cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health Evaluation of Experimental Laboratory Mice

Good science and good animal care go hand in hand. A sick or distressed animal does not produce the reliable results that a healthy and unstressed animal produces. This unit describes the essentials of assessing mouse health, colony health surveillance, common conditions, and determination of appropriate endpoints. Understanding the health and well-being of the mice used in research enables the investigator to optimize research results and animal care.
Comparative Membrane Microviscosity of Fish and Mammalian Rhabdoviruses Studied by Fluorescence Depolarization

The microviscosity of the hydrophobic region of the membrane of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus was determined using fluorescence depolarization analysis of the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and was found to be much lower at 37 C than that of another rhabdovirus, vesicular stomatitis virus. However, the microviscosity of this fish virus at 18 C, the temperature at which it was grown, corresponded to the microviscosity of vesicular stomatitis virus at 37 C. Data obtained with the fish virus host cell (chinook salmon embryo cells) grown at 18 C suggest that its membranes have a lower microviscosity than either L-929 or BHK-21 cells (the vesicular stomatitis virus host cells) grown at 37 C.
Structural and functional properties of human alpha-thrombin, phosphopyridoxylated alpha-thrombin, and gamma T-thrombin. Identification of lysyl residues in alpha-thrombin that are critical for heparin and fibrin(ogen) interactions.

alpha-Thrombin derivatives obtained either by site-specific modification at lysyl residues (phosphopyridoxylated) or by limited trypsinolysis (gamma T-thrombin) were compared to correlate structural modifications with the functional reactivity toward fibrin(ogen) and heparin. alpha-Thrombin phosphopyridoxylated in the absence of heparin (unprotected) showed approximately 2 mol of label incorporated/mol of thrombin, but only 1 mol of label incorporated/mol of proteinase when modified in the presence of added heparin (protected). In contrast to native alpha-thrombin, both phosphopyridoxylated alpha-thrombin derivatives failed to interact with a fibrin monomer-agarose column and had reduced fibrinogen clotting activity, which is very similar to gamma T-thrombin. Heparin accelerated the rate of antithrombin III inhibition of alpha-thrombin, heparin-protected modified-alpha-thrombin, and gamma T-thrombin in a manner consistent with a template mechanism but was without effect on unprotected modified alpha-thrombin. In a heparin-catalyzed antithrombin III inhibition assay of alpha-thrombin, we found that D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl ketone-active site-inactivated gamma T-thrombin competed for heparin binding. It has been shown that limited proteolysis/autolysis of the B-chain of alpha-thrombin in the area around Arg-B73 (in beta T/beta- and gamma T/gamma-thrombin), but not that around Lys-B154 (in gamma T/gamma-thrombin), diminishes specific interactions with fibrinogen (Hofsteenge, J., Braun, P. J., and Stone , S. R. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 2144-2151). In unprotected modified alpha-thrombin, lysyl residues B21, B65, B174, and B252 were phosphopyridoxylated. In heparin-protected modified alpha-thrombin, only lysyl residues B21 and B65 were phosphopyridoxylated. These observations suggest that lysyl residues 21/65 of the B-chain of alpha-thrombin are involved in fibrin(ogen) interactions, and lysyl residues 174/252 of the B-chain are important in heparin interactions.
Dynamics of Carrier Plasma and Thermal Waves in Ion Implanted Si with Varying Pump and Probe Wavelengths

Dynamics of the carrier plasma‐ and thermal‐waves in ion implanted Si is studied using the Modulated Optical Reflectance (MOR) technique with varying pump and probe beam wavelengths. It is shown that selection of the pump and probe beam wavelengths allows control of the MOR signal behavior on Si samples implanted with a wide range of implantation energies and doses.
Differential Regulation of Formyl Peptide Receptor-Like 1 Expression During the Differentiation of Monocytes to Dendritic Cells and Macrophages

Monocytes are the common precursors for myeloid dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages. Identification of chemotactic receptors expressed by myeloid DC, macrophages, and their precursors in the course of differentiation and maturation is important not only for elucidation of their in vivo trafficking, but also for understanding of the functional distinction between DC and macrophages. We chose to study formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL1), a chemotactic receptor known to interact with several endogenous agonists that are involved in inflammatory and host defense responses. Here we show that FPRL1 is down-regulated as monocytes differentiate into DC. This down-regulation occurs at both mRNA and functional levels. Therefore, the interaction of FPRL1 with its agonists is more likely to regulate the in vivo trafficking of DC precursors than DC. In contrast, FPRL1 expression is maintained at both mRNA and functional levels as monocytes differentiate into macrophages. Thus, our results demonstrate further distinctions between myeloid DC and macrophages, albeit they share a common precursor. The fact that macrophages rather than myeloid DC express functional FPRL1 suggests that this chemotactic receptor may be more involved in inflammatory reactions and innate host defense than in adaptive immune responses.
Case-Based Problem Solving for Knowledge Management Systems

