cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical attractants for the smaller european elm bark beetle Scolytus multistriatus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

The secondary attractant for the smaller European elm bark beetleScolytus multistriatus is a mixture of three compounds: (-)4-methyl-3-heptanol(I); 2,4-dimethyl-5-ethyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo(3.2.1) octane (II); and (−)α-cubebene (III). The novel structure assigned to compound II was confirmed by synthesis. All three compounds were isolated from the volatile compounds collected on Porapak Q by aerating elm bolts infested with virgin female beetles. The GLC fractionations were monitored by two laboratory bioassays. Individually, each compound was inactive in the laboratory bioassays, but a mixture of all three showed activity nearly equivalent to that of the of the original Porapak extract. A mixture of synthetic I and II plus natural III (from cubeb oil) was highly attractive to beetles in preliminary field tests.
Chitinases, chitosanases, and lysozymes can be divided into procaryotic and eucaryotic families sharing a conserved core

Barley chitinase, bacterial chitosanase, and lysozymes from goose (GEWL), phage (T4L) and hen (HEWL) all hydrolyse related polysaccharides. The proteins share no significant amino-acid similarities, but have a structurally invariant core consisting of two helices and a three-stranded beta-sheet which form the substrate-binding and catalytic cleft. These enzymes represent a superfamily of hydrolases which are likely to have arisen by divergent evolution. Based on structural criteria, we divide the hydrolase superfamily into a bacterial family (chitosanase and T4L) and a eucaryotic family represented by chitinase and GEWL. Both families contain the core but have differing N- and C-terminal domains. Inclusion of chitinase and chitosanase in the superfamily suggests the archetypal catalytic mechanism of the group is an inverting mechanism. The retaining mechanism of HEWL is unusual.
Magnesium pemoline: Effect on acquisition and retention of discriminated avoidance behavior

Recently, Plotnikoff suggested that magnesium pemoline, a mild CNS-stimulant, enhanced learning and memory in rats whereas other CNS-stimulants did not. We compared magnesium pemoline with another CNS-stimulant, d-amphetamine, and a placebo, in a bar-press avoidance situation. Both drug groups showed faster acquisition than the placebo; the magnesium pemoline group, in addition, showed less intertrial responding than the d-amphetamine group. Magnesium pemoline appears to enhance avoidance performance by increasing the rats’ responsivity to the warning signal. There was no enhanced retention due to the drug.
Rotational coherence spectroscopy and structure of the perylene-benzene van der Waals complex

Abstract Rotational coherence spectroscopy has been used to measure rotational constants for four isotopomers of the aromatic-aromatic dimer perylene-benzene. Possibilities for the vibrationally averaged dimer geometry have been deduced from the measured values. In the geometries the benzene moiety is close to centrally bound to the perylene and such that its ring plane is parallel or nearly parallel to the plane of the perylene. The geometries are discussed in terms of both the intermolecular forces between the species and the structural results for other aromatic dimers.
Some enigmatic depressions of the Arguello slope, California

Two sets of channel-like depressions occur on the upper continental slope between Point Arguello and Point Conception, California. The shallowest features are 150 m wide, 500+ m long, with a maximum negative relief of 10 m, and trend downslope between water depths of 120 to 300 m. They have a periodic spacing of about 1.7 km. The deeper depressions are 60 to 200 m wide, 500+ m long downslope, negative relief of 1 to 10 m, and in the depth range from 200 to 500 m. They occur at spacings of 0.5 to 1 km. Side-scan data reveal outcrops of resistant material within the depressions. Evidence for erosion of surficial material is present in box core data; bottom photographs show ripples within one channel. Some mechanisms of formation, including bioerosion, current scour, and liquefaction, are discussed.
Comments on the determination of absolute rate constants in anionic polymerization

Claims have recently been made that absolute rate constants for chain propagation of the unassociated active centers can be made in systems where a high degree of association is present. Anionic polymerization of styrene in nonpolar solvents with lithium as counterion is a typical case. The conditions required to obtain these constants (and the associated aggregate dissociation constants) are described using data from styrene polymerization with lithium and potassium as counterions and data from o-methoxystyrene polymerization. The conclusion reached must be that the k p and K ds values obtained for styrene with counterion lithium cannot be obtained from existing literature data and are simply artifacts of the computer analysis.
Winter Storms over the San Juan Mountains. Part II: Microphysical Processes

