cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The control of the differentiation of female embryonic germ cells in the bird.

Abstract The left gonad from female chick embryos at 4–12 days of incubation was cultured in vitro as pieces of intact gonad, pieces of isolated cortex, and groups of pure germ cells. All cultures were maintained for a time equal to 17 days in ovo . At the end of the culture period, a cytological and quantitative study was made on the germ cells. The results show that some germ cells in pieces of intact 6-day gonad and pieces of 6-day cortex complete their normal developmental sequence and enter zygotene. This shows that the factors that control the differentiation of the germ cells reside in the cortex of the gonad and their expression does not depend upon the pituitary and the medullary estrogens after 6 days of incubation. Germ cells that are cultured as isolated cells do not attach to the tissue culture substrate, do not divide mitotically, and do not enter zygotene. Evidence is presented that suggests 12-day germ cells do enter zygotene when cultured with pieces of 12-day cortex. These data suggest the differentiation of the female germ cells is regulated by the somatic cells of the cortex.
Control of marine fish production

In the trophic-dynamic hypothesis, biomass production was assumed limited by factors that control energy transfer. An analysis using trophic-dynamic models applied to ocean data, however, leads to a rejection of that hypothesis and supports a hypothesis that carnivorous fish production is controlled by the amount of new N annually incorporated into phytoplankton biomass and transferred through food webs. For an average 2.5 trophic transfers from phytoplankton to fish in environments ranging from oceanic to northeast North American coastal waters, N transfer efficiency was a constant 0.28 while C transfer efficiency increased nonlinearly from 0 to an asymptotic value of 0.16. Fish production was more sensitive to variations in phytoplankton production in oligotrophic than in eutrophic marine environments as a result of a nonlinear decrease in f, the ratio of new to total production, as primary production decreased.
Hierarchical Folding and Synthesis of Iterative Data Flow Graphs

Folding transformation enables synthesis of digital signal processing algorithms described by iterative data flow graphs (DFGs). For a specified feasible folding set, it returns a synthesized hardware architecture described by a hardware DFG. This brief presents hierarchical folding and hierarchical synthesis of iterative DFGs that contain many identical or similar substructures. Instead of performing folding or synthesis on the entire large DFG, the hierarchical folding transformation performs folding or synthesis only on one substructure and then completes the folding process by appropriately changing the number of delays and switch instances in this folded structure. The advantage lies in significant reduction in execution time. Two different approaches to hierarchical folding presented include hierarchical interleaved folding and hierarchical contiguous folding. Experimental results show that the run time increase of the synthesis process for a 20-cascaded fifth-order wave digital filter can be reduced from 2000% to 30% using hierarchical synthesis instead of conventional synthesis, compared with the run time for synthesis of one section.
Social instability and coronary artery atherosclerosis in cynomolgus monkeys.

Epidemiologic research has increasingly implicated psychological factors in the emergence of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease in human beings. The study of behavioral influences on atherogenesis in man, however, is impeded by the difficulty of assessing coronary artery atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals and by the fact that significant arterial lesions typically develop only over relatively protracted intervals. Consequently, we have recently attempted development of an appropriate animal model for examining the atherogenic effects of psychosocial variables. In the first of two investigations, an experimental stressor--involving repeated reorganization of socially housed groups of adult, male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) fed a moderately atherogenic diet--resulted in increased coronary artery atherosclerosis relative to control animals, though only among monkeys which retained dominant social status over the 22 months of the study. In the second investigation, which employed the same experimental procedures among monkeys fed a low cholesterol/low saturated fat diet, periodic social group reorganization similarly led to development of greater atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. In neither experiment were psychosocial influences on coronary atherogenesis attributable to the concomitant effects of other physiologic variables commonly associated with atherosclerosis (e.g., serum lipids, blood pressure).
Impact of the HealthChoice Program on Cesarean Section and Vaginal Birth after C-Section Deliveries: A Retrospective Analysis

To assess the impact of the HealthChoice program in Maryland on cesarean section and vaginal birth after C-section deliveries. Pre-post design using a comparison group with Maryland State Inpatient Databases, part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Although the combined 1995 and 2000 database contained over 1.2 million inpatient discharge records, the analysis included all hospital discharge abstracts for women in labor. To identify the delivery, Diagnoses-Related Groups (DRGs) 370–375 were used from the discharge data. Together, there were 128,743 births identified in both years. Pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid managed care were compared pre-implementation and post implementation with pregnant women delivering babies under private insurance. The analysis computed difference-in-differences estimates using a logistic regression model that controlled for maternal characteristics, payment source, labor and delivery complications, and hospital characteristics. The outcome variables included Primary Cesarean, Repeat Cesarean, and Vaginal Birth after C-section. These results suggest that Medicaid managed care enrollees were less likely to undergo cesarean section deliveries relative to privately insured beneficiaries. Medicaid MCOs may have done a better job of limiting the growth in overused procedures than did MCOs and providers for privately insured women. This study has shown that there has been an overall increase in the use of primary and repeat cesarean sections in Maryland hospitals. However, HealthChoice limited this increase for Medicaid enrollees relative to privately insured women. On the other hand, vaginal births after C-section have declined in Maryland.
The unusual crystallographic disorder of M2 units in M2Cl4(PEt3)4 (M = Re, Mo)

