cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hearing Impairment Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Importance Hearing impairment is common in adults, but few studies have addressed it in the US Hispanic/Latino population. Objective To determine the prevalence of hearing impairment among US Hispanic/Latino adults of diverse backgrounds and determine associations with potential risk factors. Design, Setting, and Participants The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) is a population-based sample of Hispanics/Latinos in four US communities (Bronx, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and San Diego, California). Examinations were conducted from 2008 through 2011. The HCHS/SOL examined 16 415 self-identified Hispanic/Latino persons aged 18 to 74 years recruited from randomly selected households using a stratified 2-stage area probability sample design based on census block groups and households within block groups. Main Outcomes and Measures Hearing thresholds were measured by pure-tone audiometry. Hearing impairment was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz greater than 25 dB hearing level. Bilateral hearing impairment required a PTA greater than 25 dB hearing level in both ears. Multivariable analyses included adjustments for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, body mass index, and medical conditions. Results The prevalence of hearing impairment was 15.06% (SE, 0.44%) overall, and 8.24% (SE, 0.33%) had bilateral hearing impairment. The prevalence of hearing impairment was higher among people 45 years and older, ranging by Hispanic/Latino background from 29.35% to 41.20% among men and 17.89% to 32.11% among women. The multivariable-adjusted odds of hearing impairment was greater for participants of Puerto Rican background compared with Mexican background (odds ratio [OR], 1.57 [95% CI, 1.10-2.25]). The odds of hearing impairment were lower with more education (OR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.59-0.86] for at least high school) and higher income (OR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.36-0.92] for >$75 000 vs ≤$10 000). Noise exposure (OR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.07-1.70]), diabetes (OR, 1.57 [95% CI, 1.27-1.94]), and prediabetes (OR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.12-1.67]) were associated with hearing impairment. Conclusions and Relevance Hearing impairment is a common problem for older Hispanics/Latinos in these communities and is associated with socioeconomic factors, noise exposure, and abnormal glucose metabolism. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether these factors are involved in the etiology of hearing impairment and to identify ways to prevent or delay age-related changes in hearing.
Regulation of pyelonephritis‐associated pili phase‐variation in Escherichia coli: binding of the Papl and the Lrp regulatory proteins is controlled by DNA methylation

Expression of pyelonephritis-associated pili (Pap) in Escherichia coli is under a phase-variation control mechanism in which individual cells alternate between pili+ (ON) and pili- (OFF) states through a process involving DNA methylation by deoxyadenosine methylase (Dam). Methylation of two GATC sites (GATC1028 and GATC1130) within the pap regulatory region is differentially inhibited in phase ON and phase OFF cells. The GATC1028 site of phase ON cells is non-methylated and the GATC1130 site is fully methylated. Conversely, in phase OFF cells the GATC1028 site is fully methylated whereas the GATC1130 site is non-methylated. Two transcriptional activators, PapI and Lrp (leucine-responsive regulatory protein), are required for this specific methylation inhibition. DNA footprint analysis using non-methylated pap DNAs indicates that Lrp binds to a region surrounding the GATC1130 site, whereas PapI does not appear to bind to pap regulatory DNA. However, addition of Lrp and PapI together results in an additional DNaseI footprint around the GATC1028 site. Moreover, Dam methylation inhibits binding of Lrp/PapI near the GATC1028 site and alters binding of Lrp at the GATC1130 site. Our results support a model in which Dam and Lrp/PapI compete for binding near the GATC1028 site, regulating the methylation state of this GATC site and, consequently, the pap transcription state.
Sampling Plans for the Psocids Liposcelis entomophila and Liposcelis decolor (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) in Steel Bins Containing Wheat

ABSTRACT Psocids are an emerging problem in grain storage, handling, and processing facilities in the United States. We used data from two steel bins each containing 32.6 metric tonnes of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., to develop sampling plans for Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein), Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (both Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), and a mixture of the two species. Taylor's coefficients a (a sampling factor) and b (an index of aggregation) for these pests were calculated and incorporated into sampling protocols to improve accuracy. The optimal binomial sample sizes for estimating populations of these psocids at densities of <25 psocids per refuge were large; therefore, we recommend the use of numerical sampling within this range of densities. Numerical sampling of L. entomophila and L. decolor at densities of <25 psocids per refuge should not be too laborious given the low psocid numbers involved; we recommend using 10 refuges per bin. For presence-absence sampling of L. entomophila or L. dec...
TinyTermite: A Secure Routing Algorithm on Intel Mote 2 Sensor Network Platform

In this paper, we introduce TinyTermite. TinyTermite is a novel AI routing algorithm that is reliable and secure against selective forwarding and replay attacks. TinyTermite is fully implemented on TinyOS based Intel Mote 2 platform and the experiments were done to compare its performance with that of the traditional Termite algorithm. Our results show that the TinyTermite reduces the energy consumption by more than 30% and enhances the security of the network. The experimental results show that TinyTermite is significantly more secure against replay and sinkhole attacks by lowering the packet loss from 88.5% to 32.9% with 12.7% normal packet loss. Finally, the experimental results also demonstrates that the TinyTermite provides high throughput and low latency.
Medical Malpractice: Impact of the Crisis and Effect of State Tort Reforms

