cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microlaser-optical-mechanical systems for biomedicine: A biological microcavity laser for cell structure analysis

Gourley discusses the development of “biocavity” lasers and how they are allowing scientists to analyze cells in new and exciting ways.
Humor and the Rebellious Spirit of the Early Adolescent Boy

In my companion article on the making of the reliably religious boy (D. Capps, 2006c) I presented my argument that, whereas the younger boy of three to five is becoming religious as a result of his emotional separation from his mother, the early adolescent boy (age 11–14) has become reliably religious in that he has developed a religious habit of mind, a habit reflected in his embrace of the religions of honor and hope. I presented myself as a case study in this regard. I noted, however, that there is a third form of religion, that of humor, and that it relativizes—and thereby preserves—the religions of honor and hope. I also noted that religion and spirituality are capable of being differentiated. I suggested that my own spirituality took the form of rebellion and that this spirit of rebellion fueled and was fueled by the religion of humor. Employing Freud’s writings on humor, I explain in this article how this works.
Ferromagnetism in Eu intercalated NbS2

Abstract The layered compound NbS 2 can be intercalated with Eu, Yb and Sr from liquid ammonia solution at low temperatures. The intercalated species are predominantly divalent ions and produce an expansion in c axis of ∼ 3A. Eu x (NH 3 ) y NbS 2 (x ≥ y) compounds with x ≳ 0.4 order ferromagnetically below 8°K. Diamagnetic intercalated species lower the superconducting transition temperature of pure NbS 2 whereas paramagnetic species completely destroy the effect. High temperature reactions of Eu with NbS 2 always produce ferromagnetic EuS as an impurity phase and obscure the inherent low temperature properties of Eu intercalated NbS 2 .
On borrowing spread from auxiliary samples in the one-sample problem

This study is concerned with the one-sample problem and the notion of how to use (borrow) information contained in one or more auxiliary samples. A variety of t-statistics and borrowning schemes is used to shed light on this area. It is found that if the data do not come from a Gaussian distribution then the traditional method of borrowing by root-mean-square need not be the best thing to do. (In fact, for Student's t-statistic it is never the best thing to do.) it is also shown that if one borrows wisely, substantial gains can be made for small sample sizes. Finally, if one places a premium on computational ease, then there are simple procedures that can do reasonably well under a variety of circumstances.
Alcohol use as a signal for sensitivity to nicotine dependence among recent onset smokers

Abstract Objective This study evaluated the association between alcohol use, abuse and dependence and cigarette smoking to determine whether alcohol may signal greater sensitivity to nicotine dependence at very low levels of smoking. Method Data were drawn from five annual National Surveys on Drug Use and Health and included individuals age 12 to 21 who reported first exposure to smoking within the past two years and smoking at least once in the past month. Results Both alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence were associated with increased likelihood of symptoms that seem to tap tolerance for nicotine. These included items such as “the amount you smoke has increased”; “needing to smoke a lot more now in order to be satisfied”; and “smoking much more before starting to feel anything”. Alcohol dependence, but not abuse was associated with the remaining symptoms, “after not smoking for a while, needing to smoke to feel less restless and irritable”; “craving cigarettes after not smoking for a while”; and “worrying about running out of cigarettes”. All associations were not better accounted for by either alcohol use or amount smoked. Conclusion If causally associated, treatment of alcohol-use disorders may prevent or reduce the early emergence of nicotine dependence symptoms among new smokers, very early in the smoking uptake process. If instead alcohol disorders are a signal of sensitivity for nicotine dependence best accounted for by a third variable, then adolescents with alcohol dependence and/or abuse during early exposures to smoking represents an important subgroup that may benefit from interventions directly targeting this association.
Analysis of Midlatitude Auroral Emissions Observed during the Impact of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 with Jupiter

