cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decomposition of aspen leaf litter results in unique metabolomes when decomposed under different tree species

Abstract We examined whether the decomposition rate of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) leaf litter differed when decomposed for one year in litter bags placed within adjacent monotypic stands of trembling aspen, Engelmann spruce, and lodgepole pine trees in four replicate blocks in the San Juan mountains of Colorado, and whether they were metabolized into different metabolic byproducts. Mass loss was 6–8% lower in pine stands than in spruce or aspen stands, but this trend was not significant (p = 0.27). Water-soluble leaf litter metabolites were characterized using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrapole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC–MS). Aspen leaf litter metabolomes were highly chemically complex; thousands of unique molecular features were identified in each sample. Although many of the molecular features were common to litter decomposed in all three forest types, we identified a subset of features that differed in abundance among the forest types. Our results suggest that the decomposer communities associated with each forest type not only affected the overall decomposition rate, but also produced many compounds in the diverse suite of metabolic byproducts at different rates, which could be an important control on the long-term sequestration of C in soil organic matter.
Filaments in cultures of bacteriophage

Kulturen von T2-Bakteriophagen, die durch eine Lyse vonE. coli bei niedriger Temperatur erhalten worden waren, wurden im Elektronenmikroskop untersucht. Hierbei wurden Fasern gefunden, die oft Segmente von der Grose bakteriophager Teilchen aufweisen. Sie durften wohl ungewohnliche Phasen des lytischen Vorganges sein.
Effectively responding to the threat of global warming

Perspectives on future climate change highlight two truisms: 1) given the known greenhouse properties of CO2, its anthropogenic increase in the atmosphere is bound to influence global temperatures to some extent; and 2) the magnitude of the effect is uncertain because global climate models are imperfect. However, consideration of data internal to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scientific assessment [Houghton et al., 1990] suggests that there is less uncertainty than current debates assume. I argue here that the high-end estimate of future global temperature is unlikely, and that grassroots appeal to national economic interests might prove more effective in meeting the actual level of threat than coercive international regulations imposed in a topdown mode.
Student-Athletes and the AISP Model: Further Applications and Consultations.

The many complexities of working with disturbed/disturbing students multiply with involvement from distinct systems within the university. This chapter addresses essential features of collaboration with a department of athletics when applying the AISP model to student-athletes.
Regional variations in water quality and relationships to soil and bedrock weathering in the southern Sacramento Valley, California, USA

Abstract Regional patterns in ground- and surface-water chemistry of the southern Sacramento Valley in California were evaluated using publicly available geochemical data from the US Geological Survey’s National Water Information System (NWIS). Within the boundaries of the study area, more than 2300 ground-water analyses and more than 20,000 surface-water analyses were available. Ground-waters from the west side of the Sacramento Valley contain greater concentrations of Na, Ca, Mg, B, Cl and SO 4 , while the east-side ground-waters contain greater concentrations of silica and K. These differences result from variations in surface-water chemistry as well as from chemical reactions between water and aquifer materials. Sediments that fill the Sacramento Valley were derived from highlands to the west (the Coast Ranges) and east (the Sierra Nevada Mountains), the former having an oceanic provenance and the latter continental. These geologic differences are at least in part responsible for the observed patterns in ground-water chemistry. Thermal springs that are common along the west side of the Sacramento Valley appear to have an effect on surface-water chemistry, which in turn may affect the ground-water chemistry.
Simulation of a Multiprocessor Network for Power System Problems

A network of computers arranged in a modified ring structure has been designed for solving in parallel the equations describing dynamic disturbances on large power systems. The operation of this network when solving a 1732-bus, 398-generator system using an algorithm based on the Bonneville Power Administration's Transient Stability Program has been simulated on a CDC 6600. The purpose of the simulation was to determine how efficiently the algorithm can be executed in parallel on this multiprocessor configuration. The critical part of the algorithm is the forward and back substitution passes through the LDU decomposed I = YE equations. Parallel execution times for various combinations of processors and the corresponding gains over a conventional serial solution are given.
Backscattering of electromagnetic missiles

Conventional radar pulses spread so that the energy reaching a reflecting target at range r decreases as r exp -2. The energy echoed from the target also decreases as r exp -2, so that the energy backscattered to the transmitter is proportional to the product, i.e., to r exp -4. Pulses of finite total energy that satisfy Maxwell''s equations need not decrease as r exp -2, but can instead decrease much more slowly, for instance as r exp -epsilon where epsilon is a positive number that can be chosen as small as desired. Such pulses are referred to as electromagnetic missiles. Here, the echo backscattered when an electromagnetic missile encounters a plate target is studied. By analogy with conventional radar, it might be expected that the energy of the echo would be proportional to r exp -2(epsilon). Instead, the reflected energy decreases even slower, proportional to r exp -epsilon, so that no squaring occurs, resulting in a larger than expected radar return.
Inside-out, outside-in: What's the difference?

