cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Competing pathways control host resistance to virus via tRNA modification and programmed ribosomal frameshifting.

Viral infection depends on a complex interplay between host and viral factors. Here, we link host susceptibility to viral infection to a network encompassing sulfur metabolism, tRNA modification, competitive binding, and programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF). We first demonstrate that the iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis pathway in Escherichia coli exerts a protective effect during lambda phage infection, while a tRNA thiolation pathway enhances viral infection. We show that tRNALys uridine 34 modification inhibits PRF to influence the ratio of lambda phage proteins gpG and gpGT. Computational modeling and experiments suggest that the role of the iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis pathway in infection is indirect, via competitive binding of the shared sulfur donor IscS. Based on the universality of many key components of this network, in both the host and the virus, we anticipate that these findings may have broad relevance to understanding other infections, including viral infection of humans.
Experiments with fungicide sprays in late summer and early autumn on sugar-beet root crops

SUMMARY Fentinhydroxide and benomyl sprayed on to sugar-beet root crops in July, August and September frequently increased yield of tops. Sugar yield was increased only if either powdery mildew or virus yellows was prevalent, when on average a single fentinhydroxide spray at 0·7 kg a.i./ha increased sugar yield by 8% and yield of tops by 13%. The mildew specific fungicide fluotrimazole also increased yield, but it could not be determined whether this was due to controlling powdery mildew or secondary parasitic fungi attacking yellows-infected plants. Repeated sprays of both fentinhydroxide and fluotrimazole, but not benomyl, appeared to be phytotoxic when applied in hot dry weather.
Modeling the Energy Release and Burn Rate Characteristics of ZPP Based Initiators

Bridge-wire initiators using zirconium potassium perchlorate (ZPP) as pyrotechnic are commonly found in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. To measure pyrotechnic output, it is common practice to discharge initiators into small isochoric test vessels and monitor the transient pressure response. The maximum pressures obtained in these tests are usually compared to values determined theoretically based upon a thermochemical analysis. However, an analytical prediction for the rate of pressure increase is problematic because a complete kinetic description of ZPP combustion is impractical; furthermore, the burn rate parameters for ZPP are not reported in the literature. In this research, a previous analytical model describing the energy release characteristic for THPP based initiators is applied to ZPP initiators. ZPP based initiators are discharged into 100 cm 3 test vessels filled with argon at initial pressures ranging between 1.72 and 22.4 MPa. From these experiments the total energy content of the ZPP formulation used in this work is determined to be 5600 J/g. Estimates for the burn rate parameters for ZPP are based upon an earlier model, termed the TPPM, originally developed to describe the transient pressure response of high pressure argon gas environments heated by burning THPP particles. To estimate the burn rate parameters for ZPP a quasi-analytical approach using the TPPM is presented. This approach assumes the initial pressure rise determined from experimental data is proportional to the initial burn frequency which is defined based upon Vielle’s Law. Results from this analysis yield a burn rate exponent (n) and burn rate parameter (A) of approximately 0.47 and 1.94 x 10 -3 cm/ms/MPa n , respectively. These values for the burn rate parameters are used as input in a previously developed model, termed the MTPPM, describing the transient pressure response of argon gas heated by burning pyrotechnic over a wide range of initial pressures. Predictions from the MTPPM using the burn rate parameters of ZPP determined in this research are shown to accurately replicate the measured transient pressures over all initial densities tested. Therefore, the method for predicting burn rate parameters developed in this work can potentially be applied to other pyrotechnic formulations.
Formation of aminyl radicals on electron attachment to AZT: abstraction from the sugar phosphate backbone versus one-electron oxidation of guanine.

Employing electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, we have characterized the radicals formed in 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (3′-AZT) and in its 5′-analog 5′-azido-5′-deoxythymidine (5′-AZT) after electron attachment in γ-irradiated aqueous (H2O or D2O) glassy (7.5 M LiCl) systems. ESR spectral studies and theoretical calculations show that the predominant site of electron capture in 3′-AZT and in 5′-AZT is at the azide group and not at the thymine moiety. The azide group in AZT is therefore more electron affinic than the most electron affinic DNA base, thymine. Electron attachment to 3′-AZT and 5′-AZT results in an unstable azide anion radical intermediate (RN3•−) that is too short-lived to be observed in our work even at 77 K. At 77 K, we observe the neutral aminyl radical (RNH•) after loss of N2 from RN3•− followed by protonation of nitrene anion radical (RN•−) to give RNH•. The expected RN•− intermediate is not observed as protonation from water is complete at 77 K even under highly basic conditions....
Using the Human Genome: A Case Study in Education.

