cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The recBC Deoxyribonuclease of Escherichia coli K-12 SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY AND REACTION INTERMEDIATES

Abstract The behavior of the recBC DNase of Escherichia coli with a variety of substrates has been investigated. Duplex circular DNA is resistant to digestion, is not a cofactor for the DNA-dependent ATPase, and does not effectively compete for enzyme with substrate DNAs. Treatment of duplex circles with ultraviolet light or x-rays does not render them susceptible to the enzyme nor does nicking with pancreatic DNase. In the latter case the nicks are neither sealed nor translocated. Removal of the phosphomonoester group from a nick has no effect, but localized denaturation or removal of approximately five nucleotides at a nick renders duplex circles susceptible to digestion. The enzyme appears to digest linear DNA by a processive mechanism in which the rate is limited by the initiation of digestion of a molecule. It shows no apparent polarity of degradation, nor does it appear to be affected by the presence or absence of terminal phosphate groups. The original terminal nucleotides are dispersed among all classes of the products in a limit digest, so they do not constitute a special type of product. Linear DNA treated with ultraviolet light or x-rays is degraded by the enzyme, but RNA-DNA hybrid is resistant. The latter substrate can serve as cofactor for the DNA-dependent ATPase, however, effectively uncoupling the two activities. At ATP concentrations of 1 mm or greater the enzyme generates early in the reaction large, sedimentable DNA fragments, as well as nonsedimentable products. The large fragments are primarily duplex, but contain single-stranded regions at 5' termini and probably at 3' termini at roughly equal frequency.
The Physical Nature of "Giant" Magnetocaloric and Electrocaloric Effects

Physical nature of "giant" magnetocaloric and electrocaloric effects, MCE and ECE, is explained in terms of the new fundamentals of phase transitions, ferro magnetism and ferroelectricity. It is the latent heat of structural (nucleation-and-growth) phase transitions from a normal crystal state to the orientation-disordered crystal (ODC) state where the constituent particles are engaged in thermal rotation. The ferro magnetism or ferroelectricity of the material provides the capability to trigger the structural phase transition by application, accordingly, of magnetic or electric field.
Regulation of ligand binding to cardiac muscarinic receptors by ammonium ion and guanine nucleotides

Guanine nucleotides and Na+ are known to regulate ligand binding to cardiac muscarinic receptors, which are negatively coupled to the adenylate cyclase system. In the present study, we found that NH+4 was more potent than Na+ or other monovalent cations in regulating the affinity of the muscarinic receptor for agonists and antagonists. The effect of NH+4 (or Na+) on the binding of the antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) to muscarinic receptors in homogenates of embryonic chick hearts depended on the assay buffer used. NH+4 increased Kd in phosphate buffer or histidine and increased Bmax in Tris. NH+4 (0.1 M) increased the IC50 value for acetylcholine inhibition of [3H]QNB binding 20-fold compared to 3-4-fold with 0.1 M Na+ or K+. Furthermore, NH+4 could substitute for and was more potent than Na+ in producing synergistic effects with Gpp[NH]p to reduce the affinity of the receptor for acetylcholine. Tris depressed these effects. Gpp[NH]p plus 0.4 M NH4Cl totally converted the receptor population to a low affinity agonist state and increased the IC50 for acetylcholine by more than 2000-fold. Two conclusions can be made from the present results. First, NH+4 appears to be the most potent effector yet studied of the monovalent cation site of the muscarinic receptor system. Second, the use of Tris in muscarinic receptor ligand binding assays will produce anomalous results concerning the properties of both agonist and antagonist binding to the receptor.
Comparative life cycle assessment of silver nanoparticle synthesis routes

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can be produced through a variety of synthesis routes with differing mechanisms, inputs, yields, reaction conditions, and resulting size distributions. Recent work has focused on applying green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing principles to nanomaterial synthesis, with the goal of reducing life cycle energy use and environmental impacts. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is used here to analyze and compare the environmental impacts of AgNPs produced through seven different synthesis routes (cradle-to-gate). LCA reveals both direct and indirect or upstream impacts associated with AgNPs. Synthesis routes were chosen to represent current trends in nanoparticle synthesis and include physical, chemical and bio-based methods of production. Results show that, across synthesis routes, impacts associated with the upstream production of bulk silver itself were dominant for nearly every category of environmental impact, contributing to over 90% of life cycle burdens in some cases. Flame spray methods were shown to have the highest impacts while chemical reduction methods were generally preferred when AgNPs were compared on a mass basis. The bio-based chemical reduction route was found to have important tradeoffs in ozone depletion potential and ecotoxicity. Rescaling results by the size-dependent antimicrobial efficacy that reflects the actual function of AgNPs in most products provided a performance-based comparison and changed the rank order of preference in every impact category. Comparative results were also presented in the context of a nanosilver-doped wound dressing, showing that the overall environmental burdens of the product were highly sensitive to the synthesis route by which the AgNPs are produced.
Toxic Torts: Implications for Risk Management

