cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical Activity and Sports Team Participation: Associations with Academic Outcomes in Middle School and High School Students.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found that higher physical activity levels are associated with greater academic achievement among students. However, it remains unclear whether associations are due to the physical activity itself or sports team participation, which may involve requirements for maintaining certain grades, for example. The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between sports team participation, physical activity, and academic outcomes in middle and high school students. METHODS: Data were drawn from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a survey of middle and high school students (n = 4746). Students self-reported their weekly hours of physical activity, sports team participation, and academic letter grades. Two statistical models were considered: first, 2 separate regression analyses with grade point average (GPA) as the outcome and either sports team participation or physical activity as the predictor; second, a single regression with GPA as the outcome and both sports team participation and physical activity as the simultaneous predictors. RESULTS: For high school girls, both physical activity and sports team participation were each independently associated with a higher GPA. For high school boys, only sports team participation was independently associated with a higher GPA. For middle school students, the positive association between physical activity and GPA could not be separated from the relationship between sports team participation and a higher GPA. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of whether academic success was related to the physical activity itself or to participation on sports teams, findings indicated positive associations between physical activity involvement and academic achievement among students.
Attitudes about shared reading among at-risk mothers of newborn babies.

Objective Attitudes about shared reading among at-risk mothers of newborn babies have not been the focus of previous study. Better understanding of factors associated with these attitudes would facilitate pediatricians' provision of anticipatory guidance. We sought to assess sociodemographic correlates of attitudes regarding and resources available for shared reading among multiethnic, low socioeconomic status (SES) mothers of newborns. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis of consecutive mother-infant dyads enrolled during the postpartum period onto an urban public hospital. Dependent variables were attitudes and resources related to shared reading with infants. Independent variables were family sociodemographics, reading difficulties, and social risks. Results A total of 211 mother-newborn dyads were assessed; 23.7% reported not planning to look at books together until 12 months or later, 42.2% reported no baby books in the home, and 19.9% reported concerns about shared reading. In multiple logistic regression analyses, independent significant associations with not planning to share books together in infancy were lower maternal education, not speaking English, and firstborn. Independent significant associations of not having baby books were not speaking English, firstborn, and perceived difficulty reading in their native language. Conclusions Many at-risk mothers of newborn babies do not report plans to read in infancy and do not have appropriate books in the home. Consideration should be given to universal provision of early anticipatory guidance addressing shared reading, either during the postpartum period or during initial well-child care visits.
Dairy manure treatment effects on manure phosphorus fractionation and changes in soil test phosphorus

In this research, a sequential fractionation procedure coupled with enzyme hydrolysis was used to categorize the phosphorus (P) forms of 18 manure samples collected from in-barn composted bedded pack (beef manure), anaerobic digestion with liquid–solid separation (dairy manure), and liquid–solid separation systems (dairy manure). This research also determined the effects of those P forms on the increase in soil test P (STP) of five soil series. The soils used had initial Bray-1 P ranging from 16 to 43 mg P kg−1. Total dry-ash P (Pt) of the manures ranged from 1.4 to 15.0 g P kg−1; total inorganic P (Pit) accounted for 20 to 81 % of Pt; and enzymatically hydrolysable P (Pet) accounted for 5 to 26 % of Pt. Liquid–solid separation tended to concentrate the manure P in the liquid fractions. In contrast, anaerobic digestion did not affect the manure P distribution compared with the undigested raw manure from the same system. No differences in P distribution were found for the compost bedded pack manure. In the soil incubation study, manure and fertilizer were applied at 40 mg total P kg−1. Separated liquid manure from two systems tended to increase STP more than the separated solid manures from the same systems. Although anaerobic digestion modified some of the physical and chemical properties of the treated manures, it did not clearly impact how digested manure increased STP compared with the raw manures. Overall, the increase in STP after treated manure application was found to be a function of soil clay content and manure Pit + Pet applied.
Unemployment insurance and the distribution of unemployment spells

Abstract In this paper administrative data from the unemployment-insurance (UI) system are used to examine the distribution of unemployment spells. Hazard plots of the data reveal a strong clustering around the benefit exhaustion point. In addition, estimation of the effects of the exhaustion point and of the UI benefit level on spell lengths obtained with a non-parametric proportional-hazards model - estimated by direct maximization of the general likelihood function - shows significant effects of both. However, the effect of the exhaustion point on the hazard is not proportional, making detection of its effect somewhat difficult.
Ultrathin Liquid Lubrication of Magnetic Head–Rigid Disk Interface for Near-Contact Recording: Part II—Shear Thinning and Thermal Thinning

