cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of threonine requirements in mature horses fed 1:1 ratio of forage to concentrate using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique

Abstract Threonine has been considered as the second limiting amino acid in equine diets following the first limiting amino acid, lysine, and its digestibility and bioavailability may be affected by dietary fiber content. Therefore, evaluation of threonine requirements in horses fed different diet compositions will improve diet formulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate threonine requirements in mature horses fed a 1:1 ratio of timothy hay and concentrate using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique. Six threonine intake levels [45, 56, 67, 79, 90, and 102 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day] were prepared by mixing two experimental concentrates containing different threonine concentrations (2.9 and 14.8 g of threonine/kg of concentrate). Each of six treatments was administrated to six Thoroughbred mares (4 – 16 years old; 580.1 ± 47.2 kg) in a randomly determined order. After 5 days of adaptation to each treatment, pre-feeding and 90 min post-feeding blood samples were collected on day 6 to evaluate plasma amino acid concentrations using high performance liquid chromatography. The IAAO procedure was conducted on day 7 of each experimental period. During the first two hour intravenous infusion of [13C]sodium bicarbonate, total CO2 production was evaluated from breath samples. From the subsequent four-hour oral administration of [1-13C]phenylalanine, blood and breath samples were collected to estimate phenylalanine oxidation to CO2. Plasma [13C]phenylalanine concentration and breath 13CO2 enrichment were evaluated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and an infrared isotope analyzer, respectively. Experimental data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance, including orthogonal linear and quadratic contrasts, in the mixed procedures of SAS version 9.3. Increased threonine intake resulted in higher plasma threonine concentration before and 90 min after feeding (P > 0.05), indicating higher bioavailability of threonine. However, phenylalanine oxidation rate was not affected by threonine consumption as evidenced by the lack of a breakpoint (P > 0.05). The results suggest that threonine requirements might be lower than 45 mg/kg BW/day in mature horses fed a 50% concentrate diet.
76 Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a paediatric CF population

Objective To analyse the importance of obtaining regular sputum samples in identifying P. aeruginosa infection in a paediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) population. Royal Manchester Children's Hospital provides care to 182 children with CF. Sputum and/or cough swab samples are taken at each clinic visit. Our local practice is to encourage families to also send sputum samples/ cough swabs to us twice a month. Methods Analysis of cough swab and sputum samples of all our CF patients during a 2-year period (October 2012 to September 2014). Children were classified according to the Leeds criteria for P. aeruginosa infection, with an additional category of "first growth". Results 5973 samples were obtained over the 2-year period from our CF population. Table 1P. aeruginosa statusNumber of children (total = 182)Never infected61 (33%)Free of infection67 (37%)Intermittent infection29 (16%)Chronic infection18 (10%)First growth7 (4%) We then analysed P. aeruginosa status if only samples taken at clinic were used. Table 2. Table 2P. aeruginosa statusNumber of childrenAll samplesClinic samples onlyIntermittent infection2914First growth74 If clinic samples alone were analysed, we would have identified 14/29 children with intermittent infection and 4/7 children with first growth. Conclusion Potentially significant pathogens may not be identified if sputum/cough swab samples are only obtained at clinic visits. In our CF population, 18 children (10%) with P. aeruginosa growth would not have been identified if samples had only been taken at clinic.
Taxing Potential Community Members' Foreign Source Income

Recent years have witnessed rising debate, on both sides of the Atlantic, regarding how to define the category of individuals whom a given country classifies as domestic taxpayers, and who thus may be taxable on their foreign source income (FSI) even if they live abroad. While the United States rules focus distinctively on citizenship, the broader issue is better viewed as pertaining to the taxation of “potential community members” (PCMs) – that is, all those who plausibly might be viewed as members of the home community.This paper makes two main points regarding the taxation of PCMs on their FSI. First, the issues turn in large part on drawing a distinction between “us” and “them” – that is, between people whom we classify as members of the home community, and thus whose welfare we care about, and those whom we classify as normatively irrelevant (or less relevant) outsiders. While such a distinction is inevitable in a world with separate national governments, conventional tax policy and public economics tools shed little direct light on how one might operationalize it.Second, for PCMs whom a given country classifies as domestic taxpayers, past debate has over-focused on issues of mitigating “double taxation” through exemption or foreign tax credits. It should instead focus distinctly on the questions of (a) how heavily or lightly one should tax domestic taxpayers’ FSI in particular cases, and (b) how foreign taxes paid should affect domestic liability. Refocusing the analysis not only helps to inform one’s understanding of the choice between the two standard tools, but also may suggest considering blended approaches that might avoid the worst features of each.
Supercontinuum generation in optical fibers and its biomedical applications (presentation video)

