cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Small Mammal Populations

We examined the population dynamics of small mammals in an experimentally fragmented, successional field over three years. Patches of three sizes (32 m2, 288 m2, and 5000 m2) were censused at biweekly intervals, and data for the three common species were grouped by patch size and analyzed for relative population density, persistence of individuals, and patterns of movement among patches. The three species sorted by patch size, with the largest (Sigmodon hispidus) most abundant on the largest patches, the smallest (Peromyscus maniculatus) most abundant on the smallest patches, and the intermediate-sized (Microtus ochrogaster) most abundant on medium patches. Our explanation for this spatial pattern in density involves the interplay of source-sink dynamics and interspecific interactions. Persistence times for the two larger species were highest on large patches, but P. maniculatus persisted equally well on all patch sizes. Eighty-five percent of individual moves for all species occurred within a patch size. Individuals that dispersed between patch sizes tended to move towards a larger size patch. Our results suggest that in the future, metapopulation theory and analyses of habitat fragmentation should consider in more detail the effects of intra- and interspecific density-dependent interactions.
Estimating the efficacy of symptom-based screening for COVID-19

There is substantial interest in using presenting symptoms to prioritize testing for COVID-19 and establish symptom-based surveillance. However, little is currently known about the specificity of COVID-19 symptoms. To assess the feasibility of symptom-based screening for COVID-19, we used data from tests for common respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV-2 in our health system to measure the ability to correctly classify virus test results based on presenting symptoms. Based on these results, symptom-based screening may not be an effective strategy to identify individuals who should be tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection or to obtain a leading indicator of new COVID-19 cases.
An Intelligent Workstation for Stress Determination Using X-Ray Diffraction

Recent hardware developments of automated, high speed, portable X-ray diffraction stress analysis instrumentation have not yet resulted in widespread use of the technique in industry despite its potentials. We suggest that these hardware developments require an equivalent development in the training of instrument operators in order to guarantee the integrity of the resulting data, as well as to enhance the understanding of such materials characterization data. The hurdle to date is the variety of skills necessary in a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines and which are not commonly found in a single individual. It is proposed that a computer-based system, integrating knowledge bases, visualization and analysis tools and which is focused on human performance can provide an efficient solution to this problem.
Motivated Reasoning: A Depth-of-Processing Perspective

In this paper, we examine the impact of three variables on cognitive responses and persuasion--whether the information is consistent or inconsistent with one's prior preferences, whether arguments featured in the message are strong or weak, and whether pre-exposure preferences are strong or weak. We demonstrate in an experimental setting that preference-inconsistent information (nonpreferred conclusion) is processed more centrally than preference-consistent information. In addition, we find that the former elicits more counterarguments. Finally, we propose that pre-exposure preference strength moderates the impact of argument strength on persuasion in preference inconsistent settings. In specific, preference-inconsistent information benefits from strong arguments more when pre-exposure preference is weak. When pre-exposure preference is strong, the respondent counterargues preference inconsistent information more and rejects the persuasive message regardless of argument strength.
Ocular Surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In treating ocular squamous cell carcinoma in cattle, certainly enucleation or exenteration have been the time honored methods of choice. In many cases they may still be the methods of choice, however, as they leave a unilaterally blind animal, other less radical methods of therapy should be used whenever possible. Less radical therapeutic approaches should include: 1) immunotherapy, 2) cryosurgery, 3) radiofrequency hyperthermia, 4) Beta radiation, and 5) surgical removal of the tumor tissue without complete enucleation.
Situation-Aware Channel Covariance Prediction for Deep Learning Aided Massive MIMO Systems

Designing efficient massive MIMO systems operating in a frequency-division duplexing (FDD) mode is one of the main intriguing research directions in the last decade. One of the main design challenges is reducing the huge training overhead incurred from acquiring the downlink channel knowledge at the base station. This challenge is even more prominent when serving highly-mobile users with high levels of location uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a novel situation-aware channel covariance prediction solution for downlink beamforming design. The proposed solution acquires imperfect knowledge of uplink and downlink channels and user location in the learning phase. In the operation phase, the proposed solution acquires only uplink channel estimates to predict a denoised location, which is then used to predict the downlink channel covariance matrix, for downlink beamforming design. Simulation results show the pro-posed solution achieves robust performance against uncertainty in the location information and imperfection in the downlink channel knowledge, both acquired in the learning phase, which makes it promising for supporting highly-mobile applications.
Gut microbiota mediate the FGF21 adaptive stress response to chronic dietary protein-restriction in mice

Chronic dietary protein-restriction can create essential amino acid deficiencies and induce metabolic adaptation through the hepatic FGF21 pathway which serves to maintain host fitness during prolonged states of nutritional imbalance. Similarly, the gut microbiome undergoes metabolic adaptations when dietary nutrients are added or withdrawn. Here we confirm previous reports that dietary protein-restriction triggers the hepatic FGF21 adaptive metabolic pathway and further demonstrate that this response is mediated by the gut microbiome and can be tuned through dietary supplementation of fibers that alter the gut microbiome. In the absence of a gut microbiome, we discover that FGF21 is de-sensitized to the effect of protein-restriction. These data suggest that host-intrinsic adaptive pathways to chronic dietary protein-restriction, such as the hepatic FGF21 pathway, may in-fact be responding first to adaptive metabolic changes in the gut microbiome.
Comparative outcomes of radiofrequency ablation and cryoballoon ablation in dysplastic Barrett's esophagus: a propensity score-matched cohort study.

