cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acoustic startle at baseline and during acute alcohol withdrawal in replicate mouse lines selectively bred for high or low alcohol preference.

Background: Previous data in both rat and mouse genetic models suggest that there is a genetic relationship between acute alcohol withdrawal responses and innate alcohol drinking behavior. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether acute alcohol withdrawal responses, as measured by acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle, may be genetically related to innate differences in alcohol preference in 2 mouse lines selectively bred for high (HAP1 and HAP2) or low (LAP1 and LAP2) alcohol preference. Line differences in startle responses at baseline, prior to alcohol or saline treatment, were also measured. Methods: Alcohol-naive, male and female HAP1 (n = 35) and LAP1 (n = 32) and HAP2 (n = 43) and LAP2 (n = 40) mice were tested under baseline conditions and during withdrawal from a single injection of 4.0 g/kg alcohol or equal volume of saline at 4, 8, and 12 hours post-injection. Results: On most trial types, baseline startle responses and PPI were greater in both HAP lines than in both LAP lines, and startle responses were greater in males than in females. During acute alcohol withdrawal, both male LAP lines, and LAP1 females, showed reduced startle responses at the 4-hour time point during acute alcohol withdrawal. In contrast, both HAP1 males and females showed a trend toward enhanced startle at 4 hours in withdrawal. No clear differences in PPI during withdrawal were evident. Conclusions: These findings indicate good evidence for a genetic relationship between greater baseline acoustic startle responses and PPI and high alcohol preference. Modest support for a genetic correlation between low alcohol preference and reduced startle responses at 4 hours in withdrawal was found in male mice. The suppression in acoustic startle during acute alcohol withdrawal in male LAP lines but not in male HAP lines suggests that a genetic propensity toward low alcohol preference may be related to greater sensitivity to alcohol as measured by acoustic startle responses during acute alcohol withdrawal.
LAW AS SYMBOLIC ACTION: KENNETH BURKE'S SOCIOLOGY OF LAW*

In this paper, I present Kenneth Burke's sociology of law as a critical interactionist alternative to the now dominant functionalist sociology of law. Burke's perspective conceives of the law as a form of symbolic action that contributes much to social order. Further it ties the structure and operation of the law to the ontological symbolicity of human being. Finally I suggest that the use of this theoretical framework in research on the place of law in society will produce results that are both critical and hermeneutic.
MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY OF EUNOTIA PECTINALIS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) IN A SOFTWATER RHODE ISLAND STREAM AND IN CULTURE1

The diatom Eunotia pectinalis (O. F. Mull.?) Rabh. exhibited considerable morphological variability in samples collected over a 13-month period from a softwater Rhode Island stream. All observed morphotypes were classified into three main complexes based upon their valve configuration. These groupings were confirmed by discriminant analysis using quantitative valve characteristics and were named in accordance with their associated varieties: minor (Kutz.) Rabh., pectinalis and ventricosa Grun. Clonal cultures were subjected to a defined series of temperatures, agitation rates and light intensities in order to assess inherent morphological variability. Similar trends were evident for all complexes. Over time, valve length decreased, valve breadth enlarged, and striae number per 10 μm at valve center and apex increased. Morphological plasticity was evident in culture and appeared to be more a function of the clone genotype than the environmental conditions to which it was subjected. One clone originally identified as E. pectinalis var. minor assumed certain morphological features of E. vanheurckii Patr. after four months in culture.
Ion exchange, chromatofocusing and size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography of the human uterine progesterone receptor

Abstract The human uterine progesterone receptor was subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography on size exclusion, anion exchange and chromatofocusing columns. For the rapid isolation of the receptor, recovery of [ 3 H]progesterone as well as protein from the columns was essential. The size exclusion columns (G2000 SW and G3000 SW) as well as Mono P HR 5/20 chromatofocusing column adsorbed [ 3 H]progesterone and thus were not useful for separation purposes. The anion exchange (polyanion SI-17) and chromatofocusing columns, AX500, and IEX 540 DEAE gave very good recoveries of protein (>90%) and [ 3 H]progesterone; 80, 66 and 88% respectively. These columns gave rapid and reproducible separation of the progesterone receptor from other cytosol proteins.
Circadian variations in behavioral and biological sensitivity to ethanol.

In rats, behavioral (startle response and motor activity) and physiological (plasma corticosterone, nonesterified fatty acids, blood ethanol levels, liver alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, and body temperature) responses to ethanol were measured over the 24-hr cycle. The response to ethanol for many of these measures showed circadian variations. Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of ethanol were observed for several dependent variables at the same time, relative to controls. These results suggest that many discrepancies in the ethanol literature may be due to a light cycle x dependent variable interaction.
Nature of the pairing in a resonating-valence-bond superconductor.

