cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smile dimensions in adult African American and Caucasian females and males.

OBJECTIVES To test smile dimension variations in adult African American and Caucasian females and males. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and Hospital. Three hundred and ninety-four participants were recruited; African American females and males distributed over five age groups: 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60 and older than 60. MATERIAL & METHODS Three-dimensional surface imaging was used to acquire two images of each participant, one at rest and one upon smile. Landmarks were plotted on the lips and linear distances measured to assess the length of the upper and lower lips, mouth width at rest and upon smile, gingival and dental display upon smile. RESULTS Linear dimensions are larger in males than in females, and in African Americans than in Caucasians, except for the length of the upper lip that does not differ between male African American and Caucasian males, in any given age group. Gingival display and dental display decrease with age in all groups. CONCLUSION Norms should reflect race, age and sex in order to optimize treatment goals.
The influence of a blended, theoretically-informed pre-implementation strategy on school-based clinician implementation of an evidence-based trauma intervention

Individual-level implementation determinants, such as clinician attitudes, commonly influence the successful adoption of evidence-based practices, but few explicit strategies have been tested with regard to their ability to impact these key mechanisms of change. This paper reports on an initial test of a blended, theoretically informed pre-implementation strategy designed to target malleable individual-level determinants of behavior change. Beliefs and Attitudes for Successful Implementation in Schools (BASIS) is a brief and pragmatic pre-implementation strategy that uses strategic education, social influence techniques, and group-based motivational interviewing to target implementation attitudes, perceived social norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions to implement among mental health clinicians working in the education sector. As part of a pilot trial, 25 school mental health clinicians were randomized to BASIS (n = 12) or an attention control placebo (n = 13), with both conditions receiving training and consultation in an evidence-based intervention for youth experiencing trauma (the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools). Theorized mechanisms of change (attitudes, perceived social norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions) were assessed at baseline, post-training, and 4-month follow-up. Clinician participation in post-training consultation and intervention adoption were also tracked. A series of regression models and independent sample t tests indicated that BASIS had significant, medium to large effects on the majority of its proximal mechanisms from baseline to post-training. BASIS was also associated with a greater latency between initial training in the intervention and discontinuation of participation in post-training consultation, with clinicians in the BASIS condition persisting in consultation for an average of 134 days versus 32 days for controls, but this difference was not statistically significant. At 4-month follow-up, most differences in the theorized mechanisms had attenuated, and approximately the same small number of BASIS clinicians adopted the trauma intervention as controls. Findings suggest that the brief BASIS pre-implementation strategy had a significant influence on its proximal mechanisms of change, but that these changes did not persist over time or translate into adoption of the trauma intervention. Implications for theory refinement, revisions to the BASIS protocol, and next steps for research surrounding individual-level implementation strategies are discussed. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03791281 . Registered 31 December 2018—Retrospectively registered
Body Composition and Aspirin Dose for Colorectal Adenoma Prevention in a Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Visceral adiposity is a risk factor for colorectal adenomas, and aspirin is an established chemopreventive agent. Evidence from clinical trials suggests the effectiveness of aspirin at preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer may require higher doses for higher body weight. Methods: Body mass index, body surface area, fat-free mass, and fat mass were calculated from baseline height and weight in 1,121 participants of the Aspirin/Folate Polyp Prevention Study, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3 × 2 factorial randomized clinical trial of low-dose (81 mg/day) or high-dose (325 mg/day) aspirin and/or 1 mg/day folic acid to prevent metachronous colorectal adenomas. Participants were treated during a surveillance colonoscopy interval of approximately 3 years. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for any colorectal neoplasia and high-risk adenoma (HRA, advanced or ≥3 adenomas) were estimated from log-linear regression. Results: We did not find evidence to suggest aspirin dose-response differed by body composition measurements, including weight alone. Among those weighing ≥ 80 kg, treatment effects for low-dose aspirin (RR for colorectal neoplasia, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.94; RR for HRA, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31–0.86) and high-dose aspirin (RR for colorectal neoplasia, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.72–1.08; RR for HRA, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.43–1.09) were not meaningfully different than for those weighing 70–79 kg or Conclusions: Measurements of body composition calculated from height and weight did not modify aspirin treatment effects for colorectal adenoma prevention. Impact: Aspirin dosing strategies accounting for body weight suggested in previous trials of colorectal cancer may not apply to adenomas.
High-performance low-voltage soft electrothermal actuator with directly printed micro-heater