Abstract Airborne observations of wintertime storms in southeastern Colorado have shown that the microphysical structure of those storms evolved in close relationship to the dynamical structure. The storms evolved from deep synoptic-scale systems to shallower orographic systems, and in the course of this evolution became unstable. During early storm stages the precipitation developed primarily by diffusional growth of ice crystals, but during later storm stages accretional growth was at least as important as diffusional growth. Early storm stages were almost completely glaciated, but extensive regions of supercooled water appeared in later storm stages. Weak embedded convection also produced important regions of supercooled water in the later storm stages. Ice crystal concentrations were high, often in excess of 50 L−1. The observed ice crystal concentrations were far above the corresponding ice nucleus measurements, and the discrepancy could not be attributed to known ice multiplication processes.
Insect management and herbicide tolerance in near-isogenic sister lines of transgenic and non-transgenic sweet corn

Abstract Pest management systems were evaluated in three near-isogenic lines of transgenic and non-transgenic sweet corn. The genetic transformation was reputed to confer resistance to corn earworm ( Helicoverpa zea ) and European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis ), and increase tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate. Plots were planted with either a transgenic line or a non-transgenic sister line. Transgenic and non-transgenic varieties were treated with a herbicide; either glufosinate or bentazon, respectively, applied post-emergence. Ears of the non-transgenic varieties were protected by spraying insecticides every 3–4 days. Transgenic varieties were not sprayed. Glufosinate caused temporary chlorosis (5% or less) and stunting (6% or less) of transgenic sweet corn in one experiment. Bentazon did not injure non-transgenic varieties. Corn earworm and European corn borer control in transgenic sweet corn was superior to that achieved in non-transgenic varieties sprayed with insecticides. Damaged ears of transgenic varieties ranged from 0% to 6% and most damage was restricted to the tip of the silk end. A few small, moribund larvae were recovered. In contrast, 40% of non-transgenic varieties, on average, had damaged ears, despite regular spraying of insecticides. Ears of non-transgenic varieties were damaged more severely and many late-instar larvae were recovered.
Biochemical resistance detection: An alternative to bioassay

Insecticide resistance is an increasing problem in vector control programmes. Until recently, the usual means of detecting it has been by bioassay, requiring the use of relatively large numbers of insects and insecticide-impregnated test papers which may be difficult to prepare and store reproducibly. William Brogdon argues for the use of biochemical microplate assays which are cheaper and easier to use, permit up to 30 assays to be made on a single insect, and give more reproducible results.
Evaluating thE Ecological SuStainability of a PondEroSa PinE EcoSyStEm on thE Kaibab PlatEau in northErn arizona

This paper describes a process to evaluate the ecological sustainability of fire-adapted ecosystems, using a case study based on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests. We evaluated ecological sustainability by: 1) using reference conditions and models to describe the historical range of natural variability; 2) using recent remote sensing-based mid-scale mapping of existing vegetation to describe current conditions; and 3) retooling the reference condition models to incorporate current natural and anthropogenic processes to project future conditions of ecosystems. Finally, we discuss a process for incorporating consequences of climate change. Using the Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT), we constructed state-and-transition models (STM) for cold ponderosa pine bunchgrass systems of northern Arizona. We included historic and contemporary fire frequencies in the respective models, and integrated forest insect and disease events. For the contemporary model, we added anthropogenic transitions based on the types and frequencies of current management activities. We calculated the historic proportion of each vegetation state by averaging model outputs from multiple 1000 yr simulations. We summarized current conditions from remote-sensing based existing vegetation map data, and then used the contemporary model to generate out-year projections as expressions of current management practices. Finally, we generated ecological departure ratings based on disparities between current and historic conditions, and between projected and historic conditions. Our analysis indicated that fire suppression coupled with infrequent management activities contributed to already significant trends in departure from reference conditions. We concluded by recommending additional steps for evaluating the effects of climate change, as well as the effects of alternative management scenarios for addressing climate change issues.
Clauses and the semantic representation of words.

When a sentence with more than one clause is processed, words of the first clause become less available for recall or recognition once the clause boundary has been passed. One common interpretation of this observation is that the representation of a given word shifts from a predominantly surface form (e.g., phonological or lexical) to a semantic form, after the clause boundary. Two experiments that test that interpretation are reported. In the first experiment, two-clause spoken sentences were followed by spoken word or picture probes. Pictures were intended to provide a fast semantic match to probed words, but a slow surface match. Although response times exhibited a robust main effect of the clause position of the probe, no interaction with probe type was found. Similar results were obtained in a second experiment that compared pictures with written word probes. The faster response to picture than to word probes in the second experiment indicates that subjects did not covertly name the picture, but made a semantic match (as intended). These observations suggest the following reinterpretation of earlier sentence memory experiments: Words in the most recent clause of a sentence are more available than words in an earlier clause because their semantic representations are more active, not because their surface representations are more active.
Thermostable chemotaxis proteins from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima

An expressed sequence tag homologous to cheA was previously isolated by random sequencing of Thermotoga maritima cDNA clones (C. W. Kim, P. Markiewicz, J. J. Lee, C. F. Schierle, and J. H. Miller, J. Mol. Biol. 231: 960-981, 1993). Oligonucleotides complementary to this sequence tag were synthesized and used to identify a clone from a T. maritima lambda library by using PCR. Two partially overlapping restriction fragments were subcloned from the lambda clone and sequenced. The resulting 5,251-bp sequence contained five open reading frames, including cheA, cheW, and cheY. In addition to the chemotaxis genes, the fragment also encodes a putative protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase and an open reading frame of unknown function. Both the cheW and cheY genes were individually cloned into inducible Escherichia coli expression vectors. Upon induction, both proteins were synthesized at high levels. T. maritima CheW and CheY were both soluble and were easily purified from the bulk of the endogenous E. coli protein by heat treatment at 80 degrees C for 10 min. CheY prepared in this way was shown to be active by the demonstration of Mg(2+)-dependent autophosphorylation with [32P]acetyl phosphate. In E. coli, CheW mediates the physical coupling of the receptors to the kinase CheA. The availability of a thermostable homolog of CheW opens the possibility of structural characterization of this small coupling protein, which is among the least well characterized proteins in the bacterial chemotaxis signal transduction pathway.
Construction and characterization of a library of metallothionein coding sequence mutants.

ABSTRACT New possibilities for experimental investigation of the metallothionein system at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels are now available via a library of metallothionein coding sequence mutants. Appropriate treatment in vitro with sodium bisulfite of the sense or antisense DNA strands in M13 phage vectors and propagation in Escherichia coli BD1528 (ung–) produced two unique collections in the library containing either C to T or G to A transition mutations in the codons at low and high frequencies. The strategy for mutagenesis takes advantage of degeneracy in the genetic code so that no cysteine codons are replaced in the CT mutants while all are subject to change in the GA collection. Two hundred and sixty-four clones from the library have been sequenced and G to A transitions affecting each of the 20 cysteine codons in metallothionein have been detected. Other mutations in codons for amino acids proposed to be important for metallothionein function have also been identified.
Beam-Intensity Limitations in Linear Accelerators

Recent demand for high-intensity beams of various particles has renewed interest in the investigation of beam current and beam quality limits in linear RF and induction accelerators and beam-transport channels. Previous theoretical work is reviewed, and new work on beam matching and stability is outlined. There is a real need for extending the theory to handle the time evolution of beam emittance; some present work toward this goal is described. The role of physical constraints in channel intensity limitation is emphasized. Work on optimizing channel performance, particularly at low particle velocities, has resulted in major technological advances. The opportunities for combining such channels into arrays are discussed.
A METHOD FOR DETERMINING LACTOSE AND SUCROSE CONTENTS IN ICE CREAM

A method was developed for estimating the sucrose and lactose contents of ice cream mixes containing sugar, corn syrup solids, milk solids and stabilizer. It is based on the relative reducing abilities of sucrose and lactose in the hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed states, as measured by a titrametric procedure involving modified Fehling's solution. The estimation of lactose is performed by hydrolysis of lactose with betagalactosidase and sucrose content is estimated from the reducing activity of fructose resulting from acid hydrolysis of that sugar. The method measures 99% (97–101%) of the sucrose and 98.5% (91–106%) of the lactose present.
Awareness of Deficits and On-Road Driving Performance

This study examined the relationship of neuropsychological and on-road driving evaluations among adults with acquired brain injury (ABI), and the extent to which that relationship is moderated by awareness of deficit. Participants were 62 pairs of adults with ABI and significant-other informants and 40 healthy controls (N = 102). Adults with ABI and controls completed neuropsychological and on-road evaluations. Multiple regression indicated that neuropsychological performance and the interaction between awareness of deficit and neuropsychological performance each explained significant variance in driving performance (i.e., the relationship between neuropsychological performance and on-road outcome depends on level of awareness). The moderation effect was illustrated by different relationships between neuropsychological and on-road performances among awareness groups: Among adults with impaired awareness (n = 21), neuropsychological functioning was substantially related to driving outcomes; in contrast, driving outcome showed weak relation to neuropsychological functioning among those with intact awareness (n = 24) or hypervigilance (n = 17) toward deficits. An exception was that processing speed showed modest relation to on-road outcome for all groups, including controls. Awareness of deficit has a considerable influence on driving outcomes both directly and as a moderator between the relationship of neuropsychological functioning and driving performance. When adults with ABI lack appreciation for their impairments, their neuropsychological status is especially important in predicting driving outcomes.
Multiprogramming and memory contention