Case Based Reasoning (CBR) is an intelligent systems methodology that enables information managers to increase efficiency and reduce cost by substantially automating processes (i.e., diagnosis, scheduling, or design). By identifying and ranking the relevance between a new case and previously encountered cases (i.e., stored in the case base), CBR systems can capture and share all of an organizationOs related knowledge capital for future use, and knowledge recycling can optimize resources spent o n research and development. Unfamiliar cases are solved and documented by retrieving and adapting solutions from similar stored cases. Sample applications include a proposed knowledge system designed to enhance the NASA-KSC Shuttle Processing Out-of-Family Disposition process, which addresses any operation or performance outside expected range or one that has not previously been experienced. CBR technology can yield productive results by transforming problem report and interim problem report related documentation into explicit knowledge that can be reused to obtain solutions for new anomalies. Applying CBR technology to the Out-of-Family Disposition process can transform the organization into a learning organization that continues to grow in intellectual capital and related applied knowledge. This paper discusses the application of the NaCoDAE Conversational CBR (CCBR) system for this process. NaCoDAE is a software package developed at the Naval Research Laboratory. It uses CCBR technology t o store cases, questions, and actions; and has a built-in method that efficiently searches for the most relevant cases.
Serotonin and Dopamine Interactions in Rodents and Primates: Implications for Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drug Development

Since the late 1950s, appreciation of dopamine receptor blockade has played a primary role in understanding the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenic patients in treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (e.g., delusions and hallucinations). Development of the second generation of antipsychotic drugs, otherwise known as atypical antipsychotic drugs, has resulted in treatments with improved subjective tolerability but relatively modest improvements in the negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as avolition, flat affect, and anhedonia. The major current challenge is to develop medications which can further improve negative symptoms treatment and also tackle the intractable clinical problems of cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. Further advances along these lines with respect to the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurostransmitter systems will be aided by an appreciation of the interaction between dopamine and serotonin receptor subtypes in a range of key brain structures, such as the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, striatum, amygdala, hippocampus, and the brain stem nuclei, from which the cell bodies of monoaminergic-containing neurons originate. Increasing emphasis on the use of animal models which are homologous to critical aspects of the pathophysiology in the brains of schizophrenic patients will also be required, especially as negative symptoms and cognitive impairment become an important focus for generating novel therapeutics.
Strength and Entanglement Development at Amorphous Polymer Interfaces

When two similar amorphous dense polymers are brought into good contact at sufficiently high temperatures, we consider strength development resulting from interdiffusion of chain segments across the interface. Mechanical properties, H, are evaluated in terms of microscopic mechanisms involving chain segment slippage and bond rupture. Using deGennes’ topological constraint reptation model for the interdiffusion analysis of the symmetric interface, we obtain the mechanical properties as a function of time, t < t ∞, and molecular weight, M, as $$\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {H = {{H}_{\infty }}{{{(\frac{t}{{{{t}_{\infty }}}})}}^{{r/4}}}} & {r,s = 0,\pm 1,\pm 2, \ldots } \\ \end{array}$$ where $${{H}_{\infty }} = {{M}^{{(3r - s)/4}}}$$ t∞ ∼ M3 is a characteristic relaxation time, H∞ is the virgin state property, and r, s have integer values. For fracture stress, r = 1, for fracture energy, GIC, r = 2, for fatique crack propagation rate da/dn, r = -5, for tensile modulus, r = 0. The value of H∞ depends on the microscopic deformation process such that when bond rupture dominates, s is determined by s = 3r and when chain slippage dominates, s = r. Experimental evidence for these relations is presented.
Memory and Tradition in the Book of Numbers: Variations on a Theme: Shaping Memory in the Wilderness

Again and again memory keeps its attention riveted on the present, even on present and future conduct. Nearly at journey's end two of the tribes of Israel – the Reubenites and Gadites – suddenly approach Moses without warning to demand land on the other side of the Jordan. No vignette in the Book of Numbers better conveys the pronounced importance of memory to its continuing concerns than in the curious negotiations conducted by the two tribes with an increasingly furious Moses. One can imagine that Moses would find this new crisis to be a particularly cruel one, as it occurs so near to the borders of the promised land and so close to his own death. Undaunted, the Reubenites and Gadites approach Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the chieftains of the community to request the lands of Jazer and Gilead, excellent lands for cattle. “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon – the land that yhwh has conquered for the community of Israel is cattle country and your servants have cattle” (Num. 32:3). Each and every foreign place uttered in this speech must surely gall and provoke Moses. Each is located on the wrong side of the Jordan, outside the boundaries of the land to which the Israelites are headed. In fact, the Reubenites unwittingly emphasize the point when they beseech Moses: “Do not move us across the Jordan” (Num. 32:5).
Forecasting Performance Measures for Traffic Safety Using Deterministic and Stochastic Models

