cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viable variants in VA-RNAI gene of an Ad2-Ad5 recombinant

Abstract We have developed a simple method for selecting viral mutants whose DNA lack one of the sites of a restriction endonuclease that has more than one site on the viral genome. We have used this method for isolating viable variants of an Ad2-Ad5 recombinant that lack a Bam HI cleavage site located at mp 29 spanning the VA-RNA I gene. The viral DNA-protein complex was prepared from a stock of the Ad2-Ad5 recombinant passed under high m.o.i., and cleaved with Bam HI. We would expect Bam HI to cleave the parental Ad2-Ad5 recombinant DNA at two sites, 29 and 59.5, but to cleave naturally arising mutant DNAs at one or the other site. With mutation at mp 29 site, Bam HI cleavage would produce a fusion fragment from mp 0–59.5. Our objective, then, was to recombine the mutant DNA fragment in vivo with an overlapping fragment containing sequences from the right half of the genome, e.g., Sal A (mp 45.9–100) to produce an infectious mutant DNA with a single Bam HI site at mp 59.5. DNA protein complex was digested with Bam HI and cotransfected with the DNA-protein complex cleaved with Sal I, and the resulting plaques were screened for DNAs lacking the Bam HI site at mp 29. Two such mutants were isolated, one of which is probably a deletion mutant (203) and the other an insertion mutant (204). Mutant 203 made VA-RNA I of slightly higher molecular weight and mutant 204 made VA-RNA I of slightly higher molecular weight. These mutants grew to levels comparable to that of the parental virus in KB cells indicating that these mutations did not alter the growth of the mutants. The method described here should also be valuable in isolating mutants elsewhere in the genome.
The relation between attention to the incidental context and memory for words in children and adults

Abstract The developmental relation between attention to target and contenxt information and target memory was examined in five experiments. Second and fifth graders and college adults were shown Hard (e.g., Hawk, Eagle, Canary) and Easy (River, Lake, Canary) word triplets, varying in the difficulty of identifying the “odd” word (Canary). The subjects had to identify the word themselves (oddity choice) or the word was picked out for them (read). In Experiment 1, the “odd” target word was distinguished from the triplet context words only by meaning, or by color or spatial configuration, and both “odd” word and incidental word cued recall were assessed. In the other experiments, color information was used as a task-irrelevant distractor (Experiment 2), target recall was assessed using the context words as cues (Experiment 3), the effects of a divided attention task on target recall was examined (Experiment 4), and recognition memory was assessed (Experiment 5). The results show that the allocation of attention for both children and adults varies in context-interactive and context-independent encoding situations. The results also show that when the context can be meaningfully related to target information adults generally may be less selective than children and are more likely to attend to context information, contributing to developmental retention differences. Adults may be more selective primarily in special situations that stress attentional capacity.
An invitation to profile Arizona v. United States

The recent Supreme Court decision regarding the constitutionality of Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070 was declared a “victory” by both proponents and dissenters. While the Supreme Court declared three of the laws four provisions unconstitutional, both President Barack Obama and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer framed the outcome in a positive light. Despite three of the four provisions dismantled, the sole surviving provision allows law enforcement to question the immigration status of anyone who violates a non-immigration offense. Although the Supreme Court placed this provision within the parameters of a “wait and see” scenario, whereby, if there are problems/violations in the laws application/implementation, the Court will revisit this provision, I argue that such a provision, despite its “wait and see” clause, invites racial profiling. To illustrate this point, this article will perform a rhetorical analysis of the Court’s majority opinion, before concluding with final thoughts.
Toward a biomechanical tool to evaluate rupture potential of abdominal aortic aneurysm: identification of a finite strain constitutive model and evaluation of its applicability

Knowledge of the wall stresses in an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may be helpful in evaluating the need for surgical intervention to avoid rupture. This must be preceded by the development of a more suitable finite strain constitutive model for AAA, as none currently exists. Additionally, reliable stress analysis of in vivo AAA for the purposes of clinical diagnostics requires patient-specific values of the material parameters, which are difficult to determine noninvasively. The purpose of this work, therefore, was three-fold: (1) to develop a finite strain constitutive model for AAA; (2) to estimate the variation of model parameters within a sample population; and (3) to evaluate the sensitivity of computed stress distribution in AAA due to this biologic variation. We propose here a two parameter, hyperelastic, isotropic, incompressible material model and utilize experimental data from 69 freshly excised AAA specimens to both develop the functional form of the model and estimate its material parameters. Parametric analyses were performed via repeated finite element computations to determine the effect of varying each of the two model parameters on the stress distribution in a three-dimensional AAA model. The agreement between experimental data and the proposed functional form of the constitutive law was very good (R2 > 0.9). Our finite element simulations showed that the computed AAA wall stresses changed by only 4% or less when both the parameters were varied within the 95% confidence intervals for the patient population studied. This observation indicates that in lieu of the patient-specific material parameters, which are difficult to determine the use of population mean values is sufficiently accurate for the model to be reasonably employed in a clinical setting. We believe that this is an important advancement toward the development of a computational tool for the estimation of rupture potential for individual AAA, for which there is great clinical need.
RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF LOW‐METHOXYL PECTIN GEL BY NORMAL CREEP AND RELAXATION