Abstract The crystal structures of Re 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 and Mo 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 have been reinvestigated. Both compounds crystallize in the space group I 4 3 m (No. 217) and have the metal-metal vectors disordered equally in each Cartesian direction. In the non-centrosymmetric space group ( I 4 3 m , No. 217), there are two possible orientations for the whole molecule which are related by an inversion center. For Re 2 Cl 4 (PEt) 4 , one orientation gave R = 0.0309, R w = 0.0370, quality-of-fit = 0.84; while the other one gare R = 0.0361, R w = 0.0434, quality-of-fit = 0.99. The Hamilton significance test indicates that the first one can be accepted at the 99.99% confidence level. For Mo 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 , one orientation gave R = 0.0369, R w = 0.0457, quality-of-fit = 1.20; while the other one gave R = 0.0385, R w = 0.0508, quality-of-fit = 1.33. The first orientation can be accepted at the 99.99% confidence level based on the Hamilton significance test. The closest distance between H atoms on the terminal C of PEt 3 in one Re 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 molecule and H atoms on the terminal C of a misoriented PEt 3 in its closest neighbors is 1.38 A, well below the sum of the van der Waals radii of two H atoms. The corresponding value in Mo 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 is 1.67 A, also well below the sum of the van der Waals radii of two H atoms. This requires Cl and P be ordered. The published structure of Re 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 with space group Im 3 m (No. 229) was incorrect. The ReRe bond distance of 2.250(4) A, resulting from the present work, is consistent with an ReRe triple bond between two Re atoms. The newly determined dimensions of the Mo 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 molecules are essentially the same as those previously published. The absolute structure of Mo 2 Cl 4 (PEt 3 ) 4 was confirmed by measuring Bijvoet pairs in a separate data collection using Cu radiation.
Tonic activity of Gα-gustducin regulates taste cell responsivity

The taste-selective G protein, alpha-gustducin (alpha-gus) is homologous to alpha-transducin and activates phosphodiesterase (PDE) in vitro. alpha-Gus-knockout mice are compromized to bitter, sweet and umami taste stimuli, suggesting a central role in taste transduction. Here, we suggest a different role for Galpha-gus. In taste buds of alpha-gus-knockout mice, basal (unstimulated) cAMP levels are high compared to those of wild-type mice. Further, H-89, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, dramatically unmasks responses to the bitter tastant denatonium in gus-lineage cells of knockout mice. We propose that an important role of alpha-gus is to maintain cAMP levels tonically low to ensure adequate Ca2+ signaling.
Participation of rotational motion in vibrational relaxation of molecules in condensed media

The vibrational relaxation rate through rotation of diatomic molecules in condensed media is calculated for both the low-barrier and the high-barrier cases using the repulsive potential model. The lack of temperature dependence below a threshold temperature is noted and the inverse isotope effect is found. The vibrational relaxation rate in the low-barrier case when the ground state is approximated by vibration and higher states by rotation is calculated in order to examine the validity of the use of the free-rotation approximation in the ground state. The ratio of the vibrational relaxation rate through rotation to the total vibrational relaxation rate is obtained in order to see the relative contribution of the molecular rotation and lattice vibration to the vibrational relaxation.
Orthogonal and secondary concentration in planar micro-optic solar collectors

Planar micro-optic concentrators are passive optical structures which combine a lens array with faceted microstructures to couple sunlight into a planar slab waveguide. Guided rays propagate within the slab to edge-mounted photovoltaic cells. This paper provides analysis and preliminary experiments describing modifications and additions to the geometry which increase concentration ratios along both the vertical and orthogonal waveguide axes. We present simulated results for a 900x concentrator with 85% optical efficiency, measured results for small-scale experimental systems and briefly discuss implementations using low-cost fabrication on continuous planar waveguides.
Joint Sidelobe Suppression and PAPR Reduction in OFDM Using Partial Transmit Sequences

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform is known for its drawbacks that affect application in practice: high out-of-band (OOB) radiation and high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). In this paper, we propose a three-stage technique for the joint reduction of OOB radiation and PAPR, therefore minimizing the spectral regrowth after the power amplifier as well as signal distortion. In the first and the second stages, the OFDM data vector is partitioned into contiguous blocks that are naturally suited for PAPR reduction using partial transmit sequences (PTS). Since edge blocks/subcarriers have more impact on the OOB radiation, each edge block is further divided into smaller interleaved sub-blocks, and optimized phase rotations are applied to each sub-block to suppress the spectral sidelobes. Following the frequency domain techniques, optimum phase rotation for the time domain OFDM symbol is calculated to achieve smoother transition with the previous symbol, which further reduces the OOB spectrum. The proposed method improves the joint containment in frequency and power dimensions, along which the OFDM signal suffers from high spreading.
The effect of sagittal alignment on adjacent joint mobility after lumbar instrumentation--a biomechanical study of lumbar vertebrae in a porcine model.

