cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo natriuretic peptide reporter assay identifies chemical modifiers of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy signalling

Aims Despite increased understanding of the fundamental biology regulating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and heart failure, it has been challenging to find novel chemical or genetic modifiers of these pathways. Traditional cell-based methods do not model the complexity of an intact cardiovascular system and mammalian models are not readily adaptable to chemical or genetic screens. Our objective was to create an in vivo model suitable for chemical and genetic screens for hypertrophy and heart failure modifiers Methods and results Using the developing zebrafish, we established that the cardiac natriuretic peptide genes ( nppa and nppb ), known markers of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and heart failure, were induced in the embryonic heart by pathological cardiac stimuli. This pathological induction was distinct from the developmental regulation of these genes. We created a luciferase-based transgenic reporter line that accurately modelled the pathological induction patterns of the zebrafish nppb gene. Utilizing this reporter line, we were able to show remarkable conservation of pharmacological responses between the larval zebrafish heart and adult mammalian models. Conclusion By performing a focused screen of chemical agents, we were able to show a distinct response of a genetic model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to the histone deacetylase inhibitor, Trichostatin A, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitor, U0126. We believe this in vivo reporter line will offer a unique approach to the identification of novel chemical or genetic regulators of myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure.
Rhabdomyolysis and Compartment Syndrome with Coadministration of Risperidone and Simvastatin

We report a case of rhabdomyolysis and acute compartment syndrome of the lower extremity in a schizophrenic patient taking risperidone following the addition of simvastatin to treat hyperlipidemia. We suspect that disrupted drug metabolism, resulting from interactions with cytochrome P450 enzymes, rapidly elevated drug plasma levels, which then led to muscle toxicity. Clinicians who pharmacologically treat medical comorbidities in patients receiving atypical antipsychotics must be proactive in anticipating potential drug-drug interactions.
Individualized apnea prediction in preterm infants using cardio-respiratory and movement signals

Apnea of prematurity is a common developmental disorder in preterm infants that is implicated in a number of acute and long-term complications. Therapeutic stochastic resonance (TSR) is a noninvasive preventative intervention for stabilizing breathing patterns and reducing the incidence of apnea and hypoxia. Because the stabilizing effect of TSR lags its initiation, it can be used most effectively if it is linked to a system for apnea prediction. We present a real-time algorithm for generating apnea predictions based on cardio-respiratory and movement features extracted from multiple physiological sensors. The features are used to create patient-specific statistical models of apnea precursors. The state parameters generated by these models are evaluated over time to form apnea predictions. The algorithms predictions are evaluated using a short, 5.5 minute prediction horizon. The algorithm obtains highly accurate predictions, with statistical significance obtained on five out of the six patients that it is evaluated on.
Children's use of dispositional attributions in predicting the performance and behavior of classmates☆

Abstract Children's use of dispositional attributions to predict the behavior of classmates was studied. Kindergartners, fourth graders, and eighth graders predicted behavior in four situations for classmates who they claimed were (a) smart, (b) not smart, (c) nice, and (d) not nice. They also rated their own and their classmates' current and future relative academic and social comppetence. The results suggest that children as young as kindergarten age predict peer's behavior on the basis of dispositional attributions. However, the youngest children's attributions were not well differentiated; they predicted that the classmate to whom they gave a positive trait label would perform better than the classmate to whom they gave a negative label in all situations, including situations irrelevant to the label. Predictions became more differentiated with age. All children expected their peers' performance and behavior to be somewhat stable over a period of 1 year, but the older children expected greater stability than the younger children.
Cholecystokinin and D-fenfluramine inhibit food intake in oxytocin-deficient mice.

Results from previous studies indicate that oxytocin (OT)-containing neural pathways are activated in laboratory rats after systemic administration of CCK or d-fenfluramine and that centrally relea...
Modulation of glycoside sensitivity of the cardiac sodium pump

Glycoside sensitivity of isolated cardiac Na+,K+-ATPase, i.e., the enzymatic representation of the sodium pump, is dependent on the chemical structure of the glycoside and the animal species from which the enzyme is obtained (1). The sensitivity, or affinity, of the isolated enzyme for the cardiac glycoside can be estimated either from the KD value (dissociation constant) for the [3H]ouabain binding reaction or the IC50 value (concentration required to cause a 50% inhibition) for ouabain-induced inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase activity. For example, the KD value for Na+,K+-ATPase obtained from ventricular muscle of guinea-pig heart for [3H]ouabain is 0.1 to 0.15 μM. The IC50 value is several-fold higher; 0.5 to 0.7 μM for the same combination of enzyme and glycoside. This difference results from the fact that [3H]ouabain binding is usually estimated in the presence of Na+, Mg2+ and ATP (or Mg2+ and inorganic phosphate) whereas Na+,K+-ATPase activity is assayed in the presence of these ligands plus K+. All of these ligands influence the glycoside sensitivity of Na+,K+-ATPase.
Guidelines for reservoir modeling of geologic CO2 storage

