cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family income and mothers’ parenting quality: Within-family associations from infancy to late childhood

Abstract The goal of this study was to assess how changes in income were associated with changes in mothers’ parenting quality from infancy through late childhood. There is limited existing research from which to understand whether long-term fluctuations in family income have implications for mothers’ directly observed sensitive and cognitively stimulating parenting. Furthermore, it is unclear whether any pathways linking family income and parenting quality occur primarily through changes in combined family economic resources or parents’ individual employment incomes. Using panel data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD; N = 1364), hierarchical linear models assessed links between family income (combined within families and separated by mothers, fathers/partners, and other income) and direct observations of mothers’ sensitive and cognitively stimulating parenting over eight time points from when children were 6 months old until they were in fifth grade. Changes in combined family income did not relate to changes in mothers’ parenting quality. However, increases in mothers’ incomes from employment were linked with small increases in the sensitivity of their parenting. The estimated effects of income changes did not vary between low- and high-income families. Results have implications for programs and policies that influence mothers’ employment status, earnings, and hours worked by suggesting that increases in mothers’ employment incomes have small positive benefits for the sensitivity of mothers’ interactions with their children.
The effects of ceria loading on three-way catalysts for passive SCR operation

Abstract Passive SCR systems, which employ both a three-way catalyst and SCR catalyst, are effective for the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from lean burn gasoline engines. However, questions remain regarding the effect of three-way catalyst formulations on their performance in these systems. Here, Pd/CeOx/Al2O3 catalysts with variable CeOx loading were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated to determine the effects of CeOx on catalyst performance. While a small amount of ceria was beneficial for promoting essential reactions, excess ceria was detrimental due to the increase in oxygen storage capacity. Additionally, insights into potential reaction pathways for NH3 production were determined.
[The future of neonatal intensive care based on the data-driven science].

我国新生儿重症监护和救治技术迅速发展，在许多疑难危重疾病的救治方面取得了突破。但在大数据、信息化时代，数字驱动的临床研究范式应在新生儿重症医学中应得以重视。新的临床研究理念可进一步助力危重新生儿规范、精准、循证的管理，并改善其生存质量。.
Severing a Joint Tenancy as a Property Tax Change in Ownership

Analysis of a recent California appellate decision holding that severance of a joint tenancy may constitute a change of ownership for assessment purposes.
Viability, viscosity, and storage functions in model-predictive control with terminal constraints

Abstract Under terminal constraints, the set of states such that a model-predictive control strategy is feasible, and thus stable, is equivalent to the viable-reachable set of the controlled system. We prove that viscosity and storage function approaches to viability theory are equivalent to each other. Based on these results we propose inner and outer bounds of the feasible set by storage functions, which for polynomial systems can be computed using sum-of-squares programmes. Numerical, discrete-time and continuous-time examples are given for lateral car dynamics and the forced Van der Pol oscillator , respectively.
AN EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF 15N-CARBAZOLE FROM 15N-ANILINE

Abstract A reaction sequence involving ortho-lithiation of [15N]-(tert-Butoxy-carbonyl)aniline, quenching with Bu3SnCl, palladium catalyzed coupling with bromobenzene, and deprotection provides efficient access to [15N]-2-aminobiphenyl (4). Compound 4 is converted to [15N]-carbazole via diazotization, treatment with NaN3, and heating to promote intramolecular nitrene insertion.
Chapter 5.4 – Management of Space in Hierarchical Storage Systems

Publisher Summary The human brain project is a testament to a recent trend in the area of databases—namely, an increase in the number of repositories whose primary functionality is to disseminate information. These repositories provide online access to a vast amount of data and serve as an integral component of many applications such as library information systems, scientific applications, and the entertainment industry. This chapter investigates the four alternative techniques—namely, standard, dynamic, everest, and rebate—to manage the available space of mechanical devices in a hierarchical storage. Systems can be categorized according to how they optimize several quantities including the fragmentation of disk-resident objects, the amount of wasted space, and adaptation to the evolving access patterns of an application. The standard technique employs the general replacement policy to respond to the changing of patterns of access to the objects. Dynamic is an extension of standard that attempts to guarantee the contiguity of all disk-resident objects. Everest is an extension of standard, designed to approximate a contiguous layout of each object on the disk drive. Rebate partitions the available space of a device into regions.
Industry University Government Roundtable for Enhancing Engineering Education

Summary form only given. The Industry University Government Roundtable for Enhancing Engineering Education (IUGREEE) evolved from Boeing Company university workshops beginning in 1994 into a national group of company, university and government representatives. IUCREEE sponsors national workshops and leads initiatives related to improving engineering education. The affiliated companies, engineering colleges, and government units involved are held together by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by appropriate unit leaders. The MOU serves as an agreement in principle to cooperate in addressing major issues identified by studies sponsored by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), National Research Council (NRC), and others. A unique aspect of the IUGREEE is that it is industry led.
Overexpression of the autoantigen IA-2 puts beta cells into a pre-apoptotic state : Autoantigen-induced, but non-autoimmune-mediated, tissue destruction

