cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Physical, Behavioral, and Medical Phenotype, Including Anthropometric Measures, of Females With Fragile X Syndrome

The physical features of fragile X, including a long face, prominent ears, and hyperextensible joints, are present in affected males and females. Cytogenetically negative heterozygotes have been considered to be unaffected by the fragile X mental retardation-1 (FMR-1) gene. This study investigated the penetrance of the FMR-1 gene in cytogenetically negative but DNA-positive heterozygotes with a premutation (cytosine guanine guanine [CGG] amplification in the 50 to 200 repeat range), compared with carriers with a full mutation (> 200 CGG repeats) and control subjects. One hundred thirty-nine women with normal IQs between the ages of 18 and 45 years were studied. All underwent cytogenetic and DNA testing to determine their fragile X carrier status. A medical history-taking and a physical examination, including selected anthropometric measurements, were performed. Results indicate that the FMR-1 mutation mildly affects the physical phenotype of individuals even in the premutation state, although less dramatically than more affected heterozygotes. Carriers with a premutation differed significantly from control subjects in overall physical index score and in the anthropometric measure of ear prominence. These results suggest a phenotypic impact of the FMR-1 mutation even at the 50 to 200 CGG repeat length.
Role of hydration force in the self-assembly of collagens and amyloid steric zipper filaments.

In protein self-assembly, types of surfaces determine the force between them. Yet the extent to which the surrounding water contributes to this force remains as a fundamental question. Here we stud...
Selective Site Occupancy Exhibited by Cr3 + and Cr6 + Incorporated into Elecrtochemically Deposited Nickel Hydroxide Films

We have utilized extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy to investigate the site occupancy and local structure of Cr{sup 3+} and Cr{sup 6+} ions incorporated into electrodeposited alpha-Ni(OH){sub 2} films. The films were prepared by codeposition of Cr and Ni at constant cathodic current from aqueous solutions of nickel nitrate, and potassium chromate. EXAFS measurements show that in films produced from Ni{sup 2+} and Cr{sup 3+} solution, Cr{sup 3+} is incorporated into Ni lattice sites in alpha-Ni(OH)2. On the other hand, cathodic co deposition of Cr{sup 6+} and Ni{sup 2+} results in CrO{sub 4}{sup 2-} in interlamellar sites as well as sorbed on the surface of alpha-Ni(OH)2. These results are of significance in a number of technological areas, e.g., batteries, corrosion protection, environmental speciation, and remediation.
A Eukaryotic Specific Transmembrane Segment is Required for Tetramerization in AMPA Receptors

Most fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the nervous system is mediated by glutamate acting through ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs). iGluRs (AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptor subtypes) are tetrameric assemblies, formed as a dimer of dimers. Still, the mechanism underlying tetramerization – the necessary step for the formation of functional receptors that can be inserted into the plasma membrane – is unknown. All eukaryotic compared to prokaryotic iGluR subunits have an additional transmembrane segment, the M4 segment, which positions the physiologically critical C-terminal domain on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. AMPA receptor (AMPAR) subunits lacking M4 do not express on the plasma membrane. Here, we show that these constructs are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, the major cellular compartment mediating protein oligomerization. Using approaches to assay the native oligomeric state of AMPAR subunits, we find that subunits lacking M4 or containing single amino-acid substitutions along an ‘interacting’ face of the M4 helix that block surface expression, no longer tetramerize in either homo- or heteromeric assemblies. In contrast, subunit dimerization appears to be largely intact. These experiments define the M4 segment as a unique functional unit in AMPARs that is required for the critical dimer to tetramer transition.
Consensus statement for the management of chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis: proceedings of an expert-panel consensus process.

Abstract Objective: To develop recommendations for the medical and surgical care of women who present with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and are likely to have endometriosis as the underlying cause. Design: An expert panel comprised of practicing gynecologists from throughout the United States and experts in consensus guideline development was convened. After completion of a structured literature search and creation of draft algorithms by an executive committee, the expert panel of >50 practicing gynecologists met for a 2-day consensus conference during which the clinical recommendations and algorithms were reviewed, refined, and then ratified by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Patient(s): Women presenting with CPP who are likely to have endometriosis as the underlying cause. Main Outcome Measure(s): None. Conclusion(s): Chronic pelvic pain frequently occurs secondary to nongynecologic conditions that must be considered in the evaluation of affected women. For women in whom endometriosis is the suspected cause of the pain, laparoscopic confirmation of the diagnosis is unnecessary, and a trial of medical therapy, including second-line therapies such as danazol, GnRH agonists, and progestins, is justified provided that there are no other indications for surgery such as the presence of a suspicious adnexal mass. When surgery is necessary, laparoscopic approaches seem to offer comparable clinical outcomes to those performed via laparotomy, but with reduced morbidity. The balance of evidence supports the use of adjuvant postoperative medical therapy after conservative surgery for CPP. There is some evidence that adjuvant presacral neurectomy adds benefit for midline pain, but currently, there is inadequate evidence to support the use of uterosacral nerve ablation or uterine suspension. Hysterectomy alone has undocumented value in the surgical management of women with endometriosis-associated CPP.
CMS pixel detector—overview☆

