cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motivation for physical activity and physcial activity engagement in current and former wearable fitness tracker users: A mixed-methods examination

Abstract Wearable fitness trackers (WFTs), like Fitbits, are intended to support physical activity (PA) engagement. It is unclear, however, how WFTs impact both PA and motivation for PA as described by the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). This study examined PA and PA motivation in former and current WFT users using a mixed-methods design, consisting of a survey and semi-structured interviews. The survey included items from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) to assess PA and Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire version 3 (BREQ-3) to assess motivation. A sample of 288 participants (173 current vs. 115 former users) completed the survey and 17 participants (10 current vs. 7 former users) participated in interviews. Quantitative results indicated that current and former users did not differ in measures of PA. Current users scored higher on introjected regulation and identified regulation for PA. Qualitative results indicated that current users used their device to collect data, rather than for motivation. Former users doubted the device accuracy, and reported feeling guilty when they did not meet WFT goals. We also provide hypothesized models of factors that contribute to persistent WFT use and factors that contribute to abandonment as they pertain to PA motivation and engagement.
Development of an effective cryopreservation protocol for Blue Catfish oogonia

Long-term storage of oogonia and germ-line stem cells provides an alternative to the limitations associated with cryopreserving eggs of important fish species. These cell types are less vulnerable to the stresses of freezing. Cryopreservation has enormous potential for aquaculture advancement, but protocols must be developed for each species and cell type since its success hinges on various input factors. Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus were selected as the test species in this study because of the need to improve fry production of Blue Catfish ♂ × Channel Catfish I. punctatus ♀ hybrids, which can be facilitated by storing oogonia in gene banks. Our objective was to develop a freezing protocol for oogonia of this species. We tested different permeating and nonpermeating cryoprotectants, concentrations of these agents, and freezing rates. We proved that all three factors influenced postthaw recovery of oogonia. Of the permeating cryoprotectants, 1.0 M dimethyl sulfoxide resulted in the most live cells with the highest viability percentages, and adding 0.2 M lactose with 10% egg yolk further improved the results. There were also specific interactions in which the effects of concentration and freezing rate varied among the cryoprotectant treatments. The most effective freezing rate was −1.0°C/min, and cell viability was reduced at −2.5°C/min and −5.0°C/min. From these results, we propose adding 1.0 M dimethyl sulfoxide with 0.2 M lactose and 10% egg yolk to cryomedia and freezing it at a rate of −1.0°C/min. By developing a cryopreservation protocol for a commonly cultured catfish, this work may guide the development of protocols for other species of interest.
Lupus susceptibility gene Esrrg modulates regulatory T cells through mitochondrial metabolism.

Estrogen-related receptor gamma (Esrrg) is a murine lupus susceptibility gene associated with T cell activation. Here, we report that Esrrg controls regulatory T cells (Treg) through mitochondria homeostasis. Esrrg deficiency impaired the maintenance and function of Treg cells, leading to global T cell activation and autoimmunity in aged mice. Further, Esrrg-deficient Treg cells presented an impaired differentiation into follicular Treg (Tfr) cells that enhanced follicular helper T cells (Tfh) responses. Mechanistically, Esrrg-deficient Treg cells presented with dysregulated mitochondria with decreased oxygen consumption as well as ATP and NAD+ production. In addition, Esrrg-deficient Treg cells exhibited decreased phosphatidylinositol and TGF-β signaling pathways and increased mTORC1 activation. We found that the expression of human ESRRG, which is high in Treg cells, was lower in CD4+ T cells from lupus patients than in healthy controls. Finally, knocking down ESRRG in Jurkat T cells decreased their metabolism. Together, our results reveal a critical role of Esrrg in the maintenance and metabolism of Treg cells, which may provide a genetic link between lupus pathogenesis and mitochondrial dysfunction in T cells.
Health profession readiness for interprofessional education in the Central Appalachia: a cross-sectional study

Background: This study on interprofessional relationships took place in Eastern Kentucky analyzing optometry, medical and nursing students at the University of Pikeville. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS), regarding all three healthcare professional schools, was used to measure and determine students' views on working with one another. The purpose of the study was to examine similarities and differences in student attitudes across the three health professional programs within the same university. Methods: Second year University of Pikeville (UPIKE) nursing, optometry, and medical students were given survey questions that followed the validated 19-item Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). Results: While the optometry and medical students demonstrated statistically similar attitudes, key statistical findings included that nursing students were more likely than medical students to believe that clinical problem solving can only be learned effectively with students/professionals from their own school/organization (p = 0.015); nursing students were more likely than medical students to welcome the opportunity to work on small group projects with other health and social care students/professionals (p = 0.018); and nursing students were more likely than both optometry and medical students to not be sure what their professional role will be/is (p=.005). Conclusions: At the UPIKE, there is an observable difference between the attitudes toward IPE. Nursing students appeared to have a more positive attitude toward IPE than medical and optometry students, with the medical and optometry students having similar attitudes.
An alternative method for estimating lognormal means

