cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-parametric estimation of deterministically chaotic systems

This paper studies theoretical and econometric issues that arise in systems characterized by deterministic chaos. Such systems can arise from standard dynamic economic models and are extensively used in Monte Carlo and other simulation-based statistical procedures which use pseudo-random number generators. The virtues of studying chaotic laws of motion in the space of densities over the state space are shown. A complete characterization of deterministic stationary ergodic processes in that space of densities is suggested and proved when the invariant measure is unknown. The asymptotic properties of the kernel estimators of the stationary density and the law of motion in the density space are studied, and shown to hold for chaotic systems. Small sample behavior for the estimators is subjectively shown to be good even when optimal choices of the kernel and smoothing parameters are not exploited.
The estimation of a multivariate linear relation

Abstract A multivariate linear relation η n = β 0 ξ n is considered, in which ξ n and η n are observed subject to white noise errors, with covariance matrices σ 0 , ω 0 respectively. If their elements lie in the null space of a suitable vector function, β 0 , σ 0 , ω 0 may be uniquely defined by second-order functions of the data. The asymptotic properties of estimates of β 0 , σ 0 , ω 0 are established under relatively mild conditions. We explore the possibility that explicit formulas for consistent estimates of β 0 , σ 0 , ω 0 may be available.
Magnetic treatment of solid carbonates, sulfates, and phosphates of calcium

Abstract Anti‐scale magnetic treatment was applied to four calcium compounds that are known to be scale formers. Aqueous suspensions of the compounds were cycled through a closed‐system consisting of PVC pipe and a 1‐L reservoir in the absence (control) or presence (test) of a 2,000 gauss magnetic field. After a one‐hour treatment period, the suspensions were rapidly filtered, and aliquot portions of the filtrate were acidified and analyzed for calcium content by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Solubilities of test and control systems were compared, and the enhanced solubility (? s) of the test system over the control (s) was evaluated as a percentage increase over the control system solubility %change = 100 (? s)/s. The percent change was 25% (limestone), 14.7 % (calcite), 4.9% (gypsum) , 0.92% (dolomite), and 64% (tricalcium phosphate). In addition, the tendency to attain smaller average size distribution (comminution) was measured for all compounds. A hypothesis for the basis of anti‐scale magnetic tre...
Role of mechanical factors in modulating cardiac fibroblast function and extracellular matrix synthesis

The cardiac fibroblast is the most abundant cell type present in the myocardium and is mainly responsible for the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). Important components of cardiac ECM include structural and adhesive proteins such as collagen and fibronectin. Excess deposition of cardiac ECM (fibrosis) has been associated with the pathophysiological mechanical overload of the heart. Therefore, the role of cardiac fibroblasts in "sensing", "integrating" and "responding" to mechanical stimuli is of great interest. The development of in vitro strain apparatuses has allowed scientists to investigate the effects of mechanical stimuli on cardiac fibroblast function. Cardiac fibroblasts express ECM receptors (integrins) which couple mechanical stimuli to functional responses. Mechanical stimulation of cardiac fibroblasts has been shown to result in activation of various signal transduction pathways. The application of defined mechanical stimuli to cultured cardiac fibroblasts has been associated with ECM gene expression, growth factor production, release and/or bioactivity as well as collagenase activity. Ultimately, for fibrosis to develop the overproduction of ECM must overcome any associated increases in collagenase activity. Mechanically induced upregulation of ECM production may follow direct or indirect pathways through the autocrine or paracrine action of growth factors. Given the complex nature of the interstitial milieu of the working heart, additional research is needed to further our understanding of the roles that mechanical stimuli play in excess deposition of myocardial ECM.
Lower bounds for the spectral radius of a matrix

Abstract We develop lower bounds for the spectral radius of symmetric, skew-symmetric, and arbitrary real matrices. Our approach utilizes the well-known Leverrier-Faddeev algorithm for calculating the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of a matrix in conjunction with a theorem by Lucas which states that the critical points of a polynomial lie within the convex hull of its roots. Our results generalize and simplify a proof recently published by Tarazaga for a lower bound on the spectral radius of a symmetric positive definite matrix. In addition, we provide new lower bounds for the spectral radius of skew-symmetric matrices. We apply these results to a problem involving the stability of fixed points in recurrent neural networks.
Shear Strength of the Pig Capital Femoral Epiphyseal Plate: An Experimental Model for Human Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Fixation Studies

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is the most common hip disorder affecting adolescent children [1]. The etiology is not fully understood but thought to be multifactorial, related to both biological and biomechanical factors [2]. SCFE occurs when the epiphysis of the proximal femur slips in relation to the metaphysis through the growth plate, causing pain, disability and potential long-term sequellae from joint incongruity. The treatment for SCFE typically involves some form of stabilization procedure using pins, screws, bone grafting, osteotomy, or casting.© 2002 ASME
Remarks on differential algebraic approach to particle beam optics by M. Berz