Pixel detectors are being built for use at the Large Hadron Collider beginning in the year 2007. We present an overview of the Compact Muon Solenoid Pixel Detector effort.
Status report on the IUCF cooler-storage ring

Commissioning activities on the IUCF Cooler, a storage ring with internal targets and electron cooling, were begun in November, 1987. By June 1988, proton beam accumulation, storage, acceleration, and cooling (both in the absence and in the presence of internal targets) had been demonstrated. Commissioning studies in the summer of 1988 were devoted to measuring the lattice parameters and exploring the operating characteristics of the cooler and optimizing its performance for use as an intermediate-energy nuclear physics research instrument. Both stripping injection of 90 MeV H+2 ions and direct, fast kicker injection of 148 and 179 MeV polarized proton beams from the IUCF cyclotrons were demonstrated. The initial performance characteristics of the ring for beams stored, accelerated, and cooled in this new facility are discussed here. Results from preliminary measurements of the equilibrium properties of stored, cooled beams in the presence of thin internal targets (014atoms/cm2) are also reported.
The role of exogenous JH I, JH III and Anti-JH (precocene II) on queen induction of 4.5-day-old worker honey bee larvae

Worker larvae at an age of 4½ days were fed one of several mixtures of reconstituted royal jelly adjusted to a refractive index of 1.3825 and supplemented with JH I, JH III or Anti-JH (precocene II). In addition, juvenile hormone was topically applied to larvae of the same age. It was readily apparent that caste induction is concentration-dependent and that 4஽-day-old worker larvae can still develop into queens under laboratory conditions, providing that they have not stopped feeding or can be induced to commence feeding again. These findings are contrary to the general belief that queen induction is not possible after a socalled sensitive period of 3–3½ days. Queens resulted only from honey bee larvae exposed to royal jelly containing 1 μg of JH I. In addition, oral application at this concentration resulted in the only case in which the normal mean weights of worker honey bees were exceeded. All other concentrations of juvenile hormone were not sufficient to initiate queen induction, although its lower concentration may have influenced the production of intercastes. Precocene II did not play a role in queen induction and it also did not interfere with the growth of developing larvae or adults. In addition, the lack of malformations in honey bees treated with precocene II indicates that the use of such a compound as a control agent in insect populations will probably not be detrimental to honey bee larvae that are at least 4½ days old. However, large doses of precocene will quickly kill most 3½-day-old honey bee larvae. The evidence presented here clearly indicates that caste determination is regulated by the endocrine system in honey bee larvae. Food intake in honey bee larvae may well be regulated by the endocrine system. Thus, an apparently inhibited corpus allatum (C.A.) could be reactivated by food intake coupled with juvenile hormone. The food intake restriction that worker larvae normally encounter in the hive probably results in a cessation of C.A. activity. The increase in food intake by queen larvae, on the other hand, carries an increase in growth and accompanying morphological changes necessary for queen development. This concept may also explain the development of intercastes encountered in in vitro studies. Only those larvae that follow a normal food intake sequence, i.e. moderate during the first 3–4 days or so, will develop into queens. Conversely, those larvae that take in too much food during the early portion of development may achieve incomplete development of the neurosecretory system and, thus, develop into intercastes.
Transistor Equipment for Continuous Recording of Oriented Migratory Behavior in Birds

The migratory behavior of birds has been studied for over 30 years, but a more precise measurement of this behavior is needed to aid in the study of orientation and navigation during migration. The equipment developed for this purpose consists of eight small cages arranged along the axis of the major points of the compass and opening into a large center area. Each cage is provided with a transducer which responds to vibrations induced by a bird in that cage. A "count" is recorded and automatically printed at regular intervals from each cage, giving a permanent record of the bird's activity. Preliminary results indicate the system will provide reliable data on magnitude and orientation of a bird's activity. Data are presented for a bird in the natural migratory state and ones in which this state has been artificially induced or maintained.
An enhanced and scalable process for the purification of SIV Gag-specific MHC tetramer.