[Comment on Zou et al, page 3284][1]Zou and colleagues use retrovirus infection and fetal liver transplantation to engineer platelets in mice expressing αIIbβ3 and use point mutations to dissect inside-out and outside-in signaling in vivo. As if integrin nomenclature were not complicated enough,
Optic neuropathy from viruses and spirochetes.

IntroductionThe good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease. Sir William Osler, 1849–1919.The history of mankind and medicine can in many ways be inferred from the history of infectious disease, which has plagued humanity for millenniums.1 Biblical s
Optimal Regulation and Passivity Results for Axisymmetric Rigid Bodies Using Two Controls

Wepresent a partial solution to theproblem of optimal feedback reorientation of the symmetry axisofan axially symmetric rigid body. The performance index is quadratic in the state and the control variable, and the optimal reorientation maneuver requires the use of only two control torques. Because of the passivity characteristics and the cascade structure of the system we e rst state two optimal regulation problems for the dynamics and the kinematics subsystems, separately. In this case one is able to e nd explicit solutions to the associated Hamilton ‐ Jacobi equations. For thecompletesystem, wepresent solutions fortwo partial cases. Thee rst case is when there is no penalty on the control input. In this case, one can asymptotically recover the cost for the kinematics by making the dynamics sufe ciently fast. The second case investigates restrictions imposed by optimality considerations on the aforementioned control law to avoid high gain.
Moving structures between Smalltalk images

There are a number of reasons why a user might want to move data structures between Smalltalk images. Unfortunately, the facilities for doing this in the standard Smalltalk image are inadequate: they do not handle circular structures properly, for example. We have implemented a collection of Smalltalk methods that handles circular structures; in addition, these methods have a number of other advantages over those provided in the standard image. This paper is largely a discussion of the issues that arose during their design, implementation, and use.
Testing the Paleolithic-human-warfare hypothesis of blood-injection phobia in the Baltimore ECA Follow-up Study--towards a more etiologically-based conceptualization for DSM-V.

Objective: The research agenda for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) has emphasized the need for a more etiologically-based classification system, especially for stress-induced and fear-circuitry disorders. Testable hypotheses based on threats to survival during particular segments of the human era of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA) may be useful in developing a brain-evolution-based classification for the wide spectrum of disorders ranging from disorders which are mostly overconsolidationally such as PTSD, to fear-circuitry disorders which are mostly innate such as specific phobias. The recently presented Paleolithic-human-warfare hypothesis posits that blood–injection phobia can be traced to a “survival (fitness) enhancing” trait, which evolved in some females of reproductive-age during the millennia of intergroup warfare in the Paleolithic EEA. The study presented here tests the key a priori prediction of this hypothesis—that current blood–injection phobia will have higher prevalence in reproductive-age women than in post-menopausal women. Method: The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (version III-R) , which included a section on blood and injection phobia, was administered to 1920 subjects in the Baltimore ECA Follow-up Study. Results: Data on BII phobia was available on 1724 subjects (1078 women and 646 males) . The prevalence of current blood– injection phobia was 3.3% in women aged 27–49 and 1.1% in women over age 50 (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.20–7.73) . [The corresponding figures for males were 0.8% and 0.7% (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.20–7.14)] . Conclusions: This epidemiological study provides one source of support for the Paleolithic-human-warfare (Paleolithic-threat) hypothesis regarding the evolutionary (distal) etiology of bloodletting-related phobia, and may contribute to a more brain- evolution-based re-conceptualization and classification of this fear circuitry-related trait for the DSM-V. In addition, the finding reported here may also stimulate new research directions on more proximal mechanisms which can lead to the development of evidence-based psychopharmacological preventive interventions for this common and sometimes disabling fear-circuitry disorder.
Cluster Methods for Ising Systems with Fields

Efficient cluster algorithms for Ising systems with fields are described. Cluster are grown between two replicas of the system in the same field. As is the case for other successful cluster approaches, the critical point of the spin system coincides with the percolation threshold of the clusters. Applications are discussed.
Measurement of absolute auditory thresholds in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

The common marmoset is a small, arboreal, New World primate that has emerged as a promising non-human model system in auditory neuroscience. A complete understanding of the neuroethology of auditory processing in marmosets will include behavioral work examining how sounds are perceived by these animals. However, there have been few studies of the marmoset's hearing and perceptual abilities and the audiogram of this species has not been measured using modern psychophysical methods. The present experiment pairs psychophysics with an operant conditioning technique to examine perception of pure tone stimuli by marmosets using an active behavioral paradigm. Subjects were trained to lick at a feeding tube when they detected a sound. Correct responses provided access to a food reward. Pure tones of varying intensities were presented to subjects using the method of constant stimuli. Behavioral thresholds were calculated for each animal based on hit rate--threshold was defined by the tone intensity that the animal correctly identified 50% of the time. Results show that marmoset hearing is comparable to that of other New World monkeys, with a hearing range extending from about 125 Hz up to 36 kHz and a sensitivity peak around 7 kHz.
QUAKING REGULATION OF VISCERAL ENDODERM FUNCTION IS REQUIRED FOR VASCULAR REMODELING AND RETINOIC ACID-MEDIATED CONTROL OF ENDOTHELIAL CELL PROLIFERATION