IA-2 is a major autoantigen in type 1 diabetes and autoantibodies to it have become important diagnostic and predictive markers. IA-2 also is an intrinsic transmembrane component of dense core secretory vesicles and knock-out studies showed that IA-2 is a regulator of insulin secretion. Here we show that overexpression of IA-2 puts mouse insulinoma MIN-6 beta cells into a pre-apoptotic state and that exposure to high glucose results in G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Molecular study revealed a decrease in phosphoinositide-dependent kinase (PDK)-1 and Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation. Treatment of IA-2-transfected cells with IA-2 siRNA prevented both G2/M arrest and apoptosis and increased Akt/PKB phosphorylation. A search for IA-2 interacting proteins revealed that IA-2 interacts with sorting nexin (SNX)19 and that SNX19, but not IA-2, inhibits the conversion of PtdIns(4,5)P2 to PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and thereby suppresses the phosphorylation of proteins in the Akt signalling pathway resulting in apoptosis. We conclude that IA-2 acts through SNX19 to initiate the pre-apoptotic state. Our findings point to the possibility that in autoimmune diseases, tissue destruction may be autoantigen-induced, but not necessarily immunologically mediated.
Cars, Cops, and Crooks: A Reexamination of Belton and Carroll with an Eye Toward Restoring Fourth Amendment Privacy Protection to Automobiles

Under the Supreme Court’s decision in Carroll v. United States law enforcement officers may conduct warrantless searches of automobiles, including closed containers within, whenever there is probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains contraband or evidence. Moreover, pursuant to New York v. Belton, police may conduct a warrantless search of the “passenger area” of the vehicle whenever a recent occupant of the vehicle is arrested, regardless of whether or not there is probable cause to believe that the car contains any contraband or evidence. These cases compromise the privacy protections offered by the Fourth Amendment and create the potential for abusive police practices. To restore Fourth Amendments privacy interests, without compromising legitimate law enforcement interests, Professor Chase suggests abolishing the Belton rule, in favor of the case-by-case approach of Chimel v. California. She also proposes refining the Carroll rule to permit, absent exigent circumstances, a brief warrantless seizure of an automobile based on probable cause so that the police may obtain a warrant to search the vehicle. Professor Chase supports her position with an examination of each case, including the questions left open by Carroll and Benton and how courts have interpreted and applied these cases, and with a discussion of how technological and legal changes since these cases have made immediate warrantless searches less necessary than they were in the past.
Secondary Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

The diabetic syndromes include type 1 diabetes with immune destruction of the pancreatic islets, type 2 diabetes with a complex pathophysiology of insulin resistance combined with insulin secretory failure, distinct monogenetic abnormalities (maturity onset diabetes of the young — MODY), and extreme insulin resistance of several different etiologies. In addition, secondary causes of diabetes mellitus refer to a category in which diabetes is associated with other diseases or conditions. Presumably, the diabetes is caused by those conditions, and could be reversed if those conditions were cured.
Emission Control of Four-Stroke Motorcycle Engine

Experimental studies of the intake-generated charge motion (swirl and tumble) and engine combustion were conducted in a 125 cc four-stroke motorcycle engine. In this work, a Variable Inlet Port (VIP) was designed to generate various levels of charge motion in different operation conditions. The static flow test and the engine experiments were performed to study the effects of inlet charge motion on the engine combustion, cycle variation, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. The results show that the cycle variation decreased, the lean limit extended, and the burning rate and the fuel economy increased when the charge motion increased. With this new design of flow control system, the motorcycle can be run with lean mixture and drastically reduce the exhaust emissions and fuel consumption while still maintaining high specific power output.
Case-Based Ethics Education in Physical Therapy

Physical therapist students often think ethics content to be less relevant than other course material. The purpose of this study was to assess whether changing from lecture to case-based method, would impact ethics awareness and integration. In focus groups, students in the case-based course reported greater perceived value of the ethics content and felt that the material was easier to integrate into practice, while students in lecture-based course reported that content should be compressed into a shorter period of time and did not integrate it as effectively. The model was also effective in improving critical thinking in clinical practice situations.
Assessment of the persistence of anacetrapib and evacetrapib concentrations using two pharmacokinetic modeling approaches.

