cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneity between Brain and Pituitary Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptors Is Due To Differential Glycosylation

Abstract Chemical affinity cross-linking studies have identified brain and pituitary CRF receptors with similar pharmacological characteristics but different mol wts (anterior pituitary, 75,000; brain, 58,000). In order to determine whether the heterogeneous nature of CRF receptors was inherent in the protein, we examined the glycoprotein nature of both types of CRF receptors using lectin affinity chromatography and treatments with exo- and endoglycosidases. CRF receptors in both the cerebral cortex and anterior pituitary adsorbed to and specifically eluted from Concanavalin-A- and wheat germ agglutinin- immobilized lectin affinity columns, indicating that both forms of the receptor are glycoproteins containing complex and high-mannose carbohydrate moieties. Cerebral cortical CRF receptors were sensitive to both neuraminidase and α-mannosidase treatment while pituitary CRF receptors were only affected by neuraminadase treatment, suggesting that CRF receptors in brain and pituitary differed slightly in the...
Heat-bath for the lattice Dirac propagator and a test of a Monte Carlo method for dynamical fermions

We describe a heat-bath method for inverting a non-hermitian matrix which is suitable for calculating the lattice Dirac propagator G(U) = [m + D(U)]−1 in an arbitrary gluon field U. The method is a generalization of the usual heat-bath method for generating a gaussian distribution N exp[−12xAx] from which the inverse (A)β−1 of the matrix A is easily obtained, provided A is a positive symmetric matrix. The new method is applied in the Monte Carlo method for dynamical fermions previously developed by the authors, after the ratio of fermionic determinants, which is required for gluon updating, has been expressed in terms of the lattice Dirac propagator. As a test of the present approach, we performed numerical calculations in the U(1) lattice gauge theory with dynamical fermions (lattice QED) and compared them to the very accurate results which are available from the dimer method at β = g−2 = 0.
Ion-implanted polysilicon diffusion sources

Abstract SIMS and TEM techniques are employed to study redistribution of boron and arsenic implanted into polysilicon deposited on crystalline silicon substrates. Various implant conditions and thermal treatments are included. The interface between the poly and single crystal Si strongly influences the dopant distribution. Morphology changes are also affected by the interface and play an important roll in the dopant redistribution. Interactive effects between boron and arsenic are observed in polysilicon which are attributed to the electric field generated by the arsenic gradient. The quality of the interface is associated with the quantity of oxygen, flourine, and carbon found in that region.
Extinction of nonpremixed flames with halogenated fire suppressants

Abstract An experimental, analytical, and numerical study was performed to elucidate the influence of eleven gaseous agents, considered to be substitutes for CF3Br, on the structure and critical conditions of extinction of diffusion flames burning liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The effectiveness of these agents in quenching flames was compared to those of CF3Br and an inert diluent such as nitrogen. Experiments were performed on diffusion flames stabilized in the counterflowing as well as in the coflowing configuration. The fuels tested were heptane in the counterflowing configuration, and heptane, the jet fuels JP-8, and JP-5, and hydraulic fluids (military specifications 5606 and 83282) in the coflowing configuration. The oxidizing gas was a mixture of air and the agent. On a mass and mole basis CF3Br was found to be most effective in quenching the flames and the mass-based effectiveness of the other eleven agents was found to be nearly the same as that of nitrogen. Experimental results were interpreted using one-step, activation-energy asymptotic theories and the results were used to provide a rough indication of the thermal and chemical influence of these agents on the flame structure. To understand in some detail the influence of CF3Br on the structure and mechanisms of extinction of the flame, numerical calculations using detailed chemistry were performed. The calculated structure of counterflow heptane-air diffusion flames inhibited with CF3Br was found to consist of three distinct zones including a CF3Br consumption zone which appears to act as a sink for radicals. The calculated values of the critical conditions of extinction of counterflow heptane-air diffusion flames inhibited with CF3Br were found to agree fairly well with measurements. The study suggests the need for refinement of the inhibition chemistry.
Quaternized chitosans bind onto preexisting biofilms and eradicate pre-attached microorganisms

Quaternized chitosans, N,N,N-trimethylchitosans (TMC) with different degree of quaternization were synthesized by reacting methyl iodide with chitosan. The reaction was confirmed by FT-IR and 1H-NMR characterization. Antimicrobial assay showed that the prepared TMC had potent biocidal effects against planktonic Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and yeast Candida albicans. Bacterial and fungal biofilms were formed on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films and then treated with TMC aqueous solutions. Zeta potential measurement suggested that TMC bonded onto the preexisting biofilms. Biofilm-binding kinetics was evaluated in UV studies using phenyl group-labeled TMC as model compounds, which revealed that quaternized chitosans bonded onto the preexisting biofilms rapidly. Colony-forming unit (CFU) determination and SEM, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence microscopy studies demonstrated that the bonded TMC had powerful biocidal activities to eradicate the pre-attached bacterial and fungal cells in the preexisting biofilms. The biocompatibility of the TMC samples with rat skin fibroblast cells was evaluated in the MTT assay.
Arteriolar responses to changes in oxygen availability following single withdrawal hemorrhage