During the impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 fragment K on Jupiter observers detected aurora-like emissions near the impact region as well as in the other hemisphere at approximately magnetic conjugate positions equatorward of aurorae latitudes. A number of generation mechanisms were suggested, but investigations of their significance have been hampered by a lack of knowledge about the jovian internal magnetic field, the exact timing, and the geometry of the impact and emission sites. We use the VIP 4 model of the internal magnetic field, high-time-resolution calculations of the fragment K trajectory, and images from the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 with advanced processing to reanalyze the relationship between these emissions. The impact location is enclosed to the north and south by two regions of enhanced far-ultraviolet emissions reaching a maximum distance of 18,000 km south of the impact site roughly along the line of the incoming fragment's trajectory. The southern region can be further divided into two subregions, which partly overlap with magnetic projections of two brighter emission regions observed in the northern hemisphere close to the line of footprints of Amalthea. The area of the southern region approximates the area of these projections. No enhanced emissions are found conjugate to the impact site and the northward emission region. The magnetic projections suggest that the Gossamer ring scattered particles coming from the region southward of the impact site and prevented precipitation from the northward region into the northern hemisphere. Particle acceleration by upward accelerating shocks seems feasible to explain the geometry of the southern and northern hemispheric emission regions if we assume that a part of the plume bounced twice and provided enough energy at its second bounce to also generate shock waves.
Candidate for Inherited Neurobiological Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects approximately 1% of the population. It generally begins in early adulthood and continues as a chronic illness for the individual's lifetime. It is characterized by hallucinations, which are unreal sensory sensations such as hearing voices that converse about oneself, and by delusions, which are unreal beliefs. The delusions are often paranoid; e.g., one is being spied on by the police. These symptoms are called positive symptoms and may show fluctuation over time. The periods of exacerbation are called acute psychotic episodes. While they can be partly treated with tranquilizing medication, the effects are generally not complete. In addition, the patient suffers negative symptoms, so called because they are an absence of normal behavior, rather than a clearly abnormal behavior like the hallucinations and delusions. The most common negative behavior is social isolation or reclusiveness. The combination of negative and positive symptoms generally results in severe mental disability. The inheritance of schizophrenia has been long hypothesized, but the evidence for a particular genetic mechanism has not been forthcoming.Epidemiologic studies show clustering of the illness in families (1), and twin adoption studies demonstrate that inherited biological elements are likely to be important in the pathophysiology of the illness (2). However, monozygotic twin concordance rates are rarely higher than 70%. Frequently, relatives show some signs reminiscent of the illness, such as severe shyness, suspiciousness, or magical thinking, but the relationship of these symptoms to schizophrenia is not clear. This state is termed schizotypy. It has been proposed that there must be an inherited schizotaxic factor which predisposes persons to either schizotypy or, in the presence of other genetic or environmental factors, to schizophrenia (3). However, this schizotaxic factor has not yet been identified. Were it to be identified, however, it might be a better candidate for genetic analysis than schizophrenia itself. Such a factor would be a basic element in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and would be present in some form in relatives of schizophrenics as well. Among basic elements in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, attention has been directed to problems in the regulation of responsiveness to sensory stimuli. These problems are apparent in first-person accounts of the illness, in which patients describe being unable to filter out extraneous sensory stimuli. They find noises around them very difficult to ignore. Consequently, they seem unable to pay attention to the important parts of their environment. For example, while talking to a
Synthesis of Bridged Molecular Gyroscopes with Closed Topologies: Triple One-Pot Macrocyclization

We describe the synthesis and characterization of six bridged molecular gyroscopes with m-alkoxy-substituted trityl stators and dialkynylphenylene rotators. All of the bridged molecular gyroscopes were synthesized convergently to form the phenolic stator–rotator framework, while the alkyl and benzophenone bridges were installed in one step by relatively efficient one-pot reactions to form macrocyclic diether or diester linkages. The isolated yield per bond-forming reaction varied from ca. 42% to 80%, with one exception where macrocyclization failed to produce the desired product. The molecular structure and crystal packing of each of the bridged molecular gyroscopes were determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Like most molecular gyroscopes with open topologies previously studied, the singly bridged structures pack by interdigitating one trityl stator in one molecule next to the rotator of an adjacent molecule in the lattice. In contrast, the triply bridged molecular gyroscopes were found to pack...
State Innovations in Affordable Housing Policy: Lessons from California and New Jersey

Abstract Decades of diminishing federal leadership and support for affordable housing policy have opened up a gap in public response to housing needs. Filling this gap is critical if the long‐held goal of decent (and affordable) housing for every American is to be honored and communities are to thrive. This article investigates state governments in an era of federal retreat by examining the factors associated with innovations in housing policy in California and New Jersey, two reputed leaders in state housing policy. We collected data through interviews with key informants, as well as from meetings, reports, public documents, agency records, and other secondary sources. Our analysis indicates that state innovations in housing policy are influenced by bureaucratic (internal) factors, such as funding and agency structure, and by environmental (external) factors, such as local autonomy and interest group activity. We conclude with the policy and research implications of our findings.
Kinetics study of fermentative hydrogen production from liquid swine manure supplemented with glucose under controlled pH.

