cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D and Its Role in Skeletal Muscle

This review discusses the clinical and laboratory studies that have examined a role of vitamin D in skeletal muscle. Many observational studies, mainly in older populations, indicate that vitamin D status is positively associated with muscle strength and physical performance and inversely associated with risk of falling. Clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation in older adults with low vitamin D status mostly report improvements in muscle performance and reductions in falls. The underlying mechanisms are probably both indirect via calcium and phosphate and direct via activation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) on muscle cells by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. VDR activation at the genomic level regulates transcription of genes involved in calcium handling and muscle cell differentiation and proliferation. A putative membrane-associated VDR activates intracellular signaling pathways also involved in calcium handling and signaling and myogenesis. Additional evidence comes from VDR knockout mouse models with abnormal muscle morphology and physical function, and VDR polymorphisms which are associated with differences in muscle strength. Recent identification of CYP27B1 bioactivity in skeletal muscle cells and in regenerating adult mouse muscle lends support to the direct action of both 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25(OH)2D in muscle. Despite these research advances, many questions remain. Further research is needed to fully characterize molecular mechanisms of vitamin D action on muscle cells downstream of the VDR, describe the effects on muscle morphology and contractility, and determine whether these molecular and cellular effects translate into clinical improvements in physical function.
EFFECT OF AROUSAL BY SOCIAL ISOLATION, GROUPING, AND D-AMPHETAMINE ON INTER-MALE AGGRESSION IN MICE (MUS MUSCULUS)

Summary.-24 adult male Swiss-Webster mice were randomly assigned to one of four equal experimental groups: a socially isolated group (8 days) which received a high dose of d-amphetamine prior to testing. a socially isolated group which received distilled water prior to testing, a social group of six (8 days) which received a high dose of d-amphetamine prior to testing, and a social group of six which received distilled water prior to testing. In the tests in which experimental animals were paired with stimulus animals which had their olfactory bulbs removed, inter-male aggression occurred even in the absence of aggressive retaliation by the stimulus animals. This suggests mutual arousal is sufficient to initiate and maintain biting attacks, aggressive retaliation is not necessary. Also. extremely high arousal in experimental mice induced by damphetamine and social isolation completely suppressed inter-male aggression whereas neither variable did so alone. When first paired, socially isolated male mice which have not had training or experience in fighcing almost always attack other male conspecifics. Group ing male mice greatly suppresses these responses to strange conspecifics (Cairns & Nakelski, 1971). On the basis of these observations, Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1967) has suggested that the initial biting attacks have some genetically programmed basis. However, evidence by Cairns and Scholz (1973) shows that rather than genetic programming, the interaction sequences which directly precede fighting may be crucial in the initiation of the fighcing sequences and that an animal's reaction to stimulation critically determines whether or not fighting takes place. That is, events during the initial contaccs may either facilitate higher and hi.$her levels of arousal in one or both animals thus leading to a fight, or if one animal in a pair is not responsive to initial contaccs, no fighting occurs. According to Cairns and Scholz, isolated male mice are more reactive to somatosensory stimulation than groupreared animals, and this increased reactivity escalates a two-member social interaction into higher levels of arousal; the likely termination of this social interaction is a fight. Although not suggested by Cairns and Scholz, it is possible that beyond an optimum level of arousal the behavioral effects of this arousal would compete with effective fighting. In our study, we investigated whether such behavioral competition does occur at very high levels of arousal induced by d-amphetamine and isolation. Also, there is nothing in the literature to indicate what would happen if one member in an escalated social interaction was not likely to initiate biting attacks upon the other. That is, what role does arousal of the central nervous system of an animal play in biting attacks, and what role do retaliatory biting attacks
Space maps manipulation for robot motion planning

Abstract Task-level robot programming languages require a precise description of the objects being manipulated, the task environment, the robot being used, and the task itself. An efficient collision detection and avoidance scheme is usually at the heart of the matter. This paper describes an approach to using a geometric modelling system known as COMPAC [1] to model the world environment and derive the necessary space maps based upon which the motion of a welding robot is planned throughout its given path. The main idea in this approach is to decompose the world model into thinly cut solids then resolve the interference problem after projecting the profiles of the cut solid and the work envelopes of the robot arms on a plane bisecting the cut solid.
A Bounded Influence, High Breakdown, Efficient Regression Estimator

Abstract We consider the multiple linear regression model y i = x′ i β + e i , i = 1, 2, …, n, with random carriers and focus on the estimation of β. This article's main contribution is to present an estimator that is affine, regression, and scale equivariant; has both a high breakdown point and a bounded influence function; and has an asymptotic efficiency greater than .95 versus least squares under Gaussian errors. We give conditions under which the estimator—a one-step general M estimator that uses Schweppe weights and is based on a high breakdown initial estimator—satisfies these properties. The major conditions necessary for the estimator are (a) it must be based on a √n-consistent initial estimator with a 50% breakdown point, and (b) it must be based on a psi function that is odd, bounded, and strictly increasing. The advantage of this estimator over previous approaches is that it does not downweight high leverage points without first considering how they fit the bulk of the data. Methods of computi...
Metaphase analysis, micronuclei assay, and urinary mutagenicity assay of mice exposed to diesel emissions

