, in their still unbroken unity, bore the name of "social physics," or "moral science": Economics above all, history, political science, psychology, sociology, even academic philosophy. Yes, even philosophy has lent itself to the task of managing the masses of mankind adrift. Let us not allow ourselves to be deceived by the masks of "pure" intellect, or "knowledge
Introduction to the minitrack: data management in health care

The delivery of health care involves a myriad of stakeholders, including patients, direct health care providers, researchers, managed care organizations, and third-party payers. These stakeholders often have considerable differences in objectives, concerns, priorities and constraints, making data management in health care organizations a challenging endeavor. The planning, management, and delivery of health care services is now dependent on effective data management strategies, from both the business and clinical perspectives. As health care costs have once again started to rise steeply, efficiencies in administrative and clinical information processing offer one area of potential benefits. The Data Management in Health Care Minitrack focuses on the evolution of the database infrastructure required for handling clinical, managerial, and population-based data in the health care arena. The adoption of electronic commerce models in health care is making data management technologies even more critical. The ability to support both business-to-business and business-toconsumer efforts often rests on a foundation of database systems, along with evolving standards and networking infrastructures. This year, we have accepted three papers from among seven submissions dealing with a cross section of data management topics. The first paper, “Examining Quality of Care – How Poor Information Flow can Impact on Hospital Workflow and Effect Patient Outcomes” by Reeva Lederman and Iain Morrison, casts a critical eye on hospital workflows and the use of information technology to improve the situation. The particular area of focus is in neurology and concerns the efficient delivery of patient images based on MRI (Medical Resonance Imaging), PET (Positron Emission Tomography), and other techniques. Clearly, delayed or missing information in such a context can affect the quality of patient care. The authors take a comprehensive approach, using patient surveys, staff
Imprecise information and financial environments: an interval probability approach

There is much imprecise information in financial environments; for example, in forecasting economic scenarios in order to assess the potential payoff of an investment or to optimize asset allocation. We provide a new methodology which may be used in situations in which the likelihood of a state of nature is given in the form of an interval probability. Our approach incorporates the behavioral disposition of the decision maker.
An Integrative Approach to Engineering Data and Automatic Project Coordination

A new approach to integration of automation environments is necessary in order to overcome some fundamental limitations of current methods. The most common request for integration comes when an organization fords itself with many designsystems and representations most of which cannot communicate directly. Solutions to this problem have required either a proliferation of translations between systems, or the provision of a central data base with which all applications must communicate. Another aspect of integration is the provision of mechanisms which keep track of the status of design. The working-release method along with version control techniques is well known but does not directly address the compatability issue and provides only a partial solution to status keeping. Another approach to integration is to exploit the underlying structure of an engineering project. This method can result in improvement in both realms of integration described above. The potential results of such an approach include the following, each of which is described in this paper. Firstly, this approach provides a new mechanism for providing design team independence and a better definition of design team responsibility. Secondly, the concept of inter-verification is introduced as a way of providing a continuum of representations which can be kept consistent through the project structure. Thirdly, automatic conflict detection and coordination mechanisms can be implemented, eliminating much of the delay usually associated with design changes. The final portion of this paper indicates some of the other areas influenced by the use of project structure in the computational environment. This includes subdivision of verification processes, documentation systems, external object integration and automatic design systems.
Stock Market Returns and Annutization at Older Ages

Using a novel dataset with over 100,000 actual payout decisions, we investigate the nature of the strong negative relationship between recent stock returns and the annuitization of retirement savings. After controlling for several standard explanations (e.g., wealth effects), we present evidence supporting naive beliefs and extrapolation from past returns. The effect of recent returns on annuitization dramatically increases with age, confirming that the elderly rely most heavily on recent information. Our results provide insights into how beliefs are formed in old age and have implications for the design of public policies seeking to promote annuitization.
IQ Self-Estimates of Males and Females.

(1978). IQ Self-Estimates of Males and Females. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 106, No. 1, pp. 137-138.
Regulation of prothrombin, thrombin receptor, and protease nexin-1 expression during development and after denervation in muscle.

