cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muscarinic cholinergic binding in chick embryo retino‐tectal system: Effects of corticosterone

Muscarinic binding sites were measured using the radioligand [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) in the retina and tectum of 11-day-old chick embryos, after intracerebral administration of 0.02 microgram of corticosterone at 8 days of incubation. This age was chosen because the hormone preferentially accumulates in retinas at 8 days of development. Hormone treatment significantly affected the affinity of 3H-QNB-binding sites in retinas and slightly affected the affinity in treated tecta, whereas the number of binding sites remained unchanged. The specific binding was determined with either atropine or unlabeled QNB. Scatchard plot analysis of specific 3H-QNB binding revealed the presence of nonsaturable binding at high 3H-QNB concentrations (6-11 nM) in the treated retinas, but not in controls. It can be concluded from these data that the hormone has a primary effect on retinal cells during early growth in the chick embryo. The possibility that the hormone delays maturation of specific populations of retinal cells is considered in the discussion.
Structural transitions of soluble and immobilized chymotrypsinogen A in urea and guanidinium chloride as measured by fluorescence

Abstract A cylindrical flow-through quartz cell was designed for measuring fluorescence changes associated with structural transitions in proteins immobilized by covalent attachment to insoluble matrices. Chymotrypsinogen A was immobilized by covalent attachment to derivatized porous glass beads. Conformational transitions in both native, soluble chymotrypsinogen and glass-bound chymotrypsinogen were assessed from fluorescence emission spectra obtained in 0 to 8 m urea and in 0 to 7 m guanidinium chloride. Evidence for the complete reversibility of such transitions in this zymogen was provided by comparing spectra generated by the native zymogen exposed to a given concentration of denaturant with spectra recorded for a mixture of the native zymogen and completely denatured zymogen at the same final concentration of denaturant. The observed transition appeared to follow a two-state mechanism. First order kinetics of unfolding and of refolding were observed in the transition region of the immobilized protein by monitoring fluorescence changes after rapidly adjusting the concentration of denaturant; apparent first order rate constants at pH 7 and 25 °C averaged 0.016 min −1 . Neither the chemistry of the immobilization reactions nor the microenvironment of the surface appears to affect the stability of the native zymogen or the refolding of denatured chymotrypsinogen. Thus, it appears that immobilization of proteins can provide a means for investigating conformational transitions which, due to such complicating secondary reactions as protein-protein interactions and autolysis, cannot otherwise be examined.
Distribution, Rate of Extraction, and Complexing Action of ThenoyItrifluoroacetone in the Synergistic System Kerosine/ThenoyItrifluoroacetone/Tributylphosphate/Dilute HNO3

Abstract A study of the variation of the distribution coefficients of thenoyltrifluoro-tone (HTTA) and Sm with time has been made in the synergistic system kerosine/HTTA/tributylphosphate (TBP)/dilute HNO3. The results indicate that the phenomena of antagonism or antisynergism which takes place at TBP concentrations above 0.1 M is due to the large reduction of the free HTTA-enol in the organic phase and to a much lesser extent to the reduction of the free TBP concentration in the same phase through the formation of HTTA-H2O and HTTA-H2O-TBP, respectively. Equations which allow calculation of the free HTTA-enol and free TBP are developed.
An analytical study of the thermally induced two-phase flow instabilities including the effect of thermal non-equilibrium

Abstract The problem of thermally induced flow instabilities in a uniformly heated boiling channel has been studied analytically. The effect of thermal non-equilibrium between the phases has been included by deriving a constitutive equation for the mass rate of vapor generation from steady state energy consideration. The system characteristic equation is derived by introducing a small perturbation in the inlet velocity, and the system stability boundary is determined by using the D-partition method. When compared with the equilibrium theory, the present non-equilibrium theory predicts a more stable system at low subcooling number and a more unstable system at high subcooling number. When compared with experiment, the present non-equilibrium theory agrees well with the data on the system stability boundary at low subcooling and the frequency of oscillations. However, further studies are required for better prediction of the system stability at high subcooling.
Order parameter and Ginzburg-Landau theory for the fractional quantum Hall effect.

A new order parameter with a novel broken symmetry is proposed for the fractional quantum Hall effect, with the Laughlin state as the mean-field ground state. The classical Ginzburg-Landau theory of Girvin is derived microscopically from this starting point and exhibits all the phenomenology of the fractional quantum Hall effect.
Transversals of families in complete lattices, and torsion in product modules

Suppose L is a complete lattice containing no copy of the power-set 2ω and no uncountable well-ordered chains. It is shown that for any family of nonempty subsets $$X_1 \subseteq L (i \in A)$$ , one can choose elements p i ∈X i so that ∨ A p i majorizes all elements of all but finitely many of the X i . Ring-theoretic consequences are deduced: for instance, the direct product of a family of torsion modules over a commutative Noetherian integral domain R is torsion if and only if some element of R annihilates all but finitely many of the modules.
Data Sets from forest‐atmosphere research now available

