cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
State-of-the-art sensing technologies for transportation infrastructure condition assessment

Introduction Over the last two decades, awareness of the importance of maintaining the nation's investments in transportation infrastructure has increased. One manifestation of this concern was the management systems requirements in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. While many of the decision-making and modeling techniques developed for these systems are reasonably mature, the extent to which the systems are actually integrated into the policy process is less than might be expected. A number of institutional barriers exist, but the reliance of existing systems on visual condition assessment data may also contribute. The last decade has also witnessed revolutionary developments in structural sensing and non-destructive evaluation technologies. In particular, the emergence of fiber optic technology and micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) has allowed high-performance interrogation of infrastructure components at data rates, channel counts, and resolution levels never before achievable. These sensing systems, when used in conjunction with specialized data mining and analysis algorithms, provide an integrated approach to in-situ infrastructure condition assessment. This is particularly important as owners seek to reduce costs associated with condition assessment, corrective action, and prolonging service life. However, with the exception of isolated demonstration projects, these state-of-the-art technologies have not been applied widely to condition assessment of transportation infrastructure. Although the techniques described can apply to pavements, geotechnical features, and other components of transportation infrastructure, this paper focuses on bridges. The paper briefly describes the state of the practice for bridge condition assessment. Next, the paper reviews fiber optics, as one of the promising state-of-theart sensing technologies, and some key analysis approaches taken in analyzing data with the goal of condition assessment (at a point in time) and health monitoring (changes over time). We then discuss two applications of the sensing and analysis methodologies. The paper concludes with an appraisal of the future of these techniques in transportation infrastructure condition assessment.
Electromechanical Coupling in Gating of the Hv1 Voltage Sensor is Revealed by Resting-State Currents in an S4 Arg to His Mutation (R205H)

In the tetrameric Shaker voltage-gated K+ channel, the gating of a resting-state proton currents in the S4 mutant R362H reports a conformational change associated with voltage sensor (VS) activation (Starace, et al., 2004). Here we show that the analogous R205H mutation in the Hv1 proton channel mediates a novel H+ 'shuttle' conductance (GSH) that is gated off by membrane depolarization. The similarity of GSH in Hv1 R205H to the channel-like Shaker R362H suggests that GSH gating can be used to measure VS activation in Hv1. The intrinsic or ‘aqueous’ H+ conductance (GAQ) in Hv1 R205H occurs mainly at more positive voltages than GSH, producing a distinctive U-shaped G-V relation. The separation of GSH from GAQ gating along the voltage axis implies that initial voltage sensor activation precedes the opening of GAQ in Hv1. Changes in the transmembrane pH gradient that are known to shift the apparent voltage dependence of GAQ gating similarly affect GSH, indicating that pH-dependent gating occurs early in the Hv1 activation pathway. Second-site mutations of an S3 acidic residue (D185) that is selectively conserved in Hv1 orthologues shift the voltage dependence of GAQ gating, but do not alter GSH gating. D185 mutations are thus interpreted to perturb coupling between VS activation and the opening of GAQ. Another second-site mutation that results in voltage-dependent block of GAQ (R205H-N214R) does not affect the voltage dependence of either GSH or GAQ gating. The existence of VS-pore coupling in Hv1, which lacks a canonical pore domain, demonstrates that electromechanical coupling is not exclusive to tetrameric voltage-gated cation channels.
Kinetic Regimes of Protein Adsorption

We use single-mode, optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy to measure the mass of protein adsorbed at the waveguide/liquid interface at a frequency and precision sufficient to achieve sets of adsorption rate data (dΓ/dt, where Γ is the adsorbed protein density) that clearly delineate distinct diffusion- and reaction-limited kinetic regimes. These data suggest that the adsorption can be modeled by combining a particle approach at the surface with a boundary layer approach above the surface. The rate-limiting mechanisms responsible for the observed kinetic regimes appear as “resistors” in our transport/adsorption model.
Strata-Gem: risk assessment through mission modeling

Strata-Gem utilizes mission trees to perform risk assessments by linking an organization's objectives to the IT assets that implement them. Critical states are identified which indicate goals that a potential attacker can achieve to prevent each asset from completing its objectives. Those goals are then used as states to drive attack and fault tree analysis to determine the likelihood of an attack. This provides a quantitative risk measurement to be calculated for each asset, objective, and the overall organization.
Renormalization-group calculations for U(1)-symmetric spin systems and gauge theories

We present a real-space renormalization-group analysis for the U(1) spin model in two and three dimensions and for compact electrodynamics in three and four dimensions. The Hamiltonian formulation of the theory defined on a hypercubic spatial lattice is used. The nonperturbative renormalization-group transformations we derive give continuous phase transitions for the spin models, in two and three dimensions. In three dimensions the gap exponent agrees remarkably well with series-expansion results. For the gauge theory we find, in agreement with Polyakov, that compact electrodynamics in three dimensions confines for all values of the coupling constant. A calculation for the string tension shows that it vanishes with an essential singularity at zero coupling. In four dimensions for weak enough coupling confinement is lost and the theory shows a phase transition between a charge-confining and a free-photon phase.
A high voltage supply for solid state particle detectors

