cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Carbon Flow by Nitrogen and Light in the Red Alga, Gelidium coulteri.

The red alga Gelidium coulteri Harv. photosynthetically fixed [14C] bicarbonate at high rates under defined conditions in unialgal laboratory culture. The fixation rate and flow of photosynthate into various end products were dependent on the nitrogen status of the tissue. Plants fed luxury levels of nitrogen (approximately 340 micromolar) showed fixation rates several-fold higher than those seen for plants starved for nitrogen. The addition of NO3− or NH4+ to such starved plants further inhibited fixation over at least the first several hours after addition. The majority of 14C after incubations of 30 minutes to 8 hours was found in the compounds floridoside, agar and floridean starch. In addition, amino acids and intermediate compounds of the reductive pentose phosphate pathway, glycolytic pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle were detected. Nitrogen affected the partitioning of labeled carbon into these compounds. Plants under luxury nitrogen conditions had higher floridoside levels and markedly lower amounts of agar and starch than found in plants limited for nitrogen. Amino acid, phycobiliprotein and chlorophyll levels were also significantly higher in nitrogen-enriched plants. Addition of NO3− to starved plants led to an increase in floridoside, tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and amino acids within 1 hour and inhibited carbon flow into agar and starch. Carbon fixation in the dark was only 1 to 7% of that seen in the light. Dark fixation of [14C]bicarbonate yielded label primarily in tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, amino acids and polysaccharides. Nitrogen stimulated amino acid synthesis at the expense of agar and starch. Floridoside was only a minor component in the dark. Pulse-chase experiments, designed to show carbon turnover, indicated a 2-fold increase in labeling of agar over 96 hours of chase in the light. No increases were seen in the dark. Low molecular weight pools, including floridoside, decreased 2- to 5-fold over this period under both light and dark conditions. Nitrogen status did not influence turnover. There was little or no organic carbon released into the culture medium over this period. The results are consistent with biosynthetic pathways to floridoside and agar that share the common intermediate UDP-d-galactose. It is hypothesized that synthesis of floridoside is regulated by nitrogen and light at the enzymic level.
On the Thermal Instability of Superposed Porous and Fluid Layers

A solution is presented for the problem of predicting the onset of convection for a system consisting of a volumetrically heated porous bed saturated with and overlaid with a fluid, heated or cooled from below. Results are presented in graphical form in terms of the external Rayleigh number based on the fluid layer, which is shown to be the sole stability parameter of the problem. A wide range of independent parameters are investigated and physical justification for the behavior of the instability with respect to them is given. The results are compared with the 2 bounding cases of the problem and are found to be in agreement with them.
Penetration of DH-36 steel plates with and without polyurea coating

Abstract Numerical and experimental studies on the impact and penetration of armor plates subjected to sub-ordnance range impact velocities by pointed and flat strikers is presented. Three target scenarios are considered: (1) a blank (unbacked) steel plate; (2) the same steel plate backed by a thick layer of polyurea; and (3) two identical steel plates of half the original thickness placed on both sides of the polyurea layer. For the blank plate, two fracture mechanisms of the steel plate – shear plugging and petalling of the plates – are observed in the simulation. For the same plate with a thick polyurea coating at the back side, it is found that the polyurea coating provides additional resistance in terms of energy absorption through two mechanisms: (1) the increase in the energy dissipated by the steel plate and (2) increased energy stored in the polyurea itself. For the sandwich configuration of the target plate, where the polyurea layer is placed between two steel plates, no advantage in terms of penetration resistance is found. These numerical results agree with experimental observations on the failure modes and exit velocities.
AN INCREMENTAL VERIFICATION ALGORITHM FOR REAL-TIME SYSTEMS

We present an incremental algorithm for model checking the real-time systems against the requirements specified in the real-time extension of modal mu-calculus. Using this algorithm, we avoid the repeated construction and analysis of the whole state-space during the course of evolution of the system from time to time. We use a finite representation of the system, like most other algorithms on real-time systems. We construct and update a graph (called TSG) that is derived from the region graph and the formula. This allows us to halt the construction of this graph when enough nodes have been explored to determine the truth of the formula. TSG is minimal in the sense of partitioning the infinite state space into regions and it expresses a relation on the set of regions of the partition. We use the structure of the formula to derive this partition. When a change is applied to the timed automaton of the system, we find a new partition from the current partition and the TSG with minimum cost.
Cytoplasmic γ-like particles and other ultrastructural aspects of zoospores of Blastocladiella britannica

The γ -like particles in zoospores of Blastocladiella britannica Horenstein & Cantino differ from those in B. emersonii Cantino & Hyatt in that they do not contain the well defined three-holed matrix that commonly yields horseshoe-like profiles when sectioned; they resemble them in size, number per cell, strongly osmiophilic nature, and possession of a network of membranous material that extends into the cytoplasm and apparently buds off vesicles. The single mitochondrion in B. britannica is positioned like that in B. emersonii , but its major lobe extends to the mid-region of the nuclear cap's anterior surface. The rootlet in B. britannica displays two kinds of alternating plates, some seemingly attached to kinetosome fibres. A structure of uncertain morphology caps the end of the kinetosome near the nucleus. Preliminary evidence suggests that in B. britannica intramitochondrial particles are either not randomly distributed in the average mitochondrion or are distributed unequally between two different classes of mitochondria.
NATURALLY OCCURRING HUMAN SERUM PRECIPITINS SPECIFIC FOR D-ALANYL ESTERS OF GLYCEROL TEICHOIC ACID

