cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of soil quality index using three methods.

Assessment of management-induced changes in soil quality is important to sustaining high crop yield. A large diversity of cultivated soils necessitate identification development of an appropriate soil quality index (SQI) based on relative soil properties and crop yield. Whereas numerous attempts have been made to estimate SQI for major soils across the World, there is no standard method established and thus, a strong need exists for developing a user-friendly and credible SQI through comparison of various available methods. Therefore, the objective of this article is to compare three widely used methods to estimate SQI using the data collected from 72 soil samples from three on-farm study sites in Ohio. Additionally, challenge lies in establishing a correlation between crop yield versus SQI calculated either depth wise or in combination of soil layers as standard methodology is not yet available and was not given much attention to date. Predominant soils of the study included one organic (Mc), and two mineral (CrB, Ko) soils. Three methods used to estimate SQI were: (i) simple additive SQI (SQI-1), (ii) weighted additive SQI (SQI-2), and (iii) statistically modeled SQI (SQI-3) based on principal component analysis (PCA). The SQI varied between treatments and soil types and ranged between 0–0.9 (1 being the maximum SQI). In general, SQIs did not significantly differ at depths under any method suggesting that soil quality did not significantly differ for different depths at the studied sites. Additionally, data indicate that SQI-3 was most strongly correlated with crop yield, the correlation coefficient ranged between 0.74–0.78. All three SQIs were significantly correlated (r = 0.92–0.97) to each other and with crop yield (r = 0.65–0.79). Separate analyses by crop variety revealed that correlation was low indicating that some key aspects of soil quality related to crop response are important requirements for estimating SQI.
Expression and crystallization of several forms of the Propionibacterium shermanii transcarboxylase 5S subunit.

The dimeric outer 5S subunit of transcarboxylase has been expressed in three different forms and crystallized: native 5S, 5S-His6 and selenomethione-5S-His6. All the crystals have an orthorhombic space group, but while native 5S forms primitive orthorhombic crystals, 5S-­His6 crystals are either C-centered or primitive and SeMet-5S-His6 crystals are C-centered. Crystallization of native 5S requires the addition of lithium sulfate, whereas this salt prevented crystallization of 5S-His6. All 5S crystals diffract to ∼2.0 A resolution with synchrotron radiation. Efforts are under way to solve the structure of SeMet-5S-His6 using MAD.
STUDYING SCHOOLING IN SCHONHAUSEN

one school with six teachers, 180 children, and five grades. Ordinarily the Volkschule in Schonhausen would have only four grades, but a fifth class has been held on for lack of space in the nearby intermediate schools. Since an aspect of the study is concerned with the longer-term influence of Volkschule experience, a sample of behaviors (to be described later) was taken of school children through the ninth class of the Hauptschule. This school is nearby, but not in Schbnhausen. Sixty-nine percent of the children finishing the four grades at the Volkschule went on to the Hauptschule, 24 percent to the Gymnasium, and the remainder to the Realschule in 1968.
Wet Deposition of Nitrogenous Pollutants and the Effect of Storm Duration and Wind Direction: A Case Study from Inland Southern California

Meteorological factors affecting concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in rain were examined. Rain samples were collected on an event basis from a location 100 km east of the Los Angeles Basin. Analysis of the data demonstrated a double decay function where small increases in rain volume resulted in large decreases in nitrogen concentration. In separate time series collections of individual storms, storm wind direction also influenced nitrogen concentrations
Where is the acid coming from? Esophago-gastric fistula following laparoscopic nissen fundoplication.