A microstructured optical fiber was first used in 2000 for supercontinuum generation. Since then, enormous progress has been made in understanding, controlling, and marketing fiber-based supercontinuum sources. In particular, biomedical applications of such sources are revolutionizing the field of medical imaging. In this talk I review the recent progress in this area and describe how a supercontinuum can be employed for biomedical imaging using the techniques known as coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, stimulated emission-depletion microscopy, and optical coherence tomography.
Third-order nonlinearities of Ge 28 Sb 12 Se 60 for waveguide devices

The optical nonlinearities of the chalcogenide Ge 28 Sb 12 Se 60 are studied using the z-scan technique with femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses at 1.0 μm. Results indicate this glass shows promise for nonlinear optical waveguide devices.
A receiver-less link for excitable laser neurons: Design and simulation

Many-to-one connections are difficult to implement in excitable laser neurons. We design and simulate an O/E/O receiver-less link from photodetector to laser that accepts many spiking inputs (large fan-in) without significant bandwidth degradation.
Digital signal processing applications in high-performance synthetic aperture radar processing

Modern high-performance synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems require sophisticated signal processing to form high-quality image products. The advent of high-speed analog to digital converter (ADC), digital to analog converter (DAC), and field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology has transformed radar architectures and moved the analog/digital boundary substantially closer to the antenna, while improving both system flexibility and performance. This paper discusses the trends in application of digital signal processing (DSP) to modern SAR systems, and specifically to Sandia National Laboratories' MiniSAR program.
Identifying Influential Individuals in Linkage Analysis: Application to a Quantitative Trait Locus Detected in the COGA Data

Once linkage is detected to a quantitative trait locus (QTL), the next step towards localizing the gene involved may be to identify those families, or individuals, in whom the putative mutations are segregating. In this paper, we describe a jackknife procedure for identifying individuals (and families) who contribute disproportionately to the linkage. Following initial detection of linkage to a QTL, the strategy involves sequentially removing each individual (or each family) from the analysis and recomputing the lod score associated with the linked region using data from all remaining subjects (or families). This procedure can be used to determine if particular observations have substantial impact on evidence for linkage. Identification of such observations may provide insights for further efforts to localize the QTL.
Numerical Multiscale Modeling of Fluid Flow Characteristics of Ultrasonically Processed A356 Alloys

The ultrasonic treatment (UST) technology was studied in this article to determine the fluid flow characteristics during molten metal and solidification processing of A356 alloys.
Influence of the Solar Magnetic Field on Tropospheric Circulation

The solar and interplanetary magnetic sector structure has its source in a large-scale photospheric magnetic field structure that is carried away from the Sun by the solar wind to form a warped equatorial current sheet in the heliosphere. A complete rotation of this current sheet is carried past the Earth by the solar wind every 27 days, and several terrestrial effects result. The area of wintertime troughs in the northern hemisphere as measured using the vorticity area index (VAI) reaches a minimum about one day after the current sheet passes the Earth (a sector boundary). The percentage depth of this minimum is larger for the areas with the most intense tropospheric circulation. Certain passages of the current sheet that are observed in the interplanetary medium to be particularly active have an influence on the trough area that is twice as large as the average effect. A quantitative analysis indicates that forecasting using the Limited Area Fine Mesh grid is significantly less accurate during the two days following the passage of the current sheet. Individual troughs crossing 180° longitude when the interplanetary magnetic field is directed away from the Sun (i.e., at the present time the current sheet is south of the Earth) are significantly larger than troughs crossing 180° longitude when the field is toward the Sun. Possible physical mechanisms include a solar phasing influence on planetary waves leading to constructive or destructive interference, an observed influence of the heliospheric current sheet on the vertical electric field in the troposphere, and sector-related changes in solar EUV intensity which may influence O3 concentrations and the reaction rates of atmospheric chemical processes.
The “New” Scholarship: Implications for Engagement and Extension

The engagement movement in higher education is related to the groundbreaking work of the late Ernest Boyer. The magnitude of Boyer’s contribution is considerable, reflected certainly in the words of the late Donald Schon—a prolific contributor in his own right—when he interpreted Boyer’s proposals as “the new scholarship.” Despite his admiration for Boyer, Schon was not enthusiastic about the prospects for change in higher education. He believed that the academy’s prevailing institutional paradigm, what Schon called “technical rationality,” stood in conflict with the new scholarship. In this paper we summarize and interpret Schon’s argument. We then discuss the implications of the new scholarship for the engagement movement. We close by considering implications of the new scholarship for cooperative extension, a higher education organization that actively affirms scholarship and engagement.
Genetic analysis workshop III: Multilocus linkage analysis using PAP

Two linkage groups were identified through pairwise linkage analysis using PAP. Three-locus analysis confirmed the suggested order of the loci within the linkage groups and was used to assess the strength of the conclusions. Strategies for improving the efficiency of linkage analysis are discussed.
Tolbutamide treatment of pregnant mice: Repeated administration reduces fetal lethality

Pretreatment of pregnant BALB/c mice with several low doses of tolbutamide protected against the fetolethal effects of a high dose. Pregnant mice were given single ip injections of 400 mg/kg in saline on day 13; 100 mg/kg/day on days 10, 11, 12, and 13; or 100 mg/kg/day on days 10, 11, and 12 and 400 mg/kg on day 13. On day 16 the single-treatment group had a significantly higher resorption rate than any other group. Fetolethality was not related to hypoglycemia. The protective effect of pretreatment may have been due to induction of maternal microsomal enzymes.
"Typical" but not "atypical" antipsychotic effects on startle gating deficits in prepubertal rats.

