cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
L'ascorbic acid; a possible intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism in plants.

The L-ascorbic acid-labeling patterns from strawberries that were stem-fed D-glucose-6-14C and D-glucuronolactone-I-14C and the sucrose-derived D-glucose labeling pattern from a berry stem-fed L-ascorbic acid-6-14C are described. The results are discussed in terms of a postulated cycle of carbohydrate metabolism.
NMR Study of Structure and Dynamics of Ionic Multiplets in Ethylene−Methacrylic Acid Ionomers

Structural and dynamical properties of ionic multiplets in poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) ionomer neutralized with Na ions were studied by 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that the low-temperature peak in DSC spectra is affected by relaxation, compression, and hydration and is related to structure in proximity to ionic multiplets, instead of multiplets themselves. The distance between Na ions in ionic multiplet was determined on the basis of a second moment measurement, suggesting that multiplets are composed of close-packed Na+−O- ionic pairs. Motional narrowing of 23Na NMR line width and transverse relaxation measurement indicate that the time scale of motion of Na or its surrounding is on the order of a few hundred microseconds near room temperature.
Revisiting property crime and economic conditions: An exploratory study to identify predictive indicators beyond unemployment rates—Comment

Abstract In a recent issue of this Journal, Yearwood and Koinis (2011) endeavor to identify predictive variables of property crime in addition to the unemployment rate. The focus is on reported property crimes rates in the form of property crime in the aggregate, larceny-theft, burglary, robbery, fraud, motor vehicle theft, and embezzlement in North Carolina. The study deals with annual time series data for the period 1977–2007. Unfortunately, the study suffers from potentially serious misspecification problems and from a number of potentially serious empirical/statistical problems. This Comment describes these problems, problems that compromise the validity and usefulness of the Yearwood and Koinis (2009) results, and in so doing to some degree helps to demonstrate how those problems can be ameliorated.
Optimizing closed-loop adaptive-optics performance with use of multiple control bandwidths

The performance of a closed-loop adaptive-optics system may in principle be improved by selection of distinct and independently optimized control bandwidths for separate components, or modes, of the wave-front-distortion profile. We describe a method for synthesizing and optimizing a multiple-bandwidth adaptive-optics control system from performance estimates previously derived for single-bandwidth control systems operating over a range of bandwidths. The approach is applicable to adaptive-optics systems that use either one or several wave-front sensing beacons and also to systems that include multiple deformable mirrors for atmospheric-turbulence compensation across an extended field of view. Numerical results are presented for the case of an atmospheric-turbulence profile consisting of a single translating phase screen with Kolmogorov statistics, a Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor with from 8 to 16 subapertures across the aperture of the telescope, and a continuous-face-sheet deformable mirror with actuators conjugate to the corners of the wave-front-sensor subapertures. The use of multiple control bandwidths significantly relaxes the wave-front-sensor noise level that is permitted for the adaptive-optics system to operate near the performance limit imposed by fitting error. Nearly all of this reduction is already achieved through the use of a control system that uses only two distinct bandwidths, one of which is the zero bandwidth.
Demeanor, sex, and race in police processing☆

Abstract Recent increases in arrests of women have stimulated much controversy about the causes and extent of female crime and created much speculation about the differential treatment of female offenders by police officers. This article reports an empirical study of police processing of female offenders. During September–December 1978, 282 questionnaires were completed by police officers and detectives in a large, metropolitan area in a southeastern state. Each officer was asked to indicate a police decision in five hypothetical situations which varied by types of offense, race of the offender, sex of the offender, and demeanor of the offender. An analysis of the responses of the police officers indicates that decisions of police are not contingent on the sex and race of the offenders. The major variables in determining how police officers will respond are the nature of the offense and the manner in which the offender behaves when confronted by the officer.
Chenopodium polyploidy inferences from Salt Overly Sensitive 1 (SOS1) data

 Premise of the study: Single-copy nuclear loci can provide powerful insights into polyploid evolution. Chenopodium (Amaranthaceae) is a globally distributed genus composed of approximately 50–75 species. The genus includes several polyploid species, some of which are considered noxious agricultural weeds, and a few are domesticated crops. Very little research has addressed their evolutionary origin to date. We construct a phylogeny for Chenopodium based on two introns of the single-copy nuclear locus Salt Overly Sensitive 1 ( SOS1 ) to clarify the relationships among the genomes of the allotetraploid and allohexaploid species, and to help identify their genome donors.  Methods: Diploid species were sequenced directly, whereas homeologous sequences of polyploid genomes were fi rst separated by plasmid-mediated cloning. Data were evaluated in maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses.  Key results: Homeologous sequences of polyploid species were found in four clades, which we designate as A–D. Two distinct polyploid lineages were identifi ed: one composed of American tetraploid species with A and B class homeologs and a second composed of Eastern Hemisphere hexaploid species with B, C, and D class homeologs.  Conclusions: We infer that the two polyploid lineages arose independently and that each lineage may have originated only once. The American diploid, C. standleyanum , was identifi ed as the closest living diploid relative of the A genome donor for American tetraploids, including domesticated C. quinoa , and is of potential importance for quinoa breeding. The east Asian diploid species, C. bryoniifolium , groups with American diploid species, which suggests a transoceanic dispersal.
Translation of clinical trial results into practice: Temporal patterns of β-blocker utilization for heart failure at hospital discharge and during ambulatory follow-up