Abstract To assess the relative importance of vasoconstrictor influences and local oxygen-related autoregulatory mechanisms in determining resistance vessel responses to hemorrhage, arteriolar diameters were measured in the suffused cheek pouch of anesthetized golden hamsters following blood volume withdrawal sufficient to lower mean arterial pressure to 35 mm Hg (1.2% of body weight). After the initial hemorrhage, arterial pressure gradually increased to a peak recovery value of 85 ± 7 mm Hg (compensatory stage of the stress) and subsequently declined (decompensatory stage of the stress). During suffusion of the pouch with physiological salt solution equilibrated with 0% O 2 (low oxygen solution), hemorrhage was associated with a rapid arteriolar dilation. Diameters recovered to near the prehemorrhage value during the compensatory stage, but no constriction was observed. High oxygen (10% O 2 ) suffusion during the hypotensive period prevented the arteriolar dilation. In hemorrhaged animals maintained under 0% O 2 suffusion, a secondary dilation and a loss of the constrictor response to a 10-min test suffusion with high oxygen solution occurred in the decompensatory stage of the stress. In hemorrhaged animals maintained under 10% O 2 suffusion, a large reversible dilation occurred during each test suffusion with 0% O 2 solution. Arterioles of nonhemorrhaged controls maintained their diameter and responded to test suffusions throughout the experiment. These observations suggest that local factors related to oxygen availability are important determinants of arteriolar responses to hemorrhage in this vascular bed.
Agricultural practices altered soybean seed protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals in the Midsouth USA.

Information on the effects of management practices on soybean seed composition is scarce. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the effects of planting date (PD) and seeding rate (SR) on seed composition (protein, oil, fatty acids, and sugars) and seed minerals (B, P, and Fe) in soybean grown in two row-types (RT) on the Mississippi Delta region of the Midsouth USA. Two field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 on Sharkey clay and Beulah fine sandy loam soil at Stoneville, MS, under irrigated conditions. Soybean were grown in 102 cm single-rows and 25 cm twin-rows in 102 cm centers at seeding rates of 20, 30, 40, and 50 seeds m–2. The results showed that in May and June planting, protein, glucose, P, and B concentrations increased with increased SR, but at the highest seeding rates (40 and 50 seeds m–2), the concentrations remained constant or declined. Palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acid concentrations were the least responsive to SR increases. Early planting resulted in higher oil, oleic acid, sucrose, B, and P on both single and twin-rows. Late planting resulted in higher protein and linolenic acid, but lower oleic acid and oil concentrations. The changes in seed constituents could be due to changes in environmental factors (drought and temperature), and nutrient accumulation in seeds and leaves. The increase of stachyose sugar in 2010 may be due to a drier year and high temperature in 2010 compared to 2009; suggesting the possible role of stachyose as an environmental stress compound. Our research demonstrated that PD, SR, and RT altered some seed constituents, but the level of alteration in each year dependent on environmental factors such as drought and temperature. This information benefits growers and breeders for considering agronomic practices to select for soybean seed nutritional qualities under drought and high heat conditions.
Properties, synthesis, and accumulation of storage proteins in Pieris rapae L.

Two kinds of storage proteins (SP-1, SP-2) were confirmed in hemolymph and fat body of Pieris rapae during metamorphosis. Both proteins were present in high concentrations in the hemolymph during the last larval instar. Hemolymph concentrations of SP-1 and SP-2 dropped after pupation as the proteins were being deposited in fat bodies. SP-2 is present in a larger amount than SP-1. Detailed studies on storage proteins determined their properties, mode of synthesis, and accumulation in the fat body. SP-1 has a molecular weight of 500,000 and consists of one type of subunit (Mr 77,000), while SP-2 has a molecular weight of 460,000 and is composed of two types of subunits (Mr 80,000 and 69,000). The pl values of SP-1 and SP-2 were determined to be 6.97 and 7.06, respectively. Fat body cells from 1-day-old fifth instar larvae synthesized storage proteins in large amounts, whereas those from late prepupae exhibited high protein sequestration. Proteins taken up in fat body accumulated in dense granules during the pupal stage but sharply decreased at the adult stage. Morphological changes in the fat body tissues were observed during the larval-pupal transformation; the nuclei of fat body cells became irregularly shaped, and the boundaries between cells seemed to be obscure. Synthesis, storage, or degradation of storage proteins in fat body during development is closely associated with morphological changes in the tissues.
The circular dichroism of three Drosophila virilis satellite DNAs.