Kinetics of H2 production from liquid swine manure supplemented with glucose by mixed anaerobic cultures was investigated using batch experiments under four different pH conditions (4.4, 5.0, 5.6, and uncontrolled). The temperature for the experiments was controlled at 37 ± 1°C and the length of experiments varied between 50 and 120 hours, depending upon the time needed for completion of each individual experiment. The modified Gompertz model was evaluated for its suitability for describing the H2 production potential, H2 production rate, and substrate consumption rate for all the experiments. The results showed that the Gompertz model could adequately fit the experimental results. The effect of pH was significant on all kinetic parameters for H2 production including yield, production rate and lag time, and the substrate utilization rate. The optimal pH was found to be 5.0, at which a maximum H2 production rate (0.64 L H2/h) was obtained, and deviation from the optimal pH could result in substantial reduc...
Assessing musculoskeletal back pain during pregnancy

Abstract Low back pain (LBP) affects between 50% and 90% of women who are pregnant. The many etiologies of LBP include hormonal, mechanical, postural, and vascular influences. It is unclear whether the cause of LBP is a single entity or multifactorial. When diagnosing LBP, it is important to rule out other medical causes such as pre-term labor and/or urinary tract infections. The patient's history and physical examination can isolate the cause of LBP as musculoskeletal most of the time. The patients can then be divided into treatment groups based on the severity of their symptoms. A flow chart is provided that divides patients into three main groups and treatment options for these groups. One of the most effective means of preventing LBP during pregnancy is early education. Research has shown that patients who received education during pregnancy have less severe backache. Thus, it is important to discuss with the patient at the first prenatal visit appropriate prevention tools. This article provides diagrams demonstrating proper postural techniques for saving patients' backs from the pain and aggravation of LBP during pregnancy.
Theoretical and Practical Application of Traditional and Accelerated Titration Phase I Clinical Trial Designs: The Wayne State University Experience

The traditional and accelerated titration (AT) designs are two frequently utilized Phase I clinical trial designs. Although each design has theoretical advantages and disadvantages, a summary of the practical application of these theories has not been reported. We report our center's experience in evaluating novel agents using both types of Phase I trial designs over a 13-year period. Results from nine Phase I clinical trials of multiple cytotoxic agents conducted at Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, MI, and published from 1995–2005 were analyzed for this report. Parameters analyzed included the number of patients, the number of dose levels, the total time to completion of the study, and adverse events. The mean number of patients treated on four Phase I trials using the traditional Phase I trial design was 34 compared to a mean of 23.8 patients treated on five Phase I trials using the AT schema. The mean number of dose levels in patients treated using the traditional Phase I tr...
The influence of lead underpotential deposition on the capacitance of the silver-aqueous interface

Abstract The differential capacitance of electrodcs formed by the underpotential deposition of lead at a polycrystalline silver substrate in contact with aqueous sodium perchlorate media has been studied in order to assess the influence of the surface atomic layer of the electrode in comparison with that of the underlying bulk metal. A novel method for preparing such surfaces using very dilute lead solutions and a rotating disk electrode was developed whereby the coverage of the resulting lead layers remained constant in situ over a wide potential range for long time periods in quiescent solution. It was found that lead layers on silver having coverages in the vicinity of a monolayer and beyond exhibited double-layer properties that were very similar to those for polycrystalline lead electrodes, and markedly different to those for clean silver. This suggests that the surface atomic layer provides the predominant influence upon the double-layer structure. The virtues of employing underpotential-deposited metal films in exploring the influences of the metal surface upon the interfacial structure are pointed out.
Launch area theodolite system

White Sands Missile Range has developed a Launch Area Theodolite (LAT) optical tracking system that provides improved Time-Space-Position-Information (TSPI) for the new class of hyper-velocity missiles being developed by the Army. The LAT system consists of a high- performance optical tracking mount equipped with an 8-12 micrometers Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor, a newly designed full-frame pin-registered 35-mm film camera, and an auto- focused 50-in. focal length lens. The FLIR has been integrated with the WSMR in-house developed statistical based automatic video tracker to yield a powerful system for the automatic tracking of missiles from a short standoff distance. The LAT has been designed to replace large fixed-camera arrays for test programs on short-range anti-tank missiles. New tracking techniques have been developed to deal with angular tracking rates that exceed one radian in both velocity and acceleration. Special techniques have been developed to shock the tracking mount at the missile launch to match the target motion. An adaptive servo control technique allows a Type III servo to be used to compensate for the high angular accelerations that are generated by the placement of the LAT mounts along the missile flight path. An automated mode selection adjustment is employed as the missile passes a point perpendicular to the tracking mount to compensate for the requirement to rapidly decelerate the tracking mount and keep the target in the field-of-view of the data camera. This paper covers the design concept for a network of eight LAT mounts, the techniques of automatic video tracking using a FLIR sensor, and the architecture of the servo control algorithms that have allowed the LAT system to produce results to a degree never before achieved at White Sands Missile Range.
Performance evaluation of independent superbasic sets on nonlinear replicated networks

