cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The preparation and characterization of some anhydrous rare earth trisacetylacetonates

Abstract Anhydrous trisacetylacetonate complexes of yttrium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium and erbium have been prepared. Melting points, heats of fusion and i.r., visible and u.v. spectra are reported for these compounds and compared with the properties of the corresponding trihydrates. Additional properties reported are the PMR spectrum of the yttrium compound and the fluorescence spectrum of the terbium compound. The anhydrous compounds are hydrolyzed by moist air to yield basic derivatives. A dimeric structure in which the metal ions are 8-coordinate is suggested for the anhydrous compounds.
Temporal myosin heavy chain isoform expression transitions faster in broiler chickens compared with Single Comb White Leghorns

ABSTRACT Myosin heavy chain (MyHC), one of the major components in the contractile machinery of skeletal muscle fibers, is found in several isoforms during myogenesis. During chicken development, embryonic, neonatal, and adult MyHC isoforms are expressed. Broiler chickens have been selected for fast and large muscle growth, whereas Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) chickens have been selected for egg laying capabilities. This has led to an obvious difference in muscle growth and development with broilers being much larger than SCWL. The objective of this study was to determine if differences in muscle growth and development of SCWL and broilers are associated with differences in temporal expression of MyHC isoforms in skeletal muscle between the 2 breeds. Pectoralis major muscle (PM) was collected from SCWL and broilers at embryonic d 15, 17, and 19 and 1, 5, 11, 20, 27, and 33 d posthatch with n = 3 samples per time point and breed. Western blotting using 3 monoclonal antibodies (EB165, 2E9, and AB8) was performed to compare the expression patterns of embryonic/adult, neonatal, and adult isoforms of MyHC, respectively, for all time points in both SCWL and broiler chickens. Both broiler and SCWL chickens began expressing the neonatal MyHC isoform on d 5; however, SCWL chickens expressed the neonatal isoform much longer than broilers. The SCWL chickens had sustained expression of the neonatal MyHC isoform through d 27, whereas in broiler chickens the neonatal isoform was not expressed at d 20. Pectoralis major tissue from broiler chickens expressed the adult MyHC isoform as early as d 20, whereas the SCWL chickens began expressing the adult isoform later. The rate of transition to neonatal and adult MyHC isoforms in broilers and Leghorns is consistent with the faster maturation and growth of broilers relative to Leghorns. This relationship between faster growth of the PM and the rate of transition of MyHC isoforms within the fast skeletal muscle of the PM may indicate a selection marker for improvement of broiler PM growth.
Leucocytozoonosis in Canada geese at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

A history is given of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge and the losses of goslings of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) recorded since inception of the refuge in 1935. Since 1960, when more reliable data became available, losses have been extensive every 4 years. Gosling deaths are attributed to the infection with Leucocytozoon simondi. The blackfly (Simulium innocens) is considered to be the prime vector in the transmission of this blood parasite to goslings.
Restricted Proof that the Weak Equivalence Principle Implies the Einstein Equivalence Principle

Schiff has conjectured that the weak equivalence principle (WEP) implies the Einstein equivalence principle (EEP). A proof is presented of Schiff's conjecture, restricted to: (1) test bodies made of electromagnetically interacting point particles, that fall from rest in a static, spherically symmetric gravitational field; (2) theories of gravity within a certain broad class - a class that includes almost all complete relativistic theories that have been found in the literature, but with each theory truncated to contain only point particles plus electromagnetic and gravitational fields. The proof shows that every nonmentric theory in the class (every theory that violates EEP) must violate WEP. A formula is derived for the magnitude of the violation. It is shown that WEP is a powerful theoretical and experimental tool for constraining the manner in which gravity couples to electromagnetism in gravitation theories.
Atypical Facial Pain: A Rare Sentinel Manifestation of Lung Cancer (P03.241)

Objective: To document unilateral atypical facial pain as a possible sentinel manifestation of lung cancer, possibly due to referred vagal pain. Background Atypical facial pain is a persistent, daily, deep and poorly localized unilateral facial pain. A serious, little-recognized association is the occurrence of atypical facial pain as a sentinel manifestation, preceding detection of an ipsilateral lung neoplasm. Fewer than 50 cases of atypical facial pain have been reported as initial symptoms signaling the presence of a lung neoplasm. Design/Methods: Case report. Results: A 65-year-old woman presented with 3 months of severe left facial pain starting near her mouth and spreading to her left ear and orbit. The pain was continuous, without lancinating character, and had worsened since onset. She endorsed several months of nonproductive cough and 3-pound weight loss; she had a 40-pack-year smoking history. Her neurological exam was unremarkable. Physical exam revealed occasional crackles in the left lung base. Routine blood tests were normal; ESR was 30. Cognizant of the link between facial pain and lung cancer, we obtained a CT scan of the chest, which revealed left lower lobe consolidation with hilar adenopathy. Bronchoscopic biopsy showed stage IV adenocarcinoma. An MRI brain scan was normal. Serum paraneoplastic antibody testing was negative for both intracellular and surface antineuronal antibodies, performed by Dr. Josep Dalmau9s laboratory. CSF cytology was negative for malignant cells. Narcotics, pregabalin and NSAIDs produced marginal relief of facial pain. Six months after initial diagnosis, she died following progression of an aggressive cancer. Conclusions: Unilateral facial pain may be the sentinel manifestation of lung malignancy, which should be considered in patients with new onset persistent facial pain, history of smoking or other systemic manifestations. In the absence of paraneoplastic antibodies, the presumed mechanism is referred pain from involvement of the vagus nerve by cancer. Disclosure: Dr. Drachman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose.
Linkage analysis of the human dopamine β-hydroxylase gene