Abstract The process of identifying suitable sites for storage of CO 2 in deep saline formations involves methodical and careful analysis of the technical and non-technical features of potential storage areas. This process is largely analogous to that used in the petroleum industry through which a project matures from an exploration project to a producing project. The goal is to ensure that CO 2 can be successfully and securely stored over extended periods of time in a manner that is compliant with the best engineering and geological practices, applicable regulations, and the best interests of local and regional stakeholders. Dynamic reservoir modeling is a key component of the process at all stages, from initial site screening and selection, through development planning, project implementation and operation, to site closure and post-injection monitoring. This paper summarizes guidelines for dynamic reservoir modeling of CO 2 storage in deep saline formations. The guidelines draw heavily upon existing petroleum industry best practices for reservoir modeling of conventional oil and gas developments, but also consider modeling issues raised by the CO 2 storage research community and historical CO 2 and acid gas injection experience. Topics discussed include: • Physical and chemical processes that need to be considered • Project design options to manage CO 2 plume growth and promote safe, efficient, and reliable storage in different geologic settings • Design of models to address specific issues such as injectivity, storage capacity and security, and the long-term fate of the CO 2 Although reservoir modeling has applications across all phases of a CO 2 storage project, this paper focuses on modeling activities specific to site selection and development planning that are aimed at identifying suitable candidate sites having sufficient storage resource, confining formations, and the capability to retain the injected CO 2 over hundreds of years. Modeling results are also used to assist several additional activities including: calculation of the Area of Review for monitoring of CO 2 plume migration and pressure buildup, determination of the most advantageous injection intervals and operation parameters to maximize injectivity and storage efficiency, assessment of potential leakage pathways, mitigation options, and risk evaluation.
Computational study of hydrogen induced lattice rearrangement and its influence on hydrogen permeance in Pd–Au alloys

Abstract Pd–Au alloys are known to undergo lattice rearrangement in the presence of H and exhibit short range order (SRO). Pd–Au alloys also have favorable H permeabilities making them suitable membrane materials for hydrogen separation. In this work a method to study the influence of H induced lattice rearrangement on the H permeability of Pd96Au4 and Pd85Au15 was developed. We used cluster expansion methods in combination with density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations to predict the extent of ordering induced in the alloys due to hydrogen at various pressures and temperatures. Our calculations predict that H-induced ordering leads to an increase in H solubility and permeability in comparison to alloys that have not been hydrogen heat treated, in agreement with previous experimental results. At 600 K and 1 atm H2, the permeability is found to increase by a factor of 5.4 (2.6) in Pd96Au4 (Pd85Au15) after hydrogen heat treatment (HHT). At higher temperatures, the influence of H-induced ordering is smaller.
The nature of the polypeptide encoded by each of the 10 double-stranded RNA segments of reovirus type 3

Abstract Under suitable conditions of denaturation, the double-stranded (ds) RNA segments of reovirus can be translated in cell-free protein synthesizing systems. Since all 10 segments of reovirus ds RNA can be isolated in virtually pure form, this provides a means for determining the nature of the polypeptide encoded by each individual segment. The complete coding assignment set was determined for the Dearing strain of reovirus serotype 3. Polypeptide identification was made not only on the basis of electrophoretic migration rates in both the phosphate- and Tri-glycine (Laemmli)-based polyacrylamide gel systems, but also on the basis of comparing peptide profiles of in vitro translation products and authentic reovirus polypeptides after digestion with staphylococcal V8 protease. The latter method provides absolute identification. The assignment set is (using the commonly accepted designation for the ds RNA segments, but a newly proposed nomenclature for the polypeptides): Segment L1 codes for the minor virion component λ3, and segments L2 and L3 code for the two major virion core components λ2 and λ1, respectively; segment M1 codes for a minor virion component μ2, segment M2 codes for the polypeptide that is present in virions both in the form of the minor component μ1 and as the major component μ1C which is derived from it by cleavage, and segment M3 codes for the nonstructural polypeptide μNS; and segment S1 codes for the minor outer capsid shell component σ1, segment S2 codes for the core component σ2, segment S3 codes for the nonstructural polypeptide σNS, and segment S4 codes for the major outer capsid shell component σ3.
The structure of misfolded amyloidogenic dimers: computational analysis of force spectroscopy data.