One of the most striking features of the recently reported experimental data on the new high-temperature copper-oxide superconductors is the apparent disagreement between the photoabsorption and some of the tunneling measurements of the superconducting gap. It is argued here that this may not be an experimental artifact, but rather reflects the novel nature of the pairing in the resonating-valence-bond state: the lowest-lying quasiparticle excitations consist of pairs of neutral solitons. Thus, the superconducting gap can be measured in tunneling, but not in the photoabsorption. The nature of the expected absorption spectrum, and the analogy with doped polyacetylene is also discussed.
Potential Impacts of Elevated CO2 and Above- and Belowground Litter Quality of a Tallgrass Prairie

Increased atmospheric CO2 will likely impact the productivity of arid and semiarid ecosystems through increased C, N, and water use efficiencies at the individual plant level. Tallgrass prairie has had increased above- and belowground biomass production under elevated CO2, primarily due to increased water use efficiency. There is an apparent decreased N requirement to sustain increased productivity in CO2-enriched tallgrass prairie, and C:N ratios of plant litter above and below ground have increased. The tallgrass prairie ecosystem level response to elevated CO2 on the C cycle could potentially increase C storage. Reduced litter quality associated with elevated CO2 in tallgrass prairie has the potential to reduce decomposition rates, and ruminant digestion rate of plant biomass apparently has been lowered. Reduced intake by ruminants would shunt more of the plant biomass directly into the detrital food chain, thereby slowing decomposition further. The potential impact is for increased C to be retained as soil organic matter in the tallgrass prairie.
Spontaneous Quantum Hall States and Novel Luttinger Liquids in Chiral Graphene

Chirally stacked neutral N-layer graphene systems with N ≥ 2 exhibit spontaneous inversion symmetry breaking and interaction induced charge gaps due to interlayer exchange interactions. A variety of distinct broken symmetry states are distinguished by their charge, spin, and valley Hall conductivities, by their orbital magnetizations, and by their edge state properties. In the spinless case, quantum anomalous and valley Hall states are favored by a weak magnetic field and by an electric field between the graphene layers, respectively. At interfaces between different phases one dimensional gapless modes exhibit novel Luttinger liquid behaviors.
Leptin utilizes Jun N-terminal kinases to stimulate the invasion of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

In breast tumors, high levels of leptin have been associated with increased incidence of breast cancer metastasis. Breast cancer metastasis is directly associated with breast cancer cell invasion. However, whether leptin could augment breast cancer cell invasion is not known. Here we showed that leptin increased the invasiveness and the matrix metallo-proteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Leptin stimulated the phosphorylation of extracellular signals regulated kinases, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 and Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK); however, only inhibition of JNK decreased leptin-mediated activation of MMP-2. Furthermore, inhibition of JNK suppressed leptin-mediated breast cancer cell invasion. Here we report the novel findings that leptin increased invasion of breast cancer cells by activating JNK, resulting in increased MMP-2 activity.
Dorsal approach in the surgery of kidneys and of the upper portion of the ureter

A dorsal approach in the surgical treatment of nephrolithiasis has been evaluated and its technique, including the authors' own modification, is discussed. Late postoperative results obtained by dorsal and lumbar approaches in patients with similar indications for surgery have been compared. The follow-up period varied from several months to several years in duration. The dorsal surgical approach was preferable in cases of isolated calculi in the kidneys and upper portion of the ureter. Indications and contraindications for surgical procedures on the kidneys and the ureter with the dorsal approach are discussed.
Verbalizable knowledge and skilled task performance: Association, dissociation, and mental models.

Quatre experiences visent a clarifier les conditions d'apparition et les mecanismes des dissociations souvent rencontrees entre les performances a des epreuves et les connaissances verbalisables concernant ces epreuves
Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of symptomatic leiomyomata

Abstract Objective: To evaluate uterine artery embolization as an emerging minimally invasive technique in the treatment of patients symptomatic from uterine leiomyomata. Methods: Twenty patients (ages 31–52 years) underwent uterine artery embolization with permanent polyvinyl alcohol particles. Patients were assessed by the same examiner for uterine size and symptomatology. A questionnaire was answered as well as interval ultrasonography to assess uterine volume, as well as total fibroid volume. Volume was calculated using the formula for the prolate epsiloid. Results: At 1 year, 100% of patients with menorrhagia related to fibroids demonstrated complete resolution. One hundred percent of patients with mass symptomatology (pressure on adjacent structures, dyspareunia, or pelvic pain) reported improvement. All women stated that they would undergo the procedure again. Bilateral embolization was successful in all cases except one in which unilateral embolization was achieved. Decrease in uterine and fibroid volume ranged between 39% and 69% over 1 year. Commonly occurring postprocedural effects were low-grade fever and pain. One patient experienced a urinary tract infection; and, in another, an episode of pseudomembranous colitis related to prophylactic antibiotic use was documented by stool culture requiring rehospitalization. Nineteen of 20 patients returned to work within 3 weeks. Conclusions: Uterine artery embolization is a safe and effective alternative for women who desire less invasive management of leiomyomata.
Elastic-mathematical theory of cells and mitochondria in swelling process the membranous stresses and modulus of elasticity of the egg cell of sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