Abstract A recently developed method for the identification and quantitation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes involves the use of complexes of biotinylated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and avidin conjugated to a fluorescent reporter group. This complex, dubbed the “tetramer,” binds to antigen-specific T lymphocytes in vitro, which can then be sorted and counted by fluorescence-activated flow cytometry to measure immune response. Our research has focused on developing the purification process for preparing tetramer reagent. Our goal was to reengineer a published lab-scale purification process to reduce the number of processing steps and to make the process scalable. In our reengineered process, recombinant MHC α chain is isolated from Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies by tangential flow filtration. The purified MHC α chain is refolded with β-2-microglobulin and the target peptide antigen to form the class I MHC. The resulting MHC is purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and biotinylated enzymatically, and the biotinylated MHC is purified by a second HIC step. The tetramer is prepared by mixing biotinylated MHC with an avidin-fluorophore conjugate. The tetramer is further purified to remove any excess MHC or avidin components. Analysis by flow cytometry confirmed that the tetramers generated by this new process gave bright staining and specific binding to CD3+/CD8+ cells of vaccinated monkeys and led to results that were equivalent to those generated with tetramer produced by the original process.
GROWTH-INHIBITORY SUBSTANCES IN PNEUMOCOCCUS CULTURES

The known factors concerned in the autoinhibition of growth of pneumococcus are: 1. The accumulation of acid products of metabolism, resulting in unfavorable reaction changes in the medium. 2. The exhaustion of the nutritive substances of the medium. 3. Under certain cultural conditions the formation and accumulation of peroxide in the medium.
Correlation of neuronal cell body size in motor cortex and hippocampus with body height, body weight, and axonal length.

This study examined the comparative effects of body height and body weight on the neuronal cell size in humans and investigated their possible mechanisms. A total of 21 cases between the ages of 20 and 40 years were studied. Data on body height, body weight, and neuropathology were obtained from autopsy records. Mean cross sectional areas of cell bodies for 30 normal neurons were determined for the motor cortex projecting to lumbar spinal cord segments (L) 1-4 (Betz cells) as well as various regions of the hippocampus. Approximate axonal length of the motor neuron studied was measured from motor cortex to L2. We found that only motor cortex neuronal cell body size was significantly proportional to body height and the respective axonal length (p < .05). The findings indicate that: 1) body height has a greater effect than body weight on the motor neuron cell size, probably because of its association with axonal length; 2) the effect is regional (motor cortex) rather than general.
Wavelet-based embedded zerotree extension to color coding

Recently, a new image compression algorithm was developed which employs wavelet transform and a simple binary linear quantization scheme with an embedded coding technique to perform data compaction. This new family of coder, Embedded Zerotree Wavelet (EZW), provides a better compression performance than the current JPEG coding standard for low bit rates. Since EZW coding algorithm emerged, all of the published coding results related to this coding technique are on monochrome images. In this paper the author has enhanced the original coding algorithm to yield a better compression ratio, and has extended the wavelet-based zerotree coding to color images. Color imagery is often represented by several components, such as RGB, in which each component is generally processed separately. With color coding, each component could be compressed individually in the same manner as a monochrome image, therefore requiring a threefold increase in processing time. Most image coding standards employ de-correlated components, such as YIQ or Y, CB, CR and subsampling of the 'chroma' components, such coding technique is employed here. Results of the coding, including reconstructed images and coding performance, will be presented.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Systems factorial technology with R

Systems factorial technology (SFT) comprises a set of powerful nonparametric models and measures, together with a theory-driven experiment methodology termed the double factorial paradigm (DFP), for assessing the cognitive information-processing mechanisms supporting the processing of multiple sources of information in a given task (Townsend and Nozawa, Journal of Mathematical Psychology 39:321–360, 1995). We provide an overview of the model-based measures of SFT, together with a tutorial on designing a DFP experiment to take advantage of all SFT measures in a single experiment. Illustrative examples are given to highlight the breadth of applicability of these techniques across psychology. We further introduce and demonstrate a new package for performing SFT analyses using R for statistical computing.
Version-aware XML documents

A document often goes through many revisions before it is finalized. In the normal document creation process, newer revisions overwrite older ones and only the final revision is kept. At any stage of document creation, it might be desirable to see how the document came to its current form or to revert back to a previous revision. Conventional version control tools such as CVS could help authors do exactly this. However, these tools are unlikely to be adopted by non-technical document authors due to the overhead of managing a repository and the tools' learning curves.This paper presents an approach called version-aware documents that embeds versioning data within the document thus making version control for single documents a seamless part of the authoring process.
Relaxation in Ni–Mn–Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

Evidence of relaxation has been observed in ferromagnetic Ni–Mn–Ga single crystals. The relaxation may be explained by a change in symmetry-conforming short-range ordering according to Ren and Otsuka in this off-stoichimetric ordered alloy. Martensite stabilization has also been found after martensite ageing.
Simplified models for ultrasonic cleaning: wave incidence angle effects