markedly reduced following over-expression of ILK-KD compared to control infected cells (5.1 + 0.8 fold) and similar findings were observed endothelial cells. VCAM-1 activates endothelial cell NADPH oxidase in minutes and stimulates lymphocyte matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activafter 72 hr (52.0 + 6.8%, n = 3). Furthermore, expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen levels was reduced to 35.2 + 1.7% of RAd LacZ control levels, after 24 hr. Wounding assays illustrated VSMC migration was
Tumor metastasis from multiple myeloma and Burkitt's lymphoma in Broviac catheter tracts

Placement of Broviac catheters for venous access resulted in metastatic tumor implantation along the catheter tracts in an adult with multiple myeloma and in a child with Burkitt's lymphoma. Both complications occurred in the setting of advanced malignancy. The tissue injury produced during the creation of the catheter tunnel may create an environment favorable for metastatic tumor growth. Swelling along catheter tunnel tracts will most frequently result from hematoma or infection, but the rare occurrence of tumor implantation should be considered. Biopsy is diagnostic.
Impingement of a circular jet with and without cross flow

Abstract Measurements are reported for the local heat transfer to an impinging air jet with and without a cross flow of air. At large jet-to-plate spacing the cross flow diminishes the peak heat transfer coefficient ; at a smaller spacing cross flow can increase the peak heat transfer coefficient. A correlation is obtained for the average heat transfer in the absence of cross flow.
Caregivers’ Health Literacy and Their Young Children’s Oral-health–related Expenditures

Caregivers' health literacy has emerged as an important determinant of young children's health care and outcomes. We examined the hypothesis that caregivers' health literacy influences children's oral-health-care-related expenditures. This was a prospective cohort study of 1,132 child/caregiver dyads (children's mean age = 19 months), participating in the Carolina Oral Health Literacy Project. Health literacy was measured by the REALD-30 (word recognition based) and NVS (comprehension based) instruments. Follow-up data included child Medicaid claims for CY2008-10. We quantified expenditures using annualized 2010 fee-adjusted Medicaid-paid dollars for oral-health-related visits involving preventive, restorative, and emergency care. We used descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical methods based on generalized gamma models. Mean oral-health-related annual expenditures totaled $203: preventive--$81, restorative--$99, and emergency care--$22. Among children who received services, mean expenditures were: emergency hospital-based--$1282, preventive--$106, and restorative care--$343. Caregivers' low literacy in the oral health context was associated with a statistically non-significant increase in total expenditures (average annual difference = $40; 95% confidence interval, -32, 111). Nevertheless, with both instruments, emergency dental care expenditures were consistently elevated among children of low-literacy caregivers. These findings provide initial support for health literacy as an important determinant of the meaningful use and cost of oral health care.
The food craving questionnaire-trait in a bariatric surgery seeking population and ability to predict post-surgery weight loss at six months

Food cravings have been understudied in bariatric surgery patients and the Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait has not been validated in this population. Reliability and validity of the FCQ-T were examined and a regression analysis was run to determine whether or not preoperative scores on individual subscales of the instrument could predict weight loss at 6 months. The FCQ-T demonstrated excellent internal consistency in bariatric surgery-seeking patients, and individual subscales measuring emotion and mood were correlated with other measures of depression and anxiety. Endorsement of binge eating or emotional eating behaviors during a clinical interview was correlated with similar subscales on the FCQ-T. Higher scores on the subscale 'cues that may trigger food cravings' were associated with greater weight loss at 6 months post-surgery and higher scores on the subscale 'guilt from cravings and/or giving into them' was associated with less weight loss. Management of external cues may predict successful outcomes while emotional impact of cravings may indicate the need for further intervention to help manage specific food craving traits.
The application of pulsed potential and pulsed current to a rotating disc electrode system

This paper is concerned with mass transfer to a rotating disc electrode (RDE) under pulsed potential and pulsed current conditions. For the case of pulsed potential, a numerical solution is presented to calculate the instantaneous current density for intermediate and large cycle times and an asymptotic solution for short cycle times. The special case of applying a step potential is then presented. The magnitude of the step current for a given transition time is calculated from the numerical solution by Viswanathanet al. for the pulsed current case. Comparison is made between the present results and various approximate solutions from the literature.
Dissolution rate of apatite powders in acidic fluoride solutions and the relationship to hydroxyapatite disk and bovine enamel behavior