Abstract The underlying mathematical structure of the differential algebraic approach of M. Berz to the particle beam optics is isomorphic to the familiar truncated polynomial algebra. Concrete examples of derivations in this algebra, consistent with the truncation operation, are given.
Quantitative determination of the peptide retention of polymeric substrates using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Polymer surface-peptide binding interactions have been shown previously to lead to reductions in peptide matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) ion signals. In previous studies, increases in surface-peptide binding were characterized by the increases in both the initially adsorbed and retained quantities of 125I-radiolabeled peptides. The present studies establish a specific correlation between the peptide retention properties of the polymer surface and the reduction in the peptide MALDI ion signal. This correlation is demonstrated by obtaining MALDI mass spectra of angiotensin I applied to various polymer surfaces having a range of peptide adsorption and retention properties. In addition, the use of a MALDI based method of standard additions is shown to allow the quantitation of the polymer surface—peptide retention affinity for angiotensin I and porcine insulin. The MALDI standard additions method for measurement of surface-peptide retention affinities offers a number of significant advantages over conventional radiolabeled peptide binding methods and promises to be a valuable tool for the determination of this important biomaterial characteristic.
The emergence of inhibition in the chick embryo spinal cord

Abstract The onset of inhibitory systems in the lumbosacral spinal cord of the chick embryo were studied by observing the effect of locally applied strychinine on polyneuronal burst discharges recorded from the cord and sciatic nerve at various ages. This putative inhibitory blocker enhanced burst activity from 13 days on, while having no net effect before this time. Enhancement included an increase in frequency of burst discharges in all embryos. Qualitative changes in patterns of burst discharge also occurred after strychnine. In 13-day embryos, burst returned to cluster forms seen only in 11–12-day controls. In those older than 16 days, a progression from the normal random bursting to complex multicomponent bursts occurred which then evolved into less complex bursts having a much more constant interburst interval. This strychnine evoked periodicity resembling burst discharge patterns earlier in development in normal embryos (11–12 days), and transformation of burst forms in 13-day embryos supports the hypothesis that inhibition is modifying burst patterns after 12 days.
Medium power hydrogen arcjet performance

An experimental investigation was performed to evaluate hydrogen arcjet operating characteristics in the range of 1 to 4 kW. A series of nozzles were operated in modular laboratory thrusters to examine the effects of geometric parameters such as constrictor diameter and nozzle divergence angle. Each nozzle was tested over a range of current and mass flow rates to explore stability and performance. In the range of mass flow rates and power levels tested, specific impulse values between 650 and 1250 sec were obtained at efficiencies between 30 and 40 percent. The performance of the two larger half angle (20, 15 deg) nozzles was similar for each of the two constrictor diameters tested. The nozzles with the smallest half angle (10 deg) were difficult to operate. A restrike mode of operation was identified and described. Damage in the form of melting was observed in the constrictor region of all the nozzle inserts tested. Arcjet ignition was also difficult in many tests and a glow discharge mode that prevents starting was identified.
A Low Frequency Beam Position Monitor

The beam position monitor described here is inductively driven by the 1.7-microsecond pulse envelope of a relativistic electron beam. Its principal virtues seem to be its simplicity, its inherently fixed zero position, and its adaptability to wide apertures. In the form presented, it has a 3.5-inch clear aperture; its minimum sensile beam current × beam displacement is about 2 × 10-4 ampere-millimeters; its ultimate spacial resolution is 0.1 millimeter.
The development and maintenance of odor-based double-alternation responding under conditions of Thorazine and Elavil injection

Two experiments investigating odor production and utilization in rats under the effects of Thorazine and Elavil injections, respectively, are reported. In Experiment 1, significantly slower speeds shown by the Thorazine-injected subjects indicated that this drug depressed performance. It is felt that depressed performance allowed these subjects to attend and respond to odor cues earlier in Phase 1 than did saline-injected control animals. Reversing the injection conditions (Phase 2) failed to disrupt already-established patterning. During the first phase of Experiment 2, Elavil-injected subjects failed to establish patterned responding, whereas such responding was readily established by saline-injected subjects. Reversing the injection conditions (Phase 2) resulted in the rapid development of double-alternation patterning by the subjects that were shifted from Elavil to saline and in the maintenance of such responding by the animals shifted from saline to Elavil.
Fundamental Formulation for Plasmonic Nanolasers

We develop a fundamental formulation of plasmonic nanolasers from Fermi's Golden rule, taking into account the inhomogeneity and dispersion of the cavity media. We demonstrate that the electromagnetic energy confinement factor and the corresponding effective volume lead to a more consistent formulation for the rate equations of nanolasers. We also use a Fabry-Perot nanolaser based on the plasmonic slab waveguide as an example and compare the energy confinement factor with other counterparts. In particular, we show that the power confinement factor is inappropriate for plasmonic cavity modes.
Rapid Metabolism of Propylene by Pea Seedlings