Rationale: Dopamine (DA) agonists and NMDA antagonists disrupt sensorimotor gating in rats, as measured by a loss of prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex. These effects are used in predictive models for antipsychotic efficacy: clinically "typical" and "atypical" antipsychotics restore PPI in adult rats treated with DA agonists such as apomorphine (APO), while clinically "atypical" antipsychotics restore PPI in rats treated with NMDA antagonists such as phencyclidine (PCP). We previously reported that the PPI disruptive effects of both APO and PCP are evident in 16- to 18-day-old rat pups, suggesting that the brain substrates for these effects are functional very early in development. Objective: In the present study we assessed the developmental patterns of antipsychotic effects in these measures. Methods: The PPI-disruptive effects of APO and PCP, and their antagonism by the typical antipsychotic haloperidol, and the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine, were assessed across development in Sprague-Dawley rats. Results: Similar to the pattern seen in adults, both haloperidol and quetiapine opposed APO-induced PPI deficits in 16- to 19-day-old rat pups. However, the "atypical" antipsychotic quetiapine did not oppose PCP-induced PPI deficits in pups or prepubertal (45 day) adolescents, but did oppose these PCP effects in postpubertal rats. Conclusions: While brain substrates mediating the PPI-disruptive effects of DA agonists and NMDA antagonists are functional early in development, some physiological event associated with puberty is a necessary condition for the "atypical antipsychotic profile" in this predictive model.
Understanding Human–Coyote Encounters in Urban Ecosystems Using Citizen Science Data: What Do Socioeconomics Tell Us?

The coyote (Canis latrans) has dramatically expanded its range to include the cities and suburbs of the western US and those of the Eastern Seaboard. Highly adaptable, this newcomer’s success causes conflicts with residents, necessitating research to understand the distribution of coyotes in urban landscapes. Citizen science can be a powerful approach toward this aim. However, to date, the few studies that have used publicly reported coyote sighting data have lacked an in-depth consideration of human socioeconomic variables, which we suggest are an important source of overlooked variation in data that describe the simultaneous occurrence of coyotes and humans. We explored the relative importance of socioeconomic variables compared to those describing coyote habitat in predicting human–coyote encounters in highly-urbanized Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA using 707 public reports of coyote sightings, high-resolution land cover, US Census data, and an autologistic multi-model inference approach. Three of the four socioeconomic variables which we hypothesized would have an important influence on encounter probability, namely building density, household income, and occupation, had effects at least as large as or larger than coyote habitat variables. Our results indicate that the consideration of readily available socioeconomic variables in the analysis of citizen science data improves the prediction of species distributions by providing insight into the effects of important factors for which data are often lacking, such as resource availability for coyotes on private property and observer experience. Managers should take advantage of citizen scientists in human-dominated landscapes to monitor coyotes in order to understand their interactions with humans.
Moderating effects of DRD2 on depression

The current study examined whether a dopamine receptor gene (DRD2) TaqIA polymorphism and a serotonin transporter polymorphism (5HTTLPR) moderate the effects of stressful life events on depression, and whether these interaction effects vary by type of stressor. In addition, individuals' responses to stressful life circumstances might vary by genotype, gender, and/or race. A sample of 2,023 participants from waves II and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) submitted buccal cells for genotyping and completed self-report surveys that inquired about their victimization and depressive symptoms. Results showed that the DRD2 TaqI polymorphism interacts with specific types of stressful life circumstances, and these results vary across gender and race subgroups. More specifically, the DRD2 polymorphism interacts with witnessed violence to predict higher levels of depressive symptoms among African American females. The DRD2 polymorphism does not moderate the effects of stressful life circumstances on depressive symptoms for White females, White males, or African American males. 5HTTLPR does not moderate the effects of stressful life circumstances on depression in the current study for any of the gender–race subgroups. These findings suggested that the interactive effects of the DRD2 TaqI polymorphism and stressful life circumstances on depressive symptoms might vary by type of stressor, and by ethnicity and gender. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cultural Factors in the Treatment of Battered Women With Privilege Domestic Violence in the Lives of White European-American, Middle-Class, Heterosexual Women

The field of social work pathologizes marginalized cultures by neglecting to explicitly identify cultural factors in the lives of women with systemic privilege due to race, class, and sexual orientation. This article discusses the importance of examining privilege as a strategy for advancing cultural competency in the treatment of battered women. Cultural factors in the lives of White European-American, middle-class, heterosexual women in intimate partnerships with men who share their privileges, referred to as "dominant culture women," are explored. Additional scholarship which identifies cultural factors placing this population at risk is needed to advance cultural competency in domestic violence interventions. Language: en
Isotopic scaling of transport in deuterium-tritium plasmas

