cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The epithelial genotype controls the pattern of extracellular enamel prism formation

Abstract Enamel formation in the developing tooth organ is the product of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions which result in the differentiation of ameloblasts, the secretion of enamel proteins, and the production of a highly organized extracellular matrix. The three-dimensional organization of enamel prisms is species-specific: irregular polygonshaped in rabbit and rectangular-shaped in mouse. We designed experiments to test the hypothesis that three-dimensional organization of enamel prism formation is genetically determined by epithelium; the prediction being that speciesspecific enamel prism pattern formation is expressed independent of mesenchymal instructions. Our strategy employs scanning electron microscopy to examine enamel prism patterns formed during rabbit and mouse tooth morphogenesis in situ and in vitro, and to then determine the specific tissue type required for regulating these patterns using heterotypic tissue recombinations. Morphometric analyses demonstrated that cap stage tooth organs cultured on the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) formed enamel prisms equivalent to prism patterns observed for in situ controls. Heterotypic tissue recombinations, using cap stage molar organs, formed rabbit-like prisms with rabbit epithelium/mouse mesenchyme, and mouse-like prisms with mouse epithelium/rabbit mesenchyme. These results indicate that dental papilla mesenchyme has no apparent influence on enamel prism pattern formation. Enamel prism pattern appears to be genetically regulated by the inner enamel epithelium.
T-box binding protein type two (TBX2) is an immediate early gene target in retinoic-acid-treated B16 murine melanoma cells.

Abstract Retinoic acid induces growth arrest and differentiation in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Using gene arrays, we identified several early response genes whose expression is altered by retinoic acid. One of the genes, tbx2, is a member of T-box nuclear binding proteins that are important morphogens in developing embryos. Increased TBX2 mRNA is seen within 2 h after addition of retinoic acid to B16 cells. The effect of retinoic acid on gene expression is direct since it does not require any new protein synthesis. We identified a degenerate retinoic acid response element (RARE) between −186 and −163 in the promoter region of the tbx2 gene. A synthetic oligonucleotide spanning this region was able to drive increased expression of a luciferase reporter gene in response to retinoic acid; however, this induction was lost when a point mutation was introduced into the RARE. This oligonucleotide also specifically bound RAR in nuclear extracts from B16 cells. TBX2 expression and its induction by retinoic acid was also observed in normal human and nonmalignant mouse melanocytes.
Effect of Anatomical Variability on Electric Field Characteristics of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Magnetic Seizure Therapy: A Parametric Modeling Study

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and magnetic seizure therapy (MST) are conventionally applied with a fixed stimulus current amplitude, which may result in differences in the neural stimulation strength and focality across patients due to interindividual anatomical variability. The objective of this study is to quantify the effect of head anatomical variability associated with age, sex, and individual differences on the induced electric field characteristics in ECT and MST. Six stimulation modalities were modeled including bilateral and right unilateral ECT, focal electrically administered seizure therapy (FEAST), and MST with circular, cap, and double-cone coils. The electric field was computed using the finite element method in a parameterized spherical head model representing the variability in the general population. Head tissue layer thicknesses and conductivities were varied to examine the impact of interindividual anatomical differences on the stimulation strength, depth, and focality. Skull conductivity most strongly affects the ECT electric field, whereas the MST electric field is independent of tissue conductivity variation in this model but is markedly affected by differences in head diameter. Focal ECT electrode configurations such as FEAST is more sensitive to anatomical variability than that of less focal paradigms such as BL ECT. In MST, anatomical variability has stronger influence on the electric field of the cap and circular coils compared to the double-cone coil, possibly due to the more superficial field of the former. The variability of the ECT and MST electric fields due to anatomical differences should be considered in the interpretation of existing studies and in efforts to improve dosing approaches for better control of stimulation strength and focality across patients, such as individualization of the current amplitude. The conventional approach to individualizing dosage by titrating the number of pulses cannot compensate for differences in the spatial extent of stimulation that result from anatomical variability.
Piperidine alkaloid composition and relation to crooked calf disease-inducing potential of Lupinus formosus.

A congenital deformity condition called crooked calf disease, of widespread occurrence in western North America, is known to be induced by maternal ingestion during gestation of certain members of the Lupinus genus containing the quinolizidine alkaloid teratogen anagyrine. Because some piperidine alkaloids from other sources induce a similar condition, we have investigated the alkaloid composition and teratogenicity of Lupinus formousus, reported by others to be low in quinolizidines but rich in the type of piperidine alkaloids that we have speculated would be teratogenic. GC/MS analysis of L. formosus showed seven major and nine minor components in the total alkaloid fraction. All seven major and nine minor components in the total alkaloid fraction. All seven major and five of the nine minor components, representing all but 3% of the fraction, were identified by mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns and GC retention times. They included several potentially teratogenic piperidine alkaloids (including a very large amount of ammodendrine), as well as several nonteratogenic quinolizidine alkaloids plus a trace (at nonteratogenic levels) of the known quinolizidine teratogen anagyrine. The plant induced severe crooked calf disease with limb, spinal, and palate involvement in experimental calves. The deformities are believed to have been induced by ammodendrine.
SERINE PROTEASE SELECTIVITY OF THE THROMBIN INHIBITOR D-PHE-PRO-AGMATINE AND ITS HOMOLOGS

