cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving the recovery of Ba from Sr Resin columns using chelating agents

Age dating of Cs-137 sources requires the accurate and precise quantification of the isotope Ba-137. In previous efforts to determine the age of Cs-137 source material, variation in Ba recovery was the largest source of uncertainty. This work investigates the use of several common chelating agents (EDTA, CDTA, DTPA, and NTA) to strip barium from Sr Resin columns quantitatively in an effort to improve the reproducibility of the separation. Batch studies showed conditions in which CDTA, EDTA, and NTA may suppress the retention of Ba on the column. Follow-up column studies showed excellent removal of barium from the column with quantitative recovery in the appropriate elution fraction. This work builds upon previous studies and establishes additional chelating agents that could be used in an age dating separation procedure.
Diabetes and Total Joint Arthroplasty: Infection Risk May Not Be Predictable by Markers of Glycemic Control.

With an increasing prevalence of diabetes, there is a need to risk stratify arthroplasty patients preoperatively and characterize postoperative infections. This study sought to determine if perioperative markers of diabetic control were associated with infection and to further characterize diabetic periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). A retrospective analysis of 506 diabetic patients and 900 nondiabetic patients who underwent primary total hip and knee arthroplasty was performed. In this cohort, an infection rate of 4.7% and 2.0% for diabetic and nondiabetic patients, respectively, was observed. There was no association between infection at 1 year and preoperative hemoglobin A1C or postoperative blood glucose; however, diabetic infections were significantly more likely to be deep (HR = 4.6; p 6 weeks postoperatively (HR = 8.0; p = .001). This study concluded that common markers of glycemic control are not predictive of the increased risk of diabetic PJI and alternative markers should be investigated. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 28(2):127-131, 2019).
Abstract B066: Inhibition of farnesyl transferase by tipifarnib leads to isoform specific cell growth inhibition in HRAS-mutated human rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents. A subset of RMS expresses the characteristic PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 translocations, thought to be oncogenic drivers. Among the fusion-negative subset of RMS, a substantial proportion express oncogenic mutations in RAS proteins or other elements of RAS signaling pathways. Activating RAS mutations are disproportionately seen in patients with high-risk RMS and attempts to augment combination chemotherapy have not resulted in improvement in overall survival in this poor prognosis group. Given the common finding of dysregulated RAS signaling, targeting RAS represents an attractive therapeutic approach. RAS family members require posttranslational modification for plasma membrane localization and subsequent downstream signaling. One therapeutic strategy, therefore, includes disruption of RAS protein prenylation, and thereby its membrane localization, via inhibition of farnesyl transferase (FTase). NRAS and KRAS may utilize geranylgeranyltransferase prenylation as a bypass when FTase is inhibited, but HRAS is uniquely dependent on FTase, and therefore, tumor cells with HRAS mutations may be preferentially sensitive to the effects of farnesyltransferase inhibition (FTI). We therefore tested human RMS cell lines harboring mutations in HRAS, KRAS or NRAS, and those wild type (WT) for H-, K-, and N-RAS, and found that only tumor cells with oncogenic HRAS mutations demonstrate growth inhibition and decreased ERK signaling in response to the FTI tipifarnib. Using high-throughput cell proliferation assays, dose dependent cell growth inhibition in response to treatment with tipifarnib is observed in HRAS-mutated RMS cell lines. We observe a reduction in phosphorylated MEK and ERK in HRAS mutated cell lines indicating effective RAS signaling inhibition. Activity of PI3K-mTOR pathway elements p70-S6K and RPS6 are inhibited by tipifarnib in cell lines that demonstrate an antiproliferative response to the compound. In vivo exposure to tipifarnib in HRAS-mutated RMS xenografts results in tumor growth inhibition. Therapeutic strategies targeting RAS protein prenylation may therefore provide an effective approach as an alternative to traditional chemotherapy, while improving outcomes and decreasing toxicities. Based on these data, a genomically-selected clinical trial using tipifarnib to treat pediatric patients with HRAS-mutated tumors, including RMS, would be of interest. Citation Format: Patience Obasaju, Kai Pollard, Amy Allen, Jiawan Wang, Christine Pratilas. Inhibition of farnesyl transferase by tipifarnib leads to isoform specific cell growth inhibition in HRAS-mutated human rhabdomyosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B066. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-B066
Effect of copper content on the tensile elongation of Al–Cu–Mn–Zr alloys: Experiments and finite element simulations

