cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CYCLIN DEPENDENT KINASE 2 AND THE REGULATION OF HUMAN PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR ACTIVITY

The function of the S phase kinase cyclin A/Cdk2 in maintaining and regulating cell cycle kinetics is well established. However an alternative role in the regulation of progesterone receptor (PR) signaling is emerging. PR and its coactivators are phosphoproteins. Cyclin A/Cdk2 phosphorylates several of the PR phosphorylation sites in vitro and there is evidence that it participates in PR phosphorylation in vivo. Cyclin A/Cdk2 also functions as a PR coactivator. Overexpression increases PR transcriptional activity independent of PR phosphorylation. In the presence of hormone, cyclin A/Cdk2 is recruited to PR bound to DNA of target genes. Inhibition of Cdk activity prevents recruitment of the p160 coactivator steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), suggesting that Cdk2 phosphorylates SRC-1. Consistent with this finding, phosphatase treatment of SRC-1 reduces its ability to interact with PR in vitro. Moreover, PR transcriptional activity is highest in S phase where cyclin A is expressed. In G1, PR activity is reduced and the capacity to recruit SRC-1 to a progestin responsive promoter is diminished. Future studies will focus on the importance of cyclin A/Cdk2 phosphorylation of other components of the PR transcription complex, such as the p160 coactivator SRC-1, and the specific role of Cdk2 target sites in the regulation of PR activity.
Enthalpies of formation of cerium dioxide, cerium sesquicarbide, and cerium dicarbide

The enthalpies of formation of cerium dioxide, cerium sesquicarbide, and cerium dicarbide have been determined by oxygen bomb calorimetry and found to be Δ H ° f (CeO 2 , 298.15 K) = −(260.6 ± 0.2) kcal mol −1 , Δ H ° f (CeC 1.5 , 298.15 K) = −(21.1 ± 0.7) kcal mol −1 , and Δ H ° f (CeC 2.0 , 298.15 K) = −(23.1 ± 1.3) kcal mol −1 .
The interactive role of exercise and sleep on veteran recovery from symptoms of PTSD

Abstract Introduction Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among military veterans and is associated with a number of negative outcomes. Despite available treatments, rates of recovery are poor and many symptoms persist post-treatment. Previous research suggests that exercise functions to reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve sleep quality, though its effects are understudied among those with PTSD. Method We sought to assess the extent to which exercise and sleep interactively impact changes in PTSD severity. Participants were 217 veterans in residential PTSD treatment who were offered the opportunity to participate in a bike-exercise program. Data were collected at treatment intake and discharge. Results Exercise (defined as total volume of cycling completed over the course of treatment) was associated with greater reductions in PTSD hyperarousal symptoms at discharge only among veterans with poor intake sleep quality. Conclusions Overall, exercise may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment for reducing hyperarousal symptoms among individuals with PTSD and poor sleep.
Minimization of Power System Stabilizer Torsional Interaction on Large Steam Turbine-Generators

A unique filter design is reported which, when used in a Power System Stabili minimizes the stabilizer effect at the shaft torsional natural frequencies. The results of analytical studies illustrating the requirement to reduce such interaction and the effectiveness of the new filter for a specific application are presented. Field tests which support the conclusions of the analytical studies are included. An associated monitoring function is described which provides protection against torsional instability in the event of critical component failure in the stabilizer. Implementation considerations are discussed.
Involvement of non-NMDA receptors in the rescue of weaver cerebellar granule neurons and sensitivity to ethanol of cerebellar AMPA receptors in oocytes.

The cellular mechanism responsible for the death of cerebellar granule neurons in the weaver mutant mouse is still being intensely investigated. To determine if α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) glutamate receptors are involved in producing the weaver phenotype or are altered by the weaver gene, we used (1) reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect transcripts of glutamate receptors (GluR1-4) from wild-type and mutant cerebella; (2) immunocytochemistry to establish the types of glutamate receptors present in granule neurons cultured from normal and homozygous weaver postnatal day 5–6 (P5–6) cerebella; (3) 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a blocker of glutamate (AMPA/Kainate/NMDA) receptors, and 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (NBQX), a blocker of AMPA and kainate receptors, to assess the number of neurons and the number of neurons with long neurites in cultures of homozygous weaver granule neurons; (4) two-electrode voltage clamp recordings to study AMPA glutamate receptor expression in Xenopus oocytes after injection of mRNA isolated from cerebella of normal and weaver P5–6, postnatal day 10 (P10) and postnatal day 23 (P23) mice; and (5) ethanol, which at low 1–10 mM concentrations had been shown previously to rescue homozygous weaver granule neurons in culture [Liesi et al., J. Nueorosci. Res. 48 (1997) 571–579], to examine its effect on modulation of AMPA receptors expressed from mRNA. By RT-PCR, the mRNA coding for AMPA receptor subunits GluR1–4 were detected from +/+ and wv/wv cerebella, and by immunocytochemistry, GluR1, GluR2/3 and GluR4 were observed to be expressed in cultured +/+ and wv/wv granule cells. CNQX at 10 μM or NBQX at 10 μM significantly increased the number of surviving neurons and the number with long neurites as compared to wv/wv controls. In addition, CNQX was significantly more effective than NBQX. In oocytes injected with mRNA from P10 normal or weaver cerebella, the amplitudes of the responses to kainate were about equal. In contrast, the amplitudes of the kainate-activated currents in oocytes injected with weaver P23 mRNA were about twice as large as the currents observed in oocytes injected with mRNA from normal P23 cerebella, and both were larger than kainate-activated currents observed after injection of P10 normal and weaver mRNA. Kainate-activated AMPA receptor currents in oocytes injected with mRNA from P10 and P23 normal and homozygous weaver cerebella were inhibited by ethanol. There were no significant differences in the inhibition produced by ethanol on currents from P10 or P23 normal and wv/wv mRNA. Thus, P23 weaver cerebellar mRNA expressed more kainate-activated current in oocytes than P23 normal cerebellar mRNA; both normal and weaver cerebellar granule neurons express mRNA coding for functional AMPA receptors that are susceptible to ethanol inhibition.
An Electronic Measuring Board with Bar Codes

