Common and Differential Factors in Reading Vocabulary and Hearing Vocabulary

Numerous studies have shown that recognition of word meaning is closely related to reading ability. All of these studies, however, measured reading vocabulary only. This research attempts to determine how recognition of read and heard words compares, and how the two types of vocabulary are related to reading ability. Since material is held constant, but the mode of presentation is varied, this approach should make possible the study of certain common and specific elements in the abilities to recognize words read and heard, and to determine the manner in which this relationship is affected by reading ability

A Particle-based Multiscale Solver for Compressible Liquid-Vapor Flow

To describe complex flow systems accurately, it is in many cases important to account for the properties of fluid flows on a microscopic scale. In this work, we focus on the description of liquid-vapor flow with a sharp interface between the phases. The local phase dynamics at the interface can be interpreted as a Riemann problem for which we develop a multiscale solver in the spirit of the heterogeneous multiscale method, using a particle-based microscale model to augment the macroscopic two-phase flow system. The application of a microscale model makes it possible to use the intrinsic properties of the fluid at the microscale, instead of formulating (ad-hoc) constitutive relations

Morphometric and gene expression analyses of stromal expansion during development of the bovine fetal ovary

During ovarian development stroma from the mesonephros penetrates and expands into the ovarian primordium and thus appears to be involved, at least physically, in the formation of ovigerous cords, follicles and surface epithelium. Cortical stromal development during gestation in bovine fetal ovaries (n = 27) was characterised by immunohistochemistry and by mRNA analyses. Stroma was identified by immunostaining of stromal matrix collagen type I and proliferating cells were identified by Ki67 expression. The cortical and medullar volume expanded across gestation, with the rate of cortical expansion slowing over time. During gestation, the proportion of stroma in the cortex and total volume in the cortex significantly increased (P  0.05). The expression levels of 12 genes out of 18 examined, including osteoglycin (OGN) and lumican (LUM), were significantly increased later in development (P < 0.05) and the expression of many genes was positively correlated with other genes and with gestational age. Thus, the rate of cortical stromal expansion peaked in early gestation due to cell proliferation, whilst late in development expression of extracellular matrix genes increased.M.D. Hartanti, A K. Hummitzsch, H.F. Irving-Rodgers, W.M. Bonner, K.J. Copping, R.A. Anderson, I.C. McMillen, V.E.A. Perry and R.J. Rodger

Endothelial cell Nrf2-KO attenuates endothelial function and skeletal muscle antioxidant capacity

INTRODUCTION: Endothelial cells line the inner surface of blood vessels and play a major role in modulating blood flow and gas exchange. Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a contributor to cardiovascular disease development, and it is well-accepted that excessive reactive oxygen species (harmful molecules) likely contribute to endothelial dysfunction. The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is considered the master regulator of cellular protection in response to elevated reactive oxygen species. Therefore, Nrf2 may be a potential therapeutic target to protect against endothelial dysfunction. However, the roles of endothelial cell-specific Nrf2 on endothelial function are not known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of endothelial cell-specific Nrf2 deletion on vascular function (endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation) and skeletal muscle antioxidant status. METHODS: Leg arteries were harvested from 6-mo old C57BL/6 mice (WT, n = 6) and endothelial cell-specific Nrf2-knockout mice (Tie2-Cre-Nrf2 floxed-KO, n = 6). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was assessed in response to flow (30 uL·min-1) and acetylcholine (ACh, 10-7-10-3 M) with and without Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and endothelium-independent vasodilation was assessed with sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10-9-10-4 M) using videomicroscopy. Skeletal muscle antioxidant protein expression for glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-1) and catalase (CAT) was assessed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was lower in Nrf2-KO compared to WT induced by flow (WT: 34.8±2.9%, Nrf2-KO: 20.7±3.7%, P-3M, WT: 68.3±8.2%, Nrf2-KO: 44.5±7.1%, PP-3 M, 19.1±4.4%, PP=0.28) or ACh (10-3 M, 37.7±7.0%, P = 0.16). Endothelium-independent vasodilation was not different (SNP 10-4 M, WT: 92.7±3.6%, Nrf2-KO: 81.9± 0.2%, P=0.157). In addition, GPX-1 was lower in Nrf2-KO mice (WT: 0.47±0.06, Nrf2-KO: 0.001±0.003, PP=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial cell Nrf2 may play a key role in endothelial-mediated vasodilatory function. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME attenuated endothelial-mediated vasodilation in WT but not in endothelial cell Nrf2-KO. Furthermore, endothelial cell Nrf2 may play a role in skeletal muscle antioxidant homeostasis, which suggests potential systemic implications of endothelial cell Nrf2 deletion. These results collectively suggest that the endothelial cell Nrf2 system is linked to endothelial dysfunction and changes in the skeletal muscle redox environment, likely through nitric oxide- and oxidative stress-related mechanisms

"Oh! What a tangled web we weave": Englishness, communicative leisure, identity work and the cultural web of the English folk morris dance scene