Traffic-safety performance measures required by the Moving Ahead Progress in 21st Century (MAP-21) act were forecasted in this study to facilitate the reduction of fatalities and serious injuries. Given the lack of exposure data (e.g., traffic counts), time series were used to conduct the forecast. Deterministic and stochastic models were applied using four independent and univariate time series from the crash data collected by the Nevada Department of Transportation. The best model specification was obtained using root mean square error and mean absolute percent prediction error as goodness of fit. Among several deterministic models evaluated in this study, the Winter-additive model for seasonal data and the Damped-trend model for non-seasonal data provided adequate forecasts. In the case of stochastic models, for non-seasonal data, an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model provided acceptable results. However, the absence of adequate data likely precludes an appropriate estimation using the ARIMA model. For seasonal data, a Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model provided the best forecast measures. The stochastic SARIMA(0,0,5)(0,1,1)12 model, an improved model, had a preferred fit for predicting the number of fatalities and serious injuries in Nevada over a five-year horizon. The SARIMA model could be an appropriate statistical model to predict fatalities and serious injuries as required by MAP-21.
Every base matters: assessing small subunit rRNA primers for marine microbiomes with mock communities, time series and global field samples

Summary Microbial community analysis via high-throughput sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA genes is an essential microbiology tool. We found the popular primer pair 515F (515F-C) and 806R greatly underestimated (e.g. SAR11) or overestimated (e.g. Gammaproteobacteria) common marine taxa. We evaluated marine samples and mock communities (containing 11 or 27 marine 16S clones), showing alternative primers 515F-Y (5′-GTGYCAGCMGCCGCGGTAA) and 926R (5′-CCGYCAATTYMTTTRAGTTT) yield more accurate estimates of mock community abundances, produce longer amplicons that can differentiate taxa unresolvable with 515F-C/806R, and amplify eukaryotic 18S rRNA. Mock communities amplified with 515F-Y/926R yielded closer observed community composition versus expected (r2 = 0.95) compared with 515F-Y/806R (r2 ∼ 0.5). Unexpectedly, biases with 515F-Y/806R against SAR11 in field samples (∼4–10-fold) were stronger than in mock communities (∼2-fold). Correcting a mismatch to Thaumarchaea in the 515F-C increased their apparent abundance in field samples, but not as much as using 926R rather than 806R. With plankton samples rich in eukaryotic DNA (> 1 μm size fraction), 18S sequences averaged ∼17% of all sequences. A single mismatch can strongly bias amplification, but even perfectly matched primers can exhibit preferential amplification. We show that beyond in silico predictions, testing with mock communities and field samples is important in primer selection.
Ficus carica; isolation and quantification of the photoactive components

The presence and levels of furocoumarins in several parts of Ficus carica including the milky sap, were investigated. The results show that psoralen and bergapten are the only significant photoactive compounds, and are present in appreciable quantities in the leaf and shoot sap but are not detected in the fruit or its sap. These compounds are more concentrated in the leaf sap compared to the shoot sap. The psoralen levels are several times higher than those of bergapten. Lower concentrations of both compounds are present in autumn compared to spring and summer. These findings suggest that the reaction is induced primarily by psoralen. The response can follow contact with the leaf and shoot sap but not with the fruit sap, and is expected to occur more frequently from exposure to the leaf sap. The higher content of both photoactive compounds in spring and summer is partly responsible for the increased incidence of fig dermatitis during these seasons. Ingestion of the fruit does not cause photosensitization and the absence of photoactive furocoumarins in the fruit and its sap remains unexplained.
APOE genotype modulates proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolites in the aging brain.

Background Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS) studies on healthy aging have reported inconsistent findings and have not systematically taken into account the possible modulatory effect of APOE genotype. We aimed to quantify brain metabolite changes in healthy subjects in relation to age and the presence of the APOE E4 genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, we examined these measures in relation to cognition. Methods We studied a cohort of 112 normal adults between 50 and 86 years old who were genotyped for APOE genetic polymorphism. Measurements of 1 H-MRS metabolites were obtained in the posterior cingulate and precuneus region. Measures of general cognitive functioning, memory, executive function, semantic fluency, and speed of processing were also obtained. Results General linear model analysis demonstrated that older APOE E4 carriers had significantly higher choline/creatine and myo-inositol/creatine ratios than APOE E3 homozygotes. Structural equation modeling resulted in a model with an excellent goodness of fit and in which the APOE × age interaction and APOE status each had a significant effect on 1 H-MRS metabolites (choline/creatine and myo-inositol/creatine). Furthermore, the APOE × age variable modulation of cognition was mediated by 1 H-MRS metabolites. Conclusions In a healthy aging normal population, choline/creatine and myo-inositol/creatine ratios were significantly increased in APOE E4 carriers, suggesting the presence of neuroinflammatory processes and greater membrane turnover in older carriers. Structural equation modeling analysis confirmed these possible neurodegenerative markers and also indicated the mediator role of these metabolites on cognitive performance among older APOE E4 carriers.
Silicon oxide nanoparticles reveal the origin of silicate grains in circumstellar environments

