cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of metabolic inhibition on the excitability of isolated hippocampal CA1 neurons: developmental aspects

1. The effects of brief exposures to hypoxia on the membrane currents of isolated hippocampal CA1 neurons were studied with the use of the whole-cell variation of the patch-clamp technique. Neurons were acutely dissociated from immature (day 2-7) and mature (day 21-43) rats. 2. In the current-clamp mode, Na-cyanide (CN) hyperpolarized both mature and immature neurons. In the voltage-clamp mode, CN decreased the magnitude of the hyperpolarizing holding current in both age groups. 3. CN did not have a consistent effect on the voltage-dependent calcium and potassium currents of immature and mature CA1 neurons but decreased the voltage-dependent inward current of neurons at both ages. This effect was age dependent: the inward current of immature neurons decreased by only 10%, but that of mature neurons decreased by approximately 40%. 4. The decrease in the magnitude of the hyperpolarizing holding current and the depression of the voltage-dependent inward current of mature neurons were observed during brief exposure to N2 (PO2 = 0), indicating that the electroresponses observed with CN were the result of blocking oxidative respiration. 5. The hypoxia-sensitive inward current was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) but was not blocked by cadmium or cesium + tetraethylammonium (TEA). Therefore this current was identified as the voltage-dependent, fast-inactivating sodium current (INa). 6. The isolated sodium current was studied with the use of cadmium to block calcium and TEA + cesium to block potassium currents. In mature neurons, CN left-shifted the steady-state inactivation curve for INa and slowed the deactivation kinetics of INa. CN caused little or no change in INa activation, fast inactivation, recovery from inactivation, or current-voltage (I-V) relationship. 7. We conclude that brief exposures to CN and hypoxia alter the intrinsic excitability of CA1 neurons by at least two mechanisms: 1) alterations in leakage currents and 2) alterations in the fast Na+ conductance that are maturationally dependent. We propose that the alterations in the Na+ conductance may play an adaptive role by reducing O2 demands and thus possibly delaying neuronal injury.
On electromagnetic boundary conditions and constitution of homogeneous materials

Constitutive scalars that are absent in the fundamental differential equations of frequency-domain electromagnetism on the two sides of a boundary between two homogeneous mediums are shown to disappear from the boundary conditions as well.
Cosmic-ray-produced radioactivity in laboratory chemicals

Abstract 127 Te and 32 P activities were radiochemically isolated from several kg quantities of potassium iodide, and hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, respectively, exposed to cosmic rays on the roof of the Chemistry Building of the University of Arkansas. The observed specific activities, in terms of disintegration (× 10 −5 )/sec are 127 Te: 1·1/g of iodine, 32 P: 3·8/g of sulphur, and 2·0/g of chlorine. The measured values are in reasonable agreement with the calculated values and previous measurements.
The complexity of many cells in arrangements of planes and related problems

We consider several problems involving points and planes in three dimensions. Our main results are: (i) The maximum number of faces boundingm distinct cells in an arrangement ofn planes isO(m2/3n logn +n2); we can calculatem such cells specified by a point in each, in worst-case timeO(m2/3n log3n+n2 logn). (ii) The maximum number of incidences betweenn planes andm vertices of their arrangement isO(m2/3n logn+n2), but this number is onlyO(m3/5??n4/5+2?+m+n logm), for any?>0, for any collection of points no three of which are collinear. (iii) For an arbitrary collection ofm points, we can calculate the number of incidences between them andn planes by a randomized algorithm whose expected time complexity isO((m3/4??n3/4+3?+m) log2n+n logn logm) for any?>0. (iv) Givenm points andn planes, we can find the plane lying immediately below each point in randomized expected timeO([m3/4??n3/4+3?+m] log2n+n logn logm) for any?>0. (v) The maximum number of facets (i.e., (d?1)-dimensional faces) boundingm distinct cells in an arrangement ofn hyperplanes ind dimensions,d>3, isO(m2/3nd/3 logn+nd?1). This is also an upper bound for the number of incidences betweenn hyperplanes ind dimensions andm vertices of their arrangement. The combinatorial bounds in (i) and (v) and the general bound in (ii) are almost tight.
Study of the attack of acidic solutions on melamine-acrylic basecoat/clearcoat paint systems

The extent of penetration of an acidic solution into a melamine-acrylic coating, the bulk changes in the thermal properties of the coating, and the chemistry and kinetics of acid degradation were investigated. Fluorescent microscopy experiments showed that significant penetration of the clearcoat occurs rapidly with acidic solutions. Thermal analysis of a matrix of samples exposed to a variety of conditions showed that significant differences occurred as a function of time, temperature, and acid concentration. Infrared analysis showed unreacted excess alkoxy-methyl melamine was hydrolyzed first, followed by the hydrolysis of the crosslinks.
Decreased rates of protein synthesis by cell-free preparations from different organs of aging mice