Abstract In this paper we describe a new type of network flow problems that basically consists of the classical transshipment problem with the following extensions: (1) The replication of a network by producing subnetworks with identical structure, being linked by so-called linking arcs; (2) the objective function terms related to the linking arcs are non-differentiable nonlinear functions. By using a networks-specialized implementation of a linearly constrained nonlinear programming algorithm described elsewhere, we report the computational performance of the new concept of independent superbasic sets that allows to obtain in parallel independent pieces of the solution at each iteration.
Coulomb Forces in the Three-Body Problem

The Faddeev-Lovelace equations, describing three particles interacting via short-range separable potentials, are modified to include the case in which two of the particles are charged. The three-body amplitudes are split into pure Coulomb and Coulomb-distorted amplitudes, and a set of integral equations similar to Lovelace's are obtained for the Coulomb-distorted amplitudes. The pure Coulomb contributions are taken to be zero for rearrangement channels and are approximated by two-body Coulomb amplitudes for the elastic scattering channel. Numerical results for deuteron-induced reactions on $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ are compared with experimental data, with encouraging results.
Hippocampal slow (“arousal”) wave activation in the rostral midbrain transected cat ☆

The neocortical and hippocampal EEG changes of an acute rostral midbrain cat preparation (brain-stem section at the junction of the diencephalon and midbrain) are described. 1. 1. In the neocortex an alternation of very regular, large amplitude slow waves (0.5–1.5 c/sec) without prominent spindle bursts, with irregular high voltage slow waves with repetitive spindle bursts was seen. 2. 2. The hippocampal EEG showed a continuous pattern of irregular fast waves with occasional slow waves. Posterior hypothalamic stimulation elicited hippocampal “arousal” waves (1.5–3.5 c/sec) which lasted from 5 sec to 2 min after the cessation of the stimulus, while the neocortex did not show the EEG desynchronization which could be elicited before transection. Depending upon the intensity of the hypothalamic stimulus and the pattern of background activity before stimulation, the neocortex also showed some change, from slight to marked suppression of slow waves with enhancement of spindle burst. Desynchronization of the neocortex by hypothalamic stimulation was observed only briefly during extremely strong stimuli. 3. 3. Thalamic stimulation elicited phasic desynchronization in the neocortical EEG with a less marked change in the hippocampal EEG, whereas hypothalamic stimulation induced stronger regular slow wave activation in the hippocampus (hippocampal “arousal” waves) with a lesser change in the neocortex. 4. 4. In the classic cerveau isole preparation, hypothalamic stimulation could elicit brief neocortical desynchronization as well as hippocampal “arousal”. With a more rostral transection (at the junction between diencephalon and mesencephalon), it was very difficult to produce neocortical desynchronization by posterior hypothalamic stimulation which, however, produced marked hippocampal “arousal” waves. 5. 5. It is concluded that for activation of the hippocampus, the hypothalamus is not only the primary pathway receiving impulses from the midbrain reticular formation, but it also possesses a sustained activating mechanism for the hippocampus. This tonic activating mechanism may influence the neocortex through the midbrain reticular formation. There seems to be no important direct activating pathway to the neocortex from the hypothalamus under the conditions of an acute experiment.
Mechanistic Studies on the Impact of Transcription on Sequence-specific Termination of DNA Replication and Vice Versa

Since DNA replication and transcription often temporally and spatially overlap each other, the impact of one process on the other is of considerable interest. We have reported previously that transcription is impeded at the replication termini of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis in a polar mode and that, when transcription is allowed to invade a replication terminus from the permissive direction, arrest of replication fork at the terminus is abrogated. In the present report, we have addressed four significant questions pertaining to the mechanism of transcription impedance by the replication terminator proteins. Is transcription arrested at the replication terminus or does RNA polymerase dissociate from the DNA causing authentic transcription termination? How does transcription cause abrogation of replication fork arrest at the terminus? Are the points of arrest of the replication fork and transcription the same or are these different? Are eukaryotic RNA polymerases also arrested at prokaryotic replication termini? Our results show that replication terminator proteins of E. coli and B. subtilis arrest but do not terminate transcription. Passage of an RNA transcript through the replication terminus causes the dissociation of the terminator protein from the terminus DNA, thus causing abrogation of replication fork arrest. DNA and RNA chain elongation are arrested at different locations on the terminator sites. Finally, although bacterial replication terminator proteins blocked yeast RNA polymerases in a polar fashion, a yeast transcription terminator protein (Reb1p) was unable to block T7 RNA polymerase and E. coli DnaB helicase.
The Development of a Psychotherapy Service at Amherst College