A synergistic effort combining experiments in beams and first principles theoretical investigations is used to propose mechanisms that could lead to the formation of silicates and nanoparticles with silicon-rich cores through agglomeration of SiO, an abundant oxygen-bearing species in space. The silicon oxygen species involved in the transformation have optical excitations that could contribute to extended red emissions and blue luminescence. Apart from resolving an outstanding astronomical problem, we demonstrate novel silicon architectures.
Evidence for an involvement of mu-, but not delta- or kappa-opiate receptors in sympathetically and parasympathetically mediated cardiovascular responses to opiates upon anterior hypothalamic injection

Abstract Mu-, but not delta- or kappa opiate receptors mediate the cardiovascular effects of opiates upon microinjection into the anterior hypothalamus of awake rats. Low doses of enkephalins (0.2–3 nmole) stimulate adrenal medullary and sympathetic outflow resulting in a net chronotropic and pressor response. High doses (7.5–30 nmole) cause a pronounced respiratory depression which, together with vagal activation, partly counteracts the sympathetically induced cardiovascular stimulation.
Determination of an optimal aquifer yield, with Salt Lake County applications

Abstract The need to consider relationships between the yield developed and aquifer drawdown, as well as water rights, water quality and demand constraints complicates the assessment of firm yield for an aquifer. An optimization model that considers these factors is presented to aid the evaluation of an aquifer's firm yield. The objective of the model is to maximize the annual yield from a system of wells while meeting a set of constraints that include: (1) meeting the demands of each water supply agency; (2) restricted steady-state aquifer drawdowns; (3) maintenance of water quality; and (4) satisfaction of a prescribed water rights structure. The decision variables of the model are the annual pumping rates at each candidate well site, and the piezometric heads at each location of interest. An application of the model to the Salt Lake County aquifer system is presented. Parametric assessments of the impact of the above constraints on the maximal steady-state yield of the aquifer system are performed.
The effects of hormonal and chemotherapy on tumoral and nonneoplastic breast tissue

One hundred four sequential pretherapy and posttherapy breast tissue specimens from 57 patients with locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer were evaluated in an attempt to define the effects of systemic chemotherapeutic agents on the tumors and residual nonneoplastic breast tissue. The patients were treated uniformly at the National Cancer Institute on an experimental protocol combining systemic chemotherapy with attempted hormonal synchronization. Tumors were sampled prior to and following several cycles of chemotherapy to a maximum objective clinical response (average number of cycles, 7). In 38 cases, the posttreatment biopsy was positive for tumor. The most striking histologic change was extreme vacuolization of tumor cells that often resembled histiocytes. Atrophy of the terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU) and atypia of epithelial cells in TDLU and large ducts were also seen. Severe degrees of epithelial atypia occasionally proved to be difficult to distinguish from residual intraductal carcinoma. Breast biopsies were stained with antibodies to cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), B72.3, lactalbumin, and SP1 using immunoperoxidase techniques. The number of cases showing immunoreactivity with antibodies to cytokeratin, EMA, and B72.3 remained approximately the same before and after therapy, while SP1 expression decreased and lactalbumin expression increased after therapy. Recognition of chemotherapeutic changes in breast tissue is important since systemic chemotherapy plays an important role in the management of breast cancer.
EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR IN PULMONARY HYPOPLASIA IS REDUCED DUE TO CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA COMPARED TO OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS. ▴ 389

Pulmonary hypoplasia is a common cause of neonatal morbidity and is due to many factors, including congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and oligohydramnios (O). We hypothesized that epidermal growth factor (EGF), believed to have a role in growth of the fetal lung, may differ in its effect on pulmonary hypoplasia due to these conditions. We induced pulmonary hypoplasia in fetal rats either by maternal ingestion of 2,4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether (Nitrofen) (115 mg/kg) on day 11 of a 21 day gestation (n=10 litters), or by puncture of the amniotic sac on day 16 to induce O (n=20 litters). Organs were harvested at 21 days and EGF was determined in lung and liver by RIA. The EGF values were compared to those in control (C) fetuses (n = 7 litters). Data are mean ± s.e.m.Table
Effects of human growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, and diet and exercise on body composition of obese postmenopausal women

To determine the effects of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) administration, diet, and exercise on weight loss, body composition, basal metabolic rate (BMR), muscle strength, and psychological status, 33 moderately obese postmenopausal women (67.1 +/- 5.2 yr) participated in a 12-week randomized, double blind study. Participants were placed on a diet that provided 500 Cal/day less than that needed for weight maintenance, and they walked 3 days and strength trained 2 days each week. Subjects also self-injected GH (0.025 mg/kg BW.day), IGF-I (0.015 mg/kg BW.day), a combination of these doses of GH and IGF-I, or placebo (P). Twenty-eight women completed the study, as five subjects dropped out due to intolerable side-effects (e.g. edema). Weight loss occurred in all groups, with the largest decrease occurring in the GH plus IGF-I group (5.6 +/- 1.4 kg). Fat mass significantly decreased in all groups, with the largest losses observed in GH and GH plus IGF-I groups (6.3 +/- 1.8 and 8.4 +/- 2.8 kg, respectively). Despite weight loss, BMR was maintained in all groups. Muscle strength increased with training for all groups, and depression and anxiety scores decreased in groups receiving IGF-I. These data show that obese postmenopausal women can lose weight and fat without compromising fat free mass, BMR, or gains in muscle strength, and that GH and IGF-I given together may enhance fat loss over either given alone.
The antiarrhythmic actions of intravenous and oral UM424 in postinfarction canine myocardium

