cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of Atlantic Croaker Fingerlings to Practical Diet Formulations with Varying Protein and Energy Contents

Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus is a demersal marine species that is heavily utilized as both a bait and food fish, and which may have commercial culture potential as a bait species. This research sought to initiate the development of practical diet formulations for juvenile grow out and to evaluate the response of this species to controlled culture conditions. Eight practical diets were formulated to evaluate the effects of. 1) increasing lipid levels in a 45% protein diet; 2) dietary protein levels of 45, 40, 35 and 30%; and 3) progressive reduction in dietary energy content of diets with 30% protein. Each diet was offered to four replicate groups of fish having a mean initial weight of 3.8 g over a 7–wk growth trial. At the conclusion of the trial, final mean weights ranged from 17.0 g (410% weight gain) to 8.1 g (210% weight gain) with 100% survival for all dietary treatments. Weight gain and feed efficiency increased with protein content of the diet, with fish fed the 45% protein diet performing the best. Weight gain of fish maintained on the 45% protein diet decreased, but not significantly, as the lipid content of the diet was increased from 8 to 12 or 16%. Feed efficiencies for fish maintained on the diet containing 8% lipid were significantly higher than that of fish maintained on the diet containing 16% lipid. In low protein diets, the replacement of wheat starch with indigestible fiber did not significantly influence growth or feed utilization, indicating that high levels of digestible carbohydrate were not well utilized as an energy source by the fish. The observed results would indicate that growth is optimized on a high protein diet with moderate lipid levels.
Controlled competitive dynamics in a photorefractive ring oscillator: "Winner-takes-all" and the "voting-paradox" dynamics.

We investigate a system through which a variety of competitive dynamics can be optically realized. The interaction between the dynamical variables, in this case the intensities of resonator modes, can be controlled and even programmed. Photorefractive media are used to establish the coupling between the optical modes. We illustrate the properties of such a system through two different instances. The first is a ``winner-takes-all'' system in which the mutual competition between the modes leads to multiple stable fixed points in which one mode oscillates while the other ones are suppressed. The second system employs circular coupling between the modes giving rise to a dynamically recalled sequence of modes, often referred to as ``voting-paradox'' dynamics.
Epidural analgesia and laparoscopic technique do not reduce incidence of prolonged ileus in elective colon resections.

Abstract Background This study evaluated the incidence and risk factors for prolonged ileus in patients undergoing elective colon resection. Methods Retrospective data were obtained in patients undergoing open colectomy with or without epidural analgesia and laparoscopic colectomy at a university-affiliated Veterans hospital. The incidence and risk factors of prolonged ileus as defined by no bowel movement before postoperative day 7 or placement of a nasogastric tube because of vomiting or abdominal distension were analyzed. Results Incidence of prolonged ileus was 15.2%, 22.4%, and 16.7% in epidural (92 patients), nonepidural (107 patients), and laparoscopic colectomy (48 patients), respectively ( P = .39). Higher age, American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, and number of comorbidities, and lower postoperative potassium level were associated with the development of prolonged ileus. Conclusions The incidence of prolonged ileus was similar in the 3 groups studied. However, the epidural and laparoscopic groups experienced earlier return of bowel function and toleration of diet than the nonepidural group.
U.S. Containerized Grain and Oilseed Exports: Industry Profile

Diversification of production agriculture has received much attention in recent years. As producers and customers adapt to technologically advanced production and marketing systems, it is important to consider opportunities available for adding value to raw grain through alternative handling and transportation options. One such opportunity that has been more widely recognized in recent years is marketing grain products via container. It has been estimated that this option is currently used in marketing about 1% of U.S. grain production, with growth to 3% expected in the next 5 years. A profile is presented of the U.S. containerized grain and oilseed export industry, including marketing activities, future expectations, information needs, and business practices. Information developed concerning shipment origins, commodity volumes, and market destinations provides an industry profile that might be used as a tool in research, development, planning, and enhancement of opportunities for containerized marketing of grain products.
Macro role(s) of microRNAs in fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by the loss of functional fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that can regulate the translation of specific mRNAs. It is known to regulate synaptic development through the regulation of local protein synthesis in synapses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs involved in almost every biological process. They exhibit spatiotemporal expression during brain development, and some miRNAs play important roles in neural development. A growing body of evidence now implicates the miRNA pathway in the molecular pathogenesis of FXS. Here we review the current state of knowledge about the microRNA pathway in neural development and the emergence of possible roles for miRNAs in FXS.
Expression of calbindin-D decreases with age in intestine and kidney.

