cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fused estimation of sparse connectivity patterns from rest fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a powerful tool to analyze brain development and neuronal activity. Identifying discriminative brain regions between various groups within a population has generated great interest in recent years. In this work, we consider the problem of estimating multiple sparse, co-activated brain regions from fMRI observations belonging to different classes. More precisely, we propose a method to analyze functional connectivity differences between children and young adults. Often, analysis is conducted on each class separately. Here, we propose to rely on a generalized fused Lasso penalty to extract both class-specific and shared co-expressed regions. In order to validate our method, experiments are performed on an fMRI dataset comprised of normally developing children from 8 to 21. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is able to properly extract meaningful sub-networks, which results in improved classification accuracy between the two classes.
A Fundamental Investigation of Modulated Tool Path Turning Mechanics

Abstract This paper describes an experimental machining platform that provides metrology during tube turning (orthogonal cutting) for force, global temperature, feed motion, tool wear, and chip formation during continuous feed and modulated tool path, or MTP, turning. MTP is a technique which produces discontinuous chips by superimposing tool oscillations in the tool feed direction on the nominal feed rate to repeatedly interrupt the cutting process. AISI 1026 cold-drawn steel machining experiments are performed and data is presented for: 1) feed motion and modeling; 2) force measurement and modeling; 3) temperature measurement; and 4) chip formation for constant and MTP tool paths. Shear-localized chip formation that begins and ends during a single MTP chip is demonstrated.
Synaptic adaptations to chronic ethanol intake in male rhesus monkey dorsal striatum depend on age of drinking onset.

One in 12 adults suffer with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Studies suggest the younger the age in which alcohol consumption begins the higher the probability of being diagnosed with AUD. Binge/excessive alcohol drinking involves a transition from flexible to inflexible behavior likely involving the dorsal striatum (caudate and putamen nuclei). A major focus of this study was to examine the effect of age of drinking onset on subsequent chronic, voluntary ethanol intake and dorsal striatal circuitry. Data from rhesus monkeys (n = 45) that started drinking as adolescents, young adults or mature adults confirms an age-related risk for heavy drinking. Striatal neuroadaptations were examined using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology to record AMPA receptor-mediated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and GABAA receptor-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) from medium-sized spiny projection neurons located in the caudate or putamen nuclei. In controls, greater GABAergic transmission (mIPSC frequency and amplitude) was observed in the putamen compared to the caudate. With advancing age, in the absence of ethanol, an increase in mIPSC frequency concomitant with changes in mIPSC amplitude was observed in both regions. Chronic ethanol drinking decreased mIPSC frequency in the putamen regardless of age of onset. In the caudate, an ethanol drinking-induced increase in mIPSC frequency was only observed in monkeys that began drinking as young adults. Glutamatergic transmission did not differ between the dorsal striatal subregions in controls. With chronic ethanol drinking there was a decrease in the postsynaptic characteristics of rise time and area of mEPSCs in the putamen but an increase in mEPSC frequency in the caudate. Together, the observed changes in striatal physiology indicate a combined disinhibition due to youth and ethanol leading to abnormally strong activation of the putamen that could contribute to the increased risk for problem drinking in younger drinkers.
Ties That Bind: Exploring Existing Brand and Cause Relationships in Cause-Related Marketing Campaigns: An Abstract

Over the last several decades, cause-related marketing (CRM) has become an important piece in building the relationship between for-profit corporations and non-for-profit organizations (Elliot, 2009). Under the umbrella of “doing well by doing good,” firms have been able to attract consumers that are socially and environmentally conscious through CRM initiatives. These individuals seek out products and services than go above and beyond simply meeting their wants and needs but that extends assistance or charity to their local communities, natural environment, or starving populations around the world. In light of the growing consumer interest in cause-related products and services, this study aims to better understand the relative influence that various factors, including pre-existing connections to the cause and brand, can have on individual emotions and an individual’s intent to purchase products from firms associated with a cause.
Prior exposure to nutritive and artificial sweeteners differentially alters the magnitude and persistence of sucrose-conditioned flavor preferences in BALB/c and C57BL/6 inbred mouse strains.

Murine genetic variance affects sucrose’s ability to condition flavor preferences (CFP) relative to saccharin. Whereas BALB/c mice display robust sucrose- and fructose-CFP, C57BL/6 mice only displa...
Campus as a Living Laboratory for Sustainability: The Physics Connection

One of us is a physicist. The other is a chemist. For the past four years, we have been teaching a large introductory environmental science course that uses our campus as a lens through which to explore issues relating to sustainability. Our students “ask questions about the energy we use to heat and cool our buildings, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the electricity to run light bulbs and appliances, the goods we purchase, and the waste we create.” This course fits in the genre of using “campus as a living laboratory,” a term we will discuss later.
How We and Molecules Explore Molecular Landscapes

