cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reading the graphics: what is the relationship between graphical reading processes and student comprehension?

Research on comprehension of written text and reading processes suggests a greater use of reading processes is associated with higher scores on comprehension measures of those same texts. Although researchers have suggested that the graphics in text convey important meaning, little research exists on the relationship between children’s processes prompted by the graphics in informational text and their overall comprehension of the same texts. In this study, 30 second-graders read 2 informational texts, were prompted to share their thinking whenever they looked at a graphic, retold each text in their own words, and answered 8 comprehension questions about each text. Correlations between students’ scores on the post-reading comprehension measures and the reading processes prompted by the graphics suggested that: (1) the number of times any process was prompted by the graphics was significantly correlated with scores on the retelling measure for one book, but not for the retelling measure of the other book or for the comprehension question measure for either book; (2) there were no significant correlations between the number of different processes prompted by the graphics and students’ scores on any comprehension measure; (3) a number of individual processes were positively correlated with retelling and/or comprehension question scores.
Genetic diversity of Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) in North Dakota

Abstract Canada thistle is a noxious weed that occurs in a wide range of habitats and is difficult to control because of its extensive root system and prolific seed production. Here, we focused on estimating the level of genetic diversity between populations in North Dakota as a first step in examining diversity across North America. Two types of genetic marker, intersimple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and microsatellites were used. Both marker types resulted in polymorphic alleles suitable for assessing diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), molecular diversity analyses, and cluster analysis were conducted. Highly significant variation was detected between populations (P < 0.01). The greatest variance recovered was between individuals within populations. Gene flow among populations in the Northern Great Plains was indicated by the presence of shared alleles between the North Dakota and Minnesota populations and in cluster formation. Multiple introductions and continued gene flow between populatio...
Patterns and Age Distribution of Ground-Water Flow to Streams

Simulations of ground-water flow in a generic aquifer system were made to characterize the topology of ground-water flow in the stream subsystem and to evaluate its relation to deeper ground-water flow. The flow models are patterned after hydraulic characteristics of aquifers of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and are based on numerical solutions to three-dimensional, steady-state, unconfined flow. The models were used to evaluate the effects of aquifer horizontal-to-vertical hydraulic conductivity ratios, aquifer thickness, and areal recharge rates on flow in the stream subsystem. A particle tracker was used to determine flow paths in a stream subsystem, to establish the relation between ground-water seepage to points along a simulated stream and its source area of flow, and to determine ground-water residence time in stream subsystems. In a geometrically simple aquifer system with accretion, the source area of flow to streams resembles an elongated ellipse that tapers in the down gradient direction. Increased recharge causes an expansion of the stream subsystem. The source area of flow to the stream expands predominantly toward the stream headwaters. Base flow gain is also increased along the reach of the stream. A thin aquifer restricts ground-water flow and causes the source area of flow to expand near stream headwaters and also shifts the start-of-flow to the drainage basin divide. Increased aquifer anisotropy causes a lateral expansion of the source area of flow to streams. Ground-water seepage to the stream channel originates both from near- and far-recharge locations. The range in the lengths of flow paths that terminate at a point on a stream increase in the downstream direction. Consequently, the age distribution of ground water that seeps into the stream is skewed progressively older with distance downstream. Base flow ia an integration of ground water with varying age and potentially different water quality, depending on the source within the drainage basin. The quantitative results presented indicate that this integration can have a wide and complex residence time range and source distribution.
Sequence of amino acids in the chain of single hemoglobins from C57BL, SWR, and NB mice.

Abstract The sequences of amino acids in the β chains of hemoglobins from C57BL, SWR, and NB mice were studied. C57BL, a common strain of laboratory mice with an electrophoretically single hemoglobin, was used as the standard for comparison with others. Its β chain has 146 amino acid residues and is homologous in sequence to that of man and other vertebrates. There are a minimum of 27 amino acid exchanges found when the β-chain sequences of the hemoglobin from C57BL mice and of human A hemoglobin are compared. The β chains within the three mouse strains are identical except at Positions β72 and 73, where the C57BL β chain has Ser-Asp and SWR and NB have Asp-Ser, respectively.
Six Degrees of Epistasis: Statistical Network Models for GWAS.

