cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repeated exposure to inhaled toluene induces behavioral and neurochemical cross-sensitization to cocaine in rats.

Rationale: Toluene is a solvent found in many commercial products and is frequently abused by inhalation. Whether previous exposure to toluene alters subsequent responses to other drugs of abuse is not known. Objectives: This study determined the effects of repeated toluene exposure on the acute motor-stimulant response to cocaine and on cocaine-induced dopamine (DA) concentrations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Methods: One week following bilateral cannulae implantation over the NAc, 27 adult, male Wistar rats began a daily 30-min exposure regimen to either toluene (8000 ppm) or air for ten sessions. Approximately 24 h or 96 h after their last exposure, animals were injected with either saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) and locomotor activity and DA concentrations in the NAc were measured. Results: Exposure to toluene rendered the rats immobile, and the time required for recovery of normal posture decreased across the ten sessions. In all animals tested, systemic cocaine administration enhanced both locomotor activity and DA concentrations in the NAc. These increases, however, were significantly greater in rats previously exposed to toluene. Conclusions: Overall, these findings show that repeated toluene exposure enhances behavioral and neurochemical responses to subsequent cocaine administration.
Hybridization, electronic structure and properties of uranium intermetallics: URu3, URh3, UPd3, UIr3 and UPt3

Abstract Results of fully-relativistic local density energy band calculations for uranium intermetallics, URu 3 URh 3 , UPd 3 , UIr 3 and UPt 3 , are presented. These include energy bands projected by angular momentum and atom type, total and projected densities of states, specific heat mass enhancement factors and Stoner factors, Systematic variations in hybridization between uranium and transition-metal (X) states,particularly U-f and X-d, are found. The effects of crystal structure on the electronic structure of UPt 3 are examined. The f-d hybridization in the observed hexagonal UPt 3 phase is larger than that in the cubic phase. It is shown by inspecting the wavefunctions on the Fermi surface that the large k -dependence of the hybridization results in strong anistropy of the Fermi surface.
Bilateral thyroid nodules.

Awoman in her 60s presented with bilateral thyroid nodules discovered by her endocrinologist 2 weeks prior to being referred to anotolaryngologist. Hermedical historywas remarkable for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, depression, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. She had a history of smoking but quit in 1998. She had throat discomfort and coughing episodes but denied any fevers, chills, dysphagia, odynophagia, constitutional symptoms, and previous radiation exposure. Findings fromthephysical examinationwerenormal except for greater fullness on palpation on the right side than the left. Ultrasonography showed a 3.2 × 2.1-cmnodule in the upper tomid pole of the right lobe and a 2.3 × 1.5-cm nodule in the upper pole of the left lobe. A sample from fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of both nodules showed cells suspicious for papillary thyroid cancer. A total thyroidectomy demonstrated 3 tan nodules in the right lobemeasuring 0.5 cm, 0.5 cm, and 0.4 cm in their greatest dimensions in the upper, middle, and lower poles, respectively. Nodules were not identified in the isthmus or left lobe. The entire thyroid capsular surface was smooth and unremarkable. On the cut section, the thyroid parenchyma in both lobes was nearly effaced by white fibrous tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin–stained sections exhibited thyroid follicles destroyed by inflammatory cells consisting of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and giant cells (Figure, A), and at medium power they revealed destroyed follicles containing an admixture of histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils (Figure, B) and follicular epithelium replaced by histiocytes and giant cells (Figure, C). What is your diagnosis? A B C
Forecasts of Time Averages with a Numerical Weather Prediction Model

Forecasts of time averages of 1-10 days in duration by an operational numerical weather prediction model are documented for the global 500 mb height field in spectral space. Error growth in very idealized models is described in order to anticipate various features of these forecasts and in order to anticipate what the results might be if forecasts longer than 10 days were carried out by present day numerical weather prediction models. The data set for this study is described, and the equilibrium spectra and error spectra are documented; then, the total error is documented. It is shown how forecasts can immediately be improved by removing the systematic error, by using statistical filters, and by ignoring forecasts beyond about a week. Temporal variations in the error field are also documented.
Stakeholder roles and perceptions in the creation and success of Farm to School programs

There are over 400 Farm to School programs in 22 states and the movement is growing each year. Farm to School programs consist of many stakeholders (including schools, farms, processors, distributors, governments and non-profit agencies) who collaborate to bring locally produced, fresh food into the hands of children, often with a healthy dose of nutrition and agriculture education. Within the larger Farm to School movement, non-profit organizations and food policy councils can be important to the success of Farm to School programs. Using the Willamette Valley of Oregon as a case study, this paper examines the roles of various stakeholder groups in the creation and maintenance of Farm to School programs. The success of Farm to School programs is often closely tied to social, political, and economic issues in a given region, and this paper closely examines the perceptions of stakeholders and how they can affect the implementation of Farm to School programs. Of particular interest in this study is the shift and struggle between two terms—Farm to School and Farm to Cafeteria. Beyond the basic distinction between school and other cafeterias, there seems to be strategic use of these terms when confronting different obstacles and agendas. Using the Willamette Valley case study and the Southern California movement as a reference, this paper emphasizes the role non-profit organizations and food policy councils play in the success of Farm to School programs.
Phenotypic Correlation Among Root and Shoot Traits in an Elite Chinese Hybrid Rice Combination and Its Three Derived Populations

