cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal Patterns in Feeding of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae): Importance of Nocturnal Feeding

Rangeland grasshoppers were sampled from the Western High Plains ecoregion every 6 h over 2 periods of 2 d each during September 1992. The crop contents of the grasshoppers were classified as full (>80% filled), partially full (5–80% filled), or empty (>5% filled). Rangeland species often engaged in nocturnal feeding, in some cases more commonly than diurnal feeding. Across all species, 44% of individuals captured at midnight and sunrise had full crops, compared with 41% captured at midday and sunset. The frequencies of full and not-full (partially full and empty) crops across sampling times differed significantly between species and between sexes within 4 of the 5 dominant species. Laboratory bioassays of the rate of food (dyed filter paper) passage in field-collected grasshoppers, at 10, 21, and 32°(; during light and dark conditions, revealed that crops were emptied within 4 h of feeding. Seasonal and spatial variation in temporal feeding was studied at 3 sites in July, August, and September 1994. The temporal patterns of crop fullness differed significantly among species and sexes at each sampling location and date. The frequencies of full crops also differed significantly within males and females of most species between sampling dates (at a single site) and between sites (at a single date). Temporal feeding patterns were highly variable. Four types of feeding patterns were apparent: diurnal, nocturnal, continuous, and intermittent. Temporal niche partitioning resulted in constant feeding by a grasshopper assemblage. Nocturnal feeding was an important component of this partitioning; 78% of the classified cases involving substantial nocturnal feeding and 50–75% of all grasshoppers sampled had full crops at midnight and sunrise.
Equilibrium Partitioning of Flexible Macromolecules in Fibrous Membranes and Gels

A theory was developed to describe the equilibrium partitioning of a flexible polymeric solute between a dilute solution and a medium consisting of a randomly oriented array of fibers (e.g., a fibrous membrane or gel). The fibers were regarded as long, rigid cylinders, and the solute was modeled as a chain consisting of n mass points joined by n - 1 rectilinear segments. Results were obtained for freely jointed chains and for chains with fixed bond angles, using a combination of analytical and computational (e.g., Monte Carlo) techniques. The predicted partition coefficient (Φ, the solute concentration in the fibrous material divided by that in the bulk solution) proved to be sensitive to the number of fibers included; typically, 50 or more nearest-neighboring fibers were needed to obtain a convergent result. The values of Φ decreased as fiber volume fraction, molecular size, or number of mass points was increased selectively. As the bond angle was increased from 0° (a chain folding back on itself) to 180° (a rodlike chain), Φ first decreased and then increased. The model predictions agreed reasonably well with literature partitioning data for various polymeric solutes in hydrogels, especially when the radius of gyration was no more than a few times the fiber radius. With the radius of gyration specified, the model predictions were fairly insensitive to whether the bond angle was fixed or random.
The Effects of Dickkopf 1 on Gene Expression and Wnt Signaling by Melanocytes: Mechanisms Underlying Its Suppression of Melanocyte Function and Proliferation

Dickkopf 1 (DKK1), which is expressed at high mRNA levels by fibroblasts in the dermis of human skin on the palms and soles, inhibits the function and proliferation of melanocytes in the epidermis of those areas via the suppression of β -catenin and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). In this study, we investigated the protein expression levels of DKK1 between palmoplantar and non-palmoplantar areas and the effects of DKK1 on melanocyte gene expression profiles and on Wnt signaling pathways using DNA microarray technology, reverse transcriptase-PCR, Western blot, 3-dimensional reconstructed skin, immunocytochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. DKK1-responsive genes included those encoding proteins involved in the regulation of melanocyte development, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis (including Kremen 1 , G-coupled receptor 51 , lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 , low-density lipoprotein receptor , tumor necrosis factor receptor super-family 10 , growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible gene 45β , and MITF ). Of special interest was the rapid decrease in expression of MITF in melanocytes treated with DKK1, which is concurrent with the decreased activities of β -catenin and of glucose-synthase kinase 3 β via phosphorylation at Ser9 and with the upregulated expression of protein kinase C α . These results further clarify the mechanism by which DKK1 suppresses melanocyte density and differentiation, and help explain why DKK1-rich palmoplantar epidermis is paler than non-palmoplantar epidermis via mesenchymal-epithelial interactions.
THE EFFECTS OF IMMUNOLOGICAL SYMPATHECTOMY ON BEHAVIOR IN MICE.