Toxic tort law concerns past and, in some limited instances, feared future injuries from exposure to toxicants and carcinogens generally produced, emitted, or disposed in ways that (are alleged to) contravene certain social norms. This article introduces aspects of the law of torts that relate exposures to noxious agents to their adverse effects. Examples from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia illustrate differences among jurisdictions and modern views of the interactions between science and law. Keywords: civil law; tort law; causation; scientific evidence
Enhancements to integral solutions to ablation and charring

Two new enhancements to the heat-balance integral (HBI) technique improve the rapid prediction of aerothermal response of heat shields of high-speed vehicles. The first enhancement uses a generalized cubic in-depth thermal profile to mitigate the well-known overreaction of classical HBI techniques to rapid changes in aerodynamic heat load. The second enhancement involves a direct method for solving in-depth charring problems in the context of an HBI solution. Together, these enhancements extend approximate HBI techniques to a broader range of aerothermal problems with improved accuracy at only a modest cost in computational speed.
Energy transfer in monodisperse quantum dot solids in the presence of self-organized array of metallic nanoparticles

We examined the interdot energy transfer between monodisperse quantum dots under different degrees of plasmonic effects (plasmonic field enhancement and Forster energy transfer from quantum dots to metallic nanoparticles). For this we studied emission of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots deposited on substrates containing self-organized arrays of gold nanoislands with radially distributed sizes gradually reduced from the centers of the substrates to their sides. The results suggest how metallic nanoparticles can be used to enhance interdot energy transfer in monodisperse quantum dots and how this process can explain some of the spectral changes seen in the emission of quantum dots when they are close to the metallic nanoparticles.
Current and future impacts of extreme events in California

In the next few decades, it is likely that California must face the challenge of coping with increased impacts from extreme events such as heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and floods. This study presents new projections of changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme events in the future across climate models, emissions scenarios, and downscaling methods, and for each California county. Consistent with other projections, this study finds significant increases in the frequency and magnitude of both high maximum and high minimum temperature extremes in many areas. For example, the frequency of extreme temperatures currently estimated to occur once every 100 years is projected to increase by at least ten-fold in many regions of California, even under a moderate emissions scenario. Under a higher emissions scenario, these temperatures are projected to occur close to annually in most regions. Also, consistent with other projections, analyses of precipitation extremes fail to detect a significant signal of change, with inconsistent behavior when comparing simulations across different GCMs and different downscaling methods.
Toxicological responses of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) to subchronic soil exposures of 2,4-dinitrotoluene

Dinitrotoluenes are used as propellants and in explosives by the military and as such have been found at relatively high concentrations in the soil. To determine whether concentrations of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) in soil are toxic to amphibians, 100 red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) were exposed to either 1500, 800, 200, 75 or 0 mg 2,4-DNT/kg soil for 28 days and evaluated for indicators of toxicity. Concentrations of 2,4-DNT were less than targets and varied with time. Most salamanders exposed to concentrations exceeding 1050 mg/kg died or were moribund within the first week. Salamanders exposed to soil concentrations exceeding 345 mg/kg lost >6% of their body mass though no mortality occurred. Overt effects included a reduction in feed consumption and an increase in bucco-pharyngeal oscillations in salamanders. These results suggest that only high soil concentrations of 2,4-DNT have the potential to cause overtly toxic effects in terrestrial salamanders.
Pesticides exposure modeling based on GIS and remote sensing land use data

Abstract Exposure to agricultural pesticides has been linked with a variety of public health problems. However, such investigations were generally restricted by inadequate exposure information and small study areas. This article presents a GIS approach to generate objective information of population exposure to specific pesticide ingredients for large areas. Specifically, it integrates land use information that was derived from remote sensing images, population grid data, and county level pesticide usage data to model residential exposure to pesticides for the entire state of Nebraska. Using Atrazine as an example, this study demonstrated how to derive useful indicators of pesticide exposure based on the proposed method and how to up-scale the information to area levels to match up with public health datasets. The spatial pattern of exposure to Atrazine in Nebraska was also examined and discussed. This approach has great potential for assessing exposure to different pesticide ingredients in environment-health studies.
Brain casein kinase 2: Affinity purification procedure using immobilized polyethylenimine

A simplified procedure for casein kinase 2 purification from bovine brain is described. The purification procedure consists of two affinity chromatography steps, using heparin and polyethylenimine immobilized on a synthetic matrix (Toyopearl 650M). The adsorption and elution conditions for each column were optimized, resulting in a simple elution protocol for each column. A stable, highly purified casein kinase 2 preparation was obtained in 4 h using this procedure. Polyethylenimine was shown to stimulate the casein kinase 2 activity using exogeneous substrates (casein, calmodulin, MAP2, and tau) but not the enzyme's autophosphorylation activity. The polyethylenimine stimulation could be overcome by applying a mass excess of the casein kinase 2 inhibitor, heparin.
Internal laser metrology for POINTS

