cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Skinfold caliper and ultrasound assessments of change in the distribution of subcutaneous fat during adolescent pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares skinfold caliper and sonographic measurements of the amount and distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue teenagers gain during pregnancy to test three hypotheses: (1) skinfold caliper and sonographic measurements of subcutaneous adiposity are highly correlated in pregnancy; (2) the extent to which the skinfold caliper heads compact the tissues increases during gestation; and (3) skinfold caliper measurements yield a smaller estimate of the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue gained during gestation than do sonographic measurements. METHODS: We studied 28 primiparous teenagers at 10.7±2.8 and 29.6±1.8 weeks gestation. At both study visits subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness was measured at six body sites, first by skinfold caliper and then by ultrasound. Taking the nearly compression-free sonographic measurements as the standard, we quantified the extent to which the skinfold caliper heads compacted the tissues at each measurement site by computing the percentage compression: (mean adipose tissue thickness by ultrasound−(0.5×mean adipose tissue thickness by caliper)/mean adipose tissue thickness by ultrasound)×100. Pearson correlations and paired t-tests were used to compare the skinfold caliper and sonographic measurements. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1 was supported; the skinfold caliper and sonographic measurements were highly correlated at both study visits. Hypothesis 2 was not supported; between study visits caliper-related tissue compression decreased at measurement sites on the trunk and remained the same at measurement sites on the extremities. Hypothesis 3 was also refuted; the skinfold caliper-derived estimate of the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue gained on the trunk exceeded the corresponding sonographic determination. As anticipated, the skinfold caliper measurements indicated that adipose tissue was stored more rapidly on the trunk than the extremities, but the opposite pattern emerged when the sonographic measurement technique was used. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study challenge the notion that pregnant women store adipose tissue preferentially on the trunk and suggest that pregnancy-related changes in the regional distribution of maternal body fat based on skinfold caliper measurements should be interpreted cautiously.
Incidence of Spontaneous Neoplastic and Nonneoplastic Lesions in Charles River CD-1® Mice Varies with Breeding Origin

Three separate control lifetime studies were conducted with untreated Crl: CD-1 ®(ICR)BR mice using a total of 400 mice/sex maintained to 21 mo of age. Similar husbandry practices and environmental conditions were used for all 3 studies. It was noted after study initiation that the Charles River breeding facility of origin was different for each study. The aggregate range of survival and incidence of neoplasms for the combined studies was similar to that previously reported. However, these 3 groups of mice had prominent variation in survival and in the incidence of pulmonary adenomas and systemic amyloidosis in males and females and in the incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms in males. The present studies indicate that consistent procurement of test animals is an additional variable to be considered in the establishment of a valid database within a test facility when using an outbred mouse.
Snow distribution, soil temperature and late winter CO2 efflux from soils near the Arctic treeline in northwest Alaska

The Arctic treeline is advancing in many areas and changes in carbon (C) cycling are anticipated. Differences in CO2 exchange between adjacent forest and tundra are not well known and contrasting conclusions have been drawn about the effects of forest advance on ecosystem C stocks. Measurements of CO2 exchange in tundra and adjacent forest showed the forest was a greater C sink during the growing season in northern Canada. There is, however, reason to expect that forests lose more C than tundra during the wintertime, as forests may accumulate and retain more snow. Deeper snow insulates the soil and warmer soils should lead to greater rates of belowground respiration and CO2 efflux. In this study, I tested the hypotheses that forests maintain a deeper snowpack, have warmer soils and lose more C during winter than adjacent tundra near the Arctic treeline in northwest Alaska. Measurements of snow depth, soil temperature and CO2 efflux were made at five forest and two treeline sites in late winter of three consecutive years. Snow depth and soil temperature were greater in forest than treeline sites, particularly in years with higher snowfall. There was a close exponential correlation between soil temperature and CO2 efflux across sites and years. The temperature-efflux model was driven using hourly soil temperatures from all the sites to provide a first approximation of the difference in winter C loss between treeline and forest sites. Results showed that greater wintertime C loss from forests could offset greater summertime C gain.
Reverse phase HPLC determination of 5,6-dihydro-5-azacytidine in biological fluids

Abstract A sensitive and specific reverse phase HPLC method which allows measurement of the new antitumor agent 5,6-dihydro-5-azacytidine (DHAC) in biological fluids at concentrations as low as 50 ng/ml (2 × 10−7 M) has been developed. After addition of 5′-chloro-5′-deoxy-5,6-dihydro-5-azacytidine as an internal standard, sequential ultrafiltration, boronate gel affinity chromatography and cation exchange chromatography are employed to isolate DHAC from plasma or urine. DHAC is then reacted with N,N-dimethylformamide diethylacetal to form a dimethylaminomethylene derivative with enhanced UV detectability (λmax = 264 nm, log ∊ = 4.3) and better retention on a reverse phase column. Isocratic separation is then accomplished on a fully loaded and end-capped ODS column with 0.050 M formic acid in 20% acetonitrile/water. This assay has been used to determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of DHAC in rats given a single i.v. bolus dose of 50 mg/kg. Analysis of the drug in human plasma indicates that this method is ...
Interspecies cross-reactivity of an antibody to southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania) midgut nadph-cytochrome C reductase

