cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OVO-like 1 regulates progenitor cell fate in human trophoblast development

Epithelial barrier integrity is dependent on progenitor cells that either divide to replenish themselves or differentiate into a specialized epithelium. This paradigm exists in human placenta, where cytotrophoblast cells either propagate or undergo a unique differentiation program: fusion into an overlying syncytiotrophoblast. Syncytiotrophoblast is the primary barrier regulating the exchange of nutrients and gases between maternal and fetal blood and is the principal site for synthesizing hormones vital for human pregnancy. How trophoblast cells regulate their differentiation into a syncytium is not well understood. In this study, we show that the transcription factor OVO-like 1 (OVOL1), a homolog of Drosophila ovo, regulates the transition from progenitor to differentiated trophoblast cells. OVOL1 is expressed in human placenta and was robustly induced following stimulation of trophoblast differentiation. Disruption of OVOL1 abrogated cytotrophoblast fusion and inhibited the expression of a broad set of genes required for trophoblast cell fusion and hormonogenesis. OVOL1 was required to suppress genes that maintain cytotrophoblast cells in a progenitor state, including MYC, ID1, TP63, and ASCL2, and bound specifically to regions upstream of each of these genes. Our results reveal an important function of OVOL1 as a regulator of trophoblast progenitor cell fate during human trophoblast development.
Are Commonly Used Fitness Predictors Accurate? A Meta-analysis of Amphibian Size and Age at Metamorphosis

Reaching developmental milestones younger and at larger sizes is commonly claimed to reflect increased fitness. However, the amount of fitness gained from being larger and younger at a milestone may vary with several attributes, particularly evolutionary history, life history, and environmental characteristics. We used a meta-analysis to investigate whether these attributes affected the utility of developmental milestones to be used as predictors of future fitness. We chose amphibian size at and time to metamorphosis (SAM and TTM, respectively) as model developmental milestones, because studies have examined SAM and TTM's efficacy for fitness prediction (via post-metamorphic fitness proxies), and they are commonly used in a variety of studies testing ecological and evolutionary theory and more applied research on the effects of anthropogenic stressors. We found variation in the predictive power of SAM and TTM for post-metamorphic performance. SAM was a more consistent predictor of post-metamorphic perform...
Localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide in human esophageal langerhans cells

Previously undescribed calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive intraepithelial cells were seen in specimens of esophageal mucosa obtained by biopsy or surgical resection from 14 individuals. These calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive cells were sparsely seen in normal mucosa but increased markedly in esophagitis. They were inaccessible to routine histological stains, but osmication showed them as dendritic forms resembling Langerhans cells of the skin. Their cytological identity was determined with immunocytochemical tests for human antigenic markers such as Ia, HLA-DR, and OKT6 for Langerhans cells, Leu-M5 and Leu-M3 for intraepithelial macrophages, CD3 and TCR-1 for T-lymphocytes, Leu-14 for B-lymphocytes, S-100 for Merkel cells, and chromogranin for amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation cells. Double localization showed that calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity colocalized with Ia, HLA-DR, and OKT6 but not with the other markers. These studies show that intraepithelial Langerhans cells in the esophageal mucosa contain calcitonin gene-related peptide, which may serve as an immunomodulator.
Wait time deconstructed

Transplant (TX) physicians often ask us: What effects do ABO and HLA antibody sensitization have on my patient’s ability to get an organ offer? This study attempts to answer that question by analyzing waitlist (WL) and TX patient data, ABO and HLA antigen frequency data over a 6 year period for the Tulane kidney transplant program. Data was stratified by presensitization, sex, ABO and TX status. We analyzed this data along with HLA antigen frequency and pertinent organ offer statistics to determine the projected wait time for a highly sensitized (99%) regraft patient with ABO = O. On average, presensitized Tulane WL patients wait 50% longer for an organ than unsensitized patients. The following table gives median wait time stratified by sex, ABO, and TX status. Using the above, ABO and HLA antigen frequencies and frequency and types of organ offers, we projected wait time until a compatible organ offer for a 99% CPRA, regraft male patient awaiting a standard criteria donor with ABO–O in excess of 14 years for an in-state offer. The wait for a regional or national offer is projected to be 63 months, but may be less in the future due to the new allocation system. Wait time is highly dependent on ABO and sensitization, but we also see a disparity in wait times for WL patients vs. TX patients pointing to the effect of HLA antigen frequency. All sensitization is not equal. Many still on the WL likely have less frequent HLA types and higher levels of HLA antibodies to common HLA antigens than those transplanted given all else equal. These data trends provide the TX physician a better understanding of factors affecting wait time. Download : Download full-size image The following table includes transplant (TX) vs. wait list (WL) patient data given in months wait time stratified by sex and CPRA level. Download : Download full-size image
A numerical integration technique for conservative oscillators combining nonstandard finite-difference methods with a Hamilton's principle