Many U.S. states are now in their fifth year of a medical malpractice "crisis", a period of volatility in the malpractice insurance market characterized by above average increases in premiums, contractions in the supply of insurance and deterioration in the financial health of carriers. Improving insurer financial ratios suggest that the malpractice crisis is now abating in some states, but malpractice crises are a recurring problem. This has been the third period of rapidly rising premiums in the last 30 years, following crises in the mid-1980s and mid-1970s. States, which are responsible for regulating malpractice insurance, have enacted a variety of reforms to prevent or temper malpractice crises, but there is a paucity of reliable information available to policy-makers about the effects of these reforms and the impact of the malpractice crisis on health care delivery. While a voluminous number of reports have been produced, most are not based on rigorous analysis. This report critically analyzes the available literature and discusses the best available evidence on two questions: 1) How does a volatile malpractice environment affect health care delivery? 2) What has been the impact of state tort reforms on premiums, claims frequency, claims payouts and physician supply? While the weight of the evidence suggests that the malpractice crisis has had a modest effect on physician supply, the evidence base is not yet adequate to draw conclusions about whether patients' access to high-risk services has been compromised as a result. The literature evaluating state tort reforms, while problematic due to methodological issues, does offer some useful findings. Caps on noneconomic damages are the most common and most effective reform, although they disproportionately burden the most severely injured patients.
Malaria gives mosquitoes the munchies

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is transmitted from the mosquito vector to the human host when the female mosquito takes a human blood meal. Plant nectars are also an important mosquito food source, and certain plants are particularly attractive to Anopheles mosquito species because they
Some Aspects of New Testament Miracles

Christianity is a religion of the spirit,—a religion of faith, as the Apostle Paul would have said. That is, its essential nature resides in unseen and spiritual attributes; on the persistence of spiritual forces depends its identity from age to age; the inner attitude of the soul is the sphere of its true life. Neither letter nor form, but spirit, is the characteristic mark of Christianity. If this is true, it follows that the life of Christianity necessarily implies the continually new expression of the Christian spirit amid the ever-changing phases of human thought and life. And historical conditions will govern not only the outward forms and modes of Christian life, but also, at least in its concrete formulation, the thought of Christians about religion. The changes that have taken place in Christian thought and doctrine may well be no indication of any weakness or imperfection in Christianity. They are, in fact, rather the manifestation of its excellence, the proof that it is indeed the supreme religion, capable of bringing in the kingdom of God. Some have tried, by a process of successive eliminations, to discard the Jewish, the Greek, the pagan, the Teutonic influences which from time to time have affected Christianity, as if by such expurgations they could isolate essential Christianity from its accidents, and separate the kernel from the husk. But if Christianity is a religion of the spirit expressing itself under historical conditions, its expression in any period of history will be made through the ideas, true and false, through the modes of life, crude or refined, through the existing beliefs, philosophies, laws, customs, and even superstitions of the time. Many philosophies which we deem false, many rites which we find degrading, have been the well-justified means of expressing the religion of the spirit for men who held those philosophies and to whom those rites were dear. Those things are to be called foreign influences upon a pure Christianity only in the same sense in which that would be true of the inadequate science, clumsy philosophy, and sorry philistinism of custom which in our own day do duty, as the best we have, for civilization. If it be asked, wherein, then, lies the assurance that our Christianity is properly called Christian, what force binds together these shifting phases of life and thought, and entitles us to speak of them as belonging to one religion, a personal conviction is the only answer that can be given,—namely, that the identity of the Christian religion through the ages depends on the New Testament, and in particular on the presentation of Jesus Christ found in the gospels and on the persistent spiritual power of his person. From the general point of view thus outlined the question of the miracles of the New Testament, like every other historical topic connected with the Christian religion, must be considered.
Suppression of Populations of Boll Weevils over a Large Area in West Texas with Pheromone Traps in 1969

Infestations were not found in 17 of 34 cotton fields in west Texas in which wing traps baited with male Anthonomus grandis Boheman, were used. Moreover, adult weevils were found in only 7 of the 17 fields, and populations of boll weevils did not reach economically damaging levels in any of the fields. However, traps around all 34 fields captured boll weevils in low to moderately high numbers. The traps suppressed more than 80% of the boll weevils, with traps placed around the fields in tiers, and used in conjunction with trap plots treated with aldicarb giving the best results.
The Influence of Technology on Geographic Cognition and Tourism Experience