Progress in understanding the molecular mechanism of self-assembly of amyloidogenic proteins and peptides requires knowledge about their structure in misfolded states. Structural studies of amyloid aggregates formed during the early aggregation stage are very limited. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) spectroscopy is widely used to analyze misfolded proteins and peptides, but the structural characterization of transiently formed misfolded dimers is limited by the lack of computational approaches that allow direct comparison with AFM experiments. Steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulation is capable of modeling force spectroscopy experiments, but the modeling requires pulling rates 10 7 times higher than those used in AFM experiments. In this study, we describe a computational all-atom Monte Carlo pulling (MCP) approach that enables us to model results at pulling rates comparable to those used in AFM pulling experiments. We tested the approach by modeling pulling exper- imental data for I91 from titin I-band (PDB ID: 1TIT) and ubiquitin (PDB ID: 1UBQ). We then used MCP to analyze AFM spec- troscopy experiments that probed the interaction of the peptides (Q6C) Sup35 (6-13) and (H13C) Ab (13-23). A comparison of experimental results with the computational data for the Sup35 dimer with out-of-register and in-register arrangements of b-sheets suggests that Sup35 monomers adopt an out-of-register arrangement in the dimer. A similar analysis performed for Ab peptide demonstrates that the out-of-register antiparallel b-sheet arrangement of monomers also occurs in this peptide. Although the rupture of hydrogen bonds is the major contributor to dimer dissociation, the aromatic-aromatic interaction also contributes to the dimer rupture process.
Hybrid density functional theory band structure engineering in hematite

We present a hybrid density functional theory (DFT) study of doping effects in α-Fe(2)O(3), hematite. Standard DFT underestimates the band gap by roughly 75% and incorrectly identifies hematite as a Mott-Hubbard insulator. Hybrid DFT accurately predicts the proper structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of hematite and, unlike the DFT+U method, does not contain d-electron specific empirical parameters. We find that using a screened functional that smoothly transitions from 12% exact exchange at short ranges to standard DFT at long range accurately reproduces the experimental band gap and other material properties. We then show that the antiferromagnetic symmetry in the pure α-Fe(2)O(3) crystal is broken by all dopants and that the ligand field theory correctly predicts local magnetic moments on the dopants. We characterize the resulting band gaps for hematite doped by transition metals and the p-block post-transition metals. The specific case of Pd doping is investigated in order to correlate calculated doping energies and optical properties with experimentally observed photocatalytic behavior.
Scanning electron microscopy of enamel tuft development in human deciduous teeth

Abstract The presence of hypomineralized tuft-like structures in the innermost layer of enamel has been well accepted. However, the development of these structures and their preference for the location adjacent to the dentine-enamel junction is not well understood. Enamel of the developing deciduous dentition of an 8.5 month fetus was examined with the scanning electron microscope in various stages of development. The morphology of the junctional mantle dentine, the nascent junctional enamel as well as subsequent enamel layers was studied. Comparisons were made between the corrugated developing enamel surface area and the clefts that were seen in longitudinally and transversely fractured sections of further-mineralized enamel. This study suggests that tuft formation is based on morphological features of junctional enamel and underlying dentine. The abrupt change in the direction of bundles of enamel prisms and the different ratio of interprismatic and prismatic enamel yield less mineralized, weakened enamel planes. Furthermore, because of the unique fitting of dentine ridges in the junctional enamel, fibrous incorporations are frequently encountered in these areas, thus providing additional organic content in the tuft planes.
Predictors of pursuit of physician-assisted death.

Abstract Context Physician-assisted death (PAD) was legalized in 1997 by Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. The States of Washington, Montana, Vermont, and New Mexico have since provided legal sanction for PAD. Through 2013, 1173 Oregonians have received a prescription under the Death with Dignity Act and 752 have died after taking the prescribed medication in Oregon. Objectives To determine the predictive value of personal and interpersonal variables in the pursuit of PAD. Methods Fifty-five Oregonians who either requested PAD or contacted a PAD advocacy organization were compared with 39 individuals with advanced disease who did not pursue PAD. We compared the two groups on responses to standardized measures of depression, hopelessness, spirituality, social support, and pain. We also compared the two groups on style of attachment to intimate others and caregivers as understood through attachment theory. Results We found that PAD requesters had higher levels of depression, hopelessness, and dismissive attachment (attachment to others characterized by independence and self-reliance), and lower levels of spirituality. There were moderate correlations among the variables of spirituality, hopelessness, depression, social support, and dismissive attachment. There was a strong correlation between depression and hopelessness. Low spirituality emerged as the strongest predictor of pursuit of PAD in the regression analysis. Conclusion Although some factors motivating pursuit of PAD, such as depression, may be ameliorated by medical interventions, other factors, such as style of attachment and sense of spirituality, are long-standing aspects of the individual that should be supported at the end of life. Practitioners must develop respectful awareness and understanding of the interpersonal and spiritual perspectives of their patients to provide such support.
Fast implementation of system identification methods

We present a family of fast algorithms for solving Toeplitz-like systems of equations that arise in system identification problems. Our algorithm is a generalization of the Schur algorithm, using the concept of displacement representation.
The Arab–Israeli Conflict and the Case of The Lemon Tree

