cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Author rights and the Harvard open access policies: a response to Patrick Alexander

In his opinion piece criticizing the open access (OA) policies at Harvard University, Patrick Alexander makes several factual errors about the policies themselves and Harvard’s experience under them. In response, I discuss several relevant facts about Harvard OA policies, among them that the policies were adopted by faculty votes, not imposed by administrators; that under the policies, faculty only grant Harvard nonexclusive rights to new faculty articles, not exclusive rights or full copyright; that the policy-created Harvard OA license is merely a default that authors can easily waive for any given article; that the policies do not hinder Harvard faculty in publishing and do not limit their freedom to publish in the venues of their choice; and that the policies give Harvard faculty more rights, not fewer rights, over their own work than they typically get from their publishing contracts.
Vanadium dioxide: a universal phase-changing oxide for high-speed photonics (Conference Presentation)

In the six decades since F. J. Morin’s seminal paper describing the insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) in vanadium dioxide (VO2) appeared, it has been cited more than three thousand times and touched off a search for electronic applications – such as the Mott transistor – that continues up to the present. Photonic applications are now also emerging as studies of ultrafast dynamics in the photo-induced phase transition (PIPT) have yielded an increasingly nuanced, microscopic understanding of the dynamics of the IMT in thin films and nanoparticles of VO2. It appears that VO2 can function as a virtually universal phase-changing oxide, especially for those photonic applications requiring low energy and high switching efficiency. Moreover, the large changes in the VO2 dielectric function can be leveraged to control plasmonic and phononic responses through the use of resonant and other field-enhancing structures. This introduces a critical element of reconfigurability on time scales ranging upwards from the sub-picosecond domain across a broad variety of hybrid structures. After highlighting key elements of the ultrafast dynamics triggered by the PIPT, I will review recent and unpublished applications of the PIPT in the near and mid-infrared to (1) switching in silicon photonics, (2) controlling hyperbolic phonon polaritons in hexagonal boron nitride, (3) constructing plasmonic memory and color arrays, and (4) designing reconfigurable arrays for imaging and sensing. For many applications, the optical losses require that one use as little VO2 as possible, highlighting the critical importance of future materials engineering as well as PIPT studies in nanostructures of sub-micrometer dimensions.
The Evolving Roles of Cardiac Macrophages in Homeostasis, Regeneration, and Repair

Macrophages were first described as phagocytic immune cells responsible for maintaining tissue homeostasis by the removal of pathogens that disturb normal function. Historically, macrophages have been viewed as terminally differentiated monocyte-derived cells that originated through hematopoiesis and infiltrated multiple tissues in the presence of inflammation or during turnover in normal homeostasis. However, improved cell detection and fate-mapping strategies have elucidated the various lineages of tissue-resident macrophages, which can derive from embryonic origins independent of hematopoiesis and monocyte infiltration. The role of resident macrophages in organs such as the skin, liver, and the lungs have been well characterized, revealing functions well beyond a pure phagocytic and immunological role. In the heart, recent research has begun to decipher the functional roles of various tissue-resident macrophage populations through fate mapping and genetic depletion studies. Several of these studies have elucidated the novel and unexpected roles of cardiac-resident macrophages in homeostasis, including maintaining mitochondrial function, facilitating cardiac conduction, coronary development, and lymphangiogenesis, among others. Additionally, following cardiac injury, cardiac-resident macrophages adopt diverse functions such as the clearance of necrotic and apoptotic cells and debris, a reduction in the inflammatory monocyte infiltration, promotion of angiogenesis, amelioration of inflammation, and hypertrophy in the remaining myocardium, overall limiting damage extension. The present review discusses the origin, development, characterization, and function of cardiac macrophages in homeostasis, cardiac regeneration, and after cardiac injury or stress.
Mechanism of broad-spectrum Cas9 inhibition by AcrIIA11

Mobile genetic elements evade CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity by encoding anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs). Acrs inactivate CRISPR-Cas systems via diverse mechanisms but are generally specific for a narrow subset of Cas nucleases that share high sequence similarity. Here, we demonstrate that AcrIIA11 inhibits diverse Cas9 sub-types in vitro and human cells. Single-molecule fluorescence imaging reveals that AcrIIA11 interferes with the first steps of target search by reducing S. aureus Cas9′s diffusion on non-specific DNA. DNA cleavage is inhibited because the AcrIIA11:Cas9 complex is kinetically trapped at PAM-rich decoy sites, preventing Cas9 from reaching its target. This work establishes that DNA trapping can be used to inhibit a broad spectrum of Cas9 orthologs in vitro and during mammalian genome editing.
Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis of Morphine from Opium and Heroin Samples Originating in the Four Major Heroin Producing Regions.