Abstract Background. The mechanisms and changes in range of motion of neighboring mobile segment (adjacent level) after the instrumented posterior stabilization are not completely understood. This study aims to investigate the effect of sagittal alignment on the adjacent joint mobility after lumbar instrumentation. Methods. Eight fresh porcine lumbar spines were instrumented with pedicle screw implants from L2 to L4. Each specimen was tested in three different sagittal alignments. Group A were instrumented in lordotic alignment (lordosis 20°), Group B in straight alignment (lordosis 0°), and Group C in kyphotic alignment (kyphosis 20°). Hydraulic testing machine was used to generate an increasing moment in flexion and extension respectively for each specimen. The vertebral displacement of the disc between L1–L2 and L4–L5 were measured simultaneously with an extensometer. Findings. There were no significant differences in vertebral displacement between the three different sagittal alignments in both the superior and inferior adjacent segments under extension motion. However, under flexion motion, the vertebral displacement on the superior adjacent segment (L1–L2) with kyphotic alignment was statistically larger than that of the straight and lordotic alignments ( P =0.0198 and P =0.000473 respectively), and no differences were found between the three different sagittal alignments on the inferior adjacent segment (L4–L5). Interpretation. The iatrogenically produced kyphotic lumbar spine by posterior instrumentation might cause larger adjacent joint mobility on the superior adjacent joint as compared to the instrumented lordotic lumbar spine. This study implies that an instrumented spine in lordosis is less likely to develop adjacent instability than a kyphotic spine.
Reconfigurable Agents for Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

Heterogeneous wireless sensor networks combine static nodes and mobile nodes. These mobile nodes might present a more sophisticated and powerful computation platform if compared to static nodes. UAVs (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle) can confer mobility feature to a node, as well as offer a powerful computation platform, including reconfigurable hardware as an execution platform alternative. These types of networks enable a vast and interesting spectrum of applications, like area surveillance, public security support, among others. An UAV might join or leave a network, and thereby migration of agents might occur among UAVs. In this scenario, this paper proposes a reconfigurable agent, which is able to be executed as pure software agent, as well as a hardware agent, depending on the available execution environment and application decisions. The proposed architecture for a reconfigurable agent presents the necessary transparency so that the rest of the system is not aware of the agents' nature. Moreover, the system enables a dynamic migration of an agent reconfiguring thereby itself to the target execution environment, in a transparent manner as well. Case studies and results are presented, showing the feasibility and costs related to the architecture proposed.
Synaptic and septate neuromuscular junctions in embryonic lobster muscle

IT is generally accepted that there is not enough genetic material to programme uniquely the structure of each neurone in multicellular animals. This then presents the problem of determining how a growing neurone finds and identifies the correct postsynaptic structures. Work on the visual system of Daphnia has demonstrated that the primary sensory neurones form transient gap junctions with undifferentiated neuroblasts in the optic lamina1. No similar work has been reported for interneurones or motor neurones, however. For instance, we do not know how developing motor neurones find the proper muscle in the periphery2. I studied neuromuscular development in lobster embryos and report here that motor neurones form septate junctions with developing muscle cells in the abdomen. In addition, mature neuromuscular synapses are present in the embryo as early as the third to fourth month of the total 9 month development.
Weyl closure of a linear differential operator

Abstract We study the Weyl closure Cl ( L ) = K ( x )〈 ∂ 〉 L ∩ D for an operator L of the first Weyl algebra D = K 〈 x , ∂ 〉. We give an algorithm to compute Cl ( L ) and we describe its initial ideal under the order filtration. Our main application is an algorithm for constructing a Jordan–Holder series for a holonomic D -module and a formula for its length. Using the closure, we also reproduce a result ofStrombeck (1978), who described the initial ideals of left ideals of D under the order filtration, and a result ofCannings and Holland (1994), who described the isomorphism classes of right ideals of D .
High-gain low-sidelobe double-vee dipoles

This paper introduces a novel variation of the vee dipole antenna consisting of two coplanar vee dipoles with a common feed point. It is referred to as a double-vee dipole. Radiation characteristics of the double-vee dipole antenna are investigated numerically and experimentally. It is shown that the double-vee dipole can provide significantly higher directivity and lower sidelobes and back radiation than the conventional vee dipole. With increasing arm length, the directivity of the double-vee dipole exhibits a series of local maxima. Measured and predicted radiation patterns for a fabricated double-vee dipole are presented and shown to be in good agreement.
Bacon‐Bercey Award to Remer