We have previously studied simple axisymmetric finite element models for ultrasonic cleaning. In these models, we sought the magnitude of the particle removal force for a 1 GHz acoustic plane wave incident on a rigid 1 micron diameter sphere lying on a rigid plane. Now we wish to extend this work and determine the effect of the wave incidence angle on the horizontal and vertical sphere forces. By employing a Fourier decomposition of the ambient plane wave we reduce the three-dimensional problem to two two-dimensional problems. Calculation of the sphere forces for various wave incidence angles reveals that the magnitude of the vertical force is not significantly affected by scattering for angles below about 60 degrees. However, the horizontal force is a complicated function of the scattered and ambient wave solutions. In addition, we find that the horizontal force magnitude at 30 degrees incidence is almost as large as that at 60 degrees.
Undertakers' Sense of Humor

A group of 60 middle-aged morticians at a professional seminar in the midwestern USA who completed a multidimensional sense of humor scale scored significantly lower than another group of 136 men from other occupations. The difference between the two groups appeared almost entirely on scale items having to do with humor generation or creativity.
Approximation of linear functionals on a Banach space with a Gaussian measure

Abstract We study approximation of linear functionals on separable Banach spaces equipped with a Gaussian measure. We study optimal information and optimal algorithms in average case, probabilistic, and asymptotic settings, for a general error criterion. We prove that adaptive information is not more powerful than nonadaptive information and that μ-spline algorithms, which are linear, are optimal in all three settings. Some of these results hold for approximation of linear operators. We specialize our results to the space of functions with continuous r th derivatives, equipped with a Wiener measure. In particular, we show that the natural splines of degree 2 r + I yield the optimal algorithms. We apply the general results to the problem of integration.
The role of proximal intentions in self-regulation of refractory behavior

The present experiment tested the hypothesis that self-regulation of refractory behavior varies as a function of goal proximity. Obese subjects were assigned to conditions in which they either monitored their eating behavior, monitored their eating behavior and set subgoals for reducing the amount of food consumed, or received no treatment. Within the goal-setting conditions, subjects adopted either distal goals defined in terms of weekly goal limits or proximal goals specifying the goal limits for each of four time periods during each day. Goal setting enhanced self-directed change as measured by reductions in both eating behavior and weight. The higher the goal attainments, the greater were the losses in weight. Proximal and distal goal setting yielded comparable overall results because the majority of subjects assigned remote goals altered this condition by adopting proximal goals to augment control over their own behavior. Within the distal goal-setting condition, the adherents to distal goals achieved relatively small changes, whereas those who improvised proximal subgoals for themselves attained substantial reductions on the multifaceted measures of self-directed change. The combined evidence lends support to the motivational and regulative functions of proximal intentions and highlights the reciprocal influence processes that operate in self-directed change.
Approximating the distributions of estimators of financial risk under an asymmetric Laplace law

Explicit expressions are derived for parametric and nonparametric estimators (NPEs) of two measures of financial risk, value-at-risk (VaR) and conditional value-at-risk (CVaR), under random sampling from the asymmetric Laplace (AL) distribution. Asymptotic distributions are established under very general conditions. Finite sample distributions are investigated by means of saddlepoint approximations. The latter are highly computationally intensive, requiring novel approaches to approximate moments and special functions that arise in the evaluation of the moment generating functions. Plots of the resulting density functions shed new light on the quality of the estimators. Calculations for CVaR reveal that the NPE enjoys greater asymptotic efficiency relative to the parametric estimator than is the case for VaR. An application of the methodology in modeling currency exchange rates suggests that the AL distribution is successful in capturing the peakedness, leptokurticity, and skewness, inherent in such data. A demonstrated superiority in the resulting parametric-based inferences delivers an important message to the practitioner.
MEKK-1, a component of the stress (stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase) pathway, can selectively activate Smad2-mediated transcriptional activation in endothelial cells.

Smad proteins are essential components of the intracellular signaling pathways utilized by members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of growth factors. Certain Smad proteins (e.g. Smad1, -2, and -3) can act as regulated transcriptional activators, a process that involves phosphorylation of these proteins by activated TGF-beta superfamily receptors. We demonstrate that the intracellular kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase-1 (MEKK-1), an upstream activator of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway, can participate in Smad2-dependent transcriptional events in cultured endothelial cells. A constitutively active form of MEKK-1 but not mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK-1) or TGF-beta-activated kinase-1, two distinct intracellular kinases, can specifically activate a Gal4-Smad2 fusion protein, and this effect correlates with an increase in the phosphorylation state of the Smad2 protein. These effects do not require the presence of the C-terminal SSXS motif of Smad2 that is the site of TGF-beta type 1 receptor-mediated phosphorylation. Activation of Smad2 by active MEKK-1 results in enhanced Smad2-Smad4 interactions, nuclear localization of Smad2 and Smad4, and the stimulation of Smad protein-transcriptional coactivator interactions in endothelial cells. Overexpression of Smad7 can inhibit the MEKK-1-mediated stimulation of Smad2 transcriptional activity. A physiological level of fluid shear stress, a known activator of endogenous MEKK-1 activity in endothelial cells, can stimulate Smad2-mediated transcriptional activity. These data demonstrate a novel mechanism for activation of Smad protein-mediated signaling in endothelial cells and suggest that Smad2 may act as an integrator of diverse stimuli in these cells.
l-Dopa Suppression of TRH-Stimulated Prolactin

