cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soy glyceollins regulate transcript abundance in the female mouse brain.

Glyceollins (Glys), produced by soy plants in response to stress, have anti-estrogenic activity in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. In addition to known anti-estrogenic effects, Gly exhibits mechanisms of action not involving estrogen receptor (ER) signaling. To date, effects of Gly on gene expression in the brain are unknown. For this study, we implanted 17-β estradiol (E2) or placebo slow-release pellets into ovariectomized CFW mice followed by 11 days of exposure to Gly or vehicle i.p. injections. We then performed a microarray on total RNA extracted from whole-brain hemispheres and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by a 2 × 2 factorial ANOVA with an false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.20. In total, we identified 33 DEGs with a significant E2 main effect, 5 DEGs with a significant Gly main effect, 74 DEGs with significant Gly and E2 main effects (but no significant interaction term), and 167 DEGs with significant interaction terms. Clustering across all DEGs revealed that transcript abundances were similar between the E2 + Gly and E2-only treatments. However, gene expression after Gly-only treatment was distinct from both of these treatments and was generally characterized by higher transcript abundance. Collectively, our results suggest that whether Gly acts in the brain through ER-dependent or ER-independent mechanisms depends on the target gene.
The United States Department of Agriculture Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness Program

On November 1, 1971, the U.S. Department of Agriculture established the concept of an Emergency Programs Organization within its Veterinary Services. The purpose of the new Organization is to plan for and eradicate exotic diseases should they gain entry into the United States. In addition, Emergency Programs is charged with the responsibility of monitoring the U.S. livestock, poultry, and wildlife populations to detect the entry of exotic diseases. Three principal staffs; i.e., Technical Support, National Emergency Field Operations, and International Operations have been organized within Emergency Programs to answer the needs of an emergency animal disease preparedness program. Furthermore, five trained regional standby field organizations are available for immediate call within the United States when a disease emergency exists.
A study of drug-induced topoisomerase II-mediated DNA lesions on episomal chromatin.

Abstract A well defined extrachromosomal DNA element, referred to as an episome (Ostrowski, M., Richard-Foy, H., Wolford, R., Berard, D., and Hager, G. (1983) Mol. Cell. Biol. 3, 2045-2057), was employed as a target for the topoisomerase II inhibitors amsacrine and teniposide. Both drugs have distinct mechanisms of action in cleaving the episome, as defined by topological forms conversion assays. The concentration ranges required to measure episomal cleavage are similar. The onset of damage induced by amsacrine begins within 1 min and is maintained at that level for at least 1 h. Teniposide induces damage that peaks between 30 and 60 min. The amsacrine-induced damage is only partially reversible, whereas teniposide-induced damage is almost completely reversible. Sites of specific cleavage are quite dissimilar. Multiple cleavage sites are formed in the episomal regulatory regions after amsacrine treatment, whereas a single cleavage in the regulatory region and one outside this region are found after teniposide treatment. Transcriptional activation using dexamethasone does not change the amount or site preference of episomal cleavage induced by either agent. Damage to the episome was quantitatively compared with damage produced in genomic DNA between 500 and 24,000 rad equivalents. The study showed that amsacrine has a significant (33-38-fold) preference for episomal DNA over genomic DNA.
Results of classroom enterprise security assessment of five large enterprise networks

The paper addresses a full network security assessment of the working network of five enterprises. Our activities were evaluative assessments that were performed with no actual touches of the network itself. We start the paper with the handling of the issues of assessment confidential and methodology. In additional to requesting background information, we requested each enterprise answer 16 questions. As the assessments continued, additional questions were handled case by case until complete packages were formed. The paper captures summary findings that involve IP address and authentication, Intrusion Detection Systems, Demilitarized Zones, Wireless Network, Virtual Private Networks and most glaring Security Policy problems.
The Purα/Purβ single-strand DNA-binding proteins attenuate smooth-muscle actin gene transactivation in myofibroblasts.

Expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMαA) is essential for myofibroblast-mediated wound contraction following tissue injury. The Pur α/β and YB-1 transcriptional repressors govern the DNA-binding activity of serum response factor (SRF) and phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3) transcriptional activators during induction of SMαA gene expression in human pulmonary myofibroblasts. In quiescent fibroblasts, Pur α exhibited a novel function in enhancing stability of pre-existing SRF complexes with SMαA core promoter DNA, whereas Pur β was more effective in disrupting SRF-DNA interaction. Pur proteins were less efficient competitors of pre-existing, core-promoter complexes containing both SRF and pSmad3 in nuclear extracts from TGFβ1-activated myofibroblasts. TGFβ1 signaling dissociated a SRF/Pur protein complex with concurrent formation of a transient pSmad3/MRTF-A/Pur β complex during early phase myofibroblast differentiation. Pur β was replaced by Pur α in the pSmad3/MRTF-A complex in mature myofibroblasts. Combining all three repressors potently inhibited SRF and pSmad3 binding to promoter DNA in quiescent fibroblasts and TGFβ1-activated myofibroblasts, respectively. The results point to dynamic interplay between transcriptional activators and repressors in regulating SMαA gene output during myofibroblast differentiation. Therapeutic targeting of nucleoprotein complexes regulating the SMαA promoter may prevent excessive myofibroblast accumulation associated with chronic cardiopulmonary fibrosis and dysfunctional tissue remodeling. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1256–1271, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Discovering the Unknown Landscape: A History Of America's Wetlands