Abstract Microstructures of cast aluminum alloys used in automotive engine applications often consist of intermetallic particles that can impact the tensile elongation of these alloys. Here, we investigate the effect of intermetallic grain boundary particles on tensile elongation by fabricating a series of alloys with Cu content varying between 6.0 - 9.0 wt% in cast Al–Cu–Mn–Zr (ACMZ) type compositions. The tensile elongation of as-aged ACMZ alloys decreases monotonically with increase in Cu content. While the microstructure within the grains and yield stress of the alloy remains invariant with Cu content, the decrease in tensile elongation correlates well with increase in the size and volume fraction of grain boundary particles. Microstructural observations are combined with finite element simulations to explain the trend in tensile elongation with changing Cu content. Crack initiation is found to occur by brittle fracture of the grain boundary particles. Increase in particle size promotes crack initiation by reduction in size dependent particle fracture strength. Lower inter-particle spacing at higher particle volume fraction further facilitates crack initiation by increasing stress within the particles caused by the interaction between stress fields of neighboring particles. Increase in particle volume fraction also accelerates crack propagation through the formation of macro shear zones in the microstructure. The increase in Cu content of cast ACMZ alloys, therefore, decreases tensile elongation by promoting both crack initiation and crack propagation.
U.S. Maritime Policy and Economic Efficiency

Critics argue that maritime policy is protectionist legislation that restricts competition and reduces economic efficiency. In this paper, I argue the contrary. I begin with the premise that the primary role of the state is to provide national defense. A country must be able to protect its wealth, and therefore its capital, from plunder and/or destruction. This implies that a sufficient level of defense spending is increasing in the capital stock. An efficient solution is to tax capital to finance defense. Nonetheless, there is reason to believe that capital devoted to shipping imposes a lower marginal defense cost than other forms of capital because ships can be used as a naval auxiliary. If so, then one would expect that the optimal tax rate on shipbuilding and the merchant marine would be lower than other capital-intensive firms. Put differently, maritime subsidies during peacetime can be understood as the result of a Coaseian bargain in which the government compensates shipbuilders and the merchant marine during peacetime in exchange for their services during wartime. I argue that the history of U.S. maritime policy is broadly consistent with my theory. I conclude by discussing the current state of the merchant marine and maritime policy.
Rate equation analysis of digital pulse modulation in strongly injection-locked semiconductor microring lasers

Digital pulse modulation of strongly injection-locked whistle-geometry semiconductor ring lasers is investigated. Specifically, we address the problem of optical output signal distortion due to transient behavior of the laser in response to picosecond input pulses of injection current. Pulse modulation of a 2-μm-diameter strongly injection-locked whistlegeometry ring laser with up to 50 GHz repetition rate and substantially suppressed transient emission tails is demonstrated in numerical modeling for a sequence of triangular injection current pulses of picosecond duration.
Construct Validity of Selected Subtests of the ITPA

Six subtests of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA) were matched with parallel tasks which were equivalent to the subtests except in one dimension of the test's theoretical model. A total of 16 subtests and tasks were administered to 126 third grade children who met the same criteria used to select the original ITPA standardization sample. The data were factor analyzed using a principal components solution. Seven factors emerged and accounted for 66 percent of the variance. Each of the ITPA subtests loaded highly on only one factor. In addition, the subtests loaded with the other related tasks on factors which are clearly identifiable in terms of the model regarding level, process, and channel.
Las milicias locales y la bandolerización de la guerra de independencia en el Perú (1820-1822)

En septiembre de 1820 las tropas del ejercito libertador desembarcaron en Pisco dando inicio a la ultima fase de la guerra que decidiria la independencia del Peru. Tanto los lideres del ejercito libertador como el virrey Pezuela y sus generales tenian expectativas diferentes sobre como reaccionaria la poblacion de la costa ante la presencia de un ejercito extranjero. Lo que nadie esperaba era que los pueblos organizaran milicias en coordinacion con los ejercitos regulares, pero tambien en forma independiente de ellos. En este articulo se exploran tanto estas expectativas como las originales formas de hacer la guerra que eligieron los pueblos y que redefinieron la guerra en este periodo.
Complex Relationships at the Intersection of Insect Gut Microbiomes and Plant Defenses

Insect herbivores have ubiquitous associations with microorganisms that have major effects on how host insects may interact in their environment. Recently, increased attention has been given to how insect gut microbiomes mediate interactions with plants. In this paper, I discuss the ecology and physiology of gut bacteria associated with insect herbivores and how they may shape interactions between insects and their various host plants. I first establish how microbial associations vary between insects with different feeding styles, and how the insect host physiology and ecology can shape stable or transient relationships with gut bacteria. Then, I describe how these relationships factor in with plant nutrition and plant defenses. Within this framework, I suggest that many of the interactions between plants, insects, and the gut microbiome are context-dependent and shaped by the type of defense and the isolates present in the environment. Relationships between insects and plants are not pairwise, but instead highly multipartite, and the interweaving of complex microbial interactions is needed to fully explore the context-dependent aspects of the gut microbiome in many of these systems. I conclude the review by suggesting studies that would help reduce the unsureness of microbial interactions with less-defined herbivore systems and identify how each could provide a path to more robust roles and traits.
A Welcome, A Warning, and A Wish: On Entering a Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice in the Year 2020

After the cancelation of the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (2020) due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the substantive content of my presentation for the plenary, “Higher Edu...
Monoclonal therapy against calcitonin gene-related peptide lowers hyperglycemia and adiposity in type 2 diabetes mouse models.

