cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Topography of scalp recorded potentials evoked by stimulation of the digits

Abstract The amplitude of the primary positive deflection, P 24 , was measured in each wave from recorded from a 36-channel scalp electrode array placed over sensorimotor cortex. Electrical stimulation of contralateral little, middle, index finger, or thumb produced wave forms possessing common features, but the location of peak P 24 amplitude depended upon the digit stimulated. With thumb stimulation peak P 24 amplitude was located approximately two-thirds the distance from midline to sylvian fissure, while stimulation of the other digits resulted in more medially located topographic peaks. These shifts correlate with previous descriptions of body-part representation in somatosensory cortex and suggest that at least certain wave form deflections recorded from the scalp provide accurate localization of their underlying neural generators.
A Novel Adaptation of Distress Tolerance Skills Training Among Military Veterans: Outcomes in Suicide-Related Events☆

Abstract Although clinical services designed to address suicide-related behaviors are available to veterans, some factors may limit their effectiveness. Relevant factors include the presence of barriers to accessing existing services and a lack of interventions that address the unique needs of veterans. In an effort to address this gap, a modified DBT distress tolerance drop-in group was offered to a population of military veterans in an outpatient setting. This exploratory study reports clinical outcomes on this skills training group intervention informed by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principles among a population of self- and clinician-referred veterans. Findings suggest a significant reduction in suicide-related behaviors among veterans who attended 8 or more skills training groups. Clinical implications of study findings warrant further research into novel adaptations of evidence-based treatments for this population with unique needs.
Pitch-Axis Aerodynamic Parameter Identification for NASA's F-15B

As part of NASA s Intelligent Flight Control Systems program, parameter identification experiments were carried out with NASA Dryden s F-15B TN 837 aircraft. The canard control surfaces, whose movement is highly correlated with aircraft angle of attack, and the aircraft s aerodynamic instability in the pitch axis contribute to making parameter identification challenging. The equation-error method of analysis is applied to several longitudinal parameter identification maneuvers and a new approach for compensating for flight-data signal time lags is developed, which improves the accuracy and consistency of the results.
College students’ categorical perceptions of grades: it’s simply ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’

College students’ categorical perceptions of numeric and alphabetic grades were examined by assigning participants to one of four conditions: numeric grades alphabetic grades, numeric non-grades and alphabetic non-grades. They were then asked to give ratings for each possible grade or non-grade, using a 10-point scale. Factor analysis revealed that college students view both numeric and alphabetic grades as occurring in dichotomous categories, presumably either ‘good’ or ‘bad’. There were no neutral categories for course grades. Replications consistently yielded similar results, although specific boundaries between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ grades varied slightly.
GRANULOMATOUS PROSTATITIS LINKED TO HLA-DRB1*1501

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Granulomatous prostatitis is characterized by a pattern of granulomatous inflammation in the prostate. In most cases the etiology is unknown. Based on the hypothesis that granulomatous prostatitis may be an autoimmune disease we performed intermediate and selective high resolution typing of HLA-DR in a group of patients with the disease and compared the frequency of class II HLA phenotypes to that in a control group of volunteer marrow donors in the military.Materials and Methods:: Histological records from 1 institution from 1990 to 2000 revealed 12 patients with diffuse granulomatous prostatitis. Three patients were dead and 1 refused blood drawing. Peripheral blood from the remaining 8 patients was typed along with blood from an additional 3 identified at the practice of one of us from 1999 through 2002. All slides were reviewed by 1 pathologist. Intermediate resolution typing of HLA-A, B and DR was performed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe. High r...
Rotator cuff crepitus: could Codman really feel a cuff tear?

Background The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of palpating crepitus to diagnose rotator cuff tears. Methods Seventy consecutive consenting patients who presented with shoulder pain and no previous imaging or surgery on the affected shoulder were prospectively enrolled during a 10-month period. A standardized patient history and examination, including the crepitus test, were recorded in addition to obtaining standard radiographs. Additional imaging after initial evaluation was performed with magnetic resonance imaging and interpreted by a musculoskeletal radiologist blinded to the examination findings. Statistical analysis was used to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the crepitus test in the clinical diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear. Results Sixty-three patients had histories, examinations, and imaging studies available for analysis. The crepitus test had a sensitivity of 67%, specificity of 80%, PPV of 91%, and NPV of 43% for all types of rotator cuff tears. The sensitivity and specificity for full-thickness or high-grade partial tears was 82% and 73%, respectively; the PPV and NPV were 77% and 79%. Increasing age improved accuracy as the presence of crepitus in patients older than 55 years had a sensitivity of 76%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, and NPV of 38%. Conclusion The crepitus test has a favorable sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV to assess the integrity of the rotator cuff and may be a useful examination in the clinical diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear.
Localization of actin in mammalian spermatozoa: a comparison of eight species