Anacetrapib, a cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor, has been reported to have longer elimination half-life after longer treatment. Two pharmacokinetic model-based approaches were used to assess whether evacetrapib, another CETP inhibitor, could behave similarly. Using population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modeling, evacetrapib and anacetrapib pharmacokinetics were characterized using available concentration-time data, and steady-state conditions were simulated. Published 2-compartment models for each compound were adapted to include a hypothetical third compartment representing a depot into which drug could partition. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling was used to predict steady-state conditions and terminal half-life based on known physicochemical and dispositional properties. The PopPK model described the anacetrapib data well, showing a likely third compartment with estimated apparent volume of 40,700 L. Anacetrapib's estimated half-life for this compartment was 550 days. Simulations for evacetrapib using a hypothetical 3-compartment model, the third compartment being consistent with that of the anacetrapib model, produced predictions inconsistent with reported results, indicating that evacetrapib did not substantially accumulate into a large compartment. The PBPK simulations were consistent with PopPK results, predicting accumulation for anacetrapib (but not evacetrapib) followed by very slow elimination. Based on available data and known physicochemical properties, evacetrapib is not expected to accumulate substantially during long-term treatment.
Solid‐state 13C NMR studies of vulcanized elastomers, 4. Sulfur‐vulcanized polybutadiene

The sulfur vulcanization of cis-1,4-polybutadiene was studied by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. Polybutadiene is cured with several different formulations including sulfur and accelerators in order to determine the network structure of the resulting vulcanizates. Polysulfidic crosslinks bound to the methylene carbons of the polybutadiene repeating unit were observed in the rubber network. Cyclic sulfide structures were detected in the network structure in addition to cis-to-trans chain isomerization. Two different pulse sequences were used for the NMR experiments of the sulfur-vulcanized cis-polybutadiene. The gated high power decoupling NMR experiment reflects the mobile regions of the vulcanizate sample while the cross polarization pulse sequence reflects the regions of the sample which are inherently more rigid. The cross polarization spectra of the samples cured with high sulfur levels showed that a considerable amount of rigidity is found in the vulcanized cis-polybutadiene network. It was also possible to obtain cross polarization spectra of the lightly crosslinked polybutadiene vulcanizates. This is in contrast to the NMR results of the vulcanized natural rubber systems which generally tended to have considerably more mobility.
High-energy tritium beams as current drivers in tokamak reactors

The effect on neutral-beam design and reactor performance of using high-energy (approx. 3-10 MeV) tritium neutral beams to drive steady-state tokamak reactors is considered. The lower current of such beams leads to several advantages over lower-energy neutral beams. The major disadvantage is the reduction of the reactor output caused by the lower current-drive efficiency of the high-energy beams.
The role of nitric oxide in the altered vascular reactivity of pregnancy in the rat

Abstract 1. Pregnancy is characterized by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance and a blunting of the angiotensin II (AII) pressor response. We studied the role of nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids in these vascular changes of pregnancy in anaesthesized, ganglion blocked non-pregnant and pregnant rats. 2. Inhibition of NO synthesis with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) led to an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) which was of a significantly greater magnitude in pregnant rats in late gestation than in non-pregnant rats, or rats in mid-gestation. 3. The pressor response to varying doses of AII was attenuated during late pregnancy, and this attenuation was partially reversed by L-NAME. 4. The pressor response to varying doses of a vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine (PE), was also attenuated in late pregnancy. However, this attenuation was not reversed by L-NAME. 5. Inhibition of prostanoid biosynthesis with meclofenamate did not alter basal MAP, nor the pressor response to varying doses of AII or PE in pregnant and non-pregnant animals. 6. It is concluded that (a) increased NO synthesis occurs during late gestation and contributes both to the decrease in systemic vascular resistance, as well as the blunting of the pressor response to AII during pregnancy, and (b) prostaglandins are not important in the maintenance of basal vascular tone, or the blunting of the pressor response to AII during pregnancy.
La2CuO4+δ and La2NiO4+δ: Phase separation resulting from excess oxygen defects.

Abstract The structural, superconducting and magnetic properties of La 2 CuO 4+δ and La 2 NiO 4+δ were studied by neutron powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. La 2 CuO 4+δ was found to phase separate around 320K into antiferromagnetic La 2 CuO 4 and superconducting La 2 CuO 4.08 . La 2 NiO 4+δ forms a compound isostructural to La 2 CuO 4+δ , for 0.02≤δwere studied by the system separates into two phases with different defect concentrations and structures. The structure of the interstitial oxygen defect was determined for La 2 NiO 4.18 .
A second order polynomial based subspace projection method for dimensionality reduction

A novel feature extraction method that utilizes nonlinear mapping from the original data space to the feature space is presented in this paper. For most practical systems, the meaningful features of a pattern class lie in a low dimensional nonlinear constraint region (manifold) within the high dimensional data space. A learning algorithm to model this nonlinear region and to project patterns to this feature space is developed. Least squares estimation approach that utilizes interdependency between points in training patterns is used to form the nonlinear region. A feature space encompassing multiple pattern classes can be trained by modeling a separate constraint region for each pattern class and obtaining a mean constraint region by averaging all the individual regions. Unlike most other nonlinear techniques, the proposed method provides an easy intuitive way to place new points onto a nonlinear region in the feature space. Classification accuracy is further improved by introducing the concepts of modularity and discriminant analysis into the proposed method.
SPURIOUS TETRACYCLINE FLUORESCENCE IN HAIR.