Abstract The dissolution kinetics of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) and carbonate-containing HAP powders have been studied in fluoride-containing acetate buffer solutions partially saturated with respect to HAP ( K FAP = 10 −115 to 10 −123 ). The experimental results indicate that in the case of HAP powders the dissolution rates become very slow when the K FAP values of the dissolution medium are larger than 10 −119 . For the carbonate-containing apatites, however, there is a significant dissolution in the region 10 −115 ≥ K FAP ≥ 10 −119 which is in the region of physiological and therapeutic significance. The present results with the HAP powder together with HAP pellet data show that the dissolution of HAP pellets in the region 10 −114 > K FAP > 10 −119 results from an extended transient period rising from sustained deposition of F − on the surface and at intermediate depths in the ‘lesion’. Similar effects have also been observed with bovine teeth dissolution in acidic F − solutions.
Performance of a respirable multi-inlet cyclone sampler

Abstract The performance of the 10mm Dorr-Oliver cyclone is known to suffer from bias associated with the dependence of its aspiration efficiency on the inlet orientation. A new multi-inlet cyclone sampler was developed to minimize such orientation bias. The sampling flow rate through the new sampler was optimized to match its performance with the newly established ISO-ACGIH-CEN respirable dust sampling convention. Sampling efficiency curves for the multi-inlet cyclone sampler are presented and the cyclone was found to be in good agreement with the ISO-ACGIH-CEN curve in both wind tunnel (at a free-stream velocity of 1.52 ms−1) and calm-air chamber tests. At an optimized sampling flow rate of 2.5 1 min−1, the sampler has a bias in the mass sampled as low as 0.05%. The new sampler was also designed to be compatible with the existing filter cassette, sampling pumps and the cyclone holder. The samplers were challenged in a wind tunnel using polydispersed coal dust generated in a custom-built fluidized bed. An Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) was used to measure the particle concentration and size distributions collected by the isokinetic sampler and the cyclone sampler. The test matrix consisted of a range of sampling flow rates, orientations from the free stream and free-stream velocities representative of workplace conditions.
Is sustainable agriculture an elixir for rural communities

The transformation of agriculture according to an industrial model has had clear benefits in improving efficiency and lowering production costs, but also has had adverse consequences on rural culture and the environment. Sustainable agriculture offers alternative practices and values intended to promote environmental stewardship, conserve resources, preserve farm traditions, and support rural communities. Strong arguments can be made that it will have these consequences, based on the interactions among agricultural structure, rural community viability, and environmental quality. However, counterarguments can also be made, and the claimed benefits of sustainable agriculture for rural communities must be regarded as not yet demonstrated.
Composing The Reflected Best-Self Portrait: Building Pathways For Becoming Extraordinary In Work Organizations

We present a theory of how individuals compose their reflected best-self portrait, which we define as a changing self-knowledge structure about who one is at one's best. We posit that people compose their reflected best-self portrait through social experiences that draw on intrapsychic and interpersonal resources. By weaving together microlevel theories of personal change and macrolevel theories of human resource development, our theory reveals an important means by which work organizations affect people's capacity to realize their potential.
A Model for the Nanodomains in Polymer‐Derived SiCO

The polymer-based synthesis of ceramics such as SiCO (and SiCN) leads to the incorporation of significant amounts of carbon into their molecular structure. A key feature of the nanostructure of these polymer-derived ceramics is the revelation of persistent, 1-5 nm size domains by small-angle X-ray scattering. Here we present a model for these nanodomains, which is consistent with the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data and with the phenomenological properties of SiCO (high resistance to creep and viscoelastic behavior). The model consists of clusters of silica tetrahedra encased within an interdomain wall constituted from mixed bonds of SiCO, and from a network of sp 2 carbon. The model predicts the domain size as a function of the carbon content. These predictions are in reasonable agreement with the measurements of the nanodomains in SiCO synthesized with varying carbon contents (the domain size decreases with higher carbon). Simple maps are developed for easy reading of the domain size and the width of the interdomain boundary in the composition diagrams.
Two-Year Study Relating Adolescents' Self-Concept and Gender Role Perceptions to Achievement and Attitudes Toward Science.

To assess the developmental relationship of perceptions of self-concept and gender role identification with adolescents' attitudes and achievement in science, a two-year longitudinal study was conducted. A battery of instruments assessing 16 dimensions of self-concept/gender role identifications was employed to predict students' achievement and attitudes toward science. Specific behaviors studied included self-concept in school and science and mathematics, attitudes toward appropriate gender roles in science activities and careers, and self-perceptions of masculine and feminine traits. One hundred and fifty-five adolescents, enrolled, respectively, in the seventh and eighth grades, participated in the study. Through Fisher z transformations of correlation coefficients, differences in relationships between these two sets of variables were studied for males and females during the two years. Results indicated that students' self-concepts/gender role perceptions were related to both achievement and attitudes toward science, but more related to attitudes than achievement. These relationships became more pronounced for students as they matured from seventh to eighth graders.
V-GPS - image-based control for 3D guidance systems