Abstract Ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra have been obtained for native and heat-denatured Drosophila virilis satellite DNAs I, II and III. Gall & Atherton (1974) have found that these DNAs have simple, unique sequences. We compare here the circular dichroism spectra of these satellite sequences with the circular dichroism spectra of synthetic DNAs of simple sequences which are combined in first-neighbor calculations. We also apply an analytical procedure for determining nearest-neighbor frequencies from the DNA spectra (Allen et al ., 1972). The results are an indication of the potential usefulness and present limitations of circular dichroism measurements in confirming or determining the nearestneighbor frequencies of satellite DNAs of simple sequences.
Mononuclear AuIII and AuI Complexes Bonded to Zeolite NaY: Catalysts for CO Oxidation at 298 K

Mononuclear gold complexes in zeolite NaY were synthesized from initially physisorbed Au(CH3)2(C5H7O2) and characterized in reactive atmospheres by X-ray absorption and infrared spectroscopies. Und...
PM2.5 Characterization for Time Series Studies: Pointwise Uncertainty Estimation and Bulk Speciation Methods Applied in Denver

Many studies have identified associations between adverse health effects and short-term exposure to particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM(2.5)). These effects, however, are not consistent across geographical regions. This may be due in part to variations in the chemical make-up of PM(2.5) resulting from unique combinations of sources, both primary and secondary, in different regions. The Denver Aerosol Sources and Health (DASH) study is a multi-year time series study designed to characterize the daily chemical composition of PM(2.5) in Denver, identify the major contributing sources, and investigate associations between sources and a broad array of adverse health outcomes.Measurement methodology, field blank correction, pointwise uncertainty estimation and detection limit consideration are discussed in the context of bulk speciation for the DASH study. Results are presented for the first 4.5 years of mass, inorganic ion and bulk carbon speciation. The derived measurement uncertainties were propagated using the root sum of squares method and show good agreement with precision estimates derived from bi-weekly duplicate samples collected on collocated samplers. Gravimetric mass has the most uncertainty of any measurement and reconstructed mass generated from the sum of the individual species shows less uncertainty than measured mass on average. The methods discussed provide a good framework for PM(2.5) speciation measurements and are generalizable to analysis of other environmental measures.
Building Blocks for the Molecular Expression of Quantum Cellular Automata. Isolation and Characterization of a Covalently Bonded Square Array of Two Ferrocenium and Two Ferrocene Complexes

The suitability of [{(η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H4)}4(η4-C4)Co(η5-C5H5)][PF6]2, [1][PF6]2, for use as a molecular quantum cellular automata (QCA) cell is demonstrated. To this end the structure of 1 in the solid state and the conversion of 1 to mono- and dicationic mixed-valence complexes have been accomplished. The latter compounds have been isolated as pure materials and characterized by IR, EPR, and Mossbauer spectroscopies and single-crystal XRD (monocation only) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Near-IR spectra demonstrate the mixed valence character of the cations (valence trapped on the IR, EPR and Mossbauer time scales), and the energies of the intervalence charge-transfer bands provide a measure of the hole hopping frequency.
Energetic studies of lactose active transport in Escherichia coli membrane vesicles.

Abstract The energetics of d -lactate-driven active transport of lactose in right-side-out Escherichia coli membrane vesicles has been investigated with a microcalorimetric method. Changes of enthalpy (ΔHox), free energy (ΔGox), and entropy (ΔSox) during the d -lactate oxidation reaction in the presence of membrane vesicles are −39.9 kcal, −46.4 kcal, and 22 cal/deg per mole of d -lactate, respectively. The free energy released by this reaction is utilized to form a proton electrochemical potential (ΔμH+−) across the membrane. The higher observed heat in the d -lactate oxidation reaction in the presence of carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (a proton ionophore) supports the postulate that ΔμH+− is formed across the membrane vesicles. Thermodynamic quantities for the formation of ΔμH+− are ΔHm = 14.1 kcal, ΔGm = 0.6 kcal, and ΔSm = 45 cal/deg per mole of d -lactate. The efficiency in the free energy transfer from the oxidation reaction to the formation of ΔμH+− (defined by Δ G m Δ G ox ) was 2%, as compared to that in the heat transfer (defined by Δ H m Δ H ox ) of 35%. The energetics of the movement of lactose in symport with proton across the membrane as a consequence of the formation of ΔμH+− are ΔHl = −19 kcal, ΔGl = 0.5 kcal, and ΔS1 = −62 cal/deg per mole of lactose. No heat of reaction is contributed by lactose movement across the membrane without symport with H+.
The Conjugate Trace and Trace of a Plane Partition

The conjugate traceand traceof a planepartition aredefined,and thegenerating function for the number of plane partitions TT of n with <r rows and largest part <m, with conjugate trace t (or trace I, when m = co), is found. Various properties of this generating function are studied. One consequence of these properties is a formula which can be regarded as a q-analog of a well-known result arising in the representation theory of the symmetric group.
Brainstem auditory hallucinosis

We studied three patients with findings suggesting that auditory hallucinations may occur with lesions of the tegmentum of the pons and lower midbrain. The evidence was clinical (indicating location of the lesion), radiologic (CT), pathologic in one case, and physiologic (affirming integrity of the cochleas and auditory nerves). The condition is comparable with the Lhermitte peduncular-diencephalic visual hallucinosis.
Effects of visual feedback distortion for the elderly and the motor-impaired in a robotic rehabilitation environment