The working drafts of the human genome, announced in February 2001, have clearly provided a breakthrough in biochemistry and molecular biology research. The scientific data also provide an opportunity to vary a typical approach to teaching. Advanced graduate students at our university can elect to take a course in molecular genetics. The human genome drafts and the initial publications generated by the drafts were used as the framework for a variation of this course in the fall of 2001. Instead of a traditional, linear lecture-driven course, this approach provided a more methods-driven focus to the topics considered. It also required the introduction of some recent historical facts to put the material into proper context. The bulk of the topics normally taught remained unchanged; however, their order of appearance was greatly modified. Nevertheless, the material remained coherent because of the constant tie-in with the genome data. Evaluation of student performance was challenging because of the variety of material presented. Web-based assignments proved useful as mechanisms to probe the level of student understanding as well as providing another means of imparting information.
Prediction of socially desirable and discreet hand hygiene behaviors

To investigate hand hygiene in settings with fewer policies regulating hygiene practice, self-reported hand hygiene behavior and personal orientation data were collected from 353 college students. Hypothesizing that in this context some behaviors would show more variability, 2 dimensions of hand hygiene behavior were created. This proved useful because socially desirable practices were predicted by health promotion focus and individual identity, whereas discreet practices were predicted by health prevention focus and collective identity.
Acetylcholine Inhibits the Release of Somatostatin from Rat Hypothalamus in Vitro

Acetylcholine, at concentrations of 10(-10)--10(-7) M, inhibited the release of immunoreactive somatostatin (SRIF) from rat hypothalamic segments which had been maintained in short term culture for 24 h. Neostigmine (10(-6) M), an anticholinesterase, also inhibited the release of SRIF, whereas atropine (10(-6) M), a muscarinic anticholinergic, had no effect on basal SRIF release but blocked the inhibition caused by acetylcholine (10(-8) M). However, hexamethonium (10(-6) M), a nicotinic antagonist, did not abolish the inhibition induced by acetylcholine. Potassium depolarization (56 mM KCl) caused stimulation of SRIF release, which was dependent on the presence of calcium in the incubation medium. SRIF was measured by a RIA sensitive to 1 pg/tube. Authenticity of immunoreactive SRIF released was suggested by immunological parallelism and chromatographic criteria using gel and high pressure liquid systems. These results suggest that muscarinic cholinergic mechanisms may have a regulatory role modulating the secretion of SRIF and, consequently, GH through actions at a hypothalamic level.
Some Thoughts of a Trauma Surgeon

I am aware that the presidential address is supposed to be a profound statement concerning some major problem, such as inadequate medical care, in our society. However, in reflecting on what I might talk about, I realized that not a day goes by without multiple editorials and newspaper articles covering the lack of universal health care, the high cost of medicine, and the failure of the government to do anything about them. Having reflected on all these factors, I found myself at a loss to be able to say anything profound. I do know the answer to these health care problems, but I am afraid if I give you the answers today that I might spoil all the rhetoric we are to hear from the two political parties. Having had these reflections and recognizing that I had nothing very important to say, I decided to talk to you about something
Superficial venous thrombosis presenting as a painful popliteal fossa mass in a child

We report an unusual case of superficial venous thrombosis in a cyanotic 12-year-old child who had undergone recent appendectomy. Although compression, color Doppler, and duplex ultrasound techniques remain the keys to the diagnosis of venous thrombosis, SieScape sonography was beneficial in demonstrating the extent of the thrombi and their location along a superficial thrombosed vein. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 26:470–473, 1998.
Tomato Analyzer: a useful software application to collect accurate and detailed morphological and colorimetric data from two-dimensional objects.

Measuring fruit morphology and color traits of vegetable and fruit crops in an objective and reproducible way is important for detailed phenotypic analyses of these traits. Tomato Analyzer (TA) is a software program that measures 37 attributes related to two-dimensional shape in a semi-automatic and reproducible manner1,2. Many of these attributes, such as angles at the distal and proximal ends of the fruit and areas of indentation, are difficult to quantify manually. The attributes are organized in ten categories within the software: Basic Measurement, Fruit Shape Index, Blockiness, Homogeneity, Proximal Fruit End Shape, Distal Fruit End Shape, Asymmetry, Internal Eccentricity, Latitudinal Section and Morphometrics. The last category requires neither prior knowledge nor predetermined notions of the shape attributes, so morphometric analysis offers an unbiased option that may be better adapted to high-throughput analyses than attribute analysis. TA also offers the Color Test application that was designed to collect color measurements from scanned images and allow scanning devices to be calibrated using color standards3. TA provides several options to export and analyze shape attribute, morphometric, and color data. The data may be exported to an excel file in batch mode (more than 100 images at one time) or exported as individual images. The user can choose between output that displays the average for each attribute for the objects in each image (including standard deviation), or an output that displays the attribute values for each object on the image. TA has been a valuable and effective tool for indentifying and confirming tomato fruit shape Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), as well as performing in-depth analyses of the effect of key fruit shape genes on plant morphology. Also, TA can be used to objectively classify fruit into various shape categories. Lastly, fruit shape and color traits in other plant species as well as other plant organs such as leaves and seeds can be evaluated with TA.
Personal Satisfaction and Economic Improvement: Working-Class Black Women's Entrepreneurship in the Hair Industry