Abstract Objective Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide α (CGRPα) is a multifunctional neuropeptide found in the central and peripheral nervous system with cardiovascular, nociceptive, and gastrointestinal activities. CGRPα has been linked to obesity and insulin secretion but the role of this circulating peptide in energy metabolism remains unclear. Here, we thought to utilize a monoclonal antibody against circulating CGRPα to assess its ability to improve glucose homeostasis in mouse models of hyperglycemia and diabetes. Methods We examined the outcome of anti-CGRPα treatment in mouse models of diabetes and diet-induced obesity, using db/db mice, Streptozotocin (STZ) treatment to eliminate pancreatic islets, and high fat diet-fed mice. We also correlated these data with application of recombinant CGRPα peptide on cultured mature adipocytes to measure its impact on mitochondrial bioenergetics and fatty acid oxidation. Furthermore, we applied recombinant CGRPα to primary islets to measure glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and gene expression. Results BL6-db diabetic mice receiving anti-CGRPα treatment manifested weight loss, reduced adiposity, improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, GSIS and reduced pathology in adipose tissue and liver. Anti-CGRPα failed to modulate weight or glucose homeostasis in STZ-treated animals. High fat diet-fed mice showed reduced adiposity but no benefit on glucose homeostasis. Considering these findings, we postulated that CGRPα may have dual effects on adipocytes to promote lipid utilization while acting on pancreatic β-cells to modulate insulin secretion. Analysis of CGRPα in the pancreas showed that the peptide localized to insulin-positive cells and perivascular nerves surrounding islets. Ex-vivo analysis of pancreatic islets determined that CGRPα blocked GSIS and reduced insulin-2 gene expression. Mechanistical analysis revealed that recombinant CGRPα was able to reduce glycolytic capacity as well as fatty acid oxidation in primary white adipocytes. Conclusions These results establish a multifaceted role in energy metabolism for circulating CGRPα, with the ability to modulate thermogenic pathways in adipose tissue, as well as pancreatic β-cell dependent insulin secretion. Reducing circulating CGRPα levels with monoclonal therapy presents therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes as shown in BL6-db/db mice but has reduced potential for models of hyperglycemia resulting from loss of β-cells (STZ treatment).
What Does Newcomb's Paradox Teach Us?

In Newcomb's paradox you choose to receive either the contents of a particular closed box, or the contents of both that closed box and another one. Before you choose, a prediction algorithm deduces your choice, and fills the two boxes based on that deduction. Newcomb's paradox is that game theory appears to provide two conflicting recommendations for what choice you should make in this scenario. We analyze Newcomb's paradox using a recent extension of game theory in which the players set conditional probability distributions in a Bayes net. We show that the two game theory recommendations in Newcomb's scenario have different presumptions for what Bayes net relates your choice and the algorithm's prediction. We resolve the paradox by proving that these two Bayes nets are incompatible. We also show that the accuracy of the algorithm's prediction, the focus of much previous work, is irrelevant. In addition we show that Newcomb's scenario only provides a contradiction between game theory's expected utility and dominance principles if one is sloppy in specifying the underlying Bayes net. We also show that Newcomb's paradox is time-reversal invariant; both the paradox and its resolution are unchanged if the algorithm makes its 'prediction' after you make your choice rather than before.
Review of the COVID-19 Risk in Multiple Sclerosis

The ongoing pandemic of the novel coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in over 1 million deaths, primarily affecting older patients with chronic ailments. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been deemed particularly vulnerable given their high rates of disability and increased susceptibility to infections. There have also been concerns regarding disease-modifying therapy (DMT) during the pandemic as many DMTs may increase the risk of infection due to some of their immunosuppressive properties. Furthermore, due to MS-related chronic inflammatory damage within the central nervous system, there have been concerns for worsening neurological injury by COVID-19. This has resulted in an alarmingly high level of anxiety and stress among the MS community leading to a lack of compliance with medications and routine check-ups, and even failure to obtain treatment for relapse. However, there is currently substantial evidence that MS and most DMT usage is not associated with increased COVID-19 severity. MS patients who suffer worse outcomes were more likely to be older and suffer from significant disabilities and comorbid conditions, which would also be expected from those in the general population. Likewise, there is little if any evidence demonstrating an increased susceptibility of MS patients to COVID-19-related neurological complications. Therefore, we aim to summarize the most recent findings related to COVID-19 and MS demonstrating that MS and most DMTs do not appear as risk factors for severe COVID-19.
Treatment and outcome of eight horses with limb cellulitis and septic tendonitis or desmitis

