cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measures of Clinical Health among Female-to-Male Transgender Persons as a Function of Sexual Orientation

The present study examined the sexual orientation classification system that was used in the DSM-IV-TR for categorizing those who met the Gender Identity Disorder diagnostic criteria in order to determine the extent to which female-to-male transgender persons (FTMs) differ on psychological variables as a function of sexual orientation. Participants were 605 self-identified FTMs from 19 different countries (83 % U.S.) who completed an internet survey assessing their sexual orientation, sexual identity, symptoms of depression and anxiety, stress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), and health related quality of life (SF-36v2 Health Survey). Over half the sample (52 %) reported sexual attractions to both men and women. The most common sexual identity label reported was "queer." Forty percent of FTMs who had begun to transition reported a shift in sexual orientation; this shift was associated with testosterone use. Overall, FTMs ranged from normal to above average on all psychological measures. FTMs did not significantly differ by sexual attraction on any mental health variables, except for anxiety. FTMs attracted to both men and women reported more symptoms of anxiety than those attracted to men only. Results from the present study did not support a sexual orientation classification system in FTMs with regard to psychological well-being.
The nutritional value of organic detrital aggregate in the diet of fathead minnows

1. The nutritional value of detrital aggregate, which refers to the mixture of plant debris (i.e. organic detritus) and microorganisms, in the diets of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas Rafinesque) was assessed in experiments using surface benthic samples from three sites in Clear Lake (Houghton County, Michigan, U.S.A.). 2. In the first experiment, fish were fed small (<250 μm) and large (250–1000 μm) particle detritus from one profundal and two littoral sites. Fish in all treatments lost weight. However, fish fed detritus from the littoral erosional site, where wild fish forage intensively, had significantly lower weight loss. 3. In the second experiment, fish were fed various quantities of Artemia with or without ad libitum erosional site detritus. Growth was proportional to the mass of Artemia consumed, yet minnows showed increased growth with the detritus supplement at low invertebrate rations. 4. This study shows that detrital aggregate produced by decompositional processes at the erosional site could be nutritionally valuable to minnows. It appears that a feeding strategy of consuming detritus with a higher nutritional quality (i.e. detrital aggregate) as a dietary supplement benefits fishes in temperate as well as tropical systems.
Expression of Magainin Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in the Developing Granular Glands of Xenopus Skin and Induction by Thyroid Hormone

The granular gland of amphibian skin is an epithelial derivative that first appears during metamorphosis. The granular glands of Xenopus laevis are an abundant source of magainins, a family of peptides with antimicrobial activity in vitro. We demonstrate the developmental expression and thyroid hormone induction of magainin and PGLa (peptide with aminoterminal glycine and carboxyterminal leucinamide), the two most abundant members of the magainin peptide family. Magainin and PGLa mRNA levels increase dramatically over the 2-day period between stage 58 and stage 60 and remain high during the remainder of metamorphosis. We used in situ hybridization to localize magainin and PGLa mRNAs to the developing granular gland. Magainin and PGLa peptides are also first detected during metamorphosis, as demonstrated by extraction of active peptides from stage 60 tadpoles and immunogold histochemical localization of magainin and PGLa to the granules of the skin granular gland. We demonstrate the premature induction of magainin and PGLa expression upon administration of exogenous thyroid hormone to stage 54 tadpoles. Further investigation of the developmental expression and induction of the magainin peptides will provide insight into their possible biological functions during Xenopus metamorphosis.
Associative ionization of laser-excited Rydberg states in strontium vapor.

Using mass spectrometry we have confirmed that Sr(2)(+) ions are produced from laser-populated Rydberg states by the associative ionization process Sr(5snl) + Sr(5s(2)) ? Sr(2)(+) + e(-). Dimer ion signal was detected for the 5s6d(3)D(2) level, indicating that the binding energy of Sr(2)(+) exceeds 0.77 eV. We have observed that under certain conditions the Rydberg states are destroyed by electron-impact ionization before an associative ionization collision can occur.
Microstructure evolution in metal-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites synthesized by reactive foil sintering in air

Metal-intermetallic (aluminide) laminate (MIL) composites have been fabricated in air using dissimilar metal foils. Foils of varying Al thickness were reacted with foils of Ti-3Al-2.5V resulting in microstructures of well-bonded metal-intermetallic layered composites with either Ti or Al residual metal layers alternating with the Al3Ti intermetallic layers. The MIL composites exhibit a very high degree of microstructural design and control. Microstructure characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) has been performed, and basic physical properties of the Ti-Al composites have been determined. The Ti-Al reaction has been studied by interrupting the reaction processing, in steps, to observe the microstructural changes. An oxide layer between the Ti and Al foils initially controls the reaction kinetics. After breakdown of the oxide layer, a two-phase Al+Al3Ti layer (∼10 µm thickness) is formed. After formation of the two-phase layer, liquid phases are continuously present, and Al3Ti spherules (∼10 µm diameter) are formed through interfacial tension, solidify (in times of 2 to 4 µs), and are expelled into the liquid. This mechanism allows for a continuous reaction interface and higher reaction rates. Both reaction regimes, diffusion through the oxide, and, subsequently, the intermetallic phase reaction mechanism result in linear kinetics.
Acupuncture-Related Pneumothorax.