Abstract To elucidate the phenotypic correlations among root and shoot traits in elite hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.), 7 root and 10 shoot traits in an RIL population of Xieyou 9308 and 2 reciprocal backcross populations (BCF1) derived from the RILs were determined under hydroponic culture and field experiment conditions. All traits, except for root diameter, panicle number per plant and grain-setting rate, were significantly different between the 2 recurrent parents, and transgressive segregations and continuous distributions were observed in either root traits or shoot traits in the RIL or BCF1 populations. In the root traits, root length was positively correlated with total root length, dry root weight, root surface area, root volume, and number of root tips; however, root diameter was negatively correlated with other root traits. In the shoot traits, heading date, plant height, panicle length, spikelet number per panicle, grain-setting density, and grain yield per plant showed significant and positive correlations with all root traits except for root diameter. These results provide applicable shoot indices for indirect selection of root traits and valuable information for super hybrid rice breeding.
Major depression and all-cause mortality among white adults in the United States.

Abstract PURPOSE: Depression is the most common psychiatric illness affecting adults. Despite the importance of a potential link between major depression and mortality, research has been surprisingly sparse. METHODS: Information on 57,897 white adults aged 25 years and older who were included in the mental health supplement of the 1989 National Health Interview Survey was linked with the National Death Index to examine the relationship of major depression to mortality. Death status was obtained through December 1991. Sex-specific hazard rate ratios for mortality were calculated by Cox proportional hazards regression and Poisson regression to adjust for potential confounders (age, education, marital status, body mass index, and whether the target subject or a family member completed the survey about the subject). RESULTS: Major depression was reported for 223 (0.8%) of 27,345 men and 392 (1.3%) of 30,552 women. During the 2.5-year follow-up, death certificate data were obtained for 848 (3.1%) men and 651 (2.1%) women. The adjusted hazard rate ratios for all-cause mortality associated with major depression were 3.1 (95% confidence interval; 2.0–4.9) for men and 1.7 (95% confidence interval; 0.9–3.1) for women. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that major depression increases risk of all-cause mortality, particularly among men. Further research is needed to explain the mechanism.
Effects of peer tutoring on young children’s social interactions

This study examined the effects of peer tutoring on children’s social interactions and compared social interaction behaviors between children who are English‐language learners (ELL) and children who are primary English speakers (PES). Single‐subject withdrawal design (ABA) was applied in this study and classwide peer tutoring was used as the independent variable. Seven ELL and seven PES from two early primary‐grade classrooms were selected as the participants. Participants’ ages ranged from six to eight years old. Results of this study showed that classwide peer tutoring was effective for both ELL and PES. The data also indicated that the intervention (classwide peer tutoring) was relatively more effective for the ELL group than for the PES group. In both groups, children were engaged in very few negative behaviors.
An RF dosimeter for independent SAR measurement in MRI scanners.

Purpose: The monitoring and management of radio frequency (RF) exposure is critical for ensuring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety. Commercial MRI scanners can overestimate specific absorption rates (SAR) and improperly restrict clinical MRI scans or the application of new MRI sequences, while underestimation of SAR can lead to tissue heating and thermal injury. Accurate scanner-independent RF dosimetry is essential for measuring actual exposure when SAR is critical for ensuring regulatory compliance and MRI safety, for establishing RF exposure while evaluating interventional leads and devices, and for routine MRI quality assessment by medical physicists. However, at present there are no scanner-independent SAR dosimeters. Methods: An SAR dosimeter with an RF transducer comprises two orthogonal, rectangular copper loops and a spherical MRI phantom. The transducer is placed in the magnet bore and calibrated to approximate the resistive loading of the scanner's whole-body birdcage RF coil for human subjects in Philips, GE and Siemens 3 tesla (3T) MRI scanners. The transducer loop reactances are adjusted to minimize interference with the transmit RF field (B{sub 1}) at the MRI frequency. Power from the RF transducer is sampled with a high dynamic range power monitor and recorded on a computer. The deposited power is calibratedmore » and tested on eight different MRI scanners. Whole-body absorbed power vs weight and body mass index (BMI) is measured directly on 26 subjects. Results: A single linear calibration curve sufficed for RF dosimetry at 127.8 MHz on three different Philips and three GE 3T MRI scanners. An RF dosimeter operating at 123.2 MHz on two Siemens 3T scanners required a separate transducer and a slightly different calibration curve. Measurement accuracy was ∼3%. With the torso landmarked at the xiphoid, human adult whole‑body absorbed power varied approximately linearly with patient weight and BMI. This indicates that whole-body torso SAR is on average independent of the imaging subject, albeit with fluctuations. Conclusions: Our 3T RF dosimeter and transducers accurately measure RF exposure in body-equivalent loads and provide scanner-independent assessments of whole-body RF power deposition for establishing safety compliance useful for MRI sequence and device testing.« less
Proruralism values and migration behavior