A 61-year-old Caucasian female presented for evaluation of worsening retrosternal chest pain, heartburn, acid regurgitation, and dysphagia. She described a sensation of a bubble getting stuck in the bottom of her throat and chest after swallowing liquids. She also noted early satiety, belching, and nausea aggravated by greasy meals, weight loss, and frequent episodes of diarrhea. Three years prior, she had undergone a combined laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, hiatal hernia repair, and cholecystectomy. Immediately after the operation, she experienced persistent nausea and vomiting, followed by recurrent reflux symptoms. Since a computed tomography scan obtained on the second post-operative day was unremarkable, she was reassured. She consulted a gastroenterologist due to progressive symptoms worsening over the ensuing 6 months. After a reportedly normal endoscopy, antisecretory drug therapy was started but failed to alleviate her symptoms. Over the next 30 months, her symptoms continued to worsen until she was evaluated in our unit. Her past medical and surgical histories were significant for overactive bladder, oral herpes, hypertension, hysterectomy, tubal ligation with subsequent reversal, carpal tunnel repair, and tendon repairs of both her hands. Having no known allergies, she was taking oxybutynin, acyclovir, lisinopril, and hydrochlorothiazide. Retired and living with her husband and daughter, she enjoyed gardening. She reported a 30-pack-year smoking history and denied alcohol and recreational drug use. Her family history was remarkable for Parkinson’s disease, breast cancer, and cholelithiasis. Further review of systems was unremarkable. Her physical exam was significant for a blood pressure 190/93 but was otherwise normal. Upper endoscopy revealed a fistula connecting her distal esophagus to her gastric cardia and a non-displaced but erythematous and tight fundoplication (Fig. 1a, b). The fistula was noted just proximal to the wrap, with an exit point at the level of the cardia, which was confirmed by a barium swallow that showed a 17-mm connection between the distal esophagus and the gastric fundus bypassing the lateral aspect of the wrap, consistent with an esophagogastric fistula (Fig. 1c). Esophageal manometry revealed a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure of 23.3 mmHg (normal 10–30 mmHg) with a residual LES pressure of 17 mmHg and 40 % relaxation (normal [70 %) with swallowing, likely secondary to her prior fundoplication and consistent with an effective anti-reflux procedure. Nevertheless, an ambulatory pH study off anti-secretory medications revealed severe, mostly upright, pathologic acid reflux with a DeMeester score of 113.4 and a percentage fraction of time with a pH of \4.0 in the distal esophagus of 31.9 %. There was an excellent correlation between symptoms and acid events; the intra-gastric pH was normal when the patient was off protein-pump inhibitor therapy. C. L. Chun (&) Department of Internal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA e-mail: chun@ohsu.edu
Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

Pediatric bipolar disorder differs from the adult form of the disorder, marked by longer episodes, rapid cycling, prominent irritability, and high rates of comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorders. A careful assessment by families of children's symptoms, including their duration and intensity, helps with accurate diagnosis. After the diagnosis is made and careful psychopharmacological intervention is initiated, psychiatric nursing treatment of children and adolescents with pediatric bipolar disorder should involve child-and family-focused cognitive-behavioral therapies, family support, and psychoeducation.
The postmodern identity of Russia—and the west

Abstract In contrast to societies where socialization takes place through the transmission of anonymous and hence overpowering traditions, the typical way of socialization for Western people is through productive dialogue guided by the search for objectivity. Postmodernism, however, fosters a form of dialogue in which people should not look for objective knowledge but should simply register their diverse opinions. Just this type of dialogue has been the norm in Russia for centuries. As a result, Russian cultural and political initiative has been dominated by an all‐powerful state. In the West, we now witness a similar process, as the culture of nonjudgmental relativism consolidates its dominance over an increasingly postmodern society.
Gravity leukapheresis--a simple method of leukocyte collection for transfusion or in vitro study.

Simple and efficient methods of harvesting granulocytes (GRs) are important for widespread availability of GR transfusion. Leukocytes were collected by gravity leukapheresis and the variables for collection were examined in order to determine maximum efficiency. 500 ml of whole ACD blood from normal donors was centrifuged at 4000 rpm × 3 min to collect GRs and platelets together, or at 2600 rpm × 3 min to collect them separately. The packed cells were resuspended in 300 or 500 ml 3% hydroxyethylstarch (HES) in normal saline and allowed to sediment at either 25°C or 37°C for varying lengths of time. After sedimentation, the RBCs were combined with platelet-poor plasma for return to the donor. Temperature had no effect on collection efficiency, but sedimentation in 500 ml was more efficient than in 300 ml (84.6% vs 69.7%, P < 0.005). Sedimentation for 15 min was more efficient than either 9 or 12 min (84.6%, 63.0% and 41.3% respectively, P < 0.05). Sedimentation for ⩾ 15 resulted in mean yields of 1.3 × 109and 1.6 × 109 GR/unit whole blood in 300 and 500 ml HES respectively (range 0.57–2.02 and 0.57–3.90 respectively). This compares favorably to centrifugation leukapheresis. Total yield is limited by the small volume of blood that can be processed. GRs obtained by this method appeared normal morphologically, and had normal phagocytic and bactericidal capacity. This method is useful for the collection of leukocytes or blast cells from donors with chronic or acute leukemia (81.4% and 85% efficient respectively), and allows for control of extracorporeal volume in such donors. This method is also useful for collection of leukocytes from smaller volumes of blood for in vitro study.
Prothrombin fragment F 1+2 and oral anticoagulant therapy