Prothrombin, thrombin receptor (ThR), and protease nexin-1 (PN-1) mRNA levels in mouse muscle were quantified using competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction during development and after denervation to examine the possible role of thrombin in activity-dependent synapse elimination at the neuromuscular junction. The results showed that the levels of prothrombin and ThR were maximal at birth and decreased by two orders of magnitude by postnatal day 20 (P20). The level of PN-1 mRNA was fairly constant during development except for a 4–fold to 5-fold downregulation at P10 and P15, the periods of maximal synapse elimination at the rodent neuromuscular junction. The expression of prothrombin mRNA in muscle at birth was 41–fold and 22-fold lower than those of ThR and PN-1, respectively, and the level of difference between prothrombin and PN-1 reached almost three orders of magnitude at adulthood. Denervation of adult muscle resulted in a reversal of the relative expression levels of the three genes. There were rapid 8–fold and 10-fold increases in prothrombin and ThR mRNA, respectively, and a 2-fold decrease in PN-1 mRNA. The changes in mRNA levels of the three genes after denervation indicated that these genes were regulated in a innervation-dependent manner and that nerve activity may play an important regulatory role in the expression of prothrombin, ThR, and PN-1. The concurrent regulation of prothrombin and ThR suggests that thrombin-mediated cellular activities in muscle may be affected via the activation of ThR. An elevated level of local thrombin or thrombin-like activity might result from the decreased inhibitory activity of PN-1 during the period of peak synapse elimination in muscle development. J. Neurosci. Res. 53:304–311, 1998. Published 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
An inducible amino acid transport system in Neurospora crassa

Abstract The general amino acid transport system in Neurospora crassa conidia is shown to be stimulated to a greater rate of transport activity by the basic amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine. The neutral amino acid L-phenylalanine causes a reduction in the rate of transport activity by this system. The possible mechanisms of regulation by these amino acids are discussed.
On the bias of autoregressive approximations to moving averages

SUMMARY A rather extensive empirical study of autoregressive approximations to first-order moving averages, and in particular their use in estimating the moving average coefficient, shows a significant bias to be present. This is of special importance now that autoregressive spectral estimators are becoming popular. Several conjectures are made about the cause of bias, and some procedures are developed to reduce this bias.
Design For At-Speed Structural Test And Performance Verification Of High-Performance ASICs

Performance verification is critical to high-performance ASICs manufacturing. Performance verification ensures that only those chips whose performance is higher than an advertised threshold are shipped to demanding customers. This provides a means to weed out nominal performance ASICs, and also ship ASICs at difference grades. At-speed structural test can provide performance verification capability at very low cost. In this paper, we present a scalable and flexible structural test method for performance verification of ASICs. The proposed method requires no tight restrictions on the circuit design. Moreover, low-cost testers are used, thus sharply reducing test cost.
Microsomal S-demethylase activity in four lepidopterous insects☆

Abstract Microsomal S -demethylation in fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) larvae was examined using 6-methylthiopurine as a model substrate. The S -demethylase system required NADPH for activity and was inhibited by CO and by piperonyl butoxide. The allelochemical indole 3-carbinol significantly induced the enzyme activity. The system metabolized numerous insecticides including carbamates such as methomyl, oxamyl, thiodicarb, and methiocarb and organophosphates such as sulprofos and fenthion and an allelochemical, methanethiol. The enzyme was also active in velvetbean catepillars, cabbage loopers, and corn earworms. On the basis of its sensitivity to inducers, inhibitor, and species variation, it is concluded that although the S -demethylation is a typical microsomal oxidation reaction, this system is quite different from other microsomal reactions including epoxidation, hydroxylation, N -demethylation, O -demethylation, desulfuration, and sulfoxidation.
Computed bounds on the F-region zonal wind during Joule heating

Abstract A method was derived in previous work that allows the computation from incoherent scatter data of upper and lower bounds on the thermospheric temperature and zonal wind speed during Joule heating. The theory is derived here more rigorously, and an approximation is made to include the effects of vertical heat conduction in the upper bound. For illustrative purposes, the resulting bounds are computed using two sets of experimental data. Including conduction markedly decreases the upper bound in neutral temperature from that found without conduction. In the examples shown the average difference between zonal wind upper and lower bounds with conduction is found to be 12%, whereas without conduction it is over 40%. Because of the simplifying approximations made, the technique provides an estimate of the zonal wind only under specialized conditions. However, the results are useful because they can be interpreted to apply generally to the motion of the sunlit F-region thermosphere.
MARGINS: Toward a novel science plan

