cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Do Economic and Political Factors Affect NASA Funding

The research problem of this study is concerned with the United States’ investment in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This funding is important for several reasons. Firstly, NASA’s accomplishments provide benefits not only to America, but to the rest of the world. All of humanity can be proud of landing a man on the moon. NASA’s space expeditions are indeed monumental in their own right, but human pride is not the only benefit of NASA. The technological advancements required to make such explorations possible have impacted our daily lives. NASA’s research is directly responsible for the CAT scan, microceramics used to fight cancer, personal water filters, and 1,300 other advances we use every single day. Some of NASA’s inventions are now used to save lives; while others are used to make life a little easier. It is important to understand that NASA is a significant technological agency and providing funding for it implies that America is committed to advancing technology. Our country is beginning to lose its once vast lead as the world leader in technology due to other competing nations and the decreased amount of available funds for NASA. Investing in NASA is important if we are going to maintain our status as a world leader. The question, therefore, is how much are we willing to sacrifice as a country in order to pursue advancements in this industry? This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol21/iss1/18
Characterization of Sessile and Planktonic Legionella pneumophila in Model Biofilms

The majority of Legionella/biofilm studies that have been conducted employ naturally occurring microbial communities. These have evaluated the effect of temperature and surface materials on the growth of Legionella pneumophila as well as the effect of biocides on planktonic and sessile bacteria. This study indicated that L. pneumophila may persist in biofilms in the absence of amoebae, but in the model, the amoebae were required for multiplication of the bacteria. A number of bacterial cell structures and factors have been shown to be critical for biofilm formation. These include flagella, quorum-sensing factors, polysaccharides, and pili. The biofilm model described by Murga et al. was used to compare these strains in the presence of heterotrophic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Flavobacterium spp.) with and without the amoeba Hartmannella vermiformis. Both strain BS100 and NU243 show a significant decrease in retention in the biofilm in the absence of amoebae. The bacteria were harvested from buffered charcoal yeast extract agar plates and inoculated in various broth media. Tap water was pumped into the reactor, creating the flow and eventually diluting out the broth. The total concentration of L. pneumophila (viable count) shows an indistinguishable response to challenge with live or killed P. aeruginosa or Escherichia coli. The addition of host amoeba cells allows L. pneumophila to persist in the sessile and planktonic fractions of the biofilm reactor for extended periods of time.
Efecto de la distancia cresta ósea/punto de contacto sobre la altura central de la papila empleando morfologías de tronera

OBJETIVO: Determinar si la morfologia de la tronera puede afectar a la asociacion entre la distancia cresta osea-punto de contacto y la altura de la papila central en odontologia estetica. METODO Y MATERIALES: Se valoro la papila central visualmente en 310 adultos empleando radiografias periapicales estandarizadas de los incisivos centrales superiores. Se midieron las siguientes distancias verticales: cresta osea a punto de contacto, union amelocementaria proximal a punto de contacto y altura de la papila. La distancia horizontal medida fue la anchura interdental. Los sujetos fueron divididos en 4 grupos de acuerdo con la anchura interdental y la distancia union amelocementaria proximal-punto de contacto: estrecha-larga, estrecha-corta, ancha-larga y ancha-corta. RESULTADOS: En los sujetos que presentaban recesion de la papila, cuanto mas larga era la distancia cresta oseapunto de contacto, mayor era la altura media de la papila en todos los grupos de estudio excepto en el grupo estrecha-larga. Se encontraron correlaciones importantes entre la altura de la papila y la distancia cresta osea-punto de contacto en los sujetos con recesion. CONCLUSIONES: Las distintas morfologias de tronera no afectaron a la altura de la papila central en los sujetos que presentaban recesion de la papila. Sin embargo, otros factores pueden afectar a la altura de la papila central, por lo que es necesario llevar a cabo mas estudios de estos factores.
Protein Assembly of Procollagen and Effects of Hydroxylation

Abstract The three polypeptide chains of a precursor of collagen, procollagen, were found to join their NH2-terminal regions in disulfide linkage independently of the state of folding of the remainder of the polypeptide chains. This folding becomes altered from random coil to collagen helix by secondary modification, hydroxylation, of the chains. When hydroxylation was inhibited with α,α'-dipyridyl, chick embryo skull bones synthesized and accumulated such disulfide-linked procollagen. Ultracentrifugal velocity sedimentation analysis of this radioactively labeled material at different temperatures showed that it was in a random coil configuration at chick body temperature: Tm for denaturation was 25°. If hydroxylation was restored, by adding ferric ions, then the previously synthesized procollagen became folded. This was deduced from velocity sedimentation analyses in different concentrations of the denaturant, urea, at constant temperature. Subsequently to hydroxylation the procollagen was proteolytically cleaved, producing collagen in the same sequence as material which was synthesized in the absence of α,α'-dipyridyl. The Tm of normally hydroxylated procollagen was found to be 42°. Therefore hydroxylation of procollagen leads to collagen helix formation at chick body temperature. A technique of differential sedimentation analysis of radioactive macromolecules is described which showed a consistent difference in the sedimentation of hydroxylated and nonhydroxylated procollagens, whether as native triple-stranded molecules, or as denatured triplet chains held together by disulfide linkage, or as single, denatured chains after reduction. This difference approximately corresponds to the difference in mass which accompanies hydroxylation and glycosylation. The disulfide-linked triplet procollagen which was synthesized while hydroxylation was inhibited with α,α'-dipyridyl was shown to contain two polypeptide chains of type pro-α1 and one pro-α2 per molecule. Therefore the portions of each procollagen chain which are additional to the collagen sequence, and which have been called "registration peptides," are able to associate selectively to triplets under conditions which preclude collagen helix formation.
Mechanism of Action of a New Antitumor Agent, Carbetimer