To the revolution-ellipsoidal and spherical membranous shell (cell mitochondrion) are introduced the equations for the calculation of both the modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) and the stresses, which exist at the membrane. The existing pressure difference between the inner and outer surface of the membrane is calculated in the dilution of seawater media in the osmotic steady state. The experimental results are obtained by using egg cells of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Up to the specific volume of the egg cell (VE ≈ 35·10-8 cm3) Boyle-van't Hoff's law is valid (defined as the subelastic range) beyond that the elastic stresses exist (elastic range). For the maximum value of the stresses existing at the cell wall one obtains σ ≈ 5.5·106 dyne/cm2 and for the modulus of elasticity E = 1.0·107 dyne/cm2, which is constant when the value of relative strain ɛν > 15%. The breaking limit by an approximate calculation is σU ≈ 11·106 dyne/cm2. The membrane is assumed to be convoluted and its hypothetical degree of folding was calculated [unk]a = 34%. The results are compared with the values existing in the literature and other types of cells are found to have values of elasticity in the same range as values of the membrane of S. purpuratus. Both compression and cell elastometer methods are criticized and in certain cases results of these methods are considered to belong to the subelastic domain.
Positive and negative luminescence in binary type II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodiodes

Recently, several groups have investigated the aspects of positive and negative luminescence behavior in infrared materials. Under forward bias voltage, charge carriers are injected into the active region of a p-n junction, giving rise to positive luminescence. In contrast, a p-n junction under reverse bias conditions can exhibit negative luminescence caused by a reduction of the electron-hole recombination of the device, such that the photon flux is below that of the black body emission in equilibrium. In the present work, we show measurements of both positive and negative luminescence of binary Type II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodiodes in the 3 to 13 μm spectral range. Through a radiometric calibration technique, we demonstrate temperature independent negative luminescence efficiencies of 45 % in the midwavelength (MWIR) sample from 220 K to 320 K without anti-reflective coating and values reaching 35 % in the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) spectrum sample. With the radiative recombination constant obtained in the framework of k • p theory a model is obtained to describe the temperature dependent behavior of the results near thermal equilibrium in both samples. In the long wavelength regime, we demonstrate that the dominant non-radiative recombination channel in n -type material is Auger recombination with an electron-hole-electron (CHCC) Auger recombination coefficient of C n = 1 x 10 24 cm 6 s -1 . While in the mid wavelength infrared window, the primary non-radiative recombination is Shockley-Read-Hall recombination giving rise to a p -type residual background capture cross-section of σ n = 7 x 10 -16 cm2.
Partial melting of fertile peridotite fluxed by hydrous rhyolitic melt at 2–3 GPa: implications for mantle wedge hybridization by sediment melt and generation of ultrapotassic magmas in convergent margins

We investigated the melting behavior of peridotite fluxed with 25 wt% of H2O-bearing rhyolitic sediment melt (1.8 wt% bulk H2O), by performing experiments from 1100 to 1300 °C at 2 GPa and 1050–1350 °C at 3 GPa. The apparent solidus of our bulk composition lies between 1100 and 1150 °C at both pressures, which is at a higher temperature than the vapor-saturated solidus and close to the pargasite dehydration solidus of peridotite. With increasing temperature, reacted melt fraction increases from 20 to 36 wt% from 1200 to 1300 °C at 2 GPa and 7 to 24 wt% from 1225 to 1350 °C at 3 GPa. Orthopyroxene is present as a residual phase in all the experiments, while olivine is present as a residual phase in all the experiments at 2 GPa only. Amphibole is absent above 1100 °C at both pressures, clinopyroxene disappears above 1200 and 1300 °C at 2 and 3 GPa, respectively, and garnet (only present at 3 GPa) melts out above 1300 °C. Upon reaction with the mantle wedge and subsequent melting of the hybrid rock, subducted sediment-derived rhyolites evolve in composition to a nepheline-normative ultrapotassic leucitite, similar in major element composition to ultrapotassic lavas from active arcs such as Sunda and inactive arcs such as in the Roman Magmatic Province. Fluxing peridotite with H2O versus H2O-bearing sediment melt at similar pressures does not appear to have an effect on isobaric melt productivity, but does have significant effect on melting reactions and resultant melt composition, with influx of sediment melt adding K2O to the system, thereby stabilizing phlogopite, which in turn buffers the reacted melt to ultrapotassic compositions. Previous experimental studies, along with this study, find that phlogopite can be stable near the hotter core of the mantle wedge and, hence, is likely to be subducted to deeper mantle, thereby influencing deeper cycling of volatiles and large ion lithophile elements. Also, because D Rb phl/melt ≫ D Sr phl/melt and D Nd phl/melt , D Sm phl/melt ≪ 1, long-term stability of phlogopite in the mantle can create ‘enriched mantle’ domains (eSr and eNd ≥ 0).
Thermal radiation from stellar collapse to a black hole