Protein synthetic activity was determined in postmitochondrial preparations from heart, brain, kidney, liver and skeletal muscle of 5-26-month-old female C57B1/6J mice. An age-dependent decrease in the rate of protein synthesis was exhibited by all preparations except heart muscle. A 65% decrease in translational rate was found in liver, with the greatest decrease appearing after 21 months. Translation in the brain preparation declined little during the first 20 months, but dropped 33% between 20 and 26 months. The kidney preparation decreased 30% during the first 16 months and 70% by the end of 26 months of age. Skeletal muscle showed an overall decrease of 85% in translation rate. In contrast, heart muscle decreased no more than 10% over the life-span of the mice. From these results, it appears that aging has a differential effect on protein synthesis in different kinds of cells.
Reduced-mass Fock-Tani representations for a + +(b + c - )-->(a + c - )+b + and first-order results for \{abc\}=\{ppe, epe, μpμ, μdμ, and μtμ\}

The Fock-Tani transformation in the Jacobi three\ensuremath{\rightarrow}two-body reduced-mass system is carried out and the first-order T matrix is found to be identical to that for the full three-body transformation. The Fock-Tani transformation in the reduced-mass system in which particle b is fixed at the origin is found to give a first-order T matrix with an error of ${m}_{c}$/${m}_{b}$ in the initial momentum wave function. First-order differential and total cross sections are calculated for ${\mathit{a}}^{+}$+(${\mathrm{b}}^{+}$${\mathrm{c}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(${\mathrm{a}}^{+}$${\mathrm{c}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$)+${\mathrm{b}}^{+}$ where {abc}={ppe, epe, \ensuremath{\mu}p\ensuremath{\mu}, \ensuremath{\mu}d\ensuremath{\mu}, and \ensuremath{\mu}t\ensuremath{\mu}}. .AE
Total and differential cross-section calculations for the double photoionization of the helium 1s2s {sup 1,3}S states

We apply the time-dependent close-coupling method to the double photoionization of helium from its $1s2s$ ${}^{1,3}S$ metastable states. Total integral cross sections are in excellent agreement with other nonperturbative theories. Single and triple differential cross sections are also presented which show interesting differences with previous calculations from the ${1s}^{2}$ ground state of helium. This set of calculations provides a goal for experimentalists to measure absolute total and angular differential cross sections for double ionization processes from excited states of atoms.
Nondeterministic polynomial-time computations and models of arithmetic

A semantic, or model theoretic, approach is proposed to study the problems P =? NP and NP =? co-NP. This approach seems to avoid the difficulties that recursion-theoretic approaches appear to face in view of the result of Baker et al. on relativizations of the P =? NP question; moreover, semantical methods are often simpler and more powerful than syntactical ones. The connection between the existence of certain partial extensions of nonstandard models of arithmetic and the question NP =? co-NP is discussed. Several problems are stated about nonstandard models, and a possible link between the Davis-Matijasevi
Responding to the demand for accountability: A critical analysis of three utility models

Abstract Rising personnel costs often lead to increased pressure on personnel managers to justify new or continuing employee selection programs. This involves a consideration of the relative utilities of alternative selection strategies. This paper presents a summary and critique of the theory, assumptions, and data requirements of the Taylor—Russell, Naylor—Shine, and Brogden—Cronbach—Gleser utility models. Similarities and differences among the models are noted, and appropriate applications of each model are presented. It is argued that dollar-based decision systems can meet the demand for accountability in personnel programs, but their proper implementation requires a close liaison between personnel specialists and cost accountants.
Simulation of imaging in projection microscope using multibeam probe

We show simulation images of projection microscope, which uses parallel beam to the sample, detecting secondary electrons, photoelectrons and mirror electrons using electrons and UV/X-ray sources as probe beam. The results show we can see image for square and dense line patterns without charging and damage in the objects. This research can be used for quantitative analysis for projection microscope using multi beam source to get comprehensive information of many characteristics of objects as well as topographic information.
The stabilization of cartilage properties in the cartilage-forming mesenchyme of the embryonic chick limb.

Experiments have been done to determine the time in the development of the embryonic chick limb when the cells in the cartilage-forming area become “stabilized.” The particular criterion for stability used in this work was the ability of the cells to resist the influences in the limb which cause some limb mesenchyme cell to form cartilage and other limb mesenchyme cells to form soft tissue. Blocks of cartilage-forming mesenchyme were transplanted from the cartilage-forming area of a second limb to the prospective soft tissue area of a second limb. The host limb was permitted to develop for 48 hours, and then examined to determine if the implanted cells had formed cartilage outside of the normal cartilage pattern of the host limb. The embryos used as a source of the implanted blocks varied in stage from stage 22 to stage 27, the hosts also varied in stage from stage 22 to stage 27. It was found that a block of cartilage-forming mesenchyme generally would conform with the host limb pattern if the donor was stage 24 or younger and the host was stage 24 or younger. A block of cartilage-forming mesenchyme generally did not conform with the host limb pattern if the donor was stage 25 or older whatever the stage of the host. We conclude that the cartilage-forming cells become stabilized by this criterion between stage 24 and stage 25.
Heightened vulnerability to MDR-TB epidemics after controlling drug-susceptible TB.