In order to design a robotic rehabilitation environment using visual feedback distortion, we investigated in this study the limits and effects of visual feedback distortion for the elderly and the motor-impaired. To determine the minimum imperceptible amount of visual distortion, we measured the Just Noticeable Differences (JNDs) for force and position for elderly, unimpaired subjects; values of 31.0% (0.619 N) and 16.1% (5.01 mm), respectively, were obtained. JNDs of 46.0% (0.920 N) and 45.0% (14.8 mm) were measured for a motor-impaired individual. These JNDs were larger than corresponding measurements previously taken with young subjects, showing a decrease in discrimination ability with age and impairment. Visual distortion based on these values caused elderly subjects and the motor-impaired individual to increase their force production levels by 72.5% and 97.7%, respectively. These results were similar to those obtained with young subjects, but differences were observed on interspersed trials with no visual feedback. Poor discrimination abilities in elderly and impaired subjects and visual dominance in our environment for this subject group support our hypothesis that visual distortion can be an effective tool for rehabilitation in a robotic environment.
The "good" dean's letter.

Purpose To determine whether a correlation exists between the term “good” on the summative, comparative assessment of a student’s Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) and his or her actual performance in medical school. Method The authors reviewed the MSPEs submitted to three residency programs to determine the presence of the term “good” in either the summary paragraph or the appendices. Next, they noted, for institutions using “good,” the percentile rankings of those students who received “good” as a descriptor. To examine the consistency among institutions regarding the percentile ranking denoted by “good,” they dichotomized the data into students below and above the bottom 25th percentile. They analyzed the data using a nonparametric test because of their nonnormal distribution. Results The authors collected MSPEs from 122 of the 125 Liaison Committee on Medical Education–accredited medical schools that were graduating students in 2008. Of these 122 institutions, 34 (28%) used the term “good.” All 34 institutions used the term to characterize students in the bottom 50% of the graduating class. The authors found a significant difference in the percentile ranking of students described as “good” between institutions using it to describe the bottom 25% and institutions using the term to describe those in the 25th to 50th percentiles (median ranking of 12.5% versus 30%, P .0001). Conclusions Overall, the term “good” in the MSPE describes students in the bottom 50% of the class; therefore, the term “good,” as used to describe performance in medical school, consistently indicates belowaverage performance.
Lymphotoxin Is Required for Maintaining Physiological Levels of Serum IgE That Minimizes Th1-mediated Airway Inflammation

Although elevated levels of IgE in asthmatic patients are strongly associated with lung infiltration by activated T helper (Th) 2 cells, the physiological role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the airway remains largely undefined. Lymphotoxin-deficient α (LTα−/−) mice exhibit increased airway inflammation, paradoxically accompanied by diminished levels of IgE and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness in response to both environmental and induced antigen challenge. The severe lung inflammation in LTα−/− mice is Th1 in nature and can be alleviated by IgE reconstitution. Conversely, depletion of IgE in wild-type mice recapitulates the lung pathologies of LTα−/− mice. Therefore, this work has revealed that lymphotoxin is essential for IgE production, and a physiological role of IgE in the airway may consist of maintaining the balance of Th1 and Th2 responses to prevent aberrant inflammation.
Flow Stability in Rotating Cylinders With a Porous Lining

The effects of porous sleeve properties on the flow stability in rotating cylinders are numerically investigated in this study. To this end, three-dimensional momentum equations for the porous and fluid layers are formulated separately in terms of velocity and vorticity. These equations are then numerically solved over a wide range of parameters (10−2 ≤ Da ≤ 10−5 , 2000 ≤ Ta ≤ 5000) to determine the critical Taylor number for the onset of flow instability for various porous sleeve properties. The results obtained show that the presence of a porous sleeve in general has a stabilizing effect on the flow in the annulus.© 2009 ASME
Environmental data can improve fisheries research and management

Marine populations increase and decline in response to environmental conditions. Because significant changes in the abundance of exploited marine populations can lead to economic and societal consequences, fisheries science strives to sustain fisheries, protect species such as marine mammals, and maintain the marine ecosystems and essential habitats upon which these species depend. Today disciplines not traditionally applied to fisheries management are offering new possibilities to improve how these tasks are accomplished. Environmental information, in particular, has many applications to fisheries management.
Host Specificity of North American Rhabdias spp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae): Combining Field Data and Experimental Infections with a Molecular Phylogeny

Abstract: Lungworms of the cosmopolitan genus Rhabdias are among the most common parasites of amphibians and squamate reptiles. The present study used experimental infections, field studies, and a molecular phylogeny to determine the host specificity of 6 Rhabdias spp. that infect snakes and anurans from North America. The molecular phylogeny suggests Rhabdias ranae from Nebraska and Mississippi may represent separate, cryptic species. In addition, the phylogeny strongly supports separate clades for anuran and snake lungworms. Field studies and experimental infections indicate that snake lungworms are generalist snake parasites; however, laboratory experiments also suggest that lizards can be infected under some environmental conditions. Lungworms from anurans were found not to infect salamanders or reptiles, in nature or in the laboratory; anuran lungworm species ranged from strict host specificity, e.g., R. ranae from Nebraska, to relative generalist, e.g., Rhabdias joaquinensis from Nebraska. Overall, ...
Rapid computation of the Voigt profile