Abstract Soft actuators are widely studied due to their high flexibility and adaptability. In this paper, a soft electrothermal actuator with directly printed microfilament heater was designed, fabricated, and tested. In this soft actuator, a polyimide (PI) film and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer were selected as the two structural layers because of their distinct thermal expansion properties. Embedded between these two layers, a metallic microfilament heater that was made of low-melting-point metal alloy (i.e. Bi58/Sn42) was directly printed with custom-designed pattern using an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing process. The pattern of the microfilament heater and the thickness of the soft thermoelectric actuator were carefully designed towards the improved actuation capability. When an electric current was applied, the high temperature generated by the resistive heater causes large mismatch in the thermal expansion of the two structural layers, which bent the actuator. The fabricated soft actuator can achieve a maximum bending curvature of 1.0 cm−1 under an extremely low voltage about 3V. The soft actuator has been demonstrated for potential applications in soft robotics as a soft lifter and a soft gripper. At the full capability, the soft lifter provided a maximum actuation force about 3 mN, and was able to fully lift a load that was twice of its own weight. A four-finger soft gripper was designed and fabricated using four soft actuators to mimic humanoid motions and was implemented for pick-and-place operation for delicate objects.
Towards a Model of API Learning

In today’s world, learning new APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) is fundamental to being a programmer. Prior research suggests that programmers learn on-the-fly while they work on other project-related tasks. Yet, this process is often inefficient. This inefficiency has inspired research seeking to understand and improve API learnability. While the existing research has provided insight into API learning, we still have a fractured understanding of the process of learning a new API. In this paper, we take the first steps towards developing a theoretical model of API learning by combining predictions from Information Foraging Theory (IFT) to describe information search behavior, Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) to describe learning, and External Memory (EM) to describe how API learners augment their short term memories. Our proposed model is consistent with existing research on barriers to learning APIs and helps to provide explanations for these barriers as well as suggest new research directions.
Traços, Street Art, and Brasília’s Cultural Renaissance

This chapter proposes that the cultural magazine Tracos and the local street art it covers (public concerts, graffiti, art fairs, photography, street dance, and street theater) represent Brasilia as a vibrant city of the arts. In addition, the monthly magazine, in both its sales strategy and its subject matter, proclaims a creative right to the city, predominantly with regard to cultural uses of public space. Following the street paper model, Tracos, founded in 2015, is sold by people experiencing homelessness and is produced, in part, to serve this population. As homeless people sell the magazine in the Plano Piloto’s public spaces, they refute derogatory misconceptions of who is homeless and why. Tracos demonstrates that the homeless, artists, and art consumers all have a right to occupy public space. Still, in order to do so, they are involved in a struggle against conservative agendas to maintain “order” and exclusivity.
Improving cancer pain control: Potential impact of CYP2D6 pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing in oncology (Onc) patients.

12089Background: Several opioid analgesics have well-known germline PGx associations which may predict either inefficacy or exaggerated (toxic) responses, depending on the patient’s genotype. Despi...
Beyond grades: improving college students’ social-cognitive outcomes in STEM through a collaborative learning environment

We investigated social-cognitive outcomes for U.S. university students engaged in a supplemental small-group peer-learning program which provided a more intimate learning environment than the associated course. We surveyed 604 students taking part in such a program at the beginning and end of an academic term on social-cognitive factors related to their experience in an introductory-level STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) course, to which the supplemental peer-learning program was attached. A comparison group consisted of 676 non-participants enrolled in the same courses, but not taking part in the supplemental program. Those who had participated in the peer-learning program experienced greater gains, relative to the comparison group, in self-efficacy for course tasks and self-regulation for learning, and they were less likely to use surface-level memorisation in studying for the course. The findings suggest that small-group learning in the university setting can be used as a means to improve students’ study habits and confidence about the course, contributing social-cognitive outcomes to an existing body of literature which emphasises academic performance outcomes.
Methodological Analysis for Different Fingerprint Matching Techniques

Now a day’s fingerprint-based authentication system is becoming very popular because of its applications. The fingerprint of an individual is a unique and persistent feature that can be used for identification and authentication. There are several different methods that has been implemented by different researchers for the fingerprint recognition. In this paper, we examine writing of various systems and angles utilized for unique finger impression acknowledgment.
Development of a Two-Scale Ocean Surface Emissivity Model Applicable Over a Wide Range of Microwave Frequencies

A full-Stokes vector model for microwave ocean surface emissivity based on two-scale theory and incorporating a wide range of published results is being developed for broadband microwave satellite data assimilation. The model is based on the six different modules such as ocean surface permittivity, Fresnel emission, omnidirectional wave height spectrum, small-scale perturbation, large-scale correction, and foam effect modules. The results showed that the calculated Full-stokes emissivities range in theoretically expected values and logically understandable variation with respect to incidence and azimuth angle. This model will be used for understanding of the emissivity uncertainties due to inputs of permittivity, ocean height distribution, and foam influences and for assimilation of fully-polarimetric satellite microwave radiances.
Understanding Key Stakeholder Belief Systems or Institutional Logics Related to Non-Tenure-Track Faculty and the Changing Professoriate