The article looks more closely at migration to small cities and towns by studying the relative influence of proruralism value orientations on migration behaviorvis a vis employment opportunities, size of city of origin, and select socioeconomic characteristics of migrants. Findings from a statewide survey indicate employment opportunities, proruralism values, and city size of origin have a significant and independent effect on city size of destination. However, after adjustment for the independent and socioeconomic variable, the influence of the size of the city of origin on the size of the city destination is insignificant. While migrants moving for job-related reasons tend to move to larger cities, when they for non-job-related reasons, they tend to move to large or small cities depending on adherence on proruralism value orientations. Specifically, if they live in a large city and have strong proruralism values, they will move to a smaller city; or, if they live in a small town and have proruralism values, they will move to another small town. This research builds on earlier studies of "antiurbanism" that are based on negative feelings toward large cities by providing a proruralism value scale associated with a desired moral order. It also suggests the importance of value expectancy in the study of migration behavior.
Facile Purification of Honokiol and its Antiviral and Cytotoxic Properties

A separation of honokiol 1 from the closely structurally related magnolol 2 was developed. Honokiol demonstrated weak activity against HIV-1 in human lymphocytes.
Recasting the Ecological and Developmental Roots of Intervention for Students with Emotional and Behavior Problems: The Promise of Strength-Based Perspectives

In working with children and adolescents with or at-risk of emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), it is easy to become focused on the problems that they display. However, in recent years resear...
New Natural Product Families from an Environmental DNA (eDNA) Gene Cluster

Uncultured bacteria represent a potentially rich source of new and useful natural products. Studying these natural products requires the development of effective yet straightforward methods to access the small-molecule chemical diversity produced by uncultured bacteria. In this study, DNA extracted directly from soil samples (environmental DNA, eDNA) was used to construct cosmid libraries in Escherichia coli, and these clones were then assayed for the production of antibiosis. A 13 open reading frame (ORF) biosynthetic gene cluster (feeA-M) found in one of the antibacterial active clones, CSLC-2, confers to E. coli the production of two new families of natural products that are derived from long chain N-acyltyrosines. The fee gene cluster and three families of the long chain acyl phenols derived from tyrosine (families 1, 2, and 3) are described.
In-Cylinder Fuel-Air Mixture Investigation by Particle Image Velocimetry in a GDI Engine

The present paper aims at providing experimental results on the spray structure and its interaction with the air flow generated by the intake ducts of a commercial light duty gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine head. The investigation was carried out by the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique to investigate the air flow and fuel droplets velocity evolution within a prototype cylinder with optical accesses. Experiments were carried out at various operating conditions reproducing the mixture preparation for an early injection strategy. The PIV technique was applied in a flow test rig assembled with a blower, which supplied the intake flow rate, connected to the intake manifold of a commercial 4-valve direct injection gasoline engine head modified to lay down an external driving control system for the valves motion. Experiments were taken equipping the engine head with a common rail injection system able to work up to 10 MPa, and a swirled type injector having a nozzle diameter of 0.50 mm and a nominal cone angle of 60°. Tests were taken, on a plane crossing the cylinder and the injector axes, supplying to the prototype cylinder an intake flow rate of 29 m3 /h and spraying the gasoline at two injection timings in a range of injection pressure of 6, 8, and 10 MPa. The results provided detailed information on the intake flow field behavior and the evolution of fuel jet within the air flow. The intake flow velocity distribution, acquired at different cam angle during the induction, showed the development of an initial clockwise tumble flow with a tendency to produce two large flow structures: a main counter clockwise vortex and a clockwise ones located at the opposite side of the field of view. Images of the interaction of the fuel with the tumble motion displayed, firstly, a fuel jet shape that traveled not affected by the tumble motion because of its high momentum. Later during the intake, the fuel was strongly distorted by the air motion with the formation of clusters detached from the main jet and spread within the cylinder so allowing to hypothesize that the intake bulk flow may be a crucial parameter to control the fuel penetration and the droplets distribution within the cylinder.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization: Effects of haloperidol and SCH 23390 treatments