Fourteen low-methoxyl pectins were used to prepare a 30% sucrose gel with a final pectin concentration of 0.8% and an added calcium content of 25 mg Ca++/g pectin. The texture of each gel was evaluated using three descriptors: firmness, coarseness, and graininess. The relaxation behavior of the 14 gels, under a constant strain, was monitored using an Instron universal testing machine. The data were best defined by an equation that is represented by two Maxwell bodies in parallel. The elastic moduli and relaxation times of this model ranged, between gels, from 2881 Pa to 5487 Pa and from 4.1 s to 908 s, respectively. An apparatus constructed in this laboratory was used to measure the creep behavior of the gels under constant stress. The normal creep behavior of the 14 gels was best defined by the Burger's Model. The elastic moduli and viscous constants of this model ranged, between gels, from 3937 Pa to 15,342 Pa and from 20,300 Pl to 40,100 Pl, respectively. The relaxation modulus, E1, was the most sensitive for distinguishing significant differences between the gels. Several significant correlations were found between rheological, chemical and textural parameters.
Gender differences in proclivity for unethical behavior

This paper explores possible connections between gender and the willingness to engage in unethical business behavior. Two approaches to gender and ethics are presented: the structural approach and the socialization approach. Data from a sample of 213 business school students reveal that men are more than two times as likely as women to engage in actions regarded as unethical but it is also important to note that relatively few would engage in any of these actions with the exception of buying stock with inside information. Fifty percent of the males were willing to buy stock with insider information. Overall, the results support the gender socialization approach.
Water: A Simple Solution for Tumor Spillage

Background Although often proposed as a means to reduce the harmful consequences of tumor spill, water lavage has yet to be systematically evaluated in relevant in vitro and in vivo models. This study evaluates the mechanisms and utility of a single water lavage to improve the sequelae of tumor spill during laparotomy.
Impact of nonlinearities and model error on pseudo-inverse calculations

Pseudo-inverse calculations have been made within the operational and research meteorological communities to identify components of the error in the initial state that are responsible for a significant portion of the forecast error. These calculations are based on the assumptions of a perfect model and linear perturbation growth, conditions not realizable in operational forecasting. In this study, the impact of nonlinearities and model error on pseudo-inverse calculations is investigated within an idealized framework using a simple atmospheric model. Forecasts are run within the perfect and imperfect model frameworks, with initial errors of varying sizes. Model error is introduced by changing the model dissipation terms. It is found that for pseudo-inverses composed of a small subset of the leading singular vectors (SVs), the nonlinear forecast correction is often better than the expected theoretical correction, indicating the suppression of error growth both inside and outside the linear pseudo-inverse subspace. As the size of the pseudo-inverse is increased, the nonlinear forecast correction starts to degrade. This forecast degradation coincides with a degradation in the analysis correction. It is possible to improve the forecast by degrading the analysis in the presence of model error, especially when the initial error is very small. However, for initial errors of reasonable magnitude, this is unlikely to happen in instances when the nonlinear forecast correction is better than the theoretical correction. Just as improving the initial state may suppress errors outside of the linear SV subspace, degrading it may likewise increase errors outside the SV subspace. This suggests that the size of the nonlinear correction relative to the expected theoretical correction may be useful in determining when pseudo-inverse perturbations are likely to have improved the analyses.
On the elastic boundary value problem of dislocations in bounded crystals

A new formulation of the elastic boundary value problem of dislocations in bounded crystals is developed. This formulation is based on the ansatz that the stress field of dislocations in bounded domains can be constructed as the sum of a contribution corresponding to the classical infinite-domain solution plus a correction that is determined here from a mathematically well posed problem. The formulation of the elastic boundary value problem given here ensures that the equilibrium of the overall stress field is rigorously satisfied, specifically when dislocations intersect the boundary. The implications of this new formalism for dislocation dynamics simulation are discussed for the cases of bounded crystals and crystal volumes representative of uniformly loaded infinite crystals. An approximate computational solution of the elastic boundary value problem is presented based on the concept of virtual dislocations and the use of a non-singular form of the infinite-domain solution of the dislocation stress fie...
A framework for a fuzzy sustainable maintenance strategy selection problem