Background Underutilization of β-blockers in heart failure (HF) has been widely reported at hospital discharge and in the ambulatory setting. We examined recent temporal patterns of β-blocker utilization in HF with systolic dysfunction at hospital discharge and over 2-year follow-up. Methods Annual trends of β-blocker use were examined in a clinical database of patients with ejection fraction ≤40% discharged after HF hospitalization in 1998-2004 (n = 735). More detailed data on β-blocker use at discharge and over 2-year follow-up were abstracted for 200 consecutive patients each in 1999-2001 and 2003-2004. Results Annual rates of β-blocker use at discharge increased steadily by 10% per year from 1998-2004 ( P P P 50% of patients remained on low doses of β-blockers, a greater proportion trended to reach target doses at 2 years in the later period (25.6% vs 12.5%, P = .13). Conclusions Substantial increase in β-blocker utilization in HF with systolic dysfunction occurred from 1998 to 2004, demonstrating that high rates of β-blocker use are being achieved at hospital discharge and maintained in the ambulatory setting after discharge. However, the time lag in translation of scientific evidence into maximal use of beneficial therapy in practice remains a target for quality improvement.
Mental health stigma and primary health care decisions

People with serious mental illness have higher rates of mortality and morbidity due to physical illness. In part, this occurs because primary care and other health providers sometimes make decisions contrary to typical care standards. This might occur because providers endorse mental illness stigma, which seems inversely related to prior personal experience with mental illness and mental health care. In this study, 166 health care providers (42.2% primary care, 57.8% mental health practice) from the Veteran׳s Affairs (VA) medical system completed measures of stigma characteristics, expected adherence, and subsequent health decisions (referral to a specialist and refill pain prescription) about a male patient with schizophrenia who was seeking help for low back pain due to arthritis. Research participants reported comfort with previous mental health interventions. Path analyses showed participants who endorsed stigmatizing characteristics of the patient were more likely to believe he would not adhere to treatment and hence, less likely to refer to a specialist or refill his prescription. Endorsement of stigmatizing characteristics was inversely related to comfort with one׳s previous mental health care. Implications of these findings will inform a program meant to enhance VA provider attitudes about people with mental illness, as well as their health decisions.
Distinctive mammal-like reptile from Mexico and its bearing on the phylogeny of the Tritylodontidae

Distinctive mammal-like reptile from Mexico and its bearing on the phylogeny of the Tritylodontidae
Registration of 'Neptune' Southern Medium-Grain Rice

'Neptune' (Reg. No. CV-132, PI 655959) is a southern medium-grain rice (Oryza sativa L.) developed at the Rice Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter), Crowley, LA, and officially released in December 2007. It was developed from a single cross using the pedigree selection procedure. Neptune was tested under the experimental designation RU0402028 in the Louisiana Commercial Advanced (CA) yield test trial at seven locations, as well as in the Uniform Regional Rice Nursery (URRN) in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Texas from 2004 to 2007. Neptune is a high-yielding, moderately early-maturing, semidwarf cultivar with excellent milling quality, exceptional ratoon yield potential, good lodging resistance, and favorable large grain size. In 41 trials replicated statewide in Louisiana and in multistate URRN, Neptune had the average main and ratoon crop yield of 9.30 and 2.93 t ha ―1 , respectively. When averaged across years and locations, Neptune had a head rice yield of 62.9% and a total milled rice yield of 70.3%. Under both artificial inoculation and natural infection, Neptune was found to be moderately susceptible to sheath blight (caused by Rhizoctonia solani J.G. Kuhn) and the physiological disorder straighthead but moderately resistant to blast (caused by Pyricularia grisea Sacc.) and bacterial panicle blight [caused by Burkholderia glumae (Kurita and Tabei 1967) Urakami et al. 1994. Neptune should well adapt to the Gulf and mid-south rice growing regions.
Persistence of Atrazine and Alachlor in Ground Water Aquifers and Soil