Abstract A high voltage supply has been developed for the biasing of solid state detectors. The unit is normally line powered, but in event of power failure an internal supply will cause the instrument to function without interruption for up to 7 h.
Mitigation of subsurface crack propagation in railroad rails by laser surface modification

The authors address the mitigation of sub-surface crack propagation in railroad rails via laser surface modification. The goal is to reduce the shear forces from rail-wheel friction, which contribute significantly to the nucleation and propagation of cracks in the sub-surface region at rail gage corners. Microhardness scans and tensile tests were performed on samples from cross-sections of unused and heavily used rail heads. The results of these tests indicate that the severe cyclic plastic deformation that occurs at the gage corners, during service, significantly hardens the sub-surface region there, which leads to cracking. Laser glazing, the rapid melting and rapid solidification of a thin surface layer, was used to reduce the friction coefficient of rail steel. The advantages of this process are that specific regions of the rail surface can be targeted; the treatment does not wash away as the currently used liquid lubricants do; it is more environmentally sound than liquid lubricants; and it can be applied in service, during re-work or during rail fabrication. A number of laser treatments were conducted on AISI 1080 steel plates, similar to rail steel, from which friction samples were extracted. Static block-on-ring friction experiments performed on a variety of laser treated surfaces showed reductions in the friction coefficient by about 25% relative to untreated surfaces at loads corresponding to prototypic rail service loads. The authors laser-glazed two areas on the top surface of a 6-ft length of rail with multiple pass treatments, one with adjacent passes overlapping, and one with adjacent passes separated by 1 mm. Friction measurements were made after they were subjected to 20,000 run-in cycles. The laser treatments remained intact after these cycles. Reductions of friction coefficient of ca. 40%, relative to untreated surfaces, were observed, corresponding to a reduction in the calculated mixed mode crack propagation rate by ca. 79%.
Biochemical modulation of cytarabine triphosphate by clofarabine

Clofarabine has proven to be effective in the treatment of adult and pediatric acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). To investigate if clofarabine could be used with success in biochemical modulation strategies, we investigated the biochemical modulation of cytarabine triphosphate (ara-CTP) by clofarabine in a myeloid leukemia cell line and the effect of this combination on cytotoxicity. K562 cells were incubated with clofarabine and ara-C either sequentially or simultaneously to evaluate the combination effect on their phosphorylated metabolites. Clonogenic assays were used to determine the cytotoxicity of each agent alone and in combination. Deoxynucleotide analysis was performed to assess the effect of clofarabine on dNTPs. Clofarabine added either simultaneously or in sequence increased ara-CTP accumulation. The maximal modulation of ara-CTP accumulation occurred with 1 μM clofarabine. This level was achieved at the maximum tolerated dose for adult and pediatric patients with AML. With 10 μM ara-C alone, 86 μM ara-CTP had accumulated after 3 h. The optimal sequence for the drug combination, i.e., clofarabine followed 4 h later by ara-C, resulted in 248 μM ara-CTP at 3 h. Clofarabine accumulated maximally in the monophosphate form. Preincubation with ara-C did not affect the triphosphate form, but it lowered clofarabine monophosphate. Clofarabine resulted in the intracellular decrease of dATP and dGTP levels. Clonogenic assays revealed that the combination of clofarabine and ara-C produced synergistic killing of myeloid leukemia cells. These findings demonstrate that combination of clofarabine followed by ara-C results in a biochemical modulation of ara-CTP and synergistic cell kill. These studies provide a compelling rationale for clinical trials using this combination regimen for adult and pediatric patients with AML.
The feeding success of cattle egrets in flocks

Abstract The feeding rates of grouped ( 5 m from conspecifics) cattle egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ) in loose flocks away from cows were compared, to test the hypothesis that grouped cattle egrets benefit from feeding on prey flushed inadvertently by nearby conspecifics. The flock feeding rates were also compared to those of grouped and solo egrets near cows, to determine the effects of flock membership on feeding rates. Birds in flocks captured prey faster than those with cows, and tended to capture larger prey, but field observations and captive experiments failed to show that the feeding success of flock members was enhanced by the hypothesized ‘beater’ effect. Increases in prey density, however, always resulted in higher feeding rates, so some cattle egret groups may form in response to local concentrations of prey. Prey size may also play a role in group formation, because birds in the field tended to feed at greater distances from their neighbours when larger prey were captured, regardless of prey density. When small groups did form among cattle egrets feeding on relatively large prey, group members occasionally captured prey items that had been discovered by nearby conspecifics. This behaviour was not observed among birds in dense aggregations, which fed on small, highly abundant prey. These data indicate that there is a potential cost associated with feeding too near others unless the prey are relatively small and abundant.
Skew deviation after intratympanic gentamicin therapy.