We study memory contention during multiprogramming when programs are free to compete for page frames. A random walk between the possible partitions of memory over the set of active programs is used to model memory contention and calculate throughput. Our model of contention takes into account program characteristics by using miss ratio curves, and also considers memory size and page fetch latency. With the aid of numerous trace-driven simulations, we are able to verify our model, finding good agreement both in the observed distribution of memory among competing programs and in CPU utilization. We find that for high ratios of secondary to primary memory access time and under conditions of high memory contention, small programs with compact working sets are able to run with far less than expected interference from larger, more diffuse programs. In the case of multiprogramming the same program several times, we find that observed partition distributions are not necessarily even and that higher than expected levels of CPU use are observed. Lower ratios of access time are found to yield different results; programs compete on a more even basis and partition memory relatively more evenly than with higher ratios.
A note on Bar Induction in Constructive Set Theory

Bar Induction occupies a central place in Brouwerian mathematics. This note is concerned with the strength of Bar Induction on the basis of Constructive Zermelo-Fraenkel Set Theory, CZF. It is shown that CZF augmented by decidable Bar Induction proves the 1-consistency of CZF. This answers a question of P. Aczel who used Bar Induction to give a proof of the Lusin Separation Theorem in the constructive set theory CZF. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Reversibility of glucose-6-phosphate oxidation.

Abstract 1. 1. The enzymic reduction of 6-phosphoglucono-δ-lactone to glucose-6-phosphate has been obtained with reduced TPN and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, thus demonstrating the reversibility of glucose-6-phosphate oxidation. 2. 2. The half-life of 6-phosphoglucono-δ-lactone at pH 7.4 is about 1.5 minutes. 3. 3. A purified crystalline preparation of barium glucose-6-phosphate is described.
Computer vision in the interface

There are still obstacles to achieving general, robust, high-performance computer vision systems. The last decade, however, has seen significant progress in vision technologies for human-computer interaction.
What is needed for effective antitumor immunotherapy? Lessons learned using Listeria monocytogenes as a live vector for HPV-associated tumors

As a vaccine vector, Listeria monocytogenes targets the innate immune system, resulting in a cytokine response that enhances antigen-presenting cell function as well as inducing a Th1 profile. It also enhances cell-mediated immunity by targeting antigen delivery in antigen-presenting cells to both the MHC class I pathway of exogenous presentation that activates CD8 T cells and the MHC class II pathway that processes antigen endogenously and presents it to CD4 T cells. In this review, we describe the development of vaccine constructs that target the human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) E7 antigen, and we characterize their effects on tumor regression as well as various immune parameters both innate and adaptive. In particular, we describe the effect on tumor angiogenesis, induction of antitumor suppressor factors like CD4+CD25+ T cells and regulatory cytokines TGF-β and IL-10, homing and infiltration of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells to the tumor, and also effects of the vaccines on antigen-presenting cells, especially focusing on dendritic cell maturation and ability to influence tumor regression. We believe that the identification of several immune parameters that correlate with antitumor efficacy, and of some that have a negative correlation, may have wider application for other cancer immunotherapeutic approaches.
On fighting in mice: Is there a sensitive period for isolation effects?

Abstract To investigate the differential age-duration effects of isolation in promoting attacks and fighting in male laboratory mice (Mus musculus), a factorial study of five different isolation intervals (0, 40, 41, 42, 43 days) initiated at five different ages (21, 28, 35, 56, 84 days since birth) was completed. Five hundred ICR mice (250 experimental isolates; 250 control partners) were studed in a procedure that yielded detailed information on the interactional processes that led up to attacks and fighting. In addition, measures of non-social reactivity and weight were taken for all animals. The results provide strong support for the time of isolation, the duration of isolation, and the developmental status of the partner. Beyond the notion of a sensitive period, the results indicate that the effects of isolation are superimposed upon species-typical developmental changes in both the subject and the partner.
Adverse Effects of Thyroid Hormones