Background and Aims Strong evidence supports the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the management of dysplastic/neoplastic Barrett’s esophagus (BE). Recently, the efficacy of the cryoballoon ablation (CBA) system was demonstrated in multicenter cohort studies. We aimed to assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of these 2 ablation modalities for endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) in a cohort study. Methods Data were abstracted on patients with dysplastic BE or intramucosal carcinoma undergoing EET using RFA or CBA as the primary ablation modality at 2 referral centers. The primary outcome was the rate of complete remission intestinal metaplasia (CRIM). Secondary outcomes were rates of complete remission of dysplasia (CRD) and adverse events. Cox proportional hazards models and propensity scored–matched analyses were conducted to compare outcomes. Results Three hundred eleven patients (CBA, 85 patients; RFA, 226 patients) with a median follow-up of 1.5 years (interquartile range, .8, 2.5) in the RFA group and 2.0 years (interquartile range, 1.3, 2.5) in the CBA group were studied. On multivariable analyses, the chances of reaching CRD and CRIM were not influenced by ablation modality. Propensity score–matched analysis revealed a comparable chance of achieving CRIM (CBA vs RFA: hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, .79-1.96; P = .35) and CRD (CBA vs RFA: hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, .82-1.73; P = .36). The CBA group had a higher stricture rate compared with the RFA group (10.4% vs 4.4%, P = .04). Conclusions Histologic outcomes of EET using CBA and RFA for dysplastic BE appear to be comparable. A randomized trial is needed to definitively compare outcomes between these 2 modalities.
Basophil counting with a new staining method using alcian blue.

Difficulties in obtaining reproducible and accurate enumeration of circulating basophils with existing techniques have hampered investigation of this infrequent cell population. A new basophil staining method is described that employs alcian blue dye for staining of heparin within basophils at low pH and in the presence of lanthanum ions. Basophil recognition is facilitated by reducing nonspecific nuclear staining. This objective is achieved because of the differences in stability of alcian blue-heparin, alcian blue-nucleic acid, lanthanum-heparin, and lanthanum-mucliec acid complexes. Reduction of pH after staining also favors solubilization of leukocyte cytoplasmic proteins, providing greater contrast between stained and unstained cells by reducing light scattering of the unstained leukocytes . The alcian blue staining method is suitable both for chamber basophil counting and automated basophil counting using continuous-flow sampling and electro-optical detection. The new staining method was evaluated by comparing it with the chamber counting method using toluidine blue in a triple-blind study in which the results of basophil counting by the alcian blue chamber method, alcian blue automated instrument method, and the toluidine blue chamber method were analyzed for reproducibility and compared with an indirect basophil count obtained from a 1000-cell leukocyte differential and a total leukocyte count. Both alcian blue staining methods gave greater reporducibility that toluidine blue and were more accurate, as evidinced by a significantly higher correlation with the indirect basophil count. The improved reproducibility, accuracy, and convenience of this method over existing methods should facilitate the collection of more meaningful information about circulating basophil levels in health and disease.
''I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?'' A Study in Postmodern Identity (Re)Construction

L'A. se propose de problematiser le paradigme contemporain qui fonde la construction identitaire et l'affirmation de la difference dans la societe postmoderne sur les choix de consommation des individus. Il tente de mettre en perspective cette approche en tenant compte des textes et des pratiques de la culture populaire des medias. Il analyse la serie televisee americaine The Simpsons (du reseau Fox), et particulierement les figures de Bart, Homer et Lisa. Il soutient que la television contribue a la (re)construction permanente des identites en fournissant des modeles d'identite et les ressources symboliques de leur promulgation. Il soutient que Bart, Homer et Lisa demontrent des modeles distinctifs, mais non exclusifs, d'identite. Ces modeles servent uniquement de guides, et les spectateurs, souvent, representent leurs identites en combinant de facon creative des modeles differents. Finalement, il soutient que les spectateurs trouvent une variete de ressources symboliques pour la promulgation de leur identite dans les Simpsons.
Toward anthropogenic combustion emission constraints from space-based analysis of urban CO2/CO sensitivity