Abstract Carbetimer, an intermediate molecular-weight-derivatized copolymer of maleic anhydride and ethylene, has been shown to possess significant antineoplastic activity in the stem cell assay. We have examined the antitumor activity of carbetimer in vivo and in vitro against HM5-Carb/S and M21, both primary human melanoma cell lines sensitive and resistant to carbetimer, respectively. The mechanism of action of carbetimer in HM5-Carb/S has been determined. Mice bearing palpable sensitive tumors were treated with 10% lethal doses of carbetimer (1500 mg/kg i.p.). The tumor nucleotide profile was determined 4 hours later. Uridine and cytidine nucleoside triphosphates were reduced by 36.6 and 58.2%, respectively. In a similar experiment using carbetimer-resistant tumor, there was no change in the tumor pool sizes of uridine and cytidine nucleoside triphosphate pools in carbetimer- or saline-treated animals. Following 24-h exposure of the cells to 1000 µm concentration of carbetimer, the carbetimer-sensitive cells were pulsed with [14C]uridine, cytidine, or thymidine for 30 min. Pyrimidine nucleotides, in particular triphosphates, were reduced significantly as compared to the salinetreated control. Similar treatment of carbetimer-resistant cells resulted in no change in the pool sizes of the nucleotides. [14C]Bicarbonate flux studies demonstrated that [14C]CO2 conversion into UMP and CMP was increased 200 and 140% of control in the carbetimer-sensitive cells treated with 1000 µm carbetimer; however, a similar treatment of the resistant cells showed no change in the pool sizes of the nucleotide. Examination of pyrimidine salvage enzymes demonstrated that, in the sensitive cells, carbetimer treatment reduced the specific activity of uridine, cytidine, and thymidine kinase by 46, 37, and 60%. In a similar study using resistant cells, the specific activities were reduced 7 and 0%, respectively. In the restitution studies coincubation of carbetimer-sensitive cells with carbetimer and uridine resulted in essentially the reversal of carbetimer cytotoxicity. Thus, carbetimer inhibits the growth of the sensitive cells by inhibiting the uptake and metabolism of preformed nucleosides both in vivo and in vitro.
Defense research. U.K. agency spawns private high-tech behemoth.

NORWICH, U.K.-- On 1 July most of Britain9s Defence Evaluation and Research Agency will step out from under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defence and become the country9s largest independent science and technology company in a compromise intended to appease Britain9s most important defense ally, the United States. But there are questions about whether the shift ultimately could weaken national security or undercut other U.K. defense R&D contractors.
Effects of Hyperoxia upon Microorganisms I. Membrane Culture Technique for Exposing Cells Directly to Test Atmospheres

A membrane culture technique was developed for directly exposing microorganisms to test atmospheres. Inhibition and killing were calculated from comparisons with air-grown cultures. Direct colony counts were used with low inocula. With mass inocula, plate colony counts and optical-density measurements were made on resuspended filter populations. Bacteria, including Escherichia coli, were more sensitive to oxygen than previously reported. With inocula of a few hundred cells per membrane, five of seven species failed to produce colonies while exposed to oxygen at one atmosphere. Upon reincubation in air, the survival of five species ranged from near 0 to 12% of the cells. Aerobacter aerogenes was neither inhibited nor killed. With this technique, bacteria are in direct contact with the test atmosphere and cells which survive are detected but do not obscure the response of other cells in the population.
Venue Shopping, Political Strategy, and Policy Change: The Internationalization of Canadian Forest Advocacy

A key component of any political strategy is finding a decision setting that offers the best prospects for reaching one's policy goals, an activity referred to as venue shopping. This article supports the theory of venue shopping as laid out in Baumgartner and Jones (1993), but presents a more complicated analysis of its practice than most empirical studies to date. First, venue shopping can be more experimental, and less deliberate or calculated, than is commonly perceived. Second, advocacy groups choose venues not only to advance substantive policy goals but also to serve organizational needs and identities. Finally, venue choice is shaped by policy learning. Advocacy groups choose venues not only for short-term strategic reasons, but also because they have embraced a new understanding of the nature of a policy problem. These factors shape the frequency of venue shopping and thus the pace of policy reform.
Analysis of glutathione S-transferase from human liver by isoelectric focusing in a urea minigel system.