SELECTING the most appropriate maintenance strategy provides significant savings in lost production cost, power consumption and lifecycle costs. In this research, a bi-level sustainability-based maintenance strategy selection framework is proposed under uncertain judgments of decision makers. In the first step, all related sustainability criteria which can affect maintenance strategy selection process is determined and then factor analysis method has been applied to identify the underlying structure among these criteria. In the next step, fuzzy VIKOR method is applied to select the best maintenance strategy. The proposed framework is illustrated through a case study in a manufacturing firm.
Formaldehyde and Formic Acid as a Silage Additive

Abstract First growth direct-cut grass-legume forage from a common source was ensiled without treatment or with .12% formaldehyde plus .14% formic acid. The two silages were fed ad libitum as the sole ration for 74 days to 30 dairy heifers paired by body weight. Digestibilities and nitrogen balance were determined with four other heifers fed in a 4 × 4 Latin square with each silage fed ad libitum and near maintenance. Energy recovery from storage was improved by treatment (90 versus 85%). Treatment improved hot water insoluble nitrogen recovery from storage (94 versus 68%) but allowed nearly as much total acid production (10.1 versus 11.2% dry matter) as control silage. Nitrogen digestibility was slightly depressed (63.1 versus 65.1%) by treating, but daily nitrogen retention was significantly increased (31.3 versus 25.7 grams). Daily digestible energy intakes were improved by treatment (285 versus 256 kilocalories per kilograms 3/4 ) as were daily gains (750 versus 643 grams). Formaldehyde at this concentration almost stopped nitrogen degradation in silage fermentation and aided protein by-pass through the rumen to produce more nitrogen retention. In our first experiment, a treatment costing about $5 per ton of dry matter produced results as good as the average for 10 experiments applying formic acid costing about $10 per ton.
Recent advances in power aware design

The paper presents the state-of-the-art study on the recently published literatures subjected to power aware design in various industrial applications. The basic conception of power-aware design is placed at first and then the recent progress is investigated. For each paper, a brief summary is given to introduce the related power awareness design technologies and applications.
Women's health initiative is fundamentally flawed.

Abstract The findings of the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) and the Women's HealthInitiative (WHI) astonished researchers and physicians—and struck fear in the hearts of postmenopausal women. Both studies had been expected to show benefits from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). 1–3 It was anticipated that estrogen/progestin therapy would reduce or prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) in women and provide other symptomatic benefits during menopause. As a result of the 2 studies, estrogen/progestin therapy was considered risky rather than beneficial, and was largely abandoned. Now, however, Naftolin and 13 colleagues from across the United States 4 have challenged those concerns by shedding light on the flaws of the HERS and the WHI study, which have been confirmed by Rivera-Woll and Davis. 5
Patterns of protein protein interactions in salt solutions and implications for protein crystallization.

The second osmotic virial coefficients of seven proteins—ovalbumin, ribonuclease A, bovine serum albumin, α-lactalbumin, myoglobin, cytochrome c, and catalase—were measured in salt solutions. Comparison of the interaction trends in terms of the dimensionless second virial coefficient b2 shows that, at low salt concentrations, protein–protein interactions can be either attractive or repulsive, possibly due to the anisotropy of the protein charge distribution. At high salt concentrations, the behavior depends on the salt: In sodium chloride, protein interactions generally show little salt dependence up to very high salt concentrations, whereas in ammonium sulfate, proteins show a sharp drop in b2 with increasing salt concentration beyond a particular threshold. The experimental phase behavior of the proteins corroborates these observations in that precipitation always follows the drop in b2. When the proteins crystallize, they do so at slightly lower salt concentrations than seen for precipitation. The b2 measurements were extended to other salts for ovalbumin and catalase. The trends follow the Hofmeister series, and the effect of the salt can be interpreted as a water-mediated effect between the protein and salt molecules. The b2 trends quantify protein–protein interactions and provide some understanding of the corresponding phase behavior. The results explain both why ammonium sulfate is among the best crystallization agents, as well as some of the difficulties that can be encountered in protein crystallization.
Antarctica and the Detection of Environmental Change

Antarctica plays a critical role in global change because major interactions in this region between the atmosphere, ice, oceans, and biota affect the entire global system through feedbacks, dynamic biogeochemical cycles, deep ocean circulation, atmospheric transport of energy and pollutants, and changes in mass balance. Antarctica is also sensitive to global change and is a key area for detecting and monitoring environmental change. The parameters to be monitored in Antarctica, the deficiencies in the present measurements, and future methods and techniques were listed by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) as part of an overall global change research strategy for Antarctica and are summarized in this paper.
GNSS-based passive radar sensing using hybrid-aperture system

A hybrid-aperture radar system is being developed for passive, GNSS-based sensing and imaging missions. Different from previous work, the real aperture (RA) array has excellent cross-range resolution and electronic scanning capability, and synthetic aperture processing is applied for the dimension along the UAV/aircraft flight path. The hybrid aperture thus provides real-time, combined sensing capability and multiple functions. Multi-level signal synchronization and tracking is used to ensure the signal phase coherency and integrity. The advantages of covert radar sensing and reduced onboard computing complexity of this sensor are being demonstrated through experiments.
Simulation of daily solar irradiance