Abstract Female Swiss mice were exposed 8 h/day to diesel exhaust for 1, 3, and 7 weeks. Urine was collected overnight for 4 days prior to sacrifice while the mice continued to be exposed for eight hours during the day. The presence of mutagens was determined by the Ames Salmonella test. One hour prior to sacrifice each mouse received 1 mg/kg colcemide. After sacrifice, the marrow from each femur was obtained. The marrow from one femur was used to prepare slides for metaphase analysis and the other for micronuclei assay. Other mice received IP 50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide 24 h prior to sacrifice or 1 μmole/kg benzo( a )pyrene in each of four daily doses prior to sacrifice and served as positive controls. The Ames Salmonella assay of the unconcentrated urine after 1, 3, and 7 weeks and concentrated urine after 7 weeks exposure to diesel exhaust did not significantly vary from clean air controls. In the micronucleus test, and metaphase analysis, cyclophosphamide produced a strong positive response and the 7 week diesel exposure was not different from clean air controls.
RNF2 is the target for phosphorylation by the p38 MAPK and ERK signaling pathways

RNF2, a member of polycomb group (PcG) proteins, is involved in chromatin remodeling. However, mechanisms that regulate RNF2 function are unknown. To identify such mechanisms, RNF2 was expressed in HEK-293 cells and analyzed by 2-D electrophoresis. RNF2 was resolved into at least seven protein spots, migrating toward the lower pI from its expected pI of 6.38, suggesting that RNF2 undergoes post-translational modifications. Western blotting indicated that majority of these RNF2 spots contained phosphoserine(s), which were completely dephosphorylated upon treatment with a phosphatase. SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, inhibited RNF2 phosphorylation at one site. On the other hand, PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK1/2, inhibited majority of the phosphorylation events in RNF2. Mass spectrometry analysis identified that RNF2 expressed in Sf9 insect cells undergoes co-translational excision of (1)Met coupled to N-acetylation of (2)Ser, and phosphorylation of (41)Ser. Interestingly, (41)Ser is a predicted p38/MAPK phosphorylation site, consistent with the loss of phosphorylation induced by SB203580. Further analysis indicated that RNF2 phosphorylation differentially modulates the expression of transcription factors and histone 2B acetylation. These results provide first evidence for phosphorylation of RNF2, and suggest that the mitogen activated protein kinases including p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 regulate growth, stress response, differentiation and other cellular processes, through phosphorylation of RNF2.
Student preferences for purchase given limited library budgets

Many librarians are struggling to maintain high‐quality collections given limited funding and budget constraints. It has become necessary for librarians to set priorities on the development of book, journal, and electronic journal collections since libraries cannot afford to “have it all”. What would students decide under similar conditions? During March 2002, a survey was distributed to a number of education students at Oakland University to determine the types of materials they would purchase given limited funding. In addition, they were asked about their satisfaction level regarding the present book, journal, and electronic journal collections within the library. Information on class standing and previous library instruction was also obtained. Results from 243 participants indicated that students are fairly satisfied with the collections. Overall, they were more likely to prefer purchase of electronic formats. In addition, students who had previous library instruction are more likely to use electronic journals than those without library instruction.
Tax incidence when individuals are time-inconsistent: the case of cigarette excise taxes

Abstract One of the most cogent criticisms of excise taxes is their regressivity, with lower income groups spending a much larger share of their income on goods such as cigarettes than do higher income groups. We argue that traditional quantity-based measures of incidence are only appropriate under a very restrictive “time-consistent” model of consumption of sin goods. A model that is much more consistent with existing evidence on smoking decisions is a time-inconsistent formulation where excise taxes on cigarettes serve a self-control function that is valued by smokers who would like to quit but cannot. This self-control function benefits lower income groups more, since they have a significantly higher price sensitivity of smoking. Calibrations show that, as a result, cigarette taxes are much less regressive than previously assumed, and are even progressive for a wide variety of parameter values.
Lower mortality in geriatric patients receiving risperidone and olanzapine versus haloperidol: preliminary analysis of retrospective data.