The Carreau shear thinning equation and the modified Roelands thermal thinning equation are combined by using the generalized master curve approach to construct a new thermal non-Newtonian rheology model. The Newton-Raphson method is then used to curve-fit existing experimental data for two perfluoropolyethers to this new model. The thermophysical properties thus found are then used to calculate thermal and shear thinning correction factors for the ultrathin liquid lubrication of magnetic head-rigid disk interfaces. The results of rheology modeling show excellent fits of the widely ranging raw data with the new thermal non-Newtonian model. The results of hydrodynamic analysis indicate that the friction force-isothermal Newtonian shear stress curve for these interfaces is simply a lubricant characteristic curve of thermal-shear thinning.
Long-Term Outcomes Following Bladder Augmentation in Children with Neurogenic Bladder

Bladder augmentation remains the final step in the management of refractory neurogenic bladder (NGB) for many children who have failed medical management. The long-term risks and benefits of augmentation surgery are important to understand when counseling patients about management options and when following augmented patients postoperatively. Benefits of bladder augmentation include improved continence, decreased risk of upper tract deterioration, possibly improved quality of life, and even reduced risk of renal-related mortality. However, risks are not trivial and include the potential need for further surgery, calculi formation, bladder perforation, acid-base disturbances, vitamin B12 deficiency, and possibly malignancy. Therefore, patients considered for augmentation should be well counseled and selected and subsequently must be followed closely by an experienced urologist for the duration of their lives.
Downregulation of IRS-1 protein in thapsigargin-treated human prostate epithelial cells.

Abstract Thapsigargin treatment of cultured cells leads to an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration, activation of calpain, and, in some cell types, apoptosis. Using a human prostate epithelial cell line that undergoes apoptosis in the presence of thapsigargin, we find decreased levels of IRS-1 protein levels during apoptosis. Inhibition of calpain prevents this decrease in IRS-1 protein; however, inhibitors of caspases or the proteasome are ineffective in maintaining IRS-1 levels. In terms of IGF-I-related second messenger proteins, the effect of thapsigargin is specific for IRS-1 since the protein levels of IGF-I receptor β-subunit, Akt, Erk, and Shc are not affected. In addition to preventing the reduction in IRS-1, treatment of cells with calpain inhibitor II prevents apoptosis in response to thapsigargin. Finally, IRS-1 and calpain can be identified in protein complexes isolated using IRS-1-specific antibodies, indicating that calpain can associate with either IRS-1 or one of the proteins present in protein complexes that contain IRS-1. In total, these results suggest that IRS-1 may be targeted for degradation by calpain during apoptosis.
Distribution of proteins in the extracellular space of muscles and the possible role of mucopolysaccharides.

Muskeln wurden in Ringerlosung mit 20% Hamoglobin oder Myoglobin equilibriert. In gefarbten Schnitten erscheint der extrazellulare Raum im Elektronenmikroskop dunkel, aber lange Filamente, Mukofilamente genannt, bleiben ungefarbt. Diese haben einen Durchmesser von 500 oder 300 a, je nachdem ob das erste oder zweite der Proteine verwendet wurde. Diese Struktur unterscheidet sich deutlich von Kollagenfibrillen durch ihre diffuse Oberflache, ihre Dicke, ihre Farbung und andere Eigenschaften und besteht wahrscheinlich aus Mukopolysacchariden.
Reduction Calcaneoplasty and Local Muscle Rotation Flap as a Salvage Option for Calcaneal Osteomyelitis with Soft Tissue Defect

Plantar heel wounds with infection remain a surgical challenge. Reduction calcaneoplasty combined with local muscle flap is an alternative technique to achieve limb salvage when standard wound therapy fails to resolve complex wounds of the plantar heel complicated by osteomyelitis of the calcaneus.
Units coordination and the construction of improper fractions: A revision of the splitting hypothesis

Abstract This article communicates findings from a year-long constructivist teaching experiment about the relationship between four sixth-grade students’ multiplicative structures and their construction of improper fractions. Students’ multiplicative structures are the units coordinations that they can take as given prior to activity—i.e., the units coordinations that they have interiorized. This research indicates that the construction of improper fractions requires having interiorized three levels of units. Students who have interiorized only two levels of units may operate with fractions greater than one, but they don’t produce improper fractions. These findings call for a revision in Steffe's hypothesis (Steffe, L. P. (2002). A new hypothesis concerning children's fractional knowledge. Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 20, 267–307) that upon the construction of the splitting operation, students’ fractional schemes can be regarded as essentially including improper fractions. While the splitting operation seems crucial in the construction of improper fractions, it is not necessarily accompanied by the interiorization of three levels of units.
Differential impact of parasympathetic withdrawal to mental stress ischemia as assessed by noninvasive evaluation of myocardial perfusion and/or function

