cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Processing Conditions on the Crystallization behavior and Destabilization Kinetics of Oil-in-Water Emulsions

The objective of this research was to systematically study the effect of processing conditions on the crystallization behavior and destabilization mechanisms of oil-in-water emulsions. The effect of crystallization temperature (Tc) and homogenization conditions on both thermal behavior and destabilization mechanisms were analyzed. Results show that the crystallization of lipids present in the emulsions was inhibited when compared with bulk lipids as evidenced by a lower onset and peak temperature (Ton and Tp, respectively) in differential scanning calorimetry crystallization exotherms. The smaller the droplet size in the emulsion, the more significant the inhibition (lower Ton and Tp). Lower values of Ton and Tp were not necessarily indicators of emulsion stability. Homogenization conditions not only affected the Ton and Tp of crystallization but also the crystallization profile of the samples. Lipids present in emulsions with small droplets were crystallized and melted in a less fractionated manner when compared to lipids in bigger droplets or even to the bulk lipids. The amount of lipid crystallized as evidenced by enthalpy values, did not have a direct relationship with the emulsions stability. Although enthalpy values increased as Tc decreased, the destabilization kinetics did not follow the same tendency as evidenced by back scattering measurements.
Parent training, home environment, and early childhood development: A long‐term follow‐up study

Families and children who participated in a primary prevention experiment called Home Oriented Preschool Education (HOPE) were assessed during a follow‐up study approximately ten years following the experiment. Home environment and social class were assessed for families, and children's ability and achievement test scores and grade point averages were obtained from school records. Home environment was shown to be only modestly related to social class and to account for significant amounts of variance in children's academic and intellectual progress. Home environment appeared, moreover, to be affected favorably by the HOPE experiment when comparing randomly assigned groups of experimental and control families. Discussion focuses on the value of measuring home environment in studies of early childhood development. 1. This study was supported by various grants and contracts from the National Institute of Education and administered through the Appalachia Educational Laboratory, Inc., whose support and encoura...
Optimizing the spatial distribution of damping in structures with boundary damping

The present work seeks to optimize the spatial distribution of damping in structures with boundary damping. This work is motivated by design considerations, such as weight and cost, that often limit the amount of damping that can be used. In such cases, the designer must choose the spatial distribution of damping in order to reduce the structural vibration. One intuitively expects that the presence of boundary damping affects the optimal distribution of damping in the structure. In particular, one expects that the optimal design places damping treatments away from such boundaries in order to achieve an even distribution of power flow from the structure. To investigate this effect, finite element models of vibrating structures are developed in which the spatial distribution of damping is parameterized. These parameters are regarded as optimization parameters that are searched to minimize a cost function related to vibration or noise, such as the average response of the structure over a frequency band. Examples are presented that illustrate the effect of boundary damping on the optimal distribution of damping.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Risky driving among young male drivers: The effects of mood and passengers

Young male drivers are at greater risk of automobile crashes than other drivers. Efforts to reduce risky driving in this population have met with mixed success. The present research was designed to examine the effects of induced mood and the presence or absence of passengers on risky driving in young male drivers. Male drivers (n = 204) aged 16–18 were tested in a driving simulator. This study employed a 2 (happy/sad mood) by 2 (passenger present/absent) between-subjects factorial design, and examined driving behavior in a simulator. Measures of risky driving were combined into two factors representing speed (e.g., exceeding the speed limit) and carelessness (e.g., crossing the center line). Findings indicated that driving with a passenger resulted in faster driving than driving alone. Although there was no significant main effect of induced mood on driving, results revealed a significant interaction of mood and passenger conditions: when in a happy mood, driving with a passenger significantly increased driving speed. There were no significant effects of passenger or mood on careless driving. In conclusion, both mood and passenger presence are important factors in fast driving among young male drivers. Results are discussed in the context of developing more effective countermeasures for this at-risk population.
Characterization of 2,6-Dichloro-p-hydroquinone 1,2-Dioxygenase (PcpA) of Sphingomonas chlorophenolica ATCC 39723

Abstract Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a general biocide and a major environmental pollutant. The initial steps of PCP degradation by Sphingomonas chlorophenolica ATCC 39723 have been studied and characterized. Two enzymes are responsible for converting PCP to 2,6-dichloro- p -hydroquinone (2,6-DiCH) which is a common metabolic intermediate of the biodegradation of polychlorinated phenols. 2,6-DiCH is degraded by PcpA from strain ATCC 39723, but the reaction end product has been misidentified as 6-chlorohydroxyquinol and has been elusive to detection. We report here the overproduction of PcpA in Escherichia coli and the demonstration of quantitative conversion of 2,6-DiCH to 2-chloromaleylacetate with the coconsumption of one equivalent O 2 and release of one equivalent Cl − by purified PcpA. On the basis of the reaction stoichiometry, the enzyme is proposed to be 2,6-DiCH 1,2-dioxygenase.
Paleosols spanning the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition, eastern Montana and western North Dakota