Abstract A measuring board was devised to electronically record fish lengths during surveys at sea. The board is marked in 1-cm increments labeled with bar codes. A fish is placed on the board, and its length is recorded by stroking the bar code at the tip of the tail of the fish with a penlike bar code reader. Large numbers of fish lengths and related data can be recorded quickly and accurately with the board. Electronic data recording eliminates keying and data checking and the data are recorded in a form directly accessible to computers. The electronic measuring board with bar codes is well suited for field use because it is waterproof and has no mechanical parts that can be fouled by fish blood and slime or corroded by seawater. The system is adaptable to recording other categorical data besides length.
Lucky understanding without knowledge

Can one still have understanding in situations that involve the kind of epistemic luck that undermines knowledge? Kvanvig (The value of knowledge and the pursuit of understanding, 2003; in: Haddock A, Miller A, Pritchard D (eds) Epistemic value, 2009a; in: Haddock A, Miller A, Pritchard D (eds) Epistemic value, 2009b) says yes, Prichard (Grazer Philos Stud 77:325–339, 2008; in: O’Hear A (ed) Epistemology, 2009; in: Pritchard D, Millar A, Haddock A (eds) The nature and value of knowledge: three investigations, 2010) say sometimes, DePaul and Grimm (Philos Phenomenol Res 74:498–514, 2007) and Grimm (Br J Philos Sci 57:515–535, 2006; in: Bernecker S, Pritchard D (eds) The Routledge companion to epistemology, 2011), Kvanvig’s critics, say no. The cases put forth by Kvanvig’s critics share a common feature, which seems to drive the intuition that understanding can’t be lucky: the fact that the information that makes up the individual’s understanding comes exclusively from a bad source. I formulate a case that lacks this feature, drawing on the fact that understanding produced from scientific inquiry is often produced by collaboration. I argue that my case provides good evidence that understanding is not a species of knowledge.
Cholesterol effects on vesicle pools in chromaffin cells revealed by carbon-fiber microelectrode amperometry.

Cell–cell communication is often achieved via granular exocytosis, as in neurons during synaptic transmission or neuroendocrine cells during blood hormone control. Owing to its critical role in membrane properties and SNARE function, cholesterol is expected to play an important role in the highly conserved process of exocytosis. In this work, membrane cholesterol concentration is systematically varied in primary culture mouse chromaffin cells, and the change in secretion behavior of distinct vesicle pools as well as pool recovery following stimulation is measured using carbon-fiber microelectrode amperometry. Amperometric traces obtained from activation of the younger readily releasable and slowly releasable pool (RRP/SRP) vesicles at depleted cholesterol levels showed fewer sustained fusion pore features (6.1 ± 1.1% of spikes compared with 11.2 ± 1.0% for control), revealing that cholesterol content influences fusion pore formation and stability during exocytosis. Moreover, subsequent stimulation of RRP/SRP vesicles showed that cellular cholesterol level influences both the quantal recovery and kinetics of the later release events. Finally, diverging effects of cholesterol on RRP and the older reserve pool vesicle release suggest two different mechanisms for the release of these two vesicular pools.
PCASSO: a fast and efficient Cα-based method for accurately assigning protein secondary structure elements

Proteins are often characterized in terms of their primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. Algorithms such as define secondary structure of proteins (DSSP) can automatically assign protein secondary structure based on the backbone hydrogen-bonding pattern. However, the assignment of secondary structure elements (SSEs) becomes a challenge when only the Cα coordinates are available. In this work, we present protein C-alpha secondary structure output (PCASSO), a fast and accurate program for assigning protein SSEs using only the Cα positions. PCASSO achieves ∼95% accuracy with respect to DSSP and takes ∼0.1 s using a single processor to analyze a 1000 residue system with multiple chains. Our approach was compared with current state-of-the-art Cα-based methods and was found to outperform all of them in both speed and accuracy. A practical application is also presented and discussed.
Noncatalytic Reformation of JP-8 Fuel in Supercritical Water for Production of Hydrogen