[1] We explore the value of multispectral CO retrievals from NASA/Terra Measurement of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT v5), along with Atmospheric CO2 Observations from Space (ACOSv2.9) CO2 retrievals from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), for characterizing emissions from anthropogenic combustion. We use these satellite retrievals to analyze observed CO2/CO enhancement ratios (ΔCO2/ΔCO) over megacities. Since CO is coemitted with CO2 in anthropogenic combustion, the observed ΔCO2/ΔCO characterizes the general trend in combustion activity. Our analyses show patterns in ΔCO2/ΔCO that correspond well with the developed/developing status of megacities, and ΔCO2/ΔCO that agree well with available literature and emission inventories to approximately 20%. Comparisons with ΔCO2/ΔCO derived from Total Carbon Column Observing Network measurements show similar agreement, where some of the differences in observed ΔCO2/ΔCO are due to representativeness and limited GOSAT data. Our results imply potential constraints in anthropogenic combustion from GOSAT/MOPITT, particularly in augmenting our carbon monitoring systems.
Some Like It Morally Ambiguous: The Effects of Individual Differences on the Enjoyment of Different Character Types

Responses to morally ambiguous characters vary greatly. The same character may be loved by some individuals and hated by others. The present study (N = 313) empirically tested how two individual difference factors, ambiguity tolerance (AT) and need for cognition (NFC), affected responses to purely good, purely bad, and morally ambiguous character types. Findings reveal that both AT and NFC affected enjoyment of content featuring different character types. Specifically, AT predicted both affective and cognitive enjoyment of good and ambiguous characters, and NFC predicted cognitive enjoyment of these characters.
Priority and dynamic scheduling in a make‐to‐stock queue with hyperexponential demand

We consider the scheduling problem in a make-to-stock queue with two demand classes that can be differentiated based on their variability. One class experiences Poisson arrivals and the other class experiences hyperexponential renewal arrivals. We provide an exact analysis of the case where the demand class with higher variability is given non-preemptive priority. The results are then used to compare the inventory cost performance of three scheduling disciplines, first-come first-serve and priority to either class. We then build on an existing dynamic scheduling heuristic to propose a modification that works well for our system. Extensions of the heuristic to more than two classes and to the case where demand state is known are also discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006.
Selected Criminal Law Cases in the United States Supreme Court in the 2007-2008 Term, and a Look Ahead

The U.S. Supreme Court's October 2007 Term had a substantial and notable criminal docket. There were very significant Second, Sixth and Eighth Amendment decisions, as well as important rulings relating to basic habeas corpus principles and Federal statutes. This article provides a selected overview of the Term with a heavy emphasis on those cases that may have the greatest impact upon the States. The article also suggests some questions left open by the Court's opinions and provides some preliminary indications of how several decisions are being received in State and Federal courts. It concludes with a preview of some cases to watch in the Court's current Term.
Magnetic Tricritical Points in Ising Antiferromagnets

The thermodynamic properties of the antiferromagnetic Ising simple cubic and square lattices with nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor interactions have been studied using a Monte Carlo technique. Although both systems were found to possess magnetic tricritical points, their behavior in the "tricritical region" differed from that found in ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$-${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ mixtures.
437 HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (HGH) DEFICIENCY AND POLYMOR PHISM WITHIN THE HGH AND HUMAN PLACENTAL LACTOGEN (HPL) GENE CLUSTER

Restriction mapping discloses polymorphism of base sequences within the HGH/HPL gene cluster on human chromosome 17. Cellular DNA specimens from 30 normal, unrelated subjects were digested with the enzymes Eco RI, Bam HI and Bgl II and hybridized to 32p HPL cDNA. The following band patterns were observed: To determine relationships between HGH/HPL gene variation and hormone deficiency, patterns were examined for 6 children with nonfamilial HGH deficiency and 2 pairs of siblings with autosomal recessive, partial HGH deficiency. No unique HGH/HPL restriction patterns were found. Further, one pair of affected siblings was discordant for loss of the 7.3 kb Bam HI band and the other pair was discordant for loss of the 3.0 kb Bgl II band. This indicates that the mutation responsible for their disorder is not linked to the HGH/HPL gene cluster on chromosome 17.
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Spawning Periodicity and Hatching Duration in the Northern Great Plains, USA

ABSTRACT We described spawning periodicity, hatching duration, and peak larval densities for bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) in five lakes of the northern Great Plains in Nebraska and South Dakota, USA from 2004 to 2007. Hatching generally began in early June, and duration ranged from 28 to 77 days. Peak larval density was highly variable among lakes and years and was primarily unimodal, with peaks occumng from late June to late July. Peak larval density ranged from 2 to 1,760 larvae/100 m3. Multimodal peaks in abundance occurred in four instances. Although multiple peaks in larval abundance within years were noted at southern latitudes, there were also many instances of a single peak. Larval density and spawning duration were generally lower than other reported studies of bluegill from southern latitudes although geographic location alone did not consistently explain these patterns
A Cell Mapping Method for Nonlinear Deterministic and Stochastic Systems—Part I: The Method of Analysis

In the past few years as an attempt to devise more efficient and more practical ways of determining the global behavior of strongly nonlinear systems, two cell-to-cell mapping methods have been proposed, namely, the simple cell mapping and the generalized cell mapping. In this first part of the two-part paper we present a different and more efficient cell mapping method for treating nonlinear vibration problems. The vibratory systems may be deterministic or stochastic. The method utilizes compatible simple and generalized cell mapping and it combines the advantages of both. Applications to various systems will be presented in the second part of the paper.
An Empirical Examination of a Model of Social Climate in Elementary Schools