Nonstandard finite difference schemes are constructed for several important conservative oscillators. These procedures combine the nonstandard methods of Mickens (J. Sound Vib. 240 (2001) 587) with a discrete Hamilton's principle.
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Functional neuroimaging studies have converged to suggest that cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit dysfunction is a core pathophysiologic feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Now, complementary approaches examining regional neurochemistry are beginning to yield additional insights with regard to the neurobiology of aberrant CSTC circuitry in OCD. In particular, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which allows for the in vivo quantification of various neurochemicals in the CSTC circuit and other brain regions, has recently been used extensively in studies of OCD patients. In this review, we summarize the diverse and often seemingly inconsistent findings of these studies, consider methodological factors that might help to explain these inconsistencies, and discuss several convergent findings that tentatively seem to be emerging. We conclude with suggestions for possible future proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in OCD.
Characterization of single-copy probe from vicinity of centromere of human chromosome 1

Human DNA sequences in the human-hamster somatic cell hybrid XJM12.1.3 exist in the form of a minichromosome including the centromere of human chromosome 1. We describe the cloning of XJM12.1.3 DNA into the lambda vector EMBL3, the identification of minichromosome DNA-containing recombinants by hybridization with human sequences, and the characterization of one recombinant as a specific and unique probe for a region close to the centromere of human chromosome 1. This probe and others isolated from the minichromosome DNA are being developed to permit molecular access to a human centromere and its functional sequences.
Using Kinesthetic Activities to Teach Ptolemaic and Copernican Retrograde Motion.

This paper describes a method for teaching planetary retrograde motion, and the Ptolemaic and Copernican accounts of retrograde motion, by means of a series kinesthetic learning activities (KLAs). In the KLAs described, the students literally walk through the motions of the planets in both systems. A retrospective statistical analysis shows that students who participated in these activities performed better on examination questions pertaining to retrograde motion than students who did not. Potential explanations for this result, including the breaking of classroom routine, the effect of body movement on conceptual memory, and egocentric spatial proprioception, are considered.
Projections of the olfactory tract fibers in the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum).

Summary Five nurse sharks were killed between 6 and 43 days after the olfactory tract had been cut unilaterally. Whereas the axon degeneration was demonstrated best with the Nauta-Laidlaw technique after 3–4 weeks survival time, the terminal degeneration, as identified in Fink-Heimer preparations, was best seen in a 13-day specimen. The distribution of olfactory tract fibers is entirely ipsilateral to the lesion, the majority terminating near the attachment of the olfactory peduncle to the hemisphere. Terminal degeneration is restricted caudally to a tongue-like extension of the lateral olfactory area on the ventral surface of the hemisphere with a spill-over into the area superficialis basalis of Johnston. The results indicate that the distribution of olfactory bulb fibers in the shark is much more restricted than had been suggested by most earlier descriptions based on studies of normal material.
Life-Testing and Estimation with Arbitrary Distribution Function

We consider the problem of estimating the life–distribution F from censored lifetimes. The observation scheme is renewal testing over a long time horizon although the results can apply to survival testing with repetitions. We exhibit a product–limit estimator of F which is shown to be consistent and to converge weakly to a GAUSsian process. To do this we first extend these properties of the NELSON-AALEN martingale estimator to the family of PoissoN–type counting processes. Our proof of weak convergence is based on the general functional central limit theorems for semimartingales as developed by .JACOB, SHIRYAYEV and others
Rehabilitation robotics: An academic engineer perspective

In this paper, we present a retrospective review of our efforts to revolutionize the way physical medicine is practiced by developing and deploying rehabilitation robots. We present a sample of our clinical results with well over 600 stroke patients, both inpatients and outpatients. We discuss the different robots developed at our laboratory over the past 20 years and their unique characteristics. All are configured both to deliver reproducible interactive therapy and also to measure outcomes with minimal encumbrance, thus providing critical measurement tools to help unravel the key remaining question: what constitutes “best practice”? While success to date indicates that this therapeutic application of robots has opened an emerging new frontier in physical medicine and rehabilitation, the barrier to further progress lies not in developing new hardware but rather in finding the most effective way to enhance neuro-recovery. We close this manuscript discussing some of the tools required for advancing the effort beyond the present state to what we believe will be the central feature of research during the next 10 years.
On the Stability of Dynamic Spectrum Access Networks in the Presence of Heavy Tails