Background/contextOver the past 40 years, the composition of the professoriate has changed substantially across all institutional types. Once predominantly tenure track, now nontenure-track faculty...
Introduction: Democratic Norms, Group Perceptions, and the 2020 Election

It is a pleasure to introduce this special issue on the role of norms in the 2020 election. Social norms are unwritten rules that guide behavior (Chung and Rimal 2016). Democratic norms refer speci...
US Stem Cell Research Policy

Since their discovery, human stem cells have remained a point of discussions in science and health policy. They are thought to have considerable potential for the treatment of many diseases, but particularly when derived from human embryos, they raise ethical issues. In this chapter, we identify four main sources of human stem cells and examine the ethical and policy implications of research and treatment use of cells from those sources. We then outline the evolving state, federal, and international laws, policies, and guidelines surrounding human stem cell research, specifically focusing on the most ethically challenging source of stem cells: human embryos. We conclude with a discussion of three ethical, legal, social, and policy issues: compensation of egg donors, commercialization of and access to stem cell therapies, and the creation of animal–human chimeras.
A Nested Schur decomposition approach for multiperiod optimization of chemical processes

Abstract This work develops an algorithm for solving nonlinear multiperiod optimization (MPO) problems using a nested Schur decomposition (NSD) approach. The NSD approach decomposes MPO using a Schur complement and allows us to solve the decomposed nonlinear programming (NLP) problem in parallel. The NSD partitions the MPO into a two-level problem with individual NLPs at the lower level. In MPO problems for chemical processes, the upper problem generally has inventory, demand, and design constraints set over the entire period. The lower problem consists of a single process model for each period. The problem-level decomposition facilitates the flexible selection of the lower-level solver. For example, an efficient barrier solver such as IPOPT can be used when the problem is well-conditioned. Conversely, a robust active-set solver such as CONOPT can be selected when degeneracy exists in the problem. In this paper, the NSD approach is demonstrated with different process models for MPO under uncertain demand in both serial and parallel implementation. The solutions are also compared with the direct approach, which solves the entire MPO problem simultaneously. The demonstration shows the capability of the flexible inner solver selection with IPOPT and CONOPT. The result shows that NSD converges to the same optimum as the direct approach, regardless of the choice of the inner solver. Furthermore, IPOPT could be more efficient than CONOPT when the problem is well-conditioned. Moreover, it is noted that the NSD outperforms the direct approach when the size of the process model is large with CONOPT as the inner solver. From those results, we observe that NSD is well-suited to solve large MPO problems for chemical processes in an efficient, flexible, and robust manner.
Multi-Scape Interventions to Match Spatial Scales of Demand and Supply of Ecosystem Services

Author(s): Laca, EA | Abstract: The original focus on supply of ecosystem services is shifting toward matching supply and demand. This new focus underlines the need to consider not only the amount of ecosystem services but also their spatial and temporal distributions relative to demand. Ecosystem functions and services have characteristic or salient scales that are defined by the scales at which the producing organisms or communities exist and function. Provision of ecosystem services (ES) and functions can be managed optimally by controlling the spatio-temporal distribution of landscape and community components. A simple model represents distributions of ES as kernels centered at the location of interventions such as grassland restoration or establishment of nesting habitat for pollinators. Distribution kernels allow non-habitat patches to receive ecosystem services from species they cannot support. Simulations for three contrasting ES producing organisms (bumblebees, Northern Harriers, and oak trees) show the effects of interacting distribution of interventions and demand for ES. More ES demand is met when the intervention is spread out in the landscape and demand is evenly distributed, particularly when the kernel radius is much larger than the minimum intervention required for the ES producing unit to be established. Because different functions have different reaches and saturation points, the level of ES demand met at any point in space can be modulated by controlling the spatial distribution of landscape components created by interventions. Different ES can be promoted by the same type and quantity of intervention by controlling the continuum of scales in the distribution of interventions. This work provides a conceptual and quantitative basis to consider the spatial design of interventions to match ES supply and demand.
Focus Groups in Ethnography of Communication: Expanding Topics of Inquiry Beyond Participant Observation

Historically, ethnography of communication has viewed participant observation as the central and necessary methodological point of departure for any ethnographic endeavor. However, as this article illustrates, this becomes problematic when particular topics of inquiry do not provide ample opportunities for observation. After struggles to participant observe conversations on women's marital naming practices, I was able to research this topic and produce participant observation-like understandings after I incorporated focus groups into my methods. Based upon these experiences and study, this article urges ethnography of communication scholars to step outside their traditional methodological practices, when necessary, and integrate the focus group method into their research protocols. Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Acknowledgements The author would also like to thank Todd Trautman, Lee Nickoson, and Mary Sheridan-Rabideau for helpful feedback. An earlier version of this paper was presented in November, 1999 at the National Speech Communication Association's 85th Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois. This article is available in The Qualitative Report: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol5/iss1/1 Focus Groups in Ethnography of Communication: Expanding Topics of Inquiry Beyond Participant
Secondary Metabolites from Marine Organisms