Lorraine A. Remer, a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, is the recipient of the 1986 June Bacon-Bercey Scholarship for Women in Atmospheric Sciences. The scholarship, administered by AGU, is provided through a gift from June Bacon-Bercey, a noted meteorologist.
Large-cell Monte Carlo renormalization group for percolation

We obtain the critical parameters for the site-percolation problem on the square lattice to a high degree of accuracy (comparable to that of series expansions) by using a Monte Carlo position-space renormalization-group procedure directly on the site-occupation probability. Our method involves calculating recursion relations using progressively larger lattice rescalings, $b$. We find smooth sequences for the value of the critical percolation concentration ${p}_{c}(b)$ and for the scaling powers ${y}_{p}(b)$ and ${y}_{h}(b)$. Extrapolating these sequences to the limit $b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ leads to quite accurate numerical predictions. Further, by considering other weight functions or "rules" which also embody the essential connectivity feature of percolation, we find that the numerical results in the infinite-cell limit are in fact "rule independent." However, the actual fashion in which this limit is approached does depend upon the rule chosen. A connection between extrapolation of our renormalization-group results and finite-size scaling is made. Furthermore, the usual finite-size scaling arguments lead to independent estimates of ${p}_{c}$ and ${y}_{p}$. Combining both the large-cell approach and the finite-size scaling results, we obtain ${y}_{p}=0.7385\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0080$ and ${y}_{h}=1.898\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003$. Thus we find ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{p}=\ensuremath{-}0.708\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.030$, ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{p}=0.138(+0.006,\ensuremath{-}0.005)$, ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{p}=2.432\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.035$, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{p}=18.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6$, ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{p}=1.354\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.015$, and $2\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{p}=1.796\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006$. The site-percolation threshold is found for the square lattice at ${p}_{c}=0.5931\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0006$. We note that our calculated value of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{p}$ is in considerably better agreement with the proposal of Klein et al. that ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{p}=\frac{\mathrm{ln}\sqrt{3}}{\mathrm{ln}(\frac{3}{2})}\ensuremath{\cong}1.3548$, than with den Nijs' recent conjecture, which predicts ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{p}=\frac{4}{3}$. However, our results cannot entirely rule out the latter possibility.
A PURE STRAIN OF THYROID CELLS AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

1. A pure strain of thyroid epithelium was isolated and maintained in active condition for 7 months. At the end of the experiment, the rate of cell multiplication was as great as at its beginning. 2. The thyroid cells grew at the surface of the coagulum as pavement epithelium, and within the coagulum as a glandular structure. 3. The cells did not dedifferentiate, and the lumen of the acini in cultures from a strain over 4 months old contained colloid secretion similar morphologically to that from a freshly extirpated thyroid gland.
Correction of Gain and Optical Throughput Variations in a Two-Dimensional Imaging Spectrometer

Imaging spectrometry is a field which has demonstrated remarkable growth in recent years. The driving force behind the interest in this field is the additional information made available when both spatially and spectrally resolved signals are collected simultaneously. In the past, these data have tyically been collected sequentially (point by point) or by means of photographic detection. However, several imaging spectrometers have recently been described which permit collection of spatially-resolved, wavelength-specific images with multidimensional detector arrays (e.g., vidicon tubes, photodiode arrays, charge-transfer detectors, etc.). These spectrometers allow an image to be acquired much more rapidly than was previously possible, and therefore enable new experiments which previously were difficult or impossible to perform. Unfortunately, these spectrometers also suffer from their own unique set of problems, including variations in the optical throughput of the spectrometer as a function of spatial position in the image plane (e.g., vignetting), and differences in pixel sensitivity on the detector array. In the most extreme case, these problems can overwhelm the signal and cause them to be unusable.
Novel Sol-Gel Based Pt Nanocluster Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation

We report propane dehydrogenation behavior of catalysts prepared using two novel synthesis strategies that combine inverse micelle Pt nanocluster technology with silica and alumina sol-gel processing. Unlike some other sol-gel catalyst preparations. Pt particles in these catalysts are not encapsulated in the support structure and the entire Pt particle surface is accessible for reaction. Turnover frequencies (TOF) for these catalysts are comparable to those obtained over Pt catalysts prepared by traditional techniques such as impregnation, yet the resistance to deactivation by carbon poisoning is much greater in our catalysts. The deactivation behavior is more typical of traditionally prepared PtSn catalysts than of pure Pt catalysts.
Aggravation of electrically provoked ventricular tachycardia during treatment with propafenone