The heavy-tailed nature in dynamic spectrum access networks challenges the applicability of conventional network stability criterion. To counter this problem, a new stability criterion, namely moment stability, is introduced, which requires that all secondary users (SUs) with light-tailed traffic have bounded queueing delay with finite mean and variance. This stability criterion can prevent heavy-tailed traffic, e.g., video and Internet traffic, from degrading the QoS performance of light-tailed ones, e.g., email deliveries and audio/voice traffic. The critical conditions for the existence of a scheduling policy to achieve moment stability are derived. The network stability region yielded from these conditions is shown to be directly related to the primary and secondary user activities, the number of SUs, and the total number of primary user channels available to SUs. Moreover, it is shown that the maximum-weight- $\alpha$ scheduling algorithm, which makes the scheduling decision based on the queue lengths raised to the $\alpha$ -th power, is throughput optimal with respect to moment stability. It is proven that its throughput optimality holds independent of the stochastic properties of SU traffic including its marginal distribution (i.e., heavy-tailed or light-tailed distribution) and its time correlation structure (i.e., long range or short range dependence).
Thermal Analysis of Droplet Spray Evaporation From a Heated Solid Surface

This paper deals with the heat transfer aspects of droplet spray evaporation from a heated solid surface. The analysis is restricted to the low superheat regime, in which the impinging droplets stick onto the solid without bubble nucleations. In this limit of approximation, the heat flow is quasi-steady and conduction dominated. The difficulty arising from droplet thermal interactions is overcome with an approximate model of an evaporating droplet surrounded by a uniform surface heat flux. The size of the droplet changes with time, but the effect of the surrounding droplets, which are treated as a continuum producing the uniform surface flux, is taken into consideration in an average sense. In addition, the analysis also incorporates the effects of droplet contact angle, droplet concentration, and solid conductivity. A transcendental equation has been derived and solved by using the Newton-Raphson method to obtain the Nusselt number.
Initial value methods in the theory of Fredholm integral equations III. The nonlinear eigenvalue problem

In this paper, it is shown that the method introduced recently by Kalaba and Scott for solving nonlinear characteristic value problems for integral operators is equivalent to a nonlinear characteristic value problem for a matrix. This is demonstrated by finding the explicit solution to the set of differential equations used by them. The results generalize those proved recently by the author for the linear problem.
Isotopic Age Study, Dutchess County, New York

Rb-Sr and K-Ar isotopic age determinations on mica and whole-rock samples from Dutchess County, N. Y. are consistent with a period of metamorphism with a minimum age of 430 m. y. (million years), followed by a less intense regional reheating about 360 m. y. ago. Pre-existing radio-genic argon in detrital minerals in the isoclinally folded Paleozoic slates, west of Balk9s (1936) biotite isograd, was driven out at the time of folding. Lower apparent ages in western Connecticut suggest a transitional zone to the area farther east affected by a 260 m. y. metamorphic event.
Initiation and completion of mitosis in HeLa cells in the absence of protein synthesis.

Abstract HeLa cells were found to enter and complete mitosis in the presence of puromycin or actinomycin D. Daughter cells formed in the presence of puromycin contained completed nuclear membranes. Daughter cells resumed protein synthesis shortly after completing mitosis however, this resumption of protein synthesis could be prevented by actinomycin D. Data presented here indicate that all cellular constituents necessary for successful initiation and completion of mitosis are produced prior to the onset of mitosis. They also indicate that new messenger RNA synthesis is required for resumption of protein synthesis after mitosis, and that the inhibition of protein synthesis observed in mitotic mammalian cells 18 a result of messer ger RNA depletion.
Shear zone between the Inner Piedmont and Kings Mountain belts in the Carolinas

The Kings Mountain shear zone, which marks the boundary between the Inner Piedmont and Kings Mountain belts near the North Carolina–South Carolina state line, is a northeast-striking, steeply to moderately dipping zone of ductile mylonitic deformation and late-stage semibrittle deformation. The zone is at least 60 km long and is no more than a few hundred metres wide. It truncates rock units of both belts. The juxtaposition of two lithologically different terranes suggests that displacement may be considerable, probably on the order of kilometres. Inconclusive evidence suggests that the northwest (Inner Piedmont) side is upthrown. The Kings Mountain zone is one of several in the southern Appalachian Piedmont that were active during a Middle to Late Devonian (Acadian?) deformational event, and it may be part of a regional fault system extending from Alabama to Virginia. The Kings Mountain, Lowndesville, and Towaliga zones may be a single zone more than 550 km long.
Thermodynamic control of tropical cyclogenesis in environments of radiative-convective equilibrium with shear