The purpose of this study was to (a) determine the adequacy of survey items in assessing a recently proposed model of school climate; and (b) examine the utility of the model-based climate measures by testing several hypotheses regarding relations among school climate, school structural characteristics, and student performance. A sample of 8,609 students in Grades 3 through 6 completed questionnaires. Schools represented approximately one third of 122 elementary schools in a large, suburban school district located near a major metropolitan area. Scales corresponding to the model's component parts (i.e., social order-social action crossed by instrumental-expressive) were constructed. Scale items loaded on separate factors in factor analyses and showed moderate to high internal consistency. As expected, there was greater agreement on scales for students (a) when assigned to their schools, compared to being pooled with all students, and (b) who had been in the school longer, compared to those who have been i...
MANAGEMENT AND LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS OF PEDIATRIC CANCER

The impact of recently intensified and novel therapies for the treatment of childhood cancer has been an increased number of survivors and an increase in the number of treatment complications among survivors. Thus, it is important for the primary care practitioner to be aware of not only acute but chronic complications of therapy, including the possibility of second malignancies. Long-term follow-up is essential, and continuous education of patients and health care personnel is an important aspect for the complete success of treatment. Primary care practitioners also need to incorporate other subspecialties in the management of these patients to ensure that they receive complete evaluation and treatment.
Brief HIV assessment for screening CJ offenders in addiction treatment

their non-opioid substance use andmultinomial logistic regression was used to predict these substance use groups based on type of opioid drugs used and other characteristics (demographics, pain, treatment history). Results: The most frequently used non-opioid drugs were cannabis (40%), antianxiety medications (34%) and cocaine (25%). LCA identified a 5-class (C) model. C1 (58.7%), had low risk of using non-opioid drugs. C2 (23.5%) had high risk of using anti-anxiety drugs and moderate risk of cannabis. C3 (8.8%) had high risk of using non-opioid prescription drugs (anti-anxiety, sleep, andmuscle relaxant drugs) and cannabis. C4 (6.2%) had high risk of using marijuana and cocaine. C5 (2.8%) had high risk of using all nonopioid drugs. Compared toC1 (the low-using group), participants in the other classes were younger, female, tobacco users, had chronic pain, inject opioids, and used both prescription opioids and heroin. The two non-opioid prescription drug groups (C2, C3) were more likely to report chronic pain and use prescription opioids. C4 (marijuana/cocaine users) and C5 (polydrug users) were more likely to report injection. Conclusions: Aggregation of substance usemay obscure important subgroup differences in patterns of illicit non-opioid drug use. The identification of two groups that primarily misuse prescription drugs and that have comparatively high rates of chronic pain suggests that self-medicationmay play a role among sub-groups of OTP patients. Financial support: Denver Health is part of the Researched Abuse Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS®) System.
Novel β-substituted calix[4]pyrroles

Calix[4]pyrroles have attracted considerable attention within the macrocyclic, supramolecular, and porphyrin analog communities due to their ability to act as simple-to-synthesize receptors for common anions, such as chloride and fluoride. Reported here is what we believe is a new, potentially generalizable route to fully β-alkyl substituted calixpyrroles. These products are accessible from the starting pyrrolic esters, and are obtained via simple reaction with CH3Li, followed by subsequent quenching with HCl in ether. A representative system has been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The present route allows access to calix[4]pyrroles bearing functionality, such as double bonds, off the so-called C-rim; such systems are of interest because they could allow for further synthetic elaborations and permit incorporation of calix[4]pyrroles into more complex structures.
Violence Against College Women: A Review to Identify Limitations in Defining the Problem and Inform Future Research

Over the past 25 years, our understanding about violence against college women has greatly expanded, but it has been concentrated in particular areas. As a result, despite this increased attention, significant gaps in our knowledge still exist. One is a failure to take stock in how "violence" is defined and assess whether its current use adequately covers the variety of risks to which college women are exposed. We identify limitations in how the current literature operationalizes violence against college women and illustrate how addressing these limitations can inform and advance the field by identifying new patterns and correlates. We also propose a research agenda to explicitly examine the definition and scope of "violence" as considered in the study of college women.
Differential Regulation of Direct Repeat 3 Vitamin D3and Direct Repeat 4 Thyroid Hormone Signaling Pathways by the Human TR4 Orphan Receptor