Abstract Background: Mentally stressful tasks produce myocardial ischemia in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and changes in autonomic response have been implicated in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether MS-induced myocardial ischemia (MSI) assessed by concurrent non-invasive imaging of perfusion and/or function is associated with parasympathetic withdrawal. Methods: In 19 pts with chronic CAD, we performed simultaneous SPECT MPI, HRV analysis, and echocardiography (echo) at baseline and during MS. MS was performed using a mental arithmetic task. MSI was defined as MS-induced MPI defects and/or regional LV dysfunction by echo. HRV was quantified using spectral analysis. Results: Eleven (58%) of 19 pts had evidence of MS induced myocardial ischemia (8 MPI defects, 4 wall motion abnormalities by echo). High frequency (HF) power decreased significantly in those patients with MS-induced ischemia but did not change in those without MS-ischemia (see table below) * . HF Baseline (Ln msec2) HF MS (Ln msec2) MS ischemia (n = 11) 4.36 ± 0.32 3.75 ± 0.26 * No MS ischemia (n = 9) 4.68 ± 0.38 4.97 ± 0.31 * (p Among pts with MS ischemia, the greatest decrement in HF was observed in pts with MS-induced SPECT defects compared to those with MS-induced regional LV dysfunction. Patients with MS ischemia had a greater increase in rate-pressure product during MS than those without ischemia (58+20% vs. 34+20% increase, p Conclusion: Patients with MS-induced myocardial ischemia during MPI and/or echo show evidence of greater parasympathetic withdrawal. The association of parasympathetic withdrawal to MSI defined by SPECT was more robust than MSI defined by echocardiogram. Future studies using MPI are warranted to determine the precise role of sympathovagal balance in individual patients susceptible to MS ischemia.
Multimode regimes and instabilities in quantum-cascade lasers

A theoretical study of multimode operation regimes in quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) is presented. It is shown that the fast gain recovery of QCLs promotes two multimode regimes: One is spatial hole burning (SHB), and the other one is related to the Risken-Nummedal-Graham-Haken (RNGH) instability predicted in the sixties. A model that can account for coherent phenomena, a saturable absorber and SHB is developed and studied in detail both analytically and numerically.
Acute dyskerin depletion triggers cellular senescence and renders osteosarcoma cells resistant to genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis.

Dyskerin is a conserved, nucleolar RNA-binding protein implicated in an increasing array of fundamental cellular processes. Germline mutation in the dyskerin gene (DKC1) is the cause of X-linked dyskeratosis congenita (DC). Conversely, wild-type dyskerin is overexpressed in sporadic cancers, and high-levels may be associated with poor prognosis. It was previously reported that acute loss of dyskerin function via siRNA-mediated depletion slowed the proliferation of transformed cell lines. However, the mechanisms remained unclear. Using human U2OS osteosarcoma cells, we show that siRNA-mediated dyskerin depletion induced cellular senescence as evidenced by proliferative arrest, senescence-associated heterochromatinization and a senescence-associated molecular profile. Senescence can render cells resistant to apoptosis. Conversely, chromatin relaxation can reverse the repressive effects of senescence-associated heterochromatinization on apoptosis. To this end, genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis was suppressed in dyskerin-depleted cells. In contrast, agents that induce chromatin relaxation, including histone deacetylase inhibitors and the DNA intercalator chloroquine, sensitized dyskerin-depleted cells to apoptosis. Dyskerin is a core component of the telomerase complex and plays an important role in telomere homeostasis. Defective telomere maintenance resulting in premature senescence is thought to primarily underlie the pathogenesis of X-linked DC. Since U2OS cells are telomerase-negative, this leads us to conclude that loss of dyskerin function can also induce cellular senescence via mechanisms independent of telomere shortening.
The effects of changes in expected near-term fossil fuel prices on long-term energy and carbon dioxide projections

Two surveys of near-term energy related projections produced thus far by the International Energy Workshop have produced two different views of the world through the year 2000. This paper considers the effects of these differences on long-term forecasts of global energy consumption and corresponding emissions of carbon dioxide. The lower growth forecast of the more recent survey portends lower economic activity in the next century, but carbon emissions of nearly the same dimension. Slower growth can, in particular, be expected to slow the price induced substitution into non-fossil fuels so that the income effect of slower growth is balanced by a slower, less vigorous substitution effect.
The nonprofessional hospital volunteer as a member of the psychiatric consultation team

The use of a nonprofessional volunteer as a link between the patient and the psychiatrist in the psychiatric consultation service of a general hospital is described. The volunteer has interacted with patients and psychiatrists successfully in several ways. In addition to her participation in rounds, she helps contribute to diagnosis as well as to patient care through activity therapy and psychological support. Problems encountered in relation to staff and patients are discussed, but it is concluded that there are specific contributions that can best be made by a nonprofessional volunteer.
In vitro identification and electrophysiological characterization of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area

