cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and implementation scheme for an alternate process planning system—A-CAPPS

Abstract This paper presents the design and development of a computer-aided process planning system (CAPP) that generates least-cost alternate plans. The developed system takes production capacity, machine capability, and operation cost into account to determine feasible process plans for a product mix. Traditional CAPP systems generate one process plan per part. Their use in most production systems has been found to be limited due to frequent non-availability of machines and other resources recommended by the CAPP system. In addition, advanced manufacturing systems such as an FMS normally offer alternate feasible routes for part production. Hence, CAPP systems should be able to generate cost-efficient alternate process plans that can be adopted to circumvent such problems. The proposed methodology integrates order processing, aggregate planning, resource grouping, loading, process cost estimation, process planning, and finally scheduling. It considers loading of part families to each cell in the FMS. Each cell is generally known as a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC). The total workload of a part is divided into batches, based on the demand for a planning period. Different batches of a part mix required in the planning period will determine the part production schedule (PPS). The development of a prototype system based on a variant approach is discussed. The system a-capps is capable of generating alternate process plans to satisfy various capacity constraints. The plan combination for a product mix generated by a-capps is then evaluated for system performance using a simulation model. A case example is discussed to demonstrate the applicability of the developed system.
Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation and the Acute Pulmonary Vascular Response to Alveolar Hyperoxia in Neonatal Pigs

To determine whether hyperoxia increases the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, we studied the effect of oxygen on pulmonary vascular ring tension and regional lung perfusion. In vitro, hyperoxia stimulated endothelium-independent constriction of neonatal porcine pulmonary arterial rings. In vessels with intact endothelium, hyperoxia stimulated a concomitant increase in the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. In sedated neonatal pigs, colored microspheres were used to evaluate relative lung perfusion when two lung regions were independently ventilated with room air, and subsequently, when one lung region was ventilated with 100% oxygen. The proportion of flow to the hyperoxic lung region was not significantly increased until the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor was inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Thus, hyperoxia stimulated opposing effects on the tension of isolated vascular rings. One mechanism of oxygen-mediated relaxation results from an increase in the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. However, in vivo, alveolar hyperoxia may stimulate an acute pulmonary vasodilatory response which is not mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor.
Effect of raloxifene on sexual function in older postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Abstract Objective To assess the effect of raloxifene compared with placebo on sexual function in older postmenopausal women undergoing therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis. Methods A subset (12%) of English-speaking women in the United States and Canada participating in the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation Trial were asked to complete a sexual function questionnaire at baseline and after 36 months of treatment. The Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation Trial is a multicenter, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in which 7705 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were randomly assigned to one of three groups: raloxifene hydrochloride 60 mg per day or 120 mg per day or placebo. In this substudy, 943 women completed the sexual function questionnaire at both visits. Because preliminary analyses showed no differences by raloxifene dose ( n = 302 for 60 mg per day; n = 322 for 120 mg/day), the two groups were combined and compared with the placebo group ( n = 319). For the given sample size, we had 80% power (α = .05, two-sided, ratio of raloxifene to placebo = 2:1) to detect a 10%–16% difference in the proportion of women experiencing no change in sexual function between placebo and treatment groups. Results Overall, sexual function and changes in sexual function from baseline to study end between the raloxifene and placebo groups did not differ. In particular, there were no differences in sexual desire or frequency of sexual activity between the groups. Among sexually active women, there were no differences in enjoyment, satisfaction, orgasm, or reported sexual problems. Conclusion Sexual function in older postmenopausal women with osteoporosis is not affected by treatment withraloxifene.
Development of in vitro systems for chemoprevention research.

Abstract The C3H/10T1/2 mouse fibroblast cell line has been developed as a predictive model for cancer chemopreventive agents. The retinoids, which are currently being evaluated as chemopreventive agents in the clinic, are potent inhibitors or chemically induced neoplastic transformation in this cell line. Mechanistic studies suggest that retinoids stabilize chemically initiated cells and prevent their transformation by enhancing gap junctional communication between these cells and adjacent growth-inhibited normal 10T1/2 cells. Carotenoids also prevent chemically and physically induced neoplastic transformation of 10T1/2 cells. β-Carotene is active without evidence of bioconversion to retinoids, implying that this dietary constituent has intrinsic chemopreventive activity. This cell culture system mimics many aspects of carcinogenesis in animals and man and appears well suited to mechanistic studies at the cellular and molecular level.
Writing for the Technical Representative

The achievement of both effectiveness and efficiency in communications directed to the technical representative demands careful communications planning. In particular, it demands analysis of the in...
Role of cellular thiol status in tocopheryl hemisuccinate cytoprotection against ethyl methanesulfonate-induced toxicity☆