The human gene for dopamine beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) has been mapped to chromosome 9q34. Using polymerase chain reaction amplification of exon 11 of the D beta H gene followed by digestion of the reaction products with FnuDII (BstUI), we detected a low-frequency restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The CEPH panel of family DNAs was genotyped for this RFLP, enabling us to determine the linkage relationships between D beta H and four other loci previously mapped to human chromosome 9q. We obtained two-point recombination frequencies (theta) between D beta H and arginosuccinate synthetase (theta = 0, LOD = 7.37), the ABO blood group locus (theta = 0, LOD = 4.5), CRI-P111 (theta = 0, LOD = 2.1), and D9S31 (theta = .06, LOD = 2.81).
Determination of the nonlinear relaxation exponent: A Monte Carlo study

Abstract The nonlinear relaxation exponent Δ M nl for the order parameter is obtained through a standard Monte Carlo study of the two-dimensional Ising model. We find that Δ M nl is about 2.1 as predicted by renormalization group results but larger than some earlier Monte Carlo estimates. For the linear relaxation exponent Δ M 1 our data suggest a slightly higher value as expected by scaling laws.
Research on the discourse of international negotiations: A path to understanding international conflict processes?

While both actual negotiators and social scientists have written extensively on international negotiations, study of the actual talk through which goals are or are not accomplished has been little studied; to a substantial degree, electronic records of the discourse of international negotiations have not been available. This paper describes the procedures of comprehensive discourse analysis and what sorts of things can be learned from its use, and identifies reasons why international (and other) negotiators have been reluctant to have their actual talk studied. Projected studies are described.
A LOAD-INDENTATION RELATIONSHIP FOR TUBULAR MEMBERS

A simplified analytical method for estimating the load vs. dent depth response of tubular members subjected to "knife-edge" loading was developed. The load-deformation behaviour is given by a three-term series whose coefficients are readily determined from the geometric and material characteristics of the member. The method is based on a parametric study and multi-variable regression analysis of experimental data taken from available literature. The estimated load vs. dentdepth response compared favourably with the results of a finite element analysis.
Fascicle Density and Needle Growth Responses of Red Pine to Water Supply Over Two Seasons

The ontogeny of terminal growth in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) suggests that the growing season in Michigan be divided into three 2—month periods: April—May,June—July, and August—September. It is during the middle period that mitotic activity at the shoot apex initiates dwarf shoot primordia in the bud for the subsequent season's foliage; thus, preconditioning one year has a strong effect on next year's growth. Water was applied to or withheld from the soil under 23—year—old trees in various combinations of the 2—month periods over two growing seasons. All effects of drought were greatest on the terminal shoot of the main stem, diminishing on terminals of branches with distance from the apex, and disappearing at the base of the crown. Shoot extension was governed equally by conditions of the middle period of the previous year and of the early period of the current year. Each year fascicle density was regulated only by water conditions of the early period of the current year, regardless of preconditioning. Spacing of needles on shoots depended on elongation of the stem internodes between dwarf shoots, and was independent of the number of fascicles. Number of fascicles per shoot was governed only by conditions of June—July of the previous year, with drought during this period reducing the number of 30%. Length of needles was related to two factors: the number of fascicles produced per shoot and the water treatment of the period during which needles elongated. Thus when the water supply of the middle of the previous year was deficient, fewer but longer needles were produced currently; when water during the middle of the current year was deficient, needles were reduced in length by about 30%. It is concluded that the interaction of two seasons' water supply are usually compensative, rarely additive. The average net effect on foliage production is along—term, year—to—year stability in photosynthetic potential for red pine.
Plug-in Bandwidth Selection for Kernel Density Estimation with Discrete Data

This paper proposes plug-in bandwidth selection for kernel density estimation with discrete data via minimization of mean summed square error. Simulation results show that the plug-in bandwidths perform well, relative to cross-validated bandwidths, in non-uniform designs. We further find that plug-in bandwidths are relatively small. Several empirical examples show that the plug-in bandwidths are typically similar in magnitude to their cross-validated counterparts.
Esophageal involvement in epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica: clinical and roentgenographic manifestations

Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare hereditary mechanobullous skin disorder. Four patients with esophageal involvement are reported. These cases and review of reported cases of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica-recessive (EBD-R) showed distinct clinical and roentgenographie features of esophageal involvement: diffuse inflammatory changes, motility disorders, small blisters or bullae seen as constant nodular-filling defects, esophageal ulcers, scars, pseudodiverticula, transverse and circumferential webs, various size strictures, shortening of the esophagus with development of traction hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux, perforation, and complete obstruction of the esophageal lumen. Dysphagia is reversible when caused by bullae or webs and permanent when due to cicatrizing strictures. The strictures may remain unchanged in size for many years despite variations in dysphagic symptoms.
Identification of 18-oxo-9, 10-epoxystearic acid, a novel compound in the cutin of young apple fruits.

18-Oxo-9,10-epoxystearic acid was identified in the cutin of young apple fruits by hydrogenolysis with LiAlH4, deuterolysis with LiAlD4, CrO3 oxidation of deuterated product followed by reduction with LiAlH4 and mass spectrometry of the products.
Stable signal recovery from the roots of the short-time Fourier transform

This paper presents a method to recover a bandlimited signal, up to an overall multiplicative constant, from the roots of its short-time Fourier transform. We assume that only finitely many sample values are non-zero. To generate the number of roots needed for recovery, we use a type of aliasing, a time-frequency quasi-periodization of the transform. We investigate the stability of the recovery algorithm under perturbations of the signal, in particular under low-pass filtering, and verify the stability results with numerical experiments. In these experiments we implement a deconvolution strategy for sparse bandlimited signals, whose non-zero sample values are interspersed with vanishing ones. The recovery from roots of such signals is insensitive to the effect of random echoes. In addition, we study the effect of aliasing by the time-frequency quasi-periodization on such sparse signals. If the signal is convolved with white noise, then the number of roots generated with the quasi-periodized short-time Fourier transform can be adjusted to be proportional to the number of non-vanishing samples to give recoverability with overwhelming probability.
Devices for 100 Gb/s communications

Summary form only given. Ultrahigh bandwidth communication can be accomplished by either wavelength or time division multiplexing, or both. A logical route is to advance TDM as far as possible and then implement WDM after a reasonable limit has been reached. Recent experiments have demonstrated that TDM channels can be produced that can carry up to 400 Gb/s and sent up to 80 km. In order to make this technology practical, optical devices that can generate, encode, multiplex and demultiplex these high bit rate signals must be developed. In our laboratory we have been using a test system operating at 100 Gb/s (8 channels of 12.5 Gb/s) to develop technologies compatible with these goals. In TDM systems that require return to zero coding, there is the possibility, depending on the energy and dispersion of the pulses to use either linear propagation or soliton propagation of the pulses. The optical source used for our test system is a harmonically mode-locked fiber laser capable of producing 1.5 ps pulses at repetition rates between 8 and 15 GHz. Multiplexing of independently modulated bit streams into a single 100 Gb/s stream can be accomplished with fiber optic couplers if care is taken to correctly phase the channels. In our laboratory, for test purposes we have implemented a 1/spl times/8 multiplexer based on 45' spliced PM fiber. The result is a 100 Gb/s pseudorandom bit stream where each channel has the same bit pattern, facilitating the testing of the system devices. Many types of demultiplexers have been proposed for these systems, and some have been demonstrated. We have demonstrated a polarization multiplexed nonlinear mirror demultiplexer, and have also developed a demultiplexer based on integrated optic modulators which should be able to perform not only demultiplexing, but also add-drop functions at these bit rates.
Evidence that the human death receptor 4 is regulated by activator protein 1.

Death receptor 4 (DR4; also called TRAIL-R1), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is a cell surface receptor that triggers the apoptotic machinery upon binding to its ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Although several chemotherapeutic agents were reported to induce DR4 expression, the mechanism of this effect remains largely unknown. To begin to understand its regulation, we cloned a 1.8 Kb 5′-flanking region of the human DR4 gene and identified several putative binding sites for transcription factors including activator protein 1 (AP-1). Among the three putative AP-1 binding sites, the site located at −350/−344 is functionally active as evidenced by a combination of electrophoretic mobility shift and luciferase reporter assays. The AP-1 activator phorbol 12–myristate 13-acetate (TPA) enhanced the binding of this DR4 AP-1 binding site to protein(s) in a nuclear extract from TPA-treated cells, increased luciferase activity of a reporter construct containing this site and induced DR4 expression at the transcription level. These results indicate that AP-1 regulates DR4 expression via the AP-1 binding site located at −350/−344. AP-1 has been implicated in many critical cellular processes including apoptosis, and is a major target of the c-Jun NH3-terminal kinase signaling pathway that is activated by many anticancer drugs. Therefore, our findings may increase the understanding of the mechanisms underlying AP-1-mediated apoptosis as well as drug-induced apoptosis.
Is there a paradigm shift in genetics? Lessons from the study of human diseases.