In both men and women, l-dopa pre-treatment significantly suppressed the prolactin rise which followed iv thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Although this phenomenon is compatible with more than one site of action for both dopamine and TRH within the hypothalamicpituitary system, it is suggested that one action of dopamine in humans may be to inhibit prolactin secretion directly at the level of the anterior pituitary.
Diagnostics of the Non-Linear Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability

We study analytically and numerically the evolution of the two-dimensional coherent structure of bubbles and spikes in the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) for fluids with a finite density ratio. New diagnostics and scalings are suggested for accurate quantification of RMI dynamics. New similarity features of the late-time instability evolution are observed. The results obtained can serve as benchmarks for high energy density laboratory experiments.
Effects of copolymer composition on the formation of ionic species, hydrogen evolution, and free‐radical reaction in γ‐irradiated styrene‐butadiene random and block copolymers

Block and random copolymers of butadiene and styrene as well as polybutadiene and polystyrene homopolymers have been investigated with respect to formation of trapped electrons, contribution of ionic species to crosslinking, and hydrogen gas evolution due to el radiation. The decay kinetics of the disubstituted benzyl radical has also been studied. The yields of electron trapping G(e ) are measured. The G(e ) increase linearly with increased polystyrene content in block polymers, while in random copolymer a deviation from a linear relation is observed. The contribution of ionic reactions to crosslinking is about 25-35% of the total crosslinking yield. Hydrogen production in block copolymers is approximately a linear function of the weight-fraction additivity of the yield of hydrogen formation in polystrene and polybutadiene homopolymers. Energy transfer from butadiene units to styrene units in random copolymers resulted in a deviation from such an additivity relation. The decay of the disubstituted benzyl free radical in block copolymers is a second-order reaction. In random copolymer, the decay is best interpreted in terms of equation based on a second-order decay mechanism of a fraction of the free radicals decaying in the presence of other nondecaying free radicals. 24 references, 11 figures, 3 tables.
A MARKEDLY ANTI-LIPOTROPIC ACTION OF METHIONINE.

WHEN adult male rats are fed a protein-free, otherwise adequate diet, liver neutral lipid is doubled after 4 weeks of feeding1. In a more detailed and extended investigation of the interrelationships of dietary protein-level and lipid metabolism in the rat, we have examined the possibility of alleviating the fatty liver produced in protein deficiency by including a low level of the ordinarily lipotropic agent, methionine, in a protein-free ration. When this was done it was observed that the livers increased markedly in size and became light brown in colour and very friable. Further investigation revealed that the livers had become very fatty.
Nucleon-Nucleus Collisions and Intermediate Structure

This chapter is devoted to the topic of resonances in nuclear reactions and, in particular, to the topic of intermediate resonance structure in the energy dependence of the nuclear cross section (FKL 67, KRY 68). This latter topic is of considerable current interest, while the former topic has been discussed since the work of Breit and Wigner (BW 36) in the 1930’s. The basis for the description of resonance reactions presented here will be that of the optical model plus residual interactions. Specifically, the reaction dynamics in a nucleon-nucleus scattering will be discussed from the viewpoint of an independent particle picture plus residual interactions. The “black box” description of the nuclear reaction amplitude in terms of resonance parameters will be abandoned in the hope that simple excitations of the target-incident-nucleon system are observable as some type of structure in the reaction amplitude. It is then hoped that the various parameters describing this structure can be calculated in terms of the interaction between the incident nucleon and the target nucleons. A likely candidate for such a calculable structure is the experimental phenomenon called intermediate structure.
Transcriptional Cross-Regulation of the Catechol and Protocatechuate Branches of the β-Ketoadipate Pathway Contributes to Carbon Source-Dependent Expression of the Acinetobacter sp. Strain ADP1 pobA Gene