For a probabilistic model with positively skewed data, a lognormal distribution is one of the key distributions that play a critical role. Several lognormal models can be found in various areas, such as medical science, engineering, and finance. In this paper, we propose a new estimator for a lognormal mean and depict the performance of the proposed estimator in terms of the relative mean squared error (RMSE) compared with Shen’s estimator (Shen et al., 2006), which is considered the best estimator among the existing methods. The proposed estimator includes a tuning parameter. By finding the optimal value of the tuning parameter, we can improve the average performance of the proposed estimator over the typical range of σ2. The bias reduction of the proposed estimator tends to exceed the increased variance, and it results in a smaller RMSE than Shen’s estimator. A numerical study reveals that the proposed estimator has performance comparable with Shen’s estimator when σ2 is small and exhibits a meaningful decrease in the RMSE under moderate and large σ2 values.
Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides for analyses of DNA structure and function.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that synthetic oligonucleotides plays a significant role in understanding of many current problems in molecular biology. Synthetic homopolymeric oligodeoxynucleotides have been extensively used for studying the mechanism of action of various enzymes on Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in vitro. Synthesis of all of the possible 64 triribonucieoside diphosphates has been accomplished for the elucidation of the genetic code. It reviews that several segments of DNA possessing important biological functions have been chemically synthesized. These include two transfer ribonucleic acid (RNA) genes, an RNase S-peptide gene, an angiotensin hormone gene, several lactose operator DNA segments, and several restriction endonuclease recognition sequences. The availability of these synthetic molecules has given us the opportunity to understand these systems in greater depth. Short segments of oligodeoxynucleotides have also been synthesized as DNA primers for sequence analysis. The chapter presents a general picture of how synthetic oligonucleotides have been used to solve various problems in molecular biology. It concludes that, optimal conditions may be found so that large quantities of this RNA transcript would then be used to direct the synthesis in the micro-organism of this protein product in bulk quantities. The potential for large-scale production of scarce biologically or medically useful products could have far-reaching benefits.
Curiouser and curiouser: The role(s) of AID expression in self-tolerance

Aicda is crucial for antibody diversification by mediating Ig class-switch recombination, V(D)J hypermutation (SHM) and, in some species, gene conversion. Recently, evidence has accumulated to show that Aicda is expressed during B-cell development and that this expression in some unknown way, mediates tolerance in immature and transitional B cells. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Umiker et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 3093–3108] show that enforced expression of Aicda during early B-cell development is associated with self-tolerance. Curiously, constitutive Aicda expression that begins early in B cells suppresses the generation of autoreactive IgM but promotes the expression of self-reactive IgG. In contrast, when Aicda is activated later in B-cell development, self-reactive IgM is abundant but IgG is not. These observations suggest pathways for self-tolerance that have been little explored.
Multiple Quantum NMR in Solids

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 MQ Coherence Intensities 3 MQ Excitation by 4 Measuring MQ Intensities 5 Small Dipole Coupled Networks 6 Large Dipole Coupled Networks 7 Dimensionality of a Nuclear Spin Distribution 8 Relaxation and Effect of Molecular Motion 9 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
The Structure of Banking Systems in Developed and Transition Economies

In this paper, we first use cross-section regressions to determine the most important proximate causes of the observed structure of banking system structure for 26 developed OECD countries. Banking system structure is measured by four variables: bank assets, the number of banks, bank branches, and bank employees. We then apply the estimated regressions to 23 developing transition economies, in order to obtain benchmarks for the efficient structure of the banking systems in these countries. A comparison of the actual and benchmark measures of banking structure in these economies provides a basis for evaluating the state of development of their banking systems. In particular, we compute measures of "banking system convergence" - how closely the banking structure of the transition economies approach the OECD benchmark. In contrast to the economic growth literature, which takes the banking system structure as given, our focus is on the factors that determine banking system structure. Our goal is to provide objective and replicable multidimensional measures of banking system development for the transition economies, which can then be applied to questions of economic growth in these countries.
Injection of beef strip loins with solutions containing sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium lactate, and sodium chloride to enhance palatability.