Background Prior infection with one strain TB has been linked with diminished likelihood of re-infection by a new strain. This paper attempts to determine the role of declining prevalence of drug-susceptible TB in enabling future epidemics of MDR-TB. Methods A computer simulation of MDR-TB epidemics was developed using an agent-based model platform programmed in NetLogo (See http://mdr.tbtools.org/). Eighty-one scenarios were created, varying levels of treatment quality, diagnostic accuracy, microbial fitness cost, and the degree of immunogenicity elicited by drug-susceptible TB. Outcome measures were the number of independent MDR-TB cases per trial and the proportion of trials resulting in MDR-TB epidemics for a 500 year period after drug therapy for TB is introduced. Results MDR-TB epidemics propagated more extensively after TB prevalence had fallen. At a case detection rate of 75%, improving therapeutic compliance from 50% to 75% can reduce the probability of an epidemic from 45% to 15%. Paradoxically, improving the case-detection rate from 50% to 75% when compliance with DOT is constant at 75% increases the probability of MDR-TB epidemics from 3% to 45%. Conclusions The ability of MDR-TB to spread depends on the prevalence of drug-susceptible TB. Immunologic protection conferred by exposure to drug-susceptible TB can be a crucial factor that prevents MDR-TB epidemics when TB treatment is poor. Any single population that successfully reduces its burden of drug-susceptible TB will have reduced herd immunity to externally or internally introduced strains of MDR-TB and can experience heightened vulnerability to an epidemic. Since countries with good TB control may be more vulnerable, their self interest dictates greater promotion of case detection and DOTS implementation in countries with poor control to control their risk of MDR-TB.
An ergonomic comparison of industrial spray paint guns

Abstract Two spray guns were used by 10 subjects in a laboratory. One gun was a `traditional' spray gun. The other was the OMX gun which had `ergonomic' features including reduced gun and hose weight and two triggers (one for horizontal surfaces and one for vertical). The 10 subjects (5 experienced industrial spray painters and 5 inexperienced students) used each gun for 4 h. The criteria used to evaluate the two guns were: (1) Wrist deviation in all three axes, (2) EMG frequency shift of 3 shoulder muscles over the test period, (3) integrated EMG activity of the forearm flexors, and (4) body discomfort ratings. It was found that the OMX gun resulted in significantly less radial/ulnar deviation in the wrist, and moderately increased flexion/extension and pronation/supination deviations from neutral. During the painting period, up to 50% less fatigue in the shoulder muscles was found for the OMX gun. Additionally, the triggering activation levels for sustained grip contractions were found to be acceptable for the OMX gun when using the short trigger. Finally, the amount of discomfort reported by the subjects was statistically lower in the shoulder, upper back, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand with the OMX gun design. Collectively, these results indicate that the OMX gun would be expected to reduce exposure to occupational risk factors for workers. This study demonstrated how the incorporation of ergonomic design principles can be used to minimize occupationally-related risk. Relevance to industry Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) are soft tissue disorders resulting from repeated exertions and excessive movements of the body. Industrial spray painting fits the profile of a highly repetitive task. Improving spray paint gun design could potentially reduce the risk of CTDs in industrial spray painting tasks.
Global environmental resources versus world population growth

Abstract To secure a quality life for current and future generations, sufficient land, water, and energy must be available. Worldwide today there is evidence that food production and distribution processes are problematic; more than 3.7 billion humans are now malnourished. With the imbalance growing between population numbers and vital life sustaining resources, humans must actively conserve cropland, freshwater, energy, and biological resources. There is a need to develop renewable energy resources. Humans everywhere must understand that rapid population growth damages the earth’s resources and diminishes human well being.
Phosphorus diffusion in FeNi-based amorphous alloys

Abstract Phosphorus bulk diffusion rates in one sputter-deposited and two liquid-quenched FeNi-based amorphous alloys were determined by measuring the kinetics of phosphorus segregation to a free surface. The diffusion rates for the three materials were found (1) to obey an Arrhenius relationship, (2) to be identical within experimental error and (3) to equal the rate of phosphorus diffusion in bulk iron. The average diffusion activation energy (approximately 1.85 eV atom −1 ) measured for these materials is different from the activation energies frequently obtained for stress relaxation and several other properties of the material, indicating that phosphorus diffusion is not the primary mechanism that controls these properties in the amorphous alloy.
Interference management via sliding-window superposition coding

The sliding-window superposition coding scheme achieves the performance of simultaneous decoding with point-to-point channel codes and low-complexity decoding. This paper provides a case study of how this conceptual coding scheme can be transformed to a practical coding technique for two-user Gaussian interference channels. Simulation results demonstrate that sliding-window superposition coding can sometimes double the performance of the conventional method of treating interference as noise, still using the standard LTE turbo codes.
Comparison of peanut meal and soybean meal as protein supplements for laying hens