The objective of this study was to determine whether the development of behavioral sensitization to cocaine could be prevented by high doses of the dopamine receptor antagonists haloperidol and SCH 23390. In two experiments, male Wistar rats were injected daily for 4 days with either cocaine (15 mg/kg, IP) or vehicle in combination with haloperidol (1.0 mg/kg, IP), SCH 23390 (0.5 mg/kg, SC), or vehicle. After the daily injections, the rats were tested for locomotor activity in photocell arenas. At 24 h after the last preexposure test session, all rats were given a challenge injection of cocaine (15 mg/kg, IP) and tested for activity. Cocaine treatments produced a greater relative increase in locomotor activity with repeated exposure compared to vehicle treatments (i.e., sensitization). Moreover, the acute activating effects of cocaine over days were blocked by both haloperidol and SCH 23390. The coadministration of haloperidol, but not SCH 23390, blocked the development of behavioral sensitization to cocaine. That is, after the cocaine challenge injection, rats pretreated with SCH 23390 and cocaine did not differ from rats preexposed only to cocaine, whereas rats pretreated with haloperidol and cocaine did not differ from rats pretreated only with vehicle. Pretreatment with haloperidol or SCH 23390 without cocaine enhanced the locomotor-activating effects of the subsequent cocaine challenge injection. These findings suggest that cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization may develop as a result of repeated dopamine D1- or D2-type receptor stimulation, and that brief dopamine antagonist treatments enhance subsequent behavioral sensitivity to cocaine.
Crash injury prediction model

Automobile crash injury was analyzed using data from the Crash Performance Injury Report (CPIR) for crashes which occurred since 1 January 1970 involving 1969 or newer cars, vans and pickup trucks. An injury prediction model was developed using delta V, vehicle weight, occupant age, seating position, crash configuration, and restraint usage to predict expected AIS. Expected AIS was then used to estimate the probability of death and severe injury. The model estimates were found to approximate the observed probability of death and severe injury from the National Crash Severity Study (NCSS) data file.
Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe Mass Spectrometry: A New Approach for Airborne Particle Analysis

Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) formed in the atmosphere from the condensation of semivolatile oxidation products are a significant component of airborne particles which have deleterious effects on health, visibility, and climate. In this study, atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP-MS) is applied for the first time to the identification of organics in particles from laboratory systems as well as from ambient air. SOA were generated in the laboratory from the ozonolysis of α-pinene and isoprene, as well as from NO3 oxidation of α-pinene, and ambient air was sampled at forested and suburban sites. Particles were collected by impaction on ZnSe disks, analyzed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and then transferred to an ASAP-MS probe for further analysis. ASAP-MS data for the laboratory-generated samples show peaks from well-known products of these reactions, and higher molecular weight oligomers are present in both laboratory and ambient samples. Oligomeric products are...
Odor identity influences tracking of temporally patterned plumes in Drosophila

Turbulent fluid landscapes impose temporal patterning upon chemical signals, and the dynamical neuronal responses to patterned input vary across the olfactory receptor repertoire in flies, moths, and locusts. Sensory transformations exhibit low pass filtering that ultimately results in perceptual fusion of temporally transient sensory signals. For example, humans perceive a sufficiently fast flickering light as continuous, but the frequency threshold at which this fusion occurs varies with wavelength. Although the summed frequency sensitivity of the fly antenna has been examined to a considerable extent, it is unknown how intermittent odor signals are integrated to influence plume tracking behavior independent of wind cues, and whether temporal fusion for behavioral tracking might vary according to the odor encountered. Here we have adopted a virtual reality flight simulator to study the dynamics of plume tracking under different experimental conditions. Flies tethered in a magnetic field actively track continuous (non-intermittent) plumes of vinegar, banana, or ethyl butyrate with equal precision. However, pulsing these plumes at varying frequency reveals that the threshold rate, above which flies track the plume as if it were continuous, is unique for each odorant tested. Thus, the capability of a fly to navigate an intermittent plume depends on the particular odorant being tracked during flight. Finally, we measured antennal field potential responses to an intermittent plume, found that receptor dynamics track the temporal pattern of the odor stimulus and therefore do not limit the observed behavioral temporal fusion limits. This study explores the flies' ability to track odor plumes that are temporally intermittent. We were surprised to find that the perceptual critical fusion limit, determined behaviorally, is strongly dependent on odor identity. Antennal field potential recordings indicate that peripheral processing of temporal cues faithfully follow rapid odor transients above the rates that can be resolved behaviorally. These results indicate that (1) higher order circuits create a perceptually continuous signal from an intermittent sensory one, and that (2) this transformation varies with odorant rather than being constrained by sensory-motor integration, thus (3) offering an entry point for examining the mechanisms of rapid olfactory decision making in an ecological context.
Survivors of violence-related facial injury: psychiatric needs and barriers to mental health care.