Abstract A method for the rapid analysis of isozyme subunits of glutathione transferase (GST) from human liver is described. Following purification of enzyme protein to electrophoretic homogeneity on columns of GSH-agarose, pooled transferase fractions were concentrated by ultrafiltration and subjected to further fractionation and analysis by urea-isoelectric focusing in minigels using a Hoefer Mighty Small II electrophoresis system. These methods combined with immunoblotting techniques permitted the resolution, detection, and eventual analysis of up to six different subunits of the α isozyme of human GST and at least three to four different forms of the π isozyme of the transferase. The rapidity, accuracy, and sensitivity of the methodology may prove useful to the analysis and quantification of GST subunits in biopsies of malignant human tissue and to the development of effective chemotherapeutic regimens.
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Index Finger Muscle Attachments in an OpenSim Upper-Extremity Model

Musculoskeletal models allow estimation of muscle function during complex tasks. We used objective methods to determine possible attachment locations for index finger muscles in an OpenSim upper-extremity model. Data-driven optimization algorithms, Simulated Annealing and Hook-Jeeves, estimated tendon locations crossing the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints by minimizing the difference between model-estimated and experimentally-measured moment arms. Sensitivity analysis revealed that multiple sets of muscle attachments with similar optimized moment arms are possible, requiring additional assumptions or data to select a single set of values. The most smooth muscle paths were assumed to be biologically reasonable. Estimated tendon attachments resulted in variance accounted for (VAF) between calculated moment arms and measured values of 78% for flex/extension and 81% for ab/adduction at the MCP joint. VAF averaged 67% at the PIP joint and 54% at the DIP joint. VAF values at PIP and DIP joints partially reflected the constant moment arms reported for muscles about these joints. However, all moment arm values found through optimization were non-linear and non-constant. Relationships between moment arms and joint angles were best described with quadratic equations for tendons at the PIP and DIP joints.
An extended HLLC Riemann solver for the magneto-hydrodynamics including strong internal magnetic field

By revisiting the derivation of the previously developed HLLC Riemann solver for magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD), the paper presents an extended HLLC Riemann solver specifically designed for the MHD system in which the magnetic field can be decomposed into a strong internal magnetic field and an external component. The derived HLLC Riemann solver satisfies the conservation laws. The numerical tests show that the extended solver deals with the global MHD simulation of the Earth's magnetosphere well, and maintains high numerical resolution. It recovers the previously developed HLLC Riemann solver for the MHD as long as the internal field is set to zero. Thus, it is backward compatible with the previous HLLC solver, and suitable for the MHD simulations no matter whether a strong internal magnetic field is included or not.
Professor-created computer programs for student research

Many university students are eager to use computers to analyze and compare texts and to do various kinds of computerized literary research. If students themselves cannot create the software they want to use, and if the desired software is not available from commercial sources, a professor can be of great assistance by writing computer programs for students. Fifteen professor-created programs for text analysis are described.
Population structure and linkage disequilibrium in elite barley breeding germplasm from the United States

Cultivated barley is known to have a complex population structure and extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD). To conduct robust association mapping (AM) studies of economically important traits in US barley breeding germplasm, population structure and LD decay were examined in a complete panel of US barley breeding germplasm (3 840 lines) genotyped with 3 072 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Nine subpopulations (sp1–sp9) were identified by the program STRUCTURE and subsequently confirmed by principle component analysis (PCA). Out of the nine subpopulations, seven were very similar to the respective subpopulations identified by Hamblin et al. (2010) which were based on half of the germplasm and half of the SNP markers, but two subpopulations were found to be new. One subpopulation was dominated by six-rowed spring lines from Utah State University (UT) and the other was composed of six-rowed spring lines from multiple breeding programs (USDA-ARS Aberdeen (AB), Busch Agricultural Resources Inc. (BA), UT, and Washington State University (WA)). LD was found to decay across a range from 4.0 to 19.8 cM. This result indicates that the germplasm genotyped with 3 072 SNPs would be robust for mapping and possibly identifying the causal polymorphisms contributing to disease resistance and perhaps other traits.
Botulinum Toxin-induced Muscle Paralysis Inhibits Heterotopic Bone Formation