The electrophysiologic and antiarrhythmic effects of oral and intravenous UM424 were studied in canine models of acute and chronic myocardial injury. In the first phase of this study, reentrant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and/or ventricular fibrillation were initiated by programmed electrical stimulation techniques in seven dogs 48-120 h after myocardial infarction. The cycle length of these reentrant ventricular beats was 176 +/- 16 ms, and they were accompanied by fractionated asynchronous epicardial electrical activity in the injured region that bridged the diastolic interval, i.e., 143 +/- 37 ms. When this prolonged, diastolic electrical activity ceased, the ventricular tachyarrhythmias ceased. UM424 5 mg/kg i.v. increased the effective refractory period of the normal myocardium by 21 ms (p less than 0.05), depressed cardiac conduction in the injured, infarcted myocardium and suppressed these reentrant tachyarrhythmias. Ventricular fibrillation could not be initiated after UM424. In the second phase of this study, a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis was used to produce spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias. UM424 60 mg/kg p.o. converted these ventricular arrhythmias to normal sinus rhythm. This pharmacologic action was not associated with deleterious hemodynamic side effects and lasted for 3 h, the duration of each experiment. These results demonstrate that after oral or intravenous administration, UM424 possess antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory actions in canine models of acute and chronic myocardial injury.
New physical model calculates airline crews' radiation exposure

Airline pilots and crews, who spend hundreds of hours each year flying at high altitude, are exposed to increased doses of radiation from galactic cosmic rays and solar energy particles, enough that airline crew members are actually considered radiation workers by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
Life after Casey: the view from Rehnquist's Potemkin Village.

The United States Supreme Court announced its decision in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey on June 29 1992. The suit challenged various aspects of the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act: the provision of information to the abortion seeker to persuade her to carry to term; a 24-hour wait before the procedure; parental consent for a minor; notification of husband; and reporting of abortion to public authorities. The Supreme Court upheld all provisions except the husband notification stipulation. The Court left open the applicability of the undue burden standard to the waiting period which Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Scalia dissented with. The Casey decision means abandonment of the notion that abortion rights are fundamental with legislative restrictions therefore deserving of strict judicial scrutiny. Anti-abortion legislation currently on the books in Louisiana Utah and Guam and abortion restrictions in 18 states are presumably unconstitutional. So too are the husband notification and consent provisions of 10 states. On the other hand the decision leaves a variety of anti-choice enactments in 11 states as presumably constitutional including restrictions of abortion counseling in 3 states mandatory informed consent provisions in 25 states parental consent or notification laws in 34 states mandatory viability testing in 3 states and post-viability restrictions in 35 states. 38 states prohibit public funding for abortion; and 13 states have mandatory waiting periods of up to 2 days. A Mississippi district court judge has already been allowed by the Fifth Circuit to uphold a mandatory waiting period citing the Casey decision. Other effects of the Casey decision include reaffirmation of legitimacy of state interests in the life of the fetus: states may invoke their interests to abridge liberty. Pro-choice strategies for responding to the Casey decision include election strategies involving local state and federal officials as well as legislative litigation educational and technical strategies (new contraceptives RU-486 Norplant).
Student Perceptions of Social Loafing in Undergraduate Business Classroom Teams

There is a rich body of research devoted to the causes and remedies of social loafing in workplace teams. However, the social loafing phenomenon remains underinvestigated from the perspective of students in undergraduate business classroom teams. In particular, how they define and respond to loafing remains unknown. This article reports findings from a two-stage study that shows social loafing as a more complex construct than current conceptions suggest. Moreover, students avoid confronting loafers and prefer to have instructors administer postpriori justice based on their self-report of individual contributions. Based on the findings and recent writings, the article speculates on the causes of these student responses to social loafing in classroom teams.
Quantitative photoacoustic imaging in radiative transport regime

The objective of quantitative photoacoustic tomography (QPAT) is to reconstruct optical and thermodynamic properties of heterogeneous media from data of absorbed energy distribution inside the media. There have been extensive theoretical and computational studies on the inverse problem in QPAT, however, mostly in the diffusive regime. We present in this work some numerical reconstruction algorithms for multi-source QPAT in the radiative transport regime with energy data collected at either single or multiple wavelengths. We show that when the medium to be probed is non-scattering, explicit reconstruction schemes can be derived to reconstruct the absorption and the Gruneisen coefficients. When data at multiple wavelengths are utilized, we can reconstruct simultaneously the absorption, scattering and Gruneisen coefficients. We show by numerical simulations that the reconstructions are stable.
Individual variation in constitutive and induced monoterpene biosynthesis in grand fir