Abstract Objective This study examined mental health needs, receptivity to psychosocial aftercare, and barriers to care among survivors of violence-related facial injuries. Methods Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 25 consecutively treated individuals at a hospital-based specialty outpatient clinic one month after a violence-related facial injury. To participate in the study, patients had to screen positive for an alcohol use disorder (AUD), major depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants were questioned about receptivity to an aftercare program and perceived barriers to care. Results Of those screened for study eligibility ( n =62), a substantial proportion met probable criteria for AUD (31%), PTSD (34%) and major depression (35%). Among those completing the core interview ( n =25), 80% met probable criteria for two or more psychiatric disorders. The majority (84%) expressed interest in psychosocial aftercare. However, barriers such as cost, insufficient information about counseling and obtaining services, transportation and preferences for self-reliance were commonly endorsed. Conclusions Survivors of violence-related facial injuries have substantial mental health needs and appear receptive to psychosocial aftercare. However, significant treatment barriers must be addressed. Findings underscore the value of a collaborative care model for treating violence-related facial trauma patients seeking care in specialty outpatient oral and maxillofacial clinics.
RNAstructure: software for RNA secondary structure prediction and analysis

To understand an RNA sequence's mechanism of action, the structure must be known. Furthermore, target RNA structure is an important consideration in the design of small interfering RNAs and antisense DNA oligonucleotides. RNA secondary structure prediction, using thermodynamics, can be used to develop hypotheses about the structure of an RNA sequence. RNAstructure is a software package for RNA secondary structure prediction and analysis. It uses thermodynamics and utilizes the most recent set of nearest neighbor parameters from the Turner group. It includes methods for secondary structure prediction (using several algorithms), prediction of base pair probabilities, bimolecular structure prediction, and prediction of a structure common to two sequences. This contribution describes new extensions to the package, including a library of C++ classes for incorporation into other programs, a user-friendly graphical user interface written in JAVA, and new Unix-style text interfaces. The original graphical user interface for Microsoft Windows is still maintained. The extensions to RNAstructure serve to make RNA secondary structure prediction user-friendly. The package is available for download from the Mathews lab homepage at http://rna.urmc.rochester.edu/RNAstructure.html .
Dynamical Relations between Asteroids, Meteorites and Apollo--Amor Objects

A Monte-Carlo technique has been used to investigate the orbital evolution of asteroidal collision debris produced interior to 2.6 AU. It is found that there are two regions primarily responsible for production of Earth-crossing meteoritic material and Apollo objects. The region adjacent to the 3:1 jovian commensurability resonance (2.5 AU) is unique in providing material in the required quantity and orbital distribution of the ordinary chondrites. This region should also supply a comparable preatmospheric flux of carbonaceous meteorites. The innermost asteroid belt (2.17-2.25 AU), via the v 6 secular resonance, provides a flux ca. 9% that of the ordinary chondrites, and appears to be the strongest candidate for the basaltic achondrite source region. It is unlikely that a significant number of meteorites originate beyond 2.6 AU. It is speculated that enstatite achondrites are derived from the Hungaria region, interior to the main belt, and that iron and stony-iron meteorites originate from many main-belt sources interior to 2.6 AU.
Factors Influencing Work Disability for Women Who Have Undergone Mastectomy

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to document the work status, rehabilitation practices, and barriers to work re-entry for women who have undergone mastectomy (MRM). Three independent groups of subjects included 31 female patients who were post-modified radical mastectomy (MRM), 18 physical or occupational therapists working in cancer centers, and 5 employers who represented a diverse group of businesses. Patients and therapists completed written surveys regarding the post-operative rehabilitation process. Employer interviews focused on company policies and procedures related to work re-entry. Descriptive statistics documented patients' pre- and postoperative work status and types of problems experienced postoperatively. Responses to open-ended questions were triangulated among the three groups to identify common barriers to work re-entry. Only 20% of women in this sample did not return to their preoperative employment, and most cited physical impairments as the reason. Nearly half of these women rec...
Metabolic and endocrine differences between the mutation whirler and normal female mice.

This study reports metabolic, body and endocrine organ weight differences between a recessive mutation whirler, and its normal heterozygote. The whirlers, a waltzing mice mutation, are extremely restless, nervous, and excitable. They show syndromes of rapid circling locomotor activity, head-shaking and deafness. O2 consumption and metabolic rates of female mice were studied at ages up to 14 months. The two groups of homozygous and heterozygous whirlers were autopsied at three and one-half, ten and eighteen months of age for body and organ weight analyses. At all age levels, either significant or marked decreases were noted in the body weights of the whirler mice compared to the normal heterozygotes. Significant increases were observed in the adrenal weights accompanied by significant decreases in the thymic weights. O2 consumption and metabolic rate analyses demonstrated significant or marked increases in whirler metabolic rates at all age periods. The whirler ovarian and uterine weight changes suggest delayed gonadal function. The data indicate consistently increased metabolic and adrenocortical activities during the life span of the whirlers. The thyroidal and gonadal weight alterations at the various time periods suggest age-related changes which may also be a function of acute and chronic states of heightened adrenocortical activity.
Mechanism of water augmentation during IR laser ablation of dental enamel.