Abstract Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have been implicated in brain mechanisms related to motivation, reward, and drug addiction. Successful identification of these neurons in vitro has historically depended upon the expression of a hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) and immunohistochemical demonstration of the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme for DA synthesis. Recent findings suggest that electrophysiological criteria may be insufficient for distinguishing DA neurons from non-DA neurons in the VTA. In this study, we sought to determine factors that could potentially account for the apparent discrepancies in the literature regarding DA neuron identification in the rodent brain slice preparation. We found that confirmed DA neurons from the lateral VTA generally displayed a larger amplitude Ih relative to DA neurons located in the medial VTA. Measurement of a large amplitude Ih (>100 pA) consistently indicated a dopaminergic phenotype, but non-dopamine neurons also can have Ih current. The data also showed that immunohistochemical TH labeling of DA neurons can render false negative results after relatively long duration (>15 min) whole-cell patch clamp recordings. We conclude that whole-cell patch clamp recording in combination with immunohistochemical detection of TH expression can guarantee positive but not negative DA identification in the VTA.
Production of δ-endotoxin by eighteen isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis, serotype 3, in 3 fermentation media

Abstract The spore-δ-endotoxin complex of Bacillus thuringiensis was recovered from beers produced by 16 isolates of B. thuringiensis var. alesti (serotype 3a) and by 2 isolates of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki (serotype 3a, 3b). The amount of endotoxin produced by the isolates varied over a wide range and depended on the isolate used and the medium on which it was grown. Thus, the activity of preparations of B. thuriengiensis could not be predicted from the serotype. Five isolates produced higher yields of the δ-endotoxin than any previously reported.
The Dynamic Functional Consequences of the Thrombin-Thrombomodulin Interaction

The coagulation cascade is critical to wound healing, but must be well regulated to prevent pathological clot formation. We previously investigated the backbone dynamics of a key component in this cascade, thrombin, and found that the loops surrounding the thrombin active site show dynamics on the ps-ns timescale when the active site is inhibitor-bound, but have dynamics on the μs-ms timescale when the active site is unoccupied. Thrombomodulin (TM) plays a key role in the regulation of the coagulation cascade by switching the function of thrombin from procoagulant to anticoagulant. A current molecular dynamics study suggests TM does this by influencing the slow timescale dynamics of thrombin, but the actual timescale of these motions is currently unknown. NMR measurements of chemical shift differences (CSDs) can be used to probe changes in the conformational ensemble upon TM binding. Other NMR experiments probe the timescales of motion including R1 and R2 relaxation experiments, which probe the ps-ns time regime, and TROSY Hahn Echo and CPMG experiments, which probe slow (μs-ms) timescale motions. To perform these NMR studies, our lab has developed a truncation of human TM (TM456m) with complete thrombin-altering activity. We have produced 15N-labeled human thrombin using an E. coli expression system and have collected HSQCs of unbound 15N-thrombin and 15N-thrombin in 1:1 complex with unlabeled TM456m. Binding of TM456m induces significant CSDs and differences in peak intensities throughout thrombin. Several residues in the TM binding site, including S36A, L65, I82, M84, and K110, become significantly perturbed upon binding. These perturbations propagate to several residues near the active site, including H57 and D102 of the catalytic triad. We hope that a complete understanding of how TM alters the dynamics and function of thrombin will aid in the design of safer anticoagulant drugs.
Real-time correction of heart interbeat interval data

Measuring heart rate variability is an important component of developing human monitoring systems for soldiers of the next century. Unfortunately, even the best sensors are prone to error in active situations. We have developed a system that detects and corrects errors in interbeat interval data in real time. A six to ten second buffer is used to provide context for a set of rules designed to simulate the way a human expert corrects data offline. Interbeat interval data was gathered from a pool of eighteen subjects with three detection devices used on each subject. Results of the automated correction were compared with human experts to determine the validity of the method. As expected, success varied based on the number of errors in a neighborhood. Isolated errors were corrected with high accuracy, while severely damaged data streams were totally unrecoverable by human or machine. This technique could serve as a crucial component of interbeat interval based monitoring technologies.
Rosetta Predictions in CASP5: Successes, Failures, and Prospects for Complete Automation

We describe predictions of the structures of CASP5 targets using Rosetta. The Ro- setta fragment insertion protocol was used to gener- ate models for entire target domains without detect- able sequence similarity to a protein of known structure and to build long loop insertions (and N-and C-terminal extensions) in cases where a struc- tural template was available. Encouraging results were obtained both for the de novo predictions and for the long loop insertions; we describe here the successes as well as the failures in the context of current efforts to improve the Rosetta method. In particular, de novo predictions failed for large pro- teins that were incorrectly parsed into domains and for topologically complex (high contact order) pro- teins with swapping of segments between domains. However, for the remaining targets, at least one of the five submitted models had a long fragment with significant similarity to the native structure. A fully automated version of the CASP5 protocol produced results that were comparable to the human-assisted predictions for most of the targets, suggesting that automated genomic-scale, de novo protein structure prediction may soon be worthwhile. For the three targets where the human-assisted predictions were significantly closer to the native structure, we iden- tify the steps that remain to be automated. Proteins 2003;53:457- 468. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inheritance of the reversal of O2 response of photosynthesis in a Flaveria linearis mutant