An analytic solution is presented for the thermal radiation spectrum from a star undergoing catastrophic collapse to a black hole. The matter distribution and gravitational field are modeled by the Oppenheimer-Snyder solution for spherical, homogeneous, dust-ball collapse. The radiation flux emitted during the implosion is calculated assuming the star is initially subjected to a dynamically, isothermal temperature perturbation
Monitoring Regional Riparian Forest Cover Change Using Stratified Sampling and Multiresolution Imagery

Claggett, Peter R., Judy A. Okay, and Stephen V. Stehman, 2010. Monitoring Regional Riparian Forest Cover Change Using Stratified Sampling and Multiresolution Imagery. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(2):334-343. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00424.x Abstract: The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses 165,760 km2 of land area with 464,098 km of rivers and streams. As part of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort, state and federal partners have committed to restoring 26,000 miles (41,843 km) of riparian forest buffers. Monitoring trends in riparian forest buffers over large areas is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of these restoration efforts. A sampling approach for estimating change in riparian forest cover from 1993/1994 to 2005 was developed and implemented in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to exemplify a method that could be applied throughout the Bay watershed. All stream reaches in the county were stratified using forest cover change derived from Landsat imagery. A stratified random sample of 219 reaches was selected and forest cover change within the riparian buffer of each sampled reach was interpreted from high-resolution aerial photography. The estimated footprint of gross change in riparian forest cover (i.e., the sum of gross gain and gross loss) for the county was 1.83% (SE = 0.22%). Stratified sampling taking advantage of a priori knowledge of locations of change proved to be a practical and efficient protocol for estimating riparian forest buffer change at the county scale and the protocol would readily extend to much broader scale monitoring.
Temperature and pressure effects on the degradation of polypropylene tape yarns—depletion of antioxidants

Abstract Polypropylene (PP) tape yarns with a specific antioxidant package consisting of hindered amine light stabilizers were used to evaluate the effects of high oxygen pressures on the depletion of antioxidants. In order to emphasize the pressure effects, relatively low temperatures at 35, 45, 55 and 65 °C were utilized for the incubation. The high-pressure environments were created using air or oxygen at levels of 0.02, 1.3, 2.8, 4.9 and 6.3 MPa. The depletion of antioxidants was effectively monitored using the high pressure oxidative induction (HP-OIT) test, whereas the oxidation of the polymer was evaluated using tensile and melt index tests. The test data indicate that the depletion of antioxidants was governed by the oxygen partial pressure, not the total pressure of the gas. The oxidation of the polymer did not start until the HP-OIT value dropped below 10% of the original when the antioxidant was essentially depleted. The reaction rate of antioxidant depletion increased with temperature according to the Arrhenius equation, whereas the rate increased exponentially with oxygen pressure. The antioxidant reaction was found to be a rate controlling mechanism. Analytical models were developed to predict the antioxidant depletion rate and antioxidant lifetime of this particular PP tape yarn.
Theory of white lines in the x-ray absorption spectra of lanthanide complexes

Abstract Self-consistent multiple scattered wave formation was used to calculate the theoretical L-absorption edges of hydrated and unhydrated erbium trichloride in both bound state and continuum regions, in order to investigate the white line behavior. The white line was found to correspond to a transition to a d-like bound state lying just below the continuum threshold.
Coronal Heating and the Vertical Temperature Structure of the Quiet Corona

The radial variation of temperature in the inner corona is examined using long-exposure Yohkoh images of two regions of diffuse (quiet) corona. The results indicate a steady radial increase of temperature for both regions, out to 0.7 and 0.95 solar radii above the limb. We find that the filter-ratio data for the two regions is well fitted in each case by integration over the line of sight of a spherically symmetric model atmosphere in hydrostatic equilibrium and with a temperature profile due to a conserved inward heat flux. An Abel inversion process is also applied to the data, and this gives results consistent with the spherically symmetric, conserved-heat flux model. These results imply that the nonthermal energy responsible for heating these regions of the quiet corona is being deposited beyond the observed range of heights. However, the diffuse regions we examined are believed to be partly closed-field regions, and so, the radial models require careful interpretation. We discuss the implications for coronal heating in these regions.
Theory of stimulated Raman scattering in a chaotic incoherent pump field

Abstract A novel theory of forward and backward Raman amplification in a dispersive medium pumped by a markovian chaotic field of arbitrary bandwidth is reported. Calculations are presented for the average intensity, spectrum and two-time intensity correlation of the Stokes output.
Who has accurate knowledge about suicide? A study of Americans, Turks, and Filipinos.