Abstract Background: Acupuncture-related pneumothorax (PTX) is a poorly reported complication of thoracic needling. Recent Chinese literature reviews cited PTXs as the most common adverse outcome. Because of delayed presentation, this complication is thought to be underrecognized by acupuncturists and is largely addressed by hospital and emergency room personnel. The goal of this case study was to demonstrate common risk factors for a PTX, the mechanisms for its development, and protocols to use if one is suspected. Case: A 43-year-old, athletic female with chronic neck pain that was poorly managed with oral medications sought an alternative intervention for pain control. Her treatment plan consisted of weekly acupuncture sessions in the prone and supine positions targeting points along the Bladder, Gall Bladder, and Small Intestine meridians, as well as the right scapular Ah Shi point. She also received infrared lamp therapy. The aim of this approach was to help the patient achieve subjective pain reduct...
Fetuin as a trypsin inhibitor

Abstract Fetuin per se is a moderately strong trypsin inhibitor of the temporary type and retains its antitryptic activity upon desialicization. It forms a reversible 1:1 complex with β-trypsin and is functionally homogeneous in this respect. Complex formation is an entropy-driven reaction evidently due to release of structured water associated with the individual proteins. It is concluded that the contact area in the complex probably includes the active site of trypsin and that dissociation of the complex is rapid.
Partial Molal Heat Capacity of Aqueous Ferrous Chloride from Measurements of Integral Heats of Dilution

Heats of dilution of concentrated aqueous solutions (4.43 moles-kg−1) of FeCl2 were measured at 15, 25, and 35°C. The heat capacities of these concentrated solutions were also measured at the same temperatures. From these data the partial molal heat capacity, C p2 0 (FeCl2, aq, 298.15°K)=−2.56±30 J−°K−1−mole−1, was calculated. The partial molal heat capacity of Fe2+(aq), −2±30 J-°K−1-mole−1, was correlated with the “correspondence principle” equations of Criss and Cobble.
Simulation studies in biochemical signaling and enzyme reactions

Biochemical pathways characterize various biochemical reaction schemes that involve a set of species and the manner in which they are connected. Determination of schematics that represent these pathways is an important task in understanding metabolism and signal transduction. Examples of these Pathways are: DNA and protein synthesis, and production of several macro-molecules essential for cell survival. A sustained feedback mechanism arises in gene expression and production of mRNA that lead to protein synthesis if the protein so synthesized serves as a transcription factor and becomes a repressor of the gene expression. The cellular regulations are carried out through biochemical networks consisting of reactions and regulatory proteins. Systems biology is a relatively new area that attempts to describe the biochemical pathways analytically and develop reliable mathematical models for the pathways. A complete understanding of chemical reaction kinetics is prohibitively hard thanks to the nonlinear and highly complex mechanisms that regulate protein formation, but attempting to numerically solve some of the governing dierential equations seems to oer signicant insight about their biochemical picture. To validate these models, one can perform simple experiments in the lab. This paper introduces fundamental ideas in biochemical signaling and attempts to take rst steps into the understanding of biochemical oscillations. Initially, the two-pool model of calcium is used to describe the dynamics behind the oscillations. Later we present some elementary results showing biochemical oscillations arising from solving dierential equations of Elowitz and Leibler using MATLAB software.
Prostaglandin E1 and peptide growth factors stimulate neonatal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation in a synergistic manner. † 1544

Abnormal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation is involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary vascular remodeling. Several peptide growth factors stimulate smooth muscle proliferation, while some vasodilators(e.g. nitric oxide) have an inhibitory effect. The action of prostaglandins is less clearly defined, and the effect has been reported to be different for adult aortic and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. We evaluated the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, a competence factor), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, a progression factor), and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on neonatal PASMC proliferation. We used PASMC isolated from the main pulmonary artery of newborn piglets and assessed cellular proliferation by chemosensitivity assays after 24 hours of exposure to different combinations of these factors (5ng/ml bFGF, 20ng/ml IGF-1, 1mg/ml PGE1) in serum free media. As expected. bFGF and IGF-1 stimulated PASMC proliferation. PGE1 also increased PASMC proliferation and its action was synergistic with both growth factors (p<0.05 by ANOVA). To further evaluate the mechanism involved in this action, we tested the hypothesis that PGE1 stimulates the local production of IGF-1 in PASMC (as happens in osteoblasts). The experiment was repeated with the addition of angiopeptin (a somatostatin analogue that inhibits the synthesis of IGF-1). The effect of PGE1 on PASMC proliferation was not changed by angiopeptin, suggesting that PGE1 action is not due to an increased production of IGF-1 by PASMC. These results, if applicable to in vivo conditions, suggest that the administration of PGE1 to newborns with congenital heart defects may contribute to the development of abnormal pulmonary vascular remodeling and chronic pulmonary hypertension.Table
Ingestion of substrate fluid by Helix aspersa Muller: a feeding response induced by low molecular weight chemical stimuli