This article uses the The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan (2006) to demonstrate how one type of book, a literary non-fiction book written for popular audiences, can be used in a political science course such as one on the Arab–Israeli conflict. The book concisely presents multiple Arab–Israeli perspectives and enlivens the history and infuses it with both broader and deeper meaning. After a brief summary of the plot, the article gives examples of political science themes for which the book is a useful text: nationalism and the formation of national identity; the relationship between structure and agency; and the search for objective truth. The book also suggests many broad Arab–Israeli motifs. The article explains how the book was used in the classroom, including discussions, guidance sheets, and a longer paper assignment.
Model Verification and Improvement Using DISPROVER

Abstract Confidence in the adequacy of a model is increased if tasks that are impossible in the world are shown to correspond to disprovable tasks in the model. DISPROVER has been used as a tool to test, in worlds of robots, the impossibility of tasks related to various conservation laws (objects, position, model consistency, etc.) and time constraints. The adequacy and sufficiency of operators can be established. Interacting with DISPROVER, the model designer can improve his axiomatization. The frontier between “acceptable” and “ridiculous” axiomatizations is shown, in many examples, to be a most tenuous one.
Sex Allocation in Response to Maternal Condition: Different Tactics of Care‐Giving by Male and Female Zebra Finches

While behavioral ecologists have studied sex allocation for 30 yr, almost nothing is known about the roles of male vs. female parents in making secondary allocation decisions in species with bi-parental care. To investigate possible sex differences in tactics in zebra finches, we manipulated the condition of one cohort of females by trimming their flight feathers; a second cohort of females and all males were left intact. Focal observations of feeding behavior revealed that manipulated females did not reduce their feeding time, but rather focused their efforts on rearing sons, while control females allocated effort to rearing daughters. Males mated to manipulated females tended to focus effort to daughters, while control males showed no consistent response. Manipulated females experienced a lower reproductive rate, primarily because of a low daughter rate, relative to control females. Manipulated females also laid smaller clutches and had longer inter-clutch intervals, which suggest that their ability to metabolize and allocate essential proteins from pectoral muscle mass during the egg-laying period was impaired. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show that parents of both sexes make active sex allocation decisions when the physiological condition of one parent is manipulated; males do not simply adopt female allocation patterns, but make complementary adjustments. Our results have implications for interpretation of handicapping studies that seek to understand the dynamics of inter-sexual negotiations of care-giving. Investigation of sex differences in sex allocation tactics in species with limited dietary protein, such as granivorous birds, is a potentially important direction for future research.
EVALUATION OF AN ESTABLISHED NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPMENTAL RISKS DURING A PERIOD OF CHANGES IN POST DELIVERY CARE. 610

The effect of recent changes in post delivery care on screening for developmental risk in newborns has not been determined. Rhode Island has been screening all newborns prior to discharge since 1992. This screen classifies infants at risk (AR), not at risk (NAR) or possibly at risk (PAR) on the basis of the presence or absence of parent demographics, parent risk characteristics, child risk characteristics and handicapping conditions in the newborn. We evaluated 1) the contribution of specific screening factors in determining the developmental risk of a newborn, 2) any changes in trends in these factors during a 3 year period and 3) the impact of implementation of discharge within 24 hours of delivery. Two communities with a low socioeconomic status (SES) and the highest percentage of school children in the state receiving special education services were studied. Records from the state-sponsored screening program were analyzed for years 1993-1995. A total of 4002 newborns were screened. 56% of these were designated as AR, 15% as PAR and 29% as NAR. The percentage of newborns designated as AR and PAR were 71% in 1993, 72% in 1994 and 72% in 1995. The majority of AR and PAR infants had multiple risk factors. Less than 5% had a single risk factor. Parent demographic factors were the most prevalent risk factors. Being born to a single mother was a risk factor in 73% of the AR and PAR newborns. Discharge of newborns within 24 hours after delivery did not result in missed screenings. It appears that changes in post delivery care have not affected newborn screening for developmental risks (Supported in part by Maternal Child Health block grant).
Male fantasy and female reality in courtly literature

(1984). Male fantasy and female reality in courtly literature. Women's Studies: Vol. 11, Women in the Middle Ages, pp. 67-97.
Intestinal surface peptide hydrolases: identification and characterization of three enzymes from rat brush border.

Peptide hydrolases were solubilized from rat small intestinal brush border by papain and separated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography, velocity gradient ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis and designated according to approximate molecular size from sedimentation studies. Peptidases I (apparent Mr 230 000) and II (apparent Mr 160 000) are oligopeptidases with maximum specificity for tripeptides with identical pH optima (7.5) and similar apparent Km with l-Leu-Gly (I, 0.60 mM; II, 0.76 mM). l-Leucyl-β-naphthylamide is a competitive inhibitor of both enzymes. Concentration of peptidase II produced partial conversion to peptidase I on polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. The third peptide hydrolase (III, Mr 120 000) is a dipeptidase with pH optimum 8.5 and apparent Km for l-Leu-Gly of 0.65 mM. These peptides hydrolases were inhibited appreciably (37–59%) by 0.2 M glycine/NaOH, Tris · HCl or Tris · glycine buffers. EDTA (5 mM) completely inhibited these enzymes but all activity was restored by dialysis against buffer without divalent ions. Subseqeunt addition of Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+ or Zn2+ (1–2 mM) inhibited peptidases I and II variably (4–81%) depending upon the substrate and buffer used. In contrast peptidase III was activated slightly by metal ions (5–20%). These peptide hydrolases are strategically located at the intestinal lumen-cell interface and possess biochemical characteristics making them ideally suited to play a pivotal role in the final stage of protein digestion.
Combining block copolymers and hydrogen bonding for poly(lactide) toughening