Scores on depression and locus of control, age, and gender were not related to possessing accurate information about suicide in samples from three nations (ns = 165, 100, and 147).
Mechanisms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia-induced intestinal epithelial apoptosis

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia-induced sepsis is a common cause of morbidity in the intensive care unit. Although pneumonia is initiated in the lungs, extrapulmonary manifestations occur commonly. In light of the key role the intestine plays in the pathophysiology of sepsis, we sought to determine whether MRSA pneumonia induces intestinal injury. FVB/N mice were subjected to MRSA or sham pneumonia and killed 24 h later. Septic animals had a marked increase in intestinal epithelial apoptosis by both hematoxylin-eosin and active caspase 3 staining. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus-induced intestinal apoptosis was associated with an increase in the expression of the proapoptotic proteins Bid and Bax and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL in the mitochondrial pathway. In the receptor-mediated pathway, MRSA pneumonia induced an increase in Fas ligand but decreased protein levels of Fas, FADD, pFADD, TNF-R1, and TRADD. To assess the functional significance of these changes, MRSA pneumonia was induced in mice with genetic manipulations in proteins in either the mitochondrial or receptor-mediated pathways. Both Bid-/- mice and animals with intestine-specific overexpression of Bcl-2 had decreased intestinal apoptosis compared with wild-type animals. In contrast, Fas ligand-/- mice had no alterations in apoptosis. To determine if these findings were organism-specific, similar experiments were performed in mice subjected to Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced gut apoptosis, but unlike MRSA, this was associated with increased Bcl-2 and TNF-R1 and decreased Fas. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus pneumonia thus induces organism-specific changes in intestinal apoptosis via changes in both the mitochondrial and receptor-mediated pathways, although the former may be more functionally significant.
Decay of a Model mRNA in Bacillus subtilis by a Combination of RNase J1 5′ Exonuclease and RNase Y Endonuclease Activities

The involvement of the recently characterized 5' exonuclease activity of RNase J1 and endonuclease activity of RNase Y in the turnover of ΔermC mRNA in Bacillus subtilis was investigated. Evidence is presented that both of these activities determine the half-life of ΔermC mRNA.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum p44 mRNA Expression Is Differentially Regulated in Mammalian and Tick Host Cells: Involvement of the DNA Binding Protein ApxR

The natural life cycle of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an obligatory intracellular bacterium that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis, consists of alternate infection of two distinct hosts, ticks and mammals, in which bacterial surface proteins are expected to have a critical role. The present study investigated regulation of A. phagocytophilum p44 genes, which encode the P44 major surface proteins. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that the amount of p44 mRNA obtained from spleens of A. phagocytophilum-infected SCID mice was approximately 10-fold greater than the amount obtained from salivary glands of A. phagocytophilum-infected Ixodes scapularis nymphs. Similarly, the amount of p44 mRNA obtained from A. phagocytophilum-infected HL-60 cells per bacterium was significantly greater than the amount obtained from infected ISE6 tick cells. The relative amount of p44 mRNA was approximately threefold higher in A. phagocytophilum-infected HL-60 cells cultured at 37°C than in A. phagocytophilum-infected HL-60 cells cultured at 28°C. Although there are more than 100 p44 paralogs, we observed expression mainly from the p44 expression locus (p44E) in various host environments. Interestingly, transcription of the A. phagocytophilum gene encoding the DNA binding protein ApxR was also significantly greater in A. phagocytophilum-infected HL-60 cells than in infected ISE6 tick cells. Gel mobility shift and DNase I protection assays revealed recombinant ApxR binding to the promoter regions of p44E and apxR. ApxR also transactivated the p44E and apxR promoter regions in a lacZ reporter assay. These results indicate that p44 genes and apxR are specifically up-regulated in the mammalian host environment and suggest that ApxR not only is positively autoregulated but also acts as a transcriptional regulator of p44E.
Cardioprotection is strain dependent in rat in response to whole body hyperthermia

Previous results showed a genetic component to cardioprotection. Therefore, we investigated the heat shock response in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 24 and 48 h. Rats were subjected to who...
Evaluation of a biodegradable foam for protective packaging applications

Green Cell® foam (GCF) is a biodegradable foam packaging material produced from a proprietary cornstarch blend. It is commercially available in a variety of laminations and constructions. Cushioning ability and thermal resistance (R-value) are the fundamental properties needed to compete against synthetic foams. Since GCF is starch based and biodegradable, a concern was that moisture would likely affect its physical properties. Cushioning characteristics and insulation R-values of 1 and 2 inch foams were determined as a function of temperature and moisture content. The ASTM method D1596 was used to determine the cushioning properties and an ice melt test was used to determine the thermal resistance. Moisture sorption isotherms were developed at three temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C) to determine its moisture sensitivity. The 1-inch-thick foam had lower G values at lower static stresses than synthetic foams, but had higher G values at higher static stresses. The 2-inch-foam had G values similar to that of synthetic foam materials. Dimensional changes were observed at higher relative humidity (RH) conditions, especially at 30°C. The R-values at higher humidities were also less than that of synthetic materials. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fruit fate, seed germination and growth of an invasive vine - an experimental test of 'sit and wait' strategy