Background Short-term muscle atrophy induced by botulinum toxin A (BTxA) has been observed to impair osteogenesis in a rat closed femur fracture model. However, it is unclear whether the underlying mechanism is a direct effect of BTxA on muscle-bone interactions or an indirect effect that is driven by skeletal unloading. Because skeletal trauma in the closed fracture model also leads to disuse atrophy, we sought to mitigate this confounding variable by examining BTxA effects on muscle-bone interactions in two complementary in vivo models in which osteogenesis is induced in the absence of skeletal unloading. The overall aim of this study was to identify a potential strategy to inhibit pathological bone formation and heterotopic ossification (HO).
Exoplanet Transit Spectroscopy and Photometry

Photometry and spectroscopy of extrasolar planets provides information about their atmospheres and surfaces. From extrasolar planet spectra and photometry we can infer the composition and temperature of the atmospheres as well as the presence of molecular species, including biosignature gases or surface features. So far photometry has been published for three different transiting hot Jupiters (gas giant planets in short-period orbits), opening the era of comparative exoplanetology.
Assignment of the infrared spectrum for the ethyl radical

The infrared spectra of CH/sub 3/CH/sub 2/, CH/sub 3/CD/sub 2/, CD/sub 3/CH/sub 2/, and CD/sub 3/CD/sub 2/ have been observed in argon matrices by photolysis of the corresponding dipropionyl peroxides. The spectra of the isotopic species coupled with detailed ab initio calculations have provided the basis for an assignment. The analysis has revealed the spectral features that are clearly a manifestation of the unpaired electron.
Modification of Surfaces and Interfaces by Non-covalent Assembly of Hybrid Linear−Dendritic Block Copolymers: Poly(benzyl ether) Dendrons as Anchors for Poly(ethylene glycol) Chains on Cellulose or Polyester

Solution and interfacial properties of water-soluble hybrid linear−dendritic polyether copolymers are investigated by static and dynamic surface tension measurements and adsorption experiments on polymeric substrates. The results obtained show that the block copolymers are able to form mono- and multimolecular aggregates in water. Contacting a solid polymeric substrate with an aqueous solution of hybrid block copolymer increases the hydrophilicity of the substrate. Adsorption on the hydrophobic surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate) proceeds only through the dendritic blocks of the hybrid macromolecule. For more hydrophilic substrates such as regenerated cellulose, both the poly(ethylene glycol) tail and the poly(benzyl ether) dendrons adsorb on the surface, increasing its hydrophilicity.
Sound propagation in a flat-oval waveguide

A numerical method, for finding the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions associated with acoustic propagation in a uniform waveguide of flat-oval cross-section, is described. Comparison is made between the numerical results and experimental data, and the agreement is generally satisfactory. The method described should be of use in calculating the sound transmission loss of the walls of flat-oval air conditioning ductwork.
An ethical duty to present contentious data with care

Purpose Presenting data to the public is not a simple, unambiguous act. It is necessary to consider how you present it, in what context, and with what preparatory information. Thinking through such matters can determine whether many will grasp the importance of the data or whether they will misunderstand and therefore misuse the information. Methods A multidisciplinary team with expertise in epidemiology, ethics, and communications explored ethical issues and developed a communications plan for presenting data that show a positive association between vaccinations and asthma. By reviewing historical examples and consulting with experts in the media and public health, we identified ethical and communication hazards and developed strategies for their management. Results Potentially high levels of misclassification and response bias, unmeasured confounding, and restricted external validity limit interpretation of the new data. Excessive confidence in these preliminary results could encourage parents to refuse vaccinations and contribute to falling immunization rates and increased risk of disease for both vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Organized vaccine safety advocates and radical antivaccinationists use science selectively to highlight potential vaccine risks. Proactive contact with the popular press may help manage presentation of the data to the public. We developed a public message that stresses the limits of the data and recognizes valid parental and scientific concerns. Conclusion Although researchers cannot control how their data are used after their publication, anticipatory precautions can limit the potential for unintended harm.
Evidence for collective core excitation in the low lying levels of 39K

Abstract Evidence due to inelastic deuteron scattering from 40 Ca and 39 K indicate that the 3.02, 3.60, 3.88 and 4.12 MeV levels of 39 K are primarily the 3 2 − , 9 2 − , 7 2 − and 5 2 − respective members of the 40 Ca, 3 − (3.73 MeV), and d 3 2 proton hole multiplet.
Preliminary Investigation of the Limitations Fashion Presents to Those with Vision Impairments

AbstractThough aesthetics may be perceived through all five senses, fashion is almost exclusively perceived visually. This dominance begs the question of how beauty in fashion is interpreted by those with vision impairments. We investigate this question through interviews and a diary study with legally blind individuals to gather their point of view on beauty in clothing and their fashion experiences. Our participants were primarily concerned about the accessibility challenges they face surrounding the visual nature of fashion and current lack of resources that can assist them. Based on these initial findings, we conducted a follow-up survey to identify areas where technology may be universally beneficial for assisting with these challenges and clothing decisions. Our research provides insight into the major aspects of clothing's appeal for blind wearers, the challenges with lack of access, and the potential to create new assistive technology for this population.
Communication Skills in Five-Year-Old Children with High-Risk Neonatal Histories