THE fluorescence seen transiently in feathers of the whole chick embryo after administration of tetracycline1 and noted regularly in sectioned hair from guinea pigs treated for examination of growth of bone2 led to a specific investigation of the binding of tetracycline in keratin. The working hypothesis in this investigation assumed relationships among the collagen-type structure proposed for feather keratin3, the calcification observed in certain keratins4, the necessity for the presence of both collagen and calcium in tetracycline binding5 and tetracycline deposition in the pattern of calcium distribution in secondary mineralization and long-term exchange6.
Environmental Analysis of GOES-R Proving Ground Convection-Initiation Forecasting Algorithms

AbstractEnhanced temporal and spatial resolution of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R Series (GOES-R) will allow for the use of cloud-top-cooling-based convection-initiation (CI) forecasting algorithms. Two such algorithms have been created on the current generation of GOES: the University of Wisconsin cloud-top-cooling algorithm (UWCTC) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s satellite convection analysis and tracking algorithm (SATCAST). Preliminary analyses of algorithm products have led to speculation over preconvective environmental influences on algorithm performance. An objective validation approach is developed to separate algorithm products into positive and false indications. Seventeen preconvective environmental variables are examined for the positive and false indications to improve algorithm output. The total dataset consists of two time periods in the late convective season of 2012 and the early convective season of 2013. Data are examined for environmental relati...
Selective oxidation and externalization of membrane phosphatidylserine: Bcl-2-induced potentiation of the final common pathway for apoptosis

The induction of apoptosis in PC12 cells by the enediyne neocarzinostatin (NCS) is paradoxically potentiated by overexpression of bcl-2. The enhanced activation of NCS seen in bcl-2-overexpressing cells cannot by itself be responsible for the potentiation of apoptosis, since Bcl-2 would be expected to block apoptosis at a point distal to NCS activation (e.g., in the apoptosis final common pathway). We now report that overexpression of bcl-2 in PC12 cells does not protect the cells from NCS-induced oxidation of membrane phosphatidylserine (PS), and results in potentiation of NCS-induced externalization of membrane PS, two events associated with the apoptosis final common pathway. The mechanism of potentiation of apoptosis by Bcl-2 is related to the enhanced reducing potential of bcl-2-overexpressing PC12 cells.
Absorption effects due to spin in the worldline approach to black hole dynamics

We generalize the effective point particle approach to black hole dynamics to include spin. In this approach, dissipative effects are captured by degrees of freedom localized on the worldline. The absorptive properties of the black hole are determined by correlation functions which can be matched with the graviton absorption cross section in the long wavelength approximation. For rotating black holes, superradiance is responsible for the leading contribution. The effective theory is then used to predict the power loss due to spin in the dynamics of nonrelativistic binary systems. An enhancement of three powers of the relative velocity is found with respect to the nonrotating case. Then we generalize the results to other types of constituents in the binary system, such as rotating neutron stars. Finally, we compute the power loss absorbed by a test spinning black hole in a given spacetime background.
From Stars to Spheres: A SAXS Analysis of Dilute Dendrimer Solutions

The progression of intramolecular organizations within a series of dilute poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimer/methanol solutions is examined by use of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) combined with comparisons to electron density models and radial density distributions extracted by the indirect transformation for the calculation of P(r) (ITP) method. The SAXS from generation 3 (G3) dendrimers are shown to possess scattering features similar to those of star molecules. This contrasts with the SAXS of the much larger G9 and G10 dendrimers. The G10 SAXS exhibits at least five resolvable secondary maxima. These features are successfully reproduced for a model consisting of constant-density spheres with a small amount of polydispersity in molecular size. Scattering from the intermediately sized G4 through G8 dendrimers reflects a consistent evolution of internal structure progressing from “starlike” to “hard-sphere-like” organizations.
Non-destructive electrical measurement of moisture content in single kernels of corn

From measurements of capacitance, dissipation factor and phase angle on a small parallel-plate capacitor holding single kernels of corn (maize), Zea mays L., a non-destructive method was developed for estimating the moisture content of the kernel. The measurements were made with an impedance analyser at 1·0 and 4·5 MHz on single kernels with moisture contents ranging between 9·5% and 26%, wet basis, and their air-oven moisture values were obtained by a standard oven drying method. An empirical equation was developed that predicted the moisture contents of single kernels from several different corn lots within ±1% of the air-oven values for 91% of the kernels in this moisture range.
Quantification of Ca2+ binding to melanin supports the hypothesis that melanosomes serve a functional role in regulating calcium homeostasis