Abstract A rabbit antibody, prepared against a purified solubilized NADPH-cytochrome c reductase from southern armyworm ( Spodoptera eridania ) larval midgut microsomes, showed varying degrees of inhibition towards the microsomal reductases of 28 other animal species including 22 insect species and 6 from other classes. The highest levels of inhibition (and therefore cross-reactivity) were observed with lepidopteran species although the level varied considerably from species to species. Cross-reactivity was also detected with two dipteran species and to a lesser extent with three orthopterans, but none was observed with species representing the Hemiptera, Coleoptera or Hymenoptera. An absence of cross-reactivity was evident with most of the non-insect species investigated although low levels were determined with the frog ( Rana pipiens ) and the rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri ).
Bearing condition prediction considering uncertainty: An interval type-2 fuzzy neural network approach

Rolling-element bearings are critical components of rotating machinery. It is important to accurately predict in real-time the health condition of bearings so that maintenance practices can be scheduled to avoid malfunctions or even catastrophic failures. In this paper, an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Neural Network (IT2FNN) is proposed to perform multi-step-ahead condition prediction of faulty bearings. Since the IT2FNN defines an interval type-2 fuzzy logic system in the form of a multi-layer neural network, it can integrate the merits of each, such as fuzzy reasoning to handle uncertainties and neural networks to learn from data. The interval type-2 fuzzy linguistic process in the IT2FNN enables the system to handle prediction uncertainties, since the type-2 fuzzy sets are such sets whose membership grades are type-1 fuzzy sets that can be used in failure prediction due to the difficult determination of an exact membership function for a fuzzy set. Noisy data of faulty bearings are used to validate the proposed predictor, whose performance is compared with that of a prevalent type-1 condition predictor called Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The results show that better prediction accuracy can be achieved via the IT2FNN.
The first luminal loop confers insulin responsiveness to glucose transporter 4

Glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4), is the sole glucose transporter responsible for the effect of insulin on postprandial blood glucose clearance. However, the nature of the insulin sensitivity of GLUT4 remains unknown. In this study, we replaced the first luminal loop of cellugyrin, a 4-transmembrane protein that does not respond to insulin, with that of GLUT4. The chimera protein is targeted to the intracellular insulin-responsive vesicles and is translocated to the plasma membrane upon insulin stimulation. The faithful targeting of the chimera depends on the expression of the sorting receptor sortilin, which interacts with the unique amino acid residues in the first luminal loop of GLUT4. Thus the first luminal loop may confer insulin responsiveness to the GLUT4 molecule.
Estrogen Induction of Progestin Receptors in the Hypothalamus of Male and Female Rats Which Differ in Their Ability to Exhibit Cyclic Gonadotropin Secretion and Female Sexual Behavior

This study examined whether estrogen induction of cytoplasmic progestin receptors in the hypothalamus of male and female rats is sufficient to facilitate feminine sexual behaviors and/or cyclic gonadotropin secretion. Newborn male rats were injected with oil (M) or were castrated at birth and injected with oil (D1-M) or 10 �g of testosterone propionate (TP) (l0-TP-M); neonatal females were treated with oil (F), 10 Mg of TP (10-TP-F), or 500 �g of TP (500-TP-F). In adulthood, females were tested for estrous cyclicity by taking vaginal smears. Following adrenalectomygonadectomy, all animals received estrogen plus progesterone and were tested for the display of receptive and proceptive components of female sexual behavior. After hormone withdrawal, animals were injected with oil or 5 �g of estradiol benzoate (EB) 24 and 48 h before sacrifice, the same dose and times of EB injection used in behavioral testing, and the concentrations of cytoplasmic progestin receptors in the hypothalarnus-preoptic area (I-IPOA) were determined using 3H-R5020. Only control females (F) exhibited vaginal cyclicity and corpora lutea as adults. F, 10-TP-F, D1-M, and 10-TP-M groups all showed high levels of receptive hehavior (lordosis); however, only F showed high levels of proceptive behavior (ear wiggling, hopping, and darting). Neither M nor 500-TP-F groups displayed significant levels of any female sexual behaviors. Despite these large differences in the capacity of neonatally manipulated rats to respond to estrogen and progesterone with gonadotropin release and female reproductive behaviors, EB treatment produced identical, twofold increases in cytoplasmic progestin receptor levels in the HPOA of all animals. These results demonstrate that estrogen-induced elevation of neural progestin receptor concentrations alone is not sufficient to mediate the preovulatory surge of gonadotropmns, to facilitate female sexual behavior, or to underlie male-female differences in the sensitivity of these responses to estrogen and progesterone.
Impacts of climate variability on water quality with best management practices in sub-tropical climate of USA