Abstract The flood of genetic data made possible by recent technological advances has led to a number of important changes in our conceptual model, or working “paradigm,” of genetics. Among these changes are recognition that (1) most mutations are unique; (2) there are many alleles at every locus, not just two; (3) these alleles have a hierarchical, or cladistic, history-dependent structure and geographic distribution; (3) the genotype-to-phenotype relationship is complex and quantitative, even for single-locus traits; (4) genotype–phenotype relationships often depend on the organization of the genome into linkage groups, gene families, and the like; and (5) genes affecting quantitative traits can be individually identified rather than solely being viewed as a polygenic aggregate, and these genes each have the same characteristics as genes for single-locus phenotypes. The latter provides a profound unifying impact on biology by reconciling long-standing conceptual differences of qualitative vis-a-vis quantitative phenotypes and their relative importance and evolution. Many of the data that have led to these advances have been generated in the study of genes associated with diseases in human populations. The conceptual changes affect all of biology, but are especially important in the human context, because the amount, complexity, and historical dependence of the variation in the human genome have serious societal implications regarding the epistemology of genetic causation and applications in public health. But whether these changes constitute a real “paradigm shift” in genetics, or are merely adjustments in the classical models developed early in this century, is unclear.
Anatomy-sensitive optimization of edge-detection algorithms for MR images of the lower spine

Due to the relatively large voxel sizes of Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) the organ boundaries represent an anatomy dependent mixture of multiple tissue types. Subsequently the image properties at the organ boundaries are highly inconsistent causing failure to produce closed organ contours using classical edge detectors. While it is widely recognized that solving of the boundary closure problems in MRI is essential for the automated 3-D volumetric reconstruction and quantification of the humananatomy only a few successful attempts have been reported in the past2''3''4''5. In this paper a new concept is presented which uses the incremental estimation of an edge by multi-pass application of a nonlinear multi-parameter edge detection operator. The operator is optimized using a quality criterion which estimates the continuity of the detected edges either directly based on a morphological prototype of the organ of interest or indirectly based on the percentage of fragmented edges found in an edge-enhanced image. Usefulness of the method is demonstrated on MR studies of the lower spine and human wrist.
Swainson's thrushes in migratory disposition exhibit reduced immune function

Evidence indicates that the immune system, which protects an organism from parasitic and pathogenic infections, is frequently suppressed when animals are engaged in activities involving strenuous exercise. We tested the hypothesis that birds reduce immune function during the migratory period in preparation for the anticipated heightened energetic demands of long flights. Swainson’s thrushes (Catharus ustulatus), captured in fall, were held in an indoor aviary until January, when migratory disposition was induced in half of the birds with an artificially prolonged daylength. Experimental birds became hyperphagic and deposited fat stores, and then displayed nocturnal activity (Zugunruhe) characteristic of the spring migratory period. Cell-mediated immunity was measured by intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin in the wing patagium of both control and experimental birds. Birds exhibiting migratory restlessness had a reduced cell-mediated immune response compared to control birds. Our results suggest that birds are immunosuppressed during the migratory period. The suppression may be a nonadaptive response due to unrelated physiological processes, or it may be an adaptive response to the physiological demands associated with migration, such as high energetic demands and the negative consequences of a hyperactive immune system.
Mating patterns and rates of biological invasion

Invasive nonnative plants are in the news because of their dramatic effects on our national agriculture, aquaculture, rangelands, water supplies, and other important resources (1, 2). Invasive plants also cause the decline of local biodiversity worldwide, with clear effects on native species and ecosystems (3, 4). For economic and ecological reasons, these invaders have been a primary focus of conservation and restoration efforts, although control programs seldom have the resources to keep up with the spread of new invaders (5). One of the conundrums of controlling invasive plants is that eradication is feasible only very early on, before a species has become widespread. However, a new nonnative plant is unlikely to attract attention or funding when it is only found here and there, especially when its populations are growing slowly and therefore seem to pose little immediate threat. Initially slow “lag phases” in population growth are suspected to be common in invasions (e.g., ref. 6), yet evidence that they occur has been mostly anecdotal. Demonstrating the occurrence of lag phases has been impeded by the nature of exponential growth. When numbers are small, population growth can be imperceptible, even if the growth rate is quite large. A lag phase implies that the rate itself increases over time. We need hard evidence that rates of population growth change over time, along with experiments to reveal the mechanism behind that change. In this issue of PNAS, Davis …
Basalts of the Mount Taylor Volcanic Field, New Mexico