Propafenone is a new class Ic antiarrhythmic agent currently being investigated in the United States. It is generally well tolerated. We administered propafenone to 16 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) that had been refractory to conventional antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Three of these 16 patients developed electrically provoked incessant VT during treatment with propafenone without other evidence of toxicity. These arrhythmias subsided after lidocaine was administered. Propafenone therapy was discontinued in each case. Incessant VT did not develop in any of these patients in the absence of antiarrhythmic drugs or on antiarrhythmic drugs other than propafenone. Alternative effective treatment was identified for each patient. Although VT was initially provoked by pacing in each of these patients, these observations suggest that propafenone, like some other class Ic drugs, may favor the development of incessant VT in occasional patients. This appears most likely to occur in patients with ventricular dysfunction and prior sustained VT or ventricular fibrillation.
BLyS receptor signatures resolve homeostatically independent compartments among naïve and antigen-experienced B cells.

Abstract The BLyS family of receptors includes two cytokines, BLyS and APRIL; and three receptors, BR3, BCMA and TACI. Together, these regulate the size and composition of peripheral B cell pools. The multiplicity of ligand–receptor sets, in conjunction with differential receptor expression, alternative binding partners and disparate downstream signaling characteristics, affords the potential to establish independently regulated homeostatic niches among primary and antigen-experienced B cell subsets. Thus, BLyS signaling via BR3 is the dominant homeostatic regulator of primary B cell pools, whereas APRIL interactions with BCMA likely govern memory B cell populations. Short-lived antibody forming cell populations and their proliferating progenitors express a TACI-predominant signature. Further, within each niche, relative fitness to compete for available cytokine is determined by exogenous inputs via adaptive and innate receptor systems, affording intramural hierarchies that determine clonotype composition.
Interface depinning, self-organized criticality, and the Barkhausen effect.

We report measurements of magnetic avalanches in a Fe-Ni-Co alloy. The distribution of avalanche sizes is given by $P(A)\ensuremath{\propto}{A}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\alpha}}\mathrm{exp}({\ensuremath{-}A/A}_{0})$, with $\ensuremath{\alpha}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1.33\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10$. The role of demagnetizing effects in the avalanche statistics is demonstrated. We analyze a simple model of interface growth and find a power law distribution of avalanche sizes over a wide range of parameters when an infinite-range demagnetization field is included. The exponents agree with those found at the critical field in the absence of demagnetization effects.
EARLY INITIATION OF HIGH-FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION (HFJV) IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS) IS ASSOCIATED WITHA GREATER RISK FOR ADVERSE OUTCOMES: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL

EARLY INITIATION OF HIGH-FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION (HFJV) IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS) IS ASSOCIATED WITHA GREATER RISK FOR ADVERSE OUTCOMES: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL
Glycosaminoglycans and Chondroitin/Dermatan Sulfate Proteoglycans in the Myocardium of a Non-Human Primate

Lyophilized mid-wall left ventricular myocardial tissues of the long-tailed non-human primate, Macaca fascicularis, were examined for the presence of glycosaminoglycans and chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans. Mean uronic acid concentration in all samples was 0.97 +/- 0.27 micrograms per mg dry weight myocardium. The distribution of the glycosaminoglycans in the myocardium, determined by cellulose acetate strip electrophoresis was 62 +/- 4% heparan sulfate, 20 +/- 6% hyaluronan, and 16 +/- 5% chondroitin/dermatan sulfate. The analysis of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans, done directly on the extracts of lyophilized myocardium using agarose-acrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies to various carbohydrate epitopes and with polyclonal antibodies to the protein core, showed the presence of biglycan and decorin. That these two and no other chondroitin/dermatan sulfates were present was established by core protein analysis using SDS PAGE and Western blotting. Quantification of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans uncovered high individual specific variability of the chondroitin/dermatan sulfate epitopes, but only moderate variability of biglycan and decorin core proteins. The variability of the chondroitin/dermatan sulfate epitopes is most likely related to individual specific differences in chain number, iduronate content and sulfation patterns of biglycan and decorin.
3,4,3',4'-Tetrachloro azoxybenzene and azobenzene: potent inducers of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

Two unwanted contaminants, 3,4,3',4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene (TCAOB) and 3,4,3',4'-tetrachloroazobenzene (TCAB), formed in the commercial synthesis of 3,4-dichloroaniline or of herbicides made from 3,4-dichloroaniline, were responsible for three outbreaks of acne among chemical workers. TCAOB and TCAB are approximately isosteric to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, two well-known contaminants that cause acne. All four of these agents are potent inducers of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and compete for stereospecific binding sites in the hepatic cytosol, which are thought to be the receptor sites for the induction of this enzyme. Among the chlorinated azoxy and azobenzenes, the potency of a congener to induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity correlates with its binding affinity for the hepatic cytosol specific binding sites and its capacity to induce acne; this relation between structure and activity parallels that observed for the chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.
Does melanopsin bistability have physiological consequences