Abstract Solar irradiance is an important input parameter for many simulation models dealing with plant responses to the environment and is not measured in as many locations as temperature and precipitation. This situation has led to the development of algorithms to simulate solar irradiance with measured temperature and precipitation. The objectives of this research effort were two-fold: (1) to determine if a location-specific algorithm to simulate solar irradiance (based on temperature and precipitation) developed in the central Great Plains of the US could be used in other locations and (2) to determine if these results could then be used to develop a generalized algorithm. Data (temperature, precipitation, and solar irradiance) from a wide variety of locations (climates) were used to develop the location-specific and generalized algorithm. Simulated values of solar irradiance from both algorithms were evaluated with independent data from the same locations. A second independent data set was used to evaluate the generalized algorithm. For the first independent data set using the location-specific algorithm, root mean square errors (RMSE) varied from 2.6 to 5.5 MJ m−2 per day. Using the generalized algorithm, RMSE varied from 3.2 to 5.5 MJ m−2 per day, excluding Barrow, AK, which had an RMSE of 6.8 MJ m−2 per day. For the second independent data set using the generalized algorithm, RMSE ranged from 4.0 to 5.8 MJ m−2 per day. The RMSE for simulated solar irradiance was relatively large when the mean annual temperature term (ΔT), which is used in the generalized algorithm, was relatively small and precipitation was relatively high. With this caveat, the generalized algorithm can be used to simulate solar irradiance at locations where only daily values of temperature and precipitation are measured. The RMSE values reported in this study compare favorably to results for other algorithms used to simulate solar irradiance. An advantage of this approach is its relative simplicity and ease of use.
Children born prematurely have atypical sensory profiles.

To determine if children born prematurely exhibit atypical responses to normally occurring sensory stimuli, as measured by the Sensory Profile. This is a cross-sectional study of children born at ⩽32 weeks gestation, followed at 1 to 8 years of age. The Sensory Profile questionnaire was completed by each child′s primary caregiver. The overall Sensory Profile was considered atypical if any quadrant or section score was >2 s.d. from the mean of the Sensory Profile validation group. Bivariate analyses were performed to determine associations between risk factors for adverse neurodevelopment and overall atypical Sensory Profiles. A section or quadrant was considered atypical if its score was >2 s.d. from the mean. A test of proportions was used to compute observed versus expected scores for each section and quadrant (Sensory Profile scores were based on a normal distribution so one would expect approximately 95% of participants to score within 2 s.d. of the mean). Of our 107 participants, 39% had an atypical score in at least one section or quadrant. No specific perinatal or neonatal risk factors were associated with atypical overall Sensory Profiles (P⩾0.05 for all). Children born prematurely were at risk of having atypical scores in the auditory, tactile and vestibular processing sections, and in the four Sensory Profile quadrants (P<0.05). Children born prematurely exhibit atypical sensory behaviors on the Sensory Profile. Further investigation to understand the underlying neural mechanisms and to develop effective interventions are critical to support neurodevelopment for these children.
With a letter-searched prime, boat primes float but swim and coat don't: further evidence for automatic semantic activation.

Letter search (LS) on the prime typically eliminates semantic priming (swim-float) and orthographic/phonological (O/P) priming (coat-float) but not morphological priming (marked-mark). However, LS on the prime does not reduce semantic priming for low-frequency targets (Tse & Neely, 2007). These findings suggest that semantic activation survives LS but decays during LS to a low level that can be detected only with sensitive measures, which are afforded by low-frequency targets and morphologically related primes and targets. In the present research, we show that LS on the prime results in 0 msec of semantic priming (e.g., swim-float) and 11 msec of O/P priming (e.g., coat-float), both of which are statistically null, whereas the LS semantic+O/P priming effect for primes and targets that do not share a morpheme (e.g., boat-float) is a robust 37 msec. Discussion focuses on the automaticity of semantic activation and whether morphological priming is mediated by (1) a morphemic representation that is separate from semantic representations or (2) activation combined from semantics and orthography/phonology.
Correlation of Freshwater Discharge and Subtidal Salinity in Apalachicola River

Modification of river flow from engineering activities often affects salinity and the mixing of fresh and saltwater in tidal rivers. In this study, an empirical relation between subtidal salinity and gradually varying freshwater inflow at a given station in the Apalachicola River, Florida, was developed and tested with field observations. A time series of subtidal salinity was obtained by low-pass filtering of the instantaneous salinity to eliminate the tidal signal. Based on the one-dimensional balance theory between advection and diffusion of salt, the time series of subtidal salinity was directly correlated to the gradually varying freshwater input by an exponential equation. With field observations obtained from the Apalachicola River, the empirical constants were obtained by regression. The correlation between observations and the results from the empirical equation were very good. This simple empirical relation may be used by water resource engineers and managers in preliminary studies to quickly estimate the potential impact of water resource planning on subtidal salinity at a given location in a tidal river.
A comparative study of integumentary mucous secretions in amphibians