Background and Objectives The mechanism of water augmentation during IR laser ablation of dental hard tissues is controversial and poorly understood. The influence of an optically thick applied water layer on the laser ablation of enamel was investigated at wavelengths in which water is a primary absorber and the magnitude of absorption varies markedly. Study Design/Materials and Methods Q-switched and free running Er: YSGG (2.79 μm) and Er:YAG (2.94 μm), free running Ho:YAG and 9.6 μm TEA CO2 laser systems were used to produce linear incisions in dental enamel with and without water. Synchrotron-radiation IR spectromicroscopy with the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was used to determine the chemical changes across the laser ablation profiles with a spatial resolution of 10-μm. Results The addition of water increased the rate of ablation and produced a more desirable surface morphology during enamel ablation with all the erbium systems. Moreover, ablation was markedly more efficient for Q-switched (0.15 microsecond) versus free-running (150 microsecond) erbium laser pulses with the added water layer. Although the addition of a thick water layer reduced the rate of ablation during CO2 laser ablation, the addition of the water removed undesirable deposits of non-apatite mineral phases from the crater surface. IR spectromicroscopy indicates that the chemical composition of the crater walls deviates markedly from that of hydroxyapatite after Er:YAG and CO2 laser irradiation without added water. New mineral phases were resolved that have not been previously observed using conventional IR spectroscopy. There was extensive peripheral damage after irradiation with the Ho:YAG laser with and without added water without effective ablation of enamel. Conclusions We postulate that condensed mineral phases from the plume are deposited along the crater walls after repetitive laser pulses and such non-apatitic phases interfere with subsequent laser pulses during IR laser irradiation reducing the rate and efficiency of ablation. The ablative recoil associated with the displacement and vaporization of the applied water layer removes such loosely adherent phases maintaining efficient ablation during multiple pulse irradiation. Lasers Surg. Med. 31:186–193, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Distribution, production, and ecophysiology of Picocystis strain ML in Mono Lake, California

A recently described unicellular chlorophytic alga isolated from meromictic Mono Lake, California, occupies a niche that spans two environments: the upper oxic mixolimnion and the deeper anoxic and highly reducing monimolimnion. This organism, Picocystis sp. strain ML, accounts for nearly 25% of the primary production during the winter bloom and more than 50% at other times of the year. In incubations, it is heavily grazed by the brine shrimp, Artemia monica. We assessed growth and photosynthetic parameters over broad ranges of irradiance, salinity, and pH and under oxic and anoxic conditions. Picocystis appears to be particularly adapted to low irradiance; we observed an order of magnitude increase in the cellular pigment concentrations, as well as marked increases in cellspecific photosynthetic parameters for cells acclimated to low-growth irradiance. Growth rates of 0.3‐1.5 d 21 were observed over a salinity range of 0‐260‰ and a pH range of 4‐12, with maximal growth at ;50 mmol photons m 22 s 21 , 40‰, and pH 6‐10. Growth and oxygenic photosynthesis were observed under anoxic conditions at rates comparable to those measured under oxic conditions. The ability of the organism to acclimate and grow under such a broad range of environmental conditions makes it an important component of the Mono Lake ecosystem and likely contributes to its dominance of the monimolimnion/mixolimnion interface.
CTCF Regulates Allelic Expression of Igf2 by Orchestrating a Promoter-Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Intrachromosomal Loop

CTCF is a zinc finger DNA-binding protein that regulates the epigenetic states of numerous target genes. Using allelic regulation of mouse insulin-like growth factor II (Igf2) as a model, we demonstrate that CTCF binds to the unmethylated maternal allele of the imprinting control region (ICR) in the Igf2/H19 imprinting domain and forms a long-range intrachromosomal loop to interact with the three clustered Igf2 promoters. Polycomb repressive complex 2 is recruited through the interaction of CTCF with Suz12, leading to allele-specific methylation at lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3-K27) and to suppression of the maternal Igf2 promoters. Targeted mutation or deletion of the maternal ICR abolishes this chromatin loop, decreases allelic H3-K27 methylation, and causes loss of Igf2 imprinting. RNA interference knockdown of Suz12 also leads to reactivation of the maternal Igf2 allele and biallelic Igf2 expression. CTCF and Suz12 are coprecipitated from nuclear extracts with antibodies specific for either protein, and they interact with each other in a two-hybrid system. These findings offer insight into general epigenetic mechanisms by which CTCF governs gene expression by orchestrating chromatin loop structures and by serving as a DNA-binding protein scaffold to recruit and bind polycomb repressive complexes.
Radiant Protective and Transport Properties of Fabrics Used by Wildland Firefighters