Research to date indicates that rising global temperatures could have their greatest impact at higher latitudes (45° to 65°N), with the most marked effects within continental interiors; this includes predictions of significant warming and drying. In response to the need for data to better model the possible effects of global warming on boreal forests—which inhabit much of the northerly latitudes—the Boreal Ecosystems Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) was carried out between 1990 and 1999. BOREAS was an international, interdisciplinary field campaign to improve understanding of boreal forest ecology the interactions between boreal forest and the atmosphere, how these interactions are affected by climate change, and how satellite imagery can be used to monitor these interactions [Sellers, et al., 1997]. BOREAS was a cooperative field experiment involving elements of land surface climatology, biogeochemistry and terrestrial ecology, with remote sensing playing a strong, integrating role. A primary objective was to collect the data needed to improve computer simulation models of the important processes controlling these exchanges, in order to improve capabilities to anticipate the effects of global change—principally altered temperature and precipitation patterns—on the biome.
Development of an automatics joint-area-measurement system after ultrafast laser microwelding

The present study is undertaken in order to develop an automatic measurement system for light transmissibility of jointed transparent materials using high-rate-pulses ultrafast laser microwelding. To measure joint strength, it is necessary to measure the tensile strength and welded area quantitatively. Especially, the welded area greatly influences joint strength in the microwelding. Thus, it is important to distinguish the welded area and non-welded area. The welded sample was irradiated by He-Ne laser light, and the light, which passed through the welded sample, was detected by a photo detector. The transmitted light has two intensity levels because the transmissibly of light is different in the welded area and non-welded area of the welded sample. Wherein, the welded area and non-welded area are classified by irradiating the He-Ne light to the sample, and detecting the transmitted light. This technique is also applied to determine the accurate welded area after welding using various shapes such as spiral and rectangular, the relationship between joint strength and shapes will be presented.
Gains in Children's Health Insurance Coverage but Additional Progress Needed

This paper examines changes in children's health insurance coverage following the creation of SCHIP in 1997 and assesses prospects for further progress. Findings from the National Survey of America's Families indicate that children gained coverage between 1999 and 2002. In all, 1.8 million fewer children were lacking coverage in 2002 and gains were concentrated among children in low-income families. However, close to 8 million children are still uninsured, many of whom lack access to employer-sponsored coverage but qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP. An expanded federal role in the financing of these programs is likely needed for continued progress in covering the nation's low-income children. (Dubay, Lisa, and Genevieve Kenney. November 2004. Gains in Children's Health Insurance Coverage but Additional Progress Needed. Pediatrics 114(5): 1338-1340.)
Production of cholera toxin subunit B by a mutant strain of Vibrio cholerae

The B subunit (CTB) of cholera toxin (CT) can be used as a carrier protein for conjugate vaccines designed to elicit antipolysaccharide antibodies. A defined medium, AGM4, was designed to grow a high-producing mutant of Vibrio cholerae expressing only the B subunit of CT: V. cholerae 0395-NI. AGM4 contains four amino acids, asparagine, glutamic acid, arginine and serine, salts and a trace element solution. The carbon source is glucose. The fermentations performed in AGM4 indicated that CTB production paraleled the growth of the organism but that there was a maximal release of CTB during the stationary phase. There was a clear optimum of productivity at pH 8.0 and 30°C. The pH had an influence on CTB production and not only on its release. Analysis of the amino acids present in the medium showed a correlation between their consumption rates and CTB productivity.
Serologic Evidence of Bunyamwera Group Arbovirus Infections in Wisconsin and Texas Deer

Sera of 81 white-tailed deer from south Texas and 283 white-tailed deer from Wisconsin were tested for neutralizing and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies to arboviruses of the Bunyamwera group. Neutralizing antibodies were detected in 100% of the Texas deer sera and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies were detected in 61% of those sera collected in 1969 and 78% of those sera collected in 1963. The prevalence of both neutralizing and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies in Wisconsin deer sera varied from 72–100% and 42–79% respectively depending on the geographic area tested in the years 1963 and 1969.
Friction and adhesion of silica fibres in liquid media

Contact adhesion and sliding friction between orthgonally configured silica fibres were measured in water, hexadecane, and cyclohexane. In the adhesion model of friction, the friction is interpreted in terms of shearing the junction and the shear strength (τ) can simply be represented by τ=F/A whereFis frictional force andA is the real area of contact. While this model works well for the frictional behaviour of silica fibre in air, this was not the case in liquid media. The influence of liquid on the force required to break the adhesive junction cannot simply be interpreted in terms of the reduction in adhesional forces between two fibres; but the interpretations have to also include the nature of the liquids.
The Effect of Salt Loading and Salt Depletion on Renal Function and Electrolyte Excretion in Man