Abstract 1. 1. Fasted Helix aspersa Muller readily ingest a 1% solution of non-dialysed Blue Dextran but do not ingest dialysed Blue Dextran. 2. 2. Fully-fed Helix do not ingest non-dialysed Blue Dextran, suggesting that the ingestion of Blue Dextran is a feeding response, rather than a response to dehydration. 3. 3. Fasted Helix do ingest dialysed Blue Dextran containing 25 mM glucose, suggesting that ingestion of substrate fluid is initiated by low molecular weight substances, such as glucose, which can be removed by dialysis.
Chord Discrimination by Pigeons

PIGEONS WERE TRAINED IN A GO/NO-GO TASK TO discriminate a major triad from four other chord triads. These latter chords were constructed by altering the third or fifth of the triad by one semitone, creating minor, suspended fourth, augmented, or flat five chords. Experiment 1 used a C root to test these chords. Experiment 2 examined the discrimination of these chords using the D root. Pigeons could discriminate these harmonically complex triads, with manipulations of the fifth supporting better discrimination than manipulations of the third. The augmented chord was perceived as the most dissimilar from the major chord and the suspended fourth chord as the most similar. A combination of attention to sensory consonance and absolute properties of the chords is suggested to account for the results. Comparable human results suggested some overlap in their perception of harmonic elements, but a considerable difference in their flexibility to use this information across different contexts.
Comparison of magnetocardiography and electrocardiography

Abstract The paper compares the MCG and ECG of two abnormal subjects. For the case of complete left bundle branch block, the MCG and ECG have similar morphology, but different signal strengths. For the case of dilated cardiomyopathy, the magnetic QRS complex divides into peaks R and R′, not found in ECG.
Effect of a monofunctional phenanthriplatin-DNA adduct on RNA polymerase II transcriptional fidelity and translesion synthesis.

Transcription inhibition by platinum anticancer drugs is an important component of their mechanism of action. Phenanthriplatin, a cisplatin derivative containing phenanthridine in place of one of the chloride ligands, forms highly potent monofunctional adducts on DNA having a structure and spectrum of anticancer activity distinct from those of the parent drug. Understanding the functional consequences of DNA damage by phenanthriplatin for the normal functions of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), the major cellular transcription machinery component, is an important step toward elucidating its mechanism of action. In this study, we present the first systematic mechanistic investigation that addresses how a site-specific phenanthriplatin-DNA d(G) monofunctional adduct affects the Pol II elongation and transcriptional fidelity checkpoint steps. Pol II processing of the phenanthriplatin lesion differs significantly from that of the canonical cisplatin-DNA 1,2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link. A majority of Pol II elong...
Economic “Reality” and the Myth of the Bottom Line

Ironically, accounting standard setters manage to have plenty to do by simply changing from ne consistent, but problematic, framework to another. American standard setters adopted a set of istorical cost principles for a time, attempted to switch to fair value until they were faced with a ractitioner backlash, then allowed a mix of historical and other valuations, and are now on a rajectory toward fair value. Similar to prior attempts, the new asset/liability-based fair value pproach espoused by the International Accounting Standards Board IASB and the Financial ccounting Standards Board FASB is getting a lukewarm reception Benston 2008; Kvifte 008 . It seems the accounting profession simply cannot settle on a logical, consistent framework or long. This paper argues that the inability to maintain agreement may be tied to the stark ontrast between the inherent paradoxes of accounting and the profession’s insistence on pursuing he myth of a determinate bottom line. If basic elements of the economic “reality” are in fact ndeterminate and paradoxical in nature, perhaps it is understandable that a consistent theoretical ramework is elusive. This paper begins with a brief summary of some previously iterated limitations or problems in ccounting measurement. The main section of the paper then draws on recent discussions between hysicists and Buddhist philosophers exploring the nature of real-world phenomena. The physics nd philosophy dialogs to date have focused on inherent problems in the objective measurement of henomena and suggest that similar challenges exist in the accounting profession’s efforts to easure economic “reality.” The discussion on the indeterminate nature of phenomenal reality is
Generic Flatness and the Jacobson Conjecture

ABSTRACT A result of Artin, Small, and Zhang is used to show that a Noetherian algebra over a commutative, Noetherian Jacobson ring will be Jacobson if the algebra possesses a locally finite, Noetherian associated graded ring. This result is extended to show that if an algebra over a commutative Noetherian ring has a locally finite, Noetherian associated graded ring, then the intersection of the powers of the Jacobson radical is nilpotent. The proofs rely on a weak generalization of generic flatness and some observations about G-rings.
Interaction of two tandem deformable bodies in a viscous incompressible flow