Objective To report the clinical features, treatment, and outcome in horses with cellulitis and concurrent septic tendonitis and/or desmitis. Study design Short case series. Methods Medical records from 2000 to 2019 were reviewed, identifying horses with cellulitis and concurrent septic tendonitis and/or desmitis based on sonographic examination and positive bacterial culture. Signalment, ultrasonographic results, bacterial culture, treatment, duration of hospitalization, and complications were recorded. Long-term outcome data were obtained from follow-up examinations and/or telephone interviews. Successful outcome was defined as return to intended use. Results Eight horses met the inclusion criteria. All infections occurred in hindlimbs, with septic suspensory ligament in six of eight horses, and septic superficial digital flexor tendon in one of eight horses. Surgical debridement was performed in six of eight horses. All horses were treated with systemic and regional intravenous antimicrobials and were discharged from the hospital. Long-term follow-up was available in seven of eight horses. Of these, four horses returned to their intended athletic function, two horses returned to their intended function as a broodmare or pasture pet, and one horse is still rehabilitating. Conclusion Septic tendonitis or desmitis is a rare but possible sequela of limb cellulitis. Based on the findings in this study, prognosis for return to athletic function is fair to good for horses diagnosed with cellulitis and concurrent septic tendonitis or desmitis.
Supplemental nutrition assistance program participation and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, overall and by source

Abstract Introduction This paper examined patterns in adults' sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and caloric intake by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation status and by source of purchases in the United States (US). Method Cross-sectional analysis of consumption of SSBs by source of purchases using 24-hour dietary recall data obtained from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2010 (N = 17,891). Bivariate analysis and multivariable regressions were used to examine the association between SNAP participation and SSB calories consumed overall and by source. Results SSBs account for approximately 12% of total daily caloric intake (258 kcal) among SNAP participants, higher than that of SNAP-eligible nonparticipants (9% total daily intake, 205 kcal) and SNAP-ineligible nonparticipants (6% total daily intake, 153 kcal). Among income-eligible adults, participating in SNAP is associated with 28.9 additional SSB calories, of which most were obtained from a store. From 2003–04 to 2009–10, SSB prevalence and caloric intake were flat among SNAP participants while it declined among both SNAP-eligible and SNAP-ineligible nonparticipants; this pattern held for all sources of SSBs except for those purchased from fast-food restaurants, which were not statistically reduced among nonparticipants. Conclusion SNAP participants consumed more SSB calories compared to SNAP-eligible nonparticipants; and their SSB prevalence and caloric intake trend was flat over the 2003–04 to 2009–10 period. SNAP-Education interventions that focus on improving access to healthy food in poor neighborhoods may benefit SNAP participants.
Debt Structure Adjustments and Long-run Stock Price Performance

We examine the long-run implications of debt structure adjustments using a sample of U.S. bond IPOs from 1971 to 1994. Bond IPOs result in simultaneous and pronounced changes in both debt maturity and debt ownership structures. We document that firms engaging in debt IPOs substantially underperform their size-and-book-to-market matched benchamarks by 33.39% and 55.99% over the tree- and five-year post-offer periods. Our results are strikingly similar to those reported for equity offers but contrast the evidence for seasoned debt offers. We find evidence that debt IPOs are timed to coincide with the market having the highest expectations concernig firms' prospects. A negative relation is documented between debt maturity and future growth opportunities. In part, the underperformance can be attributed to significantly reduced growth opportunities following the offering. Post-offer underperformance is more pronounced for (a) longer maturity issues, and (b)firms that do not experience an increase in bank monitoring.
The biology of voltage-gatedsodium channels

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the biology of voltage-gated sodium channels. Voltage-gated sodium channels are the primary mediators of the propagating action potential of nerve and muscle—the fundamental phenomenon by which various elements of the nervous system communicate. Sodium channels are the major targets of a variety of natural toxins and several clinically important drug classes, such as local anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, and antiseizure drugs. As with other ion channels, within a given organism, sodium channels are encoded by a number of genes, while there are indications that RNA processing events that vary the protein sequences encoded by individual genes may generate further diversity. The consideration of the biological significance of such sodium channel isoforms is the major theme of the chapter. It reviews the basic functional properties of sodium channels and their role in various excitation phenomena in nerve and muscle; this is followed by a brief account of the current state of knowledge of the molecular mechanism of these sodium channel functions. The chapter also describes the molecular diversity of the sodium channel family and the various transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms that are responsible.
Lactic acid production in a mixed-culture biofilm reactor

Novel solid supports, consisting of polypropylene blended with various agricultural materials (pp composite), were evaluated as supports for pure- and mixed-culture continuous lactic acid fermentations in biofilm reactors. Streptomyces viridosporus T7A (ATCC 39115) was used to form a biofilm, and Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus (ATCC 11443) was used for lactic acid production. For mixed-culture fermentations, a 15-day continuous fermentation of S. viridosporus was performed initially to establish the biofilm. The culture medium was then inoculated with L. casei subsp. rhamnosus. For pure-culture fermentation, L. casei subsp. rhamnosus was inoculated directly into the reactors containing sterile pp composite chips. The biofilm reactors containing various pp composite chips were compared with a biofilm reactor containing pure polypropylene chips and with a reactor containing a suspension culture. Continuous fermentation was started, and each flow rate (0.06 to 1.92 ml/min) was held constant for 24 h; steady state was achieved after 10 h. Lactic acid production was determined throughout the 24-h period by high-performance liquid chromatography. Production rates that were two to five times faster than those of the suspension culture (control) were observed for the pure- and mixed-culture bioreactors. Both lactic acid production rates and lactic acid concentrations in the culture medium were consistently higher in mixed-culture than in pure-culture fermentations. Biofilm formation on the chips was detected at harvest by chip clumping and Gram staining.
Rhizobial peptidase HrrP cleaves host-encoded signaling peptides and mediates symbiotic compatibility