Suspensions of rat hepatocytes treated with the alkylating agent ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) exhibited extensive lipid peroxidation as well as rapid and near complete depletion of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) levels prior to cell death. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with medium deficient in sulfur amino acids accelerated cell death induced by EMS, confirming the previously reported cytoprotective role for GSH in this toxic event. Nearly all of the cellular GSH lost following 50 mM EMS treatment was accounted for as S-ethyl glutathione (GS-Et). No significant formation of glutathione disulfide was observed. The GS-Et formed was not exported from the cell but remained at high intracellular concentrations throughout the course of the experiment. In addition, EMS treatment inhibited the efflux of intracellular GSH and inhibited the cellular accumulation of glutamate (Glu). Supplementation of hepatocytes with 25 microM d-alpha-tocopheryl hemisuccinate (TS) protected these cells against EMS-induced lipid peroxidation and cell death. Cytoprotection with TS had no effect on EMS-induced depletion of intracellular GSH or intracellular levels of GS-Et or Glu. However, TS supplementation did prevent EMS-induced depletion of cellular protein thiols. Interestingly, the pretreatment of hepatocytes with 1 mM dithiothreitol promoted EMS toxicity. The results of this study suggest that the cytoprotective abilities of TS are related to the prevention of both EMS-induced lipid peroxidation and protein thiol depletion. Thus, the onset of lipid peroxidation and the loss of protein thiols in hepatocytes appear to be critical cellular events leading to EMS-induced cell death.
Multimedia aids to problem-solving transfer

Abstract How can students be helped to understand scientific explanations of cause-and-effect systems, such as how a pump works, how the human respiratory system works, or how lightning storms develop? This chapter reviews some encouraging evidence that multimedia learning environments can promote constructivist learning that enables problem-solving transfer. It begins with a description of a multimedia learning scenario, a cognitive theory of multimedia learning, and a set of design principles that lead to constructivist learning. Then, results from more than 40 studies are reviewed. In combination, these studies explore the conditions under which multimedia environments promote problem-solving transfer of scientific and mathematical principles. The concluding section addresses the problem of how multimedia instructional messages can be designed to promote problem-solving transfer.
Adolescents' Purchasing Role Structure when Shopping by Catalog for Clothing

The purpose of this research is to further the understanding of the consumer socialization process by examining the purchasing role structure of adolescents who purchase clothing through catalogs. Purchasing role structure refers to the influence of socialization agents on adolescents' purchase decisions. In particular, there are two major categories of socialization agents: those independent of family members (decisions made alone or with friends) and those dependent on family members (consider what their family members would think of the purchase decision). Results suggest that adolescents believe their catalog purchase decisions are independent from family members. In other words, adolescents do not consider what their family members would think of the purchase decision. Younger adolescents perceive direct and indirect influence more often from parents and indirect influence more often from siblings and friends than do older adolescents. In addition, the younger adolescents perceive indirect parental i...
Spectrally encoded CDMA system using Mach-Zehnder encoder chains

Spectrally encoded code division multiple access (CDMA) systems using a complementary bipolar mechanism has been considered the most suitable way to implement CDMA on optical fiber system by many people in this paper, we present a proposed bipolar complementary spectrally encoded optical CDMA system based on a cascaded Mach-Zehnder encoder chain filter and give an analysis on the capacity limit of such systems.
Interpersonal and Systemic Microaggressions Toward Transgender People: Implications for Counseling

This study utilized a qualitative method with transgender female and male participants (N = 9) to identify types of microaggressions, or subtle forms of discrimination, that transgender people experience. Twelve categories of microaggressions were identified: (a) use of transphobic and/or incorrectly gendered terminology, (b) assumption of universal transgender experience, (c) exoticization, (d) discomfort/disapproval of transgender experience, (e) endorsement of gender normative and binary culture or behaviors, (f) denial of existence of transphobia, (g) assumption of sexual pathology/abnormality, (h) physical threat or harassment, (i) denial of individual transphobia, (j) denial of bodily privacy, (k) familial microaggressions, and (l) systemic and environmental microaggressions. Implications for counseling are discussed.
Abnormalities of the heart and great arteries in first trimester chromosomally abnormal fetuses