Previous laboratory measurements on drag of tandem rigid bodies moving in viscous incompressible fluids found that a following body experienced less drag than a leading one. Very recently a laboratory experiment (Ristroph & Zhang, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 101, 2008) with deformable bodies (rubble threads) revealed just the opposite -the leading body had less drag than the following one. The Reynolds numbers in the experiment were around 10 4 . To find out how this qualitatively different phenomenon may depend on the Reynolds number, a series of numerical simulations are designed and performed on the interaction of a pair of tandem flexible flags separated by a dimensionless vertical distance (0 ≤ D ≤ 5.5) in a flowing viscous incompressible fluid at lower Reynolds numbers (40 ≤ Re ≤ 220) using the immersed boundary (IB) method. The dimensionless bending rigidity K b and dimensionless flag mass density M used in our work are as follows: 8.6 × 10 -5 ≤ K b ≤ 1.8 × 10 -3 , 0.8 ≤ M ≤ 1.0. We obtain an interesting result within these ranges of dimensionless parameters: when Re is large enough so that the flapping of the two flags is self-sustained, the leading flag has less drag than the following one; when Re is small enough so that the flags maintain two nearly static line segments aligned with the mainstream flow, the following flag has less drag than the leading one. The transitional range of Re separating the two differing phenomena depends on the value of K b . With R e in this range, both the flapping and static states are observed depending on the separation distance D. When D is small enough, the flags are in the static state and the following flag has less drag; when D is large enough the flags are in the constant flapping state and the leading flag has less drag. The critical value of D depends on K b .
Kinetic features of xylan de-polymerization in production of xylose monomer and furfural during acid pretreatment for kenaf, forage sorghums and sunn hemp feedstocks

Abstract: A kinetic study of acid pretreatment was conducted for sorghum non-brown mid rib (SNBMR) (Sorghum bicolor L Moench), sorghum-brown mid rib (SBMR), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L) and kenaf (Gossypiumhirsutum L), focusing on rates of xylose monomer and furfural formation. The kinetics was investigated using two independent variables, reaction temperature (150 and 160°C) and acid concentration (1 and 2 wt%), with a constant dry biomass loading of 10 wt% and a treatment time up to 20 min while sampling the mixture every 2 min. The experimental data were fitted using a two-step kinetic model based on irreversible pseudo first order kinetics at each step. Varied kinetic orders on the acid concentration, ranging from 0.2 to >3, were observed for both xylose and furfural formation, the values depending on the feedstock. The crystallinity index of raw biomass was shown to be a major factor influencing the rate of both xylose and furfural formation. A positive correlation was observed between the activation energy and biomass crystallinity index for xylose formation. Keywords: acid pretreatment, sunn hemp, sorghum brown-mid rib (BMR), sorghum non brown- mid rib (SNBMR), kenaf, reaction kinetics, activation energy, reaction order DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20140704.010 Citation: Kamireddy S R, Kozliak E I, Tucker M, Ji Y. Kinetic features of xylan de-polymerization in production of xylose monomer and furfural during acid pretreatment for kenaf, forage sorghums and sunn hemp feedstocks. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2014; 7(4): 86－98.
Neonatal (+)-methamphetamine increases brain derived neurotrophic factor, but not nerve growth factor, during treatment and results in long-term spatial learning deficits.

Summary In this study, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were examined at five time points [postnatal day (P)11, 15, 20, 21, and 68 (the latter with or without behavioral testing)] during and after P11–20 (+)-methamphetamine (MA) (10 mg/kg 4×day) treatment. BDNF in MA-treated animals was elevated on P15 and P20 in the hippocampus but not in the hypothalamus and was unchanged on P11 and P21. On P68 (1 h after Morris water maze testing) MA-treated offspring showed a trend toward higher levels of BDNF in the hippocampus than saline-treated animals. MA treatment increased NGF levels in the hippocampus but only on P20. No effect of MA treatment was observed in the elevated zero maze. MA-treated offspring had increased latencies, cumulative distances, path lengths, and first bearings in the Morris water maze. The findings indicate that early MA exposure induces hippocampal BDNF increases that precede the later emergence of spatial learning deficits.
The effect of a simulated knee joint effusion on postural control in healthy subjects.

Abstract Palmieri RM, Ingersoll CD, Cordova ML, Kinzey SJ, Stone MB, Krause BA. The effect of a simulated knee joint effusion on postural control in healthy subjects. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:1076-9. Objective: To determine the effects of a simulated knee joint effusion on center of pressure (COP) path and mean power frequency (MPF) during standing. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Setting: Sports injury research laboratory in a university setting. Participants: Twenty healthy volunteers, 10 of whom (age, 20.1±2.4y; height, 168.0±8.1cm; weight, 70.4±13.3kg) were assigned to an effusion group and 10 of whom (age, 25±3.8y; height, 169.4±8.9cm; weight, 74.7±7.7kg) were assigned to a control group. Interventions: COP data were collected before and after a 60-mL injection of sterile saline into the knee joint space. Main Outcome Measures: COP path and mediolateral and anteroposterior MPF. Results: COP path decreased after the effusion (pre-effusion mean, 92.2±21.9cm; posteffusion mean, 77.27±23.0cm). No change was found within the control group for COP path ( P >.05). No differences were detected before or after joint effusion when the MPF was examined ( P >.05). Conclusions: Possible explanations for the improved postural control after the effusion include additional somatosensory feedback, an augmented neural drive to the soleus, and/or increased capsular tension.
Oviposition bioassay responses of Culex tarsalis and Culex quinquefasciatus to neem products containing azadirachtin