The potential for tropical cyclone formation from a pre-existing disturbance is further explored with high-resolution simulations of cyclogenesis in idealized, tropical environments. These idealized environments are generated from simulations of radiative-convective equilibrium with fixed sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), imposed mean surface winds, and an imposed profile of vertical wind shear. The propensity for tropical cyclogenesis in these environments is measured in two ways: first, in the period of time required for a weak, mid-level circulation to transition to a developing tropical cyclone; and second, from the value of an incubation parameter that incorporates environmental measures of mid-level saturation deficit and thermodynamic disequilibrium between the atmosphere and ocean. Conditions of tropospheric warming can be produced from increased SSTs or from increased mean surface winds; in either case, the time to genesis increases with atmospheric warming. As these parameters are varied, the incubation parameter is found to be highly correlated with changes in the time to genesis. The high resolution (3 km) of these simulations permits analysis of changes in tropical cyclogenesis under warming conditions at the vortex scale. For increasing SST, increased mid-level saturation deficits (dryness) are the primary reason for slowing or preventing genesis. For environments with increased surface wind, it is the decreased thermodynamic disequilibrium between the atmosphere and ocean that delays or prevents development. An additional effect in both cases is a decoupling of the low-level and mid-level vortices, primarily as a result of increased advecting flow at the altitude of the mid-level vortex, which is linked to the height of the freezing level. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Preparation of hierarchically porous nickel from macroporous silicon

A novel approach for preparing hierarchical porous nickel structures has been developed. It is an aqueous processing of the template, macroporous silicon, which was etched in HF solution to have straight channels. By immersion in a prepared nickel solution, the silicon sidewalls were replaced by nickel deposits to form a total metallic structure. Since silicon framework was gradually consumed during the displacement reactions, the deposited nickel displayed additional feature of being highly porous on the sidewalls. With the initial straight microchannels, the metal structure was hierarchically porous.
A biextremal principle for a behavioral theory of the firm

Abstract The behavioral postulates of the approach are (i) firms do not know their demand functions, (ii) firms price according to average cost plus markup, and (iii) firms satisfice in the sense that a firm will not seek a higher return if its per unit return exceeds the average cost plus the minimum markup. By a behavioral equilibrium we mean the existence of price and quantity vectors such that at these prices demand equals supply and also that price equal markup costs plus possibly a nonnegative spread vector. We formulate a biextremal principle for a behavioral equilibrium under two basic assumptions: (A1) demand is obtained from a strictly concave potential function of all prices, and (A2) each firm's average cost function is increasing. The saddle function consists of consumer surplus plus a new variation of producer's surplus, termed producer's satisficing surplus, where now the integral of marginal cost is replaced by the integral of markup cost. Any saddle point is a behavioral equilibrium, and we show that the biextremal principle is equivalent to a dual pair of uniextremal principles governed basically by price variables and quantity variables, respectively. We offer a new behavioral interpretation by showing (a) in the market demand (price) problem one minimizes the sum of consumer surplus and producers' markup surplus, and (b) in the producers' (quantity) problem one maximizes the sum of consumer surplus and the producers' satisficing surplus.
RESTORATION BY A SPECIFIC CHEMICAL REACTION OF "IRREVERSIBLY" BLOCKED AXONAL ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY.

Abstract Experiments are reported in which the electrical activity of axons is first completely and irreversibly abolished by a well defined chemical reaction, namely the phosphorylation of a serine molecule in the active site of ACh-esterase by Paraoxon. Subsequently PAM is added which reverses the first reaction by a displacement of the phosphoryl group from the enzyme. By this second specific reaction the abolished activity is fully restored. The experiments confirm, in a striking way, the postulated inseparable association between electrical and ACh-esterase activity; they illustrate the possibility of bridging the gap between the molecular forces analyzed in vitro and the events recorded on an intact cell, since the information obtained about the reaction mechanism of an enzyme molecule has been successfully applied first to the abolition and then to the restoration of a primary cellular function, i.e., the generation and propagation of bioelectric currents.
UTP is a cofactor for the DNA strand exchange reaction performed by the RecA protein of Escherichia coli.

The RecA protein of Escherichia coli is required for homologous genetic recombination and induction of the SOS regulon. In order for RecA protein to function in these two roles, a nucleoside triphosphate cofactor, usually ATP or dATP, is required. We have examined the ability of UTP to substitute for (r,d)ATP as nucleoside triphosphate cofactor. We have found that although UTP is hydrolyzed by RecA protein in the presence of long DNA molecules, it is not hydrolyzed in reactions in which the cofactors are oligodeoxyribonucleotides less than ∼50 nt in length. We show that UTP can efficiently substitute for ATP as nucleoside triphosphate cofactor for the DNA strand exchange reaction in vitro. The RecA1332 protein (Cys129 → Met), which was originally shown to be defective for homologous recombination in vivo, is able to perform DNA strand exchange in vitro with ATP, but is unable to do so with UTP. These results suggest that UTP may be a cofactor for DNA strand exchange in vivo. The inability of RecA protein ...
Design and Expression of a Synthetic Mucin Gene Fragment inEscherichia Coli