A science plan to study continental margins has been in the works for the past 3 years, with almost 200 Earth scientists from a wide variety of disciplines gathering at meetings and workshops. Most geological hazards and resources are found at continental margins, yet our understanding of the processes that shape the margins is meager. In formulating this MARGINS research initiative, fundamental issues concerning our understanding of basic Earth-forming processes have arisen. It is clear that a business-as-usual approach will not solve the class of problems defined by the MARGINS program; the solutions demand approaches different from those used in the past. In many cases, a different class of experiment will be required, one that is well beyond the capability of individual principle investigators to undertake on their own. In most cases, broadly based interdisciplinary studies will be needed.
Laparoscopic revision of gastric banding to biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is the most common bariatric procedure in Europe and regions outside the United States and Canada. However, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) are becoming more widely used [1]. LAGB is considered a safe and simple procedure for morbid obesity. Despite its low mortality rate, it can result in high morbidity, with a significant number of patients requiring band removal. The weight loss effectiveness and the long-term results of LAGB have also been lower than those with other bariatric procedures [2]. Recently, BPD-DS has shown to be the most effective procedure for morbid obesity, mostly in super-obese and super-super-obese patients [2‐4]. With bariatric surgery gaining popularity among surgeons, more revision operations are being performed to deal with the complications or failure of the primary bariatric procedure. We present a case that illustrates the technical key aspects of laparoscopic revision of LAGB to BPD-DS.
The effect of normative pressures on fertility

Using longitudinal data from a sample of urban, white, married U.S. couples, this paper shows the effects of normative pressures from family and friends on whether or not the couple had a pregnancy within one year. A comparison of parity-specific and all-parity models indicates that more information and better predictions can be obtained from parity-specific models. Normative pressures predict pregnancy best at zero parity, with progressively attenuated predictions at higher parity. A comparison of models using husband and wife data together shows that two-sex models are better than models using either sex alone. In a variety of different models, normative pressures reported by husbands are better predictors of pregnancy than are normative pressures reported by wives. A comparison of models using aggregated measures of normative pressures with models identifying the separate individual sources of pressures indicates that each treatment provides different insights into the effects of normative pressures, but that predictive power is lost through aggregation.
Residency programs in primary and ambulatory care pharmacy practice

The roots of primary and ambulatory care pharmacy practice date back to health care’s shift in focus from acute care to primary care and preventive medicine in the 1960s.[1][1] This shift provided opportunities for advanced-practice pharmacists to improve outpatient care and offered another arena
Gravity Gradient Stabilization of Communication Satellite Systems

Abstract The R&D communications satellite payloads launched to date have been spin stabilized with essentially zero gain antennas. Economic studies have shown that the communication efficiency must be improved considerably for operational communication satellite systems to be totally practical. Effective gains of 10 db at medium altitude and 14 db at synchronous altitude can be realized by using a directional antenna and stabilizing the satellite to the local vertical. Two techniques for orienting an antenna beam have raised considerable activity: spin stabilization with a despun antenna, and gravity gradient stabilization of the total spacecraft. The significant difference between the two techniques is that the despun antenna requires active controls, logic, and an expenditure of power while a spacecraft stabilized by gravity gradient requires no active controls and no power. This paper discusses the application of gravity gradient stabilization to communication satellites. Four types of orbits are generally considered: medium altitude, high altitude, near synchronous. The optimum gravity gradient configuration is dependent among other considerations on the operating altitude and stabilization accuracy requirements. Several passively controlled satellites have been flown successfully to date showing feasibility of this concept. These flights include vehicles that are stabilized in two axes (pitch and roll) and others which are also stabilized in yaw. These flights and those planned for the n e a r future can provide engineering design data so that gravity gradient stabilization can be applied to a variety of missions, among which a r e those in the field of communications.
Effects of age, sex, and sertraline administration on seizure-induced respiratory arrest in the DBA/1 mouse model of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Abstract DBA/1 mice are susceptible to audiogenic seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA), leading to death, which is a model of human sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Female DBA/1 mice exhibited 71% susceptibility to S-IRA on the third daily test when seizure testing began at postnatal day (PND) 24–30, which was slightly (> 10%) but not significantly lower than males. When initial seizure testing was delayed (to > 7 weeks of age), DBA/1 mice of both sexes exhibited significantly reduced S-IRA susceptibility, as compared to mice tested initially at PND 24–30. These sex and age issues had not been previously evaluated and may be important for the future use of this SUDEP model. We also observed that 30 min after administering a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), sertraline (40, 50, or 75 mg/kg i.p.), a significantly reduced S-IRA incidence in DBA/1 mice occurred without blocking seizures, which may be relevant to SUDEP prevention.
ERYTHEMA AND MELANOGENESIS ACTION SPECTRA OF NORMAL HUMAN SKIN