We present our approach for pose verification with monocular cameras in 3-dimensional space based on the image-based control paradigm. We describe the extensions to our previous control system for mobile navigation that allow us to estimate the complete set of those parameters in space. The major contribution of this approach is a sensor-independent formulation that allows a flexible configuration with a variety of sensor systems including standard cameras, omnidirectional cameras and laser systems. Our second contribution is a way to re-initialize the tracked landmarks during a multi-segment navigation in applications with significant derivations from the pre-taught trajectory as it is the case for handheld systems and flying robots. The presented system can be used as a guidance system for visitors. The localization is based on known landmarks that are in our case natural landmarks in the environment. These landmarks correspond to the satellites of a GPS system. We call it V-GPS (vision-based GPS) because of this similarity in the concept. A camera carried by a person allows to navigate along pre-specified paths through environments, like galleries, hospitals, parks, and other public places.
5-Hydroxytryptophan-induced respiratory recovery after cervical spinal cord hemisection in rats.

The present study investigates the role of serotonin in respiratory recovery after spinal cord injury. Experiments were conducted on C2 spinal cord hemisected, anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed,...
Dissociaton of conditioned eye and limb responses in the cerebellar interpositus

Thompson and colleagues have demonstrated that the lateral interpositus nucleus of the cerebellum is the essential locus for the classical conditioning of the somatic eyeblink response. Preliminary studies reported that lesioning the cerebellar interpositus nucleus ipsilateral to the side of training also appears to abolish conditioned limb flexion responses. Previous studies have suggested that the interpositus nucleus is somatotopically organized with the eye being represented laterally and the hindlimb medially. Presently, we employed a double dissociation paradigm to examine the effects of muscimol (a GABAA agonist) injections on eyeblink versus limb flexion conditioned responses in the ipsilateral cerebellar interpositus nucleus of New Zealand white rabbits. For eyeblink conditioning, the conditioned stimulus (CS) was a 14-V lamp bulb and the unconditioned stimulus (US) was a 3-psi corneal airpuff to the left eye. For limb flexion conditioning, the CS was a 1-kHz, 85–95 dB SPL tone and the US was a 3- to 5-mA shock to the upper left hindlimb. Upon training on both responses to a 60–100% criterion, the rabbits were then tested on eyeblink and limb flexion responses after injections of muscimol (0.1–0.3 μl of a 0.01- to 1.0-M solution) into either the lateral (eyeblink) or medial (limb flexion) interpositus nucleus. We have been able to successfully decrease or abolish the percent conditioned responses (CRs) of both the eyeblink and limb flexion conditioning selectively without affecting the other. These results thus lend further support for the notion of the existence of a somatotopic map in the interpositus nucleus for learning.
A rotating and warping projector/backprojector for fan-beam and cone-beam iterative algorithm

A rotating-and-warping projector/backprojector is proposed for iterative algorithms used to reconstruct fan-beam and cone-beam single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) data. The development of a new projector/backprojector for implementing attenuation, geometric point response, and scatter models is motivated by the need to reduce the computation time yet to preserve the fidelity of the corrected reconstruction. At each projection angle, the projector/backprojector first rotates the image volume so that the pixelized cube remains parallel to the detector, and then warps the image volume so that the fan-beam and cone-beam rays are converted into parallel rays. In the authors' implementation, these two steps are combined so that the interpolation of voxel values are performed only once. The projection operation is achieved by a simple weighted summation, and the backprojection operation is achieved by copying weighted projection array values to the image volume. An advantage of this projector/backprojector is that the system point response function can be deconvolved via the Fast Fourier Transform using the shift-invariant property of the point response when the voxel-to-detector distance is constant. The fan-beam and cone-beam rotating-and-warping projector/backprojector is applied to SPECT data showing improved resolution. >
Criminal Offending Among Respondents to Protective Orders: Crime Types and Patterns That Predict Victim Risk:

Research has shown that respondents to protective orders have robust criminal histories and that criminal offending behavior often follows issuance of a protective order. Nonetheless, the specific nature of the association between protective orders and criminal offending remains unclear. This study uses two classes of statistical models to more clearly delineate that relationship. The models reveal factors and characteristics that appear to be associated with offending and protective order issuance and provide indications about when a victim is most at risk and when the justice system should be most ready to provide immediate protection.
A meta-analysis of the verbal overshadowing effect in face identification