The radiant protective performance, thermal resistance, air permeability, and moisture evaporation of a series of fabrics made from aramid, modacrylic, polyimide, and fire resistant cotton fibers are evaluated in the laboratory. The radiant protective performance of single-layer fabrics is affected by the structure, weight, thickness, and materials, consistent with the thermal protective performance of fabrics previously discussed. A fabric's transport properties, which are closely associated with comfort performance, can be reflected by a combination of its air permeability, thermal resistance, and moisture evaporation, which are also governed by the same structural factors. Thus, it is our intention to explore the relationship between fabric structures and both radiant protective and transport properties so that we can provide the necessary information for selecting appropriate fabrics for firefighter's uniforms.
Interocular non-independence

Binocular interaction was studied by presenting a different letter form to each eye via a dichopic tachistoscope. The two dissimilar letters were presented simultaneously or at short delay internals of 0–200 msec and were either presented on corresponding or non-corresponding retinal areas. At delay internals of less than 100 msec stimulation of corresponding areas resulted in identification performance below that to be expected on the basis of independent chances to perceive. Stimulation on non-corresponding areas resulted in both presented letters being identified at the accuracy level predicted by an independence assumption.
International Trade and Environmental Policy in the Postcommunist World

This article examines whether commercial openness has affected environmental policy in the postcommunist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. During the Cold War, these countries had closed trade regimes combined with little environmental regulation and poor environmental quality. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakup of the Soviet Union, many postcommunist countries have engaged in extensive trade liberalization. Some countries, however, have been slower to open their markets, and others have maintained highly protectionist trade policies. Have countries that opened up to global markets improved their environmental policies, or has increasing exposure to the international trading system undermined efforts to improve environmental policy? The results indicate that trade openness undermined a key element of environmental policy in the region by reducing governments' ability to collect environmental taxes and support environmental investments.
Raman Scattering by Magnetic Excitations in Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors

The unique combination of semiconducting and magnetic properties exhibited by II-VI compounds with the group II elements randomly replaced by magnetic ions, typically Mn++-- the so-called diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS)--has been well documented in the literature.1The crucial factors underlying the unusual magnetic phenomena exhibited by the DMS are the large magnetic moment of Mn++and the strong exchange interaction among themselves as well as with the band electrons. Raman spectroscopy is ideally suited to discover and delineate the magnetic excitations in the different magnetic phases of DMS.-2 3
Assuring the correctness of automatically generated software

Specialized application generation tools are increasingly being used to automatically produce software in various application domains such as guidance, navigation and control. Many different tools may be used together to generate or assemble different parts of the same application. We discuss a toolset we have been developing to automatically generate GN&C and embedded software and the approach we are pursuing to assure the correctness of the generated applications. >
Do occupation-related physical factors contribute to arthritis?

Summary Occupational physical activities over many years can induce osteoarthritis in selected joints. Well-studied examples include evidence of osteoarthritis of the knees and spine in miners, osteoarthritis of the hip in farmers and increased rates of osteoarthritis of otherwise not usually affected upper extremity joints in pneumatic drill operators. Occupation-induced osteoarthritis may not be limited to these uncommon occupations but may, in fact, account for a large proportion of osteoarthritis in the population. Additional studies of this issue, which incorporate high-quality ergonomic assessments of occupational physical activities, are needed. People with pre-existing arthritis often experience work disability, especially when faced with physically demanding jobs in which they have little control over the pace or the specific physical demands of their labour.
Using a Tiled Architecture to Process Data from High-Bandwidth, Optical Interfaces

In this paper, we propose a physical process inspired routing that routes data from a high-bandwidth data port to multiple processing tiles. Our routing is named magnetic based routing (MBR); data is "attracted" towards the processing tiles that need the data and is "repulsed" away from other data flows.
Effects of selection and migration on geotactic and phototactic behaviour of Drosophila. II.

Starting with a population of Drosophila pseudoobscura which was neutral to light and to gravity, we have obtained b y directional selection photopositive and photonegative, as well as geopositive and geonegative descendants. The heritability of the phototactic and geotactic responses is, under the conditions of the experiments, rather low. The realized heritability over the first fifteen generations of selection is between 8 and 10% for phototaxis, and about 3% for geotaxis. Despite so low a heritability, these behavioural traits can be sharply modified by selection. Pairs of populations were made to exchange 20% of their members in each generation. One population of each pair was selected for phototaxis and the other for geotaxis. The experimental model of the process which is known as 9social mobility9 in human populations was so contrived that the migrants taken from the donor populations were phenotypically contrasting with the individuals selected to perpetuate the donor populations themselves. The donor populations changed, as expected, in the directions in which they were being selected. The genetic changes caused in the recipient populations by the immigrants were more interesting. They went in the same directions in which the populations from which the immigrants came were changing. With characters of low heritability, phenotypic rejects coming from genetically improving populations may transmit the genetic improvements to the recipient populations.
On the beat!: timing and tension for dynamic characters