Abstract The calbindins are Ca-binding proteins whose expression is regulated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the active metabolite of vitamin D3. The calbindins are found in high amounts in the proximal intestine (calbindin-D-9k) and the kidney (calbindin-D-28k), and they are thought to play a role in Ca transport by these tissues. Ca absorption by the intestine and perhaps the kidney declines with age, and this could be due to decreased expression of calbindin. Therefore, the expression of calbindins-D-9k and -D-28k was measured in F344 rats aged 2, 6,13, and 24 months. mRNA levels were measured by dot blot hybridization to synthetic cDNA oligonucleotide probes, and protein levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using specific antisera. Intestinal calbindin-D-9k mRNA decreased markedly between 2 and 6 months of age, but it then increased significantly between 13 and 24 months. Calbindin-D-9k protein paralleled the decrease in mRNA between 2 and 6 months, but continued to decline at 13 an...
The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity

To explain the fact that the resistance of a pure metal becomes zero at the absolute zero of temperature it is necessary to take into account the restrictions placed upon the electron scattering by the quantum statistics. When these are included as a probability of transition, the Brillouin treatment of wave scattering gives a very satisfactory law of the temperature dependence of resistance.
Nicotine’s attenuation of body weight involves the perifornical hypothalamus

Previously we showed that intermittent administration of nicotine (NIC) in the dark phase decreased food intake and body weight and this could be blocked when the NIC receptor antagonist mecamylamine was infused into the fourth ventricle. Catecholaminergic neurons adjacent to the fourth ventricle contain NIC receptors and directly innervate the perifornical hypothalamus (PFH) which has been shown to be involved in regulation of feeding. This study explored whether NIC regulates feeding behavior by modulating catecholaminergic input to the PFH. Epinephrine and norepinephrine neuronal input was ablated within the PFH by infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine hydrobromide (6-OHDA), while bupropion was infused to protect dopaminergic neurons. After recovery of body weights to pre-surgery levels, food intake, meal size, meal number and body weight were measured after intermittent NIC injections. The results showed the PFH lesioned animals did not exhibit the typical prolonged drop in food intake, meal size and body weight normally associated with NIC administration. High performance liquid chromatography analyses demonstrated that compared to control rats, 6-OHDA administration significantly reduced PFH norepinephrine and epinephrine levels, but not dopamine levels. These results are consistent with NIC reducing food intake in part by acting through catecholaminergic neurons within or extending through the PFH.
Anisotropic growth of nanostructures in germanium electroplating

An anisotropic growth of nanostructures was observed when germanium was electroplated on a patterned silicon substrate from a nonaqueous solution. Instead of an isotropic growth of mushroom cap expected for electroplating through mask, wire-shaped and wall-shaped structures were obtained, respectively, on via and stripe patterns on silicon substrate. The presence of water in the electrolyte and a high current density were found critical to the anisotropic growth. A passivation of outer surface of the deposit is believed to be involved and prohibits the lateral growth of the deposit.
Isolation and characterization of a thermophilic acetotrophic strain of Methanothrix

An enrichment culture which converted acetate to methane at 60°C was obtained from a thermophilic anaerobic bioreactor. The predominant morphotype in the enrichment was a sheathed gas-vacuolated rod with marked resemblence to the mesophile Methanothrix soehngenii. This organism was isolated using vancomycin treatments and serial dilutions and was named Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1. Strain CALS-1 grew as filaments typically 2–5 cells long, and cultures showed opalescent turbidity rather than macroscopic clumps. The cells were enclosed in a striated subunit-type sheath and there were distinct cross-walls between the cells, similar to M. soehngenii. The gas vesicles in cells were typically 70 nm in diameter and up to 0.5 μm long, and were collapsed by pressures over 3 atm (ca. 300 kPa). Stationary-phase cells tended to have a higher vesicle content than did growing cells, and occasionally bands of cells were seen floating at the top of the liquid in stationary-phase cultures. Acetate was the only substrate of those tested which was used for methanogenesis by strain CALS-1, and acetate was decarboxylated by the aceticlastic reaction. The optimum temperature for growth of strain CALS-1 was near 60°C (doubling time=24–26 h), with no growth occurring at 70°C and 37°C. The optimum pH value for growth was near 6.5 in bicarbonate/CO2 buffered medium and no growth occurred at pH 5.5 or pH 8.4. No growth was obtained below pH 7 when the medium was buffered with 20 mM phosphate. Strain CALS-1 grew in a chemically defined medium and required biotin. Sulfide concentrations over 1 mM were inhibitory to the culture, and growth was more rapid with 1 mM 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (coenzyme M) or 1 mM titanium citrate as an accessory reductant than with 1 mM cysteine. It is likely that strain CALS-1 represents a new species in the genus Methanothrix.
Structural Reorganization and the Cooperative Binding of Single-stranded Telomere DNA in Sterkiella nova