Speech, language, auditory, and intellectual development were tested in 81 fiveyear-old children with one or more of the following high-risk histories: birth weight less than 2500 grams; gestationa...
Bulk Average Heat Transfer Coefficient of Multiple Particles Flowing in a Holding Tube

Amethodology was developed to measure the bulk average heat transfer coefficient of a large number of particles flowing in a holding tube. This technique is based on energy balance on the fluid and the analytical solution of transient heat conduction within a sphere. Particles at concentrations up to 18% v/v and fluid, at different initial temperatures, were mixed while flowing in the holding tube. The range of measured heat transfer coefficient ( h fp ) was from 180 to 800Wm− 2 2 K, based on particle concentration and flow rate. The value of h fp was found to decrease significantly as the particle concentration increased. This could be attributed to the restriction of particle movement in the holding tube as the particle concentration increased. Although bulk flow rate, as expected, was found to increase h fp , the increase was not significant at all levels.
Resistance of potato to infection by mechanically introduced virus X.

Progeny in the cross of susceptible X 927-3 (female) potato by susceptible B 2903-17 (male) were found to possess resistance to infection by virus X mechanically inoculated into Irish potato. Preliminary evidence indicated a close similarity to or identity with the immunity from virus X demonstrated by 41956. Examination of the pedigrees of parental lines and the pedigree of 41956 showed several similarities, but no common source of resistance was involved, unless it be the USDA Seedling 24642. Previously proposed theories of the origin of immunity from virus X were discussed, and the authors suggest that although their findings can be explained by a dominant complimentary gene theory, insufficient information is available to support either this or the recessive gene theory.
Validation of the Brief Pediatric Asthma Screen

Study objectives The purpose of this study was toconfirm the validity of a brief screen for pediatric asthma inschools. Background Asthma is the most commonchronic disease of childhood, yet the frequency with which thiscondition is recognized among school-aged children varies widely. Several methods are used to increase the accuracy of detection ofasthma, but many are cumbersome and difficult to apply on a largescale. Design We elected to validate a five-questioninstrument, the Brief Pediatric Asthma Screen (BPAS), to screen for thepresence of asthma among children attending school in Region 5 of the Chicago school district, where the schools report a 2.7% frequency ofasthma. The questionnaire was distributed to the parents ofgrade-school children at the time of report-card pick-up. Setting A clinical assessment was performed on a selectedgroup of children whose parents completed the questionnaire in a schooland in a hospital outpatient clinic. Participants Of 4,147 questionnaires that we distributed, 1,796 (43%) were returned. We excluded 341 children (19% of the total sample) whose parentsreported that they had been diagnosed with asthma. The remaining poolindicated that the children of 183 responders (10%) had symptomssuggestive of asthma, while 1,272 parents (71%) indicated that theirchildren did not have symptoms of asthma. Measurements andresults We selected 90 of the respondents who did not indicatethat their children had a diagnosis of asthma. Of this group, 81completed the validation, in which their responses suggested symptomsof asthma (n = 34) or no asthma symptoms (n = 47). The children ofthese respondents were given a blinded clinical evaluation consistingof history, physical examination, and spirometry. The surveydemonstrated a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 81.2% for thepresence of asthma among those who were unaware of the diagnosis. Conclusions The BPAS is brief, can be filled out byparents, and appears accurate in detectingasthma.
Anti-CD3-induced T-cell activation in vivo—I. Flow cytometric analysis of dose-responsive, time-dependent, and cyclosporin a-sensitive parameters of CD4+ and CD8+ cells from the draining lymph nodes of C57B1/6 mice

An in vivo model to assess the effects of chemicals on T-cell activation has been characterized and validated using the immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporin A (CsA). The dose response and kinetic effects of the hamster anti-mouse monoclonal antibody 145-2C11 (anti-CD3) on various parameters of T-cell activation were examined in cells from the draining popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes of C57Bl/6 mice. Parameters of anti-CD3-induced T-cell activation included 3H-TdR incorporation (+/- recombinant murine IL-2), and flow cytometric analysis of CD3 and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression on CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Increases in the percentage of lymphocyte subsets in the S/G2M phase of the cell cycle and total cell recovery following anti-CD3 are also reported. Increased 3H-TdR incorporation was maximal over a dose range of 0.25-25 micrograms anti-CD3, while maximal increases in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cycling occurred after a dose of 2.5 micrograms anti-CD3. At 24 h after anti-CD3 treatment, CD3 expression on both CD4+ and CD8+ cells was dose dependently down-modulated while IL-2R expression and IL-2-driven 3H-TdR incorporation were dose dependently increased. In addition, total cell recovery increased at 24 h and correlated with an increase in the percentage of B220+ cells present in the lymph nodes. There was a corresponding decrease in the percentage of Thy 1.2+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells. No increase in cycling of B220+ cells was observed, suggesting an influx of B220+ cells into the node rather than proliferation. Elevation in 3H-TdR incorporation occurred as early as 4 h after anti-CD3 treatment, while increases in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells cycling were not apparent until 24 h. At 48 h, the percentage of CD8+ cells cycling doubled while the percentage of CD4+ cells cycling remained constant. Down-modulation of CD3 expression on CD4+ and CD8+ cells was apparent as early as 1 h after treatment with less than 10% of CD4+ and CD8+ cells expressing CD3 by 12 h. Induction of IL-2R expression and IL-2-driven 3H-TdR incorporation was maximal at 12 h after anti-CD3. The immunosuppressive drug, CsA (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased anti-CD3-induced 3H-TdR incorporation. Concurrently, anti-CD3-induced increases in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells cycling were inhibited by CsA. Likewise, IL-2 responsiveness and IL-2R expression on both T-cell subsets were inhibited by CsA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Using Self-Referential Pronouns in Writing: The Effect of Explicit Instruction on L2 Writers at Two Levels of Proficiency.