Abstract 1. 1. The temporal patterns of discharge from cutaneous mucous glands were quantified over a broad range of body temperature in selected species of amphibians from diverse habitats and having different behavior. Seventy-eight animals representing thirteen species and eight different families were examined. 2. 2. Species which bask in direct sunlight, regardless of phylogenetic position, generally discharge a watery fluid onto their integuments, especially at higher body temperatures. Discharges tend to combine to form a liquid film. 3. 3. In non-basking species, discharge of fluid from cutaneous glands is infrequent or absent. 4. 4. These findings support the theory that “mucous” secretions have a major adaptive role in preventing integumentary desiccation. This would also imply importance of skin secretions in relation to thermoregulation and cutaneous gas exchange.
Women's use of the Internet: what nurses need to know.

Women increasingly access the Internet for health information and social support in managing health‐related changes. Some women's use of the Internet has empowered them and created changes in nurse‐patient relationships. Nurses and patients must have a mutually respectful open dialogue to develop individualized appropriate plans of care, and nurses should recognize that women who do not have Internet access may have different learning needs. JOGNN , 35, 151‐156; 2006. DOI: 10.1111/J.1552‐6909.2006.00004.x
Problems associated with gibbons ureteral catheter

Abstract Two recent cases of bilateral ureteral obstruction secondary to benign retroperitoneal fibrosis were treated initially with Gibbons indwelling ureteral catheters. Inadequate catheter length, ealyceal stone formation, catheter encrustation, and distal migration form the basis for this report.
Psychoanalytic Case Studies and the Pragmatic Case Study Method

This article addresses the effort made in the Pragmatic Case Study (PCS) method to enhance the quality and rigor of knowledge gained from psychoanalytic single case studies. Five limitations of typical psychoanalytic case or vignette presentations are reviewed and the ways in which the PCS method attempts to improve upon them are highlighted. The limitations include: (1) reliance on the therapist's memory or brief notes; (2) selection of the data by the therapist alone; (3) the tendency to interpret case material in terms of reigning theoretical orthodoxy; (4) lack of available context to allow the reader to accept or refute the therapist's reading of the case: (5) restriction of the data source to the therapist alone. Despite the advantages of the PCS method over what is currently the norm for presenting psychoanalytic case material, there are ongoing challenges for the method if it is to be regarded as a scientific way of presenting evidence and using that evidence to modify theory.
Elektrohydraulische Lenksysteme für leichte Nutzfahrzeuge

Im Jahr 2007 betrug die durchschnittliche CO2-Emission leichter Nutzfahrzeuge 203 g/km. Als Teil der europaischen Gesamtstrategie plant die EU-Umweltkommission den Ausstos von Kohlendioxid fur Lieferwagen, Minibusse und Lastwagen drastisch zu senken. Mit Zielvorgaben von 175 g im Jahr 2014, sinkend auf 135 g fur 2020, drohen damit Mehrkosten von mehreren Tausend Euro pro Fahrzeug. Die elektrohydraulische Hochleistungsservolenkung von TRW kann einen Beitrag zur Erreichung des Gesamtziels reduzierter CO2-Emissionen leisten.
Radiative lifetime measurements of vibrationally excited states of NO+ (X 1Σ+)

Abstract The radiative lifetimes of NO + (X 1 Σ + , v =1, …, 5) have been measured using an FT/ICR instrument equipped with pulsed valves. NO + (X 1 Σ + , v ) is state-selectively formed by REMPI on NO and detected by a state-selective charge-transfer reaction with a neutral monitor gas. Recording the monitor ion signal as a function of the NO + (X 1 Σ + , v ) radiative relaxation time yields radiative lifetimes of 90, 49, 30, 25 and 19 ms for v = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. these results are in good agreement with recent theoretical calculations from several research groups.
Malignant thymic neoplasms: Diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy with histologic, immunocytochemical, and ultrastructural confirmation