Abstract Variations in the level and distribution of monoterpene synthase activities in stem samples of 46 grand fir saplings maintained under controlled conditions were investigated using sensitive, non-destructive bioanalytical techniques that permitted the assessment of constitutive, wound-induced and ethylene modulated biosynthetic capability of each individual. Radiochemically-based in vitro assays, with [1- 3 H]geranyl diphosphate as substrate, revealed considerable quantitative variation in constitutive and induced response levels of total monoterpene synthase activity, and the analysis of monoterpene distribution generated in the cell-free extracts allowed the definition of seven distinct biosynthetic chemotypes. No correlation was observed between total monoterpene biosynthetic capacity and chemotype, indicating that both broad quantitative and qualitative variation in oleoresin monoterpene production exists in this native population of grand fir. The implications of these findings for oleoresin-based defense against bark beetle predation are described.
Relaxation in Reactive Flows

We consider convective systems in a bounded domain, in which viscous fluids described by the Stokes system are coupled using the Boussinesq approximation to a reaction-advection-diffusion equation for the temperature. We show that the resulting flows possess relaxation-enhancing properties in the sense of [CoKRZ]. In particular, we show that solutions of the nonlinear problems become small when gravity is sufficiently strong due to the improved interaction with the cold boundary. As an application, we deduce that the explosion threshold for power-like nonlinearities tends to infinity in the large Rayleigh number limit. We also discuss the behavior of the principal eigenvalues of the corresponding advection-diffusion problem and the quenching phenomenon for reaction-diffusion equations.
Sex differences in adolescent methylphenidate sensitization: effects on glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Abstract This study analyzed sex differences in methylphenidate (MPH) sensitization and corresponding changes in glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotprhic factor protein (BDNF) in adolescent male and female rats. After habituation to a locomotor arena, animals were sensitized to MPH (5 mg/kg) or saline from postnatal day (P) 33–49, tested every second day. On P50, one group of animals were injected with saline and behavior assessed for conditioned hyperactivity. Brain tissue was harvested on P51 and analyzed for GDNF protein. A second group of animals was also sensitized to MPH from P33 to 49, and expression of behavioral sensitization was analyzed on a challenge given at P60, and BDNF protein analyzed at P61. Females demonstrated more robust sensitization to MPH than males, but only females given MPH during sensitization demonstrated conditioned hyperactivity. Interestingly, MPH resulted in a significant increase in striatal and accumbal GDNF with no sex differences revealed. Results of the challenge revealed that females sensitized and challenged with MPH demonstrated increased activity compared to all other groups. Regarding BDNF, only males given MPH demonstrated an increase in dorsal striatum, whereas MPH increased accumbal BDNF with no sex differences revealed. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that behavioral sensitization and the conditioned hyperactivity test were reliable predictors of striatal and accumbal GDNF, whereas sensitization and activity on the challenge were reliable predictors of accumbal BDNF, but had no relationship to striatal BDNF. These data have implications for the role of MPH in addiction and dopamine system plasticity.
A theory of nondilute spray evaporation based upon multiple drop interactions

Drop interactions, changes in drop temperature, and the evolution of the ambient conditions due to heating and evaporation were taken into account in a theory of drop evaporation. A sphere of influence is defined for each drop, with all droplets having equal separation distances. Global conservation and state equations for a droplet spray are formulated, together with equations for single drop evaporation in finite surroundings. A criterion is defined for complete evaporation and the dynamics of spray evaporation are discussed. The theory is noted to be applicable for both dilute and nondilute spray evaporation effects.
Responding to “problem” members

Abstract Recommendations for a frame of reference for viewing problematic member behaviors are made. A process that suggests guidelines for intervening with problematic member behaviors is presented.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System in the Quest for Stroke Therapeutics

Stroke is a devastating neurovascular disease with limited therapeutic options. The pathogenesis of stroke involves complex interrelated molecular mechanisms including excitotoxicity, oxidative and nitrosative stress, cortical spreading depolarizations, inflammation, necrosis, and apoptosis. Successful development of stroke therapeutics depends on understanding these molecular mechanisms and how to counteract them to limit tissue damage during stroke. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) has been shown to antagonize a multiplicity of pathologic mechanisms. Elements of parasympathetic activation such as vagus nerve stimulation have already been used successfully in treating brain disorders such as epilepsy and depression. This review discusses the anatomical basis and molecular mechanisms involved in activation of the PNS, and assesses the strength of available evidence for the further development of this modality into a stroke therapy.
Using Nonmedically Trained Interviewers to Collect Biomeasures in a National In-Home Survey.