Abstract A computational procedure is described to evaluate the Voigt function with a maximum relative error of about one part in 104, for use in line-by-line transmittance calculations and other applications. An efficient Fortran IV subprogram is given in the Appendix.
phyloMeta: a program for phylogenetic comparative analyses with meta-analysis

Summary: phyloMeta is an easy to use console program for integrating phylogenetic information into meta-analysis. It is designed to help ecologists, evolutionary biologists and conservation biologists analyze effect size data extracted from published studies in a comparative phylogenetic context. This software estimates phylogenetic versions of all the traditional meta-analytical statistics used for: pooling effect sizes with weighted regressions; evaluating the homogeneity of these effect sizes; performing moderator tests akin to ANOVA style analyses; and analyzing data with fixed- and random-effects models. phyloMeta is developed in C/C++ and can be used via command line in MS Windows environments. Availability: phyloMeta can be obtained freely as an executable on the web at http://lajeunesse.myweb.usf.edu/publications
Automatic data segmentation for geometric feature extraction from unorganized 3-D coordinate points

A systematic approach is proposed to automatically extract geometric surface features from a point cloud composed of a set of unorganized three-dimensional coordinate points by data segmentation. The point cloud is sampled from the boundary surface of a mechanical component with arbitrary shape. The proposed approach is composed of three steps. In the first step, a mesh surface domain is reconstructed to establish an explicit topological relation among the discrete points. The topological adjacency is further optimized to recover the second order object geometry. In the second step, curvature-based border detection is applied on the irregular mesh to extract both sharp borders with tangent discontinuity and smooth borders with curvature discontinuity. Finally, the mesh patches separated by the extracted borders are grouped together in the third step. For objects with complex shape, a multilevel segmentation scheme is proposed for better results. The capability of the proposed approach is demonstrated using various point clouds having distinct characteristics. Integrated with state of art scanning devices, the developed segmentation scheme can support reverse engineering of high precision mechanical components. It has potential applications in a whole spectrum of engineering problems with a major impact on rapid design and prototyping, shape analysis, and virtual reality.
Prevention of donor–recipient Group A subtype blood mismatch complications in lung transplantation with rituximab

Keywords: antibody-mediated rejection; blood type; lung transplantation; rituximab; transfusion reaction
Jurors' discussions of a defendant's history of child abuse and alcohol abuse in capital sentencing deliberations

We tested a novel theoretical model explaining the psychological processes underlying jurors’ discussions about a defendant’s history of child abuse and alcohol abuse in a capital case. We coded the extent to which jurors used child abuse and alcohol abuse as mitigating factors, as aggravating factors, or argued that they should be ignored. Relying on attribution theory, we coded the extent to which jurors rendered controllable or uncontrollable and stable or unstable attributions regarding the defendant’s history of child abuse and alcohol abuse. Jurors were more likely to argue that child abuse and alcohol abuse should not be used as mitigators or to even use them against the defendant as aggravators than they were to use them as mitigators. Jurors made more controllable than uncontrollable attributions regarding child abuse and more stable than unstable attributions regarding both child abuse and alcohol abuse. The more jurors supported the death penalty, the more they argued to discount child abuse and alcohol abuse as mitigators or use them as aggravators and the more controllable and stable attributions they made. Political orientation predicted discussions and attributions about alcohol abuse, but not child abuse.
Teacher efficacy: Toward the understanding of a multi-faceted construct.

Abstract To explore dimensions of teacher efficacy, the responses of 310 teachers to a modified version of the Gibson & Dembo (1984) [Journal of Educational Psychology, 76, 569–582], scale were factor analyzed, yielding three factors. Personal efficacy concerned teachers' beliefs about their ability to perform specific behaviors. Outcome efficacy referred to teachers belief that student outcomes were attributable to their actions. We believe these two factors represent the efficacy expectations and outcome expectations of Bandura's model of self-efficacy. The third factor, teaching efficacy, concerned teachers' beliefs about the influence of external factors, including the home, heredity and television violence, on the impact of teaching.
Political Extremism Is Supported by an Illusion of Understanding

People often hold extreme political attitudes about complex policies. We hypothesized that people typically know less about such policies than they think they do (the illusion of explanatory depth) and that polarized attitudes are enabled by simplistic causal models. Asking people to explain policies in detail both undermined the illusion of explanatory depth and led to attitudes that were more moderate (Experiments 1 and 2). Although these effects occurred when people were asked to generate a mechanistic explanation, they did not occur when people were instead asked to enumerate reasons for their policy preferences (Experiment 2). Finally, generating mechanistic explanations reduced donations to relevant political advocacy groups (Experiment 3). The evidence suggests that people's mistaken sense that they understand the causal processes underlying policies contributes to political polarization.
Reduced chondroclast differentiation results in increased cancellous bone volume in estrogen-treated growing rats