Both global and thermal energy confinement improve in high-temperature supershot plasmas in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) when deuterium beam heating is partially or wholly replaced by tritium beam heating. For the same heating power, the tritium-rich plasmas obtain up to 22% higher total energy, 30% higher thermal ion energy, and 20-25% higher central ion temperature. Kinetic analysis of the temperature and density profiles indicates a favorable isotopic scaling of ion heat transport and electron particle transport, with τEi(a/2) ∝ A0.7-0.8 and τpe(a) ∝ A0.8.
CBD hypothesis and economies of agglomeration

Abstract Economies of agglomeration as a rationale for the formation of central business district of a city is examined. In a simultaneous location problem of firms and workers on a line segment, a locational interaction effect among firms is introduced. As an optimal solution to the cost minimization problem, a locational pattern is obtained in which the outermost zone is occupied by workers, the middle zone by firms, and the innermost zone by both workers and firms.
Abused Latina Women's Perceptions of Their Postdivorce Adjustment

This qualitative study explores the postdivorce adjustment of battered Latina immigrants. Three focus groups were conducted. Data were analyzed utilizing a grounded theory approach. Five conceptual themes were unearthed including: (a) intimate partner violence (IPV) as the precipitator for divorce; (b) motivations for leaving; (c) the impact of the Latino culture on marriage, separation, and postdivorce; (d) immigration and other legal and social issues; and (e) postdivorce/post-IPV experiences. Implications for practice are drawn. The authors wish to thank the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office and the SafetyNet Program in Florida for their permission to conduct this study. Special thanks to Ms. Marlene Rivera for her assistance in recruiting the participants. This study could not have been done without the women who participated in the focus groups. The authors would like to thank them all. This study was supported by a grant from the Shifting Foundation.
Temperature dependent electron spin echo studies of polarons in donor- and acceptor-doped poly(p-phenylene): Structural studies

Abstract Electron spin echo (ESE) measurements of donor-doped (Li, Na, K and Cs) and acceptor-doped (AsF5) poly(p-phenylene), PPP, and fully deuterated PPP samples predict a temperature independent EPR linewidth equal to less than 0.65 gauss that decreases with increasing conductivity. In contrast, EPR linewidths either decrease or increase with decreasing temperature, are dependent on dopant and always exhibit a linewidth either equal to or larger than that predicted from ESE measurements. Deuteration studies indicate that rapid spin exchange is present. Analysis of these results suggest that an exchange exists between isolated radicals in equilibrium with polarons and bipolarons with the equilibrium in favor of bipolarons at 4 K.
A Review of Meeting Planner Site Selection Criteria Research

The purpose of this study is to review empirical studies regarding the site selection process of meeting planners. The study was conducted by searching for and collecting empirical studies related to meeting planners’ site selection criteria. Each study was reviewed and various elements documented to assess the history and current state of research regarding meeting planners’ site selection criteria. The results revealed that since 1990, the cost of hotel rooms, meeting space, food and beverage, and other costs have consistently been important criteria. The discussion includes implications for various stakeholders and recommendations for future research.
Hydrocracking of a Plastics Pyrolysis Gas Oil to Naphtha

Pyrolysis of waste plastics is one method currently being investigated as an alternative to landfill disposal of this increasingly large waste stream. Although the pyrolysis process produces signif...
Cocaine and cocaethylene: effects on extracellular dopamine in the primate.

Cocaine and cocaethylene (a psychoactive metabolite of concurrent cocaine and ethanol consumption) were studied in the anesthetized vervet monkey. The ability of each to elevate extracellular DA in the caudate nucleus was assessed using microdialysis probes acutely lowered through chronic guide cannulae. Blood samples were also collected to determine plasma levels of the two drugs. Doses of 1.5 µmol/kg cocaine (equivalent to 0.5 mg/kg cocaine-HC1) and cocaethylene were administered intravenously. Microdialysis and blood samples were collected at 5-min intervals immediately following drug administration. Both drugs caused a maximal four-fold increase in extracellular DA during the 5- to 10-min period following drug administration. This is the first report of cocaine (and cocaethylene) induced alterations in extracellular DA in primates. The abilities of cocaine and cocaethylene to produce euphoria are being compared in ongoing clinical research studies. The potential use of these results for interpreting the neurochemical basis of any differences in those studies is discussed.
Focused gaussian beams for seismic imaging

The application of focused Gaussian beams is investigated for the seismic imaging of common-shot reflection data. The focusing of Gaussian beams away from the source and receiver aperture adds flexibility to beam imaging algorithms allowing for the narrowest portions of the beams to occur at the depth of a specific target structure. This minimizes the number of beams required to form an image at the target depth. The beam fronts at the beam-waists are also planar leading to more stable beam summations for imaging. To match with the surface data, a quadratic phase correction is required for the local slant-stacks of the data. Imaging using focused Gaussian beams is tested using a single shot gather for a model with 5 scatterers at different depths. The approach is then tested for a single shot gather from the Sigsbee2A model. In all cases, the beams can be focused to a particular target depth, but proper imaging still results for other depths as well.
ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF THYROID HORMONE ON PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL MATURATION OF THE RAT.