The distribution of monomeric and polymeric actin in spermatozoa from the bull, boar, rabbit, human, rat, mouse, golden hamster, and guinea pig has been examined by using a monoclonal antiactin antibody and NBD-phallacidin. Actin was present in sperm from each species. When the monoclonal antibody was used, there was a species-specific distribution and intensity of fluorescence, but no generalized pattern. Specific fluorescence was noted in the neck and principal piece of human sperm; in the postacrosomal region, neck, and midpiece of bull and boar sperm; in the postacrosomal region, neck, and principal/equatorial segment border of rabbit sperm; in the neck region of hamster sperm; and in the neck, midpiece, and principal piece of rat, mouse, and guinea pig sperm. Sperm from all eight species displayed no specific fluorescence with NBD-phallacidin, indicating that actin was present in a nonfilamentous form. SDS extracts of sperm were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting; in sperm from each species, a 42-kD protein with specific affinity for the monoclonal antibody was present.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage: An update of pathogenesis, diagnosis and management

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains a devastating neurological disorder, which most commonly develops after rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. Advances have occurred in the areas of epidemiology, diagnostic imaging, medical management and surgical intervention, related to aneurysmal SAH. Interested physicians must become aware of these and other advances to diagnose and manage this potentially lethal disorder more effectively. This review provides information about the pathogenesis and complications of aneurysmal SAH and an update of new and evolving treatment modalities to provide an in-depth overview for the clinician and researcher involved in this rapidly evolving field.
A Precision Test of Hipparcos Systematics toward the Hyades

We propose a test that can in principle detect any systematic errors in the Hipparcos parallaxes toward the Hyades cluster at the level of 0.3 mas. We show that the statistical parallax algorithm subsumes the classical moving cluster methods and provides more precise estimates of the distance and the first two moments of the velocity distribution of the Hyades cluster, namely, its bulk space velocity and the velocity dispersion tensor. To test the Hipparcos parallaxes, we first rescale the bulk velocity determined from statistical parallax to force agreement with the distance scale determined from Hipparcos parallaxes. We then predict the parallaxes of Hyades cluster members using this common cluster space velocity and their Hipparcos proper motions. We show that the parallaxes determined in this manner (πpm) are consistent at the 1 σ level with the parallaxes (πorb) of three Hyades spectroscopic binary systems with orbital solutions. We find that πpm-πorb=0.52±0.47 mas, where the error is dominated by the errors in the orbital parallaxes. A reduction in these errors would allow a test of the systematic errors in the Hipparcos parallaxes at the 0.3 mas level. If the Hyades distance scale is fixed by Hipparcos parallaxes, then its bulk velocity in equatorial coordinates is (Vx,Vy,Vz)=(-5.70±0.20, 45.62±0.11, 5.65±0.08) kms−1, its velocity dispersion is 320±39 m s−1, and the distance modulus to the centroid of our sample of 43 cluster members is 3.34±0.02 mag.
Social Status and Aggressiveness as Moderators of the Relationship Between Interactional Justice and Workplace Deviance

Workplace deviance is a prevalent and costly problem for organizations. This study examines the relationship between interactional justice, a specific type of organizational justice perception that reflects how a person is treated by an authority, and 2 categories of deviant behavior. Based on a person-situation model, we expected the relation between interactional justice and deviance to be stronger when the employee is high rather than low in aggressiveness. Drawing from prior research suggesting that people with low status react defensively to self-invalidating events, we hypothesized that the social status variables of hierarchical position, gender, and race would also moderate the relation between interactional justice and deviance. Finally, we propose a 3-way interaction involving aggressiveness, status, and interactional justice. Data were collected from 192 employees of a public sector organization. The results provide support for several of the hypothesized interactions involving aggressiveness, social status variables, and interactional justice.
Simultaneous HPLC Determination of Free, Conjugated, and Sulfated Bile Acids

Abstract An HPLC method has been developed to separate the 18 major bile acids in a single analytical run (cholate, chenodeoxycholate, deoxycholate, lithocholate, sulfolithocholate, ursodeoxycholate and their glycine and taurine conjugates). Bile acids are rapidly extracted from bile, urine or peritoneal fluid over a C18 cartridge and resolved on a reverse-phase column. Peaks at 210 run are quantitated by comparison with the peak area of commercial standards using 7α, 12α-dihydroxycholanic acid as a retention standard. Standard regression lines are linear over the range of 2–40 μg for conjugated acids and 50–800 μg for unconjugated acids (correlation coefficient range, r=0.962 to 0.989; coefficient of variation, CV=7.8%). Limits of detection are 1 and 20 μg respectively. In a preliminary evaluation, the analysis of urine demonstrated profile shifts in conjugation pattern and total bile acid concentration between patients with hepatitis, biliary obstruction and nonhepatic illness. Abnormal urine profiles f...
Planetary science: Ancient equatorial ice on Mars?