Intratympanic gentamicin therapy for the treatment of episodic vertigo associated with Meniere's disease is generally well tolerated. Although auditory and vestibular symptoms following intratympanic gentamicin are well known, visual disturbance has not been previously described. In this report, we describe two patients with Meniere's disease who developed sudden onset of binocular vertical diplopia due to skew deviation after intratympanic gentamicin therapy. The skew deviation and diplopia resolved spontaneously and completely within 6 to 8 weeks without therapy. Development of diplopia due to skew deviation should be discussed as a potential complication in patients undergoing intratympanic gentamicin therapy.
Linkage mapping of microdissected clones from distal mouse chromosome 16.

A total of 38 unique segments generated by microdissection of mouse chromosome 16 (MMU16), sequence independent amplification (SIA) and cloning were sequentially mapped on the distal portion of the chromosome with two mouse backross panels. Some reference markers from other sources were retyped in the panels and results integrated with those for our microdissected DNA segments. The clone map is most highly refined in its distal portion, which stretches from reference marker D16Mit71 to D16Mit5, and the highest density of clones is in the region defined by markers D16Mit5 and D16Mit141. This map on distal mouse chromosome 16 should be a useful tool for the mouse genome project and for studies of genes in the region.
Mechanisms precipitating acute cardiac events: Review and recommendations of an NHLBI workshop

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute held a workshop on August 28–29, 1995, to survey what is known about mechanisms precipitating acute cardiac events and to assess the potential that advances in this field can lead to new methods of prevention of acute cardiovascular disease. Based on data presented at the workshop and subsequent discussions, this document summarizes some of the factors involved in the onset of cardiac events and describes research opportunities in this rapidly developing, multidisciplinary field. This field can best be appreciated by viewing its relationship to the traditional fields of research on coronary artery disease, as shown in Fig 1⇓. This figure illustrates some of the factors involved at each of several stages of disease, from the cumulative effects of risk factors to long-term management and rehabilitation. Extensive research has been conducted on long-term risk exposure, short-term treatment, and long-term preventive therapy. The study of precipitating or triggering mechanisms—the events occurring in the hours and minutes before the cardiovascular event—has been limited by the fact that they occur primarily out of hospital and over a brief time period in individuals who cannot be identified prospectively among those at high risk for a coronary heart disease (CHD) event. Figure 1. Position of relatively undeveloped area of research on conversion of chronic to acute disease with respect to traditional areas of research on coronary artery disease. ASA indicates aspirin; AF, autonomic function; CABG, coronary artery bypass graft; EP, electrophysiological; ETT, exercise treadmill testing; MI, myocardial infarction; PTCA, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; and SCD, sudden cardiac death. Adapted from Reference 23. Figure 2. Interactions between chronic and acute risk factors influence pathophysiological processes to modulate the likelihood that a patient with CHD will experience an acute event. Therapeutic influences act at several levels to modify the underlying risk. AAD indicates …
The role of depth in regulating water quality and fish assemblages in oxbow lakes

We evaluated water quality and fish assemblages in deep (>3.0 m; N = 7) and shallow (<1.5 m; N = 6) floodplain lakes in the intensively cultivated Yazoo River Basin (Mississippi, USA) using indirect gradient multivariate procedures. Shallow lakes displayed wide diel oxygen fluctuations, some reaching hypoxic/anoxic conditions for extended periods of time, high suspended solids, and extreme water temperatures. Conversely, deeper lakes were represented by higher visibility, stable oxygen levels, and cooler water temperatures. Fish assemblages in shallow lakes were dominated by tolerant, small-bodied fishes and those able to breathe atmospheric oxygen. Deeper lakes had a greater representation of predators and other large-bodied fishes. Our evaluation suggests fish assemblages are reflective of oxbow lakes water quality, which is shaped by depth. Understanding the interactions between depth, water quality, and fish assemblages may facilitate development of effective management plans for improving conditions necessary to sustain diverse fish assemblages in agriculturally dominated basins.
The synthetic triterpenoid RTA dh404 (CDDO-dhTFEA) restores endothelial function impaired by reduced Nrf2 activity in chronic kidney disease $