Skilled writers have at their disposal a range of rhetorical strategies for positioning themselves as competent members of a particular discourse community, including the judicious use of self-referential pronouns (e.g. I, she, he) to overtly signal authorial presence. However, while researchers routinely recommend that second language (L2) writers receive instruction on the use of this rhetorical strategy, empirical studies on the effect of such instruction are rare. The present study investigates the effect of explicit instruction on the ability of non-native speakers of English (NNS) (n = 77) at two different levels of proficiency to use two signals of authorial presence (first person pronouns and self-referential third person pronouns/phrases) while writing specially constructed essay types. Using a controlled/posttest design with stimulated recall data, the study found that the instructed students significantly outperformed their non-instructed counterparts on Essay 1 (immediately after treatment), Essay 2 (one week later) and a quiz (one month later). The effect of the instruction did not depend on the proficiency of the student. Implications for L2 writing instruction are discussed.
An Exploration of the Lived Experience of Step-Motherhood

The stepfamily is becoming an increasingly common family formation. Blended families comprise approximately 65% of all families. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of step-motherhood through the perception of women who are presently experiencing the phenomenon. A phenomenological research design was used. Data analysis revealed five structures: feeling isolated and unsupported, feeling ill prepared for step-motherhood, acting as the primary parent or re-enforcer, feeling frustration, and feeling rewarded. The results of the study might be helpful to psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and other mental health professionals who work with those affected by divorce and remarriage.
A Large Millimeter Flare on the RS CVn Binary σ Geminorum

The flaring behavior of active RS CVn binaries has been studied extensively at centimeter wavelengths, but very little has been published concerning RS CVn flares in the millimeter region, where the nonthermal gyrosynchrotron emission is much more likely to be optically thin. We present 3 mm (99 GHz) observations of a large flare on the active binary σ Gem using the Owens Valley Millimeter Array. Two 3 hr observations in 2004 February showed only 3 σ upper limits of 3 mJy, while the third observation on 2004 April 22 showed a large flare outburst that filled the 6 hr observation and reached a peak flux density of 90 mJy. The strongest brightening was preceded by at least a 4 hr period of significantly elevated emission at 20-40 mJy. These observations demonstrate the feasibility of detailed multifrequency studies of nonthermal electron distributions in active star coronae with the next generation of millimeter and centimeter radio arrays.
The microevolutionary consequences of climate change

Species may respond to climate change by shifting in abundance and distribution, by going extinct, or by evolving. Predicting which will occur is difficult. Climate change may lead to alterations in both abiotic and biotic components of selection. Although there is evidence that abundant genetic variation exists in some species which can respond to such selection, other species seem to have little genetic variation for key characters determining distribution and abundance. Moreover, climate change can affect nonselective components of microevolution, such as genetic variances and covariances, and the magnitudes of drift, mutation and gene flow. There is almost no species for which we know enough relevant ecology, physiology and genetics to predict its evolutionary response to climate change.
A security oriented program transformation to "add on" policies to prevent injection attacks

Topping the list of the most prominent attacks on applications [6] are various types of injection attacks. Malicious inputs that cause injection attacks are numerous; programmers fail to write checks for all attack patterns. We define a program transformation that allows a programmer to think in terms of rectification policies and automatically add these policies to convert unsafe data inputs to safe inputs. The security oriented program transformation applies to all classes of injection attacks, easing the burden of programmers who would otherwise have to manually write checks.
Is manual palpation of the uterine scar following vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) helpful

Risk of uterine rupture with trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) is less than one percent. Discovery of uterine rupture often occurs during labor. In our case, the uterine scar is discovered to be ruptured during the postpartum period. The exact cause and time of uterine rupture is difficult to ascertain in this case, yet manual palpation of the uterine scar did not aid in the eventual diagnosis.
Interpreting the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial. Medical vs surgical treatment of lumbar disk herniation: implications for future trials.