ABSTRACT This description of counseling and psychotherapy services at Amherst College begins with our heritage from the “mental hygiene” movement of the nineteenth century, the founding of the first university mental health services and the later development of a counseling center tradition. By tracing the evolution at Amherst, from a brief counseling and assessment office to a psychotherapy service, I hope to illustrate and discuss the factors which support a psychotherapy service, as opposed to other models such as a counseling and assessment service or a triage and referral service. Important questions include staffing, time limits, administrative involvement, the institutional context, acknowledging the proper limits of our authority, the need to be aware of how our values may influence our judgments, and resisting the pressures to reduce or streamline our services. I argue for the value of providing a therapeutic space for college students.
Change Detection after Preliminary Flight Decisions: Linking Planning Errors to Biases in Plan Monitoring

The present study investigated a link between plan continuation errors and plan monitoring. Pilots were asked to execute a flight plan that traversed through hazardous airspace and then monitor the success of the plan by seeking and detecting changes in the airspace that could affect the safety of the plan. Following change detection, pilots had the opportunity to revise these plans. In nearly one-third of trials, pilots failed to revise flight plans, thereby committing a plan continuation error, and were more likely to do so when plan monitoring was inadequate. Overall, more than half of changes went undetected, though detection response times were improved when changes were relevant to the flight planning task or when traffic aircraft were changed rather than weather systems. Findings imply that plan monitoring is less than perfect, which may be a substantial contributing factor to plan continuation errors.
Asymmetric doublets in MAS NMR: coherent and incoherent mechanisms

It has been long noted that J-resolved doublets observed in solid-state MAS experiments are asymmetric. The asymmetry has been attributed to acoherent interference effect involving dipolar and CSA interactions. Recently, Bernd Reif and co-workers suggested that under fast MAS conditions the coherent portion of the effect is suppressed and it becomes possible to observe an incoherent mechanism reminiscent of TROSY. The researchers were able to observe the characteristic TROSY-type patterns in 15 N– 1 H N spectra of heavily deuterated protein samples (Chevlekov, Diehl, and Reif, previous article in this issue). In the present computer simulation study, we seek to obtain a unified picture of this phenomenon, including both coherent and incoherent aspects. The chosen model focuses on the 15 N– 1 H N pair from a polycrystalline sample subject to magic angle spinning. To mimic local dynamics, we assume that the corresponding peptide plane jumps between two orientations. The simulations demonstrate that this simple model reproduces both coherent and incoherent behavior, depending on the MAS speed and the time scale of local dynamics. Furthermore, semianalytical expressions can be derived for both coherent and incoherent (Redfield) limits. Of particular interest is the possibility to use solution-style Redfield results to probe internal protein motions, especially slower motions on the nanosecond time scale. Our simulations show that the differential relaxation measurement permits accurate determination of 15 N dipolar-CSA cross correlations already at moderately high MAS speed (ca 15 kHz). Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adolescent Relationship Abuse: How to Identify and Assist At-Risk Youth in the Emergency Department

Adolescent relationship abuse is common among adolescents seeking care in the emergency department (ED). Adolescent relationship abuse is a health issue; adolescents experiencing relationship abuse are at increased risk for multiple, severe short- and long-term consequences. Adolescents endorse providers screening for adolescent relationship abuse. Although universal screening of all adolescents regarding adolescent relationship abuse is ideal, targeted screening for highest-risk teens may be the most practical. The ED provides medical care to many high-risk youth without any source of primary care, thus making the ED an ideal site for adolescent relationship abuse screening and interventions. Limited research suggests that emergency department–based interventions may be an effective means to address adolescent relationship abuse. Additional studies are necessary to further develop and promote adolescent relationship abuse interventions in the ED.
Temporal and regional variability in sources and cycling of DOC and POC in the northwest Atlantic continental shelf and slope

The D 14 C and d 13 C distributions in total dissolved and suspended particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC, respectively) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were measured throughout the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf and slope in April–May 1994, March 1996, and July–August 1996. The highest D 14 C values for both DOC (up to � 29%) and POC (up to 78%) were observed in relatively low-salinity shelf waters. The D 14 C values for DOC from the shelf and shallow (B5 m depth) slope generally increased progressively with proximity to the coast, and along-shelf from northeast to southwest. A significant system-wide increase in D 14 C-DOC values occurred between spring and summer 1996, indicating a major flux of young DOC to the MAB over this timeframe. The lowest D 14 CDOC values (as low as � 476%) were found in deep (\300 m depth) slope waters, and they were lower than values measured previously at similar depths in the open North Atlantic. A significant inverse relationship was found between D 14 C-DOC and d 13 C-DOC for shelf and shallow slope waters, which we speculate may be due to variable contributions of young, 14 C-enriched organic matter of terrestrial and/or riverine origin. The suspended POC of shelf and shallow slope waters was isotopically distinct from DOC, and exhibited little of the characteristic areal variability of DOC concentrations and D 14 C across the MAB. In deep slope waters, suspended POC had the greatest ages ever observed for water column POC in any marine system. These 14 C-depleted POC values correlated positively and significantly with d 13 C-POC values, which ranged from � 31% to � 23% in deep slope waters. A multiple-source dual isotopic mass balance model was applied to the observed D 14 C and d 13 C distributions to evaluate the potential sources of DOC and POC to shelf and slope waters of the MAB. With the exception of the highly 14 C- and 13 C-depleted POC from the deep slope, all other DOC and POC values could be constrained by the isotopic signatures of various potential source materials measured for the MAB region. These include varying contributions from potential sources of open ocean, terrestrial and riverine, and bottom nepheloid layer colloidal organic matter, as well as from recent shelf and slope primary production. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thermal decomposition of lanthanide and actinide tetrafluorides