The forensic analysis of stable isotopes is a valuable tool to geo-source natural or semi-synthetic drugs such as cocaine and heroin. The present study describes a novel methodology to isolate morphine from opium for isotopic analysis. Furthermore, this isotopic data from regional sources is corroborated with morphine data obtained from seized heroin (de-acetylated to morphine) from the same regions. All five primary alkaloids of opium, namely morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine and papaverine, were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography with PDA before the preparative experiment to gather a complete major alkaloidal profile. Morphine fractions of authentic opium submissions from Mexico, South America, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Asia were isolated and collected using preparative high performance liquid chromatography, and the collected morphine samples were subsequently analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Carbon and nitrogen isotope data are presented. The data demonstrates that nitrogen ratios are capable of differentiating samples from Mexico and South America while carbon ratios are able to distinguish Southwest Asian samples from other source regions. Analogous results have routinely been observed (as part of Heroin Signature Program analysis) for morphine obtained from de-acetylated authentic heroin samples from the same source regions. The results suggest that the poppy growing region has a greater influence on the carbon and nitrogen isotope values than the heroin manufacturing processes employed. When utilized in conjunction with existing signature methodologies, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio data can enhance the ability to geo-source heroin.
FR 03. Effect of birth season and bST on growth rate in Holstein heifers

Two hundreds and forty seven Holstein heifers born during four consecutive years were for this research to describe effects of season of birth and bST injections on growth rates of heifers fed two diets and during two growth periods. For both experimental groups, treatments consisted of control (.68 kg/d) and fast growth rates (.900 kg/d) and injected with bST either 12.36 mg/d or 500 mg/14 d. All heifers were fed corn silage beginning at about 80 d of age and grain concentrates were top-dressed on the silage to provide energy, CP, and minerals to support desired ADGs. All heifers were weighed and height at withers recorded biweekly, adjustments to feed offered were made within several days after weighing. Heifers were group fed once daily. Water was available ad libitum. Data for body weight and height were analyzed by least squares analysis of variance using the mixed model procedures of SAS. Significant differences were detected for effects of season of birth, diet, bST and the two-way interaction, year × season, for both the overall and peripubertal growth periods. Significant effects were detected for year during the peripubertal growth period and for the two-way interaction, season × bST, during the overall growth period. The covariate initial body weight was significant during both growth periods. Growth rates of heifers were increased by bST irrespective of whether heifers were fed for normal or rapid growth rates, or the season in which heifers were born. This suggested that bST improved growth rates by increasing feed efficiency and nutrient distribution to priority organs. Energy storage as protein accretion (skeletal and muscle growth), instead of fat deposition, may result in larger heifers at age of breeding. Thus, bST injected heifers could be bred earlier to calve at a younger age.
The Influence of Perceptual Accuracy on Willingness to Seek Help Among College Freshmen

THE INFLUENCE OF PERCEPTUAL ACCURACY ON WILLINGNESS TO SEEK HELP AMONG COLLEGE FRESHMEN By Kathryn A. Conley, M.S., M.A. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 Major Director: Steven J. Danish, Ph.D. Professor, Counseling Psychology OBJECTIVE: The current study explored the applicability of the social norms approach to a new domain of study: psychological help-seeking. A number of questions that must be answered to determine whether the social norms model can be applied effectively to the helpseeking domain guided the study. METHOD: Data were collected from freshmen at five colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region (N = 3021) during freshman orientation week. The study used a cross sectional design to examine personal attitudes and behaviors related to help-seeking as well as perceptions about others’ attitudes and behaviors related to help-seeking. RESULTS: Most participants reported that they were willing to seek help and viewed seeking help as a personal strength rather than personal weakness. However, discrepancies between “reality” and perception indicate that most freshmen in this sample misperceived reality. Most participants underestimated the extent to which peers are accepting of seeking psychological help and most participants were not accurate in their perceptions of peer help seeking behaviors. This misperception significantly influenced personal willingness to seek help. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that the social norms method of intervention is applicable to the domain of help seeking and efforts to reduce stigma. Implications, next steps for future research, and limitations of the current study are discussed.
A new method to reduce the statistical and systematic uncertainty of chance coincidence backgrounds measured with waveform digitizers

Abstract A new method for measuring chance-coincidence backgrounds during the collection of coincidence data is presented. The method relies on acquiring data with near-zero dead time, which is now realistic due to the increasing deployment of flash electronic-digitizer (waveform digitizer) techniques. An experiment designed to use this new method is capable of acquiring more coincidence data, and a much reduced statistical fluctuation of the measured background. A statistical analysis is presented, and used to derive a figure of merit for the new method. Factors of four improvement over other analyzes are realistic. The technique is illustrated with preliminary data taken as part of a program to make new measurements of the prompt fission neutron spectra at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. It is expected that the these measurements will occur in a regime where the maximum figure of merit will be exploited.
A Concise History of Modern India