Abstract Analogs of D-Phe-Pro-Agmatine were assayed for inhibititory activity versus thrombin, trypsin, plasmin, n-tPA and urokinase. The X-ray structure of the thrombin/D-Phe-Pro-Agmatine co-crystal revealed that the agmatine and analogous arginals have very similar bound conformations.
Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the Prospective Randomized Evaluation of the Vascular Effects of Norvasc Trial (PREVENT)

Abstract There is increasing recognition that determinants of plaque rupture leading to overt clinical events more often result from angiographically modest, not severe, stenoses. PREVENT may provide useful insights into the means of preventing development or progression of such lesions by possibly diminishing the substrate for plaque rupture.
ADJUSTING CATCH CURVES FOR GILL NET SELECTION WITH THE LOGISTIC DISTRIBUTION

Jensen, A.L., 1982. Adjusting catch curves for gill net selection with the logistic distribution. Fish. Res., 1: 155--162. The normal distribution often is used to describe gill net selection but the normal distribution cannot be integrated in closed form. The logistic distribution, which is a probability distribution similar in shape to the normal distribution, has a probability density function which can be integrated in closed form so that a term for gear selection can be included in the equation describing population size as a function of age. The logistic distribution was applied to the catch curve of Lake Michigan chubs (Coregonus spp.) to adjust it for gill net selection. Yield per 1000 recruits as a function of mean selection age and of fishing mortality was calculated from the adjusted catch curve; these results were compared with yields calculated by conventional methods.
Long-Term Results of Surgical Coarctectomy in the Adolescent and Young Adult With 18-Year Follow-Up

Background There is no consensus in the literature regarding the optimal method for repair of coarctation of the aorta in the adolescent and young adult. Methods We retrospectively reviewed operations in 45 patients treated between 1978 and 2003. Results From 1978 to 2001, there were 45 adolescents or adults between the ages of 11 and 53 years (mean 21, SD ± 10) who underwent surgical correction. The perioperative mortality rate was 0% and the morbidity rate was 18%. All patients had improved blood pressure before discharge after a mean of 7 days, which ranged from 160/90 mm Hg to 90/50 mm Hg (mean 128/73 mm Hg, SD ± 17/12 mm Hg). This was an average improvement of 35 mm Hg (SD ± 26) compared with the preoperative pressure ( p p Conclusions Surgical repair of coarctation in the adolescent and adult is safe and durable, with a high success rate in curing patients of hypertension and making them medication-free for life. The recurrence rate is low, and most patients will not require any further intervention.
Variable flow rate operation for simulated moving bed separation systems: Simulation and optimization

Variable flow rate operation is developed to increase simulated moving bed (SMB) separation. With this mode of operation, the average flow rates of all external and internal flows can vary with time. The separations of dextran T6 and raffinose and of 1,1‘-bi-2-naphthol enantiomers, representing linear and nonlinear equilibrium systems, respectively, are tested. They are modeled with the Aspen Chromatography simulator for a four-zone SMB with one and two columns per zone. A simplex double-layer optimization method with a pulse flow design strategy is developed to maximize the SMB separation. Variable flow rate operation improves the separation for both SMBs, but improvement is more significant for the one column per zone SMB. For the SMB with one column per zone, for the linear system, the extract purity increased from 85.3 to 91.4%, and the raffinate purity increased from 89.2 to 94.9%. For the nonlinear system, the extract product purity increased from 85.0 to 94.1%, and the raffinate purity increased fr...
Sampling of free-space magnetic pulses

We report free-space detection of magnetic pulses via the Faraday effect with shot-noise limited detection. This allows a 10−8 T / √Hz magnetic field resolution. The orthogonal propagation of the optical probe beam and the THz waves demonstrate a 1.3 ps risetime with a 400 GHz frequency bandwidth. The temporal and frequency responses of several crystals are reported with a theoretical response function analysis presented. The dispersion of the magnetic pulse into the sensor crystal is illustrated with a theoretical simulation for comparison. We also contrast the properties of electro-optic sampling with this magneto-optic sampling technique.
An Observational Study of Mother/Child and Father/Child Interactions in Story Reading.