The effects of hyper- and hypothyroidism on fetal development and on the postnatal maturation of the central nervous system was studied in the rat. Our observations indicated that the development of the rat fetus, as measured by birthweight and skeletal maturation of the newborn animal is not markedly influenced by presence or absence of thyroid hormone during the prenatal stage. Availability of thyroid hormone is a more critical factor with respect to maturation of the nervous system taking place in the postnatal animal. Delay in cerebellar maturation and delay in increase in dry weight of cerebrum and cerebellum were noted in hypothyroid rats. A transitory acceleration of oxygen consumption of these structures during their maturation was also noted in hyperthyroid litters. A more permanent suppression of learning behavior and of the thermoregulating mechanism was observed in young hypothyroid rats deprived of thyroid hormone since birth. It is concluded that requirements for thyroid hormone during development of the rat are limited to a critical period coinciding with the first two to three weeks of postnatal age.
Children's phoneme identification in reverberation and noise.

This study assessed the effects of reverberation, noise, and their combination on listeners’ identification of consonants and vowels in naturally produced nonsense syllables presented at different ...
Mechanism of arsenic carcinogenesis: an integrated approach

Epidemiological evidence shows an association between inorganic arsenic in drinking water and increased risk of skin, lung and bladder cancers. The lack of animal models has hindered mechanistic studies of arsenic carcinogenesis in the past, but some promising new models for these cancers are now available. The various forms of arsenic to which humans are exposed, either directly or via metabolism of inorganic arsenic to various methylated forms, further complicate the issue of mechanism, since these compounds can have different effects, both genotoxic and non-genotoxic. This review will try to integrate all of these issues, with a strong bias toward effects that are produced by environmentally relevant arsenic concentrations.
Polymorphism in a kappa I primary (AL) amyloid protein (BAN).

To identify any potential relationships between protein structure and primary (AL) amyloid formation it is best to study amyloid proteins from subgroups for which there is a large sequence data base and for which x-ray crystallographic data are available. The kappa I subgroup is ideal for these studies. A large number of kappa I myeloma proteins have undergone complete sequence analysis and high resolution x-ray crystallographic data are available for protein REI. In addition the complete structure of kappa I AL amyloid protein MEV has been reported. With such a data base we began the study of kappa I amyloid protein BAN. This molecule was found to contain 126 amino acid residues and consists of the entire variable region, joining segment and the first complete tryptic peptide of the variable region. There are two unique features of this protein. First, it is glycosylated. The normal arginine at position 61 has been replaced with an asparagine to which is attached a glucosamine-containing carbohydrate chain. Second, the protein is not monoclonal but instead contains 2 different residues at positions 104 and 105. Analysis of the amyloid proteins reveal that each contains specific mutations where threonine is replaced by isoleucine and tyrosine by phenylalanine. From the x-ray structure these substitutions are located in positions to cause self-aggregation and amyloid fibril formation.
A Coefficient of Agreement for Nominal Scales: An Asymmetric Version of Kappa.

This paper is concerned with the measurement of agreement between two observers classifying items into nominal categories, with one of the observers being viewed as the "standard". An asymmetric ve...
Perturbations of 8-Attractors and Births of Satellite Systems

We investigate the most basic two-dimensional generalizations of interval exchange maps. We show that a recently discovered attracting piecewise rotation system with two atoms becomes repelling under a significant perturbation of one of the centers of rotation. However, small perturbations of this system result in remarkable bifurcations into local attracting systems and they give birth to new satellite periodic cells. Bifurcations can be repeated recursively and eventually lead to piecewise rotations with infinitely many satellite periodic cells.
Creep-Rupture Reliability Analysis

A probabilistic approach to the correlation and extrapolation of creep-rupture data is presented. Time temperature parameters (TTP) are used to correlate the data, and an analytical expression for the master curve is developed. The expression provides a simple model for the statistical distribution of strength and fits neatly into a probabilistic design format. The analysis focuses on the Larson-Miller and on the Manson-Haferd parameters, but it can be applied to any of the TTP's. A method is developed for evaluating material dependent constants for TTP's. It is shown that optimized constants can provide a significant improvement in the correlation of the data, thereby reducing modelling error. Attempts were made to quantify the performance of the proposed method in predicting long term behavior. Uncertainty in predicting long term behavior from short term tests was derived for several sets of data. Examples are presented which illustrate the theory and demonstrate the application of state of the art reliability methods to the design of components under creep.
A Multiple Range Procedure for Independent Correlations