List of illustrations Preface to the second edition Preface to the first edition Glossary Chronology 1. Sultans, Mughals and pre-colonial Indian society 2. Mughal twilight: the emergence of regional states and the East India Company 3. The East India Company Raj, 1772-1850 4. Revolt, the modern state and colonized subjects, 1848-1885 5. Civil society, colonial constraints, 1885-1919 6. The crisis of the colonial order, 1919-1939 7. The 1940s: triumph and tragedy 8. Congress Raj: democracy and development, 1950-1989 9. Democratic India in the nineties: coalitions, class, community, consumers and conflict Epilogue: a new century begins Biographical notes Bibliographic essay Index.
Inequalities and Spreadsheet Modeling

This paper presents computer spreadsheet as a milieu for high school mathematics teacher training in the use of inequalities and associated proof techniques. It reflects on activities designed in the framework of a technology-enhanced secondary mathematics education course. The main feature of the milieu is the unity of context, mathematics, and technology that enables inequalities to emerge as meaningful tools in computing applications to authentic problematic situations. In addition to using a spreadsheet as a generator of problems on computational efficiency that lead to the use of inequalities, the paper shows how one can extend a context within which such problems arise allowing for inequalities to be considered a useful component of the mathematical education of high school teachers.
Dynein isoforms in sea urchin eggs.

Biochemical and immunological analysis of unfertilized sea urchin eggs has revealed the presence of at least two distinct isoforms of cytoplasmic dyneins, one soluble and the other microtubule-associated. The soluble enzyme is a 20 S particle with a MgATPase activity that can be activated 5-fold by nonionic detergents. It contains heavy chain polypeptides that 1) comigrate with the dynein heavy chains of embryonic cilia; 2) cross-react with antibodies against flagellar dynein; and 3) are cleaved by UV irradiation in the presence of MgATP and sodium vanadate into specific peptide fragments. The soluble egg dynein is, therefore, closely related to axonemal dynein and may be a ciliary precursor. Egg microtubule preparations contain a distinct dynein-like polypeptide, previously designated HMr-3 (Scholey, J.M., Neighbors, B., McIntosh, J.R., and Salmon, E.D. (1984) J. Biol Chem. 259, 6516-6525). HMr-3 binds microtubules in an ATP-sensitive fashion; it sediments at 20 S on sucrose density gradients, and it is susceptible to vanadate-sensitized UV cleavage. However, HMr-3 can be distinguished from the soluble cytoplasmic dynein on the basis of its weak cross-reactivity with antiflagellar dynein antibodies, its heavy chain composition on high resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, its low specific ATPase activity, and the molecular weight of its vanadate-induced UV cleavage fragments. HMr-3 may represent a dynein-like polypeptide that is distinct from the pool of ciliary dynein precursors.
A heuristic mathematical model for the dynamics of sensory conflict and motion sickness

By consideration of the information processing task faced by the central nervous system in estimating body spatial orientation and in controlling active body movement using an internal model referenced control strategy, a mathematical model for sensory conflict generation is developed. The model postulates a major dynamic functional role for sensory conflict signals in movement control, as well as in sensory-motor adaptation. It accounts for the role of active movement in creating motion sickness symptoms in some experimental circumstance, and in alleviating them in others. The relationship between motion sickness produced by sensory rearrangement and that resulting from external motion disturbances is explicitly defined. A nonlinear conflict averaging model is proposed which describes dynamic aspects of experimentally observed subjective discomfort sensation, and suggests resulting behaviours. The model admits several possibilities for adaptive mechanisms which do not involve internal model updating. Further systematic efforts to experimentally refine and validate the model are indicated.
Multivariate vestibular testing: Laterality of unilateral Ménière's disease

This paper discusses the use of vestibular testing to discriminate between right (n =2 9) and left (n =2 7 )M ´ eni` ere's disease. We examined reduced vestibular response (RVR), directional preponderance, and spontaneous and positional nystagmus measurements from electronystagmography, as well as the asymmetry measurements from the sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test, to determine whether multivariate logistic regression could improve upon the discrimination performance of RVR alone. We found that patients with a spontaneous or positional nystagmus often had a "recovery nystagmus", beating in the opposite direction of that predicted for an acute lesion. When present, the direction and magnitude of such nystagmus could be used in the classification algorithm to increase the discriminatory power over RVR alone, but in these patients the rotation test asym- metry measurements were rendered useless. In the absence of spontaneous or positional nystagmus, asymmetry measurements significantly enhanced right/left discrimination. Directional preponderance was insignificant in determining the side of lesion.
Electronic structure studies of metal hydrides

Abstract The electronic structures of representative metal hydrides were examined using photoelectron and optical spectroscopies. The results of these studies are compared with predictions of the one-electron band model for the various metal-hydrogen systems. Generally excellent agreement is found. The discussion emphasizes Nb4H3 and the dihydrides of scandium, yttrium, neodymium, gadolinium, terbium, erbium, lutetium, hafnium and thorium.
Accuracy of Kendall's chi-square approximation to circular triad distributions