Abstract The sympathetic nervous system has frequently been implicated in behavioral phenomena, especially those involving emotion or anxiety, in addition to its importance in the regulation of many vital processes. A popular hypothesis predicates that sympathetically-innervated responses are essential both in learning and remembering a skeletal response that avoids a noxious stimulus. The hypothesis was tested in this experiment by using a preparation in which a partial sympathectomy was performed by injecting into newborn Webster Swiss mice an antiserum that prevents full development of the neural cells in sympathetic ganglia. Control mice were injected with normal saline. Performance was studied in two learning situations. One was an active shock-avoidance task that required movement from one compartment to another within 3.5 sec after onset of a light. Response latency and success of avoidance were measured. The other task was lever-pressing for food in the presence of a flashing light, with the onset of the light contingent on no lever presses for 10 sec, constituting a passive avoidance component. Responses in the presence and absence of the light were counted. The mean number of neural cells in the sympathetic ganglia of the mice injected with antiserum was significantly less than in the control mice, but the two groups showed no mean differences in any of the behavioral measures taken. There were no gross or histological differences between the adrenal glands of the two groups.
Self-regulatory disturbances in eating disorders

The hypothesis that eating-disordered patients utilize their bodies as transitional objects is examined, but the evidence does not support this proposition. Instead, these patients reveal a deficit in transitional object relatedness. It is found that these patients have severe deficits in self-organization and self-regulation. Much of the symptomology such as starvation, hinging, vomiting, and hyperactivity is better understood as desperate measures to drown out states of overstimulation and/or fragmentation.
The "Giftbox" repair of the Achilles tendon: a modification of the Krackow technique.

Background: The Krackow locking loop technique has been used for Achilles tendon repair with documented success in allowing early range of motion with stable fixation. Previous studies documented f...
Early, single chlorhexidine application reduces ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients.

Abstract Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important complication of mechanical ventilation and is particularly common in trauma, burn, and surgical patients. Interventions that kill bacteria in the oropharynx reduce the pool of viable organisms available for translocation to the lung and thereby lessen the likelihood of developing VAP. Repeated administration of chlorhexidine (CHX) to the mouth and oropharynx has been shown to reduce the incidence of VAP, but use of a single dose has not been studied. This randomized, controlled clinical trial tested an early (within 12 hours of intubation) application of CHX by swab versus control (no swab) on oral microbial flora and VAP. Methods A total of 145 trauma patients requiring endotracheal intubation were randomly assigned to the intervention (5 mL CHX) or control group. VAP (Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score [CPIS] ≥ 6) was evaluated on study admission and at 48 and 72 hours after intubation. Results A total of 145 patients were enrolled; 71 and 74 patients were randomized to intervention and control groups, respectively. Seventy percent of the patients were male, and 60% were white; their mean age was 42.4 years (±18.2). A significant treatment effect was found on CPIS both from admission to 48 hours ( P = .020) and to 72 hours ( P = .027). In those subjects without pneumonia at baseline (CPIS Conclusion an early, single application of CHX to the oral cavity significantly reduces CPIS and thus VAP in trauma patients.
Improving interaction with a raster display

Interacting with a raster display can be frustratingly slow if images must be transmitted over slow data links such as standard telephone lines. When interaction with a graphics terminal is based on the system displaying detailed pictures and then a response by the user, the slow row-by-row painting method should be replaced by a hierarchical refining scheme discussed here. The small overhead in the refining scheme is a small price to pay for increased convenience to the human.
CMOS Compatible Micro-Scintillators for Wireless Multi-Species Radiation Detection and Tracking

This paper reports on an integrated system of wirelessly linked radiation detectors that are sensitive to alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron radiation. The detectors use glass and quartz doped with 10 B nanoparticles to detect impinging radiation producing varying optical pulses which exit the material. The varying optical pulses are differentiated by onchip pulse height spectroscopy. Signal discrimination is done with on-chip CMOS circuitry using a 0.35 μm process and a photodiode or photo-multiplier (PM) tube. On-chip CMOS interfacing is key to the production of small integrated radiation detection packages that are cheaper, more reliable, and easier to produce than assembled devices that use commercial off-the-shelf parts. CMOS packages are designed for low power consumption with maximum battery life; this lends itself to creating small, hard to detect radiation sensor packages that are easy to integrate with wireless sensor nodes. The network would use a mesh configuration and transmit real time radiation information from each node to a local hub. As a radiation source enters the coverage area, the data from sensors in the immediate area is transmitted and compared to find the location of the source. Pinpointing the source is achieved by comparing data received from each node. Radiation testing was done using 241 Am, 90 Sr, and 60 Co sources for alpha, beta, and gamma particles. Initial results show that quartz and glass scintillators doped with boron are able to detect each form of radiation. The quartz scintillator is also able to detect neutron radiation particles, which being neutral, are undetected with traditional solid state radiation detectors.
Absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopic characters of size-expanded yDNA bases and effect of deoxyribose and base pairing.