A series of ABA triblock copolymers of poly(D,L-lactide)-b-poly(butadiene)-b-poly(D,L-lactide), LBL, and their 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) end-functionalized analogue, UPy-LBL, were synthesized. Commercially available hydroxy-terminated poly(butadiene) (HTPB) was used as the macroinitiator for ring-opening polymerizations of D,L-lactide. UPy hydrogen bonding dimerization in solution was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by the thermo-reversible properties of this interaction. Mechanical properties of this polymer series revealed that only the incorporation of low molar mass PB did not significantly alter the brittle character of PLA. However, end-functionalization of the triblock copolymers with the UPy moiety effectively increased the strain at break of PLA, producing polymers with average ultimate elongations up to 58%. A relationship between UPy content and mechanical properties was established. The series of polymers with UPy functionalities ranging from 0–2 was tougher than neat PLA; the hemitelechelic polymer was more than four times tougher. To study the physical aging of these systems, uniaxial tensile-tests and DSC experiments were performed. DSC thermograms showed increases in both the glass transition temperature and enthalpy of relaxation as a function of PLA aging time. Tensile experiments demonstrated that UPy-functionalization effectively delayed aging as ductile behavior was only lost after annealing the samples for five days at 40 °C.
A model for preparing case studies of environmental technology transfer with research hypotheses and learning outcomes

The purpose of the model presented here is to develop and critique a method for preparing case studies on environmental technology transfer and commercialization. The general research goal is to observe and learn about the development and application of new technologies to improve environmental resources. Yet attention to the intervening variables between technology and environmental payoffs is necessary to provide the learning for all actors involved in the life cycle of any environmental technology. These intervening actions include technology development and transfer processes, commercialization of environmental products and acceptance and application of technologies by users.
Liberal Leviathan or Imperial Outpost?: J. S. Furnivall on Colonial Rule in Burma

J. S. Furnivall, in his influential account of the impact of British rule in Burma 1824–1948, argues that British officials laid down a Liberal administration that exposed the colony to market forces, monetized the economy and devastated communities. However, there is little evidence that British administrators actually thought in Liberal terms: they relied heavily on institutions inherited from the Burmese monarchy, and when they introduced new administrative methods these were drawn from other parts of British India and only indirectly influenced by Liberalism. Furnivall's view of the ideological origins of British administration, in turn, distorts his reading of the impact of British rule, as illustrated by recent work on the pre-colonial economy showing that it was in fact more monetized and commercialized than he claims. If his account of the pre-modern economy is not viable, Furnivall's claims about the impact of British colonialism in Burma demand re-evaluation.
Oyster larvae settle in response to habitat-associated underwater sounds.

Following a planktonic dispersal period of days to months, the larvae of benthic marine organisms must locate suitable seafloor habitat in which to settle and metamorphose. For animals that are sessile or sedentary as adults, settlement onto substrates that are adequate for survival and reproduction is particularly critical, yet represents a challenge since patchily distributed settlement sites may be difficult to find along a coast or within an estuary. Recent studies have demonstrated that the underwater soundscape, the distinct sounds that emanate from habitats and contain information about their biological and physical characteristics, may serve as broad-scale environmental cue for marine larvae to find satisfactory settlement sites. Here, we contrast the acoustic characteristics of oyster reef and off-reef soft bottoms, and investigate the effect of habitat-associated estuarine sound on the settlement patterns of an economically and ecologically important reef-building bivalve, the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Subtidal oyster reefs in coastal North Carolina, USA show distinct acoustic signatures compared to adjacent off-reef soft bottom habitats, characterized by consistently higher levels of sound in the 1.5–20 kHz range. Manipulative laboratory playback experiments found increased settlement in larval oyster cultures exposed to oyster reef sound compared to unstructured soft bottom sound or no sound treatments. In field experiments, ambient reef sound produced higher levels of oyster settlement in larval cultures than did off-reef sound treatments. The results suggest that oyster larvae have the ability to respond to sounds indicative of optimal settlement sites, and this is the first evidence that habitat-related differences in estuarine sounds influence the settlement of a mollusk. Habitat-specific sound characteristics may represent an important settlement and habitat selection cue for estuarine invertebrates and could play a role in driving settlement and recruitment patterns in marine communities.
Woman as mediatrix: women as writers on science and technology in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