Transcriptional control of carbon source preferences by Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1 was assessed with a pobA::lacZ fusion during growth on alternative substrates. The pobA-encoded enzyme catalyzes the first step in the degradation of 4-hydroxybenzoate, a compound consumed rapidly as a sole carbon source. If additional aromatic carbon sources are available, 4-hydroxybenzoate consumption is inhibited by unknown mechanisms. As reported here, during growth on aromatic substrates, pobA was not expressed despite the presence of 4-hydroxybenzoate, an inducer that normally causes the PobR regulator to activate pobA transcription. Growth on organic acids such as succinate, fumarate, and acetate allowed higher levels of pobA expression. In each case, pobA expression increased at the end of the exponential growth phase. Complex transcriptional regulation controlled 4-hydroxybenzoate catabolism in multisubstrate environments. Additional studies focused on the wild-type preference for benzoate consumption prior to 4-hydroxybenzoate consumption. These compounds are degraded via the catechol and protocatechuate branches of the β-ketoadipate pathway, respectively. Here, mutants were characterized that degraded benzoate and 4-hydroxybenzoate concurrently. These mutants lacked the BenM and CatM transcriptional regulators that normally activate genes for benzoate catabolism. A model is presented in which BenM and CatM prevent pobA expression indirectly during growth on benzoate. These regulators may affect pobA expression by lowering the PcaK-mediated uptake of 4-hydroxybenzoate. Consistent with this model, BenM and CatM bound in vitro to an operator-promoter fragment controlling the expression of several pca genes, including pcaK. These studies provide the first direct evidence of transcriptional cross-regulation between the distinct but analogous branches of the β-ketoadipate pathway.
Primary productivity and the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary event in the oceans

Abstract Geochemical and paleontological evidence indicate that marine primary productivity decreased rapidly at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary resulting in the selective elimination of those organisms directly dependent upon the flux of organic matter as a food source (filter and suspension feeders). Detritus and deposit feeders, however, suffered relatively fewer extinctions, apparently utilizing the reservoir of organic matter stored within the sediments. Lower rates of oceanic productivity might have continued for at least 1.5 m.y. following the initial decrease despite the rapid evolution of fauna and flora during the early Paleocene. Although these results can be viewed as being compatible with the bolide impact hypothesis, the extended period of low productivity afterwards suggests some longer term effects on the biosphere than predicted by such a model.
Challenges in distribution system analysis

Summary form only given. The author describes how, although distribution systems have relatively simpler radial structures, their modeling and analysis pose various challenges, due mainly to the following reasons: (1) system: distribution systems usually consist of line sections that are of different phases; the laterals, for example, can be single or two phase, while the main feeder is usually three phase; (2) load distribution: load distribution over a distribution feeder is inherently unbalanced, due mainly the predominant use of single-phase distribution transformers to supply the load; and (3) data: distribution systems are designed to operate without much monitoring and control.
Constructing Inequality: The Fabrication of a Hierarchy of Virtue among the Etoro

Constructing Inequality: The Fabrication of. Hierarchy of Virtue among the Etoro. Raymond C. Kelly. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1993. viii. 604 pp., figures, map, photographs, tables, bibliography, index.
APPLICATIONS OF A STEADY‐STATE, ONE‐DIMENSIONAL WATER QUALITY MODEL1

ABSTRACT: A steady-state, one-dimensional water quality model has been formulated to evaluate spatial variations of Biochemical Oxygen Demand, ammonia nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen for nontidal, branched river systems, with point sources of treated wastes and uniform nonpoint-source loads, under aerobic and/or anaerobic stream conditions. For anaerobic conditions, the decay rate of organic matter is assumed to be limited by the rate of oxygen addition to the streams via stream reaeration and net algal photosynthesis and respiration contributions. The model is applicable to stream impact analysis under sustained wet weather conditions, during which storm-runoff loads are generated by storms of sufficiently long duration to approach steady state in the river system.
Prioritized access in CSMA networks: a node partitioning approach

The authors address the problem of incorporating message-based priority classes in random access protocols. The organization of these classes is based on the different packet delay requirements of higher-layer applications. A novel node-partitioning mechanism to restrict contention only to higher priority packets is introduced. The authors describe node-partitioning carrier-sense multiple access (NP-CSMA), a protocol that uses CSMA as its base access mechanism, and incorporates three priority mechanisms that influence different aspects of the channel access. These are node partitioning, priority queueing at station buffers, and prioritized persistence. A detailed simulation model is described. Simulation studies that demonstrate the effect of these mechanisms, separately and in concert, on the throughput and delay of the various priority classes are presented. It is shown how desired performance can be achieved by suitable variation of protocol parameters. >
Sulfur-containing compounds and tolerance in the prevention of certain metabolic effects of phenylthiourea.

Abstract Phenylthiourea injected ip into Sprague-Dawley male rats elevates blood glucose and depletes liver glycogen. The susceptibility of rats to these effects varies directly with age as does the susceptibility to the pulmonary edema and to acute toxic effects. Cysteine and reduced glutathione protected against the pulmonary edema as well as prevented the hyperglycemia and partially diminished the liver glycogen depleting effect of a toxic dose of PTU. Methionine protected against the metabolic changes but did not prevent the pulmonary edema and acute toxicity. The hyperglycemic effect of PTU was not seen in the rats made tolerant to its toxic effects. Tolerant rats were severely depleted in their liver glycogen content. The metabolic disturbances in response to PTU seem to be secondary to its pulmonary effects.
Identification of Staphylococcus aureus from enriched nasal swabs within 24 h is improved with use of multiple culture media