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with endothelial dysfunction and accelerated cardiovascular disease, which are largely driven by systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation in CKD are associated with and, in part, due to impaired activity of the cytoprotective transcription factor Nrf2. RTA dh404 is a synthetic oleanane triterpenoid compound which potently activates Nrf2 and inhibits the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB. This study was designed to test the effects of RTA dh404 on endothelial function, inflammation, and the Nrf2-mediated antioxidative system in the aorta of rats with CKD induced by 5/6 nephrectomy. Sham-operated rats served as controls. Subgroups of CKD rats were treated orally with RTA dh404 (2 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 12 weeks. The aortic rings from untreated CKD rats exhibited a significant reduction in the acetylcholine-induced relaxation response which was restored by RTA dh404 administration. Impaired endothelial function in the untreated CKD rats was accompanied by significant reduction of Nrf2 activity (nuclear translocation) and expression of its cytoprotective target genes, as well as accumulation of nitrotyrosine and upregulation of NAD(P)H oxidases, 12-lipoxygenase, MCP-1, and angiotensin II receptors in the aorta. These abnormalities were ameliorated by RTA dh404 administration, as demonstrated by the full or partial restoration of the expression of all the above analytes to sham control levels. Collectively, the data demonstrate that endothelial dysfunction in rats with CKD induced by 5/6 nephrectomy is associated with impaired Nrf2 activity in arterial tissue, which can be reversed with long term administration of RTA dh404.
Linear response and plasmon decay in hot gluonic matter.

The current controversy over the damping of color oscillations in a quark-gluon plasma is resolved through a gauge-invariant linear-response analysis of relevant physical processes. The plasmon decay rate is shown to be $\ensuremath{\gamma}=\ensuremath{-}\frac{11{N}_{c}{g}^{2}T}{24\ensuremath{\pi}}$ to lowest perturbative order, but this result does not survive at higher orders. A self-consistent estimate suggests that plasmon decay is in fact a nonperturbative phenomenon governed by static screening effects.
Sternal wound infections

Deep sternal wound infections (DSWI) continue to be a relatively uncommon event occurring in about 1%–2% of all patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, the sheer number of cardiac surgery patients and the relatively high mortality associated with DSWIs makes them of clinical relevance. This review will describe the current incidence of DSWIs and their associated morbidity and mortality as well as risk factors for the development of this complication. The microbiology of DSWIs will be reviewed and strategies to prevent these complications will be discussed with a focus on interventions that may be undertaken by the clinical anesthesiologist.
Formation of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-stable Fibronectin Multimers: FAILURE TO DETECT PRODUCTS OF THIOL-DISULFIDE EXCHANGE IN CYANOGEN BROMIDE OR LIMITED ACID DIGESTS OF STABILIZED MATRIX FIBRONECTIN (∗)

Abstract Fibronectin exists in a soluble form in body fluids and as a fibrillar component of the extracellular matrix. Matrix fibronectin associates as large complexes in SDS unless a reducing reagent is also present. This observation suggests that complex formation is due to interprotomeric disulfides that form by thiol-disulfide exchange. To localize the presumptive new disulfides, we labeled protomeric fibronectin by the chloramine-T method or with 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent, incorporated 125I-fibronectin into the matrix of cultured fibroblasts, and subjected matrix fibronectin to acid or cyanogen bromide digestion. When cyanogen bromide digests of matrix I-fibronectin and protomeric I-fibronectin labeled with Bolton-Hunter reagent were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS, with the first dimension being nonreducing and the second reducing, we were not able to identify any fragments of matrix fibronectin that migrated as high molecular weight complexes in the first dimension. Limited acid digestion of matrix I-fibronectin also dissociated the majority of the high molecular weight complexes. Since we could account for all of the parts of fibronectin that contain cysteine or cystine, we conclude that matrix fibronectin is not stabilized by interprotomeric disulfides. We propose, instead, that stabilization is mediated by noncovalent protein-protein interactions that are sensitive to reduction, cyanogen bromide digestion, or limited acid digestion.
Evolutionary History of Assassin Bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Insights from Divergence Dating and Ancestral State Reconstruction

Assassin bugs are one of the most successful clades of predatory animals based on their species numbers (∼6,800 spp.) and wide distribution in terrestrial ecosystems. Various novel prey capture strategies and remarkable prey specializations contribute to their appeal as a model to study evolutionary pathways involved in predation. Here, we reconstruct the most comprehensive reduviid phylogeny (178 taxa, 18 subfamilies) to date based on molecular data (5 markers). This phylogeny tests current hypotheses on reduviid relationships emphasizing the polyphyletic Reduviinae and the blood-feeding, disease-vectoring Triatominae, and allows us, for the first time in assassin bugs, to reconstruct ancestral states of prey associations and microhabitats. Using a fossil-calibrated molecular tree, we estimated divergence times for key events in the evolutionary history of Reduviidae. Our results indicate that the polyphyletic Reduviinae fall into 11–14 separate clades. Triatominae are paraphyletic with respect to the reduviine genus Opisthacidius in the maximum likelihood analyses; this result is in contrast to prior hypotheses that found Triatominae to be monophyletic or polyphyletic and may be due to the more comprehensive taxon and character sampling in this study. The evolution of blood-feeding may thus have occurred once or twice independently among predatory assassin bugs. All prey specialists evolved from generalist ancestors, with multiple evolutionary origins of termite and ant specializations. A bark-associated life style on tree trunks is ancestral for most of the lineages of Higher Reduviidae; living on foliage has evolved at least six times independently. Reduviidae originated in the Middle Jurassic (178 Ma), but significant lineage diversification only began in the Late Cretaceous (97 Ma). The integration of molecular phylogenetics with fossil and life history data as presented in this paper provides insights into the evolutionary history of reduviids and clears the way for in-depth evolutionary hypothesis testing in one of the most speciose clades of predators.
Metalloregulatory DNA-binding protein encoded by the merR gene: isolation and characterization