This study was undertaken to establish a correlation between prothrombin activation fragment F 1 + 2 and one-stage prothrombin time (PT) ratios in patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy. One hundred consecutive patients on warfarin treatment were utilized for this study. The patients had received warfarin for not less than four days prior to entry into the study. F 1 + 2 levels and PT ratios were found to be 0.28 +/- 0.24 nM/L (mean +/- SD) ranging from 0.01 to 1.5 nM/L and 1.62 +/- 0.46 (mean +/- SD) ranging from 0.97 to 3.11, respectively. Most patients on oral anticoagulants with PT ratios between 1.2 - 1.7 exhibited decreased concentrations of F 1 + 2. Normal control values of F 1 + 2 were established for this study in 40 healthy individuals; they were 0.40 +/- 0.23 nM/L (median +/- SD) ranging from 0.11 to 1.19 nM/L. Mean plasma levels of F 1 + 2 were significantly lower in the anticoagulated patients as compared to the healthy controls (t = 2.377, p < 0.05). The relationship between F 1 + 2 levels and PT ratios in the 100 anticoagulated patients was analyzed by linear regression. No significant correlation (r = -0.208) was found between F 1 + 2 levels and PT ratios. It is concluded that the degree of reduction in F 1 + 2 levels is not proportional to the intensity of therapy reflected by the PT ratios in anticoagulated patients.
So, How Old Is Too Old: A Forced Reflection on the Meaning of Old Age

This first person narrative details an illuminating and personal insight that transpired for the author, a gerontologist. Her attitudes about growing older, the meaning of old age, and implicit ageist views are challenged during a chance encounter. This insight occurred in the most unlikely place—a racetrack—and during a time when she was certainly “off duty” as a gerontologist and thus, perhaps, most unprepared for the consequences of the interaction. The author is forced to reflect upon her own life and old age future, and is able to find serenity and peace in that vision.
Landolt's club in the Japanese quail retina: a fine structural study

Abstract Landolt's club process has been detailed in the adult Japanese quail retina. In Golgiimpregnated specimens, the process has been shown to arise either as a direct continuation of the dendritic trunk of some cells of bipolar nature or from a branch of their dendritic tuft. It courses through the outer plexiform layer to end at the level of the external limiting membrane (ELM) in a terminal expansion. In several cases, a thin cilium-like structure arises from the expansion and extends toward the pigment epithelium. Additionally the electron microscope reveals the following associations: club-club, club-photoreceptor cell and club-Muller cell. Electron-dense thickenings in the region of the cell boundaries were observed in club-photoreceptor cell associations, but no synaptic vesicles were found. Ultrastructurally, the terminal expansion narrows to a slender neckpiece which in turn expands into a bulbous swelling external to the ELM. A cilium is found in the terminal expansion (9+0 arrangement of microtubules) and its companion centriole is present in the bulbous swelling.
Apparent haptic movement)

When as were presented with 150-Hz vibrotactile bursts at two loci on the skin of the thigh and permitted to adjust the time between burst onsets, they reported good apparent movement between the loci. The time between stimulus onsets for optimal movement was found to vary directly with the duration of the stimulus. Replication of the experiment with electrocutaneous stimuli at 1 KHz yielded similar results. Comparison of the data with results from a study of visual apparent movement revealed no difference between the two modalities for the relationship between stimulus onset intervals and stimulus duration. The significance of the results for hypotheses about the processes underlying perception of apparent movement is discussed.
Client by treatment interactions in response acquisition and cognitive restructuring approaches

The present study compared response acquisition and cognitive restructuring in treating socially anxious college freshmen. Forty-two male and female subjects were randomly assigned to cognitive restructuring, reponse acquistion, and attention placebo control groups. Dependent measures, taken at pre- and posttreatment, included self-reported assertiveness, social anxiety and faulty cognitive self-appraisal, and analogue observational measures of skill and anxiety. Client by treatment interactions indicated that the effects of cognitive restructuring were negligible for subjects initially reporting relatively lower levels of social anxiety and faulty cognitive self-appraisal. Response acquistion, in constrast, was equally effective for subjects at lower and higher levels of these two variables.
Femtosecond Laser Studies Of Distal Side Effects In Myoglobin And Model Compounds