Efficiency of non-point source pollution control methods may be altered in future climate. This study investigated climate change impacts on sediment and nutrient transport, and efficiency of best management practices (BMPs), in the Upper Pearl River Watershed (UPRW) in Mississippi. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool was applied to the UPRW using observed flow, sediment and nutrient data. Water quality samples were collected at three US geological survey gauging stations. The model was successfully calibrated and validated for daily time steps (Nash Sutcliffe efficiency and coefficient of determination – R2 up to 0.7) using manual and automatic (sequential uncertainty fitting version 2) methods from February 2010 to May 2011. Future weather scenarios were simulated using the LARS-WG model, a stochastic weather generator, with Community Climate System Model, global climate model, which was developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the USA. On the basis of the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios A1B, A2 and B1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change scenarios were simulated for the mid (2046–2065) and late (2080–2099) century. Effectiveness of four BMPs (Riparian buffer, stream fencing, sub-surface manure applications and vegetative filter strips) on reducing sediment and nutrient were evaluated in current and future climate conditions. Results show that sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus loadings will be increased up to a maximum of 26.3%, 7.3% and 14.3%, respectively, in future climate conditions. Furthermore, the effectiveness of BMPs on sediment removal will be reduced in future climate conditions, and the efficiency of nitrogen removal will be increased, whereas phosphorus removal efficiency will remain unchanged. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Responsiveness-to-Intervention A Decade Later

In this introduction to this special issue, “A Decade Later,” we provide an overview of the accomplishments as well as the persistent questions surrounding RTI. We organize this discussion within 3 categories: assessment, instruction, and policy. Within each of these sections, we also highlight how the articles in the present special issue expand upon the key issues. Developed initially for the early grades (kindergarten through third grade) and primarily in the area of reading, many-although not all-of these issues speak to the expansion of RTI to address a broader set of academic content areas and the full range of grade levels.
SOAP: A Social network Aided Personalized and effective spam filter to clean your e-mail box

The explosive growth of unsolicited emails has prompted the development of numerous spam filtering techniques. A Bayesian spam filter is superior to a static keywordbased spam filter because it can continuously evolve to tackle new spam by learning keywords in new spam emails. However, Bayesian spam filters can be easily poisoned by avoiding spam keywords and adding many innocuous keywords in the emails. In addition, they need a significant amount of time to adapt to a new spam based on user feedback. Moreover, few current spam filters exploit social networks to assist spam detection. In order to develop an accurate and user-friendly spam filter, in this paper, we propose a SOcial network Aided Personalized and effective spam filter (SOAP). Unlike previous filters that focus on parsing keywords (e.g, Bayesian filter) or building blacklists, SOAP exploits the social relationship among email correspondents to detect the spam adaptively and automatically. SOAP integrates three components into the basic Bayesian filter: social closeness-based spam filtering, social interest-based spam filtering, and adaptive trust management. We evaluate performance of SOAP based on the trace data from Facebook. Experimental results show that SOAP can greatly improve the performance of Bayesian spam filters in terms of the accuracy, attack-resilience and efficiency of spam detection. We also find that the performance of Bayesian spam filters is the lower bound of SOAP.
Sand table simulation of a ground-plane range

This paper reports on a simulation of the full-scale ground-plane range (RAT SCAT) located at White Sands Proving Grounds. Prove-in measurements obtained on the simulation range agree with the theory of a ground-plane range. The effects of varying the dielectric constant and of the configuration of the ground are presented.
UV-blue structural coloration and competition for nestboxes in male eastern bluebirds

Recent studies suggest that structural plumage coloration can indicate male quality and is used in female mate choice decisions. Whether or not structural coloration functions as a signal in male–male competitive interactions, however, has not been studied. Male eastern bluebirds, Sialia sialis, have brilliant ultraviolet-blue plumage on the head, back, wings and tail that is correlated with both reproductive effort and reproductive success. Bluebirds cannot excavate their own nest cavities, and as a consequence of limited nest sites, often engage in intense competition for nestboxes. We experimentally tested the hypothesis that structural coloration reflects male competitive ability by manipulating the number of available nestboxes. We erected a limited number of nestboxes in early spring and, after birds has established residency in those nestboxes, we added more nestboxes to the study site. We found that the reflective properties of the ultraviolet-blue plumage differed between males that acquired nestboxes early versus late in the spring, indicating that more colourful birds won competitions for access to nest sites. We also found that more colourful males fledged more offspring. These observations support the hypothesis that structural plumage colour is a condition-dependent trait in male eastern bluebirds that could be used to accurately assess the fighting ability of competitors.
Air Purgining of Commercial Salt‐Stock Pickle Fermentations