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), and electrolyte excretion were studied in 17 patients subjected to salt depletion and loading. Salt depletion led to maximal renal salt conservation with the average GFR and RPF slightly decreased. Salt loading produced increased excretion of sodium and chloride with the average GFR and RPF slightly increased. Since the decreased electrolyte excretion with salt depletion and increased electrolyte excretion with salt loading were essentially independent of the direction of change in GFR and RPF, it is inferred that tubular absorptive activity is a more significant factor in achieving electrolyte balance than are GFR changes.
The identification of nucleoside triphosphate ends on RNA formed in the RNA polymerase reaction

Abstract RNA polymerase reactions primed with a variety of different DNA preparations (T2, thymus, denatured thymus and dAT copolymer) lead to the incorporation of 32 P from β-γ 32 P-labeled ATP into an acid-insoluble form. Evidence has been presented which indicates that the triphosphate group is present at the end of RNA chains.
Insulin resistance Type A and short 5th metacarpals.

Background/aims Insulin resistance is associated with a number genetic syndromes and a variety of defects of insulin action. Methods We describe three members of an extended family spanning two generations with insulin resistance Type A and short 5th metacarpals. The proband had secondary amenorrhoea, male pattern hair distribution, acne, hirsutism, deep voice, acanthosis nigricans, polycystic ovaries, diabetes, features of acromegaly, raised creatine kinase and triglyceride levels and short 5th metacarpals. Her growth hormone, adrenal steroid and testosterone levels were normal. The proband's daughter had severe acne, hirsutism, acanthosis nigricans, polycystic ovaries, raised triglyceride, glucose and testosterone level short metacarpals and normal insulin receptor gene. The proband's son had a muscular build, raised creatine kinase, hypertriglyceridaemia and short 5th metacarpals. His fasting insulin levels were normal but pro-insulin was raised. Result/conclusion There are many familial and genetic syndromes associated with insulin resistance. This family was diagnosed as having insulin resistance Type A. This family does not conform entirely to any of the previously described syndromes and a number of family members have the phenotype of short 5th metacarpals, which appears to be associated with the features of insulin resistance Type A. Diabet. Med. 20, 500–504 (2003)
Solving the singularly perturbed matrix differential Riccati equation: A Lyapunov equation approach

In this paper, we study the finite time (horizon) optimal control problem for singularly perturbed systems. The solution is obtained in terms of the corresponding solution of the algebraic Riccati equation and the decomposition of the singularly perturbed differential Lyapunov equation into reduced-order differential Lyapunov/Sylvester equations. An illustrative numerical example is provided to show the efficiency of the proposed approach.
A new hypothesis for the cancer mechanism

Several observations have led us to a new hypothesis for cancer mechanism. First, that cancer appears only on those multicellular organisms with complicated wound-healing capacities. Second, that wounds considered as risk factors can be identified in all cancers in clinics. And finally, that oncogene activation appears not only in cancer, but also in normal physiology and noncancer pathology processes. Our proposed hypothesis is that cancer is a natural wound healing-related process, which includes oncogene activations, cytokine secretions, stem cell recruitment differentiation, and tissue remodeling. Wounds activate oncogenes of some cells and the latter secrete cytokines to recruit stem cells to heal the wounds. However, if the cause of the wound or if the wound persists, such as under the persistent UV and carcinogen exposures, the continuous wound healing process will lead to a clinical cancer mass. There is no system in nature to stop or reverse the wound healing process in the middle stage when the wound exists. The outcome of the cancer mechanism is either healing the wound or exhausting the whole system (death). The logic of this cancer mechanism is consistent with the rationales of the other physiological metabolisms in the body—for survival. This hypothesis helps to understand many cancer mysteries derived from the mutation theory, such as why cancer only exists in a small proportion of multicellular organisms, although they are all under potential mutation risks during DNA replications. The hypothesis can be used to interpret and guide cancer prevention, recurrence, metastasis, in vitro and in vivo studies, and personalized treatments.
On-the-fly capacity planning

When resolving performance problems, a simple histogram of hot call stacks does not cut it, especially given the highly fluid nature of modern deployments. Why bother tuning, when adding a few CPUs via the management console will quickly resolve the problem? The findings of these tools are also presented without any sense of context: e.g. string conversion may be expensive, but only matters if it contributes greatly to the response time of user logins.Historically, these concerns have been the purview of capacity planning. The power of planners lies in their ability to weigh demand versus capacity, and to do so in terms of the important units of work in the application (such as user logins). Unfortunately, they rely on measurements of rates and latencies, and both quantities are difficult to obtain. Even if possible, when all is said and done, these planners only relate to the code as a black-box: but, why bother adding CPUs, when easy code changes will fix the problem?We present a way to do planning on-the-fly: with a few call stack samples taken from an already-running system, we predict the benefit of a proposed tuning plan. We accomplish this by simulating the effect of a tuning action upon execution speed and the way it shifts resource demand. To identify existing problems, we show how to generate tuning actions automatically, guided by the desire to maximize speedup without needless expense, and that these generated plans may span resource and code changes. We show that it is possible to infer everything needed from these samples alone: levels of resource demand and the units of work in the application. We evaluate our planner on a suite of microbenchmarks and a suite of 15,000 data sets that come from real applications running in the wild.
Virtual reality-based orthopedic telerehabilitation