Abstract The action spectra for delayed erythema and melanogenesis in Caucasian human skin are determined for wavelengths between 250 and 435 nm. The untanned skin of very fair volunteers was observed after single exposures to a range of fluences of monochromatic radiation. At wavelengths longer than 300 nm the two action spectra are indistinguishable, and at wavelengths shorter than 300 nm, they are of similar shape despite a distinct separation. This suggests a common or similar chromophore for initiation of the vascular and pigmentary responses to UV. A broad minimum in the action spectra occurs near 280 nm, a maximum near 296 nm, and for wavelengths longer than 300 nm, increasingly larger fluences of radiation are required to induce delayed erythema and melanogenesis. Between 304 and 334 nm both action spectra exhibit a rapid decrease of almost three orders of magnitude. In contrast, between 334 and 405 nm the spectra decrease by only one order of magnitude, and there is a suggestion of a small maximum at or near 365 nm. Different chromophores, sites of damage, or response mechanisms may be responsible for induction of delayed erythema at these longer wavelengths. After spectral corrections for the optical effects of the stratum corneum, the shape and magnitude of the action spectra are grossly consistent with a mechanism in which DNA is the primary chromophore initiating the response pathways for wavelengths less than 313 nm. Whatever the actual basis for these action spectra may be, they are of practical significance in predicting skin response to sources of ultraviolet radiation.
Functional comparison between double and triple ileal loop pouches.

Ileal pouch function in 35 patients operated upon by the same surgeon were compared. Seventeen of the patients had a double loop (J) ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and 18 a triple loop (S) pouch. The patients were examined a mean of 27.9 months and 5.1 months, respectively, after ileostomy closure. Ten of the S-pouch patients were evaluated more than 6 months (S>6 months), mean 9.1 after ileostomy closure. There were no differences in the mean maximum resting pressures or maximum squeeze pressures between the groups. The incidence of daytime and nocturnal leakage was lower in the S-pouch group, 22 and 29 percent, than in the J group 29, and 53 percent. Though the mean maximum tolerated volume (MTV) of the S-pouch group was greater than the J group, the difference was not statistically significant. The difference in the mean compliance between the J- and S-pouch groups and the J and S>6 months group was statistically significant (P 6 months and J group was significant (P 6 months and J pouch groups was significant (P<0.005), but not between the S and J groups. The triple loop S-pouches were more compliant than the J-pouches and had a better functional result as shown by a lower incidence of nocturnal leakage, and a lower frequency of defecation during the day and night.
Recent developments in the SO(5) theory of high Tc superconductivity

Abstract This paper outlines the general strategy behind the SO(5) theory of high Tc superconductivity. Progress is reviewed in the direction of exact SO(5) models, numerical exact diagonalization and possible experimental tests. Criticisms raised recently against the SO(5) theory are also addressed and directions for future exploration are indicated.
A polygon-based spatial (PBS) model for simulating landscape change