Propylene uptake by intact pea seedlings ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) was easily detected using standard gas chromatographic techniques suggesting rapid metabolism. Comparative studies with highly purified 14 C 3 H 6 and 14 C 2 H 4 under aseptic conditions verified that propylene was rapidly metabolized and indicated that some aspects of its metabolism were similar to that of ethylene since 14 C 3 H 6 , like 14 C 2 H 4 (Beyer, Nature 1975, 255: 144-147), was oxidized to 14 CO 2 and incorporated into water-soluble tissue metabolites. However, 14 C 2 H 6 was metabolized at a substantially faster rate and unlike 14 C 2 H 4 the rate of 14 C 3 H 6 tissue incorporation exceeded its rate of oxidation to 14 CO 2 . In addition the neutral 14 C-metabolites derived from 14 C 3 H 6 were chromatographically distinct from those formed from 14 C 2 H 4 .
Electrophoretic and immunological evidence of unique proteins in leaves of citrus trees: application to citrus blight detection.

From the leaf tissue of healthy and blighted citrus trees 10–30 kDa soluble fractions were compared to find biochemical markers of tissue in the disease state. Using a non-denaturing extrction technique coupled with ultrafiltration, a resulting 10–30 kDa healthy and citrus blight fraction was sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Two distinct and adjacent bands for blight at an Mr of approximately 12 500 were separated. These bands were visible with Coomassie Brilliant Blue and silver stain but were negative to glycoprotein stains. An antiserum prepared against proteins isolated by preparative electrophoresis reacted only with the blight fractions and was distinctly different from healthy fractions when Western blotted. Only the gel region (Mr 12 500–13 000) of citrus blight sources was positive to the antiserum when compared with disease and nondisease stress sources. Results indicate that identification of specific proteins may be a way to diagnose the onset of citrus blight prior to visible tree symptoms.
Utility of Polymerase Chain Reaction for Analysis of Antigen Receptor Rearrangement in Staging and Predicting Prognosis in Dogs with Lymphoma

In lymphoid neoplasia, molecular assays to confirm clonality rely on the fact that lymphoid cells normally contain DNA regions with unique sequences, resulting from recombination of the V, D, and J genes. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for antigen receptor rearrangements (PARR) for molecular staging and predicting prognosis in canine lymphoma. We hypothesized that the PARR assay would offer a sensitive method for detecting neoplastic cells in blood, and that the presence of such cells would be a negative prognostic finding compared with dogs with no detectable circulating tumor cells. Eighty-six patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed lymphoma were studied from initial diagnosis until death or euthanasia. All patients had PARR assays of a representative tumor-infiltrated lymph node and peripheral whole blood. Sixty-two patients had clonal rearrangements detected in the lymph node and were able to be staged by PARR. Seventeen patients (27%) had no detectable tumor in their blood and 45 (73%) were blood positive. Our findings showed that (1) PARR correlated with clinical stage in that the PARR assay was more likely to detect tumor cells in blood in stage 5 lymphomas, (2) PARR was more sensitive for detecting circulating tumor cells than visual assessment of blood or bone marrow because 80% of stage 3 lymphomas were blood-PARR-positive, and (3) PCR stage was not prognostic for disease-free interval (DFI) or survival.
Heterogeneity of glycine receptors and their messenger RNAs in rat brain and spinal cord

Messenger RNAs isolated from adult or newborn rat spinal cord were fractionated in a sucrose gradient. The fractions were injected into Xenopus oocytes to determine their potencies for expression of glycine receptors (GlyRs), which were then examined electrophysiologically. The sedimentation profiles disclosed two classes of GlyR mRNAs, one heavy and the other light. The adult spinal cord was rich in heavy GlyR mRNA, whereas the light GlyR mRNA was more abundant in neonatal spinal cord and in adult cerebral cortex. Glycine receptors encoded by heavy and light mRNAs of adult spinal cord showed some electrophysiological differences. Thus there are two types of GlyRs encoded by mRNAs of different sizes, and the expression of these mRNAs is developmentally regulated. A tissue- and age-dependent distribution of heterogeneous GlyR mRNAs may imply diverse roles of the GlyRs in neuronal function in the central nervous system.
Pan-PI-3 kinase inhibitor SF1126 shows antitumor and antiangiogenic activity in renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose SF1126 is a vascular-targeted pan-PI-3K inhibitor prodrug with antitumor and antiangiogenic activity and has completed phase I clinical trial in solid tumors and B-cell malignancies. In this study, we investigated the effect of SF1126 on hypoxic HIF-1α/HIF-2α stability as well as on antitumor and/or antiangiogenic activity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) models in vitro and in vivo.
The toxemia of upper intestinal obstruction, its nature and treatment