Abstract This article reports on an investigation of how mothers and fathers differ in reading aloud with children between 13 and 46 months of age. Twenty-seven mother/child dyads and 36 father/child dyads were observed on three consecutive weeks by trained observers who used a modified version of descriptors of read-aloud behaviors developed by Whitehurst, Arnold, Epstein, Angell, Smith, and Fischel in 1994. Statistically significant differences were found between mothers and fathers in the overall quality of strategies employed, in the strategies employed with girl versus boy children, and in how fathers interacted with older versus younger children. Possible reasons that might account for these differences are discussed, along with suggestions for further research and the need to address issues arising out of these differences.
On the mechanism of selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid over supported Pt and Au catalysts

The mechanism of selective oxidation of aqueous 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) at high pH was studied over supported Pt and Au catalysts. Results from labeling experiments conducted with 18O2 and H218O indicated that water was the source of oxygen atoms during the oxidation of HMF to 2-hydroxymethylfurancarboxylic acid (HFCA) and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), presumably through direct participation of hydroxide in the catalytic cycle. Molecular oxygen was essential for the production of FDCA and played an indirect role during oxidation by removing electrons deposited into the supported metal particles. A reaction path for HMF oxidation to FDCA was proposed.
Chained declustering: load balancing and robustness to skew and failures

There has been considerable research concerning the use of arrays of disks in solving I/O bottleneck problems, where high availability of data is achieved through some form of data redundancy, e.g. mirroring. This paper investigates the degree to which a dynamic load balancing disk scheduling algorithm in conjunction with chained declustering, an alternative to the classical mirroring scheme, can respond robustly to variations in workload and disk failures. Specifically, it defines and investigates the behavior of two dynamic scheduling algorithms under various workload distributions and disk failure. It demonstrates that using a simple dynamic scheduling algorithm can greatly improved the average response time compared with static load balancing. >
Frame synchronization of convolutionally coded systems for packet transmission

This letter proposes a decoder-assisted frame synchronization scheme for convolutionally encoded information packets. Rather than placing sync bits in a separate header, the sync bits are placed in a mid-amble and encoded as part of the information sequence, using the error correction encoder to resolve time ambiguities. This technique requires fewer bits for frame synchronization. The performance improvement over the conventional synchronization technique is explored via simulation.
A Patient with Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Who Presented with Acute Rhabdomyolysis

Primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is usually symptomatic, and infected patients can present with a variety of symptoms. We describe a 51-year-old man who presented at our hospital with acute self-limited rhabdomyolysis and who was found to have primary HIV infection. Our case and other reports suggest that a diagnosis of primary HIV infection needs to be considered for patients who present with acute rhabdomyolysis.
Free-space beam propagation between arbitrarily oriented planes based on full diffraction theory: a fast Fourier transform approach

A fast and accurate numerical method for free-space beam propagation between arbitrarily oriented planes is developed. The only approximation made in the development of the method was that the vector nature of light was ignored. The method is based on evaluating the Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction integral by use of the fast Fourier transform with a special transformation to handle tilts and offsets of planes. The fundamental aspects of a software package based on the developed method are presented. A numerical example realized with the software package is presented to establish the validity of the method.
Effective visualization of complex vascular structures using a non-parametric vessel detection method

The effective visualization of vascular structures is critical for diagnosis, surgical planning as well as treatment evaluation. In recent work, we have developed an algorithm for vessel detection that examines the intensity profile around each voxel in an angiographic image and determines the likelihood that any given voxel belongs to a vessel; we term this the "vesselness coefficient" of the voxel. Our results show that our algorithm works particularly well for visualizing branch points in vessels. Compared to standard Hessian based techniques, which are fine-tuned to identify long cylindrical structures, our technique identifies branches and connections with other vessels. Using our computed vesselness coefficient, we explore a set of techniques for visualizing vasculature. Visualizing vessels is particularly challenging because not only is their position in space important for clinicians but it is also important to be able to resolve their spatial relationship. We applied visualization techniques that provide shape cues as well as depth cues to allow the viewer to differentiate between vessels that are closer from those that are farther. We use our computed vesselness coefficient to effectively visualize vasculature in both clinical neurovascular x-ray computed tomography based angiography images, as well as images from three different animal studies. We conducted a formal user evaluation of our visualization techniques with the help of radiologists, surgeons, and other expert users. Results indicate that experts preferred distance color blending and tone shading for conveying depth over standard visualization techniques.
Blood Flow in the Aortic Wall

The indicator-fractionation technic for measurement of regional blood flow has been applied to the measurement of blood flow in the aortic wall, using Rb86. The aortic-indicator content declines slowly with time during the first minute, which shows that the aorta has a smaller extraction ratio for Rb86 than the rest of the body. The application of the indicator-fractionation technic when organ content of indicator changes with time is discussed. It is shown that the perfusion rate of rat aorta is at least 1.70 ml./Gm./min. This value is much larger than would be expected from in vitro studies of aortic oxygen utilization.
The 5% difference: early sensory processing predicts sarcasm perception in schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder.