Recent publications in the Journal of Biological Rhythms have focused on the hypothesis that the property of melanopsin bistability is functionally translated to in vivo mammalian physiology. Physiological consequences of photopigment bistability likely can be inferred from the more extensive invertebrate literature. In invertebrates, photopigment bistability results in (a) photoreceptor independence from specialized chromophore regenerating systems, (b) long-wavelength enhancement of a blue light effect, (c) expression of a prolonged depolarization after potential following intense blue light stimulation,and (d) photopigment endocytosis following chronic short-wavelength light exposure. If analogous physiological phenomena result from melanopsin bistability in mammals, then one can take advantage of the spectral composition of a light source to modulate its impact on photoentrainment and other light-dependent circadian phenomena. In any event,investigators studying phenomena that are affected by photic stimulation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells should detail the spectral composition of their light sources before, during, and after an experimental photic stimulus.
How often does a CSF pleocytosis follow generalized convulsions

Postictal pleocytosis is a transient and otherwise unexplained increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocytes occurring after repetitive generalized tonic-clonic seizures. We reviewed 98 episodes of seizures in 91 patients in whom the CSF was examined within 72 hours of the last seizure. Patients who had diseases associated with CSF pleocytosis were excluded. Two of the 98 initial CSF samples showed a pleocytosis, which subsequent examinations proved to be transient.
Using the Power of West African Dance to Combat Gender Issues

Abstract In West African societies, aesthetic standards that govern body size and shape are more accepting of individual variation and, consequently, are more embracing. By incorporating West African aesthetics into modern dance classes, body size and shape are deemphasized.
A new concept for background rejection in gamma-ray astronomy — the supershield☆

Abstract Expanding the scientific successes of GRO and SIGMA will require significant improvements in sensitivity for the next generation of gamma-ray instruments. The conventional approach of increasing detector areas and shield thicknesses will reach a practical limit with the current generation of instruments, especially as moderate-sized aunch vehicles will certainly be the norm in the future. Further sensitivity improvements require novel approaches for reducing detector background. Here we describe some concepts for advanced shielding configurations which we call “supershields”. Supershields combine layers of materials designed to moderate and absorb neutrons, along with conventional, active gamma-ray shields. Due to contradictory demands placed on shield designs by neutrons and gamma-rays, supershields afford significant flexibility to optimize shield geometry compared to conventional shielding methods. If properly designed, supershields have the potential to significantly reduce overall detector backgrounds using passive, inexpensive materials.
Self-organized nanostructured materials of alkylated phthalocyanines and underivatized C60 on ITO

Clicking thiols onto a core fluorous phthalocyanine (Pc) platform yields alkyl and fluoroalkyl derivatives. The Zn(II) Pc with 16 thioalkanes self-organizes with fullerene C60 into nearly monodispersed nanoparticles when cast on ITO surfaces. Particle size and surface density is controlled by varying the Pc/fullerene ratio and concentration. Fluorescence quenching indicates electronic interaction between the component molecules in the films of nanoparticles. The strong supramolecular interactions between the Pc with 8 or 16 fluorous alkanes inhibit incorporation of the fullerene.
Effectiveness of Manual Physical Therapy for Painful Shoulder Conditions: A Systematic Review

Multiple disease-specific systematic reviews on the effectiveness of physical therapy intervention for shoulder dysfunction have been inconclusive. To date, there have been two systematic reviews that examined manual therapy specifically but both considered effects within diagnoses. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the effectiveness of manual therapy to the glenohumeral joint across all painful shoulder conditions. A search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Randomized Controlled Trials for articles dated 1996 to June 2009 was performed. Inclusion for review were manual therapy performed to the glenohumeral joint only; non-surgical painful shoulder disorders; subjects 18-80 years; and outcomes of range of motion, pain, function, and/or quality of life. Quality assessment was performed using the PEDro scale with subsequent data extraction. Seventeen related articles were found with seven fitting the inclusion criteria. The average PEDro score was 7.86, meeting the cutoff score for high quality. Significant heterogeneity in outcome measures prohibited meta-analysis. Five studies demonstrated benefits utilizing manual therapy for mobility, and four demonstrated a trend towards decreasing pain values. Functional outcomes and quality-of-life measures varied greatly among all studies. Manual therapy appears to increase either active or passive mobility of the shoulder. A trend was found favoring manual therapy for decreasing pain, but the effect on function and quality of life remains inconclusive. Future research utilizing consistent outcome measurements is necessary.
Clave de los géneros de moluscos terrestres mexicanos usando caracteres conquiológicos

Resumen es: Existen 117 generos de moluscos terrestres descritos para Mexico. Este trabajo permite clasificarlos por medio de 13 claves, basadas en caracteres concho...
Space Group Theoretical Analysis of Grain Boundaries in Ordered Alloys