Summary Intestinal obstruction, according to more reliable statistics, has been accompanied by a mortality rate of over 50 per cent. The chief factor in the high death rate is the delay in operative intervention with a consequent approach of toxemia. Until recently the appearance of this toxic syndrome has heralded the advent of a fatal termination. The nature of the toxemia has, in the past, remained obscure. As the result of recent investigations it is known that characteristic blood chemistry alterations accompany this syndrome, outstanding of which are nitrogen retention, alkalosis and hypochloremia. The significance of these chemical studies is that acute upper intestinal obstruction cannot be treated logically and efficiently unless due consideration is given to chemical changes taking place in the blood. Preoperative diagnosis has been discussed and medical treatment has been outlined which will allow the blood chemistry to reach the normal equilibrium and will permit surgical relief with some assurance of a recovery in an otherwise hopeless instance. From reports that are now creeping into the literature, it is probable that the death rate in high intestinal obstruction will be greatly lessened where proper attention is given to these preliminary and postoperative medical measures.
Naturalistic observation in the classroom: A radical behavioral view

Three views of behavioral causality are critiqued: humanistic, psychometric, and “methodological'’ behavior‐modification analyses. The underlying assumptions of each approach lead to different methods of observation, each of which falls short of a complete analysis of interactions in the natural environment. The restricted observations under these traditions limit effective prescriptions for behavioral change. The suggested alternative to these traditions is a “radical”; behavioral analysis for naturalistic settings. This view, though similar to methodological behavior modification, emphasizes the control of behavior by multiple sources—past, present and future. A simple observation instrument was designed to reflect the underlying assumptions of radical behaviorism. When given to a group of untrained observers, the instrument enabled them to suggest multiple sources of control over a sequence of aggressive behavior that was viewed on film. Several prescriptions for changes in the environment then followe...
A clue regarding the origin of rock varnish

137Cs and excess 210 Pb have been found in rock varnish samples from several localities in the desert regions of the western United States. As 137 Cs was absent in the environment prior to the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, and as 210 Pb has a half life of only 22 years, these isotopes must have been added to this slow growing patina during the last half of the present century, demonstrating that, at least in part, the elements constituting varnish are supplied from the atmosphere. The discovery opens a window into the mechanism by which this mysterious substance forms. Not only radioisotopes but also anthropogenic metals can be harnessed to assess the ratio of rate of accumulation of a given element on varnish to its delivery rate from the atmosphere. Based on measurements reported here, for 210 Pb this ratio is about 0.1 and for 137 Cs about 0.01.
Guanidine Alkaloids and Pictet-Spengler Adducts from Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

As an extension of work on the recently discovered nitrogenous metabolites from Cimicifuga/Actaea species, three new guanidine alkaloids have been isolated and characterized from C. racemosa (syn. A. racemosa) roots. Of these, cyclo-cimipronidine (1) and cimipronidine methyl ester (2) are congeners of cimipronidine (3), whereas dopargine (5) is a derivative of dopamine. By employing NMR- and MS-guided chemodiversity profiling of a polar serotonergic (5-HT7) fraction, the guanidine alkaloids were initially detected in a clinical extract of black cohosh and were isolated along with a congener of salsolinol 4, 5, and 3-hydroxytyrosol 3-O-glucoside (7). The structures of 1, 2, and 5 were confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as LC-MS and HRMS spectroscopy. A plausible biosynthetic relationship may be inferred between the homoproline-analogue cimipronidines and the dopamine-derived Cimicifuga alkaloids. These strongly basic and frequently zwitterionic nitrogenous metabolites contribute considerable c...
Relative efficacy of parent and teacher involvement in a shared-reading intervention for preschool children from low-income backgrounds

Abstract The effects of an interactive shared-reading intervention were evaluated with 3-to 4-year-old children from low-income families who attended subsidized child care. The children entered the program with oral language skills that were significantly below age-level as measured by standardized tests. Children were pretested and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions: (a) no treatment control, (b) a school condition in which children were read to by their teachers in small groups, (c) a home condition in which children were read to by their parents, and (d) a combined school plus home condition. Parents and teachers were trained in a specific form of interactive reading via an instructional videotape. The intervention was conducted for 6 weeks, after which children were posttested on standardized measures of oral language, and language samples were obtained during a shared-reading assessment. Significant effects of the reading intervention were obtained at posttest and were largest for children in conditions involving home reading.
MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDE EFFECTS ON SENSORY AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SHORTENED CAKES

Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil and corn oil were substituted for shortening (33, 50, 67 or 100%) in shortened cakes. Both MCT and corn oil affected batter specific gravity and fluidity (linespread). Baked cake volume decreased slightly at 33, 50 and 67% shortening replacement with both MCT and corn oil, but greatly at the 100% substitution level. Cake peak height decreased with corn oil but not with MCT oil substitution ; air cell number decreased when oil was substituted 50%. Both oils decreased sensory graininess and surface oiliness/wetness ; sensory lightness decreased at higher substitution levels. MCT or corn oil substitution had no effect on batter or cake color (L*, a* or b* values), oily flavor or sensory cohesiveness.
Electron dynamics in parallel electric and magnetic fields