This paper contains an assessment of the accuracy of Kendall's chi-square approximation to circular triad distributions. Estimated indices are compared to enumerated values across the upper and lower tails of cumulative proportions of circular triad distributions for 5–15 objects. In general, the approximation is found to be quite good. The median difference between the exact distribution and Kendall's approximation is .000692. Critical value approximations are never in error by more than one circular triad and are almost always in the conservative direction. A researcher can be confident that little meaningful error will be present when using Kendall's approximation for experiments outside the range of tabled values. It appears that the chi-square approximation will be accurate to at least two decimal places for distributions beyond 15 objects.
“It's not just about MOMMAS”: African-American non-resident fathers' views of paternal involvement†

Many social and economic policies have been developed to increase fathers' involvement with their children. Yet, we know little about the meaning of involvement for African-American non-resident fathers. The purpose of this study was to obtain African-American non-resident fathers' perspectives on involvement and perceptions of their involvement. Seven focus groups were conducted with 69 fathers. Fathers' views of involvement were grouped into four major areas of importance, including sharing and caring, providing guidance, providing support, and serving in culturally specific roles. Fathers described many impediments to, and expressed dissatisfaction with, their level of involvement. The findings support the need for father-focused interventions.
Geological Analysis of Aeromagnetic Data from Southwestern Alaska: Implications for Exploration in the Area of the Pebble Porphyry Cu-Au-Mo Deposit

Aeromagnetic data are used to better understand the geology and mineral resources near the Late Cretaceous Pebble porphyry Cu-Au-Mo deposit in southwestern Alaska. The reduced-to-pole (RTP) transformation of regional-scale aeromagnetic data shows that the Pebble deposit is within a cluster of magnetic anomaly highs. Similar to Pebble, the Iliamna, Kijik, and Neacola porphyry copper occurrences are in magnetic highs that trend northeast along the crustal-scale Lake Clark fault. A high-amplitude, short- to moderate-wavelength anomaly is centered over the Kemuk occurrence, an Alaska-type ultramafic complex. Similar anomalies are found west and north of Kemuk. A moderate-amplitude, moderate-wavelength magnetic low surrounded by a moderate-amplitude, short-wavelength magnetic high is associated with the gold-bearing Shotgun intrusive complex. The RTP transformation of the district-scale aeromagnetic data acquired over Pebble permits differentiation of a variety of Jurassic to Tertiary magmatic rock suites. Jurassic-Cretaceous basalt and gabbro units and Late Cretaceous biotite pyroxenite and granodiorite rocks produce magnetic highs. Tertiary basalt units also produce magnetic highs, but appear to be volumetrically minor. Eocene monzonite units have associated magnetic lows. The RTP data do not suggest a magnetite-rich hydrothermal system at the Pebble deposit. The 10-km upward continuation transformation of the regional-scale data shows a linear northeast trend of magnetic anomaly highs. These anomalies are spatially correlated with Late Cretaceous igneous rocks and in the Pebble district are centered over the granodiorite rocks genetically related to porphyry copper systems. The spacing of these anomalies is similar to patterns shown by the numerous porphyry copper deposits in northern Chile. These anomalies are interpreted to reflect a Late Cretaceous magmatic arc that is favorable for additional discoveries of Late Cretaceous porphyry copper systems in southwestern Alaska.
Poetic justice or petty jealousy? The aesthetics of revenge

Abstract The growing body of research on workplace revenge has focused on morality-based principles (e.g., organizational justice) that people use to judge acts of revenge. By contrast, in the present research, we report findings from two studies that focus on aesthetics-based principles (e.g., the “beauty” of executing the act of revenge) that people use to judge acts of revenge. In Study 1, a qualitative analysis of revenge incidents, we identify altruism, poetic qualities, and symmetry as aesthetic principles that people use to judge acts of revenge. In Study 2, a quantitative analysis of a policy-capturing experiment, we focused on the symmetry principle. Specifically, we examined the influence of the symmetry of method and symmetry of consequences in revenge. In that study, we found that workplace revenge is judged less harshly when consequences are symmetric than when they are asymmetric. However, symmetry has the opposite effect on judgments when it comes to symmetry of methods: similar methods were judged more harshly than dissimilar methods. We discuss the influence of aesthetic principles on judgments about revenge, and whether such principles legitimate or delegitimate an act of revenge.
Synthesis And Characterization Of Type II ZnSe/ CdS Core/Shell Nanocrystals

High-quality ZnSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals, exhibiting a type II carrier localization regime, were fabricated via a traditional pyrolysis of organometallic precursors. The two-step synthesis involved fabrication of 4.5−6 nm ZnSe seeds followed by a subsequent deposition of the CdS shell. An efficient spatial separation of electrons and holes between the core and the shell was observed for heterostructures containing more than three monolayers of CdS, which was primarily evidenced by the spatially indirect emission tunable from 480 to 610 nm for a fixed core diameter. Because of a large (type II) offset of band edges at the core/shell interface, fabricated nanocrystals exhibited a relatively low spectral overlap between emission and absorption profiles, with associated Stokes shifts of up to 110 nm. The quantum yield of as-prepared samples was 12−18% and was further improved to 20% after purification of nanocrystals through multiple hexane/methanol extractions. Novel properties of synthesized ZnSe/CdS n...
Luminescence of CdS generated by high intensity excitation below the bandgap