Rehabilitation interventions in remote areas are problematic because of distance and available resources. Orthopedic impairments acquired by individuals in remote areas can then lead to permanent disabilities/loss of function because of lack of appropriate rehabilitation. A system being developed by Rutgers and Stanford Universities provides therapy at the patient's home, with remote monitoring and periodic re-assessment. This telerehabilitation system uses virtual reality and haptic interfaces, and a pair of networked PCs. It is intended for rehabilitation of patients with hand, elbow, knee and ankle impairements. Data from the first patient treated with the telerehabilitation system is encouraging.
Nox2 and Rac1 Regulate H2O2-Dependent Recruitment of TRAF6 to Endosomal Interleukin-1 Receptor Complexes

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH oxidases (Nox) have been implicated in the regulation of signal transduction. However, the cellular mechanisms that link Nox activation with plasma membrane receptor signaling remain poorly defined. We have found that Nox2-derived ROS influence the formation of an active interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor complex in the endosomal compartment by directing the H2O2-dependent binding of TRAF6 to the IL-1R1/MyD88 complex. Clearance of both superoxide and H2O2 from within the endosomal compartment significantly abrogated IL-1beta-dependent IKK and NF-kappaB activation. MyD88-dependent endocytosis of IL-1R1 following IL-1beta binding was required for the redox-dependent formation of an active endosomal receptor complex competent for IKK and NF-kappaB activation. Small interfering RNAs to either MyD88 or Rac1 inhibited IL-1beta induction of endosomal superoxide and NF-kappaB activation. However, MyD88 and Rac1 appear to be recruited independently to IL-1R1 following ligand stimulation. In this context, MyD88 binding was required for inducing endocytosis of IL-1R1 following ligand binding, while Rac1 facilitated the recruitment of Nox2 into the endosomal compartment and subsequent redox-dependent recruitment of TRAF6 to the MyD88/IL-1R1 complex. The identification of Nox-active endosomes helps explain how subcellular compartmentalization of redox signals can be used to direct receptor activation from the plasma membrane.
Supporting access control policies across multiple operating systems

The evaluation of computer systems has been an important issue for many years, as evidenced by the introduction of industry evaluation guides such as the Rainbow Books and the more recent Common Criteria for IT Security Evaluation. As organizations depend on the Internet for their daily operations, the need for evaluation is even more apparent due to new security risks. It is not uncommon for large organizations to evaluate different systems, such as operating systems, to identify which would best fit their security policy. Each system would undoubtedly use different methods to represent access control policies. The security policy would therefore need to be translated into specific access control policies that each system understands, which is challenging when large and complex systems are involved. In this paper, we focus on the evaluation of operating systems. We describe Chameleos, a policy specification language that is designed to specify the access control policies of multiple operating systems. The strength of Chameleos is its flexibility to cater to many operating systems, while remaining sufficiently extensible to support the specific features of each system. We describe the design and architecture of Chameleos, and demonstrate that Chameleos can flexibly and effectively represent the access control policies of grsecurity and SELinux - two very different systems.
The majority decision function for trees with 3 leaves

Kenneth May in 1952 proved a classical theorem characterizing simple majority rule for two alternatives. The present paper generalizes May’s theorem to the case of three alternatives, but where the voters’ preference relations are required to be trees with alternatives at the leaves.
Characterization of intrafollicular steroid hormones, inhibin, and follistatin in women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome following gonadotropin hyperstimulation.

The etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unexplained. Since no major deficiencies are reported in serum FSH or inhibin, we hypothesized that abnormal levels of a paracrine modulator of FSH action within the ovary may be associated with the arrest of follicular growth seen in the PCOS ovary. Follicular fluid aspirates were collected from women with (n = 7) or without (n = 17) PCOS during oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization. Aspirates were assayed for total inhibin, inhibin A (InhA), inhibin B (InhB), and follistatin (FS), as well as for estradiol, progesterone (P 4), androstenedione, and total protein. Hormone levels were compared between women with and without PCOS using all aspirates (some of which were collected from multiple follicles at once) and also between aspirates containing fluid from a single follicle only (PCOS, n = 30; nonPCOS, n = 107). P 4 levels were significantly (p < 0.01) reduced in PCOS versus non-PCOS women as evidenced by analysis of all follicles as well as in single-follicle aspirates only. In addition, InhA, P 4, and FS increased with follicle volume, and InhB decreased significantly in non-PCOS, but not in PCOS, follicles. Therefore, although follicular development can be induced in PCOS patients with gonadotropins, hormonal responses within the ovary appear inappropriate in terms of concentrations or patterns of secretion. These data support the concept that PCOS is associated with a deficit in the paracrine control of folliculogenesis.
Similarities and differences between organic cation inhibition of the Na,K-ATPase and PMCA.