We present an ab initio study of the optical absorption and emission spectra of size-expanded nucleic acid base analogues (yA, yT, yT-m, yG, yG-t2, and yC) obtained by benzo homologation (see Krueger, A. T.; Lu, H.; Lee, A. H. F.; Kool, E. T. Acc. Chem. Res. 2007, 40, 141 and references therein). Also examined were the effects of linking to deoxyribose and hydrogen bonding to their natural complementary bases (T, A, C, and G, respectively). The calculated excitation and emission energies are in good agreement with the measured data where experimental results are available. The geometries corresponding to the first excited singlet state of yA and yT are found to be quasi-planar, while those for yG and yC are nonplanar. In general, binding to deoxyribose will red shift the absorbance and fluorescence emission maxima of the y-bases. The ground-state geometries of the Watson−Crick analog base pairs (yAT, yTA, yGC, and yCG) are found to be planar, and the calculated interaction energies are very close to those...
Superconductivity in ultra-thin amorphous Mo-Ru films

Resistance vs temperature,R(T), curves for ultra-thin homogeneous Mo-Ru films are analyzed using recent theories for the temperature dependence of the resistance in the insulating phase, and the suppression of the superconducting transition temperature,T c , with increasing normal state sheet resistance,R [], in the superconducting phase.
Job Satisfaction Correlates for College Graduates in Psychology

This survey emphasizes the value of job preparation while still in college, and gives some important tips in finding jobs.
Preparation of 109Pd-hematoporphyrin for selective lymphatic ablation using N-methylhematoporphyrin.

Abstract Selective lymphatic ablation by use of 109 Pd-hematoporphyrin has been reported. The literature method for preparation of the palladium complex results in considerable loss of activity and requires too much initial activity for convenient use in experiments with large animals and human subjects. The complex can be rapidly and conveniently prepared, however, using N -methylhematoporphyrin in DMSO. The distribution in dogs of material prepared by this new method is similar to that for material synthesized by the traditional method.
Biochemical characterization and mapping of the 7E11-C5.3 epitope of the prostate-specific membrane antigen

The expression of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) glycoprotein recognized by the murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) 7E11-C5.3 has been shown to be highly restricted to prostate epithelium. Although the conjugated form of this MAb (CYT-356) may soon be used clinically for in vivo imaging of extraprostatic disease, few details regarding the nature of the antigenic epitope of PSMA have been reported. This study was carried out to analyze the MAb 7E11-C5.3 epitope on PSMA using standard biochemical techniques, and the antigenic epitope was mapped with synthetic peptides. The MAb 7E11-C5.3 epitope was susceptible to both periodic acid oxidation and proteolytic digestion, which indicated that the antigen consisted of a glycoprotein. However, additional biochemical assays such as sodium borohydride, tunicamycin treatment, and digestion with glycosidases failed to abrogate MAb 7E11-C5.3 binding. Epitope mapping with synthetic peptides demonstrated the epitope to be localized to the intracellular domain at the N-terminus of the PSMA molecule with a minimal reactive peptide consisting of six amino acids (MWNLLH). The synthetic peptides were treated with periodic acid, which resulted in inhibition of antibody binding, suggesting that treatment of the PSMA antigen resulted in damage to the peptide chain. These data suggest that the MAb 7E11-C5.3 does not recognize a glycopeptide as was initially thought, but recognizes an intracellular epitope consisting of only the primary polypeptide chain. Further studies are needed to determine how CYT-356 is able to image tumors in vivo when the antigenic epitope is intracellular.
Drug-eluting stents have made brachytherapy obsolete.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This manuscript reviews the controversy regarding the role of intravascular brachytherapy in the setting of growing use of drug eluting stents. The utility of intravascular brachytherapy is being rethought in relation to its use after the placement of drug eluting stents. Even with in-stent stenosis, the role of intravascular brachytherapy is decreasing primarily due to the simplicity of placement of drug eluting stents and the complexity of performing intravascular brachytherapy. RECENT FINDINGS The impact of drug eluting stents is already decreasing the clinical impact of in-stent stenosis. The published pivotal clinical restenosis rates from both the Pacitaxil (TAXUS IV) and Sirolimus (SIRIUS) drug eluting stents suggests that the need to perform intravascular brachytherapy will be in fewer than one in 20 patients. Recently reported registry data from Europe and the United states demonstrates the equivalence drug eluting stent implantation to intravascular brachytherapy for in-stent stenosis of bare metal stents. The role of intravascular brachytherapy for in-stent stenosis of drug eluting stents is very much in question. SUMMARY This manuscript reviews the impact of Drug Eluting Stents in the practice of interventional cardiology and suggests that the need for intravascular brachytherapy will significantly decrease. Whether we will need this therapy at all is very controversial.
Alternating Stereoregular Head, Tail–Tail, Head‐Poly(Alkylene d‐Glucaramides) Derived from a Homologous Series of Symmetrical Diamido‐di‐d‐Glucaric Acid Monomers