The confusion and contention that surround wetland issues today are the products of a long and convoluted history. In Discovering the Unknown Landscape, Ann Vileisis presents a fascinating look at that history, exploring how Americans have thought about and used wetlands from colonial times through the present day. She discusses the many factors that influence patterns of land use - ideology, economics, law, perception, art - and examines the complicated interactions among those factors that have resulted in our contemporary landscape. As well as chronicling the march of destruction, Vileisis considers the seemingly contradictory tradition of appreciating wetlands: artistic and literary representations, conservation during the Progressive Era, and recent legislation aimed at slowing or stopping losses.
Interferon-γ Regulates the Death of M. tuberculosis-Infected Macrophages

We previously described a caspase-independent death induced in macrophages by a high intracellular burden of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This death, with features of apoptosis and necrosis, releases viable bacilli for spreading infection. Interferon (IFN)-γ promotes survival of macrophages with a low intracellular Mtb load by inhibiting bacterial replication. Macrophages in naive hosts are unable to restrict Mtb replication following aerosol transmission, but IFN-γ is increasingly present when adaptive immunity is expressed in the lungs ~2 weeks post-infection. We therefore investigated the effects of IFN-γ on macrophages challenged with Mtb at high multiplicity of infection (MOI). In contrast to the response at low MOI, IFN-γ accelerated the death of heavily infected macrophages and altered the characteristics of the dying cells. IFN-γ increased caspase-dependent DNA cleavage and apoptotic vesicle formation, but it also increased mitochondrial injury and release of LDH and HMGB1 in a caspase-independent manner. Adaptive immunity in tuberculosis (TB), mediated primarily by IFN-γ, has differential effects on Mtb-induced macrophage cell death depending on the intracellular bacillary load. While IFN-γ generally promotes host defense, our data suggest that its effects on heavily infected macrophages could also accelerate necrosis and spreading infection in TB disease.
Tesla's legacy and the young generations [educational course]

In his visionary ideas Tesla was so far ahead of his time. Somebody said that Tesla was working on "inventing the future". He was a pioneer in many fields, but commonly misunderstood. His work paved the way for widespread electrification and information technology, and forever changed our lives. Still, Nikola Tesla reminded the great forgotten genius through the history of science in most parts of the world, with his name usually unknown, even among scientists. We do not discuss the reasons for this great injustice. We discuss one of the ways to pass Tesla's legacy on to the next generation: the freshman course about Nikola Tesla and his inventions offered for the first time ever at the University of California at Berkeley.
Omnidirectional Ultrasonic Powering for Millimeter-Scale Implantable Devices

In addition to superior energy-conversion efficiency at millimeter-scale dimensions, ultrasonic wireless powering offers deeper penetration depth and omnidirectionality as compared to the traditional inductive powering method. This makes ultrasound an attractive candidate for powering deep-seated implantable medical devices. In this paper, we investigate ultrasonic powering of millimeter-scale devices with specific emphasize on the output power levels, efficiency, range, and omnidirectionality. Piezoelectric receivers $1 \times 5 \times 1$ mm3, $2 \times 2 \times 2$ mm3, and $2 \times 4 \times 2$ mm3 in size are able to generate 2.48, 8.7, and 12.0 mW of electrical power, while irradiated at 1.15 and 2.3 MHz within FDA limits for medical imaging (peak acoustic intensity of 720 mW/cm2). The receivers have corresponding efficiencies of 0.4%, 1.7%, and 2.7%, respectively, at 20-cm powering distance. Due to the form factor and reflections from tissue–air boundaries, the output power stays constant to within 92% when the angular positions of the transmitter and receiver are varied around a cylindrical shell.
Phylogenetic Relationships and Morphological Evolution in Nymphoides (Menyanthaceae)