In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that abundant testicular orphan receptor (TR4) transcripts were detected in kidney, intestine, and bone, which are vitamin D3 target organs. Cell transfection studies also demonstrated that the expression of the vitamin D3 target gene, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase, can be repressed by TR4 through high affinity binding (Kd = 1.32 nM) to the direct repeat 3 vitamin D3 receptor response element (DR3VDRE). This TR4-mediated repression of DR3VDRE is in contrast to our earlier report that TR4 could induce thyroid hormone target genes containing a direct repeat 4 thyroid hormone response element (DR4T3RE). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay using several TR4 monoclonal antibodies when combined with either TR4-DR3VDRE or TR4-DR4T3RE showed a distinct supershifted pattern, and proteolytic analysis further demonstrated distinct digested peptides with either TR4-DR3VDRE or TR4-DR4T3RE. These results may therefore suggest that TR4 can adapt to different conformations once bound to DR3VDRE or DR4T3RE. The consequence of these different conformations of TR4-DR3VDRE and TR4-DR4T3RE may allow each of them to recruit different coregulators. The differential repression of TR4-mediated DR3VDRE and DR4T3RE transactivation by the receptor interacting protein 140, a TR4 coregulator, further strengthens our hypothesis that the specificity of gene regulation by TR4 can be modulated by protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions.
Comparative study on the derivatization of l-α-acetylmethadol metabolites for electron capture gas-liquid chromatography

Six reagents-trichloroacetyl chloride, trichloroacetic anhydride, pentafluorobenzoyl chloride, heptafluorobutyryl chloride, heptafluorobutyric anhydride, and trifluoroacetic anhydride- were evaluated as potential derivatizing reagents for quantitating the metabolites of l-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) -noracetylmethadol, dinoracetylmethadol, methadol, and normethadol-by electron capture gas-liquid chromatography. All of the reagents studied reacted quantitatively with all of the metabolites except methadol; however, trichloroacetyl chloride was found to be the most satisfactory general reagent for analyzing these metabolites in biological fluids. A gas-liquid chromatographic method is presented which combines both flame ionization and electron capture detection for quantitating plasma and urine levels of methadone, l-alpha-acetylmethadol and its metabolites.
GRAVITATIONAL COUPLING AT FINITE TEMPERATURE

We discuss a thermodynamic identity which helps explain why 〈H〉\ensuremath{\ne}〈${T}_{00}$〉 at finite temperature. In addition we complete the discussion of the gravitational force by including the gravitational variation of the temperature. Gradients in the temperature induce extra forces not accounted for by the usual coupling to the energy-momentum tensor.
Public Health Department Response to Mercury Poisoning: The Importance of Biomarkers and Risks and Benefits Analysis for Chelation Therapy

Chelation therapy is often used to treat mercury poisoning. Public health personnel are often asked about mercury toxicity and its treatment. This paper provides a public health department response to use of a mercury-containing cosmetic in Minnesota, a perspective on two unpublished cases of chelation treatment for postulated mercury toxicity, and comments on the use of a nonsystemic treatment for removal of mercury following the Iraqi seed coat poisoning incident. Physicians should evaluate sources of exposure, biomarkers, and risks and benefits before recommending chelation therapy for their patients. Potential risks to chelation therapy and its little understood subtle or latent effects are areas of public health concern.
Evaluating Interference Caused by Lipemia

Lipemia, hemolysis, and icterus commonly interfere with laboratory tests that use optical methods (1). The interference from lipemia is fundamentally different from interferences associated with icterus (bilirubin) and hemolysis (mostly attributable to hemoglobin). In lipemia, chylomicrons and VLDL are suspended particles that scatter light, producing cloudiness or turbidity similar to that seen in milk. Lipemia may interfere in any assay that uses the transmission of light as part of the detection scheme (1). To evaluate the susceptibility of methods to interferences from icterus or hemolysis, it is appropriate to prepare samples with added bilirubin or hemoglobin, respectively (2). By contrast, the lack of readily available, standardized materials to produce lipemic samples complicates the evaluation of lipemia. Glick et al. (2) added IntraLipid, a synthetically produced emulsion for intravenous administration, to serum to simulate lipemic samples. In this issue of Clinical Chemistry , Bornhorst et al. (3) show that samples with added IntraLipid do not perfectly mimic lipemic samples. Thus, native lipemic patient samples have falsely low results for ceruloplasmin, prealbumin, and transferrin measured by immunoturbidimetry, whereas simulated lipemic samples prepared by adding IntraLipid do not. To understand this discrepancy and appreciate its potential occurrence with all light-based methodologies in the clinical laboratory, one must review the features of light scattering pertinent to clinical laboratory instrumentation and the physical chemical differences between naturally lipemic and IntraLipid-supplemented samples. When electromagnetic radiation in the form of light interacts with matter, such as lipid particles, a dipole moment is induced in the particles (4). The magnitude of the dipole moment is proportional to the strength of the electric field and the polarizability of the particles (4). The particles do not need to reflect the light; instead, the phenomenon arises from the difference in the refractive index between the particles (solute) and the solvent …
Siamois is required for formation of Spemann's organizer.