A total of 28 commercial salt-stock pickle fermentations were air-purged with a sidearm purger during two brining seasons. Both air flow rates and purging schedules were varied among the fermentations. Air-purging was as efficient as nitrogen in preventing the formation of bloaters (hollow pickles) and there was no significant effects of the various treatments used. The average overall quality of the salt-stock was equivalent to that from nitrogen-purged tanks. Softening of less than 50 bu of salt stock occurred in one tank, and a few pickles in another tank had soft blossom ends. In both instances, these defects were found in a localized area directly under the purger outlet where dissolved oxygen concentrations were highest. No reason(s) for the occurrence of softening in the two isolated tanks was found. Mach variation was observed among fermentations in dissolved oxygen levels and in the oxygen demand indicated by the rate of depletion of oxygen when the air supply was turned off. However, the demand was usually higher during the first few days after brining than in older brines.
Leaving a Legacy

Although each year we say goodbye to colleagues and lifelong friends, we were especially saddened by the recent loss of 3 highly respected and loved colleagues: Dr Jules Rothstein, Dr Scot Irwin, and Florence Kendall. Many of us have spent time remembering and reflecting about what their friendship meant to us, the impact they had on our profession, and the loss that occurred as a result of their deaths. Jules, Scot, and Florence were each exceptional leaders within our profession. They inspired us. They made the profession better. To us, they were legends, and they left us a special legacy. Simply put, each of them made a meaningful difference. Throughout my career in physical therapy, I have had the opportunity to meet many great individuals in our Association and the profession who are making a difference. I would like to focus my address tonight on those individuals and on each of you. It’s all about having an impact—an impact on our profession and on the patients we serve. It’s about our role in identifying and shaping new leaders … and those leaders mentoring new leaders. It’s all about legacies—and creating the legacy that each of us will leave. Albert Einstein once said, “Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.” Let this address be my acknowledgment of your great spirit … your willingness to courageously pursue a vision that shatters the status quo of the mediocre mind—a vision that seeks an effective and logical approach for providing access, choice, and high-quality physical therapist services. The same greatness that was embodied by our colleagues, Jules, Scot, and Florence, is also embodied by you. If you “Google” the …
International Politics and the Structure of International Organization: The Case of UNRRA

The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), created in November 1943 and dissolved in September 1948, was in some respects unique in the history of international organization. Unlike traditional functional organizations it was not established to deal with some technical problem of common interest but of limited significance. Nor was its creation motivated as was the institution of the League and the United Nations by the hope that it might solve the vast problems of war and peace. Its scope, the management of postwar relief and the caring for displaced persons, was limited but significant. Its decision-making powers within the field of relief operations were broad when compared with the authority of both prior and subsequent functional organizations. Since national influence within the organization had operational, not simply technical orpropaganda, significance, it was not surprising that the structure of the organization should be a matter of considerable concern to its member states. Both in its creation and in its subsequent development thestructure of UNRRA reflected the conflicting interests of the constituent governments in international relief.
Theory of Interfaces and Surfaces of Wide-Gap Nitrides

The results of extensive theoretical studies of the properties of interfaces and surfaces of the wide-gap III-V nitride semiconductors are reviewed. The phenomena that we have investigated include band offsets and transport properties in nitride-based devices, surface reconstruction energetics and adsorbate-substrate interactions. In the modelling of realistic blue-laser multiquantum well structures such as In 0.2 Ga 0.8 N/In 1− x Ga x N ( x > 0.8) superlattices, pyro- and piezo-electric effects are found to be strong enough to reduce the interband recombination rate and limit the efficiency of an actual device. We have also studied the influence of growth conditions and surface polarity upon the morphology of (0001) GaN surfaces, which are the primary growth faces. The charge transfer between the Ga and N atoms in GaN and the very large electronegativity of nitrogen are found to play decisive roles in determining the stable reconstructions. The behavior of Mg at the Ga-terminated (0001) surface has also been investigated. We find that Mg in the Gasubstitutional site is preferred to adatom sites on the surface. Further, our results suggest that Mg prefers to segregate to the surface.
Effect of Motor Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Microvascular Perfusion of Stimulated Rat Skeletal Muscle