Legume–rhizobium pairs are often observed that produce symbiotic root nodules but fail to fix nitrogen. Using the Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago truncatula symbiotic system, we previously described several naturally occurring accessory plasmids capable of disrupting the late stages of nodule development while enhancing bacterial proliferation within the nodule. We report here that host range restriction peptidase (hrrP), a gene found on one of these plasmids, is capable of conferring both these properties. hrrP encodes an M16A family metallopeptidase whose catalytic activity is required for these symbiotic effects. The ability of hrrP to suppress nitrogen fixation is conditioned upon the genotypes of both the host plant and the hrrP-expressing rhizobial strain, suggesting its involvement in symbiotic communication. Purified HrrP protein is capable of degrading a range of nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides encoded by M. truncatula. NCR peptides are crucial signals used by M. truncatula for inducing and maintaining rhizobial differentiation within nodules, as demonstrated in the accompanying article [Horvath B, et al. (2015) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 10.1073/pnas.1500777112]. The expression pattern of hrrP and its effects on rhizobial morphology are consistent with the NCR peptide cleavage model. This work points to a symbiotic dialogue involving a complex ensemble of host-derived signaling peptides and bacterial modifier enzymes capable of adjusting signal strength, sometimes with exploitative outcomes.
Nuclear localization of the adenovirus DNA-binding protein: requirement for two signals and complementation during viral infection.

Abstract The adenovirus DNA-binding protein (DBP) is an abundant multifunctional protein located primarily in the nuclei of infected cells. To define sequences involved in nuclear transport of DBP, a series of point and small deletion mutants were constructed via oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Two short stretches of basic amino acids located in the amino-terminal domain (amino acids 42 to 46 and 84 to 89) were identified. Their importance, however, depended on the context in which DBP was expressed. Disruption of either site prevented nuclear localization after transient expression in transfected 293 cells, implying that two nuclear localization signals are necessary for transport of this nuclear protein. In contrast, the mutant DBPs synthesized during viral infection were located either primarily in the nucleus or in the nucleus and cytoplasm, depending on the mutation and the stage of the viral infection. Thus, the nuclear localization defect could be complemented by viral infection, perhaps through the interaction of the mutant polypeptide with a virus-encoded or -induced factor(s).
Residual nutational activity of the sunflower hypocotyl in simulated weightlessness

The gravity dependence of circumnutational activity in the sunflower hypocotyl is investigated under conditions of simulated weightlessness. Seedling cultures of the sunflower Helianthus annuus were placed four days after planting in clinostats rotating at a rate of 1.0 rpm in the horizontal or somersaulting configurations, and plant movements around their growth axes were recorded in infrared light by a time-lapse closed-circuit video system. The amplitudes and mean cycle durations of the plant nutations in the horizontal and tumbling clinostats are observed to be 20% and 72%, and 32% and 74%, respectively, of the values observed in stationary plants; extrapolations to a state of zero g by the imposition of small centripetal forces on horizontally clinostated plants also indicate some nutational motion in the absence of gravity. It is concluded that the results are incompatible with the model of Israelsson and Johnsson (1967) of geotropic response with overshoot for sunflower circumnutation; however, results of the Spacelab 1 mission experiment are needed to unambiguously define the role of gravitation.
Dimethipin (2,3-Dihydro-5,6-dimethyl-1,4-dithiin 1,1,4,4-tetraoxide) Effects on Soybean Seedling Growth and Metabolism

Examen des effets de la dimethipine (nom commercial HARVADE R ) sur la croissance et sur les activites des enzymes proteolytiques: nitrate reductase et phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, en presence et en l'absence de lumiere
Brownian bridge asymptotics for random mappings

Uniform random mappings of an n‐element set to itself have been much studied in the combinatorial literature. We introduce a new technique, which starts by specifying a coding of mappings as walks with ± 1 steps. The uniform random mapping is thereby coded as a nonuniform random walk, and our main result is that as n→∞ the random walk rescales to reflecting Brownian bridge. This result encompasses a large number of limit theorems for “global” characteristics of uniform random mappings. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Personality and leader behaviors in collegiate football: A multidimensional approach to performance