Recent studies have demonstrated that requesting individuals to produce a verbal description of a previously seen face can hinder subsequent attempts at identification. This phenomenon, termed ‘verbal overshadowing’, has been studied rather extensively in the face-identification paradigm; however, studies have not always replicated the general effect. Based upon both practical and theoretical interests in the phenomenon, a meta-analysis of 29 effect size comparisons (N = 2018) was conducted. Across the sample of studies there was a small, yet significant, negative effect (Fisher's Zr = −0.12), indicating some degree of verbal impairment or overshadowing. A fixed-effects analysis of several moderating variables demonstrated a significant effect of post-description delay and type of description instruction. The pattern of means indicated that overshadowing effects were more likely to occur when the identification task immediately followed the description task, and when participants were given an elaborative, as opposed to a standard (free recall), instruction during the description task. Inconsistencies in the literature are discussed, as well as various theoretical and applied issues regarding the verbal overshadowing effect. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A spectrophotometric procedure for the determination of objective measurements of equine spermatozoan motility

A spectrophotometric procedure was developed and evaluated for the objective measurement of equine spermatozoan motility. A 100 mul sample of a sperm suspension, prepared by the removal of seminal plasma, was layered under a column of optically clear medium in a specially designed spectrophotometric cuvette maintained at 37 degrees C. Changes in light transmittance above the interface of the sperm suspension and medium were recorded on chart paper. As sperm cells swam into the medium, a decrease in light transmittance was recorded as a deflection on the chart paper. Chart recordings were analyzed for the height (cm) and time (min) to the peak deflection. To standardize the procedure, a fixed number of cells (1x10(9)) were used to prepare suspensions of 300x10(6) cells/ml. Coefficients of variation for mean values obtained under these conditions after the evaluation of five ejaculates from a given stallion were estimated at between 10 and 12%. Correlations between swim-up measurements and computer-assisted semen analysis demonstrated that the percentage of motile cells and mean velocity (mum/sec) of motile cells influenced swim-up measurements. Described here is a simple and inexpensive procedure to determine objective measurements of spermatozoan motility that may have application in semen evaluation and fertility testing in the stallion.
Sb-heterostructure backward diode detectors with ultrathin tunnel barriers

Sb-heterostructure backward diodes have proven to be a strong contender for millimeter-wave direct detection applications, primarily due to their high sensitivity, low noise and high frequency response. It has been shown that thinning the AlSb barrier thickness (from 32 A to 11 A) greatly reduced the junction resistance (R j ) and thus the associated Johnson noise [1]. However this lowered the curvature coefficient. A further refinement to the heterostructure design uses Be δ-doping in the cathode layer to improve the band alignment, which resulted in reduced noise equivalent power (NEP) and improved sensitivity [2]. In this work, we present a study of the effects of scaling the barrier thickness to as thin as 7 A, and the improvements made by cathode δ-doping based on the 7 A AlSb tunnel barrier structure.
Intestinal stem cell organoid transplantation generates neomucosa in dogs.

Background and Aims Intestinal stem cell organoid transplantation generates functional intestinal neomucosa and has been used therapeutically to improve nutrient absorption and cure bile acid malabsorption in rats. We hypothesized that intestinal organoids can be harvested and transplanted to generate intestinal neomucosa in a large animal model. Materials and Methods In group 1, 2-month old beagles (n=6) underwent autotransplantation of intestinal organoids prepared from a segment of their own ileum. In group 2, intestinal organoids were harvested from fetuses and allotransplanted into 10-month old mother animals (n=4). Tissues were harvested after 4 weeks and analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin histology and fluorescent microscopy. Results Large numbers of viable organoids were harvested in both groups. In group 1, no neomucosal growth was identified in any of the engraftment sites after autotransplantation of juvenile organoids. In group 2, neomucosal growth with large areas of crypts and villi was identified in 11 of 12 polyglycolic acid scaffolds after allotransplantation of fetal organoids. The neomucosa resembled normal canine mucosa in structure and composition. Conclusions Intestinal stem cell organoid transplantation can be used to generate neomucosa in dogs. This is the first report of successful generation of intestinal neomucosa using intestinal stem cell organoid transplantation in a large animal model.
The Theory of Choice and the Constancy of Economic Laws

Introduction, 125. — I. The theory of consumer's choice, 126. — II. Four qualifying postulates, 128. — III. The constancy of economic laws, 133. — IV. Determinateness of consumer equilibrium, 134. — V. Conclusion, 138.
β-Diketonate, β-Ketoiminate, and β-Diiminate Complexes of Difluoroboron

A series of β-diketonate, keto(aryl)iminato, and β-bis(aryl)iminato complexes of difluoroboron, twenty in total, have been prepared to assess the impact of chelate ring and aniline substitution on the structural, electrochemical, and photophysical properties of these ubiquitous chelates. DFT (B3LYP/6-31G*) calculations supplemented the experimental results and both demonstrated that replacing oxygen with the more electron-donating aniline groups serves to only fine-tune the electronic properties because both the HOMO and LUMO energies are affected by such substitution. The electronic properties of all compounds are most greatly influenced by the nature of the substituents bound to the carbon portion of the chelate ring. Each difluoroboron complex undergoes two ligand-based, one-electron reductions where the first reduction potential becomes less favorable with increasing aniline substitution. Similarly, replacing oxygen with the more electron-donating aniline groups gives rise to slightly red-shifted absorption and emission processes. Substitution on the aniline ring has little, if any, influence on the electronic properties of the resultant complexes. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Larger-than-vdd forward body bias in sub-0.5V nanoscale CMOS