Paleosols occur in exposures of the latest Cretaceous Hell Creek and Paleocene Tullock (= Ludlow) Formations in Montana and western North Dakota. These units are composed mainly of interbedded siltstones and sandstones of meandering fluvial origin. The paleosols indicate that changes in ancient soil development occurred concomitantly with the better-known faunal transition. In order of decreasing abundance, silty soils, sandy soils, organic soils, and volcanic soils are preserved. Pedogenic features present in these soils include roots, microscopic segregations of amorphous material, birefringence fabric, and soil structures. The features suggest that throughout the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition pedogenic processes in the region produced immature profiles, an observation consistent with the unstable, fluvial setting in which the ancient soils formed. Gleization was a dominant process in this setting, and podzolization modified some sandy soils. The association of the features enables recognition of O, A/E, Btg, Bhs, Bg, BC, Cg, and C horizons. During middle Hell Creek time, soils formed in a poorly drained setting that was only stable enough to permit incipient pedogenesis. The bulk of the pedogenesis occurred in levee and flood-plain deposits; soils also occurred on point-bar and crevasse-splay deposits. In topographically depressed regions, organic accumulations formed with minimal soil development. Matted plant debris is the product of this environment. Gley features and segregations of iron oxides around voids suggest fluctuation of the water table. By latest Hell Creek time, the mean level of the water table rose, and in the lowest Tullock (Ludlow) exposures, extensive ponded deposits are preserved. Vegetation accumulated at a rate sufficient for coal formation. The amount of fluctuation apparently was reduced, and pedogenesis was further inhibited, as indicated by the virtual absence of illuviated clays in the sediments.
Dispersion and tunneling analysis of the interfacial gate resistance in Schottky barriers

We present a theoretical explanation of the interfacial component in the gate resistance of Schottky-barrier-gate field-effect transistors (SBGFETs). This component was recently established and was found, for GaAs- and InP-based SBGFETs, to have the smallest practically achievable normalized value ${r}_{\mathrm{gi}}$ on the order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7} \ensuremath{\Omega}{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}.$ We show that ${r}_{\mathrm{gi}}$ in this range can be modeled as an ac tunneling resistance ${r}_{\mathrm{IT}}$ between the three-dimensional (3D) gate metal and the 2D semiconductor surfaces states. We extend Cowley and Sze's static Schottky-barrier lineup model to include high-frequency modulation of the surface-state occupation by an ac gate voltage. We find that, since ${r}_{\mathrm{IT}}$ is not simply a dc resistance in series with the standard parasitic gate resistance, the resulting experimentally observed ${r}_{\mathrm{gi}}$ is smaller by an amount that depends on the interfacial layer and surface-state density. However, for the typically observed values, ${r}_{\mathrm{gi}}$ acts like a series resistance up to presently attainable frequencies. Thus, while Cowley and Sze's phenomenological ``interfacial layer of the order of atomic dimensions'' is more or less ``transparent to electrons,'' it presents a resistance that cannot be ignored at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies. We apply our theory using interfacial-layer parameter values corresponding to alternative models for Schottky-barrier formation, and compare the predictions to experimental observations. Our results are consistent with models that involve defects near the semiconductor-metal interface.
Imagery in paired-associate learning in children☆

Abstract Response items in a paired-associate task were presented verbally and pictorially. Two groups were given verbal descriptions of interactions between the stimulus and response items (“verbal compounds”); and two groups, only the names of the response items. One group under each condition was shown pictures of the interactions (“visual compounds”); and the other, pictures of the response items alone. S s were divided into three age levels (total range 36–96 months). Verbal compounds and visual compounds were equally effective, and both facilitated performance. It may be that verbal description facilitates learning more than visual imagery (“visual compounds”), unless S verbalizes descriptions of the “images,” but other interpretations are possible.
A differential effect of ouabain and β-agonists on contractility and lactic acid production in the hypertrophied heart

Abstract In response to norepinephrine or isoproterenol, dogs with pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy showed depressed contractility and myocardial lactic acid production when compared to normal dogs. In these dogs with hypertrophy the inotropic response to ouabain remained normal and myocardial lactate production was not induced. The finding is compatible with the idea that the increased oxygen demand induced by β-agonists exceeds the limited coronary blood flow reserve of the hypertrophied heart leading to myocardial anaerobic metabolism and reduced inotropic responsiveness. Ouabain, on the other hand, did not induce anaerobic metabolism and the inotropic response was not depressed.
Acoustic emission monitoring of high speed grinding of silicon nitride