In Sterkiella nova, α and β telomere proteins bind cooperatively with single-stranded DNA to form a ternary α·β·DNA complex. Association of telomere protein subunits is DNA-dependent, and α-β association enhances DNA affinity. To further understand the molecular basis for binding cooperativity, we characterized several possible stepwise assembly pathways using isothermal titration calorimetry. In one path, α and DNA first form a stable α·DNA complex followed by the addition of β in a second step. Binding energy accumulates with nearly equal free energy of association for each of these steps. Heat capacity is nonetheless dramatically different, with ΔCp = -305 ± 3 cal mol-1 K-1 for α binding with DNA and ΔCp = -2010 ± 20 cal mol-1 K-1 for the addition of β to complete the α·β·DNA complex. By examining alternate routes including titration of single-stranded DNA with a preformed α·β complex, a significant portion of binding energy and heat capacity could be assigned to structural reorganization involving protein-protein interactions and repositioning of the DNA. Structural reorganization probably affords a mechanism to regulate high affinity binding of telomere single-stranded DNA with important implications for telomere biology. Regulation of telomere complex dissociation is thought to involve post-translational modifications in the lysine-rich C-terminal portion of β. We observed no difference in binding energetics or crystal structure when comparing complexes prepared with full-length β or a C-terminally truncated form, supporting interesting parallels between the intrinsically disordered regions of histones and this portion of β.
Respiratory control and mitochondrial monovalent cation permeability of isolated liver cells.

Abstract Uncoupling agent releases the respiratory control of rat hepatocytes to approximately the same degree as in isolated mitochondria indicating that mitochondria in situ possess a low H + conductance as in vitro . Mitochondria also have no detectable natural K + conductance since the ionophore, valinomycin, is required for K + ions to uncouple. Na + but not K + or choline inhibits the uncoupled respiration of liver cells. This is consistent with operation of neutral mitochondrial Na + for H + exchange in vivo . These results indicate a considerable similarity between certain functional and permeability properties of mitochondria in vitro and in situ . These similarities form the basis for discussion of the role of mitochondrial ion transport in metabolic regulation.
Interface Propagation and Microstructure Evolution in Phase Field Models of Stress-Induced Martensitic Phase Transformations

Analytical solutions for diffuse interface propagation are found for two recently developed Landau potentials that account for the phenomenology of stress-induced martensitic phase transformations. The solutions include the interface profile and velocity as a function of temperature and stress tensor. An instability in the interface propagation near lattice instability conditions is studied numerically. The effect of material inertia is approximately included. Two methods for introducing an athermal interface friction in phase field models are discussed. In the first method an analytic expression defines the location of the diffuse interface, and the rate of change of the order parameters is required to vanish if the driving force is below a threshold. As an alternative and more physical approach, we demonstrate that the introduction of spatially oscillatory stress fields due to crystal defects and the Peierls barrier, or to a jump in chemical energy, reproduces the effect of an athermal threshold. Finite element simulations of microstructure evolution with and without an athermal threshold are performed. In the presence of spatially oscillatory fields the evolution self-arrests in realistic stationary microstructures, thus the system does not converge to an unphysical single-phase final state, and rate-independent temperature- and stress-induced phase transformation hysteresis are exhibited.
The mucosal immune system of fish: The evolution of tolerating commensals while fighting pathogens

The field of mucosal immunology research has grown fast over the past few years, and our understanding on how mucosal surfaces respond to complex antigenic cocktails is expanding tremendously. With the advent of new molecular sequencing techniques, it is easier to understand how the immune system of vertebrates is, to a great extent, orchestrated by the complex microbial communities that live in symbiosis with their hosts. The commensal microbiota is now seen as the “extended self” by many scientists. Similarly, fish immunologist are devoting important research efforts to the field of mucosal immunity and commensals. Recent breakthroughs on our understanding of mucosal immune responses in teleost fish open up the potential of teleosts as animal research models for the study of human mucosal diseases. Additionally, this new knowledge places immunologists in a better position to specifically target the fish mucosal immune system while rationally designing mucosal vaccines and other immunotherapies. In this review, an updated view on how teleost skin, gills and gut immune cells and molecules, function in response to pathogens and commensals is provided. Finally, some of the future avenues that the field of fish mucosal immunity may follow in the next years are highlighted.
“Paradigms lost”: Some thoughts on choosing methods in evaluation research☆

Abstract Patton agrees with us concerning the need for a catholic approach to method choices in evaluation. However, Patton criticizes us for setting up a straw man when we argued that quantitative and qualitative methods are not inevitably linked to different “paradigms” and that allegiance to a particular paradigm does not force the evaluator into a choice between mutually exclusive qualitative and quantitative methods. The first part of this article shows how some of the past literature creates the impression both of an inevitable method-paradigm linkage and of a forcedchoice between qualitative and quantitative paradigms. It is argued that such impressions could have pernicious consequences for evaluation practice by artificially restricting method choices. In the final section, we consider some of the difficulties of making method choices and suggest that the purposefully developed strengths of different methods should not be completely ignored.
Analysis of supply chain, scale factor, and optimum plant capacity for the production of ethanol from corn stover.