The multidimensional potential surfaces of clusters and polyatomic molecules can now be mapped by efficient techniques for finding minima and saddle points and, from them, “reaction paths”. How the geometry and topology of the surface arise from interactions between individual particles can be learned by studying the changes in the maps as the elementary forces are varied systematically. The influence of the form of the multidimensional potential on the dynamics can be inferred from dynamic simulations on those systematically varied surfaces. For example the conditions required for a classical system to exhibit bottlenecks or coexisting phases can be inferred in this way. The extent of chaotic and ergodic character of the atomic motion within an isolated molecule or cluster can be estimated, respectively, from the Liapunov spectrum and K-entropy and from the fractal dimension of the trajectory of the system in its phase space.
Abstract 1698: Loss of MHC-I expression is associated with altered immune microenvironment and decreased response to PD-1 checkpoint inhibition

Cancer immunotherapies, such as PD-1 inhibitors, achieve durable responses in a subset of cancer patients, however, a significant proportion of patients fail to respond to treatment. Defects in antigen presentation, such as the loss of MHC-I expression, are a major mechanism of resistance to PD-1 inhibitors. Developing new therapeutic strategies that overcome the lack of antigen presentation will improve cancer treatment and patient survival. To develop a pre-clinical model to evaluate therapies that could overcome resistance, we have generated a unique PD-1 blockade sensitive, syngeneic immunocompetent melanoma mouse model. We generated defects in antigen presentation using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, creating B2m-deficient melanoma cell lines. We demonstrated that B2m is necessary for IFN-gamma induced MHC-I surface expression. Unlike control tumors, we found that B2m-deficient tumors were resistant to PD-1 blockade, leading to decreased mouse overall survival. Using multi-parameter flow cytometry, we showed an increase in NK cell, regulatory T cell and dendritic cell infiltration in B2m-deficient tumors compared to controls, while the other immune cell population were unchanged. Since NK cell activity is negatively regulated by MHC-I, our findings suggest that additional factors are required to further invigorate infiltrating NK cells and to trigger a NK cell-mediated anti-tumor response. We are currently evaluating new approaches targeting NK cells and regulatory T cells on B2m-deficient tumors. This pre-clinical model could enable the development of a therapeutic strategy serving to improve the treatment of tumors lacking antigen presentation. Citation Format: Cecile Gstalder, Priya Pancholi, Dorota Sadowicz, Rizwan Haq. Loss of MHC-I expression is associated with altered immune microenvironment and decreased response to PD-1 checkpoint inhibition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1698.
Accurate, strong, and stable reporting of choroid plexus epithelial cells in transgenic mice using a human transthyretin BAC.

Choroid plexus epithelial cells express high levels of transthyretin, produce cerebrospinal fluid and many of its proteins, and make up the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Choroid plexus epithelial cells are vital to brain health and may be involved in neurological diseases. Transgenic mice containing fluorescent and luminescent reporters of these cells would facilitate their study in health and disease, but prior transgenic reporters lost expression over the early postnatal period. Human bacterial artificial chromosomes in which the transthyretin coding sequence was replaced with DNA for tdTomato or luciferase 2 were used in pronuclear injections to produce transgenic mice. These mice were characterized by visualizing red fluorescence, immunostaining, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and luciferase enzyme assay. Reporters were faithfully expressed in cells that express transthyretin constitutively, including choroid plexus epithelial cells, retinal pigment epithelium, pancreatic islets, and liver. Expression of tdTomato in choroid plexus began at the appropriate embryonic age, being detectable by E11.5. Relative levels of tdTomato transcript in the liver and choroid plexus paralleled relative levels of transcripts for transthyretin. Expression remained robust over the first postnatal year, although choroid plexus transcripts of tdTomato declined slightly with age whereas transthyretin remained constant. TdTomato expression patterns were consistent across three founder lines, displayed no sex differences, and were stable across several generations. Two of the tdTomato lines were bred to homozygosity, and homozygous mice are healthy and fertile. The usefulness of tdTomato reporters in visualizing and analyzing live Transwell cultures was demonstrated. Luciferase activity was very high in homogenates of choroid plexus and continued to be expressed through adulthood. Luciferase also was detectable in eye and pancreas. Transgenic mice bearing fluorescent and luminescent reporters of transthyretin should prove useful for tracking transplanted choroid plexus epithelial cells, for purifying the cells, and for reporting their derivation from stem cells. They also should prove useful for studying transthyretin synthesis by other cell types, as transthyretin has been implicated in many functions and conditions, including clearance of β-amyloid peptides associated with Alzheimer’s disease, heat shock in neurons, processing of neuropeptides, nerve regeneration, astrocyte metabolism, and transthyretin amyloidosis.
Finding Voice and Passion: Critical Race Theory Methodology in Science Teacher Education:

This longitudinal case study utilizes critical race theory methodology to chronicle the journey of an African American female in science teacher education. The study looks at her educational histor...
Elevated expression of unfolded protein response genes in the prefrontal cortex of depressed subjects: Effect of suicide