This paper examines the effectiveness of larger-than-Vdd forward body bias (FBB) in nanoscale bulk CMOS circuits where Vdd is expected to scale below 0.5V. Equal-to and larger-than Vdd FBB schemes offer unique advantages over conventional FBB such as simple design overhead and reverse body bias capability respectively. Compared to zero body bias, they improve process-variation immunity and achieve 71% and 78% standby leakage savings at iso performance and iso active power at room temperature. We also suggest a novel temperature-adaptive body bias scheme to control active leakage and achieve 22% and 40% active power savings at higher temperatures.
Progesterone induction of calcitonin expression in the murine mammary gland

Progesterone, via its nuclear receptor, is mandatory not only for the induction and specification of mammary gland ductal side-branching and lobuloalveologenesis but also for carcinogen-induced mammary tumorigenesis. Notwithstanding these recent advances, a more comprehensive molecular explanation of progesterone-induced mammary morphogenesis is contingent upon the identification and characterization of mammary molecular targets that are responsive to the progesterone signal. Toward this goal, we report that calcitonin, a 32 amino acid peptide hormone involved in calcium homeostasis, is exclusively expressed in, and secreted from, luminal epithelial cells within the mammary gland of the pregnant mouse, and, importantly, its expression is progesterone-dependent. Conversely, the calcitonin receptor is present during all stages of post-natal mammary development examined, is localized to the myoepithelial cell lineage, and is not regulated by progesterone. Because calcitonin induction spatiotemporally correlates with increases in progesterone-induced mammary gland proliferation and structural remodeling, we posit that calcitonin - through its receptor - may be involved in one or both of these progesterone-dependent processes.
Comparative cardio-inhibitory effects of substituted cyclohexanols.

Cyclohexanol and its derivatives 2-(o-tolyl), 2-(m-tolyl), 2-(p-tolyl), 2-(o-chlorophenyl), 2-(m-chlorophenyl), and 2-(p-chlorophenyl) were tested for cardioplegic effects on intact anesthetized rats, isolated guinea pig hearts, and isolated rabbit atria. Most of the compounds produced inhibitory effects varying from a slight depression to complete arrest. Evaluation of potency was based on the ability to produce arrest and the duration of arrest. In both series of substitutions it appears that the trans-2-o-derivatives are most potent with the cis-2-o-derivatives least potent. The 2-m-and 2-(p-chlorophenyl) compounds appear to be toxic to the myocardium as the hearts do not return to their normal level of activity. Mechanism studies indicate an antagonistic effect between these compounds and calcium.
Retrospective outcomes in patients with BCR-ABL positive Acute Lymphoid Leukemia without Allogeneic stem cell transplantation at the Houston Methodist

S176 Introduction: Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by a variety of rearrangements and other genetic alterations activating cytokine receptor and kinase signaling and poor outcome. We recently identified recurring rearrangements of the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) into the immunoglobulin heavy (IGH) or kappa (IGK) chain loci. The goal of this study was to examine the role of these alterations in kinase signaling and lymphoid transformation.Methods:Wild-type or EPOR rearranged alleles were expressed in interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent mouse hematopoietic Ba/F3 cells and interleukin-7 (IL-7)-dependent pre-B cells harboring alterations of Arf and/or the dominant negative IKZF1 allele IK6 observed in EPOR-rearranged ALL. Proliferation and signaling were examined in the absence or presence of EPO. EPOR expression and signaling in cell lines and primary leukemic cells were examined by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and immunoblotting. Luciferase-marked xenografts of human EPORrearranged ALL were established in NOD-SCID-IL2R gamma (NSG) null mice, and signaling, EPO-dependent proliferation and sensitivity to the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib were assessed ex vivo and in vivo. Results: Eight cases out 154 Ph-like ALL (5.2%) harbored rearrangements of EPOR into either the IGH or IGK loci with two consequences: i) inversion and insertion of EPOR 5’ untranscribed region into the the promoter and enhancer region of IGH/IGK; ii) truncation of the last coding exon of EPOR, resulting in overexpression of a C-terminal truncated receptor that retains the phosphorylation site required for STAT5 activation, but lacking multiple residues required for negative EPOR regulation. Notably, the location of the truncation sites is similar to those arising from inherited mutations in primary familial congenital polycythemia. The truncated alleles were expressed at higher levels than wild-type EPOR in IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 and IL-7-dependent Arf-/mouse pre-B cells, and sustained cell proliferation and increased STAT5 phosphorylation following stimulation with exogenous EPO. Xenograft leukemic cells from EPOR-rearranged cases exhibited high levels of mutant EPOR on the cell surface, constitutive pSTAT5 and noteworthy ex vivo and in vivo sensitivity to the JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib. Conclusions: Rearrangements of truncated EPOR into the IGH/IGK chain loci define a new subgroup of Phlike ALL and unexpectedly implicate EPOR signaling as an important factor influencing B-lymphoid malignancies. Finally, these findings suggest that aberrant EPOR signaling is amenable to JAK-STAT5 inhibition in cases harboring these rearrangements.
A forest-based feature screening approach for large-scale genome data with complex structures