We present the designs for laser distance gauges to be used in the POINTS instrument, and preliminary performance data. For the target 5 micro-arcsecond astrometric accuracy, we must hold or monitor some critical internal dimensions of the POINTS instrument with 2 picometer (pm, 10-12 m) accuracy for a few hours. The POINTS architecture makes good use of these gauges, minimizing the number and range of dimensions that must change during operation, and maximizing the similarity of the starlight and metrology measured paths. Gauge designs have been developed for both optical-path-differencing (Michelson) and point-to-point measurements (Fabry-Perot). The Michelson fringes have been measured in a differential (comparison) test; the root-two-point variance (analogous to the Allan variance) in the difference of two measurements over essentially identical 1-meter paths was about 2 pm for averaging times between 40 seconds and 6 hours. A second design for the point-to-point measurements incorporates cornercube retro-reflectors in a resonant cavity. We discuss the new problems anticipated in this design, including the problem of maintaining laser alignment in these point-to-point gauges over the +/- 3 degree range of instrument articulation.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of a fixed magnetic appliance on the dentofacial complex.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to design and evaluate the effects of a fixed magnetic appliance that hinged the mandible open and exerted an intrusive force on the teeth. Ten patients between the ages of 8 years and 10 years 6 months, with Class II, Division 1 malocclusion associated with mandibular retrusion and increased lower facial height, were treated with this appliance. The length of treatment was 4 months, after which the appliance was removed and the patients were followed up for 4 months. Ten children with similar age, sex, and dentofacial characteristics acted as controls and did not receive any appliance therapy. Changes in morphology of the dentofacial complex were avaluated by use of lateral cephalograms and study models. In addition temporomandibular joint and muscle functions were assessed. During treatment mandibular length increased 3.2 mm, angle of facial convexity decreased 2.8°, the upper and lower teeth intruded an average of 1.5 mm each, and the mandibular plane angle decreased 1.3°. In the follow-up period, some rebound eruption was noted; however, all other changes were stable.
Imaging evidence for disturbances in multiple learning and memory systems in persons with autism spectrum disorders

Aim The aim of this article is to review neuroimaging studies of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that examine declarative, socio-emotional, and procedural learning and memory systems. Method We conducted a search of PubMed from 1996 to 2010 using the terms ‘autism,’‘learning,’‘memory,’ and ‘neuroimaging.’ We limited our review to studies correlating learning and memory function with neuroimaging features of the brain. Results The early literature supports the following preliminary hypotheses: (1) abnormalities of hippocampal subregions may contribute to autistic deficits in episodic and relational memory; (2) disturbances to an amygdala-based network (which may include the fusiform gyrus, superior temporal cortex, and mirror neuron system) may contribute to autistic deficits in socio-emotional learning and memory; and (3) abnormalities of the striatum may contribute to developmental dyspraxia in individuals with ASD. Interpretation Characterizing the disturbances to learning and memory systems in ASD can inform our understanding of the neural bases of autistic behaviors and the phenotypic heterogeneity of ASD.
Temporal Profile of Enhanced Vulnerability of the Postthrombotic Brain to Secondary Embolic Events

Background and Purpose— Patients with vascular or cardiac disease may experience recurrent thrombosis and embolization to the cerebral vasculature. Transient distal platelet accumulation after common carotid artery thrombosis (CCAT) leads to hemodynamic, metabolic, and molecular events that may influence the response of the postthromboembolic brain to secondary emboli. We investigated the effect of repeated embolic episodes on histopathological outcome at various time intervals using a clinically relevant model of embolic stroke. Methods— Six groups of rats underwent either photochemically induced CCAT followed by sham surgery or 2 episodes of CCAT separated by 10 minutes or 1, 3, 5, or 7 days. Outcome measures included routine histopathological analysis and determination of the number of infarct loci and their total volume. Results— Rats that underwent a second CCAT at 1, 3, or 5 days after the first insult had 20 to 30 times larger infarct volumes than rats in the single-CCAT group (P<0.05). In addition...
Theory of diffusion-limited growth.

We review and extend the field-theoretic approach to diffusion-limited growth at a finite background walker density. This approach leads to an Ito-type stochastic evolution equation with a multiplicative noise term. We show that a consistent mean-field (i.e., deterministic) reduction of this problem contains an unexpected low-density cutoff induced by the net probability drift due to the aforementioned noise. At the conclusion, implications of these findings for a first-principles theory of diffusion-limited-aggregation fractals are discussed.
Membrane Topography and Near-neighbor Relationships of the Mitochondrial ATP Synthase Subunits e, f, and g