Peanut protein is severely limiting in threonine and has been used to create threonine deficiency in animals. The availability of purified threonine at low cost raises the possibility of economically using peanut meal (PNM) and threonine combinations in poultry diets. An experiment was conducted to compare corn and PNM based diets to corn and soybean meal (SBM) based diets at three protein levels (16, 18.5, and 21%) in diets for 22-to-34-wk-old commercial Leghorns. Birds were housed two per cage with four cages per replicate and six replicates per treatment. Feed consumption, egg production, and feed per dozen eggs were almost identical for PNM (93.8 g/hen per d, 92.2 eggs per 100 hens/d, and 1.22 kg/dozen) and SBM (93.7 g/hen per d, 92.2 eggs per 100 hens/d, and 1.22 kg/dozen). Dietary protein level had no consistent effect on any of these parameters but did significantly improve body weight gains and egg weights (1.2 to 2.5 g/egg). PNM-fed hens laid slightly smaller eggs during the first 6 wk (P 0.14). PNM-fed hens laid eggs with better interior quality at 26 and 30 wk of age. After 2 wk of storage, Haugh units remained better for eggs from hens fed PNM than SBM when kept refrigerated (4 degrees C; P<0.05) or at room temperature (20 degrees C; P<0.10). Egg specific gravity was slightly lower for hens fed PNM. It is concluded that PNM is an excellent ingredient for laying hen diets.
Apparent rates of production and loss of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) in a southern reservoir lake (Tennessee, USA).

Abstract Apparent rates of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) concentration changes in a southern reservoir lake (Cane Creek Lake, Cookeville, Tennessee) were investigated using the DGM data collected in a 12-month study from June 2003 to May 2004. The monthly mean apparent DGM production rates rose from January (3.2 pg L− 1/h), peaked in the summer months (June–August: 8.9, 8.0, 8.6 pg L− 1/h), and fell to the lowest in December (1.6 pg L− 1/h); this trend followed the monthly insolation march for both global solar radiation and UVA radiation. The monthly apparent DGM loss rates failed to show the similar trend with no consistent pattern recognizable. The spring and summer had higher seasonal mean apparent DGM production rates than the fall and winter (6.8, 9.0, 3.9, 5.0 pg L− 1/h, respectively), and the seasonal trend also appeared to closely follow the solar radiation variation. The seasonal apparent DGM loss featured similar rate values for the four seasons (5.5, 4.3, 3.3, and 3.9 pg L− 1/h for spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively). Correlation was found of the seasonal mean apparent DGM production rate with the seasonal mean morning solar radiation (r = 0.9084, p
High-Frequency Mechanical Stirring Initiates Anisotropic Growth of Seeds Requisite for Synthesis of Asymmetric Metallic Nanoparticles like Silver Nanorods

High-speed stirring at elevated temperatures is shown to be effective in the symmetry-breaking process needed for the growth of the hard-to-synthesize silver nanorods from the polyol reduction of silver ions. This process competes with the facile formation of more symmetrical, spherical and cubic, nanoparticles. Once the seed is formed, further growth proceeds predominantly along the long axis, with a consequent increase of the particles' aspect ratio (that of the nanorod). When stirring is stopped shortly after seed formation, nanorods with a broad distribution of aspect ratios are obtained, while when the high-frequency stirring continues the distribution narrows significantly. The width of the nanorods can only be increased if the initial concentration of Ag + ions increases. Reducing the stirring speeds during seed formation lowers the yield of nanorods. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the formation of a nanometer- scale thin boundary region between a solid facet of the nanoparticle and the liquid around it, and the accommodation processes of metal (Ag) atoms transported through this boundary region from the liquid to the solid growth interface, are frustrated by sufficiently fast shear flow caused by high-frequency stirring. This arrests growth on seed facets parallel to the flow, leading, together with the preferential binding of the capping polymer to the (100) facet, to the observed growth in the (110) direction, resulting in silver nanorods capped at the ends by (111) facets and exposing (100) facets on the side walls.
ABSORPTION AND CLINICAL EFFECT OF A LARGE SINGLE DOSE OF THYROID GLOBULIN

PREVIOUS papers have described a clinical condition similar to hyperthyroidism resulting from continuous ingestion of excessive amounts of desiccated thyroid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). In the case to be reported there were no toxic effects, although a serum precipitable iodine of 40.9 gamma per cent established the fact that a great part of a single huge dose of thyroid globulin had been absorbed. REPORT OF CASE The patient, M. W., a 31-year-old married white woman, consulted her physician in the latter part of June 1947 regarding her obesity. For two years following her first parturition in 1934, when she was 18 years old, she had weighed 117 pounds. After a right salpingo-oophorectomy and appendectomy at the age of 20, and following a second pregnancy in 1938, her weight was 160 pounds. This increased after her third pregnancy in 1945 to 248 pounds. The patient's physician prescribed a low calorie diet and 3 grains of thyroid daily. During the first nine days of July 1947 the patient took a total of 27, one-gr...
A Flexible Dispatch Margin for Wind Integration