Marine macroorganisms and microorganisms, like terrestrial species, produce a dizzying array of secondary metabolites, including terpenes, steroids, polyketides, peptides, alkaloids and porphyrins. Most of the marine metabolites are found in terrestrial species as such or have close counterparts in land-based species, but some are sufficiently unusual to constitute a separate class (e.g. marine sterols). Although in many cases the functions of these secondary metabolites in the marine species themselves are unclear, other compounds play well-defined roles-for example as trail markers, sexual attractants, antifouling substances or antifeedants. What is clear is that many of the most interesting marine secondary metabolites have potent activities largely unrelated to their in situ roles. Examples abound of antitumour, antiviral, immunosuppressive and antimicrobial agents, as well as neurotoxins, hepatotoxins and cardiac stimulants. Relatively few biosynthetic studies of marine secondary metabolites have been done because of the logistical problems of working under water and the primitive state of techniques for growing marine invertebrates in culture. However, recent studies indicate that many compounds isolated from marine macrospecies (e.g. sponges) may instead be produced by microorganisms (e.g. bacteria or phytoplankton). Studies of these symbionts may facilitate efforts to understand the biosyntheses of these metabolites.
Interfacing Oz with the PCTE OMS: A case study of integrating a legacy System with a standard Object Management System

The integration of a legacy system and a standard Object Management System (OMS) is often a very challenging task. This paper details a case study, our experiment in interfacing Oz with the PCTE (Portable Common Tool Environment) Object Management System. Oz is a multi-user process-centered software development environment that has been under development in our lab since 1987, originally under the name Marvel. PCTE is a specification that defines a language-independent interface providing support mechanisms for software engineering environments (SEE). One of the premises of PCTE is that, in theory, an SEE such as Oz can be built (or extended) using the services provided by PCTE. The purpose of our experiment was to study how a legacy system such as Oz can be integrated into a new environment framework, e.g., PCTE. The architecture of the legacy system and the services of the framework are the key factors in the integration approach. Because Oz historically has included a native OMS, our experiment focused on modifying Oz to use the PCTE OMS, which has an open and standard API. This paper describes how several Oz components were changed to interface to the PCTE OMS. The resulting proof-of-concept hybrid system has process control and integration services provided by Oz, and data integration services provided in part by PCTE. We discuss in depth the solutions to the concurrency control problems that arise in such an environment, where Oz and PCTE use different approaches to transaction management (i.e., each has its own transaction manager). The PCTE implementation used in our experiment was the Emeraude PCTE V 12.5.1, and the Oz version was V 1.0.1.
On reducing routing overhead and redundancy in mobile ad hoc networks

The majority of the routing protocols designed to date for mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) rely on flooding of route requests for the establishment of routes on demand. A novel approach called CBORCA (Cut-Based On-demand Routing with Coordinate Awareness) is introduced. CBORCA improves the efficiency with which route requests are disseminated by partitioning the designated route forwarders in distinct quadrants and by selecting at most one "pivot" within each quadrant. Each new pivot is required to pass a distance test before joining the pivot set. Message complexity at each hop is shown to be (O(C) ≍ O(l). Experimental results using simulations demonstrate that the performance of CBORCA achieves better results than ORCA (On-demand Routing with Coordinate Awareness) in packet-delivery ratio, signaling overhead, and end-to-end delay.
Protein kinase C isoform-selective signals that lead to cardiac hypertrophy and the progression of heart failure

Protein kinase C isoforms comprise a family of structurally related serine/threonine kinases that are activated by second messenger molecules formed via receptor-dependent activation of phospholipase C. Cardiomyocytes co-express multiple protein kinase C isoforms which play key roles in a spectrum of adaptive and maladaptive cardiac responses. This chapter focuses on the structural features, modes of activation, and distinct cellular actions of individual PKC isoforms in the heart. Particular emphasis is placed on progress that comes from studies in molecular models of PKC isoform overexpression or gene deletion in mice. Recent studies that distinguish the functional properties of novel PKC isoforms (PKCδ and PKCe) from each other, and from the actions of the conventional PKC isoforms, and suggest that these proteins may play a particularly significant role in pathways leading to cardiac growth and/or cardioprotection also are considered.
Guidelines and techniques for comparing system observations with multiple sets of simulation results

Using simulation to support reaching conclusions for real-time processes imposes that models are thoroughly validated. This paper discusses widely adopted techniques for testing the validity of simulation results against real observations and proposes a more effective comparison technique for the case where a single system data set and multiple model data sets are available. To apply this technique, we consider the system data set as a discrete signal and use M-fold decimation, fulfilling the essential requirements Imposed according to signal processing theory. Experimental results are also presented to exhibit the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Expanding the scope of alkyne-mediated bioconjugations utilizing unnatural amino acids