Abstract Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring of a machining process offers real-time sensory input which could provide tool condition and part quality information that is critical to effective process control. However, the choice of sensor, its placement, and how to process the data and extract useful information are challenging application-specific questions which researchers must consider. Here we report an effort to resolve these questions for the case of high speed grinding of silicon nitride using an electroplated single-layered diamond wheel. A grinding experiment was conducted at a wheel speed of 149 m s −1 and continued until the end of the useful wheel life. AE signal data were then collected for each complete pass at given grinding times throughout the useful wheel life. We found that the amplitude of the AE signal monotonically increases with wheel wear, as do grinding forces and energy. Furthermore, the signal power contained in the AE signal proportionally increases with the associated grinding power, which suggests that the AE signal could provide quantitative information of wheel wear in high-speed grinding, and could also be used to determine when the grinding wheel needs replacement.
MALDI-mass spectrometric imaging for the investigation of metabolites in Medicago truncatula root nodules

Most techniques used to study small molecules, such as pharmaceutical drugs or endogenous metabolites, employ tissue extracts which require the homogenization of the tissue of interest that could potentially cause changes in the metabolic pathways being studied1. Mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) is a powerful analytical tool that can provide spatial information of analytes within intact slices of biological tissue samples1-5. This technique has been used extensively to study various types of compounds including proteins, peptides, lipids, and small molecules such as endogenous metabolites. With matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI, spatial distributions of multiple metabolites can be simultaneously detected. Herein, a method developed specifically for conducting untargeted metabolomics MSI experiments on legume roots and root nodules is presented which could reveal insights into the biological processes taking place. The method presented here shows a typical MSI workflow, from sample preparation to image acquisition, and focuses on the matrix application step, demonstrating several matrix application techniques that are useful for detecting small molecules. Once the MS images are generated, the analysis and identification of metabolites of interest is discussed and demonstrated. The standard workflow presented here can be easily modified for different tissue types, molecular species, and instrumentation.
The Emergence of Suburban Terracing on Coastal Dunes: Case Studies along the Perth Northern Corridor, Western Australia, 1930–2010

In the rapidly expanding suburban periphery of Perth in Western Australia, highly malleable coastal dunes are substituted with expansive artificial topographies of level lots terraced with retaining walls. Although efficient for facilitating current engineering, construction and real estate standards, large-scale terracing significantly impacts ecological systems and place-making processes. The article explicates the emergence of terracing in Perth through analysis of topographic transformation in suburban developments since the 1930s. Understanding the design, engineering and cultural factors that drove increased topographic manipulation over this timeframe provides an important foundation for establishing more topographically sensitive urban design practices in coastal settings.
The Interaction of Simulated Squall Lines with Idealized Mountain Ridges

Abstract Numerical simulations of squall lines traversing sinusoidal mountain ridges are performed using the Advanced Regional Prediction System cloud-resolving model. Precipitation and updraft strength are enhanced through orographic ascent as a squall line approaches a ridge. The simulated squall line then weakens as it descends the ridge because some of the cold pool is blocked by the terrain, resulting in less lift along the gust front and weaker convective cells. The flow within the cold pool accelerates slightly and the depth of the cold air decreases owing to upstream blocking, transitioning the flow in the cold pool head from subcritical to supercritical, then back to subcritical at the bottom of the ridge. A hydraulic jump forms when the flow transitions the second time, enabling the development of a new convective line downwind of the mountain. These new updrafts grow and eventually replace the older updrafts that weakened during descent. This process results in the discrete propagation of a squ...
Polybrominated biphenyl toxicosis in the rat and mouse.

Abstract Rats and mice were given 22 oral doses of Firemaster FF-1 or pure 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) over a 30-day period and held for 90 additional days to determine the pathobiological manifestations of toxicity. Female mice and rats given Firemaster FF-1 became porphyric after 45 and 120 days, respectively. The liver was enlarged due to swelling of hepatocytes, fatty infiltration and proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum. There was a marked increase in serum protein which was primarily due to β-globulin fraction in the rat. γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase was elevated in female rats in both groups given Firemaster FF-1 and HBB. A significant dose related increase in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase was found in male rats at Day 60 only. There was a decrease in the packed cell volume accompanied by a proportional decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cell values in male rats given 30 mg of FF-1 at 30 and 45 days but returned to normal at 60 and 90 days. Hepatocellular alterations in rats and mice given FF-1 at 30.0 mg/kg (22 total doses) persisted when examined at 120 days. FF-1 was more toxic than pure HBB as determined by measurement of porphyrins and pathologic findings. Rats or mice treated with HBB tended to recover when examined during postexposure periods.
Long-Term Bezafibrate Treatment Improves Skin and Spleen Phenotypes of the mtDNA Mutator Mouse