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) (2,500-pps sine wave interrupted at 50 bps) on the degree of microvascular perfusion in stimulated skeletal muscle. The tibialis anterior (TA) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of 36 male rats were treated with NMES for 30 minutes at current amplitudes sufficient to produce a sustained muscle contraction (motor NMES). Muscle tissue was removed at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes after NMES. The perfused vessel/muscle fiber ratio (PV/F) of the stimulated animals at time 0 minutes was greater than that of the unstimulated control animals. A gradual decrease in the magnitude of the PV/F increase was noted over time. Depending on the muscle's fiber-type composition, the PV/F values returned to control levels by 10 to 30 minutes after motor NMES. The results indicate (1) that motor NMES significantly increases the degree of microvascular perfusion in stimulated rat skeletal muscle and (2) that the increased degree of perfusion persists for various lengths of time, depending on the fiber-type composition of the muscle. Thus, if responses in an animal model can be used as indicators of similar human responses, then the results of this study suggest that NMES can be used to increase the degree of microvascular perfusion in human skeletal muscle.
Effects of Plant Essential Oils on Ralstonia solanacearum Population Density and Bacterial Wilt Incidence in Tomato.

ABSTRACT Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of plant essential oils as soil fumigants to manage bacterial wilt (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) in tomato. Potting mixture (“soil”) infested with R. solanacearum was treated with the essential oils at 400 mg or μl and 700 mg or μl per liter of soil in greenhouse experiments. R. solanacearum population densities were determined just before and 7 days after treatment. Populations declined to undetectable levels in thymol, palmarosa oil, and lemongrass oil treatments at both concentrations, whereas tea tree oil had no effect. Tomato seedlings transplanted in soil treated with 700 mg/liter of thymol, 700 ml/liter of palmarosa oil, and 700 ml/liter of lemongrass oil were free from bacterial wilt and 100% of plants in thymol treatments were free of R. solanacearum. Soil amendment with fresh leaves of essential oil-producing plants did not reduce bacterial wilt incidence compare to untreated inoculated control. Some thyme oil-pro...
Selection on seedling emergence timing and size in an annual plant, Helianthus annuus (common sunflower, Asteraceae).

 Premise: Variation in seedling emergence timing is considered adaptive over the long term in wild populations, but early emergence can result in a fi tness advantage. To explore the adaptive signifi cance of seedling emergence timing, it should be studied under realistic conditions and in the context of other traits that infl uence fi tness.  Methods: In a common garden, we monitored maternal families from seed to fl(including over winter) with intra- and interspecifi c competition. We assessed the effects of emergence timing and plant size on survival to anthesis in different genetic backgrounds and under varying competition.  Key Results: We found genetic variation for emergence (probability and timing), size, and survival to anthesis. We also found negative selection, both phenotypic and genetic, on emergence time, such that early emergers (day 8) had almost twice as great a predicted probability of surviving as later emergers (day 28). Size had strong positive effects on survival and, furthermore, the benefi cial effects of early emergence may be mediated through size. Maternal family and competitive environment can also affect selection on emergence timing.  Conclusions: Our results indicate that early emergence is related to greater survival in wild sunfl ower, although there may be little direct selection on this trait; rather, its importance may be mediated by its effects on highly adaptive traits associated with size. Also, the effects of early emergence may vary across genetic backgrounds and competitive conditions, facilitating the maintenance of variation for this trait across a diverse landscape.
Solving Multicommodity Capacitated Network Design Problems using a Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm

Evolutionary algorithms have been applied to a variety of network flow problems with acceptable results. In this research, a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) is used to solve a variation of the multicommodity capacitated network design problem (MCNDP). This variation represents a hybrid communication network as found in network centric models with multiple objectives including costs, delays, robustness, vulnerability, and reliability. Nodes in such centric systems can have multiple and varying link capacities, rates and information (commodity) quantities to be delivered and received. Each commodity can have an independent prioritized bandwidth requirement as well. Insight to the MCNDP problem domain and Pareto structure is developed. The nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is modified and extended to solve such a MCNDP. Since the MCNDP is highly constrained, a novel initialization procedure and mutation method are also integrated into this MOEA. Empirical results and analysis indicate that effective solutions are generated very efficiently
Reflection and Transmission Interference Filters

An interference filter of the reflection type consists in its simplest form of a perfectly reflecting mirror on which is placed a thin layer of a dielectric material. The outer surface of the dielectric is coated with a very thin metallic film. When properly constructed such a filter reflects 100 percent of radiation at the frequencies 2nν0, and 0 percent of radiation at the frequencies (2n + 1)ν0.A transmission filter consists of a thin dielectric layer, both sides of which are coated with very thin metallic films. A well made filter will transmit up to approximately 40 percent of the incident radiation at the frequencies nν0. The transmission bands can be made quite narrow, and the transmission between the maxima may be less than 1 percent although it does not fall to zero.The theory, which consists of a straightforward application of the Maxwell equations, is initially applied to a single metallic film backed by dielectric media. The reflection and transmission coefficients, as well as the phase shifts, are obtained and are given in terms of the thickness and the optical constants of the film.The reflection coefficient for the reflection filter is developed next and is expressed as a function of the properties of a single metallic film. The general formula is quite complicated but degenerates to a simple form when the wave-length becomes long (i.e. for the infra-red region). By using the filter at oblique incidence it is shown that polarized radiation may be produced.The transmission filter is studied and its properties may again be formulated in terms of the properties of a single metallic film. The values of the optical constants are deduced, which lead to the construction of an efficient transmission filter. Silver films have approximately these values in the visible region of the spectrum, but fail to possess them either in the ultraviolet or in the infra-red region. The theory shows that when the filter is tilted so that the angle of incidence is no longer normal, the transmission band shifts towards shorter wave-lengths, and splits into two bands, one of which is polarized parallel and the other perpendicular to the plane of incidence. This phenomenon is observed with experimental filters.
Regulation of the nascent brain vascular network by neural progenitors