Abstract High excitation photoluminescence of CdS at low temperatures excited by photons below the bandgap show the same general features as those obtained by one-photon band to band absorption. The excitation spectrum of the M -line shows no structure corresponding to a giant two-photon absorption expected for the direct creation of excitonic molecules.
Characterization of a Nuclear Protein Conferring Brefeldin A Resistance in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The fungal metabolite brefeldin A disrupts protein secretion and causes the redistribution of the Golgi complex to the endoplasmic reticulum. Previously we isolated six genes that, when present in multiple copies, confer brefeldin A resistance to wild type Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here we describe the characterization of one of these genes, hba1. This gene encodes an essential protein that shares homology with the mammalian protein RanBP1 and the protein encoded by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene YRB1 and contains a peptide motif present in several proteins found within the nuclear pore complex. The protein encoded by hba1 is localized to the nucleus, and it was determined that this protein is phosphorylated in vivo. The characterization of hba1 thus demonstrates a novel mechanism of drug resistance in S. pombe.
Bioequivalence challenges in development of fixed-dose combination products: looking beyond reformulation.

Introduction: Bioequivalence study is a critical step in the development of novel fixed-dose combination products (FDCPs). While bioequivalence of prototype FDCP to the approved monocomponent products facilitates speedier development and approval, lack of bioequivalence often leads to development delays due to reformulation. Areas covered: Pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction is one of those issues that often have the potential to completely derail the product development process. The objective of the present article is to highlight PK challenges along with strategies to resolve them. Expert opinion: A rationale development approach that integrates formulation and clinical insight, so as to understand the clinical significance of non-bioequivalence, would help to minimize the development timeline. While bioequivalence should always be the initial goal in the formulation development, failure to meet it should not immediately lead to reformulation. Instead, evaluating the PK of actives in FDCPs in approved mark...
Equivalence of three score tests for association mapping of quantitative trait loci under selective genotyping.

Huang and Lin ([2007] Am J Hum Genet 80:567–572) proposed a conditional-likelihood approach for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) under selective genotyping, and demonstrated via simulation that their model tends to be more powerful than the prospective linear regression. However, we show that the three score tests based on the conditional, prospective and retrospective likelihoods are numerically identical in testing association between a quantitative trait and a candidate locus. Two approximations are derived for calculating power and sample size for the score test. Compared to the random sampling, a single-tail selection generally reduces the power of the score test in mapping small effect QTLs. A two-tail selection generally enhances the QTL heritability; however, in small samples, the power of the test may actually decrease if the sample sizes are highly unbalanced in the upper and lower tails of the trait distribution. Genet. Epidemiol. 34: 522–527, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hematopoietic cell transplantation for Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct indolent B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancy characterized by IgM paraproteinemia. Although the disease is sensitive to chemo-immunotherapy, it remains incurable and affected patients have a median survival of 5-10 years. Risk stratification in newly diagnosed patients should start with a prognostic evaluation based on the International Prognostic Scoring System for WM (IPSSWM) to identify those patients in whom particularly poor survival with chemotherapy is expected and in whom alternative treatment strategies, such as hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), should be considered. High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous HCT (auto-HCT) results in disease-free survival of 45-65% at 5 years, but is unlikely to be curative. Chemosensitive disease at the time of auto-HCT is the most important prognostic factor for response rate and overall survival. Allogeneic donor HCT may offer a unique immune-mediated GVL effect with a plateau in relapse rates and potential for extended disease-free survival. The risk of allogeneic HCT complications is justified in HCT-eligible patients whose expected survival is <5 years. Here, we present the advances in non-transplant strategies and the therapeutic role of transplant, and suggest a treatment algorithm for selecting a HCT strategy while adhering to current evidence supporting autologous and allogeneic donor HCT for WM.
Internal Employment Opportunity and External Employment Opportunity: Independent or Interactive Retention Effects?

Contemporary attrition/retention frameworks suggest that internal mobility opportunities (e.g., promotions) and external mobility opportunities (i.e., alternative sources of employment) impact turn...
History of medical radionuclide production.