The MerR protein mediates the induction of the mercury resistance phenotype in bacteria; it has been isolated in order to study the effects of metal-ion induced changes in the metabolism of prokaryotic cells at the molecular level. After DNA sequences responsible for negative autoregulation were removed, the 16-kilodalton protein was overproduced and purified to more than 90 percent homogeneity by a salt extraction procedure that yields about 5 milligrams of protein per gram of cells. Complementation data, amino terminal analysis, gel filtration, and deoxyribonuclease I protection studies demonstrate that the purified merR gene product is a dimer under nondenaturing conditions and that it binds specifically to DNA, in the presence and absence of mercury, at a palindromic site which is directly between the -10 and -35 regions of the structural genes and adjacent to its own promoter. These initial results indicate that MerR is a DNA-binding metalloregulatory protein that plays a central role in this heavy metal responsive system and they delineate an operator site in the mer operon.
Navigating the maze of complement genetics: A guide for clinicians

Genetic deficiencies of nearly all of the 30 complement system proteins have been recognized clinically. In many instances, the molecular basis for the deficiency has been elucidated. As a byproduct of these studies, we now have new insights into the pathophysiologic role of complement studies in several acquired diseases. New targets for drug development are among the practical outcomes of work on complement genetics.
Sexual selection and the physiological consequences of habitat choice by a fiddler crab

In mid-Atlantic salt marshes, reproductively active male sand fiddler crabs, Uca pugilator, use a single greatly enlarged major claw as both a weapon to defend specialized breeding burrows from other males and an ornament to attract females for mating. During the summer breeding season, females strongly prefer to mate with males controlling burrows in open areas high on the shore. Food availability decreases while temperature and desiccation stress increase with increasing shore height, suggesting that the timing and location of fiddler crab mating activity may result in a potential trade-off between reproductive success and physiological condition for male crabs. We compared thermal preferences in laboratory choice experiments to body temperatures of models and living crabs in the field and found that from the perspective of a fiddler crab, the thermal environment of the mating area is quite harsh relative to other marsh microhabitats. High temperatures significantly constrained fiddler crab activity on the marsh surface, a disadvantage heightened by strongly reduced food availability in the breeding area. Nevertheless, when the chance of successfully acquiring a mate was high, males accepted a higher body temperature (and concomitantly higher metabolic and water loss rates) than when the chances of mating were low. Likewise, experimentally lowering costs by adding food and reducing thermal stress in situ increased fiddler crab waving display levels significantly. Our data suggest that fiddler crabs can mitigate potential life history trade-offs by tuning their behavior in response to the magnitude of both energetic and non-energetic costs and benefits.
PCSK9 IS ELEVATED IN PATIENTS WITH HIV AND HEPATITIS C

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are an effective strategy for lowering LDL-C. In an oral presentation from our group, we reported that PCSK9 is elevated in HIV infection, a state of heightened inflammation. Here, we aim to characterize the levels of PCSK9 in individuals
Vapor Pressure and Evaporation Coefficient of Silicon Monoxide over a Mixture of Silicon and Silica

The evaporation coefficient and equilibrium vapor pressure of silicon monoxide over a mixture of silicon and vitreous silica have been studied over the temperature range (1433 to 1608) K. The evaporation coefficient for this temperature range was (0.007 plus or minus 0.002) and is approximately an order of magnitude lower than the evaporation coefficient over amorphous silicon monoxide powder and in general agreement with previous measurements of this quantity. The enthalpy of reaction at 298.15 K for this reaction was calculated via second and third law analyses as (355 plus or minus 25) kJ per mol and (363.6 plus or minus 4.1) kJ per mol respectively. In comparison with previous work with the evaporation of amorphous silicon monoxide powder as well as other experimental measurements of the vapor pressure of silicon monoxide gas over mixtures of silicon and silica, these systems all tend to give similar equilibrium vapor pressures when the evaporation coefficient is correctly taken into account. This provides further evidence that amorphous silicon monoxide is an intimate mixture of small domains of silicon and silica and not strictly a true compound.
Growth factor receptor messenger RNA expression in human fetal brain regions.