Abstract Background : Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of mental disability worldwide. Despite many studies, the pathophysiology associated with MDD brain is not very clear. It is reported that cellular stress is related to depressive symptoms. Under stressful conditions, intracellular homeostasis processes can be disrupted, which can induce a process of unfolded protein response (UPR) in the subcellular lumen of endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether UPR is active in the depressed brain. Methods : The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) was used from 23 non-psychiatric controls and 43 MDD subjects. The expression levels of UPR associated genes (GRP78, GRP94, XBP-1, CHOP, ATF4C, and ATF6C) were measured by qRT-PCR. Results : The level of mRNA expression in MDD subjects was significantly higher for GRP78 (p = 0.008), GRP94 (p = 0.018), and ATF4C (p = 0.03) compared to non-psychiatric controls. Further analysis suggested that changes in the expression of these genes were specifically higher only in those MDD subjects who died by suicide but not in those who died by causes other than suicide when compared with non-psychiatric controls (GRP78, p = 0.007; GRP94, p = 0.041; ATF4C, p = 0.037). Limitations : This study was performed only in MDD subjects who had died by suicide. Suicide subjects with other psychiatric illnesses need to be included. Conclusions : Given that UPR is involved in many physiological processes in the brain, including inflammatory response as well as apoptosis, increased expression of UPR genes indicates that ER stress and mediated UPR may be critical factors in suicidality among depressed patients.
Operating Asymmetries and Propensity Score Matching in Discretionary Accrual Models

Earnings management research often uses discretionary accruals from Jones-type expectation models. These standard models assume a linear relation between sales changes and accruals. However, we predict and find that sales changes have a non-linear asymmetric effect on accruals through managers’ operating decisions. By forcing a linear specification on this non-linear effect, the modified Jones model overestimates discretionary accruals for moderate sales changes and underestimates them for extreme sales changes. This causes excessive type-I error in tests of positive (negative) discretionary accruals for subsamples with moderate (extreme) sales growth. We generalize the performance matching approach of Kothari, Leone, and Wasley (2005) and use propensity score matching on multiple accrual determinants to address the bias caused by non-linear effects of sales changes and other variables. This modification improves type-I errors relative to standard matching on ROA, successfully mitigating the bias, and changes inferences about some of the major findings in the literature.
RPI’s James Fund: ETFs, Decision Making, and Manager Transitions

The James Fund at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management is a small, recently established, course-driven student managed investment fund. The findings of this case study seek to provide insight to new and existing funds in improving individual fund operation and structure. The James Fund seeks to outperform an 80/20 equity/fixed income benchmark by investing exclusively in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and to move primary emphasis away from idiosyncratic risk and individual equity valuation back towards asset allocation, the most significant driver of portfolio performance. Buy and sell decisions must receive a 3/5ths majority in voting among students and adhere with the investment policy statement. Groupthink, a common problem in student managed funds, is observed in trade proposal and manager voting patterns. It is partially addressed through the use of instructor feedback on individual student trade diaries. Student managers transition each semester therefore the portfolio must meet dormant period criteria limited to a specific list of broadly diversified ETFs, mitigating potential problems from knowledge transfer between management teams that are largely unexamined in the context of student managed investment funds.
Growth and characterization of uranium oxide thin films deposited by polymer assisted deposition

Abstract A thin film of uranium oxide was deposited by polymer assisted deposition on a single crystal lanthanum aluminate - strontium aluminum tantalate substrate. The deposition resulted in formation of epitaxial thin film of uranium oxide, which could be attributed to α-U3O8 or α-UO3. X-ray diffraction revealed preferential orientation along (100) in case of α-U3O8 or (001) for α-UO3 for the thin film. A combination of x-ray and neutron reflectometry proved the sample to be α-U3O8. The film was of 17 nm thickness covered by a capping layer. The less dense capping layer could be a manifestation of surface water adsorbed on the sample.
Blunted Flanker P300 Demonstrates Specificity to Depressive Symptoms in Females during Adolescence

Recent research suggests that depressive disorders in adults are characterized by reductions in flanker P300 amplitude, and that a reduced flanker P300 may also predict worst depressive trajectories over time. The current study extended this work to adolescence—and to evaluate the specificity of the relationship between flanker P300 to depressive symptoms versus anxiety symptoms, and whether the association between flanker P300 and depressive symptoms was moderated by biological sex. To this end, P300 amplitude, depression, anxiety, and sex were assessed in a large sample of 619 adolescents aged 11 to 14. Participants completed a speeded response flanker task while EEG was recorded, as well as self-reported measures of current depression and anxiety symptoms. Reduced P300 amplitude was related to both heightened depression and anxiety symptoms in zero-order correlations. Regression-based analyses suggest that reduced P300 was uniquely related to depressive symptoms. Furthermore, this negative association between P300 and depression was apparent in female adolescents, but not male adolescents. In sum, the current study suggests that flanker P300 amplitude may potentially serve as a neural marker specific to depression in females during adolescence.
Impacts of the Northridge Earthquake on transit and highway use