Abstract The well characterized subunits of the bovine ATP synthase complex are the α, β, γ, δ, and e subunits of the catalytic sector, F1; the ATPase inhibitor protein; and subunits a, b, c, and d, OSCP (oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein), F6, and A6L, which are present in the membrane sector, F0, and the 45-A-long stalk that connects F1 to F0. It has been shown recently that bovine ATP synthase preparations also contain three small polypeptides, designated e, f, and g, with respective molecular masses of 8.2, 10.2, and 11.3 kDa. To ascertain their involvement as bona fide subunits of the ATP synthase and to investigate their membrane topography and proximity to the above ATP synthase subunits, polyclonal antipeptide antibodies were raised in the rabbit to the COOH-terminal amino acid residues 57-70 of e, 75-86 of f, and 91-102 of g. It was shown that (i) e, f, and g could be immunoprecipitated with anti-OSCP IgG from a fraction of bovine submitochondrial particles enriched in oligomycin-sensitive ATPase; (ii) the NH2 termini of f and g are exposed on the matrix side of the mitochondrial inner membrane and can be curtailed by proteolysis; (iii) the COOH termini of all three polypeptides are exposed on the cytosolic side of the inner membrane; and (iv) f cross-links to A6L and to g, and e cross-links to g and appears to form an e-e dimer. Thus, the bovine ATP synthase complex appears to have 16 unlike subunits, twice as many as its counterpart in Escherichia coli.
Basic mechanisms of left ventricular remodeling: the contribution of wall stress

Heart failure may be viewed as a progressive disorder that is impelled, at least in part, by progressive left ventricular (LV) remodeling. In the present discussion we will review the role of LV remodeling in the pathogenesis of heart failure, with a focus on the contribution that increased wall stress plays in the development and progression of LV remodeling. The clinical implication of this review is that existing neurohormonal strategies may not completely prevent disease progression in the failing heart, and that adjunctive strategies that are designed to specifically prevent or attenuate LV remodeling may play an important role in the clinical treatment of heart failure.
Augmented Topological Descriptors of Pore Networks for Material Science

One potential solution to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the geologic storage of captured CO2 in underground rock formations, also known as carbon sequestration. There is ongoing research to guarantee that this process is both efficient and safe. We describe tools that provide measurements of media porosity, and permeability estimates, including visualization of pore structures. Existing standard algorithms make limited use of geometric information in calculating permeability of complex microstructures. This quantity is important for the analysis of biomineralization, a subsurface process that can affect physical properties of porous media. This paper introduces geometric and topological descriptors that enhance the estimation of material permeability. Our analysis framework includes the processing of experimental data, segmentation, and feature extraction and making novel use of multiscale topological analysis to quantify maximum flow through porous networks. We illustrate our results using synchrotron-based X-ray computed microtomography of glass beads during biomineralization. We also benchmark the proposed algorithms using simulated data sets modeling jammed packed bead beds of a monodispersive material.
On stability and solvability (or, when does a neural network solve a problem?)

The importance of the Stability Problem in neurocomputing is discussed, as well as the need for the study of infinite networks. Stability must be the key ingredient in the solution of a problem by a neural network without external intervention. Infinite discrete networks seem to be the proper objects of study for a theory of neural computability which aims at characterizing problems solvable, in principle, by a neural network. Precise definitions of such problems and their solutions are given. Some consequences are explored, in particular, the neural unsolvability of the Stability Problem for neural networks.
Biological X-ray spectroscopy on 3rd generation synchrotron radiation sources

Abstract Third generation synchrotron radiation sources such as the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory deliver 1–2 orders of magnitude more monochromatic flux (and many orders of magnitude higher brightness) than previously available. This paper describes the ring and existing beamlines of the advanced light source, and plans for crystallography and elliptical wiggler stations are discussed. Using nickel metalloprotein spectra recorded at NSLS and SSRL as examples, this paper describes how the higher monochromatic flux available from the ALS will be used for biological soft X-ray spectroscopy.
Characteristic Frequencies and Mode Shapes for TurboGenerator Shaft Torsional Vibrations

Fundamental to the study of turbogenerator shaft torsional vibrations, as occur in subsynchronous resonance and high speed reclosing, is the calculation of the characteristic frequencies and associated mode shapes of the vibrations. A calculation procedure is discussed which is based on distributed ed system concepts and does not require matrix eigenvalue-eigenvector routines as does the conventional method based on lumped inertia and compliance. The procedure is of value in the analysis and simulation of torsional vibrations.
Effects of length, diameter and population density of tribological rolls on friction between self-mated silicon

Abstract Tribological rolls, composed of amorphous silica, were produced by the ball-on-flat linear reciprocating sliding of self-mated silicon at elevated temperatures (200, 400, 500 and 600°C) and humid conditions (PH20=0.034, 0.064 and 0.085 MPa). Normal loads of 2.04, 3.59, 4.73 and 5.80 N were used in the tests. The changes in the coefficient of friction at various loads and environmental conditions were identical. The coefficients of friction were initially between 0.45 and 0.65 and then rapidly decreased to a steady value of about 0.13. The present study describes a model where the steady state coefficient of friction is a function of the length, diameter and population density of the rolls (number of rolls per unit area). The roll length and diameter increase, and the population density decreases with temperature. The roll length increases with load, whereas the other parameters are nearly independent of load. Humidity does not affect these parameters. The compensating effects of the variation in length, diameter and population density lead to the uniformity in the steady state coefficient of friction with the applied load and environment.
The interface microstructure in alumina (FP) fibre/magnesium alloy composite