The thermal stabilities of several lanthanide/actinide tetrafluorides have been studied using mass spectrometry to monitor the gaseous decomposition products, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify solid products. The tetrafluorides, TbF/sub 4/, CmF/sub 4/, and AmF/sub 4/, have been found to thermally decompose to their respective solid trifluorides with accompanying release of fluorine, while cerium tetrafluoride has been found to be significantly more thermally stable and to congruently sublime as CeF/sub 4/ prior to appreciable decomposition. The results of these studies are discussed in relation to other relevant experimental studies and the thermodynamics of the decomposition processes. 9 refs., 3 figs.
AMYLASE IN THE SPORES OF RHIZOPUS TRITICI AND RHIZOPUS NIGRICANS

The results obtained by a number of investigators have demonstrated that many fungi secrete enzyms, which diffuse out of the mycelium into the substrate, where certain cleavage products are formed. However, Kopeloff and Kopeloff (3) seem to have been the first to study the enzyms of fungous spores. These workers found that the spores of Aspergillus niger, A. sydowi, and to a lesser extent Penicillium expansum and A. flavus contain an enzym which hydrolyzes cane sugar. Their results show that the deterioration of cane sugar may depend, in part at least, on the action of the spores of some of the mold fungi. The enzymic activity of the spores, previously killed by heating for 30 minutes at 630 C., was determined by suspending them in cane-sugar solution of known strength and determining the cleavage products by polarization. The rate of hydrolysis of the cane sugar was found to be correlated with the number of spores present in the system. It is the purpose of this paper to record the data obtained relative to the occurrence of amylase in the spores of Rhizopus nigricans Ehrnb. and R. tritici Saito.
Chronobiology of aging: Temperature, sleep-wake rhythms and entrainment

Abstract —Studies were carried out on a group of six young (ages 23–30) and six older (ages 53–70) normal men who lived under conditions of temporal, but not social isolation, from three to eight weeks. During entrained and non-entrained (free-running) conditions, comparative measurements were made of sleep-wake cycles, sleep stages and rectal temperature rhythms for these two age groups. Results demonstrated a reduction in the period and amplitude of the body temperature rhythms during free-running in the older group. Sleep efficiency, total sleep time, REM sleep latency, REM episode length, percent REM in the last 2 hours of sleep, the length and frequency of arousals during sleep, and the terminal wake latency were all age related and dependent on entrainment. The period of the sleep-wake cycle, terminal awakenings from REM and percent REM in the first 3 hours of sleep were not age related but were dependent on entrainment. Sleep stages as percents of total sleep time were found to be age related but independent of entrainment, while sleep latency, mid-REM to mid-REM cycle length and the ratio of sleep to total time were neither age related nor dependent on entrainment. In addition, individual chronobiological differences were prominent in the older group. Changes of period and of the phase relationship of sleep-wake and temperature rhythms occurred in several subjects during the non-entrained condition.
Incongruity Versus Incongruity Resolution

In behavioral psychology, the "Incongruity Theory" is currently the most well-accepted explanation as the underlying mechanism behind humor. This theory postulates that humor is caused due to the playful violation of the subjective expectations of an agent, caused by the presence of incongruous stimuli in the agent's observations. But whether humor is caused merely due to the presence of incongruous stimuli or whether it is caused by the resolution of an apparent incongruity by the sudden realization of another competitive explanation still remains an open question. Our work attempts to address this question in a data-driven fashion. We develop an information-theoretic algorithm to investigate this question in the semantic space and report results on three different data-sets. We observe that simpler stimuli like slapstick jokes, puns, one-liners etc. are better explained by the mere presence of incongruity, whereas more complex stimuli, like high-quality jokes, jokes with hidden meanings etc. contain greater amount of conceptual dissonance and hence, are better characterized using the idea of resolution of incongruity. Our methodology opens up exciting new avenues of research in the areas of humor and engagement and our results could find potential applications in areas like marketing and advertising.
Nonantiarrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation

Recent studies have begun to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that promote the generation and progressive nature of atrial fibrillation. Evidence from both experimental and clinical investigations has implicated an important role for the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, inflammation, and oxidative stress, with data that suggest a potential beneficial effect for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone receptor antagonists, antiinflammatory agents, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, compounds that increase gap junctional conductance or that block 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 receptors have also shown promise in the experimental setting. Large-scale, prospective clinical trials will clarify the utility of these new therapeutic approaches to prevent atrial fibrillation in specific clinical settings.
Application of Metabolomics to Cardiovascular Biomarker and Pathway Discovery

Emerging technologies based on mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance enable the monitoring of hundreds of metabolites from tissues or body fluids, that is, "metabolomics." Because metabolites change rapidly in response to physiologic perturbations, they represent proximal reporters of disease phenotypes. The profiling of low molecular weight biochemicals, including lipids, sugars, nucleotides, organic acids, and amino acids, that serve as substrates and products in metabolic pathways is particularly relevant to cardiovascular diseases. In addition to serving as disease biomarkers, circulating metabolites may participate in previously unanticipated roles as regulatory signals with hormone-like functions. Cellular metabolic pathways are highly conserved among species, facilitating complementary functional studies in model organisms to provide insight into metabolic changes identified in humans. Although metabolic profiling technologies and methods of pattern recognition and data reduction remain under development, the coupling of metabolomics with other functional genomic approaches promises to extend our ability to elucidate biological pathways and discover biomarkers of human disease.
Translating old units of measurements.

In my experimental physiology laboratory class, in which students use invertebrate model systems to study physiological phenomena, they must read older (preelectronic) literature, where they often encounter methods that are no longer used in the modern biological laboratory. For example, when they
The limits (and virtues) of superiority

We live by our reasons. Charles Tilly’s new book is a marvelously thoughtful set of ruminations on this convention, and I find myself thinking with the book whenever I hear reporters talking about terrorists’ motives or doctors rendering patients’ prognoses or colleagues excusing their neglect of each other’s e-mail. Tilly’s argument about the reasons we give for our own and others’ actions is simple and compelling, often eye-opening, and eminently teachable: Reason-giving creates, ratifies, or repairs social relationships. Bosses give different kinds of reasons to subordinates than they give to equals; professionals give different sorts of reasons to clients than clients’ friends give; close friends give different reasons from strangers. Reasons matter because we live in social relationships. They matter for another reason, too. We get a glimpse of it when Tilly writes that as a child, he and his four siblings wore hand-me-downs, ate government-issue cornmeal and salads of locally picked dandelions, and grabbed whatever part-time work was available. What did it mean to live through the Depression? “We told ourselves a story of decent people buffeted by hard times.” The Tilly family “depended on stories to organize our lives, and our relations to other lives.” That is it: We live in social relationships, and we also live in our reasons. Reasons create us and our relationships even as we are using reasons to create or repair the social relations that elicit some kinds of reasons and forbid others. Reasons are the storylines that make our action meaningful to ourselves and others. Tilly cautions that people don’t give reasons because of some “universal craving for truth or coherence” (p. 14). If the point here is to banish any notion of a first-moving drive for meaning from the vocabulary of social science, that is fine with me. But I think the book knows even more than it tells: Sometimes it understates its own evidence on the meaningful structure of both reasons and relationships. People may not give reasons out of some deep existential need for coherence, but meaningful coherence and meaningful relationships structure what kinds of accounts we can give, and even what kinds of selves we can be. Why? discusses four classes of reasons—conventions, stories, codes, and technical accounts. The book is an example of what Tilly terms a “superior” story, one that uses the
Aliphatic Polyesters II. The Degradation of Poly(DL-lactide), Poly(e-caprolactone), and Their Copolymers in Vivo

The mechanisms of biodegradation of poly (DL-lactide), poly (epsilon-caprolactone), and copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone with DL-dilactide, delta-valerolactone, and DL-epsilon-decalactone in rabbit were shown to be qualitatively similar. However, the rate of the first stage of the degradation process, non-enzymatic random hydrolytic chain scission, varied by an order of magnitude and was dependent on morphological as well as chemical effects. Weight loss was generally not observed until the molecular weight had decreased to 15,000 or less. Poly (DL-lactide) differed from the other polyesters studied, the rate of chain scission increasing after the commencement of weight loss. The rate of weight loss was greater and the period prior to weight loss was shorter when the comonomer content of copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone was sufficient to reduce the melting point of epsilon-caproate sequences to body temperature.
Cell and molecular biology of neural crest cell lineage diversification

Neural crest cells are multipotent progenitor cells, but it is not understood how these cells generate their diverse differentiated progeny. This review considers the issues of whether neural crest cells self-renew, whether they generate partially committed intermediate progenitors, and how the local embryonic environment may act to control this diversification process. Novel molecular markers for neural crest cells are also discussed.
A screen-oriented representation for mobile applications

