cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of human relations training on preservice teachers' attitudes toward human nature.

Summary.-The study investigated the effects of human relations training on attitudes toward human nature held by 230 preservice secondary teachers. Four experimental groups (counselor-led, instructor-led, student-led, and no leader) used commercial cassettes on awareness exercises and one active control group were compared for change toward human nature. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among groups on 3 of 6 dimensions of human nature. Further examination demonstrated that the counselor-led group had consistently positive changes in attitude, while the group with no leader consistently showed negative changes. Several years ago Combs ( 1970) addressed two components of learning: exposure to new experiences and discovery of personal meaning for the learner. Educators have long been competent in providing knowledge but often lack in the ability to help students discover the personal meaning of the information provided. One method used to improve understanding of interpersonal skills is human relations training. Human relations training has evolved from sensitivity training but emphasizes everyday relationships rather than interaction with others in therapeutic training sessions (Goldberg, 1964). According to Flanders (1970), for college students preparing to become teachers and for experienced teachers alike, small group activities offer an opportunity to improve communication skills and interpersonal awareness. Experiences set in the context of human relations training can be used to make teachers more sensitive to the cues of social interaction. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the Lffects of human relations training on preservice teachers' attitudes of human nature. According to Gordon (1966), concern for identifying characteristics of successful and unsuccessful teachers must be dependent on a humanistic approach and the investigation of teachers' attitudes about human nature. In keeping with Gordon's suggestion the present study investigated the following research question: Is there a significant difference in change scores on the six dimensions of Wrightsman's ( 1964) Philosophy of Human Nature scale among preservice teachers participating in five different human relations training groups? MBTHOD .Sample
Observation of large diurnal warming events in the near-surface layer of the western equatorial Pacific warm pool

Abstract Because of the relatively calm winds which prevail over the western Pacific warm pool, the diurnal cycle of temperature in the near-surface layer of the ocean is often quite pronounced. During the TOGA Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE), very high resolution measurements of near-surface thermohaline and turbulence structures were made using bowmounted probes and a free-rising profiler. Experimental data demonstrate a strong dependence of near-surface thermal structure on weather conditions, In calm weather, SST was observed to exceed 33.25°C; this was associated with a diurnal warming of more than 3°C in the top I m of the ocean. A 1-D model of transilient type reproduces the diurnal cycle at low wind speeds and the evening deepening of the diurnal thermocline. Precipitation influenced the diurnal cycle by trapping heat in the near-surface region. During daytime evaporation, surface salinity increased slightly, but deep convection was inhibited by the strong vertical temperature gradient. Contour plots calculated using observations from bow sensors “scanning” the upper meters of the ocean due to ship's pitching in some cases revealed strong horizontal variability of the shallow diurnal thermocline with amplitude ∼ 2°C on scales of 0.2–6 km.
Stomachs of Mice Lacking the Gastric H,K-ATPase α-Subunit Have Achlorhydria, Abnormal Parietal Cells, and Ciliated Metaplasia

The H,K-ATPase of the gastric parietal cell is the most critical component of the ion transport system mediating acid secretion in the stomach. To study the requirement of this enzyme in the development, maintenance, and function of the gastric mucosa, we used gene targeting to prepare mice lacking the α-subunit. Homozygous mutant (Atp4a −/−) mice appeared healthy and exhibited normal systemic electrolyte and acid-base status but were achlorhydric and hypergastrinemic. Immunocytochemical, histological, and ultrastructural analyses of Atp4a −/−stomachs revealed the presence of chief cells, demonstrating that the lack of acid secretion does not interfere with their differentiation. Parietal cells were also present in normal numbers, and despite the absence of α-subunit mRNA and protein, the β-subunit was expressed. However, Atp4a −/− parietal cells had dilated canaliculi and lacked typical canalicular microvilli and tubulovesicles, and subsets of these cells contained abnormal mitochondria and/or massive glycogen stores. Stomachs of adultAtp4a −/− mice exhibited metaplasia, which included the presence of ciliated cells. We conclude that ablation of the H,K-ATPase α-subunit causes achlorhydria and hypergastrinemia, severe perturbations in the secretory membranes of the parietal cell, and metaplasia of the gastric mucosa; however, the absence of the pump appears not to perturb parietal cell viability or chief cell differentiation.
Fibulin-5 is an elastin-binding protein essential for elastic fibre development in vivo