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) products have been shown to exert pesticidal properties against a variety of insect species. In mosquito control programs, such products may have the potential to be used successfully as larvicides. In exploring other advantages of neem products, we studied the oviposition responses of Culex tarsalis Coquillett and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say to two experimental azadirachtin (AZ) formulations, wettable powder Azad™ WP10 (WP) and emulsifiable concentrate Azad™ EC4.5 (EC). Gravid Cx. tarsalis exhibited a distinct preference for the neem suspension of the WP, where significantly more egg rafts were collected from the treatment than from the control. The minimum effective AZ concentration for this activity was 0.5 ppm. The aged suspensions from 1–7 days at 0.5 and 1 ppm AZ were more active in eliciting oviposition responses in Cx. tarsalis than the fresh preparations. This activity of the aged suspensions lasted up to 14 and 21 days at 0.5 and 1 ppm AZ, respectively. Negative ovipositional responses were indicated in the tests of the EC vs. Cx. tarsalis, as well as both neem formulations vs. Cx. quinquefasciatus. In the tests of the EC formulation, significantly less gravid females were trapped by oviposition cups in the treatment than in the control, and in the tests of the WP significantly less egg rafts were collected from the treatment than from the control. The minimum effective concentrations for oviposition avoidance activity were 5 ppm AZ for Cx. tarsalis and 10 ppm AZ for Cx. quinquefasciatus, which lasted up to 1 and 4 days for these two species respectively. Neem products potentially used as mosquito larvicides may have many additional benefits in mosquito control programs, the oviposition modification noted in the current studies is one such example.
Development and Implementation of an Experimental Study of the Effectiveness of Intensive In-Home Crisis Services for Children and Their Families

This article describes a 3-year research demonstration project originally funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and now funded in part by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This project, which was conducted in the Bronx, New York, examined the efficacy of 3 models of intensive in-home services as alternatives to hospitalization for children experiencing serious psychiatric crises. All programs were 4- to 6-week interventions. The first, Home-Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI), was modeled on the Homebuilders model of family preservation; the second, Enhanced HBCI (HBCI+), added respite care, flexible service money, parent advocate and support services, and additional staff training in cultural competence and violence management. Crisis Case Management, the third model, used case managers to assess child and family needs and link them to services, as well as respite care and flexible money. The specific features of the 3 program models, the research design, and data collection measures are described. The intake data on the children and families are presented, and implications for providing services and for future research are discussed. E
Getting Married, Breaking up, and Making Up for Lost Time: Relationship Transitions as Turning Points in Women’s Sexuality

Transitioning from single to married or married to divorced has notable effects on women’s sexuality. In some cases, transitions lead to greater sexual subjectivity by enhancing women’s sexual conf...
ULTRAVIOLET AND PHASE MICROSCOPY OF SPORULATING SACCHAROMYCES

Abstract Miller, Glendon R. (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale), Dan O. McClary, and Wilbert D. Bowers, Jr. Ultraviolet and phase microscopy of sporulating Saccharomyces. J. Bacteriol. 85:725–731. 1963.—During active growth, the cytoplasm of yeast cells is densely absorbent to ultraviolet light at 260 mμ, whereas the nucleus is only faintly so, and the vacuole is nonabsorbent. After 24 hr on presporulation medium (about the age of transfer to acetate sporulation medium), the cells manifest many characteristics of starvation. The cytoplasm is weakly absorbent to ultraviolet light except for a dense zone immediately surrounding the vacuole and one or two groups of highly refractile granules clustered on one or both sides of the juncture of the nucleus and the vacuole. After several hours on the acetate sporulation medium, the cells undergo a progressive vacuolation until four or more large vacuoles appear, separated by granular cytoplasm. The nucleus is obscured to ultraviolet light during the vacuolation stage, at which time previous studies have shown its division to occur, and remains so during the rest of the cycle. Photographs of densely granulated cells, at various wavelengths of ultraviolet and visible light, indicated several different types of granules with respect to their absorption spectra. With continued development of the ascus, the granules increase in number until they fill the entire cell and obscure the vacuoles, after which they condense into a compact mass, leaving much of the cell empty. Spores emerge from the granular mass as separate, ultraviolet-absorbent regions without distinguishable cell walls, which seem to be the last structures formed. The rudimentary spores contain a central cluster of dense granules and are separated within the ascus by optically dense, granular partitions which diminish as spore walls are laid down. With the maturing of the ascus, the granules and epiplasm disappear, and the ascus wall is drawn tightly around the more or less homogeneously absorbent spores.
Prevalence of Plagiarism in Manuscript Submissions and Solutions.