Abstract The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) consisted of two parallel studies: an observational study and a randomized comparison of medical and surgical treatment of disk herniation. In the long-term, patients did well with either treatment, and an intention-to-treat analysis found no difference in outcomes. However, at 2 years 40% of patients in the surgical group of the randomized study still hadn't had surgery, and 40% of the medical patients did have surgery, muddying the results. Surgery was superior according to an analysis by the treatment patients actually received, but the study has been criticized for methodologic shortcomings, and the topic remains controversial.
MICROPROSTHEMA GRANATENSE, NEW SPECIES, FROM THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN, WITH A KEY TO SHRIMPS OF THE GENUS MICROPROSTHEMA FROM THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AND A NEW RECORD OF ODONTOZONA LIBERTAE (DECAPODA: STENOPODIDEA)

ABSTRACT The shrimp Microprosthema granatense, new species, is described and illustrated from material collected in Granate Bay, Caribbean coast of Colombia. This male shrimp was collected together with 3 ovigerous females of the stenopodidean Odontozona libertae Gore around the talus pile of the burrow of a tilefish. Microprosthema granatense differs from other species of Microprosthema mainly by having few spinous processes and spines on the carapace, a larger cornea, different spination of the third maxilliped and third pereiopod, and very long and multisegmented fourth and fifth pereiopods. Comparisons with other species of the genus are made and a key for the species of Microprosthema of the western Atlantic is provided. The record of Odontozona libertae constitutes the first for the southern Caribbean.
Reconstitution of ionic channels from human heart

Abstract This report is the first description of single ion channels from human myocardium. Using explanted human left ventricular tissue, we have studied three K-conducting and two anion-conducting channels. We report our observations of gating and ionic selectivity properties of these channels which, we argue, derive from both sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. We postulate that one channel is the K-conducting channel (SR K channel) from human cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Another channel is similar to a dimeric Cl − channel from Torpedo electroplax, displaying two equally spaced levels of open state conductance.
Coupling of Biennial Oceanic Rossby Waves with the Overlying Atmosphere in the Pacific Basin

Abstract Anomalies of TOPEX/Poseidon sea level height (SLH), NCEP sea surface temperature (SST), and ECMWF meridional surface wind (MSW) and derived wind stress curl (WSC) are mapped biweekly over the global ocean from 60°S to 60°N for two years from 1993 to 1994. These anomalies (i.e., differences from the average over the two years) allow one cycle of biennial climate change to be examined, with the paucity of temporal degrees of freedom mitigated by greater numbers of spatial degrees of freedom. Time–longitude diagrams of SLH anomalies reveal biennial Rossby waves in the Pacific ocean with westward phase speeds in the extratropics (Tropics) faster (slower) than expected of free biennial Rossby waves. Complex empirical orthogonal function analysis of SLH, SST, MSW, and WSC anomalies finds the beta-refraction pattern of these biennial Rossby waves in all four variables over most of the eastern-central Pacific Ocean, suggesting that oceanic Rossby waves there are coupled with the overlying atmosphere. The...
First-principles calculation of the Mg(0001) surface relaxation

Abstract First-principles calculations for the clean Mg(0001) surface indicate that the first three interlayer spacings are expanded with respect to the bulk value by 1.5%, 0.5%, and 0.1%, respectively. These results are in excellent agreement with an analysis of low-energy electron diffraction I–V spectra that yields changes in the first three interlayer spacings of 1.9%, 0.8%, and −0.4%, respectively [P.T. Sprunger, K. Pohl, H.L. Davis and E.W. Plummer, submitted]. The calculations also show that the outward relaxation is accompanied by a 2.8% decrease in the p σ population of the surface-layer atoms (pσ is defined with respect to the surface normal). This is somewhat smaller than the 7.8% decrease reported to accompany the outward relaxation of the clean Be(0001) surface [P.J. Feibelman, Phys. Rev. B 46 (1992) 2532].
A numerical study of Langevin QCD with dynamical quarks

Abstract QCD with four flavours of dynamical staggered quarks of mass ma =0.1 is simulated on a 4 4 lattice, using two versions of the second order Langevin algorithm with bilinear noise: the naive version and one which compensates for the non-integrable term which appears to first order in the discrete Langevin time step size. Comparison with the results of an exact numerical computation of the fermion determinant reveals that these algorithms yield accurate results only at rather small values of the step size. The correction due to the non-integrable term is quantitatively unimportant for such step sizes.
Newborn brachial plexus palsy: evaluation of severity using quantitative ultrasound of muscle.