Degradation of atrazine and alachlor in saturated aquifer materials and soil was studied in the laboratory. A static aquifer was represented by a set of stagnant flasks and a well-mixed aquifer was simulated by recirculating columns. Water was tested at selected time intervals over six months and analyzed for herbicides and metabolites. Under all conditions, atrazine was more persistent than alachlor. Increased temperature had little effect on atrazine dissipation but did increase alachlor degradation rates, especially in the sterilized treatments. The addition of carbon and nitrogen prolonged the initial period before the onset of degradation in some of the columns. Enhanced mass transfer of the herbicides, nutrients, and oxygen in the recirculating columns dramatically increased dissipation of atrazine and alachlor. The degradation rates of atrazine and alachlor were 2 to 5 times faster in the recirculating columns than in the stagnant flasks. Atrazine was more persistent in the aquifer materials than in the soils, while alachlor dissipation was similar in the soils and recirculating aquifer columns, but was slower in the stagnant flasks. The prolonged persistence of atrazine under static, aquifer conditions (t1/2 = 206 to 710 days) indicates that natural mechanisms are not sufficient to alleviate the risk of atrazine buildup over time; however, in a well mixed aquifer, atrazine degradation rates should be higher (t1/2 = 66 to 106 days) and the threat of atrazine accumulation is diminished. Alachlor persistence at low concentrations (< 10 μg L−1) in aquifers should not pose a long-term threat to ground water supplies.
Bayes methods in the ecological fallacy context: Estimation of individual correlation from aggregate data

The ecological fallacy is related to Simpson's paradox (1951) where relationships among group means may be counterintuitive and substantially different from relationships within groups, where the groups are usually geographic entities such as census tracts. We consider the problem of estimating the correlation between two jointly normal random variables where only ecological data (group means) are available. Two empirical Bayes estimators and one fully Bayesian estimator are derived and compared with the usual ecological estimator, which is simply the Pearson correlation coefficient of the group sample means. We simulate the bias and mean squared error performance of these estimators, and also give an example employing a dataset where the individual level data are available for model checking. The results indicate superiority of the empirical Bayes estimators in a variety of practical situations where, though we lack individual level data, other relevant prior information is available.
A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on Summary of Performance.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) requires local education agencies to provide students with disabilities exiting high school with a Summary of Performance document, which incl...
Collisions for secrecy in cooperative cognitive radio networks with time-varying connectivity

We study user cooperation in a cognitive radio network with random connectivity and collision channels, where the primary user has secrecy constraints. We characterize secure stable throughput region for multiple packet-level cooperative transmission protocols that incorporate packet relaying and collision generation. Stable throughput region is derived for each protocol and then compared to other protocols, including non-cooperative protocol. We show that a collision generation protocol can always provide gains over the non-cooperative protocol while it is not the case for the relaying protocol. In addition, we show that collision generation protocol may achieve superior performance compared to a protocol that involves both cooperative relaying and collision generation, even if the performance of the latter protocol is superior to the non-cooperative protocol.
Reflections on our past, challenges in our present, and visions for our future: NAECTE celebrates 25 years in support of teachers of our nation's children

(2003). Reflections on our past, challenges in our present, and visions for our future: NAECTE celebrates 25 years in support of teachers of our nation's children. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education: Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 91-92.
A novel approach to chemical microarray using ketone-modified macromolecular scaffolds: Application in micro cell-adhesion assay

This paper describes a novel strategy for the preparation of chemical microarrays using macro-molecular scaffolds. The macromolecular scaffolds are first functionalized with ketone groups and compounds of interest containing an aminooxy group are conjugated onto the ketone-modified scaffolds through a chemoselective oxime ligation. The conjugate mixtures are then spotted directly onto a plastic or glass surface to form compound microarrays. Because a constant amount of scaffold is used in the presence of excess compound in the ligation reaction, the amount of compound actually immobilized per microarray spot is constant and dependent on the scaffold concentration. Using this approach, 60 different peptides were ligated to human serum albumin or agarose scaffolds, and the peptide conjugates subsequently printed on glass or polystyrene surface to form microarrays. These peptide microarrays were subsequently evaluated and optimized for binding of Jurkat leukemic cancer cells.
Application of nonlinear sensitivity analysis to enzyme mechanisms