Calcium regulation in melanocytes affects numerous biological pathways including protecting the redox balance in the cell and regulating the supply of substrate, l-tyrosine, for melanogenesis. The pigment contained in the melanocytes, melanin, has been implicated in maintaining calcium homeostasis in the cell and is known to be involved with calcium ion regulation in the inner ear. Herein, the association constant for Ca(2+) binding to Sepia melanin is determined by isothermal titration calorimetry to be 3.3 (+/-0.2) x 10(3)/M. This value is comparable with other well-established intracellular calcium-binding proteins that serve to buffer calcium concentrations, lending further support to the hypothesis that melanosomes serve as intracellular mediators of calcium homeostasis in melanocytes. Using this binding constant and the data from a fluorescent Ca(2+) displacement assay, the pK(a) of the carboxyl group coordinated to Ca(2+) is determined to be 3.1 +/- 0.1.
Do neurons process information by relative intervals in spike trains

Abstract We suggest the possibility that neurons process information in terms of the relative duration of clusters of adjacent and successive inter-action potential intervals (“bytes” of intervals). If this concept is plausible, as is supported by research from several laboratories which have specifically addressed this posibility, one should be able to see evidence for such patterning in the published illustrations from studies in which this concept was not considered. We present some of this evidence here, along with some illustrations from the original publications. Byte patterns are evident in these examples, even though they often went unrecognized by authors and readers alike. It is true that interval patterns are not obvious in all published illustrations of spike trains, and we suggest that this can be explained by one or more of the following: (1) some neurons may operate with an interval-pattern code while others do not, (2) a given neuron may use an interval-pattern code only under certain conditions, and (3) even when such a code exists, it may be difficult to detect for identifiable technical reasons. Therefore, we believe that the relative-interval-pattern concept is a valid scientific hypothesis which merits specific testing of its validity and range of applicability.
The decay of the string in the Skyrme model

Abstract We discuss the decay of an unstable string-like solution in the Skyrme model. Previously, we found this solution to have a string tension of approximately 0.85 GeV/fm. Here we show that configurations of this kind occur wherever a fundamental QCD string would be expected. We show that one always produces decaying tubes of energy density when pieces of a skyrmion are separated in space. The string solution is unstable, we construct an homotopy that deforms it to the vacuum while monotonically decreasing its energy. During the decay a baryon current flows along the string, producing half a baryon and half an antibaryon. Long strings can decay via many different decay modes, some producing baryon-antibaryon pairs. Finally, we solve the equation of motion of the initial infinitesimal fluctuations that cause the decay, rinding the form and growth rate of the unstable mode.
The comparison between three different elements within a center crack plate considering elastic−plastic action

Abstract Stress near a crack tip in plasticity was analyzed using three different finite element modelings; a constant strain triangle, eight-noded quadrilaterial, and a crack tip singularity element all considering viscoplasticity. The specimen under consideration was a center cracked plate made from IN-100, a nickel-base superalloy containing a half-crack length equal to 0.1367 in. (3.472 mm). An elastic solution was formulated in conjunction with two different loadings to generate plasticity. Fine mesh and coarse mesh solutions for the higher order elements were generated and compared considering equal number of degrees of freedom in two specific regions referred to as the near field and the far field regions. The authors determined that the elements whose elastic solutions conformed best to linear elastic fracture mechanics predictions were the constant strain triangle and the eight-noded quadrilateral in a fine mesh. The crack tip element did not perform as well as expected. For the plastic analysis, the constant strain triangle exhibited the largest plastic region. The eight-noded isoparametric element came within 15% of the stress levels generated from the constant strain triangle. The stress singularity that is characteristic of the crack tip element forced that element to behave unnaturally stiff immediately adjacent to the crack tip. Because it is not as stiff as either the crack tip element or the eight-noded element, the constant strain triangle offered the most promising solutions as verified through experimentation. It was therefore determined that the constant strain triangle offered the best solution to elastic-plastic finite element problems for the center cracked plate.
Longitudinal Relationships Between Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence and Discrimination Due to HIV-Serostatus, Race, and Sexual Orientation Among African–American Men with HIV

African–Americans show worse HIV disease outcomes compared to Whites. Health disparities may be aggravated by discrimination, which is associated with worse health and maladaptive health behaviors. We examined longitudinal effects of discrimination on antiretroviral treatment adherence among 152 HIV-positive Black men who have sex with men. We measured adherence and discrimination due to HIV-serostatus, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation at baseline and monthly for 6 months. Hierarchical repeated-measures models tested longitudinal effects of each discrimination type on adherence. Over 6 months, participants took 60% of prescribed medications on average; substantial percentages experienced discrimination (HIV-serostatus, 38%; race/ethnicity, 40%; and sexual orientation, 33%). Greater discrimination due to all three characteristics was significantly bivariately associated with lower adherence (all p’s < 0.05). In the multivariate model, only racial discrimination was significant (p < 0.05). Efforts to improve HIV treatment adherence should consider the context of multiple stigmas, especially racism.
DOT guided fluorescence molecular tomography of arbitrarily shaped objects