The cosmopolitan genus Nymphoides contains approximately 50 species that vary considerably in growth habit, inflorescence architecture, and in vegetative, floral, and seed morphology We undertook a phylogenetic study of 31 Nymphoides species, including all species native to Australia, to evaluate interspecific relationships and to infer the evolution of heterostyly and inflorescence architecture. Phylogenetic analysis of morphological data resolved several clades of species, but with poor branch support. Molecular data from nuclear (ITS) and plastid (matK/trnK) DNA sequences were significantly incongruent regarding the phylogenetic placement of many clades and species. Two major clades were resolved consistently: a clade sister to N. minima and the clade comprising these two lineages. Incongruent phylogenetic placements of several Nymphoides species were attributed to putative ancestral hybridization that produced conflicting phylogenetic signals between the maternally inherited cpDNA and the biparentally inherited nuclear DNA (subsequently homogenized to a single allelic variant by concerted evolution). Ancestral character state reconstruction indicated that the first Nymphoides species were heterostylous, followed by four independent transitions to homostyly and up to four subsequent reversions back to heterostyly. The evolutionary history of dioecy and gynodioecy could not be ascertained with confidence, owing to incomplete taxon sampling, poor resolution of crown clades, and incongruence between nuclear and plastid sequence data. Ancestral state reconstruction also indicated that the expanded inflorescence morphology found in several Australian and tropical Asian Nymphoides species represents the ancestral condition for the genus, from which a condensed morphology (found in most other Nymphoides species worldwide) evolved independently at least twice.
Molecular, radiologic, and histopathologic correlations in thanatophoric dysplasia

Various mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene have recently been reported in thanatophoric dysplasia (TD). We examined the clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings in 91 cases from the International Skeletal Dysplasia Registry and correlated them with the specific FGFR3 mutation. Every case of TD examined had an identifiable FGFR3 mutation. Radiographically, all of the cases with the Lys650Glu substitution demonstrated straight femora with craniosynostosis, and frequently a cloverleaf skull (CS) was demonstrated. In all other cases, the femora were curved, and CS was infrequently present but was occasionally as severe as TD with the Lys650Glu substitution. Histopathologically, all of the cases shared similar abnormalities, but cases with the Lys650Glu substitution had better preservation of the growth plate. Cases with the Tyr373Cys substitution tended to have more severe radiographic manifestations than the Arg248Cys cases, but there was overlap in the phenotypic spectrum between them. One common classification of TD distinguishes affected infants based on the presence or absence of CS. In contrast, and as originally proposed by Langer et al. [1987: Am J Med Genet 3: 167-179], our data suggest that TD can be divided into at least two groups (TD1 and TD2) based on the presence of straight or curved femora. The variable presence of CS and severity of the radiologic and histologic findings in the other substitutions may be due to other genetic, environmental, or stochastic factors.
Effects of intrusions on grades and contents of gold and other metals in volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits

Abstract The reason some VMS deposits contain more gold or other metals than others might be due to the influence of intrusions. A new approach examining this possibility is based on examining the information about many VMS deposits to test statistically if those with associated intrusions have significantly different grades or amounts of metals. A set of 632 VMS deposits with reported grades, tonnages, and information about the observed presence or absence of subvolcanic or plutonic intrusive bodies emplaced at or after VMS mineralization is statistically analyzed. Deposits with syn-mineralization or post-mineralization intrusions nearby have higher tonnages than deposits without reported intrusions, but the differences are not statistically significant. When both kinds of intrusions are reported, VMS deposit sizes are significantly higher than in the deposits without any intrusions. Gold, silver, zinc, lead, and copper average grades are not significantly different in the VMS deposits with nearby intrusions compared to deposits without regardless of relative age of intrusive. Only zinc and copper contents are significantly higher in VMS deposits with both kinds of intrusive reported. These differences in overall metal content are due to significantly larger deposit sizes of VMS deposits where both intrusive kinds are observed and reported, rather than any difference in metal grades.
Geomagnetic cutoff rigidities and geomagnetic coordinates appropriate for the Carrington flare Epoch

Abstract Using the trajectory-tracing technique for cosmic rays in the geomagnetic field, vertical cutoff rigidity values for a world grid have been determined for Epoch 1850. These values have been used to derive a world map of iso-rigidity contours that would have been appropriate for the era of the Carrington flare in September 1859. When comparing these iso-rigidity contours with those determined for Epoch 2000, large differences are found, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean region. Geomagnetic cutoff rigidity values and geomagnetic coordinates have been determined for selected mid and low latitude geographic locations for which aurora were sighted during the geomagnetic storms of late August and early September 1859 and compared with the values for those locations calculated for the year 2000. While the geomagnetic latitude differences are relatively small, there are major changes in the vertical cutoff rigidity values for these same locations over this 150-year period. The cutoff differences are attributed to a combination of: (1) the decreasing internal geomagnetic field over the last 150 years and (2) the westward drift of the major features of the geomagnetic field. The relatively small changes in geomagnetic latitude are attributed to the small change in the latitude of the north magnetic pole over this 150-year period. This study emphasizes that while geomagnetic cutoff values are essential for the analysis of high-energy solar proton events, they are not an appropriate parameter for evaluation of the equatorward extent of an auroral display.
An Existential–Integrative Approach to Experiential Liberation