A key operational component of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) is the use of nonmedically trained interviewers to collect biomeasures in a national in-home survey of health and aging. Few studies have integrated in-home biomeasure collection using nonmedically trained interviewers on a large scale. In this article, the authors discuss their approach to using nonmedically trained interviewers to collect biomeasures in the home. The article focuses on activities that impact the ability to integrate biomeasures into survey research, including developing field methods, recruiting and training interviewers, and monitoring data collection activities. In addition, cooperation rates and measures of interviewer productivity and data quality are provided to evaluate the authors’ approach.
Differential projections of cortical sensorimotor areas upon the dorsal column nuclei of cats

Cortical projections to the dorsal column nuclei (DCN) of cats arise from layer V pyramids throughout the sensorimotor cortex and also from the second somatosensory cortical area (SII). In this study, the relative contribution from various cortical areas to different portions within the DCN-complex has been investigated in cats with restricted cortical lesions and using the Fink-Heimer technique. The sensorimotor cortex (areas 4, 3, 1, and 2) projects throughout most of the rostro-caudal extent of the gracile nucleus. Densest projections arise from the upper bank of the cruciate sulcus containing mainly the hindlimb region (area 4), from the medial wall of the posterior sigmoid gyrus (mainly area 3a) and terminate in the rostral as well as in the clusters regions of the gracile nucleus. The contribution of cortico-gracile projections from the hindlimb regions of areas 3b, 1 and 2 are much less conspicuous and terminate mainly in the rostral region of the nucleus. The nucleus z, the medullary relay for Ia fibers from the hindlimb, receives exceedingly sparse cortical projections. Dense projections to the cuneate n. arise from the cortical forelimb representation in the posterior sigmoid gyrus (areas 3a and 4) and laterally in the upper bank of the cruciate sulcus (area 4). The distribution pattern of cortical projections within the cuneate nucleus is however different from that within the gracile n. since (a) none of the lesioned cortical areas in the forelimb representation project to the clusters region, and (b) cortical projections terminate most densely in the base of the cuneate n., a medullary relay for Ia fibers from the forelimb. Sparse projections to the rostral region of the cuneate n. arise uniformly from all cytoarchitectonic areas of the forelimb representation. Cortical projections from SII are sparse and confined to the base and rostral region of the cuneate n. The results provide further evidence for the origin of descending projections upon the DCN mainly from cortical regions related to movement control. Further, it is suggested that cortico-DCN control is biased toward nuclear subdivisions related to cutaneous afferents from the hindlimb within the gracile n.-nucleus Z complex but toward nuclear subdivisions related to deep and muscle afferents from the forelimb within the cuneate nucleus.
Effect of inulin on the rheological properties of silken tofu coagulated with glucono-δ-lactone

Abstract This study investigated the rheological properties of inulin-containing silken tofu coagulated with glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) upon heating. Inulin (Raftiline ® HP-gel) was added to a soy protein isolate-enriched cooked soymilk at 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% (w/v) levels along with 0.4% (w/v) GDL to prepare acid-induced silken tofu. Gelation was induced by heating the soymilk mixture from 20 to 90 °C at a constant rate (1 °C/min) or isothermally at 90 °C for 30 min. The gelling properties were measured with dynamic small-deformation mechanical analysis and static large-deformation compression tests. The rheological changes in soymilk during gelation were dependent upon both the pH decline (hydrolysis of GDL) and the specific temperature of heating. Control samples heated to ∼50 °C, with the pH lowered to 5.95, started to gel, showing a rapid increase in storage ( G ′) and loss ( G ″) moduli afterwards. The addition of 2% inulin lowered the on-set gelling temperature by 2.8 °C and improved ( P
Derivatives of analytic functions and bounded mean oscillation

Etude du comportement a la frontiere des fonctions analytiques dans le disque-unite. Caracterisation des fonctions a oscillation moyenne bornee
Evaluation of Mn substitution for Ni in alumina-forming austenitic stainless steels

Abstract There has been increasing interest in the substitution of low-cost Mn for Ni in austenitic stainless steels due to the rising price of Ni. This paper investigates the possibility of such a substitution approach for the recently developed alumina (Al2O3)-forming austenitic (AFA) class of heat-resistant stainless steels. Computational thermodynamic tools were utilized to predict the alloy composition range to maintain an austenitic matrix microstructure when Mn is substituted for Ni in the presence of Al, which is a strong body-centered-cubic (BCC) phase stabilizer. Phase equilibria, oxidation behavior, and creep properties of Fe–(10–14)Cr–(5–15)Mn–(4–12)Ni–(2.5–3)Al–Cu–Nb–C–B (in weight percent) based alloys were studied. The alloys based on Fe–14Cr–2.5Al–(5–9)Mn–(10–12)Ni exhibited the best balance of oxidation and creep resistance, which represents approximately 50% reduction in Ni content compared to previously developed AFA alloys. These low-Ni, high-Mn AFA alloys formed protective Al2O3 scales up to 973–1073 K in air and at 923 K in air with 10% water vapor. Creep-rupture lives of the alloys under a severe screening condition of 1023 K and 100 MPa were in the 7.2 × 105–1.8 × 106 s (200–500 h) range, which is comparable to or somewhat improved over that of type 347 stainless steel (Fe–18Cr–11Ni base).
Syndrome of juvenile hypothyroidism associated with advanced sexual development: report of two new cases and comment on the management of an associated ovarian mass.