There is growing evidence that much more of the genome than previously thought is required to explain the heritability of complex phenotypes. Recent studies have demonstrated that numerous common variants from across the genome explain portions of genetic variability, with various avenues of research directed at explaining the remaining heritability. This polygenic structure is also the motivation for the growing application of pathway and gene set enrichment techniques, which have yielded promising results. These findings suggest that the coordination of genes in pathways that are known to occur at the gene regulatory level also can be detected at the population level. Although genes in these networks interact in complex ways, most population studies have focused on the additive contribution of common variants and the potential of rare variants to explain additional variation. In this brief review, we discuss the potential to explain additional genetic variation through the agglomeration of multiple gene-gene interactions as well as main effects of common variants in terms of a network paradigm. Just as is the case for single-locus contributions, we expect each gene-gene interaction edge in the network to have a small effect, but these effects may be reinforced through hubs and other connectivity structures in the network. We discuss some of the opportunities and challenges of network methods for analyzing GWAS such as the study of hubs and motifs, and integrating other types of variation and environmental interactions. Such network approaches may unveil hidden variation in GWAS, improve understanding of mechanisms of disease, and possibly fit into a network paradigm of evolutionary genetics.
Restoration of half the normal dystrophin sequence in a double-deletion Duchenne muscular dystrophy family

Two male cousins with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were found to have different maternal dystrophin gene haplotypes and different deletion mutations. One propositus showed two noncontiguous deletions-one in the 5{prime}, proximal deletional hotspot region, and the other in the 3{prime}, more distal deletional hotspot region. The second propositus showed only the 5{prime} deletion. Using multiple fluorescent exon dosage and fluorescent multiplex CA repeat linkage analyses, the authors show that the mother of each propositus carries both deletions on the same grandmaternal X chromosome. This paradox is explained by a single recombinational event between the 2 deleted regions of one of the carrier`s dystrophin genes, giving rise to a son with a partially {open_quotes}repaired{close_quotes} gene retaining only the 5{prime} deletion. 20 refs., 4 figs.
The First Vanadium Gallophosphates: Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structure of Rb [(VO)(H2O)Ga(PO4)2] and Cs[(VO)(H2O)Ga(PO4)2]

Abstract The first examples of vanadium gallophosphates, Rb[(VO)(H2O)Ga(PO4)2] and Cs[(VO)(H2O)Ga(PO4)2] have been synthesized using hydrothermal methods, fromXVO3(X=Rb, Cs), Ga2O3, H3PO4, H2PO3F, and an organic species. The phases are isostructural and have a three-dimensional anionic vanadium gallophosphate framework assembled from corner sharing PO4and GaO4tetrahedra and VO5(H2O) octahedra. The PO4and GaO4tetrahedra form chains which are crosslinked by the vanadium octahedra. Since the GaO4tetrahedra and VO5(H2O) octahedra each share corners exclusively with PO4tetrahedra, no Ga–O–V bonding is present in the framework. The anionic charge of the framework is compensated by the alkali cations, which lie in tunnels running along theyaxis. Single-crystal data for Rb[(VO)(H2O)Ga(PO4)2]: monoclinic, space groupP21/c(No. 14) witha=7.928(2) A,b=8.049(2) A,c=13.983(3) A,β=104.274(5)°,V=864.8(4) A3,Z=4,Dcalc=3.303 g cm−3; for Cs[(VO)(H2O)Ga(PO4)2]: monoclinic, space groupP21/c(No. 14) witha=8.0423(5) A,b= 8.0661(5) A,c=14.1284(8) A,β=105.094(1)°,V=884.89(9) A3,Z=4,Dcalc=3.584 g/cm−3.
New Ir(III) 4,4′-dicyano-2,2′-bipyridine photosensitizers for solar fuel generation

Abstract Two new photosensitizer complexes were synthesized featuring 4,4′-dicyano-2,2′-bipyridine binding moieties to better facilitate water and zinc reduction. DFT calculations, electrochemical characterization, and photophysical studies revealed the presence of a narrower HOMO–LUMO gap than 2,2′-bipyridine analogs, and shorter excited-state lifetimes. These properties were reflected in the water reduction studies; the newly-synthesized compounds surpassed current art when using colloidal catalysts, but were less efficient when using molecular catalysts. The complexes were also shown to facilitate Zn(II) photoreduction.
A Robust Audio Watermarking Algorithm Based on Statistical Characteristics and DWT+DCT Transforms

Abstract - This paper considers quantization based audio watermarking algorithm based on both Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWT) and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). The embedding information used is a binary image. Different techniques like Arnold Transform and Linear Feedback Shift Register are used for image encryption. Different wavelet filters are considered and the performance is evaluated. Watermark embedding is performed by mean quantization of DCT values of nth level low frequency components where n e {3, 4, 5} . Low frequency components contains majority of the signals energy, which helps provide robustness. Synchronization codes are embedded in the low frequency components of the audio signal, and it makes algorithm more robust against desynchronized attacks. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is inaudible and robust against common signal processing techniques. Our results are better than those obtained using techniques involving only single domain transformations such as [2], [9] and [10].
Solubility of Anthracene in Binary Toluene + Alkane Solvent Mixtures

Experimental solubilities are reported for anthracene in binary solvent mixtures containing toluene with n-hexane, cyclohexane, n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, n-octane, cyc-looctane and isooctane at...
Click It or Pay It: Effect of Seat Belts on Cost of Injuries and Other Characteristics of Motor Vehicle Crash Victims