The adverse health effects of thyrotoxicosis have been carefully documented and most practitioners are familiar with the clinical consequences for the patient. Until recently, many patients experienced the adverse effects of excessive thyroxine dosages, which can now be avoided by the application of highly sensitive immunometric assays for monitoring serum thyrotrophin (thyroid-stimulating hormone; TSH) levels. However, sensitive monitoring of serum thyrotrophin levels has led to the frequent recognition of biochemical subclinical hyperthyroidism (isolated suppression of thyrotrophin). Because of the increased recognition of this condition, the adverse effects of thyroxine therapy can be divided into those associated with subclinical hyperthyroidism and those associated with the euthyroid state. Investigation of the potential clinical consequences of thyrotrophin-suppressing dosages of thyroxine has dominated studies over the last decade, with less attention being given to euthyroid patients. It appears that the adverse effects of thyroxine are considerably more common when serum thyrotrophin has been suppressed. They are usually manifested in older patients as increased bone mineral loss in postmenopausal women and as cardiac effects in patients with intrinsic heart disease. These patients may have subtle behavioural alterations and other clinically silent organ effects that occur infrequently. Children who are euthyroid while taking thyroxine occasionally develop pseudotumour cerebri shortly after starting hormone replacement for hypothyroidism. Otherwise, thyroxine dosages that render patients euthyroid, as evidenced by thyrotrophin values that are within the normal range, rarely cause adverse effects. Thus, avoidance of dosages that cause thyrotrophin suppression, when not clinically indicated, is the primary approach to the management of these adverse effects.
A Non-Equilibrium Approach to Modeling Toxic Metal Speciation in Acid, Aquatic Systems

Abstract A general algorithm (NONEQUI) was developed to simulate the kinetics of sorption and cation exchange processes among heavy metals and substrates in acid (pH
Initiating a regenerative response; cellular and molecular features of wound healing in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis

Wound healing is the first stage of a series of cellular events that are necessary to initiate a regenerative response. Defective wound healing can block regeneration even in animals with a high regenerative capacity. Understanding how signals generated during wound healing promote regeneration of lost structures is highly important, considering that virtually all animals have the ability to heal but many lack the ability to regenerate missing structures. Cnidarians are the phylogenetic sister taxa to bilaterians and are highly regenerative animals. To gain a greater understanding of how early animals generate a regenerative response, we examined the cellular and molecular components involved during wound healing in the anthozoan cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. Pharmacological inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) signaling blocks regeneration and wound healing in Nematostella. We characterized early and late wound healing events through genome-wide microarray analysis, quantitative PCR, and in situ hybridization to identify potential wound healing targets. We identified a number of genes directly related to the wound healing response in other animals (metalloproteinases, growth factors, transcription factors) and suggest that glycoproteins (mucins and uromodulin) play a key role in early wound healing events. This study also identified a novel cnidarian-specific gene, for a thiamine biosynthesis enzyme (vitamin B synthesis), that may have been incorporated into the genome by lateral gene transfer from bacteria and now functions during wound healing. Lastly, we suggest that ERK signaling is a shared element of the early wound response for animals with a high regenerative capacity. This research describes the temporal events involved during Nematostella wound healing, and provides a foundation for comparative analysis with other regenerative and non-regenerative species. We have shown that the same genes that heal puncture wounds are also activated after oral-aboral bisection, indicating a clear link with the initiation of regenerative healing. This study demonstrates the strength of using a forward approach (microarray) to characterize a developmental phenomenon (wound healing) at a phylogenetically important crossroad of animal evolution (cnidarian-bilaterian ancestor). Accumulation of data on the early wound healing events across numerous systems may provide clues as to why some animals have limited regenerative abilities.
Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions

The contemporary atmosphere was created as a result of biological activity some two billion years ago. To this day, its natural composition is supported and modified, mostly through biological processes of trace gas production and destruction, while also involving physical and chemical degradation processes. The biosphere has a major influence on present environmental conditions, both on a regional and global scale. One of the bestdocumented and most important indicators of global change is the progressive increase of a number of trace gases in the atmosphere, among them carbon dioxide (CO2) , methane (CH4) , and nitrous oxide (N2O), all of which are of biospheric origin. There is considerable uncertainty, however, regarding the processes that determine the concentration and distribution of trace gases and aerosols in the atmosphere and the causes and consequences of atmospheric change (Andreae and Schimel 1989). To improve our understanding IGAC created an environment for multi-disciplinary collaboration among biologists,chemists, and atmospheric scientists. This was essential to develop analytical methods, to characterise ecosystems, to investigate physiological controls, to develop and validate micrometeorological theory, and to design and develop diagnostic and predictive models (Matson and Ojima 1990).
Confocal imaging of confined quiescent and flowing colloid-polymer mixtures.