Abstract Adenocarcinomas of glandular tissues produce a hypoglycosylated form of a normal glycoprotein (mucin) that elicits an immune response. A tumor-specific epitope of mucin occurs in a 20-amino-acid, tandemly repeated domain of human MUC1 mucin. A synthetic gene encoding five tandem repeats of the tumor-specific epitope of human mucin (m5tr) was designed for efficient cloning and expression in Escherichia coli for subsequent use in preparing reagent quantities of the mucin 5 tandem repeat (mtr5) polypeptide. The synthetic gene was cloned in the correct reading frame into the maltose-binding protein (MBP) fusion expression vector pMAL-p2. Bacterial clones containing the mucin synthetic gene (m5tr) were shown to produce the intended recombinant fusion protein, MBP–mtr5. The fusion protein represents a significant fraction of the cell protein, 50% or more of which is secreted into the periplasm. The MBP–mtr5 protein is largely intact and easily prepared in sufficient quantity and purity for preliminary structure–function studies.
Effects of dissolved gas on the hydrophobic attraction between surfactant-coated surfaces.

The effect of dissolved gas on the hydrophobic attraction between double-chained surfactant monolayers physisorbed on mica has been studied using a surface forces apparatus (SFA). Distance vs time data were obtained over the full distance regime from D ≈ 1000 A down to contact using the dynamic SFA method. Removal of dissolved gas was seen to reduce the range of the attraction while the short-range attraction (under ∼250 A) remained unchanged. The implications for the possibility of two distinct force regimes in the interactions between hydrophobic surfaces are discussed.
Exercise intolerance in chronic heart failure is not associated with impaired recovery of muscle function or submaximal exercise performance

Objectives. This study investigated whether recovery of skeletal muscle function is impaired in patients with heart failure and whether impaired recovery is associated with abnormal submaximal systemic exercise tolerance during repeated testing. Background. Patients with heart failure experience fatigue during daily activities. Because abnormalities of skeletal muscle play a role in their exercise intolerance, these symptoms may reflect a delay in muscle recovery and a resulting limitation in submaximal exercise tolerance. Methods. Two protocols were used. In protocol 1, knee extensor strength and endurance, and their recovery after fatiguing exercise, were evaluated in 11 patients (mean [±SEM] age 62 ± 5 years, New York Heart Association functional class 2.3 ± 0.2, ejection fraction 24 ± 5%) and in 10 age-matched sedentary control subjects. Protocol 2 examined the recovery of knee extensor endurance and submaximal exercise tolerance, as quantified on a self-powered treadmill, over 24 h in 18 patients (mean age 65 ± 3 years, functional class 2.4 ± 0.2, ejection fraction 23 ± 3%) and in 10 control subjects. Results. Peak oxygen consumption was reduced in both heart failure groups (15.4 ± 1.4 and 15.6 ± 1.0 ml/kg per min) compared with that in the respective control groups (23.1 ± 2.9 and 25.6 ± 1.0 ml/kg per min, both p Conclusions. Although these findings confirm earlier studies that demonstrated impaired muscle endurance in patients with heart failure, the results provide no evidence that recovery of either muscle function or submaximal exercise tolerance is delayed beyond the initial 5 to 10 min after exercise.
Foreword to Special Issue on Aerospace Computers

This paper discusses the design trade-offs for a parallel bit-organized MOS memory. A memory capacity of 40K bits can be achieved using LSI techniques. Memory storage capacity is expandable in both word length and number of words stored. The physical dimensions of the memory should be considerably smaller than those of a comparable core design. Power consumption per bit should likewise be less than that achievable with cores. A full cycle time of 1 us or less can be achieved. Cost per bit should compare very favorably with that of a core design.
Preparation of bis(chloroformate)s for use in cyclization reactions

Cyclic oligomeric carbonates are prepared by a hydrolysis/condensation reaction from aromatic bis(chloroformate)s. Three methods for convenient preparation of bis(chloroformate)s have been developed : (1) use of diethylaniline to scavenge HCI, in a modification of an earlier procedure ; (2) low pH, low temperature interfacial condensation of bisphenols with phosgene ; and (3) use of Ca(OH) 2 in interfacial condensation with phosgene. Reaction parameters which control formation of monomeric bis(chloroformate)s versus higher oligomerization include temperature, pH, and rate of phosgene addition. For water-soluble bisphenols such as hydroquinone, the phase ratio of water to CH 2 Cl 2 can also be important.
Molecular orbital aspects of substituent effects II

The electronic structures of the ring-substituted benzoic acids were calculated by the INDO molecular orbital method. The results show that the charge densities of the reaction center remote from the substituents correlate with the substituent constants. The energies of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest empty molecular orbital (LEMO) reflect also the substituent effects. The implication of the results in terms of chemical reactivity and information transmittance along the molecule is discussed.
Misplaced Marketing Colas Big and Little: Anti‐Trust Laws, Non‐Regulation and the Disabled Marketing of Small Brands