Objective: To analyze growth factor receptor expression in the human fetal brain. Methods: Messenger RNA was prepared from six regions of the fetal brain from three 21-22-week abortuses and used as templates for reverse transcription. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the complementary DNA for each of the six brain regions. Amplified PCR DNA fragments were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Restriction endonuclease digestion was used to confirm the identity of the amplified PCR fragments. Results: Polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA fragments consistent with expression of the insulin, insulin-like growth factors I and II, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor-13, and epidermal growth factor receptors were detected in each area of the human fetal brain studied. Of the two known insulin receptor subtype sequences, only the smaller (exon 11-) form was detected. We detected both the intact and the 267 base-deleted alternatively spliced forms of the FGF receptor. Conclusion: All six of the receptor messenger RNAs studied were detected in the second-trimester human fetal brain. In addition, alternative splicing of the messenger RNA was noted for the FGF and insulin receptors. This report demonstrates growth factor receptor expression and alternate splicing in specific regions of the human fetal brain. These data suggest that growth factor influence on fetal brain development may be mediated through specific growth factor receptors. (Obstet Gynecol 1995;86:240-7)
Cellular factor affecting the stability of β-globin mRNA

Abstract Messenger RNAs in eukaryotic cells exhibit a broad range of stabilities in vivo. Globin mRNA has a half life in excess of 50 h, but the half life of the c- myc oncogene mRNA is less than 20 min. Regulation of gene expression may be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms, including altering mRNA stability. We have examined the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of cells for factors affecting the metabolism of mRNA. Here we report that a HeLa whole-cell extract contains a factor that protects β-globin mRNA from attack by RNases in a mouse erythroleukemia cell cytoplasmic extract. The factor is non-dialysable, inactivated by proteinase K and heat treatment, and resistant to RNase and DNase digestion. The HeLa cell factor resembles placenta RNase inhibitor in that the mRNA-protecting activity is effective against RNase A and that treatment of the extract with N -ethylmaleimide completely destroys the protective activity. However, purified placenta RNase inhibitor was unable to inhibit the RNase activity in the MELC cytoplasmic extract. These results suggest that the HeLa cell extract contains an RNase inhibitor (or inhibitors) with an activity or specificity that is distinct from that of placental RNase inhibitor.
Evaluating Gang Resistance Education and Training (Great): Is the Impact the Same as That of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)?

Gangs became a major concern of law enforcement and the public in the late 1980s and remain so in the first half of the 1990s. One response for addressing the problem has been the development and d...
Maternal History of Autoimmune Disease in Children Presenting with Tics and/or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract Objectives A commonality across a number of pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders is a higher than typical rate of familial — and especially maternal — autoimmune disease. Of recent interest, a subtype of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders known collectively as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS) is believed to be secondary to central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity that occurs in relation to group A streptococcal infection. Thus, we hypothesized that a sample of children with OCD and/or tics would have an increased maternal risk for an autoimmune response relative to population norms. We also expected maternal prevalence of various autoimmune diseases to be higher among those participants that met the putative criteria for PANDAS. Methods We examined, via structured interview, the medical history of the biological mothers of 107 children with OCD and/or tics. Results Autoimmune disorders were reported in 17.8% of study mothers, which is significantly greater than the general prevalence among women in the United States (approximately 5%). Further, study mothers were more likely to report having an autoimmune disease if their children were considered “likely PANDAS” cases versus “unlikely PANDAS” cases. Conclusions The results offer preliminary support for hypothesized links between maternal autoimmune disease and both OCD/tics and PANDAS in youth. Further research is necessary to clarify these general associations; links to specific autoimmune disease; and relevance of autoimmune disease in other family members (e.g., fathers).
Simultaneous clean-up of nitroarenes and polycyclic aromatic ketones from soil and particulate matter on XAD-2

Procedure permettant de separer par adsorption sur une resine XAD-2 les composes pouvant interferer dans l'analyse de composes aromatiques polycycliques par chromatographie en phase gazeuse a detecteur par ionisation de flamme
Advocacy for automated statistical systems

In this robotic age of intelligent manufacturing, what is needed is a well-planned built-in automated statistical systems (AASS) which would by itself intelligently and timely figure out the need for a statistical study including statistical planning of either observational or experimental nature and also carry out a statistical expert systems analysis. This AASS is indispensable so far as saving time and reducing different complexities in a manufacturing process. This article examines impediments in establishing AASS from engineering and statistical viewpoints. The potential benefits of AASS are pointed out. It is time to think about AASS loud and clear.
Parsing non-LR( k ) grammars with Yacc

Of the parser generating tools currently in use, yacc (or one of its several variants) is perhaps the most frequently employed. However, because of inherent ambiguities there are some languages (such as C++) that a yacc-generated parser cannot successfully compile. This paper describes a set of minor modifications to yacc-like tools that allows them to be used in a straightforward way to parse ambiguities and, more generally, grammars that require an indefinite amount of lookahead. Required changes to the lexical analyzer are also discussed, and the application of these techniques is illustrated within the context of specific examples.
The energy efficiency of the steel industry of China