Abstract The present study, based on Chelladurai's multidimensional theory of leadership ( Chelladurai & Carron, 1978 ), sought to determine if athletes' personality and specific perceived leader behaviors of their coach are predictive of performance in collegiate football. Prior to regular season competition, collegiate football players (n = 272) from three southeastern United States universities completed Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factor (16 PF) questionnaire and the Leadership Scale for Sports (Perception version). Following regular season competition, players were grouped by their coaches into one of three athletic performance categories (Regulars, Substitutes, and Survivors). It was found that the personality traits extroversion, emotional stability, tough-mindedness, and group-dependence, along with the perceived leader behaviors of training and instruction, democratic behavior, autocratic behavior, social support, and rewarding behavior, were predictive of performance in collegiate football, independently and interactively. The findings are discussed in relation to Chelladurai's multidimensional theory of leadership.
The Reaction Mechanism of DNA Glycosylase/AP Lyases at Abasic Sites†

DNA glycosylase and glycosylase/abasic (AP) lyases are the enzymes responsible for initiating the base excision repair pathway by recognizing the damaged target base and catalyzing the breakage of the base-sugar glycosyl bond. The subset of glycosylases that have an associated AP lyase activity also catalyze DNA strand breakage at the resulting or preexisting AP site via a beta-elimination reaction, proceeding from an enzyme-DNA imino intermediate. Two distinct mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of this intermediate. These mechanisms essentially differ in the nature of the first bond broken and the timing of the opening of the deoxyribose ring. The data presented here demonstrate that the combined rate of sugar ring opening and reduction of the sugar is significantly slower than the rate of formation of a T4-pyrimidine dimer glycosylase (T4-pdg)-DNA intermediate. Using a methyl-deoxyribofuranose AP-site analogue that is incapable of undergoing sugar ring opening, it was demonstrated that the T4-pdg reaction can initiate at the ring-closed form, albeit at a drastically reduced rate. T4-pdg preferentially cleaved the beta-anomer of the methyl-deoxyribofuranose AP site analogue. This is consistent with a mechanism in which the methoxy group is backside-displaced by the amino group from the alpha-face of the deoxyribofuranose ring. In addition, studies examining rates of sugar-aldehyde reduction and the sodium borohydride concentration dependence of the rate of formation of the covalent imine intermediate suggest that the reduction of the intermediate is rate-limiting in the reaction.
Anti-Gonadotropic Substances in Man Following Treatment with Pregnant Mare Serum.∗

Summary and ConclusionsThe injection of gonadotropic substances of equine origin elicits the production of anti-gonadotropic activity in man. It has been reported previously3 that daily or biweekly administration of PMS caused anti-gonadotropic serum formation. The data reported here demonstrates that PMS treatment extending over a period of months will build up anti-gonadotropic activity despite the fact that hormone therapy involved only a few injections (4-5) at each mid-period of the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, this activity persists for as long as 4 months after the cessation of treatment.Definite anti-gonadotropic activity was evident in the serum of patients receiving shorter treatment. The time factor is of importance since anti-serum of the same potency resulted after 9 injections (200 r.u. each) given once a week and after 5 injections (200 r.u. each) administered in 3 weeks. The serum was tested 10 weeks after the first injection in each case.It is interesting to note that inhibitory substanc...
Isolated submandibular gland metastasis from oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

Malignant neoplasms of the major salivary glands are rare, with an estimated incidence of 1% to 4% of all head and neck malignant tumors.’ Although only 20% to 30% of parotid tumors are malignant, approximately 40% to 50% of submandibular gland neoplasms are malignant.2-6 Even more rare than a primary malignant salivary gland neoplasm is a malignancy metastatic to the salivary glands. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) estimates 3% of all malignant salivary gland tumors are metastatic.6p7 This report describes an isolated metastatic lesion to the ipsilateral submandibular gland in two patients. From July 1993 to January 1998,260 neck dissections were performed by the senior author in patients with upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). On review of the histopathological material, two patients (0.7%) were found to have metastatic SCCA to the submandibular gland.
Linking piscivory to spatial–temporal distributions of pelagic prey fishes with a visual foraging model

A visual foraging model (VFM) used light-dependent reaction distance and capture success functions to link observed prey fish abundance and distribution to predation rates and the foraging performance of piscivorous cutthroat troutOncorhynchusclarki in Lake Washington (WA, U.S.A.). Total prey density did not correlate with predation potential estimated by the foraging model for cutthroat trout because prey were rarely distributed in optically favourable conditions for detection. Predictions of the depth-specific distribution and timing of cutthroat trout foraging were qualitatively similar to diel stomach fullness patterns observed in field samples. Nocturnal foraging accounted for 34–64% of all prey fish consumption in simulations for 2002 and 2003. Urban light contamination increased the access of nocturnally foraging cutthroat trout to vertically migrating prey fishes. These results suggest that VFMs are useful tools for converting observed prey fish density into predictions of predator consumptions and behavioural responses of predators to environmental change. # 2006 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles (No claim to original US government works)
SUNDAY CELLULOID: VISUAL MEDIA AND PROTESTANT BOUNDARIES WITH SECULAR CULTURE