NASA's Opportunity rover found enigmatic sulphate deposits at Meridiani Planum on Mars. A proposal that the deposits are sublimation leftovers of large ice-fields, similar in scale to those at the present-day polar caps, adds to the existing hypotheses.
Use of Nonconscious Priming to Promote Self-Disclosure

The present study examined whether nonconscious priming could increase an individual’s willingness to disclose personal experiences and thoughts to a stranger. Fifty volunteers between 18 and 35 years old were randomly assigned to one of two priming conditions. Group disclosure (n = 25) unscrambled sentences containing disclosure-related words and gave ratings to self-descriptive statements emphasizing their willingness to talk to others. Group nondisclosure (n = 25) was exposed to words and statements expressing a lack of willingness to talk to others. Following priming, both groups were asked to write two essays focused on recent personal experiences and self-reflections. Compared to group nondisclosure, group disclosure wrote significantly longer essays with significantly more statements of feelings. Both participants and researchers were blind to group assignment, and none of the participants expressed awareness of the priming manipulation during debriefing. These results demonstrate that priming can ...
Fortification of Bread with Hulls and Cotyledon Fibers Isolated from Peas, Lentils, and Chickpeas

ABSTRACT Bread was prepared from wheat flour and wheat flour fortified with either 3, 5, and 7% legume hulls or insoluble cotyledon fibers, or with 1, 3, and 5% soluble cotyledon fibers isolated from pea, lentil, and chickpea flours. Incorporation of hulls or insoluble fibers resulted in increases in dough water absorption by 2–16% and increases in mixing time of dough by 22–147 sec. Addition of soluble fiber resulted in decreases in water absorption as the substitution rate increased and similar mixing times to the control dough. Loaf weights of breads containing hulls or insoluble fibers were generally higher than that of control bread at 149.4–166.5 g. However, the loaf volume of breads fortified with legume hulls and fibers (685–1,010 mL) was lower than that of the control bread (1,021 mL). Breads containing soluble fibers were more attractive in terms of crumb uniformity and color than breads containing either hulls or insoluble fibers. Breads fortified with legume hulls and fibers were higher in moi...
Light-particle-complex-fragment coincidence cross sections from intermediate energy nucleus-nucleus collisions

Light-particle (Zleq2) inclusive and coincidence spectra have been measured for the reactions 30 MeV/nucleon $^{12}$C+Al and $^{12}$C+Au and 92 MeV/nucleon $^{40}$Ar+Au at angles from 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Coincidence triggers for the light-particle spectra were intermediate rapidity fragments (3leqZleq7) at -30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and projectilelike fragments (3leqZleq18) at -13\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The Ar + Au inclusive spectra are compared to hydrodynamics and firestreak model calculations. Nonazimuthally averaged hydrodynamics calculations are compared to the light-particle spectra triggered by projectilelike fragments. A single moving source parametrization is employed throughout to extract the relevant trends in the inclusive and coincidence data. The coincidence spectra are compared with a model based on the moving source model but incorporating momentum conservation to account for kinematical biases. Little difference between inclusive and complex-fragment-triggered coincidence cross sections is observed, indicating that all the fragments have a common source.
Thermal, dynamic mechanical and rheological properties of metallocene-catalyzed cycloolefin copolymers (mCOCs) with high glass transition temperature

Abstract We have successfully synthesized and pelletized metallocene-catalyzed cycloolefin copolymers (mCOCs). Furthermore, their thermal oxidation, dynamic mechanical and rheological properties have also been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and capillary rheometer, respectively. Their decomposition temperature ( Td ), glass transition temperature ( Tg ), and maximum damping (tan δ ) are 450 °C, 203 °C and 2.6, respectively. The thermal oxidation for lab-made mCOC results from free-radical-induced reaction, causing discoloration, and its b * value (CIE LAB system) is 29.67. With 1,2-bis(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxyhydro-cinnamoyl)hydrazine as an antioxidant, its b * value can effectively decrease and reach − 0.48. Experimental results reveal it is a tough and flexible polymer for a variety of applications since it possesses excellent thermal stability and mechanical properties.
Intimate Association of 5S RNA and tRNA Genes in Drosophila melanogaster

In this communication, we report the isolation of seven new recombinants derived from the 5S gene locus of Drosophila melanogaster. These recombinants can be divided into three different classes. There are four clones derived from within the 5S gene cluster, two which contain non-5S sequences representing the 5'flanking segment of the gene array and have a structure similar to 12D8 described by Artavanis-Tsakonas et al. (1977), and finally one (22A8) which is shown to contain a DNA segment that is located adjacent to the 3' end of the 5S gene cluster. Analysis of these recombinants supports the model in which all 5S genes of our D. melanogaster Oregon-R wild type strain are arranged in one uninterrupted cluster and are transcribed in the same direction. Interestingly, the 2.5 kb of non-5S RNA coding sequences on the recombinant derived from the 3' edge of the cluster contains at least four genes coding for tRNAs and one of these is located less than 300 bp downstream from the last 5S transcription unit. These tRNA genes are shown to be functional on the basis of the ability of 22A8 DNA to direct the synthesis of tRNA in an in vitro transcription system.
Progressive Schnyder's corneal dystrophy.