Beef strip loins (46 U.S. Choice loins and 49 U.S. Select loins) were used to evaluate the potential for enhancing beef tenderness, juiciness, and flavor by injecting fresh cuts with solutions containing sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium lactate, and sodium chloride. One half of each loin served as an untreated control, and the other half was injected with either distilled water (110% of raw weight) or a solution containing phosphate/lactate/chloride solution (107.5, 110, 112.5, or 115% of raw weight). All phosphate/lactate/chloride solutions were formulated to produce injected product concentrations of .25% sodium tripolyphosphate, .5% sodium chloride, and 2.5% sodium lactate. Ten additional U.S. Select loins were injected to 110% of raw weight with a phosphate-only solution (final product concentration of .25% sodium tripolyphosphate) for comparison with Select loins injected to 110% with phosphate/lactate/chloride and with distilled water. Steaks from each control and treated loin section were cooked to two final internal temperatures (66 degrees C and 77 degrees C) for sensory panel evaluation and shear force measurement. Injection of subprimal cuts with phosphate/lactate/chloride solutions improved tenderness (P < .05), juiciness (P < .05), and cooked beef flavor (P < .10) of strip loin steaks and was especially effective for maintaining tenderness and juiciness of steaks cooked to the higher final internal temperature. Injection of Select loins with a solution containing only sodium tripolyphosphate was not effective for improving beef tenderness or juiciness and tended to impart off-flavors characterized by sensory panelists as soapy and sour. Injection of fresh cuts with phosphate/lactate/chloride solutions could assist the beef industry's efforts to improve product quality and consistency.
Profiles of Valor: Iowa's Medal of Honor Recipients of the Civil War

Review of: "Profiles of Valor: Iowa's Medal of Honor Recipients of the Civil War," by Dennis H. Black.
Citizen science 2.0: data management principles to harness the power of the crowd

Citizen science refers to voluntary participation by the general public in scientific endeavors. Although citizen science has a long tradition, the rise of online communities and user-generated web content has the potential to greatly expand its scope and contributions. Citizens spread across a large area will collect more information than an individual researcher can. Because citizen scientists tend to make observations about areas they know well, data are likely to be very detailed. Although the potential for engaging citizen scientists is extensive, there are challenges as well. In this paper we consider one such challenge - creating an environment in which non-experts in a scientific domain can provide appropriate and accurate data regarding their observations. We describe the problem in the context of a research project that includes the development of a website to collect citizen-generated data on the distribution of plants and animals in a geographic region. We propose an approach that can improve the quantity and quality of data collected in such projects by organizing data using instance-based data structures. Potential implications of this approach are discussed and plans for future research to validate the design are described.
Cineradiographic Evaluation of the Swallowing Act in Schizophrenic Patients

Cinefluorographic observations of a group of psychotic patients failed to show any significant effect of chlorpromazine upon the swallowing act. Approximately half of a group of 35 schizophrenic patients analyzed did show significant swallowing abnormalities, regardless of medication history, age, or symptomatology. A group of 15 nonschizophrenic mental patients showed approximately the same prevalence of cineradiographic swallowing abnormalities as did a control group of 29 patients without mental disease. This report, therefore, adds another entity to the list of conditions associated with disturbances of swallowing.
Prospective Teachers' Reflections: Responding to a Call for LGBT-inclusive Classrooms

Sixty-seven pre-service teachers wrote critical self-reflections following a lecture on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and schools. Most students were receptive to the lecture content. Many worked to reconcile religious beliefs with their desire to create a safe environment for all students. Two students remained strongly resistant. Students reflected on future teaching, personal reactions, and prior experiences with lesbian and gay people. They also made links to other forms of oppression. This study adds to the growing consensus that LGBT issues can and should be included in pre-service education courses to foster cultural competency and social justice.
Acceptance of the Mineralogical Society of America Roebling Medal for 2005

Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen: Thank you very much for this great honor of receiving the Roebling Medal. This is also a humbling moment because I know the Medal actually belongs to the large high-pressure mineralogy community, including my many friends and mentors in the audience. I happened to be with the right people at the right time in the right place. The last time I counted, the total number of coauthors on all my publications reached 394. Adding the people who have helped but have not coauthored with me, the total must be over 1000. The field is very active and covers a diversity of applications as demonstrated by the dynamic scientific program, yesterday and today, organized by Bill Bassett, Yingwei Fei, Rus Hemley, and Anne Hofmeister. The field was not always this exciting, nor the future this clear when I started four decades ago. In fact I had serious doubts when I was an undergraduate student in the Geology Department of National Taiwan University. The on-going practice for senior thesis projects was to assign each student a 1:25,000 quadrangle for independent geological mapping. The mapping for the whole island was almost complete, and our Class of 1963 reached Hengchun Peninsula, the southern tip of Taiwan; a step further, and I would have to be an oceanographer. Although I understood that geology is more than mapping, I was still concerned about the future, and came to the U.S.A. where at least the area of land was considerably bigger. In 1964, I went to the University of Rochester, New York, and very fortunately, became the first Ph.D. student of two young assistant professors, Bill Bassett and Taro Takahashi, who had started a diamond-anvil cell (DAC) program to explore the Earth’s deep interior. The depth added a vast new dimension from …
Cytokine response to BCG infection in alcohol-fed mice.