Program analysis plays an important role in a variety of software engineering processes, such as automated code refactoring, compiler optimizations, and program slicing. The internal program representation used by the program analysis algorithm affects the power and efficiency of the analysis. In particular, representations that contain data-flow information alongside control flow are known to be especially useful. While there are many popular internal program representations with data-flow information for traditional languages and platforms, few specifically target mobile applications. In this paper, we propose a new data-flow-enabled representation that addresses the screen-oriented nature of a mobile application and explores its potential. We consider a mobile application to be a reactive system whose states are the screens, and whose events are user actions, incoming communication, or anything else that causes transition from one screen to another. The resulting representation is a finite state machine extended with data-flow information. We suggest that this representation can greatly contribute to optimization, refactoring, and understanding of mobile applications.
Nitridation of niobium alloys: interface effects

Abstract In this study metal matrix composites were fabricated by nitridation of solute-rich NbTi and NbZr alloys to form large volumes of nitrides. Studies of the kinetics nitride formation and of the nature of the matrix-nitride interface were carried out. Nb-47wt%Ti and Nb-47wt.%Zr alloys were nitrided for different times and temperatures to nitride preferentially the solute phases into Ti- and Zr-rich nitrides. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of the nitrides in the Nb solid solution matrix, and microhardness measurements explicitly indicated the hardening effect to be due to the formation of the nitrides. Orientation relationships were obtained between the matrix and the nitrides, but the habit planes were not defined.
Monte Carlo Evaluation of the Effective Gluon Mass

Abstract The properties of Wilson loops and lines in the adjoint representation of SU(2) are investigated by Monte Carlo methods. The adjoint string tension, screening length, and effective or “constituent” gluon mass are measured. Technical difficulties force the latter two quantities to be evaluated only at finite temperature (but below the quark-liberating phase transition).
Lobeline inhibits nicotine-evoked [3H]dopamine overflow from rat striatal slices and nicotine-evoked 86Rb+ efflux from thalamic synaptosomes

The present study evaluated the interaction of lobeline with neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors using two in vitro assays, [(3)H] overflow from [(3)H]dopamine ([(3)H]DA)-preloaded rat striatal slices and (86)Rb(+) efflux from rat thalamic synaptosomes. To assess agonist interactions, the effect of lobeline was determined and compared to S(-)-nicotine. To assess antagonist interactions, the ability of lobeline to inhibit the effect of S(-)-nicotine was determined. Both S(-)-nicotine (0.1-1 microM) and lobeline (>1.0 microM) evoked [(3)H] overflow from superfused [(3)H]DA-preloaded striatal slices. However, lobeline-evoked [(3)H] overflow is mecamylamine-insensitive, indicating that this response is not mediated by nicotinic receptors. Moreover, at concentrations (<1.0 microM) which did not evoke [(3)H] overflow, lobeline inhibited S(-)-nicotine (0.1-10 microM)-evoked [(3)H] overflow, shifting the S(-)-nicotine concentration-response curve to the right. S(-)-Nicotine (30 nM-300 microM) increased (EC(50) value=0.2 microM) (86)Rb(+) efflux from thalamic synaptosomes. In contrast, lobeline (1 nM-10 microM) did not evoke (86)Rb(+) efflux, and the lack of intrinsic activity indicates that lobeline is not an agonist at this nicotinic receptor subtype. Lobeline completely inhibited (IC(50) value=0.7 microM) (86)Rb(+) efflux evoked by 1 microM S(-)-nicotine, a concentration which maximally stimulated (86)Rb(+) efflux. Thus, the results of these in vitro experiments demonstrate that lobeline inhibits the effects of S(-)-nicotine, and suggest that lobeline acts as a nicotinic receptor antagonist.
Unifying logarithmic and factorial behavior in high-energy scattering.

The elegant instanton calculus of Lipatov and others used to find factorially divergent behavior ({ital g}{sup {ital N}}{ital N}!) for {ital N}{sub {ital g}}{much_gt}1 in {ital g}{phi}{sup 4} perturbation theory is strictly only applicable when all external momenta vanish; a description of high-energy 2{r_arrow}{ital N} scattering with {ital N} massive particles is beyond the scope of such techniques. On the other hand, a standard multiperipheral treatment of scattering with its emphasis on leading logarithms gives a reasonable picture of high-energy behavior but does not result in factorial divergences. Using a straightforward graphical analysis we present a unified picture of both these phenomena as they occur in the two-particle total cross section of {ital g}{phi}{sup 4} theory. We do not attempt to tame the unitarity violations associated with either multiperipheralism or the Lipatov technique at strong coupling.