This study investigated the association of seat belt use with occupant characteristics and the effect of seat belt use on occupant injuries and hospital costs for treatments. Data from the Kansas Trauma Registry were used for the analysis; from these, data related to crash victims who were occupants of motor vehicles were extracted. According to the analysis results, the overall seat belt usage among hospitalized highway crash victims was 43%, significantly lower than the observed Kansas seat belt usage rate. Young hospitalized occupants were less likely to wear seat belts, while older crash victims were reported to have the highest recorded seat belt usage rate. A majority of the hospitalized occupants were males, and their seat belt usage was lower than that of female occupants. Occupants who sustained less severe injuries had a higher seat belt usage rate than severely injured occupants. A univariate analysis showed possible association between seat belt usage and occupant age, gender, and injury sever...
Socioeconomic disadvantage and child development

Recent research consistently reports that persistent poverty has more detrimental effects on IQ, school achievement, and socioemotional functioning than transitory poverty, with children experiencing both types of poverty generally doing less well than never-poor children. Higher rates of perinatal complications, reduced access to resources that buffer the negative effects of perinatal complications, increased exposure to lead, and less home-based cognitive stimulation partly account for diminished cognitive functioning in poor children. These factors, along with lower teacher expectancies and poorer academic-readiness skills, also appear to contribute to lower levels of school achievement among poor children. The link between socioeconomic disadvantage and children's socioemotional functioning appears to be mediated partly by harsh, inconsistent parenting and elevated exposure to acute and chronic stressors. The implications of research findings for practice and policy are considered.
Continuous improvement in Vietnam: unique approaches for a unique culture

Purpose – This paper aims to enhance the understanding of continuous improvement (CI) practices in Vietnamese organizations. Design/methodology/approach – The study reported here is based on field research using in-depth case studies to investigate the factors underpinning CI effectiveness in Vietnam. Data were collected from direct observations, internal company documents and interviews in six leading Vietnamese companies, as well as interviews with 50 business leaders, managers, practitioners and academics in Vietnam. Findings – This paper identifies the cultural conditions that have most shaped, and continue to shape, the management of CI in Vietnam, and suggests ways that practitioners can design effective CI practices in that country. For example, a very strong top-down management approach seems to be necessary to jump-start CI in Vietnamese organizations. Vietnamese organizations can succeed with CI, but they require substantial investment in human capital to give managers and employees at all level...
Discipline cost indices and their applications

Differences in institutional reporting and accounting often reduce the comparability in expenditure data among institutions. This particularly affects interinstitutional comparisons of discipline unit costs, that is, expenditures per credit hour or expenditures per weighted credit hour. To overcome this comparability problem, discipline cost indices have been developed to permit accurate interinstitutional comparisons of relative costs among disciplines. This paper documents how discipline cost indices have been derived, using expenditure data collected from five peer institutions, and how these indices have been implemented in a research university's budget allocation process. Institutional researchers and academic budget planners are the intended audience.
Health status and medical care utilization.

In each issue, Health Affairs offers an annual check on a segment of the health sphere: health status and health care utilization in Spring; health care innovation in Summer; national health spending in Fall; and health personnel trends in Winter. In this issue, Ronald Andersen and colleagues from the University of Chicago and University of Texas track health status and utilization with a particular look at how poor and minority groups are faring. Also, R. Paul Duncan and Kerry Kilpatrick of the University of Florida, Gainesville, focus on unresolved hospital charges in that state. The DataWatch section concludes with a look at low-income veterans’ use of the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system by John Gronvall of the VA.
Food Policy Battles, Institutional Integrity Capacity and Sustainability

The authors delineate the market–induced and government–subsidized food policy wars and their adverse impacts on domestic and global stakeholders. Four competing perspectives on food policy - the globalist, naturalist, egalitarian, and progressive perspectives - and three competing paradigms implementing food policy - the productionist paradigm, the life sciences integration paradigm, and the ecologically integrated paradigm - are treated and critically analyzed. The authors then delineate the need for enhanced institutional judgment integrity capacity and sustainability as ways to reduce the adverse impact of the current dominance of the globalist, productionist approach. Finally, the authors recommend ten action steps for responsible institutional leaders that will enhance institutional integrity capacity and sustainability with respect to food policy decisions.
MDMA produces a conditioned place preference and elicits ejaculation in male rats: A modulatory role for the endogenous opioids

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) can produce a conditioned place preference (CPP) among rats. The ability of MDMA to produce a CPP was assessed while some rats were under the influence of naltrexone, 56 mg/kg, given 4 h before conditioning. Naltrexone attenuated MDMA's ability to produce a CPP without completely blocking MDMA's effects. Having noticed previously the production of seminal plugs by rats receiving MDMA, the presence of seminal plugs was recorded across the 8 days of conditioning. Roughly half of the rats receiving 6.3 mg/kg of MDMA left plugs during the conditioning period, while over two-thirds of those receiving a combination of MDMA and naltrexone left plugs. A second study, assessing further doses of MDMA, tabulated the drug's effects on the production of seminal plugs across 3 h. Besides eliciting ejaculation, MDMA also led to increased urination and defecation and a loss of body weight. These results support suggestions that the endogenous opioids modulate the reinforcing properties of stimulant drugs and affect male sexuality.
Kinetic evidence for intermediate states in the unfolding of chymotrypsinogen A