The importance of bioconjugates within the field of chemistry drives the need for novel methodologies for their preparation. Well-defined and stable bioconjugates are easily accessible via the utilization of unnatural amino acids (UAAs). As such, we have synthesized and incorporated two new UAAs into green fluorescent protein, and optimized a novel Cadiot–Chodkiewicz bioconjugation, effectively expanding the toolbox of chemical reactions that can be employed in the preparation of bioconjugates.
Melengestrol acetate enhances adipogenic gene expression in cultured muscle-derived cells.

Melengestrol acetate (MGA) has been used in the United States for nearly 40 yr to enhance feedlot heifer performance, yet unequivocal studies have not been conducted to discover the mechanism of action. Our hypothesis was that MGA may induce various populations of muscle-derived cells (MDC) to the adipogenic pathway in both a bovine and murine cell culture model. To determine this, MDC were digested from the semimembranosus muscle tissue of six 14-mo-old crossbred steers. The addition of insulin, oleic acid, and ciglitizone (IOC) with cultured bovine MDC resulted in morphological differences compared with control cultures. Multilocular lipid droplets stained with Oil Red O were seen not only in single MDC, but also in fused myotubes. An increase (P 0.05) on these mRNA levels. The addition of both E2 and MGA to MDC increased (P 0.10) in relative myogenin mRNA among the control, E(2), and MGA treatments. Relative C/EBPbeta, PPARgamma, and myogenin mRNA levels were investigated in murine C2C12, C3H 10T 1/2, and 3T3-L1 cells. Treatment of cultures with 10 nM MGA increased C/EBPbeta levels (P < 0.05) in C2C12 myoblasts and tended (P = 0.08) to increase C/EBPbeta levels in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These data indicate that populations of cells are present in postnatal skeletal muscle that, under the appropriate stimuli in a culture model, express adipogenic genes and accumulate lipids. In addition, the synthetic progestogen MGA appeared to upregulate the genes necessary for conversion to the adipogenic pathway.
Evaluation and thermodynamic analysis of phase equilibria in the U-Al system

Abstract A reevaluation of phase equilibria in the binary U-Al system has been performed as part of the ASM-NBS Binary Phase Diagram Evaluation Program. The resulting diagram includes several modifications to the recently assessed diagram by Chiotti et al. The current assessment also emphasizes the uranium-rich portion of the diagram. The consistency between available thermodynamic data for the system (Gibbs energies of formation of UAl 2 , UAl 3 , and UAl 4 , and activity data for dilute solutions of uranium in liquid Al) and key points of the assessed diagram has been tested using the POTCOMP and FITBIN subroutines of the thermochemical computer code FACT. With the assumption of a regular solution model for Al-rich liquid, an ideal solution model for U-rich liquid, and Henrian models for U(β) and U(γ) solid solutions, there is reasonably good consistency between the thermo data and the assessed phase diagram.
392. Duration of Expression of the Sleeping Beauty Transposase Gene in Mouse Liver Following Hydrodynamic Delivery

Top of pageAbstract The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system can direct the integration of precise DNA sequences into human and mouse genomes. The SB vector system has two components: 1) a transposon containing a genetic cargo and 2) the catalytic transposase enzyme that mediates the cut-and-paste reaction from a plasmid into a vertebrate chromosome. In most cases, the source of SB transposase has been a gene that can integrate into chromosomes via illegitimate recombination. There is a concern that random integration and extended expression of a transposase gene might lead to remobilization of inserted transposons in the same genomes. Consequently, we have examined the relative levels of SB transposon genes and the duration of expression of SB transposase when delivered via plasmids to cells in livers of mice. The SB11 transposase gene, under direction of a ubiquitin (Ub) promoter was expressed from either of two cis plasmids, pT2/mCAGGS-Luc//Ub-SB11 or pT2/mCAGGS-IDUA//Ub-SB11, which express luciferase (Luc) and |[alpha]|-L-iduronidase (IDUA), respectively, under direction of an mCAGGS promoter. The lysosomal enzyme, IDUA, escapes from cells whereas Luc is confined to the cytoplasm. Consequently, they may elicit different immunological responses that could affect duration of expression of SB11. We used hydrodynamic, tail-vein injection to deliver these constructs to the livers of WT C57Bl/6 mice. The injections were evaluated 24-hr post injection for expression of Luc using the Xenogen|[trade]| imaging system to evaluate efficiency of gene delivery. Mice were re-imaged and euthanized at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 17 days and 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24 weeks. Expression of SB transposase was measured by western blotting over several weeks using anti-SB monoclonal antibodies, by RT-PCR, excision-PCR and, for finer resolution, by immunohistochemical staining for SB11 using a monoclonal antibody. The presence of the SB11 and either Luc or IDUA was measured by QPCR. Our results indicate that we lose detectable SB transposase protein expression within the first few weeks. We also saw, using PCR, loss of DNA and RNA in the IDUA-injected mice, which suggested an immunological response was eliminating transgenic liver cells (see Aronovich et al. abstract). We conclude that long-term residual SB transposase activity in livers of mice is below minimal detection and, accordingly, that delivery of the gene for the transposase does not represent a measurable risk.
The spectrofluorqmetric determination of anthracene, fluorene and phenanthrene in mixtures