Abstract The Chinese iron and steel industry of 1987 is described in terms of energy consumption and production statistics and compared with the U.S. industry to clarify the major differences. The Chinese industry includes many plants which are extremely small by U.S. standards and use antiquated technology, but this segment is responsible for only 25% of steel production. The more modern key plants of the Chinese industry have an adjusted energy intensity just 20% higher than the U.S. average. The adjustment includes the effect of very large production of cast-iron products in China. Two other major characteristics of the Chinese industry which distinguish it from that of the U.S. are: (1) much lower use of scrap from sources external to the steel industry and (2) much less ambitious shaping and treating of final products. The use of scrap reduces overall energy intensity. The manufacture of more complex and higher quality products increases overall energy intensity. If the Chinese industry could take on the characteristics of the U.S. industry in these two respects, other things being equal, the overall energy intensity would remain about 20% higher. The reasons for this residual difference and the potential of new technology for the Chinese industry are briefly discussed.
Ensemble: a web-based system for psychology survey and experiment management.

We provide a description ofEnsemble, a suite of Web-integrated modules for managing and analyzing data associated with psychology experiments in a small research lab. The system delivers interfaces via a Web browser for creating and presenting simple surveys without the need to author Web pages and with little or no programming effort. The surveys may be extended by selecting and presenting auditory and/or visual stimuli with MATLAB and Flash to enable a wide range of psychophysical and cognitive experiments which do not require the recording of precise reaction times. Additionally, one is provided with the ability to administer and present experiments remotely. The software technologies employed by the various modules of Ensemble are MySQL, PHP, MATLAB, and Flash. The code for Ensemble is open source and available to the public, so that its functions can be readily extended by users. We describe the architecture of the system, the functionality of each module, and provide basic examples of the interfaces.
Ontogeny of behavioral arousal in the mouse: Effect of prior testing upon age of peak activity

Postnatal locomotor activity was measured in mice as a function of age and repeated test sessions in order to determine whether prior testing would affect the age at which peak activity occurred. Consistent with previous data gathered with single test sessions. peak activity was indicated at 13-14 days of age in two experiments. These findings suggest that behavioral inhibitory capacities mature earlier in the mouse than in the rat. As some evidence of inhibitory functioning was noted several days earlier than peak activity occurred, these results support the hypothesis that the activity peak reflects a transitional stage of brain development from primarily brainstem excitatory functioning to primarily forebrain inhibitory functioning. Recent studies have clearly established that sponta­ neous activity exhibited postnatally by rats forms an inverted V-shaped function with increasing age, with peak activity occurring between 16-19 days of age (Moorcroft, Lytle, & Campbell, 1971). Campbell and his colleagues have suggested that these activity changes with age may reflect a caudal-rostral sequence of development of central nervous system (CNS) structures, in which brainstem excitatory centers mature earlier during ontogeny than do telencephalic inhibitory centers, and they have provided evidence through phar­ macological experiments in support of this hypothesis (Campbell, Lytle, & Fibiger, 1969; Campbell & Mabry, 1973; Mabry & Campbell, 1974). A second line of evidence in support of Campbell's hypothesis derives from cross-species comparisons of postnatal activity in species known to differ in stage of CNS maturation at birth. The guinea pig, which is born at a relatively advanced stage of neural maturation, does not show a postnatal activity peak (Campbell & Mabry, 1972; Oakley & Plotkin, 1975), while the rabbit, which is roughly intermediate to the rat and guinea pig in terms of neural maturation at birth, exhibits an activity peak at 5 days of age (Oakley & Plotkin, 1975). Nagy, Murphy, and Ray (1975) have recently reported that the mouse exhibits a relationship between spontaneous activity and age which is similar to the rat, except that peak activity occurs at 13 days of age. While this rmding is in general agreement with evidence that postnatal CNS maturational processes occur slightly earlier in the mouse than the rat (cf. Agrawal & Himwich, 1970; Folch, Casals, Pope, Meath, leBaron,
Effects of Pollination Limitation and Seed Predation on Female Reproductive Success of a Deceptive Orchid

For many species of conservation significance, multiple factors limit reproduction. This research exam- ines the contributions of plant height, number of flowers, number of stems, pollen limitation and seed predation to female reproductive success in the deceit-pollinated orchid, Cypripedium candidum. The deceptive pollination strategy employed by many orchids often results in high levels of pollen limitation. While increased floral display size may at- tract pollinators, C. candidum's multiple, synchronously flowering stems could promote selfing and also increase at- tack by weevil seed predators. To understand the joint impacts of mutualists and antagonists, we examined pollen limitation, seed predation and the effects of pollen source over two flowering seasons (2009 and 2011) in Ohio. In 2009, 36 pairs of plants size-matched by flower number, receiving either supplemental hand or open pollination, were scored for fruit maturation, mass of seeds and seed predation. Pollen supplementation increased proportion of flowers maturing into fruit, with 87 % fruit set when hand pollinated compared with 46 % for naturally pollinated flowers. Inflorescence height had a strong effect, as taller inflorescences had higher initial fruit set, while shorter stems had higher predation. Seed predation was seen in 73 % of all fruits. A parallel 2011 experiment that included a self-pollination treatment and excluded seed predators found initial and final fruit set were higher in the self and outcross pollination treatments than in the open-pollinated treatment. However, seed mass was higher in both open pollinated and outcross pollination treatments compared with hand self-pollinated. We found greater female repro- ductive success for taller flowering stems that simultaneously benefited from increased pollination and reduced seed predation. These studies suggest that this species is under strong reinforcing selection to increase allocation to flower- ing stem height. Our results may help explain the factors limiting seed production in other Cypripedium and further emphasize the importance of management in orchid conservation.
Atmospheric deposition as a source of carbon and nutrients to an alpine catchment of the Colorado Rocky Mountains