Tourists today have access to retrieve voluminous geographic information about destinations while travelling as various context-aware geographic technologies have become increasingly ubiquitous. These technologies are suggested to aid tourists in the process of destination consumption to gain meaningful tourism experiences. This study found that people using different types of technologies for everyday routine perceive that these technologies help them with spatial inference to acquire geographic information; making sense of direction and orientation, and interacting with and within places. Further, within the travel context, geographic technology was found to influence the dimensions of sensory, affective and social experience, as well as the cognitive and bodily experience. The type of technology used for travel was also found to be a significant predictor of the sensory, affective, and social dimensions of tourism experience.
Abstract B70: Characteristics, risk perception, and predictors of oral cancer knowledge among drag racers and their fans

Objective: Interventions for oral head and neck cancer prevention and early detection can be more effective if the higher risk individuals are targeted. The aim of this study was to characterize smoking and alcohol use, and describe predictors of oral cancer knowledge and risk perception among a predominantly African-American population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 13-14, 2013 among drag racers and fans in East St. Louis. Items were combined to form knowledge and risk perception scales, and outcome of interest was oral cancer knowledge level. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA assessed bivariate associations between variables. Logistic regression analysis measured predictors of oral cancer knowledge. Results: Three hundred and four participants completed questionnaire; 72.9% African Americans. Smoking rate was 26.7%; mean knowledge score 4.60 ± 2.52; and only 6.6% scored ≥ 9 out of 17 knowledge questions. Crude measures showed an association (p Conclusion and Relevance: There is a high smoking rate among drag racers and fans, but oral cancer knowledge is very low, especially among African Americans and those with limited education. Understanding predictors of oral cancer knowledge is important in future design of educational interventions specifically targeted towards this high-risk group. Citation Format: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Adnan S. Hussaini, Nanthiya Sujijatarat, Rajan Ganesh, Matthew Snider, Thompson Devin, Mark A. Varvares. Characteristics, risk perception, and predictors of oral cancer knowledge among drag racers and their fans. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B70.
Evaluating sweet potato tolerance to aluminium toxicity: Comparison of rapid test method and field results

Sweet potato cuttings of seven genotypes were grown 6 days in 1.5 mM CaCl2 containing 0.03, 0.06 or 0.12 mM Al as AlCl3 acidified to pH 4.3 with HCl. Both Al level and plant genotype affected maximum root length. The total storage root production for the genotypes was measured in a field experiment where soil pH (0.01 M CaCl2) ranged from 3.2 to 4.5. Root yield showed a positive linear response to soil pH. Of the four highest-yielding genotypes (production of 18,000 kg ha−1 or above at pH 4.2), SPV 80 showed the greatest sensitivity to soil acidity. For these genotypes there was a statistically significant correlation between field experiment regression slope and the ratio of root length in 0.06 mM Al solution to root length in 0.03 mM Al solution (R2 = 0.94*). Low ionic strength solutions can be used to identify Al-sensitive sweet potato germplasm saving time and space compared to field evaluation.
Economic improvement of continuous pharmaceutical production via the optimal control of a multifeed bioreactor

Projections on the profitability of the pharmaceutical industry predict a large amount of growth in the coming years. Stagnation over the last 20 years in product development has led to the search for new processing methods to improve profitability by reducing operating costs or improving process productivity. This work proposes a novel multifeed bioreactor system composed of independently controlled feeds for substrate(s) and media used that allows for the free manipulation of the bioreactor supply rate and substrate concentrations to maximize bioreactor productivity and substrate utilization while reducing operating costs. The optimal operation of the multiple feeds is determined a priori as the solution of a dynamic optimization problem using the kinetic models describing the time-variant bioreactor concentrations as constraints. This new bioreactor paradigm is exemplified through the intracellular production of beta-carotene using a three feed bioreactor consisting of separate glucose, ethanol and media feeds. The performance of a traditional bioreator with a single substrate feed is compared to that of a bioreactor with multiple feeds using glucose and/or ethanol as substrate options. Results show up to a 30% reduction in the productivity with the addition of multiple feeds, though all three systems show an improvement in productivity when compared to batch production. Additionally, the breakeven selling price of beta-carotene is shown to decrease by at least 30% for the multifeed bioreactor when compared to the single feed counterpart, demonstrating the ability of the multifeed reactor to reduce operating costs in bioreactor systems. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:902-912, 2017.
Whose Mirror? Cultural Reproduction in Mathematics Word Problems

The hidden curriculum, which serves as a quiet suggestion for appropriation, is a tremendous part of any educational experience, including mathematics education in the US. Drawing from the insights of 72 bilingual teacher candidates, this work illuminates the means by which the hidden curriculum is layered into mathematics word problems in ways that carry specific cultural messages. Invoking a strongly postmodern approach, wherein “text” may consist of not only written material, but rather, may include spoken or visual representations, the participants in this work identified the ways mathematics texts (word problems) have the potential to serve as negative or less-than-desirable influences on the thinking of students. Drawing from critical theory and post-structuralism, and speaking to issues related to consumerism, acquisitiveness, and child-rearing, the participants in this work highlight manifestations of “normal” that represented a mismatch with their own lived experiences, which by extension, may represent a similar mismatch between the problems and the lived experiences of their students.
Alopecia and Associated Toxic Agents: A Systematic Review.