Radionuclide production for medical use originally was incidental to isotope discoveries by physicists and chemists. Once the available radionuclides were identified they were evaluated for potential medical use. Hevesy first used 32 P in 1935 to study phosphorous metabolism in rats. Since that time, the development of cyclotrons,linear accelerators, and nuclear reactors have produced hundreds of radionuclides for potential medical use. The history of medical radionuclide production represents an evolutionary, interdisciplinary development of applied nuclear technology. Today the technology is represented by a mature industry and provides medical benefits to millions of patients annually.
Racial differences in the association between body fat distribution and lipid profiles among reproductive-age women

Aim The aim of this study was to examine the racial and ethnic differences in the relationship between body fat distribution variables and serum lipid profiles.
The TRAVATAN Dosing Aid Accurately Records When Drops Are Taken

Purpose To assess the accuracy of Travatan Dosing Aid recordings. Design Prospective evaluation of drop-recording accuracy. Methods Physicians and patients used the Dosing Aid, and logs of usage were compared to the data obtained from the Dosing Aid. Results Five physicians and 20 patients participated. Devices used by physicians recorded all drops dispensed. Extra readings were recorded when physicians carried the devices during the day. For patients, 93% of all drops were recorded, with 18 of 20 subjects having over 85% of the drops recorded. Seventy percent of patients would continue using the device. Conclusions The Dosing Aid accurately recorded most eyedrops administered by patients and physicians. Given recent documentation of widespread undercompliance with medical therapy, the Dosing Aid could be a useful addition to clinical practice and research.
Suprathreshold spatiotemporal response characteristics of the human visual system

The apparent contrasts of suprathreshold stationary gratings, countermodulated gratings, and homogeneous flickering fields were assessed with a contrast-matching procedure. Results show that, as stimulus amplitude is increased relative to threshold, variations in apparent contrast with spatiotemporal-frequency content become much less pronounced. In other words, the contrast-matching functions are more uniform across both spatial and temporal frequency at levels of contrast well above threshold. These data are interpreted in terms of a compensatory stage in the visual system that varies its gain characteristics according to the detectability of the stimulus.
Meiotic Transvection in Fungi

Abstract The Neurospora crassa Asm-1 + (ascospore maturation 1) gene encodes an abundant nucleus-localized protein required for formation of female structures and for ascospore maturation. Deletion mutants of Asm-1 + are "ascus-dominant," i.e., when crossed to wild type, neither Asm-1 + nor Asm-1 Δ spores mature. To explain this behavior, we considered three models: an effect of reduced dosage of the gene product, failure of internuclear communication, and failure of transvection (regulation dependent on pairing of alleles). We found that for proper regulation of subsequent sexual sporulation, Asm-1 + must be in proximity, probably paired, to its allelic counterpart in the zygote: i.e., transvection must occur. Disruption of pairing causes failure of ascospore progeny to mature. Transvection in Neurospora, unlike in Drosophila, occurs immediately before meiosis, and can be demonstrated between wild-type alleles.
Undocumented College Students, Taxation, and Financial Aid: A Technical Note

A surprising amount of litigation and legislation has erupted over undocumented college students. Victims at the federal level are the DREAM Act and immigration reform. Financial aid raises technical issues for undocumented college applicants and for the citizen children of undocumented parents. Generally, the undocumented are ineligible for federal financial aid and nearly always for state aid. Even citizen college applicants face technical and administrative problems in negotiating the complex financial aid application process. The undocumented are trapped by imprecise definitions and applications of immigration categories among financial aid regulation, statutory immigration terms, and Internal Revenue Code provisions.
Abstract 5555: Diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic injury and hepatocarcinogenesis: A role for hepatic retinoids

The liver is the main tissue site of retinoid storage in the body and the non-parenchymal hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is the major cellular site of retinoid storage within the liver. Loss of retinoid-containing lipid droplets (LDs) from HSCs is one of the first events in the development of hepatic diseases, leading progressively to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the loss of LDs is a hallmark of HSC activation, the contribution of hepatic retinoid storage to hepatic injury and hepatocarcinogenesis remains unknown. Lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) is the sole enzyme responsible for storing hepatic retinoid and LRAT knockout (KO) mice lack liver retinoid stores. Retinol-binding protein (RBP) is the principal transport protein for retinol in the blood. RBP KO mice are unable to mobilize hepatic retinoid stores and have significantly more retinoid storage in the liver compared to wild type (WT) mice. In this study, we investigated the effects of endogenous retinoids on hepatic injury and hepatocarcinogenesis. We induced hepatic injury and HCC using diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in WT, LRAT KO and RBP KO mice. Both acute (for 24 and 48 hours after DEN administration) and long-term (for 8 months after DEN administration) studies were undertaken. After DEN injection of WT, LRAT KO, and RBP KO mice, serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) were significantly lower and Cyclin D1 and Ki-67 mRNA expression levels were decreased in the livers of the KOs compared to WT mice. This suggests that LRAT KO and RBP KO mice are less susceptible to DEN-induced liver injury and following compensatory proliferation. Furthermore, 8-month-old DEN-treated LRAT KO (n = 18) and RBP KO (n = 13) mice showed lower HCC incidence, fewer tumors, and smaller tumors than DEN-treated WT mice (n = 24). Five-month-old male LRAT KO and RBP KO mice showed higher expression levels of retinoic acid (RA) responsive genes, such as Cyp26A1 and RARβ, mRNA in their liver compared to WT, indicating that RA signaling is upregulated in the livers of the KOs’ mice. The expression levels of p21 mRNA in LRAT KO and RBP KO mice liver were higher than WT at several time points in both acute and long-term studies. Together these results suggest that increased RA signaling and associated higher p21 expression play important roles in the lower susceptibility of these mouse models to liver injury and hepatocarcinogenesis. We are presently investigating other possibilities that the presence/absence through which endogenous hepatic retinoids might have effects on hepatic diseases, probably by modulating several cancer signaling pathways, regulating apoptosis of hepatocytes and cancer cells, or influencing the tumor-surrounding microenvironment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5555. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5555
Measurement of the heats of adsorption of chiral isomers on an enantioselective stationary phase