Dynamic simulation is a promising complement to kinematic motion synthesis, particularly in cases where simulated characters need to respond to unpredictable interactions. Moving beyond simple rag-doll effects, though, requires dynamic control. The main issue with dynamic control is that there are no standardized techniques that allow an animator to precisely specify the timing of the motion while still providing natural response to external disturbances. The few proposed techniques that address this problem are based on heuristically or manually tuning proportional-derivative (PD) control parameters and do not generalize easily.We propose an approach to dynamic character control that is able to honor timing constraints, to provide natural-looking motion and to allow for realistic response to perturbations. Our approach uses traditional PD control to interpolate between key-frames. The key innovation is that the parameters of the PD controllers are computed for each joint analytically. By continuously updating these parameters over time, the controller is able to respond naturally to both external perturbations and changes in the state of the character.
A manager-friendly platform for simulation modeling and analysis of call center queueing systems

Call center operational performance is measured largely through queue times and customer abandonment rates, and thus managers have an acute need to understand how both management policies and stochastic factors affect these performance statistics. Simulation is an excellent vehicle for examining these relationships, but a lack of programming ability can be a barrier that prevents call center managers from making use of such models. To address this problem, we have developed a user-friendly Excel interface for a dynamic discrete event simulation model. The underlying model is a general queuing system for which analytical results are often unavailable, and the Excel interface enables managers to interactively specify a wide range of system parameters and analyze results, all without exposing them to the simulation model's components. Based on input from call center operations managers, we have also been able to utilize this framework to ask, and answer, some important empirical questions.
Stepwise evolution of two giant composite LTR-retrotransposon-like elements DA and Xiao

We recently discovered two composite long terminal repeat (LTR)-retrotransposon-like elements which we named DA (~300 kb) and Xiao (~30 kb), meaning big and small in Chinese respectively. Xiao and DA (three types of DA identified) were found to have been derived from several donor sites and have spread to 30 loci in the human genome, totaling to 5 Mb. Our bioinformatics analyses with the released human, chimp, rhesus macaque, orangutan, and marmoset genomic sequences indicate that DA and Xiao emerged ~25 million years (Myr) ago. To better understand the evolution of these two complex elements, we investigated various internal junctions of DA and Xiao as well as orthologous genomic sites of the 30 DA/Xiao loci in non-human primates including great apes, lesser apes, Old World monkeys, New World monkeys, and a prosimian. We found that Xiao and type I DA first emerged in the genome between 25 and 18 Myr ago, whereas type II and Type III DAs emerged between 14 and 7 Myr ago. Xiao and DA were most active in great apes, with their amplification peaking during 25-14 and 14-7 Myr ago, respectively. Neither DA nor Xiao seem to have been active in the human and chimp genomes during last 6 Myr. The study has led to a more accurate age determination of the DA and Xiao elements than our previous bioinformatics analyses, and indicates that the amplification activity of the elements coincided with that of group I HERV-Es during evolution. It has also illustrated an evolutionary path with stepwise structural changes for the elements during past 25 Myr, and in doing so has shed more light on these two intriguing and complex elements that have reshaped our genome.
Fundamental aerodynamic characteristics of delta wings with leading-edge vortex flows

An investigation of the aerodynamics of sharp leading-edge delta wings at supersonic speeds has been conducted. The supporting experimental data for this investigation were taken from published force, pressure, and flow-visualization data in which the Mach number normal to the wing leading edge is always less than 1.0. The individual upper- and lower-surface nonlinear characteristics for uncambered delta wings are determined and presented in three charts. The upper-surface data show that both the normal-force coefficient and minimum pressure coefficient increase nonlinearly with a decreasing slope with increasing angle of attack. The lower-surface normal-force coefficient was shown to be independent of Mach number and to increase nonlinearly, with an increasing slope, with increasing angle of attack. These charts are then used to define a wing-design space for sharp leading-edge delta wings.
Experimental Validation of a PEM Fuel Cell Model by Current Distribution Data

proton exchange membrane ~PEM! fuel celland validated against the current distribution data experimentally measured earlier. A parallel computational methodology isemployed to substantially reduce the computational time and make large-scale calculations involving millions of grid pointspossible. Simulation results are analyzed and validated against the available experimental data of current distribution under fullyhumidiﬁed conditions for two cathode stoichiometry ratios. The comparisons of simulations and experiments point out a lack ofagreement in the current distribution, although the average polarization curves are matched nearly perfectly. The numericalsimulations correctly capture the comma-shaped local polarization curves observed in the current distribution experiments.© 2004 The Electrochemical Society. @DOI: 10.1149/1.1805523# All rights reserved.Manuscript submitted September 19, 2003; revised manuscript received June 11, 2004. Available electronically October 27, 2004.