Importance/Objective There are a number of toxic agents that can cause alopecia. In this review we summarize the known substances that cause alopecia as one of the clinical signs of overdose or toxicity.
IN-HOSPITAL OUTCOMES AFTER MITRACLIP IMPLANTATION: NATIONWIDE INPATIENT SAMPLE, 2010-2014

Trends in inhospital outcomes, costs and discharge patterns after MitraClip implantation in real world patient population in the U.S are sparse. Healthcare Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, 2010-2014, was used for the analysis. We identified 2,182 patients who underwent
Dynamic Deformation of Copper-Jacketed Lead Bullets Captured By High Speed Digital Image Correlation

The development of high fidelity simulations of lead-cored bullet impacts on soft body armor, motivated by the need for improved armor designs and performance standards for law enforcement, requires accurate models for both the armor and the deformable bullet. This paper examines the ability of the Johnson-Cook constitutive model to predict the dynamic deformation of a 0.357 caliber copper-jacketed lead-cored slug subjected to a direct-impact Kolsky Bar test. A high speed 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique is used to measure the deformation history of the slug subject to an impact velocity of 15.3 m/s and an impact energy of 62.5 J, which is about 6.5 % of the impact energy required in NIJ Standard 0101.04 for testing Type II body armor with this bullet. The DIC results and force history data are compared to finite element simulations of the test. A sensitivity analysis of the material parameters is carried out to determine their relative influence on the deformation and force history response, and improved parameter values are identified and compared to the baseline values.
Leadership from Below: A New Community Dynamic

An important theme nowadays is that communities are seeking autonomy or self-determination. Due to the popularity of multiculturalism, for example, communities do not want to live in the shadows cast by other groups. Communities want to advance their own agendas, and have policies enacted that make sense locally (Young, Inclusion and democracy, 2000). Everyone expects to participate fully, accordingly, in the formation and operation of key institutions and cultural practices. Also, the favoritism and exclusion of the past is no longer tolerated by most communities, as they strive for recognition and self-expression (Kymlicka, Multicultural citizenship: A liberal theory of minority rights, 1995).
A Procedure for Isolating Schwann Cells Developed for Analysis of the Mouse Embryonic Lethal Mutation NF1

The study of Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation has been facilitated by the availability of cultured Schwann cells that faithfully mimic Schwann cell in vivo maturation, growth, and differentiation. Transgenic mouse models and naturally occurring mouse mutants serve as increasingly important tools for the study of Schwann cell biology. We have developed methods to purify Schwann cells from single embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) mutant mouse embryos in order to define abnormalities caused by mutations at the type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) locus. This method can be used to study Schwann cells from any mutant mouse that survives until day 12 of embryonic life.
UPAYA MENGEMBANGKAN KEMAMPUAN BERBAHASA ANAK DALAM MENYUSUN KALIMAT SEDERHANA PADA STRUKTUR LENGKAP MENGGUNAKAN MODEL PICTURE AND PICTURE PADA KELOMPOK B TK ASSALAM SIMPANG EMPAT KAB. BANJAR

Kemampuan menyusun kalimat sederhana dengan struktur lengkap pada anak kelompok B di TK ASSALAM Simpang Empat Kab.Banjar belum berkembang secara optimal. Sehingga, model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe Picture and Picture yang merupakan pembelajaran dengan pendekatan yang menyenangkan, menciptakan suasana belajar yang aktif, kreatif dan menarik perhatian anak dipilih untuk memecahkan masalah tersebut dalam penelitian tindakan kelas. Hasil pengembangan aspek bahasa anak pada kemampuan menyusun kalimat sederhana pada struktur lengkap, menunjukkan adanya perkembangan, pada siklus I pertemuan 1 dengan nilai 28%, pertemuan 2 dengan nilai 45%, dan siklus II pertemuan 1 dengan nilai 73%, meningkat pada pertemuan 2 dengan skor 83%. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa hasil perkembangan kemampuan berbahasa anak pada materi menyusun kalimat sederhana pada struktur lengkap dengan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe picture and picture dikelompok B di TK ASSALAM Simpang Empat Kab.Banjar, dapat berkembang sesuai dengan harapan. Kata Kunci : Kemampuan berbahasa, Make a Match, Menyusun Kalimat Sederhana
A survey on high-risk behaviors and prevalence of sexually transmitted disease among men who have sex with men in Tianjin, 2016