Shelf access fees and cooperative merchandising agreements are tactics that clearly give power to big business, and nowhere is this more evident than in the soft drink wars. The lack of legal protection against these tactics by US regulators can squeeze small brands out of the retail environment and effectively disable the marketing strategy of small soft drink companies and other small businesses. Thus, marketing becomes not only misplaced, but irrelevant.
Water deficiency induces evolutionary tradeoff between stress tolerance and chemical defense allocation that may help explain range limits in plants

What causes range limits is a central question in evolutionary ecology. Transplant studies indicate that areas just across range boundaries are often stressful. The recent Defense constraint (DC) hypothesis for plants states that the evolution of tolerance to stressful environments across a range boundary is constrained by allocation to chemical defense because of antagonistic crosstalk between abiotic and biotic stress signaling pathways that otherwise could be co-opted for range expansion. Abscisic acid (ABA) drought stress tolerance and jasmonic acid/ethylene (JA/ET) defense signaling pathways, for example, are known to be antagonistic to one another in Arabidopsis and other species. To test the DC hypothesis, we examined quantitative genetic variation and co-variation among marker-inferred inbred lines and sib-families of Boechera stricta, a close wild relative of Arabidopsis. The dynamics of the defense-stress tolerance tradeoff was examined across 1) years that differed in precipitation, 2) drought and ABA treatments, and 3) a NPK nutrient supply gradient. In support of the DC hypothesis, we observed the tradeoff a) in the dry year, and b) in response to water deficiency, which c) was affected by ABA treatments, but the interaction between ABA and glucosinolate (GS) toxin levels was not significant. In contrast to the effects of water deficiency, d) the effect of lower NPK supply to cause the tradeoff was only marginally significant. Because an ABA-mediated stress response is intrinsic to water deficient conditions and because of the known involvement of JA/ET in GS regulation, we suggest that these results provide circumstantial evidence implicating both of these pathways in the tradeoff and thus in the development of range limits.
Cystic fibrosis serum effect on the short circuit current of rat jejunum.

Summary: Sera from 100 subjects were tested for the presence of the cystic fibrosis (CF) “factor” utilizing the short circuit current rat jejunum bioassay. Comparing the mean percent decrease in short circuit current, the presumed normal group differs from the homozygous CF group at P = 0.001 and from the heterozygous group at P = 0.05. The two CF genotypes are statistically different at P = 0.004. There is, however, a large overlap among the three groups, which limits the assay's utility as a guide for factor purification as well as clinical use. Speculation: Serum and saliva from CF genotypes have been shown to contain a factor (or factors) which decreases the sodium ion transport across the cell membrane. Currently, a bioassay is being sought to guide isolation of the factor for development of a radioimmunoassay. Characterization of the factor may explain the underlying transport error in CF as well as enable heterozygote carrier identification.
ENGAGE: A Game-based Learning Environment for Middle School Computational Thinking

We present ENGAGE, a game-based learning environment for teaching computational thinking to middle school students. This project has dual aims: introducing computational thinking practices to students at a young age, and improving computational thinking attitudes among underrepresented students. In pursuit of these two goals, the ENGAGE team has mapped the learning objectives of the AP CS Principles course to the middle school level, and then built an immersive game experience upon that foundation. Students choose computer scientist avatars to represent themselves, and then play in pairs as they investigate a data-related mystery in an underwater research station, solving computational thinking challenges along the way. ENGAGE is currently being implemented as part of a quarterly elective in four middle schools in North Carolina. During the elective, students spend a total of ten classroom sessions playing the game, supplemented by "unplugged" activities that reinforce concepts learned in the game environment. We plan to expand to more middle schools in the 2015-2016 school year. In this demo, members of the SIGCSE community will be able to experience the ENGAGE game for themselves and learn more about its development and future directions. We will also discuss our success in recruiting and teaching the ENGAGE curriculum to middle school teachers who had no prior computer science experience, and the success of those middle school teachers in implementing ENGAGE within their classrooms.
Training healthcare providers for optimal management of hemorrhoidal disease

Abstract Optimal management of hemorrhoidal disease, or of all anorectal problems for that matter, demands a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the anal canal and rectum. With this as a foundation, the healthcare provider recognizes the various symptoms produced by hemorrhoids and implements appropriate management strategies. Training then requires imparting cognitive skills such as knowledge of anorectal anatomy, pertinent history taking, and understanding of management options. Equally important for the provider is acquisition of certain technical skills required for diagnosis, useful for office procedures, and necessary for the variety of operative options available for the definitive management of hemorrhoidal disease. The intent of this chapter is to assist the surgeon educator who has the important charge of training those providers who care for patients with hemorrhoidal disease. Consideration is given to the type of provider and their specific needs and includes primary care physician, emergency medicine physician, surgical resident, and practicing surgeon. Practical methods for both cognitive and technical skill transfer are reviewed. The potential role for the surgical skills laboratory is offered. Finally, the question of assessing the “trained” provider's level of competency for optimally managing patients with hemorrhoids will be addressed.
Pits on inner surfaces of cast gold crowns