Abstract Alcoholics have increased susceptibility to infections including tuberculosis. Chronic alcohol treatment impairs host response to bovine mycobacterium infection from BCG. This study assesses the role of four cytokines (TNFα, IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-10) in this impaired response. Twenty male C57BL/6 mice were pair-fed on the Lieber DiCarli control (LCD) or ethanol (LED) diets for 28 days. The LED treated subjects ate ad lib and consumed a mean of 13 g/kg/d of ethanol. After 14 days, based on body weight, subjects were randomly divided into four treatment groups of five each. Ten infected with 2 × 10 6 colony-forming units (CFU) of BCG by tail-vein. On day 28, the mice were sacrificed. Liver was cultured to determine the mycobacteria CFU/g tissue. Spleens were assayed for the levels of TNFα, IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-10 mRNA relative to mRNA levels for a housekeeping gene using a quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Without BCG infection, only the mRNA for IFNγ was increased by LED treatment, 51% ( p = 0.0001). BCG infection significantly increased TNFα, IFNγ, and IL-10 mRNA ( p p = 0.0006). Chronic LED plus BCG infection further increased TNFα ( p = 0.002) and IFNγ ( p = 0.04); IL-10 was unchanged, whereas IL-4 was marginally further decreased ( p = 0.06). CFU/liver increased with LED (mean ± SD, 72 ± 33 × 10 5 vs. 39 ± 17 × 10 5 ; p = 0.004). A significant direct correlation was observed between CFU and TNFα, r = 0.70, p = 0.03. In conclusion, BCG infection increases TNFα, IFNγ, & IL-10 and decreases IL-4. CFU numbers correlate with mRNA for TNFα, and LED inhibits host containment of BCG infection as measured by liver CFU. This study could not identify cytokine alterations in either Th1- or Th2-type immune responses that might contribute to the impaired host response to the BCG infection.
Isoantigenicity of rabbit sperm, testis, and their extracts as demonstrated by Western blot enzyme immunobinding procedure.

The isoantigenicity of rabbit germ cells and their extracts was studied by using a Western blot enzyme immunobinding procedure after systemic and local intrauterine immunization. In the deoxycholate (DOC) sperm extract, the antisperm isoantiserum (ASA) recognized proteins of 100, 96, 92, 82, 53, 47, 43, and 29 kD, and the antitestis isoantiserum (ATA) recognized proteins of 100, 96, 92, 82, 43, and 29 kD. In the lithium diiodosalicylate (LIS) sperm extract, ASA reacted with four antigen bands of 92, 30, 14, and 6 kD, and ATA reacted with proteins of 94, 92, 91, 23, 17, 7, and 6 kD. In the reduced sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sperm extract, ASA recognized proteins of 95, 76, 51, 41, 33, 30, 28, 26, and 22 kD; ATA showed a reaction only with proteins of 100, 98, and 95 kD, and anti-LIS/sperm isoantiserum (ALA) recognized three proteins of 98, 81, and 65 kD.The IgA of the immune uterine fluid (IUF) from the LIS/sperm-immunized rabbits recognized a 14-kD antigen in the DOC conceptus extract, a 51-kD antigen i...
Particle-number scaling of the phase sensitivity in realistic Bayesian twin-mode Heisenberg-limited interferometry

We investigate the scaling of the phase sensitivity of a nonideal Heisenberg-limited interferometer with the particle number N, in the case of the Bayesian detection procedure proposed by Holland and Burnett [Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1355 (1993)] for twin boson input modes. Using Monte Carlo simulations for up to 10 000 bosons, we show that the phase error of a nonideal interferometer scales with the Heisenberg limit if the losses are of the order of N{sup -1}. Greater losses degrade the scaling which is then in N{sup -1/2}, such as the beam-splitter shot-noise limit, yet the sensitivity stays sub-shot-noise as long as photon correlations are present. These results give the actual limits of Bayesian detection for twin-mode interferometry and prove that it is an experimentally feasible scheme, contrary to what is implied by the coincidence-detection analysis of Kim et al. [Phys. Rev. A 60, 708 (1999)].
Validation of the land-surface temperature products retrieved from Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data

This paper presents the status of land-surface temperature (LST) standard products retrieved from Earth Observing System (EOS) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. Based on estimates of the channel-dependence error and noise equivalent temperature difference (NEDT) and the calibration accuracy of MODIS thermal–infrared data, the impact of instrument performance on the accuracy of LST is discussed. A double-screen scheme based on the difference between the 5-km LST retrieved by the day/night LST algorithm and the aggregated 1-km LST retrieved by the generalized split-window algorithm, and the difference between daytime and nighttime LSTs, is proposed to remove the LSTs contaminated with cloud effects. The accuracy of daily MODIS LST product at 1-km resolution, which was produced by the generalized split-window algorithm, was validated in 11 clear-sky cases with in situ measurement data collected in field campaigns in 2000 and 2001. The MODIS LST accuracy is better than 1 K in the range from 263 to 300 K over Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, Mono Lake, Bridgeport grassland, and a rice field in Chico, CA, and Walker Lake, Nevada (NV), in the atmospheric column water vapor range from 0.4 to 3.0 cm. It is difficult to validate the daytime LST product over land sites rather than lakes with groundbased measurements alone because of the high spatial variations in the in situ LST measurement data, which was verified by the daytime data of the MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) over a grassland in Bridgeport, CA, on October 6, 2000. In six cases over a silt playa in Railroad Valley, NV, the 1-km MODIS LSTs are a few Kelvin degrees lower than the in situ measured LSTs because the surface emissivities inferred from land cover types in the split-window LST method are often overestimated in semi-arid and arid regions. After a correction with the difference between the 5-km LST retrieved by the day/night LST method and the LST aggregated from 1-km LSTs retrieved by the splitwindow method, the MODIS LSTs agree with in situ measured LSTs within F1 K in the range 263–322 K for the six cases in Railroad Valley and one case of snowcover in Bridgeport, CA, leading a recommendation for use of the 5-km LST product retrieved by the day/night LST method in bare and sparse vegetated areas. D 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Bacterial Community Structure of Acid-Impacted Lakes: What Controls Diversity?