Background: Schnyder's crystalline dystrophy is a central anterior bilateral corneal dystrophy characterized by the deposition of crystals composed of cholesterol and other lipids. This condition classically is described as nonprogressive after childhood, but a series of recent studies following patients over time has challenged this teaching. Patients: The authors present a family pedigree including a patient first reported in 1954 and followed for 25 years with dramatic progression of the corneal condition in a dense, discoid pattern of crystals. Best-corrected visual acuity decreased from 20/ 30 to 20/80 in both eyes. This patient now has three children, all with typical corneal involvement. Results: Ocular pathologic examination performed on corneal biopsies submitted for light and electron microscopy demonstrated cholesterol deposition consistent with a diagnosis of Schnyder's. Conclusion: Schnyder's corneal dystrophy may progress significantly over time. The characterization of this condition as stationary may need to be reconsidered.
Neighborhood Community and Life Satisfaction

The impact of a sense of belonging to a community in a neighborhood on a person's overall life satisfaction is examined in an analysis of a random sample survey (N = 783) of residents of a metropolitan area. In addition to identifying specific direct and indirect effects, the study finds that the extent to which individuals feel a part of a neighborhood community serves as a critical intervening variable through which other objective and perceived neighborhood conditions impact on their subjective quality of life.
Pseudo-Boolean Logic Circuits

A new class of switch-level logic circuits intended for modeling digital MOS VLSI circuits is presented. These circuits, which are called pseudo-Boolean, are composed of a single (voltage) source, connectors, switches, attenuators, and wells. The latter two devices are digital versions of resistors and capacitors, respectively, and may assume an arbitrary but finite number of different sizes. Signals are bidirectional, and are assigned a finite set of values of the form (v, s) where v corresponds to voltage level and s corresponds to electrical current or charge level (logical strength). It is shown that these signal values and the associated logical operations form a generalization of Boolean algebra called pseudo-Boolean or Heyting algebra. The analysis of pseudo- Boolean circuits using discrete counterparts of Kirchoff's current law and the superposition principle is discussed, as well as the application of pseudo-Boolean techniques to digital simulation.
Isomeric bismaleimides and polyaspartimides

The properties of a series of bismaleimides and polyaspartimides synthesized from the 3,3', 3,4', and 4,4' isomers of diaminodiphenylmethane are described and compared. The effects of the amine isomerism on the characteristics of bismaleimides and their polymers are investigated. It is observed that the 3,3'-bismaleimide had the highest crystalline melting point, the 4,4' isomer the lowest, and the 3,4'-bismaleimide was slightly above the all-para compounds; for the polyaspartimides, the all-para combinations had the highest glass transition temperature (218 C) and the all-meta the lowest (168 C). The data reveal that strong, flexible films were obtained only from the polyaspartimides made from the 4,4'-diamine/4,4'bismaleimide and the 3,4'-diamine/3,4'bismaleimide combinations; and the tensile properties of the 3,4'polymer films were as good as those of the 4,4 'polymer.
A study of the thermal, dynamic mechanical, and tribological properties of polyphenylene sulfide composites reinforced with carbon nanofibers

The thermal, dynamic mechanical, and tribological properties of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites reinforced with carbon nanofiber (CNF) were studied. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to study the viscoelastic properties and thermal transitions. In order to study the tribological properties, friction and wear tests in a pin-on-disk configuration were performed. The changes in melting point, crystallization temperature, and glass transition temperature were found to be small as a result of reinforcement. Steady state wear rates of the reinforced composites sliding against the counterface of roughness 0.13–0.15 μm Ra were significantly lower than that of the unreinforced PPS. When the composites were tested against the smoother counterface of 0.06–0.11 μm Ra, the wear rates were higher. The coefficient of friction in all the cases was not practically affected by the presence of CNF. The transfer films formed on the counterface during sliding were examined by optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The variation of wear is discussed in terms of the texture and topography of transfer film.
The Magnetic Field of the NGC 2024 Molecular Cloud

We have carried out Very Large Array (VLA) Zeeman observations of absorption lines of H I and OH toward the molecular cloud associated with the NGC 2024 (Orion B) H II region. The synthesized beam diameters are 68'' × 52'', p.a.=38°, and 81'' × 65'', p.a.=-6°, for OH and H I, respectively. The absorption lines could be mapped over the NGC 2024 continuum source, which has an extent (at the 1 Jy beam−1 level) of Δα≈7' by Δδ≈5'. The maps of the magnetic field, together with comparisons with additional data from the published literature, lead to the following conclusions: (1) The magnetic field comes from a line subcomponent at vLSR≈10.2 km s-1, which corresponds in velocity and in spatial morphology with the northern dense molecular ridge in NGC 2024. (2) Blos varies from 0 to the northeast of the northern molecular ridge to almost 100 μG to the southwest. The variation in Blos may be due to the field being mainly in the plane of the sky to the northeast but having a significant line-of-sight component to the southwest. (3) Velocities in the cloud are supersonic but approximately equal to the Alfven velocity, which is consistent with motions being dominated by magnetohydrodynamical waves rather than thermal motion or hydrodynamical turbulence. (4) The mass-to-magnetic flux ratio is supercritical, which suggests that the static magnetic field does not support the cloud against collapse. Simple virial estimates of the relative importance of gravitational, kinetic, and magnetic energies show that the ratio of kinetic/gravitational energy is about 0.5, while the magnetic/gravitational energy ratio is less than 0.1. At face value, these results imply that the cloud is supported mainly by nonthermal motions rather than by the static magnetic field. However, since we only measure directly the line-of-sight component of B, this result is not conclusive.
Development of human fetal skin transplanted to the nude mouse