Integrating wind power into power systems contributes to existing variability in system operations. Current methods to mitigate this variability and uncertainty focus on using conventional generator ramping capability. There is also the option of using wind power itself to mitigate the variability and uncertainty that it introduces into the system. This paper introduces the concept of a flexible dispatch margin as a means for wind to participate in mitigating net variability and net uncertainty. In providing a flexible dispatch margin, wind generators under-schedule in the hour-ahead energy market in order to have additional expected flexibility available for the real-time market. The implementation of the flexible dispatch margin is analyzed in a two-stage optimization model with recourse to the flexible dispatch margin, flexible demand and generator ramping. This modeling framework combines Monte Carlo simulations with AC OPF analysis, using the IEEE 39-bus test system. Results show that use of the flexible dispatch margin decreases the reliance on peaking generators to mitigate net variability and uncertainty, and also decreases the frequency of price spike events, particularly as wind penetration increases from 10% to 30%. The analysis emphasizes the importance of increasing flexible resource capability as power system variability and uncertainty increase.
In Vitro Culture of Periodontal Ligament Cells

A number of methods for in vitro culture of periodontal ligament fibroblasts were investigated. One successful method is described. Such cells can be maintained readily in subculture. Indications of growth of these cells on sections of enzymatically debrided teeth are reported.
Controlling Polymeric Topology by Polymerization Conditions: Mechanically Linked Network and Branched Poly(urethane rotaxane)s with Controllable Polydispersity

Compared to that of model polyurethane 8 from the reaction of tetra(ethylene glycol) (6) and 4,4‘-methylenebis(p-phenyl isocyanate) (7) under the same polymerization conditions, polydispersities (PDI) of copolyurethanes 9−11 incorporating bis(5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-phenylene)-32-crown-10 (5) as comonomer were significantly higher; for these branched polymers, the PDI increased with feed ratio of 5 vs 6 up to Mw/Mn = 24 for 75% of 5. This constitutes an original method to control branching. The branching units in 9−11 are main chain rotaxanes formed with H-bonding between the ether moieties of macrocycle 5 and −OH groups as a driving force and thus are mechanically linked, as directly proven by 1H NMR spectra, NOESY, and complexation studies with a bipyridinium salt. The cavity of 5 acts as a “topological functionality”. Since solvent can either allow or disfavor such H-bonding, polymeric topology, branched or linear, can be controlled by the proper choice of solvent. Indeed, although homopolyurethanes were...
FEVER IN RHEUMATIC AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

This article reviews the most common clinical conditions presenting with fever and musculoskeletal symptoms and attempts to categorize these disorders according to general etiologic categories as an aid to differential diagnosis. Although a substantial armamentarium of serologic, immunologic, and molecular laboratory studies have been developed and are available to the clinician, the most important data are obtained from a careful history and physical examination with emphasis on the musculoskeletal system.
Atomic emission in the ultraviolet nightglow

An observation of the ultraviolet nightglow between 2,670 {angstrom} and 3,040 {angstrom} was conducted over White Sands Missile Range on October 22, 1984, at 0020 hours LST during the Orionids meteor shower. A 1/4-meter uv spectrometer operating at 3.5 {angstrom} resolution viewed the Earth's limb at tangent heights between 90 km and 110 km for 120 seconds. By inverting the observed limb intensities, a total zenith intensity of 1.4 kR is inferred for the Herzberg I system. Excess emission above the Herzberg I (7,3) band at 2,852 {angstrom} is identified as the Mg I resonance line. The intensity ratio of the Herzberg I band system to the 2,972 {angstrom} line from O({sup 1}S) was less than that predicted from the accepted O({sup 1}S) branching ratio and acceptable ratios of Herzberg I to 5,577 {angstrom} emissions. Arguments supporting the identification of the Herzberg III band system are also advanced.
State-led Migration, Democratic Legitimacy, and Deterritorialization: The Philippines' labour export model

Developing countries are increasingly facilitating migration as a way of generating remittances for the home economy. The Philippines serves as a paradigmatic example, inaugurating a labour export scheme in 1973 that has grown each year and resulted in nearly 25 per cent of the labour force working abroad. The institutionalization of this labour export policy, along with changes in citizenship and voting laws, has led to the increasing deterritorialization of the Philippines state, with concomitant implications for democracy and democratization. This deterritorialization presents both opportunities and challenges for the state. Among them are the possibility of securing sustained remittances and the necessity of securing democratic legitimacy from a globalized polity. This paper traces the evolution of this labour export policy and analyzes the effects of state discursive strategies designed to secure democratic legitimacy. To further this analysis I present the results of a survey conducted among Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong (n=691). The responses indicate the discursive strategy of 'national heroes' has been effective in that majorities of OFWs view themselves as 'heroes of the nation.' However, OFWs also view themselves as making sacrifices for the nation and have concerns about government commitments to protect the rights and interests of OFWs.
Strangers at the Gate: Gaining Access, Building Rapport, and Co-Constructing Community-Based Research