Abstract A novel process is developed where hydrogen is generated via direct noncatalytic reformation of liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel and JP-8 fuel in supercritical water. In this process, supercritical water functions as a reforming agent and as a solvating reaction medium. The high enthalpy level of supercritical water and the extraordinary solubility of hydrocarbon fuel components in supercritical water allow the reformation reaction to proceed without a heterogeneous catalyst that is typically required for the conventional reformation process. Typical operating temperature and pressure ranges for this reformation process are: 650°C–825°C and 22–33 MPa. The process feasibility of the supercritical water reformation of JP-8 fuel was demonstrated in a tubular reactor (Generation-I SWR Reactor) made of Inconel-625 alloy (Grade 1) whose dimensions are 2.54-cm internal diameter and 183-cm internal length. The following scientific and technological issues were investigated in-depth: (a) long-term ...
Small-Channel Flow Boiling of One-Component Fluids and an Ethylene Glycol/Water Mixture*

Boiling heat transfer experiments were performed in a 2.98-mm inside-diameter horizontal tube with a two-component mixture of 50/50 ethylene glycol and water. The data were compared with existing results from three single-component fluids under similar boiling conditions. Boiling heat transfer in small channels with the single-component fluids exhibited a nucleation dominant region that is considerably more extensive than found in larger diameter tubes. Data for the 50/50 ethylene glycol/water mixture were similar in this regard to the single-component fluids; differences occurred with respect to heat transfer rates, extent of transition boiling, critical heat flux, and flow stability. Based on these data comparisons, we developed a concept for dividing flow boiling into its three regions. Using this division, we developed a new general correlation for the nucleation-dominant region based on Boiling and Weber numbers. The correlation is specific to nucleation-dominant flow boiling in small channels, and i...
Nerve growth factor effects on human and mouse melanoma cell invasion and heparanase production

The role of growth factor networks in regulating the progression of human melanocytes towards tumorigenicity and ultimately the malignant phenotype is poorly understood. In particular, the autocrine and paracrine influences that modulate cellular invasion and extracellular matrix degradative enzymes of melanoma cells remain undefined at the molecular level. We report here that nerve growth factor (NGF) can modify some metastasis-associated cellular properties of human and mouse melanoma cells. Treatment of early-passage human metastatic melanoma cells (MeWo) or their variants (3S5, 70W) with biologically active 2.5S NGF resulted in (a) delayed density-dependent inhibition of melanoma cell growth; (b) increased in vitro invasion through a reconstituted basement membrane; and (c) time- and dose-dependent induction of heparanase, a heparan-sulfate-specific endo-beta-D-glucuronidase associated with human melanoma metastasis. These effects of NGF were most marked in the 70W brain-colonizing cells (70W > MeWo > 3S5). The NGF enhancement of heparanase secretion was not species-specific, since it was also observed in murine B16 melanoma cells; the highest NGF stimulation of heparanase was found in brain-colonizing murine B16-B15b variant (B16-B15b > B16-BL6, B16-F10, B16-F1). NGF also increased the invasive capacity of the human 70W and murine B16-B15b sublines in a chemoinvasion assay performed with filters coated with purified heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). The enhancement of chemotactic response and heparanase production was detected at NGF concentrations sufficient to fully saturate both low- and high-affinity NGF receptors (NGFR), the neurotrophin receptor (p75) and the trkA gene product, respectively. The results suggest that, in addition to the effects of NGF on cellular development and differentiation within the peripheral and central nervous systems, NGF can exert changes in the invasive properties of neuroectoderm-derived melanoma cells.
Superdressed two-level atom: Very high harmonic generation and multiresonances

We show that a simple nonperturbative two-level model of an atom driven by a very strong periodic field results in a rich picture of very high harmonic generation and related phenomena. It reproduces the experimentally observed plateau, yields simple analytic formulas for the plateau cutoff frequency, critical driving intensity, and saturation, and predicts intensity-induced multiresonances.
Newly Identified Genetic Variations in Common Escherichia coli MG1655 Stock Cultures

ABSTRACT We have recently identified seven mutations in commonly used stocks of the sequenced Escherichia coli strain MG1655 which do not appear in the reference sequence. The mutations are likely to cause loss of function of the glpR and crl genes, which may have serious implications for physiological experiments using the affected strains.
Implementation of a crack propagation constraint within a structural optimization software