Abstract The adsorption isotherms of the N-benzoyl- d - and l -alanine were measured at different temperatures, and the enthalpy of adsorption and the isosteric heat of adsorption were extracted from the data. These thermodynamic functions provide further evidence that a bimodal retention mechanism is present for the separation of enantiomeric pairs on a bovine serum albumin stationary phase. The first mode of interaction is associated with the chiral selective properties of the column whereas the second is associated with the non-chiral selective properties.
Unordered multiplicity lists of a class of binary trees

Abstract Associated with a given graph G on n vertices 1 , 2 , … , n , is the set S ( G ) of all n × n real symmetric matrices A = [ a ij ] whose off-diagonal entries are placed according to the edges of G, i.e., for i ≠ j , a ij ≠ 0 if and only if vertices i and j are adjacent. In this paper we study spectral properties of matrices in S ( G ) for a class of binary trees G. We first show that a matrix A in S ( G ) has no eigenvalues of multiplicity 4 or more, at most one eigenvalue of multiplicity 3, and at least three simple eigenvalues. We then completely determine the unordered multiplicity lists of these binary trees. As a consequence, it is shown that the minimum number of distinct eigenvalues of a matrix in S ( G ) is one more than the diameter of G.
Seasonal changes in the productivity, caloric content, and chemical composition of a population of salt-marsh cord-grass (Spartina alterniflora)

During the 1972 growing season, the productivity of a short form and a tall form ofSpartina alterniflora was studied by the harvest method in the vicinity of the Rutgers Marine Sciences Center on Great Bay near Tuckerton, New Jersey. The aboveground biomass of living and dead grass was determined and subsamples were analyzed for caloric equivalents, ash, nitrogen, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract, and nitrogen free extract. S. alterniflora had peak standing crops of 1,592 g/m2 for tall form and 592 g/m2 for short form. Standing crops of crude fiber, ether extract, nitrogen free extract, and caloric values are a function of dry matter production while nitrogen components seem to be influenced by some other factor. Seventy percent of the crude protein was present in early summer at a time when dry weight was less than 50% of its maximum value. The data indicate that the amount of nitrogen that the plant accumulates in its aboveground parts early in the growing season is directly related to the peak of dry matter standing crop. The early spring accumulation of nitrogen may act to offset shortages at the peak of the growing season. The chemical composition of litter and soil samples suggests that biological breakdown of plant material occurs at the soil surface.
Effect of nuclear localization and hydrodynamic delivery-induced cell division on phiC31 integrase activity.

Phage φC31 integrase is a recombinase that can be expressed in mammalian cells to integrate plasmids carrying an attB sequence into the genome at specific pseudo attP locations. We show by immunofluoresence that wild-type φC31 integrase is cytoplasmic and that addition of the SV40 nuclear localization signal (NLS) localized φC31 integrase to the nucleus. Unexpectedly, the NLS depressed integration efficiency in HeLa cells and provided no benefit when used to integrate the human Factor IX (hFIX) gene into mouse liver. As breakdown of the nuclear membrane during mitosis could allow cytoplasmic integrase access to the chromosomes, we analyzed whether cell division was required for integration into liver cells in vivo. Hepatocytes were labeled with iododeoxyuridine to mark cells that underwent DNA replication during the week after hydrodynamic injection. Hydrodynamic delivery led to DNA replication in one-third of hepatocytes. Approximately three out of four cells having φC31 integrase-mediated stable hFIX expression did not undergo replication, indicating that cell division was not required for integrase function in liver. Therefore, although the bulk of φC31 integrase protein seems to be cytoplasmic in mammalian cells, integration can still occur in the nucleus, even without cell division.
Smoking by frequency and type of social contact.