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.) is a non-indigenous, invasive woody vine in North America that proliferates in disturbed open sites. Unlike most invasive species, C. orbiculatus exhibits a ‘sit and wait’ strategy by establishing and persisting indefinitely in undisturbed, closed canopy forest and responding to canopy disturbance with rapid growth, often overtopping trees. We compared fruit fates of C. orbiculatus and native American holly (Ilex opaca). We also explored mechanisms for this ‘sit and wait’ invasion strategy by testing the effect of C. orbiculatus fruit crop density on removal rates and by examining the influence of seed treatment and light intensity on seed germination and seedling growth. More C. orbiculatus than I. opaca fruits became damaged, and damage occurred earlier. More fruit fell from C. orbiculatus than I. opaca, but removal rates by frugivores did not differ (76.0 ± 4.2% vs 87.5 ± 3.7%, respectively). Density (number of fruits in a patch) of C. orbiculatus did not influence removal rates. Scarification (bird-ingestion) of C. orbiculatus seed delayed germination but seeds germinated in similar proportion to manually defleshed seeds (sown either singly or all seeds from a fruit). Germination of seeds within intact fruits was inhibited and delayed compared to other treatments. Seed treatment did not affect seedling growth. The proportion of seeds germinating and time until germination was similar among five light intensity levels, ranging from full sun to closed-canopy. Seedlings in >70% photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) had more leaves, heavier shoots, and longer, heavier roots than seedlings at lower PAR levels. Results show that most (>75%) C. orbiculatus seeds are dispersed, seedlings can establish in dense shade, and plants grow rapidly when exposed to high light conditions. Control strategies for this highly invasive species should likely focus on minimizing seed dispersal by vertebrates.
Discrete-Time Adaptive Command Following and Disturbance Rejection With Unknown Exogenous Dynamics

We present an adaptive controller that requires limited model information for stabilization, command following, and disturbance rejection for mult-input multi-output minimum-phase discrete-time systems. Specifically, the controller requires knowledge of the open-loop system's relative degree as well as a bound on the first nonzero Markov parameter. Notably, the controller does not require knowledge of the command or the disturbance spectrum as long as the command and disturbance signals are generated by a Lyapunov-stable linear system. Thus, the command and disturbance signals are combinations of discrete-time sinusoids and steps. In addition, the Markov-parameter-based adaptive controller uses feedback action only, and thus does not require a direct measurement of the command or disturbance signals. Using a logarithmic Lyapunov function, we prove global asymptotic convergence for command following and disturbance rejection as well as Lyapunov stability of the adaptive system when the open-loop system is asymptotically stable.
Paired diagnostic and pharmacodynamic analysis of rare non-small cell lung cancer cells enabled by the VerIFAST platform

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and worldwide. This has led to major research initiatives focusing on improving early diagnosis rate, as well as the development of pharmacodynamic biomarkers. However, broad clinical integration of these approaches is limited due to the invasive nature of lung biopsies, needle aspirates and resections. Recently, an advance for sampling suspicious lung nodules to collect mini-bronchoalveolar lavage (mBAL) samples was shown to be diagnostically relevant but limited by standard cytology techniques leading to low sensitivity and specificity. In addition, a second non-invasive method that holds great promise is the collection of circulating tumor cells, a rare population of tumor cells that have shed into peripheral circulation from primary or metastatic tumor sites, from blood. Here, we utilize a recently published platform, VerIFAST, for the capture and proteomic analysis of rare cells, to isolate cells of interest from lung cancer patients using both mBAL and blood samples. The VerIFAST platform leverages surface tension at the microscale to pin aqueous and oil fluids in adjacent chambers to create a virtual filter between two aqueous fluids. In this manuscript, the VerIFAST was further enhanced to include oil pinning, which allowed on-device tumbling, further eliminating a laborious and time consuming step that could result in increased sample loss. Finally, we further developed the base assays used in standard histopathologic assays for diagnostic and pharmacodynamic analysis of these rare lung cancer cells. Specifically, we examined thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) signal intensity, in which loss is associated with more aggressive disease, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal intensity, which is a high value therapeutic target in lung cancer.
Peritoneal dialysis in end-stage renal disease patients with preexisting chronic liver disease and ascites

Abstract purpose: Hemodialysis in patients with chronic liver disease and ascites may be complicated by intradialytic hypotension, limiting the amount of ultrafiltration and resulting in massive ascites. Successful maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD) has not been previously reported as an alternative to hemodialysis in this population. patients and methods: Nine patients with chronic renal failure, chronic liver disease, and tense ascites prior to beginning PD are described. All chronic PD catheters were placed percutaneously by the nephrology staff. Seven patients were maintained primarily on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, whereas two were on intermittent peritoneal dialysis. results: PD catheters were placed without serious hemorrhage or bowel injury. PD provided adequate clearance and volume maintenance for each patient. Fifteen episodes of peritonitis occurred in 18 patient-years of PD. All episodes of peritonitis were successfully treated with intraperitoneal antibiotics without catheter removal. Only one patient had a decline in the serum albumin level of 0.5 g/dL or more during the course of chronic PD. Three of the nine patients are still alive and on PD for durations of 18 to 24 months. One patient insidiously developed sclerosing peritonitis after 8 years on PD and is now on hemodialysis, and another patient switched to hemodialysis because she was no longer able to care for herself or to manage her PD. Four patients died while maintained on PD; three deaths were due to complications of liver failure within the first 4 months of PD and the fourth was due to empyema after 4 years of PD. conclusion: PD can be used successfully to treat chronic renal failure in patients with chronic liver disease and ascites when the liver disease itself is not rapidly fatal. PD may be better tolerated than hemodialysis and perhaps should be the renal replacement treatment of choice in these patients.
Conventional Versus Moving-Map Navigation Methods: Efficiency and Safety Evaluation