Abstract Fast kinetic measurements show that the reversible unfolding of chymotrypsinogen A at low pH is more complex than a two-state reaction. The kinetics of exposure of buried tryptophan groups at 293 nm show a compound fast phase (in milliseconds) in addition to the known slow unfolding reaction (in seconds). The fast reactions apparently are part of the unfolding process, since they are negligible in temperature jumps that end below or begin above the transition zone. The data are similar in many respects to those reported recently for ribonuclease A. Taken together, the two sets of results suggest that: (a) there may be a common pattern of kinetic behavior in the thermal unfolding of several small proteins (cf. Pohl 1968a, b; 1969); (b) fast kinetic methods are especially sensitive for detecting intermediates in unfolding; and (c) other protein unfolding reactions that have been described as two-state reactions may also show observable intermediates in the millisecond time range.
Room-temperature functional test station for a cryogenically cooled far-infrared sensor

A room temperature functional test station for a cryogenically cooled far infrared (IR) sensor was designed to provide a reduced background yet allow the sensor to be evaluated in standard laboratory surroundings. The functional test station (FTS) included a blackbody source, 11.5 inch clear aperture eccentric pupil (`off-axis') parabolic mirror, and sensor mount assembled onto a vibration isolated optical table and covered by a class 100 laminar flow bench. The emissivity contribution of the test station to the total background of the test station and sensor system was less than 30%. While atmospheric effects were significant, they were not detrimental to functional testing. The functional test station allowed optimization of sensor focus as well as integration of analog signal processing and object digital signal processing. This was accomplished without the attendant cost and complexity of a cryo-vacuum facility.
Correction to: “Transverse quadruple systems with five holes”

We correct an error found in Keranen, Kreher, J Combin Designs 15 (2007), 315–340. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 17: 492–495, 2009
Stability of pepsin during storage in canine gastric secretions and in aqueous solutions.

SummaryWe have determined the pepsin activity of canine gastric secretions (CGS) and of commercial crystalline porcine pepsin (CCPP) solutions at pH 1.8 (5 and 10 μg/ml) for various periods of time, at room temperature (23-28°), at refrigerator temperature (4°), in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator (—4°) and at —20°. Lowered activity was found under most of these conditions. The lower the temperature and the longer the time the greater is the loss. The CGS samples deviated somewhat from this general trend by showing some increases as well as decreases in activity at all temperatures except at 0°. We, therefore, recommend holding such samples in an ice bath at 0° for not longer than 3 hr, or addition of acidified glycerol for storage up to 1 day at —20°. Fresh preparations of CCPP solutions retained activity in an ice bath for up to 5 hr. If it is necessary to store CCPP solutions for a longer period of time—up to 6 days—addition of albumin or a combination of albumin and acidified glycerol is ess...
Critical Appraisal of Three Ideas for Community Development in the United States

What is the connection among the moral, social, and physical aspects of the community? To explore this question, this article reviews three approaches: communitarianism, social capital, and new urbanism and smart growth. They are linked by a conceptual mapping along two dimensions: geographical scale (local to global) and strength of community (strong to weak). The approaches meld at local and regional geographical scales. Since the strong community in all three is susceptible to community determinism, I privilege the weak community. The approaches put a renewed emphasis on public and civic spaces, which are moral, social, and physical spaces for the weak community.
Task dependence of visual attention on compressed videos: point of gaze statistics and analysis

We tracked the points-of-gaze of human observers as they viewed videos drawn from foreign films while engaged in two different tasks: (1) Quality Assessment and (2) Summarization. Each video was subjected to three possible distortion severities - no compression (pristine), low compression and high compression - using the H.264 compression standard. We have analyzed these eye-movement locations in detail. We extracted local statistical features around points-of-gaze and used them to answer the following questions: (1) Are there statistical differences in variances of points-of-gaze across videos between the two tasks?, (2) Does the variance in eye movements indicate a change in viewing strategy with change in distortion severity? (3) Are statistics at points-of-gaze different from those at random locations? (4) How do local low-level statistics vary across tasks? (5) How do point-of-gaze statistics vary across distortion severities within each task?
Highly ionized atoms observed with Copernicus

Based on high-resolution observations using the Princeton satellite/spectrometer on Copernicus the O VI doublet is discussed in detail, in conjunction with data for the resonance lines of N V, Si IV, and S IV reported in five stars. The temperature, density, and the possible extent of the O VI producing region are discussed. The ratio N(S IV)/N(O VI) is used to derive a lower limit to the temperature in the O VI producing region. In near pressure equilibrium with normal interstellar clouds and H II regions minimum densities are found to be consistent with a hot plasma.
The global pattern of gene identity variation reveals a history of long‐range migrations, bottlenecks, and local mate exchange: Implications for biological race