Pathological examination of the heart and great arteries was performed in 112 chromosomally abnormal fetuses after surgical termination of pregnancy at 11-16 weeks of gestation. The chromosomal abnormalities were diagnosed by chorion villus sampling which was carried out because screening of the pregnancies by a combination of maternal age and fetal nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation identified them as being at increased risk. The group consisted of 60 fetuses with trisomy 21, 29 with trisomy 18, 17 with trisomy 13 and 6 with Ullrich-Turner syndrome. The most common cardiac lesion seen in trisomy 21 fetuses was an atrioventricular or ventricular septal defect. Trisomy 18 was associated with ventricular septal defects and/or polyvalvular abnormalities. In trisomy 13, there were atrioventricular or ventricular septal defects, valvular abnormalities, and either narrowing of the isthmus or truncus arteriosus. Ullrich-Turner syndrome was associated with severe narrowing of the whole aortic arch. In all four groups of chromosomally abnormal fetuses, the aortic isthmus was significantly narrower than in normal fetuses and the degree of narrowing was significantly greater in fetuses with high nuchal translucency thickness. It is postulated that narrowing of the aortic isthmus may be the basis of increased nuchal translucency thickness in all four chromosomal abnormalities.
Beyond search and communication: Development and validation of the Internet Self-efficacy Scale (ISS)

Internet self-efficacy is a pivotal construct for understanding a wide range of online activities. Human activity has been developing in new directions along with the evolution of the Internet over the last few decades. A self-efficacy measure which might appropriately reflect these changes is still lacking in the literature. To address this research gap, the current study developed the Internet Self-efficacy Scale (ISS) and tested its validity and reliability. A sample of 349 undergraduate students completed an assessment battery including the ISS. A 17-item five-factor model was extracted from an EFA. Using a CFA, the 17-item five-factor model obtained from the EFA was cross-validated and the results revealed acceptable model fits where @g^2(df=107)=198.987, NFI=.918, CFI=.960, and RMESA=.067 (95% C.I.; 052, .081). Also, the ISS showed good convergent validity, evidenced by the significant relationships with Internet outcome expectancy and Internet anxiety.
Intersection crossing assist system: Transition from a road-side to an in-vehicle system

Due to high vehicle velocities rural intersections have a disproportionately high rate of fatalities. The current study examines the transition from an infrastructure-based rural intersection crossing assist system to one located inside a vehicle. Moreover, we investigate the efficacy of the in-vehicle system. Three different designs of the assist system were examined regarding their impact on driving performance and applicability to varying age groups and visibility conditions. These designs differed in terms of their complexity based on the amount of information that drivers received about the intersection traffic. Seventy-two older and younger participants divided into the three design groups crossed a busy rural intersection in a simulated environment. Drivers completed four blocks of trials in which the presence of the assist system and visibility conditions (limited, clear) were counterbalanced. When presented with the assist system drivers were less likely to accept a smaller gap, especially under low-visibility conditions. The design of the assist system that resulted in the best overall intersection crossing performance was also the most informative about the traffic. Older drivers exhibited some benefits from the presence of the assist system, although not to the same extent as the younger drivers. The results suggest that some infrastructure-based assist or information display systems could successfully be transitioned to inside a vehicle.
Ten Black Dots and September 11: Integrating Social Studies and Mathematics through Children's Literature.

Because of the pressure to increase test scores in reading and mathematics, content areas such as social studies are being eliminated from many elementary schools' curricula. It is critical that teachers find ways to integrate social studies into reading and mathematics. Social studies and mathematics may not immediately come to mind when considering subject area integration; however, these content areas can be effectively integrated through the use of children's literature and engaging activities. Research supports both curriculum integration and the use of children's literature in all content areas. Teachers must use effective methods for weaving subject areas together in ways that will motivate students and cover required state standards. This activity is an example of an activity that teachers can use to integrate social studies and math through the use of children's literature.
THE ORIGIN OF THE PROTEIN OF SINDBIS VIRUS.

Abstract Tyrosine was shown to be an essential amino acid for protein synthesis in primary chick fibroblast tissue cultures. When C14- l -tyrosine was added to the tissue cultures at the time of high-multiplicity infection with Sindbis virus, the specific activities of tyrosine in the hydrolyzate of viral protein and in the medium were similar. Cells prelabeled with C14-tyrosine and then infected in unlabeled medium made only a minimal contribution of radioactivity to the viral protein. Similar results were obtained with C14- l -isoleucine. Most of the protein of Sindbis virus thus appears to be synthesized from amino acids present in the medium at the time of infection, although the viral phospholipid is derived from cellular material.
A mark-up pricing model for price simulations

Abstract This paper develops an input/output model of pricing using a mark-up pricing formula. The connection between mark-up pricing and competitive pricing is analyzed through the determination of sectoral equilibrium profit mark-up rates as a function of the profit rate and the capital intensity of each sector. The model is used to analyze the effects on relative prices and the aggregate price level of exogenous changes in the nominal wage rate, tax rates, the exchange rate and world prices. Exogenous changes in the prices of domestically produced commodities are modelled via the imposition of ad valorem tax rates, which yield a measure of the net effect of the exogenous changes. Simulations are carried out under passive price adjustment as well as adjustment with price ceilings. In this last instance the model calculates the endogenously determined reduction in profit mark-ups. Lastly, empirical results of various simulations are presented using data from the Mexican economy.
Indoor localization through dynamic time warping