Objective The authors examined the mortality rate in geriatric patients receiving either haloperidol or atypical antipsychotics. Methods Authors tracked mortality over a 2-year period in patients age 65 years or older receiving haloperidol (N=299) or the atypical antipsychotics risperidone or olanzapine (N= 1,254). Results Sixty-four patients in the haloperidol group (21.4%) and 61 patients in the atypical group (4.75%) died during the 2-year study period. The difference was statistically significant. Conclusions The findings suggest that mortality in elderly patients receiving haloperidol is significantly higher than in those receiving the atypical antipsychotics risperidone or olanzapine. Authors discuss possible causal mechanisms.
ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND THE “CRAZIES”

Recent Works in Cultural Psychiatry: Making it Crazy: An Ethnography of Psychiatric Clients in an American Community. Sue E. Estroff. Recent Works in Cultural Psychiatry: The Family Shadow: Sources of Suicide and Schizophrenia. David Reynolds and Norman Farberow. Recent Works in Cultural Psychiatry: Mental Patients in Town Life: Geel—Europe's First Therapeutic Community. Eugeen Roosens. Recent Works in Cultural Psychiatry: Cultural Conceptions of Mental Illness: A Comparison of Germany and America. John Marshall Townsend.
Undergraduate research in radiochemistry: A thirty year perspective

Students at the University of Kentucky are introduced to radiochemistry through an introductory lecture course offered yearly. The course is designed to assure that juniors and seniors can master the fundamental concepts and are exposed to a variety of applications. Enrollment is typically 25–35 students, about 1/2 of whom are undergraduate chemistry majors. The course prompts several students each year to elect undergraduate research projects in radiochemistry. Research is conducted under a course entitled “Independent Work In Chemistry” and may be elected for up to 9 credits towards B.A. or B.S. degree requirements. Students are required to present the results of their research as a written report, and also in a seminar or an undergraduate research poster competition sponsored yearly by the department.
Foliar pathogen and insect herbivore effects on two landslide tree species in Puerto Rico

To better understand pathogen/herbivore interactions and landslide regeneration, percent leaf area lost to disease and herbivory on two Puerto Rican trees over a 1-year period was sampled. Cecropia schreberiana saplings lost from 1 to 3% leaf area to pathogens and from 1 to 7% to herbivores. For Inga vera, both sapling and seedling losses to pathogens were minimal, but Inga herbivory losses reached 25% for saplings and 34% for seedlings. The most common fungi on Cecropia leaves were species in the genera Phoma and Phyllosticta, and on Inga leaves was Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Percent survivorship after 1 year in the field varied among species and life-form (46% for Cecropia saplings, 15% for Inga saplings, 0% for Inga seedlings). There were no effects of pathogens or herbivores on survivorship or growth, but increased levels of herbivory did significantly correlate with total phenolics and condensed tannins in both Inga seedlings and saplings. For both seedlings and saplings of two trees on the neotropic island of Puerto Rico: (1) leaf herbivory was modest and leaf losses to pathogen disease were small; (2) these mechanisms did not affect survivorship or growth; (3) a neotropical tree (I. vera) displayed increased levels of secondary chemicals in its leaves, correlated with increased levels of insect herbivory.
Seasonal and Spatial Patterns of an Epibenthic Decapod Crustacean Assemblage in North-west Atlantic Continental Shelf Waters

To examine seasonal and spatial patterns in a mobile marine assemblage, monthly samples were taken in triplicate with a 2-m beam trawl (6-mm mesh) at three separate stations (landward of the ridge, on the ridge top, and seaward of the ridge). The assemblage was of epibenthic decapod crustaceans, and was situated at a north-west Atlantic continental shelf, sandy ridge site. The assemblage was composed of nine species and was extremely variable over time and space. The sevenspine bay shrimp (Crangon septemspinosa), the Atlantic rock crab (Cancer irroratus), the spider crab (Libinia emarginata) and the lady crab (Ovalipes ocellatus) were the numerical dominants, comprising >98% of all decapods collected. Three of these species (C. septemspinosa,C. irroratus,L. emarginata) exhibited marked spatial heterogeneity in abundance, with many fewer found on the ridge top than at either of the other two stations.Ovalipes ocellatuswas not as spatially variable.Crangonshowed two clear peaks, in spring and fall, as didLibinia, but neither appeared to use the site as a nursery area.Ovalipes ocellatusandC. irroratuseach showed a single peak of very small individuals in the summer and appeared to use this site for settlement. Komolgorov-Smirnov tests, analysis of variance and cluster analysis showed much less difference in assemblage structure between the landward and seaward stations than was demonstrated between either station and the ridge top. The presence of the sand ridge had a clear impact on the abundance and distribution of local decapod crustacean populations.
Interstate Wine Shipments and E-Commerce

I am an economist, appearing on this panel as an individual at the request of FTC staff. I own a small vineyard in Napa Valley, California, have sold grapes to large and small wineries, and am familiar with the positions taken by many of the people in the wine industry regarding the opportunities and limitations surrounding direct sales of wine to consumers. My intention, however, is to speak here as an advocate for consumers rather than as an advocate for the wine business. My work as a professional economist concentrates primarily on consumer behavior, with applications in marketing, health, and the environment. I do not have a specialty in the economics of the wine industry. I am the E. Morris Cox Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and have served as President of the Econometrics Society and as vice-president of the American Economics Association. In 2000, I won the Nobel Prize in Economics for my work on consumer choice behavior. In common with most economists, I believe that consumers benefit from free markets operated with the minimum government regulation required for consumer protection. The history of government regulation of markets is littered with examples of restrictions, ostensibly adopted on behalf of consumers, that instead protect concentrated economic interests at the consumers' expense. The restrictions on direct purchase of premium wines and their interstate shipment that have been adopted by a number of States are, I believe, another example of abuse of the regulatory process to protect concentrated economic interests, going far beyond the minimum regulations needed to maintain the integrity of State taxation and to protect minor consumers.
Expression of behavioral sensitization to ethanol by DBA/2J mice: the role of NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors

Behavioral sensitization has been accorded a central role in contemporary theories of drug addiction. Accordingly, a substantial effort has been made to determine the processes mediating sensitization to psychostimulants. However, few studies have examined the mechanisms underlying sensitization to ethanol. Experiments were conducted to assess the role of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA glutamate receptors in expression of sensitization to ethanol's locomotor stimulant effects. Sensitization was induced in DBA/2 J mice by administering ethanol (2 g/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) before four activity trials. Control groups were given saline (12.5 ml/kg i.p.) before each activity trial. Subsequently, the effects of two NMDA receptor antagonists, MK-801 and ifenprodil, and two non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists, DNQX and GYKI 52466, were assessed on expression of the sensitized locomotor response. MK-801 reduced the stimulant effects of ethanol and completely prevented expression of sensitization at doses exceeding 0.075 mg/kg. In contrast, although ifenprodil also reduced the stimulant effects of ethanol, the antagonist did not alter expression of sensitization. Non-NMDA glutamate antagonists were more consistent in their effects on sensitization. DNQX reduced the magnitude of the sensitized response at a low dose that did not alter the stimulant effects of ethanol. The more selective AMPA antagonist GYKI 52466 reduced the stimulant effects of ethanol and completely blocked expression of sensitization. The results provide initial evidence to suggest that both NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors play a role in expression of sensitization to ethanol. Additional research will be required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying differences in the efficacy of glutamate antagonists.
LIFE CYCLE AND PARATENESIS OF AMERICAN GORDIIDS (NEMATOMORPHA: GORDIIDA)

To complete their life cycle, gordiids must make a transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments. However, epibenthic aquatic larvae and their terrestrial definitive hosts do not overlap in habitat. This has led many investigators to suggest that infections are acquired through the ingestion of insects, which become infected as aquatic larvae with gordiid cysts and subsequently carry gordiids to land. This proposed life cycle was experimentally tested using 3 common American species of gordiids: Gordius robustus, Paragordius varius, and Chordodes morgani. Cysts of all 3 species survived the metamorphosis of Tanytarsus sp., a midge. Subsequent infection trials of definitive hosts with cysts from imagos show that cysts surviving the metamorphosis of insects remained viable and free of host internal defense reaction. Data from naturally infected mayflies, Callibaetus sp., show that encystment and survival of gordiids within aquatic insects occur in nature. Paratenesis between paratenic hosts was also shown to be possible in these 3 species. This latter finding appears to indicate that cysts formed in spurious paratenic hosts may not be lost but may eventually transfer to normal paratenic hosts.
Experimental verification of the pulse shepherding concept in dispersion-shifted single-mode fiber for bit-parallel wavelength links

A new way to dynamically control in-flight pulses by a co-propagating shepherd pulse in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) single-mode fiber system was proposed at the MPPOI '96 Conference. That system functionally resembles an optical fiber ribbon cable, except that all the bits pass on one fiber optic waveguide. This single fiber bit parallel wavelength link can be used to extend the (speed x distance) product of emerging cluster computer networks, such as, the MyriNet, SCI, Hippi-6400, ShuffleNet, etc. Here, we shall present the first experimental evidence that this pulse shepherding effect can be observed in a commercially available Corning DS (dispersion-shifted) fiber. Computer simulation results will first be presented for the case observed in the laboratory setup. A discussion of the experiment setup and measurement procedures will be given. Experimental results will then be compared with computer generated results. Excellent agreement is observed. Future experiments dealing with the shepherding effect among more than two co-propagating pulses will be performed.
Computers and epidemiology

Analogies with biological disease with topological considerations added, which show that the spread of computer viruses can be contained, and the resulting epidemiological model are examined. The findings of computer virus epidemiology show that computer viruses are far less rife than many have claimed, that many fail to thrive, that even successful viruses spread at nowhere near the exponential rate that some have claimed, and that centralized reporting and response within an organization is an extremely effective defense. A case study is presented, and some steps for companies to take are suggested. >
Labor–Social Work Collaboration: Current and Historical Perspectives

Labor unions and the social work profession have a complicated history of closeness and distance, cooperation and confrontation, respect and caution. However, as both increasingly come under attack by conservative forces, it becomes clear that labor and social work share many common goals that can lead to mutually advantageous joint activities in the arenas of social service and social action. However, the often latent organizational symbiosis present needs to become manifest to establish the preconditions for such continued collaborative endeavors.
An ECL/BiCMOS multi-port RAM for high performance VLSI