The objective of this work was to characterize the interfacial reaction zone in the metal matrix composite systemα-Al2O3(FP)/Mg (ZE41A). The composite was fabricated by liquid infiltration method. The reaction zone, a result of the reaction between magnesium in the alloy and the alumina fibres, was analysed for its morphology, chemistry, and crystallographic orientation using transmission electron microscopy. The results of this study showed the reaction zone to be, on average, 100nm wide and composed of MgO. The grains of the reaction zone ranged from less than 10 nm at the fibre/reaction zone interface to greater than 100nm at the matrix/reaction zone interface. It is proposed that the growth of the reaction zone was controlled by a “seepage” mechanism involving infiltration of liquid magnesium between MgO crystalS. Finally, it was observed that the MgO grains have the following crystallographic orientation relationship with the alumina grains from which they grew: $$\langle 1 \overline 1 {\text{ }}0\rangle _{{\text{MgO}}} ||\langle 0{\text{ }}1 1{\text{ }}0\rangle _{{\text{Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}} } {\text{ and }}\langle 1{\text{ }}1 1\rangle _{{\text{MgO}}} ||\langle 1 1{\text{ }}\overline 2 {\text{ }}0\rangle _{{\text{Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}} } $$ .
A Dynamic Systems: constraints approach to rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Classification systems (Nagi, International Classification for Function [ICF]) have become popular for categorizing the level of ability (ICF) or disability (Nagi) associated with movement disorders. Nevertheless, these classifications do not explore the ways in which one level may influence other levels. For example, how might the weakness and stiffness associated with some cases of cerebral palsy result in a stereotypical toe-gait? In this overview we describe a dynamic systems/constraints (DS/C) approach to understand relationships between levels, and how the approach can be used to rationalize a novel process for the evaluation and treatment of movement disorders. OBJECTIVES: There are three specific aims in this paper: first to present a general systems approach to understanding behavior at different levels; second to present tools of, and the results of empirical work using the DS/C approach; third to discuss the clinical implications and results of clinical interventions motivated by DS/C analysis for children with cerebral palsy, and individuals with Parkinson disease.
Increasing the Engagement of Latinos in Services Through Community- Derived Programs: The Right Question Project-Mental Health

A growing body of literature indicates that ethnic differences exist in the rates of retention and engagement in mental health services, and that these disparities stem partly from the inability of services to fulfill the needs and expectations of ethnic minority populations, including Latinos. Increasing the involvement of Latinos in their own mental health treatment may be an important component for improving their care and increasing their participation in treatment. The Right Question Project (RQP) is an educational strategy that encourages active participation in decisions that are important to the individual by facilitating a person’s ability to formulate effective questions and to engage others in an instructive dialogue and shared decision making. The purpose of this article is to describe how this strategy, developed by a community group, was adapted and tailored for use in a mental health setting, with the intention of shifting the level of the client’s active involvement with their providers in order to improve attendance at scheduled appointments and retention in mental health care. The article highlights the advantages of using practical interventions that originate from the community to improve the quality of services available to Latinos. At the same time, it reveals challenges and limitations that shaped implementation decisions, especially in terms of cultural, socioeconomic, and systemic factors affecting Latino participants. Implications for mental health providers, trainees, and supervisors are discussed.
Disfluency clusters of children who stutter: relation of stutterings to self-repairs.

The purpose of this study was to account for the frequency, type, and possible origins of speech disfluency clusters in the spontaneous speech of 3- to 6-year-old children, 30 who stutter and 30 wh...
SIMULATIONS OF THE FEMTOSECOND LASER-INDUCED DESORPTION OF CO FROM CU(100)AT 0.5 ML COVERAGE

Abstract Simulations of the femtosecond laser-induced desorption of CO from Cu(100) at an initial temperature of 95K are reported, employing molecular dynamics with electronic frictions. Results are obtained for saturation (0.5 ML) CO coverage, which are compared with additional simulations in the zero coverage limit. In both cases, the desorption yield depends nonlinearly on laser fluence, with initial nonadiabatic energy flow occurring selectively from hot substrate electrons to the molecule-surface frustrated rotation. There is significant enhancement of the desorption yield at saturation relative to the zero coverage limit. This is due to conversion of momentum in the plane of the surface to normal momentum, by collisions between an energetic adsorbate and its neighbors, and energy pooling between molecules in the overlayer.
The role of postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction on quality of life for postmenopausal women 6 months after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND:Women are prone to neurological complications after cardiac surgery. We have previously reported that treatment perioperatively with the neuroprotectant steroid 17β-estradiol did not improve neurocognitive end-points 4 to 6 wk after surgery for elderly women. In this study, we evaluated t
Comparison of the Slosson Full-Range Intelligence Test and Teacher Judgments as Predictors of Students' Academic Achievement:

This study investigated the use of teacher judgments and the Slosson Full-Range Intelligence Test to estimate the academic achievement of 89 students who were attending a small, private school. The...
Why Discipline Matters in Computing Education Scholarship

Scholarly communities in computing determine how to produce and validate knowledge within their domains of focus. Much of this knowledge can remain tacit because of shared ways of becoming a disciplinary scholar within any particular area of computing. But such tacitness presents challenges for computing education scholarship, since knowledge about how to create and validate claims about human thinking and learning is rarely a part of the training for computing educators. The editors-in-chief of TOCE have responded to these challenges by making explicit the epistemic practices associated with the publication of its manuscripts, by encouraging a range of borrowing from other disciplines, and by instituting feedback loops at all levels of review.
Hypothyroidism and Pleural Effusions

Serous effusions have been thought to be an unusual complication of hypothyroidism and most commonly have been associated with ascites, pericardial fluid and heart failure. Pleural fluid as an isolated finding in hypothyroidism is apparently rare and complete analysis of these hypothyroid-associated pleural effusions has not been described. To determine the frequency, chemical characteristics and clinical associations of hypothyroidism and pleural effusions, the medical records of 128 patients with hypothyroidism (defined by an increased serum TSH concentration) were reviewed. The majority of effusions in patients with hypothyroidism were due to other diseases. Effusions solely due to hypothyroidism appeared to be a real entity. These effusions were borderline between exudates and transudates and showed little evidence of inflammation.
Fate of exogenous marinobufagin-3H in Bufo marinus

Abstract After marinobufagin-3H was injected into toads, 80 per cent of the radioactivity could be extracted from various tissues 2–3 months later. One-half of the tissue radioactivity was found in the ovarian tissues, of which 80–90 per cent could be identified as unchanged marinobufagin by thin-layer chromatography and reverse isotope dilution techniques. Of the other tissues, 27.2 per cent was found in the gastrointestinal tract. Skin and parotoid glands, where these steroids presumably are synthesized and stored, had together only 1 per cent activity. Other tissues had a total of less than 0.25 per cent of the injected radioactivity. Little was excreted. The major conversion product of marinobufagin is tentatively identified as telocinobufagin. Thus the formation of 14β-hydroxyl group of cardiotonic steroids, at least in toads, would be by reduction of a 14β, 15β-epoxide.
Color Centers and Trapped Charge in KCl and KBr

Potassium chloride and bromide crystals have been irradiated with x-rays at -183\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and the behavior of the ${V}_{1}$, $F$, and ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ optical absorption bands observed during subsequent warming to room temperature. The thermal bleaching of the ${V}_{1}$-band is accompanied by a decrease in the $F$-band, the appearance of free charge within the crystal, and luminescence. The data indicate that positive holes are released from traps during this process.
Kinetic and inhibition studies of phospholipase A2 with short-chain substrates and inhibitors

The action of the phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) from Naja naja naja, Naja naja atra, and Crotalus atrox venoms as well as the enzyme from porcine pancreas on a number of short-chain, water-soluble substrates was studied. The inhibition of these enzymes by short-chain phosphonate- and thiophosphonate-containing phospholipid analogues was also examined. The kinetic patterns observed for the action of the venom PLA2s on substrates containing phosphocholine head groups all deviated from a classical Michaelis-Menten-type behavior. With a substrate containing an anionic head group, the kinetic pattern observed was more normal. In contrast, Michaelis-Menten-type behavior was observed for the action of the porcine pancreatic PLA2 acting on all of the substrates studied. A short-chain phospholipid analogue in which the enzyme-susceptible ester was replaced with a phosphonate group was found to be a tight-binding inhibitor of the venom PLA2s with IC50 values that were some 10(4)-10(5)-fold lower than the concentration of substrate used in the assay. The degree of inhibition was found to depend dramatically on the stereochemical arrangement of substituents in the inhibitor which strongly suggests that the inhibitors are binding directly to the active site of the PLA2s. By comparison, the phosphonate analogue functioned as a poor inhibitor of the porcine pancreatic PLA2. Direct inhibitor binding studies indicated that the short-chain phosphonate inhibitor bound weakly to the venom enzymes in the absence of the short-chain substrates. Several other unusual features of the inhibition were also observed. The data are interpreted in terms of a model in which the enzyme and substrate form a lipid-protein aggregate at substrate concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Possible reasons for the selective binding of the inhibitor to the enzyme-substrate microaggregate are discussed.
Insulin-specific tolerance in diabetes.