The Northridge earthquake provided a unique opportunity to examine travel behavior responses to a major emergency. This paper examines travel patterns in two heavily damaged transportation corridors to determine how trip patterns changed over the recovery period. The research evaluates the behavioral response to changing transportation supply conditions and the extent to which transit is a viable substitute for the private vehicle under emergency conditions. The paper also examines cost and subsidy outcomes of the increased supply of transit for emergency response. The most striking characteristic of the changes in travel patterns observed in the post-earthquake period is flexibility. Travelers responded to the alternatives available. In one corridor, many commuters used commuter rail during the first few weeks, but shifted back to private vehicles as the detour routes were expanded. In both corridors, bus transit patronage did not change; the emergency bus services attracted few riders. To the extent possible in both corridors, travelers remained in their private vehicles and opted to shift routes, travel schedules, and destinations rather than shift to public transit or ridesharing. Cost and subsidy outcomes reflected these responses. The paper concludes that transportation system redundancy and the ability of individuals to make a variety of short-term adjustments in travel patterns makes rapid recovery possible even from major disasters.
The more things change the more things change

Did all dinosaurs have feathers? Godefroit et al. (2014) argue that the discovery of filamentary integument on an early ornithischian—a sister taxon to the Saurischia, the dinosaurian branch that yielded birds—implies that feathers were a plesiomorphic trait shared by most if not all members of the Dinosauria. But this may be an instance wherein phylogenetic inference fails: Barrett et al. (2015) argue that integumentary structures in the Ornithischia are not homologous with saurischian feathers, undermining the case for plesiomorphy. Research into genetic regulation of feather development shows that the molecular antecedents to feather development are conserved across the Archosauria; dinosaurs may have been predisposed to evolve feathery structures (Lowe et al. 2015). To answer the original question: maybe, but maybe not. Conceptual Change in Biology, a collection of essays edited by Alan Love, does not directly engage this debate over dinosaur feathers. The book is the product of a 2010 workshop commemorating the influential 1981 Dahlem conference that inspired the research program now known as evolutionary developmental biology, or Evo-devo. One goal of that research program is the unification of the life sciences. In that spirit, this collection is written for an interdisciplinary audience (Love 2015). The proof of the pudding is in the eating: theorists who take the time to digest this collection’s offerings will find it a resource worth consuming. From the volume’s reports on developmental patterns in, for example, ferns (57–76), insects (147–173), and salamanders (271–301), one may derive important insights about the evolution of feathers. The book’s essays give conceptual and historical context to current debates such as the one over dinosaur integument. Rudolf Raff, a participant in that original meeting as well as in the 2010 workshop, notes that the intervening years saw the
Cytogenetic studies in patients with secondary leukemia/dysmyelopoietic syndrome after different treatment modalities

Cytogenetic studies of 68 patients who developed secondary leukemia (SL)/dysmyelopoietic syndrome (DMS) after extensive chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy as well as patients who developed SL/DMS without such treatment showed that those patients who received radiation alone or with chemotherapy had more extensive numerical and structural abnormalities than those who received only chemotherapy. In terms of the specific chromosomal abnormalities, there are no differences between the various treatment groups. Hypodiploidy is the most common form of aneuploidy in these patients, with the most common numerical abnormality being the loss of chromosome 7. The most common structural abnormalities involved chromosomes 3 and 5. When compared with patients with de novo leukemia and DMS, the chromosomal abnormalities in these patients are more complex and extensive. Serial studies revealed that cytogenetic abnormalities do not precede the development of hematologic changes by significant time periods.
Conflict on the Michigan Frontier: Yankee and Borderland Cultures, 1815–1840

Review of: "Conflict on the Michigan Frontier: Yankee and Borderland Cultures 1815–1840," James Z. Schwartz.
Hybrid Electric Transit Bus

A government, industry, and university cooperative is developing an advanced hybrid electric city transit bus. Goals of this effort include doubling the fuel economy compared to current buses and reducing emissions to one-tenth of current EPA standards. Unique aspects of the vehicle's power system include the use of ultra-capacitors as an energy storage system, and a planned natural gas fueled turbogenerator developed from a small jet engine. Power from both the generator and energy storage system is provided to a variable speed electric motor attached to the rear axle. At over 15000 kg gross weight, this is the largest vehicle of its kind ever built using ultra-capacitor energy storage. This paper describes the overall power system architecture, the evolution of the control strategy, and its performance over industry standard drive cycles.
FINE STRUCTURE MAPPING IN YEAST WITH SUNLAMP RADIATION

The X-ray mapping procedure of Manney and Mortimer (1964) is the most widely applicable and convenient method for fine structure analysis in yeast, but suffers the disadvantage that suitable X-ray machines or gamma ray sources are very expensive. Although many other recombinogens are known, none gives a linear dose-response like X-rays and few are as convenient or give as reproducible results. Experiments with Saccharomyces cerevisiae reported in this paper show, however, that the near-ultraviolet radiation emitted by fluorescent sunlamps gives linear dose-response relations, as reproducible results as ionizing radiations, and map distances which correlate highly with those obtained by using 60Co gamma rays. It is suggested that this convenient recombinogen may be a suitable low-cost substitute for ionizing radiations in fine structure mapping.
In vivo imaging of paraCEST agents using frequency labeled exchange transfer MRI.