These studies were designed to investigate the role of altered growth processes in mediating estrogen-induced changes in cancellous bone volume in growing female rats. Ovariectomy resulted in an increase in the longitudinal growth rate of the tibia throughout the growth period and estrogen treatment of ovariectomized (OVX) rats resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in longitudinal growth. Estrogen treatment also resulted in decreases in growth plate thickness, chondroclast number in the zone of vascular invasion, and osteoclast number in the secondary spongiosa. There were simultaneous increases in mineralized cartilage in the zone of vascular invasion; total mineralized tissue, mineralized cartilage, and bone in the primary spongiosa; and bone in the secondary spongiosa. Ovariectomy increased and estrogen treatment of OVX rats decreased [3H]thymidine-labeled nuclei in chondroclasts after 24 h, but after 7 days, the labeling indices were similar in the OVX and intact groups and only slightly decreased in the estrogen-treated rats. We interpret these results as evidence that estrogen impairs chondroclast differentiation. We propose that this impairment leads to decreased chondroclast number and reduced resorption of mineralized cartilage in the zone of vascular invasion, which, in turn, results in an increased cancellous bone volume.
DNA and ATP binding activities of the baculovirus DNA helicase P143.

P143 is a DNA helicase that tightly binds both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA. DNA-protein complexes rapidly dissociated in the presence of ATP and Mg2+. This finding suggests that ATP hydrolysis causes a conformational change in P143 which decreases affinity for DNA. This supports the model of an inchworm mechanism of DNA unwinding.
Effective Interventions to Reduce Smoking-Induced Heart Disease Around the World Time to Act

Tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death worldwide. For 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 5 million deaths were attributable to smoking.1 This issue of Circulation contains a detailed analysis of the 1.62 million deaths that smoking contributes to global and regional cause-specific mortality from cardiovascular disease.2 Ezzati et al estimate that >1 in 10 cardiovascular deaths (11%) is caused by smoking. More deaths occurred in men than in women and in industrialized than in developing countries. Nevertheless, smoking is an important contributor to cardiac deaths (17% for men and 5% for women) in both industrialized and developing countries. See p 489 The implications of the results of the study by Ezzati et al are simple and straightforward. If smoking did not exist, then 1.62 million cardiovascular deaths would not have occurred. Even in regions where the number of deaths attributable to smoking was low, thousands of deaths could be prevented. In addition, the finding that regions with a longer history of smoking had the largest percentage of total cardiovascular mortality attributable to smoking is a warning sign for countries in which the tobacco industry is just beginning to spread the smoking epidemic. Cardiovascular health can be improved quickly through sound public health measures that have an impact at a population level.3 Smoke-free workplaces and public places, comprehensive advertising bans, increased taxation on tobacco products, and strong graphic warning labels on cigarette packs quickly reduce tobacco consumption3,4 and, thus, cardiovascular disease. For example, in California, a strong antitobacco program that stressed adherence to laws banning or limiting smoking and exposed the tobacco industry was associated with 59 000 fewer heart disease deaths than would have been expected based on historical trends, ≈13% below the number of deaths expected after 8 years.5 More …
Ethical issues and transplantation technology.

Not that long ago, any thought of transferring body parts, or fluids like blood, among individuals was expressed in terms of a nightmare. Consider the problem of involuntary blood transfusions to Count Dracula! Or recall the infamous brain transplant to the brutish body under Dr. Frankenstein's ministrations. The very thought of bodily transference stimulated writers to create monsters. The stuff of evil seemed to surround any attempt. Hubris was considered the evil that exceeded the normal limits of scientific research and development. Transplantation seemed to make humans into gods who defied death but who, like Icarus and his wax wings, flew too close to the sun.
Evaluating the Influence of Elevation and Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Radial Growth in Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm) on Cat Island, Mississippi, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Funderburk, W.R.; Carter, G.A., and Anderson C.P., 2016. Evaluating the Influence of elevation and impact of hurricane Katrina on radial growth in slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm) on Cat Island, Mississippi, U.S.A. Hurricane Katrina heavily affected the Mississippi barrier islands, in the northern Gulf of Mexico, on 29 August 2005. On Cat Island, Mississippi, field observations of geographic patterns in poststorm survival of slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm) suggested that its growth and resiliency to storm impact may depend substantially on ground elevation. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating the lifetime mean radial growth rate (in millimeters per year), stem (trunk) diameter (in centimeters), the percentage of change in the radial growth rate for the initial 5-y period after the storm (2006–10) vs. the 5-y period before the storm (2001–05), and the yearly percentage increase in stem radius and basal area for 2001–10 with respect to high-accuracy GPS mea...
Simplifying manageability, scalability and host mobility in large-scale enterprise networks using VEIL-click