Pharmacological agents, such as bezafibrate, that activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and PPAR γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) pathways have been shown to improve mitochondrial function and energy metabolism. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutator mouse is a mouse model of aging that harbors a proofreading-deficient mtDNA polymerase γ. These mice develop many features of premature aging including hair loss, anemia, osteoporosis, sarcopenia and decreased lifespan. They also have increased mtDNA mutations and marked mitochondrial dysfunction. We found that mutator mice treated with bezafibrate for 8-months had delayed hair loss and improved skin and spleen aging-like phenotypes. Although we observed an increase in markers of fatty acid oxidation in these tissues, we did not detect a generalized increase in mitochondrial markers. On the other hand, there were no improvements in muscle function or lifespan of the mutator mouse, which we attributed to the rodent-specific hepatomegaly associated with fibrate treatment. These results showed that despite its secondary effects in rodent’s liver, bezafibrate was able to improve some of the aging phenotypes in the mutator mouse. Because the associated hepatomegaly is not observed in primates, long-term bezafibrate treatment in humans could have beneficial effects on tissues undergoing chronic bioenergetic-related degeneration.
Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the setting of dermatologic surgery.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the postoperative setting of dermatologic surgery is unknown. Such data could influence the empirical treatment of suspected infections. OBJECTIVE To examine the period prevalence of MRSA infections in the postoperative setting of dermatologic surgery. METHODS We performed chart reviews of 70 patients who had bacterial cultures taken from January 2007 to December 2007. In the 21 postsurgical cases, we analyzed age, risk factors, sites of predilection, method of repair, and pathogen of growth. RESULTS The mean age of the overall study population was 57, with the mean age of postsurgical MRSA-positive cases being 75.5. Of the 21 postsurgical cultures taken, 16 cultures grew pathogen, and two of the 16 (13%) pathogen-positive cultures grew MRSA. LIMITATIONS This is a retrospective chart review of a relatively small sample size in one geographic location. Our patient population is known to contain a large number of retirees. CONCLUSION The increasing prevalence of MRSA skin and soft tissue infections and recommendation to modify empirical antibiotic therapy have been well documented in particular patient populations, but we caution against the empirical use of MRSA-sensitive antibiotics in the postoperative setting of dermatologic surgery. We advocate culturing all infectious lesions upon presentation and reserve empirical use of MRSA-sensitive antibiotics for high-risk patients or locations.
Hierarchical Crosslinked F Actin Networks: Understanding Structure and Assembly

The filamentous protein, F-actin provides us with an interesting system in which to investigate the assembly properties of semi-flexible filaments in the presence of cross-linkers and this theme has been explored by several groups.Recently it was observed that F-actin filaments, in the presence of the cross-linker alpha-actinin at high molar ratios are able to generate a novel hierarchical network of filament bundles. We investigate this system using the complementary methods of coarse grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, confocal fluorescence microscopy and x-ray scattering.We have studied the F-actin/ alpha-actinin system in detail with different actin concentrations (Ca) and alpha-actinin-to-actin molar ratios (gamma). The confocal microscopic observations and analysis show that the assembled systems might fall into one of three phases depending on Ca and gamma: (1) loosely connected network of F-actin and bundles, (2) loosely connected network of dense domains and (3) uniform network of bundles. The phenomena can be explained statistical mechanically and replicated using our MD simulations.We have also carried out simulations with different types of cross-linkers to represent the proteins, fascin and filamin. Our results show that the formation of different phases is related to the flexibility in binding between F-actin and cross-linkers. This degree of freedom, possible with a longer cross-linker allows the possibility of forming branching points and thus bundle networks (The alpha-actinin/actin and filamin/actin systems form bundle networks, but the fascin/actin system does not).
The effects of a subchondral bone perforation on the load support mechanism within articular cartilage

Abstract Impact loading of diarthrodial joints of skeletally mature animals can crack the zone of calcified cartilage and subchondral bone (ZCC-SB), often without immediate disruption to the joint surface. A common sequelae to transarticular impact is the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in the traumatized joint. An understanding of how and why damage to cartilage occurs and progresses in deep regions of cartilage would therefore increase our understanding of the etiology of this type of traumatic OA. In this study, a 2D linear biphasic finite element analysis was performed to determine articular cartilage deformations, and interstitial fluid flow and pressurization, under both uniform and non-uniform hydrodynamic pressure distributions. The crack in the ZCC-SB was modelled by a “moderate-size” perforation at which there is no load support or fluid pressurization (i.e. a free surface under a free-draining condition). The effects of such a defect on the cartilage solid matrix stresses and strains, and interstitial fluid flows and pressures have been calculated. Results show that in normal cartilage, consistent with our previous contact analysis (G.A. Ateshian, W.M. Lai, W.B. Zhu and V.C. Mow, A biphasic model for contact in diarthrodial joints, Adv. Bioeng., ASME, 22 (1992) 191–194), interstitial fluid pressurization plays a dominant role in providing support when cartilage is loaded. Hence, normally, the solid matrix of cartilage is shielded from the high stresses of joint loading. In cartilage with a perforation in the ZCC-SB, however, the solid matrix stresses and strains are significantly increased as a consequence of a diminished fluid pressurization in the region of the defect. Thus, to maintain local equilibrium, there is a transfer of internal load support from interstitial fluid pressure to solid matrix stress defeating the normal stress-shielding effect. This stress transfer suggests a mechanism for progressive solid matrix damage, thus increasing the likelihood of cartilage failure following a single episode of impact.
Histone H10 accumulates in growth-inhibited cultured cells.