Abstract A procedure is presented for the spectrofluorometric determination of mixtures of anthracene, fluorene and phenanthrene. The determination depends on differences in fluorescence emission spectra and on selective excitation of anthracene fluorescence. Some of the fluorescence and absorption spectra involved overlap, but these difficulties can be overcome by empirical corrections. The average relative error in this method is less than 5 % over the concentration range 0 to 5 ppm.
Numerical Simulation and Modeling of Liquid-Feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

A two-phase flow model was developed for liquid-feed methanol fuel cells (DMFC) to evaluate the effects of various operating parameters on the DMFC performance. In this study, a general homogenous two-dimensional model is described in details for both porous layers and fluid channels. This two-dimensional general model accounts for fluid flow, electrochemical kinetics, current density distribution, hydrodynamics, multi-component transport, and methanol crossover. It starts from basic transport equations including mass conservation, momentum transport, energy balance, and species concentration conservation in different elements of the fuel cell sandwich, as well as the equations for the phase potential in the membrane and the catalyst layers. These governing equations are coupled with chemical reaction kinetics by introducing various source terms. It is found that all these equations are in a very similar form except the source terms. Based on this observation, all the governing equations can be solved using the same numerical formulation in the single domain without prescribing the boundary conditions at the various interfaces between the different elements of the fuel cell. Detailed numerical formulations are presented in this paper. The numerical simulation results, such as velocity field, local current density distribution, and species concentration variation along the flow channel, under various operation conditions are computed. The performance of the DMFC affected by various parameters such as temperature, pressure, and methanol concentration is investigated in this paper. The numerical results are further validated with available experimental data from the published literatures.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Compactified superstrings and torsion

Abstract String theories on a background manifold with torsion are constructed and investigated in the light-cone gauge with holonomy group H ⊆ SU(3). The appropriate non-linear sigma model is constructed on a hermitian manifold. The relationship between the Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond and the Green-Schwarz versions of the theory is discussed. Under the assumption that the β-function vanishes identically we show that the only viable compactification is on a manifold with zero torsion. This result is obtained from effective field considerations as well as directly from string considerations.
1162 LIPOPROTEIN LIPASE IN PRETERM HUMAN MILK

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is present in milk of several species, including term human milk. LPL, assumed to leak into milk from mammary cells damaged during suckling, has been implicated in the development of breast milk jaundice. Since increasing numbers of preterm infants are fed their own mother's milk, we have measured LPL (hydrolysis of serum-activated tri-3H olein, 1 unit (U)=1 nmol free fatty acid (FFA) released/ml milk/min) in milk collected for 3 months from 47 women with deliveries at 26-36 wks pregnancy. The data show that: 1. LPL increases with length of gestation and lactation. 2. “Drip” milk had twice the LPL activity of milk pumped simultaneously from the other breast, irrespective of duration of pregnancy or lactation, suggesting no relationship between cell damage and enzyme release. 3. Feeding of milk with very high LPL (>500) did not cause neonatal jaundice. We suggest that the level of LPL in milk might be related to its level in the mammary gland and that it could be an indicator of the latter's functional capacity. (Support NIH grant HD 10823 and AM 26641)
Perceived geometrical relationships affected by eye-movement signals.

To determine the location of visual objects relative to the observer, the visual system must take account not only of the location of the stimulus on the retina, but also of the direction of gaze1. In contrast, the perceived spatial relationship between visual stimuli is normally assumed to depend on retinal information alone, and not to require information about eye position. We now show, however, that the perceived alignment of three dots—tested by a vernier alignment task2,3—is systematically altered in the period immediately preceding a saccade. Thus, information about eye position can modify not only the perceived relationship of the entire retinal image to the observer, but also the relations between elements within the image. The processing of relative position and of egocentric (observer-centred) position may therefore be less distinct than previously believed4–6.
Distributed Expertise in a Science Center: Social and Intellectual Role-Taking by Families

Abstract This research project examines the way that children and parents talk about science outside of school and, specifically, how they show distributed expertise about biological topics during visits to a science center. We adopt a theoretical framework that looks at learning on three interweaving planes: individual, social, and cultural (tools, language, worldviews, and artifacts). We analyze conversations to study how these three planes show learning processes as families work together to create explanations of biological phenomena. Findings include: (a) children and parents made epistemic moves that led to different social and intellectual roles in the conversations (skeptic, expert, memory-prompter), sometimes based on prior involvement in science activities; and (b) during extended scientific explanations about life science content, expertise in science was distributed across the family members and the museum environment so that the parents and children were both contributing to the conversation.
Beneficial effects of relaxin on motility characteristics of stored boar spermatozoa.