This article summarizes my existential–integrative (EI) model of therapy, with an emphasis on the experiential level of contact. The experiential (or being) level of contact comprises 4 basic dimensions—the immediate, the affective, the kinesthetic, and the profound (or cosmic). The engagement of the experiential level of contact is contingent on clients' readiness and capacity for intensive, whole-bodied awareness; it may or may not be relevant for clients requiring more externalized (e.g., cognitive–behavioral) levels of change. The value of the experiential level of contact resides in its promotion of a profound capacity for choice. This whole-bodied capacity is elaborated, and a therapeutic case is provided to illustrate.
THE ROLE OF UPWARD INFLUENCE TACTICS IN HUMAN RESOURCE DECISIONS

A model was examined which proposes that employee influence tactics impact human resource decisions by affecting managers' perceptions of the subordinate's interpersonal skills, manager liking of subordinates, and managers' perceptions of similarity to subordinates. The human resource decisions investigated were performance ratings, promotability assessments, and salary. Data were collected from 247 subordinates and their managers and from company records. Structural equation modeling results indicated that influence tactics were related to managers' perceptions of subordinates' interpersonal skills, liking, and perceptions of similarity to subordinates. Specifically, subordinates' use of reasoning, assertiveness, and favor rendering were positively related to managers' perceptions whereas bargaining and self-promotion were negatively related to these perceptions. Finally, there was no support for direct relationships between influence tactics and HR decisions.
Polyphosphate amplifies proinflammatory responses of nuclear proteins through interaction with receptor for advanced glycation end products and P2Y1 purinergic receptor

The extracellular nuclear proteins, histone H4 (H4) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), released by injured cells during the activation of inflammation and coagulation pathways provoke potent inflammatory responses through interaction with pathogen-related pattern recognition receptors (ie, Toll-like receptors [TLRs] and receptor for advanced glycation end products [RAGE]) present on vascular and innate immune cells. Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) has emerged as a key modulator of coagulation and inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that polyP binds to both H4 and HMGB1 with high affinity, thereby dramatically potentiating their proinflammatory properties in cellular and in vivo models. By using small interfering RNA knockdowns, pharmacologic inhibitors and extracellular domains of the receptors TLR2, TLR4, RAGE, and P2Y1 as competitive inhibitors, we demonstrate that polyP amplifies H4- and HMGB1-mediated inflammatory signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells specifically through interaction with the RAGE and P2Y1 receptors, thereby eliciting intracellular Ca2+ release. Finally, we demonstrate that the natural anticoagulant protease, activated protein C, potently inhibits polyP-mediated proinflammatory effects of both nuclear proteins in cellular and in vivo systems.
Resolving uncertainty in manufacturing systems

Abstract This paper examines the effectiveness of three commonly practiced methods used to resolve uncertainty in multi-stage manufacturing systems: safety stock under regenerative material requirements planning (MRP) updates, safety capacity under regenerative MRP updates, and net change MRP updates, i.e., continuous rather than regenerative (periodic) updates. The use of safety stock reflects a decision to permanently store materials and labor capacity in the form of inventory. When unexpected shortages arise between regenerative MRP updates, safety stock may be depleted but it will be replenished in subsequent periods. The second method, safety capacity, overstates the MRP capacity requirements at the individual work centers by a prescribed amount of direct labor. Safety capacity either will be allocated to unanticipated requirements which arise between MRP regenerations or will be spent as idle time. The third method, net change, offers a means of dealing with uncertainty by rescheduling instead of buffering, provided there is sufficient lead time to execute the changes in the material and capacity plans. Much of the inventory management research has addressed the use of safety stock as a buffer against uncertainty for a single product and manufacturing stage. However, there has been no work which evaluates the performance of safety stock relative to other resolution methods such as safety capacity or more frequent planning revisions. In this paper, a simulation model of a multi-stage (fabrication and assembly) process is used to characterize the behavior of the three resolution methods when errors are present in the demand and time standard estimates. Four end products are completed at an assembly center and altogether, the end products require the fabrication of twelve component parts in a job shop which contains eight work centers. In addition to the examination of the three methods under different sources and levels of uncertainty, different levels of bill of material commonality, MRP planned lead times, MRP lot sizes, equipment set-up times and priority dispatching rules are considered in the experimental design. The simulation results indicate that the choice among methods depends upon the source of uncertainty, and costs related to regular time employment, employment changes, equipment set ups and materials investment. For example, the choice between safety stock and safety capacity represents a compromise between materials investment and regular time employment costs. The net change method is not designed to deal effectively with time standard errors, although its use may be preferred over the two buffering alternatives when errors are present in the demand forecasts and when the costs of employment changes and equipment set ups are low. The simulation results also indicate that regardless of the method used, efforts to improve forecasts of demands or processing times may be justified by corresponding improvements in manufacturing performance.
Personal assistance services in the workplace: A literature review