Thirty-five human fetal skin (HFS) grafts were transplanted to nude mice for 7 to 70 d and evaluated histologically with 64 biopsies. The estimated gestational ages (EGS) of the grafts at the time of the transplantation ranged from 8 to 19 weeks. The maturation of the engrafted fetal skin was evaluated by assessing epidermal, dermal, and appendage development. Within the nude mouse, the HFS demonstrated progression in stratification and maturation of the epidermis. The dermis increased in depth, adding fibrovascular stroma and adipose tissue. The appendages demonstrated invagination, differentiation, and progression of organogenesis. Subcutaneously placed grafts showed the same rate of HFS development as HFS in utero. The grafts transplanted to the surface of the nude mice and exposed to air demonstrated an acceleration of development. We conclude that HFS transplanted to the nude mouse is an effective in vivo model for maintaining and altering HFS maturation.
Performance characterization of computed radiography based mammography systems

Computed Radiography (CR) is a cost-effective technology for digital mammography. In order to optimize the quality of images obtained using CR Mammography, we characterized the effect on image quality of the electrooptical components of the CR imaging chain. The metrics used to assess the image quality included the Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR), Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Noise Power Spectrum (NPS), Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) and Contrast Detail Response Phantom (CDMAM 3.4 Artinis Medical Systems). An 18×24 cm high-resolution granular phosphor imaging plate (AGFA MM3.0) was used to acquire the images. Contrast detail was measured using a GUI developed for the CDMAM phantom that was scored by independent observers. The range of theoretically acceptable values measured for the CR laser was (5-36) mW and voltage range for PMT's was (4-8) V. The light detection amplifier was investigated, and the optimal Laser Power and PMT gain used for scanning was measured. The tools that we used (CNR, MTF, NPS, DQE and Contrast-detail phantom) provided an effective means of selecting optimal values for the electro-optical components of the system. The procedure enabled us to obtain good quality CR mammograms that have less noise and improved contrast.
Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor by IGF-I in osteoblast-like cells is mediated by the PI3K signaling pathway through the hypoxia-inducible factor-2α

IGF-I is known to stimulate the expression of oxygen- and nutrient-sensitive genes in several cell types. In this study we investigated the signaling pathways and transcriptional mechanisms that mediate IGF-I induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in human osteoblast-like cells. IGF-I (50 ng/ml) induced a rapid increase (3-fold) in VEGF mRNA in osteoblasts that was accompanied by an increase in the level of hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2alpha) protein without changes in HIF-2alpha mRNA expression. These effects were mimicked by chemical inhibition of proteosomal degradation of HIF-2alpha. Transcriptional activation of a proximal VEGF promoter-luciferase construct was greatly enhanced by cotransfection with an HIF-2alpha, but not an HIF-1alpha, construct. IGF-I acutely stimulated Akt phosphorylation, which was abolished by pretreatment of cells with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Pretreatment of the cells with LY294002 also greatly attenuated IGF-I induction of HIF-2alpha and blunted IGF-I-induced VEGF promoter activity. Finally, forced expression of a constitutively active PI3K expression construct induced VEGF promoter to levels similar to those observed with IGF-I alone. These data indicate that IGF-I, by activation of the PI3K pathway, induces VEGF expression in osteoblasts through a transcriptional control mechanism common to those that activate VEGF and other hypoxia response genes.
Different regions in skeletal and cardiac muscle ryanodine receptors are involved in transducing the functional effects of calmodulin.

Calmodulin (CaM) inhibits the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor-1 (RyR1) and cardiac muscle RyR2 at micromolar Ca2+ but activates RyR1 and inhibits RyR2 at submicromolar Ca2+ by binding to a single, highly conserved CaM-binding site. To identify regions responsible for the differential regulation of RyR1 and RyR2 by CaM, we generated chimeras encompassing and flanking the CaM-binding domain. We found that the exchange of the N- and C-terminal flanking regions differentially affected RyR1 and RyR2. A RyR1/RyR2 chimera with an N-terminal flanking RyR2 substitution (RyR2 amino acid (aa) 3537–3579) was activated by CaM in single channel measurements at both submicromolar and micromolar Ca2+. A RyR2/RyR1 chimera with a C-terminal flanking the 86-amino acid RyR1 substitution (RyR1 aa 3640–3725) bound 35S-CaM but was not inhibited by CaM at submicromolar Ca2+. In this region, five non-conserved amino acid residues (RyR1 aa 3680 and 3682–3685 and RyR2 aa 3647 and 3649–3652) differentially affect RyR helical probability. Substitution of the five amino acid residues in RyR1 with those of RyR2 showed responses to CaM comparable with wild type RyR1. In contrast, substitution of the five amino acid residues in RyR2 with those of RyR1 showed loss of CaM inhibition, whereas substitution of the five RyR2 sequence residues in the RyR2 chimera containing the RyR1 calmodulin-binding domain and C-flanking sequence restored wild type RyR2 inhibition by CaM at submicromolar Ca2+. The results suggest that different regions are involved in CaM modulation of RyR1 and RyR2. They further suggest that five non-conserved amino acids in the C-terminal region flanking the CaM-binding domain have a key role in CaM inhibition of RyR2.
Real time in situ spectroscopic characterization of radiation induced cationic polymerization of glycidyl ethers