Abstract An antigen common to various oral bacteria and to which precipitating IgG is present in about 30% of young adult human sera was obtained from culture filtrates of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 and detected by electroimmunoassay as described elsewhere. The antigen was isolated by gel filtration, affinity chromatography with Sephacryl and finally passed through a strong anion exchange gel (AGMPI) to give a major peak (S 1 ) and a long tail (S 2 and S 3 ). These three preparations, yielding about 10% of the starting antigen activity, were composed of protein, fatty acids, sugar, glycerol and phosphate. Glycerol and phosphate accounted for 26% of the dry weight of the S 1 -preparation and in all preparations were in an approximately 1:1 molar ratio typical of glycerol teichoic acid. The S 1 -fraction had a greater sugar and fatty acid content and a different amino acid composition compared to the S 2 - and S 3 -preparations which were similar in these respects. On exposure to pH 8.0 buffer, the precipitin activity disappeared and this was accompanied by a loss of alanine. Shorter exposure to the pH 8.0 buffer caused a slightly increased electrophoretic mobility compared to non-alkali-exposed antigen and a lesser loss of alanine. Hapten precipitin inhibition assays indicated that d -alanine and d -alanyl ethyl ester inhibited the reaction much more effectively than l -alanyl ethyl ester, l -alanine, or d - or l -glutamine. These human sera are thus specific for d -alanyl esters of glycerol teichoic acid. Two possible structures bearing the antigenic determinant are described.
Effects of Price, Brand, and Store Information on Buyers’ Product Evaluations:

The authors report a study of the effects of price, brand, and store information on buyers’ perceptions of product quality and value, as well as their willingness to buy. Hypotheses are derived fro...
Thermal Inactivation of Botulinum Toxins in Canned Salmon

Canned salmon is a low acid food. If all C. botulinum spores are not destroyed by proper processing in home canning, a potential hazard of botulism exists. Boiling will destroy the toxin, but will also affect the palatability and appearance of the salmon. To determine the minimum temperature and heating time to destroy toxin, type A, B, or E toxin was added to canned salmon. Two-gram portions in small glass vials were heated at 68, 71, 74, 79 and 85°C for various lengths of time up to 20 minutes. To establish a heating procedure for cans and jars of salmon, spores of types A, B, and E C. botulinum were added to commercially canned salmon and to glass jars of home-canned salmon and incubated for 10 days. Open cans and jars were oven-heated at 350°F (177°C) to the same end-point temperatures. Assays for toxin were carried out with mice. Inactivation of toxin in salmon heated in vials showed an initial rapid drop in toxicity followed by a leveling-off of the rate so that 20-minute heating at 68 or 71°C did not destroy all of the toxin. At 79 and 85°C, the inactivation was much more rapid and all detectable toxin was destroyed within 2 to 5 minutes. For the oven-heating method for two sizes of cans and jars, an internal temperature of 85°C followed by a 30-minute holding period at room temperature was effective in inactivating botulinum toxin.
Biochemical differences in Qa-2 antigens expressed by Qa-2+,6+ and Qa-2+,6- strains. Evidence for differential expression of the Q7 and Q9 genes.

Abstract Cell surface forms of Qa-6 class I molecules are biochemically indistinguishable from Qa-2 although Qa-6 maps telomeric to Qa-2 with the recombinant strain B6.K2. Analysis of appropriate F1 strains did not demonstrate the presence of a trans acting factor that could modify the Qa-2 molecule to produce the Qa-6 determinant. Also, neither a neighboring cell surface molecule nor oligosaccharides were found to block the recognition of the Qa-6 determinant in Qa-2+,6− strains. The 2-D gel profiles of neuraminidase or endoglycosidase treated anti-Qa-2 immunoprecipitates from lysates of cell surface iodinated Qa-2+,6+ strains revealed an additional basic polypeptide which was absent from that of Qa-2+,6− strains. Thus, differential sialylation/glycosylation of Qa-2 molecules masks detection of Qa-2 antigen heterogeneity when cell surface forms are analyzed. Qa-6+ phenotype associated polypeptides were also found at various stages of post-translational processing in cells metabolically labeled in the presence and absence of tunicamycin. Northern analyses using Q7and Q9 specific oligonucleotide probes revealed appropriate sized transcripts for both genes in the Qa-2+,6+ strain B6 but only Q9in the Qa-2+,6− strain B6.K2. These data demonstrate that there is structural heterogeneity in Qa-2 antigens expressed by Qa-2+,6+ and Qa-2+,6− strains which results from differential expression of the Q7 and Q9 genes.
Psammaplysin F, a new bromotyrosine derivative from a sponge, Aplysinella sp