Spemann’s organizer develops in response to dorsal determinants that act via maternal components of the wnt pathway. The function of siamois, a wnt-inducible homeobox gene, in Spemann’s organizer development was examined by fusion of defined transcriptional regulatory domains to the siamois homeodomain. Similar to native siamois, a VP16 activator fusion induced axis formation, indicating that siamois functions as a transcriptional activator in axis induction. Fusion of the engrailed repressor generated a dominant inhibitor that blocked axis induction by Xwnt8, β-catenin, and siamois, and repressed wnt activation of the goosecoid promoter. Dorsal injection of the engrailed-siamois fusion resulted in complete inhibition of dorsal development and organizer gene expression, an effect rescued by siamois, but not by Xwnt8 or β-catenin. Thus, as a zygotic mediator of maternal dorsal signals, siamois function is required for development of Spemann’s organizer.
Synthesis of cobalt-doped barium cerate-zirconate and its evaluation for hydrogen production and electrochemical characterization

Cobalt-doped barium cerate-zirconate was synthesized using an oxalate co-precipitation route. The material was characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Results indicated that homogeneous cubic phase material was obtained at very high heat-treatment temperatures. Catalytic activity of the material toward CH3OH partial-oxidation was tested at different temperatures and O2:CH3OH ratios. High hydrogen yields were obtained indicating that the material was a suitable catalyst for hydrogen generation. Impedance spectroscopy tests were conducted at different conditions to understand conduction processes occurring in the material. Results suggested mixed protonic–electronic conductivity in the presence of hydrogen. Thus, material is a potential candidate for the bi-functional role of electro-ceramic catalyst for simultaneous hydrogen generation and purification.
Complementary regions to Tobacco mosaic virus RNA in host DNA.

Abstract TMV RNA has been found to hybridize with both nuclear and chloroplast tobacco DNAs. Chloroplast DNA contains an appreciable greater proportion of complementary sequences to TMV RNA than does nuclear DNA. The data suggest that only a small portion of TMV RNA is homologous with a highly redundant DNA species.
A testbed for power system security evaluation

This paper describes a project that integrates real devices used in the electric power grid with a simulation of electrical power generation and distribution, and a computer/communication simulator. The testbed is designed to evaluate the cyber-security of power grid control systems. Through a combination of simulation and emulation, the testbed seamlessly integrates virtual and real components, allowing for the evaluation of both high-level design descriptions on large-scale models, and precise measurements taken from production code executing on real hardware.
Calcium mobilization and protease-activated receptor cleavage after thrombin stimulation in motor neurons

Thrombin, the ultimate enzyme in the blood coagulation cascade, has prominent actions on various cells, including neurons. As in platelets, thrombin increases [Ca2+]i mobilization in neurons, and also retracts neurites. Both these effects are mediated through a G protein-coupled, proteolytically activated receptor for thrombin (PAR-1). Prolonged exposure to thrombin kills neurons via apoptosis, that may also involve PAR-1 activation. Increased [Ca2+]i has been a unifying mechanism proposed for cell death in several neurodegenerative diseases. Thrombin-elevated calcium levels may activate intracellular cascades in neurons leading to cell death. Since thrombin mediates its diverse effects on cells through both heterotrimeric and monomeric G proteins, we also explored what effect altering differential G protein coupling would have on the neuronal response to thrombin. We studied calcium mobilization by thrombin in a model motor neuronal cell line, NSC19, using fluorescence image analysis. Confirming effects in other neuronal types, thrombin caused dramatic increases in [Ca2+]i levels, both transiently and after prolonged exposure, which involved activation and cleavage of the PAR-1 receptor. Using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot-blot analysis, we found that the N-terminal fragment of PAR-1 was released into the medium after exposure to thrombin. We confirmed that PAR-1 protein and mRNA expression occurred in motor neurons. We found that cholera toxin inhibited thrombin-mediated Ca2+ influx, pertussis toxin did not significantly alter thrombin action, and lovastatin, a small 21-kDa Ras GTPase (Rho) modulator, showed a tendency to reduce the thrombin effect. These data indicate that thrombin-increased [Ca2+]i, sufficient to trigger cell death in motor neurons, might be approached in vivo by modulating thrombin signaling through PAR-1.
Pediatric bacterial endocarditis. Treatment and prophylaxis.

Bacterial endocarditis is rare in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) but continues to be a source of significant morbidity. The incidence of endocarditis has decreased because of a combination of better general health care, particularly dental hygiene, greater awareness, early treatment of potential conditions associated with bacteremia, and antibiotic prophylaxis. The degree to which each of these has contributed to the decrease is unclear. In addition, aggressive treatment of patients with suspected endocarditis has resulted in a decrease in mortality from the preantibiotic era when it was universally fatal. The treatment of endocarditis in the current era is problematic, with the high cost and morbidity associated with prolonged hospitalization.
Uncertainty Avoidance Influences Choices for Potential Gains but not Losses

Uncertainty of outcomes is a primary dimension underlying human judgment and decision making, and is a defining feature of risk. Even though uncertainty almost always exists in decision making contexts, individuals and cultures vary in their preference for avoiding uncertainty. This study examines how uncertainty avoidance influences judgments involving uncertain and risky alternatives. Participants were presented with problems that involve potential gains or losses and contain options reflecting uncertain or certain outcomes. Greater uncertainty avoidance predicted choices for uncertain outcomes that involved gains, which tend to promote risk aversion, but not for uncertain outcomes that led to losses, which tend to promote risk seeking. These results demonstrate that culturally-relevant dispositions such as uncertain avoidance can have complex effects on judgment.
Electron Irradiation and Recovery of Tungsten