Basalt flows of the upper Cenozoic Mount Taylor volcanic field in central New Mexico are divisible into four stratigraphic sequences that define the general petrologic progression: early undersaturated alkalic basalt, two sequences of relatively silicic alkalic basalt, and late olivine tholeiite. This progression is characterized by increasing SiO 2 and decreasing K 2 O, TiO 2 , P 2 O 5 , Sr, U, and Th. Recent experimental data permit interpretation of such a progression in terms of fractionation of magma at progressively shallower levels in the upper mantle. In the western United States, Cenozoic basalts of such compositional diversity occur mainly along boundaries between major tectonic provinces, especially around the margins of the Basin and Range province and the Colorado Plateau.
Conference Participants' Acceptance of the Internet as An Information and Registration Tool

Abstract Using the 1999 Annual Civil Affairs Conference as a medium, this study ascertained the acceptance and utility of using the Internet for registration and informational purposes for this group of civil affairs officers. The results indicate that computer usage and Internet access consumer patterns are distinctly different than other reported consumer usage profiles. With this in mind, certain challenges exist for the conference meeting planner in matching the usage patterns of this respondent group.
Mapping of a strain-specific bactericidal epitope to the surface-exposed loop 5 on the P2 porin protein of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

The P2 protein is the major outer-membrane protein of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) and shows extreme heterogeneity among strains. Based on the analysis of antigenic structure, the P2 protein consists of eight potentially surface-exposed loops. Previous studies of monoclonal antibodies (mABs) to a single strain of NTHI showed that P2 contains potentially immunodominant epitopes in loop 5 of the molecule. The goal of the current work is to test the hypothesis that strain-specific and potentially immunodominant epitopes are located in loop 5 of P2 in other strains of NTHI as well. Gene fragments which encode peptides of loop 5 of strains 2019 and 5657 were cloned into an expression vector and subjected to immunoassays with mABs which recognize surface-exposed, bactericidal, strain-specific epitopes. Each mAB recognized loop 5 of the P2 protein of the homologous strain. Analysis of mutant clones with minor amino acid changes showed a loss of reactivity with the mABs. These observations indicate that loop 5 of the P2 molecule contains strain-specific, abundantly expressed surface-exposed epitopes. This further supports the hypothesis that loop 5 is an immunodominant region of the P2 molecule.
Medicaid expenditures for orthodontic services.

Introduction: A survey was conducted in 2006 to determine, on a state-by-state basis, the availability of Medicaid-funded orthodontic treatment and, when available, the criteria and the funding rates. Methods: All 50 states were contacted by e-mail, telephone, or standard mail to obtain answers to the following questions. Does your state provide Medicaid coverage for orthodontic services? What qualifications are required to be reimbursed? What is the patient cutoff age for reimbursement of services? Is an index used to assess malocclusion? If so, which index? What is the primary training of the reviewer? How are services reimbursed? Is limited treatment covered? Is interceptive treatment covered? What is the total amount reimbursed for 24 months of treatment for comprehensive adolescent care? Results: Wide variations of responses were received from the states, with no statistical significance between any questions based on geographic regions or reimbursement rates, although some trends appeared to exist. Conclusions: This study provides state-by-state details of Medicaid programs for orthodontic services and details the extensive variations in programs.
Ancillary radiometric product (ARP) usage in the EOS/MISR level 1B radiance product generation

The radiometric response of the EOS-AM1 Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) is to be measured throughout the six-year mission. To accomplish this task, MISR makes routine use of an on-board calibrator, aircraft flyovers, field exercises, and comparisons to other on-orbit and aircraft sensors. Analyses of these data results in a deliverable called the Ancillary Radiometric Product (ARP). This file contains the radiometric response parameters for all nine cameras and four spectral bands. The instrument on-board calibrator is exercised bi-monthly, and the next ARP time-series file is created shortly thereafter. This file is used in MISR standard product generation to convert the sensor output into a measure of the incident radiance, and is used to process all MISR data acquired in the subsequent two months. Thereafter the process is repeated and the new ARP time-series file is utilized. Due to improvements in the processing algorithms, updates are allowed to the inactive ARP data files. These revisions would be used should a previously generated MISR data product be reordered and reprocessed, as would be the case should an investigator desire to make use of all science software algorithm upgrades. This paper discusses the investigations and algorithm changes that have occurred in the production of the ARP since launch, and discusses changes to the Level 1B data that might be expected should data be reprocessed.
Physics and optimization of a neutrino factory

I discuss the physics potential of a neutrino factory with respect to the precision measurement of the CP phase. A critical comparison with different version of a β -beam facility is made with respect to the ability do discover θ 13 , the mass hierarchy and CP violation.
Entry requirements and membership homogeneity in online patient groups