A new member of the psammaplysin family, psammaplysin F (6), has been isolated from an undescribed species of Aplysinella sponge, along with the four known psammaplysins A−C (1−3) and E (5). The structure of psammaplysin F was determined by spectral analysis.
Pathogen evolution: How good bacteria go bad

Abstract Recent findings suggest that dysentry-causing Shigella strains have arisen several times from Escherichia coli via plasmid acquisition and phenotypic convergence. Similarly, three Bacillus strains with distinct pathogenic properties are derivatives of a single species whose behavior is profoundly altered by acquired plasmids.
Tamoxifen up-regulates oestrogen receptor-α, c-fos and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate-dehydrogenase mRNAs in ovine endometrium

Tamoxifen, the antiestrogen most widely used in medicine, was tested in ewes to determine whether it antagonizes oestradiol up-regulation of ER, PR, and other genes reported to be oestrogen-modulated (c-fos, oxytocin receptor (OTR), glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and apolipoprotein AI (apo AI)) in endometrium and liver. Ovariectomized ewes (n = 6 ewes per group) were injected with 20 mg tamoxifen (Tam) 24 h prior to tissue collection, 50 microg oestradiol (E2) 18 h prior to tissue collection, both drugs (T + E2) or drug vehicle (Con). E2 treatment resulted in 857 +/- 93 pg oestradiol/g endometrium. Gross uterine characteristics of Tam- and T + E2-treated ewes were intermediate to those in Con and E2 groups. In endometrium, Tam treatment mimicked E2 treatment in up-regulating ER, c-fos, and GAPDH mRNAs two- or three-fold. However, neither E2 nor Tam treatments affected concentrations of OTR mRNA in endometrium, or ER, c-fos, GAPDH, OTR and apo AI mRNAs in liver. Like oestradiol, tamoxifen stabilized endometrial ER mRNA more than 3-fold in endometrial explants cultured with the transcription inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB). Thus, tamoxifen acts as an oestradiol agonist in ovine endometrium and shares a posttranscriptional mechanism with oestradiol in the up-regulation of ER gene expression.
Is there a well-founded solution to the generality problem?

The generality problem is perhaps the most notorious problem for process reliabilism. Several recent responses to the generality problem have claimed that the problem has been unfairly leveled against reliabilists. In particular, these responses have claimed that the generality problem is either (i) just as much of a problem for evidentialists, or (ii) if it is not, then a parallel solution is available to reliabilists. Along these lines, Juan Comesana has recently proposed solution to the generality problem—well-founded reliabilism. According to Comesana, the solution to the generality problem lies in solving the basing problem, such that any solution to the basing problem will give a solution to the generality problem. Comesana utilizes Conee and Feldman’s evidentialist account of basing (Conee and Feldman’s well-foundedness principle) in forming his version of reliabilism. In this paper I show that Comesana’s proposed solution to the generality problem is inadequate. Well-founded reliabilism both fails to solve the generality problem and subjects reliabilism to new damning verdicts. In addition, I show that evidentialism does not face any parallel problems, so the generality problem remains a reason to prefer evidentialism to reliabilism.
Meeting the NRC Panel's Recommendations: Commentary on the Papers by Mislevy and Haertel, Gorin, and Abedi and Gándara

In this commentary, we summarize some of the main themes of the NRC report and note ways in which the papers by Mislevy and Haertel, Gorin, and Abedi and Gandara address the Panel's recommendations. We then briefly review and offer reflections on each paper. We see much to applaud here and also in the broader effort to build bridges between the cognitive and measurement sciences. However, much work remains, not only in building bridges, be also in educating the next generation of psychometricians about cognition and the next generation of teachers about psychometrics. Until that day, even the best work here will have little impact on the business of large-scale assessment.
Are we Adequately Preparing Teachers to Partner with Families

Family-centered practice is accepted as best and effective practice by early childhood professional organizations including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, The Council for Exceptional Children’s Division of Early Childhood, and The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. The main objective of family-centered practice is the development of a reciprocal family partnership in order to provide effective early childhood services to young children and families. The literature reveals that there are issues in early childhood teacher preparation in terms of the level of emphasis on family-centered practice, the implementation of a standalone course versus infusion of family-centered content throughout coursework, and the linkage of coursework to practical experience. Teacher perceptions of families have a great deal of influence on the nature of relationships between teachers and families. This literature review illuminates the necessity for teacher preparation programs and school administration to regularly review programming to make certain that students and practicing teachers are adequately prepared to efficiently serve young children in the context of their families.
Douglis–Nirenberg elliptic systems in Hörmander spaces

Douglis–Nirenberg systems uniformly elliptic in ℝ n are studied in the class of Hormander Hilbert spaces H φ ; where φ is an RO-varying function of scalar argument. An a priori estimate is established for the solutions, and their interior regularity is investigated. A sufficient condition under which these systems possess the Fredholm property is obtained.
Subsequent neurological events in patients with atrial myxoma