A method for the synthesis and purification of a homologous series of symmetrical diamido‐diacids derived from d‐glucaric acid and six alkylenediamines is described. Treating d‐glucaro‐6,3‐lactone with an equimolar amount of lithium acetate dihydrate yielded lithium d‐glucarate‐6,3‐lactone, which in turn was reacted with six alkylenediamines in dimethyl sulfoxide to give the target diamido‐diacids. Six new alternating stereoregular polyamides, head, tail–tail, head‐poly(alkylene d‐glucaramides), were then synthesized by simple polycondensation reactions between the activated diamido‐diacids [6,6′‐(N,N′‐alkylene)‐bis(d‐glucaramid‐1‐oic acid)s] and the alkylenediamines. Number average molecular weights for the polyamides were estimated by 1H NMR end group analysis. Models for the three‐dimensional shape of these alternating stereoregular polymers were produced from a combination of 1H NMR data, molecular modeling studies performed on d‐glucaramide, and crystal structures of various acyclic d‐glucaric acid d...
An approach to the field study of hydraulic gradients in variable- salinity ground water

Understanding what can and cannot be determined about hydraulic gradients in field studies of variable-salinity ground water is becoming increasingly important because of the use of subsurface injection as a waste-disposal method in saline aquifers throughout the country. A field study approach is proposed for reliably estimating hydraulic gradients in subregions within a region of variable-salinity ground water. It is based upon Hubbert's concept about the kind of density distributions that are required for ground water to have a potential. The approach consists of dividing a region of variable-salinity ground water into subregions with constant density, subregions with only vertical variations in density, and subregions with vertical and lateral variations in density before determining magnitude and direction of hydraulic gradients. Subregions with constant density and subregions with only vertical variations in density according to Hubbert can have a potential; because of this, hydraulic gradients in such subregions may be reliably estimated. Subregions with vertical and lateral variations in density according to Hubbert may not have a potential; because of this, hydraulic gradients in such subregions cannot be reliably estimated. The approach was applied to an unconfined coastal aquifer and also to a confined and layered coastal aquifer that is used for subsurface injection. As the two applications show, the analysis of water levels and pressures from subregions with constant or approximately constant density and the analysis of pressures from subregions with only vertical variations in density provide simple and direct means for deducing the characteristics of hydraulic gradients within a region of variable-salinity ground water.
Stimulation of Protein Kinase C during Ca2+-induced Keratinocyte Differentiation: SELECTIVE BLOCKADE OF MARCKS PHOSPHORYLATION BY CALMODULIN

Raising the external Ca2+ concentration from 0.05 to 1.8 mM stimulated membrane-associated protein kinase Cs (PKCs) activity as strongly as the specific PKCs activator, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in BALB/MK mouse keratinocytes. This was indicated by the increased phosphorylation of a PKC-selective peptide substrate, Ac-FKKSFKL-NH2, by membranes isolated from the Ca2+- or TPA-stimulated keratinocytes. Raising the external Ca2+ concentration to 1.8 mM also triggered a 4-fold rise in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. As reported elsewhere (Moscat, J. Fleming, T. P., Molloy, C. J. LopezBarahona, M., and Aaronson, S. A.(1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 11228-11235), TPA stimulated the phosphorylation of the PKCs substrate, the 85-kDa myristoylated alanine-rich kinase C substrate (MARCKS) protein, in intact keratinocytes, but Ca2+ did not. Furthermore, Ca2+-pretreatment reduced the TPA-induced phosphorylation of the 85-kDa protein in intact cells. There was no significant increase in MARCKS phosphorylation when keratinocytes were treated with a Ca2+•CaM-dependent phosphatase inhibitor, cyclosporin A, before stimulation with 1.8 mM Ca2+. Ca2+•calmodulin suppressed the ability of isolated membranes to phosphorylate the 85-kDa MARCKS holoprotein in vitro in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors such as fluoride, pyrophosphate, and vanadate, and this inhibition was overcome by a calmodulin antagonist, the calmodulin-binding domain peptide. Thus, the ability of 1.8 mM Ca2+ to strongly stimulate the membrane PKCs activity without stimulating the phosphorylation of the MARCKS protein in keratinocytes is consistent with the possibility of Ca2+•calmodulin complexes, formed by the internal Ca2+ surge, binding to, and blocking the phosphorylation of, this PKC protein substrate.
FATALISTIC VOLUNTARISM AND LIFE HAPPINESS IN POST-SOCIALIST CHINA