Background Intact sarcasm perception is a crucial component of social cognition and mentalizing (the ability to understand the mental state of oneself and others). In sarcasm, tone of voice is used to negate the literal meaning of an utterance. In particular, changes in pitch are used to distinguish between sincere and sarcastic utterances. Schizophrenia patients show well-replicated deficits in auditory function and functional connectivity (FC) within and between auditory cortical regions. In this study we investigated the contributions of auditory deficits to sarcasm perception in schizophrenia. Method Auditory measures including pitch processing, auditory emotion recognition (AER) and sarcasm detection were obtained from 76 patients with schizophrenia/schizo-affective disorder and 72 controls. Resting-state FC (rsFC) was obtained from a subsample and was analyzed using seeds placed in both auditory cortex and meta-analysis-defined core-mentalizing regions relative to auditory performance. Results Patients showed large effect-size deficits across auditory measures. Sarcasm deficits correlated significantly with general functioning and impaired pitch processing both across groups and within the patient group alone. Patients also showed reduced sensitivity to alterations in mean pitch and variability. For patients, sarcasm discrimination correlated exclusively with the level of rsFC within primary auditory regions whereas for controls, correlations were observed exclusively within core-mentalizing regions (the right posterior superior temporal gyrus, anterior superior temporal sulcus and insula, and left posterior medial temporal gyrus). Conclusions These findings confirm the contribution of auditory deficits to theory of mind (ToM) impairments in schizophrenia, and demonstrate that FC within auditory, but not core-mentalizing, regions is rate limiting with respect to sarcasm detection in schizophrenia.
Introduction of Arthur H. Rubenstein.

It is an honor to introduce my mentor, friend, and colleague, Arthur Rubenstein, as the 2012 recipient of the Kober Medal, the most prestigious award of the Association of American Physicians.
The Relationship Between Spectral Values Of Optical Properties In A Region Of Large Variability

Spectral beam attenuation measurements (400-650 nm) and spectral volume scattering functions (400-550 nm; 45°, 90° and 135°) were made during cruises in May and September, 1977 in and near Monterey Bay, California. Preliminary analyses indicate that the clearest waters display the greatest spectral dependence even if the effects of pure seawater are subtracted. The shape of the volume scattering function was also markedly different in clear water. Scattering at 135° showed the largest spectral variation and attenuation displayed the least. Nonrandom variation other than that dependent on the turbidity of the water has not yet been found, but extensive statistical analyses are planned.
Function and Control of RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain Phosphorylation in Vertebrate Transcription and RNA Processing

The C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (the Rpb1 CTD) is composed of tandem heptad repeats of the consensus sequence Y1S2P3T4S5P6S7. We reported previously that Thr 4 is phosphorylated and functions in histone mRNA 3′-end formation in chicken DT40 cells. Here, we have extended our studies on Thr 4 and to other CTD mutations by using these cells. We found that an Rpb1 derivative containing only the N-terminal half of the CTD, as well as a similar derivative containing all-consensus repeats (26r), conferred full viability, while the C-terminal half, with more-divergent repeats, did not, reflecting a strong and specific defect in snRNA 3′-end formation. Mutation in 26r of all Ser 2 (S2A) or Ser 5 (S5A) residues resulted in lethality, while Ser 7 (S7A) mutants were fully viable. While S2A and S5A cells displayed defects in transcription and RNA processing, S7A cells behaved identically to 26r cells in all respects. Finally, we found that Thr 4 was phosphorylated by cyclin-dependent kinase 9 in cells and dephosphorylated both in vitro and in vivo by the phosphatase Fcp1.
Interactions between Fusarium verticillioides, Ustilago maydis, and Zea mays: an endophyte, a pathogen, and their shared plant host.

Highly diverse communities of microbial symbionts occupy eukaryotic organisms, including plants. While many well-studied symbionts may be characterized as either parasites or as mutualists, the prevalent but cryptic endophytic fungi are less easily qualified because they do not cause observable symptoms of their presence within their host. Here, we investigate the interactions of an endophytic fungus, Fusarium verticillioides with a pathogen, Ustilago maydis, as they occur within maize (Zea mays). We used experimental inoculations to evaluate metabolic mechanisms by which these three organisms might interact. We assessed the impacts of fungal–fungal interactions on endophyte and pathogen growth within the plant, and on plant growth. We find that F. verticillioides modulates the growth of U. maydis and thus decreases the pathogen’s aggressiveness toward the plant. With co-inoculation of the endophyte with the pathogen, plant growth is similar to that which would be gained without the pathogen present. However, the endophyte may also break down plant compounds that limit U. maydis growth, and obtains a growth benefit from the presence of the pathogen. Thus, an endophyte such as F. verticillioides may function as both a defensive mutualist and a parasite, and express nutritional modes that depend on ecological context.
Creating incentives for private infrastructure companies to become more efficient