The effects of three classes of organic cations on the inhibition of the plasma membrane Ca pump (PMCA) were determined and compared to inhibition of the Na pump. Quaternary amines (tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, and tetrapropylammonium, TMA, TEA, and TPA, respec- tively) did not inhibit PMCA. This is not to imply that PMCA is inherently selective against monovalent cations because guanidine and tetramethylguanidine inhibited PMCA by competing with Ca 2+ . The divalent organic cation, ethyl diamine, inhibited PMCA but was not competitive with Ca 2+ . In contrast, propyl diamine did compete with Ca 2+ and was about 10-fold more potent than butyl diamine in inhibiting PMCA. For the Na pump, both TEA and TPA inhibited, but TMA did not. TEA, guanidine, and tetramethylguani- dine inhibition was competitive with Na + for ATPase activation and with K + for pNPPase activation, both of which are cytoplasmic substrate cation effects. Thus, these findings are consistent with TEA, guanidine, and tetramethylguanidine inhibiting from the cytoplasmic side of the Na pump; in contrast, we have previously shown that TPA did not inhibit from the cytoplasmic side. The divalent alkane diamines ethyl, propyl, and butyl diamine all inhibited the Na pump and all competed at the intracellular surface. The order of potency was ED > PD > BD consistent with an optimal size for binding; similarly, for the quaternary amines TMA is apparently too small to make appropriate contacts, and TPA is too large. Homology models based upon the high-resolution SERCA structure are included to contextualize the kinetic observations.
Classroom Observations of Middle School Students' Technology Use in Mathematics

There have been many studies that have examined technology use in schools; most have relied on selfreport data from administrators, teachers, or students rather than on systematic classroom observations of technology use. The authors of the present study conducted systematic observations on 1,315 students from 220 middle school mathematics classrooms to examine the extent of technology use and whether there were gender, ethnic, or grade-level differences related to the extent of students' use of technology. The descriptive results indicate that students used calculators about 25 percent of the time and computers less than 1 percent of the time in their mathematics classes. The multivariate analysis of variance results indicated no sex- or ethnicity-related differences among students on their use of technology. Seventh grade students, however, were found to use calculators significantly more than sixth and eighth grade students.
Instructional Set and Internet Use by Low-Income Adults

This research examined the effects of instructional set on Internet use by low-income adults during a 16-month longitudinal study. Participants (n = 117) received instructions that focused on either the Internet's communication tools or its information tools. Internet use was continuously and automatically recorded. Survey measures of computer and Internet experiences, affect and attitudes were obtained to examine their mediational role in the relationship between instructional set and Internet use. Results indicated that instructions focused on the Internet's information tools led to greater Internet use than instructions focused on its communication tools or only basic instructions about how to use the Internet. Implications for reducing the digital divide are discussed.
Characterization of story-level seismic damage using an energy-based damage model

An energy-based damage model currently used for seismic analysis of structures is modified to ensure a positive value in the damage index at all levels of inelastic response. At the ultimate limit state, the modified model gives the same plastic strain energy capacity as the previous damage model. Testing of small-scale cantilever specimens showed different strength deterioration parameters for coldrolled and hot-rolled steel and composite systems of double cantilevers. The strength deterioration parameter for the composite system is smaller than that of the individual cantilevers. Various weighted-average rules for combining local member damage indices into story-level damage indices are compared with measured story-level damage indices. Based on testing of small-scale steel cantilevers, the current combination rules predict the story-level damage reasonably well near the ultimate limit state but tend to underestimate the story-level damage in the less severely damaged states. A combination rule based on best fitting of the experimental data obtained in this study is presented.
Mechanics of Streptavidin-Coated Giant Lipid Bilayer Vesicles: A Micropipet Study

To understand the effects of a crystalline protein layer on bilayer properties, we studied the mechanical properties of avidin- and streptavidin-coated giant lipid bilayer vesicles. The giant vesicles (20−60 μm) are made from a mixture of SOPC and biotinylated phospholipids via electroformation. Using micropipet manipulation, we showed that the presence of a monomolecular layer of noncrystalline avidin on the vesicle surface increases the membrane bending rigidity but does not significantly alter the elastic area expansion modulus of the vesicle. When the vesicles were coated with streptavidin, the protein crystallizes on the bilayer surface, resulting in a rigid polycrystalline membrane. These vesicles display unique roughened spherical or prolate ellipsoidal shapes, depending on the differences in crystal morphologies. Upon aspiration with micropipets, the vesicles first showed rapid permanent deformation at low strain, followed by a slower viscoelastic response above a certain threshold. Despite their ...
Singularities in pediatric bone marrow lymphoid processes