Review of 35 patients from the Mayo Clinic with histologically proved atrial myxomas (7 with prior neurological events) who were followed for 12 to 235 months revealed that none had subsequent delayed neurological events attributable to their atrial myxomas.
Photolysis of cis‐1,2‐dihydroxyindane carbonate and cw‐1,2‐dihydroxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene carbonate

Cyclic carbonate esters 2 and 3 were prepared and the photochemistry studied. The direct irradiation of these esters produces 1,3-diradicals which undergo either ring closure to form epoxides, H migration to form ketones or Grob type fragmentation processes which lead to products via ring expansion or contraction.
Relationship between cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG serology, detectable CMV DNA in peripheral monocytes, and CMV pp65(495-503)-specific CD8+ T cells in older adults.

In immunocompetent individuals, cytomegalovirus (CMV) is thought to persist in a latent state in monocytes and myeloid progenitor cells, establishing a lifelong infection. In CMV-seropositive older adults, aging has been associated with both expansion of CMV pp65495–503-specific CD8+ T cell clones and shrinkage of the T cell repertoire that characterize T cell immunosenescence. In fact it has been suggested that chronic CMV infection is a driving force in age-related T cell immunosenescence. In older adults, chronic CMV infection is conventionally diagnosed by positive IgG serology which does not distinguish between past and persistent infections. To better define the relationship between chronic CMV infection and expansion of CMV pp65495–503-specific CD8+ T cells, we directly assessed CMV viral DNA in monocyte-enriched peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 16 HLA-A2-positive elderly volunteers (mean age = 83 years). While all participants had positive CMV IgG serology by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, only nine (56%) had detectable CMV DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction. These nine individuals had significantly higher percentages of CMV pp65495–503 tetramer-positive CD8+ T cells (median = 1.3%) than those without detectable CMV DNA (median = 0.1%; p < 0.001). Absolute CMV IgG antibody titers did not differ between these two groups (median = 54.6 vs 44.2 EU/ml, respectively, p = 0.4). CMV IgM titers were negative for all 16 participants, suggesting that recent primary CMV infection was unlikely. These results demonstrate a strong association between the presence of CMV DNA in peripheral monocytes and the expansion of CD8+ T cells specific for the CMV immunodominant epitope pp65495–503. Although the sample size in this study is relatively small, these findings provide initial evidence suggesting the heterogeneity of CMV IgG-seropositive older adult population and CMV viral DNA detection in peripheral monocytes as an informative tool to better understand the relationship between chronic CMV infection and T cell immunosenescence.
Application of Composite Materials in High Pressure Technology

In recent years, the application of composite materials for high pressure technology has been on the rise. The use of composites allows reducing the weight, improving shape optimization, promoting ease of handling, and also increasing the vessel’s mechanical, impact, and corrosion behavior. This paper provides an overview of the research work conducted in recent years on application of composite materials in design and development of pressure vessels. The research work on composite materials, especially on structural health monitoring and self-healing would contribute to a continued growth of the applications of composite pressure vessels.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Comparison of Longitudinal Phenotypes Based on Number and Timing of Assessments: A Systematic Comparison of Trajectory Approaches II

The popularity of trajectory-based research to characterize developmental courses of alcohol (and other drug) involvement is growing rapidly. Given the increasing use of these methods, there is a need to identify methodological factors that affect course shape and prevalence. Using growth mixture models, the authors characterized the developmental course of 2 indices of alcohol involvement, alcohol use disorder and frequency of heavy drinking, with a prospective sample of 489 young adults (Year 1 age = 18.52; 55% female; 51% with family history of alcoholism) assessed 6 times over 11 years. Then, the authors explored the extent to which trajectory models that eliminated an assessment (at the beginning, middle, or end of the study interval) were similar to the full 6-wave model. Although classifications showed relatively high concordance, trajectory shape and predicted prevalences varied. Misclassification was associated with methodological factors such as probability of class membership and missing data. Findings suggest that researchers thoughtfully consider the nature of the phenomena being studied and the developmental period of interest when designing prospective studies.
New evidence for the role of mechanical forces in the shoot apical meristem.

The mechanism for initiation of lateral organs in the shoot apical meristem is still unknown. In this article we investigate one critical component of a buckling mechanism of organ initiation (that is, the presence and distribution of compressive stresses in the meristem). Direct evidence for compression in the sunflower capitulum was obtained from the gaping pattern of shallow cuts and the propagation of fractures. Cuts gaped widely in the central region of the capitulum but remained closed, or nearly so, in the generative and differentiation regions, suggesting the presence of circumferential compression at these locations. Fractures were initiated in the generative region and propagated circumferentially over most of their length. They did not cross the generative region perpendicularly, suggesting again the presence of compressive stresses in the circumferential direction. This conclusion was confirmed by the stress distribution computed from the geometry of the capitulum at three stages of development. One interpretation of these results is that the generative region corresponds to a zone of compression that could control the initiation of new primordia by means of buckling of the tunica layer.
Library ergonomics in literature: a selected annotated bibliography