A detailed model is used to perform a thorough analysis on ethanol production from corn stover via the dilute acid process. The biomass supply chain cost model accounts for all steps needed to source corn stover including collection, transportation, and storage. The manufacturing cost model is based on work done at NREL; attainable conversions of key process parameters are used to calculate production cost. The choice of capital investment scaling function and scaling parameter has a significant impact on the optimum plant capacity. For the widely used exponential function, the scaling factors are functions of plant capacity. The pre-exponential factor decreases with increasing plant capacity while the exponential factor increases as the plant capacity increases. The use of scaling parameters calculated for small plant capacities leads to falsely large optimum plants; data from a wide range of plant capacities is required to produce accurate results. A mathematical expression to scale capital investment for fermentation-based biorefineries is proposed which accounts for the linear scaling behavior of bio-reactors (such as saccharification vessels and fermentors) as well as the exponential nature of all other plant equipment. Ignoring the linear scaling behavior of bio-reactors leads to artificially large optimum plant capacities. The minimum production cost is found to be in the range of 789–830 $ m−3 which is significantly higher than previously reported. Optimum plant capacities are in the range of 5750–9850 Mg d−1. The optimum plant capacity and production cost are highly sensitive to farmer participation in biomass harvest for low participation rates.
Highly selective tritium-from-deuterium isotope separation by pulsed NH3 laser multiple-photon dissociation of chloroform

Abstract Infrared multiple-photon dissociation of CTCl 3 was investigated using a pulsed CO 2 laser-pumped NH 3 laser at 12.08 μm. No evidence of any CDCl 3 depletion or decomposition product was observed in photolyzed CTCl 3 /CDCl 3 mixtures. A lower limit of the single-step T/D enrichment factor, β, was found to be ≈ 165, based on the sensitivity in measuring CDCl 3 depletion. The low-fluene CTCl 3 /CDCl 3 optical selectivity in absorptions is > 9000 at the 835 cm −1 CTCl 3 ν 4 peak.
'Reality check': teachers' lives as policy critique

The purpose of the study reported upon in this paper was to determine what graduates of a teacher education program designed to prepare teachers who will work toward goals of equity and social justice were encountering in their schools and how they felt they were doing with regard to these aims and why. Eleven graduates in their second, fourth or fifth year of teaching at a variety of grade levels and contexts were interviewed and surveyed. One of these new teachers responded to the interview questions in a more narrative mode. Her story is featured in the results not only because it is representative of the summarized findings from all interview transcripts, but also because it paints a more complete picture of her situation and her reaction to it. Thus it provides us with valuable information both about what new teachers prepared for equity education believe and value and about what in their contexts helps or hinders their efforts. Through her story we can feel and understand her deep caring for her students and her commitment to help them all reach rigorous and important standards and to be held accountable for it. Thus, we are helped to realize an idea fundamental to social justice education that is hard to make clear to new teachers, policy-makers or the public in more declarative terms-the goals of caring and rigor are complementary, not contradictory. Her despair with regard to the negative influences of high stakes standardized testing and the threats and punitive measures that accompany them, especially in poor schools like hers, are palpable and illuminating.
Results of integrated surface-geophysical studies for shallow subsurface fracture detection at three New Hampshire sites

Integrated interpretation of oriented or anisotropic anomalies in ground-probing radar (GPR), inductive terrain-conductivity, DC-resistivity, and seismic refraction data from three sites in New Hampshire indicates possible orientations of shallow subsurface fracturing. The fracture orientations are northeast-southwest and possibly northwest-southeast at the Milford site and east-west at the Barrington site; preliminary results indicate a northeast-southwest orientation at the Mirror Lake site. These geophysical interpretations are supported by correlations with other surface and subsurface data.
Influence of scattering and ionization on RF impedance in glow discharge sheaths

The effects of scattering and ionization on the rf impedance of a glow discharge sheath are calculated using an equivalent dc sheath model. The effects of scattering are treated in terms of a drag force; equilibrium between the ion drift velocity and field is not required. The ratio of first ionization coefficient to pressure, α/p, is assumed to be constant, and the ion energy and ion current injected from the glow are assumed as initial parameters. In the limit of low pressures, the calculation agrees with the Child-Langmuir law. At intermediate pressures, the results agree with the mobility limited solution. At high pressures, the product of pressure and sheath dimension, pd, becomes constant because of ionization effects. The results of this calculation, obtained by numeric integration, can be accurately approximated by an interpolation formula. This formula provides a simple means for calculating the rf impedance of a sheath.
Successful strategies for implementing biopsychosocial screening

Objective: This commentary integrates successful screening implementation strategies applied in four institutions in the United States and the accumulated knowledge from international leaders about how to engage key professionals and administration in partnering to create a culture of screening. Methods: As in clinical practice, it is first necessary to know the patient's story, potential resources and what motivates them to coordinated meaningful action. Introducing a comprehensive program of screening shares similarities with clinical care but also requires additional insights and an understanding of what motivates institutions to make resources available. Specific behaviors that are tailored to the values of particular professions and the institution are described to increase the likelihood of program uptake. Once key professionals and administration understand the value of screening and not before, a screening implementation plan is put into place. Results: Since the 1990s our screening programs have been successfully implemented in four settings: three NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one community hospital. It is estimated that more than 15,000 cancer outpatients have been screened for distress and cancer-related problems. These programs have demonstrated that biopsychosocial screening programs can be integrated into busy outpatient cancer clinics as part of standard clinical care. Conclusions: Screening involves an intervention that impacts patients, clinical systems, the institution and staffing levels of psychosocial providers. Provision of scarce resources, active engagement of key professionals and administration will only occur if the stakeholders have a clear sense of the benefits for them. Implementing a screening program creates culture change and culture change not only takes time, but active engagement, patience and persistence. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bacterial Degradation of Low Concentrations of Phenanthrene and Inhibition by Naphthalene