A crack propagation constraint related to the stress intensity factor is examined for the minimum-weight design optimization of a composite blade-stiffened panel. A low-fidelity approach uses a closed-form solution for the stress intensity factor, while a high-fidelity approach uses the stress distribution around the crack. Structural optimizations are performed by low- and high-fidelity approaches for a number of panels configured with different values of the load, crack length, and blade height. Response surface (RS) approximations are then constructed for the optimal weight as a function of the three configuration variables. The computational cost, numerical noise, and accuracy for the two approaches are compared. An additional constraint in the low-fidelity solutions is found to be active for some of the configurations, increasing the difference between the low-fidelity and high-fidelity optima. It is shown that outlier analysis helps to identify the configurations with the largest difference.
Manganese-54 accumulation by Chlorella spp., Daphnia magna and yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Concentration factor and biological half-life of 54Mn were determined in three species representing an ecologically and economically important food chain. Green algae (Chlorella spp.), Daphnia magna and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were exposed to 54Mn in water and assayed for 54Mn uptake. Steady state concentration factors computed from the laboratory data for algae, Daphnia and perch were 4230, 17 000 and 11, respectively. Respective biological half-lives were 1.6, 1.2 and 8.3 days.
Arthroplasty Knee Surgery and Alcohol Use: Risk Factor or Benefit?

Background Excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with adverse measures of health after elective surgery. However, associations of low/moderate consumption remain uncertain.
The effect of imaginative play actions on language development in five‐year‐old children

The study, using 60 five-year-olds, investigated forms of play: (a) self-action, (b) puppet-action, and (c) control treatments and differences between the sexes on aural language recall scores using semantic, absolute, and syntactic criteria. The results of the preliminary analyses between treatment groups and sex differences on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Harris-Goodenough Draw-A-Man Test indicated no significant main or interaction effects. The subjects in treatment groups and boys and girls were relatively homogeneous on receptive language IQ and motor coordination, respectively. With 3 × 2 factorial analysis of variance experiments run on aural language recall for each of the three criteria, several significant results were noted: (a) Using the semantic criteria for scoring aural language recall, self-action play yielded significantly higher mean scores than either puppet-action or control groups. (b) Using the semantic criteria to score aural language recall, girls yielded significantly higher scores than boys. (c) Using either the absolute or syntactic scoring criteria, the results of the analysis indicated no significant main or interaction effects on aural language recall.
Fast internal marker tracking algorithm for onboard MV and kV imaging systems

Intrafraction organ motion can limit the advantage of highly conformal dose techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) due to target position uncertainty. To ensure high accuracy in beam targeting, real-time knowledge of the target location is highly desired throughout the beam delivery process. This knowledge can be gained through imaging of internally implanted radio-opaque markers with fluoroscopic or electronic portal imaging devices (EPID). In the case of MV based images, marker detection can be problematic due to the significantly lower contrast between different materials in comparison to their kV-based counterparts. This work presents a fully automated algorithm capable of detecting implanted metallic markers in both kV and MV images with high consistency. Using prior CT information, the algorithm predefines the volumetric search space without manual region-of-interest (ROI) selection by the user. Depending on the template selected, both spherical and cylindrical markers can be detected. Multiple markers can be simultaneously tracked without indexing confusion. Phantom studies show detection success rates of 100% for both kV and MV image data. In addition, application of the algorithm to real patient image data results in successful detection of all implanted markers for MV images. Near real-time operational speeds of approximately 10 frames/sec for the detection of five markers in a 1024 x 768 image are accomplished using an ordinary PC workstation.
Blood Glucose Levels Regulate Pancreatic β-Cell Proliferation during Experimentally-Induced and Spontaneous Autoimmune Diabetes in Mice

Background Type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused by immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells leading to insulin deficiency, impaired intermediary metabolism, and elevated blood glucose concentrations. While at autoimmune diabetes onset a limited number of β-cells persist, the cells' regenerative potential and its regulation have remained largely unexplored. Using two mouse autoimmune diabetes models, this study examined the proliferation of pancreatic islet s-cells and other endocrine and non-endocrine subsets, and the factors regulating that proliferation. Methodology and Principal Findings We adapted multi-parameter flow cytometry techniques (including DNA-content measurements and 5′-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine [BrdU] incorporation) to study pancreatic islet single cell suspensions. These studies demonstrate that β-cell proliferation rapidly increases at diabetes onset, and that this proliferation is closely correlated with the diabetic animals' elevated blood glucose levels. For instance, we show that when normoglycemia is restored by exogenous insulin or islet transplantation, the β-cell proliferation rate returns towards low levels found in control animals, yet surges when hyperglycemia recurs. In contrast, other-than-s endocrine islet cells did not exhibit the same glucose-dependent proliferative responses. Rather, disease-associated alterations of BrdU-incorporation rates of δ-cells (minor decrease), and non-endocrine islet cells (slight increase) were not affected by blood glucose levels, or were inversely related to glycemia control after diabetes onset (α-cells). Conclusion We conclude that murine β-cells' ability to proliferate in response to metabolic need (i.e. rising blood glucose concentrations) is remarkably well preserved during severe, chronic β-cell autoimmunity. These data suggest that timely control of the destructive immune response after disease manifestation could allow spontaneous regeneration of sufficient β-cell mass to restore normal glucose homeostasis.
A sensitive high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the determination of propranolol in microliter serum samples