Abstract Background Personal assistance services (PAS) can be valuable adjuncts to the complement of accommodations that support workers with disabilities. This literature review explored the professional literature on the use of PAS in the workplace. Methods Bibliographic sources were used to locate relevant research studies on the use of PAS in the workplace. The studies in this review used both qualitative and quantitative methods to identify current definitions of work-related and personal care–related PAS, agency-directed versus consumer-directed PAS, long-term and short-term funding issues, development of PAS policy, and barriers to successful implementation of PAS. Results The studies uncovered issues related to (a) recruiting, training, and retaining personal assistants, (b) employer concerns, (c) costs and benefits of workplace PAS, (d) wages and incentives for personal assistants, and (e) sources for financing PAS as a workplace accommodation. Conclusion The findings reveal the value and benefits of effective PAS on the job. PAS can lead to successful employment of people with disabilities when other accommodations cannot provide adequate workplace support. Additionally, the evolution of workplace PAS is dependent on development of realistic PAS policy and funding options.
Automatic timing granularity adjustment for host-compiled software simulation

Host-compiled simulation has been widely adopted as a practical approach for fast and high-level evaluation of complex software-intensive systems at early stages of the design process. In such approaches, higher speed is achieved by coarse-grained simulation of the system, which also leads to a loss in timing accuracy. To eliminate the inherent speed and accuracy tradeoff, we present an adjustive software simulator, which automatically controls the timing model of the simulation platform to provide both fast and accurate results. At its core, we propose a novel RTOS model that permanently monitors the state of the system and optimally and automatically adjusts back-annotated timing granularities to provide an error-free task scheduling. We evaluated our approach on an industrial-strength example, and results show that the accuracy of a fine-grain simulation can be achieved while maintaining a speed of close to 900MIPS.
Stress distribution around large holes in flat plates

Employing a special case of a new method, the solution for the problem of a rectangular flat plate with a central large circular cutout subject to some transverse load and/or moment is derived. This is achieved with the use of certain eigenfunctions generated by sets of circular line loadings of the plate. Numerical results are presented for special cases.
A new phenomenological supermultiplet structure of elementary particles

Abstract Grouping together the known strongly interacting particles and resonances according to their spin value J and disregarding isospin, a simple two-parameter linear mass formula is found. One parameter characterizes each entire supermultiplet, the other varies from subset to subset. This second quantum number, together with isospin T , defines the hypercharge U and a new quantum number V , such that when taking also parity into account no degeneracy is left in the scheme. The mass formula is refined to incorporate isospin. A possible group theoretical background is suggested, which is based on the group U 4 . The symmetry breaking terms are discussed on general grounds. The possibility of incorporating electromagnetic and weak interactions is indicated.
Intraduodenal Glucose Infusions Do Not Affect Food Intake in die Fowl

Abstract A series of experiments was performed to examine the role of the duodenum in food intake regulation in the fowl. In each of the experiments, birds were surgically fitted with intraduodenal cannulae. In Experiments 1 to 6, Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) or Rock Cornish cockerels were infused with isosmotic glucose, urea, or saline solutions. Glucose had no effect on food intake as compared with the saline and urea control treatments. In the final experiment, food intake of splanchnicectomized SCWL cockerels was contrasted to that of sham-operated controls, following intraduodenal glucose infusions. No difference between the denerved and intact birds was observed. The duodenum of the fowl, unlike the mammal, does not appear to play a significant role in food intake regulation.
Evolution Of Molecular Structure In Alkoxide-Derived Lithium Niobate

Structural rearrangements during the sol-gel processing of lithium niobate were investigated by FTlR and Raman spectroscopic methods. The reaction of lithium ethoxide with niobium ethoxide resulted in the formation of a bimetallic alkoxide, LiNb(OEt)6 , which could be crystallized from solution. Single crystals were comprised of helical polymeric units consisting of niobium octahedra linked by lithium in tetrahedral (distorted) coordination. Successive crystallizations from solution allowed for the enhanced purification of the alkoxide precursor. Hydrolysis of the bimetallic alkoxide resulted in the formation of an amorphous network structure, which contained niobium-oxygen octahedral units modified by lithium. Heat-treatment facilitated structural rearrangements for the niobium environment, which allowed for the formation of the lithium niobate crystal structure. Further heat-treatment above 700°C resulted in structural changes associated with lithium oxide volatility.
Treatment for Tobacco Dependence for Rural, Lower-Income Smokers: Outcomes, Predictors, and Measurement Considerations

Abstract Purpose. Outcomes from a statewide program that delivered evidence-based, intensive treatment for tobacco dependence to a rural population of lower socioeconomic status (SES) were evaluated. Factors that predicted success and measurement considerations were examined. Design and Analyses. Data were collected at intake, at all treatment sessions, and at 3- and 12-months posttreatment. Abstinence rates were calculated using complete-case analysis and intention-to-treat analysis, and they were estimated for all participants. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the predictive significance of demographic and clinical factors. Setting. Twenty health care sites across Arkansas. Participants. A total of 2,350 predominantly rural, lower SES, Arkansas residents. Intervention. Evidence-based, six-session, multi-component cognitive-behavioral therapy with relapse prevention. Results. The estimated percent abstinent was 26.47% at 3-months and 21.73% at 12-months post-treatment; 51.02% of patients complete...
Trans-amniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) minimizes Chiari-II malformation in experimental spina bifida.