There are several unique features of hematopoiesis and hematopoietic diseases in children relative to adults. For example, evaluation of lymphoid lesions in the pediatric population is impacted by the fact that lymphoid cells normally comprise a larger percentage of blood and bone marrow cells in children than in adults. The nature of bone marrow lymphoid infiltrates in children differs to some extent from those in adults. In this chapter on singularities in pediatric bone marrow lymphoid processes, the unique characteristics of lymphoid lesions and diseases specific to children will be emphasized. It is important to note that evaluation of lymphoid lesions should include examination of well prepared and stained specimens of the peripheral blood, bone marrow (BM) aspirate smears, touch imprints of the trephine biopsy, and sections of the trephine biopsy and particles/clot. It is often the combination of clues gleaned from the composite of preparations that allows for diagnosis.
Determinants of flavor acceptability during the maturation of navel oranges

Abstract Navel oranges of differing maturities were harvested at regular intervals for three successive seasons and evaluated for external color, percent juice, soluble solids concentration (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA). Fruit from harvest dates throughout the season were rated by a sensory panel (12–20 panelists) for flavor likeability (hedonic score), sweetness, tartness and richness (strength of citrus flavor). Gas chromatograpy/olfactometry was used to identify odor-active volatiles present at each harvest date in the final season. Peel color and BrimA, a parameter calculated by subtracting TA times a constant from SSC, were the most closely related quality parameters to the hedonic score and ratings of sweetness, richness and tartness. A predictive equation for hedonic score was developed using stepwise regression that combined peel color, percent juice and BrimA and accounted for 63% of the variation in the data. Year, location and navel strain had only minor effects on the relationship between the quality parameters and the sensory ratings. Nineteen odor-active compounds were identified, of which six were significantly correlated with changes that occurred in the sensory attributes during navel orange maturation. The SSC/TA ratio, the basis for the current minimum maturity standard in California, was not as closely related to likeability as BrimA. At the minimum maturity standard (SSC/TA) of 8:1, the hedonic score calculated from the overall regression equation was 4.4, a value well into the “dislike” range, indicating that the current standard is likely set at too low of a value to satisfy most consumers.
An eye tracking computer user interface

The authors describe an inexpensive eye movement controlled user interface for 2-D and 3-D interaction. It is based on electro-oculography (EOG) rather than the very expensive reflectance based methods. The authors have built the hardware and software to demonstrate the viability of EOG for human-computer communication. The experiments indicate that EOG provides the basis for an adequate input interaction device. Being very inexpensive, the system is applicable for many virtual reality systems and video games as well as for the handicapped. >
Blink Rates in Schizophrenia

ABSTRACT The activity of a putative marker of central dopamine function, spontaneous eye blink rate is examined in patients with schizophrenia. Chronic schizophrenic patients withdrawn from medication have elevated blink rates which are reduced by neuroleptic medication. Furthermore, neuroleptics reduce the so called “positive” symptoms of schizophrenia and blink rates in a positively correlated fashion. The above findings apply to patients who have normal cerebral ventricles and not those with large ventricles. Taken together, this evidence suggests that spontaneous eye blink rate is a marker of central dopamine activity and that increased dopaminergic activity is a relevant factor in chronic schizophrenic patients who have normal cerebral ventricles.
Self-Report Instruments for Clinical Monitoring of Psychosis Risk States

Objective:Practice guidelines emphasize frequent clinical monitoring of patients at high risk for psychosis. No brief instrument assessing attenuated psychotic symptoms has been validated for this purpose. This study examined use of three self-report questionnaires, which were developed as psychosis risk screeners, for monitoring symptom severity in a naturalistic clinical sample of 54 adolescents.Methods:Self-report measures (Prime Screen–Revised, Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief Version [PQ-B], and Youth Psychosis At-Risk Questionnaire–Brief) and clinician assessments (Structured Interview for Psychosis Risk Syndromes) were administered to participants at baseline and six months.Results:Changes in self-report scores were moderately correlated with changes in clinician ratings. The PQ-B demonstrated slightly better agreement with changes in clinician ratings than the other two measures.Conclusions:Questionnaires developed as psychosis risk screeners could be used for symptom monitoring. Further validation o...
C27 to C32 sterols found in Pneumocystis, and opportunistic pathogen of immunocompromised mammals