Abstract At present it is possible to predict the development of type 1A diabetes (immune-mediated diabetes) in man and prevent the disorder in animals. Studies of immunity to insulin play a prominent role in both disease prediction and disease prevention. For both man and the NOD mouse, insulin autoantibodies usually precede the development of diabetes and can be utilized to assist in disease prediction. T cells clones recognizing insulin, both CD4 and CD8, can transfer disease to young mice or immunodeficient animals. Specific insulin peptides reacting with these clones have been identified, their crystal structure when bound to a human “diabetogenic” MHC allele has been determined, and specific peptides can be used either to induce or to prevent disease. Clinical trials of both insulin and an altered peptide ligand of insulin to prevent islet β-cell destruction are underway. Insulin is one of a number of islet autoantigens, but it is likely that immune responses to insulin will be central to both pathogenesis and immunologic protection.
Magnetic resonance elastography: Inversions in bounded media

Magnetic resonance elastography is a noninvasive imaging technique capable of quantifying and spatially resolving the shear stiffness of soft tissues by visualization of synchronized mechanical wave displacement fields. However, magnetic resonance elastography inversions generally assume that the measured tissue motion consists primarily of shear waves propagating in a uniform, infinite medium. This assumption is not valid in organs such as the heart, eye, bladder, skin, fascia, bone and spinal cord, in which the shear wavelength approaches the geometric dimensions of the object. The aim of this study was to develop and test mathematical inversion algorithms capable of resolving shear stiffness from displacement maps of flexural waves propagating in bounded media such as beams, plates, and spherical shells, using geometry-specific equations of motion. Magnetic resonance elastography and finite element modeling of beam, plate, and spherical shell phantoms of various geometries were performed. Mechanical testing of the phantoms agreed with the stiffness values obtained from finite element modeling and magnetic resonance elastography data, and a linear correlation of r(2) >or= 0.99 was observed between the stiffness values obtained using magnetic resonance elastography and finite element modeling data. In conclusion, we have demonstrated new inversion methods for calculating shear stiffness that may be more appropriate for waves propagating in bounded media.
The Emergence of a Freedom of Information Movement: Anonymous, WikiLeaks, the Pirate Party, and Iceland

Online rhetoric about the Internet's potential to change society, the need to reform intellectual property laws, and the evils of censorship is becoming increasingly similar across sites. The push for "freedom of information" is not restricted to online spaces, but it appears to be born from such spaces, with the concept itself shaped by the presence of the Internet and its effect on networked societies. Focusing on WikiLeaks, the Pirate Party, Anonymous, and Iceland, I describe the emerging coalescence of "freedom of information" advocates pushing for a simultaneous liberalization and homogenization of freedom of information regulations across democracies.
A mathematical model of the cyclic operation of desalination-feedwater softening by ion-exchange with Fluidized-bed regeneration

Abstract The goal of this work was to optimize the steady cyclic operation of an ion-exchange pretreatment of an agricultural wastewater that is fed to a desalination plant. The ion-exchange resin is exhausted to remove calcium in a fixed bed. Brine from the desalination plant regenerates the ion exchanger in a fluidized bed to prevent plugging by calcium sulfate. After the calcium sulfate precipitates, the regenerant can be reused. To predict how the plant should be operated, a mathematical model was needed. The model qualitatively agrees with experimental results. Conclusions about operating such a plant are drawn.
Effects of Dexamethasone and Growth Hormone on Fatty Acid Mobilization and Glucose Utilization in Adrenalectomized Rats

Parametrial adipose- tissue taken from rats adrenalectomized 8 hours utilized more glucose and released less fatty acid than did tissue from normals; treatment with dexamethasone restored these values to normal. Although the fatty acid release in vitro was 10-fold greater in rats given growth hormone and glucocorticoid, plasma free fatty acids and ketone bodies were the same as those in rats given either hormone alone.
Maternal-fetal transfer of melatonin in the non-human primate.

Summary: Melatonin was detected in the circulation of the near-term rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatto) and baboon (Papio papio) fetus. We determined whether the source could be the mother by studying placental transfer of melatonin in the rhesus monkey. When [3H]melatonin was administered i.v. to the mother it promptly appeared in the fetal circulation; the rates of disappearance of [3H]melatonin in the maternal and fetal circulations were parallel. The rapid decrease in circulating [3H]melatonin was associated with a rapid accumulation of [3H]melatonin-metabolites in the maternal and fetal circulations. Although the pattern of appearance of metabolites was similar in both circulations, relatively less [3H]melatonin-metabolites appeared in the fetal circulation. Acute changes in total maternal plasma melatonin, experimentally produced by giving a 20 min infusion of melatonin, were rapidly reflected in the fetus. This suggests that a daily rhythm in maternal melatonin would generate a similar rhythm in the fetus. The fetal monkey pineal was found to have the two enzymes necessary for the conversion of serotonin to melatonin. It is, however, not known whether fetal melatonin synthesis is rhythmic or the extent to which it could contribute to circulating melatonin levels at this or earlier stages of gestation. Speculation: Prompt placental transfer of melatonin could result in a maternally generated dally melatonin rhythm in the fetus. This communication may introduce the developing fetus to a 24-hr chemical periodicity and coordinate certain fetal functions with the prevailing environmental lighting cycles.
Preferential Attachment of H in Amorphous Hydrogenated Binary Semiconductors and Consequent Inferior Reduction of Pseudogap State Density