Radiation curable polymeric materials suffer from relatively poor mechanical properties. Moreover, the curing behavior of such systems (i.e. the exact relationship between chemical kinetics and key processing variables) is not fully understood. In order to design improved epoxy based electron beam (EB) curable systems, and in order to develop appropriate process models, a detailed knowledge of the kinetics of epoxy cationic polymerization induced by ultraviolet (UV) or EB irradiation is required. In this work, we present our development of a technique based on real time near infrared (RTIR) spectroscopy for performing in situ kinetic analysis of radiation induced cationic polymerization of epoxy systems. To our knowledge this is the first time such data have been collected and presented for high-energy EB (10 MeV) induced polymerization. A demonstration of the technique for deterministic evaluation of degree of cure is shown using model glycidyl ether (phenyl glycidyl ether and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) resins and isothermal curing conditions. The impact of initiation rate on polymerizations with UV and EB for the cationic initiator is directly evident by comparative analysis. The sensitivity of the RTIR method and ability to produce quantitative data evidence of reaction mechanisms is demonstrated. The type of data presented in this work forms the basis for cure models being developed.
Frequency relationships for ultrasonic activation of free microbubbles, encapsulated microbubbles, and gas-filled micropores.

The ultrasonic activation of free microbubbles, encapsulated microbubbles, and gas-filled micropores was explored using available linear theory. Encapsulated microbubbles, used in contrast agents for diagnostic ultrasound, have relatively high resonance frequencies and damping. At 2 MHz the resonance radii are 1.75 μm for free microbubbles, 4.0 μm for encapsulated microbubbles, and 1.84 μm for gas-filled micropores. Higher-pressure amplitudes are needed to elicit equivalent subharmonic, fundamental, or second-harmonic responses from the encapsulated microbubbles, and this behavior increases for higher frequencies. If an encapsulated microbubble becomes destabilized during exposure, the resulting liberated microbubble would be about twice the linear resonance size, which would be likely to produce subharmonic signals. Scattered signals used for medical imaging purposes may be indicative of bioeffects potential: The second harmonic signal is proportional to local shear stress for a microbubble on a boundary...
Between freedom and fear: Explaining the consensus on terrorism and democracy in US foreign policy

Why have two successive US administrations concluded that fighting terrorism must involve democracy promotion? This assumption became prevalent in US political discourse following the events of September 11 despite the fact that the empirical evidence linking democracy and terrorism is weak or ambiguous. More strikingly, it has persisted even after the missions to establish democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq have led to increasing violence, including a worldwide increase in terrorist attacks. This article argues that the link between democracy and terrorism was established by the combined effect of three factors: (a) the framing of the September 11 attacks in a way that increased the receptivity to this conceptual opposition between freedom and fear; (b) the ideological influence of the Wilsonian tradition, as manifested today in an unusual consensus between modern neo-conservatives and liberal internationalists on the desirability of democratic reform as a means of changing foreign policy behaviour; and (c) a powerful bipartisan domestic constituency in favour of democracy promotion. Owing to these three factors, the contraposition of democracy and terrorism in American political discourse is effectively over-determined because it mirrors the dominant ideological and political preferences of American elites. This fixed preference for democracy promotion explains why the Obama Administration has remained wedded to the binary distinction between freedom and fear in its public statements despite its efforts to break in style and substance with the policies of its predecessor.
Mindfulness: overcoming intractable conflict

Intractable conflict involves reoccurring patterns of ineffective communication in which issues are not resolved and build over time. These situations can lead to bad feelings, damaged relationships, depression, aggression, anxiety and substance abuse. Grounded theory methods were used to study the processes involved in intractable conflicts and to identify ways of responding that promote growth and/or resolution. Results indicate that developing mindfulness over mindlessness is the basic social process that threads through three phases of working through intractable conflict. Phases include: growing awareness, self-realization, and regaining equilibrium. Mental health professionals can use this knowledge to support mindful practices as a means to protect against destructive conflict and mental health woes.
Atomic Layer Etching of HfO2 Using Sequential, Self-Limiting Thermal Reactions with Sn(acac)2 and HF