Although it is recognized that acidification of freshwater systems results in decreased overall species richness of plants and animals, little is known about the response of aquatic microbial communities to acidification. In this study we examined bacterioplankton community diversity and structure in 18 lakes located in the Adirondack Park (in the state of New York in the United States) that were affected to various degrees by acidic deposition and assessed correlations with 31 physical and chemical parameters. The pH of these lakes ranged from 4.9 to 7.8. These studies were conducted as a component of the Adirondack Effects Assessment Program supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Thirty-one independent 16S rRNA gene libraries consisting of 2,135 clones were constructed from epilimnion and hypolimnion water samples. Bacterioplankton community composition was determined by sequencing and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis of the clone libraries. Nineteen bacterial classes representing 95 subclasses were observed, but clone libraries were dominated by representatives of the Actinobacteria and Betaproteobacteria classes. Although the diversity and richness of bacterioplankton communities were positively correlated with pH, the overall community composition assessed by principal component analysis was not. The strongest correlations were observed between bacterioplankton communities and lake depth, hydraulic retention time, dissolved inorganic carbon, and nonlabile monomeric aluminum concentrations. While there was not an overall correlation between bacterioplankton community structure and pH, several bacterial classes, including the Alphaproteobacteria, were directly correlated with acidity. These results indicate that unlike more identifiable correlations between acidity and species richness for higher trophic levels, controls on bacterioplankton community structure are likely more complex, involving both direct and indirect processes.
Translocation of Albumen in Eggs and Embryos of the Quail, Chick, and Duck

Abstract THE movement of albumen from the albumen sac to the amniotic cavity and thence to the digestive tract of the avian embryo has been the subject of several reports (Witschi, 1949; Romanoff, 1952, 1960; Skrivanek, 1964). During the past decade both the embryo and the adult of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) have been used increasingly in physiologic and morphologic studies. The present study analyzes the translocations of albumen in this species and compares them with the conditions found in some other species of birds. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-two fertile Coturnix eggs were incubated from 5 to 15 days and weights of the various components of the egg were taken at daily intervals. These figures have been reported elsewhere (Foote, 1967). The contents of the digestive tracts were also examined at daily intervals of incubation. After fixation with Bouin’s solution or formalin, the albumen becomes a solid, somewhat translucent…
215 ANAEROBIC THRESHOLD AS A PREDICTOR OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG FEMALE RUNNERS

While maximum voluntary oxygen consumption (VO2max) is an excellent standard of cardiopulmonary fitness in adults and children, it is not a discrete predictor of endurance athletic performance. The anaerobic threshold (AT) has proven to be a more discriminate method for predicting high-level endurance athletic performance in adults. AT and VO2 max were evaluated in 10 young (11-13 years) female cross country runners and compared to their individual performance records and to a group of unconditioned controls. Correlation of team performance in the runners with measured parameters using the Kendall correlation coefficient yielded a P of 0.005 for %AT of exercise time, P 0.005 for %AT max heart rate, P 0.05 for VO2 max, and P 0.1 AT% VO2 max. VO2 max/kg (51.3 cc/kg vs 39.6 cc/kg) and %AT of exercise time (67.3 vs 52.5) were both higher in the conditioned groups. Striking overlap of VO2 max was noted between the two groups, while none occurred with %AT of exercise time. AT appears to be a useful intergroup discriminator of endurance athletic performance in childhood and affords a sharper definition between fit and unfit children.
Understanding and Measuring Nesting

Nesting is a fundamental and very commonly used programming construct. In many cases, the wise use of nesting contributes significantly to a programming team's elegantly designing a solution to a difficult problem. However, the ease with which nesting constructs may be created and the essentially unlimited depth and breadth to which they may exist also enable a programming team to create structures which may be extremely difficult to understand and maintain. In this paper, we examine nesting and nesting metrics. In particular, we discuss nesting and complexity, we give a new definition for the scope of a selection statement, we define simple and precise metrics for nesting depth and breadth, and we present a new nesting concept, the nesting tree.
Genetic linkage tests for the Rj4 gene in soybean