Phenanthrene-degrading bacteria were isolated from enrichment cultures of soils contaminated with creosote and jet fuel. The isolates from the creosote enrichments were classified by fatty acid methyl ester profiles as Acidovorax delafieldii and Sphingomonas paucimobilis; the bacterium from the jet fuel-contaminated soil was not identified and was designated strain JFD 11. All three isolates used phenanthrene as a sole carbon and energy source, and two of the isolates used fluoranthene as a sole carbon and energy source. Anthracene and fluorene were cometabolized by all three strains, but pyrene was not transformed. Naphthalene inhibited all of the strains, and 28-h cultures of A. delafieldii were inhibited by naphthalene concentrations as low as 5 ppm. Short-term degradation experiments were undertaken with center-well flasks and concentrations of phenanthrene ranging from 1.2 to 12.0 μm. Since initial degradation rates were not a function of phenanthrene concentration, it was inferred that the half-saturation constants were less than the lowest phenanthrene concentration tested.
Transcription in vitro of Ehrlich ascites tumor DNA and chromatin by purified homologous RNA polymerase II (or B).

Abstract An electrophoretically homogeneous RNA polymerase II (α-amanitin sensitive) has been purified from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and used to study transcription of homologous DNA and chromatin. The general characteristics in the transcription of DNA and chromatin by the purified RNA polymerase are compared with respect to metal ion requirements and sensitivity toward spermine, rose bengal, and heparin. The fidelity of the tumor RNA polymerase in transcription is examined by comparison with that of Micrococcus luteus RNA polymerase. Only a limited portion of DNA and chromatin is transcribed by the tumor RNA polymerase, while the bacterial enzyme transcribes both templates extensively. By double-saturation of DNA or chromatin with the two enzymes as well as kinetic studies, it is shown that the tumor RNA polymerase, in contrast to the M. luteus RNA polymerase, transcribes selective DNA sequences.
Hybrid density functional theory study of fragment ions generated during mass spectrometry of 1,3‐dioxane derivatives

It was recently reported that the cis,cis and trans,trans diastereoisomers of four 2(r)-R-2,4(R),6(S)-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane derivatives show distinct electron ionization mass spectra. As a possible explanation for this finding, the authors suggested that the ions generated during the mass spectrometry of these compounds could follow different fragmentation patterns that initiate from different ion conformations. In this report, hybrid density functional theory methods have been used to investigate the conformational preference of three ions involved in the mass spectrometry of some 1,3-dioxane derivatives. We found that there is indeed more than one stable ion conformation for each of the investigated ions. Energy profiles along the torsional coordinates connecting the conformers are presented, and factors influencing the relative stability of ion conformations are discussed.
Disseminated Malignant Histiocytosis in a Golden Retriever: Clinicopathologic, Ultrastructural, and Immunohistochemical Findings

Diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis (MH), a disorder characterized by systemic proliferation of morphologically atypical histiocytes and their precursors, in an 8-year-old neutered female Golden Retriever was based on light and electron microscopic and immunohistochemical findings. Clinically, the dog presented with unilateral forelimb lameness. Eight days after surgical exploration of a swollen brachium, the dog developed sudden onset of posterior paresis, fecal and urinary incontinence, and a flaccidtail. Necropsy revealed infiltrative and nodular lesions in the right forelimb and regional lymph nodes, thoracic and abdominal cavities, and lumbar epidural space. Gross lesions were not found in the lungs or integument. Histopathologic examination showed infiltrates of atypical histiocytes in skeletal muscle, joint, and regional lymph nodes of the right forelimb; intercostal muscle; lung; liver; spleen; pancreas; kidneys; and spinal dura. Most tumor infiltrates were nodular and composed ofioosely aggregated cells that were 10-30 ,um in diameter with abundant eosinophilic to foamy cytoplasm, had central or eccentric nuclei, and were periodic acid-Schiff negative. Many binucleated cells, multinucleated giant cells, and mitotic figures were seen. Tumor cells contained phagocytosed erythrocytes, mononuclear cells, and some leukocytes. Ultrastructural features of tumor cells included cytoplasmic lipid droplets, Iysosomes, and phagolysosomes. Immunohistochemical studies on paraffin-embedded sections showed positive reactivity to human T-cell Ag (clone UCHL-I) and for lysozyme, a-I-antitrypsin, and cathespin B. Polyclonal intracellular immunoglobulin reactivity and lectin binding (peanut, soybean, and wheat germ agglu­ tinins and concanavalin A) were also demonstrated. Criteria for diagnosis of malignant histiocytic tumors and differential diagnosis are discussed.
Fast analytical computation of Richards's smooth molecular surface