We examine the spatial distribution of electrons generated by a fixed energy point source in uniform, parallel electric, and magnetic fields. This problem is simple enough to permit analytic quantum and semiclassical solution, and it harbors a rich set of features which find their interpretation in the unusual and interesting properties of the classical motion of the electrons: For instance, the number of interfering trajectories can be adjusted in this system, and the turning surfaces of classical motion contain a complex array of singularities. We perform a comprehensive analysis of the semiclassical approximation and compare it to the quantum solution, and we make predictions that should serve as a guide for future photodetachment experiments.
INTERACTIVE THREE-DIMENSIONAL BOUNDARY-LAYER METHOD FOR TRANSONIC FLOW OVER SWEPT WINGS

A three-dimensional laminar/turbulent boundary-layer method is developed for transonic flow over swept wings. The governing equations and curvature terms are written for a nonorthogonal body-oriented curvilinear coordinate system. The viscous method is coupled to the full-potential inviscid code, FLO-30, through a displacement-surface interaction. Typically, for transonic Mach numbers and moderate sweep angles, between 5 and 12 viscous updates are required for convergence. The method is applied to a variety of wing planforms, and the results are also compared to those obtained with the three-dimensional integral inviscid-viscous interaction method TAWFIVE (Streett and Melson, 1983).
Fire and heat resistant laminating resins based on maleimido substituted aromatic cyclotriphosphazene polymer

4-Aminophenoxy cyclotriphosphazenes are reacted with maleic anhydride to produce maleamic acids which are converted to the maleimides. The maleimides are polymerized. By selection of starting materials (e.g. hexakis amino or trisaminophenoxy-trisphenoxy-cyclotriphosphazenes), selection of molar proportions of reactants, use of mixtures of anhydrides and use of dianhydrides as bridging groups a variety of maleimides and polymers are produced. The polymers have high limiting oxygen indices, high char yeilds and other useful heat and fire resistant properties making them useful as, for example, impregnants of fabrics.
Variation in elk response to roads by season, sex, and road type

Despite the near universal recognition that roads negatively affect wildlife, the mechanisms that elicit animal responses to roads are often ambiguous or poorly understood. We conducted a multi-year, multi-season study to assess the relative influence of roads on elk (Cervus elaphus) in a human-dominated landscape in South Dakota. We evaluated the effects of habitat covariates including security cover, forage quality, distance to roads (primary, secondary, and tertiary), and visibility from roads at the home range scale. We radio-collared 28 elk (21 adult females and 7 adult males) and calculated seasonal (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) utilization distributions (UDs). We assigned habitat covariates to use percentiles within the UDs (1% increments; from 1 to 98 percentiles) and used spatially explicit mixed linear regression to model the relationship between use percentile and habitat covariates. For each season and sex, we evaluated 15 candidate models and used Akaike's Information Criterion weights (ωi) to identify top-ranking models. We plotted influential coefficients from these models with 95% confidence intervals to examine the magnitude of effects. Our analysis revealed fundamental differences in response to roads, by road type, between sexes, and across seasons. Male elk established home ranges near roads devoid of vehicle traffic in winter, spring, and autumn. In summer, coinciding with peak vehicle traffic levels, male elk reduced their use of habitat that was both visible from and close to primary roads. Female elk subherds similarly responded to primary roads in spring and autumn, during times of year when they were calving and mating, respectively. In spring and summer, female elk subherds selected habitat near roads that were closed to vehicle traffic. Forage quality and security cover were influential in the periphery (>50th use percentile) of elk home ranges, whereas road covariates were more influential towards the core of elk home ranges. This analysis further demonstrates the utility of visibility from road metrics and suggests that the retention of vegetation structures that screen visibility potential from roads could be important components of elk management strategies. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Affordance of Ubiquitous Learning through Cloud Computing

The advance of mobile technology has empowered learners. The affordance of mobile technology can be exploited to make education more pervasive and equitable. It expedites the pedagogical shift from teacher-centered to student-centered learning, enabling a ubiquitous learning environment that will promote students’ engagement through multiple modalities. We explore ways to maximize the power of mobile learning technologies to increase enrollment, reduce attrition, improve teaching efficiency, and enable green technology without sacrificing the quality and placing extra burden on faculty. As mobile learning technologies pose challenges to most educational practitioners, a generic mobile learning framework was developed to address this issue. Our hybrid application approach utilizes mobile devices’ native functions and existing Web 2.0 applications. Additional applications to fit in the framework are created to allow non-technical instructors to develop mobile learning content to engage student learners in informal settings.
Some characteristics of an inhibitable thymidine uptake system in mammalian cells.

Abstract Some characteristics of the thymidine uptake process in mammalian cells are described. The uptake is differentially inhibited by organic and inorganic mercurials. It is shown to be different in nature and/or location from the phenylalanine uptake process, which shows a pattern of inhibition by the same compounds which is distinct from that of thymidine. Speculation on the nature of the uptake system is based on possible modes of action of the inhibiting agents.
Threat bias in mice with inactivating mutations of Prkar1a.