Thirty-eight male and female participants, aged 21 to 50 years, drove to three unfamiliar destinations using three different methods of navigation: Nav, an in-vehicle moving-map and route guidance navigation system; Free, the free use of paper maps or computer printouts, but without access to the navigation system; and Way, which was the same as Free, but with waypoints also provided. Each participant had a minimum of 6 weeks of prior experience using in-vehicle navigation technology. The routes were each designed to sample urban, rural, and highway road categories. Methods were counterbalanced across route and presentation order. An onboard experimenter administered the study. Data were gathered to assess navigational efficiency, workload, and safety-related driving errors. A peripheral detection task was included as a loading task to measure workload and spare attentional capacity objectively; the rating scale of mental effort was included as a subjective measure of mental effort. Use of the navigation system produced better results than either of the two conventional methods in terms of several key metrics related to driver workload, driving errors, and navigational efficiency. These results support the notion that an onboard, moving-map navigation system incorporating route guidance can play a meaningful role in enhancing navigational efficiency and safety for experienced navigation system users. Future research is recommended to examine eye glance and other driver behaviors further, such as lane excursions and headway maintenance, to gain additional insight into the effect of method of navigation on the primary driving task.
The DARP Research Program and Data System

The evaluation research on the effectiveness of treatments for drug abuse, which is the subject of several papers in this journal issue, is a multi-faceted program of data base management and subst...
EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW OUTCOMES AND SPEECH STYLE EFFECTS

This study examines the effects of powerful versus powerless speech styles on employment interview outcomes, extending and refining research by Wiley and Eskilson. Undergraduate and professional re...
Fatal pulmonary edema and pneumonitis after reexpansion of chronic pneumothorax.

In some instances, the reexpansion of a chronic pneumothorax results in pulmonary edema and, in the case presented, resulted in a fatality. The exact mechanism is unknown; however, the condition seems to be associated with (1) the chronic collapse of an entire lung, (2) sudden re-expansion of the lung, and (3) edema involving the chronically collapsed lung. Hypoxia was the cause of the patient's death and is related to perfusion of a lung without gaseous exchange. This condition can be treated by allowing the pneumothorax to recur or reducing perfusion of the involved lung by means of a balloon catheter placed in the pulmonary artery.
Analyzing Economic Spatial-Temporal Disparities at County Level in Jiangsu Based on ESDA-GIS

Regional economic disparities have been a hot topic in recent academic world. This paper explores the feasibility of coefficient of variance (CV) and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) in investigating the spatial dynamics of regional disparities at county level in Jiangsu by analyzing per capita GDP data from 1999 to 2008. Empirical results show that the overall spatial disparities of regional economy in Jiangsu have been increasing throughout the study period. The polarization effect of Jiangsu is beyond its spread effect, which indicates the spatial ramifications of the whole regional economy into two different clubs through the process of cumulative causation.
A Cognitive Approach to Extant Boat Structure in Goa, India

This article presents information derived from unfunded fieldwork undertaken between 2008 and 2014 in Goa, India. Traditional boat structure is understood in the context of the use of local materials in response to climatic, geophysical, and cultural factors. Expanded and unexpanded logboats are shown to affect differently the pirogues based on them. The outrigger is not used as a sailing aid. Small sailed boats with sewn strakes on a keel-plank are compared with 19th-century records. Simple techniques are used on larger sewn and metal-fastened vessels still being built. Today some factors combine to compromise traditional construction, while others are bringing about the demise of the vessels themselves.
Drosophila Polycomb complexes restrict neuroblast competence to generate motoneurons

Similar to mammalian neural progenitors, Drosophila neuroblasts progressively lose competence to make early-born neurons. In neuroblast 7-1 (NB7-1), Kruppel (Kr) specifies the third-born U3 motoneuron and Kr misexpression induces ectopic U3 cells. However, competence to generate U3 cells is limited to early divisions, when the Eve+ U motoneurons are produced, and competence is lost when NB7-1 transitions to making interneurons. We have found that Polycomb repressor complexes (PRCs) are necessary and sufficient to restrict competence in NB7-1. PRC loss of function extends the ability of Kr to induce U3 fates and PRC gain of function causes precocious loss of competence to make motoneurons. PRCs also restrict competence to make HB9+ Islet+ motoneurons in another neuroblast that undergoes a motoneuron-to-interneuron transition, NB3-1. In contrast to the regulation of motoneuron competence, PRC activity does not affect the production of Eve+ interneurons by NB3-3, HB9+ Islet+ interneurons by NB7-3, or Dbx+ interneurons by multiple neuroblasts. These findings support a model in which PRCs establish motoneuron-specific competence windows in neuroblasts that transition from motoneuron to interneuron production.
Influence of “CO2 Snow” Chilling on TBA Values in Mechanically Deboned Chicken Meat