The Rj4 allele in soybean, Glycine max (L) Merr., conditions an ineffective nodulation response primarily with bradyrhizobial strains classified as Bradyrhizobium elkanii, which are less efficient in N 2 fixation with soybean, thus protecting the plant from many of these strains. The diminishing frequency of the Rj4 allele with agronomic selection poses the question of possible linkage with genes of negative agronomic selective value. Little is known of the linkage relationships of the Rj4 locus (.)
Characterization Of Annealed Pulsed Laser Deposited (PLD) Thin Films of Cesium Oxythiomolybdate (Cs2MoOS3)

Abstract Cesium oxythiomolybdate (Cs2MoOS3) is under consideration as a high temperature solid lubricant for silicon nitride bearings. However, Cs2MoOS3 oxidizes below the proposed maximum use temperature of 800 °C, and the oxidation process is complex. In the presence of silicon nitride, the oxidation reactions change. The purpose of the present research was to determine the chemistry of Cs2MoOS3 coatings grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on several substrates (Si3N4, SiC, Inconel, Al2O3 and ZrO2), and to determine the changes in chemistry and crystal structure after annealing in air to temperatures up to 800 °C. Many of the oxidation products identified are expected to be lubricious at elevated temperatures.
Importance of amino acid residue 474 for substrate specificity of canine and human cytochrome p450 3A enzymes.

Canine cytochromes P450 3A12 and 3A26 are identical in sequence at 481 of 503 amino-acid positions but exhibit different substrate specificities. A recent study utilizing chimeric enzymes and site-directed mutagenesis identified three residues (187, 368, and 369) that contribute to differences in steroid hydroxylation and also indicated the presence of additional determinants of specificity among the 44 carboxyl terminal residues. Therefore, three 3A26 multiple mutants (I187T-S368P-V369I-S467P, I187T-S368P-V369I-S474P, and I187T-S368P-V369I-R476K-I477L-T479A-R480Q) were constructed. Insertion of 3A12 residue Pro-474 into 3A26 I187T-S368P-V369I resulted in metabolite profiles with testosterone, androstenedione, and progesterone very similar to 3A12. Substitution of Pro-474 with Ser in P450 3A12 or human 3A4 significantly increased 2beta-hydroxylase activity with all three steroids. Residue 474 was also found to be an important contributor to diazepam metabolism by the canine and human enzymes. The results provide further evidence for the role of steric constraints exerted by the enzyme in P450 3A-mediated oxidations.
Keiiti Aki (1930-2005)

Everyone called him Kei, the intellectual leader who for forty years brought new methods to a more quantitative understanding of dynamic processes within the Earth. Kei Aki died on 17 May this year on Reunion Island, the “hot spot” in the Indian Ocean that had been his home since retirement from academic life in the United States. He will be known for his many research results in seismology as well as for his team leadership in developing probabilistic estimates of seismic hazard.⇓ ![][1] Kei was born in Japan to a family of engineers with a 100-year tradition of education and openness to the West, but then, as he wrote, “When I was 19 years old, I applied to the Department of Geophysics of the University of Tokyo, partly because of the simplest entrance examination, only on three subjects, English, Mathematics and Physics.” He continued there to a Ph.D. thesis on spectra of stationary stochastic seismic waves and briefly held a fellowship at the California Institute of Technology in the early 1960s, where he greatly impressed Charles Richter and Frank Press before returning to the University of Tokyo in 1963. When Press left Caltech to head Earth Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he recruited Kei to the MIT faculty in 1966 and thus to an American academic career. His scientific achievements include some of the earliest studies interpreting the radiation pattern of seismic surface waves to estimate fault orientation and direction of slip at the earthquake source. In 1966 he showed how to estimate the seismic moment of an earthquake from seismograms. This measure, equal to the product of rigidity, fault area ruptured, and average fault slip, became recognized as the best way to characterize the size of an earthquake source and the strength of its long-period waves. Seismic … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Information and Posterior Probability Criteria for Model Selection in Local Likelihood Estimation

Local likelihood estimation has proven to be an effective method for obtaining estimates of parameters that vary with a covariate. To obtain useful estimates of such parameters, approximating models are used. In such cases it is useful to consider window based estimates. We may need to choose between competing approximating models. In this article, we propose a modification to the methods used to motivate many information and posterior probability criteria for the weighted likelihood case. We derive weighted versions for two of the most widely known criteria, namely the AIC and BIC. Via a simple modification, the criteria are also made useful for window span selection. The usefulness of the weighted version of these criteria is demonstrated through a simulation study and an application to three datasets.
Insights into the mechanistic dichotomy of the protein farnesyltransferase peptide substrates CVIM and CVLS.

Protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) catalyzes farnesylation of a variety of peptide substrates. 3H α-secondary kinetic isotope effect (α-SKIE) measurements of two peptide substrates, CVIM and CVLS, are significantly different and have been proposed to reflect a rate-limiting SN2-like transition state with dissociative characteristics for CVIM, while, due to the absence of an isotope effect, CVLS was proposed to have a rate-limiting peptide conformational change. Potential of mean force quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical studies coupled with umbrella sampling techniques were performed to further probe this mechanistic dichotomy. We observe the experimentally proposed transition state (TS) for CVIM but find that CVLS has a symmetric SN2 TS, which is also consistent with the absence of a 3H α-SKIE. These calculations demonstrate facile substrate-dependent alterations in the transition state structure catalyzed by FTase.
Evaluation of antioxidants by a rapid polarographic method

A simple, rapid, precise, and reproducible method and an adaptable apparatus for polarographic measurement of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity is described. This method measures antioxidant activity within a few min time as compared to the hours or days needed for several widely used methods. Peroxidation rates were measured for different lipids as a function of amount of lipid, and amount of biocatalyst. The method is applicable to the detection and measurement of the antioxidant effects exhibited by weak antioxidants and has been satisfactorily used for the measurement of the antioxidant activity of different concentrations of powerful antioxidants.
Validation of Twin-Screw Polymer Extruder Modeling

The mathematical and numerical modeling of twin-screw polymer extruders is examined with respect to accuracy of results and validity of the simulation. A numerical model is developed incorporating the translation region, which is similar to a single-screw extruder channel, and the intermeshing, or nip, region. The numerical modeling is carried out for steady and time-dependent operation, considering various polymeric materials like polyethylene and corn meal. A range of design parameters and operating conditions are considered. The results are evaluated in terms of the expected physical behavior of the system and compared with experimental results available in the literature to determine the accuracy of the predictions. In many cases, only qualitative comparisons are possible since the operating conditions and design parameters are not explicitly known. However, the basic trends are as expected and good quantitative comparisons with experimental data is used to validate the model. Validated numerical models can extend the domain of relevant inputs for process design and optimization.© 2002 ASME
An Empirical Study of Delivery Speed and Reliability

Two distinct models of delivery reliability versus delivery speed are tested. On the basis of data from a survey of 193 manufacturing firms, factors associated with the “planning” systems of firms, such as production‐plan goals achieved, inventory goals achieved, and master schedule performance, were found to have a significant effect on delivery reliability. In follow‐up interviews with 13 plant managers; it was found that “process”‐related factors were associated with delivery speed capabilities. Specifically, the biggest inroads to be made into delivery speed are first on the design/manufacturing interface, secondly on the subsequent “translation” of these designs to supplier requirements, and lastly on the production floor in terms of process layout.
Solving mixture problems in archaeology: Analysis of ceramic materials for dating and demographic reconstruction

Abstract Mixed collections are ubiquitous in archaeology. Multiple linear regression provides one means for partitioning mixed archaeological collections into their constituent components. The technique estimates the best combination of specified sets of sources in the composition of a mixed whole. As applied to ceramic collections, this technique has proven successful in solving complex dating problems. Used in conjunction with sherd collections obtained through probabilistic sampling, the technique can be extended to demographic reconstruction. Under certain conditions, the techniques described in this paper provide important ancillary data for detecting seasonality, duration, and nature of occupations.
Modeling the relationships among urban passenger travel carbon dioxide emissions, transportation demand and supply, population density, and proxy policy variables

Abstract To support the development of policies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by encouraging reduced travel and increased use of efficient transportation modes, it is necessary to better understand the explanatory effects that transportation, population density, and policy variables have on passenger travel related CO2 emissions. This study presents the development of a model of CO2 emissions per capita as a function of various explanatory variables using data on 146 urbanized areas in the United States. The model takes into account selectivity bias resulting from the fact that adopting policies aimed at reducing emissions in an urbanized area may be partly driven by the presence of environmental concerns in that area. The results indicate that population density, transit share, freeway lane-miles per capita, private vehicle occupancy, and average travel time have a statistically significant explanatory effect on passenger travel related CO2 emissions. In addition, the presence of automobile emissions inspection programs, which serves as a proxy indicator of other policies addressing environmental concerns and which could influence travelers in making environmentally favorable travel choices, markedly changes the manner in which transportation variables explain CO2 emission levels.
Multi-valued versus single-valued large-amplitude bending-torsional–rotational coordinate systems for simultaneously treating trans-bent and cis-bent acetylene in its S1 state