We examine how ministers in two religious traditions use discourse on secular visual media as a means of establishing symbolic group boundaries. We compare content in 100 evangelical and mainline Protestant sermons, each of which makes at least one reference to secular cinema. We find that mainline ministers largely promote “expanding” boundaries with secular culture, that evangelical ministers promote “contracting” and “expanding” boundaries in roughly equal measure, and that ministers from both traditions sometimes promote “selectively permeable” boundaries. We explore prevailing frames employed by ministers to promote the respective boundaries, and we discuss implications for studies of culture and religion.
An empirical comparison of throughput-maximizing wireless mesh routing protocols

Communication quality of wireless network links is heavily dependent on various external factors such as physical geometry of environmental objects and interference among radio signal sources. As a result, the radio channel quality of real-world wireless networks tends to exhibit both short-term and long-term temporal variations that are in general difficult to model analytically. There has been a large body of research on maximizing the overall throughput of wireless mesh networks through dynamic load/capacity measurement and adaptive routing. However, so far there is no comprehensive evaluation of different protocol mechanisms on a real wireless network testbed. In this paper we first identify the major design dimensions of throughput-maximizing wireless mesh network routing protocols: wireless link capacity estimation, routing path selection, and adaptation to temporal link quality fluctuation, and empirically quantify the performance comparison of various alternatives in each dimension using both software simulations and a miniaturized multi-hop wireless network testbed-MiNT-m.
Depth of processing: When the principle of congruity fails

Two factors, level of processing (Craik & Lockhart, 1972) and congruity (Schulman, 1974), known to have large effects on the recall of experimenter-provided responses to questions, were examined in a series of five incidental learning experiments using subject-generated responses. The data show that manipulation of level of processing has the same effect on recall of subjectgenerated responses as it does on experimenter-provided responses. However, the effect of congruity is reversed for subject-generated responses. The data suggest that the difficulty of generating unrelated responses (“incongruous“ items) may account, at least in part, for the failure of the “principle of congruity“ with subject-generated responses.
Geodynamo Modeling of Core-Mantle Interactions

Angular momentum exchange between the Earth's mantle and core influences the Earth's rotation on time scales of decades and longer, in particular in the length of day (LOD) which have been measured with progressively increasing accuracy for the last two centuries. There are four possible coupling mechanisms for transferring the axial angular momentum across the core-mantle boundary (CMB): viscous, magnetic, topography, and gravitational torques. Here we use our scalable, modularized, fully dynamic geodynamo model for the core to assess the importance of these torques. This numerical model, as an extension of the Kuang-Bloxham model that has successfully simulated the generation of the Earth's magnetic field, is used to obtain numerical results in various physical conditions in terms of specific parameterization consistent with the dynamical processes in the fluid outer core. The results show that depending on the electrical conductivity of the lower mantle and the amplitude of the boundary topography at CMB, both magnetic and topographic couplings can contribute significantly to the angular momentum exchange. This implies that the core-mantle interactions are far more complex than has been assumed and that there is unlikely a single dominant coupling mechanism for the observed decadal LOD variation.
Peers, parents, and coaches, oh my! The relation of the motivational climate to boys' intention to continue in sport.

Abstract Objectives Motivational climates (Ames, 1992) and goal orientations (Nicholls, 1989) are essential in understanding children's experiences with sport. We examined the perceived task-involving motivational climates created by parents, peers, and coaches and their task goal orientation in relation to male adolescent athletes' sport competence, self-esteem and enjoyment, and ultimately, their intention to continue participating. Design We used a cross-sectional design with a large convenience sample of male adolescent athletes from the U.S. ( N = 405, ages 12–15 years). Method Boys anonymously completed survey questionnaires during their physical education classes at school. Results Task goal orientation was explained by task-involving parent, peer, and coach initiated motivational climates, although parent and peer climates were most influential. Boys with higher task goal orientations reported greater sport competence, self-esteem, and more enjoyment in sport. Intention to continue playing sport primarily was predicted by the boys' enjoyment, and secondarily, by their self-esteem. Conclusions Consistent with past research, task motivational climates from parents, peers, and coaches play a key role in boys' enjoyment of their sport, which is essential for continued participation.
Rare-Earth Transition-Metal Intermetallics: Structure-bonding-Property Relationships