Several recent studies have argued that human genetic variation conforms to a model of isolation by distance, whereas others see a predominant role for long-range migrations and bottlenecks. It is unclear whether either of these views fully describes the global pattern of human genetic variation. In this article, we use a coalescent-based simulation approach to compare the pattern of neutral genetic variation predicted by these views to the observed pattern estimated from neutral autosomal microsatellites assayed in 1,032 individuals from 53 globally-distributed populations. We find that neither view predicts every aspect of the observed pattern of variation on its own, but that a combination of the two does. Specifically, we demonstrate that the observed pattern of global gene identity variation is consistent with a history of serial population fissions, bottlenecks and long-range migrations associated with the peopling of major geographic regions, and gene flow between local populations. This history has produced a nested pattern of genetic structure that is inconsistent with the existence of independently evolving biological races. We consider the implications of our findings for methods that apportion variation into within- and between-group components and for medical genetics.
The quantitative effects of temperature and light on the number of leaves preceding the first fruiting inflorescence on the stem of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill.) and aubergine (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract In this study, quantitative relationships were established between the combined effects of temperature (between 7.4 and 24.2 °C) and light intensity (between 1.9 and 8.1 MJ m−2 d−1) on the number of leaves formed before the first fruit in tomato and aubergine. The number of leaves formed before the set of the first fruit (aubergine) or fruit cluster (tomato) decreased for both tomato and aubergine when daily mean light integral increased but effect of light decreased as temperature declined. Leaf number subtending the first fruit or fruit cluster in both tomato and aubergine declined linearly with decreasing temperature, particularly at the lowest daily mean light integral (1.9 MJ m−2 d−1). However, temperature had little effect on the number of leaves formed before the first fruit cluster of tomato and the first fruit of aubergine at the higher daily mean light integrals. At low temperatures, the effect of light was different for tomato and aubergine. The study showed that the appearance position of the first fruiting flower cluster and flower for tomato and aubergine, respectively could be controlled by controlling light and temperature in greenhouses.
Demonstration versus instructions in concept attainment by mental retardates

Abstract Training through observed silent demonstrations was compared with providing equivalent information by verbal instructions, using adult mental retardates of three age and ability levels. At all levels, demonstration surpassed instructions in promoting concept attainment and transfer. During imitation testing, all groups received feedbeck (‘right’ or ‘wrong’) about their responses. Dispensing candy rewards for correct answers did not affect performance.
Integration of microbial communities into large-scale ecosystem models

Micro-organisms, including Bacteria, Archaea, and Fungi, control major processes throughout the Earth system. Recent advances in microbial ecology and microbiology have revealed an astounding level of genetic and metabolic diversity in microbial communities. However, a framework for interpreting the meaning of this diversity has lagged behind the initial discoveries. Microbial communities have yet to be included explicitly in any major biogeochemical models in terrestrial ecosystems, and have only recently broken into ocean models. Although simplification of microbial communities is essential in complex systems, omission of community parameters may seriously compromise model predictions of biogeochemical processes. Two key questions arise from this tradeoff: 1) When and where must microbial community parameters be included in biogeochemical models? 2) If microbial communities are important, how should they be simplified, aggregated, and parameterized in models? To address these questions, a literature survey was conducted to determine if microbial communities are sensitive to four environmental disturbances that are associated with global change. For all environmental perturbations, community composition changed significantly following disturbance. However, the implications for ecosystem function were unclear in most of the published studies. Therefore, I developed a simple model framework to illustrate the situations in which microbial community changes would affect rates of biogeochemical processes. These scenarios could be quite common, but powerful predictive models cannot be developed without much more information on the functions and disturbance responses of microbial taxa. Small-scale models that explicitly incorporate microbial communities also suggest that process rates strongly depend on microbial interactions and disturbance responses. The challenge is to scale up these models to make predictions at the ecosystem and global scales based on measurable parameters. Meeting this challenge will require a coordinated effort to develop a series of nested models at scales ranging from the micron to the globe in order to optimize the tradeoff between model realism and feasibility.
Stability of individual differences in cardiovascular reactivity: A thirteen month follow-up

Abstract This study concerns the stability of individual differences in cardiovascular reactivity among nineteen male subjects who had participated in a similar investigation thirteen months earlier. In the previous study (Year I), subjects were presented a frustrating task in concept formation to perform at each of two experimental sessions, scheduled one week apart, and recordings of heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) obtained during periods of rest and task performance on each occasion of testing. Under the current procedure (Year II), subjects were exposed to the same experimental stressor as on year I, as well as a second cognitive task involving a difficult problem in “mental arithmetic”; HR, SBP and DBP were again recorded both at rest and while subjects performed the instructed tasks. Measures of task-related cardiovascular arousal across the two years of observation revealed reproducible individual differences with respect to the magnitude of subjects' HR and SBP, but not DBP, reactivity. Although individual differences in HR and SBP responses correlated positively, neither HR nor SBP reactivity covaried reliably with DBP changes. It was suggested that concomitant response differences in HR and SBP, as observed under these experimental conditions, may reflect an underlying dimension of individual differences in beta-adrenergic reactivity.
Synthesis and Physical Characterization of Novel Heme-Based Model Systems for Photoinitiated Electron Transfer. 2. Direct Ruthenation of Microperoxidase-11†