The advancement of electronic technology and popularity of computer use have resulted in a variety of work related hand, wrist and arm injuries in computer operators. The phenomenon has raised public consciousness about ergonomics and the study of how humans interact with their physical environment. This article includes an annotated bibliography of books, book chapters, magazines, journal articles, and Internet resources from 1990 to the present dealing primarily with library ergonomic issues and concerns. The publication is suitable for researchers, administrators, librarians, library staffs, subject specialists, ergonomic consultants, physical therapists, or anyone interested in the topic to identify and locate useful information resources on library ergonomics.
Solution of the effective Hamiltonian of impurity hopping between two sites in a metal

We analyze in detail all the possible fixed points of the effective Hamiltonian of a nonmagnetic impurity hopping between two sites in a metal obtained by Moustakas and Fisher (MF). We find a line of non-Fermi liquid fixed points which continuously interpolates between the two-channel Kondo fixed point (2CK) and the one-channel, two-impurity Kondo (2IK) fixed point. There is one relevant direction with scaling dimension $\frac{1}{2}$ and one leading irrelevant operator with dimension $\frac{3}{2}$. There is also one marginal operator in the spin sector moving along this line. The marginal operator, combined with the leading irrelevant operator, will generate the relevant operator. For the general position on this line, the leading low-temperature exponents of the specific heat, the hopping susceptibility and the electron conductivity ${C}_{\mathrm{imp}},{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\mathrm{imp}}^{h},\ensuremath{\sigma}(T)$ are the same as those of the 2CK, but the finite-size spectrum depends on the position on the line. No universal ratios can be formed from the amplitudes of the three quantities except at the 2CK point on this line where the universal ratios can be formed. At the 2IK point on this line, $\ensuremath{\sigma}(T)\ensuremath{\sim}2{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{u}{(1+aT}^{3/2})$, no universal ratio can be formed either. The additional non-Fermi-liquid fixed point found by MF has the same symmetry as the 2IK, it has two relevant directions with scaling dimension $\frac{1}{2}$, and is therefore also unstable. The leading low-temperature behaviors are ${C}_{\mathrm{imp}}\ensuremath{\sim}T,{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\mathrm{imp}}^{h}\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{ln}T,\ensuremath{\sigma}(T)\ensuremath{\sim}2{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{u}{(1+aT}^{3/2})$; no universal ratios can be formed. The system is shown to flow to a line of Fermi-liquid fixed points which continuously interpolates between the noninteracting fixed point and the two-channel spin-flavor Kondo fixed point discussed by the author previously. The effect of particle-hole symmetry breaking is discussed. The effective Hamiltonian in the external magnetic field is analyzed. The scaling functions for the physical measurable quantities are derived in the different regimes; their predictions for the experiments are given. Finally the implications are given for a nonmagnetic impurity hopping around three sites with triangular symmetry discussed by MF.
A New Technique for Measuring Velopharyngeal Orifice Area during Sustained Vowel Production: An Application of Aerodynamic Forced Oscillation Principles

A new technique for measuring velopharyngeal orifice area during sustained vowel production is described. The technique is based on a simple oscillatory flow balancing procedure between two aerodyn...
Spontaneous splenic rupture in mantle cell lymphoma with leukemic variant

![Figure][1] A 56-year-old male presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan showed multiple cervical, supraclavicular, periaortic, and mesenteric lymphadenopathy; a ruptured spleen measuring 19 cm; and free intraperitoneal hemorrhage. He underwent
MetaCricket: a designer's kit for making computational devices

We present the design of a construction kit, for building computational devices, called MetaCricket. MetaCricket consists of a set of hardware modules and the integrated software, which runs both on a development computer and within the MetaCricket hardware. MetaCricket provides a flexible interactive development environment for trying out new hardware and behaviors. The underlying architecture makes it easy for designers to expand the basic construction kit themselves with minimal engineering effort. Through a few examples, we show how designers, enabled by MetaCricket to be engineers of their own tools, are rethinking and transforming the very character of design principles in the digital age. MetaCricket was originally designed for use by children, but has been adopted by professional designers who are not professional engineers. These designers have found it incredibly liberating to directly implement their ideas without depending on engineers for assistance.
Modeling and forecasting of Brazilian reservoir inflows via dynamic linear models

Abstract This work focuses on developing a forecasting model for the water inflow at an hydroelectric plant’s reservoir for operations planning. The planning horizon is 5 years in monthly steps. Due to the complex behavior of the monthly inflow time series we use a Bayesian dynamic linear model that incorporates seasonal and autoregressive components. We also use climate variables like monthly precipitation, El Nino and other indices as predictor variables when relevant. The Brazilian power system has 140 hydroelectric plants. Based on geographical considerations, these plants are collated by basin and classified into 15 groups that correspond to the major river basins, in order to reduce the dimension of the problem. The model is then tested for these 15 groups. Each group will have a different forecasting model that can best describe its unique seasonality and characteristics. The results show that the forecasting approach taken in this paper produces substantially better predictions than the current model adopted in Brazil (see Maceira & Damazio, 2006 ), leading to superior operations planning.
College Men, their Magazines, and Sex.