The authors demonstrate an approach for truly quantitative three-dimensional fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) of arbitrarily shaped objects where the distribution of optical properties is obtained using diffuse optical tomography (DOT). The method is tested and evaluated using phantom geometries mimicking mouse anatomic structures. The experiments were conducted using the authors’ optical-fiber-free, multiangle transmission system. The results indicate that with the knowledge of optical property distribution, the accuracy of the recovered fluorophore absorption coefficient ( μ a x → m ) of indocyanine green is improved significantly over that without such a priori information using the authors’ finite elementreconstruction approach. In particular, the absolute value of μ a x → m from their DOT guided FMT is quantitatively consistent with that obtained with spectroscopic methods.
Shuttle interference effects in the rat depend upon activity during prior shock: A replication

An omission-training procedure involving a passive-escape contingency was used to reduce the amount of movement during shock exhibited by rats below that of yoked controls exposed to a physically identical but inescapable shock. Subsequent tests for interference with two-way, FR 1 escape/avoidance learning revealed only the passive-escape subjects to be impaired relative to previously restrained but nonshocked controls. These findings duplicated the results of an experiment by Anderson et al. and were viewed as indicating that behavior during shock, rather than uncontrollability, is the critical determinant of proactive shock treatment effects.
Migration of capillary endothelial cells is stimulated by tumour-derived factors.

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, occurs normally during osteogenesis, luteinisation and the development of the embryo, and in pathological states such as chronic inflammation, certain immune reactions and neoplasia1. Furthermore, solid tumours have been reported to secrete a diffusible factor which promotes the directional growth of new capillaries towards a growing tumour2. Two events required for the formation of a new capillary in response to an angiogenesis factor in vivo are the migration and subsequent proliferation of capillary endothelial cells3. Progress in purifying angiogenesis factors and studying their action has been hindered, however, by the lack of quantitative in vitro assays for capillary cell migration and proliferation. Recently, we have been able to isolate clonal cell lines of bovine capillary endothelial cells that can be maintained in long-term culture using tumour-conditioned growth medium4. I now report a quantitative in vitro assay for endothelial cell migration based on the phagokinetic track assay of Albrecht-Buehler5. The evidence presented here demonstrates that tumour-derived factors stimulate the migration of capillary endothelial cells whereas the same factors have no effect on the migration of aortic endothelial cells.
Comment on symmetry breaking and effective Lagrangians

It is shown that the Green's functions of a field theory may transform covariantly under a symmetry group even though the symmetry is broken. This is a generalization of a result derived by Aviv, Hari Dass, and Sawyer for the neutral $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ model. The demonstration is carried out using the formalism of effective Lagrangians.
DIVERGENCE-FREE FINITE ELEMENTS ON TETRAHEDRAL GRIDS FOR k > 6

It was shown two decades ago that the P k -P k-1 mixed element on triangular grids, approximating the velocity by the continuous P k piecewise polynomials and the pressure by the discontinuous P k-1 piecewise polynomials, is stable for all k > 4, provided the grids are free of a nearly-singular vertex. The problem with the method in 3D was posted then and remains open. The problem is solved partially in this work. It is shown that the P k -P k-1 element is stable and of optimal order in approximation, on a family of uniform tetrahedral grids, for all k ≥ 6. The analysis is to be generalized to non-uniform grids, when we can deal with the complicity of 3D geometry. For the divergence-free elements, the finite element spaces for the pressure can be avoided in computation, if a classic iterated penalty method is applied. The finite element solutions for the pressure are computed as byproducts from the iterate solutions for the velocity. Numerical tests are provided.
Focal cortical malformations can show asymmetrically higher uptake on interictal fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)

Interictal fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is a component of the presurgical evaluation of patients with medically intractable epilepsy, including patients with malformations of cortical development. The authors describe 3 cases of focal cortical malformations that displayed asymmetrically higher uptake on FDG-PET performed in the interictal state in patients undergoing evaluation for possible focal resection for refractory localization-related epilepsy. The evaluation included routine and prolonged video electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), interictal FDG-PET with concurrent EEG, and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). All 3 patients had focal cortical malformations on MRI corresponding to regions of asymmetrically higher uptake on FDG-PET. EEG confirmed that the FDG-PET studies were performed in the interictal state. The lesions included a large region of subcortical heterotopia in the right frontal lobe, a left temporal lobe dysplasia, and a region of subcortical heterotopia in the right occipital lobe. In both patients with subcortical heterotopia, there were other focal regions of cortical malformation that were not associated with abnormal or asymmetric uptake on FDG-PET. Previous reports describe decreased uptake on interictal PET in most cases of focal cortical malformations. Normal to increased uptake has been reported with band heterotopia. The authors demonstrate that other types of focal malformations of cortical development, including focal subcortical heterotopia and lobar dysplasia, can be associated with asymmetrically higher uptake on interictal FDG-PET.
Histones of Mitosis and Meiosis in Loxa flavicolis (Hemipteran)