The H1 class of histones contains several molecular species, even within a single organism 1. The combination of these subtractions varies according to the state of terminal differentiation2,3, embryonic development4 and hormonal induction5. One of the subtractions, H10, occurs at levels that are inversely correlated with the rate of cell division in mammalian tissues6. Although H10 might be functionally or even structurally distinct from the usual H1 histone, Panyim and Chalkley6 established that its size and amino acid composition resembled other H1 histones. The quantitative studies of its relationship to mitotic index were greatly extended by Marks et al.7, and others8–12 have measured H10 contents during processes such as tissue regeneration and selective tissue destruction. All these observations were consistent with the notion that histone H10 suppresses gene replication. One limitation in these demonstrations of the inverse correlation between H10 and cell division is that there are many variable parameters, other than mitotic index, when comparing one tissue to another. This problem is largely overcome by comparing regenerating tissues to their normal counterparts8–11. In the latter situation, it is possible that cell types which always have low H10 contents are preferentially replaced early in the regeneration process, while different cell types with high H10 levels build up in the tissue later. If it could be demonstrated that H10 accumulated along with the arrest of cell division in a single cell type, these ambiguities would be removed. We report here such a demonstration using cultured cells.
Glucose and insulin responses to a new zero-energy fiber source.

Objective: Consumption of a number of soluble fiber sources reduces glucose and insulin responses in humans. These fibers provide some available energy. Z-trim, a completely insoluble, noncaloric fiber/fat replacer produced from grain, was developed by ARS scientist George Inglett but until this report had not been tested in humans. The objective was to test the effects of consumption of various doses of this new fiber on glucose and insulin responses in humans.Design: Men and women (12 each) matched for age and body mass index (41 years, BMI 27) were given glucose or glucose with three levels of fiber in a Latin-square design. Blood samples were obtained before and 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after solutions containing glucose alone (1 g/kg body weight) and glucose plus 0.08, 0.17 and 0.33 g/kg body weight of Z-trim were consumed. Plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon were determined by enzyme or radioimmunoassays. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted.Results: Glucose responses were lowe...
On the Use of Slow Ascent Meter-Scale Sampling (SAMS) Radiosondes for Observing Overturning Events in the Free Atmosphere

Abstract This note describes the development of a method for obtaining high vertical resolution (meter scale) measurements of basic meteorological quantities and turbulent overturns, using radiosondes with slow ascent rates. Although the method has some limitations, it can provide profiles of standard atmospheric variables from the surface to more than 20 km, with significantly improved vertical resolution. It can also help better identify regions of turbulent overturns. This correspondence presents some initial results demonstrating the occurrence of relatively small-vertical-scale overturns throughout the entire atmospheric column.
The surface tension of polyethylene

Extrapolation from data on low molecular weight n-alkanes indicates that the surface tension of polyethylene at 150°C is 26 dynes/cm. The total surface energy, γ — Tdγ/dT, is 51 dynes/cm and is much less dependent on chain length. The surface tension of polyethylene extrapolated to 20°C is 34 dynes/cm, consistent with the critical surface tension below which liquids will wet the polymer. The total surface energy is in reasonable accord with the incremental energy of vaporization, 1.029 kcal/mole of CH2 groups. The surface entropy is less than that of low molecular substances. This is attributed to a reduction in the opportunities for rotational isomerism at the surface.
Diurnal rhythms in collective mood are revealed in social media

Twitter messages reveal nearly identical diurnal mood variations in disparate cultures. From the US to India and Africa, the collective mood peaks around breakfast and midnight and is higher on weekends. Yet this collective pattern is not simply the aggregation of the diurnal rhythms within individuals.
Behavioural Indicators of Anxiety: an Empirical Test in Chimpanzees