Abstract Anxiety disorders are associated with abnormalities in the neural processing of threat-related stimuli. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying threat bias in anxiety are not well understood. We recently reported that a Prkar1a heterozygote (Prkar1a+/−) mouse with haploinsufficiency for the main regulatory subunit (R1α) of protein kinase A (PKA) exhibits an anxiety-like phenotype associated with increased cAMP signaling in the amygdala. Prkar1a+/− mice provide a novel model to test the direct effect of altered PKA expression and subsequent anxiety-like behavioral phenotype on the response to threat. We hypothesized that Prkar1a+/−mice would exhibit a bias in threat detection since increased amygdala activity during emotional stimuli is associated with a maladaptive response. We measured behavior and PKA activity in brain areas after exposure to predator or control odor exposure in male Prkar1a+/− and wild-type (WT) littermates. Indeed, there were significant differences in the behavioral response to threat detection; WT mice showed the expected response of decrease in exploratory behavior during predator vs. control odor exposure, while Prkar1a+/− mice did not alter their behavior between conditions. Basal and total PKA activity was independently associated with genotype, with an interaction between genotype and threat condition. Prkar1a+/− mice had higher PKA activity in amygdala and ventromedial hypothalamus in response to predator odor. In contrast, WT mice had higher PKA activity in amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex after exposure to control odor. Dysregulated PKA activity in the amygdala–prefrontal cortex circuitry in Prkar1a+/− mice is associated with behavioral phenotype of anxiety and a bias for threat. This is likely related to a failure to inhibit the amydgala response, which is an effect of the genotype. These results suggest that the alteration in PKA signaling in Prkar1a+/− mice is not ubiquitous in the brain; tissue-specific effects of the cAMP/PKA pathway are related to threat detection and fear sensitization.
Evaluation of the nanofibrillar structure of Dioscorea opposite extract for cell attachment

Dioscorea opposite has been widely used in traditional herbal medicine in the Far East, ameliorating symptoms ranging from abdominal swelling to pain. Previous studies have focused on understanding the chemical components that lead to the medicinal effects of the extract. In this study, we examined the nanostructures formed by the soluble and insoluble parts of the sticky excretion from the mucilaginous rhizome of Dioscorea opposite and evaluated their cellular response. Using atomic force microscopy, we found that the soluble extract of the excretion had the capacity to form a nanofibrillar scaffold composed of uniform ∼10 nm nanofibers with a typical pore size of ∼40 nm, while the insoluble extract formed some nanofibers without specific structure. Cellular response to the two types of nanostructures was tested by seeding with HeLa and MC3T3 cells. The observations suggested that the nanofibrillar scaffold formed from the soluble extract provided an excellent platform for HeLa cell attachment and growth and to a lesser degree for MC3T3 cells, while nanofibers from the insoluble extract displayed no cell attachment and growth. Further analysis by direct incubation of the soluble extract with growing cells indicated that components from the extract preferentially bound to HeLa cells, but not to MC3T3 cells, which might help explain the observed preference of HeLa cells on the nanofibrillar scaffold. The nanofibrillar scaffold created from the Dioscorea opposite extract and its ability to sustain the attachment of specific cell types demonstrate the potential for this natural nanomaterial in tissue engineering applications.
Ultrafiltration of Surfactant and Aromatic/Surfactant Solutions Using Ceramic Membranes

Rejection and permeate flux taken together establish the efficiency of an ultrafiltration separation. The controllable factors that may influence the efficiency are systematically studied. These factors include transmembrane pressure, recirculation rate, membrane pore size, and solute and surfactant structure and concentration. Experiments carried out using both cationic and nonionic surfactants show that rejection decreases and permeate flux increases with membranes of increasing pore sizes. However, for the large pore size membrane (200 {angstrom}), it is also observed that rejection increases and permeate flux decreases as the filtration proceeds. These unexpected results suggest that micelles penetrate and accumulate into the larger pores, thereby reducing the effective membrane pore size. Depending on the molecular structure and concentration of the surfactant, rejection as high as 99.9% is achieved with a ceramic membrane having 65 {angstrom} pores. Permeate fluxes between 30 and 70% of pure water are observed. The addition of a solute tends to improve surfactant rejection and to decrease the permeate flux. Solute rejection increases with surfactant concentration and hydrophobicity. Solubilization isotherms determined here by ultrafiltration are shown to be in agreement with isotherms obtained with head space gas chromatography.
Does Bisexuality ‘Undo’ Gender? Gender, Sexuality, and Bisexual Behavior Among BDSM Participants

Drawing on West and Zimmerman's classic theory of “doing gender,” which argues that gender is something we do rather than something we have or are, as well as recent feminist conversations about whether it is possible to ‘undo’ gender, this study analyzes the role of gender in BDSM 1 bisexuality. This research analyzes 32 semistructured, in-depth interviews; correspondence and diaries held by the Leather Archives and Museum; and 344 public discussion board threads selected for themes related to gender on a large BDSM community website. The data show that BDSM bisexuality is created in part through a distinction participants create between ‘sex’ and ‘sexual.’ Three main types of BDSM bisexuality are identified: gender-based switching, gender-based styles, and rejection of gender. The author argues that the complex ways participants support and resist gender normativity in these three types of BDSM bisexuality can advance our understanding of the processes involved in doing and undoing gender.
Family Members' Experience With Hospice in Nursing Homes.