This paper describes the design, synthesis, and initial characterization of a second type of model electron transfer system based upon microperoxidase-11 (MP-11) that differs significantly from those described in the preceding article. In this system, a photoactive ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) donor is covalently attached directly to MP-11. Peptide digestion followed by chromatographic analysis was used to establish that the ruthenium moiety bonds to the lysine residue of the MP-11 peptide. This arrangement eliminates complications arising from the equilibrium complexation of ruthenium donor and heme acceptor required for the model systems described in the previous article and leaves an axial position in the octahedral geometry of the heme iron open for ligation. Various optical spectroscopies and molecular modeling calculations were employed to characterize the equilibrium properties and interchromophore interactions of RuMP-11. Preliminary luminescence-quenching, transient absorption, and transient resonan...
Clearing the Skies over Modular Polyketide Synthases

Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) are large multifunctional proteins that synthesize complex polyketide metabolites in microbial cells. A series of recent studies confirm the close protein structural relationship between catalytic domains in the type I mammalian fatty acid synthase (FAS) and the basic synthase unit of the modular PKS. They also establish a remarkable similarity in the overall organization of the type I FAS and the PKS module. This information provides important new conclusions about catalytic domain architecture, function, and molecular recognition that are essential for future efforts to engineer useful polyketide metabolites with valuable biological activities.
Hypocalcemia after alendronate therapy in a patient with celiac disease.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe a patient with osteoporosis who was treated with alendronate and developed hypocalcemia, which ultimately led to the diagnosis of celiac sprue. Methods We present the clinical and laboratory findings in a patient with osteoporosis, in whom hypocalcemia developed after treatment with alendronate. This patient was subsequently diagnosed with celiac sprue. The pertinent literature regarding orally administered bisphosphonate-induced hypocalcemia is reviewed. Results A 79-year-old man who was diagnosed with osteoporosis was treated with alendronate. He was subsequently found to have asymptomatic hypocalcemia (serum calcium concentration, 8.3 mg/dL), which resolved after alendronate therapy was discontinued. He was then treated with calcium, vitamin D, and calcitonin nasal spray, which did not cause hypocalcemia. Because of his reduced bone density, however, he was subsequently referred for endocrine consultation. Evaluation at that time showed normal levels of serum calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, thyrotropin, and parathyroid hormone as well as 24-hour urine calcium excretion. An endomysial antibody titer was dramatically elevated. Upper endoscopy showed villous atrophy, and small bowel biopsy confirmed the presence of villous blunting and chronic inflammation, consistent with celiac sprue. He was treated with a gluten-free diet and then subsequently treated with orally administered risedronate, which he tolerated well without evidence of hypocalcemia. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of orally administered bisphosphonate-induced hypocalcemia, which subsequently led to the diagnosis of previously unrecognized, otherwise asymptomatic celiac sprue. Patients with unexplained hypocalcemia should be screened for celiac sprue, even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. (Endocr Pract. 2007;13:403-407)
KINETIN AND THE NUCLEIC ACID CONTENT OF ONION ROOT TIPS.

Abstract Roots of onion (Allium cepa) were grown for 1 2 to 48 hr in 1 ppm kinetin. Morphological analyses of the first 2 mm of the root were made. The DNA and RNA contents of the cells in this region were determined. The data indicate that kinetin has an immediate and marked effect on RNA content of the cells resulting in a doubling of RNA per cell in the region 1200 μ, to 2000 μ from the tip after 1 2 hr. The amount of RNA per cell drops after this period, reaching a plateau which is 30 per cent above the control. This plateau persists through the 12 hr period. After 24 hr the RNA content of the cells in this region drops below that of the control. Treatment of the roots with kinetin for 48 hr resulted in a decrease in RNA content per cell to less than 1 2 that of the control. This result was obtained for all cells in the root except the apical initials. The RNA content of the apical initials was not affected by any of the kinetin treatments used. The RNA content of the cells 300 μ-700 μ from the tip was affected only by the 48 hr treatment. The DNA content of the cells was not immediately affected by treatment with kinetin. After 9–12 hr treatment with kinetin there was a decrease in DNA in the cells 1000 μ-2000 μ from the tip. After 24 hr there was a decrease in DNA in the cells in the region 400 μ-1000 μ from the tip. After 48 hr the DNA content of all the cells was reduced to that of the apical initials. The DNA content of the apical initials was not affected by the kinetin treatments used. Morphological analysis of kinetin treated roots indicated no immediate effect by kinetin treatment. The 1 2 and 1 hr treatments produced no morphological changes. A decrease in average cell diameter began after 3 hr of treatment and continued through 12 hr of treatment. After this period no further reduction occurred. The average cell diameter of the epidermis and cortex showed an average reduction of 20 per cent and cells of the vascular system 33 per cent. Root cap cells distal to the apical initials showed no reduction in average diameter, while those surrounding and in front of the apical initials showed a 25 per cent reduction in average diameter. Treatment with kinetin had no effect on cell elongation.
Cardiorespiratory events in extremely low birth weight infants: neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 and 2 years.