Hydrogen evolution and infrared vibrational absorption have been interpreted to show (1) the existence of weakly bonded H in $a$-Ge: H and Ge-rich $a$-Si-Ge: H alloys, and (2) a preference ratio in excess of 5 for the attachment of H to Si over Ge in the formation of such alloys. It is suggested that this may account for the inferior photoresponse of hydrogenated binaries compared to elements, and also for the superiority of $a$-Si: H over $a$-Ge: H. Some ideas on better compensators than H are advanced.
Understanding the Effect Size of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate for Treating ADHD in Children and Adults

Objective: An earlier meta-analysis of pediatric clinical trials indicated that lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) had a greater effect size than other stimulant medications. This work tested the hypothesis that the apparent increased efficacy was artifactual. Method: The authors assessed two potential artifacts: an unusually high precision of measurement and an unusually low placebo effect. The authors evaluated generalizability from children of adults. Results: The LDX effect sizes for children were significantly larger than the pooled stimulant effect sizes from studies using the same outcome measures. However, although no other individual stimulant study had an effect size greater than LDX, there was overlap between the 95% confidence intervals for some of these studies and the LDX study. The high LDX effect sizes were not due measurement or placebo effect artifacts. LDX effect sizes for adults were not larger than the stimulant effect sizes from other studies. Conclusion: The high LDX effect size for ...
Formation of a Linear Supramolecular Polymer by Self-Assembly of Two Homoditopic Monomers Based on the Bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10/Paraquat Recognition Motif

A homoditopic monomer containing two bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 units and a complementary homoditopic monomer containing two paraquat moieties were designed and prepared. At high equimolar concentrations (>40 mM) they self-organize to form a linear supramolecular polymer in solution as confirmed by proton NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and viscosity studies.
Partial volume estimation using continuous representations

This paper presents a new method for partial volume estimation using standard eigenimage method and B-splines. The proposed method is applied on the multi-parameter volumetric images such as MRI. The proposed approach uses the B-spline bases (kernels) to interpolate a continuous 2D surface or 3D density function for a sampled image dataset. It uses the Fourier domain to calculate the interpolation coefficients for each data point. Then, the above interpolation is incorporated into the standard eigenimage method. This incorporation provides a particular mask depending on the B-spline basis used. To estimate the partial volumes, this mask is convolved with the interpolation coefficients and then the eigenimage transformation is applied on the convolution result. To evaluate the method, images scanned from a 3D simulation model are used. The simulation provides images similar to CSF, white matter, and gray matter of the human brain in T1-, T2-, and PD-weighted MRI. The performance of the new method is also compared to that of the polynomial estimators.1 The results show that the new estimators have standard deviations less than that of the eigenimage method (up to 25%) and larger than those of the polynomial estimators (up to 45%). The new estimators have superior capabilities compared to that of the polynomial ones in that they provide an arbitrary degree of continuity at the boundaries of pixels/voxels. As a result, employing the new method, a continuous, smooth, and very accurate contour/surface of the desired object can be generated. The new B-spline estimators are faster than the polynomial estimators but they are slower than the standard eigenimage method.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Fos expression in the vestibular brainstem: What one marker can tell us about the network

Fos inducible transcription factor expression in rodent brains (rats and gerbils) during manipulations of vestibular input is reviewed. Stimuli included centripetal hypergravity, unilateral labyrinth lesion or semicircular canal plugging, rotational axis cross-coupling (Coriolis forces), high and low rotational vestibulo-ocular reflex gain adaptation, translabyrinth galvanic stimulation, pharmacological manipulation, and combinations thereof. Each type of stimulation elicited unique but partially redundant response patterns in the vestibulo-olivo-cerebellar (VOC) network that reflect the origin and interaction of the labyrinth inputs. On the basis of these patterns, a trained observer can predict what the animal experienced during testing; the patterns of VOC Fos expression reveal a trace of recent genomic activity. Based on principal component analysis, VOC network modules associated with lesion recovery, spatial representation and the calibration of gravity, and optokinetic influences are proposed. Probable and possible gene targets of the Fos protein are also reviewed.
Fatigue Life Calculation for Offshore Structural Tubular Joint Using Fracture Mechanics Crack Growth Analysis

Fracture mechanics fatigue life estimation procedures have been developed for offshore structural tubular joints through analysing a K-joint under the North Sea environment. The objective of this study was to establish reliable procedures for estimating the remaining fatigue life of a tubular joint with cracklike defects. It was found that rigorous fracture mechanics fatigue crack growth analysis procedures, such as the ones used, are practical for in-service safety assessment for an offshore jacket. It was also found that the reliable estimation of the material toughness is essential for the accurate assessment of the remaining fatigue life for an existing offshore jacket structure.