A mutant plant of Flaveria linearis Lag. expresses reversed O2 response of photosynthesis (i.e. its apparent photosynthesis is stimulated at atmospheric O2 levels). The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic inheritance of this trait and to investigate the biochemical mechanism for its expression. The mutant plant was crossed reciprocally with a plant of the closely related species Flaveria oppositifolia (DC.) Rydb. and also with another plant of F. linearis. Data on O2 inhibition of apparent photosynthesis were analyzed on F2 and F3 progeny from these F1 hybrids. In addition, test crosses (mutant × F1 hybrid) and S1 progeny from the mutant plant were also analyzed. All F1 hybrids expressed inhibition of apparent photosynthesis and their progeny segregated in acceptable 3:1 and 13:3 (normal:reversed) ratios. There was little effect of environment on expression of the reversed O2 response. Selected F2 plants and the original mutant plant produced progeny in normal:reversed ratios which indicated the trait is controlled by two major genes which show dominant and recessive epistasis. Plants with greater than 20 nanomoles per gram fresh weight per minute of fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase activity in the cytosol had normal O2 response of photosynthesis. However, when plants had less than 20 nanomoles per gram fresh weight per minute of this enzyme activity in the cytosol, the O2 was normal in some and reversed in others. It is proposed that low fructose bisphosphatase activity in the cytosol is controlled by a recessive gene (fbp). A second dominant gene is speculated to be hypostatic to the normal fructose bisphosphatase gene and controls the expression of an unknown factor that determines whether O2 response of AP is reversed in the presence of fbp (i.e. when fructose bisphosphatase activity is low).
Assessing Knowledge of Mathematical Equivalence: A Construct-Modeling Approach.

Knowledge of mathematical equivalence, the principle that 2 sides of an equation represent the same value, is a foundational concept in algebra, and this knowledge develops throughout elementary and middle school. Using a construct-modeling approach, we developed an assessment of equivalence knowledge. Second through sixth graders (N = 175) completed the assessment on 2 occasions, 2 weeks apart. Evidence supported the reliability and validity of the assessment along a number of dimensions, and the relative difficulty of items was consistent with the predictions from our construct map. By Grade 5, most students held a basic relational view of equivalence and were beginning to compare the 2 sides of an equation. This study provides insights into the order in which students typically learn different aspects of equivalence knowledge. It also illustrates a powerful but underutilized approach to measurement development that is particularly useful for developing measures meant to detect changes in knowledge over time or after intervention
Use of infliximab within 3 months of ileocolonic resection is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in Crohn's patients.

Background Few studies have evaluated preoperative infliximab use and postoperative outcomes in Crohn’s patients. Our aim was to evaluate 30-day postoperative outcomes for Crohn’s patients treated with infliximab within 3 months prior to ileocolonic resection.
A nodoventricular fiber associated with dual AV nodal conduction, AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, and anterior location of the slow AV nodal pathway

We present a case of a patient with a nodoventricular tract, associated with dual AV nodal conduction and AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, and an anteroseptal location of the slow AV nodal pathway. The remarkable feature of this case is the site of successful ablation, in the anteroseptum just anterior and superior to the His bundle, where both preexcitation and dual AV nodal physiology were abolished.
A role for the RabA4b effector protein PI-4Kβ1 in polarized expansion of root hair cells in Arabidopsis thaliana

The RabA4b GTPase labels a novel, trans-Golgi network compartment displaying a developmentally regulated polar distribution in growing Arabidopsis thaliana root hair cells. GTP bound RabA4b selectively recruits the plant phosphatidylinositol 4-OH kinase, PI-4Kβ1, but not members of other PI-4K families. PI-4Kβ1 colocalizes with RabA4b on tip-localized membranes in growing root hairs, and mutant plants in which both the PI-4Kβ1 and -4Kβ2 genes are disrupted display aberrant root hair morphologies. PI-4Kβ1 interacts with RabA4b through a novel homology domain, specific to eukaryotic type IIIβ PI-4Ks, and PI-4Kβ1 also interacts with a Ca2+ sensor, AtCBL1, through its NH2 terminus. We propose that RabA4b recruitment of PI-4Kβ1 results in Ca2+-dependent generation of PI-4P on this compartment, providing a link between Ca2+ and PI-4,5P2–dependent signals during the polarized secretion of cell wall components in tip-growing root hair cells.
A COSII genetic map of the pepper genome provides a detailed picture of synteny with tomato and new insights into recent chromosome evolution in the genus Capsicum