The authors describe a multiport BiCMOS memory using both bipolar and MOS transistors in the cell. A special cell select line structure is used which utilizes ECL (emitter coupled logic) voltage levels for read access. This memory cell is much smaller and less power consuming than an ECL multiport RAM cell, and is therefore capable of a much higher performance and larger integration. The cell has a smaller size and fewer components than a pure bipolar memory cell with the same functionality. Since the entire read path is composed of ECL circuits, a read access time comparable with ECL RAMs is achieved. The memory cell's power dissipation is comparable to that of a pure CMOS RAM cell. >
Responses to GABA, glycine and β-alanine induced in Xenopus oocytes by messenger RNA from chick and rat brain

Poly (A)$^{+}$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from rat and chick brains, and injected into oocytes of Xenopus laevis. This led to the expression of receptors that evoked membrane currents in response to $\gamma $- aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine and $\beta $- alanine. These currents all inverted at about the chloride equilibrium potential in the oocyte, and showed a marked rectification at negative potentials. Oocytes injected with mRNA from chick optic lobe gave large responses to GABA and $\beta $- alanine, but small responses to glycine. In contrast, one fraction of mRNA from rat cerebral cortex (obtained by sucrose density gradient centrifugation) caused oocytes to develop sensitivity to GABA, glycine and $\beta $- alanine, whereas a different fraction induced sensitivity to glycine and $\beta $- alanine, but very little to GABA. The pharmacological properties of the three amino acid responses also differed. Barbiturate and benzodiazepines potentiated the responses to GABA and $\beta $- alanine, but not to glycine. Strychnine reduced the responses to glycine and $\beta $- alanine, but not to GABA, whereas bicuculline reduced the responses to GABA and $\beta $- alanine, but not to glycine. We conclude that different species of mRNA code for receptors to GABA and glycine, and possibly also for separate $\beta $- alanine receptors.
Myxospore Formation in Myxococcus xanthus: Chemical Changes in the Cell Wall During Cellular Morphogenesis

Vegetative cells of Myxococcus xanthus (strain FB) were induced to form myxospores by the glycerol induction technique. Several structural changes took place in the peptidoglycan during myxospore formation. The percent of the peptidoglycan comprised of monomer (disaccharide peptide) decreased from about 20% to approximately 7%. The proportion of the total diaminopimelic acid possessing a free amino group decreased about 11%. A carbohydrate containing only glucose was found to be bound, possibly covalently, to the vegetative cell and myxospore peptidoglycan. The amount of carbohydrate relative to peptidoglycan decreased by two-thirds during myxospore formation. None of the above changes in the peptidoglycan were observed in a mutant (strain GNI) of M. xanthus which was unable to convert to myxospores when incubated in the glycerol induction medium, or in the parental wild type (FB) when it was incubated in induction medium lacking the myxospore inducer, glycerol.
Drooling, saliva production, and swallowing in cerebral palsy

Fourteen participants (six females, eight males) ranging in age from 7 years 11 months to 18 years 2 months (mean 11y 7mo) with a confirmed diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy (CP) were included in the study. Participants included those who drooled (CP+, n=14); age- and sex-matched children with spastic CP who were dry to mild and never to infrequent droolers (CP-, n=14) as well as typically developing peers (CTRL, n=14) served as controls. Frequency of swallowing was measured by using simultaneous cervical ausculation and videotaping of the head and neck. Saliva production was measured with the Saxon test, a simple gauze-chewing procedure. In addition, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), Test of Nonverbal Intelligence-3 (TONI-3), dysarthria severity scale, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) scores were obtained for each participant. Both groups of participants with CP tended to swallow less frequently than typically developing participants and tended to produce less saliva than typically developing controls; however, these differences were not statistically significant. No correlation was found between amount of saliva produced and amount drooled (r=0.245). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted on the PEDI functional skills mean scores indicated significant differences between the three groups (F(2,39)=23.522,p<0.0001). Likewise, an ANOVA conducted on the TONI-3 scores revealed statistically significant differences between the three groups (F(2,39)=31.761, p<0.0001). A Spearman's rho correlation indicated that GMFCS scores were not significantly correlated with drooling severity (Spearman's rho correlation=0.3951,p=0.037). Drooling severity was found to be positively correlated with dysarthria severity (Spearman's rho correlation=0.82,p<0.0001). These findings suggest that drooling in patients with CP is related to swallowing difficulties rather than hypersalivation.
Association of medical students' reports of interactions with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries and medical school policies and characteristics: a cross-sectional study.