Marascuilo (1966) proposes a χ2 analog of Scheffe's multiple comparisons procedure. With respect to pairwise comparisons among k independent correlation coefficients, a multiple range procedure will produce lower critical values than the corresponding χ2 values, thereby increasing the power of the resulting tests. The basis of such a procedure is discussed and an example is provided for illustrative purposes.
Differences in the Complexity of Song Tutoring Cause Differences in the Amount Learned and in Dendritic Spine Density in a Songbird Telencephalic Song Control Nucleus

In our search for relations between vocal learning and neuron structure in the song control nuclei of songbird forebrains, we tested whether differential experience that leads to differences in adult song repertoire would affect dendritic spine density in HVc (also called high vocal center) and RA (robustus archistriatalis). We tape-tutored juvenile Eastern marsh wrens (Cistothorus palustris) with either 5 or 45 song types. As adults, the small repertoire group had learned mostly 5 or 6 song types, and the large repertoire group had learned 36 to 47. Wrens that learned the large song repertoires had a greater dendritic spine density for the most spiny neurons present in HVc (mean difference, 36%), but not in RA. Recent physiological evidence describes HVc as a premotor area coding syllables, motifs, and higher-order song patterns, and our data now clearly reveal that differences in the size of the song repertoire that is experienced lead to differences both in song learning and in the density of dendritic spines in HVc. In the forebrain song nuclei of these songbirds, as in some other vertebrate systems, differences in learning and performance are associated with differences in synaptic anatomy specifically in the region that organizes the learned pattern.
Nitric oxide modulates the activity of the hemoproteins prostaglandin I2 synthase and thromboxane A2 synthase.

Abstract Nitric oxide modulates the activity of the hemoprotein isomerase enzymes that transform prostaglandin H 2 into prostaglandin I 2 and thromboxane A 2 . Two nitric oxide donors, 1-hexanamine, 6-(2hydroxy-1-methyl-2-nitrosohydrazino)- N -methyl-nitroso-hydrazine (MMNN) and 1,1-diethyl-2-hydroxy-2-nitrosohydrazine, modulated prostaglandin I 2 synthase activity in a bidirectional manner. At moderate concentrations, they increased enzyme activity irreversibly and at higher concentrations they inhibited enzyme activity reversibly. We confirmed that these effects originated from nitric oxide. First, we showed that hemoglobin, a substance that sequesters nitric oxide, prevented both the activation and the inhibition of catalysis, stoichiometrically. Second, we showed that solutions depleted of nitric oxide had no effect on catalysis. Nitric oxide also modulated thromboxane A 2 synthase activity; however, its effects on thromboxane A 2 synthase differed from its effects on prostaglandin I 2 synthase in three ways: (i) It inhibited thromboxane A 2 synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC 50 = 4.2 ± 0.8 μM MMNN corresponded to an IC 50 ≅ 0.1–0.3 μM nitric oxide. (ii) It did not increase thromboxane A 2 synthase activity at any concentration tested. (iii) Its irreversible inhibition of thromboxane A 2 synthase contrasted with its reversible inhibition of prostaglandin I 2 synthase. Nitric oxide also inhibited cellular formation of thromboxane A 2 by intact platelets in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC 50 = 267 ± 26 μM MMNN corresponded to an IC 50 ≅ 6–18 μM nitric oxide. We conclude that nitric oxide can modulate certain hemoprotein enzymes in the biosynthetic cascade that governs the formation of eicosanoid mediators of thrombosis and hemostasis.
Sculpting of the spliceosomal branch site recognition motif by a conserved pseudouridine

Pairing of a consensus sequence of the precursor (pre)-mRNA intron with a short region of the U2 small nuclear (sn)RNA during assembly of the eukaryotic spliceosome results in formation of a complementary helix of seven base pairs with a single unpaired adenosine residue. The 2′ OH of this adenosine, called the branch site, brings about nucleophilic attack at the pre-mRNA 5′ splice site in the first step of splicing. Another feature of this pairing is the phylogenetic conservation of a pseudouridine (ψ) residue in U2 snRNA nearly opposite the branch site. We show that the presence of this ψ in the pre-mRNA branch-site helix of Saccharomyces cerevisiae induces a dramatically altered architectural landscape compared with that of its unmodified counterpart. The ψ-induced structure places the nucleophile in an accessible position for the first step of splicing.
Descending-Order Clique-Based Task Scheduling for Active Measurements

Network active measurement is a required process in high performance networks for efficient QoS provisioning. The contention of the active measurement processes in a network can jeopardize measurement and overload network and computation resources. In this paper, we propose a novel scheduling algorithm to resolve contention of measurement tasks. Our proposed scheme is based on graph-coloring theory and uses a descending order of a clique (a set of contending nodes) in a graph. We evaluate our proposed scheme under different measurement task assignment scenarios. The simulation results demonstrate that our proposed scheme produces effective contention resolution and decreases the number of assigned colors.
Seasonal and diurnal analysis of NO2 concentrations from a long-duration study conducted in Las Vegas, Nevada