The explosive growth in the network driven services and devices is causing existing networks to continually expand to accommodate the demands set by them. However, underlying network architecture can not sustain this continual expansion. As a result, several ad-hoc mechanisms are used as workarounds, which make the networks increasingly complicated and difficult to manage. In this paper, we present veil-click, which is aimed at simplifying the management of large-scale enterprise networks by requiring minimal manual configuration overheads. It makes it tremendously easy to plug-in a new routing-node or a host-device in the network without requiring any manual configuration. It builds on top of a highly scalable and robust routing substrate provided by VIRO, and supports many advanced features such as seamless mobility support, built-in multi-path routing and fast-failure re-routing in case of link/node failures. Our current prototype of veil-click is built using Click Modular Router framework, and is being deployed in our lab for the evaluation under the real traffic conditions.
Computer-aided procedure for determination of asphalt content in asphalt mixture using discrete element method

AbstractAsphalt mix design includes the determination of aggregate gradation, asphalt content and other volumetric properties, and the evaluation of mechanical properties and moisture damage potentials. In this paper, a computational method is developed to computer-aided mix design. Discrete element method is used to simulate the formation of skeleton and voids microstructures of asphalt concrete of different asphalt contents. This method takes the mechanical properties or performance of the mixture into consideration, such as inter-aggregate contacts and local stability. A simple visco-elastic model is applied to simulate the contacts between asphalt binder and aggregates. The surface texture of an aggregate particle can be taken into consideration in the inter-particle contact model. For a certain air void content, the mastics volume, binder volume or the asphalt content can be determined via a digital compression test. The asphalt content can also be determined using an alternative approach that is bas...
Coupled-Ring-Resonator-Mirror-Based Heterogeneous III–V Silicon Tunable Laser

We show theoretical and experimental results from a tunable laser, with its center wavelength in the C-band, designed using coupled-ring resonator mirrors. The effective cavity length enhancement and negative optical feedback obtained from the resonators helps to narrow the laser linewidth in a small form factor. We report a linewidth of 160 kHz and a side-mode suppression ratio of $>$ 40 dB over the full tuning range.
Planarization and Dielectric Properties of Thin Photosensitive and Nonphotosensitive BCB

Thin films (0.2 μm to 1.8 μm) of photosensitive and nonphotosensitive BCB were fabricated and the degree of planarization (DOP) and dielectric properties were investigated. It was found that a high DOP for wide spaces (>20 μm spaces with 1 μm of BCB) was possible with nonphotosensitive BCB but not photosensitive BCB because of the cross-linking reaction during the photo-process. Thin films (as thin as 0.2 μm) exhibited dielectric properties similar to thick films. The dielectric properties of the photosensitive BCB were slightly higher than nonphotosensitive BCB. Low loss properties were observed at all thickness.
Blockade of ovulation in the hen with adrenolytic and parasympatholytic drugs.

Summary and ConclusionsBoth atropine and SKF-501 block the normal occurring ovulation and the progesterone-induced ovulation in the hen. It is suggested that a neural link must be present in the mechanism regulating ovulation in the hen. This link may be similar to that postulated for the rat and the rabbit.
A Visualization Tool for Analysis of Air Traffic Management Scenarios and Automation

*† ‡ § ** Scenario Graphical User Interface (ScenarioGUI) is a new information visualization tool that allows analysts to graphically display large areas of air traffic data in order to view patterns of air traffic management flows, aircraft-to-aircraft conflicts and conflict predictions. An aircraft-to-aircraft conflict occurs when there is a loss of the minimum separation standard between two aircraft. Conflict predictions are alerts generated by a Decision Support Tool (DST) called a Conflict Probe that attempts to predict potential future conflicts. The ScenarioGUI application was developed by the Software Engineering, Graphics and Visualization group at Rowan University in conjunction with the Simulation and Analysis Team at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). ScenarioGUI is an application developed in Java that enables the FAA to both analyze the results of non-realtime air traffic simulations and the performance of conflict alerts produced by DSTs. This paper explores the development, implementation, and use of ScenarioGUI.
The Uses and Abuses of Gender

In the summer of 2011 a violent debate erupted in France over the meaning of the term gender. Catholics, parents and educators protested against a manual for biology students deemed to promote a ‘theory of gender’ that might endanger social order and corrupt young adults. The author traces the emergence of gender as a site for political strife in various context. As such the term seems to have replaced the term ‘women’ as a rallying cry for the mobilization of feminists. Gender has not only been a useful concept for feminist researchers and activists, Scott argues, but it has also been used in international politics. In the context of UN committees for policies on women, gender is used to plead for as well as against feminist policies. In addition to being used as an analytical concept, gender has become a contested political concept.
Dating silk by capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry.

A new capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) technique is introduced for age estimation of silk textiles based on amino acid racemization rates. With an l to d conversion half-life of ...
Sporophore ultrastructure of Echinostelium arboreum

morphic states Eupenicillium and Talaromyces. Academic Press, London. 634 p. 1985. A laboratory guide to common Penicillium species. CSIRO Division of Food Research, North Ryde, Australia. 182 p. Ramirez, C. 1982. Manual and atlas ofthepenicillia. Elsevier, New York. 874 p. Raper, K. B., and C. Thom. 1949. A manual of the penicillia. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore. 875 p. Tiedt, L. R., W. J. Jooste, and V. L. Hamilton-Attwell. 1987. Technique for preserving aerial fungus structures for scanning electron microscopy. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 88: 420-422.
Effect of the uterus on subnormal luteal function in anestrous beef cows.