Background Professional societies use metrics to evaluate medical schools' policies regarding interactions of students and faculty with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. We compared these metrics and determined which US medical schools' industry interaction policies were associated with student behaviors.
Growth of electrodeposited ZnO nanowires

Direct current electrodeposition method was used to deposit zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire arrays from aqueous zinc chloride in ammonium chloride solution at 70° C onto 10 mm × 10 mm anodic alumina oxide (AAO) templates. The AAO templates featured an average pore diameter of 80 nm. A 40 nm gold layer was sputtered onto the surface of the AAO templates before electrodeposition. ZnO nanowires were grown at a potential of −1V versus Ag/AgCl using DC potential amperometry. Characterization of ZnO nanowires was carried out for the as-deposited nanowire array. Atomic force microscopy was used to study the surface morphology. After deposition for 2.5 hours, the length of the nanowires was approximately 3.58 μm on average. Scanning electron microscopy was used to view the cross-section of as-deposited ZnO nanowire array.
Surface and Ground Fuels

A general description of ground and surface fuels are given as background in understanding wildland fuel science. This chapter details typical surface and ground fuel layers and then introduces a number of fuel beds and other potential fuel components that might be important in fuel management in other areas of the world.
Solid to Plasma Transition in Fs-Laser-Irradiated Fe: Collapse of the Spin-Orbit Gap

Quantitative measurements of the optical conductivity of iron under earth core conditions are important in modelling geomagnetism1. We approximate such conditions transiently2 by exciting an Fe, and a control Al, surface in a vacuum or helium environment with 620 nm, 120 fs FWHM laser pulses with 105 peak-background contrast ratio at .6 ps focussed to peak intensities 1011 < I < 1015 W/cm2 on target. Figs. 1 and 2 present p- and s- polarized self-reflectivity R p,s (θ, I) for constant incident angle θ and peak intensity I, respectively. Geometric correction for the dependence of spot shape on θ has been made in plotting the data. Using very linear pulse energy reference monitors, reproducibility to within ∆R/R ≤ 0.1% was achieved. This allowed measurement of very slight reflectivity changes, as shown in the inset of Fig. 1. This figure also shows that the reflectivities of Fe and Al in the solid to plasma transition region (1013 – 1015 W/cm2) approach each other as I increases, consistent with their similar total conduction electron densities (n e ≃ 1.8 × 1023 cm−3) when the Fe d-electrons are included. This suggests qualitatively that progressive unbinding of the d-electrons dominates the changes in optical properties of Fe in this regime. Fig. 2 provides evidence that a density gradient develops during the laser pulse. It is well known3 that θ min the angle at which the minumum p-polarized reflectivity occurs, shifts toward smaller angles as the density gradient scale length grows. Although the largest angle of incidence attainable in the experiment was smaller than θ min under these conditions, the data clearly indicate a shift toward smaller values, seen for Fe in Fig. 2 as a crossing of the p-polarized data sets.
Intervening to Reduce Life-Style Risk Factors of Abusive Parents

To this point, we have considered the role of child-management and anger-control skill deficits as contributors to child abuse, and have discussed interventions for each. Since episodes of violence can often be directly traced to the parent’s inability to handle his or her child’s behavior nonviolently, specific treatment in these areas is logical and necessary for most abusive parents.
The Hecke-Eisenstein and Klein Forms

We have seen in Chapter X, § 3 that the modular form G k has a q-expansion $$ {G_k} = 2\zeta (k) + \cdots $$ So the value of the ordinary zeta function appears as the constant term of a modular form (Eisenstein series, as it is called). This phenomenon, first exploited by Klingen [Kl 3] and Siegel [Si 4], has been highly developed by Serre [Se 5] and others. We give here more examples.
A Parasitic Fungus Disease of Adelges piceae (Homoptera: Phylloxeridae) in North Carolina

Since the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg), was first discovered in the mid-1950's on Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina, this minute bark feeder has become a major pest of fir forests at the higher elevations in the surrounding area. Damage in this area has been particularly severe because Fraser fir, Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir., on which it feeds, is highly susceptible to the aphid and dies after 2–5 years of attack. The aphid is notably free of natural enemies, and only arthropod predators have been regarded as holding any real hope of checking the formidable increases of this exotic sucking insect. No parasites are known, and only the most fragmentary evidence of disease associations has been reported in the past.
Cultural Indicators and Global Freedom of the Press

AbstractThis study sought to determine if cultural variables might explain differences in press freedom across nations. The results confirmed that two of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions – power distance and individualism – explained a significant amount of variance in press freedom rankings produced by Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders. For example, the two factors combined to explain 48% of the variance in Reporters Without Borders rankings and accounted for 42% of the variance in Freedom House’s civil liberties scores. The results suggest that those who seek to promote freedom of the press around the world would be wise to pay more attention to cultural factors that may stand in the way of change.
A Pilot Study of Automobile Product Development

The article introduces a series of steps and processes of automobile product development and production,from product planning,marketing research,concept design,engineering development to quantity production.It also gives a brief account on the main contents of every phase.
Efficiency analysis of the credit departments of farmers′ associations in Taiwan