OBJECTIVES To compare smoking by frequency and type of social contact. METHODS Respondents aged 20 years or older from NHANES III were analyzed using multivariate logistic models (N = 15,499). RESULTS Among the levels and types of social contact, frequency of church attendance was the only type of social contact associated with lower likelihood of smoking (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.64, 0.72). Other types of contact were either not associated or were associated with higher probabilities of smoking. CONCLUSIONS Frequent church attendance appears to protect the most from smoking relative to other types of social contact.
Nutrient preference and diet-induced adiposity in C57BL/6ByJ and 129P3/J mice

Purified carbohydrates and fats are usually palatable to humans and other animals, and their consumption often induces weight gain and accumulation of fat. In this study, we examined consumption of complex carbohydrates (cornstarch and Polycose) and fats (soybean oil and margarine) in mice from two inbred strains, C57BL/6ByJ and 129P3/J. At lower concentrations of liquid nutrients tested using two-bottle tests, when the amounts consumed had negligible energy content, the C57BL/6ByJ mice had higher acceptance of Polycose and soybean oil. This was probably due to strain differences in chemosensory perception of Polycose and oil. At higher concentrations, the mice consumed a substantial part of their daily energy from the macronutrient sources, however, there were no or only small strain differences in nutrient consumption. These small differences were probably due to strain variation in body size. The two strains also did not differ in chow intake. Despite similar energy intakes, access to the nutrients resulted in greater body weight (BW) gain in the C57BL/6ByJ mice than in the 129P3/J mice. The diet-induced weight gain was examined in detail in groups of 2-month-old C57BL/6ByJ and 129P3/J mice given ether chow, or chow and margarine to eat. Access to margarine did not increase total energy consumption of either strain. It increased BW and adiposity of the C57BL/6ByJ mice, but only after they reached the age of approximately 3 months. There were no differences in BW and adiposity between control and margarine-exposed 129P3/J mice. The results suggest that diet-induced adiposity in the B6 mice depends on age and does not depend on hyperphagia.
Effect of geometrical variations on AMTEC cell heat losses

Alkali metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) cells are built with readily available materials. Improvement of the performance of an AMTEC cell requires improvement and development of components as well as cell geometry. The present paper shows parametric results obtained by changing cell geometry to determine the effects of these design changes on the cell performance. In order to improve the cell performance, heat losses, input thermal power, cell's output power and efficiency have been investigated in detail by varying the cell designs. Changing some geometrical dimensions of the cell has proved to be very effective in improving the cell performance. As a result of this overall effort we have been able to demonstrate the improvement in the efficiency of AMTEC cell by 17.5% over the one in operation called Ground Demonstration Converter System at Air Force Research Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Ultrafast broadband mid-infrared pump, terahertz probe spectroscopy

We report a novel ultrafast optical system capable of directly pumping low energy excitations in complex materials and probing the photoinduced changes in their properties with terahertz pulses, benchmarked through mid-infrared-pump, THz-probe measurements on InSb.
Influence of feed ingredients on the flavor quality of farm-raised catfish

Abstract Channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) were reared in the laboratory from fry to 75 g on a purified diet. Fish were grown from 75 g to 150 g on 21 experimental diets to examine the influence of commonly used feed ingredients on the flavor quality of the fish. Feed components, at levels used in commercial feeds, were substituted individually in semi-purified diets. A trained sensory panel evaluated the flavor of the experimental fish using quantitative sensory techniques. While the trained panelists could discriminate among some diets on the basis of particular flavor attributes, untrained laboratory personnel representing the average consumer were not able to discern differences. The significance of the findings for the farm-raised catfish industry is that the practice of least-cost formulation for feeds may be followed without concern that the flavor quality of the fish will be affected adversely.
Role‐playing substitutions among homosexuals

The social relationships that exist among individuals in deviant counter-cultures is still not well understood by those not involved in such activities. Social scientists have made some attempts at research into deviant behavior and have produced a few very good studies from time to time, but the field has scarcely been touched on to any great extent. Part of this problem is no doubt due to the difficulty of gathering reliable material. This fact is, of course, true in many kinds of research, but the clandestine and often illegal nature of deviant behavior often makes respondents who engage in it less than candid with interviewers, putting an additional burden on the researcher. Another reason for ignorance of deviant life-styles is that what research has been done has been inadequate and has often skirted the issues. Studies of deviance are inadequate in two ways for the theorizing that has to be done: 1. There are just not enough studies in the first place, and 2. Those that have been done do not provide enough facts about the lives of deviants as they live them. (Becker, 1963) This ignorance unhappily exists among professionals as well as lay people. Homosexuals are possibly the single largest deviant counter-culture in this country, but very often are not "visible" in the sense that some other deviants may be, except for the extreme overt types. According to earlier research on sexual deviants, homosexuals form social groups of varying degrees of cohesion and carry on many and sometimes nearly all of their social relationships within these groups. Studies have also revealed a number of the roles that are played by various individuals within the homosexual in-groups, but we are still far from an understanding what functions many of these roles have for the individuals concerned. One theory is that deviants who associate in a counter-cultural ambience attempt to duplicate as nearly as possible many of the most important social roles and interactions that exist in the "normal" society. If so, this phenomenon would imply that the expected social roles and statuses that have been accepted by the larger society are socialized very strongly into the young, and that even if individuals