A high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay capable of quantitating subnanogram per milliliter concentrations of propranolol in microliter volume of serum was developed. Propranolol was extracted from serum with hexane at pH 9.7. Further sample clean up was achieved by back extraction. Separation of propranolol from its metabolites and normal serum constituents was performed on 10 μm C18 reversed-phase column packing. High sensitivity was attained with fluorescence detection using a low UV excitation wavelength. This assay is suitable for use in pharmacokinetic studies involving small laboratory animals.
Structural modification changes the DNA binding mode of cation-substituted anthraquinone photonucleases: association by intercalation or minor groove binding determines the DNA cleavage efficiency.

The mode of binding anthraquinone derivatives, bearing positively charged ammonium side chains, to duplex DNA was investigated by optical and NMR spectroscopy. Absorption, circular dichroism, emission, and one- and two-dimensional homonuclear NMR spectroscopy show that mono- and dication-substituted quinones, AQS and 27AQS, bind primarily by intercalation. In contrast, these experiments indicate that the tetracationic anthraquinone 27AQS2 is bound nonintercalatively to duplex DNA. In particular, analysis of the NMR spectrum of 27AQS2 bound to a specially designed synthetic self-complementary dodecanucleotide (5‘-CGCGAATTCGCG-3‘) shows it to be associated primarily with the minor groove of the central AATT sequence. The change in the DNA binding mode greatly affects the photophysical and photochemical properties of these photonucleases with DNA.
On monitoring a vertical datum with satellite altimetry and water-level gauge data on large lakes

Using TOPEX satellite altimetry, water-level-gauge data, and a geoid model, the geopotential, W 0, of the International Great Lakes Datum of 1985 (IGLD85) is determined. This is compared to an analogous determination using GPS and leveling data in the region. The two sets of data yield generally consistent results at the few-decimeter level and both indicate a tilt of about 33 cm in the computed datum across the region. On the basis of this and other studies, it is conjectured that the source of the tilt is a regional error in G99SSS. Further analysis of the altimetry and water-level data indicate that the geoid model, G99SSS, is in error by up to 20 cm at scales of about 100–150 km. In addition, the analysis of 8 years of altimeter and water-level data shows varying trends (up to 2 mm/yr) in crustal uplift throughout the region, generally consistent with an independent post-glacial rebound (PGR) model, ICE-4G.
Virus persistence and immune memory

Abstract Viral infections and live vaccines often confer long-term immunity. This article contrasts the nature of antiviral T and B cell memory and takes a critical look at the role of viral persistence in maintaining immunity.
Between Revolutions: Re-Appraising the Restoration in Britain

A renewal of historical interest in the politics and religion of the Restoration began in the late 1980s and has changed how we look at the period. This article seeks to explain the origins of the recent wave of Restoration scholarship, provides an overview of the field, and offers suggestions about critical interpretive issues. The article adopts a British approach, seeking to find common patterns in the reigns of Charles II and James II in Scotland, Ireland, and England. It traces the instability of the Restoration settlements to their coercive treatment of Protestant dissenters, and it offers suggestions for developing a three-kingdom framework for the treatment of Protestant divisions from the 1640s through the Glorious Revolution. It endorses the proposal that the crisis of 1679–81 was a multi-faceted Restoration Crisis, rather than an exclusion crisis; and it suggests also that, in England, the competition of Whigs and Tories marked a turning point in the development of more modern structures for political debate and discussion. It examines the question of whether Charles and James turned towards absolutism thereafter in the broader context of the emerging state. In conclusion, the article considers the Restoration as a transitional era between the ‘long Reformation’ and the ‘long eighteenth century’.
Survival of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Pork Products.

There is a risk of virus transmission through contaminated pork, and many viruses are considered potential hazards for both humans and livestock. The risk of transmission may be elevated with importation/exportation of meat between countries globally. Survival of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in different pork products has not been studied. The present study evaluated PRRSV survival in four different products: fresh sausage, ham, bacon, and acidified sausage prepared with experimentally contaminated pork. These products were prepared according to standard methods used by the manufacturers of pork products, and then stored at room temperature, 4 °C and −20 °C. PRRSV was detected only in fresh sausage for up to 15 days at 4 °C and for 30 days at −20 °C. No PRRSV was detected at any temperature in any of the other three products. These preliminary data provide valuable information for the pork processing industry, as well as in planning for import/export of these products among different countries.
The social construction of local school violence threats by the news media and professional organizations