Identifying and locating oneself in different hallways of high rise buildings forms the classic indoor localization problem. GPS does not work indoors and WiFi may not be omnipresent. This paper presents a novel approach to ambient magnetic fields based indoor localization. We present a system that classifies magnetic signatures using dynamic time warping. Specifically, by aligning similar magnetic signatures that differ in magnitude or time, we classify the signatures and infer the location irrepective of the person and his/her mode of commuting. A Nexus One smartphone was employed, utilizing its builtin magnetic field sensor to create a user friendly localization application solely on the phone. By using a variety of subjects including sighted, blindfolded and people using wheelchairs to handle the human speed variation problem, we evaluated the system across 26 and 15 hallways of two different buildings and obtained accuracies of 92.6%, and 91.1% respectively. With these encouraging results, we believe our proposed solution is user independent and caters to a wide range of hallways.
Wear of Electroplated CBN Grinding Wheels

An investigation is reported on the wear of single-layer electroplated cubic boron nitride (CBN) grinding wheels and how the wear process affects the wheel topography and grinding behavior. Internal cylindrical and straight surface grinding experiments were conducted over a wide range of conditions on hardened bearing steel with wheels containing different abrasive grain sizes. The radial wheel wear was characterized in each case by an initial transient at a progressively decreasing rate to a steady-state wear regime at a nearly constant rate until the end of the wheel life. Wheel wear during the initial transient was found to be mainly due to pullout of the most protruding weakly held grains, and the radial wheel wear in the steady-state regime was dominated by grain fracture. The wear rate in the steady-state regime for various grinding conditions and grain sizes was found to be directly related to the undeformed chip thickness. Dulling of the grain tips by attrition and fragmentation caused an increase in the grinding power. Wheel wear was accompanied by a progressive increase in the.active grain density and a corresponding decrease in surface roughness. The surface roughness was found to depend mainly on the active grain density and is insensitive to the operating parameters.
Impact of Breast Reconstruction on the Decision to Undergo Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Background In the last decade, there has been increasing use of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in patients with unilateral breast cancer and ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS) undergoing mastectomy. Although many factors have been proposed to explain this trend, the impact of breast reconstruction on CPM has not been studied.
Intraurban wage gradients: Evidence by race, gender, occupational class, and sector

Abstract A general functional form is used to estimate intraurban wage gradients for various groups of workers with 1980 data from the Philadelphia, Detroit, and Boston metropolitan areas. As predicted by the standard monocentric model of urban land use, the following results are obtained for most groups of white workers: negative and statistically significant wage gradients, steeper wage gradients for higher wage earners, and an increase in the steepness of wage gradients as the CBD is approached. Positive wage gradients are not found for black workers, despite the fact that suburban employers hire large numbers of these workers who reside within the central city. This result is taken as support for the hypothesis that blacks have been disadvantaged by job suburbanization and continued housing market segregation.
Adaptive grids generated by elliptic systems

It is pointed out that a finite difference grid which moves with the solution of the partial differential equation being solved can improve the accuracy and efficiency of a numerical algorithm. This technique is particularly advantageous in the solution of problems involving boundary layers or shocks where a poorly chosen grid may give a numerical solution which is useless because of poor resolution or extreme oscillations. The present investigation is concerned with the development of a scheme which does not excessively distort the grid. The grid generation algorithm is based on the numerical solution of a system of elliptic differential equations. Holst and Brown (1981) have used a preliminary solution to move points on the boundary of the physical region and then resolved the problem on a new grid generated by an elliptic system. In the current investigation, the grid movement and the solution will develop simultaneously. The solution is used to modify the generating equations, thereby controlling the grid point distributions.
Accuracy of intrachromosomal gene conversion in mouse cells

Results of several recent studies suggest that homologous recombination and related processes in mammalian cells are highly mutagenic. We have examined the products of intrachromosomal gene conversion events that encompassed the last intron of the chicken thymidine kinase gene. Following plasmid rescue and DNA sequencing, we find no mutations associated with twenty conversion events representing 5380 total base pairs of which 2414 base pairs are intron sequence. Based on these studies we conclude that intrachromosomal gene conversion in mouse cells is not a highly mutagenic process but rather it operates with fidelity.
Reducing ultra-shallow boron diffusion using carbon and fluorine co-implantation

Abstract A method to reduce the diffusion of boron in ultra-shallow junctions (USJ) has been found using the co-implantation of fluorine and carbon. In this 24 designed experiment a 40% reduction of B diffusion in the presence of a shallow F and C implant was found over the use of F alone. In addition another 10% reduction of B diffusion can be obtained if a medium dose arsenic implant is preformed before F and B implantation. It has been found that implanting in this order significantly alters the defect structure of the USJ and suggests that F trapped in the lattice after anneal may be tied up in vacancy fluorine clusters which increase B activation.
Scaffold Targeting Drug-Resistant Colon Cancers