The objective was to explore a relationship between the economics of religion and the attributes of online patient groups by testing the hypotheses that (1) the harsher the entry requirements to an online patient group, the more active its members are; and (2) membership homogeneity in a given group is reflected in the educational level of group members. Online groups were randomly chosen from the 'Yahoo groups' category of 'Illnesses'. The hypothesis about entry requirements was narrowed by defining those requirements as either 'Open', 'Register', or 'Closed'. The number of messages over a 4-month period in each of 162 different groups was tallied. The hypothesis about membership homogeneity was refined by counting the citations in messages and by predicting the educational level of members (as reflected in the average word length of messages) based on these citation counts. Across 162 groups, the number of messages was significantly less in Open groups than in Register groups and less in Register groups than in Closed groups. Across 14 groups, the average word length of messages in a group positively correlated with the number of citations in that group. The hypothesis is supported that increased group entry barriers correspond to increased group message activity and members tend to be similar within a group. These attributes could be used to help design effective groups.
In Vivo High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Skin Imaging at 1.5 T and 3 T

As a noninvasive modality, MR is attractive for in vivo skin imaging. Its unique soft tissue contrast makes it an ideal imaging modality to study the skin water content and to resolve the different skin layers. In this work, the challenges of in vivo high-resolution skin imaging are addressed. Three 3D Cartesian sequences are customized to achieve high-resolution imaging and their respective performance is evaluated. The balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) and gradient echo (GRE) sequences are fast but can be sensitive to off-resonance artifacts. The fast large-angle spin echo (FLASE) sequence provides a sharp depiction of the hypodermis structures but results in more specific absorption rate (SAR). The effect of increasing the field strength is assessed. As compared to 1.5 T, signal-to-noise ratio at 3 T slightly increases in the hypodermis and almost doubles in the dermis. The need for fat/water separation is acknowledged and a solution using an interleaved three-point Dixon method and an iterative reconstruction is shown to be effective. The effects of motion are analyzed and two techniques to prevent motion and correct for it are evaluated. Images with 117 x 117 x 500 microm(3) resolution are obtained in imaging times under 6 min.
Towards a structural view of gating in potassium channels

Voltage-activated cation channels have pores that are selective for K+, Na+ or Ca2+. Neurons use these channels to generate and propagate action potentials, release neurotransmitters at synaptic terminals and integrate incoming signals in dendrites. Recent X-ray and electron microscopy studies of an archaebacterial voltage-activated K+ (Kv) channel have provided the first atomic resolution images of the voltage-sensing domains in Kv channels. Although these structures are consistent with previous biophysical analyses of eukaryotic channels, they also contain surprises, which have provoked new ideas about the structure and movements of these proteins during gating. This review summarizes our current understanding of these intriguing membrane proteins and highlights the open questions.
ATS: Aerial Tracking and Surveillance System

Summary form only given. Quad rotor helicopters are becoming a popular research platform due to the availability of off-the-shelf components and their suitability for useful applications. We describe the aerial tracking and surveillance system (ATS) that we are commissioning which takes a commercial quad-rotor (Draganflyer V Ti) and high-level flight controller, and adapt these for use in applications requiring the visual tracking of ground targets. This uses a camera on board processing system, which communicates summary information to a ground station. So far we have tested the system off the aircraft using laboratory targets and image sequences; we have also developed algorithms to scan a target area using a simulator program. The next step is to integrate these into the quad-rotor, and begin testing.
Heavy Drinking on College Campuses: No Reason to Change Minimum Legal Drinking Age of 21

Abstract The recent Amethyst Initiative argues that a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21 has created a culture of heavy alcohol use on college campuses by making drinking clandestine and extreme. This group and others argue that lowering the MLDA will reduce the problem of “binge drinking” on college campuses. However, such a policy change would remove one of the most researched and supported policies in the nation's alcohol control arsenal. There is little evidence that other interventions or policies are capable of working on the same broad level as MLDA 21, and there could also be a deleterious ripple effect in related legislation because MLDA 21 works in conjunction with other drinking laws. In addition, historic and international experiences with a lowered MLDA indicate there are serious social and public health consequences. Instead of removing efficacious interventions, we must remain committed to implementing and enforcing evidence-based practices and legislation.
Isolation and characterization of the chicken vitamin D receptor gene and its promoter

The sequences from several independent cDNA clones encoding the chicken vitamin D receptor as well as primer extension assay have clearly delineated the 5' terminus and the transcriptional start site. Screening a chicken genomic library produced genomic clones containing vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene fragments. Restriction map of clone 8 showed that the 18.6-kb chicken VDR fragment has exons 1 and 2, intron 1, part of intron 2, and 7-kb 5' flanking region. Exons 1, 2, and 3 found in the chicken VDR gene shares low homology with its mammalian counterparts (i.e., E1A, E1B, and E1C in human). By contrast, the fourth exon and following exons for the coding region of VDR gene are highly conserved between avian and mammalian species. While the fourth exon bears the ATG sites for translation initiation in mammals, the third exon in birds has two extra ATG sites for leaky translation as determined previously. Thus, the avian VDR has more N-terminal sequence than the mammalian VDR and is found in two distinct forms. The 5' flanking region from genomic clone 8 shares considerable homology in several regions with the human and mouse VDR promoters. Moreover, the 5' flanking region of chicken VDR gene possesses promoter activity, as shown by its ability to drive the luciferase reporter gene in cell transfection assays. Like other steroid receptor promoters, the chicken VDR promoter contains no TATA box but possesses several GC boxes or SP1 sites. A series of deletional promoter constructs established that the proximal GC boxes are the major drivers of gene transcription, while the more upstream sequences have repressive elements.
A few good women—on top management teams