Neural progenitors are central players in the development of the brain neural circuitry. They not only produce the diverse neuronal and glial cell types in the brain, but also guide their migration in this process. Recent evidence indicates that neural progenitors also play a critical role in the development of the brain vascular network. At an early stage, neural progenitors have been found to facilitate the ingression of blood vessels from outside the neural tube, through VEGF and canonical Wnt signaling. Subsequently, neural progenitors directly communicate with endothelial cells to stabilize nascent brain vessels, in part through down-regulating Wnt pathway activity. Furthermore, neural progenitors promote nascent brain vessel integrity, through integrin αvβ8-dependent TGFβ signaling. In this review, we will discuss the evidence for, as well as questions that remain, regarding these novel roles of neural progenitors and the underlying mechanisms in their regulation of the nascent brain vascular network.
The Classification of the Spectrum of Singly Ionized Tin. Sn II

The spectrum of Sn II, as excited in a hollow cathode discharge in helium, has been photographed from 800A to 10,000A. Some 70 new lines have been classified and 28 new levels established. A few changes have been made in the levels and classifications previously made by Green and Loring, Narayan, and Lang. The $5{s}^{2}\mathrm{ms}$, $\ensuremath{-}mp$, $\ensuremath{-}md$ and $\ensuremath{-}mf$ series have been extended, and the $^{2}F$ levels have been resolved for the first time. Six members of the $5{s}^{2}\mathrm{mg}$ $^{2}G$ series have been located and used to make a new determination of the ionization potential of Sn II as 118,017\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The classification has been checked by series relations, Zeeman patterns, and by comparison with the isoelectronic spectra In I and Sb III. Irregularities in the $^{2}S$ and $^{2}D$ terms are explained qualitatively by consideration of interactions with perturbing terms from the configuration $s{p}^{2}$.
Variation in Chaetotaxy in Phaenicia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Chaetotaxy provides important characters in the taxonomy of the Calliphoridae, and the constancy of certain bristles is sometimes surprising. In the North American species of Phoenicia , the presence of 3 postacrostichals separates P. sericata (Meigen) and P. cuprina (Wiedemann) from the species of the P. caeruleiviridis group, in which the number of postacrostichals is reduced to two. Deviaton from this number has been recorded; for example, Tothill (1913) published a study of aberrant chaetotaxy in several luciliines, including P. sericata . Though my examination of large numbers of specimens of this species has revealed an occasional fly in which 1 postacrostichal is lacking on 1 or both sides of the thorax, an extended series such as that described here is unique in my experience. This consists of 8♂ and 14♀ (Lansing, Mich., July 9–August 17, 1955, M. McReynolds, Michigan State University Collection), in which the number of post-acrostichals varies from 2 to 0, and in which other notable reductions in chaetotaxy occur.
Lipid-Derived Mediators in Insulin Action

ConclusionsThere seems to be little doubt that insulin provokes rapid changes in phospholipid metabolism in many of its target tissues. These changes include apparent hydrolysis of PI-glycan or other glycolipids, activation of de novo phosphatidic acid synthesis, and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis. Diacylglycerol can derive from each of these three phospholipid effects of insulin, and more recent studies suggest that this diacylglycerol is functionally active and results in the activation of protein kinase C. A pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein appears to also be involved in PI-glycan (or other glycolipid) hydrolysis and de novo phosphatidic acid synthesis: this G protein (Giα) probably serves to couple the insulin receptor to a phospholipase C which hydrolyzes the PI-glycan, and the latter appears to release head group mediators which activate the de novo pathway. On the other hand, the activation of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis appears to occur by a separate mechanism, which does not involve a pertu...
Antibody Production in Guinea Pigs Receiving 6-Mercaptopurine.