A colliding-pulse mode-locked ring laser with a four stage Nd:YAG-pumped dye amplifier generates femtosecond pulses at 630 nm with a repetition rate of 10 Hz. Frequency doubling to 315 nm provides photolysis pulses, while continuum generation offers probe wavelengths for transient spectroscopy throughout the visible. Since "ordinary" hemoglobin and myoglobin have now been characterized on all time scales, it is appropriate to turn attention toward the comparison of proteins from different species, which vary in specific ways, and to model compounds which incorporate specific features whose function one wishes to understand. In this presentation, the prospects for such studies are outlined and early results are reported.
Polyacrylamide‐modified polypropylene hollow fibers for capillary electrophoresis

Surface treatment methods were developed for bonding of a polyacrylamide layer on the inside surface of polypropylene hollow fiber columns for capillary electrophoresis. Details of different modification procedures involving surface activation and in situ polymerization, using dynamic and static coating of reagents, are described. Both linear and cross-linked polyacrylamide modified surfaces greatly improved the electrophoretic performance of the capillaries. The column efficiencies for model proteins reached as high as 370,000 theoretical plates on an 85 μm i.d. polyacrylamide surfacetreated polypropylene hollow fiber column. A variety of applications, including the separation of several very polar compounds at a pH of 10.6, were demonstrated. Reproducibility measurements were used to illustrate the performance and high pH stability of the resultant columns.
Optical Controls On The Radiant Energy Dynamics Of The Air/Water Interface: The Average Cosine And The Absorption Coefficient

It is here demonstrated that the air-water interface is a region of energy trapping or enhanced radiant flux. The Three-Parameter Model of the submarine light field predicts aspects of this phenomenon from the average cosine parameter (an apparent optical property') and permits the direct measurement of energy trapping. This model also extracts energy absorption effects from those attributable to energy redistribution in the submarine light field.
Ionomeric blends of poly(ethyl acrylate-co-4-vinylpyridine) with metal-neutralized sulfonated poly(ethylene terephthalate). 4. Effects of counterions

This is the fourth part in a series of studies on the ionomer blend system of poly(ethyl acrylate-co-4-vinylpyridine) with metal-neutralized sulfonated poly(ethylene terephthalate). The focus of this work was to investigate the influence of counterions of the ionomers on the phase behavior and the ultimate mechanical properties of the blend system. The counterions examined included the group I and II metals Li + , Na + , and Ca 2+ and the transition metals Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , and Zn 2+ . Specific interactions between the different metal-neutralized sulfonate groups and the vinylpyridine groups were proven by FTIR spectroscopy to exist for the transition metal counterions. As a result of these specific intermolecular interactions, compatible blends were achieved with the transition metal counterions whereas the group I and II counterions showed total immiscibility as evidenced by the glass transition behavior probed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). In addition, the mechanical properties of the compatible blends were significantly better than those of the immiscible blends, probably due to the lack of interfacial adhesion in the latter. The modulus and tensile strength of the Ca 2+ -containing blend showed some enhancement compared to the group I metal-containing blends, and this could arise from the presence of some interfacial interactions in it. The degree of property enhancement was found to be a complex function of the nature, strength, and extent of the transition metal complexation between the polymeric components. The crystalline phase in terms of the crystallization kinetics and crystalline morphology of the PET ionomers was strongly influenced by the presence of different counterions and their interactions with the vinylpyridine-containing polymer. The observed modifications provide indirect evidence for the compatibility of the blend system.
The Saturn system's icy satellites: New results from Cassini

Cassini-Huygens is a multidisciplinary, international planetary mission consisting of an orbiting spacecraft and a probe. The Huygens probe successfully landed on Titan's surface on January 14, 2005, while the orbiter has performed observations of Saturn, its rings, satellites, and magnetosphere since it entered orbit around Saturn on July 1, 2004. The Cassini mission has been prolific in its scientific discoveries about the Saturn system. In this special section, we present new mission results with a focus on the 'icy satellites,' which we define as all Saturn's moons with the exception of Titan. The results included in this section have come out of the Cassini SOST--Satellites Orbiter Science Team--a multi-instrument and multidiscipline group that works together to better understand the icy satellites and their interactions with Saturn and its rings. Other papers included in this issue present ground-based observations and interior modeling of these icy moons.
Was Joseph Campbell a postmodernist

Pour l'A., Joseph Campbell n'etait pas un postmoderne. R. G. Collingwood affirmait que les grands mystiques etaient en meme temps des saints et des heresiarques. Si le postmoderne est au mieux un heresiarque mineur, alors Campbell doit etre compte parmi les mystiques de premiere importance - un mystique dont l'iconoclasme conscient lui permettait de voir le divin en chaque chose et notamment dans le moi de chaque individu. Campbell propose une vision d'un avenir possible pour la religion; un avenir qui va au-dela des dogmes appauvrissants du materialisme seculaire et du traditionnalisme religieux reactionnaire
Postnatal differentiation of rabbit collecting duct intercalated cells.