The effect of the uterus on luteal lifespan and pattern of secretion of progesterone following early weaning of calves from anestrous beef cows was studied. Calves were weaned from 15 anestrous beef cows 23 to 33 d postpartum, and cows were allotted to a control (sham surgery, n = 8) or a hysterectomy (n = 7) group, with surgery performed at weaning. Cows in the hysterectomy group were injected (im) with 25 mg prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) approximately 20 d after first estrus (d 0). The interval from weaning to estrus was longer (P less than .05) for the hysterectomy group (10.4 +/- 1.6 d) than the control group (6.2 +/- .5 d). In the control group, the first estrous cycle (8.8 +/- .3 d) was shorter (P less than .01) than the second estrous cycle (20.2 +/- .5 d). Following first estrus in the hysterectomy group, cows were not detected in estrus until after injection of PGF2 alpha and did not return to estrus. From d 0 to 5, mean concentrations of plasma progesterone were similar (P greater than .05) between groups for both estrous cycles; after d 5 of estrous cycle 1, concentrations of plasma progesterone decreased in the control group. Within the hysterectomy group, the pattern of secretion of progesterone from d 0 to 16 was similar after the first and second estrus. Furthermore, there was no difference in the pattern of secretion of progesterone from d 0 to 16 between hysterectomy (first or second estrous cycles) and control (second estrous cycle) groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Energy Efficient Neurons With Generalized Inverse Gaussian Conditional and Marginal Hitting Times

Neuronal information processing is energetically costly. Energy supply restrictions on information processing have resulted in the evolution of brains to compute and communicate information with remarkable energy efficiency. Indeed, energy minimization subject to functional constraints is a unifying principle. Toward better comprehension of neuronal information processing and communication from an information-energy standpoint, we consider a continuous time, continuous state-space neuron model with a generalized inverse Gaussian (GIG) conditional density. This GIG model arises from a Levy diffusion that contains both homogeneous Poisson processes and Wiener processes with drift as special cases. We show that, when the energy constraints consist of a tripartite family apropos of the GIG model, the distribution of input excitation, $\Lambda $ , that maximizes bits per Joule (bpJ) generates an output interspike interval duration $T$ that possesses a related GIG marginal distribution. Most importantly, we obtain the exact expression for the bpJ-maximizing distribution of $\Lambda $ in terms of Bessel functions that are readily evaluated numerically. This permits display of the strictly concave curves of bpJ-maximized mutual information $I(\Lambda ;T)$ . Because bpJ equals bits per second/watt, these curves serve as the Shannon-theory capacity v. power curves for GIG neuron models. We show that the noise in GIG channels is essentially multiplicative, so our results may have significance for broader classes of fading channels.
Critical thinking, health policy, and the Hmong culture group, Part II.

The Hmong are an Asian cultural group originating primarily in the northern hills of Laos. During the Vietnam conflict, they fought and died for the U.S. during a secret Laotian war. The U.S. gained their support in exchange for protecting them from their enemies in Laos regardless of the war's outcome. When North Vietnam took over Laos, hundreds of thousands of Hmong fled to Thailand's refugee camps; from there, over 100,000 Hmong refugees relocated to the U.S. (Heu, 1996). With them, the Hmong brought culture, language, and healthcare beliefs and rituals, as well as distinct challenges to U.S. communities, policy makers, and healthcare professionals. This article is the second in a two-part series on critical thinking and health policy and the Hmong culture group.
Chromosome heteromorphism quantified by high-resolution bivariate flow karyotyping.

Maternal and paternal homologues of many chromosome types can be differentiated on the basis of their peak position in Hoechst 33258 versus chromomycin A3 bivariate flow karyotypes. We demonstrate here the magnitude of DNA content differences among normal chromosomes of the same type. Significant peak-position differences between homologues were observed for an average of four chromosome types in each of the karyotypes of 98 different individuals. The frequency of individuals with differences in homologue peak positions varied among chromosome types: e.g., chromosome 15, 61%; chromosome 3, 4%. Flow karyotypes of 33 unrelated individuals were compared to determine the range of peak position among normal chromosomes. Chromosomes Y, 21, 22, 15, 16, 13, 14, and 19 were most heteromorphic, and chromosomes 2-8 and X were least heteromorphic. The largest chromosome 21 was 45% larger than the smallest 21 chromosome observed. The base composition of the variable regions differed among chromosome types. DNA contents of chromosome variants determined from flow karyotypes were closely correlated to measurements of DNA content made of gallocyanin chrome alum-stained metaphase chromosomes on slides. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific repetitive sequences indicated that variability in their copy number is partly responsible for peak-position variability in some chromosomes. Heteromorphic chromosomes are identified for which parental flow karyotype information will be essential if de novo rearrangements resulting in small DNA content changes are to be detected with flow karyotyping.