Abstract Our study extends the upper echelon framework to gender diversity in top management teams (TMTs), a topic that has received little attention in management. We study the direct impact of representation of women on TMTs on organizational performance. We also study the moderating effects of environmental characteristics on the TMT women–performance linkage. In a sample of 679 firms from the 1998 Fortune 1000 list, our results show a positive relationship between the proportion of women on TMTs and organizational performance. The moderating effects of environmental characteristics, namely, munificence, dynamism, and complexity, are not supported. These results reveal that the role played by top women managers transcends the demands of the environment. Our study has implications for the career development of women. In addition, our results have the potential to generalize to managers from other nationalities.
Comparative studies of the globally convergent convexification algorithm with application to imaging of antipersonnel land mines

A comparative study of various aspects on the globally convergent convexification algorithm for coefficient inverse problems is described. Numerical results of the algorithm with application to detection of antipersonnel land mines are presented. The aspects studied include initial guess and layer size for the layer stripping approach, dimensions of the basis for spatial and pseudo-frequency approximations, the lower limit of the integrals with respect to pseudo-frequency κ, the stopping criteria of steepest descent method in the least squares minimization, the tails to compensate the truncated integration with respect to κ, the parameter λ associated with the Carleman weight function, and adding different noise levels to the input data for the coefficient inverse problems. With our new implementation, the convexification algorithm is very efficient and feasible to be applied in real time to detect antipersonnel land mines in the field.
The effect of finite compressive strain on chondrocyte viability in statically loaded bovine articular cartilage

Recent studies have reported that certain regimes of compressive loading of articular cartilage result in increased cell death in the superficial tangential zone (STZ). The objectives of this study were (1) to test the prevalent hypothesis that preferential cell death in the STZ results from excessive compressive strain in that zone, relative to the middle and deep zones, by determining whether cell death correlates with the magnitude of compressive strain and (2) to test the corollary hypothesis that the viability response of cells is uniform through the thickness of the articular layer when exposed to the same loading environment. Live cartilage explants were statically compressed by approximately 65% of their original thickness, either normal to the articular surface (axial loading) or parallel to it (transverse loading). Cell viability after 12 h was compared to the local strain distribution measured by digital image correlation. Results showed that the strain distribution in the axially loaded samples was highest in the STZ (77%) and lowest in the deep zone (55%), whereas the strain was uniformly distributed in the transversely loaded samples (64%). In contrast, axially and transversely loaded samples exhibited very similar profiles of cell death through the depth, with a preferential distribution in the STZ. Unloaded control samples showed negligible cell death. Thus, under prolonged static loading, depth-dependent variations in chondrocyte death did not correlate with the local depth-dependent compressive strain, and the prevalent hypothesis must be rejected. An alternative hypothesis, suggested by these results, is that superficial zone chondrocytes are more vulnerable to prolonged static loading than chondrocytes in the middle and deep zones.
Evidence for distributed light sensing in the skin of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis

We report that the skin of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, contains opsin transcripts suggesting a possible role of distributed light sensing for dynamic camouflage and signalling. The mRNA coding for opsin from various body regions was amplified and sequenced, and gene expression was detected in fin and ventral skin samples. The amino acid sequence of the opsin polypeptide that these transcripts would produce was identical in retina and fin tissue samples, but the ventral skin opsin transcripts differed by a single amino acid. The diverse camouflage and signalling body patterns of cephalopods are visually controlled, and these findings suggest a possible additional mechanism of light sensing and subsequent skin patterning. Cuttlefish, along with a number of other cephalopod species, have been shown to be colour-blind. Since the opsin in the fin is identical to that of the retina (λmax=492 nm), and the ventral transcripts are also unlikely to be spectrally different, colour discrimination by the skin opsins is unlikely. However, spectral discrimination could be provided by involving other skin structures (chromatophores and iridophores), which produce changeable colours and patterns. This 'distributed sensing' could supplement the otherwise visually driven dynamic camouflage system by assisting with colour or brightness matching to adjacent substrates.
For her own good: protecting (and neglecting) women in research.