Abstract Purpose We sought to study the impact of trans-amniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) in the Chiari-II malformation in experimental spina bifida. Methods Sprague–Dawley fetuses (n=62) exposed to retinoic acid were divided into three groups at term (21–22 days gestation): untreated isolated spina bifida (n=21), isolated spina bifida treated with intra-amniotic injection of concentrated, syngeneic, labeled amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (afMSCs) on gestational day 17 (n=28), and normal controls (n=13). Analyses included measurements of brainstem and cerebellar placement on high resolution MRI and histology. Statistical comparisons included ANOVA. Results In parallel to the expected induced coverage of the spina bifida in the afMSC-treated group ( P P P =0.014 between treated and normal controls in caudal brainstem displacement and P Conclusions Induced coverage of spina bifida by TRASCET minimizes the Chiari-II malformation in the retinoic acid rodent model, further suggesting it as a practical alternative for the prenatal management of spina bifida.
The capture of ions by vortex lines at low temperatures

Abstract We have measured the capture cross-section for negative ions by vortex lines at temperatures below 1°K. The cross-section decreases very rapidly with decreasing temperature, in fair agreement with a ‘Monte-Carlo’ calculation.
Verbal conditioning of male and female schizophrenics as a function of experimenter proximity.

Verbal conditioning of male and female schizophrenics and nonschizophrenics was observed as Ss sat at different distances and orientations from an E who delivered a positive word/positive tone reinforcer (“Good!”). Results indicated that the presence vs. absence of diagnostic differences in learning depended on (a) the sex of the Ss; and (b) the distance that Ss sat from the E. The absence of overall diagnostic group differences in learning and the finding that in some proxemic conditions schizophrenics learned more than nonschizophrenics are consistent with the view that under appropriate conditions schizophrenics emit behaviors that are incompatible with an assumption of schizophrenic deficit.
3400 years of agricultural engineering in Mesoamerica: lama-bordos of the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca, Mexico

The origins of early Mesoamerican agricultural techniques are not well established. Our charcoal-derived radiocarbon chronology dates cross-valley check dams, or lama-bordos, buried by up to 11.5 m of sediment in arroyos near Coixtlahuaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. Now it is clear that people in highland Mexico built lama-bordos at least 3400–3500 years ago, several hundred years earlier than previously dated engineering systems in Mesoamerica. Lama-bordo systems evolved as intensively and extensively managed landscapes coeval with climate shifting to more arid conditions. They provide clear examples of human-produced stratigraphy and artificial landscapes (stair-stepped valleys). More importantly, these lama-bordo systems signal a major cultural tipping point toward sedentary agricultural life and solidify our understanding of the Neolithic transition in Mesoamerica.
Association of short-term increases in ambient air pollution and timing of initial asthma diagnosis among medicaid-enrolled children in a metropolitan area

Objective We investigated associations of short-term changes in ambient ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and the timing of new-onset asthma, using a large, high-risk population in an area with historically high ozone levels.
Trading structure and overnight information: A natural experiment from the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange

Abstract A unique data set from the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) is used to study the effect of trading mechanisms on stock return volatility. The TASE represents a natural experiment which allows separation of the overnight information effect from the trading mechanism effect. The data span a time period in which the order of the trading mechanisms (a sequential continuous mechanism and a call auction) was switched. Since overnight information should impact opening prices equally across periods, this affords an unparalleled opportunity to examine the trading mechanism effect without the confounding effect of the non-trading period. This paper finds that the null, that opening variances equal closing variances, cannot be rejected for either period. Further, the tests cannot reject null that the ratio of opening to closing return variances is equal across periods. This suggests that the trading mechanisms on the TASE do not differ in their effect upon return volatility.
The Effect of Dietary Copper and Molybdenum on Turkey Poults

ABSTRACT A deficiency of lysine causes depigmentation in the flight feathers of poults (Fritz et al., 1946) and chicks (Klain et al., 1957); and the hair coats of rats (Vohra and Kratzer, 1956). The tyrosinase activity of the depigmented-feather pulp is reduced in comparison to that from the lysine-supplemented birds (Kratzer and Vohra, 1956; Klain et al., 1957). Tyrosinase is a copper containing enzyme and the enzymic activity may be catalyzed by an addition of copper (Lerner and Fitzpatrick, 1950). A deficiency of copper also results in depigmentation of rats (Keil and Nelson, 1931; Hundley, 1950). Molybdenum interferes with the utilization of copper in rats and causes a toxicity which may be overcome by the additon of copper (Neiland et al., 1948). An addition of 300 p.p.m. of molybdenum to a practical ration depressed the growth of poults without any effect on pigmentation, and copper tended to overcome this growth inhibition . . .
Large-chern-number quantum anomalous hall effect in thin-film topological crystalline insulators