Extracellular elastic fibres provide mechanical elasticity to tissues and contribute towards the processes of organ remodelling by affecting cell-cell signalling. The formation of elastic fibres requires the assembly and crosslinking of tropoelastin monomers, and organization of the resulting insoluble elastin matrix into functional fibres. The molecules and mechanisms involved in this process are unknown. Fibulin-5 (also known as EVEC/DANCE) is an extracellular matrix protein abundantly expressed in great vessels and cardiac valves during embryogenesis, and in many adult tissues including the aorta, lung, uterus and skin, all of which contain abundant elastic fibres. Here we show that fibulin-5 is a calcium-dependent, elastin-binding protein that localizes to the surface of elastic fibres in vivo. fibulin-5-/- mice develop marked elastinopathy owing to the disorganization of elastic fibres, with resulting loose skin, vascular abnormalities and emphysematous lung. This phenotype, which resembles the cutis laxa syndrome in humans, reveals a critical function for fibulin-5 as a scaffold protein that organizes and links elastic fibres to cells. This function may be mediated by the RGD motif in fibulin-5, which binds to cell surface integrins, and the Ca2+-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats, which bind elastin.
Chlorination Chemistry. 2. Rate Coefficients, Reaction Mechanism, and Spectrum of the Chlorine Adduct of Allene

Cavity ring-down (CRD) spectroscopy and ab initio calculations have determined the reaction rate coefficients, mechanism, and thermochemistry relevant to the addition of a chlorine atom to allene. Chlorine atoms were produced by laser photolysis at 351 nm and the addition reaction products were probed at a variable delay by CRD spectroscopy using a second laser pulse. Ab initio results indicate that the only persistent addition product is the 2-chloroallyl (C3H4Cl) radical. We measured the continuum spectrum of the 2-chloroallyl radical between 238 and 252 nm and determined the absorption cross section, σ240(C3H4Cl) = (2.5 ± 0.5) × 10-17 cm2. By fitting the C3H4Cl absorption data to complex kinetic mechanisms, rate coefficients at 298 K were found to be k(Cl+C3H4; 656 Pa, N2) = (1.61 ± 0.27) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, k(Cl+C3H4; 670 Pa, He) = (1.34 ± 0.24) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, and k(Cl+C3H4; 1330 Pa, He) = (1.75 ± 0. 25) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The rate coefficient of the self-reaction display...
Plasma steroid hormone levels of female red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis: Relationship to mating and gestation

Plasma levels of progesterone (P), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and corticosterone (B) of female red-sided garter snakes were measured during the period of ovarian development. Differences in hormone levels were analyzed with respect to three factors: (1) whether the female mated in the spring, (2) ovarian condition, and (3) time after emergence from hibernation. The influence of these three factors on steroid hormone levels of two groups of females were then compared. In experiment I, females were obtained in the fall, subjected to an artificial dormancy period, and placed on warm, summer-like conditions in the laboratory. In experiment II, females were collected in the spring and sampled in the field. They were held in the field on fluctuating conditions for several weeks and then returned to the laboratory for sampling during early vitellogenesis. Females in experiment I had a shortened but otherwise normal ovarian and gestational cycle, whereas females in experiment II had an ovarian and gestational cycle typical of females in the field. In spite of these differences, the steroid hormone levels in relation to the ovarian cycle were remarkably similar for the two groups of females. We confirmed that mating in the spring induces a surge in E2; E2 also was elevated in a single sample obtained from animals collected in the fall. This elevation in plasma levels of E2 in the fall occurs at a time when the majority of females have recently deposited sperm in their oviducts. Plasma levels of T, P, and B were not significantly influenced by mating. Unlike previous reports of other viviparous snakes, plasma levels of P were low and mostly nondetectable, even during late gestation. Plasma T was significantly elevated around the time of late vitellogenesis and ovulation, and there was a tendency for E2 levels to be elevated at this time. In the field, plasma B levels were initially high immediately after capture and declined with time. Plasma B was significantly elevated in all females several weeks after emergence, suggesting that levels of B may vary with other annual cycles.
Meanings, Mechanisms, and Measures of Holistic Processing

Few concepts are more central to the study of face recognition than holistic processing. Progress toward understanding holistic processing is challenging because the term “holistic” has many meanings, with different researchers addressing different mechanisms and favoring different measures. While in principle the use of different measures should provide converging evidence for a common theoretical construct, convergence has been slow to emerge. We explore why this is the case. One challenge is that “holistic processing” is often used to describe both a theoretical construct and a measured effect, which may not have a one-to-one mapping. Progress requires more than greater precision in terminology regarding different measures of holistic processing or different hypothesized mechanisms of holistic processing. Researchers also need to be explicit about what meaning of holistic processing they are investigating so that it is clear whether different researchers are describing the same phenomenon or not. Face recognition differs from object recognition, and not all meanings of holistic processing are equally suited to help us understand that important difference.
The effect of the season on otitis media with effusion resolution rates in the New York Metropolitan area.