A spatial model of long term habitat succession at a degrading Louisiana wetland was constructed based upon simulating exchanges across irregularly shaped polygons. Polygons represented the natural morphology which is indicative of the natural landscape. The PBS model was partially successful in simulating spatial habitat changes over a 28-year period when more than 1000 ha of wetland loss occurred (r2=.56). General landscape trends did, however, emerge from the model development. Areas of high annual water level fluctuations, and high primary productivity were less likely to change from wetlands to open water and were most likely to recover if altered. We discuss the potential for predictive improvement and for integration with polygon-based geographic information systems, and conclude that a PBS model demonstrates the need for spatially explicit landscape management.
Burrowing of Co Nanoparticles on Clean Cu and Ag Surfaces

Metal nanoparticles can display a unique behavior when deposited on substrates with a significantly lower surface energy. Co nanoparticles in the 10 nm size regime burrow into clean Cu(100) and Ag(100) substrates when deposited at 600 K and also assume the substrate orientation. Deposition at room temperature fails to show either burrowing or reorientation. Crucial in understanding these results are the capillary forces and surface tension associated with a nanoparticle: they must be high enough to drive atoms away from underneath the cluster.
Employment Assistance Needs of Accompanying Spouses following Relocation

Abstract A diverse sample of 503 matched dual-income relocated couples (employee and accompanying spouses) from 74 organizations across the United States and Canada provided data for the present study. Spouses’ interest in job-related relocation assistance was examined, and their differential interest in service explored across different types of spouses. Results indicated that variables such as sex of the accompanying spouse and job seeking self-efficacy were important in understanding spouses’ need for employment assistance. Results are discussed in terms of theory-building and practical suggestions for assisting spouses and their families following relocation.
Compressibility of Solid C60

Room-temperature powder x-ray diffraction profiles have been obtained at hydrostatic pressures P = 0 and 1.2 gigapascals on the solid phase of cubic C60 ("fullerite"). Within experimental error, the linear compressibility d(ln a)/dP is the same as the interlayer compressibility d(ln c)/dP of hexagonal graphite, consistent with van der Waals intermolecular bonding. The volume compressibility –d(ln V)/dP is 7.0 ± 1 x 10-12 square centimeter per dyne, 3 and 40 times the values for graphite and diamond, respectively.
Gender differences in determinants of job satisfaction among cooperative extension workers in the United States

This study compares levels of job satisfaction among male and female cooperative extension workers in the United States. There is a high level of job satisfaction among cooperative extension workers and no statistically significant differences between males and females. However, when modelling job satisfaction as a function of (1) Control/Autonomy/Influence, (2) Challenge, (3) Performance Measures, (4) Feedback, (5)Instrumentality and (6) Stability/Security, we detect gender differences. Women place a higher importance on job Stability/Security as a factor influencing job satisfaction. However, the levels of Feedback and Instrumentality are less important determinants of job satisfaction to females than to males.
NMR study of the secondary structure of s-RNA

The melting characteristics of unfractionated yeast s-RNA in neutral aqueous solution have been examined by high-resolution proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These studies indicate that the bases of s-RNA become rotationally activated at lower temperatures than their associated ribose units. These observations, as well as the recently determined base sequence of an alanine-specific s-RNA, suggest that base complementarity may not be the primary determinant in the stabilization of the secondary structure of s-RNA. In addition, evidence for exchange of C8-protons of purine bases of s-RNA with D2O was obtained at temperatures above 70°C.
Quantitative Method for the Profiling of the Endocannabinoid Metabolome by LC-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-MS

The endocannabinoid system's biological significance continues to grow as novel endocannabinoid metabolites are discovered. Accordingly, a myopic view of the system that focuses solely on one or two endocannabinoids, such as anandamide or 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, is insufficient to describe the biological responses to perturbations of the system. Rather, the endocannabinoid metabolome as a whole must be analyzed. The work described here is based on liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry. This method has been validated to quantify, in a single chromatographic run, the levels of 15 known or suspected metabolites of the endocannabinoid system in the rat brain and is applicable to other biological matrixes. We have obtained an endocannabinoid profile specifically for the frontal cortex of the rat brain and have determined anandamide level differences following the administration of the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor AM374.
Beyond Consensus: The Historian as Moral Critic