Objective To understand the prevalence of syphilis and the associated factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tianjin. Methods From April to August 2016, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among MSM who was over 16 years old and had oral or anal sex with men in the last 6 months in Tianjin, with a face-to-face interview and blood samples were collected. The demographic and sexual characteristics of the MSM was collected, meanwhile HIV and syphilis were tested. A total of 853 valid questionnaires were finally enrolled. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the infection of syphilis and the behaviors. Results The average age of the respondents was 31.7±9.4 years old and the majority of them were under 35 years old, accounted for 70.1% (598/853), while 65.4% (558/853) of the respondents used condom consistently when they had anal sex in the last six months. The HIV positive rate was 3.4% and the rate of syphilis was 9.5% among MSM. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the possibility of syphilis infection is lower among MSM who had knowledge of HIV and STD (OR=0.46, 95%CI: 0.23-0.92), and among those who received intervention of HIV/STD in the last year (OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.23-0.71). The possibility of syphilis infection was higher in case of commercially homosexual behaviors in the last six months (OR=2.75, 95%CI: 1.31-5.77), and STD infections in the last year (OR=11.07, 95%CI: 5.57-26.83). The possibility of syphilis infection increased along with the increment of anal intercourse in the last week, (OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.03-2.03). Conclusions The infection rate of syphilis among MSM was relatively high, and the associated factors included the knowledge awareness of HIV and STD, the frequency of anal intercourse in the last week, having commercial homosexual sex in the last six months, infected STD in the last year and having received intervention about HIV/STD in the last year. Key words: Syphilis; Sexual behavior; Cross-sectional studies; MSM
Radiation-Induced Backgrounds in Astronomical Instruments: Considerations for Geosynchronous Orbit and Implications for the Design of the WFIRST Wide-Field Instrument

Geosynchronous orbits are appealing for solar or astrophysical observatories because they permit continuous data downlink at high rates. The radiation environment in these orbits presents unique challenges, however. This paper describes both the characteristics of the radiation environment in geosynchronous orbit and the mechanisms by which this radiation generates backgrounds in photon detectors. Shielding considerations are described, and a preliminary shielding design for the proposed Wide-Field InfraRed Survey Telescope observatory is presented as a reference for future space telescope concept studies that consider a geosynchronous orbit.
Reaching for the Stars and Settling for the Moon: Recent Trends in Overeducation of US Workers 2002-2016.

In this study we investigate the educational attainment of the labour force in the United States. Our data analysis, based on Bureau of Labour Statistics data in more than 700 occupations, produced...
Maternal depressive symptoms, poverty, and young motherhood increase the odds of early depressive and anxiety disorders for children born prematurely

Children born preterm, compared to term, are at risk for behavioral problems. However, the prevalence and predictors of internalizing disorders among children born preterm are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders at 2 years of age among children born preterm and determine the extent to which poverty, maternal depressive symptoms, or young motherhood increase the likelihood of these disorders. Mothers and their infants (N = 105) were recruited from two neonatal intensive care units affiliated with a major U.S. university. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition scale scores from the Preschool Child Behavior Checklist were used to measure primary variables. We examined mothers' family satisfaction and quality of caregiving as well as children's degree of prematurity, morbidity, gender, cognitive functioning, and motor function as covariates. Fifteen percent of children met criteria for an anxiety disorder and another 15% for depression. Maternal depressive symptoms increased the odds of children developing both anxiety and depression, whereas young motherhood was associated with child anxiety and poverty with child depression. Results indicate the need for mental health assessment of children born preterm during their first 2 years of life and the importance of early therapeutic and tangible support to vulnerable mothers and children.
An Analysis of the Avoidance of Collision Between Aircraft on Curvilinear Flight Trajectories

Summary The problem of the avoidance of collision of aircraft has been analyzed for the general case in which the flight trajectories of the aircraft are curvilinear and three-dimensional. Mathemati­ cal relationships have been derived which govern the prediction of collision and the consequent avoidance of collision. The devi­ ation of a collision flight path into an avoidance flight path is effected only after it has been verified that the proposed avoid­ ance trajectory is itself not one which would bring about collision with any other aircraft and that the proposed avoidance tra­ jectory is indeed within the performance capabilities of the avoid­ ing aircraft. Consideration is given to the saving of fuel by requiring that the avoidance trajectory not deviate more than is necessary from the original flight path.
Molecular Genetic Approaches to Elucidating the Role of Hormones in Plant Development

Physiological studies conducted over the last half century have established a role for hormones in virtually every aspect of plant development. Most of the pioneering work on hormone action used approaches that involve exogenous application of a hormone or inhibitor. There are severe limitations to what we can learn in this manner. Exogenous application of any biological material is subject to limitations of uptake, transport, sequestration and metabolism. Further, it is difficult to quantitate the amount of active material within the target tissue. For these reasons, it has been generally difficult to establish a direct relationship between a hormone and a particular developmental process.
125I-iodopindolol binding to frog esophageal peptic cells: Detection of amine uptake and β-adrenergic receptors coupled to pepsinogen secretion