Research that examines the intersections of race, gender, and class in the labor market often points to the fact that African American women are concentrated in the lowest sectors of the labor mark...
Behavioral, pharmacological, and molecular characterization of an amphibian cannabinoid receptor

Investigation of cannabinoid pharmacology in a vertebrate with a phylogenetic history distinct from that of mammals may allow better understanding of the physiological significance of cannabinoid neurochemistry. Taricha granulosa, the roughskin newt, was used here to characterize an amphibian cannabinoid receptor. Behavioral experiments demonstrated that the cannabinoid agonist levonantradol inhibits both newt spontaneous locomotor activity and courtship clasping behavior. Inhibition of clasping was dose-dependent and potent (IC(50) = 1.2 microgram per animal). Radioligand binding studies using [(3)H]CP-55940 allowed identification of a specific binding site (K(D) = 6.5 nM, B(max) = 1,853 fmol/mg of protein) in brain membranes. Rank order of affinity of several ligands was consistent with that reported for mammalian species (K(D), nM) : CP-55940 (3.8) > levonantradol (13.0) > WIN55212-2 (25.7) >> anandamide (1,665) approximately anandamide 100 microM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (2,398). The cDNA encoding the newt CB1 cannabinoid receptor was cloned, and the corresponding mRNA of 5.9 kb was found to be highly expressed in brain. A nonclonal Chinese hamster ovary cell line stably expressing the newt CB1 cannabinoid receptor was prepared that allowed demonstration of cannabinoid-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activity. This inhibition was dose-dependent and occurred at concentrations consistent with affinities determined through radioligand binding experiments. The behavioral, pharmacological, and molecular cloning results demonstrate that a CB1 cannabinoid receptor is expressed in the CNS of the roughskin newt. This amphibian CB1 is very similar in density, ligand binding affinity, ligand binding specificity, and amino acid sequence to mammalian CB1. The high degree of evolutionary conservation of cannabinoid signaling systems implies an important physiological role in vertebrate brain function.
Delayed onset of experimental allergic neuritis in rats treated with reserpine

In delayed-type hypersensitivity most of the invading cells are not specifically sensitized against the initiating antigen but are augmenting cells called in by inflammatory mediators. It has been suggested that vasoactive amines, such as the monoamine serotonin, released by the action of sensitized T-cells on mast cells, may participate in the perivascular emigration of these cells that do not normally leave the blood. To test this hypothesis in experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), Lewis rats sensitized on day zero were treated with a single dose of the monoamine-depleting drug reserpine (2.5 mg/kg) immediately before the onset of early clinical signs on day nine (reserpine day 9, Rd9); during the onset of early clinical signs on day ten (Rd10); or immediately after the onset of early clinical signs on day 11 (Rd11). The results showed that the onset of early clinical signs was delayed in the Rd9 treated rats until approximately day thirteen whereas no effect on the course of the disease was observed in the Rd11 rats, and variable results were obtained in the Rd10 animals. Infiltration of mononuclear cells and leakage of 125I-albumin into the peripheral nerve was reduced in the Rd9 rats killed during the suppressed period. The delay in the onset of early clinical signs in the Rd9 rats correlated well with the time-course of serotonin depletion as reflected by levels in the peripheral blood of reserpine-treated normal animals. Although a role for histamine could not be demonstrated, the results suggest that other vasoactive amines are involved in the reaction. These results, therefore, would support the hypothesis that vasoactive amines play a role in the perivascular transit of inflammatory cells in EAN.
Beyond hype and underestimation: identifying research challenges for the future of MOOCs

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have generated enthusiasm, excitement, and hype worldwide and recently increasing skepticism. They are being broadly discussed in the major news media (and to a smaller extent in academic circles). Rapidly increasing numbers of MOOC providers, MOOC courses and articles, discussion groups, and blogs discussing MOOCs are indicators of the involvement of many stakeholders. Most of these analyses and developments are based on economic perspectives (such as scalability, productivity, and being free) and technology perspectives (including platforms supporting large number of students in online environments, enrichment components such as forums, peer-to-peer learning support, and automatic grading). Few contributions analyze MOOCs from a learning science perspective and put them into a larger context with other approaches to learning and education. This commentary explores challenges derived from the perspective to conceptualize MOOCs as being one component in a rich landscape...
Impact of perceived parental monitoring on adolescent risk behavior over 4 years