Two patients with juvenile hypothyroidism and advanced sexual development, one with an ovarian mass, are presented in detail. The possibility that the ovarian mass will regress with adequate thyroid therapy is discussed. It is suggested that adequate thyroid replacement therapy be instituted to test this possibility before surgical intervention is instituted.
Variation in sexual behaviors in a cohort of adolescent females: the role of personal, perceived peer, and perceived family attitudes.

Abstract Purpose Little is known about how adolescent sexual behaviors develop and the influence of personal or perceived social attitudes. We sought to describe how personal, perceived peer, and perceived family attitudes toward adolescent sexual activity influence sexual behaviors of adolescent females' over time. Methods Between the years of 1999 and 2006, 358 English-speaking female adolescents, aged 14–17 years, were recruited from three urban adolescent clinics. Participants completed quarterly and annual questionnaires over a span of 4 years. Primary outcomes included engagement in any of the following eight sexual behaviors: kissing, having breasts touched, having genitals touched, touching partners' genitals, oral giving, oral receiving, anal, or vaginal sex. Three attitudinal scales assessed personal importance of abstinence, perceived peer beliefs about when to have sex, and perceived family beliefs that adolescent sex is negative. We used generalized estimating equations to identify predictors of each sexual behavior and compared whether personal, perceived peer, or perceived family attitudes predicted sexual behaviors over time. Results The odds of reporting each sexual behavior increased with age but were lower among those whose personal or perceived family attitudes were less positive. Participants' personal attitudes toward adolescent sex were the strongest predictor of engagement in all eight sexual behaviors even after controlling for perceived peer and perceived family attitudes. Conclusions Female adolescent's personal attitudes toward abstinence appear to be the strongest predictor of engagement in a variety of sexual behaviors. Efforts to influence adolescent attitudes toward abstinence may be an important approach to reducing sexual behaviors that increase the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Effect of fasting on the esterfied α-glycerol ethers of the neutral lipids of heart and adipose tissue of rats

Abstract The effect of prolonged fasting on the lipids of cardiac muscle and adipose tissue of adult rats has been studied with special emphasis on the acylated α-glycerol ethers of the neutral lipids. Adipose tissue was found to be an excellent source of neutral lipid glycerol ethers as well as plasmalogens, the latter being present in amounts previously observed only in brain. In the neutral lipids of adipose tissue 75–80 per cent of the total glycerol ethers were present as ether diesters. The remaining 20–25 per cent of the glycerol ethers consisted of ether monoesters and α-glycerol ethers in similar amounts. In contrast, the triacyl glycerides represented 97 per cent of the total glycerides of adipose tissue. Fasting has little effect on the total glycerol ether content of adipose tissue and cardiac muscle, but results in marked changes in the triacyl glyceride content of these tissues. The concentration of neutral glycerides was found to increase in cardiac muscle only while the stores of triacyl glycerides in adipose had not been depleted. Once the neutral glycerides of adipose tissue started to decrease precipitously, the endogenous glycerides of cardiac muscle declined, suggesting that the non-esterified fatty acid content of the plasma was no longer sufficient to meet the energy needs of the cardiac muscle cell.
The Doubled CO2 Climate: Impact of the Sea Surface Temperature Gradient

The Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) GCM of Hansen et al. (1983) was run, with 4 deg x 5 deg resolution, with doubled CO2 and two sets of sea surface temperature gradient distributions. One set was derived from the equilibrium doubled CO2 run of the 8 deg x 10 deg GISS GCM, with minimal high latitude amplification. The other set resembled closely the GFDL model results, with greater amplification. Both experiments had the same global mean surface air temperature change. The two experiments were often found to produce substantially different climate characteristics. With reduced high latitude amplification (set one), and thus, more equatorial warming, there was a greater increase in specific humidity and the greenhouse capacity of the atmosphere, resulting in a warmer atmosphere in general. Features such as the low-latitude precipitation, Hadley cell intensity, jet stream magnitude, and atmospheric energy transports all increased in comparison with the control run. In contrast, these features all decreased in the experiment with greater high latitude amplification (set two).
Limitations on high peak power users

Observations of the onset of small scale self-focusing on the NRL laser system are compared with present theories. Qualitative agreement is found between theory and experiment and it is also found that it is possible to derive a “safe” value for growth for small scale self-focusing. The criteria derived from self-focusing considerations alter the systems considerations for maximum output and/or economy from those derived if self-focusing is not considered.