This paper is about the work we do to create productive partnerships in community settings: developing relationships, demonstrating commitments, and overcoming personal and institutional barriers to community-based design research. Through an ethnographic account of the elements of community-based research normally elided from reports of design process, we explore how the impact of institutional histories and personal relationships went beyond simply identifying potential partners, but fundamentally guided the research questions and approach. We examine the different roles researchers play - researcher, confidant, advocate, interloper, invader, and collaborator - and how those roles create particular relations in the field. The contribution of this work is the development of a reflective account of the research in order to evaluate knowledge production, rigor, and advance methods for engaging in community-based research.
The Medieval Solar Activity Maximum

Paleoclimatic studies of the Medieval Solar Maximum (c. A.D. 1100–1250, corresponding with the span of the Medieval Warm Epoch) may prove useful because it provides a better analog to the present solar forcing than the intervening era. The Medieval Solar Activity Maximum caused the cosmogenic isotope production minimum during the 12th and 13th Centuries A.D. reflected by Δ14C and10Be records stored in natural archives. These records suggest solar activity has returned to Medieval Solar Maximum highs after a prolonged period of reduced solar activity. Climate forcing by increased solar activity may explain some of this century's temperature rise without assuming unacceptably high climate sensitivity. By analogy with the Medieval Solar Activity Maximum, the contemporary solar activity maximum may be projected to last for 150 years. The maximum temperature increase forced by increased solar activity stays well below the predicted doubled atmospheric CO2 greenhouse forcing.
The influence of biological and technical factors on the variability of global and regional brain metabolism of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose.

This study investigated the influence of biological and technical factors on variations of global and regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) measured with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([18F]FDG). Twelve male volunteers (22–40 years) were investigated on three or four occasions for a total of 42 studies. We calculated the variance/covariance of the following parameters: CMRglc, six parameters of the blood clearance of [18F]FDG, hour of injection, peak time of blood radioactivity, and six components of the operational equation (nonradioactive blood glucose concentration, brain radioactivity, two integrals, numerator, and denominator). There was correlation among these six components, except for nonradioactive blood glucose. However, the correlation between the CMRglc and the individual components of the operational equation was poor. The inter- and intrapersonal CMRglc coefficients of variations were 13.8 and 7.1%, respectively. In contrast, coefficients of variations of the numerator and d...
IFRS and convergence in China and the USA

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to perform a brief examination of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the progress towards IFRS convergence in the accounting environments of China and the USA, providing useful information on the current status and future of IFRS convergence in these countries. Design/methodology/approach – A range of IFRS-related literature from 1993 to 2013 was analyzed to provide the current status of IFRS and to determine the past, present and future of IFRS convergence in the country examinations. Findings – IFRS convergence and adoption has occurred on a global scale due to the call for a single set of standards. China's most significant obstacles include training accounting professionals and becoming more involved in the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) standard setting process. The USA's most significant obstacle is completing the Securities and Exchange Commission roadmap milestones, which will progressively move the accounting industry tow...
Aquifex Aeolicus FlgM Protein Does Not Exhibit the Disordered Character of the Salmonella Typhimurium FlgM Protein

Studies on the nature and function of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDP) over the past ten years have demonstrated the importance of IDPs in normal cellular function. The flexibility of IDPs allows one IDP to assume multiple conformations or form different protein-protein complexes, allowing a single protein to exhibit multiple functions. While many predicted IDPs have been characterized on an individual basis, the conservation of disorder between homologous proteins from different organisms has not been carefully studied. We now demonstrate that the FlgM protein from the thermophile Aquifex aeolicus exhibits significantly less disorder then the previously characterized FlgM protein from Salmonella typhimurium. FlgM is an inhibitor of the RNA transcription factor σ28, which is involved in regulation of flagella synthesis gene expression. Previous work has shown that the S. typhimurium FlgM protein is an intrinsically disordered protein, though the C-terminus becomes ordered when bound to σ28 or under crowded solution conditions. In this work, we demonstrate that, even under dilute solution conditions, that the A. aeolicus FlgM protein exhibits alpha-helical character. Furthermore, we use the fluorescent probe FlAsH to show that the H2 helix is ordered, even in the unbound state, in contrast to the S. typhimurium FlgM protein, and the H1 and H2 helices appear to be associated in the absence of the σ28 protein. Taken together, our data demonstrates that the A. aeolicus FlgM protein, while flexible, does not exhibit the intrinsically disordered nature exhibited by the S. typhimurium FlgM protein.
Monozygotic triplets: concordance and discordance for cleft lip and palate / twin research reviews: depression in mothers of multiples; depression in mothers and fathers of ART conceived multiples; epigenetic differences in monozygotic twins; congenital anomalies in surviving twins / headlines x two: twin Chefs; the world's largest twin registry; twin table tennis champions

A review of twin research on cleft lip and palate is presented. This information is accompanied by a look at the lives of young monozygotic (MZ) male triplets concordant for cleft lip, but discordant for the type and placement of the cleft and for the presence of cleft palate. Research on depression in mothers and fathers of twins conceived naturally and by artificial reproductive techniques follows. Current findings and implications of epigenetic differences in MZ twins are also summarized. Interesting life history events surrounding MZ twin chefs and table tennis players, as well as plans to construct the world's largest twin registry, are presented in the final section.
Synthesis of RNA by nuclei isolated from embryos of Xenopus laevis at different developmental stages