It is argued that although the writing on science and technology produced by women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries has usually been considered peripheral to scientific and technological advancement, the history of the mediatrix, or woman mediator, reveals that women writers carried out essential tasks. History suggests that women assumed the role of mediatrix much more frequently than they assumed other roles, largely because that role allowed women to contribute to science and technology without seriously violating gender norms. The careers and writing of four women mediators are described, showing that mediation is an unrecognized but crucially important aspect of the intellectual activity of science and that mediative writing often clarifies, rather than debases, scientific knowledge. The history of women mediators also suggests that intermediaries are essential for the functioning of the interlocking and overlapping groups and institutions that constitute science and technology and that it might be beneficial to restructure organizations so that the role of mediator is clearly defined and valued. >
Traumatic lumbar hernia: can’t afford to miss

We describe the radiological and surgical correlation of an uncommon case of a traumatic lumbar hernia in a 22-year-old man presenting to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed a right-sided traumatic inferior lumbar hernia containing a small amount of fat through the posterior lateral internal oblique muscle with hematoma in the subcutaneous fat and adjacent abdominal wall musculature, which was repaired surgically via primary closure on emergent basis. The purpose of this article is to emphasize the importance of diagnosing traumatic lumbar hernia on CT and need for urgent repair to avoid potential complications of bowel incarceration and strangulation.
Teaching table: a tangible mentor for pre-k math education

In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of Teaching Table -- an interactive tabletop audio-visual device aimed at enhancing the learning experience for pre-kindergarten children by involving them in physical activities. Using electromagnetic sensing technology, the table can track tagged objects placed on its surface, accurately identifying their type and location while providing a coincident visual display and audio feedback. Teaching activities that are aimed at developing early math skills have been created for the table in alignment with standard curriculum guidelines for pre-K schools. Additionally, we include software based assessment tools for mentors/teachers to easily track an individual child's progress during the process of interacting with the table.
Groupwise multi-atlas segmentation of the spinal cord's internal structure

The spinal cord is an essential and vulnerable component of the central nervous system. Differentiating and localizing the spinal cord internal structure (i.e., gray matter vs. white matter) is critical for assessment of therapeutic impacts and determining prognosis of relevant conditions. Fortunately, new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences enable clinical study of the in vivo spinal cord's internal structure. Yet, low contrast-to-noise ratio, artifacts, and imaging distortions have limited the applicability of tissue segmentation techniques pioneered elsewhere in the central nervous system. Additionally, due to the inter-subject variability exhibited on cervical MRI, typical deformable volumetric registrations perform poorly, limiting the applicability of a typical multi-atlas segmentation framework. Thus, to date, no automated algorithms have been presented for the spinal cord's internal structure. Herein, we present a novel slice-based groupwise registration framework for robustly segmenting cervical spinal cord MRI. Specifically, we provide a method for (1) pre-aligning the slice-based atlases into a groupwise-consistent space, (2) constructing a model of spinal cord variability, (3) projecting the target slice into the low-dimensional space using a model-specific registration cost function, and (4) estimating robust segmentation susing geodesically appropriate atlas information. Moreover, the proposed framework provides a natural mechanism for performing atlas selection and initializing the free model parameters in an informed manner. In a cross-validation experiment using 67 MR volumes of the cervical spinal cord, we demonstrate sub-millimetric accuracy, significant quantitative and qualitative improvement over comparable multi-atlas frameworks, and provide insight into the sensitivity of the associated model parameters.
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON SUBFOSSIL BIRD REMAINS FROM ASCENSION ISLAND

Summary More extensive collections of subfossil bird bones from Ascension Island in the South Atlantic further confirm that the former seabird populations of the main island were composed of tropical species still present in greatly reduced numbers, mostly on offshore islets. A single specimen of Puffinus lherminieri provides the first fossil evidence of that species from the island. The extinct flightless rail Atlantisia elpenor was the only land bird certainly known to have been native. A femur, apparently from a vagrant individual, is referred to Porphyrula alleni, A specimen of Nycticorax, much smaller than any recent examples of N. nycticorax seen, is either from an unusually small vagrant or possibly indicates an undescribed endemic species.
School Characteristics Related to High School Dropout Rates

A B S T R A C T Dropping out of high school culminates a long-term process of disengagement from school and has profound social and economic consequences for students, their families, and their communities. Students who drop out of high school are more likely to be unemployed, to earn less than those who graduate, to be on public assistance, and to end up in prison. The present study examined dropout rates in Kentucky high schools (N = 196), using both quantitative and qualitative procedures. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were computed to identify those school-level variables that showed strong relationships to dropout rates. A sample of 20 schools with the highest dropout rates was compared to a sample of 20 schools with the lowest dropout rates using a multivariate analysis of variance. Furthermore, 4 schools from each group were selected as case examples. Information gathered from administrator surveys, staff interviews, and on-site observations provided detailed descriptions of the c...
Tetramerization and Single-stranded DNA Binding Properties of Native and Mutated Forms of Murine Mitochondrial Single-stranded DNA-binding Proteins