Relations between reading Lad magazines and pornographic magazines and the beliefs and attitudes that are consistent with their content were explored in two independent surveys of college undergraduate men (n = 91 and 68, respectively). The impact of reading such magazines on men’s sexual self-schema was also examined. The results indicated a relationship between reading Lad magazines and endorsement of permissive sexual attitudes independent of actual sexual behavior. Reading Lad magazines was also associated with expectations of greater sexual variety and a more aggressive sexual self-schema. Reading pornographic magazines was found to be associated with permissive attitudes. Neither reading pornographic magazines nor reading lad magazines was related to aggressive attitudes.
Open conformation tissue transglutaminase testing for celiac dietary assessment.

Abstract Objectives Anti tissue-transglutaminase antibody is the mainstay of celiac disease serologic testing. Whilst it has high sensitivity in patients on an unrestricted diet, sensitivity is poor for evaluation of gluten free diet adherence. Aim To assess the utility of a novel assay measuring Immunoglobulin-A antibodies to catalytically active open conformation tissue-transglutaminase in assessment of ongoing gluten exposure in celiac disease patients on an alleged gluten free diet. Methods Through prospective assessment, 147 patients with celiac disease were divided into good and poor adherence. Open and closed (conventional) tissue-transglutaminase titres were measured using standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. 50 patients with inflammatory bowel disease served as disease controls. Results Overall 128 patients had been on gluten free diet for more than six months and 19 were found to be poorly adherent on dietary review. Within this group 13 (68.4%) and 10 (52.6%) patients respectively were positive for the open conformation and conventional assay (p = 0.51). Two and one control patients tested positive for closed and open assays respectively. Conclusions Compared to native assays open conformation tissue-transglutaminase may have higher sensitivity in the poor gluten free diet adherence group and higher specificity in the control population. Larger population studies are warranted to assess whether the open conformation tissue-transglutaminase assay may be superior to the conventional assay.
Activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress response following trauma-hemorrhage.

Abstract Hemorrhagic trauma leads to organ dysfunction, sepsis and death. There is abnormal production of proinflammatory cytokines by Kupffer cells, tissue hypoxia and liver injury following trauma-hemorrhage. The physiological conditions consequent to trauma-hemorrhage are consistent with factors necessary to initiate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response. However, the contribution of ER stress to apoptosis and liver injury after trauma-hemorrhage is not known. In the present study ER stress was investigated in mice that underwent trauma-hemorrhage or sham operation. Expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins Bip, ATF6, PERK, IRE1α, and PDI were significantly elevated in the liver after trauma-hemorrhage compared to the controls. The ER stress associated proapoptotic transcription factor CHOP protein expression was also significantly elevated in trauma-hemorrhage group. Consistent with this, enhanced DNA fragmentation was observed, confirming apoptosis, in the liver following trauma-hemorrhage. These results demonstrate the initiation of ER stress and its role in apoptosis and liver injury, subsequent to hemorrhagic trauma.
`Reclaiming' the Female Body: Embodied Identity Work, Resistance and the Grotesque:

This article considers women's use of the body as a site of protest by taking up women's participation in non-mainstream body modification. The use of scarification, multiple genital piercing and o...
Medicare: Visions for Reform

The 107th Congress will be faced with the task of Medicare reform. It may only take the form of a limited prescription drug benefit or it may involve comprehensive structural reform. For nearly 36 ...
The Berlin–Tokyo Axis and Japanese Military Initiative

The initial alignment, by means of the Anti-Comintern Pact, of the Japanese government with the Third Reich in 1936 was made possible by the extraordinary activities of Ōshima Hiroshi, then military attache to Berlin. Colonel Ōshima, whose diplomatic role far transcended his early rank and authority, moved from the rank of Colonel and position of attache in 1934 to Lieutenant General and Ambassador by 1938. Ōshima, both daring and enterprising, had the full support of his military superiors and certain pro-Axis Japanese; thus his role in Germany proved crucial to the making of major changes in Japanese foreign policy. He both represented and expressed military and totalitarian tendencies in the Japanese army, government, and society, helping those tendencies to reach dominance in Japan by 1940.
An approach to detecting estrogenic endocrine disruption via choriogenin expression in an estuarine model fish species.