A PERENNIAL dilemma of historical scholarship is its need to use the resources of the present to discover what is not present, but past. The creative historian lives a double life, responsive on one side to the questions and issues of his own age, faithful on the other side to, the integrity of an age gone by. Too feeble an involvement in the life of the present makes for a slack and routine grasp of the past. But present commitments that are too parochial imprison our imagination, instead of challenging it. At one extreme, historical thought is sterile, at the other tendentious. How can historians, by the strength of their detachment, rise above a constricting present, and, by the amplitude of their commitment, enter a living past? If this is a perennial problem, it has a special pertinence for the American historian today. He usually works in a vast educational system that rewards its employees with prestige and security for predictable quantities of passionless research. The institutional setting, therefore, encourages much routine and mechanical history. On the other hand, the ideological conflicts of the twentieth century have, until now, swept many of our best historians in the opposite direction, entangling them in rather partisan commitments. For a long time institutional restraints and ideological pressures seemed to offset and balance one another in a fairly effective way. The pull of neutrality and the push of commitment seemed enough adjusted to serve the pursuit of truth. As long as our present concerns remained fundamentally stable, a cumulative pattern of research could be observed. Conventional monographs followed easily in paths marked out by the major interpretive studies, and confidence in the progress of knowledge kept criticism within manageable bounds. Now, however, that working balance has been upset. The old ideological positions have broken down, so that the kind of present-mindedness that seemed to illuminate American history twenty years ago has largely outlived its usefulness. Many of the values and allegiances that guided our historical writing now seem unduly restrictive. There is, consequently, a danger and an opportunity: the danger of a largely negative scholarship, revisionist in motive but routine or merely clever in result; the opportunity of
Cardiac Vagal Tone Predicts Attentional Engagement To and Disengagement From Fearful Faces

The current research examines individual differences in flexible emotional attention. In two experiments, we investigated the relationship between individual differences in cardiac vagal tone and top-down and bottom-up processes associated with emotional attention. To help determine the role of cortical and subcortical mechanisms underlying top-down and bottom-up emotional attention, fearful faces at broad, high, and low spatial frequency were presented as cues that triggered either exogenous or endogenous orienting. Participants with lower heart rate variability (HRV) exhibited faster attentional engagement to low-spatial-frequency fearful faces at short stimulus-onset asynchronies, but showed delayed attentional disengagement from high-spatial-frequency fearful faces at long stimulus-onset asynchronies in contrast to participants with higher HRV. This research suggests that cardiac vagal tone is associated with more adaptive top-down and bottom-up modulation of emotional attention. Implications for various affective disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder, are discussed.
An Enantioselective Synthesis of the ABD Tricycle for (-)-Phomactin A Featuring Rawal's Asymmetric Diels-Alder Cycloaddition.

An enantioselective synthesis of the ABD-ring of (−)-phomactin A is described here. The sequence features Rawal’s asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The overall length is significantly reduced from our previous attempt.
Localization of insulin-like immunoreactivity in the synganglion of nymphal and adult Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae).

Immunocytochemical staining based on a peroxidase-antiperoxidase method showed neurosecretory cells (NSC) reactive to bovine insulin in five of 18 paraldehyde fuchsin-positive neurosecretory regions (NSR) in the synganglion of unfed adult Dermacentor variabilis. This is the first report of a neuropeptide in an ixodid tick. The insulin-specific immunoreactive cells included the posterior medial group of the protocerebral center, posterior group of dorsal opisthosomal center, anterior lateral group of the dorso-lateral cheliceral center, dorsal group of the frontal stomodeal center, and anterior group of the ventral palpal center. After feeding and mating, females no longer had immunoreactive cells in three of five NSR found in virgin, unfed females. However, two cells of the posterior group in dorsal opisthosomal center and anterior lateral group of the dorso-lateral cheliceral center remained immunoreactive throughout feeding. Fed, mated males continued to display immunoreactive cells in four of five NSR found in the virgin, unfed males. All developmental stages of nymphs examined had insulin-specitic immunoreactive cells in two of the five NSR found in unfed adults, including two positively stained cells of the posterior group in dorsal opisthosomal center and anterior group of ventral palpal neurosecretory center.
Direct writing of 40-nm features inside fused silica glass with oscillator ultrafast lasers