We report herein the development of a pepper genetic linkage map which comprises 299 orthologous markers between the pepper and tomato genomes (including 263 conserved ortholog set II or COSII markers). The expected position of additional 288 COSII markers was inferred in the pepper map via pepper–tomato synteny, bringing the total orthologous markers in the pepper genome to 587. While pepper maps have been previously reported, this is the first complete map in the sense that all markers could be placed in 12 linkage groups corresponding to the 12 chromosomes. The map presented herein is relevant to the genomes of cultivated C. annuum and wild C. annuum (as well as related Capsicum species) which differ by a reciprocal chromosome translocation. This map is also unique in that it is largely based on COSII markers, which permits the inference of a detailed syntenic relationship between the pepper and tomato genomes—shedding new light on chromosome evolution in the Solanaceae. Since divergence from their last common ancestor is approximately 20 million years ago, the two genomes have become differentiated by a minimum number of 19 inversions and 6 chromosome translocations, as well as numerous putative single gene transpositions. Nevertheless, the two genomes share 35 conserved syntenic segments (CSSs) within which gene/marker order is well preserved. The high resolution COSII synteny map described herein provides a platform for cross-reference of genetic and genomic information (including the tomato genome sequence) between pepper and tomato and therefore will facilitate both applied and basic research in pepper.
The role of grazing in nutrient-rich areas of the open sea

No single factor accounts fully for the persistently low phytoplankton stocks in the nutrient-rich areas of the open sea. However, grazing plays the necessary role of consuming phytoplankton produced in excess of losses due to physical processes and sinking. Without grazing, even if specific growth rate of the phytoplankton is less than optimal for the prevailing light and temperature conditions, as might be so under limitation by a trace nutrient such as Fe, the phytoplankton stock would still accumulate with attendant depletion of nutrients. Observations during spring and summer in the open subarctic Pacific argue against limitation of phytoplankton growth to the point where phytoplankton stock could not increase in the absence of grazing. An ecosystem process model of the phytoplankton-grazer interaction suggests that two processes-grazing control of phytoplankton stock and preferential utilization of NIH, by the phytoplankton-are sufficient to explain the continuously low phytoplankton stock and high concentrations of macronutrients. However, the grazing control may be exerted on a p:hytoplankton assemblage structured by Fe limitation. In particular, the intrinsic growth rates of potentially fast-growing diatoms seem to be depressed in the open subarctic Pacific. These conditions probably apply to two other nutrientrich areas of the open sea, the Pacific equatorial upwelling region and the subantarctic circumpolar ocean, although in the latter region light limitation of phytoplankton growth may be more severe and silica limitation may influence the specific composition of the phytoplankton assemblage.
Opportunities and challenges in assessing climate change impacts on wind energy—a critical comparison of wind speed projections in California

Future climate change is expected to alter the spatial and temporal distribution of surface wind speeds (SWS), with associated impacts on electricity generation from wind energy. However, the predictions for the direction and magnitude of these changes hinge critically on the assessment methods used. Many climate change impact analyses, including those focused on wind energy, use individual climate models and/or statistical downscaling methods rooted in historical observations. Such studies may individually suggest an unrealistically high level of scientific certainty due to the absence of competing projections (over the same region, time period, etc). A new public data archive, the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP), allows for a more comprehensive perspective on regional climate change impacts, here applied to three wind farm sites in California. We employ NARCCAP regional climate model data to estimate changes in SWS expected to occur in the mid-21st century at three wind farm regions: Altamont Pass, San Gorgonio Pass, and Tehachapi Pass. We examined trends in SWS magnitude and frequency using three different global/regional model pairs, focused on model evaluation, seasonal cycle, and long-term trends. Our results, while specific to California, highlight the opportunities and limitations in NARCCAP and other publicly available meteorological data sets for energy analysis, and the importance of using multiple models for climate change impact assessment. Although spatial patterns in current wind conditions agree fairly well among models and with NARR (North American Regional Reanalysis) data, results vary widely at our three sites of interest. This poor performance and model disagreement may be explained by complex topography, limited model resolution, and differences in model physics. Spatial trends and site-specific estimates of annual average changes (1980‐2000 versus 2051‐71) also differed widely across models. All models predicted changes of <2% at each site, but the direction of the change varies. However, decreases of <2% in resources at Altamont Pass are agreed upon by each NARCCAP model used. This lack of model agreement suggests uncertainty in future changes, and a potentially high degree of risk for future investors in wind-generated electricity. More broadly, our study highlights the need for multiple calculation approaches to help distinguish between robust and method-dependent results.
Examining Cynicism in Regards to Reasons for Gay Marriage