We examined previously unexplored aspects of the tetramerization and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding properties of native, precursor, and mutated forms of mitochondrial ssDNA-binding protein (mtSSB) from a mammalian organism (mouse). Tetramic forms of mtSSB reassemble spontaneously after thermal denaturation and undergo subunit exchange. Binding of mtSSB to ssDNA as a function of protein concentration is nonlinear, suggesting a concentration-dependent transition in intrinsic binding affinity and in the topology of the DNA-protein complex. The cleavable presequence at the amino terminus of the precursor form of mtSSB does not disrupt tetramer formation but has a specific inhibitory effect on DNA binding that is not seen in a fusion protein that substitutes a bulkier peptide moiety in this position. Mutated forms of mtSSB bearing amino acid substitutions at highly conserved amino acid positions exhibit subtle or severe defects in ssDNA binding activity and/or tetramerization, even when assembled into heterotetramers in combination with wild-type mtSSB monomers. These experiments provide new insights into structural and functional properties of mammalian mtSSB and have implications for the pathogenesis of human diseases resulting from defects in mtDNA replication.
A review of hereditary diseases of the German shepherd dog

Abstract The German shepherd dog (GSD) is a preferred choice of many law enforcement and military agencies across the world. Unfortunately, the breed is afflicted with approximately 50 hereditary diseases. Seven major diseases afflicting the GSD are described herein: pancreatic acinar atrophy, megaesophagus, hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, hemophilia A, von Willebrand disease, and hereditary multifocal renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis. Also included is a discussion of behavior, a characteristic thought to be inherited in the dog and often problematic in larger breeds such as the GSD. Current clinical and genetic research efforts pertaining to these diseases are reviewed.
Mutation associated with Crouzon syndrome causes ligand-independent dimerization and activation of FGF receptor-2

FGF signaling is clearly important for proper bone development, and several autosomally dominant forms of genetic bone disorders have been mapped to FGF receptors 1, 2, and 3. We have studied the biological effects of the most commonly mutated cysteine residue in FGFR-2 which is detected in individuals with Crouzon syndrome, an autosomally dominant trait which causes premature fusion of the skull bones (craniosynostosis). This Crouzon mutation replaces the cysteine at position 342 with tyrosine, thus disrupting the formation of the third immunoglobulin (Ig)-like loop in the extracellular portion of the receptor. By transfecting mutated and wild-type receptors into a variety of cell lines, we have shown that the C342Y mutation in FGFR-2 produces a receptor which is constitutively activated and capable of transforming NIH3T3 cells and preventing the differentiation of C2 myoblasts in the absence of ligand. Constitutive activation appears to result from the ability of this receptor to form stable interreceptor dimers which involve disulfide bonds between the remaining free cysteine in the mutant receptor. The altered conformation of the third Ig-like domain in the mutated receptor also results in a drastically reduced ability to bind FGF-1 or FGF-2 and in a reduced level of receptor glycosylation. Thus it appears that Crouzon syndrome results from constitutive activation of FGFR-2 and that uncontrolled FGF signaling produces alterations of intramembranous bone development and premature closing of cranial sutures.
Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus Isolates from Louisiana Gulf and Retail Raw Oysters

The antimicrobial susceptibilities of 168 Vibrio parahaemolyticus and 151 Vibrio vulnificus isolates recovered from 82 Louisiana Gulf and retail oysters in 2005 and 2006 were determined. Overall, the two vibrios remained susceptible to the majority of antimicrobials tested; reduced susceptibility was detected only in V. parahaemolyticus for ampicillin (81%; MIC ≥ 16 μg/ml). Additionally, V. parahaemolyticus displayed significantly higher MICs for cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline than V. vulnificus.
2-Methyl-4,4-dioxo-N-phenyl-5,6-di-hydro-1,4-oxathiine-3-carboxamide (Oxycarboxin).

In the title compound, C12H13NO4S, a systemic fungicide, the heterocycle adopts a lounge chair conformation and the dihedral angle between the ring planes is 25.8 (2)°. Inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are noted in the crystal structure. Also observed is a short inter­action of a methyl­ene hydrogen atom with the π-electron system of a phenyl ring in an adjacent mol­ecule.
On Stabbing Lines for Convex Polyhedra in 3D

\def\B{{\cal B}} \def\reals{{\bf R}} Given a set $\B$ of convex polyhedra in $\reals^3$, a line $\ell$ in $\reals^3$ is called a {\em stabbing line\/} for $\B$ if it intersects all polyhedra of $\B$. %Pellegrini and Shor \cite{PeS} proved that the %combinatorial complexity of the space of stabbing lines %for $\B$ is $O(n^3 2^{\sqrt{\log n}})$, where $n$ is the total number of %edges in the polyhedra of $\B$. This paper presents an upper bound of $O(n^3 \log n)$ on the complexity of the space of stabbing lines for $\B$. We solve a more general problem which counts the number of faces in a set of convex polyhedra, which are implicitly defined by a set of half-spaces and an arrangement of hyperplanes. We show that the former problem is a special case of the latter problem. We also apply this technique to obtain an upper bound on the number of distinct faces that ever appear on the intersection of a set of half-spaces as we insert or delete half-spaces dynamically.
Abnormal fertilization is responsible for reduced fecundity following thiram-induced ovulatory delay in the rat.