Behavioural, pharmacological, and physiological evidence supports an association between displacement activities and anxiety in macaques. Information is scarce in other primate and non-primate species. This study contributes to the understanding of the relation between displacement activities and emotional states by investigating the correspondence between self-directed behaviour and an inherently stressful situation in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Data were collected on 81 captive chimpanzees housed in conditions varying from indoor single caging to indoor/outdoor enclosures containing up to 14 individuals. Observation of gentle and rough scratching, self-grooming, and yawning were used to test predictions concerning the response of individuals to neighbour vocalisation (i.e. the calls and noisy displays produced by neighbouring groups of chimpanzees), which has been previously demonstrated to increase the likelihood of intragroup agonistic behaviour. In socially-housed chimpanzees rough and gentle scratching and yawning were significantly more common after neighbouring individuals vocalised or displayed than before, but the effect lasted longer for rough-scratching. In addition, during periods characterised by higher levels of neighbour vocalisation, socially-housed chimpanzees performed rough scratching at higher rates. Self-grooming was not affected by the level of neighbour vocalisation. Single-caged chimpanzees, for whom neighbour vocalisation carries no risk of aggression by group members, showed no increase in self-directed behaviour when neighbour vocalisation level was high, suggesting that the risk of intra-group aggression, rather than neighbour vocalisation itself, elicits anxiety. While our study suggests that rough scratching is the most reliable indicator of anxiety in chimpanzees in the context of neighbour vocalisation, it also provides evidence that gentle scratching and yawning can be considered displacement activities in this species.
Neural systems for sign language production: Mechanisms supporting lexical selection, phonological encoding, and articulation

Overt production of ASL signs was evaluated using H(2)(15)O PET to differentiate brain systems that support sign language production at the lexical-selection and phonological-articulatory levels. Subjects were 16 right-handed, congenitally deaf native ASL signers (10 women, six men; age 20 to 29 years). Scans were performed while subjects (1) passively viewed ASL nouns, (2) repeated nouns, (3) generated verbs in response to these nouns, (4) passively viewed videotaped segments depicting transitive actions, and (5) generated a verb to describe these actions. Conjunctions between the two verb-generation tasks revealed left-lateralized activation of perisylvian, frontal, and subcortical regions commonly observed in spoken language generation tasks and implicated in processes of semantic feature binding and lexical selection. Analysis of noun repetition minus viewing condition revealed activation of distinct systems supporting phonological encoding and articulation, including bilateral activation of sensorimotor areas and association cortices in the temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. In addition, lexical-selection and articulatory processes were associated with activation of different corticostriatal-thalamocortical circuits: articulation with activation of the motor, and lexical-selection with activation of the prefrontal circuits, respectively. The results collectively provide insight into dissociable neural systems underlying these psycholinguistic functions. In addition, activation of regions that are typically associated with the auditory system during sign production suggests that these regions may support modality-independent linguistic processes, or may indicate cross-modal plasticity within the deaf brain.
Comparative study of ProEx C immunocytochemistry and UroVysion fluorescent in-situ hybridization assays on urine cytology specimens

Background: Detection of urothelial carcinoma (UC) by urine cytology can be challenging. Recently, ProEx C has been studied as a marker to improve detection of UC. ProEx C is an assay targeting expression of topoisomerase IIa and minichromosome maintenance protein-2 and is currently utilized to assist in diagnoses of the gynecological specimens. In this study, we compared the utility of ProEx C and UroVysion in urine specimens. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven urine specimens with UroVysion assay analysis and surgical biopsy follow-up were selected. The smears were stained with ProEx C. ProEx C and UroVysion assay results were separated into two categories based on surgical biopsy follow-up (benign or neoplastic). Surgical biopsy diagnoses were used as the gold standard for comparative evaluation of the two assays. The surgical follow-up was 9 benign, 2 low grade, and 16 high grade UCs. Results: The sensitivity was 88.9% for ProEx C and 55.6% for UroVysion, while the specificity was 77.8% for ProEx C and 44.4% for UroVysion. Positive predictive value was 88.9% for ProEx C and 66.7% for UroVysion. Negative predictive value was 77.8% and 33.3% for ProEx C and UroVysion, respectively. Using the two-tailed paired t-test, P value of 0.033 was obtained when ProEx C stain was compared with the UroVysion assay. Conclusion: ProEx C immunocytochemistry has a more favorable performance than fluorescent in-situ hybridization with a significant difference between the two assays using paired two-tail t-test (P = 0.0033).
Re-envisioning the Role of Universities in Early Childhood Teacher Education: Community Partnerships for 21st-Century Learning

Despite contrasting views on the overlap of early childhood education and teacher education, opportunities abound for expanding the role of early childhood educators in broader teacher education discourse. University-based early childhood education and kindergarten-through-grade-12 teacher education share purposes, philosophies, and resources that should be explored to more effectively address the needs of diverse young children and their families. Community partnerships and a shift toward community-based teacher preparation present a context and opportunity for exploring the overlap of these two historically separate fields. In this article, we present a framework for collaborative, field-based early childhood teacher preparation, situating birth-though-grade-12 teacher education in diverse community contexts and involving school and community personnel to achieve universal 21st-century goals for the teaching and learning of young children.
Efficient multirate interacting multiple model particle filter (MRIMM-PF) for target tracking

In many cases, tracking ground targets can be formulated as a nonlinear filtering problem when terrain and road constraints are incorporated into system modeling and polar coordinate is used. Furthermore, when tracking ground maneuvering targets with an interacting multiple model (IMM) approach, a non-Gaussian problem exists due to an inherent mixing operation. A multirate interacting multiple model particle filter (MRIMM-PF) is presented in this paper to effectively solve the problem of nonlinear and non-Gaussian tracking, with an emphasis on computational savings.
Degree-bounded coloring of graphs: variations on a theme by Brooks