Relaxin is detected in seminal plasma of many species and its association with sperm motility may be beneficial in some aspects of assisted reproduction. Here, we immunolocalized relaxin receptors and investigated the effects of exogenous relaxin on motility characteristics, viability, and cAMP content of boar spermatozoa after storage. Commercial doses of boar semen were obtained on the collection day (Day 0) and kept in shipping containers at room temperature for up to 4 days (Day 4). On Day 0, spermatozoa were fixed for immunofluorescence detection of relaxin receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 (Experiment 1). Semen aliquots were taken from the same dose at Day 0, Day 1, and Day 2 (Experiment 2a), and Day 2 and Day 4 (Experiment 2b) for analyses. Alive spermatozoa were purified and incubated (1 h-37°C) with 0, 50, or 100 ng relaxin/ml (Experiment 2a) and 0, 100, or 500 ng relaxin/ml (Experiment 2b). Afterward, aliquots of each treatment group were subjected to motility (Experiments 2), viability (Experiment 3) analyses, and cAMP quantification (Experiment 4). Data (3–4 independent replicates) were statistically analyzed (ANOVA followed by pairwise comparisons) and p values less or equal to 0.05 was set for significant difference. Both RXFP1 and RXFP2 receptors were immunolocalized on the entire spermatozoon. Relaxin concentration of 100 ng/ml significantly improved the proportions of motile, progressive, and rapid spermatozoa up to Day 2. Only 500 ng relaxin/ml provided beneficial effects on Day 4. The viability of spermatozoa was not affected by relaxin (100 ng/ml) during storage, but the extent of mitochondria membrane damages was significantly decreased. Furthermore, relaxin did not affect the cAMP contents of spermatozoa during storage, in our conditions. Relaxin could be a valuable motility booster of stored- or aged-spermatozoa for assisted reproduction techniques. However, the related-intracellular signaling cascades of relaxin in boar spermatozoa remain undetermined.
Learning Plans Through Experience: A First Pass In The Chess Domain

Nearly all successful programs which play chess rely heavily on a brute-force search of thousands or millions of positions in a game tree. Human experts, on the other hand, rely more on plans to guide their search for an appropriate move. In addition, human experts began as novices and had to learn the chess plans they use. Just as novice chess players construct plans as they play the game, an intelligent robot should be able to learn a library of plans for a domain through experience. In this paper we propose a three step process for acquiring new plans through experience, and describe a program which uses this process to learn plans for the game of chess. The plan construction mechanism consists of the following three stages: - Data Compression - Causal Traceback - Feature Abstraction The crucial problems that must be solved in order to construct a plan are: when to construct a plan, how to concisely represent a learning situation, how to represent the relevant underlying causality, and how to generalize the experience so its range of applicablity is appropriately expressed. Once the plans have been constructed, the program can then use than either offensively (in action selection), or defensively (in action rejection).
Al-Air Batteries: Fundamental Thermodynamic Limitations from First-Principles Theory.

The Al–air battery possesses high theoretical specific energy (4140 W h/kg) and is therefore an attractive candidate for vehicle propulsion. However, the experimentally observed open-circuit potential is much lower than what bulk thermodynamics predicts, and this potential loss is typically attributed to corrosion. Similarly, large Tafel slopes associated with the battery are assumed to be due to film formation. We present a detailed thermodynamic study of the Al–air battery using density functional theory. The results suggest that the maximum open-circuit potential of the Al anode is only −1.87 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode at pH 14.6 instead of the traditionally assumed −2.34 V and that large Tafel slopes are inherent in the electrochemistry. These deviations from the bulk thermodynamics are intrinsic to the electrochemical surface processes that define Al anodic dissolution. This has contributions from both asymmetry in multielectron transfers and, more importantly, a large chemical stabiliz...
The differentiation of Phytophthora species that are pathogenic on potatoes by an asymmetric PCR combined with single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis

The goal of this study was to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) capable of differentiating Phytophthora species that are pathogenic on potatoes using a single primer pair. To achieve this objective, primers were derived from conserved regions flanking variable sequences in the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of Phytophthora species. One primer pair produced a 140 bp product from P. infestans, P. erythroseptica and P. nicotianae. The PCR products were purified and used in an asymmetric PCR (A-PCR) protocol to generate single-strand DNA (ssDNA). The ssDNA of the Phytophthora potato pathogens reproducibly migrated in non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels in a species-specific manner.
Optomechanical shape analysis using group theory