Much research has been conducted with regards to general and specific attitudes towards gay marriage; however, to our knowledge, very little, if any, research has evaluated the reasons that others give for why gay couples want to get married. The purpose of the current study is to examine various common and uncommon reasons why couples get married, and to determine if there is a general cynicism towards gay marriage that does not exist towards heterosexual marriage. Participants were given a variety of reasons why a male gay or heterosexual person might get married, and they were asked to rate how strongly they agreed with the reasons why the target person might want to get married. The results were surprising in that there was very little cynicism towards the gay target person’s reasons; in fact, there was more cynicism towards the heterosexual target person’s reasons. We discuss the implications of this research.
Risk Reduction for HIV-Positive African American and Latino Men with Histories of Childhood Sexual Abuse

While the HIV epidemic has disproportionately affected African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), few HIV prevention interventions have focused on African American and Latino men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW). Even fewer interventions target HIV-positive African American and Latino MSM and MSMW with histories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), a population that may be vulnerable to high-risk sexual behaviors, having multiple sexual partners, and depression. The Men’s Health Project, a small randomized clinical trial, compared the effects of two 6-session interventions, the Sexual Health Intervention for Men (S-HIM), guided by social learning theory and aimed at decreasing high-risk sexual behaviors, number of sexual partners, and depressive symptoms, and a standard health promotion control (SHP). A community sample of 137 HIV-positive gay and non-gay identifying African American and Latino MSM and MSMW with histories of CSA was recruited. Results were based on an “intent to treat” analyses of baseline to post, 3 and 6 month follow-ups. The sample as a whole reported reductions in sexual risk behaviors and number of sexual partners from baseline to post-test, and from the 3 to 6 month follow-ups, although the decrease in sexual risk behavior from baseline to post-test was significant only for S-HIM participants. No significant differences between conditions were reported for depressive symptoms, but the total sample reported a significant decrease at 6 months. These findings highlight the importance of addressing sexual decision-making and psychological adjustment for ethnic men, while being sensitive to CSA histories and sexual minority status, and suggest the need to develop additional strategies to heighten HIV risk reduction over time.
On matrix factorization and finite-time average-consensus

We study the finite-time average-consensus problem for arbitrary connected networks. Viewing this consensus problem as a factorization of 1/n11T by suitable families of matrices, we prove the existence of a finite factorization and provide tight bounds on the size of the minimal factorization by exhibiting finite-time average-consensus algorithms and bounding their runtimes. We also show that basic matrix theory yields insights into the structure of finite-time consensus algorithms.
The Measurement of Emotional Intensity from Facial Expressions

(1993). The Measurement of Emotional Intensity from Facial Expressions. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 133, No. 5, pp. 749-750.
Cell-Free Degradation of p27 kip1 , a G1 Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor, Is Dependent on CDK2 Activity and the Proteasome

Entry into S phase is dependent on the coordinated activation of CDK4,6 and CDK2 kinases. Once a cell commits to S phase, there must be a mechanism to ensure the irreversibility of this decision. The activity of these kinases is inhibited by their association with p27. In many cells, p27 plays a major role in the withdrawal from the cell cycle in response to environmental cues. Thus, it is likely that p27 is a target of the machinery required to ensure the irreversibility of S-phase entry. We have been interested in understanding the mechanisms regulating p27 at the G1/S transition. In this report, we define a cell-free degradation system which faithfully recapitulates the cell cycle phase-specific degradation of p27. We show that this reaction is dependent on active CDK2 activity, suggesting that CDK2 activity is directly required for p27 degradation. In addition to CDK2, other S-phase-specific factors are required for p27 degradation. At least some of these factors are ubiquitin and proteasome dependent. We discuss the relationships between CDK2 activity, ubiquitin-dependent, and possibly ubiquitin-independent proteasomal activities in S-phase extracts as related to p27.
Organizational Patterns, Work, and Burnout in the Public School

Symptoms of "burnout" are widely discussed. Its underlying cause, it is argued, lies in the organizational patterns of schools and in routinization of instruction.
Thrombospondins, Their Polymorphisms, and Cardiovascular Disease

The thrombospondins are a 5-member gene family that mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The thrombospondins are either trimers or pentamers, and their functions depend on their abilities to interact with numerous extracellular ligands and cell surface receptors through the multiple domains that compose each subunit. Recent genetic studies have indicated associations of particular single nucleotide polymorphisms in 3 of the 5 thrombospondins with cardiovascular disease. This observation has stimulated efforts to understand how the thrombospondins influence cardiovascular pathology, to dissect how the individual polymorphisms alter the structure and function of the parent thrombospondin molecules, and to replicate the genetic data in different patient populations. This review seeks to summarize current information that has emerged on each of these fronts.
Characteristics of American young adults with increased risk for type 2 diabetes: a pilot study.