The privatization of infrastructure companies is expected to bring about gains for customers by increasing the efficiency of the privatized company. Because many infrastructure industries are not competitive, attention has focused on the development of regulatory regimes that replicate the operation of competitive markets and so lead to efficiency gains. Less attention, however, has been paid to other institutional factors that encourage firms to operate efficiently. The authors study three institutional factors that can, in general, encourage efficiency: the threat of bankruptcy; internal controls brought about by executive remuneration schemes and the ability of shareholders to remove underperforming management; and external disciplines brought about by the operation of the market for corporate control and the threat of hostile takeover. Applying these three aspects of corporate governance to monopolistic infrastructure firms is not simple. Infrastructure regulation may allow privatized firms to avoid financial problems by raising prices, for example, thus sheltering them from the threat of bankruptcy. And shareholder control may be hindered by restrictions on the proportion of the shares that can be owned by any one shareholder. The authors offer examples of the ways in which different regulatory, institutional, and governance systems work in different countries, especially in relation to infrastructure companies; and provide a checklist of options that should be considered when designing the involvement of the private sector in infrastructure position.
Toward a vocabulary of legged leaping

As dynamic robot behaviors become more capable and well understood, the need arises for a wide variety of equally capable and systematically applicable transitions between them. We use a hybrid systems framework to characterize the dynamic transitions of a planar “legged” rigid body from rest on level ground to a fully aerial state. The various contact conditions fit together to form a topologically regular structure, the “ground reaction complex”. The body's actuated dynamics excite multifarious transitions between the cells of this complex, whose regular adjacency relations index naturally the resulting “leaps” (path sequences through the cells from rest to free flight). We exhibit on a RHex robot some of the most interesting “words” formed by these achievable path sequences, documenting unprecedented levels of performance and new application possibilities that illustrate the value of understanding and expressing this vocabulary systematically.
Single-Molecule mRNA Decay Measurements Reveal Promoter- Regulated mRNA Stability in Yeast

Messenger RNA decay measurements are typically performed on a population of cells. However, this approach cannot reveal sufficient complexity to provide information on mechanisms that may regulate mRNA degradation, possibly on short timescales. To address this deficiency, we measured cell cycle-regulated decay in single yeast cells using single-molecule FISH. We found that two genes responsible for mitotic progression, SWI5 and CLB2, exhibit a mitosis-dependent mRNA stability switch. Their transcripts are stable until mitosis, when a precipitous decay eliminates the mRNA complement, preventing carryover into the next cycle. Remarkably, the specificity and timing of decay is entirely regulated by their promoter, independent of specific cis mRNA sequences. The mitotic exit network protein Dbf2p binds to SWI5 and CLB2 mRNAs cotranscriptionally and regulates their decay. This work reveals the promoter-dependent control of mRNA stability, a regulatory mechanism that could be employed by a variety of mRNAs and organisms.
Zeta-potential and Particle Size Analysis of Human Amelogenins

The developing enamel matrix is a highly dynamic system mainly composed of the full-length amelogenin and its proteolytic cleavage products. In this study, size, zeta-potential, and the isoelectric points of nanoparticles of the recombinant full-length human amelogenin (rH174) and two proteolytic products (rH163 and rH146) were analyzed by dynamic light-scattering and electrokinetic measurements. We tested the hypothesis that zeta-potential may be used as a control parameter in directing the self-assembly of amelogenins. Extensive aggregation of amelogenin molecules with the particle size reaching about one micron occurred at a mildly acidic to neutral pH, and coincided with the red shift of the internal fluorescence. Zeta-potential was between ± 15 mV in the same pH range, indicating that amelogenin aggregation occurred when surface potentials were minimal. This suggests that electrostatic interactions may be another crucial factor, aside from hydrophobic interaction, in the aggregation and hierarchical assembly of spherical particles of amelogenins into supramolecular structures of a higher order.
Reaction to directory

I just received my copy of the January issue with the Directory of Members of AGU. After thumbing it I sat down to write, protesting my exclusion. Then I found my name in the geographical part—California, Los Angeles. Then I went to the 1967 Directory and then back to the new one. I found that you have given me and others new surnames, in my case ‘Harris Jr.,’ and have not listed me and others in the regular place as their proper surnames require. The name of my family is ‘Harris’ and has been so used in records for fourteen generations. None of us have taken legal action, least of all myself, to change it. My work and name are properly listed under ‘Harris’ in domestic and foreign literature and bibliographies, as also in American Men of Science. The proper method of listing names when arranged in alphabetical order is ‘Jones, W. J., Jr.’
Chromosome Changes in Cell Differentiation

The most striking achievement of embryogenesis is the differentiation of the genetically identical descendants of a fertilized egg into hundreds of different types of cells and eventually into a highly complex human being. Cell differentiation is accompanied by changes in chromatin structure or, less commonly, ploidy level; these mediate the changes in gene expression required for cell differentiation. Thus, the chromatin structure in stem cells of the germline is readily distinguished from that of differentiating oocytes and spermatocytes, and that of stem cells in the bone marrow, intestine, or skin from that of the more differentiated cell types they give rise to. These changes in chromatin conformation and ploidy level are brought about by a number of quite different mechanisms (reviewed by Miller, 1997).
Ignition and combustion of aluminum particles in shocked H2O/O2/Ar and CO2/O2/Ar mixtures