The research presented here examines the social construction of local school violence threats in the context of national claims-making about school violence, particularly school shootings. In light of the news media glare surrounding other school shootings, school and police officials in Burlington, Wisconsin assessed the threat posed by five high-school youth who allegedly plotted to carry out a school attack in November 1998. Social constructionist scholarship has shown that claims made about a problem and the way it is framed in the news media and other informational contexts shape an audience's perception of a social problem's seriousness, prevalence, setting, and causes. But as William Gamson and others have pointed out, “readers” are not passive recipients of media messages; rather, they actively interact with those messages to construct meaning. This research project involved two components: (1) content analysis of the print media (in two periods 1992–1993 and 1997–1998) and law enforcement and school administrator publications and conference materials; and (2) in-depth, semistructured interviews with 13 respondents, including the 11 Burlington school and police officials who assessed and acted on this case. In this paper, I examine how the (Racine) Journal Times and professional organizations constructed (and reconstructed) school violence and how local decision-makers interpreted their own school violence threat in the context of the news media's and professional organizations’ constructions.
Micro‐Purge Low‐Flow Sampling of Uranium‐Contaminated Ground Water at the Fernald Environmental Management Project

Efforts to sample representative, undisturbed distributions of uranium in ground water beneath the Fernald Environmemal Management Project (FEMP) prompted the application of a novel technique that is less invasive in the monitoring well. Recent studies (Kearl et al. 1992; Barcelona et al. 1994) indicate that representative samples can and should be collected without prior well volume exchange purging or borehole evacuation. Field experiments conducted at the FMMP demonstrate that under specific sampling conditions in a welldefined hydrogeologic system, representative ground water samples for a monitoring program can be obtained without removing the conventional three well volumes from the well. The assumption is made that indicator parameter equilibration may not be necessary to determine when to collect representative samples at the P'liMP. Preliminary results obtained from the field experiment suggest that this may be true. The technique employs low purge rates (< 1 L/min) with dedicated bladder pumps with inlets located in the screened interval of the well, while not disturbing the stagnant water column above the screened interval. If adopted, this technique, termed micro-purge low-flow sampling, will produce representative ground water samples, significantly reduce sampling costs, and minimize; waste water over the monitoring life cycle at the FEMP. This technique is well suited for sites that have been fully characterized and are undergoing long-term monitoring.
Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: female incubation, release of pheromone, fractionation of incubates.

Abstract The release of pheromone by female Nippostrongylus brasiliensis as a crude incubate was linear for the first 2 hr, but declined after this period. Pheromone release in solution increased with temperature elevations until a 37 C incubation temperature was reached. Higher temperatures of incubation apparently caused diminished pheromone release. Gel filtration of female pheromone that was prepared as a crude incubate revealed biologically active elutions at K av , 0.64 and 1.0. The timed release of female pheromone activity at these two elution regions coincided additively with the production of activity as a crude incubate. Each individual Chromatographic fraction from females accounted for about 50% of the pheromone activity of the crude, nonfractionated incubate, based on the male's bioassay response. Recombination of the K av 0.64 and 1.0 elutions enabled recovery of pheromone activity that was similar to crude incubate. The gel filtration elution of 260-nm absorbance from male- or female-produced incubate was qualitatively similar, but a range of quantitative differences were evident. The fractionation of incubate from several female densities revealed only quantitative differences.
Broadband Correction for High Contrast Imaging using Two Deformable Mirrors in Series

Presented here is a wavefront control algorithm that achieves symmetric high contrast regions using electric field estimation from the science camera. This same algorithm is then extended to broadband suppression.
Prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time in disseminated intravascular coagulation not due to deficiency of factors V and VIII.

Summary. In an investigation of 34 patients with laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), 17 were found to have a prolonged prothrombin time, 11 a prolonged partial thromboplastin time, and only 10 a prolonged thrombin time. Coagulation factor assays in these patients revealed deficiency patterns compatible with vitamin K deficiency and/or liver disease. In addition, a prolonged prothrombin time rapidly returned to normal in five of seven patients given vitamin K1. It is suggested that vitamin K deficiency and liver dysfunction occurred as a complication of the primary condition that led to DIC. The practical implications of these findings are that a prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time may occur in patients with laboratory evidence of DIC in the presence of a normal thrombin time. Under these circumstances bleeding in patients with laboratory evidence of DIC is likely to be caused by vitamin K deficiency or liver dysfunction and therefore may be more appropriately treated with vitamin K than with heparin.
Improved fertilization and embryo development resulting in birth of live piglets after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and in vitro culture in a cysteine-supplemented medium

Abstract The effects of cysteine treatment on fertilization rate, intracellular concentration of glutathione, and embryo development in vitro and after embryo transfer were examined following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of in vitro -matured porcine oocytes using a piezo drive unit. Culture of presumed zygotes after ICSI with 1.71–3.71 mM cysteine for 3–12 h improved ( P P
Temporally resolved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with mid-IR femtosecond pulses

We report the first implementation of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy system driven by 2-μm femtosecond pulses. Ab initio modeling is used to explain the present femtosecond results and the previously reported nanosecond results.
The Dynamics of Political Suppport for Reform in Economies in Transition