Abstract Objective: To study the relationship between season and resolution rates of otitis media with effusion (OME) in the New York Metropolitan area, in order to provide objective data useful to the practicing otolaryngologist in determining if seasonal factors should be considered in OME management decisions. Methods: This was a prospective study of children referred to a tertiary medical center. Children with OME (confirmed by pneumatoscopy and tympanometry) were followed by an otologist at an academic medical center over a 3 years period. They returned approximately every 6 weeks until the end points of resolution of the effusions or ventilating tube placement. Each period between visits is termed an “interval.” Results: 127 patients with 231 effusions were followed for a total of 354 intervals. Effusions at intervals beginning in autumn were least likely to resolve by the next visit (24.29%) while intervals ending in the summer had the greatest rate of resolution (44.32%). Analyzed by month, the lowest rates of resolution were seen in intervals beginning in September, November, February, and March (16.67, 21.05, 20.51, and 19.15%, respectively). Intervals beginning in May had the greatest chance of resolution (51.72%). There was a positive correlation between resolution rates and average daily temperatures as reported by month. Conclusions: The season and month of the year are relevant factors in the clinical course of OME in the New York Metropolitan area. Based on the observed rates of resolution, one could reasonably consider taking a more conservative approach to OME management in May through August, and a more aggressive approach in the fall and winter months.
Quantitative studies of corneal epithelial wound healing in rabbits

Corneal epithelial defects are covered rapidly by the movement of adjacent epithelium. However, the mechanism of this tissue movement is poorly understood. In this study, the quantity of cell water, protein, and DNA were determined in healing epithelium to test the hypothesis that cell enlargement contributes to the rapid coverage of the defect. In addition, light and transmission electron microscopy and [3H] thymidine incorporation into epithelial cells were used to determine whether the healing tissue moves as a unit or as individual cells. The quantitative determinations lead us to conclude that healing begins with a dramatic rise in cell water, followed by an increase in cell protein and finally by a gradual increase in DNA. The morphologic and autoradiographic evidence strongly suggests that large corneal epithelial defects in rabbits are covered by the movement of adjacent tissue as a unified, multilayered sheet of cells. Furthermore, the cells appear larger than normal with minimal changes in inter...
Designing electronic health records versus total digital health systems: A systemic analysis

To date, the digitization of health care typically has focussed simply and solely on electronic records for patients. Most systems are relational databases with a finite number of intra-enterprise applications and are limited to in-house use by health care facilities. Very few of these systems have realized fully functional, scalable, distribution capabilities, not to mention interoperability with external systems. This short-sighted tendency to build large-scale but restrictive automated systems that ignore the interactive nature of health care has resulted in limited operational success and acceptance. That said, this trend is not irreversible. Given the right circumstances, distributed, interoperable, digital health systems could emerge rapidly, offering both intra- and inter-enterprise benefits. To succeed, the design of these so-called total digital health systems (TDHSs) must be approached holistically, incorporating such properties of health care delivery systems as softness, openness, complexity, flexibility and generality. Because of the procedural nature of most electronic health record (EHR) applications now in use, traditional system approaches—such as the relational database model to application design—would be adequate for EHRs. This paper discusses the systemic nature of health care information systems and compares and contrasts the traditional EHR with TDHS. A soft systems methodology (SSM) is proposed for TDHS design. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recovery of Paley–Wiener functions using scattered translates of regular interpolators

Abstract In both Lyubarskii and Madych (1994) [7] , and Schlumprecht and Sivakumar (2009) [9] , it was shown that Paley–Wiener functions may be recovered from their values on a complete interpolating sequence. This paper explores the same phenomenon, and gives a sufficient condition on a function ϕ ( x ) , called an interpolator, so that scattered translates of this function may be used to interpolate and recover any given Paley–Wiener function.
Maintenance of a positive outlook during acute stress protects against pro-inflammatory reactivity and future depressive symptoms.

Cognitive and affective responses to acute stress influence pro-inflammatory cytokine reactivity, and peripheral cytokines (particularly interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b)), can act on the brain to promote depressive symptoms. It is unknown whether acute stress-induced changes in positive affect and cognitions (POS) and pro-inflammatory reactivity predict future depressive symptoms. We examined acute stress responses among women, to determine prospective predictors of depressive symptoms. Hypotheses: (1) Stressinduced decreases in POS will be associated with stress-related increases in circulating IL-1b. (2) Acute stress-induced decreases in POS and increases in IL-1b reactivity will predict increases in depressive symptoms 1 year later. Thirty-five post-menopausal women were exposed to acute stress with the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST) and provided blood samples under resting conditions and 30 min after the conclusion of the TSST, which were assayed for IL-1b. IL-1b reactivity was quantified as post minus pre-TSST. Failure to maintain POS was quantified as the decrease in POS during the TSST. Change in depressive symptoms from the study baseline to the following year was determined. Greater acute stress-induced declines in POS were significantly associated with increased IL-1b reactivity (p 6 .02), which significantly predicted increases in depressive symptoms over the following year (p < .01), controlling for age, body mass index, chronic stress, antidepressant use and baseline depressive symptoms. IL-1b reactivity was a significant mediator of the relationship between POS decline and future increases in depressive symptoms (p = .04). Difficulty maintaining positivity under stress and heightened pro-inflammatory reactivity may be markers and/or mechanisms of risk for future increases in depressive symptoms.
Physicians' beliefs about effectiveness of cancer screening tests: A national survey of family physicians, general internists, and obstetrician–gynecologists

Objective To study physicians' beliefs about the effectiveness of different tests for cancer screening.
Randomized trial of computerized quantitative pretest probability in low-risk chest pain patients: effect on safety and resource use.