Pneumocystis carinii is the paradigm of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised mammals. Prior to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic and the use of immunosuppressive therapy in organ transplant and cancer patients, P. carinii was regarded as a curiosity, rarely observed clinically. Interest in this organism exploded when it was identified as the agent of P. carinii pneumonia (PcP), the direct cause of death among many AIDS patients. Aggressive prophylaxis has decreased the number of acute PcP cases, but it remains among the most prevalent opportunistic infections found within this patient population. The taxonomic assignment of P. carinii has long been argued; molecular genetics data now demonstrate that it is a fungus. Several antimycotic drugs are targeted against ergosterol or its biosynthesis, but these are not as effective against PcP as they are against other fungal infections. This can now be explained in part by the identification of the sterols of P. carinii. The organism lacks ergosterol but contains distinct C28 and C29 Δ7 24-alkylsterols. Also, 24-methylenelanost-8-en-3β-ol (C31) and pneumocysterol, (24Z)-ethylidenelanost-8-en-3β-ol (C32) were recently identified in organisms infecting humans. Together, the Δ7 24-alkylsterols and pneumocysterol are regarded as signature lipids of the pathogen that can be useful for the diagnosis of PcP, since no other lung pathogen is known to contain them. Cholesterol (C27), the dominant sterol component in P. carinii, is probably totally scavenged from the host. De novo synthesis of sterols has been demonstrated by the presence of lovastatin-sensitive 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity, the incorporation of radiolabeled mevalonate and squalene into P. carinii sterols, and the reduction in cellular ATP in cells treated with inhibitors of enzymes in sterol biosynthesis.
Lessons From Asian Australia

I really did not know much about Australia when I made my first trip there in 1993 to speak at a historic "Asia-Pacific Migration Affecting Australia" conference in Darwin, the small capital port city for the Northern Territory, located in the north central part of the country closest to East Timor, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Of course, my mind was filled with iconic images of kangaroos, koala bears, the Sydney Opera House, shrimp on the barbie, the Great Barrier Reef, and Crocodile Dundee. I had read about Aboriginals, as well the infamous White Australia Policy, but knew very little else.
The Growing Awareness Inventory: Building Capacity for Culturally Responsive Science and Mathematics with a Structured Observation Protocol.

This study represents a first iteration in the design process of the Growing Awareness Inventory (GAIn), a structured observation protocol for building the awareness of preservice teachers (PSTs) for resources in mathematics and science classrooms that can be used for culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP). The GAIn is designed to develop awareness of: how students use language in classrooms; relationships between teacher questioning patterns and student participation; messages conveyed by the classroom environment; and ways to incorporate students’ interests into lesson plans. The methodology took the form of a multiple case study design with fourteen mathematics PSTs as one case and five science PSTs as the other case. The participants' response to the GAIn and lesson plans served as data sources. Findings reveal that the GAIn scaffolded PSTs’ awareness of their students, their own attitudes, and several elements of CRP. However, there were key areas of CRP that were neither explored with the GAIn nor identified by the participants. Consistent with design-based research, outcomes include a design framework for revision of the GAIn and a theory of action that situates it within a teacher education course that includes a field placement.
Liquid types

We present Logically Qualified Data Types, abbreviated to Liquid Types, a system that combines Hindley-Milner type inference with Predicate Abstraction to automatically infer dependent types precise enough to prove a variety of safety properties. Liquid types allow programmers to reap many of the benefits of dependent types, namely static verification of critical properties and the elimination of expensive run-time checks, without the heavy price of manual annotation. We have implemented liquid type inference in DSOLVE, which takes as input an OCAML program and a set of logical qualifiers and infers dependent types for the expressions in the OCAML program. To demonstrate the utility of our approach, we describe experiments using DSOLVE to statically verify the safety of array accesses on a set of OCAML benchmarks that were previously annotated with dependent types as part of the DML project. We show that when used in conjunction with a fixed set of array bounds checking qualifiers, DSOLVE reduces the amount of manual annotation required for proving safety from 31% of program text to under 1%.
The Contact Toxicity of Some Pesticide Residues to Hymenopterous Parasites and Coccinellid Predators

Sixty-one pesticides were tested in the laboratory against 5 parasitic hymenopterans and 6 predatory coccinellids, the data to serve as guides for selecting the best materials for destroying pests without undue harm to natural enemies. Test species were exposed in replicated tests to day-old residues of the pesticides under standardized conditions of dosage, temperature, and humidity. The single dosages applied were those most commonly used upon orchard crops. A table presents toxicity levels for each material and natural enemy species in conjunction with a rating of the persistence of each pesticide’s toxic residue. The data suggest that the effect of each pesticide upon most kinds of adult parasitic Hymenoptera may be anticipated with a high degree of reliability while the effect upon predatory coccinellids is much less predictable. The materials are discussed with respect to their specificity and the probable impact that their field usage might have upon parasitic Hymenoptera and predaceous Coccinellidae.
Natal origin and population connectivity of bigeye and yellowfin tuna in the Pacific Ocean