A graph G is degree-bounded-colorable (briefly, db-colorable) if it can be properly vertex-colored with colors 1,2, …, k ≤ Δ(G) such that each vertex v is assigned a color c(v) ≤ v. We first prove that if a connected graph G has a block which is neither a complete graph nor an odd cycle, then G is db-colorable. One may think of this as an improvement of Brooks' theorem in which the global bound Δ(G) on the number of colors is replaced by the local bound deg v on the color at vertex v. Extending the above result, we provide an algorithmic characterization of db-colorable graphs, as well as a nonalgorithmic characterization of db-colorable trees. We briefly examine the problem of determining the smallest integer k such that G is db-colorable with colors 1, 2,…, k. Finally, we extend these results to set coloring. © 1995, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alterations induced by Trypanosoma cruzi in activated mouse lymphocytes.

Although a number of immunological anomalies have been shown to occur during the acute period of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, the contribution of the parasite has not been clarified. In this work, we co-cultured activated splenic mononuclear cells (SMC) from normal outbred (CD1) or inbred (CBA/J) mice with purified T. cruzi trypomastigotes and studied ensuing T- and B-lymphocyte alterations. In the presence of parasites, phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated SMC from either mouse background manifested a marked reduction in both lymphoproliferative capacity (i.e., 3H-thymidine incorporation) and cell membrane level of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R; determined by flow cytometry) relative to SMC from parasite-free cultures. Thus, substantial proportions of activated SMC either became unable to express detectable levels of IL-2R or expressed this receptor in significantly lower numbers than control SMC. Supernatants from T. cruzi suspensions reproduced these suppressive effects on phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated SMC from normal or chronically infected CD1 or CBA/J mice. Similar results were obtained with SMC activated with a bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Since IL-2R expression is required for activated lymphocytes to progress through the cell cycle and multiply to mount effective immune responses, impaired IL-2R expression by T. cruzi provides a plausible hypothesis for the wide-ranged immunosuppression that occurs in the infected host.
Inactivation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase by oltipraz: evidence for the formation of a stable adduct

Oltipraz (5-pyrazinyl-4-methyl-1,2-dithiole-3-thione), which is undergoing clinical evaluation as an anticarcinogen, also inhibits HIV-1 replication (IC50 approximately equal to 10 microM). The inactivation of RT appears to be a relevant antiviral mechanism since oltipraz blocks viral replication in acutely infected T-cell lines, but is ineffective in chronically infected ACH-2 cells (H. J. Prochaska, W. G. Bornmann, P. Baron, and B. Polsky (1995) Mol. Pharmacol. 48, 15-20). Since a nucleophilic amino acid is a likely target for oltipraz, we assessed whether the conserved cysteine residues of HIV-1 RT (38Cys or 280Cys) were the target(s) for oltipraz, and we synthesized [Me 14C]oltipraz to determine if oltipraz forms a stable adduct with RT. Thus, HIV-2 RT as well as wild-type, 38Cys-->Ser, 280Cys-->Ser, and the Cys-->Ser double mutant of HIV-1 RT were purified from the lysates of transformed Escherichia coli strain DH5 alpha (A. Hizi, M. Shaharabany, R. Tal, and S. H. Hughes (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1293-1297) via a purification procedure that included (NH4)2SO4 fractionation followed by gel filtration, dye-ligand, and ion-exchange chromatographies. Procion yellow H4R was chosen as the dye-ligand chromatography since it was the most potent and selective inhibitor of RT among seventy reactive dyes that were screened. Mono Q anion-exchange chromatography with diethanolamine (pH 9) resulted in the generation of heterodimeric RT from a predominantly homodimeric enzyme preparation. Because the instability of dilute RT preparations at room temperature rendered the kinetic evaluation of inactivation difficult, we sought to identify conditions that prevent denaturation of these enzymes. High concentrations (25 mM) of MgCl2 had a stabilizing effect. Oltipraz behaved kinetically as an irreversible inhibitor of all RTs purified, and the kinetic constants for the inactivation of these enzymes were not significantly different from wild-type HIV-1 RT (Ki = 17.0 +/- 4.1 microM; k3 = 0.214 +/- 0.051 h-1). In stark contrast, oltipraz neither inhibited nor inactivated the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, whose subdomain structure is similar to the p66 subunit of RT. Wild-type RT was incubated with 60 microM [Me 14C]oltipraz for 4 h and was then subjected to gel filtration chromatography. The [14C] label comigrated with RT with a stoichiometry of binding of 0.88 +/- 0.05 oltipraz per inactivated RT subunit (N = 3 experiments), and the [14C] label remained bound after treatment with 4 M urea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Lightness computation by a neural filling-in mechanism