Fatalism has been recognized by sociologists as a key concept in sociology. Recent debates on fatalism revolve around the way theological fatalism influences the individual and society. Unfortunately, little has been said about the topic in the communist and post-communist world. Using recent data from a national survey of residents in People's Republic of China (P.R. China), this article examines the relationship between fatalistic voluntarism and life happiness in the context of China's Marxist-atheist monopoly. Results show that fatalistic voluntarism has a significant, positive net effect on life happiness among those Chinese who believe in fate control. Implications of this study are discussed.
A Wireless Sensor Network and Incident Command Interface for Urban Firefighting

The Fire Information and Rescue Equipment project at UC Berkeley has developed a prototype wireless sensor network (WSN) and Incident Command (IC) interface for urban and industrial firefighting and emergency response. A fixed WSN deployment in the building acts as a backbone for communication between mobile personnel and Incident Command. The Telos Sky mote 802.15.4 platform with the TinyOS operating system is used for a variety of sensing and communication tasks. These include localization, environmental monitoring, and redundant emergency communications. We describe features and performance of the system. We also share what we have learned from firefighters through interviews, usability tests, and demonstrations.
Speed of Information Processing: A Third Factor of the WISC-R.

Abstract The role of response time on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) was investigated. The complete WISC-R was administered to 131 children. A total response time (TRT) score for correct and incorrect performance was gleaned from each of the Picture Arrangement (PATRT), Block Design (BDTRT), and Object Assembly (OATRT) subtests. The utility of these response time measures was examined in relation to other WISC-R subtests. A principal factors analysis of the above data revealed that the three response time measures loaded on factors that were independent of the WISC-R subtests. However, a subsequent principal components factor analysis using orthogonal rotations produced three factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.0. Factors 1 and 2 accounted for 41.9% and 15.1% of the variability and were explained, respectively, by loadings from the Verbal and Performance scale subtests. Interestingly, only the three response time measures significantly loaded on the third factor, which accounted for 7.9% of the variability. The relationship between intelligence and the speed of information processing, as presented by the response measures, is discussed.
Skin grafting for repair of a cardiac laceration

Rupture of the right ventricle has been reported as a complication of closed catheter irrigation in poststernotomy mediastinitis. We report the case of a right ventricular rupture that was repaired with a deepithelialized dermal skin graft. The technique is described and management options for these difficult wounds are discussed.
A program of research for technical communication: adaptive learning

Distinct from prose essays as cultural expression, we use technical communication for functional purposes, addressing questions of how people learn as we craft our communications. Aristotle set out psychological principles of how people learn -- or are persuaded to change their minds -- when he laid down his foundational advice for rhetors to cultivate "the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion on almost any subject presented to us." Building on this foundational principle, technical communicators since World War II have studied how to achieve persuasion (or change) by making information accessible, formatting documents, writing at designated reading levels, and setting out instruction steps clearly. Recently, we have also become interested in how, through the concept of rhetoric, oral and written language acquires poignant social, ethical and technical dimensions, situating Aristotle's "faculties" of persuasion within specific cultural and political contexts.
Cost-efficient higher-order crossover designs in comparative bioavailability studies.

Cost is an extremely important factor to consider when planning drug clinical trials. Higher-order crossover designs have recently drawn considerable attention in comparative bioavailability studies because of their desirable statistical properties. In this paper, we compared the cost efficiency of five commonly used higher-order crossover designs under certain cost function for comparative bioavailability studies. Multivariate normal data were simulated under scenarios of a wide range of variability and correlations (coefficient of variation = 10–40%; correlation coefficient ρ = 0.2–0.8). Monte Carlo simulations and mixed-effects models were carried out to obtain empirical sample sizes for each design using Schuirmann’s two-one sided test procedure, under an 80% power and a 5% significance level, based on the US FDA bioequivalence criteria (80–125%). The five crossover designs studied were the two-period four-sequence (D2 × 4), the three-period two-sequence (D3 × 2), the three-period four-sequence (D3 × 4), the four-period two-sequence (D4 × 2), and the four-period four-sequence (D4 × 4). Costs for each design were then determined by a cost function, which takes into account costs for recruiting and screening, costs associated with period, and the overheads incurred for multiple sequences. Comparison of the costs for the above-mentioned designs was made under different scenarios. There was no single design uniformly dominating the others in terms of cost efficiency for comparative bioavailability studies. The designs D3 × 2 and D4 × 4 (especially the former) have the best overall performance in terms of cost efficiency for comparative bioavailability studies. They dominated the other designs under most of the scenarios. The design D2 × 4 showed the worst performance among the five crossover designs. A D3 × 2, and D4 × 2 crossover designs are recommended to achieve cost efficiency with a given power. The D2 × 4 crossover design is not recommended in general for comparative bioavailability studies.
Proactive management of extremely premature infants.