Two cases of malignant thymic neoplasms diagnosed by trans-thoracic fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy under fluoroscopic and computerized axial tomography (CT) guidance with histologic, immunocytochemical, and ultrastructural confirmation are presented. The clinical and cytomorphologic features of the first case were typical of a malignant thymoma. A characteristic biphasic cell population of benign epithelial cells and mature lymphocytes was seen in Diff-Quik- and Papanicolaou-stained smears from the anterior mediastinal mass and the paravertebral metastasis and was confirmed by histologic examination. Immunoperoxidase studies for T and B cell subsets demonstrated lymphocytes with the thymic lymphocyte phenotype (Leu 6). Electron microscopic (EM) examination revealed epithelial cells with desmosomal attachments, tonofilaments, and extended cell processes along with mature lymphocytes. FNA biopsy of the second case demonstrated features of a thymic carcinoma. Individually scattered and loosely clustered small groups of markedly anaplastic and pleomorphic large cells were seen both in the Diff-Quik- and Papanicolaou-stained smears. EM performed on the FNA specimen demonstrated the poorly differentiated epithelial nature of the malignancy. The mediastinal mass was partially resected and demonstrated an undifferentiated carcinoma staining positively for low-molecular-weight cytokeratin. Ultrastructure demonstrated cell attachments and relationships consistent with carcinoma. The tack of a lung or other extrapulmonary primary tumor was consistent with a thymic carcinoma. These cases demonstrate the value of performing EM and immunocytochemistry on material obtained by fine-needle aspiration, which can aid in establishing the correct diagnosis and facilitate the clinical management of patients with malignant thymic neoplasms. Diagn Cytopathol 1986;2:118-125.
SOIL PHOSPHORUS DISTRIBUTION AND CONCENTRATION FROM REPEATED STARTER PHOSPHORUS BAND APPLICATION

Soil sampling to determine soil phosphorus (P) availability is complicated by the presence of residual P bands that have not been disturbed by tillage. This study investigated the soil P distribution and longevity of P bands applied in no-tillage culture on a Mollic Endoaqualf soil (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic). Starter band P treatments of 0, 5, 10, and 20 kg P ha−1 were applied to corn (Zea mays L.) in a no-till corn-soybean [Glycine max. (L.) Merr.] rotation from 1990 through 1996. Treatments were rerandomized with each application, such that differing starter band histories were established, which served as treatments for soil and plant sampling. In 1996 the 10 and 20 kg P ha−1 bands were marked with monofilament line in the soil during the application process. In April 1997, contiguous 2.0 cm wide, 15 cm deep soil cores (30 per row) were taken across the 1996 corn rows. Soil core Bray-1 P concentrations that were 52 to 54 mg kg−1 greater than adjacent cores clearly indicated the presence of one and...
Noise analysis of closed-Loop vibratory rate gyros

This paper presents detailed noise analysis of closed-loop MEMS vibratory gyros whose noise characteristics are dominated by the mechanical-thermal noise of the sensor's vibrating structure as well as the electrical noise associated with the pickoff signal conditioning electronics in the sense channel. The mechanical-thermal noise and the electrical noise are represented as uncorrelated additive wideband disturbances dominant at the sensor's input and output, respectively. A comprehensive spectral density model of the closed-loop rate-equivalent noise is derived to explain the effects of various sensor parameters including the resonator quality factor, the closed-loop bandwidth, and the modal frequency split. Experimental results with a Disk Resonator Gyro (DRG) are presented to support the analysis.
Comparison of potentiostatic anodic polarization methods

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of experimental techniques on potentiostatic anodic polarization measurements. Potential-step and potential-sweep (potentio-dynamic) polarization techniques were investigated using 18Cr-8Ni stainless steel and titanium in dilute sulphuric acid. Polarization was performed with an electronic potentiostat which was externally programmed with sweep or step voltage functions. The effects of potential traverse rate and direction, potential-step size and electrode pre-treatment are discussed in detail.
Adolescent nicotine sensitization and effects of nicotine on accumbal dopamine release in a rodent model of increased dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity

Abstract Our laboratory has reported neonatal quinpirole (D 2 /D 3 agonist) treatment to rats increases dopamine D 2 receptor sensitivity that persists throughout the animal's lifetime. This model appears to have clinical relevance to schizophrenia, and smoking is common in this population. Male and female Sprague-dawley rats were neonatally treated with quinpirole from postnatal (P) days 1–21. After habituation from P30 to 32, animals were administered saline or nicotine (0.3, 0.5, or 0.7 mg/kg free base) every other day from P33 to 49 and locomotor activity was assessed. Generally, animals neonatally treated with quinpirole and administered nicotine during adolescence demonstrated increased behavioral activity and/or sensitization compared to animals neonatally given saline and sensitized to nicotine as well as controls. However, animals neonatally treated with quinpirole and given the 0.7 mg/kg dose of nicotine demonstrated elevated activity throughout testing but did not show sensitization, and only mild sex differences were reported. Therefore, microdialysis was performed on male rats sensitized to the 0.5 mg/kg dose of nicotine, and results revealed that neonatal quinpirole sensitized dopamine overflow in response to nicotine to 500% above animals neonatally given saline and sensitized to nicotine at peak levels. In addition, neonatal quinpirole increased the accumbal BDNF in response to nicotine compared to all other groups, and nicotine alone also produced significant increases in striatal and accumbal BDNF. This study reveals that neonatal quinpirole enhanced adolescent nicotine sensitization, accumbal dopamine overflow, and BDNF protein in response to nicotine, which may be related to changes in the brain's reward system.
Subpopulation range estimation for conservation planning: a case study of the critically endangered Cross River gorilla