Abstract Nuclei isolated from embryos of Xenopus laevis at different developmental stages convert uridine into RNA at rates which are linear with time, proportional to the amount of nuclear DNA used, and increased by small amounts of spermidine. As development proceeds from the cleavage stages onward, the capacity of nuclei to synthesize RNA from uridine is greatly reduced. This reduction does not appear to be due to lack of RNA polymerase since added E. coli RNA polymerase has little effect on synthesis.
Focal Adhesion Mechanotransduction: Molecular Events Leading to Vinculin Activation

Focal adhesions are formed as a molecular glue linking cytoskeletal actin filaments to the extracellular matrix (ECM). They are formed at the site of mechanical stimulation (1) and involve and initial recruitment of talin and vinculin to ECM bound integrin molecules at the site of external stimulation. Talin recruitment and its force-induced activation and subsequent interaction with vinculin have been extensively studied (2–4). Vinculin is natively in an auto-inhibited conformation and its activation involves removal of a steric hindrance preventing binding of Vt with actin (5) (Figure 1). Several hypotheses have been put forth regarding vinculin activation and its subsequent interaction with actin: 1) vinculin activation requires only interaction with talin at domain 1 (D1) (6), 2) a simultaneous interaction with both actin and talin is necessary to achieve vinculin activation (7), 3) once activated vinculin interacts with actin via an electrostatic interaction between Vt and two regions on F-actin (5). Each of these hypotheses is evaluated through molecular dynamics simulation and analysis.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Three Dimensional Display Of Meteorological Scientific Data

Even a cursory reading of any daily newspaper shows that we are in the midst of a dramatic revolution in computer graphics. Virtually every day some new piece of hardware or software is announced, adding to the tools available to the working scientist. Three dimensional graphics form a significant part of this revolution having become virtually commonplace in advertising and on television.
THE INVESTIGATION OF PLANT NUTRITION BY ARTIFICIAL CULTURE METHODS

Summary This review presents a general survey of artificial culture methods employed in the investigation of plant nutrition. Several types are described, including liquid-culture methods and those which depend on a solid inert medium. The advantages of artificial culture procedures for growing plants are pointed out, as one means of studying soil-plant interrelations, as well as various questions in plant physiology and plant biochemistry. These methods have been indispensable in the study of the chemical elements essential to the growth of higher plants, especially of those elements needed in minute quantities. The techniques of artificial culture are also of great value for the investigation of the absorption of ions by roots. These techniques serve likewise for inquiries into the interreactions of climatic conditions and mineral nutrients. Among other topics considered are the application of artificial culture methods to researches on the functions in plant metabolism of inorganic nutrients, the role of colloids in absorption of ions, horticultural and agronomical problems, and commercial production of crops.
Preservation of blood glucose homeostasis in slow-senescing somatotrophism-deficient mice subjected to intermittent fasting begun at middle or old age

Poor blood glucose homeostatic regulation is common, consequential, and costly for older and elderly populations, resulting in pleiotrophically adverse clinical outcomes. Somatotrophic signaling deficiency and dietary restriction have each been shown to delay the rate of senescence, resulting in salubrious phenotypes such as increased survivorship. Using two growth hormone (GH) signaling-related, slow-aging mouse mutants we tested, via longitudinal analyses, whether genetic perturbations that increase survivorship also improve blood glucose homeostatic regulation in senescing mammals. Furthermore, we institute a dietary restriction paradigm that also decelerates aging, an intermittent fasting (IF) feeding schedule, as either a short-term or a sustained intervention beginning at either middle or old age, and assess its effects on blood glucose control. We find that either of the two genetic alterations in GH signaling ameliorates fasting hyperglycemia; additionally, both longevity-inducing somatotrophic mutations improve insulin sensitivity into old age. Strikingly, we observe major and broad improvements in blood glucose homeostatic control by IF: IF improves ad libitum-fed hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity, and reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis, in aging mutant and normal mice. These results on correction of aging-resultant blood glucose dysregulation have potentially important clinical and public health implications for our ever-graying global population, and are consistent with the Longevity Dividend concept.
Culture and Ethics: a Tool for Analysing the Effects of Biases on the Nurse-Patient Relationship

For most nurses world-wide, activities are centred around working directly with patients and so the nurse-patient relationship is of the greatest importance. Ethnocentrism on the part of the health care community has led to misdiagnosis, mistreatment and undertreatment of culturally diverse individuals world-wide. This author discusses a tool, Greipp's Model of Ethical Decision-Making, which can be used to assist nurses in analysing the effects of culture, beliefs and diversity upon the caregiver and care recipient within an ethical framework.
Plane-Based Content Preserving Warps for Video Stabilization