Hakansson et al1 report in this issue of Pediatrics a population-based retrospective cohort study of mortality and morbidity during the first year of life in Swedish infants 22 to 27 weeks’ gestation with 2 different perinatal management strategies in the 1990s. In the southern region of the country, active obstetric intervention at ≤25 weeks’ gestation for fetal indications was restricted, and the approach to resuscitation of these infants was individualized. In the northern region, the approach to births ≤25 weeks’ gestation was proactive: a greater proportion of these births were managed in level III perinatal centers and delivered by cesarean section, a smaller proportion of infants had 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores <4, and mortality in the first 24 hours of life was …
Bridging the gap between romantic relationships and sexual harassment in organizations

Workplace romances and sexual harassment are pervasive in today's organizations. However, despite the fact that these two phenomena share a social-sexual component, they have primarily been treated as unrelated organizational issues. We advance an affective link between workplace romances and sexual harassment. Based on this theoretical connection, we discuss conditions under which workplace romances may result in sexual harassment. Finally, we address managerial implications of the romance–harassment link. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of Cre Recombinase Activity for In Vivo Targeting of Adipocyte Precursor Cells

The increased incidence of obesity and metabolic disease underscores the importance of elucidating the biology of adipose tissue development. The recent discovery of cell surface markers for prospective identification of adipose precursor cells (APCs) in vivo will greatly facilitate these studies, yet tools for specifically targeting these cells in vivo have not been identified. Here, we survey three transgenic mouse lines, Fabp4-Cre, PdgfRα-Cre, and Prx1-Cre, precisely assessing Cre-mediated recombination in adipose stromal populations and mature tissues. Our data provide key insights into the utility of these tools to modulate gene expression in adipose tissues. In particular, Fabp4-Cre is not effective to target APCs, nor is its activity restricted to these cells. PdgfRα-Cre directs recombination in the vast majority of APCs, but also targets other populations. In contrast, adipose expression of Prx1-Cre is chiefly limited to subcutaneous inguinal APCs, which will be valuable for dissection of APC functions among adipose depots.
Are Cancer Trials Valid and Useful for the General Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist

Cancer trials represent a rigorous and clear approach to testing whether an intervention or treatment will alter the outcomes of individuals with cancer in an experimental manner that is beyond the level of observational studies. As such, they remain useful and valid to the day-to-day practice of general surgeons and surgical oncologists. However, the shortcomings of current cancer clinical trials need to be recognized, especially when less than 1% of adults persons with cancer participate in cancer clinical trials, thus leaving the ability to generalize these trials to patients and their surgeons in the real-world setting an open question. Moving forward, physicians, payers, professional societies, advocates, the NCI, and other stakeholders need to develop broader cancer trials to benefit the millions of patients with cancer in the United States.
Electric polarizability of a conductive nanoparticle and its equivalent circuit representation

Dispersion effects and power dissipation by a conductive nanoparticle are revealed by its frequency dependent polarizability, which collectively represents the response of the charge species within the particle to an applied field when the particle diameter is small compared to the wavelength in the embedding medium. Plasmonic interactions in nanoparticles are impetus to a variety of novel device and waveguiding structures realized over frequencies ranging from terahertz to visible optical region. Based on the consideration of the physical process of charge polarization and the frequency dependence of the electric polarizability, equivalent circuits for semiconductor and metal nanoparticles have been developed to facilitate the analysis of aggregates of nanoparticles and composite structures by network theory and effective medium theory.
Faster force transient kinetics at submaximal Ca2+ activation of skinned psoas fibers from rabbit

The early, rapid phase of tension recovery (phase 2) after a step change in sarcomere length is thought to reflect the force-generating transition of myosin bound to actin. We have measured the relation between the rate of tension redevelopment during phase 2 (r), estimated from the half-time of tension recovery during phase 2 (r = t0.5(-1)), and steady-state force at varying [Ca2+] in single fibers from rabbit psoas. Sarcomere length was monitored continuously by laser diffraction of fiber segments (length approximately 1.6 mm), and sarcomere homogeneity was maintained using periodic length release/restretch cycles at 13–15 degrees C. At lower [Ca2+] and forces, r was elevated relative to that at pCa 4.0 for both releases and stretches (between +/- 8 nm). For releases of -3.4 +/- 0.7 nm.hs-1 at pCa 6.6 (where force was 10–20% of maximum force at pCa 4.0), r was 3.3 +/- 1.0 ms-1 (mean +/- SD; N = 5), whereas the corresponding value of r at pCa 4.0 was 1.0 +/- 0.2 ms-1 for releases of -3.5 +/- 0.5 nm.hs-1 (mean +/- SD; N = 5). For stretches of 1.9 +/- 0.7 nm.hs-1, r was 1.0 +/- 0.3 ms-1 (mean +/- SD; N = 9) at pCa 6.6, whereas r was 0.4 +/- 0.1 ms-1 at pCa 4.0 for stretches of 1.9 +/- 0.5 (mean +/- SD; N = 14). Faster phase 2 transients at submaximal Ca(2+)-activation were not caused by changes in myofilament lattice spacing because 4% Dextran T-500, which minimizes lattice spacing changes, was present in all solutions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Detection of counterfeit US paper money using intrinsic fluorescence lifetime