The different types of ordering structures possible for grain boundaries in superlattice alloys are analyzed using group theoretical considerations. The decomposition of the space group corresponding to the disordered structure into cosets with respect to a subgroup is utilized to analyze the effect of the order-disorder transition on the coincident lattice, union lattice, and O lattice. The possible number of grain boundary variants is discussed. The special points in the symmetry group are used to classify the different types of boundaries, and discuss the symmetry-dictated extrema for the grain boundary energy with respect to the translational state of the boundary. The results are applied to the superlattice structures L12 and L20. Die verschiedenen Arten der Ordnungsstrukturen, die fur Korngrenzen in Ubergitterlegierungen moglich sind, werden mit gruppentheoretischen Betrachtungen analysiert. Die Zerlegung der Raumgruppe entsprechend der fehlgeordneten Struktur in zusammengehorigen Satzen bezuglich einer Untergruppe wird benutzt, um den Einflus des Ordnungs-Fehlordnungs-Ubergangs im Koinzidenzgitter, Vereinigungsgitter und O-Gitter zu analysieren. Die mogliche Anzahl der Korngrenzenvarianten wird diskutiert. Die speziellen Punkte in der Symmetriegruppe werden benutzt, um die verschiedenen Arten der Grenzen zu klassifizieren und die symmetriebedingten Extrema fur die Korngrenzenenergie bezuglich des Translationszustandes der Grenze zu diskutieren. Die Ergebnisse werden auf die Supergitterstrukturen L12 und L20 angewendet.
Activity and passive-avoidance learning in cobalt-injected rats

A wide range of cognitive-behavioral sequelae, including memory deficits, results from hard metal disease in humans. Cobalt is a common component in the manufacture of hard metals and is a biologically active, toxic substance. This study examined the effects of cobalt exposure in rats. Results showed decreased exploratory behavior and a trend for higher-dose subjects to show decreased passive avoidance learning. No significant differences in active maze learning were found. These results indicate the value of further explorations of the cognitive-behavioral effects of cobalt exposure and suggest a number of methodological cautions.
Confronting commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors.

Health care professionals who routinely interact with young people have an important role to play in preventing, identifying, and responding to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors. These crimes—which include any sexual activity with someone younger than 18 years in exchange for something of value—occur every day in the United States and have serious, long-term consequences for individuals who have experienced this violence and exploitation. Unfortunately, pediatricians may not recognize children and adolescents who are at risk or who may be abused. A recent report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council sheds light on these crimes and provides recommendations designed to increase awareness, advance understanding, and support efforts to prevent and respond to this abuse.... Language: en
Defect behavior in oxides: Insights from modern atomistic simulation methods

Abstract Oxide ceramics are important for a large number of technological applications. In most cases, the behavior of defects determines the properties of the oxide that make it appealing. Thus, understanding defect properties – thermodynamic and kinetic – is central for optimizing structure/property relationships for oxides. Here, we provide a perspective on the use of modern computational capabilities to interrogate defect properties in complex oxides. We focus on three aspects: the screening of multiple defect reactions in a large set of oxide chemistries to determine dominant defect structure, the interaction of ionic and electronic defects, and the kinetic properties of defects. These examples serve to illustrate the types of insights that can be gained when applying new methodologies, combined with modern computational resources, to advance the understanding of these materials.
High-speed source-synchronous interface for the IBM System z9 processor

As mainframes evolve and deliver higher performance, technologists are focusing less on processor speed and more on overall system performance to create optimized systems. One important area of focus for performance improvement involves chip-to-chip interconnects, with their associated bandwidths and latencies. IBM and related computer manufacturers are optimizing the characteristics of interconnects between processors as well as between processors and their supporting chip sets (local cache, memory, I/O bridge). This paper describes the IBM proprietary high-speed interface known as Elastic Interface (EI), which is used for nearly all chip-to-chip communication in the IBM System z9TM. In particular, EI is a generic high-speed, source-synchronous interface used to transfer addresses, controls, and data between CPUs, L2 caches, memory subsystems, switches, and I/O hubs. The EI has single-ended data lines, resulting in twice the performance (bandwidth per pin) of similar buses operating with two differential lines per signal.
Hartree-Fock core local-density-approximation valence pseudopotentials.