Abstract A total of over 500 castings were made with the hygroscopic water-added technique. In these castings studies were made of the sprue gauge, length, and direction, single or double sprues, pressure of casting machine, amount of gold, and flaring of the sprues as they affect the appearance of pits and voids on the inner surface of gold crowns. It was found that, in general, pits and voids would appear more often in bicuspid full crowns than in other types of single castings. Increasing the casting pressure, amount of gold, and sprue diameter (up to a certain point) and employing proper sprue direction and length tend to reduce the number or eliminate completely these pits. Flaring of the sprue is as important as any other factor just mentioned. Flaring of the sprue may act in the same way as placing a small reservoir very close to the wax pattern, and/or it may facilitate the flow of molten gold into the cavity. In either case it will help to eliminate some of the pits and voids that appear on the inner surface of gold castings. Since this laboratory study was made, extensive clinical experience in the University of Michigan, School of Dentistry clinic, by junior and senior dental students, gives further support to the results obtained from this investigation.
Virome genomics: a tool for defining the human virome

High throughput, deep sequencing assays are powerful tools for gaining insights into virus–host interactions. Sequencing assays can discover novel viruses and describe the genomes of novel and known viruses. Genomic information can predict viral proteins that can be characterized, describe important genes in the host that control infections, and evaluate gene expression of viruses and hosts during infection. Sequencing can also describe variation and evolution of viruses during replication and transmission. This review recounts some of the major advances in the studies of virus–host interactions from the last two years, and discusses the uses of sequencing technologies relating to these studies.
High Security Frequency/Time Hopping Sequence Generators

We consider the pk -ary frequency/time hopping (FH/TH) sequence generator composed of a combinatorial function generator and k registers. We consider possible attacks on the FH/TH sequence generator and characterize the generator with desired cryptographic properties to resist these possible attacks on a case by case basis.
The Classroom as a Sanctuary for Teachers: Discontinuities in Social Control1

The article develops the thesis that the classroom provides teachers a sanctuary from effective social control by the broader culture. Social control processes discussed are (1) formal organizational procedures for evaluating teacher classroom performance, and (2) both formalized and unstructured interventions by parents in the life of the school and the domain of the individual teacher's classroom. The thesis is developed through a comparative analysis of data from field studies of two elementary schools: one in Germany, the second in the United States.
Fluorometric Determination of Atropine and Hyoscyamine in Tablets and Injections

A fluorometric method has been developed for the quantitative determination of atropine and hyoscyamine in the presence of other belladonna constituents. Atropine and/or hyoscyamine is extracted with chloroform from basic solution, and an aliquot of the extract is added to a chloroform solution of eosine yellowish. This solution, appropriately diluted, is read on a fluorometer at an excitation wavelength of 475 mμ and an emission wave-length of 552 mμ. Scopolamine, atroscine, and other components do not produce a measurable fluorescence in this procedure and thus need not be separated from atropine or hyoscyamine.
Salvinorin A Administration after Global Cerebral Hypoxia/Ischemia Preserves Cerebrovascular Autoregulation via Kappa Opioid Receptor in Piglets

Background Cerebral hypoxia/ischemia (HI) is not uncommon during the perinatal period. If occurring, it can result in severe neurologic disabilities that persist throughout life. Salvinorin A, a non-opioid Kappa opioid receptors (KOR) selective agonist, has the potential to address this devastating situation. We have demonstrated that salvinorin A administration before HI, preserves pial artery autoregulative function through both the KOR and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) pathways. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that administration of salvinorin A after HI could preserve cerebral autoregulation via KOR and ERK pathway.
Physical functioning among mid-life women: associations with trajectory of depressive symptoms.

Abstract During midlife, physical functioning limitations emerge and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent. We examined the relationship between physical functioning and depressive symptoms in the Michigan Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) cohort of mid-life women ( n = 377). Seven performance-based physical functioning measures quantifying strength, balance, coordination, flexibility and range of motion and perceived physical functioning, assessed with the SF-36 physical functioning sub-score, were included. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) identified concurrent depressive symptom trajectory from 2000/2001 through 2005/2006 and history of depressive symptoms from 1996/1997 through 1999/1900. Longitudinal mixed-effects regression modeling was used to evaluate relationships. Median age of participants was 50 years. As age increased, higher CES-D scores were associated with performance-based functions including slower timed walk sit-to-stand, and stair climb after adjusting for five-year history of depressive symptoms and relevant covariates. As age increased, those with higher CES-D scores were more likely to have perceived limitations in physical functioning, though the association was weak. History of depressive symptoms was not significant in any model. These findings suggest that higher concurrent depressive symptoms are modestly associated with slower movement and a perception of poorer functioning. In contrast, history of depressive symptoms played little or no role in current physical functioning of mid-life women. When evaluating physical function, women’s current mental health status should be considered.
The economic potential of silicon for integrated management and sustainable rice production