Abstract Purpose: To determine the stability of perceived parental monitoring over time and its long-term effect on health risk behaviors among low-income, urban African-American children and adolescents. Design: Prospective, longitudinal follow-up (4 years). Subjects: A total of 383 African-American youth aged 9–15 years at baseline recruited from nine recreation centers serving three public housing communities in an Eastern city. Outcome Measures: A six-item measure assessing perceived parental monitoring and an 11-item self-reported measure assessing unprotected sex, drug use, and drug trafficking were administered at baseline and at regular intervals over the subsequent 4 years. Analysis: Concordance was assessed by Pearson correlation coefficients at the level of scale and by kappa scores at the level of items. The association between the monitoring score and risk involvement was determined by stepwise multiple regression analysis including parental monitoring, age, gender, intervention status, and two-way interactions between parental monitoring and age, gender, intervention status as independent variables. Results: The perception of being monitored demonstrated consistency over time. Parental monitoring was inversely correlated with all three targeted risk behaviors cross-sectionally and prospectively. Conclusion: These data provide evidence for an inverse relationship between perceived parental monitoring and risk involvement cross-sectionally and longitudinally. These data support the long-term effect of perceived parental monitoring on risk behaviors among urban, low-income African-American children and adolescents. Coupled with some evidence suggesting that directed interventions might be able to increase parental monitoring, this study provides a solid platform for reinforcing the importance of parental monitoring and directing intervention efforts at strengthening parental monitoring to reduce adolescent risk behaviors.
Relation of Heart Block and Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Two hundred one patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction were studied to determine the relation of heart block and the degree of left ventricular dysfunction. Right bundle branch block occurred in 17, left bundle branch block in 7 and either left anterior or left posterior hemiblock in 8 patients. Hemodynamic studies were carried out before heart block developed. Complete heart block occurred in 9 of 92 patients with diaphragmatic (inferior) myocardial infarction and in 6 of 109 with anterior infarction. In patients with diaphragmatic infarction who experienced complete heart block hemodynamic measurements before block did not differ significantly from those in patients without block. Similarly, in patients who had right bundle branch block or hemiblock the hemodynamic variables did not differ from those in patients without bundle branch block. In patients with anterior infarction who experienced complete heart block, however, stroke index ( P P P P Although only a small number of patients with heart block were studied, careful analysis of the clinical and hemodynamic data support the findings.
Direct measurements of room-temperature oxygen diffusion in YBa2Cu3Ox.

We have investigated the room-temperature oxygen depletion in the near-surface region of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub {ital x}} samples kept under high vacuum. Results obtained from secondary-ion-mass-spectroscopy and four-probe-conductivity measurements are presented. The depletion process is limited by oxygen out diffusion in the samples with diffusion coefficients of 10{sup {minus}18}--10{sup {minus}19} cm{sup 2}/s. The reverse oxygen in-diffusion process occurs in oxygen atmosphere. The oxygen out-diffusion process can be accelerated by direct ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation of the samples in vacuum. The in-diffusion process is accelerated if UV light is used in oxygen atmosphere to produce ozone and atomic oxygen.
An examination of the association between therapeutic anticoagulation control and glycemic control for patients with diabetes on oral anticoagulation therapy.

Background: Observations by pharmacists monitoring anticoagulated patients suggested that patients with diabetes often require more frequent international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring than patients without diabetes. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the association between glycemic control and therapeutic anticoagulation control. Methods: Patients with diabetes who were receiving warfarin therapy monitored by the Kaiser Permanente of Colorado Clinical Pharmacy Anticoagulation Service were eligible for inclusion. Patients were included if they had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2, aged ≥18 years, and had initiated anticoagulant therapy ≥120 days before their most recent hemoglobin A1C measurement. The primary outcome was the correlation between hemoglobin A1C value and percent of time in the patient-specific INR range. Multivariate analysis was undertaken to regress percent of time in INR range on an A1C value ≥8.0 while adjusting for other possible explanatory variables. Results: A total of 911 patients with diabetes were included in the study. Subjects with an A1C value ≥8.0 had similar characteristics as those subjects with an A1C value < 8.0. Correlation analysis revealed no relationship between percent of time spent in INR range and A1C value (Spearman Correlation Coefficient = 0.012, p = 0.805). Multivariate analysis revealed no relationship between percent of time spent in INR range and A1C value ≥8.0 (Odds Ratio = 1.00; 95% Confidence Interval = 0.99, 1.01) when adjusting for possible explanatory variables. Conclusions: For patients with diabetes on warfarin anticoagulation therapy, there is no association between glycemic control and therapeutic anticoagulation control. However, anticoagulation therapy providers should manage these patients with the same diligence and care as patients without diabetes.
The decomposition of forest products in landfills