Brief exposure to some pesticides, applied during a sensitive window for the neural regulation of ovulation, will block the preovulatory surge of LH and, thus, delay ovulation. Previously, we have shown that a single i.p. injection of 50 mg/kg of thiram, a dithiocarbamate fungicide that decreases norepinephrine synthesis, on proestrus (1300 h) suppresses the LH surge and delays ovulation for 24 h without altering the number of oocytes released. However, when bred, the treated dams had a decreased litter size and increased postimplantation loss. We hypothesized that the reduced litter size in thiram-delayed rats was a consequence of altered oocyte function arising from intrafollicular oocyte aging. To test this hypothesis, we examined delayed oocytes, zygotes, and 2-cell embryos for evidence of fertilization and polyspermy. In addition, we used confocal laser-scanning microscopy to evaluate and characterize cortical granule localization in oocytes and release in zygotes, because the cortical granule response is a major factor in the normal block to polyspermy. Our results demonstrate that a thiram-induced, 24-h delay in ovulation alters the fertilizability of the released oocyte. Although no apparent morphological differences were observed in the unfertilized mature oocytes released following the thiram-induced delay, the changes observed following breeding include a significant decrease in the percentage of fertilized oocytes, a significant increase in polyspermic zygotes (21%), and a 10-fold increase in the number of supernumerary sperm in the perivitelline space. Importantly, all the polyspermic zygotes exhibited an abnormal pattern of cortical granule exudate, suggestive of a relationship between abnormal cortical reaction and the polyspermy in the delayed zygotes. Because polyspermy is associated with polyploidy, abnormal development, and early embryonic death, the observed polyspermy could explain the abnormal development and decreased litter size that we observed previously following thiram-delayed ovulation.
COMMENT: BULLY FOR PREDICTION

No one could quarrel with this sentiment. The question is whether it is an accurate indictment of current reseach practice in sociology, or simply a reminder that the idealized notion of scientific method that used to appear in positivistic elementary texts is sadly out of date and a poor guide to doing research. While I as much as anyone have criticized those who identify con ventional statistical approaches as the most satisfying research strategy for identifying causation in complex social sequences, and attacked the poverty of Millian logic when used in social science (Goldstone 1997, 1998, 2003), I do not believe that striving for fidelity to an idealized scheme of theory/experiment/proof is a general problem in sociological methods. In my experience, the best scholars who are applying statisti cal techniques to analyze complex social problems do so with a great appreciation of inferential pitfalls, the flaws in underlying models, and the need to think critically about both the implications of the theory being tested and the implications of their statistical results (Hout 1989; Massey 1993; Sampson et al. 2002; Lieberson 1980; Fearon and Laitin 2003). Lieberson and Horwich offer much sage advice that is valuable to keep in mind, but I am surprised by their claim that their advice is not being followed by the current generation of sociologists.
Evaluation of miniature tensile specimen fabrication techniques and performance

The confident application of miniature tensile specimens requires adequate control over their fabrication and is facilitated by automated test and analysis techniques. Three fabrication processes -- punching, chemical, milling, and electrical discharge machining (EDM) -- were recently evaluated, leading to the replacement of the previously used punching technique with a wire EDM technique. The automated data acquisition system was upgraded, and an interactive data analysis program was developed.
DIURNAL SENSITIVITY OF THE NEUROENDOCRINE-REPRODUCTIVE AXIS TO THE ANTIGONADOTROPHIC INFLUENCE OF MELATONIN IN MALE SYRIAN HAMSTERS WITH EXPERIMENTALLY ALTERED CORTISOL RHYTHMS

Two different experimental models were used to test if a temporal relationship exists between the rhythm of adrenal steroid secretion and the vulnerability of the hamster reproductive system to short photoperiod exposure or to the daily afternoon injection of melatonin. In the first experiment adrenalectomized hamsters were implanted with a Cortisol pellet to provide a sustained, rather than rhythmic, level of the hormone. The animals were either placed in short photoperiod or given a daily afternoon melatonin injection. In both cases the gonads underwent atrophy. In the second experiment adrenalectomized hamsters were given a Cortisol injection either in the morning (approx. 8 hr before the subsequent afternoon injection of melatonin) or in the afternoon (approx. 1 hr before the subsequent melatonin injection). Measurements of testicular and accessory organ weights 7 weeks later indicated regression of the reproductive system in both the groups when compared with their appropriate controls. Depressed lev...