A study, conducted in Las Vegas, NV from mid-December 2008 to mid-December 2009 along an interstate highway, collected continuous and integrated samples for a wide variety of air pollutant species including NO2 and NOX associated with roadway traffic. This study examined long-term trends of NO2 and NOX in a near-road environment compared with previous near-road studies typically lasting only a few days to months. Study results revealed concentration gradients for NO2 and NOX with highest absolute and average concentrations at distances closest to the roadway throughout the year. Diurnal ambient temperature changes also influenced concentrations due to atmospheric chemistry activity as well as concentration changes due to seasonal effects. These concentration gradients were observed for all wind conditions; however under downwind conditions (winds from highway), the concentration gradients are more pronounced. Higher pollutant concentrations are generally observed during low wind speed conditions especiall...
Ceramics in Microelectronics Packaging: Past, Present and Future

A broad review of ceramics in microelectronics for processing, storing, transferring, printing, and displaying information is highlighted. Ceramic packaging is presented with a review of the history, evolution, and state of the art. The recent developments in ceramics resulting in potentially improved thermal and electrical properties by the use of SiC, AIN, and glass±ceramics are discussed. The scientific understanding necessary to support these developments is mentioned.
TU‐C‐211‐10: Optimized Knot Placement for B‐Splines in Deformable Image Registration

Purpose: The current trend of incorporating multi‐modality and multi‐ instance imaging in treatment planning for external beam radiotherapy has highlighted the need for fast and accurate deformable image registration techniques. One current implementation of non‐rigid registration uses uniform B‐splines to parametrically represent the displacement vector field (DVF). The piecewise B‐spline segments are joined at “knots” that define the local region of support and influence for each segment. This approach has limited flexibility and can require a fairly large number of control points to describe local complexity in the DVF. By preferentially placing knots in regions of high complexity, we can more efficiently utilize the control points. The authors present the implementation of an automatic knot optimization scheme. Methods: We developed a two‐step approach to fit a known one‐dimensional DVF. An initial fit was made with uniform knot spacing. The error generated by this fit was then assigned as an attractive force pulling on the knots, acting against a resistive spring force in an iterative equilibration scheme. To demonstrate the accuracy gain of knot optimization over uniform knot placement, we compared the sum of the squared errors and the frequency of large errors. Results: Fits were made to artificial surface DVFs as well as real‐world datasets. For each dataset, the optimized B‐spline fit reduced both the sum of the squared error and the frequency of errors larger than one standard deviation of the mean. Conclusion: Non‐uniform B‐splines offer an attractive alternative to uniform B‐splines in modeling the DVF. They carry forward the mathematical compactness of B‐splines while simultaneously introducing new degrees of freedom. The increased adaptability of knot placement gained from the generalization to NURBS offers increased local control as well as the ability to explicitly represent topological discontinuities.
Diffusion of uranium through graphite

Diffusion rates of uranium through graphite were determined in the temperature range of 3,000° to 4,350°F. The diffusion couples consisted of sintered UC2 disks in contact with graphite rods. The observations indicated two distinct types of uranium transport which could be associated with volume diffusion and with migration along pores respectively. Volume diffusion was characterized by steep concentration gradients and shallow penetration. The diffusion coefficient Dv, in sq. cm./sec. between 3,300° and 4,250°F., is given by an equation. Above 4,250°F. incipient melting of the UC2 was evident and the diffusion coefficients were much higher than those given by the equation. As an example of the penetration resulting from volume diffusion, calculations show that, after 1,000 hr. at 4,200°F. the uranium concentration at 0.1 cm. from the interface will be 1,000 mg./cc., compared with 10,000 mg./cc. for pure UC2. Pore migration resulted in uranium penetration far beyond that arising from volume diffusion at equivalent temperatures and diffusion times. However, uranium concentrations were very small compared with those corresponding to volume diffusion. Pore migration is strongly temperature dependent. To estimate the practical importance of pore migration, the uranium flow through a graphite wall at 3,000°F. was measured. With a wall thickness of 0.32 cm., the average flow per unit area was 0.015 mg./ (sq. cm.)/ (hr.) for a 40-hr. test.
Organizational Learning About New International Markets: Exploring the Internal Transfer of Local Market Knowledge

This study examines the transfer of local market knowledge within the diversified firm as its divisions expand into a new host country. Within the U.S.-based corporations in our sample, both the nature of local market knowledge itself and differences in organizational structures significantly influence the extent of internal knowledge transfer among divisions. The results suggest that as firms expand into new international markets, their organizational learning processes differ significantly.
Isolation of two saxitoxin-sensitive sodium channel subtypes from rat brain with distinct biochemical and functional properties.