Abstract Computer programs were developed to permit the routine application of nonlinear sensitivity analysis to general complex enzyme mechanisms. Complete numerical solutions to the stiff differential equations which describe such mechanisms permit simulation of the full time-course development of all concentrations, including substrate, product, and all intermediate species. Alternatively, the method could be used for steady-state initial rate studies if desired. The sensitivity of all concentrations at any specific time during the reaction (or for any set of initial conditions) to variations in the rate constants can be determined. These variations in the rate constants can span orders of magnitude if desired. The method also describes the effect of coupling between rate constants. This permits the rate constants of an arbitrary model to be rank-ordered in terms of their importance to the time development of concentration variation of any desired species. The method also identifies which pairs of rate constants are most strongly coupled. The method should be very useful in experimental design, model testing, and reduction, and in the determination of the reliability of rate constants derived for a particular model from rate data. In order to illustrate the method it was applied to several published enzyme mechanisms, the most complex of which involved eight species. By examining the sensitivities it was possible to determine the most important pathways of reaction and to understand the origin of bursts and lags in product production. The method also permitted reduction of the most complex model to simpler models which showed essentially the same behavior.
Abstract 1038: Regulation of cyclin A by FoxO3a drives proliferation in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The Forkhead transcription factor, FoxO3a, is a known suppressor of primary tumor growth and is negatively regulated by growth factors via phosphorylation and mislocalization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Here we show for the first time that FoxO3a is nuclear in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and it transcriptionally upregulates cyclin A thereby promoting tumor growth in human ATC cells. Silencing FoxO3a in ATC cell lines leads to down-regulation of cyclin A mRNA and protein while over-expression of FoxO3a leads to upregulation of cyclin A protein. Transient co-transfection of cyclin A promoter linked to luciferase with FoxO3a leads to enhanced luciferase activity, which can be ablated when mutating the FoxO3a site on the cyclin A promoter. This combined data implicates an entirely novel function for FoxO3a in modulating cancer progression by promoting cell cycle progression and tumor growth. ATC is a poorly differentiated carcinoma with average survival upon diagnosis of 3–4 months with 99% lethality, notably the most aggressive and deadliest cancers known. This data also suggest that any therapies under development to inactivate FOXO3a may be effective at blocking tumor expansion. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1038. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1038
cis-2,5-Dicyanopyrrolidine Inhibitors of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV: Synthesis and in Vitro, in Vivo, and X-ray Crystallographic Characterization

Inhibitors of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) degrading enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) have been shown to be effective treatments for type 2 diabetes in animal models and in human subjects. A novel series of cis-2,5-dicyanopyrrolidine α-amino amides were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 1-({[1-(Hydroxymethyl)cyclopentyl]amino}acetyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-cis-dicarbonitrile (1c) is an achiral, slow-binding (time-dependent) inhibitor of DPP-IV that is selective for DPP-IV over other DPP isozymes and proline specific serine proteases, and which has oral bioavailability in preclinical species and in vivo efficacy in animal models. The mode of binding of the cis-2,5-dicyanopyrrolidine moiety was determined by X-ray crystallography. The hydrochloride salt of 1c was further profiled for development as a potential new treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Optimization of solder joint configuration in multi-chip packaging system

Packaging engineers, in the search for the perfect packaging technology, are turning to three-dimensional packaging technologies that stack multiple dies/chips within a single package. Prevailing problems with stacked dies and clips are the tilting of the chips or clips due to the unbalanced bond line thickness of different solder attachments at different height levels or unbalanced weight distribution of the components inside the package. This could be a result of offset pads or inaccurate solder volume which results to uneven BLTs or solder joints, which all boils down to not having adequate modeling tools at hand to foresee potential tilting issues in a complicated solder joint system constrained in one package. This paper addresses this issue by utilizing an FEA modeling tool that can model the solder joint system of any stacked or clip packages. The tilting of the die is successfully modeled and the BLT predicted correlates well within the actual result. The mechanism of chip tilting was investigated and correlated with actual cross-section result. The availability of the modeling tool to successfully model multi-body solder joint system is a breakthrough in package tilting modeling efforts. Optimization of the solder joint system of any package is now possible with the Tool.
Erg is a crucial regulator of endocardial-mesenchymal transformation during cardiac valve morphogenesis

During murine embryogenesis, the Ets factor Erg is highly expressed in endothelial cells of the developing vasculature and in articular chondrocytes of developing bone. We identified seven isoforms for the mouse Erg gene. Four share a common translational start site encoded by exon 3 (Ex3) and are enriched in chondrocytes. The other three have a separate translational start site encoded by Ex4 and are enriched in endothelial cells. Homozygous ErgΔEx3/ΔEx3 knockout mice are viable, fertile and do not display any overt phenotype. By contrast, homozygous ErgΔEx4/ΔEx4 knockout mice are embryonic lethal, which is associated with a marked reduction in endocardial-mesenchymal transformation (EnMT) during cardiac valve morphogenesis. We show that Erg is required for the maintenance of the core EnMT regulatory factors that include Snail1 and Snail2 by binding to their promoter and intronic regions.
CA‐074Me compound inhibits osteoclastogenesis via suppression of the NFATc1 and c‐FOS signaling pathways