Abstract Large quantities of forest products are disposed of in landfills annually. The fate of this vast pool of carbon is important since carbon sequestration and the generation of landfill gases have important implications for global warming. Published estimates of methane yields were used to estimate the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere from landfilled forest products. These calculations suggest that maximally only 30% of the carbon from paper and 0–3% of the carbon from wood are ever emitted as landfill gas. The remaining carbon, approximately 28 Tg in 1993, remains in the landfill indefinitely. Some of this carbon may be removed during leachate treatment, but a large portion is permanently sequestered where its impact on global warming is negligible. The placement of forest products in landfills serves as a significant carbon sink, and its importance in the global carbon balance should not be overlooked.
Pulmonary Function Levels as Predictors of Mortality in a National Sample of US Adults

Single breath pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL(CO)) was examined as a predictor of all-cause mortality among 4,333 subjects who were aged 25-74 years at baseline in the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) conducted from 1971 to 1975. The relation of the percentage of predicted DL(CO) to all-cause mortality was examined in a Cox proportional hazard model that included age, sex, race, current smoking status, systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, alcohol consumption, body mass index, percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), and the ratio of forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) to FVC. Mortality had a linear association with the percentage of predicted FVC (rate ratio (RR) = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.17, for a 10% decrement) and a significantly nonlinear association with the percentage of predicted DL(CO) with an adverse effect that was clearly evident for levels below 85% of those predicted (RR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.12-1.37 for a 10% decrement). The relative hazard for the percentage of predicted DL(CO) below 85% was not modified by sex, smoking status, or exclusion of subjects with clinical respiratory disease on the initial examination. This association with the percentage of predicted DL(CO) was present among 3,005 subjects with FEV1 levels above 90% of those predicted. Thus, pulmonary diffusing capacity below 85% of predicted levels is a significant predictor of the all-cause mortality rate within the general US population independent of standard spirometry measures and even in the absence of apparent clinical respiratory disease.
Mass Fractionation and Isotope Anomalies in Neon and Xenon

The neon and xenon isotope anomalies observed in meteorites can be interpreted in terms of a mass fractionation, which is common for both elements. It is not necessary to assume the existence of large excesses of fission-type xenon in carbonaceous and gas-rich chondrites.
Dynamics of cochlear synaptopathy after acoustic overexposure

Recent work shows that acoustic overexposures causing only transient threshold elevation, and no hair cell loss, nevertheless can cause irreversible loss of the synapses between inner hair cells and cochlear nerve fibers (Kujawa and Liberman 2009). This cochlear synaptopathy, which is selective for the subset of sensory fibers with high thresholds and low spontaneous rates (Furman et al. 2013), appeared fully developed at 24-h post-exposure and showed no recovery by 8 weeks. However, prior studies of this synaptopathy counted only pre-synaptic ribbons, did not examine post-exposure times less than 24 h, and did not analyze the spatial patterns of degeneration around the hair cell circumference. Here, we immunostained for pre-synaptic ribbons, post-synaptic terminals and glutamate receptor patches, as well as the hair cell cytoplasm in noise-exposed and control mice to address the dynamics and spatial organization of the synaptopathic process as a function of post-exposure time from 0 h to 2 weeks. Our analysis showed that the loss of synaptic elements is nearly complete immediately after the 2-h exposure, that there is a reversible downregulation of gluR expression in the peripheral terminals which may be part of a protective mechanism, that there may be reversible reorganization of synaptic locations immediately after exposure, and that the spatial patterns are consistent with the idea that low-SR fibers are mainly found on the modiolar face of the hair cell and are the most vulnerable to noise-induced degeneration.
High Speed Fiber-Based Quantum Key Distribution Using Polarization Encoding

We have implemented a quantum key distribution (QKD) system with polarization encoding at 850 nm over 1 km of optical fiber. The high-speed management of the bit-stream, generation of random numbers and processing of the sifting algorithm are all handled by a pair of custom data handling circuit boards. As a complete system using a clock rate of 1.25 Gbit/s, it produces sifted keys at a rate of 1.1 Mb/s with an error rate lower than 1.3% while operating at a transmission rate of 312.5 Mbit/s and a mean photon number μ = 0.1. With a number of proposed improvements this system has a potential for a higher key rate without an elevated error rate.
Monitoring endocrine function in males: using intra-atrial cannulas to monitor plasma hormonal dynamics in toxicology experiments.