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to examine the characteristics of American young adults with increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsParticipants ages 18 to 29, overweight/obese, and se...
Minehunting with multi-layer perceptrons

The authors describe the use of multilayer perceptrons to solve the problem of distinguishing mine-like objects from clutter. Three increasingly sophisticated and effective approaches were applied against difficult side scan sonar imagery containing a highly cluttered and variable environment. Performances of the three approaches are compared using receiver operating curves (ROCs). Comparisons show that one can achieve a detection rate of 0.97 for a 0.01 false alarm rate. A subset of the networks have been demonstrated on special purpose hardware to run in real time. >
THE WATER FOOTPRINT OF ENERGY POLICIES

According to business-as-usual scenarios, increase in the world population by almost 20 percent during the next 25 years asks for more than 40 percent more energy than today. Production of such amount of additional energy requires a vast amount of natural resources such as water to be used for constructing new energy infrastructures as well as operating power plants. In this paper, the water footprint of the existing and future energy policies is calculated based on the water footprint of different energy technologies and possible future energy mix in the period of 2012-2035. For this purpose, different energy scenarios developed by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) are utilized to determine the contribution of each energy source to the total energy production with respect to uncertainties in the future energy markets. Based on the outcomes for different International Energy Outlook (IEO) scenarios, the sensitivity of energy policies’ water use efficiency to the future energy mix is discussed.
Formally real fields from a Galois theoretic perspective

To each eld F of characteristic not 2, one can associate a certain Galois group GF, the socalled W-group of F, which carries essentially the same information as the Witt ring W(F )o f equivalence classes of anisotropic quadratic forms over F. There is a close connection between (nontrivial) involutions in GF and orderings on F. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the lattice of orderings and preorderings on F is determined by GF, and to provide a Galoistheoretic version of reduced Witt rings. c 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. MSC: 11E81; 12D15
Polarization spectroscopy of homo-dinucleoside phosphates and homo-polynucleotides: Evidence for Excimer phosphorescence

Abstract Corrected emission spectra and polarization of emission spectra are reported for CMP, CpC and poly C, and for ApA and poly A. Self-consistent conjoint analysis of the polarization and emission spectra of CpC show that it consists of three components, identified as 1) monomer fluorescence, 2) excimer fluorescence, and 3) excimer phosphorescence. ApA and poly A similarly have emission spectra consisting of three components, assigned as for CpC.
Accelerating diagnostic fault simulation using z-diagnosis and concurrent equivalence identification

We propose techniques to speed up diagnostic fault simulation for circuits without full-scan which may need multi-cycle tests. First, we introduce the concept of z-sets for circuits without full scan and show how z-sets can be used in a preprocessing step to improve the performance of diagnostic fault simulation. Further, an implementation of an equivalence identification tool that executes concurrently with diagnostic fault simulation is described along with methods to increase its efficiency by prioritizing fault pair selection and reducing interprocess communication. Finally, a combination of both these techniques is analyzed and the performance benefit is presented. Experimental results on ISCAS'89 benchmarks and industrial circuits indicate that diagnostic fault simulation is substantially faster by 20.6 to 46.9% when z-sets are used along with concurrent equivalent fault identification.
Comparing extreme programming and Waterfall project results

Waterfall and Extreme Programming are two software project methods used for project management. Although there are a number of opinions comparing the two methods regarding how they should be applied, none have used project data to clearly conclude which one is better. In this paper, we present the results of a controlled empirical study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University in Silicon Valley to learn about the effective transition from traditional development to agile development. We conducted a comparison research against these two approaches. Multiple teams were assigned a project; some used Waterfall development, others used Extreme Programming. The purpose of this research is to look at advantages and disadvantages based upon the outcomes, generated artifacts, and metrics produced by the teams.
Do You Know Me? Consumer Calibration of Friends' Knowledge

A consumer's decision to rely on a friend to act as an agent depends, in part, on beliefs about the friend's knowledge. Three studies examine the role of motivational and cognitive biases in estimating friends' personalized knowledge (e.g., knowledge of one's movie preferences). Results show that estimates of close friends' knowledge are less accurate than those of less close friends for personalized but not for impersonal knowledge. Specifically, the studies show more overestimation of personalized knowledge and more bias in integrating new information for close as opposed to less close friends, supporting a motivational explanation for miscalibration of personalized knowledge.
A Parent Education Program for Parents of Chinese American Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) A Pilot Study

This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of a parent education program on decreasing parenting stress and increasing parental confidence and quality of life in parents of Chinese American children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). A pre-, posttest group design was used in this study. A total of nine families of Chinese American children with ASDs participated in a 10-week parent education program (including 10-weekly 120-min group sessions). The findings of this study revealed that after receiving the program, parents of Chinese American children with ASDs showed significant reduction in parenting stress, improvement in parental confidence, and improvement in quality of life in physical health and environment domains.