Abstract The β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) coupled to pepsinogen secretion on frog esophageal peptic cells have been compared to frog erythrocyte β-ARs using the radioligand 125 I-iodopindolol ( 125 I-PIN). 125 I-PIN binding to intact peptic cells was time and temperature dependent. Saturation and competition experiments established that a large component of this binding represented radioligand uptake, which was energy dependent, pH sensitive, Na + independent, and inhibited by agents that depress cellular ATP or disrupt proton gradients. This uptake system, which was absent from frog erythrocytes, appeared similar to that recently described for a number of mammalian cells. 125 I-PIN bound to a single class of sites on peptic cell homogenates with a K D = 64 (±5) pM. Binding to cell homogenates and a proportion of the binding to intact cells was inhibited by β-agonists and antagonists with pharmacological characteristics similar to typical β 2 -ARs of frog erythrocytes. The number of β-ARs n these peptic cell preparations was 1300 (± 240) sites/cell. Isolated peptic cells were poorly responsive to isoproterenol stimulation even in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine). Pretreatment of cells with the phorbol ester TPA (12- O -tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate) (100 nM) promoted isoproterenol stimulation of pepsinogen secretion. Catecholamine agonists stimulated pepsinogen secretion with an order of potency: isoproterenol > epinephrine ⪢ norepinephrine, which was identical to that determined for inhibition of 125 I-PIN binding. These findings indicate that frog peptic cells contain β 2 -ARs functionally coupled to pepsinogen secretion.
Free swell characteristics of PCC bottom ash-bentonite mixtures with curing for use as fill or liner material

Bottom ash is a coal combustion product (CCP) obtained from burning of pulverized coal to produce electricity. Most of the bottom ash from pulverized coal combustion (PCC) plants is disposed of in landfills and/or ash ponds. Over the last decade, there has been increased attention aimed toward the use of PCC bottom ash in geotechnical applications. The particle size distribution of pulverized coal combustion (PCC) bottom ash is similar to that of natural sand. Natural sand is commonly used in the construction industry in place of cohesive soils by adding admixtures to amend its properties. Several studies have been completed to determine the properties of bottom ash amended with bentonite. However, due to significant volume change characteristics of bentonite, soils or similar granular materials amended with it need to be evaluated for their swelling behavior. In addition, studies on bottom ash-bentonite mixtures have shown that strength and stiffness characteristics of these mixtures change significantly...
Study of model-order selection algorithms and their applicability to adaptive clutter suppression

The problem of predicting the optimum autoregressive (AR) model order is addressed in the context of adaptive radar clutter suppression. The applicability of existing model-order selection criteria to AR clutter models was studied through a computer simulation of a scanning Doppler radar. Reasonably good predictions were achieved with the Akaike final-prediction-error criterion and the Parzen criterion-autoregressive-transfer when the coefficients obtained in one scan of the radar antenna were used on the data obtained in the next scan. >
Polymorphisms of the Cell Surface Receptor Control Mouse Susceptibilities to Xenotropic and Polytropic Leukemia Viruses

The differential susceptibilities of mouse strains to xenotropic and polytropic murine leukemia viruses (X-MLVs and P-MLVs, respectively) are poorly understood but may involve multiple mechanisms. Recent evidence has demonstrated that these viruses use a common cell surface receptor (the X-receptor) for infection of human cells. We describe the properties of X-receptor cDNAs with distinct sequences cloned from five laboratory and wild strains of mice and from hamsters and minks. Expression of these cDNAs in resistant cells conferred susceptibilities to the same viruses that naturally infect the animals from which the cDNAs were derived. Thus, a laboratory mouse (NIH Swiss) X-receptor conferred susceptibility to P-MLVs but not to X-MLVs, whereas those from humans, minks, and several wild mice (Mus dunni, SC-1 cells, and Mus spretus) mediated infections by both X-MLVs and P-MLVs. In contrast, X-receptors from the resistant mouse strain Mus castaneus and from hamsters were inactive as viral receptors. These results suggest that X-receptor polymorphisms are a primary cause of resistances of mice to members of the X-MLV/P-MLV family of retroviruses and are responsible for the xenotropism of X-MLVs in laboratory mice. By site-directed mutagenesis, we substituted sequences between the X-receptors of M. dunni and NIH Swiss mice. The NIH Swiss protein contains two key differences (K500E in presumptive extracellular loop 3 [ECL 3] and a T582 deletion in ECL 4) that are both required to block X-MLV infections. Accordingly, a single inverse mutation in the NIH Swiss protein conferred X-MLV susceptibility. Furthermore, expression of an X-MLV envelope glycoprotein in Chinese hamster ovary cells interfered efficiently with X-MLV and P-MLV infections mediated by X-receptors that contained K500 and/or T582 but had no effect on P-MLV infections mediated by X-receptors that lacked these amino acids. In contrast, moderate expression of a P-MLV (MCF247) envelope glycoprotein did not cause substantial interference, suggesting that X-MLV and P-MLV glycoproteins interfere nonreciprocally with X-receptor-mediated infections. We conclude that P-MLVs have become adapted to utilize X-receptors that lack K500 and T582. A penalty for this adaptation is a reduced ability to interfere with superinfection. Because failure of interference is a hallmark of several exceptionally pathogenic retroviruses, we propose that it contributes to P-MLV-induced diseases.
Boron Hydrides and Nanostructured Boron Materials