Monitoring Endocrine Function in Males: Using an Intra-Atrial Cannula to Monitor Plasma Hormonal Dynamics in Toxicology Experiments (Patricia A. Fail and Stephanie A. Anderson, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina). Intra-atrial cannulation provides assessment of endocrine change within animals. Protocols for permanent tethers used in short-term 5- to 10-day experiments and permanent vascular access used in long-term (>10 days) experiments are presented. A protocol for blood processing is also included. Data from a longitudinal endocrine baseline assessment (LEBA) and an endocrine challenge test (ECT) a presented as well.
Ecological and hormonal correlates of antipredator behavior in adult Belding’s ground squirrels ( Spermophilus beldingi )

Predator–prey relationships provide an excellent opportunity to study coevolved adaptations. Decades of theoretical and empirical research have illuminated the various behavioral adaptations exhibited by prey animals to avoid detection and capture, and recent work has begun to characterize physiological adaptations, such as immune reactions, metabolic changes, and hormonal responses to predators or their cues. A 2-year study quantified the activity budgets and antipredator responses of adult Belding’s ground squirrels (Spermophilus beldingi) living in three different California habitats and likely experiencing different predation pressures. At one of these sites, which is visually closed and predators and escape burrows are difficult to see, animals responding to alarm calls remain alert longer and show more exaggerated responses than adults living in two populations that likely experience less intense predation pressure. They also spend more time alert and less time foraging than adults at the other two sites. A 4-year study using noninvasive fecal sampling of cortisol metabolites revealed that S. beldingi living in the closed site also have lower corticoid levels than adults at the other two sites. The lower corticoids likely reflect that predation risk at this closed site is predictable, and might allow animals to mount large acute cortisol responses, facilitating escape from predators and enhanced vigilance while also promoting glucose storage for the approaching hibernation. Collectively, these data demonstrate that local environments and perceived predation risk influence not only foraging, vigilance, and antipredator behaviors, but adrenal functioning as well, which may be especially important for obligate hibernators that face competing demands on glucose storage and mobilization.
Risk changes around convertible debt offerings

Abstract Firms issuing convertible debt experience poor long-run stock price and operating performance. We examine the possibility that this poor performance may be caused by an unexpected increase in the cost of capital. Our finding that the cost of capital decreases following a convertible debt offer (CDO) is inconsistent with this interpretation. We also provide evidence that idiosyncratic and total risk increases and that these increases are not related to corresponding changes in the issuer's industry. The results are consistent with an interpretation that idiosyncratic risk affects investment decisions following convertible debt offers, which in turn adversely impacts future operating performance. Our empirical evidence reinforces the notion suggested in earlier studies that the efficient investment decisions predicted by theory are not achieved by the actual design and issuance of convertible debt securities in practice.
Conceptions of Conflict in Close Friendships and Ways of Knowing among Young College Women: A Developmental Framework

Researchers have focused only limited attention on conflicts in adults' close friendships, and rarely from a developmental perspective. This study examined the relationships between young college women's epistemological perspectives and their conceptions of conflicts with close friends. Twenty-five female college students, most white and middle-class, participated in individual interviews regarding their thinking about knowledge and truth, and conflicts with close friends. Analyses revealed three distinct patterns of conceptions of conflicts with close friends that appeared to vary in developmental complexity. Conceptions of conflicts with friends related strongly and positively to epistemological understandings. The implications of these findings for future research on conflicts in close friendships are discussed.
Structural and functional heterogeneity of integrated recombinant AAV genomes

Adeno-associated Virus (AAV) has emerged as a promising vector for gene therapy because of its ability to generate high titer recombinant stocks and the potential for site specific integration. However, much of the current knowledge regarding the transduction and integration biology of this virus is based on studies evaluating wild type AAV or recombinant AAV which was unknowingly contaminated with wild type virus. Given the fact that recombinant AAV is replication incompetent, by virtue of deleted viral rep proteins responsible for site specific integration of the wild type virus, the integration process for recombinant AAV may likely be different from its wild type counterpart. To this end, the present study has attempted to elucidate the proviral structure of stably integrated recombinant AAV genomes harboring the alkaline phosphatase reporter gene in 293 and IB3 cell lines. Initial studies attempted to functionally characterize differences in proviral genomes using mobilization assays with assessed both liberated episomal recombinant AAV and infectious virus following transfection with Rep/Cap containing plasmids and/or infection with recombinant adenovirus (Ad). Using Southern and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, evaluation of genomic DNA from AAV clonal cell lines indicated that head to tail orientations of ITRs were absolutely required for excision of episomal genomes and rescue of infectious recombinant virus. Furthermore, mobilization of proviral DNA could be achieved in the presence of exogenous Rep/Cap without adenovirus, while mobilization of infectious recombinant virus required the addition of both Rep/Cap and Ad. Genomic Southerns suggest that two predominant proviral structures exist for recombinant AAV including head to head and tail to head duplex genomes. A third class of monomer proviral genomes with head to tail oriented ITRs was also observed. No evidence for tail to tail ITR oriented proviral genomes was detected in any of the clonal cell lines. Such findings have begun to lay the foundation for a clearer understanding of the mechanism of recombinant AAV integration and how this process differs from wild type AAV.
aubergine enhances oskar translation in the Drosophila ovary