Natural chemical markers (stable isotopes and trace elements) in otoliths of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna (T. albacares) were used to investigate their origin and spatial histories in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). Otolith chemistry of young-of-the-year (YOY) T. obesus and T. albacares from four regions in the WCPO was first determined and used to establish baseline chemical signatures for each region. Spatial variation in stable isotope ratios of YOY T. obesus and T. albacares was detected, with the most noticeable difference being depleted otolith δ18O values for both species from the far west equatorial and west equatorial regions relative to the central equatorial and Hawaii regions. Elemental ratios in otoliths were also quantified for YOY T. obesus and T. albacares collected in 2008, and several showed promise for distinguishing YOY T. obesus (Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, and Ba:Ca) and T. albacares (Li:Ca and Sr:Ca). The natal origin of age-1 to age-2+ T. obesus and T. albacares was then determined for two regions of the WCPO, and mixed-stock analysis indicated that T. obesus and T. albacares in our west equatorial sample were almost entirely from local production, with a minor contribution from central equatorial waters. Similarly, T. albacares collected in Hawaii were exclusively from local sources; however, a large fraction of T. obesus in Hawaii were classified to the central equatorial region, suggesting that the movement of migrants from outside production zones (i.e., south of Hawaii) are important to Hawaii's domestic fishery.
Flight Testing of Small Electric Powered Small UAS's with Folding Propellers

The students of the NCSU Senior Aircraft Design Program developed small electric powered unmanned aircraft with folding propellers. During the design process the power off neutral point of the aircraft were predicted using the low-order panel code CMARC. The power required curve was predicted using drag build up methods. The folding propellers allowed for the determination of the power of and on neutral points. The power required curves and the aircraft drag polar was determined using power off constant speed descents using the PIW-VIW method.
Vascular endothelium in sepsis and endotoxemia

Since septic or endotoxin shock was high mortality and morbidity, mechanisms for cardiovascular collapse have been intensely investigated. The vascular response to catecholamines and other agonists is greatly attenuated. The mechanisms are considered to be related to changes in endothelium function. The endothelium releases vasoconstrictor and vasodilator compounds. These autocoids normally interact with systemic and other local vascular controls, but during endotoxemia this balance is severely altered. Large artery endothelia are destroyed whereas the microvessels remain intact and functional. The release of nitric oxide, prostacyclin and endothelin is greatly enhanced. The cytokines from endotoxin seem, however, to be the major causal agents of the syndrome and affect the endothelial or receptors on the endothelia differentially, dependent on tissue location.
Chemoenzymatic Labeling of Proteins for Imaging in Bacterial Cells

Reliable methods to determine the subcellular localization of bacterial proteins are needed for the study of prokaryotic cell biology. We describe here a simple and general technique for imaging of bacterial proteins in situ by fluorescence microscopy. The method uses the eukaryotic enzyme N-myristoyltransferase to modify the N-terminus of the protein of interest with an azido fatty acid. Subsequent strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition allows conjugation of dyes and imaging of tagged proteins by confocal fluorescence microscopy. We demonstrate the method by labeling the chemotaxis proteins Tar and CheA and the cell division proteins FtsZ and FtsA in Escherichia coli. We observe distinct spatial patterns for each of these proteins in both fixed and live cells. The method should prove broadly useful for protein imaging in bacteria.
Hierarchical Dialogue Act Classification in Online Tutoring Sessions.

As the corpora of online tutoring sessions grow by orders of magnitude, dialogue act classification can be used to capture increasingly fine-grained details about events during tutoring. In this paper, we apply machine learning to build models that can classify 133 (126 defined acts plus 7 to represent unknown and undefined acts) possible dialogue acts in tutorial dialog from online tutoring services. We use a data set of approximately 95000 annotated utterances to train and test our models. Each model was trained to predict top level Dialogue Acts using several learning algorithms. The best learning algorithm from top level Dialogue Acts was then applied to learn subcategories which was then applied in multi-level classification.
Alternate injections coupled with flow-gated capillary electrophoresis for rapid and accurate quantitative analysis of urine samples.

Abstract Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful separation technique with advantages over HPLC in terms of separation efficiency, speed, and cost. However, CE suffers in poor reproducibility in quantitative chemical analysis, which is one of major drawbacks preventing its widespread use in routine analytical laboratories. Here we report a novel strategy to enhance the quantitative capability of flow-gated CE. The platform integrated dual flow branches to respectively supply a sample and its standard additions that were then alternately injected into a single capillary for rapid separations (typically 20–90 s). A micro-fabricated switch was used to enable the alternate injections. It was assumed that the analytical system maintained constant conditions during neighboring injections that served as external self-standards for quantitation. This strategy was expected to reduce uncertainties caused by the fluctuation in capillary conditions and the drift of detection systems. Experimental results demonstrated that the dual-branch flow-gated CE coupled with alternate injections significantly improved the reproducibility with respect to peak height ratios under deliberate variations in injection volumes, separation voltages, optical focusing, and laser power; and thus the interday precision was ensured. To demonstrate its applicability, cyanide and amino acids in human urine were quantified rapidly with the one-point standard addition method after fluorogenic derivatization with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA), and the measurement accuracy was validated by determining the recovery of standard cyanide added to a urinary matrix. This strategy would be valuable to enable the quantitative capability of flow-gated CE in the measurements of a broad range of analytes, especially those lacking suited internal standards.