Study objective We hypothesize that the presentation of a quantitative pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome would safely reduce unnecessary resource use in low-risk emergency department (ED) chest pain patients. Methods Randomized controlled trial of adult patients with chest pain paired with their clinicians. Patients had neither obvious evidence of acute coronary syndrome nor obvious other reason for admission. Clinicans provided their unstructured point estimate for pretest probability before randomization. Clinicans and patients in the intervention group received a printout of pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome result displayed numerically and graphically. Controls received no printout. Patients were followed for 45 days for predefined criteria of acute coronary syndrome and efficacy endpoints. Endpoints were compared between groups, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for differences. Results Four hundred were enrolled, and 31 were excluded for cocaine use or elopement from care. The mean pretest probability estimates of acute coronary syndrome were 4 (SD 5%) from clinicians and 4 (SD 6%) from the computer. Safety and efficacy endpoints for controls (n=185) versus intervention patients (n=184) were as follows: (1) delayed or missed diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome: 1 of 185 versus 0 of 184 (95% CI for difference −2.8% to 15.0%); (2) hospital admission with no significant cardiovascular diagnosis, 11% versus 5% (−0.2% to 11%); (3) thoracic imaging imparting greater than 5 mSv radiation with a negative result, 20% versus 9% (95% CI for difference=3.8% to 18.0%); (4) median length of stay, 11.4 hours versus 9.2 hours (95% CI for difference=−2.9 to 7.6 hours); (5) reported feeling "very satisfied" with clinician explanation of problem on follow-up survey, 38% versus 49% (95% CI for difference=0.9% to 21.0%); (6) readmitted within 7 days, 11% versus 4% (95% CI for difference=2.5% to 13.2%). Conclusion Presentation of a quantitative estimate of the pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome to clinicians and low-risk ED chest pain patients was associated with reduced resource use, without evidence of increased rate of premature discharge of patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Two-phase micropipeline control wrapper with early evaluation

A two-phase control wrapper for a micropipeline is presented. The wrapper is implemented in an Artisan 0.13/spl mu/ standard cell library that has not been augmented with any special cells for asynchronous design. The wrapper supports early evaluation allowing the output to be updated after a subset of the inputs have arrived, thus improving the throughput of the micropipeline.
Raman And Photoluminescence Analysis Of Cd 1-x Mn x Te Thin Films

Cd1-xMnxTe films (thickness ~0.5 micron, x = 0.10 - 0.37) have beengrown Ey metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on commercial GaAs and glass substrates with and without buffer layers of CdTe and CdS for potential use in solar cells. Raman scattering and photoluminescence played an important role in characterizing and optimizing film quality. Raman methods established the relation between film quality and substrate type or growth temperature. Photoluminescence spectroscopy determined the percent of Mn in the as-grown films, displayed stress effects due to lattice mismatch and their dependence on substrate, and indicated the presence of defects.
Lightning and SSM/I-Ice-Scattering Mesoscale Convective Systems in the Global Tropics

Abstract This study presents a systematic comparison of the distributions of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and lightning for 19 geographical regions classified as land, ocean, or a mixture of land and ocean between 35°N and 35°S over four 3-month periods beginning in June of 1995. The 85-GHz brightness temperatures and the lightning data are from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) and the Optical Transient Detector, respectively. The MCSs are defined and classified according to their 85-GHz polarization-corrected brightness temperature (PCT), and the lightning flashes are grouped into lightning clusters. In each of the four periods, the land bias among the lightning clusters is much stronger than among the MCSs. For instance, ocean regions contain only 15%–21% of the total lightning cluster population in a given period (compared with 56%–66% over land), and the majority (>80%) of the oceanic lightning clusters are weak, with few flashes. In contrast, MCSs are more evenly distributed between...
Public Unions and Penalties for Striking Across the States

Though the frequency of penalties imposed and carried out against striking public sector employee unions is small, this fact does not imply that the application of such strictures is haphazardly ap plied or ineffective. This article explores the relationships between the severity of a strike, the characteristics of the collective bargaining situation, and the legal environment as they influence the likelihood that striking public employee unions will be fined and eventually forced to pay the fines imposed upon them. Using data on 590 public sector strikes between 1979 and 1980, a theoretical framework was developed and tested. Among the results were:
Teaching Sport Psychology to High School Student-Athletes: The Psychological UNIFORM and the Game Plan Format