Abstract Small aluminum particles (5–10 μm) are ignited in atmospheres consisting of Ar and varying amounts of H2O, CO2, and O2 at the endwall of a shock tube to study the burning characteristics in various combinations of these oxidizers. A reflected shock is used to obtain pressures of ∼8.5 atm and temperatures of ∼2600 K. Visible wavelength emission spectra are recorded by using a spectrometer coupled to a streak camera, and two photodetectors record intensity vs. time at AlO emission wavelengths of 486 and 514 nm. The streak camera allows recording of multiple time-resolved spectra at rates of 100 μs per spectrum. Aluminum particles ignited in mixtures of CO2/O2/Ar exhibited a burn time of about one half that of an atmosphere containing only a mixture of O2/Ar, holding the argon constant at 40%. In addition, as CO2 was substituted for O2 in successive experiments, a nonlinear relationship, as a function of the gas composition, was observed for ignition delay time and burn time. Within mixtures of H2O/O2/Ar, two distinct burning stages are visible for the combusting aluminum particles. As an increasing amount of H2O was substituted for O2 in separate tests, a second distinct burning stage developed. Spectroscopic data recorded during such experiments portray AlO emission during both combustion stages. Aluminum particles combusted in a mixture of H2O/Ar show burn times 2 to 5 times greater than those from CO2/O2/Ar mixtures, and ignition delay times 3 to 6 times greater.
Coarticulation in fluent fingerspelling.

In speech, the phenomenon of coarticulation (differentiation of phoneme production depending on the preceding or following phonemes) suggests an organization of movement sequences that is not strictly serial. In the skeletal motor system, however, evidence for comparable fluency has been lacking. Thus the present study was designed to quantify coarticulation in the hand movement sequences of sign language interpreters engaged in fingerspelling. Records of 17 measured joint angles were subjected to discriminant and correlation analyses to determine to what extent and in what manner the hand shape for a particular letter was influenced by the hand shapes for the preceding or the following letters. Substantial evidence of coarticulation was found, revealing both forward and reverse influences across letters. These influences could be further categorized as assimilation (tending to reduce the differences between sequential hand shapes) or dissimilation (tending to emphasize the differences between sequential hand shapes). The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the index and middle fingers tended to show dissimilation, whereas at the same time (i.e., during the spelling of the same letters) the joints of the wrist and thumb tended to show assimilation. The index and middle finger PIP joints have been shown previously to be among the most important joints for computer recognition of the 26 letter shapes, and therefore the dissimilation may have served to enhance visual discrimination. The simultaneous occurrence of dissimilation in some joints and assimilation in others demonstrates an unprecedented level of parallel control of individual joint rotations in an essentially serial task.
Reasons for the lack of racial diversity in veterinary medicine.

Although it is obvious that there are not many veterinarians of color practicing in the United States, little demographic information is available to characterize the profession by race. Unfortunately, neither the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) nor any other national organization has collected data on how many underrepresented minority veterinarians there actually are in the United States. However, the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) estimated in 1999 that 95% of the veterinarians in traditional private practice at that time were white.
A Market-Based Mechanism for Universal Service Obligations

Developing countries often strive to extend basic telecommunications services to rural and remote areas. Wealthier nations sometimes face similar challenges with other services. This paper proposes a novel policy to motivate private-sector operators of basic infrastructure to expand infrastructure into previously unserved regions. It is particularly useful when resources are transferred to the private sector, as occurs during the privatization of a state-owned telecommunications carrier, the introduction of competition, the release of spectrum, or the allocation of cash subsidies for this purpose. Firms receive tradable universal service obligations in the form of milestones that must be met, and commitments to meet specific deadlines. By exchanging its commitments, a firm can increase or decrease the rate at which it must expand infrastructure. By exchanging milestones, a firm can change where it must expand infrastructure. Making milestones and commitments independent and fully tradable allows each firm to develop the most cost effective business strategy possible, and to adapt that strategy as technology and demand evolve over time. The exchange of milestones and commitments does not diminish the obligations that must be met by industry as a whole, insuring the timely expansion of infrastructure. This paper focuses on telecommunications, but the approach is also applicable to other forms of infrastructure, such as electric power and broadcast television.
The log behaviour of the Reynolds shear stress in accelerating turbulent boundary layers