Introduction: We studied ultrasound features of muscle after nerve injury. Methods: We evaluated ultrasound measurements of muscle thickness and backscatter in injured and contralateral uninjured elbow flexors of 51 children with newborn brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) and compared the results to elbow flexor function (Active Movement Scale), defined as normal, moderate, or severe. Results: Compared with uninjured limbs, muscle in injured arms was 15% thinner with severe impairment, 17% thicker with moderate impairment, and no different with normal function. Relative to uninjured limbs, moderately impaired muscle was thicker than both severely impaired and normal strength muscle. Backscatter was higher in injured than in uninjured limbs regardless of function. In 17 patients with sequential measures, muscle thickness, but not backscatter, increased with function over time. Conclusions: Muscle thickness differentiates moderate from severe impairment after NBPP and increases with recovery over time. Muscle backscatter identifies prior injury regardless of function. Muscle Nerve, 2013
Advanced Imaging Systems for Navy Applications

Imaging system capability in the infrared has been advanced significantly over the past 5 years due to innovations in detector, readout circuit, electronics, optics, and image processing technology.
Learning from the Experience of Muslim Students in American Schools: Towards a Proactive Model of School-Community Cooperation

Drawing on interviews with Muslim parents, students, and teachers in a Midwestern city, as well as one of the author's (Sabry's) own experiences as a member in the local Muslim community, this paper documents and describes the challenges faced by Muslim youth in U.S. schools. Grounded in the theoretical framework of cultural mismatch, the paper presents key themes of the interviews with regards to the areas of curriculum, instruction, and home-school relations. Based on these findings, and using Banks' Multicultural Education Dimensions, a proactive model of cooperation between the families of Muslim students and the public school system is proposed. The paper concludes by urging other scholars to investigate the schooling of Muslim students in the U.S. and encouraging members of the Muslim community to share their U.S. schooling experiences.
Development of adult-like performance in backward, simultaneous, and forward masking.

Some researchers have argued that specific language impairment (SLI) is associated with deficits in processing certain temporal aspects of auditory stimuli. One recent study (Wright et al ., 1997) ...
Quantitative determination of glucose concentration by swept-source spectral interferometry and spectral phase analysis

We report results of a study demonstrating that swept-source spectral interferometry and spectral phase analysis may be applied to determine quantitatively the concentration of glucose in aqueous solutions. The optical system incorporates a frequency swept laser and fiber-based common-path interferometer and provides a compact, stable experimental system. Spectral phase analysis includes a fast Lomb-Scargle algorithm and a multitaper spectral estimation method that allows for time-frequency analysis. The results show highly sensitive and accurate determination of glucose concentration in solutions with 0.54 mM of resolution and 0.999 correlation coefficient. Swept-source spectral interferometry with spectral phase analysis is a promising methodology for further development of a convenient glucose-sensing method with superior sensitive and accuracy.
Mechanism of allosteric inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase revealed by single-molecule and ensemble fluorescence

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) are routinely used to treat HIV-1 infection, yet their mechanism of action remains unclear despite intensive investigation. In this study, we developed complementary single-molecule fluorescence and ensemble fluorescence anisotropy approaches to discover how NNRTIs modulate the intra-molecular conformational changes and inter-molecular dynamics of RT-template/primer (T/P) and RT–T/P–dNTP complexes. We found that NNRTI binding to RT induces opening of the fingers and thumb subdomains, which increases the dynamic sliding motion of the enzyme on the T/P and reduces dNTP binding affinity. Further, efavirenz promotes formation of the E138-K101 salt bridge between the p51 and p66 subunits of RT, which contributes to opening of the thumb/fingers subdomains. Engineering a more polar salt bridge between p51 and p66 resulted in even greater increases in the thumb/fingers opening, RT sliding, dNTP binding disruption and in vitro and in vivo RT inhibition than were observed with wild-type RT. We also observed that K103N, a clinically relevant NNRTI resistance mutation, does not prevent binding between efavirenz and RT-T/P but instead allows formation of a stable and productive RT–T/P–dNTP complex, possibly through disruption of the E138-K101 salt bridge. Collectively, these data describe unique structure–activity–resistance relationships that could be exploited for drug development.
Nanooncology: The future of cancer diagnosis and therapy

In recent years, there has been an unprecedented expansion in the field of nanomedicine with the development of new nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Nanoparticles have unique biological properties given their small size and large surface area-to-volume ratio, which allows them to bind, absorb, and carry compounds such as small molecule drugs, DNA, RNA, proteins, and probes with high efficiency. Their tunable size, shape, and surface characteristics also enable them to have high stability, high carrier capacity, the ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances and compatibility with different administration routes, thereby making them highly attractive in many aspects of oncology. This review article will discuss how nanoparticles are able to function as carriers for chemotherapeutic drugs to increase their therapeutic index; how they can function as therapeutic agents in photodynamic, gene, and thermal therapy; and how nanoparticles can be used as molecular imaging agents to detect and monitor cancer progression.