This paper considers a simple model of economic transition to analyze the dynamics of preferences over economic policy. I consider an economy with two sectors: a high-productivity private sector, which initially employs a small share of the economy′s workforce, and a low-productivity state sector, where the majority of the population is employed at the outset. In the early stages of the transition, the private sector expands at a rate that is lower than the rate at which the state sector is contracting, with the result that unemployment first rises and then falls. The government′s policy consists of a subsidy to the state sector, which has the effect of slowing down the transition. The analysis focuses on the dynamic evolution of worker′s preferences over the level of subsidy. A worker in the private sector always prefers the lowest subsidy to the state sector possible. The same is true of an unemployed worker as well, as the subsidy only reduces the number of new jobs created without reducing the number of job seekers. But the state-sector workers have ambiguous feelings over reform strategy and their preferences change over time. In particular, even state-sector workers prefer shock therapy at the outset, they will always want to slow the reforms down at a later stage. The reason is that the probability of finding a higher paying private-sector job declines as the transition unfolds. J. Japan. Int. Econ., Dec. 1995, 9(4), pp.403–425. Columbia University, CEPR, and NBER
Potassium titanyl phosphate: properties and new applications

Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) is a unique nonlinear-optical material that is being widely used for second-harmonic generation of Nd lasers emitting near 1 μm. KTP is also attractive for various sum- and difference-frequency and optical parametric applications over its entire transparency range from 0.35 to 4.5 μm. Its combination of large electro-optic coefficients and low dielectric constants makes KTP potentially useful for various electro-optic applications, and, in particular, it has a figure of merit for an optical waveguide modulator that is nearly a factor of 2 larger than that for any other inorganic material. Low-loss optical waveguides can be formed in KTP, and several electro-optic and nonlinear-optic devices have been fabricated that confirm that KTP is also a superior material for many optical waveguide applications.
Left-Right Orientation among Hausa Children A Methodological Note

Hausa (Nigerian) children were given two sets of left-right orientation tests: (1) identification of left and right hands on the child's own body and on the body of an investigator facing him, and (2) subtracting from a group composed of a large middle doll with two smaller dolls each side of it, first the middle and the smaller on the right, and then the middle and the smaller on the left. In both cases the child was asked to identify which doll was the left and which was the right. Reported results of the "hands" test give ages at which the left-right identification was attained, using the criterion of 75%, while results of the "dolls" test are reported in terms of the percentages correctly identifying left and right at different ages. The results and methods are compared with studies using a similar approach.
Computer aided visualizations of 3-dimensional light distributions in tissues for quantitative optical diagnostics

Numerical simulations of time-resolved light transport in inhomogeneous tissues reveal quantitative, 3D-distributions of excitation and fluorescent light. Visualizations generated can assist the optimization of endoscopy-compatible fiber-optic probes and optical imaging systems.
The Sub Sea Holodeck: A 14-megapixel immersive virtual environment for studying cephalopod camouflage behavior

As part of a project to study how cephalopods sense, respond to, and camouflage themselves in a marine environment characterized by dynamic light fields we have fabricated a ‘Sub Sea Holodeck (SSH)’. The system consists of a 101 × 101 × 66cm aquarium with plasma displays on the vertical sides, 2 DLP projection displays on the top, and 1 DLP projection display on the bottom. Taken together, these 7 displays create a virtual, visual aquatic environment whose goal is to elicit and record the response of marine animals that can modulate their skin color. The system is designed to show output from the Omni-Cam, a subsea omni-directional camera system with 6 cameras, or to create synthetic images generated from a computer graphics program. This proceedings article describes the system design, construction, and control software. As an example of its use, preliminary responses elicited from the animals in response to the visual environment are described.
A sequential algorithm for blind equalization

A sequential blind search algorithm for the identification of unknown linear channels is proposed. The algorithm is a modification of the Fano algorithm and it requires knowledge of the variance of the additive noise. Based on this knowledge the algorithm builds screening tests to eliminate sequences which result in large estimation errors. Simulation examples demonstrate that lengths of 50-100 samples are enough to identify channels when binary pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM-2) transmission is used. >
Further Studies on Protein and Energy Requirements of Chicks Selected for High and Low Body Weight

Abstract The study reported by Siegel and Wisman (1962) showed that chicks selected in divergent directions for body weight at 8 weeks of age responded similarly to changes in dietary energy and protein. The basal ration employed was of the starter-grower type and a constant Calorie-protein ratio (39.2) was maintained when the productive energy and crude protein levels were varied. The experimental plan also included a comparison with a more efficient broiler-type ration. Since the broiler ration elicited greater body gains in both the high weight and low weight lines, a subsequent study was undertaken to further observe responses to energy and protein changes using this ration as the basal (Ration D, Siegel and Wisman, 1962). The results are reported herein. Formulated to support maximum growth, such a ration should reflect energy and protein changes more precisely. The source of chicks and the experimental procedure were the same as in the…
Theoretical investigation of dielectric-loaded waveguides for millimeter wave generation