In a study of chromosome pairing, the basic nucleoproteins of meiotic cells of Loxa flavicolis, a tropical bug, are compared with asynaptic cells of the testis and somatic cells. The normal meiotic cells are found to differ markedly from the other kinds, while only slight differences are found between asynaptic and somatic nuclei.
Differential net food utilization by larvae of Sitophilus oryzae and Sitophilus granarius.

Abstract The net utilization of a meridic diet by Sitophilus oryzae from the newly hatched larva to the pupa was more efficient compared with that of S. granarius . The artificial diet was highly digestible to both species, but S. oryzae converted 24·1 per cent of the ingested food into body substance compared with 12·4 per cent converted by S. granarius . The mean pupal weight of S. granarius (1·402 mg) was greater than that of S. oryzae (1·012 mg); however, larvae of S. granarius consumed 2·6 times as much food and excreted 8·1 times as much faecal material to obtain that weight. Even though S. granarius consumed the diet at a greater rate, the relative growth rate of S. oryzae was faster. The intracellular symbiotes present in S. oryzae may have a role in the species' faster development and more efficient utilization of its food.
CHANDRA X-RAY OBSERVATIONS OF YOUNG CLUSTERS. I. NGC 2264 DATA

We present results of a Chandra observation of a field in NGC 2264. The observations were taken with the ACIS-I camera with an exposure time of 48.1 ks. We present a catalog of 263 sources, which includes X-ray luminosity, optical and infrared photometry, and X-ray variability information. We found 41 variable sources, 14 of which have a flarelike light curve, and two of which have a pattern of a steady increase or decrease over a 10 hr period. The optical and infrared photometry for the stars identified as X-ray sources are consistent with most of these objects being pre–main-sequence stars with ages younger than 3 Myr.
Splenic erythropoiesis in the pregnant mouse.

Abstract Pregnancy in mice was accompanied by a marked stimulation of splenic erythropoiesis which was highest after 12–15 days and then declined precipitously in the 3 remaining days. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that, in mice, the spleen is a major organ for regulating erythropoiesis.
Responses of oocytes and embryos to the culture environment.

Embryo development is strongly influenced by events occuring during oocyte maturation. Although many immature oocytes are capable of completing meiosis in vitro, only a small percentage of the original pool of immature oocytes is competent to continue development to the blastocyst stage and subsequently result in a pregnancy. This indicates that maturation of oocytes in vitro may not be occuring in an entirely normal manner. Cytoplasmic changes occuring during maturation, collectively termed cytoplasmic maturation, are essential for embryonic development. The cytoplasm of the oocyte may play a crucial role in assembling the correct metabolic machinery for production of sufficient energy for cellular functions during maturation, cleavage and blastocyst formation. A better understanding of the structural, functional and metabolic characteristics of the oocyte during maturation, and the consequence of changes in these parameters on developmental competence is needed. Understanding the role of cytoplasmic changes during oocyte maturation will help increase the efficiency of in vitro embryo production. Better embryo production strategies will facilitate basic research into the control of early development, improve implementation in endangered species, provide a source of high quality oocytes for nuclear transfer and transgenic technologies and benefit the commercial embryo transfer industry.
Analysis and design of echo state networks

The design of echo state network (ESN) parameters relies on the selection of the maximum eigenvalue of the linearized system around zero (spectral radius). However, this procedure does not quantify in a systematic manner the performance of the ESN in terms of approximation error. This article presents a functional space approximation framework to better understand the operation of ESNs and proposes an information-theoretic metric, the average entropy of echo states, to assess the richness of the ESN dynamics. Furthermore, it provides an interpretation of the ESN dynamics rooted in system theory as families of coupled linearized systems whose poles move according to the input signal dynamics. With this interpretation, a design methodology for functional approximation is put forward where ESNs are designed with uniform pole distributions covering the frequency spectrum to abide by the richness metric, irrespective of the spectral radius. A single bias parameter at the ESN input, adapted with the modeling error, configures the ESN spectral radius to the input-output joint space. Function approximation examples compare the proposed design methodology versus the conventional design.
Can the Lateral Proximity Effect Be Used to Create the Superconducting Transition of a Micron-Sized TES?