An algorithm for rapid computation of Richards's smooth molecular surface is described. The entire surface is computed analytically, triangulated, and displayed at interactive rates. The faster speeds for our program have been achieved by algorithmic improvements, parallelizing the computations, and by taking advantage of the special geometrical properties of such surfaces. Our algorithm is easily parallelizable and it has a time complexity of O(k log k) over n processors, where n is the number of atoms of the molecule and k is the average number of neighbors per atom.
Factors influencing the design of bioaccumulation factor and biota-sediment accumulation factor field studies

A series of modeling simulations was performed to evaluate the underlying factors and principles that drive the uncertainty in measured bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for fish, and to determine which sampling designs minimize those uncertainties. Temporal variability of chemical concentrations in the water column, and the metabolism rate and n-octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) for the chemical were determined to be the dominant factors that influenced the field-sampling design. Spatial variability of the chemical concentrations, food web structure, and the sediment-water column concentration quotient had a lesser importance upon the overall design. The simulations also demonstrated that collection of composite water samples in comparison to grab water samples resulted in reductions in the uncertainties associated with measured BAFs. Some illustrative sampling design structures for BAF and BSAF measurements based upon the temporal variability of chemical concentrations in the water column and the metabolism rate and Kow for the chemical were developed. These illustrative designs provided a sense of how sampling design structures, that is, the number and spacing over time of sampling events, might be influenced by differences in temporal variabilities, metabolism rates, and Kow. Although the importance of spatial variability was discounted as a major factor in the design process, sampling of water and sediment across the immediate home range of the sampled organism is required for successful measurements because poor spatial coordination of organism, water, or sediment samples will yield BAFs and BSAFs with large and unknown biases.
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST PERSPECTIVES ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

Social constructivist perspectives focus on the interdependence of social and individual processes in the co-construction of knowledge. After the impetus for understanding the influence of social and cultural factors on cognition is reviewed, mechanisms hypothesized to account for learning from this perspective are identified, drawing from Piagetian and Vygotskian accounts. The empirical research reviewed illustrates (a) the application of institutional analyses to investigate schooling as a cultural process, (b) the application of interpersonal analyses to examine how interactions promote cognition and learning, and (c) discursive analyses examining and manipulating the patterns and opportunities in instructional conversation. The review concludes with a discussion of the application of this perspective to selected contemporary issues, including: acquiring expertise across domains, assessment, educational equity, and educational reform.
Comparative Solubility Properties of the Zonae Pellucidae of Unfertilized and Fertilized Mouse Ova

The solubility properties of the murine zona pellucida surrounding unfertilized eggs and 2-cell embryos have been investigated. Unfertilized zonae pellucidae were consistently more readily dissolved than those from 2-cell embryos in 2-mercaptoethanol, sodium periodate, and acidic solutions. No differences were observed when the solubility properties of zonae from 2-cell embryos fertilized in vivo were compared with those fertilized in vitro. The oviduct, therefore, does not appear to contribute to zonae solubility changes. Procedures are now available which will allow an assessment of the physiological importance of alterations in solubility properties of the zona pellucida at fertilization. The mature mammalian ovum is surrounded by the zona pellucida, a relatively thick acellular layer of mucoprotein
Sympathetic neural inhibition of conducted vasodilatation along hamster feed arteries : complementary effects of α1- and α2-adrenoreceptor activation

Vasodilatation initiated on arterioles of skeletal muscle ascends into the proximal feed arteries through cell-to-cell conduction along the endothelium and into smooth muscle. Whereas perivascular sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) can inhibit conducted vasodilatation and restrict muscle blood flow, the signalling events mediating this interaction are poorly defined. Therefore, using isolated pressurized (75 mmHg) feed arteries (diameter (microm) at rest = 53 +/- 3; maximum = 99 +/- 2; n = 86) of the hamster retractor muscle, we tested the hypothesis that distinct yet complementary signalling pathways underlie the ability of SNA to inhibit conduction. Conducted vasodilatation was initiated using ACh microiontophoresis (1 microA; 250, 500 and 1000 ms) and SNA was initiated using local field stimulation (30-50 V; 1 ms at 2, 8 and 16 Hz). With vasodilatations of 5-20 microM, conduction increased with ACh pulse duration and was inhibited progressively as the frequency of SNA increased. During SNA, conduction was partially restored with inhibition of alpha1- (0.1 microM prazosin) or alpha2- (0.1 microM RX821002) adrenoreceptors and fully restored with both antagonists present. Activating alpha1- (50 nM phenylephrine) or alpha2- (1 microM UK 14,304) adrenoreceptors inhibited conduction partially and their simultaneous activation inhibited conduction cumulatively (P < 0.05). Elevated [K+]o (30 or 40 mM) or phorbol esters (0.5 microM) also inhibited conduction yet similar constriction with l-NNA (50 microM) or Bay K 8644 (10 nM) did not. Thus, the activation of alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoreceptors inhibits conducted vasodilatation through complementary signalling events. With robust coupling along the endothelium, our modelling predicts that the inhibition of conduction by SNA can be explained by reduced electrical coupling through myoendothelial gap junctions or greater current leak across smooth muscle cell membranes.
Activation of Salicylic Acid–Induced Protein Kinase, a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase, Induces Multiple Defense Responses in Tobacco