The atomic layer etching (ALEt) of HfO2 was performed using sequential, self-limiting thermal reactions with tin(II) acetylacetonate (Sn(acac)2) and HF as the reactants. The HF source was a HF-pyridine solution. The etching of HfO2 was linear with atomic level control versus number of Sn(acac)2 and HF reaction cycles. The HfO2 ALEt was measured at temperatures from 150–250◦C. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements determined that the mass change per cycle (MCPC) increased with temperature from −6.7 ng/(cm2 cycle) at 150◦C to −11.2 ng/(cm2 cycle) at 250◦C. These MCPC values correspond to etch rates from 0.070 A/cycle at 150◦C to 0.117 A/cycle at 250◦C. X-ray reflectivity analysis confirmed the linear removal of HfO2 and measured an HfO2 ALEt etch rate of 0.11 A/cycle at 200◦C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements also observed HfO2 ALEt using the infrared absorbance of the Hf-O stretching vibration. FTIR analysis also revealed absorbance features consistent with HfF4 or HfFx surface species as a reaction intermediate. The HfO2 etching is believed to follow the reaction: HfO2 + 4Sn(acac)2 + 4HF → Hf(acac)4 + 4SnF(acac) + 2H2O. In the proposed reaction mechanism, Sn(acac)2 donates acac to the substrate to produce Hf(acac)4. HF allows SnF(acac) and H2O to leave as reaction products. The thermal ALEt of many other metal oxides, as well as metal nitrides, phosphides, sulfides and arsenides, should be possible by a similar mechanism. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is not changed in any way and is properly cited. For permission for commercial reuse, please email: oa@electrochem.org. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0041506jss] All rights reserved.
Ratios of leaf reflectances in narrow wavebands as indicators of plant stress

Abstract Ratios of leaf reflectances that were measured within narrow wavebands (2nm) were evaluated as indicators of plant stress. Wavebands used in ratio computation were based on earlier studies that determined the wavelength regions in which reflectance was most affected by 8 stress agents among 6 plant species. Several ratios, such as reflectance at 695 nm divided by reflectance at 670 nm (R695/R670), were affected by some but not all stress agents. However, R695/R420, R605/R760, R695/R760 and R710/R760 were significantly greater (p≤0·05) in stressed compared with non-stressed leaves for all stress agents. The ratios that most strongly indicated plant stress were reflectance at 695 nm divided by reflectance at 420 nm or 760 nm.
The Effect of Silage Cutting Height on the Nutritive Value of a Normal Corn Silage Hybrid Compared with Brown Midrib Corn Silage Fed to Lactating Cows

A brown midrib (BMR) hybrid and a silage-specific non-BMR (7511FQ) hybrid were harvested at a normal cut height leaving 10 to 15 cm of stalk in the field. The non-BMR hybrid was also cut at a greater height leaving 45 to 50 cm of stalk. Cutting high increased the concentrations of dry matter (+4%), crude protein (+5%), net energy for lactation (+3%), and starch (+7%), but decreased the concentrations of acid detergent fiber (-9%), neutral detergent fiber (-8%), and acid detergent lignin (-13%) for 7511FQ. As expected, the BMR corn silage was 30% lower in lignin concentration than 7511FQ. After 30 h of in vitro ruminal fermentation, the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber for normal cut 7511FQ, the same hybrid cut high, and the normal cut BMR hybrid were 51.7, 51.4, and 63.5%, respectively. Twenty-seven multiparous lactating cows were fed a total mixed ration composed of the respective silages (45% of dry matter) with alfalfa haylage (5%), alfalfa hay (5%), and concentrate (45%) (to make the TMR isocaloric and isonitrogenous) in a study with a 3 x 3 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Milk production was greater for cows fed the BMR hybrid (48.8 kg/d) compared with those fed the normal cut 7511FQ (46.8 kg/d) or cut high (47.7 kg/d). Dry matter intake was not affected by treatment. Feed efficiency for cows fed the BMR silage (1.83) was greater than for those fed high-cut 7511FQ (1.75), but was not different from cows fed the normal cut 7511FQ (1.77). Cows fed the BMR silage had milk with greater concentrations of lactose but lower milk urea nitrogen than cows on other treatments. Harvesting a silage-specific, non-BMR corn hybrid at a high harvest height improved its nutritive content, but the improvement in feeding value was not equivalent to that found when cows were fed BMR corn silage.
A differential scanning calorimetric study of a Weldalite™ type alloy

The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the variously exposed samples of alloy RX-818 indicates the following. (1) The starting T8 condition is metallurgically unstable. (2) As much as an additional 50% in volume fraction of T{sub 1} is precipitated during the 1,000 hour exposure at 135 C; this condition is not attained by the 107 C exposure even by the end of 2,500 hours. (3) Coarsening of T{sub 1} occurs during all exposures. The T{sub 1} coarsening during the 135 C exposures is characterized by Ostwald ripening. (4) {theta}{prime} precipitation in the 163 C exposure condition is also accompanied by loss of T{sub 1} (through dissolution). (5) The residual mechanical properties can be rationalized by considering in juxtaposition, the effects of T{sub 1} volume fraction, T{sub 1} size distribution and {theta}{prime} precipitation.
Cell-type-specific transcription in yeast