Genuine U.S. Federal Reserve Notes have a consistent, two-component intrinsic fluorescence lifetime. This allows for detection of counterfeit paper money because of its significant differences in fluorescence lifetime when compared to genuine paper money. We used scanning two-photon laser excitation and the time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) method to sample a ~4 mm2 region. Three types of counterfeit samples were tested. Four out of the nine counterfeit samples fit to a one-component decay. Five out of nine counterfeit samples fit to a two-component model, but are identified as counterfeit due to significant deviations in the longer lifetime component compared to genuine bills.
A mortar segment-to-segment contact method for large deformation solid mechanics

Abstract Contact modeling is still one of the most difficult aspects of non-linear implicit structural analysis. Most 3D contact algorithms employed today use node-on-segment approaches for contacting dissimilar meshes. Two pass node-on-segment contact approaches have the well known deficiency of locking due to over-constraint. In this work, we develop and demonstrate a segment-to-segment contact approach based on the mortar method. By eliminating the over-constraint, this method appears to be much more robust than the node-on-segment approach. Furthermore, node-on-segment approaches suffer when individual nodes slide out of contact at contact surface boundaries or when contacting nodes slide from facet to facet. This causes jumps in the contact forces due to the discrete nature of the constraint enforcement and difficulties in convergence for implicit solution techniques. These jumps in forces are avoided in the segment-to-segment approach, since penetration is measured by the occluded weighted volume which varies smoothly with perturbations. Until now, all mortar schemes have been developed for small deformation/sliding and have mainly been applied on flat surfaces. Here we will present the integration scheme and the linearization approach used for handling the contact surface integrals in the event of large sliding. The schemes are designed to conserve linear momentum and can be applied to arbitrarily curved 3D surfaces. Although expensive, our numerical examples demonstrate that the approach is far more robust than even smoothed node-on-segment contact techniques. That is, problems previously not solvable with node-on-segment can now be solved with our segment-to-segment contact.
Calling behavior of the female German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Virgin German cockroach females, Blattella germanica(L.), were observed, for the first time, to exhibit a characteristic calling behavior during which females emit a volatile sex pheromone. Under a photoperiod of 12L∶12D, the percentage of 7-day-old virgin females that exhibited this behavior peaked before the end of the scotophase in a similar pattern to the diel periodicity of mating. A clear relationship was evident between calling and stages of sexual receptivity during successive gonotrophic cycles. Females initiated calling 5–6 days after the imaginal molt, when their basal oocytes were 1.6 mm long. If not mated, females continued to exhibit bouts of calling during the next 3–4 days until 24 h before ovulation. Calling was completely suppressed by mating as well as the presence of an egg case in the genital atrium in both virgin and mated gravid females. We suggest that calling and the emission of a volatile sex pheromone serve to attract males from a distance as well as to potentiate responses to contact sex pheromone in aggregations.
Oogenesis in calanoid copepods

Summary An ultrastructural investigation of ovary structure and oogenesis was conducted on ten species of cold and warm water calanoid copepods from six families with broad distributions ranging from coastal to mesopelagic habitats. They include Calanus finmarchicus, C. hyperboreus, C. glacialis, Euchaeta marina, Centropages furcatus, C. velificatus, Labidocera aestiva, Acartia tonsa, Pleurommama xiphias, and Undinula vulgaris. All ten species show similarities with respect to ovarian morphology and oogenesis. Oogenesis is asynchronous with all stages of oocytes present within each sexually mature female. The oocytes differentiate to diplotene of the first meiotic division and undergo a growth phase within the ovary before initiating vitellogenesis within the diverticulae. Vitellogenesis involves both an autosynthetic (endogenous) and a heterosynthetic (exogenous) process resulting in the deposition of two different types of yolk bodies. Endogenous yolk formation is initiated by the proliferation of vesic...
Are molecular haplotypes worth the time and expense? A cost-effective method for applying molecular haplotypes.