Although translational regulation of maternal mRNA is important for proper development of the Drosophila embryo, few genes involved in this process have been identified. In this report, we describe the role of aubergine in oskar translation. Previously, aubergine has been implicated in dorsoventral patterning, as eggs from aubergine mutant mothers are ventralized and seldom fertilized (Schupbach, T. and Wieschaus, E. (1991) Genetics 129, 1119–1136). We have isolated two new alleles of aubergine in a novel genetic screen and have shown that aubergine is also required for posterior body patterning, as the small fraction of eggs from aubergine- mothers that are fertilized develop into embryos which lack abdominal segmentation. Although aubergine mutations do not appear to affect the stability of either oskar mRNA or protein, the level of oskar protein is significantly reduced in aubergine mutants. Thus, aubergine is required to enhance oskar translation. While aubergine-dependence is conferred upon oskar mRNA by sequences in the oskar 3′ UTR, aubergine may influence oskar translation through an interaction with sequences upstream of the oskar 3′ UTR.
Further examination of ambivalence in relation to the schizophrenia spectrum

It remains unclear whether ambivalence reflects genetic liability for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. This study examined whether task-measured ambivalence is 1) increased in schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, 2) significantly associated with schizophrenia symptoms, and/or 3) increased in first-degree biological relatives of probands. Consistent with previous research, ambivalence was elevated in schizophrenia/schizoaffective probands and significantly related to current emotional state, but not to symptoms. Ambivalence was not elevated in relatives, suggesting that it may be unrelated to genetic liability. These results suggest that emotional state may differentially influences ambivalence across groups. Future research would benefit from examination of this question in a larger cohort.
Real-time attitude estimation techniques applied to a four rotor helicopter

We use a decomposition approach to develop a real time filter that estimates the attitude of a small four rotor helicopter. The filter uses measurements from a three axis gyro system and an off-board computer vision system. We have implemented the filter on the real system to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Grade Inflation: A Way Out

evaluation ratings by students, for these ratings are used as a justification to grant (or deny) tenure, promotion, and salary increases. Grade inflation may also be due to the desire of professors to be popular among students. Or, possibly, grade inflation has been adopted as a form of price cutting in the face of the recent decline in demand for higher education. To maintain enrollments, educational institutions, rather than cutting their fees and tuitions, have lowered the efforts associated with grades. In this study, I suggest that using unadjusted student evaluation ratings as a basis for determining a professor's performance as a teacher or for comparing teachers is neither appropriate nor justified. Among many reasons that could be advanced to support this assertion is the grading practice of the professor.2 If students rate teachers on the basis of student grades and if teachers inflate their students' grades to receive better ratings, then evaluation ratings lose their meaning.3 They cannot be relied upon for evaluating and comparing teachers. In this article, I first describe the background of this problem and then I report empirical findings from a study of the interrelationship between grade inflation and student evaluation ratings. In the final section, I summarize and draw conclusions from my study.
Overland Flow Modeling of Mississippi Coastal Region Using Finite Element Method

In this paper we describe the implementation and discussion of overland flow models using finite element method. The results of our overland flow simulations coupled with storm surges initiated with hurricanes in coastal regions are integrated into geographical information systems for visualization, analysis and decision-making. As a case study, we have modeled the overland flow caused by hurricane Katrina. Our computational domain starts from the Mississippi shoreline to about 75 kilometers inland. First we have run fully nonlinear, two-dimensional, barotropic hydrodynamic model ADCIRC with appropriate data and tidal information to simulate storm surge in the Gulf of Mexico. The ADCIRC simulation results in the boundary close to the shoreline are then used as driving force in our overland flow analysis. The overland simulation results are compared with available observed data from Katrina.
A 5 Gbps Wafer-Level Tester