We theoretically predict that thin-film topological crystalline insulators can host various quantum anomalous Hall phases when doped by ferromagnetically ordered dopants. Any Chern number between $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4$ can, in principle, be reached as a result of the interplay between (a) the induced Zeeman field, depending on the magnetic doping concentration, (b) the structural distortion, either intrinsic or induced by a piezoelectric material through the proximity effect, and (c) the thickness of the thin film. We propose a heterostructure to realize quantum anomalous Hall phases with Chern numbers that can be tuned by electric fields.
Generation of intervention strategy for a Genetic Regulatory Network represented by a family of Markov Chains

Genetic Regulatory Networks (GRNs) are frequently modeled as Markov Chains providing the transition probabilities of moving from one state of the network to another. The inverse problem of inference of the Markov Chain from noisy and limited experimental data is an ill posed problem and often generates multiple model possibilities instead of a unique one. In this article, we address the issue of intervention in a genetic regulatory network represented by a family of Markov Chains. The purpose of intervention is to alter the steady state probability distribution of the GRN as the steady states are considered to be representative of the phenotypes. We consider robust stationary control policies with best expected behavior. The extreme computational complexity involved in search of robust stationary control policies is mitigated by using a sequential approach to control policy generation and utilizing computationally efficient techniques for updating the stationary probability distribution of a Markov chain following a rank one perturbation.
Lymphopenia caused by cranial irradiation in children receiving craniospinal radiotherapy

The peripheral blood changes were studied in 67 children who received craniospinal irradiation for posterior fossa tumors. At the completion of a cranial dose of about 3500 rad to the whole brain port, the lymphocytes were reduced to 858/mm/sup 3/ from 3084/mm/sup 3/ preoperatively. The counts of the remaining leukocytes stayed at a level somewhat higher than preoperatively; the eosinophils rose to 288/mm/sup 3/ from 125/mm/sup 3/. With the initiation of the spinal field irradiation, which included a large proportion of the total bone marrow, the numbers of all the leukocytes decreased rapidly; the observed leukopenia was mainly secondary to neutropenia. A mechanism that was operating to restore the number of leukocytes became manifest immediately after the completion of radiotherapy, though the number of lymphocytes had not been totally restored to the preoperative level 6 years later. Irradiation of the lymphocytes that circulate through the vascular bed can explain the lymphopenia observed during cranial radiotherapy. Mild leukopenia observed in patients receiving radiotherapy through a relatively small port may be secondary to lymphopenia, and this does not necessarily indicate impaired bone marrow reserves.
Two new challenges for the modal account of the progressive

The progressive in English appears to be inherently modal, due to what Dowty (Word meaning and Montague grammar: The semantics of verbs and times in generative semantics and in Montague’s PTQ, 1979) terms the imperfective paradox. In truth-conditional accounts, the literal truth of a clause with the modal progressive hinges on the possibility of the described outcome. The clause’s truth under such accounts has also been tacitly assumed to describe its felicitous use. Two challenges for this strategy are discussed. First, a progressive clause exhibiting the imperfective paradox can occur felicitously even when the described outcome is not possible. Second, a progressive clause exhibiting the paradox can occur felicitously with an accompanying unless-clause, yet the analysis of unless-clauses directly contradicts the modal analysis of the truth-conditional behavior of the progressive clause in such cases. If the analysis of unless is not flawed, then the modal progressive will require reanalysis.
Dynamic Node Creation in Backpropagation Networks

Abstract This paper introduces a new method called Dynamic Node Creation (DNC) which automatically grows BP networks until the target problem is solved. DNC sequentially adds nodes one at a time to the hidden layer(s) of the network until the desired approximation accuracy is achieved. Simulation results for parity, symmetry, binary addition, and the encoder problem are presented. The procedure was capable of finding known minimal topologies in many cases, and was always within three nodes of the minimum. Computational expense for finding the solutions was comparable to training normal BP networks with the same final topologies. Starting out with fewer nodes than needed to solve the problem actually seems to help find a solution. The method yielded a solution for every problem tried.
A stochastic model for particle motion in large-eddy simulation

Most of the studies on large-eddy simulation (LES) of particle-laden flows assume that the effect of subgrid scales on the particle motion is negligible. This assumption may break down, particularly when particles have a small time constant and/or the filtered energy is significant. In this work, a stochastic model is proposed for the particle motion in LES while considering the effect of subgrid fluctuations. The model assumes that the fluid particle seen by the heavy particle evolves based on a diffusion stochastic process. For model assessment, both a priori and a posteriori tests are conducted for a particle-laden decaying isotropic turbulence. In the a priori test the filtered velocity field, obtained via filtering the DNS velocities, and in the a posteriori test the LES velocity field, obtained via the dynamic Smagorinsky model, are applied to particles through the stochastic model. The small-particle statistics obtained through the stochastic model very well match those obtained through DNS in the ...
Mechanisms of crustal uplift and subsidence at the Yellowstone caldera, Wyoming