Plagiarism remains a major concern that often goes unchecked during the peer-review process; the International Journal of Exercise Science takes this portion of the peer-review process very seriously. It is the hope of the editorial board that through these efforts, students will be able to generate original articles for not only IJES, but also for other journals in the field of exercise science.
An embedded multichannel telemetry unit for bone strain monitoring

An embedded telemetry unit for bone strain monitoring is presented. The telemetry unit is designed using commercially available components to lower design time and manufacturing costs. The unit can read up to eight strain gauges and measures 2.4 cm × 1.3 cm × 0.7 cm. The unit is powered from a small Li-polymer battery that can be recharged wirelessly through tissue, making it suitable for implanted applications. The average current consumption of the telemetry unit is 1.9 mA while transmitting at a rate of 75 kps and at a sampling rate of 20 Hz. The telemetry unit also features a power-down mode to minimize its power consumption when it is not in use. The telemetry unit operates in the 915-MHz ISM radio band. The unit was tested in an ex vivo setting with an ulna bone from a mouse and in a simulated in vivo setting with a phantom tissue. Bone strain data collected ex vivo shows that the telemetry unit can measure strain with an accuracy comparable to a more expensive benchtop data acquisition system.
Giving the Benefit of the Doubt: Addressing Students Who Sleep in Class

As a doctoral student, I have been given the opportunity to teach several undergraduate courses. Unfortunately, most of the classes I teach are offered very early in the morning. As a result, I exp...
Financial Integration over the Past Three Centuries

What the paper shows is that integrated markets of have been the rule rather than exception over long span of years investigated here. This integration process, however, has been a discontinuous one. It was interrupted by major wars and by the severe economic shocks of the interwar years. Each time that happened, however, it began anew. It did so, moreover, quite spontaneously. In finance, as elsewhere, the prospect of gains from trade exerts a powerful force, one that in this instance was sufficient to keep the integration process going through the many adversities of these past three centuries.
Cnidocyte discharge is regulated by light and opsin-mediated phototransduction.

Background Cnidocytes, the eponymous cell type of the Cnidaria, facilitate both sensory and secretory functions and are among the most complex animal cell types known. In addition to their structural complexity, cnidocytes display complex sensory attributes, integrating both chemical and mechanical cues from the environment into their discharge behavior. Despite more than a century of work aimed at understanding the sensory biology of cnidocytes, the specific sensory receptor genes that regulate their function remain unknown.
Expression and function of brain-derived neurotrophin factor and its receptor, TrkB, in ovarian follicles from the domestic hen (Gallus gallus domesticus).

SUMMARY This report summarizes patterns of mRNA expression for the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) together with its high-affinity neurotrophin receptor trkB within the hen ovary during follicle development, describes hormonal mechanisms for the regulation of trkB gene expression and provides preliminary evidence for a novel function for BDNF-mediated TrkB signaling within the granulosa layer. Levels of BDNF mRNA in the thecal layer and of trkB mRNA within the granulosa cell layer increase coincident with entrance of the follicle into the preovulatory hierarchy. Localization of the BDNF mRNA transcript correlates with expression of BDNF protein within the theca interna of preovulatory follicles, while localization of trkB mRNA and protein occurs extensively within the granulosa cell layer of preovulatory follicles. This pattern of expression suggests a paracrine relationship between theca and granulosa cells for BDNF signaling via TrkB. Vasoactive intestinal peptide and gonadotropin treatments stimulate increases in levels of trkB mRNA within cultured granulosa cells derived from both prehierarchal and preovulatory follicles, and this response is increased by co-treatment with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Finally, BDNF treatment of cultured granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles results in a modest, but significant, reduction in basal progesterone production, whereas this effect was reversed by k252a, an inhibitor of Trk kinase activity. These results support the proposals that BDNF functions as a paracrine signal in hen granulosa cells and that its physiological functions may include the modulation of steroidogenesis.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WALL PRESSURE AND VELOCITY FIELD IN A TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYER

Two sets of experiments were performed to investigate the coupling between the flowfield and wall pressure in a turbulent boundary layer. In the first, a stochastic estimation technique on the streamwise velocity field was implemented for the cases of high-amplitude wall pressure conditions. The comparisons of both the linear and quadratic estimate to the conditional average provides insight into the dependence of the wall pressure on the linear and non-linear source terms in Poisson's equation. It is shown that the quadratic stochastic estimation technique approximates the trend and the magnitude of the conditionally-averaged velocity fluctuations very well; whereas, the linear stochastic estimation underestimates the magnitude of the velocity, for both positive and negative wall-pressure detections. This suggests that the non-linear source terms are important in the generation of the wall pressure and it is observed that their importance seems to increase with increasing Reynolds number. The second investigation concerns the correspondence between the conditionally averaged and instantaneous flow. High-resolution PIV, simultaneously acquired with an array of wall-pressure sensors, provided several independent realizations of the instantaneous flowfield and associated wall pressure. A large-scale shear layer is evident for both positive as well as negative wall-pressure events where fluid with positive momentum is upstream of fluid with momentum deficit. For the case of a positive wall pressure detection, P'Jp'wms ^ +2.5, the streamwise location of the shear layer in the region close to the wall coincides with the detection point of the maximum wall pressure signal; whereas, the shear layer is displaced in the streamwise direction by « 400 wall units forp'Jp '^^ -2.5.
Large high-density lipoprotein particle number is independently associated with microvascular function in patients with well-controlled low-density lipoprotein concentration: A vasodilator stress magnetic resonance perfusion study

Background Abnormalities in total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides are associated with microvascular dysfunction. Recent studies suggest that lipid subfractions better predict atherogenic burden than a routine lipid panel. We sought to determine, whether lipid subfractions are more strongly associated with microvascular function and subclinical atherosclerosis, than conventional lipid measurements using vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods Twenty-four adults referred for risk stratification from a lipid clinic with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) Results Univariate regression analysis showed MPRi was associated with HDL-C, triglycerides, large HDL-P, and small LDL-P; no association was found between MPRi and total cholesterol, LDL-C, total LDL-P, or total HDL-P. Using multivariate analysis, large HDL-P was independently associated with MPRi. Conclusions In patients with LDL-C
The z -Transform for Initial Value Problems

In the previous two chapters we investigated various boundary value problems associated with difference equations. In the process, we developed discrete transforms which are compatible with each kind of boundary value problem. This included the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of Chapter 4 for periodic boundary conditions, the discrete sine transform (DST) and the discrete cosine transform (DCT) of Chapter 5, which are compatible, respectively, with the Dirichlet condition, i.e., when the value of the function is given at the two end points; and the Neumann condition where the slope (or the central difference) is given at the two end points. We now turn our attention to a different sort of problem in which difference equation may appear. This is the initial value problem which is often associated with time-dependent or evolutionary system.
Electrotextiles — Present and Future

Electrotextiles have attracted increasing attention in recent years. The combinations of textile structures that are lightweight, flexible, conformable, and strong, with electronics have aroused keen interest from many disciplines. With technological innovations appearing in both textile and electronics, integration of these has started giving benefits. Innovations like the sensate liner, soft switches and smart composites have found many applications in sports, healthcare, military, aerospace engineering, civil engineering and many other fields. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of various electrotextile products available and explain their functionality. Additionally, the paper provides a review of future electrotextile products, which are in the developmental phase, and the challenges that need to be addressed by researchers and industry.
Changes in Food-Specific IgE Over Time in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Background Food allergy prevalence appears to have recently risen, with larger increases among non-Hispanic blacks. However, it is unclear whether these trends represent shifts in recognition of food allergy or in sensitization. Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether sensitization to common food allergens increased in US children from 1988-1994 to 2005-2006 and whether these trends differed by race and/or ethnicity. Methods Food-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE; to peanut, milk, egg, and shrimp) was measured by ImmunoCAP in stored sera from subjects aged 6-19 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and was compared with NHANES 2005-2006. Sensitization to foods was defined as overall (IgE ≥ 0.35 kU/L), moderate level (IgE ≥ 2 kU/L), and high level (IgE ≥ commonly used 95% predictive values). Sensitization to individual and combined foods was compared between surveys, with analyses further stratified by race and/or ethnicity. Results A total of 7896 subjects (NHANES III: n = 4995, NHANES 2005-2006: n = 2901) were included. In NHANES III, the prevalence of food sensitization was 24.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.1-26.5) compared with 21.6% (95% CI: 19.5-23.7) in NHANES 2005-2006. There were no significant changes in the prevalence of any level of milk, egg, or peanut sensitization, but shrimp sensitization at all levels decreased markedly; overall sensitization NHANES III: 11.2% (95% CI: 10.0-12.5) versus NHANES 2005-2006: 6.1% (95% CI: 4.5-7.7). There was a trend toward the increased prevalence of moderate- and high-level sensitization to the combination of milk, egg, and peanut among non-Hispanic blacks but not other groups. Conclusions In contrast to our expectations, sensitization to common food allergens did not increase between the late 1980s/early 1990s and the mid-2000s among US 6-19 year olds, and in fact decreased to shrimp.
Partners in Violence