We derive the pseudopotential for an atom in which all the electrons are subject to a Hartree-Fock exchange potential arising from the core electrons, and a Kohn-Sham exchange-correlation potential arising from the valence electrons. When this ionic pseudopotential is transferred to a crystal, the self-consistent valence exchange-correlation potential has the simple form ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{xc}}^{\mathrm{val}}$=${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{xc}}$(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathrm{val}}$). We show by explicit calculations of the lattice constants, cohesive energies, and bulk moduli of Na and GaAs that this pseudopotential is of similar quality, but has certain computational advantages over, a strictly local-density-approximation (LDA) pseudopotential with ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{xc}}^{\mathrm{val}}$=${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{xc}}$(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathrm{total}}$)-${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{xc}}$(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathrm{core}}$). It is far superior to the LDA pseudopotential with ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{xc}}^{\mathrm{val}}$=${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{xc}}$(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathrm{val}}$).
Dynamic and static analysis of transcriptional regulatory networks in a hierarchical context

Gene regulatory networks have been shown to share some common aspects with commonplace social governance structures such as hierarchies. Thus, we can get some intuition into their organization by arranging them into well-known hierarchical layouts. Here we study a wide range of regulatory networks (transcriptional, modification and phosphorylation) in a hierarchical context for five evolutionarily diverse species. We specify three levels of regulators — top, middle and bottom — which collectively regulate the non-regulator targets lying in the lowest fourth level, and we define quantities for nodes, levels and entire networks that measure their degree of collaboration and autocratic or democratic character. Overall we show that in all the networks studied, the middle level has the highest collaborative propensity and that co-regulatory partnerships occur most frequently amongst mid-level regulators, an observation that has parallels in efficient corporate settings where middle managers need to interact most to ensure organizational effectiveness. Then to study dynamic effects, superimpose the phenotypic effects of tampering with nodes and edges directly onto the hierarchies. We reconstruct modified hierarchies reflecting changes in the level of regulators within the hierarchy upon deletions or insertions of nodes or edges. Overall, we find that rewiring events that affect upper levels have a more dramatic effect on cell proliferation rate and survival than do those involving lower levels. We also investigate other features connected to the importance of upper-level regulators: expression divergence, back-up copies and expression level.
Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During Construction of the Intercounty Connector Highway in Maryland

Current affiliation for S. D. Farnsworth: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, P.O. Box 644236, Pullman, WA 99164. A comparison was done of three relocation techniques to mitigate the impacts of construction of a major highway on eastern box turtles (Terrapene c. carolina) in Maryland. Movement patterns, home range size, and the survival of turtles from three treatment groups between 2008 to 2011 were compared: turtles native to the study site and not moved during the study (native turtles), turtles native to the site but that were removed from the limit of disturbance (LOD) of the highway and relocated within 500 m of their original location (on-site relocations), and turtles that came from areas at least 5 km from the study area and that were relocated within 250 m of the LOD (off-site turtles). Turtles in the off-site group had larger home ranges and moved longer distances than either on-site or native turtles. However, off-site-relocated turtles did not make permanent movements ...
Organ Evolution in Angiosperms Driven by Correlated Divergences of Gene Sequences and Expression Patterns

The evolution of a species involves changes in its genome and its transcriptome. Divergence in expression patterns may be more important than divergence in sequences for determining phenotypic changes, particularly among closely related species. We examined the relationships between organ evolution, sequence evolution, and expression evolution in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa), and maize (Zea mays). We found correlated divergence of gene sequences and expression patterns, with distinct divergence rates that depend on the organ types in which a gene is expressed. For instance, genes specifically expressed in reproductive organs (i.e., stamen) evolve more quickly than those specifically expressed in vegetative organs (e.g., root). The different rates in organ evolution may be due to different degrees of functional constraint associated with the different physiological functions of plant organs. Additionally, the evolutionary rate of a gene sequence is correlated with the breadth of its expression in terms of the number of tissues, the number of coregulation modules, and the number of species in which the gene is expressed, as well as the number of genes with which it may interact. This linkage supports the hypothesis that constitutively expressed genes may experience higher levels of functional constraint accumulated from multiple tissues than do tissue-specific genes.
Simulating Quadratically Nonlinear Random Processes

A technique to generate realizations of quadratically nonlinear non-Gaussian time series with a desired ("target") power spectrum and bispectrum is presented. Specifically, by generating a Gaussian time series (using amplitude information from the target power spectrum and random phases) and passing it through a quadratic filter (that uses phase information from the target bispectrum), a realization of a quadratically nonlinear random process with a specified power spectrum and bispectrum can be produced. Second- and third-order statistics from many realizations of simulated nonlinear time series compare well to those from the original time series providing the target power spectrum and bispectrum, with deviations consistent with theory. The simulation technique is shown to simulate accurately ocean waves in shallow water, which are well known to be quadratically nonlinear.
Object Recognition Using Log-Polar Wavelet Mapping

This paper proposes a rotation and scale invariant object recognition method which combines image feature extraction in Cartesian coordinate with the log-polar mapping and similarity measure techniques for classification. The method yields robustness for fast computation without any rescale needed in the target image. The method also does not use motion estimation. Thus, the method is also robust in recognizing objects without prior information of the objectpsilas motion or previous location. Experiments with real video sequences are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach in practice.