The purpose of this article is to share a sport psychology program (the Psychological UNIFORM) and its unique teaching system (the Game Plan Format) designed specifically for high school (HS) student-athletes. The Game Plan Format uses sport terms (Warm-up, Conditioning, Films, etc.) and includes a multi-method approach (interactive lectures, in-class assignments, films, homework, physical activities, and journaling) to help participants make connections between the sport context and using sport psychology skills. Empirical and anecdotal data support the effectiveness of the Psychological UNIFORM and the Game Plan Format (Gilbert et al., 2008; Gilbert, Gilbert, Loney, Wahl, & Michel, 2006).
Interferon-β Pretreatment of Conventional and Plasmacytoid Human Dendritic Cells Enhances Their Activation by Influenza Virus

Influenza virus produces a protein, NS1, that inhibits infected cells from releasing type I interferon (IFN) and blocks maturation of conventional dendritic cells (DCs). As a result, influenza virus is a poor activator of both mouse and human DCs in vitro. However, in vivo a strong immune response to virus infection is generated in both species, suggesting that other factors may contribute to the maturation of DCs in vivo. It is likely that the environment in which a DC encounters a virus would contain multiple pro-inflammatory molecules, including type I IFN. Type I IFN is a critical component of the viral immune response that initiates an antiviral state in cells, primarily by triggering a broad transcriptional program that interferes with the ability of virus to establish infection in the cell. In this study, we have examined the activation profiles of both conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (cDCs and pDCs) in response to an influenza virus infection in the context of a type I IFN-containing environment. We found that both cDCs and pDCs demonstrate a greater activation response to influenza virus when pre-exposed to IFN-β (IFN priming); although, the priming kinetics are different in these two cell types. This strongly suggests that type I IFN functions not only to reduce viral replication in these immune cells, but also to promote greater DC activation during influenza virus infections.
Menstrual cycle, blood pressure and ischemic pain sensitivity in women: a preliminary investigation

Eleven women were tested twice for ischemic pain sensitivity; once during their follicular phase (Days 4-9) and once during their mid-late luteal phase (5-10 days after ovulation) of a confirmed ovulatory cycle. Additionally, in order to examine blood pressure-related hypoalgesic effects, each had 3-4 clinic blood pressures determined during an initial screening interview and each also completed a daily symptom calendar for one complete menstrual cycle prior to testing in order to investigate relationships between 'real life' symptomatology and laboratory-induced pain sensitivity. Results revealed significantly shorter pain tolerance times and marginally shorter pain threshold times in the luteal vs. follicular phase, while verbal descriptors of pain intensity (sensory) and pain unpleasantness (affective) did not vary with cycle phase. Clinic blood pressures were positively correlated with pain threshold and tolerance times assessed during both cycle phases. Real-life physical symptom ratings were predictive of laboratory pain intensity ratings during the follicular phase and tended to predict unpleasantness ratings during both phases. These results not only confirm recent reports of greater sensitivity to ischemic pain in women during the luteal phase of their cycle, but extend the literature by demonstrating pressure-related hypoalgesic effects in women during both cycle phases.
Ethanol Regulates Calcium Channel Subunits by Protein Kinase C δ-dependent and -independent Mechanisms

Abstract Chronic exposure to ethanol increases the number of functional L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in neural cells. In PC12 cells, this adaptive response is mediated by protein kinase C δ (PKCδ), but the mechanisms by which this occurs are not known. Since expression of several different calcium channel subunits can increase the abundance of functional L-type channels, we sought to identify which subunits are regulated by ethanol. Incubation of PC12 cells with 120–150 mm ethanol for 6 days increased levels of α1C, α2, and β1b subunit immunoreactivity in cell membranes and selectively increased the abundance of mRNA encoding the α1C-1 splice variant of α1C. In cells expressing a fragment of PKCδ (δV1) that selectively inhibits PKCδ, there was no increase in membrane-associated α1C, α2, and β1b immunoreactivity following chronic ethanol exposure. However, ethanol still increased levels of α1C-1 mRNA in these cells. These results indicate that ethanol increases the abundance of L-type channels by at least two mechanisms; one involves increases in mRNA encoding a splice variant of α1Cand the other is post-transcriptional, rate-limiting, and requires PKCδ.
Discontinuities in Jovian sulphur plasma

The radial distribution of the Jovian sulfur plasma is discussed. Spectra of the ionized sulfur in the Jovian magnetosphere indicate a sharp discontinuity in visible sulfur emission at a radial distance of six Jupiter radii (Io orbit), outside of which emission is greatly reduced and the plasma is observed not to be in corotation with the planet. Possible explanations of this phenomenon include an effect of Io on the electron temperature outside its orbit, leading to the suppression of S II emission by second ionization, and a current system in Jupiter's ionosphere which prevents plasma from diffusing outward and decouples it from the corotation field. This discontinuity also requires reconciliation with Pioneer observations of the radial and pitch-angle diffusion of energetic charged particles.
The relationship between corallite morphology and colony shape in some massive reef-corals