Research has documented numerous benefits and challenges associated with receipt of hospice care in nursing homes; however, study of this partnership from the perspective of residents’ family members has been limited. The purpose of this qualitative investigation was to explore family members’ experience with hospice services received in the nursing home setting. Researchers conducted a secondary data analysis of 175 family member interviews using a thematic analytic approach. Findings highlighted the critical role of communication in supporting residents and their family members. Care coordination, support and oversight, and role confusion also impacted family members’ experience of hospice care in the nursing home. Efforts directed at enhancing communication and more clearly articulating the roles of members of the health care team are indicated.
Carbon—An old but new nmaterial☆

Abstract Carbons of widely differing properties (properties approaching those of ideal graphite more or less closely) can be prepared by starting with different carbonaceous materials (in form of solids, liquids, and gases) and treating these materials in various ways. The variation in properties is a result, primarily, of a variation in carbon crystallite size and orientation and extent of cross-linking between trigionally bonded regions. Carbons of widely different structure and properties will be considered and their present and future applications in engineering and science discussed. Among those materials considered will be electrode carbons, glassy carbon, molecular sieve carbons, carbon blacks, pyrolytic graphite, stress recrystallized graphite and carbon fibers.
THE EFFECT OF SALINITY AND TEMPERATURE ON THE GERMINATION OF POLYMORPHIC SEEDS AND GROWTH OF ATRIPLEX TRIANGULARIS WILLD.

Polymorphic seeds of Atriplex triangularis were germinated at various temperatures (5-15 C, 5-25 C, 10-20 C, 20-30 C) and salinity regimes (0 to 1.5% NaCl) in order to determine their germinability and early seedling growth under these conditions. Larger seeds generally had a higher germination percentage in saline medium. The rate and percentage of germination decreased with increased salinity stress. A thermoperiod of 25 C day and 5 C night, 12 hr/12 hr, temperature enhanced germination of seeds. Early seedling growth is promoted in larger seeds at lower salinity, and at high-day and low-night temperatures. Polymorphic seeds have different physiological requirements which provide alternative situations for seed germination in natural habitats. ATRIPLEX TRIANGULARIS WILLD. (Chenopodiaceae) is an annual species of halophyte which is widely distnbuted in coastal and inland salt marshes of North America (Chapman, 1974; Ungar, 1974; Osmond, Bjorkman and Anderson, 1980).
Depth of spreading activation revisited: Semantic mediated priming occurs in lexical decisions

Abstract Balota and Lorch 1986 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition , 12 , 336–345 have shown that semantic mediated priming (e.g., from “lion” to “stripes” via “tiger”) occurs in naming but not in lexical decisions (see also de Groot 1983, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior , 22 , 417–436). Several investigators have hypothesized that semantic mediated priming does not appear in lexical decisions because subjects attempt to expedite the binary lexical decision by engaging in postretrieval relatedness checking: Subjects are biased to respond “word” when a target is related to its prime and “nonword” when a target is unrelated to its prime. Because the relation between mediated pairs is usually quite subtle, subjects are biased to respond “nonword” for these items, which obscures facilitation that may be occurring from spreading activation. This account suggests that mediated priming will appear in lexical decisions if (a) directly related words (e.g., “lion-tiger”) are not included on test lists or (b) a task is used that discourages relatedness checking. Experiment 1 tested the first possibility and Experiment 2 tested the second. Both experiments demonstrated statistically reliable semantic mediated priming in lexical decisions. Two additional experiments showed that mediated priming was smaller than direct priming and that it generalized to new materials. These results support spreading-activation theories of retrieval but provide evidence against several “nonspreading-activation” theories.
Lupus in Baltimore: evidence-based ‘clinical pearls’ from the Hopkins Lupus Cohort:

The Hopkins Lupus Cohort is a prospective longitudinal study of lupus activity, organ damage, and quality of life in SLE patients. It is balanced between Caucasian and African-American SLE patients. This review highlights major findings from the cohort with implications for clinical care.
The role of population size in molecular evolution.