The osteoclast is an integral cell of bone resorption. Since osteolytic disorders hinge on the function and dysfunction of the osteoclast, understanding osteoclast biology is fundamental to designing new therapies that curb osteolytic disorders. The identification and study of lysosomal proteases, such as cathepsins, have shed light on mechanisms of bone resorption. For example, Cathepsin K has already been identified as a collagen degradation protease produced by mature osteoclasts with high activity in the acidic osteoclast resorption pits. Delving into the mechanisms of cathepsins and other osteoclast related compounds provides new targets to explore in osteoclast biology. Through our anti-osteoclastogenic compound screening experiments we encountered a modified version of the Cathepsin B inhibitor CA-074: the cell membrane-permeable CA-074Me (L-3-trans-(Propylcarbamoyl) oxirane-2-carbonyl]-L-isoleucyl-L-proline Methyl Ester). Here we confirm that CA-074Me inhibits osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. However, Cathepsin B knockout mice exhibited unaltered osteoclastogenesis, suggesting a more complicated mechanism of action than Cathepsin B inhibition. We found that CA-074Me exerts its osteoclastogenic effect within 24 h of osteoclastogenesis stimulation by suppression of c-FOS and NFATc1 pathways.
Saccharomyces boulardii inhibits ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation both in vitro and in vivo and protects against Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced enteritis.

Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb), a probiotic yeast, protects against intestinal injury and inflammation caused by a wide variety of enteric pathogens, including Clostridium difficile. Given the broad range of protective effects of Sb in multiple gastrointestinal disorders, we hypothesize that Sb modulates host signaling pathways involved in intestinal inflammatory responses. In this study, we found that Sb culture supernatant (SbS) inhibits interleukin-8 production induced by C. difficile toxin A or IL-1β in human colonocyte NCM460 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Furthermore, SbS inhibited IL-1β and toxin A induced Erk1/2 and JNK/SAPK but not p38 activation in NCM460 cells. To test whether this inhibition also occurs in vivo, we used a previously established mouse ileal loop model. On its own, SbS had no significant effect on basal fluid secretion or intestinal histology. However, Erk1/2 activation was significantly inhibited by SbS in toxin A exposed mouse ileal mucosa. In control loops, toxin A increased fluid secretion (2.2-fold), histological score (3.3-fold), and levels of the chemokine KC (4.5-fold). SbS pretreatment completely normalized toxin A mediated fluid secretion (p
Protein kinase C acylation by palmitoyl coenzyme A facilitates its translocation to membranes

Protein kinase C (PKC) translocation to specific subcellular membrane loci after cellular stimulation is mediated, in part, through its interaction with diacylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, and calcium. Herein, we present multiple lines of evidence which demonstrate that purified rabbit brain PKC undergoes specific acylation with palmitoyl CoA that facilitates its interaction with membrane bilayers. First, incubation of purified rabbit brain PKC with [14C]palmitoyl CoA (5 μM) resulted in the radiolabeling of an 80 kDa band demonstrated by SDS−PAGE and autoradiography, while incubation of PKC with other acyl CoA molecular species (e.g., [3H]myristoyl CoA or [14C]arachidonoyl CoA), fatty acids (e.g., [14C]palmitic and [14C]arachidonic acid), or [14C]diacylglycerol did not result in the incorporation of radiolabel. Second, multiple extractions of [14C]palmitoyl CoA-treated PKC with butanol did not remove the radiolabeled moiety from the 80 kDa PKC band. Third, incubation of the [14C]palmitoyl CoA-radiolabeled...
Positron Lifetime Studies of Polyaniline Conducting Polymers

Positron annihilation lifetime measurements are made in a series of polyaniline polymers with different chemical compositions and protonation ratios at room temperature. Two positron lifetimes are observed in these materials: one is assigned to annihilation in the bulk and the other to voids created due to protonation. A relationship between conductivities and positron annihilation probabilities is found.
Syndrome of refractory sideroblastic anemia with vacuolization of marrow precursors and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction presenting in the neonate.

RECENTLY, Pearson et aP repor ted a new syndrome of refractory sideroblastic anemia with vacuol izat ion of marrow precursors and exocrine pancrea t ic dysfunction. Their four pat ients had a severe aregenera t ive anemia and normal cellularity of the mar row in contrast to the p redominan t neu t ropen ia and hypocel lu lar mar row seen in Schwachman-Bodian s y n d r o m e ? 3 W e recently cared for a newborn infant whose findings fit the syndrome described by Pearson. Her case was unusua l in tha t she presented with severe pancy topen ia m u c h earlier in life and was found to have fibrosis of the thyroid gland at autopsy, a f inding previously undescr ibed.
Angular Momentum and Transition-Metal Superconductivity

The relation between the systematics of superconductivity in the transition metals and the Periodic Table suggests that the transition temperature is chiefly a short-range or "chemical" property. When a local representation of phonons and an angular momentum decomposition of electron wave functions are used, the conventional description of electron-phonon interactions contains chiefly scatterings which change the angular momentum of the electron. This selection rule makes possible the writing of the electron-phonon coupling constant $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ as the quotient of two parameters, each of which is of a chemical nature. This simplification is possible for materials having a high density of $d$ states at the Fermi energy. For such materials, $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is little affected by the density of states. The theory is compared with the superconducting transition temperatures of transition metals and their alloys.
Effects of oral and intravenous administration of buspirone on food-cocaine choice in socially housed male cynomolgus monkeys.