Damage rates and recovery of 99.99% pure tungsten have been investigated after electron irradiation near 4 °K by means of electrical resistivity. The damage rate data tend to a value of T0 = 38 to 42 eV. The recovery of the residual electrical resistivity shows three major stages: Stage I from 4.2 to 100 °K, Stage II from 100 to 500 °K, Stage III from 500 to 1000 °K. Stage I is dominated by only one major peak at 70 °K. An analysis based on second-order kinetics yielded a good fit to the data through 95% of the recovery. The energy derived was 0.17 eV. Only ≈ 26% recovery is seen in Stage I and we propose that the suppression is due to interstitial trapping by impurities. Stage III accounts for about 40% recovery of the induced resistivity and has a center temperature of 760 °K. The stage was analysed assuming second-order kinetics; this analysis gave an energy of 1.1 eV. Messungen der elektrischen Leitfahigkeit wurden benutzt, um Schadigungsraten und Erholungsverhalten von 99,99% reinem Wolfram nach Elektronenbestrahlung bei etwa 4 °K zu untersuchen. Die Mesergebnisse fur die Schadigungsraten lassen eine Verlagerungsenergie zwischen 38 und 42 eV vermuten. Die Erholung des elektrischen Restwiderstands weist drei grose Bereiche auf: Bereich I von 4,2 bis 100 °K, Bereich II von 100 bis 500 °K, Bereich III von 500 bis 1000 °K. Im Bereich I dominiert eine Stufe bei 70 °K. Die Mesdaten uber einen Bereich von 95% der Erholung in dieser Stufe stimmen gut mit einer Reaktion zweiter Ordnung uberein. Die Aktivierungsenergie wurde zu 0,17 eV ermittelt. Nur ≈ 26% der bestrahlungsinduzierten Widerstandsanderung heilen in Bereich I aus. Es wird vorgeschlagen, das der Einfang von Zwischengitteratomen durch Verunreinigungen eine Verkleinerung von Bereich I bewirkt. Etwa 40% der Erholung finden in Bereich III statt, dessen mittlere Temperatur bei 760 °K liegt. Dieser Bereich wurde unter der Annahme einer Kinetik zweiter Ordnung analysiert. Es wurde eine Aktivierungsenergie von 1,1 eV erhalten.
Another look at anisotropy in geostatistics

A thorough geostatistical data analysis includes a careful study of how the data's second-order variation, as characterized by the semivariogram, depends on the relative orientation of data locations. If the semivariogram depends on only the (Euclidean) distance between locations, then the semivariogram is isotropic; otherwise, it is anisotropic. In this article, I take another look at the modeling of anisotropy in geostatistics. A new, more specific classification of types of anisotropy is proposed. More importantly, some heretofore inadequately understood implications of the dependence of various semivariogram attributes on direction are discussed, and the wisdom of some current practices for modeling the direction-dependence of these attributes is questioned.
Derivation of nearest-neighbor properties from data on nucleic acid oligomers. II. Thermodynamic parameters of DNA · RNA hybrids and DNA duplexes

Using nearest-neighbor models consisting of independent short sequence combinations of nearest neighbors (ISS models), values of thermodynamic parameters for sets of independent sequences are derived from published oligomer data for DNA · RNA hybrids [N. Sugimoto, S. Nakano, M. Katoh, A. Matsumura, H. Nakamuta, T. Ohmichi, M. Yoneyama, and M. Sasaki (1995) Biochemistry, Vol. 34, pp. 11211–11216] and dsDNA duplexes [J. SantaLucia, Jr., H. T. Allawi, and P. A. Seneviratne (1996) Biochemistry, Vol. 35, pp. 3555–3562]. The results are compared with those from models that assign values of thermodynamic parameters to individual nearest neighbors (INN models). Differences in the use of ISS and INN models are also illustrated in an appendix, which shows examples of analyses for values of a fictitious nearest-neighbor property. INN models that include an initiation parameter contain an implicit assumption that combinations of end neighbors have the same value of a property. It is found that combinations of end neighbors (e.g., base pairs neighboring solvent) in oligomers can have significant and different apparent values of thermodynamic properties, so that the assumption inherent in INN models is not always correct. Even though ISS models do not allow the assignment of values to individual nearest neighbors, except for the like neighbors [such as d(AA)/r(UU), etc., for hybrids and d(AA)/d(TT) and d(GG)/d(CC) for DNA duplexes], they do provide physically meaningful values for the like neighbors, for sequence combinations, and for specified combinations of end neighbors. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 42: 795–810, 1997
Developments to the TRNSYS simulation program