Purpose A main obstacle to in vivo applications of paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (paraCEST) is interference from endogenous tissue magnetization transfer contrast (MTC). The suitability of excitation-based frequency labeled exchange transfer (FLEX) to separate out such MTC effects in vivo was tested. Methods The FLEX sequence measures modulation of the water signal based on the chemical shift evolution of solute proton magnetization as a function of evolution time. Time-domain analysis of this water signal allows identification of different solute components and provides a mechanism to separate out the rapidly decaying MTC components with short effective transverse relaxation time ( ) values. Results FLEX imaging of paraCEST agents was possible in vitro in phantoms and in vivo in mouse kidneys and bladder. The results demonstrated that FLEX is capable of separating out the MTC signal from tissues in vivo while providing a quantitative exchange rate for the rapidly exchanging paraCEST water protons by fitting the FLEX time-domain signal to FLEX theory. Conclusions The first in vivo FLEX images of a paraCEST agent were acquired, which allowed separation of the tissue MTC components. These results show that FLEX imaging has potential for imaging the distribution of functional paraCEST agents in biological tissues. Magn Reson Med 71:286–293, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hypoxia-Ischemia (HI) Alters the Relationship Between Plasma and Brain Extracellular Fluid (ECF) Magnesium Concentration ([Mg]) † 1727

We have shown that increases in plasma [Mg] ([Mg]pl) increases brain ECF[Mg] ([Mg]ECF) during normoxia, (Ped. Res. 39: 374A, 1996). The effects of HI on [Mg]pl and its entry into brain are unclear. This study determined the effects of HI on the uptake and clearance rate and maximal [Mg] in plasma and brain ECF by comparing 6 HI miniswine (HI, 5.5±3 days, x±SD) to 7 nomoxic animals (Nx, 4±2 days). A 1 cm loop-type microdialysis probe was inserted into the superficial cerebral cortex for measurement of brain [Mg]ECF. After a control period, 275 mg/kg MgSO4 was administered i.v. for 30 min followed by 100 mg/kg for 30 min. HI and Nx miniswine differed only during the last 15 min of Mg infusion, when HI was induced (FiO2=.08, bilateral carotid occlusion, hypotension). For Nx, [Mg]pl increased from 0.57±0.21 mM at control to 5.71±1.08mM at 30 min and 5.38±1.08mM at 60 min of Mg infusion. For HI, [Mg]pl increased from 0.48±0.11mM at control to 6.40±1.08mM at 30 min and 8.90±1.44mM at 60 min of infusion(p<.0001 group-time interaction). T1/2uptake (time to achieve ½ maximal [Mg]pl) was faster for Nx(12.9±1.7min,Nx vs 19.6±2.2min,HI respectively, p<.0001). Following infusion [Mg]pl decreased to similar values at 300 min in both groups (1.87±0.96mM, Nx vs 2.18±0.56mM, HI). T1/2clearance(time to achieve a 50% decrease in maximal[Mg]pl) did not differ between groups. For [Mg]ECF, values for Nx increased from 0.21±0.06mM at control to a maximum of 0.38±0.14mM. Similarly, for HI, [Mg]ECF increased from 0.23±0.11mM at control to a maximum of 0.39±0.13mM. There were no group differences in T1/2 uptake and T1/2clearance for [Mg]ECF, but the ratio of[Mg]ECF/[Mg]plat 60 min of infusion was greater for Nx(0.076±0.025 Nx vs 0.042±0.010 HI, p=.009). Conclusion HI results in higher [Mg]pl during and after Mg infusion and may reflect decreased renal perfusion. The lower [Mg]ECF/[Mg]pl ratio for HI suggests that entry of Mg into the brain is limited relative to normoxia; decreased Mg delivery, and/or transporter saturation may contribute to this observation.
High Energy Product Developed from Cobalt Nanowires

Cobalt nanowires with high aspect ratio have been synthesized via a solvothermal chemical process. Based on the shape anisotropy and orientation of the nanowire assemblies, a record high room-temperature coercivity of 10.6 kOe has been measured in Co nanowires with a diameter of about 15 nm and a mean length of 200 nm. As a result, energy product of the wires reaches 44 MGOe. It is discovered that the morphology uniformity of the nanowires is the key to achieving the high coercivity and high energy density. Nanowires of this type are ideal building blocks for future bonded, consolidated and thin film magnets with high energy density and high thermal stability.
Anisotropy of the hole drift mobility in barium titanate.