Abstract There are now a large number of papers in the spectroscopic literature which make use of multiple-valued (frequently double-valued) coordinate systems and the associated multiple-groups of the permutation-inversion group to deal with the symmetry properties of large-amplitude motions in molecules of high symmetry. The use of multiple-valued coordinate systems, and the resultant appearance of more minima on the potential surface than would be found on the surface for a single-valued coordinate system, can lead to conceptual confusion and questions of mathematical legitimacy. In the present paper we demonstrate that treatments using multiple-valued coordinate systems simply represent one scheme for applying the appropriate quantum mechanical boundary conditions to Schrodinger’s partial differential equation defined in a single-valued coordinate system. The demonstration is not general, but rather focuses on the specific example of the S 1 electronic state of C 2 H 2 , which has local minima only for nonlinear configurations, and on the twofold and eightfold extended permutation–inversion groups recently introduced to simultaneously treat symmetry questions in trans-bent and cis-bent acetylene. Some discussion of the mathematical convenience lost by using a single-valued coordinate system is also presented.
TRANSAMINATION IN THE METABOLISM OF ß-2-THIENYL-DL-ALANINE IN NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC CELLS IN VITRO

In tissue cultures of C-57 black mouse heart and sarcoma T-241, β-2-thienyl-DL-alanine acts specifically as a phenylalanine antagonist. Heart cultures can transaminate between β-2-thienyl-DL-alanine and phenylpyruvate to form L-phenylalanine and thus block the toxic action of the remaining β-2-thienyl-DL-alanine, whereas sarcoma T-241 cultures cannot. Of eleven mouse tumors and four rat tumors tested for their ability to perform this reaction, nine tumors had little or no activity. The β-2-thienylpyruvic acid resulting from transamination further reacts to form a red compound the exact structure of which is not yet known.
Sulfated L-selectin ligands as a therapeutic target in chronic inflammation

The homing of lymphocytes to peripheral lymph nodes is initiated by an adhesive interaction between L-selectin on lymphocytes and peripheral node addressin (PNAd), a set of sialomucins displayed on high endothelial venules (HEVs) of lymph nodes. The monoclonal antibody MECA-79 reacts with the PNAd sialomucins by recognizing an N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-6-sulfated oligosaccharide, which overlaps with sialyl 6-sulfo Lewis X, the L-selectin recognition determinant. Two HEV-expressed sulfotransferases, GlcNAc6ST-1 and GlcNAc6ST-2, are essential for the expression of the MECA-79 epitope and L-selectin ligand activity on lymph-node HEVs. PNAd, as defined by MECA-79 staining, is also expressed on activated blood vessels at several sites of chronic inflammation. Recent evidence indicates that the same two sulfotransferases underlie the formation of functional PNAd at these sites. Experiments in a sheep model of asthma demonstrate that a chronic inflammatory disease can be ameliorated by targeting PNAd.
A computer-based, quantitative technique for assessing degree of regulation of EEG rhythms

Abstract A quantitative method of assessing the degree of regulation of EEG rhythms is described. The method requires the measurement of the durations of a large number of waves in a person's EEG; these measures are then cast into a frequency distribution. Analysis involves the computation of the first four central moments of the frequency distributions. The procedure normally is carried out on a computer, but alternatively it can be done manually as well. Data reported on 126 children, aged 4–17 years, suggested that the method provides a quick and easy way of measuring regulation of the EEG rhythms. Substantial, statistically significant correlations between age and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th central moments revealed that regulation is relatively poor in young children but improves progressively over the age span investigated. In a group of 12 adults that were also studied, the magnitudes of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th central moments were significantly associated with a clinical electroencephalographer's judgment of the degree of dysrhythmia shown in their EEG tracings. Findings suggest that the method may provide an objective, quantitative means of assessing EEG dysrhythmia.
The Effects of “Friend” Characteristics on Evaluations of an Activist Group in a Social Networking Context

Research suggests that individuals use cues about the popularity of a cause or group to make judgments. This bandwagon phenomenon has found particular support in online contexts. However, perceptions regarding the group may also depend on the identity of those supporters. We employed a 2 × 2 × 2 experiment to test the effect of number of affiliates and affiliate race and age on feelings toward the group, its page, and intended support. Results suggest that feelings are not subject to a consistent bandwagon effect but rather are moderated by race, with White participants exhibiting more positive feelings when seeing a page with few Black affiliates or many White affiliates. This result contrasts with findings for age, which serves to moderate only intended page use.
An Evaluation of Feed Lost in the Drinking Water: Comparison Among Management Systems and Individual Birds

Abstract ROUTINE observation shows that chickens normally transfer variable but often considerable quantities of feed to the drinking water, where such feed is generally discarded in the cleaning operation. This paper attempts to quantify such feed wastage under several different combinations of feeding, watering, and bird-handling systems. Included are data on wastage patterns of individual birds in relationship to feed and water intake. PROCEDURE All data in this report are based on one group of 10 W. L. pullets, housed in individual cages (12 in. × 16 in. × 18 in.) of a commercial, multitiered laying battery. At the start of the study the birds were laying between 60–70%. They were alternately exposed to various combinations of management conditions, designed to simulate commercial operations, as follows: 1. Feeding Systems: All mash or all pellet-laying rations, replenished daily either in individual-bird-feeders or multibird-hoppers mounted in front of the cage. The feeding …