The newborn has a limited ability to regulate H+/HCO-3 homeostasis, due in part to immaturity of the intercalated cells in the distal nephron. We traced the postnatal differentiation of the intercalated cells of the rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD) and outer medullary collecting duct(OMCD) using MAb to the 31-kD subunit of the vacuolar H+-ATPase, membrane portion of erythrocyte band 3, and apical surface of B-intercalated cells (peanut agglutinin [PNA], MAb B63). In the most superficial CCD of the newborn there was no binding to these probes, although deeper in the cortex there was faint apical staining with PNA and MAb B63 and a few patterns of H+-ATPase and band 3 labeling of neonatal intercalated cells. The OMCD showed mostly apical H+-ATPase and both cytoplasmic and basolateral band 3 labeling but B-intercalated cell markers were not seen. By 3 wk of age the staining of the CCD and OMCD was more polarized, resembling those in the adult. Band 3 positive cells (as a percentage of total cells) in the CCD increased from 13 to 17% during maturation, and in the OMCD they increased from 22 to 37%. Some basolateral band 3 and apical H+-ATPase staining was also seen in the inner medullary collecting duct of 3-wk-old rabbits to a greater extent than in newborn or adult rabbits. Labeling of intercalated cells in the CCD and OMCD was weakest and least numerous in the newborn, greater in the 3 wk old, and greatest in the adult. Most maturing cortical intercalated cells bound both PNA and H+-ATPase MAb, comparable to what has been observed in the adult CCD. PNA-negative cells showing apical H+-ATPase labeling, consistent with the classic A-intercalated cell phenotype, comprised only 5% of identified intercalated cells in the newborn CCD compared with 12% in older animals. In or near the developing renal vesicles and ampullary structures were occasional cytoplasmically staining PNA- and B63-positive cells. Whether these cells are precursors of specific renal tubular cells cannot yet be established. Staining for principal cells(ST.9) was less intense in the neonatal cortex than in more mature cortex, but the deep cortex and outer medulla were heavily labeled at all ages. These data indicate that immature intercalated cells, in the CCD and OMCD, may undergo significant postnatal proliferation and differentiation, acquiring mature phenotypes during the first month of life. The A-intercalated cell appears more differentiated than the B cell during the 1st wk of life, suggesting that A-intercalated cells contribute more than B cells to the maintenance of acid-base homeostasis in the newborn.
Minimum lens complexity design approach for a free-space macro-optical multichip global interconnection module

The FAST-Net (Free-space Accelerator for Switching Terabit Networks) concept uses an array of wide field-of-view imaging lenses to realize a high-density shuffle interconnect across an array of smart-pixel integrated circuits. This paper presents a design approach for these lenses that achieves the minimum complexity required to meet the demands of the FAST-Net concept's off-axis multi-chip environment. Generalized eikonals for arbitrary surfaces were examined to determine the performance bounds for the FAST-Net optical system. Then an analysis provided an estimate of 6 for the number of spherical surfaces needed to achieve good optical resolution and distortion performance across an array of 10-micron diameter VCSEL sources that are imaged onto a array of 50-micron wide detectors. A ray trace simulation confirmed this number. Subsequent analysis evaluated the achievable efficient of replacing spherical surfaces with aspherical ones. By exploiting the mismatch between the low numerical aperture VCSELs and relatively higher numerical aperture interconnection optics, it was found that 3 aspherical surfaces could replace 6 spherical surfaces in the FAST-Net system for the specified performance criteria. A lens design that utilizes 3 aspherical surfaces and achieves necessary registration and resolution of the FAST-Net system was determined. The results provide a general framework for the design of wide field-of-view free space interconnection systems that incorporate high-density VCSEL arrays.
Apparel brands’ use of Facebook: an exploratory content analysis of branded entertainment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine features of branded entertainment in apparel brands’ Facebook pages based on the conceptual framework of play themes (Zhang, 2010). Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis was performed for 1,443 posts present on 50 apparel brands’ Facebook profile pages in the time period from November 28, 2011 to December 25, 2011. Findings – The findings provide meaningful insights into apparel brands’ use of Facebook as a social media strategy. The most dominant branded entertainment consisted of photos and advertisements and was directed toward promoting specific products and sales without using a particular play theme. Among the play themes used, play as frivolity, which includes simple and fun activities, was predominant. Overall, apparel brands utilized limited types of branded entertainment on their Facebook pages. Research limitations/implications – By integrating play themes into branded entertainment, apparel brands can optimize their branded contents ...
Micro-CT as a guide for clinical CT development