Recently, a new image deformation technique called content-preserving warping (CPW) has been successfully employed to produce the state-of-the-art video stabilization results in many challenging cases. The key insight of CPW is that the true image deformation due to viewpoint change can be well approximated by a carefully constructed warp using a set of sparsely constructed 3D points only. However, since CPW solely relies on the tracked feature points to guide the warping, it works poorly in large texture less regions, such as ground and building interiors. To overcome this limitation, in this paper we present a hybrid approach for novel view synthesis, observing that the texture less regions often correspond to large planar surfaces in the scene. Particularly, given a jittery video, we first segment each frame into piecewise planar regions as well as regions labeled as non-planar using Markov random fields. Then, a new warp is computed by estimating a single homography for regions belong to the same plane, while inheriting results from CPW in the non-planar regions. We demonstrate how the segmentation information can be efficiently obtained and seamlessly integrated into the stabilization framework. Experimental results on a variety of real video sequences verify the effectiveness of our method.
Premenarcheal Versus Postmenarcheal Anorexia Nervosa: A Comparative Study

Onset of anorexia nervosa prior to menarche is rarely encountered and little is known about clinical and psychological differences between this group and the more typical postmenarcheal patient. Th...
Interspecies scaling, allometry, physiological time, and the ground plan of pharmacokinetics

Interspecies variation in pharmacokinetics is considered and treated as a property and consequence of body size (allometry). Consequently, it is possible to reference (scale) pharmacokinetic parameters to the organism's individual anatomy, biochemistry, and/or physiology in such a manner that differences between species are nullified. Thus, in the mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human, methotrexate plasma clearance always equals 133% of creatinine clearance and as such becomes invariant. Pharmacokinetic time (a variable in terms of chronological time) is shown to be a form of physiological time in which a pharmacokinetic event becomes the independent variable, e.g., disposition halflife. A relationship between pharmacokinetic time and body size is demonstrated. It is suggested that man's lesser quantitative ability to metabolize many drugs may be correlated with his enhanced longevity.
Arrangement of apolipoprotein A-I in reconstituted high-density lipoprotein disks: an alternative model based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments.

The folding and organization of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) in discoidal, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) complexes with phospholipids are not yet completely resolved. For about 20 years, it was generally accepted that the amphipathic helices of apoA-I lie parallel to the acyl chains of the phospholipids (“picket fence” model). However, based on the X-ray crystal structure of a large, lipid-free fragment of apoA-I, a “belt model” was recently proposed. In this model, the helices of two antiparallel apoA-I molecules are extended in a circular arrangement and lie perpendicular to the phospholipid acyl chains. To obtain conclusive information on the spatial organization of apoA-I in discoidal HDL, we engineered three separate cysteine mutants of apoA-I (D9C, A124C, A232C) for specific labeling with the fluorescence probes ALEXA-488 or ALEXA-546 (fluorescein and rhodamine derivatives). The labeled apoA-I was reconstituted into well-defined HDL complexes containing two molecules of protein and dipalmitoylphosph...
A natural isolate of Pseudomonas maltophila which degrades aromatic sulfonic acids

A natural isolate, designated BSA56, which was originally selected for growth with benzene sulfonic acid as sole carbon and energy source, was identified as a strain of Pseudomonas maltophila. Strain BSA56 grew on a wide range of aromatic sulfonic acids and was shown to release sulfite from benzene sulfonic acid and 2-naphthalene sulfonic acid. Although it also grew on toluene sulfonic acid and pyridine sulfonic acid, no significant sulfite release was observed with these substrates. Release of sulfite from benzene sulfonic acid was greatly promoted by the presence of glycerol. The ability to release sulfite was induced by growth in the presence of benzene sulfonic acid and was repressed almost entirely by substrates allowing rapid growth such as acetate. Strain BSA56 grew better at 30 degrees C than 37 degrees C on most aromatic substrates, but the reverse was true for most aromatic sulfonates. Several mutants of BSA56 were isolated with defects in benzoate, salicylate, or gentisate metabolism. However, all these mutants retained the ability to degrade the aromatic sulfonates.
Airway hyperreactivity elicited by toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-albumin conjugate is not accompanied by airway eosinophilic infiltration in guinea pigs

Nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness is present in many patients with toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced asthma; however, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of this hyperresponsiveness remain controversial. In the present study, we used a guinea pig model to investigate the association of TDI-induced airway hyperresponsiveness with eosinophilic airway infiltration, which is widely considered to play a key role in the development of allergen-induced hyperresponsiveness. Guinea pigs were sensitized by i.d. injections of 10 μl TDI on day 1 and day 6. Control animals received saline injections. Two weeks after the second injection, airway reactivity to inhaled methacholine and specific airway resistance (sRaw) was measured before and at several times after inhalation challenge with TDI-GSA (guinea pig serum albumin) conjugates. Eosinophils in the airways were detected using enzyme histochemistry and quantified using computer-assisted image analysis. TDI-specific IgG1 antibodies were found in the blood of TDI-sensitized animals. An immediate increase in sRaw was induced in these animals by TDI-GSA challenge; airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine was observed at 6 h and 18 h after TDI-GSA challenge. However, TDI-GSA challenge did not result in an elevation of eosinophils in the airways, compared with control animals. The results suggest that the development of TDI-induced airway hyperresponsiveness is not dependent upon eosinophil infiltration in airways.