Recent measurements of micron-sized Mo/Au bilayer TESs have demonstrated that the TES can behave like an S-S′-S weak link due to the lateral proximity effect from superconducting leads. In this regime the Tc is a function of bias current, and the effective Tc shifts from the bilayer Tc towards the lead Tc. We explore the idea that a micron-sized S-N-S weak link could provide a new method to engineer the TES Tc. This method would be particularly useful when small size requirements for a bilayer TES (such as for a hot-electron microbolometer) lead to undesirable shifts in the bilayer Tc. We present measurements of a variety of micron-sized normal Au ‘TES’ devices with Nb leads. We find no evidence of a superconducting transition in the Au film of these devices, in dramatic contrast to the strong lateral proximity effect seen in micron-sized Mo/Au bilayer devices. The absence of a transition in these devices is also in disagreement with theoretical predictions for S-N-S weak links. We hypothesize that a finite contact resistance between the Nb and Au may be weakening the effect. We conclude that the use of the lateral proximity effect to create a superconducting transition will be difficult given current fabrication procedures.
Renal lesions in plasma cell dyscrasias: ultrastructural observations

The renal biopsies from 47 patients with plasma cell dyscrasias were studied by light and electronmicroscopy, and by immunohistochemical methods. This report is primarily concerned with the ultrastructural features of 24 cases of Bence Jones cast nephropathy and of ten cases of light chain deposit disease. In Bence Jones cast nephropathy, crystals derived from light chain proteins were detected in the majority of cases within the casts or in tubular cells and appeared to be related to the "hard" and "fractured" appearance of the casts as well as to the presence of foreign body type giant cells, the latter probably being of monocyte-macrophage origin. In light chain deposit disease, linear deposits of light chain proteins (eight kappa and two lambda) were present in a subendothelial position along the glomerular basement membrane and along the outer aspect of the tubular basement membranes in all cases, quite often in the mesangial matrix, but much less commonly in the interstitium and in the wall of small arteries. The light and electronmicroscopic features of both Bence Jones cast nephropathy and light chain deposit disease can be considered diagnostic for plasma cell dyscrasia. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms of these two different forms of renal involvement are discussed briefly.
Ferredoxin from Selenomonas ruminantium

Ferredoxin from the strict rumen anaerobe Selenomonas ruminantium has been purified to homogeneity and characterized with respect to its molecular weight and amino acid composition. The molecular weight of ferredoxin was 9,880. The A380/A280 absorbance ratio of the pure ferredoxin was 0.54 with a molar extinction coefficient of 31,000 M-1 cm-1 at 380 nm. Ferredoxin was reduced by cell-free extracts in the presence of hydrogen gas or pyruvate and acetyl coenzyme A.
On the nature of fault space classification structure developed by neural networks

Abstract Recent research efforts have shown that backpropogation neural networks can be successfully used for fault diagnosis in steady-state and dynamic chemical processes. This approach relies on the non-linear classification properties of neural networks. The diagnostic ability depends on the discrimination of decision regions corresponding to various fault classes, by the neural network. The delineation of decision regions for a given number of fault classes, in turn, hinges on several factors, such as the choice of training data, the number of input and hidden nodes, and the extent of training. In this study, the impact of hidden units and input units on fault space structure and fault classification performance for a given set of training data, is examined. The studies were conducted using a simulation of a chemical reactor. It was observed that the recall and single-fault generalization performances of the neural networks are very good. However, to achieve such good results one needs to have a rich training data set. The results indicate that as the number of hidden units is increased, the amount of training required for correct recall decreases considerably, showing that the delineation of the fault space into different decision regions becomes easier. Also, with a greater number of hidden units, there is a small improvement in single-fault generalization. However, significant improvements in two-fault generalization performance are possible only with the addition of extra input units that convey more information about the state of the system being diagnosed.
Soil Quality Field Tools

The mission of the Soil Quality Institute (SQI) of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is to develop and disseminate tools for soil quality assessment. In keeping with this mission, the SQI, through partnerships, has developed two assessment tools for use by farmers and field staff. We review these efforts here. The first, the Soil Quality Card Design Guide, provides a nine-step process for conducting workshops to guide farmers in the development of locally adapted soil quality assessment cards. The second, the Soil Quality Test Kit Guide, provides instructions and interpretations for 11 field tests representing physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. In this paper, we present a summary of soil quality cards developed in seven states. An important strength of the soil quality card design process lies with the active participation of farmers to design the cards themselves as part of locally lead conservation activities. We also present results from soil quality test kit training workshops showing that the test kit provides an excellent framework for teaching soil quality concepts in the field. Regular use to compare effects of management systems or monitor changes over time will likely be limited to farmers with fairly high skill levels, specialists, and agricultural consultants.