Leveling surveys in 1923, 1976, and each year from 1983 to 1993 have shown that the east-central part of the Yellowstone caldera, near the base of the Sour Creek resurgent dome, rose at an average rate of 14±1 mm/year from 1923 to 1976 and 22±1 mm/year from 1976 to 1984. In contrast, no detectable movement occurred in the same area from 1984 to 1985 (-2±5 mm/year), and from 1985 to 1993 the area subsided at an average rate of 19±1 mm/year. We conclude that uplift from 1923 to 1984 was caused by: (1) pressurization of the deep hydrothermal system by fluids released from a crystallizing body of rhyolite magma beneath the caldera, then trapped beneath a self-sealed zone near the base of the hydrothermal system; and (2) aseismic intrusions of magma into the lower part of the sub-caldera magma body. Subsidence since 1985 is attributed to: (1) depressurization and fluid loss from the deep hydrothermal system, and (2) sagging of the caldera floor in response to regional crustal extension. Future intrusions might trigger renewed eruptive activity at Yellowstone, but most intrusions at large silicic calderas seem to be accommodated without eruptions. Overpressurization of the deep hydrothermal system could conceivably result in a phreatic or phreatomagmatic eruption, but this hazard is mitigated by episodic rupturing of the self-sealed zone during shallow earthquake swarms. Historical ground movements, although rapid by most geologic standards, seem to be typical of inter-eruption periods at large, mature, silicic magma systems like Yellowstone. The greatest short-term hazards posed by continuing unrest in the Yellowstone region are: (1) moderate to large earthquakes (magnitude 5.5–7.5), with a recurrence interval of a few decdes; and (2) small hydrothermal explosions, most of which affect only a small area (<0.01 km2), with a recurrence interval of a few years.
2-Hydroxyestradiol-17α and 4-hydroxyestradiol-17α, catechol estrogfn analogs with reduced estrogen receptor affinity

Abstract 2-Hydroxyestradiol-17α and 4-hydroxyestradiol-17α, the catechol derivatives of estradiol-17α, have reduced affinity for hypothalamic, pituitary, and uterine estrogen receptors, but retain a potency for interaction with catechol-O-methyltransferase equal to that of the natural, 17β-hydroxy catechols. This dissociation of receptor binding and catecholamine interactions nay allow the use of the 17α catechols as a probe for the mechanism of action of the catechol estrogens.
Disruption of rapid, nongenomic steroid actions by environmental chemicals: interference with progestin stimulation of sperm motility in Atlantic croaker.

Several nongenomic steroid actions, like genomic ones, can be disrupted by estrogenic xenobiotics (xenoestrogens), but the extent and sensitivity of this alternative mechanism of steroid action to chemical interference remain unclear. The effects of environmentally realistic concentrations of a broad range of organic contaminants on the nongenomic action of a progestin (17,20β,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one or 20β-S) to upregulate Atlantic croaker sperm motility were examined in an in vitro bioassay. Pretreatment of sperm for 10 min in vitro with estrogenic compounds (estradiol-17β, o,p‘-DDT derivatives, zearalenone, bisphenol A, 2‘,3‘,4‘,5‘-PCB-4-OH, kepone, chlordane, methoxyclor) and nonestrogenic organic compounds (p,p‘-DDT derivatives, atrazine, Aroclor 1254, naphthalene, benzene) at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 μM did not decrease the percent of motile sperm, but all of them partially or completely blocked the response to 20β-S. Most of the compounds impaired this endocrine mechanism at a c...
Neuropsychological aspects of reading and writing

There continues to be a poverty of systematic knowledge concerning the processes by which children learn to read and write. Yet there is a crucial need for such knowledge so that a body of generally accepted educat ional principles and procedures may be established to prevent and treat reading disorders which occur in approximate ly 15 percent of our child populat ion (1). Reading and writing skill development involves complex processes of learning. On a physiological level, the nervous system is the basis for such learning. Undoubtedly, learning itself is a psychological process and should not be reduced to physiology. Yet to ignore the role of brain structure and function as fundamental to learning theory is to build an abstract ion devoid of essential mainsprings. In the past few decades, investigation into central nervous system funct ioning has provided impor tant findings that should influence our thinking about how children learn. Investigations in neurology and psychology can be put to viable use in the teaching of reading and writing. This article will a t tempt to establish educational principles based on a logical relationship of process in these two related fields. While there have grown up in Western Europe and the United States several t radit ions of neuropsychological and psychological thinking about language based on the structure and functioning of the brain, the neuropsychological model of reading and writing skill acquisition we shall describe is based on the theory of the development of complex functional systems within the brain. This theory was first promulgated in the Soviet Union by L. S. Vygotsky in the 1930's (2). It was richly elaborated and brought to international at tention by Aleksandr R. Luria (3), Professor of Psychology at the University of Moscow. For almost 40 years, Luria and his associates have investigated brain-behavior relationship based upon the theoretical formulations of Vygotsky. Concentrating in the area of language development, they