Multivariate statistical tests are performed on three coral species to determine if a relationship exists between colony shape and corallite morphology. Hemispherical to branched colony shapes are emphasized. The material consists of specimens of Montastraea annularis and M. cavernosa from modern reef habitats in Jamaica. Colonies of the more “branched” M. limbata from the Neogene of the Dominican Republic are analyzed for comparison. The characters studied consist largely of linear measurements of colony dimensions and corallite structures in transverse thin-sections. The results show that different complexes of corallite characters vary within each species. With the possible exception of a complex describing theca thickness in M. annularis, none of these corallite complexes is related to variation in colony shape within species. Colony shape variation within species is related to upward colony growth rate. These results indicate that corallite morphology and colony shape can be represented by two different vectors of variation within species. Comparisons of intraspecific with interspecific patterns suggest that a strong genetic component explains colony shape variation in corals.
Novel Positron Emission Tomography Tracer Distinguishes Normal from Cancerous Cells

Development of tumor-specific probes for imaging by positron emission tomography has broad implications in clinical oncology, such as diagnosis, staging, and monitoring therapeutic responses in patients, as well as in biomedical research. Thymidylate synthase (TSase)-based de novo biosynthesis of DNA is an important target for drug development. Increased DNA replication in proliferating cancerous cells requires TSase activity, which catalyzes the reductive methylation of dUMP to dTMP using (R)-N5,N10-methylene-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (MTHF) as a cofactor. In principle, radiolabeled MTHF can be used as a substrate for this reaction to identify rapidly dividing cells. In this proof-of-principle study, actively growing (log phase) breast cancer (MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and hTERT-HME1), normal breast (human mammary epithelial and MCF10A), colon cancer (HT-29), and normal colon (FHC) cells were incubated with [14C]MTHF in culture medium from 30 min to 2 h, and uptake of radiotracer was measured. Cancerous cell lines incorporated significantly more radioactivity than their normal counterparts. The uptake of radioactively labeled MTHF depended upon a combination of cell doubling time, folate receptor status, S phase percentage, and TSase expression in the cells. These findings suggest that the recently synthesized [11C]MTHF may serve as a new positron emission tomography tracer for cancer imaging.
Development of a chimeric sindbis virus with enhanced per Os infection of Aedes aegypti

The TE/3'2J double subgenomic Sindbis (dsSIN) viruses have been used to stably express genes in Aedes aegypti nerve and salivary gland tissues. However, because these viruses inefficiently infect Ae. aegypti when administered by the per os route, TE/3'2J viruses must be intrathoracically inoculated into the mosquitoes to infect these tissues. A Malaysian Sindbis (SIN) virus isolate (MRE16) does efficiently infect Ae. aegypti midgut tissues after ingestion, and approximately 95% of these mosquitoes also develop disseminated infections within 14 days. We have sequenced the entire 26S RNA of MRE16 virus and have developed a chimeric SIN cDNA infectious clone, designated MRE1001, which contains sequence elements of TE/3'2J and MRE16 virus. MRE1001 virus efficiently infects midgut cells, and greater than 90% of infected mosquitoes develop disseminated infections after 14 days extrinsic incubation. The chimeric MRE1001 cDNA clone should allow identification of viral determinants of midgut infection and dissemination and lead to the development of new SIN virus expression systems.
Nonrobustness in F tests: 1. A replication and extension of Bradley’s study

Portions of Bradley’s Monte Carlo study on the effects of violations of assumptions on the F test were replicated. The empirical ps agreed well with those observed in the original study. Reciprocal, loge, and square-root transformations failed to reduce the differences between the empirical ps and nominal as. An analysis of the relative importance of the factors in the Monte Carlo design suggested other statistical procedures that might be applied to ameliorate the difficulties posed by Bradley’s results.
37.1: Flexible Organic Light Emitting Devices Using Conductive Polymeric Anodes

Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) have been fabricated on various flexible substrates using conducting polymers as anodes. In this paper we report on the performance of OLEDs using films of highly conductive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) anodes without an indium tin oxide under-layer. The conducting polymer anodes are formed using a simple patterning method.
Mutant forms of the enhancer-binding protein NtrC can activate transcription from solution

Activators of the sigma54-holoenzyme catalyze the isomerization of closed complexes between this polymerase and a promotor to open complexes in a reaction that depends upon hydrolysis of a nucleoside triphosphate. The activators normally bind to DNA sites with the properties of transcriptional enhancers and contact the polymerase by means of DNA loop formation. Here, we demonstrate that mutant forms of the activator nitrogen regulatory protein C (NtrC) that lack one helix of the helix-turn-helix (HTH) DNA-binding motif or the entire motif retain residual capacity to activate transcription from solution, despite the fact that they are largely unable to dimerize and have greatly decreased ability to hydrolyze ATP. We show that substitution of alanine for three hydrophilic residues in the second helix of the HTH yields a stable, dimeric form of NtrC defective in DNA-binding. Like mutant forms with deletions of one or both helices, the NtrC3ala protein failed to bind DNA in a sensitive affinity co-electrophoresis assay, indicating that its affinity for a strong enhancer was reduced by at least 5000-fold. (The assay detected enhancer-binding by two mutant forms of NtrC with single amino acid substitutions in the HTH and non-specific DNA-binding by the wild-type protein.) The phosphorylated NtrC3ala protein had normal ATPase activity in solution but, unlike the activity of the phosphorylated wild-type protein, which could be stimulated at least tenfold by an oligonucleotide carrying a strong enhancer, the ATPase activity of the phosphorylated NtrC3ala protein was not stimulated. At concentrations of 100 nM or greater, the phosphorylated NtrC3ala protein activated transcription from the major glnA promoter. In agreement with the fact that it did not show detectable DNA-binding in other assays, its ability to activate transcription was no greater on templates carrying the glnA enhancer than on templates lacking an enhancer. The results indicate that both roles of the glnA enhancer, tethering and facilitation of the formation of an active oligomer of NtrC, can be bypassed if the protein is present at high concentrations in solution.
Combinatorial Search to Optimize Vent Locations in the Presence of Disturbances in Liquid Composite Molding Processes