The static dielectric tensor is highly anisotropic in the tetragonal phase of barium titanate: the static dielectric constant perpendicular to the c axis, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$, is 40 times that parallel to the c axis, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\parallel}}}$, at T=20 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, with this ratio decreasing to \ensuremath{\sim}20 times at T=90 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. Using both holographic and bulk measurements we show that the hole drift mobility has comparable anisotropy: the hole mobility perpendicular to the c axis, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$, is 20 times larger than that parallel to the c axis, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\parallel}}}$, at T=20 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, with this ratio decreasing to 8 times at T=90 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. We also show that ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\parallel}}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$\ensuremath{\sim}2${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\parallel}}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$ independent of temperature between T=20 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and T=90 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, suggesting that the hole drift mobility in barium titanate crystals scales with the static dielectric constant in this temperature range. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Comunications and forum: Invited communication from Dr Constantin Virgil Negoita On fuzzy systems: part I

Provides a personal view of the development of the theories and applications of fuzzy systems which were first introduced in the 1960s. Details the interrelationships between the pioneering proponents of fuzzy theory. Concentrates in part I on the historical beginnings of the field and in part II continues to provide personal insights into contemporary studies.
Initial electron-transfer events in photosynthetic bacteria

Abstract The electron transfer from the primary donor special pair to the primary acceptor bacteriopheophytin in bacterial photosynthesis, as probed by femtosecond spectroscopy, is discussed in terms of the following four issues: unidirectionality; single-step superexchange versus the two-step sequential mechanism; the temperature dependence of the electron-transfer rate; and the improved methodology for examining the primary events in photosynthesis. New methods are still required to address the recently observed non-single exponential decay of the initial excited state of photosynthesis. Without additional information, the mechanism of the primary charge separation chemistry will remain unsettled.
N2O-HCN and CO-C2H2: two associating systems with remarkable low-temperature relative-stability interchanges

Abstract Relative stabilities of four and three minimum-energy structures in the N2O HCN and CO-C2H2 systems, respectively, were evaluated in terms of partition functions. Structural and vibrational parameters originated from the second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation treatment with the 6-31 + + G∗∗ basis set. Relative energies were further refined within the coupled cluster method and first-order correlation orbitals. Three relative stability interchanges were revealed in each system. The lowest interchange points appear at temperatures of 114 K and 13 K in the N2O HCN and CO-C2H2 systems, respectively.
Growth of five pathogenic fungi on cell wall-related monosaccharides

Spores of Monilinia fructicola, Colletotrichum coccodes, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata and Mucor mucedo were transferred to agar plates containing 0.5, 5 or 50 mM concentrations of various plant cell wall-related monosaccharides or glucose. The wall-related monosaccharides tested were arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, mannose, rhamnose and xylose. Germ tube length was measured after 24 h. Growth of germ tubes on media containing the different monosaccharides varied substantially among fungi. The most striking response was with M. mucedo; spores were only able to grow on media containing glucose or galactose. Increase in colony size was determined during a 7-day period after subcultures were transferred to media containing 5 mM arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, mannose, rhamnose and xylose, each with and without 5 mM glucose. Glucose, alone or in conjunction with any other monosaccharide, was the optimal carbon source for growth. In general, fungi were unable to grow as well on any of the wall-related monosaccharides without glucose. Galacturonic acid and rhamnose, major components of pectic polysaccharides of plant cell walls, were unable to support any growth of M. fructicola cultures. No wall-related monosaccharides supported more than 50% of the growth observed when M. mucedo cultures were grown on glucose.
Gene expression of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), the type 1 IGF receptor, and IGF-binding proteins in dexamethasone-induced fetal growth retardation.

Altered gene expression and/or actions of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have been implicated in the mediation of both pre- and postnatal growth retardation secondary to glucocorticoid excess. To investigate this possibility, we assessed the gene expression of the IGFs, the type I IGF receptor, and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in 20-day gestation liver and lung of growth-retarded fetuses whose mothers were treated with dexamethasone (DXM; 100 micrograms, ip, daily) on gestation days 15-19 (gestation = 21-22 days). DXM treatment in dams produced fetal growth retardation without decreasing litter size (32% decrease in fetal body weight). Both fetal liver and lung demonstrated decreased wet weight (48% and 47%, respectively) and DNA content (65% and 51%, respectively) compared to control animals. Our results suggest that increased expression of IGFBP-1, and possibly IGFBP-2, is involved in mediating the marked growth retardation. As assessed by solution hybridization assays and Northern blot analysi...
Determination of pig apolipoprotein B genotype by gene amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

Summary Sequence differences within the pig apoB gene can be used to identify rapidly four of eight known pig apoB alleles, designated LPB1-LPB8. We describe the use of gene amplification, followed by endonuclease digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis, to discern size and restriction site differences. LPB5, a common allele associated with reduced low density lipoprotein clearance and hypercholesterolaemia in pigs, is identified by a 283-bp insertion in intron 28. LPB3 and LPB7 are distinguished by a unique HindIII site; LPB8 shares a unique HincII site with LPB5. This method facilitates identification of the apoB genotype of pigs used in lipoprotein research and allows for further investigation into the association of particular apoB alleles with lipoprotein metabolism abnormalities.
Population structure of the mussel ``Bathymodiolus'' childressi from Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seeps