With ultra-fast oscillator lasers (less than 1nJ/pulse, 80MHz repetition rate), we propose that we could fabricate features with less than 40nm inside UV transparent material such as fused silica and quartz. The low threshold property of this demonstration could lower the cost of lasers, and improve the throughput of laser machining due to the quasi-CW nature of the laser used. Our initial results shows that damages are observed with threshold as low as 1nJ before the UV objective, and then size is below 1 micron.
Characterization of Genetically Targeted Neuron Types in the Zebrafish Optic Tectum

The optically transparent larval zebrafish is ideally suited for in vivo analyses of neural circuitry controlling visually guided behaviors. However, there is a lack of information regarding specific cell types in the major retinorecipient brain region of the fish, the optic tectum. Here we report the characterization of three previously unidentified tectal cell types that are specifically labeled by dlx5/6 enhancer elements. In vivo laser scanning microscopy in conjunction with ex vivo array tomography revealed that these neurons differ in their morphologies, synaptic connectivity, and neurotransmitter phenotypes. The first type is an excitatory bistratified periventricular interneuron (bsPVIN) that forms a dendritic arbor in the retinorecipient stratum fibrosum griseum et superficiale (SFGS) and an axonal arbor in the stratum griseum centrale (SGC). The second type, a GABAergic nonstratified periventricular interneuron (nsPVIN), extends a bushy arbor containing both dendrites and axons into the SGC and the deepest sublayers of the SFGS. The third type is a GABAergic periventricular projection neuron (PVPN) that extends a dendritic arbor into the SGC and a long axon to the torus semicircularis, medulla oblongata, and anterior hindbrain. Interestingly, the same axons form en passant synapses within the deepest neuropil layer of the tectum, the stratum album centrale. This approach revealed several novel aspects of tectal circuitry, including: (1) a glutamatergic mode of transmission from the superficial, retinorecipient neuropil layers to the deeper, output layers, (2) the presence of interneurons with mixed dendrite/axon arbors likely involved in local processing, and (3) a heretofore unknown GABAergic tectofugal projection to midbrain and hindbrain. These observations establish a framework for studying the morphological and functional differentiation of neural circuits in the zebrafish visual system.
Interference of cellular ferric ions with DNA extraction and the application to methods of DNA determination

Abstract Iron present in biological samples prevents the extraction of DNA by hot acid hydrolysis as used in both the Schneider and Ogur-Rosen procedures [Schneider, W. C. (1945) J. Biol. Chem. 161, 293–303; Ogur, M., and Rosen, G. (1950) Arch. Biochem. 25, 262–276.] for DNA determination. Purified DNA, which is normally hot acid hydrolyzable, is rendered nonhydrolyzable by the presence of trace (0.1 m m ) quantities of iron (III). Addition of a metal ion chelator, such as EDTA, to samples before hot acid treatment of DNA overcomes the inhibitory effect of iron, and, since iron is a normal cellular component, it is recommended as a general procedure for DNA determination.
Thermodynamic evaluation of the Np–Zr system using CALPHAD and ab initio methods

Abstract A new thermodynamic description of Np–Zr alloys is developed using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) method based on available experimental information on phase equilibria, supplemented by ab initio energetics for end members that are not available in the standard CALPHAD unary database. The present thermodynamic description shows improvements compared to previous models in the predicted phase diagram when comparing to assessed reliable experimental data. Ab initio Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations are also performed on all known stable solid phases of Np–Zr alloys and the end member Np and Zr metals. Comparing to the formation energetics predicted from the CALPHAD models of both this work and a previous study we find that DFT with the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) to the exchange-correlation potential overestimates the formation enthalpies of Np and Np–Zr by about 0.15 eV/atom, and the so-called DFT + U approach with a Ueff of near 0.65 eV can reduce this error by about 0.07–0.10 eV. Our comprehensive comparison between existing CALPHAD, ab initio and experimental results for Np–Zr indicates a need for further experiments on the phase equilibrium.
Wavenumber distributions and time dependence in Rayleigh-Bénard convection patterns