The behavior of confined colloidal suspensions with attractive interparticle interactions is critical to the rational design of materials for directed assembly1-3, drug delivery4, improved hydrocarbon recovery5-7, and flowable electrodes for energy storage8. Suspensions containing fluorescent colloids and non-adsorbing polymers are appealing model systems, as the ratio of the polymer radius of gyration to the particle radius and concentration of polymer control the range and strength of the interparticle attraction, respectively. By tuning the polymer properties and the volume fraction of the colloids, colloid fluids, fluids of clusters, gels, crystals, and glasses can be obtained9. Confocal microscopy, a variant of fluorescence microscopy, allows an optically transparent and fluorescent sample to be imaged with high spatial and temporal resolution in three dimensions. In this technique, a small pinhole or slit blocks the emitted fluorescent light from regions of the sample that are outside the focal volume of the microscope optical system. As a result, only a thin section of the sample in the focal plane is imaged. This technique is particularly well suited to probe the structure and dynamics in dense colloidal suspensions at the single-particle scale: the particles are large enough to be resolved using visible light and diffuse slowly enough to be captured at typical scan speeds of commercial confocal systems10. Improvements in scan speeds and analysis algorithms have also enabled quantitative confocal imaging of flowing suspensions11-16,37. In this paper, we demonstrate confocal microscopy experiments to probe the confined phase behavior and flow properties of colloid-polymer mixtures. We first prepare colloid-polymer mixtures that are density- and refractive-index matched. Next, we report a standard protocol for imaging quiescent dense colloid-polymer mixtures under varying confinement in thin wedge-shaped cells. Finally, we demonstrate a protocol for imaging colloid-polymer mixtures during microchannel flow.
Cortico‐hippocampal APP and NGF levels are dynamically altered by cholinergic muscarinic antagonist or M1 agonist treatment in normal mice

To determine whether altered cholinergic neurotransmission can modify the long-term secretion of amyloid precursor protein (APP), endogenous levels of APP and nerve growth factor (NGF), we administered a selective M1 muscarinic receptor agonist (RS86) or the muscarinic antagonist, atropine, for 7 days in vivo into young adult mice (C57BL/6j). The levels of NGF and total APP in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, striatum, parietal cortex and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were examined by ELISA and Western blot. We found that this repeated i.m. administration of M1 receptor agonist resulted in decreased total APP levels in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and parietal cortex, and increased secreted a-APPs levels in the CSF. M1 agonist treatment also resulted in decreased NGF levels in the hippocampus and CSF. These effects of the M1 muscarinic agonist could be blocked by atropine, which by itself elevated tissue levels of total APP. Interestingly, we found that the decrease of total APP in the hippocampus and striatum after M1 agonist treatment inversely correlated with the change in NGF levels. These data suggest that a sustained increased cholinergic, M1-mediated neurotransmission will enhance secretion of a-APPs in CSF and adaptively reduce the levels of total APP and NGF in the corticohippocampal regions of normal mice. The dynamic and adaptive regulation linking total APP and NGF levels in normal adult mice is relevant for understanding the pathophysiology of conditions with cholinergic and APP related pathologies, like Alzheimer’s disease and Down’s syndrome.
On-the-fly parallelization in agent-based simulation systems

Agent-based simulation (ABS) systems are increasingly being used to solve a wide-array of problems in business, telecommunications, robotics, games, and military applications. ABS modelers face two challenges: First, performance is affected, as their simulations become more complex and larger scale; and second, development is difficult because there is no common interface to the array of platforms that support ABS work. We seek to transform popular, intuitive, sequential ABS APIs into efficient parallel code automatically. As a first step we are parallelizing the popular MASON multiagent simulation kit, other future potential targets include Player/Stage and Teambots. To achieve this, we have mapped the core MASON API to correlate with the agent API of SASSY, a parallel and scalable, agent-based simulation system. We then use Soot, a Java bytecode optimization framework, to automatically convert MASON bytecode into SASSY bytecode. This allows simple, sequential MASON code to be run in a parallel environment.
Psl: a novel Spm‐like transposable element from Petunia hybrida

Summary The identification of a spontaneous mutable Hf1 allele in Petunia hybrida provided an opportunity to isolate and characterize a novel transposable element. This 9.9 kb element has features in common with members of the Spm family, such as homologous terminal inverted repeats and a 3 bp target site direct duplication within the Hf1 gene. The element is named Petunia Spm-like (Psl). The footprints left by excising elements have been isolated from several germinal revertants and sequence analysis shows similarities to those left by other Spm family members. Southern analysis shows that the transposon is present at low copy number in the genome of different inbred lines and species of Petunia. The germinal excision frequency of Psl was 21–33% in outcross populations. The element appears to be very mobile somatically in the inbred line V26, with 38% of plants from an inbred population showing new Psl-hybridizing bands by Southern analysis. The high somatic and germinal excision frequency demonstrated by Psl suggests that this element may have utility for gene tagging in petunia.
Consumer Assessment of Beef Tenderloin Steaks from Various USDA Quality Grades at 3 Degrees of Doneness