Abstract The beneficial effects of silicon fertilization on rice culture has been described and quantified in numerous literature citations. They include yield increases, improved disease, insect, and fertility management, and other benefits. Despite the scientific evidence, widespread silicon use is hindered by the high cost of the material and its application. The beneficial effects of silicon application on world rice production have been translated to monetary values using a yield and cost-price structure in the Everglades Agricultural Area of southern Florida and later changed to reflect conditions in other countries. The analysis of yield increases in the three scenarios analyzed provide savings of $271.85, $135.91, and $50.22/ha/yr for the 1996 crop season, respectively. The analysis of the remaining benefits also shows additional savings of $73.54, $52.32, and $6.43/ha/yr in the 1996 crop season. Assuming only an additional increase of 0.5 metric tons/ha in rice yields during the 1996–2010 period, land use would be reduced by 22.2 million ha and still satisfy consumption requirements in 2010. Consequently, land would be liberated for the production of non-traditional, export-oriented crops. This would be an important accomplishment, since production increases in the past and forthcoming decades have, and will, come from yield increases because of lack of available land. The additional benefits from silicon application may outweigh its cost in most rice-producing countries.
Temperatures in heavy-ion collisions from pion multiplicities

Abstract A thermodynamically consistent treatment of the nuclear interaction is employed to study the dependence of pion production on the nuclear equation of state in heavy-ion collisions. Massive baryon resonances, heavy mesons and the Bose condensation of pions are incorporated into a macrocanonical relativistic quantum-statistical treatment of the highly excited system. The measured pion multiplicities, which vary over eight orders of magnitude in the bombarding energy range from 30 MeV/nucleon to 4 GeV/nucleon, are reproduced within a simple one-dimensional fluiddynamical model if it is assumed that nuclear matter is rather incompressible. The pion yields are in this model directly related to the compression energy, which amounts to one-half of the total center-of-mass energy at all BEVALAC energies. The maximum compression derived is uncertain by about 10% and 30% at E lab = 0.4 and 1.8 GeV / nucleon , respectively. The temperatures of the system in the moment of the chemical freeze-out of the pion/delta degree of freedom are determined from the measured pion yields and range from 10 MeV to 100 MeV. An extrapolation to CERN/BNL energies, i.e. E lab > 10 GeV / nucleon , yields T = 150–200 MeV . A strong energy dependence of the cross sections and the slopes of hard γ's is predicted by this model. The calculated photon yields are in surprising agreement with the data on γ- production at intermediate energies.
Using a Behavioral Skills Training Package to Teach Conversation Skills to Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Abstract A behavioral skills training package was used to teach vocal and non-vocal conversation skills to young adults with autism spectrum disorders. A task analysis was created and verified that included both vocal conversation skills such as making comments related to the conversation topic, and non-vocal conversation skills such as maintaining appropriate proximity. The behavioral skills training package included behavioral skills training, in situ training, and reinforcer delivery. Behavioral skills training involved delivering instructions, modeling of an appropriate conversation, and role-playing with the participants in a private training room. In situ training followed each successful role-play. Access to a preferred item/activity was provided for performing at or above the previous session. The training package was shown to be effective and effects maintained during four to eight week follow-up observations.
The Primakoff effect on a proton target

The Primakoff effect offers us a way to determine the radiative decay width of pseudoscalar mesons when they are photoproduced in the electromagnetic field of hadronic systems. Taking advantage of recent developments in the Regge description of the production of mesons in the strong hadronic field, this paper evaluates the relative importance of the electromagnetic and the strong amplitudes and assesses the possibilities that have become opened because of modern experimental facilities.
LWIR HgCdTe Detectors Grown on Ge Substrates

Long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) HgCdTe p-on-n double-layer heterojunctions (DLHJs) for infrared detector applications have been grown on 100 mm Ge (112) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The objective of this current work was to grow our baseline p-on-n DLHJ detector structure (used earlier on Si substrates) on 100 mm Ge substrates in the 10 μm to 11 μm LWIR spectral region, evaluate the material properties, and obtain some preliminary detector performance data. Material characterization techniques included are X-ray rocking curves, etch pit density (EPD) measurements, compositional uniformity determined from Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) transmission, and doping concentrations determined from secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). Detector properties include resistance-area product (RoA), spectral response, and quantum efficiency. Results of LWIR HgCdTe detectors and test structure arrays (TSA) fabricated on both Ge and silicon (Si) substrates are presented and compared. Material properties demonstrated include X-ray full-width of half-maximum (FWHM) as low as 77 arcsec, typical etch pit densities in mid 106 cm−2 and wavelength cutoff maximum/minimum variation <2% across the full wafer. Detector characteristics were found to be nearly identical for HgCdTe grown on either Ge or Si substrates.