A large body of work has established a link between endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and a number of abnormalities in fishes. However, most EDC studies use several standard laboratory denizens to assess impacts, so assumptions about sensitivity are primarily based on these few species. Additionally, existing methods rely on obtaining sufficient plasma to measure EDC biomarkers. Our objectives were (a) to establish a new model species for estuarine fishes, (b) to evaluate endocrine impacts with a highly sensitive and specific biomarker, and (c) to develop a method for the analysis of this biomarker in small fish that do not possess sufficient blood plasma for protein measurement. As such, we created a polyclonal antibody (Ab) to the estrogen-responsive proteins chorion (Ch) and choriogenin (Chg) in Menidia beryllina, found throughout coastal North America and already utilized in EPA Whole Effluent Testing. We then validated the Ab by using it to measure the response to aqueous ethinylestradiol (EE2) through the development an ELISA using Menidia whole body homogenate (WBH). Sensitivity of the Ab to Menidia WBH is greater than that of the commercially available option. ELISA sensitivity, with a detection limit of 5 ng/ml and a working range of 22.6–1370.9 ng/ml, is comparable to ELISAs developed to measure plasma Chg. To our knowledge this is the first ELISA method developed for the detection of Chg using WBH. Including additional model species and methods allowing the evaluation of alternative sample matrices will contribute to an enhanced understanding of inter-species differences in EDC response.
A Taxonomic Revision of Symphyodon (Musci: Symphyodontaceae)

Abstract Symphyodon Mont., a genus of pleurocarpous mosses, is comprised of 15 species. Species of Symphyodon, all dioicous, are primarily epiphytic and characterized by having echinate capsules, distally roughened or papillose setae, and prorate leaf cells. The genus is chiefly distributed in the tropical and the subtropical regions of the world with the majority of the taxa centered in southern and southeastern Asia. A detailed study of the peristome structure supports recognition of Symphyodon in its own family, Symphyodontaceae. The family is retained in the Leucodontales, suborder Neckerineae. All species are illustrated. Keys, descriptions, and distribution maps are provided.
Metabolic Aspects of the Relationship Between the Contractility and Membrane Potentials of the Rat Atrium

Some of the relationships between metabolism, membrane potentials and contractility in cardiac tissue have emerged from a study of the effects of anoxia, depletion of substrate and dinitrophenol on the rat atrium. The repolarization phase of the action potential was shown to be particularly sensitive to disturbances in metabolism. Depression of metabolism resulted in a more rapid repolarization, which may provisionally be interpreted as an acceleration of K+ efflux; restoration of metabolism reversed this effect. A concept relating membrane potentials and metabolism is presented, involving the presence of bound ATP within the membrane.
Rate constants for self- and cross terminations of transient radicals in solution by effect modulated electron spin resonance spectroscopy

It is shown how electron spin resonance spectroscopy with modulated radical initiation can be used to analyze by purely spectroscopic means the second-order termination kinetics of systems containing two different kinds of radicals. The technique is applied to species generated by photoreduction of acetone in tetraethoxy silane. The bimolecular self- and cross reactions of (CH/sub 3/CH/sub 2/O)/sub 3/SiOCHCH/sub 3/ (R/sub 1/) and CH/sub 3/)/sub 2/COH (R/sub 2/) are found to be encounter-controlled processes. For the cross termination the often used relation k/sub 12/ = (4 k/sub 1/k/sub 2/)/sup 1/2/ is verified experimentally.
Developmental expression of urine concentration-associated genes and their altered expression in murine infantile-type polycystic kidney disease.

Currently, there is little understanding of what factors regulate the development of urine concentrating capability in normal or polycystic kidney. The present study examined the developmental expression of genes associated with urine concentration in developing mice, including C57BL/6J-cpk/cpk mice with autosomal recessive-infantile (AR) polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Concentration of urine requires: 1) medullary collecting ducts (CD) located within a hypertonic interstitium, 2) CD cell expression of functional arginine vasopressin V2 receptors (AVP-V2R), and 3) the presence of appropriate CD water channels (aquaporins, AQP 2 and 3). An increase in urine osmolarity, normally seen between 1 and 3 weeks of age, was absent in cpk cystic mice. Aldose reductase mRNA expression (a gene upregulated by medullary hyperosmolarity) increased in normal mice, but remained low in the cystic kidney, suggesting the absence of a hypertonic medullary interstitium. AVP-V2R, AQP2, and AQP3 mRNA expression normally increase between 7 and 14 days. However, all were dramatically overexpressed even at 7 days of age in the cpk kidney in vivo, but decreased in vitro. Activation of the AVP-V2 receptor stimulates the production of cAMP, a substance known to promote cyst enlargement. To determine if CD cAMP, generated from increased AVP-V2Rs, was accelerating the PKD, cystic mice and their normal littermates were treated with OPC31260, a relatively specific AVP-V2R antagonist. OPC31260 treatment of cystic mice led to an amelioration of the cystic enlargement and azotemia. Treatment also decreased renal AQP2 mRNA but increased AVP-V2R and AQP3 mRNA expression in vivo. AVP upregulates the expression of AVP-V2R, AQP2, and AQP3 mRNAs in vitro. Renal EGF, known to inhibit AVP-V2R activity, downregulates AVP-V2R mRNA in vitro. Brief in vivo EGF treatment, known to decrease PKD in cpk mice, led to increased expression of AVP-V2R, AQP2, and AQP3 mRNAs at 2 weeks in both normal and cystic mice but no change was evident at 3 weeks of age. In conclusion, the development of urinary concentration ability correlates with the development of an increased medullary osmotic gradient which is diminished in murine ARPKD. However, CD genes associated with this process are overexpressed in vivo but underexpressed in vitro in the cystic kidney. The overexpression and/or overactivity of the AVP-V2R appears to contribute to the progression of PKD since an AVP-V2R antagonist inhibits cystic renal enlargement in the cpk mouse. Dev. Genet. 24:309–318, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Serotonergic Agents That Activate 5HT2A Receptors Prevent NMDA Antagonist Neurotoxicity