Abstract The results of a computer simulation study of the role of population size in population genetical models of molecular evolution are presented. If the mutation rate and strength of selection are held fixed and the population size increased, the eight models examined fall into three domains based on their rates of substitution. In the Ohta domain, the rate of substitution decreases with increasing population size; in the Kimura domain, the rate of substitution remains close to the mutation rate; in the Darwin domain, the rate of substitution increases without bound. In the Kimura and Darwin domains, the rate of substitution is much less sensitive to the population size than suggested by two-allele theories. Remarkably, the overdominance model converges to the neutral model with increasingN. The variation at a neutral locus linked to a selected locus is found to be insensitive to the population size for certain models of selection. A selected locus can actually cause the rate of substitution of deleterious alleles at a linked locus to increase with increasing population size. These unexpected results illustrate that intuition based on two-allele theory is often misleading.
Correlation of proton release and ultraviolet difference spectra associated with metal binding by transferrin

Abstract A variety of metal ions can bind to the iron-transport protein, transferrin, at two specific sites. For each metal ion, a carboxylate anion is concomitantly bound. Six metal ions which were examined fall into two classes based on proton release and ultraviolet spectral changes which accompany binding to the protein. Class II ions, which include Cu2+ and Zn2+, release approximately 2 H+/metal bond. Class III ions, which include Fe3+, Ga3+, Al3+, and VO2+, release approximately 3 H+/metal bound. The increase in absorbance near 242 nm, characteristic of tyrosine ionization, has the ratio 0.55–0.75 for class II:class III ions. Both Fe3+ and Cu2+ form metal-transferrin-oxalate complexes in the presence of excess C2O42−. Fe3+ releases close to 3 H+/metal whether forming oxalate or bicarbonate complexes with transferrin. Binding of Cu2+ to transferrin releases 2 H+/metal in the presence of C2O2−4 or HCO3−. Since equal numbers of H+/metal are released for both anions, it is likely that the bicarbonate ion does not lose its proton, and remains as HCO3− in transferrin. These results are interpreted in terms of possible combinations of ligands at the metal binding sites.
Refinements on macroeconomic modeling: The role of non-separability and heterogeneous labor supply

Abstract This paper proposes a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model characterized by heterogenous labor schedules and non-separability between consumption and labor in the utility function. The model successfully describes output, consumption, investment, and interest rates after a monetary expansion. The proposed formulation improves on standard models by using preferences favored by the data and by requiring investment adjustment costs and habit formation parameters more in line with the micro-based evidence.
Carotid Arterial Elastic Hyperplasia in a Newborn

Cerebrovascular insufficiency in infancy and childhood is well documented and has a diverse and often unknown etiology. Reported here is a polycythemic, microcephalic infant girl of 43 weeks' gestation with bilateral cerebral infarction occurring in the perinatal period. Infarction was the result of bilateral carotid artery stenosis produced by massive reduplication of the internal elastic lamina. Review of the literature failed to reveal any reports of similar arterial lesions. The angiographical picture was also unique. The etiology of this unusual defect is not known, but we believe the problem was congenital perhaps due to an intrauterine infectious process.
Improved transparent conductive oxide/p+/i junction in amorphous silicon solar cells by tailored hydrogen flux during growth

Abstract We use the contact potential (Kelvin probe) method to evaluate the electrostatic potential profile across the transparent conductive oxide/p/i junction in hydrogenated amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells. Si films are deposited using reactive magnetron sputter deposition; the atomic H flux to the growth surface is controlled by changing the rate of H2 injection. H tailoring can be used to minimize the chemical reduction of SnO2, to optimize the contact potential with ZnO, to maximize the doping efficiency of the p+-layer, and to minimize the defect density at the p+/i interface. These methods should improve the built-in potential and thus raise the output voltage of amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells.
Cytogenetics of extragonadal tumors.

Tissue from six human extragonadal teratomas was obtained for cytogenetic study. These included two gluteal lesions in infant females, and one each of thyroid, mediastinal, sacral and gastric teratomas in males. Tissue culture characteristics indicated tumor growth. All tumors, except the mediastinal lesion showed the presumed karyotype of its host, XX or XY. The mediastinal mass was tetraploid XXYY and contained an X chromatin body and double Y bodies. Our data support the concept that extragonadal teratomas in males and females arise mitotically from diploid cells and are more similar to identical twins. No heterosexual (XX) tumors were seen in males which would be expected in parthenogenetic tumors. The sex chromatin positive tumors seen in earlier studies may have resulted from polvploidy. Thus, male and female extragonadal teratomas have a different origin from the postmeiotic ovarian teratomas.
Complexities of practical web automation

Web automation, a process of automating browsing actions on behalf of the user, has the potential to bridge the divide between the ways visually-impaired and sighted people access the Web. The proliferation of portable small-screen devices (smartphones, smart watches, etc.) presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the development of a new generation of automated non-visual user interfaces for sighted users. The goal of this paper is to provide guidance for the designers of future user interface automation systems. In this paper, we systematize and analyze the complexities involved in building a practical, usable, and accessible system for web automation. We review the published literature and present lessons learned from the authors' own years of experience in developing novel approaches to web automation for visually-impaired Web users.