In 2004,in order to enhance the strength and efficiency of financial support for agriculture and rural development,Taiwan formally implemented "Agricultural Finance Law" and reconstructed the agricultural finance system.In this paper,CCR model was built to estimate the relative efficiency value of each credit department of farmers′ associations during 2002 to 2009.The result shows that before and after the construction of new agricultural financial system,there were less than 10% credit departments with the efficiency value of 1,the efficiency values of most of the others were concentrated between 0.800 and 0.999,which indicate that the effectiveness of the new system in improving the credit departments′ efficiency was limited.But there was a significant downward trend in the ratio of the credit departments with the lowest relative efficiency value,which shows that the financial system reforms did help to improve the inefficient credit department.Overall,there is still room for improvement for agricultural finance system in Taiwan to give full play to the function of assisting agricultural transformation.
Met-tRNA hydrolase from reticulocytes specific for Met-tRNAfMet on 40S ribosomal subunits

A protein fraction removed from rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes by 0.5 m KCl releases methionine from methionyl-tRNAfMet bound to the smaller ribosomal subunit. The active component appears to be a Met-tRNA hydrolase. In the presence of the smaller subunit, the hydrolysis reaction is dependent upon codon-directed binding. Release of methionine from methionyl-tRNAfMet is inhibited by addition of larger ribosomal subunits to the reaction mixture. Both Met-tRNAMMet and Met-tRNA fMet are hydrolyzed at low Mg2+ concentration in the absence of 40S subunits, however, the relative hydrolysis of Met-tRNAMMet is reduced in the presence of subunits. The Met-tRNAfMet binding requirement for hydrolysis in the presence of the subunits appears to reflect binding of the enzyme to the smaller subunit. Little or no hydrolysis is observed with N-acetylmethionyl-tRNAfMet, Phe-tRNA or other forms of aminoacyl-tRNA tested, either in the presence or absence of 40S subunits. It is suggested that the reaction described may be related to the accumulation of deacylated tRNAfMet on ribosomes isolated from reticulocytes incubated with NaF.
A Longer Retention Interval Increases Subjective Similarity

High subjective similarity frequently associates with poor retention. Thus, a longer retention interval may increase subjective similarity as well as worsen retention. To investigate this hypothesis, college students made same-different discriminations for two lines that were the same or different in length with intervals between them of 414 or 3314 ms. A corresponding experiment used tones and frequency. For both experiments, the longer interval produced the poorer overall performance (i.e., retention). This outcome stemmed more from a poorer performance on different stimuli than on same stimuli. This type of interaction implies a higher subjective similarity. So, the longer interval both increased subjective similarity and worsened retention, as hypothesized.
Fluency and Familiarity: How Memory for Perceptual Detail Influences the Remembering of Events

Recognizing events, objects, and persons from our past is a task fraught with significance. It is embarrassing to not remember someone’s name, but the more socially adept among us can navigate such a situation delicately and perhaps even slyly elicit the sought- after name. Not recognizing a face as a familiar one, or misattributing that face to an incorrect prior encounter, is a failure from which we can not recover quite so inconsequentially.
Pyridoxine-Induced Sensory Neuropathy

An 18-year-old man with seizures from birth was followed in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, and was found to have developed a sensory neuropathy by 2 years of age following treatment with pyridoxine in doses up to 2000 mg/day.
The Health Profession's Attitudes toward Single-Use Food and Beverage Containers.

A national survey was conducted to determine the attitudes of the public health profession toward single-use food and beverage containers. Data summarized in this report were obtained from 2,760 of 3,000 questionnaires mailed to survey participants. Results of this study reveal that public health workers identify single-use food and beverage containers as beneficial in terms of reducing the potential for cross-infection and disease transmission among users. Respondents also recognize the importance of these products in eliminating the need for dishwashing facilities and in conserving energy. Accordingly, most public health workers are of the opinion that single-use products “contribute very much” to sanitation levels in food service facilities. While realizing the benefits derived from paper and plastic food service products, public health professionals recognize that they contribute to solid waste problems. However, most of the respondents agree that the public health benefits of paper and plastic food s...
Chemopreventive effect of kava on 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone plus benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mouse