Phencyclidine, ketamine, and other agents that block NMDA glutamate receptors trigger a schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans and induce pathomorphological changes in cerebrocortical neurons in rat brain. Accumulating evidence suggests that a complex network disturbance involving multiple transmitter receptor systems is responsible for the neuronal injury, and it is proposed that a similar network disturbance is responsible for the psychotomimetic effects of NMDA antagonists, and might also be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In the present study we present evidence that serotonergic agents possessing 5HT2A agonist activity prevent NMDA antagonist neurotoxicity in rat brain. It is proposed that 5HT2A agonists may also prevent the psychotomimetic effects of NMDA antagonists. Among the 5HT2A agonists examined and found to be neuroprotective are LSD and related hallucinogens. The apparent contradiction in proposing that these agents might have antipsychotic properties is resolved by evidence linking their hallucinogenic activity to agonist action at 5HT2C receptors, whereas antipsychotic activity would be attributable to agonist action at 5HT2A receptors.
Binding of Imipramine, Dosulepin, and Opipramol to Liposomes for Overdose Treatment

Polymer shielded liposomes were investigated as detoxifying agents for the weak bases imipramine and dosulepin and the diprotic drug opipramol. In vitro binding measurements in the presence of human serum samples revealed that the liposomes reduced the free drug concentration of the weak bases (corrected for protein binding) by 88–93%. The reduction for opipramol was around 76%. The results demonstrate that polymer shielded liposomes composed of anionic lipids are widely useful for drug overdose treatment. Polyethylene glycol chain lengths of 2000 and 5000 for the polymer coatings were also explored, and chain length showed no evidence of affecting drug uptake by liposomes. Liposomes compete favorably with other binding targets for drugs, and pharmacokinetic considerations suggest that liposomes could reduce toxicity by transporting drugs from fast-equilibrating organs such as the heart to slow-equilibrating organs such as the fat, muscle, and skin. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:3718–3729, 2009
The transverse force on a spinning sphere moving in a viscous fluid

The flow about a spinning sphere moving in a viscous fluid is calculated for small values of the Reynolds number. With this solution the force and torque on the sphere are computed. It is found that in addition to the drag force determined by Stokes, the sphere experiences a force FL orthogonal to its direction of motion. This force is given by .Here a is the radius of the sphere, Ω is its angular velocity, V is its velocity, ρ is the fluid density and R is the Reynolds number, . For small values of R, the transverse force is independent of the viscosity μ. This force is in such a direction as to account for the curving of a pitched baseball, the long range of a spinning golf ball, etc. It is used as a basis for the discussion of the flow of a suspension of spheres through a tube.The calculation involves the Stokes and Oseen expansions. A representation of solutions of the Oseen equations in terms of two scalar functions is also presented.
Self‐esteem and the effects of success and failure feedback on performance

Summary High and low self-esteem subjects received success or failure feedback regarding their performance on a task described as measuring their sensitivity to other people. Presumably as part of another study, changes in their self-perceptions regarding sensitivity to others were assessed, as well as changes in their performance on a different task Changes in self-perception were greater when the feedback was consistent with subjects' overall level of self-evaluation Task performance following failure was poorer than that following success HSE subjects performed better following success feedback, and LSE subjects performed more poorly following failure There were no significant performance changes for the HSE-failure and LSE-success subjects. The degree of change in self-perception of sensitivity to others was highly correlated with the magnitude of performance changes
Distinct Temporal Patterns of T Cell Receptor Signaling During Positive Versus Negative Selection in Situ

The recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR) of self-peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells and thymic epithelial cells, controls T cell fate in the thymus, with weak TCR signals inducing survival (positive selection) and stronger signals inducing death (negative selection). In vitro studies indicate that peptide ligands that induce positive selection stimulate a low, but sustained, pattern of TCR signaling; however, the temporal pattern of TCR signaling in MHC class I-restricted thymocytes (thymocytes that are presented with peptides by MHC class I) in the thymus, under conditions that support positive selection, is unknown. We addressed this question by examining intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics and migratory changes in thymocytes undergoing positive and negative selection in thymic slices. Brief, serial signaling events that were separated by migratory periods and low cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations correlated with the positive selection of MHC class I-restricted thymocytes, whereas sustained Ca(2+) signaling and the arrest of thymocytes were associated with negative selection. Low-avidity peptides and the presentation of peptides by cortical thymic epithelial cells, rather than dendritic cells, failed to induce strong migratory arrest of thymocytes, which led to transient TCR signaling. Thus, we provide a comparison of positive and negative selection signals in situ and suggest that the absence of strong stop signals distinguishes between positive and negative selection.