Because current molecular haplotyping methods are expensive and not amenable to automation, many researchers rely on statistical methods to infer haplotype pairs from multilocus genotypes, and subsequently treat these inferred haplotype pairs as observations. These procedures are prone to haplotype misclassification. We examine the effect of these misclassification errors on the false-positive rate and power for two association tests. These tests include the standard likelihood ratio test (LRTstd) and a likelihood ratio test that employs a double-sampling approach to allow for the misclassification inherent in the haplotype inference procedure (LRTae). We aim to determine the cost–benefit relationship of increasing the proportion of individuals with molecular haplotype measurements in addition to genotypes to raise the power gain of the LRTae over the LRTstd. This analysis should provide a guideline for determining the minimum number of molecular haplotypes required for desired power. Our simulations under the null hypothesis of equal haplotype frequencies in cases and controls indicate that (1) for each statistic, permutation methods maintain the correct type I error; (2) specific multilocus genotypes that are misclassified as the incorrect haplotype pair are consistently misclassified throughout each entire dataset; and (3) our simulations under the alternative hypothesis showed a significant power gain for the LRTae over the LRTstd for a subset of the parameter settings. Permutation methods should be used exclusively to determine significance for each statistic. For fixed cost, the power gain of the LRTae over the LRTstd varied depending on the relative costs of genotyping, molecular haplotyping, and phenotyping. The LRTae showed the greatest benefit over the LRTstd when the cost of phenotyping was very high relative to the cost of genotyping. This situation is likely to occur in a replication study as opposed to a whole-genome association study.
RENATI: recontextualizing narratives for tangible interfaces

RENATI is an acronym for recontextualizing narratives for tangible interfaces. It serves as an umbrella term for our art/research experiments within a hybrid environment that uses oral narratives, and non-generative and immersive art with sensing technologies to create tangible narratives. In this paper we introduce our first prototype, which uses a custom-built mannequin to allow viewers to engage with a multi-viewpoint story titled Flying Over Purgatory.
Traits and stories: Links between dispositional and narrative features of personality

Dispositional traits and life narratives represent two different levels of personality that have not previously been empirically linked. The current study tested five hypotheses connecting Big-Five traits to life-narrative indices of emotional tone, theme, and structure. Students (Study 1) and adults (Study 2) completed a self-report measure of the Big-Five traits and provided extended written accounts of either ten (students) or eight (adults) key life-narrative scenes, including life high points, low points, and turning points. Content analysis of the narrative data revealed that for both samples Neuroticism was positively associated with an emotionally negative life-narrative tone, Agreeableness was correlated with narrative themes of communion (e.g., friendship, caring for others), and Openness was strongly associated with the structural complexity of life narrative accounts. Contrary to prediction, however, Conscientiousness was not consistently associated with themes of agency (e.g., achievement, self-mastery) and Extraversion was unrelated to positive narrative tone. The results are discussed in the context of contemporary research and theorizing on the narrative study of lives and the relation of narrative research in personality to more conventional, trait-based approaches.
Cognitive development, culture, and conversation: comments on Harris and Koenig's "truth in testimony: how children learn about science and religion".

Harris and Koenig make a compelling case for the importance of adult “testimony” and its influence on children's developing conceptions of topics in science and religion. This commentary considers how their analysis relates to constructivist and sociocultural theories and discusses several ways in which Harris and Koenig's arguments help to debunk some prevalent assumptions about research on the social context of cognitive development. Finally, a number of additional issues are raised for debate and discussion, and some critiques and suggestions for future research are discussed. The issues discussed by Harris and Koenig are crucial if we are to take seriously the importance of culture in cognitive development.
Speed effect of selected Tai Chi Chuan movement on leg muscle activity in young and old practitioners.

Background: Tai Chi Chuan is becoming a popular exercise for improving balance and preventing falls in the elderly. To date, there is no quantitative study investigating the effect of Tai Chi Chuan movement speed on leg muscle function. This study investigated the effect of Tai Chi Chuan exercise performed at different speed on leg muscle activity characteristics in both young and old Tai Chi Chuan practitioners. Methods: Surface electromyography of six leg muscles and kinematics of lower extremity joints were measured in young and old subjects during Tai Chi Chuan practice at fast, normal, and slow speed, respectively. The magnitude and duration of activation, and durations of isometric, concentric and eccentric actions of each muscle were compared among three speeds and between two groups. Findings: The activation duration of all six leg muscles was significantly longer at slower speed than at faster speed (P < 0.039). The durations of isometric, concentric and eccentric actions were either longer at the slower speed or did not change with speed for all six leg muscles. The action of knee extensor was primarily isometric at slower speed (P = 0.004), and increased significantly to concentric and eccentric at faster speed (P < 0.031). The activation magnitude of posterior leg muscles increased with speed (P < 0.009). The old subjects had significantly shorter activation duration and lower activation magnitude in several leg muscles than the young, but similar speed effect as the young. Interpretation: The activation duration and function of leg muscles, especially the knee extensor muscle, are significantly affected by the speed of the selected Tai Chi Chuan movement. Practicing Tai Chi Chuan at different speed may alter the role of muscular function in movement control.