Boranes are hydrides of boron in which B–H groups occupy the apices of electron-deficient clusters. The term “electron deficient” arises from the fact that boron has more valence orbitals than it has valence electrons. The consequence of this imbalance is that the clusters are stabilized by extensive multi-centered bondings. The relationships between cage structures and the number of cage electrons are discussed for boranes and their extension to heteroboranes, where one or more BH units are replaced by isolobal main group or transition metal moieties. General synthetic methods and reactivities of the heteroboranes are also discussed. On the other hand, boron nanomaterials are a new class of materials emerged over the past two decades due to immense development in the field of nanotechnology. These materials are very useful in diverse applications including electronics, energy, space, and biomedicine. A description of different boron and boron-based nanomaterials along with their applications are included in this article. Keywords: boranes; carboranes; polyhedron; cages; nomenclature; multicentered-bonding; boron nanomaterials; nanotechnology; borospherene
Determining salinization extent, identifying salinity sources, and estimating chloride mass using surface, borehole, and airborne electromagnetic induction methods

[1] Using an example from an oil field in the semiarid Red River basin in Texas, we show that electromagnetic (EM) methods are useful in locating salinized soil and water, determining salinization extent, identifying likely salinity sources, and estimating the total mass of chloride within a saline-water plume. Each of these aspects assists in managing salinization and assessing its impact. We used ground EM instruments to establish salinization boundaries and determine the range of electrical conductivity, airborne measurements to locate potential sources and quantify the lateral extent and intensity of salinization, and borehole measurements and time domain EM soundings to determine salinization depth and relate ground conductivity to chloride content. We estimated infiltration volume and total chloride mass in the plume from EM data and an empirical, site-specific chloride:conductivity ratio established from well data. Because the measured conductivity of water strongly correlates with total dissolved solids concentration, mass estimation could be extended to any ionic constituent that covaries linearly with total dissolved solids concentration. EM methods owe their success to the large increase in electrical conductivity that occurs where highly conductive, saline water infiltrates geologic materials having naturally low conductivities. INDEX TERMS: 0694 Electromagnetics: Instrumentation and techniques; 1831 Hydrology: Groundwater quality; 1894 Hydrology: Instruments and techniques; KEYWORDS: salinization, electromagnetic induction, airborne geophysics, total dissolved solids, produced water, brine
The Design of Discrimination Experiments

Experimentation plays a fundamental role in scientific discovery. Scientists experiment to gather data, investigate phenomena, measure quantities, and test theories. In this article, we address the problem of designing experiments to discriminate between two completing theories. Given an initial situation for which the two theories make the same prediction, the experiment design problem is to determine how to modify the situation such that the two theories make different predictions for the modified situation. The modified situation is called a discrimination experiment. We present a knowledge-intensive method called DEED for designing discrimination experiments. The method analyzes the differences in the two theories' explanations of the prediction for the initial situation. Based on this analysis, it determines modifications to the initial situation that will result in a discrimination experiment. We illustrate the method with the design of experiments to discriminate between several pairs of qualitative theories in the fluids domain.
Neuron-Glia Communication via Nitric Oxide Is Essential in Establishing Antennal-Lobe Structure in Manduca sexta

Nitric oxide synthase recently has been shown to be present in olfactory receptor cells throughout development of the adult antennal (olfactory) lobe of the brain of the moth Manduca sexta. Here, we investigate the possible involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in antennal-lobe morphogenesis. Inhibition of NO signaling with a NO synthase inhibitor or a NO scavenger early in development results in abnormal antennal lobes in which neuropil-associated glia fail to migrate. A more subtle effect is seen in the arborization of dendrites of a serotonin-immunoreactive neuron, which grow beyond their normal range. The effects of NO signaling in these types of cells do not appear to be mediated by activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase to produce cGMP, as these cells do not exhibit cGMP immunoreactivity following NO stimulation and are not affected by infusion of a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor. Treatment with Novobiocin, which blocks ADP-ribosylation of proteins, results in a phenotype similar to those seen with blockade of NO signaling. Thus, axons of olfactory receptor cells appear to trigger glial cell migration and limit arborization of serotonin-immunoreactive neurons via NO signaling. The NO effect may be mediated in part by ADP-ribosylation of target cell proteins.
Magnetic confinement of Brownian rotation to a single axis and application to Janus and cluster microparticles

We present an experimental, one-dimensional, Brownian rotation system in which the free rotation is confined to a single axis. Control of the rotational diffusion of a single microparticle, or particle aggregate, around a chosen axis, was performed by using a static 1.0 mT external magnetic field. The confined object rotated freely around the chosen axis, and that axis was confined to within 3.9°. This method presents several advantages and may have wide applicability in biological and physical systems of interest.
InMvitro stimulation by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid of an ATPase and inhibition of phosphatidate phosphatase of plant membranes