Cardiorespiratory events in extremely low birth weight infants: neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 and 2 years
Effect of sodium bicarbonate particle size on the extinction condition of non-premixed counterflow flames

Abstract The effect of chemically active sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) particles and inert silica particles on suppression of laminar, non-premixed counterflow methane-air flames is investigated. In experiments, the NaHCO3 particles are separated into size ranges of
Immuno-detection of proteins by cytochrome P450 antibodies in five species of sea anemones

Abstract The presence and nature of immunoreactive proteins to several cytochrome P450 (CYP) antibodies in the columnar or whole body microsomal fraction of five sea anemone species ( Anthopleura elegantissima, Aiptasia pallida, Anthopleura xanthogrammica, Bunodosoma cavernata and Condylactis gigantea ) were probed by Western blot analysis. Anthopleura elegantissima, A. xanthogrammica, B. cavernata and C. gigantea columnar microsomes contained proteins that crossreacted with monoclonal anti-scup CYP 1A1 (~ 70 kDa), polyclonal anti-trout CYP 2K1 (~ 40 kDa) and polyclonal anti-trout CYP 3A1 (~ 30 kDa). Aiptasia pallida whole body microsomes contained various proteins that cross-reacted with scup CYP 1A1, trout CYP 2K1 and trout CYP 3A1 antibodies. 3-Methylcholantrene (3MC, 20 mg/kg) did not induce proteins recognized by anti-CYP 1A1 in A. elegantissima . Our results indicate the presence in anemone microsomes of various proteins with epitope regions recognized by several CYP antibodies; the most strongly recognized proteins differ from the 50–60 kDa molecular weights which are typically ascribed to P450s of vertebrate microsomes. In all anemones, proteins in the 50–60 kDa range are very weakly recognized even at relatively high protein concentrations.
The State of the Profession

Issues about social work’s legitimacy have changed since Flexner’s time. The author’s own experiences over a 30-year social work history have emphasized the need for social work to play an important role in social policy change rather than a drive to determine whether social work is truly a profession. Social workers have become an increasingly diverse socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural group that views the profession as a legitimate economic and professional ladder. Although well established as a practice profession, social work continues to struggle with a lack of recognition from other professions and in the public policy sector. In the early 20th century, social work sought academic and theoretical recognition as a profession; it now needs to achieve professional recognition in the form of salaries, working conditions, and public policy influence.
Utilizing Spaceborne Radars to Retrieve Dry Snowfall

Abstract A dataset consisting of one year of CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) near-surface radar reflectivity Z associated with dry snowfall is examined in this study. The CPR observations are converted to snowfall rates S using derived Ze–S relationships, which were created from backscatter cross sections of various nonspherical and spherical ice particle models. The CPR reflectivity histograms show that the dominant mode of global near-surface dry snowfall has extremely light reflectivity values (∼3–4 dBZe), and an estimated 94% of all CPR dry snowfall observations are less than 10 dBZe. The average conditional global snowfall rate is calculated to be about 0.28 mm h−1, but is regionally highly variable as well as strongly sensitive to the ice particle model chosen. Further, ground clutter contamination is found in regions of complex terrain even when a vertical reflectivity continuity threshold is utilized. The potential of future multifrequency spaceborne radars is evaluated using proxy 35–13.6-GH...
Stratification driven placement of complex data: A framework for distributed data analytics

With the increasing popularity of XML data stores, social networks and Web 2.0 and 3.0 applications, complex data formats, such as trees and graphs, are becoming ubiquitous. Managing and processing such large and complex data stores, on modern computational eco-systems, to realize actionable information efficiently, is an important challenge. A critical element at the heart of this challenge relates to the placement, storage and access of such tera- and peta- scale data. In this work we develop a novel distributed framework to ease the burden on the programmer and propose an agile and intelligent placement service layer as a flexible yet unified means to address this challenge. Central to our framework is the notion of stratification which seeks to initially group structurally (or semantically) similar entities into strata. Subsequently strata are partitioned within this ecosystem according to the needs of the application to maximize locality, balance load, or minimize data skew. Results on several real-world applications validate the efficacy and efficiency of our approach.
Prostaglandin D2 synthase induces apoptosis in pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells

Prostaglandin D 2 synthase induces apoptosis in pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells. Background Prostaglandin D 2 synthase (PGD 2 S), a unique member of the lipocalin family, is found at elevated levels in the serum of patients with renal impairment and has recently been implicated as a new biochemical marker of renal insufficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptotic effects of PGD 2 S on a pig kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1) and to investigate the effects of prostaglandins and growth factors on this process. Methods Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL), annexin V staining, and electron microscopy. Results A four- to fivefold increase in apoptosis was observed in PGD 2 S-treated cells as compared with controls and the apoptosis appeared to act via caspase-3. A cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, anti-PGD 2 S antibody, and selenium all significantly inhibited the apoptosis induced by PGD 2 S; however, none had any effect on the apoptosis induced by the known apoptotic inducer camptothecin. Furthermore, prostaglandins E 1 and E 2 , known to induce mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation and exhibit cytoprotective effects, both inhibited PGD 2 S-induced apoptosis, while prostaglandin H 2 had no significant effect. Growth factors such as insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and platelet-derived growth factor also decreased PGD 2 S-induced apoptosis. In addition, PGD 2 S isolated from human serum seemed slightly more effective at inducing apoptosis than recombinantly expressed protein. Conclusions We report on the induction of apoptosis by PGD 2 S in LLC-PK1 pig kidney epithelial cells, and speculate that the accumulation of PGD 2 S in the serum of kidney failure patients may further exacerbate renal problems and is most likely regulated by other prostaglandins and growth factors.
Studies on interstitial cells in tissue culture: steroid biosynthesis in monolayers of mouse testicular interstitial cells.

A cell culture in monolaycr, derived from a mouse testicular interstitial cell tumor of spontaneous origin, persistently produces steroids de novo. The major products are progesterone2 and its reduced derivative, 20αhydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one. The latter accumulates to a concentration as high as 7 μg/ml of culture medium in 4 days. Exogenous pregne:iolone or progesterone is readily converted to this steroid within hours. Added 3′,5 ′-cyclic AMP at A very low concentration (5×10−6M) significantly {stimulates steroidogenesis, a maximal 3-fold increase being obtained at 10−4M. Both TPNH and DPNH at 10−3M also cause 3-fold stimulation in steroid secretion. Cycloheximide (10 ppm) inhibits such stimulation by added factors completely. So far, no trophic hormones have been found to elicit similar effects from the culture. The cultured cells are near-diploid and have a generation time of approximately 3.5 days in the exponential phase of growth. A clonal line retains these functional characteristics after over 14 mo...
Periodic temperature distribution around an underground sphere with a periodic heat source

The paper addresses the problem of the estimation of ground losses from underground structures. Existing work has been limited to the cylinder and the sphere for steady state conditions. The numerical solution of the three-dimensional equations for time-dependent conditions requires a prohibitive amount of computing time. The present paper analyses a spherical underground structure with a periodic source at its centre and with periodic ground surface temperature.
Frequency, Specialization, and Violence in Offending Careers:

Do frequent, violent offenders possess the same characteristics as frequent, nonviolent offenders? Although only a few studies have examined this question, a few limitations reduce the generalizability of the findings. In an effort to overcome some of those limitations, this article uses data from the Philadelphia Collaborative Perinatal Project to examine two interrelated questions. First, do frequent, violent offenders possess the same characteristics as frequent, nonviolent offenders? Second, is there specificity or generality in violence? In general, the results suggest that frequent, violent offenders are indistinguishable from frequent, nonviolent offenders and that involvement in violence is primarily a function of increasing offense frequency; that is, there is no tendency to specialize in violence. Implications for future theoretical research are addressed.
Frequency of Debris Disks around Solar-Type Stars: First Results from a Spitzer MIPS Survey

We have searched for infrared excesses around a well-defined sample of 69 FGK main-sequence field stars. These starswereselectedwithoutregardto theirage,metallicity,oranypreviousdetectionof IRexcess; they have amedian ageof � 4Gyr.Wehavedetected70 � mexcessesaroundsevenstarsatthe3 � confidencelevel.Thisextraemissionis produced by cool material (<100 K) located beyond 10 AU, well outside the ‘‘habitable zones’’ of these systems and consistent with the presence of Kuiper Belt analogs with � 100 times more emitting surface area than in our own planetary system. Only one star, HD 69830, shows excess emission at 24 � m, corresponding to dust with temperaturesk300Klocatedinsideof1AU.WhiledebrisdiskswithLdust/L? � 10 � 3 arerarearoundoldFGKstars,wefind that thediskfrequencyincreasesfrom2% � 2%forLdust/L? � 10 � 4 to12% � 5%forLdust/L? � 10 � 5 .Thistrendin the disk luminosity distribution is consistent with the estimated dust in our solar system being within an order of magnitude greater or less than the typical level around similar nearby stars. Although there is no correlation of IR excesswithmetallicity orspectraltype,there isaweak correlationwithstellarage,withstarsyoungerthanagigayear more likely to have excess emission.