B141 Lung cancer has been the leading cause of death among all the malignancies for decades with relatively small improvement in its treatment. Preventing the development of lung cancer, therefore, would be an alternative strategy to help fight this disease. As smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, smokers and ex-smokers would be the population to benefit the most from an effective lung chemopreventive agent. >Based on epidemiological information, kava - a traditional beverage in the South Pacific Island region, is potentially chemopreventive against lung tumorigenesis. Its chemopreventive effect, however, has never been evaluated. In addition, the potential hepatotoxicity of kava presents a major barrier to its chemopreventive application. In this study, we evaluated whether oral kava could prevent NNK- and B[a]P-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mouse and whether such kava treatment would induce hepatotoxicity. >Lung tumorigenesis was induced in A/J mouse with weekly gavage administration of 2 µmol NNK and 2 µmol B[a]P for eight consecutive weeks. To evaluate the potential chemopreventive activity, kava was administered orally as a supplement to standard diet at the dose of 10 mg/g diet (this specific dose was chosen based on an in-house pilot toxicity study and a similar toxicity study performed by National Toxicology Programs). Such diet was administered to A/J mice (20 mice per group) through three courses - either administered only during the carcinogen-treatment (eight weeks); or administration started after the last carcinogen treatment (22 weeks); or administered throughout the whole experimental period (30 weeks). It was found that the 30-week kava treatment had statistically significant lower lung tumor multiplicities (i.e., mean number of tumors/mouse) than NNK + B[a]P-treated mice [12.8 tumors/mouse in the NNK + B[a]P group versus 5.65 tumors/mouse in the NNK + B[a]P + Kava group; difference, 7.15 tumors/mouse; 95% CI, 3.9 to 10.6 tumors/mouse; P Under these treatments, kava induced no detectable hepatotoxicity as characterized by the following parameters - body weight, liver weight, ALT, AST, GGT enzymatic activities, and liver pathology. >Taken together, this pilot study demonstrated the potential of kava as an effective and safe chemopreventive agent against lung tumorigenesis.
SPDEF Induces Quiescence of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Changing the Transcriptional Targets of β-catenin.

Background & Aims The canonical Wnt signaling pathway activates the transcriptional activity of β-catenin. This pathway is often activated in colorectal cancer cells, but strategies to block it in tumors have not been effective. The SAM pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor (SPDEF) suppresses formation of colon tumors by unclear mechanisms. We investigated these mechanisms and the effects of SPDEF on β-catenin activity in mouse models of colorectal cancer (CRC), CRC cell lines, and mouse and human normal and cancer colonoids. Methods We performed studies of Lgr5 CreERT2 ; β-catenin exon3 ; Rosa26 LSL-rtta-ires-EGFP ; TRE-Spdef mice, which express an oncogenic form of β-catenin in Lgr5-positive ISCs upon administration of tamoxifen and SPDEF upon administration of tetracycline. CRC lines (HCT116 and SW480) were engineered to express inducible tagged SPDEF or vector (control) and subcutaneously injected into immunodeficient NSG mice. We generated SPDEF-inducible human colonoids, including a line derived from normal rectal mucosa (control) and an adenocarcinoma line derived from a patient with germline MUTYH mutation. Full-length and truncated forms of SPDEF were expressed in CRC cells; cells were assayed for β-catenin activity and studied in immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results Expression of SPDEF was sufficient to inhibit intestinal tumorigenesis by activated β-catenin, block tumor cell proliferation, and restrict growth of established tumors. In tumor cells with activated β -catenin, expression of SPDEF induced a quiescent state, which was reversed when SPDEF expression was stopped. In mouse and human normal and tumor-derived enteroids/colonoids, those that expressed SPDEF for 3 days were significantly smaller. SPDEF inhibited the transcriptional activity of β-catenin via a protein–protein interaction, independent of SPDEF DNA binding capacity. SPDEF disrupted β-catenin binding to TCF1 and TCF3, displacing β-catenin from enhancer regions of genes that regulate the cell cycle but not genes that regulate stem cell activities. Conclusions In studies of mice and human CRC, we found that SPDEF induces a quiescent state in CRC cells by disrupting binding of β-catenin to TCF1 and TCF3 and regulation of genes that control the cell cycle. In this model, β-catenin activity determines the proliferation or quiescence of CRC cells based on the absence or presence of SPDEF.
Student-authored IFRS teaching cases based on European Securities and Markets Authority reports: Experiences from case writing and subsequent classroom use

Abstract Upper-level undergraduate and graduate financial reporting courses often rely upon teaching cases to help students refine their critical thinking, research, analysis, judgment and writing skills. This paper describes the rationale for and experience of students writing teaching cases within a graduate level International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) class over the past two years. The assignment relies on the reports of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), an excellent source of regulatory decisions regarding the appropriate application of IFRS. Four of the 24 cases developed in the course have now been effectively used in accounting classes. This paper details the assignment, identifies the ESMA basis for the cases, describes how students added to the enforcement decisions, and summarizes student evaluations of the case writing and case using experiences. The paper also provides suggestions for faculty planning to adopt this learning tool.
Iron Range Engineering Model

The Iron Range Engineering (IRE) model of PBL, an adaptation of the Aalborg model (Kolmos, Fink, & Krogh, 2004), began delivery in January of 2010. IRE is located in rural northeastern Minnesota in the United States. The PBL curriculum was designed and implemented as an upper-division program delivering the final two years of a four-year engineering bachelor’s degree.
Investigation Of Core Transport During The First W7-X Experimental Campaign

Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), the first large scale optimized stellarator, completed its initial experimental campaign in March 2016. An overview of the initial campaign will be presented with an emphasis on initial investigations of core transport and the role of the radial electric field profile (Er).