A growing body of evidence suggests that the brain computes lightness in a two-stage process that involves (1) an early neural encoding of contrast at the locations of luminance borders in the visual image, and (2) a subsequent filling-in of the lightnesses of the regions lying between the borders. I will review evidence that supports this theory and present a computational model of lightness based on filling-in by a spatially-spreading cortical diffusion mechanism. The behavior of the model will be illustrate by showing how it quantitatively accounts for the lightness matching data of Rudd and Arrington. The model's performance will be compared that of other theories of lightness, including retinex theory, a modified version of retinex theory that assumes edge integration with a falloff in spatial weighting of edge information with distance, lightness anchoring based on the highest luminance rule, and the BCS/FCS filling-in model developed by Grossberg and his colleagues.
A structural model used to evaluate the changing microstructure of maturing rat skin

A microstructurally based model for soft biological tissues was adapted to model the non-linear response of the collagenous network in skin. Quasi-static uniaxial tensile tests were conducted on dorsal skin of rats aged 1–4 months. Specimens were taken longitudinally and transversely (laterally) to the spine and tested at 1.5% s−1. The model showed fiber stiffness to increase laterally during maturation and to be greater laterally than longitudinally. It also indicated the migration of the ‘heel’ portion of the response curve toward the origin during maturation to be due to less crimping in the fibers. These results were qualitatively supported by microscopical observations. The model was found to be well suited to fit response curves exhibiting a well-defined ‘heel’ region. For curves exhibiting a more flat, featureless ‘heel’ region (typical of 1 month longitudinal specimens) the model was not well suited. The results of this study indicate that this simple three-parameter model might be a useful tool in future studies to analyze pathological changes in the collagenous microstructure.
Role of rasagiline in treating Parkinson's disease: Effect on disease progression.

Rasagiline is a second generation, selective, irreversible monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor. It has demonstrated efficacy in monotherapy for early Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients in one large randomized, placebo-controlled trial (TVP-1012 in Early Monotherapy for Parkinson’s Disease Outpatients), and has shown ability to reduce off time in more advanced PD patients with motor fluctuations in two large placebo-controlled trials (Parkinson’s Rasagiline: Efficacy and Safety in the Treatment of “Off”, and Lasting Effect in Adjunct Therapy With Rasagiline Given Once Daily). Preclinical data abound to suggest potential for neuroprotection by this compound against a variety of neurotoxic insults in cell cultures and in animals. The lack of amphetamine metabolites provides an advantage over the first generation MAO-B inhibitor selegiline. One large trial has investigated the potential for disease modification in PD patients (Attenuation of Disease progression with Azilect Given Once-daily) and preliminary results maintain some possible advantage to earlier initiation of the 1 mg/day dose. The clinical significance of the difference detected remains a consideration.
English Architectural Landscapes and Metonymy in Hollinghurst's The Stranger's Child

In his article "English Architectural Landscapes and Metonymy in Hollinghurst's The Stranger's Child" Bart Eeckhout analyzes Alan Hollinghurst's novel in light of Hollinghurst's interest in architectural representation. Eeckhout analyzes the novel's principal scenario of architectural change in the course of the twentieth century and postulates that Hollinghurst employs unconventional genre codes and queers the social realist novel, the family saga, and the country house novel. Eeckhout analyzes The Stranger's Child as a comedy of metonymies which impresses upon its readers the structural necessity of diverse perspectives, labyrinthine metonymical constructions, and the dynamics of place. Further, Eeckhout argues that Hollinghurst dramatizes for his readers how desire impels narratives, landscapes, and human interactions alike in ways which afford only passing moments of aesthetic enchantment and provisional insights along the way. Bart Eeckhout, "English Architectural Landscapes and Metonymy in Hollinghurst's The Stranger's Child" page 2 of 11 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 14.3 (2012): Thematic Issue New Work on Landscape and Its Narration. Ed. Sofie Verraest, Bart Keunen, and Katrien Bollen
Do you See What I See? Nonprofit and Resident Perceptions of Urban Neighborhood Problems:

Using 85 qualitative interviews collected in three low-income Philadelphia neighborhoods as part of the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation’s (MDRC) Project on Devolution and Urban Change, nonprofit directors and poor residents’ views of neighborhood problems, other residents, and services needed were examined. In doing so, the assumption that local nonprofit leadership is in touch with the resident population that they serve was questioned. Nonprofit directors described neighborhood problems related to unemployment and education, whereas residents focused on crime and safety issues. Both groups agreed that drugs were a major problem in the community. Additionally, the resident group conveyed a more negative view of other neighborhood residents than the nonprofit directors did. Lastly, nonprofit directors wanted to add job placement and training services, whereas residents wanted to add youth programs. Overall, nonprofit directors across neighborhoods held more similar views with each other than t...