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is commonly evaluated via culture-based methods. We found that parallel use of two media, Baird-Parker and CHROMagar™ Staph aureus, increased detection of S. aureus from a healthy population by 29 %. We suggest use of both media for optimal identification of S. aureus from healthy cohorts.
Transactors for parallel hardware and software co-design

The use of higher-level design specifications is required for large scale embedded systems, yet these must admit efficient hardware and software implementations. The transactor model separates local computation from global communication, and avoids overspecifying the execution of computations within each unit. The use of guarded atomic commands provides a clean model for concurrent activities that share state within each unit, and supports computations on non-deterministic input streams.
Coherent Precipitate Formation In Pulsed-Laser And Thermally-Annealed, Ion-Implanted Si. *

It will be shown that under suitable conditions ion implanted impurities in Si can precipitate and grow coherently within the single crystal lattice during recrystallization induced by pulsed laser or thermal annealing. Ion channeling and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize such precipitates in Si implanted with Sb and B and thermally annealed, and in Si implanted with Tl and annealed with a pulsed ruby laser. The orientations of these precipitates were determined from TEM and detailed angular scans using ion scattering channeling. The nucleation and precipitation processes will be discussed in terms of differences in the liquid and solid phase regrowth mechanisms.
A Fully Pipelined and Dynamically Composable Architecture of CGRA

Future processor chips will not be limited by the transistor resources, but will be mainly constrained by energy efficiency. Reconfigurable fabrics bring higher energy efficiency than CPUs via customized hardware that adapts to user applications. Among different reconfigurable fabrics, coarse-grained reconfigurable arrays (CGRAs) can be even more efficient than fine-grained FPGAs when bit-level customization is not necessary in target applications. CGRAs were originally developed in the era when transistor resources were more critical than energy efficiency. Previous work shares hardware among different operations via modulo scheduling and time multiplexing of processing elements. In this work, we focus on an emerging scenario where transistor resources are rich. We develop a novel CGRA architecture that enables full pipelining and dynamic composition to improve energy efficiency by taking full advantage of abundant transistors. Several new design challenges are solved. We implement a prototype of the proposed architecture in a commodity FPGA chip for verification. Experiments show that our architecture can fully exploit the energy benefits of customization for user applications in the scenario of rich transistor resources.
ECU Development for a Formula SAE Engine

Motivated by experiences in the Formula SAE ® competition, an engine control unit (ECU) was designed, developed and tested at Oakland University. A systems approach was taken in which the designs of the electronic architecture and software were driven by the mechanical requirements and operational needs of the engine, and by the need for dynamometer testing and tuning functions. An ECU, powered by a 68HC12 microcontroller was developed, including a four-layer circuit board designed for EMC. A GUI was written with Visual C++ ® for communication with a personal computer (PC). The ECU was systematically tested with an engine simulator, a 2L Ford engine and a 600cc Honda engine, and finally in Oakland’s 2004 FSAE vehicle.
Redirection of Metabolism for Biological Hydrogen Production

A major route for hydrogen production by purple photosynthetic bacteria is biological nitrogen fixation. Nitrogenases reduce atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia with the concomitant obligate production of molecular hydrogen. However, hydrogen production in the context of nitrogen fixation is a rather inefficient process because about 75% of the reductant consumed by the nitrogenase is used to generate ammonia. In this study we describe a selection strategy to isolate strains of purple photosynthetic bacteria in which hydrogen production is necessary for growth and independent of nitrogen fixation. We obtained four mutant strains of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris that produce hydrogen constitutively, even in the presence of ammonium, a condition where wild-type cells do not accumulate detectable amounts of hydrogen. Some of these strains produced up to five times more hydrogen than did wild-type cells growing under nitrogen-fixing conditions. Transcriptome analyses of the hydrogen-producing mutant strains revealed that in addition to the nitrogenase genes, 18 other genes are potentially required to produce hydrogen. The mutations that caused constitutive hydrogen production mapped to four different sites in the NifA transcriptional regulator in the four different strains. The strategy presented here can be applied to the large number of diverse species of anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria that are known to exist in nature to identify strains for which there are fitness incentives to produce hydrogen.
Effect of speed of presentation on recall of television messages

Does the viewer or listener “tune‐out” the too‐fast program or segment, or does an increase in speed of presentation lead to greater attention? Or, have we underestimated the capacity of the average viewer or listener to recall a fast‐paced program? The following report is a companion to Dr. Schlater's “Effect of Irrelevant Visual Cues on Recall of Television Messages,” which appeared in the Winter 1969–70 issue of the Journal of Broadcasting.Robert Schlater is associate professor and chairman in the Department of Television and Radio of Michigan State University.
Bit-Patterned Media on Plastic Tape With Feature Density of 100 Gigadot/in $^{ {2}}$