In this paper, we consider the relationship between Englishness and the English folk morris dance scene, considering how the latter draws from and reinforces the former. Englishness is considered within the context of the cultural web; a tool more often applied to business management but linked to a sociological viewpoint here. By doing so, we draw the connections between this structured business model and the cultural identity of Englishness. Then, we use the framework of the cultural web and theories of leisure, culture and identity to understand how morris dancers see their role as dancers and ‘communicative leisure’ agents in consciously defending Englishness, English traditions and inventions, the practices and traditions of folk and morris, and the various symbolic communities they inhabit. We argue that most morris dancers in our research become and maintain their leisured identities as dancers because they are attracted to the idea of tradition – even if that tradition is invented and open to change

Multi-Grid Monte Carlo via XYXY Embedding. II. Two-Dimensional SU(3)SU(3) Principal Chiral Model

We carry out a high-precision simulation of the two-dimensional $SU(3)$ principal chiral model at correlation lengths $\xi$ up to $\sim 4 \times 10^5$, using a multi-grid Monte Carlo (MGMC) algorithm and approximately one year of Cray C-90 CPU time. We extrapolate the finite-volume Monte Carlo data to infinite volume using finite-size-scaling theory, and we discuss carefully the systematic and statistical errors in this extrapolation. We then compare the extrapolated data to the renormalization-group predictions. The deviation from asymptotic scaling, which is $\approx 12$ at $\xi \sim 25$, decreases to $\approx 2$ at $\xi \sim 4 \times 10^5$. We also analyze the dynamic critical behavior of the MGMC algorithm using lattices up to $256 \times 256$, finding the dynamic critical exponent $z_{int,{\cal M}^2} \approx 0.45 \pm 0.02$ (subjective 68% confidence interval). Thus, for this asymptotically free model, critical slowing-down is greatly reduced compared to local algorithms, but not completely eliminated.Comment: self-unpacking archive including .tex, .sty and .ps files; 126 pages including all figure

Morphometric and gene expression analyses of stromal expansion during development of the bovine fetal ovary

During ovarian development stroma from the mesonephros penetrates and expands into the ovarian primordium and thus appears to be involved, at least physically, in the formation of ovigerous cords, follicles and surface epithelium. Cortical stromal development during gestation in bovine fetal ovaries (n = 27) was characterised by immunohistochemistry and by mRNA analyses. Stroma was identified by immunostaining of stromal matrix collagen type I and proliferating cells were identified by Ki67 expression. The cortical and medullar volume expanded across gestation, with the rate of cortical expansion slowing over time. During gestation, the proportion of stroma in the cortex and total volume in the cortex significantly increased (P  0.05). The expression levels of 12 genes out of 18 examined, including osteoglycin (OGN) and lumican (LUM), were significantly increased later in development (P < 0.05) and the expression of many genes was positively correlated with other genes and with gestational age. Thus, the rate of cortical stromal expansion peaked in early gestation due to cell proliferation, whilst late in development expression of extracellular matrix genes increased.M.D. Hartanti, A K. Hummitzsch, H.F. Irving-Rodgers, W.M. Bonner, K.J. Copping, R.A. Anderson, I.C. McMillen, V.E.A. Perry and R.J. Rodger

Irreversible Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with the use of Interferon Alpha for Chronic Hepatitis C

The interferons are a complex group of virally induced proteins produced by activated macrophages and lymphocytes, which have become the mainstay of therapy for hepatitis C infection. Sustained viral response (SVR) rates in noncirrhotic patients vary from 40–80% with interferon-based therapy. This, along with transplantation, has drastically changed the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection over the last two decades. Numerous side effects associated with interferon therapy have been reported. These range from transient flu-like symptoms to serious effects such as cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, renal and liver failure, polyneuropathy, and myelosuppression. Pulmonary side effects including pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and reversible pulmonary hypertension have been reported. Herein, we present four cases in which irreversible pulmonary hypertension was diagnosed after prolonged treatment with interferon alpha. In each case, other causes of pulmonary hypertension were systematically eliminated. Pulmonary artery hypertension, which may be irreversible, should be considered in patients being treated with interferon alpha who present with exertional dyspnea and do not have a readily identifiable inflammatory or thromboembolic cause

Submicron Structures Technology and Research

Contains reports on ten research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-83-K-0003)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAL03-86-K-0002)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS82-05701)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS85-06565)Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (Subcontract 2069209)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS85-03443)U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Grant AFOSR-85-0154)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGL22-009-638)National Science Foundation (through KMS Fusion, Inc.)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-79-C-0908

Submicron Structures Technology and Research

Contains reports on fifteen research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAALO3-86-K-0002)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 87-09806)Semiconductor Research Corporation (Contract 87-SP-080)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 85-03443)U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Grant AFOSR 85-0376)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 85-06565)U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Grant AFOSR 85-0154)Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Subcontract 2069209)National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration (Grant NGL22-009-683)Collaboration with KMS Fusion, Inc