Direct numerical simulation of highly accelerated turbulent boundary layers (TBLs) reveals that the Reynolds shear stress, , monotonically decreases downstream and exhibits a logarithmic behaviour (e.g. ) in the mesolayer region (e.g. ). The thickness of the log layer of increases with the streamwise distance and with the pressure gradient strength, extending over a large portion of the TBL thickness (up to 55 %). Simulations reveal that , resulting in a logarithmic profile. Also, is no longer negligible as in zero-pressure-gradient (ZPG) flows. Other experimental/numerical data at similar favourable-pressure-gradient (FPG) strengths also show the presence of a log region in . This log region in is larger in sink flows than in other spatially developing FPG flows. The latter flows exhibit the presence of a small power-law region in , which is non-existent in sink flows.
Entropy, the Wigner Distribution Function, and the Approach to Equilibrium of a System of Coupled Harmonic Oscillators

The entropy is determined of a quantum-mechanical system whose statistical state is characterized by a Wigner distribution function that is Gaussian in form. It is found to depend only on the variance of the distribution function. This enables us to study quantum mechanically the approach to equilibrium of coupled harmonic-oscillator chains, a system for which a classical treatment has been given recently by Robertson and Huerta.
Lactate-stimulated ethanol oxidation in isolated hepatocytes

1. Hepatocytes isolated from starved rats and incubated without other substrates oxidized ethanol at a rate of 0.8–0.9μmol/min per g wet wt. of cells. Addition of 10mm-lactate increased this rate 2-fold. 2. Quinolinate (5mm) or tryptophan (1mm) decreased the rate of gluconeogenesis with 10mm-lactate and 8mm-ethanol from 0.39 to 0.04–0.08μmol/min per g wet wt. of cells, but rates of ethanol oxidation were not decreased. From these results it appears that acceleration of ethanol oxidation by lactate is not dependent upon the stimulation of gluconeogenesis and the consequent increased demand for ATP. 3. As another test of the relationship between ethanol oxidation and gluconeogenesis, the initial lactate concentration was varied from 0.5mm to 10mm and pyruvate was added to give an initial [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio of 10. This substrate combination gave a large stimulation of ethanol oxidation (from 0.8 to 2.6μmol/min per g wet wt. of cells) at low lactate concentrations (0.5–2.0mm), but rates remained nearly constant (2.6–3.0μmol/min per g wet wt. of cells) at higher lactate concentrations (2.0–10mm). 4. In contrast, owing to the presence of ethanol, the rate of glucose synthesis was only slightly increased (from 0.08 to 0.12μmol/min per g wet wt. of cells) between 0.5mm- and 2.0mm-lactate and continued to increase (from 0.12 to 0.65μmol/min per g wet wt. of cells) with lactate concentrations between 2 and 10mm. 5. In the presence of ethanol, O2 uptake increased with increasing substrate concentration over the entire range. 6. Changes in concentrations of glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate closely paralleled changes in the rate of ethanol oxidation. 7. In isolated hepatocytes, rates of ethanol oxidation are lower than those in vivo apparently because of depletion of malate–aspartate shuttle intermediates during cell preparation. Rates are returned to those observed in vivo by substrates that increase the intracellular concentration of shuttle metabolites.
Light Emission From Inelastic Tunneling — LEIT

It has been shown that inelastic tunneling excitation of surface plasmon modes can result in light emission when electrodes are properly prepared. The light emission establishes a fundamental quantum relationship between the maximum optic frequency and the applied voltage. Such a process can be used as a basis for spectroscopy when modulation-derivative techniques are used. The derivative method is very similar to that used in IETS except it is a second derivative of a photo detection current that is measured. We term this LEIT spectroscopy (light emission by inelastic tunneling). We will discuss the physical processes underlying the LEIT effect as well as possible applications. Some of the key factors of this light source are: 1) the precision of the relationship between voltage and maximum optical frequency; 2) mechanics for coupling out light for excited surface plasmon modes; 3) the optical range over which such sources can be operated.
Investors’ Responses to Management Getting Out Ahead of Negative Media Mentions: The Importance of Management's Action Plan

Using two experiments, we investigate the effects of management's strategic responses to negative media-mentions. In our first study, we examine the timing of management’s disclosure compared to the timing of the negative media-mention. We find that when management issues their disclosure after the media-mention compared to before the media-mention, investors process the media’s negative framing less deeply, which leads to less negative investor judgments. In our second study, we examine the effects of management’s response focus. We find that when management’s response has the same focus (industry focus vs. company focus) as the media-mention’s focus, investors process the management response more deeply, and investor judgments are more positive compared to when the focus of management’s response differs from the media mention’s focus. We also provide evidence that our results can be explained by insights from cue priming theory. Our study contributes to practice by (1) documenting that getting out ahead of a negative media-mention can be more harmful than responding after the media and (2) presenting a “focus-matched” response as a way to increase the effectiveness of a company’s response to negative news disseminated by the media.
Focus on Teen Men: Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Wise Guys Program