We describe an optomechanical technique using a knife-edge, which is scanned spatially across a beam of light to identify shape-based irradiance. Symmetry groups are identified through linear and rotational scanning signatures of illuminated shapes. The scanning signature is used to classify the shape into a symmetry group. To demonstrate the shape analysis technique, we have classified basic geometric shapes, which belong to the orthogonal and dihedral symmetry groups O2, D2, D3, and D6.
Note on a Cost Saving Technique in Linear Regression

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTConsider a times series in simple linear regression. It is shown that under suitable conditions point estimates or predictions for the next time period into the future are unaffected by values of the dependent variable at some given time period in the past. The result is extended to cases other than time series, and to predictions in multiple linear regression. Since under suitable conditions not all the sample data need be gathered for making predictions, considerable cost savings are possible in such practical applications as destructive sampling. This is illustrated with several examples.
Microscopic theory of modified spontaneous emission in a dielectric.

The modification of the radiative decay rate of a source atom embedded in a uniform, isotropic dielectric is calculated to first order in the density of the dielectric atoms using a microscopic approach. In contrast to the recent results of Crenshaw and Bowden [Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 1851 (2000)], the decay rate is found to be consistent with macroscopic theories based on quantization of the field in the dielectric.
Setting Aside the Identity Furor: Staying Her Story-Course of Same-ness

In qualitative research, considerable emphasis has been placed on the representation of identity, but this discussion has occurred largely within the context of the Self-Other dichotomy. Here, an a...
Ultrasonic dental cutting instrument: I.

Current operative methods for cavity preparation have a number of inherent disadvantages. Rotary instruments em­ ploying the recently introduced increased speeds and modified cutting instruments have allowed more rapid cavity prepara­ tion, but the frictional heat and vibration during cutting may cause pain, trauma and apprehension to the patient. The air abrasive technic for cavity preparation is acceptable to the patient but is limited to the teeth in the direct vision of the op­ erator. The air abrasive technic deprives the operator of tactile control during cut­ ting; acceptable cavity preparation, there­ fore, is difficult. Rotary instruments are required also for the completion of the preparation. The recent industrial development of a method of cutting hard substances by means of high-frequency vibrating tools in conjunction with an abrasive slurry1'3 led to an investigation of the application of such a method to dental cutting prob­ lems. The purpose of the investigation, of which this paper is the first report, is to determine the feasibility and the effi­ cacy of the new cutting method in the preparation of cavities from both the patient’s and the operator’ s points of view. The object of this paper is to present the following: 1. A brief description of the develop­ ment of an instrument to cut hard dental structures by using an imperceptible, high-frequency, mechanical vibration in conjunction with an abrasive slurry. It is not within the scope of this paper to discuss the engineering details of the in­ strument’s construction or the electronics of the power source. 2. A method developed for using the instrument in preclinical trials. 3. Observations made during the initial stages of instrument development, the implications of these observations for clinical applications and recommenda­ tions for further investigation.
Effect of cigarette smoke on protein synthesis in brain and liver

Abstract The rates of protein synthesis in brain and liver were determined in 2 inbred mouse strains (BALB/c and CXBH) during 1 hr of smoke exposure, and after 3 and 6 days of cigarette smoke treatment. Exposure to cigarette smoke reduced valine incorporation into brain and liver protein by 12 and 30% respectively. The greatest part of this reduction in synthesis was due to the hypothermie effect of smoke exposure, which was an approx. 8% change in the synthesis rate for each degree of reduction in body temperature, though a significant smoke effect was still evident. Two major components of cigarette smoke, nicotine and carbon monoxide, were individually tested. Injections of nicotine produced a similar inhibition of brain protein synthesis, with no effect on liver protein synthesis. After extraction of nicotine from the smoke by use of a Cambridge filter, only slight inhibition of brain protein synthesis was observed, which was due to the decrease in body temperature; there was still a significant inhibition in the liver. Incorporation measured, not during but after smoke exposure, was still significantly reduced, although reduction in the liver was smaller than that measured during smoke exposure. Carboxyhemoglobin at levels 50% higher than that achieved by smoke exposure had no effect on brain or liver protein synthesis; higher carboxyhemoglobin levels (300–400% higher than levels during smoke exposure) produced inhibition of liver protein synthesis. The results suggest that the slight and significant inhibition of brain protein synthesis is due to nicotine, whereas the effect on the liver is probably due to anoxia. Smoke treatment for 3–6 days suggests that there is no adaptation to these effects. Strain differences in smoke sensitivity are not related to the effect of nicotine on protein synthesis, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in smoke sensitivity.