We have identified five derivatives of the natural product sansalvamide A that are potent against multiple drug-resistant colon cancer cell lines. These analogs share no structural homology to current colon cancer drugs, are cytotoxic at levels on par with existing drugs treating other cancers, and demonstrate selectivity for drug-resistant colon cancer cell lines over noncancerous cell lines. Thus, we have established sansalvamide A as a privileged structure for treating multiple drug-resistant colon cancers.
Low and High Renin Essential Hypertension: A Comparison of Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics

Based on a renin-sodium nomogram, patients with essential hypertension can be divided into low, normal and high renin subgroups. To define more clearly the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the two extreme groups, data of 83 patients with low renin essential hypertension were compared with those from 42 patients with high renin essential hypertension. In a further analysis, data or 27 age-and sex-matched patients from these two groups were compared with data from 27 matched subjects from a normotensive control group. Compared with high renin patients, low renin patients more frequently are female, older, and have higher systolic blood pressures and pulse pressures. The latter two characteristics are age-related. The similarity of duration of hypertension in both groups and the lack of correlation between age and plasma renin activity suggest that low renin hypertension is a separate entity rather than just a later phase of the same disease. Patients with low renin hypertension had better renal function than high renin patients or normotensive control subjects. High renin patients showed signs of hemoconcentration: hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total protein were higher than in low renin patients and normotensive controls. A significant difference between the slopes of the regression lines relating renin activity and sodium excretion for the two renin subgroups indicates that renin release in low renin patients is less sensitive to alterations in sodium balance. Both groups of patients had similarly elevated aldosterone levels, suggesting an increased sensitivity of aldosterone secretion to angiotensin II in low renin hypertensives. The relationship between aldosterone and potassium excretion was similar in both groups, indicating a comparable mineralocorticoid sensitivity.
Single-loop project controls: Reigning paradigms or straitjackets?

This article reports on the results from an ongoing research program to study the role mental models play in project decision making. Project management belongs to the class of multiloop nonlinear feedback systems, but most managers do not see it that way. Our experimental results suggest that managers adopt simplistic single-loop views of causality, ignore multiple feedback interactions, and are insensitive to nonlinearities. Specifically, the article examines single-loop models of project planning and control, discusses their limitations, and proposes tools to address them.
Disease and Insect Assessment of Candidate Cultivars for Potential Use in Organic Peanut Production

Abstract Interest in organic peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production is increasing in the United States. Disease and insect resistant cultivars will be needed to meet the challenge of producing peanuts without conventional pesticides. No-fungicide and no-insecticide field trials were conducted under irrigation four consecutive years (2003–06) at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station to evaluate peanut genotypes for pest resistance. The most important foliar peanut diseases in the southeast are tomato spotted wilt (TSW) caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus and both early and late leafspots caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori and Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & Curt.) Deighton, respectively. Two of the most important insect pests on peanut are tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) and potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae Harris). Results from these no-fungicide and no-insecticide field trials showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in pest resistance among advanced Georgia bre...
Control of supersonic intersection flowfields through filleting and sweep

The problem of supersonic flow control using fillets and sweep for a wing/body junction has been investigated numerically using a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code which employs the MacCormack time-split finite-volume technique. An elliptic grid generation technique with direct control over spacing has been incorporated for constructing the grid at a filleted wing/body junction. The computed results for pressure distribution, particle paths, and limiting streamlines on the flat plate and fin surface for a swept fin show a decrease in the peak pressure on the fin leading edge and in the extent of the separated flow region. Moreover, the results for the filleted juncture clearly show that the flow streamline patterns lose much of their vortical character with proper filleting. It is demonstrated that fillets with a radius of 3.5 times the fin leading edge diameter are required to weaken the usual necklace vortex interaction.
Reinforcing properties of novel and familiar solutions of saccharin for rats

To evaluate the influence of flavor neophobia on the reinforcing properties of edibles, the leverpress behavior of rats was reinforced with either a novel or a familiar 2.0% solution of sodium saccharin following preliminary training with water reinforcement. The familiar saccharin flavor was much more effective in reinforcing instrumental behavior than was the novel saccharin. In fact, reinforcement with a novel saccharin flavor initially did not stimulate more responding than what was observed in another group of subjects given no reward. Repeated training with the novel saccharin reward gradually increased the rate of leverpressing, consistent with a counterconditioning interpretation. However, this counterconditioning did not produce the increased resistance to extinction in the final phase of the experiment which is predicted by the general theory of persistence (Amsel, 1972).
Human Enhancement: Making the Debate More Productive