PROBLEM Many interventions designed to promote safe sexual behaviors in teens focus on young women. Wise Guys is one curricular intervention designed to foster safe sexual practices in young men. This study assessed knowledge, attitude, and behavioral changes as the result of Wise Guys. METHODS This pre/posttest descriptive study measured changes in knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors in 159 young men. FINDINGS This study detected limited knowledge and attitude changes but yielded statistically significant differences in safe sexual behaviors and likelihood to talk with parents or guardians about sexuality and dating. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed important benefits of Wise Guys and proposed future mixed methods research to ensure that authentic teen voices inform programing. Nurses working with adolescents may find this information valuable as they address sexual health issues in their work.
AB0289 The Degree of Discordance between Global Estimates by Patients and their Physicians in Various Rheumatic Diseases

Background In rheumatic diseases, quantitative assessment including estimates of global status by physicians (DOCGL) and patients (PATGL) is required since there is no any single gold standard biomarker measure for optimal management of the diseases and ideally, these estimates should be concordant. Objectives To examine the degree of discordance between DOCGL and PATGL and variables contributing to discordance in rheumatic diseases Methods A PubMed search was conducted with the restrictions of “Human” and “English” up to February 2013. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), Cohort Studies, reviews and Meta-analysis were included. The studies including patients with rheumatic diseases comparing DOCGL vs PATGL were selected. The primary outcome was the percentage of concordance/discordance of PATGL and DOCGL. Two reviewers screened title/abstracts independently and collected data Results From 355 initial studies captured, 321 were excluded after reading title/abstract. 34 were selected for further review and finally 3 studies with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 3 studies with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 1 study with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) were included. The cut-points for the discordance were variable between the studies (from 1 to 3). While the range of concordance between patients and physicians was 28.7 to 78%, PATGL>DOCGL was 2 to 43.7% and DOCGL>PATGL was 5 to 51.3%. In general, while the variables contributing to discordance for PATGL>DOCGL were poor function, high age, pain, morning stiffness and poor mental health, the explanatory variables for the DOCGL>PATGL were abnormal laboratories and high swollen, tender joint counts (Table 1). Conclusions The concordance rates between the patients and physicians on global estimates in many rheumatic diseases were low. Discordance has been reported to be associated with poorer outcomes. To record both the patient and physician global estimates at each visit can play an important role to improve the concordance between them. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.6040
Characterization of Nano-Sized Energetic Particle Enhancement of Solid-Fuel Burning Rates in an X-Ray Transparent Hybrid Rocket Engine

Conventional polymeric fuels for hybrid rocket propulsion have relatively low regression rates. Two possible solutions were examined: utilization of energetic nano-sized particles, and adoption of non-polymeric paraffin fuel. Addition of 13 wt.% of nano-sized tungsten powder to HTPB-based fuel resulted in an increase of 38% in fuel regression rate compared to the pure HTPB fuel. The use of nano-sized tungsten powders in solid fuels for volume limited propulsion systems is greatly beneficial due to its high density, high heat of oxidation, and low oxidation temperature. SEM/EDS micrographs of the newly processed energetic paraffin-based solid fuels have shown that the nano-sized Silberline aluminum flakes are homogenously mixed in the fuel matrix. Paraffin-based solid fuels containing aluminum flakes showed a significant increase in regression rate over the non-aluminized paraffin fuel. A real-time X-ray radiography system enables the measurement of the instantaneous radius of the solid fuel grain. The radial increment of the regressing fuel surface can be correlated with time in a power-law form. An implicit relationship showing the dependency of instantaneous fuel regression rate on the total mass flux was obtained. The functional relationships for aluminized HTPB and paraffin fuels were obtained in graphical forms. Results show that the conventional power-law relationship between the average regression rate and average oxidizer mass flux cannot be applied to the instantaneous regression rates of solid fuel burning in hybrid rocket motor conditions.
The role of electrical anharmonicity in the association band in the water spectrum.

The origin of the intensity of the feature in the spectrum of liquid water near 2100 cm–1 is investigated through calculations of the spectra of water clusters based on low-order expansions of the potential and dipole surfaces in internal and normal mode coordinates. The intensity near 2100 cm–1 is attributed to combination bands involving the HOH bend and intermolecular vibrations that break the hydrogen bonding network. Further, the leading contribution to the intensity reflects large second derivatives of the dipole moment with respect to the internal coordinates that are excited, or electrical anharmonicity. This picture changes if the derivatives of the potential and dipole surfaces are taken with respect to normal modes. In the normal mode representation, the second derivatives of the dipole moment are often vanishingly small, while the mixed third and fourth derivatives of the potential become quite large. On the basis of this result, mechanical anharmonicity appears to be responsible for the inten...
Real-Time 3D Single-Particle Tracking Spectroscopy for Cellular Dynamics

Biological macromolecules and organelles can move in all directions inside a cell, making it extremely challenging to follow biochemical processes with molecular resolution. We discuss a new technique that can potentially overcome this difficulty.