Abstract Hydrocarbon and brine seeps in the deep regions of the northern and western Gulf of Mexico often support populations of the bathymodiolin mussel, “ Bathymodiolus ” childressi . In this study, we use two mitochondrial and six nuclear DNA markers to investigate relationships within the metapopulation of “ B. ” childressi in the Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi Canyon to Alaminos Canyon over a range of 527–2222 m in depth and approximately 550 km in distance. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and size polymorphism analysis of the markers suggest that populations are not genetically differentiated. F ST values were not significantly different from zero. The presence of a panmictic population of “ B. ” childressi over such a broad range of depth suggests that this species may be quite different from most members of the Gulf of Mexico seep chemosynthetic communities.
Decrease in polarity of semantic differential ratings as a function of previous trials with similar materials

Eighty-eight Ss rated 10 good words and 88 Ss, 10 bad words on a 1-point good-bad semantic differential scale. In both cases, the polarity of the ratings decreased as a direct linear function of the number of words previously rated.
Fostering Sensitivity to Diverse Cultures Through an Early Field Experience Collaborative

Les futurs enseignants doivent etre prepares a travailler avec des eleves de milieu social different du leur: enfants de couleur, enfants de milieu pauvre. Dans ce but, des programmes specifiques doivent etre menes pour essayer de changer l'image negative qu'ont les enseignants des ecoles des banlieux pauvres. Ce programme permet aux eleves enseignants de se familiariser avec ce milieu pour mieux comprendre et apprendre a gerer concretement les problemes qui peuvent se poser
A Typology of Juvenile Offenders Based on the Judgments of Juvenile Court Professionals

This study sought to determine whether a cluster analysis of juvenile offender cases, based on the judgments of juvenile court professionals, would produce a typology similar to Quay's. The data consisted of juvenile court professionals' descriptions of 1,423 juvenile cases on 93 variables. A cluster analytic method and statistical stopping rules created three well-separated clusters of juvenile offenders, differing on demographic and offense variables. A number of hypotheses are offered for research aimed at better understanding how juvenile court professionals process case information and classify juvenile offenders.
Acquired Resistance of Lung Adenocarcinomas to Gefitinib or Erlotinib Is Associated with a Second Mutation in the EGFR Kinase Domain

Background Lung adenocarcinomas from patients who respond to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib (Iressa) or erlotinib (Tarceva) usually harbor somatic gain-of-function mutations in exons encoding the kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Despite initial responses, patients eventually progress by unknown mechanisms of “acquired” resistance. Methods and Findings We show that in two of five patients with acquired resistance to gefitinib or erlotinib, progressing tumors contain, in addition to a primary drug-sensitive mutation in EGFR, a secondary mutation in exon 20, which leads to substitution of methionine for threonine at position 790 (T790M) in the kinase domain. Tumor cells from a sixth patient with a drug-sensitive EGFR mutation whose tumor progressed on adjuvant gefitinib after complete resection also contained the T790M mutation. This mutation was not detected in untreated tumor samples. Moreover, no tumors with acquired resistance had KRAS mutations, which have been associated with primary resistance to these drugs. Biochemical analyses of transfected cells and growth inhibition studies with lung cancer cell lines demonstrate that the T790M mutation confers resistance to EGFR mutants usually sensitive to either gefitinib or erlotinib. Interestingly, a mutation analogous to T790M has been observed in other kinases with acquired resistance to another kinase inhibitor, imatinib (Gleevec). Conclusion In patients with tumors bearing gefitinib- or erlotinib-sensitive EGFR mutations, resistant subclones containing an additional EGFR mutation emerge in the presence of drug. This observation should help guide the search for more effective therapy against a specific subset of lung cancers.
Two Medium Chain Fatty Acid Mutants of Cuphea viscosissima

Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. is an herbaceous annual dicot indigenous to the U.S. This species is being developed as a new oilseed crop and commercial source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). In this paper, the phenotypes and genetics of the mcm-1 and cpy-1 mutations of C. viscosissima are described. These mutations affect the percentages of fatty acids of seed storage lipids. They were induced by treating seeds with 0.04 M ethyl methanesulfonate for 5 h. Observed segregation ratios for these mutations were not significantly different from expected ratios for codominant genes. The mcm-1 mutation eliminates 95.0 % of wildtype MCFAs — caproic (C6: 0), caprylic (C8: 0), and capric (Cio: 0) acid percentages are decreased from 0.8 to 0.0 %, 20.7 to 0.5 %, and 68.6 to 6.7%, respectively. The cpy-1 mutation decreases C6: 0 and C8: 0 from 0.9 to 0.0 % and 19.8 to 3.9 %, respectively, whereas it increases C12: 0 and C14: 0 from 2.2. to 14.3 % and 0.8 to 7.4 %, respectively.
Review of the Manufacturing Techniques for Porous Surfaces Used in Enhanced Pool Boiling