Human enhancement—the attempt to overcome all human cognitive, emotional, and physical limitations using current technological developments—has been said to pose the most fundamental social and political question facing the world in the twenty-first century. Yet, the public remains ill prepared to deal with it. Indeed, controversy continues to swirl around human enhancement even among the very best-informed experts in the most relevant fields, with no end in sight. Why the ongoing stalemate in the discussion? I attempt to explain the central features of the human enhancement debate and the empirical and normative shortcomings that help to keep it going. I argue that philosophers of science are especially well equipped to rectify these shortcomings, and I suggest that we may be deeply remiss if we don’t do so.
Drosophila virilis histone gene clusters lacking H1 coding segments

Approximately 30–40% ofDrosophila virilis DNA complementary to clonedDrosophila histone genes is reduced to 3.4-kilobase-pair (kbp) segments by Bgl I or Bgl II digestion. The core histone genes of a 3.4-kbp Bgl II segment cloned in the plasmid pDv3/3.4 have the same order as theD. melanogaster core histone genes in the plasmid cDm500:\(\overrightarrow {H2B} \overleftarrow {H3} \overrightarrow {H4} \overleftarrow {H2A} \). Nonetheless, pDv3/3.4 and cDm500 have different histone gene configurations: In pDv3/3.4, the region between the H2B and H3 genes contains 0.35 kbp and cannot encode histone H1; in cDm500, the region contains 2.0 kbp and encodes histone H1. The lack of an H1 gene between the H2B and H3 genes in 30–40% ofD. virilis histone gene clusters suggests that changes in histone gene arrays have occurred during the evolution ofDrosophila. The ancestors of modernDrosophila may have possessed multiple varieties of histone gene clusters, which were subsequently lost differentially in thevirilis andmelanogaster lineages. Alternatively, they may have possessed a single variety, which was rearranged during evolution. The H1 genes ofD. virilis andD. melanogaster did not cross-hybridize in vitro under conditions that maintain stable duplexes between DNAs that are 75% homologous. Consequently,D. virilis H1 genes could not be visualized by hybridization to an H1-specific probe and thus remain unidentified. Our observations suggest that the coding segments in the H1 genes ofD. virilis andD. melanogaster are >25% divergent. Our estimate of sequence divergence in the H1 genes ofD. virilis andD. melanogaster seems high until one considers that the coding sequences of cloned H1 genes from the closely related speciesD. melanogaster andD. simulans are 5% divergent.
Metaheuristic techniques for Support Vector Machine model selection

The classification accuracy of a Support Vector Machine is dependent upon the specification of model parameters. The problem of finding these parameters, called the model selection problem, can be very computationally intensive, and is exacerbated by the fact that once selected, these model parameters do not carry across from one dataset to another. This paper describes implementations of both Ant Colony Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization techniques to the SVM model selection problem. The results of these implementations on some common datasets are compared to each other and to the results of other SVM model selection techniques.
Stress and coping in rural women with alcohol and other drug disorders.

Alcohol and other drug disorders (AOD) are a growing problem among women with estimates as high as 11 million U.S. women affected. This is a report of the results of two studies investigating risk factors for AOD disorders in rural women, a population that is difficult to access. Samples of the two studies were combined for a total of 267 women. Analyses focus on stress, coping, alcohol expectancies, and self-esteem. Results indicate that rural women with AOD disorders experience more stressors and fewer uplifting events, have fewer coping resources, and use more emotion-focused coping strategies than women without AOD disorders.
A study on balancing parallelism, data locality, and recomputation in existing PDE solvers

Structured-grid PDE solver frameworks parallelize over boxes, which are rectangular domains of cells or faces in a structured grid. In the Chombo framework, the box sizes are typically 163 or 323, but larger box sizes such as 1283 would result in less surface area and therefore less storage, copying, and/or ghost cells communication overhead. Unfortunately, current on node parallelization schemes perform poorly for these larger box sizes. In this paper, we investigate 30 different inter-loop optimization strategies and demonstrate the parallel scaling advantages of some of these variants on NUMA multicore nodes. Shifted, fused, and communication-avoiding variants for 1283 boxes result in close to ideal parallel scaling and come close to matching the performance of 163 boxes on three different multicore systems for a benchmark that is a proxy for program idioms found in Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) codes.
Comparison of lipoprotein lipase activity in heart myocytes and perfused hearts