Charges traveling inside or in the vicinity of dielectric media can generate radiation ranging from the microwave spectrum to visible light. The effects are known as Cerenkov radiation (CR) for constant dielectric medium, and transition radiation (TR) for alternating dielectric media. When the dielectric is constructed as a waveguide with a vacuum tunnel built inside for an electron beam to travel, the effects can be utilized for the generation of coherent millimeter waves. A device based on CR, called the Cerenkov maser, has been reported to generate radiation up to 150 GHz from an unbunched beam, and therefore it functions as an oscillator. Although the device has the drawback of having a very high threshold for the beam energy, it offers high power loading and simplicity for theoretical analysis. In this work we present an analysis based on field theory in order to calculate the gain and spectrum of the device and discuss key parameters including interaction length, off-resonant frequency, filling factor, etc. for optimization.
Effect of a Fluoride-Releasing Self-Etch Acidic Primer on the Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets

Conventional adhesive systems use three different agents--an enamel conditioner, a primer solution, and an adhesive resin--during the bonding of orthodontic brackets to enamel. A unique characteristic of some new bonding systems in operative dentistry is that they combine the conditioning and priming agents into a single application. Combining conditioning and priming saves time and should be more cost-effective to the clinician and indirectly to the patient. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the effects of self-etching primers, including a fluoride-releasing primer, on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. The brackets were bonded to extracted human teeth according to one of four protocols. In group 1 (control), teeth were etched with 37% phosphoric acid; after the sealant was applied, the brackets were bonded with Transbond XT (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) and light cured for 20 seconds. In group 2, a self-etch acidic primer (3M ESPE, St Paul, Minn) was applied as suggested by the manufacturer, and the brackets were then bonded with Transbond XT as in the first group. In group 3, an experimental self-etch primer EXL #547 (3M ESPE) was applied to the teeth as suggested by the manufacturer, and the brackets were then bonded as in groups 1 and 2. In group 4, a fluoride-releasing self-etch primer, One-Up Bond F (J. Mortia, USA Inc. Irvine, Calif) that also has a novel dye-sensitized photo polymerization initiator system was applied as suggested by the manufacturer, and the brackets were then bonded as in the other groups. The present in vitro findings indicated that the shear bond strengths of the four groups were significantly different (P = .001). Duncan multiple range tests indicated that One-Up Bond F (mean +/- SD strength, 5.1+/-2.5 MPa) and Prompt L-Pop (strength, 7.1+/-4.4 MPa) had significantly lower shear bond strengths than both the EXL #547 self-etch primer (strength, 9.7+/-3.7 MPa) or the phosphoric acid etch and the conventional adhesive system (strength, 10.4+/-2.8 MPa).
In Vitro Activities of Telavancin and Vancomycin against Biofilm-Producing Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecalis Strains

We investigated the activities of telavancin and vancomycin against biofilm-producing Staphylococcus and Enterococcus strains. At clinically attainable concentrations, telavancin was active against bacteria embedded in biofilm (minimal biofilm eradication concentration [MBEC], 0.125 to 2 μg/ml) and inhibited biofilm formation at concentrations below the MIC. Vancomycin did not demonstrate the same activity (MBEC, ≥512 μg/ml) against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Telavancin may have a unique role in biofilm-associated infections.
On the Molecular Structure and Bonding in a Lithium Bismuth Porphyrin Complex: LiBi(TPP)2

A new BiLi porphyrin sandwich compound, LiBi(TPP)2 has been synthesized and characterized (TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin). The unique molecular structure of LiBi(TPP)2 is such that the Bi sits between the porphyrins and is directed towards the Li. This complex was shown to remain intact in solution by temperature-dependent 2D NMR spectroscopy. In order to investigate the potential interaction between these two metals, DFT calculations were used and showed a Bi 6s orbital polarized towards Li which could be indicative of a BiLi dative bond. This bond is remarkably short, 2.87 A, and is among the shortest BiLi distances seen in a small molecule.
Indications for a Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

Since the first description of ventricular fibrillation (VF) termination by means of an externally applied electric shock over half a century ago, substantial progress has been made in the treatment of unstable tachyarrhythmias. The advent of microprocessor technology and improvements in battery storage have enabled the development of compact implantable devices capable of continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring and automated delivery of electrical energy to the myocardium. The modern implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has evolved into an efficacious and widely used therapy for the treatment of patients who are at the highest risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Heightened understanding and awareness of the public health burden imposed by sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) has paralleled advances in device-based antiarrhythmic therapies. Although a staggering 166,000 patients suffer an out-ofhospital SCA in the United States every year, the median survival to hospital discharge after such an event is only 6.4%. Because most of these SCA events are caused by ventricular tachycardia (VT) or VF, improved mechanisms to deliver prompt defibrillation are critical in addressing this low survival rate.