SummaryAdministration of 6-mercaptopurine in doses as great or greater than those which effectively inhibit the immunological responses of rabbits failed to show suppressive action in guinea pigs. No depression was found in the production of precipitins by guinea pigs following mild stimulation by a soluble protein antigen (BGG), nor in development of delayed hypersensitivity in response to sensitization by a simple chemical (picryl chloride). These findings are incompatible with the view that 6-MP is a general inhibitor of antibody synthesis in all animal species.ADDENDUM. After submission of this article for publication our attention was directed to a statement by Salvin and Smith (J. Exp. Med., 1960, v111, 465) that 6-MP in quantities up to 75 mg/kg/day does not prevent the appearance of delayed or Arthus types of hypersensitivity in guinea pigs.The authors wish to express their appreciation for the skilled technical assistance of Miss Rita Hixon and Mrs. Olga Van Damme.
“Modern Family”: Mexican American Sons Providing Personal Care for Their Aging Mothers

This report extends knowledge about the informal caregiving trajectory in Mexican American (MA) families, constituting the second known empirical study of the emerging phenomenon of personal care b...
Understanding Developmental and Learning Disabilities within Functional-Systems Frameworks: Building on the Contributions of J. P. Das

This chapter honors the contributions of J. P. Das to the assessment of intelligence and diagnosis and treatment of developmental and learning disabilities; it provides an overview of similar research on assessment and instruction for language learning rather than human intelligence, which has been conducted at the University of Washington in collaboration with the second author at the University of California, Riverside. In contrast to the research of Das and colleagues, the research of the University of Washington team has focused primarily on specific learning disabilities differentiated from developmental disabilities. Key to both lines of research is the role of executive functions. Thus, in this chapter, we discuss recent developments in the research on executive functions, ranging from their roles in the supervisory attention of working memory to the cognitive processes that support language learning and use.
TANKER TRAGEDIES: IDENTIFYING THE SOURCE AND DETERMINING THE FATE OF PETROLEUM IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Three major oil spills this winter in the New England coastal area have forced immediate action on the part of oceanographic, chemical and biological researchers to determine the fate of the oil in the environment and its effects on aquatic life. This paper discusses the infrared and gas chromatographic analyses of air, water, sediment and tarball samples collected at one or more of these spill sites. The chemical partitioning of these petroleum samples in the environment is discussed and the possible source of “mystery” tarballs is conjectured based on infrared analyses.
Statin Use and Prognosis in Patients with Follicular Lymphoma (FL) and Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

Background: Recent literature suggests that statins may have anticancer potential. This effect is thought to be mediated through 2 primary mechanisms - impairment of protein prenylation and interference with the formation of cholesterol-rich lipid microdomains, or “lipid rafts” within the cell membrane. Both of these processes are critical for signaling activity of numerous proteins important for lymphomagenesis and tumor survival. Recent data, however, suggest that statin use may directly inhibit rituximab binding to CD20 and therefore rituximab efficacy. These findings raised significant concerns about statin use during rituximab treatment. Here we report on statin use and clinical outcome in a cohort of FL and DLBCL treated patients, most of whom were treated with rituximab containing regimens. Methods : 293 newly diagnosed FL patients and 228 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients were prospectively enrolled in our Lymphoma SPORE registry from 9/2002 through 6/2007. Pathology was centrally reviewed. All patients were followed for retreatment, progression-free and overall survival. Statin use at the time of diagnosis and time of initial treatment was abstracted from the medical record. An event was defined by disease progression, retreatment, or death due to any cause. Results: 19% of FL patients and 22% of DLBCL patients were on statins at diagnosis; 16% and 19% were on statins during treatment, respectively. Initial therapy for the FL patients was observation (40%), R-CHOP (19%), R-CVP (12%), rituximab alone (8%), CVP (7%), RT (6%), and other (8%). All DLBCL patients received rituximab with CHOP or a CHOP-like regimen. At a median follow-up of 36 months (range 3–73), 109 (37%) and 65 (29%) of FL and DLBCL patients had an event; 19 (6%) and 46 (20%) of FL and DLBCL patients died, respectively. After adjusting for FLIPI, grade, and initial therapy type, statin use at diagnosis was associated with better event-free survival (HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34–0.95, p=0.03) in FL patients. Statin use during treatment in FL patients was also associated with better event-free survival, though not statistically significant (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.39–1.16, p=0.15). The improvement in EFS for FL patients was consistent across initial therapies, including observation. Statin use was not associated with IPI-adjusted overall survival or event-free survival in DLBCL (all p > 0.50). Conclusions : Statin therapy does not appear to be associated with inferior clinical outcome in DLBCL treated with rituximab and CHOP or CHOP-like therapy. Therefore direct inhibition of rituximab binding to CD20 may have limited clinical significance or/and may be overcome by inhibitory impact of statins on cell signaling. The latter possibility is supported by our observation that statin use is associated with improved event-free survival in follicular lymphoma.
Tryptophan-Rich Sensory Protein/Translocator Protein (TSPO) from Cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon Binds a Broad Range of Functionally Relevant Tetrapyrroles