Continuous development of high-performance microelectronic chips requires efficient cooling systems to dissipate large amount of heat produced over a small footprint. Pool boiling is capable of dissipating large heat fluxes while maintaining low wall superheat and is receiving renewed interest. Porous surfaces have been investigated extensively for pool boiling enhancement. This paper presents a review of different manufacturing techniques employed to manufacture porous surfaces in pool boiling application. Different types of surfaces developed using these techniques are reviewed and their pool boiling performance is discussed.
Assessment of long-term antiarrhythmic therapy: Studies on the long-term efficacy and toxicity of tocainide

Abstract Methods for testing long-term efficacy of antiarrhythmic agents are not established. Therefore, an algorithm was developed to assess the response of ventricular premature complexes and ventricular tachycardia to long-term therapy. In 21 patients tocainide, an oral lidocaine analog, was successful in acutely suppressing ventricular premature complexes and ventricular tachycardia. Suppression was assessed with use of both the arrhythmic classification of Lown and Wolf and counts of premature ventricular complexes from 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings. After 3 to 10 months of tocainide therapy, 24 hour control recordings were obtained in 18 patients, and administration of tocainide was stopped. With use of recordings obtained 5 and 7 days later to assess variability in the count of ventricular premature complexes, the upper 95 percent confidence limit for variation in number of complexes after arcsin transformation to correct for noncentral distribution was 80 percent. When tocainide was withdrawn, arrhythmias did not reappear in 6 patients but their reappearance in 12 patients indicated a continued requirement for tocainide. Although the decrease in ventricular premature complexes was less than 80 percent in four patients, ventricular tachycardia was effectively suppressed. Four patients had adverse reactions requiring drug withdrawal: a rash (one patient), cervical muscle spasms (one patient) and central nervous system symptoms (two patients). Minor central nervous symptoms persist in six patients. Tocainide did not induce lymphocytotoxicity. It is concluded that testing of long-term antiarrhythmic drugs should include a withdrawal trial to ensure both continued drug requirement and continued drug efficacy. Because of marked variability in ventricular premature complex counts, adequate suppression is best assessed by combining an analysis that considers arrhythmia classification and the nonparametric distribution of data.
Major depression and urinary incontinence in women: temporal associations in an epidemiologic sample

Objective To determine whether: (1) major depression is associated with increased risk for onset of urinary incontinence, and (2) urinary incontinence is associated with increased risk for onset of depression. Study Design Longitudinal cohort study of female Health and Retirement Study participants completing baseline interviews at Wave 3 (1996-1997) and follow-up interviews at Waves 4-6 (1998-2003). Results In a cohort of 5820 women with a mean age 59.3 (± 0.5) years, 6-year cumulative incidences of depression and incontinence were 11% and 21%, respectively. Major depression was associated with increased odds of incident incontinence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.97) during follow-up compared with those without major depression at baseline. Conversely, incontinence was not associated with increased odds of incident depression (adjusted odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.75–1.42) compared with those without incontinence at baseline. Conclusion Major depression predicted onset of urinary incontinence in a population-based sample of at-risk, community-dwelling women. Incontinence did not predict onset of depression.
Ultimate temperature and the early universe

The early history of the universe is discussed in the context of an exponentially rising density of particle states.
A functional programming-directed database machine

Abstract This paper proposes as a database machine a system whose main computational engine is an FFP machine. The FFP machine is a small-grain, cellular tree computer with massive parallelism, which directly executes FFP languages. We describe a method to naturally embed relational query languages such as sql into FFP languages. We present FFP programs for some relational query operations (selection, projection, and join), and we show that they are executed efficiently by taking advantage of the massive parallelism accommodated by the FFP machine. Input/output architectures with varying degrees of parallelism are examined, and corresponding algorithms presented. Because the proposed system is also able to perform efficiently numeric and symbolic processing, it is appropriate for computation-intensive database applications such as expert database systems and engineering database systems.
Remarkable effect of base pairing on the geometry of guanine under electronic excitation: A theoretical investigation

Abstract An ab initio computational study was performed to study the effect of hydrogen bonding in the form of base pairings on the ground and lowest singlet ππ* excited state geometries of the guanine unit. The studied systems consist of isolated guanine, guanine–cytosine and guanine–guanine base pairs in two different H-bonding configurations (GG16 and GG17). The ground state geometries were optimized at the Hartree–Fock level, while the lowest singlet ππ* electronic excited state geometries were optimized at the CIS level. The 6-311G(d,p) basis set was used in all calculations. The nature of the potential energy surfaces was ascertained via harmonic vibrational frequency analysis; all structures were found to be minima. The origination of electronic singlet ππ* excitation of base pairs is attributed to the excitation of the guanine monomer, except for the GG16 base pair for which the whole complex was excited. The ring geometry of guanine in the isolated, GC, and GG17 base pairs in the excited state was found to be strongly nonplanar, while in the GG16 base pair it was found to be almost planar.