Measuring and characterizing the area utilized by a population or species is essential for assessment of conservation status and for effective allocation of habitat to ensure population persistence. Yet population-level range delineation is complicated by the variety of available techniques coupled with a lack of empirical methods to compare the relative value of these techniques. This study assesses the effect of model choice on resulting subpopulation range estimation for the critically endangered and patchily distributed Cross River gorilla, and evaluates the conservation conclusions that can be drawn from each model. Models considered range from basic traditional approaches (e.g. minimum convex polygon) to newer home range techniques such as local convex hull (LoCoH). Overlap analysis comparing sub-sampled to complete data sets are used to evaluate the robustness of various modeling techniques to data limitations. Likelihood cross validation criterion is employed to compare core range model performance. Results suggest that differing LoCoH models produce similar range estimates, are robust to data requirements, provide a good fit for core habitat estimation, and are best able to detect unused habitat within the subpopulation range. LoCoH methods may thus be useful for studies into habitat selection and factors limiting endangered species distributions. However, LoCoH models tend to over-fit data, and kernel methods may provide similar information about animal space use while supporting protection of larger swaths of critical habitat. Subpopulation range analyses for conservation/management planning should therefore explore multiple modeling techniques, and employ both qualitative and quantitative assessments to select the best models to inform decision making for species of conservation concern.
Baculovirus Expression of Bovine Cytochrome P450C17 in Sf9 Cells and Comparison with Expression in Yeast, Mammalian-Cells, and E. coli

Expression of bovine 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450c17) in insect Sf9 cells using baculovirus is the fourth heterologous expression system developed for studying this enzyme. The enzyme in Sf9 cell membranes has all the expected activities and closely resembles that from the other systems: COS1 cells, yeast, and Escherichia coli. One curious feature of baculovirus expression of this hemoprotein is that the immunodetectable P450c17 is present in an insoluble pellet when produced in the absence of added hemin and in a 10,000 g supernatant when expressed in the presence of added hemin. When comparing the level of expression of bovine P450c17 in these different expression systems, E. coli produces the largest quantity per liter culture, while baculovirus produces the most molecules of P450c17 per cell.
Children’s attachment-related narratives following US Gulf Coast hurricanes: Linkages with understanding and teacher stress

The central focus of this study was the perceptions of emotional security among 64 elementary schoolaged children exposed to the hurricanes that affected the US Gulf Coast in 2005. Specifically, we examined the representational qualities of attachment, exploration, and caregiving as assessed with a narrative story-stem task in relation to parental reports of children’s exposure to the hurricanes, their knowledge of hurricanes, and their teacher’s exposure to the hurricanes. Knowledge of hurricanes was assessed with a new narrative method representing hurricane conditions wherein children were asked to tell stories about what hurricanes are and what damage they could do. Children’s narrative representations of attachment, exploration, and caregiving were unrelated to parental reports of their children’s exposure to the hurricanes but were significantly related to their knowledge of hurricanes, specifically the effects of hurricanes on people, and to teachers’ reported loss of property related to the hurricanes. The findings suggest that a core component of children’s representational models is the capacity for empathy for the experience of others.
Recovery of BCS Class II drugs during aqueous redispersion of core–shell type nanocomposite particles produced via fluidized bed coating

Abstract Incorporation of BCS Class II drug nanoparticles into solid dosage forms entails drying of nanosuspensions as an intermediate step, which can unfortunately lead to loss of their large surface area through size growth and/or agglomeration. Ensuing incomplete nanoparticle recovery and redispersion during dissolution of the solid dosage forms may lead to poor bioavailability. In this study, nanoparticle recovery from nanocomposite microparticles redispersed in water or an aqueous surfactant solution was investigated as a function of various excipients. Nanosuspensions of griseofulvin (GF), considered as a model BCS Class II drug, were prepared by wet media milling and subsequently dried through coating on Pharmatose® carrier particles in a fluidized bed processor. A polymer (hydroxypropyl cellulose, HPC), a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), and their combinations at various concentrations were used as stabilizers during milling; mannitol was used as dispersant in one formulation. The core–shell type nanocomposite microparticles obtained from the fluidized bed coating were redispersed in water using various methods of agitation to recover the GF nanoparticles. Particle size analysis, SEM imaging, and dissolution testing were used to elucidate the redispersion phenomenon and its relevance to dissolution. It was found that the presence of SDS was critical to the full recovery of nanoparticles and their dissolution, whereas HPC appeared to have positive yet convoluted effects. The redispersion methods studied had a slight impact on the recovery of nanoparticles when SDS was present either in the formulation or in the redispersion medium (water). Incomplete recovery of the nanoparticles caused relatively poor drug dissolution, signifying the importance of complete redispersion. The HPC–SDS combination resulted in a synergistic effect in the formation of finer nanoparticles as well as in fast redispersion of GF nanoparticles from the nanocomposite microparticles. A similar redispersion response was observed with another BCS Class II drug, phenylbutazone (PHB).
Real time quantitation of a chemical reaction by fiber optic near-infrared spectroscopy