A method of producing a bit-patterned media on a flexible substrate using a low-cost, hot nanoimprinting process is investigated. Using a topographic master with features as small as 40 nm, a flexible plastic substrate is patterned with high fidelity. Magnetic material is sputter-deposited onto the patterned substrate to produce a magnetic tape media with densities as high as 100 Gigadot/in $^{ {2}}$ . Magnetic recording characteristics of the coated bit-patterned tape is evaluated in an apparatus which slides a recording head on the media with a high-resolution positioning capability.
Selective-repeat-ARQ schemes for broadcast links

The authors propose retransmission error control schemes for broadcast channels. In their selective-repeat-ARQ (automatic repeat request) method, they incorporate some aspects of implementation that they believe were ignored by all the previous work. Based on this protocol, they also propose a type-2 hybrid ARQ scheme that uses parity retransmission. They apply the dynamic programming optimization technique of Wang and Silvester (1987), with some modification, to their schemes. Analysis shows that their schemes outperform all the existing schemes. As special cases of their proposed schemes, the authors can obtain point-to-point ARQ schemes which also outperform all the existing point-to-point schemes. Thus, their schemes extend the useful range of retransmission error control schemes for these channels. >
Expression of the vitamin D receptor in skeletal muscle: are we there yet?

The diverse biological actions of the vitamin D hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) that are beyond its contribution to the maintenance of mineral metabolism are now well recognized (1). These actions include significant roles in skin maturation, protection, and function, the immune system, cardiovascular activity, neuromuscular function, bile acid metabolism, xenobiotic detoxification, muscle activity, and hepatic function (2). They also include broad cellular growth control mechanisms that include blockade of proliferation, prodifferentiation, induced apoptosis, and other fundamental cellular processes that may be of therapeutic relevance in cancer (3). Many of these activities have been described over a span of several decades both in cultured cells of specific lineage origin and in vivo. In the latter case, these studies have made frequent use of genetic strains of mice that are either globally or tissue specifically deficient in the expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), the central mediator of vitamin D action in all tissues (2, 4, 5). Perhaps most importantly, the beneficial biological effects of vitamin D in many of these systems appear to have translational and clinical components as well, because clinical pathologies associated with these systems frequently correlate with vitamin D deficiency, and at least, a subset have been shown to respond positively to increased vitamin D intake (6). Accordingly, the actions of 1,25(OH)2D3 in many of these tissues in humans are generally not in dispute.
2D VISION TRACKING METHODS' PERFORMANCE COMPARISON FOR 3D TRACKING OF CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES

In construction sites, tracking personnel, equipment, and materials is necessary in many applications such as asset management and progress monitoring. Vision tracking as a tracking technique has two unique capabilities which make it ideal for tracking on large scale, congested construction sites; tracking from a distance and tracking multiple elements from a single camera. 2D tracking results can be obtained through each camera and the 3D positions can be calculated by calibrating multiple cameras. 2D vision tracking methods vary and each method has unique capabilities, but little is known about the appropriateness of each method for tracking construction resources. This paper presents an evaluation of these methods that aims to identify the one most suitable for 3D tracking in construction sites. To satisfy this goal, 2D tracking methods are categorized, metrics are identified and performance of two categories of methods is evaluated based on these metrics. This evaluation has been used to find some preliminary results that can ultimately help with selection of the most suitable category of 2D vision tracking methods for construction applications.
Evaluation of botanicals for improving human health

Botanical preparations have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Many commercially available botanical products are being marketed in the United States with little or no publicly available scientific validation of efficacy or consistency. For botanicals to be reliable for research purposes and consumer products, they must be standardized with sufficient quality controls to ensure consistent composition, safety, and potency. This includes uniform cultivation of source plants with controls to monitor for contamination from other species, pesticides, and environmental toxins. The active components of botanicals must be identified by activity-guided fractionation with the use of in vitro assays that require little test material followed by validation in vivo. Concentrations of active compounds within the botanicals can then be accurately measured to ensure the delivery of a dependable dose in the final product. The use of bioenhancing agents may be considered for compounds with poor bioavailability. Standardization of botanical therapeutics can only be achieved when the active compounds are identified and biological activity is confirmed, thus ensuring a consistent product.
Political Influence and Policy Variation: Understanding the Politics of Field Administration

Spatial studies of political behavior have examined the structure of influential interests, yet there is little comprehensive, coherent, theory-based research of such influences on policy administration at the local and regional levels. Borrowing from the work of many scholars and integrating findings from across various subfields, this study identifies indicators for explaining the politics of area and administration. In particular; the author argues that the nature and degree of field office responsiveness depends on its place within the institutional structure, the congruence between organizational norms and societal expectations, areal effects arising from political context, and the structure of organized interests.