This study was initiated to compare lipoprotein lipase activity in isolated heart myocytes and the heparin residual compartment of perfused hearts from adult rats. Heart lipoprotein lipase activity was divided into two fractions by 1 min of heparin perfusion. Heparin-residual and myocyte lipoprotein lipase activity were lower in hearts obtained from fasted compared to fed rats. In each case, the myocyte enzyme activity was 55 to 60% of heparin-residual levels. The difference between myocyte and heparin-residual activity may be a consequence of the time and treatment required to isolate cells in that long-term in vitro exposure of heart tissue to heparin also reduces residual activity. In vivo treatment with endotoxin decreased both heparin-residual and myocyte lipoprotein lipase activities; whereas, colchicine administration increased both activities compared to saline injected rats. In this latter experiment heart heparin-residual and myocyte lipoprotein lipase activities were positively correlated (r = 0.90). The results indicate that in the mature heart intracellular lipoprotein lipase activity is primarily associated with myocytes.
Representation of Muslim sexual subjectivities: the hidden ethical judgments of journalistic rhetoric

In 2005, following a year of increased attention in English language media to the prominence of sexual reassignment surgeries in Iran, the London-based Guardian dubs Tehran “the unlikely sex-change capital of the world.” This title is significantly complicated when we realize that according to mainstream English media, Tehran is not the first or only sex change capital of the world. Its sister city is Trinidad, Colorado, a predominantly Catholic town with a population hovering around 9,000. Although English language newspapers have served up stories of each location as “surprising” magnets for SRS, none have mentioned both places in the same article because these stories operate with a different set of logics related to religion, sex, and human rights. Analysis of the journalist rhetoric of these two unlikely capitals highlights these diverse logics, particularly how assumptions about Muslim subjectivity affects judgments about the status of sexual freedom in Iran.
Implications of bone modification in a neolithic faunal assemblage for the study of early hominid butchery and subsistence practices

Bone modification patterns have been widely used to discuss early hominid diet and subsistence strategies. This paper presents the results of a study of bone modification at the Kenyan Postoral Neolithic site of Ngamuriak, and discusses its relevance to the interpretation of faunas from early hominid sites. Neolithic butchery of large bovids at Ngamuriak appears generally similar to that reported for large bovids from the FLK-Zinjanthropus site at Olduvai Gorge, specifically cut marks on limb shafts are common in both assemblages. This counters Shipman's contentions that early hominid butchery differs from the Neolithic pattern, and that a high frequency of cuts on limb shafts at early hominid sites can be used as an indication of early hominid scavenging activities. However, butchery patterns differ between large and small bovids at Ngamuriak and between small bovids at Ngamuriak and FLK-Zinjanthropus. Small bovids at FLK-Zinjanthropus are more intensively processed than at Ngmuriak. The difference between large and small bovid butchery at Ngamuriak gives some time depth to the findings of some recent ethnoarchaeological studies and emphasises the importance of considering different size categories separately in the interpretation of early hominid sites. Whilst there are some areas where Neolithic bone modification is patterned by recent technology, Neolithic faunal assemblages can provide a useful link between early hominid and contemporary faunal assemblages.
Effects of stimulus duration and stimulus intensity level on recovery times for lingual vibrotactile threshold shift

The time required for lingual vibrotactile thresholds of normal young adults to return to baseline levels of sensitivity was determined following presentations of a 250-Hz stimulus for durations of 5 and 15 sec at eight different intensity levels. Results indicated that stimulus duration and stimulus intensity levels significantly affected threshold recovery time. Longer recovery times were noted for stimuli of greater duration and intensity.
Molecular Diagnosis of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification of T-Cell Antigen Receptor β-Chain Gene Rearrangements

The goal of our study was to molecularly diagnose CTCL, by cloning the T-cell antigen receptor beta chain (TCR-β) gene rearrangement from the malignant T cells of a patient with Sezary syndrome, in order to generate a specific oligonucleotide probe capable of detecting CTCL cells through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Total RNA isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes was reverse transcribed and resultant first strand cDNA was PCR amplified utilizing a concensus primer to the TCR-β variable region (V β ) and a 3' primer to the TCR-β constant region (C β ). PCR reaction products were subcloned into a plasmid vector and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that the patient's in-frame TCR-β gene rearrangement utilized V β 6.4, D β 1.1, J β 2.2, and C β 2.1 gene segments. Oligo-primers to V β 6.4 and J β 2.2 were utilized to PCR amplify genomic DNA taken from the patient's blood and involved skin. Screening the amplified DNA with an oligoprobe specific for the patient's V-D-J junctional sequences resulted in the detection of the patient- specific sequences. No sequences were detected from DNA from other malignant or benign infiltrates. Thus, we have defined a "molecular fingerprint" specific for a patient's malignant T-cells and can molecularly diagnose CTCL through PCR amplification.
Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and cell death during myocardial infarction: roles of calcium and reactive oxygen species