The TRNSYS simulation program is a sequential-modular transient simulation program which is widely used for both solar and nonsolar simulation studies despite its near 20-year-old origins. There have been many revisions to TRNSYS between its original release and the current version 13.1 but they have maintained the same sequential computational scheme for solving simultaneous algebraic and differential equations. TRNSYS 14 has recently been developed which implements a more robust method for solving simultaneous sets of nonlinear equations. The new computational scheme utilizes equation blocking to improve convergence properties and it handles discrete control decisions in a manner which promotes convergence in the iterative calculations. The new computational scheme allows TRNSYS 14 to solve problems which were either difficult or impossible to solve in previous versions as well as backwards problems, for which the output of a component is specified and the input must be determined. The computation scheme incorporated into TRNSYS 14 is described in this paper and its capabilities are illustrated with several examples.
Role of G-protein-coupled Receptor-related Genes in Insecticide Resistance of the Mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus

G-protein-coupled receptors regulate signal transduction pathways and play diverse and pivotal roles in the physiology of insects, however, the precise function of GPCRs in insecticide resistance remains unclear. Using quantitative RT-PCR and functional genomic methods, we, for the first time, explored the function of GPCRs and GPCR-related genes in insecticide resistance of mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus. A comparison of the expression of 115 GPCR-related genes at a whole genome level between resistant and susceptible Culex mosquitoes identified one and three GPCR-related genes that were up-regulated in highly resistant Culex mosquito strains, HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6, respectively. To characterize the function of these up-regulated GPCR-related genes in resistance, the up-regulated GPCR-related genes were knockdown in HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6 using RNAi technique. Knockdown of these four GPCR-related genes not only decreased resistance of the mosquitoes to permethrin but also repressed the expression of four insecticide resistance-related P450 genes, suggesting the role of GPCR-related genes in resistance is involved in the regulation of resistance P450 gene expression. This results help in understanding of molecular regulation of resistance development in Cx. quinquefasciatus.
The plasma focus as a large fluence neutron source

Abstract A continuously operated, 1 pps, dense-plasma-focus device capable of delivering a minimum of 10 15 neutrons per pulse for material testing purposes is described. With I 5 scaling, predicted from analysis of existing machines, yields of 10 16 −10 17 neutrons per pulse are postulated. The average power consumption, which has become a major issue as a result of the energy crisis is shown to be highly favorable. A novel approach to the capacitor bank and switch design allowing repetitive operation is discussed.
Gas segregation during solidification processes

Gas pores appear during solidification when the gas concentration in the liquid is higher than the gas solubility at a certain location. In this study, an analysis has been carried out to predict the gas concentration in the melt for different forms of the solidification rate. An exact solution is found for a constant interface velocity. An integral analysis is used to predict the gas concentration behavior for different interface velocity functions, including the most common cases of casting. The maximum gas concentration occurs at the solid-liquid interface and it depends on the form of the solidification rate as a function of time. The results can be used to establish criteria for the maximum amount of dissolved gas permissible in the melt in order to avoid the formation of gas bubbles.
The Feather and the Fork: Food Culture in Medieval Castilian Literature

By highlighting central anthropological theories of food and identity—(1) food events, (2) group eating, (3) the act of eating itself, and (4) the idea of consumption—and linking them to medieval portrayals of Iberian diet, this article aims to elucidate societal coding based on a culinary system and reveal unconsidered or unnoted aspects of medieval Castilian culture. Medieval texts are analyzed, including Cantigas de Santa Maria, Siete Partidas, El libro de Alexandre, and El cantar del Mio Cid.
Functional Analysis in Behavioral Medicine

Behavior therapists must often design treatments for individual patients who present with a wide array of psychophysiological disorders and health problems. The functional analysis and functional analytic causal modeling is a learning-based, empirically focused assessment technique used to systematically gather, integrate, and summarize information about the form and function of a patient’s symptoms. A functional analytic case model can be a critical component of effective treatment design because most interventions attempt to modify relationships between causal factors and symptoms. The objectives of this paper are (a) to present a review of the conceptual foundations and essential procedures in the functional analysis; (b) to outline steps required to generate a functional analytic causal model; (c) to explain simple decisional and statistical procedures that can be used to counter intuitive errors; and (d) to demonstrate how functional analytic case models can be used to guide clinical practice and tre...
The Quran and the apostles of Jesus

According to Islamic tradition the companions of Jesus in the Quran, the ḥawāriyyūn, were faithful disciples. Critical scholars largely agree that the Quran means to present the ḥawāriyyūn as such, and generally translate ḥawāriyyūn as “apostles” or “disciples”. Some add that ḥawāriyyūn is related to ḥawāryā, the Geʿez term used for the apostles in the Ethiopic Bible. In the present article I argue that while the Quran indeed means to signal the apostles of Christian tradition with the term ḥawāriyyūn, it does not consider the ḥawāriyyūn to have been faithful. The Quran praises the ḥawāriyyūn for their belief in Jesus (a belief that distinguishes them from other Israelites, i.e. the Jews) but reprimands them for abandoning his message. Hence emerges the exceptional position of Christians in the Quran: they are not condemned but rather exhorted to return to their prophet's teaching.