We have measured the wavenumber distribution P(q) of stationary and time-dependent convection patterns in a moderately large circular container. These measurements, in conjunction with nonlinear stability theory, lead to a useful criterion for the onset of (nonperiodic) time dependence. Time-dependent states occur in two different regimes, ϵ 3.5, where ϵ ≡ (R−Rc)Rc, and Rc is the Rayleigh number at the onset of convection. In both cases, a significant portion of P(q) is found to lie outside the computed stable band of wavenumbers. These observations may provide a partial explanation of the surprising discovery of nonperiodic time-dependence near onset.
New seismic data on the state of the deep lunar interior.

Direct shear-wave arrivals from seismic events originating on the far side of the moon are not observed at some of the stations of the Apollo seismic network. These data suggest that the material in the lunar interior at a depth of 1000 to 1100 kilometers is more dissipative for seismic shear waves than the lithosphere above, and possibly exists in a partially molten state akin to the earth's asthenosphere.
Applications of a generalized Galerkin's method to non-linear oscillations of two-degree-of-freedom systems

Abstract A generalized Galerkin's method is formulated for multi-degree-of-freedom holonomic systems. Two autonomous non-linear two-d.o.f. oscillators are used as the examples for the applications of the method: (i) free oscillations of a non-linear mass-spring system with two d.o.f., (ii) two weakly non-linearly coupled identical van der Pol oscillators. The accuracy of the approximate solutions is discussed. The effect of different time intervals of integration on the results is also investigated.
Electromagnetic initiation of transcription at specific DNA sites.

Initiation of transcription by electromagnetic (EM) fields offers an insight into mechanism. EM field stimulated transcription appears to require specific DNA sequences, and these bases may be sites where EM fields generate large repulsive forces between chains by accelerating electrons that move within DNA. We can estimate the repulsion between chains by assuming that electron affinity is a measure of electron density at each base, and inversely related to the velocity of electrons (and the force). The repulsive force can be compared to the attraction between chains due to H-bonds. From the difference between repulsion and attraction, we show that sites rich in C and T, as in the specific sequences, would be more likely to come apart in EM fields. These calculations suggest a plausible mechanism for initiation of transcription by EM fields, and provide a rationale for specific sequences to function as EM field response elements. Electron flow could also be a factor in DNA chain melting due to Joule heating.
Mössbauer, electron paramagnetic resonance, and theoretical studies of a carbene-based all-ferrous Fe4S4 cluster: electronic origin and structural identification of the unique spectroscopic site.

It is well established that the cysteinate-coordinated [Fe(4)S(4)] cluster of the iron protein of nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii (Av2) can attain the all-ferrous core oxidation state. Mossbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies have shown that the all-ferrous cluster has a ground-state spin S = 4 and an effective 3:1 site symmetry in the spin structure and (57)Fe quadrupole interactions. Recently, Deng and Holm reported the synthesis of [Fe(4)S(4)(Pr(i)(2)NHCMe(2))(4)],(2) (1; Pr(i)(2)NHCMe(2) = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) and showed that the all-ferrous carbene-coordinated cluster is amenable to physicochemical studies. Mossbauer and EPR studies of 1, reported here, reveal that the electronic structure of this complex is strikingly similar to that of the protein-bound cluster, suggesting that the ground-state spin and the 3:1 site ratio are consequences of spontaneous distortions of the cluster core. To gain insight into the origin of the peculiar ground state of the all-ferrous clusters in 1 and Av2, we have studied a theoretical model that is based on a Heisenberg-Dirac-van Vleck Hamiltonian whose exchange-coupling constants are a function of the Fe-Fe distances. By combining the exchange energies with the elastic deformation energies in the harmonic approximation, we obtain for a T(2) distortion a minimum with spin S = 4 and a C(3v) core structure in which one iron is unique and three irons are equivalent. This minimum has all of the spectroscopic and structural characteristics of the all-ferrous clusters of 1 and Av2. Our analysis maps the unique spectroscopic iron site to a specific site in the X-ray structure of the [Fe(4)S(4)](0) core both in complex 1 and in Av2.