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) interrogate large-scale whole genome to characterize the complex genetic architecture for biomedical traits. When the number of SNPs dramatically increases to half million but the sample size is still limited to thousands, the traditional p-value based statistical approaches suffer from unprecedented limitations. Feature screening has proved to be an effective and powerful approach to handle ultrahigh dimensional data statistically, yet it has not received much attention in GWAS. Feature screening reduces the feature space from millions to hundreds by removing non-informative noise. However, the univariate measures used to rank features are mainly based on individual effect without considering the mutual interactions with other features. In this article, we explore the performance of a random forest (RF) based feature screening procedure to emphasize the SNPs that have complex effects for a continuous phenotype. Both simulation and real data analysis are conducted to examine the power of the forest-based feature screening. We compare it with five other popular feature screening approaches via simulation and conclude that RF can serve as a decent feature screening tool to accommodate complex genetic effects such as nonlinear, interactive, correlative, and joint effects. Unlike the traditional p-value based Manhattan plot, we use the Permutation Variable Importance Measure (PVIM) to display the relative significance and believe that it will provide as much useful information as the traditional plot. Most complex traits are found to be regulated by epistatic and polygenic variants. The forest-based feature screening is proven to be an efficient, easily implemented, and accurate approach to cope whole genome data with complex structures. Our explorations should add to a growing body of enlargement of feature screening better serving the demands of contemporary genome data.
Qu'ils mangent des contrats: Rethinking Justice in EU Contract Law

The concern for justice in the context of EU contract law was central to a scholarly initiative that led, in 2004, to the publication of a Social Justice Manifesto. The Manifesto had the explicit goal of steering the Commission’s harmonization agenda away from purely neoliberal goals and towards a socially conscious law of private exchange. Contract law would be designed at the EU level so as to become (or remain, depending on the baseline of each member state) palatable to weaker parties. Today, in the many parts of Europe devastated by rising poverty, dire unemployment rates, and collapsing social safety nets, the Manifesto needs to be revised. When the very access to the market place is foreclosed by indigence and marginalization, the promise of contracts that would be sweet toward the vulnerable has the flavor of Marie Antoinette’s brioche. This essay revisits the situational premises of the Manifesto, acknowledges its accomplishments, identifies its limits, and outlines possibilities for its renewal, both within its original framework and beyond.
HealthLinks randomized controlled trial: Design and baseline results

Small employers, especially those in low-wage industries, frequently lack the capacity and resources to implement evidence-based health promotion interventions without support and assistance. The purpose of this paper is to (a) describe the intervention design and study protocol of the HealthLinks Trial and (b) report baseline findings. This study is a three-arm randomized controlled trial testing the impact of the HealthLinks intervention on worksites' adoption and implementation of evidence-based interventions. Group 1 will receive HealthLinks, Group 2 will receive HealthLinks plus wellness committees, and Group 3 will be a delayed control group. Seventy-eight employers are participating in the study; and 3302 employees across the worksites participated in the baseline data collection. Employers and employees will participate in follow-up surveys at one and two years after baseline to measure implementation (one year) and maintenance (two years) of HealthLinks interventions. Study outcomes will determine whether HealthLinks is an effective approach to increasing evidence-based health promotion in small, low-wage worksites and whether wellness committees are a capacity-building tool that increases HealthLinks' effectiveness.
Line-Reversal Comparison of p ¯ p → π + π − and π − p → p π − at 6 GeV/ c

We present differential cross sections at 6 GeV/c for the baryon-exchange reactions (1) pp ..-->.. ..pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/ and (2) ..pi../sup -/p ..-->.. p..pi../sup -/ over the range -t/sub min/ .. ..pi../sup -/..pi../sup +/ and (4) ..pi../sup +/p ..-->.. p..pi../sup +/ for which line-reversal symmetry is not satisfied.
Long-term treatment with atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits ATP production and insulin secretion in rat pancreatic islets.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels correlate with hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus, but ANP effects on pancreatic islet β-cell insulin secretion are controversial. ANP was investigated for s...
Topological Data Analysis

Classical data processing uses pattern recognition methods such as classification for categorizing data. Such a method may involve a learning process. Modern data science also uses topological methods to find the structural features of data sets. In fact, topological methods should be the first step before the classification method is applied in most cases. Persistent homology is the most successful method for finding the topological structure of a discrete data set.