Abstract Mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM) precooled to 0° C. using carbon dioxide (“CO2 snow”) was obtained from a commercial processor along with MDCM which had not been precooled. Samples of both control (not precooled) and precooled meat were packaged in plastic pouches with and without vacuum, frozen and held in storage for six months at −18° C. 2-Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) analyses were run on all samples at monthly intervals. The use of “CO2 snow” resulted in rapid increases in TBA values after one month storage, regardless of package treatment. Vacuum packaged control MDCM was the only sample in which the TBA values remained low (below 2.0) for three months. All meat samples showed high TBA values after three months storage.
Computer-mediated idea generation: the effects of group size and group heterogeneity

A laboratory experiment investigated the effects of physical group size (five- and ten-member) and logical group size (i.e., group heterogeneity in regard to task demands) on the performance of groups addressing an idea generation task. Logical size was manipulated by varying the amount of task-relevant information given to each group member. Larger logical group sizes (heterogeneous groups) were induced by distributing unique task-relevant information among group members; smaller logical group sizes were induced by providing all task information to all members (homogeneous groups). Ten-member groups outperformed five-member groups. Physical group size interacted with logical group size, resulting in greater performance gains for heterogeneous groups with more members. Average contributions per group member diminished with increased physical group size for homogeneous groups and increased for heterogeneous groups. >
Interactions between oxygen tension and glucose concentration that modulate actions of heat shock on bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation

Abstract Exposure of oocytes to elevated temperature (i.e. heat shock) during maturation can reduce fertilization rate and development of the resultant embryos. Given the possible role of free radicals in actions of heat shock on cellular function, we tested the hypothesis that a high oxygen environment exacerbates the magnitude of deleterious effects of heat shock on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes. A preliminary experiment was performed to establish conditions for oocyte maturation that would be independent of oxygen concentration. Oocytes were matured in a modified tissue culture medium-199 (mTCM-199) or modified synthetic oviduct fluid (mSOF) containing 5.6 or 20mM glucose and under either high (atmospheric oxygen, ∼21%, v/v) or low oxygen (5%, a value approximating oxygen content of the follicle). For oocytes matured in mTCM-199, development was greater in high oxygen than in low oxygen, whereas development was unaffected by oxygen using mSOF (medium×oxygen, P P
Adaptive optics control strategies for extremely large telescopes

Adaptive optics for the 30-100 meter class telescopes now being considered will require an extension in almost every area of AO system component technology. In this paper, we present scaling laws and strawman error budgets for AO systems on extremely large telescopes (ELTs) and discuss the implications for component technology and computational architecture. In the component technology area, we discuss the advanced efforts being pursued at the NSF Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO) in the development of large number of degrees of freedom deformable mirrors, wavefront sensors, and guidestar lasers. It is important to note that the scaling of present wavefront reconstructor algorithms will become computationally intractable for ELTs and will require the development of new algorithms and advanced numerical mathematics techniques. We present the computational issues and discuss the characteristics of new algorithmic approaches that show promise in scaling to ELT AO systems.
CRITIQUE OF INFORMAL READING INVENTORIES: CAN A VALID INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL BE OBTAINED?

A primary consideration prior to administratio n of an informal reading inventory (IRI) is the content validity of the instrument. A test administrator should recognize how accurately posed reading selections in IRI's correspond to the type and range of reading difficulty existing at specified grade levels. The intent of the investigation was to determine readability estimates in a review of five informal reading inventories and one standardized test containing graded reading passages. Most of the IRIs examined included extractions from publishers' basal readers. Users would assume that the reading selections of these tests become progressively more difficult. Procedures Employed Each inventory was considered in its progression of increasing readability levels. The Revised Spache Readability Formula (1974) was the measurement applied to primary level reading materials; the Dale-Chali Formula (1948) was the readability measurement for all other levels beyond the third. The examiner also applied the Fry Readability Formula (1968); interpolation, and an extended graph through the primer level were necessary for reading material (graded pre-primer through level 9), varying from the standard 100 word length required for application of the Fry formula. Derived estimates of the readability formulas were tabulated to assess progression of reading difficulty levels. Because the Revised Spache Readability Formula (1974) was the measurement for readability of primary graded reading passages, discrepancies will exist from the findings of the original Spache formula (1953). Use of the revised formula will tend to yield lower grade level estimates, in order to approximate more accurately the difficulty levels of recently published primary level reading material. Hence, the Spache readability estimates of the revised formula will differand appear less than the Spache readabilty estimates, as reported by the authors of the Sucher-AUred Reading Placement Inventory and the Diagnostic Reading Scales.