A consumer study was conducted to determine palatability ratings of beef tenderloin steaks from USDA Choice, USDA Select, and USDA Select with marbling scores from Slight 50 to 100 (USDA High Select) cooked to various degrees of doneness. Steaks were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 degree of doneness categories: very-rare, medium-rare, or well-done. Consumers (N = 315) were screened for preference of degree of doneness and fed 4 samples of their preferred doneness (a warm-up and one from each USDA quality grade treatment in a random order). Consumers evaluated steaks on an 8-point verbally anchored hedonic scale for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall like as well as rated steaks as acceptable or unacceptable for all palatability traits. Quality grade had no effect (P > 0.05) on consumer ratings for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall like scores, with all traits averaging above a 7 (“like very much”) on the 8-point scale. In addition, no differences (P > 0.05) were found in the percentage of samples rated as acceptable for all palatability traits, with more than 94% of samples rated acceptable for each trait in all quality grades evaluated. Steaks cooked to well-done had lower (P < 0.05) juiciness scores than steaks cooked to very-rare or medium-rare and were rated lower for tenderness (P < 0.05) than steaks cooked to a very-rare degree of doneness. Results indicate consumers were not able to detect differences in tenderness, juiciness, flavor, or overall like among beef tenderloin steaks from USDA Choice and Select quality grades. Practical Application The high palatability ratings and percentage of samples rated as acceptable for each palatability trait in this study indicate both USDA Choice and Select tenderloin steaks produce an eating experience that meets consumer beef eating expectations and provides no evidence for quality grade based marketing between these 2 groups.
Should the digital rectal examination be a part of the trauma secondary survey

From the Editor—Emergency physicians must often make decisions about patient management without clear-cut data of sufficient quality to support clinical guidelines or evidence-based reviews. Topics in the Best Available Evidence section must be relevant to emergency physicians, are formally peer reviewed, and must have a sufficient literature base to draw a reasonable conclusion but not such a large literature base that a traditional “evidence-based” review, meta-analysis, or systematic review can be performed.
Considerations for fast settling operational amplifiers

The design considerations for fast-settling operational amplifiers (op amps) are significantly different between sampled-data switched-capacitor (SC) and conventional continuous-time applications. In SC circuits, the shape of the output voltage waveform of an op amp is of no consequence provided that the output settles to within a specified tolerance of its steady-state value prior to the next sampling instant. This feature allows for an optimum op amp frequency shaping to obtain a minimum small-signal settling time. The theory applies to any op amp that is well approximated by a two-pole model, including the conventional two-stage and single-stage folded-cascode topologies. As the commonly used equivalent-circuit Miller-effect model for frequency compensation has generally been improperly applied to two-stage transconductance amplifiers, it does not provide sufficient accuracy to achieve the optimum phase margin condition. Therefore, the use of equivalent-circuit models has been refined to provide greater accuracy and to eliminate some previous misconceptions. >
Graph processing by which to evacuate a mine

A continuing problem in underground mining is safe and timely evacuation in an emergency. This problem is addressed by showing (a) how underground mines can be represented as graphs which structurally conform to proper ventilation requirements, (b) how these graphs can be processes to detect and locate mine hazards, and (c) how theses graphs can further be processed to determine the safest escape paths away from a hazard, once it is located. The algorithms described will be an essential part of any expert system capable of managing and advising mine ventilation decisions in response to real time events. >
Investigation of automatic prediction of software quality

The subjective nature of software code quality makes it a complex topic. Most software managers and companies rely on the subjective evaluations of experts to determine software code quality. Software companies can save time and money by utilizing a model that could accurately predict different code quality factors during and after the production of software. Previous research builds a model predicting the difference between bad and excellent software. This paper expands this to a larger range of bad, poor, fair, good, and excellent, and builds a model predicting these classes. This research investigates decision trees and ensemble learning from the machine learning tool Weka as primary classifier models predicting reusability, flexibility, understandability, functionality, extendibility, effectiveness, and total quality of software code.
Faith Wellness Collaboration: A Community-Based Approach to Address Type II Diabetes Disparities in an African-American Community

Community-based participatory action research was utilized to form a collaboration that developed a Health Ministry program in four Northeastern urban Black Churches, in which they designed and implemented a culturally competent Type II Diabetes self management education program. Minister sponsorship and a program coordinator synchronized the four Health Ministries' development and diabetes program planning. A case study design, and participant observations and a focus group methodology were used to explore the faith-based community residents' collaboration development, and design and implementation of the health promotion program. The implementation process can be described as occurring in four essential elements: (1) the development of the health ministry in each of the four churches; (2) the process in which the four ministries coordinated their activities to create the diabetes education program; (3) the process of delivering the diabetes education program; and (4) the challenges in promoting the diabetes education program across the community. Practice implications, as well as cultural competency issues related to social work practice with faith-based organizations and African-American communities, are also presented.
Developing a statewide network of family resource centers in New Hampshire: lessons learned.