Abstract The auxin herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was shown to modulate the activities of several phosphatases with membranes isolated from soybean hypocotyls under conditions where degradative changes in the membranes were minimized. The medium for isolation of membranes consisted of 0.1 M Tris/HCl or Tris/acetate, pH 6.5, 0.5 M sucrose, 4% choline ( w w ) and 4% ethanolamine ( v v ) to inhibit phospholipase D, 20 mM EGTA [ethyleneglycol-bis- (β aminoethyl ether) N,N-tetracetic acid] and 1 mM nupercaine, to inhibit phospholipase A. In contrast, the inactive auxin analog 2,3-D, did not influence ATPase activity. Endogenous release of inorganic phosphate from an unidentified source was also stimulated 30% by 2,4-D. Phosphatidate phosphatase was inhibited by 2,4-D, whereas hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate was not influenced by 2,4-D under the same conditions. These observations may be of relevance to the proton pump hypothesis of growth regulation.
Core-Penetrating Rydberg Series of BaF: New Electronic States in then* ≈ 4 Region

Abstract We report results of our studies of the electronic spectrum of the BaF molecule in the energy region of T 0 = 31 460–32 400 cm −1 (3.88 n * −1 ): K 2 Π 1/2 ( T 0 = 31 996), 4.08 2 Σ + ( T 0 = 32 166.293(2), B 0 = 0.2333892(17)), 3.94 2 Δ ( T 1 = 32 252.426(2), B 1 = 0.2294684(16), A 1 = 0.879(13)), and J 2 Π ( T 0 = 32 297.918(2), B 0 = 0.22952165(51), A 0 = 57.196(1)). In addition, the previously observed G 2 Σ + ( T 0 = 30 969.715(2), B 0 = 0.2297411(13)) and H 2 Σ + ( T 0 = 31 606.238(2), B 0 = 0.23031573(85)) states were rotationally analyzed for the first time. We verified by isotope analysis that the G 2 Σ + state, previously reported by J. Singh and H. Mohan [ Indian J. Pure Appl. Phys. 11, 918–922 (1973)], had been incorrectly assigned vibrationally. The I 2 Σ + state, which Singh and Mohan observed at low resolution, was absent from our spectra and we suspect that this state belongs to a species other than BaF. Electronic term values for the remaining seven not yet observed BaF core-penetrating Rydberg states below n * = 6 were predicted by interpolation of well-characterized Rydberg series. We suggest that the E ″ state, assigned by Effantin et al. as a 2 Π 1/2 state [C. Effantin, A. Bernard, J. D'Incan, E. Andrianavalona, and R. F. Barrow, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 145, 456–457 (1991)] must be reassigned as a 2 Δ state.
Response to Fein's Critique of Thomas, Et Al.: Administrators' Perceptions of School Psychologists' Roles and Satisfaction with School Psychologists

While Fein's (1974) suggested use of a case study approach in lieu of «statistical procedures» to study the role and function of school psychologists has merit, multiple methods of studying the problem are most desirable. We take issue with Fein's inference that a statistical approach is a «less meaningful» approach and argue against her assertion that our study yielded «very limited results.» Most of Fein's comments seem directed toward «roles and functions of school psychologists» and not our principal focus on administrators' perceptions of and satisfaction with school psychologists
Atmospheric definition for Shuttle aerothermodynamic investigations

A procedure has been developed to estimate the freestream atmospheric properties along the Shuttle trajectory during atmospheric re-entry. The procedure utilizes measurement data obtained by NASA, NOAA, and the Air Force, and model data for regions where measured data are nonexistent. The results obtained are used to determine the best atmosphere-relative trajectory parameters during re-entry and to allow for an evaluation of the aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic characteristics of the Shuttle. A discussion of the method employed by the Langley Atmospheric Information Retrieval System, which is a computer code for the determination of atmospheric parameters, is presented. Results obtained from the first two Shuttle flights, STS-1 and STS-2, are also given with applications of these atmospheric parameters.
Formation of γ1-A2, γ2-A2 AND γ3-A caseins by In vitro proteolysis of β-CASEIN A2 with bovine plasmin

Abstract 1. 1. In vitro proteolysis of β-casein A2 resulted in the formation of products identified as γ1-A2 (γ-A2), γ2-A2 (TS-A2) and γ3-A(R-) caseins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis conducted under both acidic and alkaline conditions. 2. 2. Additionally, “Stains-all” was used to identify the polypeptide bands corresponding to the N-terminal portions of β-casein A2 released during proteolysis. 3. 3. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that plasmin is responsible for in vivo production of these minor casein fractions.
The Bartol-University of Delaware Proton Microprobe

The Bartol Research Foundation and the Physics Department of the University of Delaware have jointly set up a proton microprobe for the observation of proton induced x rays and ? rays. The protons with energies up to 2.5 MeV are accelerated in a Van de Graaff and pass out into the atmosphere through holes as small as 10 ?m. The x rays, for elements above sodium, are detected in a 6 mm diameter by 3 mm deep Si(Li) diode; whereas the gamma rays, for the lighter elements, are detected in a 55 cc Ge(Li) diode. Examples are given of preliminary studies of amorphous alloys, trace elements in microtektites metamorphosed marbles, skarns and pegmatites, chemical composition of the shell of oysters cultured in controlled systems and archaeological artifacts.