Drugs acting at D3 dopamine receptors have been suggested as medications for cocaine dependence. These experiments examined the effects of intravenously and orally administered buspirone, a D2-like receptor antagonist with high affinity for D3 and D4 receptors, on the relative reinforcing strength of cocaine in group-housed male cynomolgus monkeys. Use of socially housed monkeys permitted the assessment of whether social status, known to influence D2-like receptor availability, modulates the behavioral effects of buspirone. Buspirone was administered acutely to monkeys self-administering cocaine under a food–drug choice procedure in which a cocaine self-administration dose–effect curve was determined daily. When administered by either route, buspirone significantly decreased cocaine choice in dominant-ranked monkeys. In subordinate monkeys, however, i.v. buspirone was ineffective on average, and oral buspirone increased choice of lower cocaine doses. The effects of buspirone only differed according to route of administration in subordinate monkeys. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the effects of buspirone were similar to those of the D3 receptor-selective antagonist PG01037 and qualitatively different than those of less selective drugs that act at D2-like or serotonin (5-HT)1A receptors, suggesting a D3 and possibly D4 receptor mechanism of action for buspirone. Taken together, the data support the utility of drugs targeting D3/D4 receptors as potential treatments for cocaine addiction, particularly in combination with enriching environmental manipulations.
Two new chitons of the genus Tripoplax Berry, 1919 from the Monterey Sea Canyon*

Abstract Recent deep-sea trawling in the Monterey Sea Canyon, California has brought to light two previously unknown bathyal chitons. The new species, members of the family Ischnochitonidae, are placed in the genus Tripoplax Berry, 1919, here in raised to full generic rank on the basis of morphological and ecological characteristics. Tripoplax calypso spec. nov. and Tripoplax cowani spec. nov. are described, illustrated, and compared to similar species from the region.
Pelagic communities of seabirds in the South Atlantic Ocean

This paper presents quantitative analyses at the community level of the spatial dispersion of 44 species of pelagic birds in the South Atlantic Ocean. I have examined the extent to which assemblages of pelagic bird species are influenced by the combined influences of the abundances of other species and the physical structure of the pelagic environment. Results are based upon strip transects collected from oceanographic research vessels during the four consecutive austral summers of 1982–1986. The distributions of most seabird species were statistically independent of the distributions of other species. Species assemblages, however, did occur and were correlated with the physical structure of the ocean. The study area was divided into four zones, each defined by a distinctive assemblage of birds. Physical oceanography proved to be important in determining the species composition of each zone. These relationships were apparent despite the potentially confounding influence of large numbers of immatures and non-breeding adults.
Metacognition reconsidered: Implications for intervention research

Metacognitive training techniques have been used successfully to improve children's problem-solving skills. The concept of metacognition needs further refinement, however, if it is to continue to be useful as an explanatory construct. Specifically, we argue that more attention needs to be paid to how metacognitive abilities are acquired, how this knowledge could be used to help improve the performance of children with learning difficulties, and how metacognition may be related to other self-evaluation processes.
Beyond Monte Carlo for the initial uncertainty propagation problem

This paper revisits the problem of particle uncertainty characterization and propagation for deterministic nonlinear continuous time dynamical systems. A revealing comparison is made between the traditional Monte Carlo method and a recently developed particle framework based on Markov chain Monte Carlo and the method of characteristics (MCMC-MOC). The focus is on dynamical systems that do not admit stationary solutions that often pose bigger problems for the Liouville equation than systems with fixed points. We demonstrate through dispersion analysis that while traditional Monte Carlo is unable to propagate the state density function in a statistically consistent manner and suffers from degeneracy, the MCMC-MOC approach performs very well. The new approach automatically extracts the domain of significance (support) of the state density function by constructing a Markov Chain guided by the solution of the stochastic Liouville equation. Being equivalent in measure to the true state probability density, the particles in the Markov chain can be used directly to compute desired expectations. Simple examples are used to illustrate the potential pitfalls of using traditional Monte Carlo and the corresponding advantages of the MCMC-MOC technique.
Recurrent neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) is a neutrophilic dermatosis primarily affecting the eccrine glands, and most commonly seen in patients undergoing chemotherapy for treatment of a malignancy. Rapid diagnosis may avert unnecessary changes in therapy to treat conditions which clinically mimic NEH. We describe a patient who developed NEH on three separate occasions provoked by two different chemotherapeutic agents--cytarabine and mitoxantrone. The lesions were morphologically distinct and differed in their anatomical distribution during each episode. The response to intravenous corticosteroids was dramatic, but lesions recurred after their withdrawal. This case illustrates the potential diversity of clinical lesions in a single patient with NEH, and its response to systemically administered corticosteroids.
Elemental Decomposition and Multicriteria Method for Valuing Transportation Infrastructure