Two different3H-saxitoxin-binding proteins, with distinct biochemical and functional properties, were isolated from rat brain using a combination of anion exchange and lectin affinity chromatography as well as high resolution size exclusion and anion exchange HPLC. The alpha subunits of the binding proteins had different apparent molecular weights on SDS-PAGE (Type A: 235,000; Type B: 260,000). When reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers, the two saxitoxin-binding proteins formed sodium channels with different apparent single-channel conductances in the presence of batrachotoxin (Type A: 22 pS; Type B: 12 pS) and veratridine (Type A: 9 pS; Type B: 5 pS). The subtypes were further distinguished by scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) venom which had different effects on single-channel conductance and gating of veratridine-activated Type A and Type B channels. Scorpion venom caused a 19% increase in single-channel conductance of Type A channels and a 35-mV hyperpolarizing shift in activation. Scropion venom double the single-channel conductance of Type B channels and shifted activation by at least 85 mV.
Influence of regional structure on the development and quality of the Upper Elkhorn no. 2 coal bed, eastern Kentucky

Abstract The Upper Elkhorn No. 2 coal bed (Middle Pennsylvanian Breathitt Formation) in eastern Kentucky exhibits thickness and coal quality trends which suggest that peat deposition was contemporaneous with tectonism. The coal thickens and has high vitrinite and low ash and sulfur content the Belfry anticline in Pike Country. T in the vicinity of the Floyd Country channel, a basement trough. In both cases other Pennsylvanian coals exhibit similar trends, suggesting that the penecontemporaneous tectonism persisted at least through a portion of the Carboniferous.
Dynamic regulation of macroautophagy by distinctive ubiquitin-like proteins

Whereas the proteasome degrades individual proteins modified with ubiquitin chains, autophagy degrades many proteins and organelles en masse. A pair of ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs), Atg8 and Atg12, regulate autophagy-mediated degradation in a manner completely distinct from that of ubiquitin in the proteasome pathway, as discussed in this Review.
Effect of various light treatments during growing period on egg production of October hatched White Leghorn pullets.

Abstract RESULTS in two previous experiments with October-hatched White Leghorns showed, during a period of 51 weeks egg production, that birds which had received daylight only until they were 20 weeks old laid an average of seven or eight eggs more per bird than those which had received 16 hours light daily (Lowe and Heywang, 1961). It was considered desirable to obtain more data about the effect of various light treatments during the first 20 weeks of age on subsequent egg production of White Leghorns hatched in October. Reported in this paper are the results of three experiments conducted at this station in three successive years. PROCEDURE Day-old White Leghorn pullets of the same strain and hatched during the fourth week of October were used. Experiments were conducted in three successive years. At the start of the first and second experiments, 110 chicks were in each of six groups and 105…
Correlation of myosin light chain phosphorylation and gamma aminobutyric acid receptors in Ascaris suum muscle

Four different muscle relaxants were compared as to their effects on tonic Ascaris suum muscle to: physiological activity, intracellular response to regulatory light chain phosphorylation, and receptor pharmacology. Perfusion of Ascaris suum muscle with each relaxant, gamma-aminobutyric acid, avermectin, piperazine and chlorpromazine resulted in a dose-dependent loss of muscle tone. Comparison of intracellular effects indicated that gamma-aminobutyric acid and avermectin perfusion initiated an increase in the levels of dephosphorylated regulatory light chain while piperazine increased first site phosphorylation and chlorpromazine increased second site phosphorylation. Receptor pharmacology studies were used to compare the actions of gamma-aminobutyric acid and piperazine. It was found that bicuculline-methiodide and picrotoxin inhibited the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid in a dose-dependent manner, but these drugs had no effect on muscle relaxation stimulated with piperazine.
Diameter increment and growth patterns for individual tree growing in Central Amazon, Brazil

Abstract Information on diameter increment and growth patterns for individual trees are important tools for forest management primarily to: (i) select tree species for logging; (ii) selecting tree species for protection; (iii) estimate cutting cycles and (iv) to prescribe silvicultural treatments. Most growth and yield studies in tropical moist forests have emphasized only the stand level instead of individual trees. This study dealt with the analysis of individual growth patterns for 272 trees distributed over two transects (East–West and North–South) measuring 20 m ×2500 m, which were stratified by plateau, slope and “baixio” (lowland areas near small streams), and tree diameter at breast height (DBH) classes ( 10 cm ≤ DBH cm, 30 cm ≤ DBH cm and DBH≥50 cm). For each tree, a metal “dendrometer” band was fixed to the trunk and growth in circumference was measured with digital calipers. Measurements were carried out for 19 months, from June 1999 to December 2000; for this study, only 12 months of year 2000 were considered. Individual growth pattern varied significantly over time (P=0.00), and slightly (P=0.08) when the interaction months and DBH classes was included; on the other hand, the signal was very weak (P=0.25) when topographical classes were added to the later interaction, and no signal at all (P=0.89) when the interaction between months, diameter and topographical classes were analyzed. Mean annual diameter increment considering all 272 monitored trees was 1.64±0.21 mm per year (95% CI), falling within the range estimated for the Brazilian Amazon region (1.4–2 mm per year).