In liquid composite molding processes, the resin is injected into a mold cavity containing preplaced reinforcement fabrics through openings known as gates, and the air leaves the mold through openings called as vents. Under nominal conditions, the last points to fill are chosen as vent locations. However, due to imperfect preform placement, gaps and channels may form along the edges and at curvatures in a mold, offering a path with less resistance for resin flow. The faster advance of resin through these gaps and channels, a common disturbance known as racetracking, will cause the last filled regions to vary, which complicates the vent selection process. We introduce a methodology that uses set and probability theories to forecast racetracking conditions in a mold and have developed a combinatorial search algorithm to locate corresponding optimal vent locations. The accuracy, efficiency and usefulness of the approach is illustrated with three case studies.
When does static correlation scale to the high-density limit as exchange does?

Abstract In density functional theory, the exchange–correlation energy is usually decomposed as the sum of exchange and correlation contributions. In the absence of static correlation, this decomposition can be made by uniform coordinate scaling to the high-density limit, because the exchange part dominates in this limit. The estimate of static correlation provided by semilocal, global hybrid, and some more-advanced approximate exchange–correlation functionals scales up as exchange does in this limit. Here we argue that a proper estimate of static correlation should scale up in magnitude less strongly than exchange in the high-density limit, except in special circumstances. Such a special circumstance can occur when there is an exact degeneracy at the non-interacting Fermi level, or when another limit is taken first, in which a degeneracy develops between occupied and unoccupied Kohn–Sham orbital energies. Examples of the latter case are the H 2 molecule as the bond length is stretched to infinity, and the four-electron atomic ion as the nuclear charge tends to infinity.
The characteristics of melanocyte stimulating hormone release from incubated pituitaries of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis

Abstract A procedure for studying melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) release from incubated hemipituitaries of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis, is described. Hemipituitaries incubated in vitro at 30° for 5 hr, released bioassayable MSH into the incubation medium; an initial phase of rapid release lasted .5-1 hr, followed by a lower rate of release during the remainder of the incubation. There was no evidence that MSH released from hemipituitaries and accumulated in the media influenced subsequent MSH release during the incubations. Release of MSH was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the medium. Increase of medium K+ to 56 mM did not alter the rate of MSH release at any stage of the incubation. The explanted lizard pars intermedia responded to low temperature in an unusual way. Tissue incubated at 15° released MSH at a lower rate than at 30°, but tissue incubated at 1–2° released MSH at a rate indistinguishable from that of tissue at 30°. MSH release at 1–2° was prevented by omitting Ca2+ from the medium, suggesting that MSH release in the cold was not the result of cell damage. When tissue was incubated at 1–2° during the first half-hour of incubation and allowed to rewarm to 30° there was no detectable increase in the rate of MSH release; when the same tissue was recooled to 1–2° during the fourth hour and rewarmed during the fifth, a greatly increased release of MSH resulted, indicating that during the initial period of release, but not at later times, the tissue was resistant to the effect of cooling on hormone release. Theophylline (8 mM) significantly increased MSH release at all stages of the incubation except during the first half-hour, suggesting that MSH release may be stimulated by raised intracellular cyclic AMP levels. Imidazole (10 mM), a cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase stimulator, significantly reduced MSH release by 82% during the first half-hour of incubation and again at 1–3 hr by 44%, but had no significant effect on MSH release at other times. These results may indicate that “basal” release at the earliest stage is linked to the adenyl cyclase-cyclic AMP mechanism, but it is not certain that MSH release is tightly linked to cyclic AMP production at later stages of the incubation.
Weed management in nonirrigated glyphosate-resistant and non-resistant soybean following deep and shallow fall tillage