Traditional valuation methods implicitly consider assets as monolithic entities. As such, the initial costs, characteristics, and behavior of individual asset elements are not adequately accounted for in the valuation. Also criteria, including the asset service life and condition, that reflect the user and agency perspectives of asset value, respectively, need to be considered. A new valuation methodology, the elemental decomposition and multicriteria (EDMC) method, was developed to address those limitations. The proposed method viewed an asset not as a monolithic structure but in relation to its individual elements and recognized that each element deteriorated at a different rate, so the valuation of the asset elements was carried out separately. Individual element values were summed to yield the asset's total value. EDMC also introduced the concept of attribute ratios to tie in the criteria, such as condition and remaining service life. The traditional asset valuation approaches were described, and then...
On a conjecture of Spiga

We prove a conjecture of Spiga by showing that the number of nonisomorphic Cayley digraphs of Z"p^n, p a prime, that are not CI-digraphs of Z"p^n approaches infinity as n approaches infinity.
Depletion of endogenous nitric oxide enhances cisplatin-induced apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner in melanoma cell lines.

The expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase in melanoma tumor cells was recently shown to correlate strongly with poor patient survival after combination biochemotherapy (p
Genomics: the state of the art in RNA-seq analysis

RNA-seq is a recent and immensely popular technology for cataloging and comparing gene expression. Two papers from the international RGASP consortium report on large-scale competitions to identify the best algorithms for RNA-seq analysis, with surprising variability in the results.
USDA pest risk assessment of biological control organisms

Today, as managers of plant pest control programs seek more and more alternatives to chemical pesticides, the demand for biological control organisms in the USA has increased significantly in volume and variety. There is a corresponding increase in the numbers of permit requests for biological control agents from foreign sources. Environmentalists, Federal and State plant regulatory agencies in the USA are concerned over the long-term effects of these ‘beneficials’ on the target hosts, non-target organisms, codependency of flora and fauna, and on the general environment. Within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of USDA, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) protects US agriculture from the introduction and dispersal of harmful plant pests. It does this with the help of a network of Plant Quarantine Officers. PPQ strongly supports biological control strategies and the importation of more effective agents by accommodating the needs of agribusiness under appropriate safeguards. Although most biological control organisms are not plant pests, certain precautions are in order prior to release since shipments may contain unwanted pests, other contaminants and prohibited plant material.
13C Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of kerogen from Cretaceous black shales thermally altered by basaltic intrusions and laboratory simulations

Cretaceous black shales from DSDP Leg 41, Site 368 in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean were thermally altered during the Miocene by an intrusive basalt. The sediments overlying and underlying the intrusive body were subjected to high temperatures (up to ~ 500°C) and, as a result, their kerogen was significantly altered. The extent of this alteration has been determined by examination by means of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, using cross polarization/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS). Results indicate that the kerogen becomes progressively more aromatic in the vicinity of the intrusive body. Laboratory heating experiments, simulating the thermal effects of the basaltic intrusion, produced similar results on unaltered shale from the drill core. The 13C CP/MAS results appear to provide a good measure of thermal alteration.
An assessment of the current state of palliative care education in pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training.

Background Despite improved survival rates for pediatric oncology patients, childhood cancers continue to be the number one cause of non-accidental death in children. Studies show that many children receiving end-of-life care, and their families, believe that physicians can improve significantly in the delivery of palliative care. This has led to the recommendation that increased palliative care training for physicians taking care of terminally ill pediatric patients is needed. Procedure We designed a 28-question survey and sent it via electronic mail to all 66 pediatric oncology fellowship program directors in the United States. The questionnaire assessed fellowship training programs' current practice in educating pediatric oncology fellows on palliative care. Results Thirty-six pediatric oncology program directors responded to the survey for a 55% response rate. Ninety-four percent of all respondents reported that it is very important or extremely important for pediatric oncology fellows to learn about palliative care during their training. Seventy-one percent of fellowship training programs do not currently have a palliative care curriculum, and less than one-third of training programs have any evidence-based journal clubs devoted to palliative care issues. Eighty-eight percent of program directors believe their program will increase palliative care education for their fellows within 5 years. Conclusions Pediatric oncology fellowship directors believe it is very important for fellows to learn about palliative care during training; however, currently the majority of fellowship programs do not have a palliative care curriculum and lack significant formal education in end-of-life care. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:647–651. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bivariate short distributions

On introduit deux generalisations de la distribution «courte» (Cresswell et Froggatt, 1963) au cas bivariable
General continuum theory for multiion channel. I. Theory.