Abstract. Many alpine areas are experiencing deglaciation, biogeochemical changes driven by temperature rise, and changes in atmospheric deposition. There is mounting evidence that the water quality of alpine streams may be related to these changes, including rising atmospheric deposition of carbon (C) and nutrients. Given that barren alpine soils can be severely C limited, atmospheric deposition sources may be an important source of C and nutrients for these environments. We evaluated the magnitude of atmospheric deposition of C and nutrients to an alpine site, the Green Lake 4 catchment in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Using a long-term dataset (2002–2010) of weekly atmospheric wet deposition and snowpack chemistry, we found that volume weighted mean dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were 1.12 ± 0.19 mg l−1, and weekly concentrations reached peaks as high at 6–10 mg l−1 every summer. Total dissolved nitrogen concentration also peaked in the summer, whereas total dissolved phosphorus and calcium concentrations were highest in the spring. To investigate potential sources of C in atmospheric deposition, we evaluated the chemical quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and relationships between DOM and other solutes in wet deposition. Relationships between DOC concentration, fluorescence, and nitrate and sulfate concentrations suggest that pollutants from nearby urban and agricultural sources and organic aerosols derived from sub-alpine vegetation may influence high summer DOC wet deposition concentrations. Interestingly, high DOC concentrations were also recorded during "dust-in-snow" events in the spring, which may reflect an association of DOM with dust. Detailed chemical and spectroscopic analyses conducted for samples collected in 2010 revealed that the DOM in many late spring and summer samples was less aromatic and polydisperse and of lower molecular weight than that of winter and fall samples. Our C budget estimates for the Green Lake 4 catchment illustrated that wet deposition (9.9 kg C ha−1 yr−1) and dry deposition (6.9 kg C ha−1 yr−1) were a combined input of approximately 17 kg C ha−1 yr−1, which could be as high as 24 kg C ha−1 yr−1 in high dust years. This atmospheric C input approached the C input from microbial autotrophic production in barren soils. Atmospheric wet and dry deposition also contributed 4.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1, 0.15 kg P ha−1 yr−1, and 2.7 kg Ca2+ ha−1 yr−1 to this alpine catchment.
Numerical study of the effect of geosynthetic encasement on the behaviour of granular columns

In very soft soils, the use of granular columns can be restricted due to the lack of adequate lateral confining pressure. In these conditions, the columns can be encased by a suitable geosynthetic to provide the required confining pressure and to increase their bearing capacity. Using a high-strength geosynthetic for confinement not only increases the strength of a granular column, but also prevents lateral displacement of the column into the very soft surrounding soil. This paper describes three-dimensional finite element analyses carried out to simulate the behaviour of a single granular column with and without encasement in a very soft clay using the computer program ABAQUS. Comprehensive numerical analyses were performed to study the influence of the geosynthetic stiffness, the friction and dilation angle of the column material, the length of geosynthetic encasement, the diameter of the column, the length of the column and the coefficient of in situ lateral earth pressure. Model results show that the stress-settlement behaviour of granular columns can be significantly improved by encasing them. The stiffness of the encasement was found to have a major effect on the stress-settlement response of encased columns and their associated load-carrying capacity. For partially encased columns, the optimum length of encasement was found to be a function of the stress that is applied to the column.
Looming a loom: evidence for independent access to grammatical and phonological properties in verb retrieval

In principle, a specific deficit in processing verbs relative to nouns might arise as a result of damage to any of several mechanisms involved in speech planning and lexical production. Here we describe a fluent aphasic patient HG who is much worse at retrieving verbs relative to nouns in picture naming and sentence generation, but who retains the ability to produce verbal morphology and even to generate novel verbs productively from nominal roots when she is unable to retrieve appropriate action words (e.g. ‘looming’ for weaving ). Moreover, the results of single word and sentence comprehension tasks suggest that her ability to access lexical forms of verbs is sensitive to their thematic properties. When contrasted with patients who have specific deficits in processing morphosyntactic properties of verbs [J. Neurolinguist. 15 (2002) 265], HG’s pattern of performance can be seen as evidence that grammatical properties are functionally distinct from other aspects of lexical representation. We discuss the implications of this dissociation, and of HG’s performance specifically, in light of various models of lexical access. q 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.