Excess generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytosolic calcium accumulation play major roles in the initiation of programmed cell death during acute myocardial infarction. Cell death may include necrosis, apoptosis and autophagy, and combinations thereof. During ischemia, calcium handling between the sarcoplasmic reticulum and myofilament is disrupted and calcium is diverted to the mitochondria causing swelling. Reperfusion, while essential for survival, reactivates energy transduction and contractility and causes the release of ROS and additional ionic imbalance. During acute ischemia-reperfusion, the principal death pathways are programmed necrosis and apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway, initiated by the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, respectively. Despite intense investigation, the mechanisms of action and modes of regulation of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization are incompletely understood. Extrinsic apoptosis, necroptosis and autophagy may also contribute to ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this review, the roles of dysregulated calcium and ROS and the contributions of Bcl-2 proteins, as well as mitochondrial morphology in promoting mitochondrial membrane permeability change and the ensuing cell death during myocardial infarction are discussed.
Aerosol particles generated by diesel-powered school buses at urban schools as a source of children’s exposure

Abstract Various heath effects in children have been associated with exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (PM), including emissions from school buses. In this study, the indoor and outdoor aerosol at four urban elementary schools serviced by diesel-powered school buses was characterized with respect to the particle number concentrations and size distributions as well as the PM2.5 mass concentrations and elemental compositions. It was determined that the presence of school buses significantly affected the outdoor particle size distribution, specifically in the ultrafine fraction. The time-weighted average of the total number concentration measured outside the schools was significantly associated with the bus and the car counts. The concentration increase was consistently observed during the morning drop-off hours and in most of the days during the afternoon pick-up period (although at a lower degree). Outdoor PM2.5 mass concentrations measured at schools ranged from 3.8 to 27.6 μg m−3. The school with the highest number of operating buses exhibited the highest average PM2.5 mass concentration. The outdoor mass concentrations of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) were also highest at the school with the greatest number of buses. Most (47/55) correlations between traffic-related elements identified in the outdoor PM2.5 were significant with elements identified in the indoor PM2.5. Significant associations were observed between indoor and outdoor aerosols for EC, EC/OC, and the total particle number concentration. Day-to-day and school-to-school variations in Indoor/Outdoor (I/O) ratios were related to the observed differences in opening windows and doors, which enhanced the particle penetration, as well as indoor activities at schools. Overall, the results on I/O ratio obtained in this study reflect the sizes of particles emitted by diesel-powered school bus engines (primarily, an ultrafine fraction capable of penetrating indoors).
Effect of oral meloxicam on health and performance of beef steers relative to bulls castrated on arrival at the feedlot

Castration in weaned calves is stressful and affects profitability by reducing ADG and increasing susceptibility to disease. This study evaluated the effect of meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on performance and health of calves received as steers compared with bull calves surgically castrated on arrival at the feedlot. British × Continental bulls (n = 145) and steers (n = 113; BW = 193 to 285 kg) were transported for 12 h in 3 truckloads (d 0), weighed, and randomly assigned to receive either lactose placebo (CONT; 1 mg/kg) or meloxicam (MEL; 1 mg/kg) suspended in water and administered per os, 24 h before castration. On d 1, bulls were surgically castrated (CAST) and steers were processed without castration (STR). Combinations of CONT/MEL and CAST/STR were allocated to 24 pens (6 pens per treatment) of 8 to 14 calves each. Pen was the experimental unit. Plasma meloxicam concentrations at the time of castration (d 1) were determined by HPLC-mass spectroscopy. Pen-level ADG, DMI, and G:F were estimated using BW obtained on d 0, 14, and 28 and weigh-back of feed. Individual animals were classified as sick based on a depression score of ≥2 on a 5-point scale and a rectal temperature of ≥39.8°C. On d 0, 1, and 14, calf chute temperament was evaluated using a 4-point scale. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models and survival curve analyses. Castration reduced pen ADG (P 0.45) were apparent by d 28. For all treatment groups, DMI increased with days on feed (P < 0.0001) but was less in CAST compared with STR calves (P < 0.016) throughout the study. From d 15 to 28, ADG increased (P = 0.0011) in CAST but not STR calves, and G:F decreased (P = 0.0004) in STR but not CAST calves. In CAST calves only, MEL treatment reduced the pen-level first pull rate (P = 0.04) and reduced bovine respiratory disease morbidity rate (P = 0.03). The frequency of chute escape behavior was greater on arrival and at castration in CAST vs. STR calves (P < 0.01) but not significantly different at d 14 (P = 0.22). Mean MEL concentrations at castration were no different between treated STR and CAST calves (P = 0.70). Meloxicam administration before castration in postweaning calves reduced the incidence of respiratory disease at the feedlot. These findings have implications for developing NSAID protocols for use in calves at castration with respect to addressing animal health and welfare concerns.