The explorations of rare-earth, transition metal intermetallics have resulted in the synthesis and characterization, and electronic structure investigation, as well as understanding the structure-bonding property relationships. The work has presented the following results: (1) Understanding the relationship between compositions and properties in LaFe{sub 13-x}Si{sub x} system: A detailed structural and theoretical investigation provided the understanding of the role of a third element on stabilizing the structure and controlling the transformation of cubic NaZn{sub 13}-type structures to the tetragonal derivative, as well as the relationship between the structures and properties. (2) Synthesis of new ternary rare-earth iron silicides Re{sub 2-x}Fe{sub 4}Si{sub 14-y} and proposed superstructure: This compound offers complex structural challenges such as fractional occupancies and their ordering in superstructure. (3) Electronic structure calculation of FeSi{sub 2}: This shows that the metal-semiconductor phase transition depends on the structure. The mechanism of band gap opening is described in terms of bonding and structural distortion. This result shows that the electronic structure calculations are an essential tool for understanding the relationship between structure and chemical bonding in these compounds. (4) Synthesis of new ternary rare-earth Zinc aluminides Tb{sub 3}Zn{sub 3.6}Al{sub 7.4}: Partially ordered structure of Tb{sub 3}Zn{sub 3.6}Al{sub 7.4} compound provides new insights into the formation, composition and structure of rare-earth transition-metal intermetallics. Electronic structure calculations attribute the observed composition to optimizing metal-metal bonding in the electronegative (Zn, Al) framework, while the specific ordering is strongly influenced by specific orbital interactions. (5) Synthesis of new structure type of Zn{sub 39}(Cr{sub x}Al{sub 1-x}){sub 81}: These layered structures are similar to icosahedral Mn-Al quasicrystalline compounds. Therefore, this compound may provide new insights into the formation, composition and structure of quasicrystalline materials.
Nano-scale Stress and Compositional Analysis of Epitaxial Si1-xGex/Si (100) Undulated Films

Spontaneous surface roughening, stress relaxation and composition re-distribution are coupled fundamental processes during the growth of strained epitaxial Si1-x Ge x / Si (100) alloy layers. In this work, we will present both modeling and experimental approaches to investigate the inter-relationships among these mechanisms. Stress distributions in undulated layers were calculated via the Finite Element Method by assuming a sinusoidal surface geometry. They were investigated as functions of undulation wavelength and amplitude between the trough and peak regions. For example, with a 50 nm layer of × = 0.3 having undulations of 250 nm wavelength and 40 nm amplitude, the compressive stress is twice as high in the trough regions than in the peak regions even without compositional redistribution. To explore compositional redistribution in response to these laterally varying strain fields, an experimental approach has been developed to determine local germanium concentrations for such undulated alloy layers. An etchant consisting of HNO3 (70 wt %): H2O: HF (0.5 wt %), 25: 35: 5, at 28 °C etches Si1-x Ge x / Si (100) alloy layers at a rate of several nanometers per minute. The etching rate increases linearly with increasing Ge concentration in the alloy layer. Such etching experiments can thus be applied to etch alloy layers with compositionally varying undulations on the free surface and utilized to quantify the local germanium concentrations. For an alloy layer with × = 0.3, the Ge concentration from this analysis is estimated to be about 20 % enhanced / depleted in the peak / trough regions, respectively.
Reversed-phase HPLC lignan chiral analysis with laser polarimetric detection

Abstract Vascular plants produce a plethora of lignan natural products, several of which have important pharmacological uses as antitumor, antibacterial and antiviral agents. Depending upon the plant species, the lignans are generally found either in enantiomeric excess or in enantiomerically pure (+)- or (−)-form. In this study, a reversed-phase HPLC method with UV/laser polarimetric detection was developed for the direct determination of lignan chirality and enantiomeric composition. The method was suitable for analyses of stereoselective monolignol radical-radical coupling assay mixtures containing the (+)-pinoresinol forming dirigent protein, and of lignan chirality in crude plant extracts. Over the concentration range examined, a good linear response was obtained with a detection limit of 0.4 nmol for (+)-pinoresinol.
Influence of nutrient-limited growth on pathogenesis-associated outer membrane proteins of Yersinia enterocolitica.

From studies based on batch culture, it has been postulated that the expression of the virulence-associated proteins of Yersinia spp. is controlled by temperature and Ca2+, such that these proteins are synthesized only at the higher temperature (37°C) and calcium-scarce conditions of the intracellular environment. It was found, however, that in Yersinia enterocolitica one of these proteins (140 kDa) is not synthesized at submaximal growth rates under any of the relevant conditions, and that another of the implicated proteins (34 kDa), is synthesized even at 28°C during nutrient-limited growth. Thus, temperature and Ca2+ influence the synthesis of these proteins differently under growth conditions that better approximate the natural environments than do batch cultures.
The Implementation of Public Policy: Still the Missing Link

Although theories of public policy and theories of governance both seek to establish relationships between policymaking and its consequences, they do not complement each other very well. Public policy models tend to de-emphasize that which governance theories tend to emphasize: the influence on government performance of implementation, broadly described as the actions taken by those engaged in administration (including managers at all levels, those engaged in service delivery, and third-party agents) after a policy has been lawfully promulgated by elected officials and interpreted by the courts. A comparison of a recently developed theory of public sector performance with several prominent theories of policymaking suggests that multilevel governance theories can supply what continues to be the missing link in public policy theories. At the same time, governance theories might be enriched by the process modeling of public policy theories.