This paper describes an economical approach to highspeed testing of high-density wafer-level packaged logic devices. The solution assumes that the devices to be tested have built-in self-test features, thereby reducing the complexity of functional testing required. This also reduces the need for expensive automated test equipment (ATE). A stand alone miniature tester is developed and connected to the top of a wafer probe card with multiple high-speed (2-5 Gbps) signals. To keep costs low, the tester uses off-theshelf components. However its performance in some aspects exceeds that of traditional ATE. Measurements illustrate the tester generating programmable 5Gbps signals with a +25ps timing accuracy. The generated signals exhibit low jitter 50ps and have a rise time of about 120ps.
Differences in glucose values obtained from point-of-care glucose meters and laboratory analysis in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND Blood for glucose analysis is often obtained interchangeably from indwelling catheters and fingersticks. OBJECTIVES To determine the level of agreement between glucose values obtained by laboratory analysis and with a point-of-care device for blood from 2 different sources: fingerstick and a central venous catheter. METHODS A method-comparison design was used. Point-of-care values for blood from fingersticks and catheters were compared with laboratory values for blood from catheters in a convenience sample of 67 critically ill patients. The effects of hematocrit level and finger edema on differences in glucose values between the 2 methods were also evaluated. A t test was used to determine differences in glucose values obtained via the 2 methods. Differences and limits of agreement were also calculated. RESULTS Laboratory glucose values for blood from a catheter differed significantly from point-of-care values for blood from the catheter (t(1,66) = -9.18; P < .001) and from a fingerstick (t(1,66) = 6.53; P < .001). Glucose values for the 2 methods differed by 20 mg/dL or more for 1 of 6 patients (15%) for catheter samples and for 1 of 5 (21%) for fingerstick samples. Point-of-care glucose values for fingerstick and catheter samples did not differ (P = .98). Hematocrit level significantly explained the difference in glucose values between the 2 methods for both catheter (R(2) = 0.288; P < .001) and fingerstick (R(2) = 0.280; P = .02) samples. CONCLUSIONS Use of a commonly used point-of-care device when precise glucose values are needed may lead to faulty treatment decisions.
Culture, multiculturalism, and foreign/world language standards in U.S. teacher preparation programs: toward a discourse of dissonance

This paper examines the results from a qualitative study conducted with teacher education candidates enrolled in the foreign/world language licensure programs in two different universities located in the United States. The purpose of the paper is to help us better understand how critical pedagogy and multicultural education can help meet the challenges that world language teachers experience in the teaching of culture. It draws attention to some of the complexities that exist in the integration of the cultural standard (my italics) in foreign/second language teacher education programs and some of the challenges faced in its implementation in the K–12 classroom setting. Although the current study took place in the United States, the growth of an increasingly global society fosters the need for increased cultural understanding and communication around the world. The researchers call for collaboration across programs, states, and countries to learn from one another and express the need to promote honest dial...
Fast light-emitting silicon-germanium nanostructures for optical interconnects

Epitaxially-grown Si/SiGe quantum dot complexes produce efficient photoluminescence and electroluminescence in the desired spectral range of 1.3–1.6 μm. The latest progress in our understanding of the physics of carrier recombination in Si/SiGe nanostructures is reviewed, and a new route toward CMOS compatible light emitters is proposed.
Understanding Engagement in HIV Risk and Prevention Research Among Black Young Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in the District of Columbia

Abstract Purpose: To develop optimal methods to study sexual health among black young men who have sex with men and transgender women (BYMSM/TW). Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods prospective study to identify recruitment and retention strategies for BYMSM/TW (age 16–21) in Washington D.C., and describe HIV risk behaviors and context. Results: Incentivized peer referral was highly productive, and 60% of BYMSM/TW were retained for 3 months. Participants reported high levels of sexual risk, homophobia, racism, and maternal support. Conclusion: BYMSM/TW studies should utilize a combination of peer-based, in-person, and technology-based recruiting strategies. Additional research is needed to leverage mobile technology and social media to enhance retention.
Low-Frequency Unsteadiness in the DNS of a Compression Ramp Shockwave and Turbulent Boundary Layer Interaction

The direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a compression ramp shockwave and turbulent boundary layer interaction (STBLI) is presented. The ramp angle is 24 ◦ , and the inflow boundary layer conditions are Mach 2.9 and Re� = 2900. For the discretization of the inviscid fluxes, a modified weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) scheme is used. The numerical code has previously been validated in the context of a compression ramp DNS against experiments at matching flow conditions. 1,2 The present DNS covers a time of 1000�/U∞ (350Lsep/U∞), making an analysis of the low-frequency unsteadiness that occurs in this kind of flow possible. The dominant scales in the flow are investigated by spectral analysis. The statistical link between the low-frequency shock motion and the upstream and downstream flow is investigated.
Uptake and esterification of exogenous cholesterol by organ cultures of normal and atherosclerotic pigeon aorta.

SummaryAn organ culture system is described in which segments of pigeon aorta have been maintained in a metabolically active state for up to 9 days. Using this system, we have studied the uptake and metabolism of cholesterol-1,2-3H and oleic acid-1-14C by normal and atherosclerotic arterial tissue.The uptake of cholesterol-1,2-3H by arterial tissue was rapid and was similar in both boiled and viable arterial segments. Results suggest a physical chemical mechanism for uptake of free cholesterol. Arterial segments esterified oleic acid-1-14C to phospholipid, triglyceride, and cholesteryl ester. Cholesterol-1,2-3H was also esterified with a significantly increased rate of esterification seen in arterial segments from atherosclerotic aortas. Uptake of free cholesterol was not significantly different in normal and atherosclerotic arterial segments.