It is assumed that the channel is completely characterized by three factors: (a) its geometric shape, (b) the potential energy interaction between an ion and the channel wall, and (c) the potential energy interaction between two ions at arbitrary positions in the channel. The total potential energy of an ion in a multiion channel can be described by a summation over factors b and c. The ion-water interaction is described by a continuum diffusion coefficient which is determined by the channel geometry (c). Given this physical description, a theory is described that predicts the flux of all the ion species that are present, with no additional assumptions about, e.g., the maximum number of ions allowed in the channel, location of binding sites or shape of energy barriers. The solution is based on a combination of the Nernst-Planck and Poisson equation. The Poisson potential is corrected for the ion's self potential. A hard sphere ion-ion interaction is included that prevents ions from piling up on top of each other in regions where the channel wall has a high charge density. An exact analytical solution is derived for the region in the bulk solution, far from the channel mouth and this solution is used as a boundary condition for the numerical solution. The numerical solution is obtained by an interactive procedure that is surprisingly efficient. Application of the theory to the acetylcholine receptor channel is described in the companion paper (Levitt, D. G. 1990. Biophys. J. 59:278–288).
Radiofrequency Catheter Modification of Sinus Pacemaker Function Guided by Intracardiac Echocardiography

Background The sinus P wave arises from a pacemaker complex distributed along the crista terminalis. We investigated the feasibility of modification of sinus pacemaker function using graded applications of radiofrequency energy along the crista terminalis in dogs to achieve sinus rate control. Methods and Results Modification of sinus pacemaker function (30±5% reduction in intrinsic heart rate with retention of a normal P-wave axis) was performed in 11 dogs (group 1). Total sinus pacemaker ablation (>50% reduction in intrinsic heart rate with development of a low ectopic atrial or a junctional rhythm) was performed in 4 dogs (group 2). Intracardiac echocardiography was used to identify the crista terminalis as an anatomic marker of sinus node location. Sinus pacemaker modification caused a significant decrease in intrinsic heart rate (31% reduction, P<.001), heart rate responsiveness to isoproterenol (30% reduction, P<.0001), and average (20% reduction, P=.0002) and maximal (22% reduction, P=.0007) heart ...
NUCLEAR DATA SHEETS FOR A = 111.

Abstract The 1960 version of the Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 111 has been revised on the basis of experimental data received before February 1971. Data received during February 1971 have been added in proof. Experimental data, adopted values, comparisons with theory, arguments for J π assignments, and detailed level schemes are presented. Comments given by compilers serve to highlight interesting features, to focus attention on existing discrepancies, and to suggest possible new experiments. The material is organized into four parts. The level scheme drawings together with the “Summary Sheets” represent the quintessence of the numerical data which are tabulated, with minimum essential information on experimental conditions, in greater detail in the “Data Sheets.” We have attempted to make the compilation as self-contained as possible, but the interested and inquisitive reader always has recourse to the detailed bibliography provided at the end of this compilation.
Using a classic paper by Evarts as a platform for discussing cortical control of skeletal muscle in awake, behaving primates

A growing portion of premedical curricula is being devoted to the study of physiological mechanisms underlying animal behavior. In the present article, I describe an activity centered around a clas...
Extracardiac Unruptured Sinus of Valsalva, Coronary, and Intracranial Aneurysms

A 65-year-old woman presented for chronic cough and dyspnea with an aortic diastolic murmur. Transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a large, 57-mm nonruptured extracardiac aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva with mild aortic regurgitation. Coronary angiogram showed further multiple aneurysms of the entire coronary arteries (Figure 1). Cardiac MRI (Figure 2) elucidated the anatomy of the aneurysm. Cerebral angiography demonstrated large saccular aneurysms of the left anterior choroidal artery and the …
On thin‐layer telluric modeling of magnetotelluric responses

Modeling of three‐dimensional (3-D) thin‐sheet telluric anomalies has been a popular means of estimating the distortions of magnetotelluric (MT) response functions in the vicinity of an upper crustal resistivity inhomogeneity (Kaikkonen, 1986) because structures with an arbitrary 3-D shape in plan view can be simulated with modest computational effort. In the class of thin‐layer problems of this note, the sheet structure overlies an infinitely resistive basement; and anomalous fields are computed in the long‐period or zero‐frequency (dc) limit (e.g., Hermance, 1982). Under the assumption of no vertical current flow into the basement, this 3-D problem reduces to a two‐dimensional (2-D) dc solution across the sheet. Since only the long‐period limit is considered, however, the conclusions that can be drawn about the effects of general 3-D structures are restricted. The purpose of this note is to clarify restrictions on the use of 2-D MT interpretations in 3-D areas based on just thin‐sheet telluric modeling.