Tryptophan-rich sensory protein/translocator protein (TSPO) is a membrane protein involved in stress adaptation in the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon. Characterized mammalian and proteobacterial TSPO homologues bind tetrapyrroles and cholesterol ligands. We investigated the ligand binding properties of TSPO from F. diplosiphon (FdTSPO1), which was functionally characterized in prior genetic studies. Two additional TSPO proteins (FdTSPO2 and FdTSPO3) are present in F. diplosiphon; they are similar in size to reported bacterial TSPOs and smaller than FdTSPO1. The longer cyanobacterial TSPO1 is found almost exclusively in filamentous cyanobacteria and has a relatively low degree of homology to bacterial and mammalian TSPO homologues with confirmed tetrapyrrole binding. To probe distinctions of long-form TSPOs, we tested the binding of porphyrin and bilin to FdTSPO1 and measured binding affinities in the low micromolar range, with the highest binding affinity detected for heme. Although tetrapyrrole lig...
Enhancing Cognitive Presence in Online Case Discussions With Questions Based on the Practical Inquiry Model

ABSTRACTThe researchers in this study examined the influence of questions designed with the Practical Inquiry Model (PIM), compared with the regular (playground) questions, on students’ levels of cognitive presence in online discussions. Students’ discussion postings were collected and categorized according to the four levels of cognitive presence: triggering events, exploration, integration, and resolution. The data were analyzed using quantitative content analysis and nonparametric statistics. Results revealed that students’ responses to questions based on the PIM resulted in higher levels of students’ cognitive presence—integration of ideas and resolution of problems—compared with the responses based on the regular (playground) questions. These results suggest that instructors can use the PIM as a guiding framework to design questions that may influence cognitive presence in online discussions.
Contemporary reappraisal of the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in resected retroperitoneal sarcoma: Evidence from a nationwide clinical oncology database and review of the literature

Abstract Background While margin-negative resection remains the cornerstone of therapy for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) on overall survival (OS) remains poorly understood. Methods The National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients undergoing curative-intent resection of primary non-metastatic RPS (2004–2013). Multivariable modeling identified factors associated with AC receipt. Cox regression identified covariates associated with OS, and AC and surgery alone (SA) cohorts were matched 1:1 by propensity scores based on these covariates. In the propensity-score matched cohort, OS was compared by Kaplan-Meier estimates. Results from this analysis were presented in the context of a review of the existing literature on the impact of AC in resected RPS. Results Of 3892 resected RPS patients, 90.0% and 10.0% received SA and AC, respectively. Predictors of AC receipt included younger age, non-Caucasian race, hospital location, histologic grade, adjacent organ invasion, and histologic subtype. The propensity score-matched cohort comprised 767 patients (SA n = 377; AC n = 390); at a median follow-up of 59.2 (IQR 35.0–85.3) months, median OS of the propensity-matched cohort was 53.6 (IQR 22.4–119.5) months. Utilization of AC was associated with significantly worse long-term survival (median OS: 47.8 vs. 68.9 months, p = 0.017; HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.05–1.61). AC was not associated with improved OS in margin-positive (R1/R2) resection, high-grade (G2/G3) and larger (>10 cm) tumors, or in any histologic subtype. Albeit not statistically significant, there was a trend toward improved OS with AC in spindle cell (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.10–1.38), giant cell (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.32–2.13), and synovial (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.05–1.33) sarcoma. Conclusions Data from a large nationwide oncology database and review of the existing literature do not support adjuvant chemotherapy regimens following curative-intent resection of RPS, even in subgroups at high risk of failure (e.g., R1/R2 resection, high-grade or large tumors). The possible benefit of conventional adjuvant regimens in spindle cell, giant cell, and synovial sarcoma should be explored in prospective studies.
Multifaceted Gold-Palladium Bimetallic Nanorods and Their Geometric, Compositional, and Catalytic Tunabilities.

Kinetically controlled, seed-mediated co-reduction provides a robust and versatile synthetic approach to multimetallic nanoparticles with precisely controlled geometries and compositions. Here, we demonstrate that single-crystalline cylindrical Au nanorods selectively transform into a series of structurally distinct Au@Au–Pd alloy core–shell bimetallic nanorods with exotic multifaceted geometries enclosed by specific types of facets upon seed-mediated Au–Pd co-reduction under diffusion-controlled conditions. By adjusting several key synthetic parameters, such as the Pd/Au precursor ratio, the reducing agent concentration, the capping surfactant concentration, and foreign metal ion additives, we have been able to simultaneously fine-tailor the atomic-level surface structures and fine-tune the compositional stoichiometries of the multifaceted Au–Pd bimetallic nanorods. Using the catalytic hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol by ammonia borane as a model reaction obeying the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics, we furth...