Management inputs that maximize economic return from the early plantings of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in the midsouthern USA have not been evaluated fully. The objective was to compare perennial weed control in and yields and economic returns from plantings of maturity group (MG) IV and V soybean cultivars grown in the field under different weed management systems (WMS) following shallow (ST) and deep (DT) fall tillage. Adjacent experiments were conducted on Tunica clay (clayey over loamy, smectitic, nonacid, thermic Vertic Haplaquept) near Stoneville, MS (lat. 33°26'N). Weed management systems were (i) glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine]-resistant (GR) cultivars with preemergent (PRE) nonglyphosate herbicides followed by postemergent (POST) glyphosate; (ii) GR cultivars with POST glyphosate; (iii) non-GR cultivars with PRE plus POST nonglyphosate herbicides; and (iv) non-GR cultivars with POST nonglyphosate herbicides. Control of perennial redvine [Brunnichia ovata (Walt.) Shinners] declined in the ST environment when non-GR cultivars were used, but this did not result in a yield decline. Control of perennial johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] at the end of the study period averaged 93% when GR cultivars were used regardless of tillage treatment, and this was associated with lower yield. Use of PRE + POST vs. POST-only weed management sometimes resulted in lower profits regardless of fall tillage treatment. The fall tillage treatment × WMS interaction was not significant for yield or net return, which indicates that use of DT for perennial weed management is not economical.
Theoretical studies of [FeFe]-hydrogenase: structure and infrared spectra of synthetic models.

First-principles density functional theory calculations of synthetic models of [FeFe]-hydrogenase are used to show that the theoretical methods reproduce observed structures and infrared spectra to high accuracy. The accuracy is demonstrated for synthetic Fe(I)Fe(I) models ([(μ-PDT)Fe 2 (CO) 6 ] and [(CN)(CO) 2 (μ-PDT)Fe 2 -(CO) 2 (CN)] 2- ), for which we show that their infrared spectra are sensitive to the geometric arrangement of their CO/CN ligands and can be used in conjunction with quantum-mechanical total energies to predict the correct ligand geometry. We then analyze and predict the structure of mixed-valence Fe(II)Fe(I) models ([(μ-MeSCH 2 C(Me)(CH 2 S) 2 )Fe 2 (CO) 4 (CN) 2 ] x- ). These capabilities promise to distinguish among the various structural isomers of the enzyme's active site which are consistent with the limited accuracy of the X-ray observations.
The buffer capacity of forest soils in new England

We measured buffer capacity for major horizons of forest soils from four locations in New England by titration of field-moist samples with either HCl or NaOH. Titration curves for O horizons were nearly linear over a wide pH range, that is, buffer capacity was independent of pH. Titration curves for mineral horizons were S-shaped with ambient pH roughly in the middle of the least buffered part of the curve. We also measured exchangeable acid cations and NH4 + in unbuffered KCl extractions and exchangeable bases in NH4OAc extraction at pH 7. Ca+2 and Mg+2 in KCl extractions at ambient pH were only slightly less than in NH4OAc extractions at pH 7, implying that exchangeable bases did not depend much on the extraction pH. The O horizons were generally highly base saturated at ambient pH even though their pH was low; mineral soils had lower base saturation. Buffer capacity measured over the first 0.5 pH unit to the acid side depended strongly on organic matter fraction in the sample. All soil materials studied had buffer capacities per unit organic mass of about 100 meq kg inf0 sup−1 pH−1. Acid rain at pH 4.0 in New England would take at least several decades to lower pH of the soil profile by a whole pH unit.
Development of a real-time detection strategy for process monitoring during nuclear fuel reprocessing using the UREX+3a method

Abstract Reprocessing nuclear fuel is becoming more viable in the United States due to the anticipated increase in construction of nuclear power plants, the growing stockpile of existing used nuclear fuel, and a public desire to reduce the amount of this fuel. A new reprocessing facility will likely have state of the art controls and monitoring methods to safeguard special nuclear materials, as well as to provide real-time monitoring for process control. The focus of this research was to create a proof of concept to enable the development of a detection strategy that uses well established gamma and neutron measurement methods to characterize samples from the Uranium Extraction Plus 3a (UREX+3a) reprocessing method using a variety of detector types and measurement times. A facility that implemented real-time gamma detection equipment could improve product quality control and provide additional benefits, such as waste volume reduction. In addition to the spectral analyses, it was determined by Monte Carlo N Particle (MCNP) simulations that there is no noticeable self-shielding for internal pipe diameters less than 5.08 cm, indicating that no self-shielding correction factors are needed. Further, it was determined that High Purity Germanium (HPGe) N-type detectors have the high gamma ray energy resolution and neutron damage resistance that would be required in a reprocessing facility. Finally, the gamma ray spectra for the measured samples were simulated using MCNP and then the model was extended to predict the responses from an actual reprocessing scenario from UREX+3a applied to fuel that had a decay time of 3 years. The 3-year decayed fuel was more representative of commercially reprocessed fuel than the acquired UREX+3a samples. It was determined that the 3-year decayed fuel is easier to apply real-time process monitoring due to an increased number of short lived detectable isotopes. This research found that real-time gamma ray detection for process monitoring would be beneficial to a reprocessing facility and that commercially available detectors may be adequate for the neutron environment.