The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is one of the earliest responses in plants challenged by avirulent pathogens or cells treated with pathogen-derived elicitors. Expression of a constitutively active MAPK kinase, NtMEK2DD, in tobacco induces the expression of defense genes and hypersensitive response–like cell death, which are preceded by the activation of two endogenous MAPKs, salicylic acid–induced protein kinase (SIPK) and wounding-induced protein kinase (WIPK). However, the roles that SIPK and WIPK each play in the process are unknown. Here we report that SIPK alone is sufficient to activate these defense responses. In tobacco leaves transiently transformed with SIPK under the control of a steroid-inducible promoter, the induction of SIPK expression after the application of dexamethasone, a steroid, leads to an increase of SIPK activity. The increase of SIPK activity is dependent on the phosphorylation of newly synthesized SIPK by its endogenous upstream kinase. In contrast, the expression of WIPK under the same conditions fails to increase its activity, even though the protein accumulates to a similar level. Studies using chimeras of SIPK and WIPK demonstrated that the C terminus of SIPK contains the molecular determinant for its activation, which is rather surprising because the N termini of SIPK and WIPK are more divergent. SIPK has been implicated previously in the regulation of both plant defense gene activation and hypersensitive response–like cell death based on evidence from pharmacological studies using kinase inhibitors. This gain-of-function study provided more direct evidence for its role in the signaling of multiple defense responses in tobacco.
Grasp synthesis in cluttered environments for dexterous hands

We present an algorithm for efficiently generating collision-free force-closure grasps for dexterous hands in cluttered environments. Computing a grasp is complicated by the high dimensionality of the hand configuration space, and the high cost of validating a candidate grasp by collision-checking and testing for force-closure. When an object is placed in a new scene, we use a novel cost function to focus our search to good regions of hand pose space for a given preshape. The proposed cost function is fast to compute and encapsulates aspects of the object, the scene, and the force-closure of the ensuing grasp. The low-cost candidate grasps produced by the search are then validated. We demonstrate the generality of our approach by testing on the 3-fingered 4DOF barrett hand and the anthropomorphic 22DOF shadow hand. We also propose an extension of the algorithm for two-handed grasps and demonstrate it on the HRP3 hands. Our results show that the candidate grasps generated by our algorithm consistently have high probability of being valid for various hands, objects and scenes. Finally, we describe an implementation on a WAM arm with a barrett hand.
Online learning and student satisfaction: Academic standing, ethnicity and their influence on facilitated learning, engagement, and information fluency

Abstract A study by Mullen and Tallent-Runnels (2006) found significance in the differences between online and traditional students' reports of instructors' academic support, instructors' demands, and students' satisfaction. They also recognized that the limitation to their study was their demographic data. In an original report funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Dziuban, Hartman, Moskal, Brophy-Ellison, and Shea (2007) identified multiple student satisfaction groupings into dimensions that can provide structure to studies in online learning. In the present study, differences between academic standing and ethnicity were added to broaden the Mullen and Tallent-Runnels (2006) demographic deficiencies and used several student satisfaction dimensions identified by Dziuban, Moskal, Brophy-Ellison, and Shea (2007) and Moskal, Dziuban, and Hartman, (2009). The differences between academic standing and the studied dimensions were found to be statistically significant: the largest effect was Facilitated Learning and academic standing, which accounted for nearly 15% of the student scores' variance; and Engagement and Information Fluency had variance effects of, respectively, 4.5%, and 5.1%. However, error accounts for the majority of total variance in all the tests, which implies other variables' influence.
Deep HDS of diesel fuel: chemistry and catalysis

Abstract The sulfur specification for diesel fuel has been tightened exponentially over the years. In the near future, the specification will go down below 10 ppmw or less. A fundamental question then is whether the goal of reaching such ultralow sulfur regime will scale exponentially in difficulty. To help answer this question, this paper aims to identify limiting factors bearing on the chemistry and catalysis in this regime. The emphasis is on low-pressure operation. Among the topics discussed are: reactivity–property relationships, catalyst functionalities, inhibiting effects, poisoning dynamics, nature of active sites, and bulk transition metal sulfides. It is shown that certain bulk metal sulfides are intrinsically active and selective for desulfurizing 4-substituted and 4,6-disubstituted dibenzothiophenes.
Phytogeography of Late Silurian macrofloras