Introduction : “I Believe in My Maximchik …” In late August 1941 near Odessa, Lieutenant Ivan Grintsov ran down the trenches to the left wing of his company. There was a new machine-gun crew there that he had not yet had a chance to meet. Now, as the enemy was launching another infantry assault, this crew was silent. The new machine gunner must have lost his nerve. Grintsov raced to find out what was wrong; if necessary, he was prepared to machine-gun the enemy himself. When he reached the trench with the new crew, he saw that the machine gunner was crouching, ready, observing the approaching enemy. Grintsov remembered that he wanted to thrust the machine gunner aside when, finally, the gunfire started. “The machine gun began to speak,” remembered another witness, Political Officer Iakov Vaskovskii. “The enemy soldiers got crowded at a narrow passage. The very first sweep of the machine-gun fire cut down nearly half of their first line. The soldiers were so close that they had no place to hide. The last ones fell down about thirty meters from the machine gun. Our trenches were screaming ‘Hurray!’ I believe no one in my company had seen such performance by the machine gun before.” The audacious and deadly precision of this fire executed at a close distance denoted a machine gunner of enviable mental stamina, superb technical know-how, and excellent tactical calculation – one capable of knowing and waiting for that precise degree of proximity at which the most dead from the enemy may be cropped without endangering one's own position.
Hippocampal Perineuronal Nets Are Required for the Sustained Antidepressant Effect of Ketamine.

Background NMDA receptor antagonists, like ketamine, produce a rapid-acting and long-lasting antidepressant effect. Although the mechanism is not completely understood, ketamine is thought to preferentially target NMDA receptors on fast-spiking parvalbumin (PV)-containing interneurons. The function of PV-containing interneurons is dependent on perineuronal nets, a specialized form of extracellular matrix that surrounds these cells. Methods Chondroitinase was used to enzymatically degrade perineuronal nets surrounding PV-containing interneurons in the ventral hippocampus (vHipp), a region that is involved in the antidepressant response to ketamine. Rats were tested on the forced swim test 30 minutes and one week after ketamine administration. Results Thirty minutes after ketamine injection, both chondroitinase-treated and control animals had a decrease in immobility. One week later, however, the antidepressant-like response observed with ketamine was completely abolished in the chondroitinase-treated animals. Conclusion This suggests that PV interneuron function in the vHipp is essential for the sustained antidepressant effect of ketamine.
Scholars and Sultans in the Early Modern Ottoman Empire

During the early Ottoman period (1300–1453), scholars in the empire carefully kept their distance from the ruling class. This changed with the capture of Constantinople. From 1453 onwards, the Ottoman government co-opted large groups of scholars, usually over a thousand at a time, and employed them in a hierarchical bureaucracy to fulfill educational, legal and administrative tasks. Abdurrahman Atcil explores the factors that brought about this gradual transformation of scholars into scholar-bureaucrats, including the deliberate legal, bureaucratic and architectural actions of the Ottoman sultans and their representatives, scholars' own participation in shaping the rules governing their status and careers, and domestic and international events beyond the control of either group.
Abstract 198: Assessing Performance Perceptions And Realities In Outpatient Atrial Fibrillation Care

Introduction: Clinician self-perception is the basis of assessments of care quality in the absence of frequent, quantitative reports on clinical guideline adherence. However, physicians’ self-assessments may reflect an unconscious upward bias. We suspect that gaps exist between clinician perception of care and the care that patients actually receive. We focus on outpatient treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, as performance measure (PM) rates are variable in AF, and because the introduction of novel anticoagulants has the potential to impact established stroke prevention regimes. Hypothesis: This study investigates the gaps between provider perceptions of AF care and documented performance on outpatient AF treatment. We hypothesize that perceptions of performance on AF outpatient PMs will exceed documented performance. Methods: A survey of PINNACLE Registry participants, including 37 physicians, 6 NPs, 3 PAs and 4 RNs was conducted July-August 2011 to assess clinician perception of outpatient AF treatment. Responses were compared to data collected in the ACC’s PINNACLE Registry, an outpatient registry with 222,451 AF patients from over 300 sites. Results: Gaps were revealed between provider perceptions of AF care and in documented care from PINNACLE. Providers overestimated the time spent in the therapeutic INR range, stating that their patients are in the optimal range 70.2% of time (average of 49 responses providing individual percentage range). Best estimates from literature indicate that patients, on average, are in the therapeutic range 55% of time 1 . Clinicians also overestimated the percent of time that they prescribe anticoagulants, estimating that they were prescribed to 93% of eligible patients (average of 49 responses providing individual percentage range). According to PINNACLE, only 60.4% (38841 of 64318) of eligible patients are receiving anticoagulants, leaving 21,225 patients at possible risk for stroke. Finally, clinicians predicted that 66.7% of their patients with AF have two or more risk factors for stroke. Yet, only 13% (11091 of 85433) of patients had their thromboembolic risk factors documented. Conclusion: There is a discrepancy between the care patients with AF should be receiving and the care they actually receive in practices, as documented in the PINNACLE Registry. The gap between clinician perception and reality highlights the importance of CV registries and of regular feedback reporting on clinician performance. 1. The PINNACLE Registry does not measure time spent in therapeutic INR range. This statistic from Baker, WL, Cios DA, Sander SD et al. Meta-analysis to assess the quality of warfarin control in atrial fibrillation patients in the United States. Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy . 2009;15:244_52.