This review focuses on the two regulatory networks that control the consitutive and pheromone-induced level of cell-type-specific gene expression. One network, encoded by the mating type locus, acts as an on/off switch to establish which sets of cell-type-specific genes may be actively transcribed. The other network, designated the pheromone response pathway, allows cells of one type to respond to the presence of cells of the opposite type. The two networks are involved in extensive cross-regulation, with many of the components of the response pathway themselves expressed in a cell-type-specific manner
Serious Complications in Experiments in which UV Doses Are Affected by Using Different Lamp Heights

Many experiments examining plant responses to enhanced UV-B radiation simply compare an enhanced UV-B radiation treatment with ambient UV-B (or no UV-B in most greenhouse and controlled environment studies). However, some experiments utilize multiple doses of UV-B radiation. A number of different techniques have been used to adjust the UV dose, each with advantages and disadvantages. One common technique is to place racks of fluorescent UV-B lamps at different heights above the plant canopy. A generally ignored consequence of this technique is that the pattern of shade which plants receive from the lamps is distributed differently over the course of the day at different lamp heights. To determine the effects of using lamps at different heights above the canopy, we grew three species (canola, sunflower, and maize) in the greenhouse under racks of unenergized lamps that were placed at two different heights above the plant canopy. Many plant growth characteristics differed between plants grown under the two lamp heights. These differences can potentially enhance or obscure true UV-B effects. Even more troubling is that changes in leaf mass per foliage area, which were observed in this experiment, could contribute to differences in plant UV-B sensitivity. We recommend the use of other techniques for achieving multiple doses of UV-B radiation. These range from simple and inexpensive approaches (wrapping individual fluorescent tubes in different layers of a neutral density filter such as cheese cloth) to more technical and expensive alternatives (electronically modulated lamp control systems). These choices should be determined by the goals of the particular experiment.
Triterpene glycosides and queretaroic acid in organ pipe cactus

Abstract The concentration of triterpone glycosides in mature stems of organ pipe cactus was shown to decrease from the surface to the inner portions of the pla
Measuring diet cost at the individual level: a comparison of three methods

Household-level food spending data are not suitable for population-based studies of the economics of nutrition. This study compared three methods of deriving diet cost at the individual level. Adult men and women (n=164) completed 4-day diet diaries and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Food expenditures over 4 weeks and supermarket prices for 384 foods were obtained. Diet costs (US$/day) were estimated using: (1) diet diaries and expenditures; (2) diet diaries and supermarket prices; and (3) FFQs and supermarket prices. Agreement between the three methods was assessed on the basis of Pearson correlations and limits of agreement. Income-related differences in diet costs were estimated using general linear models. Diet diaries yielded mean (s.d.) diet costs of $10.04 (4.27) based on Method 1 and $8.28 (2.32) based on Method 2. FFQs yielded mean diet costs of $7.66 (2.72) based on Method 3. Correlations between energy intakes and costs were highest for Method 3 (r2=0.66), lower for Method 2 (r2=0.24) and lowest for Method 1 (r2=0.06). Cost estimates were significantly associated with household incomes. The weak association between food expenditures and food intake using Method 1 makes it least suitable for diet and health research. However, merging supermarket food prices with standard dietary assessment tools can provide estimates of individual diet cost that are more closely associated with food consumed. The derivation of individual diet cost can provide insights into some of the economic determinants of food choice, diet quality and health.
Effect of aerosol number concentration on cloud droplet dispersion: A large‐eddy simulation study and implications for aerosol indirect forcing

[1] Through three-dimensional large-eddy simulations of marine stratocumulus we explore the factors that control the cloud spectral relative dispersion (ratio of cloud droplet spectral width to the mean radius of the distribution) as a function of aerosol number concentration and the extent to which the relative dispersion either enhances or mitigates the Twomey effect. We find that relative dispersion decreases with increasing aerosol number concentration (for aerosol number concentrations less than about 1000 cm−3) because smaller droplets resulting from higher aerosol number concentrations inhibit precipitation and lead to (1) less spectral broadening by suppressed collision and coalescence processes and (2) more spectral narrowing by droplet condensational growth at higher updraft velocity because reduced drizzle latent heating at cloud top results in increased boundary layer turbulent kinetic energy production by buoyancy and thereby stronger turbulence. Increased spectral broadening owing to increased cloud-top entrainment mixing, also as a result of increased boundary layer turbulence, is relatively insignificant compared with outcomes 1 and 2. The coefficient k, an important parameter that relates cloud droplet effective radius and volume mean radius in large-scale models, is a function of skewness and relative dispersion of the distribution and is negatively correlated with relative dispersion. Increasing k with increasing aerosol number concentration leads to maximum enhancement of the cloud susceptibility (the change of cloud optical depth due to change of cloud droplet number concentration) over that attributable to the Twomey effect alone by about 4.2% and 39% for simulated FIRE and ASTEX cases, respectively.
GAMS and light meson spectroscopy

Abstract The status of the results of the GAMS collaboration are presented from an experimentalist's point of view on current successes and problems of light meson spectroscopy.