In gender mythology woman is nature, the embodiment of life, destruction, and death. Semantically encoded in good and evil, the one conceptual stability woman represents is ambivalence. As a walled garden in which nature works its demonic sorcery, she turns a gob of refuse into a spreading web of sentient being, floating on the snaky umbilical by which she leashes every man. But as an ontological entity, woman is the real First Mover. The pregnant woman is devilishly complete. She needs nothing and no one.2 Confronted with the terrible sense of woman's power, man is forced to wrestle with her nature to gain his identity, never to fall back into her. Man is the essential, the norm, the absolute One without reciprocity. Woman is “the Other, posed by the One to define itself, the inessential who never goes back to being the essential and the absolute Other without reciprocity.
Excitatory actions of synaptically released catecholamines in the rat lateral geniculate nucleus.

Abstract The gating properties of thalamic relay neurons are influenced by the actions of a variety of neuromodulators in concert with the intrinsic properties of these relay neurons. In this study, we have investigated the consequences of synaptically released catecholamines on the excitability of neurons in the rat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Tetanic stimulation of the optic tract, in which catecholamine fibers also course near or through, produced a strong depolarization that consisted of a fast and slow component. The fast excitatory postsynaptic potential was attenuated by ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists and further unmasked the slow excitatory postsynaptic potential. The amplitude of the slow excitatory postsynaptic potential was dependent on the frequency and intensity of the tetanic stimulation. The α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, prazosin, and the D1-like dopamine receptor antagonist, SCH23390, attenuated the slow excitatory postsynaptic potential; however, the slow excitatory postsynaptic potential was unaltered by metabotropic glutamate, cholinergic, α2-adrenergic, and β-adrenergic receptor antagonists. On the other hand, tetanic stimulation of the optic radiations (corticothalamic axons) evoked a slow excitatory postsynaptic potential that was completely attenuated by metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists. Our results suggest that tetanic stimulation of catecholamine fibers within the optic tract produces synaptic release of norepinephrine and dopamine that in turn activates both α 1 -adrenergic and D1-like dopamine receptors leading to a robust membrane depolarization. By altering the excitability of relay neurons, ascending activating systems may modulate the efficacy of information transfer through the thalamus.
A method for quantitative analysis of flavor-tainting alkylphenols and aromatic thiols in fish.

Abstract Simultaneous steam distillation‐extraction (SDE) of fortified rainbow trout tissue resulted in greater than 95% recovery of 2‐isopropylphenol, 3‐isopropylphenol, 4‐isopropylphenol, 2, 4‐diisopropylphenol, 2, 5‐diisopropylphenol, 3, 5‐diisopropylphenol, carvacrol and thymol. Lower recoveries were obtained for 2, 6‐diisopropylphenol (81%), thiophenol (55%), and thiocresol (85%). Analysis of concentrated extracts by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry operated in the selected ion monitoring mode allowed quantitative detection of these compounds down to 0.5 ppb based on 20 g of initial sample.
Chromosome movement during meiotic prophase in crane-fly spermatocytes. II. Analysis of polarization of chromosomes and their association with the nuclear envelope

Association of bivalent chromosomes with the astral centers and nuclear envelope was analyzed in crane-fly spermatocytes during the final hours of diakinesis. In contrast to other systems in which movement of chromosomes during diakinesis correlates with the clustering of bivalents near the astral centers, such clustering is not prevalent in crane-fly spermatocytes. Polarization indices of bivalents calculated 5 to 10 minutes before the end of diakinesis provided evidence for polarization of only a fraction of all bivalents. Similar results were obtained in a large number of fixed cells in which asters and chromosomes were preferentially stained. Ultrastructural analysis of cells in late diakinesis revealed significant contact between bivalents and the nuclear envelope in all 46 cells that were analyzed. The extent of contact in some cells was greater than in others. Sites of contact included the telomeric ends of bivalents, and in some cases the distribution of contact sites suggested the possible involvement of centromeres in chromosome-nuclear envelope association. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that a dynamic interaction between chromosomes and nuclear envelope may exist during late prophase, when the movement of chromosomes is known to occur.
The adsorption of hydrogen atoms on support oxides active in promoting hydrogen atom spillover

Abstract The adsorption of hydrogen atoms generated in the gas phase to a variety of oxide supports, reported to be active in promoting hydrogen atom spillover, has been studied at 77 and 273 °K. Hydrogen uptake was insufficient to account for catalytic enhancement due to hydrogen atom migration followed by adsorption. Supports prepared under alkali conditions in general adsorbed more active hydrogen. Hydrogen uptake by tungsten trioxide was about two orders of magnitude greater than on the other support oxides investigated.
QSPR Treatment of Solvent Scales

The results of the quantitative structure−property relationship (QSPR) analysis of 45 different solvent scales and 350 solvents using the CODESSA program are presented. The QSPR models for each of the scales are constructed using only theoretical descriptors. The high quality of the models (32 of the 45 give R2 > 0.90, only two have R2 < 0.82) enables direct calculation of predicted values for any scale for any previously unmeasured solvent. The descriptors involved are shown to be in good agreement with the physical concepts invoked by the original authors of the scales.