1. Robert W. Chamberlin, MD, MPH* 1. *Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH From time to time, we publish a special article not tied to the maintenance of competence program, such as this one on family resource centers. The importance of providing support for all families, not only for those who at the moment might be labeled high risk, and the provision of a parental resource center are important concepts and represent a program that many pediatricians may want to initiate in their own communities. The lessons Dr. Chamberlin has learned will benefit those who try to develop such centers.—RJH Family resource centers are physical places in the community where all parents who have young children are welcome and can: Resource centers also serve as a base for outreach into the surrounding area for programs such as home visits to new parents, formation of community-based play groups, and child development and parenting classes for teens in high school. These centers are needed because the past few decades have brought profound changes in the conditions under which families are trying to raise children. The economy has shifted from manufacturing to lower paid service jobs. Corporate mergers and downsizing have eliminated jobs and health and retirement benefits. High divorce rates and out-of-wedlock pregnancies have led to large increases in single parents trying to raise children and earn money with work outside the home. These job and family changes have forced many families to move away from traditional support systems of grandparents and other relatives. State and local governments have cut back on the …
Pair correlation function characteristics of nearly jammed disordered and ordered hard-sphere packings

We study the approach to jamming in hard-sphere packings and, in particular, the pair correlation function g2srd around contact, both theoretically and computationally. Our computational data unambiguously separate the narrowing d-function contribution to g2 due to emerging interparticle contacts from the background contribution due to near contacts. The data also show with unprecedented accuracy that disordered hard-sphere packings are strictly isostatic: i.e., the number of exact contacts in the jamming limit is exactly equal to the number of degrees of freedom, once rattlers are removed. For such isostatic packings, we derive a theoretical connection between the probability distribution of interparticle forces Pfsfd, which we measure computationally, and the contact contribution to g2. We verify this relation for computationally generated isostatic packings that are representative of the maximally random jammed state. We clearly observe a maximum in Pf and a nonzero probability of zero force, shedding light on long-standing questions in the granular-media literature. We computationally observe an unusual power-law divergence in the near-contact contribution to g2, persistent even in the jamming limit, with exponent ˛0.4 clearly distinguishable from previously proposed inversesquare-root divergence. Additionally, we present high-quality numerical data on the two discontinuities in the split-second peak of g2 and use a shared-neighbor analysis of the graph representing the contact network to study the local particle clusters responsible for the peculiar features. Finally, we present the computational data on the contact contribution to g2 for vacancy-diluted fcc crystal packings and also investigate partially crystallized packings along the transition from maximally disordered to fully ordered packings. We find that the contact network remains isostatic even when ordering is present. Unlike previous studies, we find that ordering has a significant impact on the shape of Pf for small forces.
Does Information Lead to Emulation? Spatial Dependence in Anti-Government Violence

This study examines whether acts of anti-government violence exhibit spatial dependence across state boundaries. In other words, to what extent can acts of anti-government violence in one country be attributed to violence in neighboring countries? Past research, which has largely focused on civil war or large-scale conflict contagion, finds that geographically proximate states are more likely to experience the cross-boundary diffusion of conflict due to action emulation. However, this assumes that actors are fully aware of conflicts occurring in neighboring countries. To address this, the article argues that the proliferation of communication technology increases access to information about events in neighboring states, thereby allowing emulation to occur and subsequently conditioning the potential for violence to spread. It tests this expectation by modeling the effects of a unique spatial connectivity matrix that incorporates both state contiguity and access to communication technology. An analysis of all acts of anti-government violence in 44 African countries from 2000 to 2011 supports the argument.
Development of a Radiation-Hardened Lateral Power MOSFET for POL Applications

The radiation response of lateral power MOSFETs in total dose and energetic particle environments is explored. Results indicate that lateral power MOSFETs can be quite susceptible to single-event burnout. Tradeoffs involved in developing radiation hardened lateral power MOSFETs for point-of-load applications are studied using experiments and device simulations. Both design and fabrication process techniques can be used to significantly improve the single-event effect performance of lateral power MOSFETs, but the trade space between electrical and radiation performance must be carefully considered to produce an optimized design for point-of-load applications.