In this paper, a quantitative method for following the progression of an industrially significant reaction using chemometrics, fiber-optic near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, and a single fiber transmission probe is reported. This method is based on a calibration for the reaction developed by sampling aliquots of a typical reaction for off-line HPLC analysis immediately after acquiring a spectrum. A comparison of HPLC peak areas to the spectra was used to develop a calibration for monitoring real-time product formation. A partial least squares (PLS) calibration model was developed from the characteristic reaction data and was applied to a 30-g-scale reaction. The model successfully predicted the formation of the product. An advantageous feature of this method is that although the product contained a specific absorbance in the NIR, by-product generation during the reaction could also be monitored by NIR. Based on the PLS model generated from both the product and by-product, the product concentration can be predicted directly from the spectral data with a correlation greater than 0.9, and required only a single PLS factor.
Orangutans (Pongo abelii) and a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) match features in familiar and unfamiliar individuals

Great apes can perceive images as representative of corresponding real-life objects. Coupled with the potential advantages of identifying specific members of one’s species and mounting evidence for individual recognition in other non-humans, it seems likely that great apes would have the ability to identify conspecifics in photographs. The ability of four orangutans and a gorilla to match images of individuals of their own and a closely related but unfamiliar species was examined here for the first time. First, the subjects matched photographs of familiar conspecifics taken at various time points in a delayed matching-to-sample procedure (Experiment 1). Second, they matched different photographs of unfamiliar individuals of a different species (Experiment 2) at above chance levels. These results suggest that the subjects matched photographs by matching physical features, not necessarily by recognizing the identity of the individuals depicted. However, they also quickly learned to select photographs of familiar individuals when these photographs were paired with photographs of unfamiliar individuals of their own species (Experiment 3), and three subjects showed transfer to novel images of familiar and unfamiliar individuals. Thus, the findings support the idea that subjects attended to physical features to identify individuals that they could categorize on the basis of familiarity.
Pharmacy student knowledge retention after completing either a simulated or written patient case.

Objective. To determine pharmacy students’ knowledge retention from and comfort level with a patient-case simulation compared with a written patient case.Design. Pharmacy students were randomly ass...
Therapeutic approaches for HER2-positive brain metastases: Circumventing the blood–brain barrier

We aim to summarize data from studies of trastuzumab in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and brain metastasis and to describe novel methods being developed to circumvent the blood–brain barrier (BBB). A literature search was conducted to obtain data on the clinical efficacy of trastuzumab and lapatinib in patients with HER2-positive MBC and brain metastasis, as well as the transport of therapeutic molecules across the BBB. Trastuzumab-based therapy is the standard of care for patients with HER2-positive MBC. Post hoc and retrospective analyses show that trastuzumab significantly prolongs overall survival when given after the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) metastasis; this is probably attributable to its control of extracranial disease, although trastuzumab may have a direct effect on CNS disease in patients with local or general perturbation of the BBB. In patients without a compromised BBB, trastuzumab is thought to have limited access to the brain, because of its relatively large molecular size. Several approaches are being developed to enhance the delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain. These include physical or pharmacologic disruption of the BBB, direct intracerebral drug delivery, drug manipulation, and coupling drugs to transport vectors. Available data suggest that trastuzumab extends survival in patients with HER2-positive MBC and brain metastasis. Novel methods for delivery of therapeutic agents into the brain could be used in the future to enhance access to the CNS by trastuzumab, thereby improving its efficacy in this setting.
Methacrylate modified clays and their polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites

Two methacrylate-modified clays have been prepared and used to produce nanocomposites of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) by in situ polymerization. These nanocomposites have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), cone calorimetry and the evaluation of mechanical properties. When the clay contains only a single methacrylate unit, the styrene system is exfoliated but methacrylate is intercalated. When two methacrylate units are present on the cation of the clay, both systems are exfoliated. TGA data show that the thermal stability of all the nanocomposites is improved, as expected. The relationships between the fire properties and nanostructure of the nanocomposites are complicated, as shown by cone calorimetry. The conclusions that one may reach using cone calorimetry do not completely agree with those from XRD and TEM. The evaluation of mechanical properties shows an increase in Young's modulus for all nanocomposites along with a decrease in elongation; tensile strength is decreased for methacrylate nanocomposites but increased for styrenics systems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.