Abstract Cluster analysis and correspondence analysis of Late Silurian (Ludlovian and Pridolian) land-plant macrofossil genera and morphological traits yielded four phytogeographic units: 1) a North Laurussian unit (Bathurst Island), which lay near the palaeoequator; 2) a South Laurussian–Northwest Gondwanan unit (Great Britain, Podolia, and Bolivia), which stretched from 18° S palaeolatitude to 60–75° S palaeolatitude; 3) a Kazakhstanian unit, which probably lay north of the palaeoequator; and 4) a Northeast Gondwanan (Australian) unit, at 10° S palaeolatitude. Phytogeographic analyses based on both genera and morphological traits yielded the same phytogeographic units, suggesting that the observed differentiation does not result from regional taxonomic usage. A data set composed of Pridolian assemblages and ‘range-through’ assemblages (i.e. assemblages composed of taxa that crossed the Siluro-Devonian boundary in each region lacking unequivocal Pridolian [late Late Silurian] assemblages) yielded the same four phytogeographic units, as did a data set composed of range-through assemblages from all six regions having Late Silurian land-plant macrofossils. Thus, the observed phytogeographic differentiation does not result from regional differences in the age of floral assemblages. Zosterophylls ( Zosterophyllum , Distichophytum and Bathurstia ) characterize assemblages from the equatorial North Laurussian unit. The near-equatorial East Gondwanan (Australian) unit contains Zosterophyllum , an undescribed endemic zosterophyll genus, Hedeia , the lycopsid Baragwanathia and one additional undescribed endemic genus, which is probably a lycopsid [Tims, J.D.J., 1980. The Early Land Flora of Victoria. PhD Thesis, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.]. Thus, in the Late Silurian, zosterophylls and large lycopsids were most common in equatorial assemblages. The endemic genera Jugumella (a possible zosterophyll) and Cooksonella (a possible rhyniophyte) characterize the Kazakhstanian unit. Rhyniophytes and rhyniophytoids ( Steganotheca , Pertonella , and the form genus, Tarrantia ) characterize the wide-ranging South Laurussian–Northwest Gondwanan unit. This unit may reflect the ecological constraints of Late Silurian land plants. If many Late Silurian land plants belonged to ruderal species with wide dispersal capability that flourished only during the growing season, plants growing in seasonally dry and seasonally cold regions may have been quite similar. However, the morphological simplicity of Late Silurian land plants could cause assemblages from seasonally dry and seasonally cold regions to appear similar, even though they shared few biological genera.
Comparison of Rates of Death Having any Death-Certificate Mention of Heart, Kidney, or Liver Disease Among Persons Diagnosed with HIV Infection with those in the General US Population, 2009-2011

Objective: Compare age-adjusted rates of death due to liver, kidney, and heart diseases during 2009-2011 among US residents diagnosed with HIV infection with those in the general population. Methods: Numerators were numbers of records of multiple-cause mortality data from the national vital statistics system with an ICD-10 code for the disease of interest (any mention, not necessarily the underlying cause), divided into those 1) with and 2) without an additional code for HIV infection. Denominators were 1) estimates of persons living with diagnosed HIV infection from national HIV surveillance system data and 2) general population estimates from the US Census Bureau. We compared age-adjusted rates overall (unstratified by sex, race/ethnicity, or region of residence) and stratified by demographic group. Results: Overall, compared with the general population, persons diagnosed with HIV infection had higher age-adjusted rates of death reported with hepatitis B (rate ratio (RR)=42.6; 95% CI: 34.7-50.7), hepatitis C (RR=19.4; 95% CI: 18.1- 20.8), liver disease excluding hepatitis B or C (RR=2.1; 95% CI: 1.8-2.3), kidney disease (RR=2.4; 95% CI: 2.2-2.6), and cardiomyopathy (RR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.6-2.3), but lower rates of death reported with ischemic heart disease (RR=0.6; 95% CI: 0.6-0.7) and heart failure (RR=0.8; 95% CI: 0.6-0.9). However, the differences in rates of death reported with the heart diseases were insignificant in some demographic groups. Conclusion: Persons with HIV infection have a higher risk of death with liver and kidney diseases reported as causes than the general population.
CURRENT STATUS OF THE MLS PROGRAM

The Microwave Landing System (MLS) is on the verge of implementation in the National Airspace System as a replacement for the Instrument Landing System (ILS). The present plan calls for the establishment of 1,250 systems by the year 2,000. The first ten years of MLS implementation will serve as a transition period in which both ILS and MLS will be extensively used. The MLS implementation strategy is based on the establishment of MLS networks of 4 to 7 facilities. Each network is centered on a major hub airport and the satellites are selected from regional airports that have commuter airline service with the hub. The MLS implementation program will take advantage of the increased reliability of digital electronics systems together with the reduced costs of those systems to provide the capability for all weather service at most MLS-equipped airports.