ABSTRACT Micro-CT, with voxel size ~10 -5 mm 3 , has a great advantage over traditional microscopic methods in its ability to generate detailed 3D images in relatively large, opaque, volumes such as an intact mouse femur, heart or kidney. In addition to providing new insights into tissue structure-to-function interrelationships, micro-CT can contribute to suggesting new applications of clinical CT imaging such as: A. The spatio-density-temporal resolution that is needed to: 1) Quantitate an organs Basic Functional Unit (smallest collection of diverse cells that behaves like the organ), which requires voxels less than 10 -4 mm 3 in volume. 2) Quantitate new vessel growth which manifests as increased x-ray contrast enhancement in tissues during passage of a bolus of intravascular contrast agent. 3) Quantitate endothelial integrity by the movement of x-ray contrast agents across the endothelial inner lining of vessel walls. B. The use of x-ray scatter for providing the contrast amongst soft tissue components and/or their interfaces for enhanced discrimination of nerve and muscular/tendon fiber directions. Keywords: Micro-CT, X-ray scatter, Angiogenesis, Basic Functional Units
Enhanced glomerular prostaglandin formation in experimental membranous nephropathy

Enhanced glomerular prostaglandin formation in experimental membranous nephropathy. To determine whether the induction of immune–mediated glomerular injury influences the formation of cyclooxy-genase products by glomerular cells, we determined prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ) (as the stable metabolite of TXA 2 ) formation in isolated glomeruli of rats with passive Heymann nephritis (PHN). PHN is a model of membranous nephropathy mediated by antibody and complement independent of inflammatory cells. Five days following induction of PHN by injection of heterologous antibody to rat proximal tubular brush border antigen (Fx1A) rats developed proteinuria 36.5 ± 34 (controls 3.8 ± 1 mg/day). Treatment with cobra venom factor, which depleted complement C3 levels to less than 10% of baseline, prevented the development of proteinuria (6.9 ± 2 mg/day). The development of subepithelial, glomerular immune–complex deposits and proteinuria was associated with a significant stimulation of glomerular PGE 2 (87%) and TXB 2 (183%) formation. This increment in glomerular prostanoid biosynthesis was significantly inhibited (PGE 2 increased 22%, TXB 2 increased 75%) in animals that were complement depleted with cobra venom factor. Cobra venom factor had no effect on glomerular prostanoid formation in normal rats. In additional experiments we tested the hypothesis that TXA 2 may contribute to mediation of proteinuria in PHN. We utilized a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor UK38485. UK38485 reduced glomercular TXB 2 formation by 80% without influencing glomerular deposition of 125 I-labeled antibody, and did not alter levels of urine protein excretion in rats with PHN (control 42 ± 21, UK 38485, 39 ± 24 mg/day, P > 0.05). Our data demonstrate that glomerular injury in rats with PHN is associated with increased TXB 2 and PGE 2 production which derives from glomerular cells in vivo. This stimulatory effect of glomerular immune–deposit formation on prostanoid synthesis is inhibited by generalized systemic complement depletion. Our data do not support a pathogenic role for TXB 2 in the mediation of proteinuria in this animal model.
Mycobacterial sulfolipids: spontaneous desulfation.

A glycolipid sulfate elaborated in abundance by surface-grown cultures ofMycobacterium tuberculosis has been characterized in earlier studies as a complex 2,3,6,6′-tetraacyl α, α′ trehalose 2′-sulfate. The purified ammonium salt undergoes rapid quantitative desulfation on mere dissolution in reagent grade anhydrous ether. The same reaction is observed in sulfolipids recovered from a number of human strains and one bovine strain. Experimental observations on the normal and acid-catalyzed rates of the reaction and on the influence of other solvents and other cationic forms support a proposed mechanism, which is detailed. Structural criteria which may influence the proclivity for spontaneous desulfation are discussed.
Empowerment, vision, and voice: Building an assessment system for professional development schools

Abstract An assessment system for professional development schools is connected to literature in program evaluation and assessment practices. Ways to empower school‐university faculty include conducting self‐assessment and aligning national standards with the partnership's mission and vision. One school‐university partnership developed an assessment framework that aligns National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE, 2001) PDS Standards, principles of the National Network for Educational Renewal (NNER), sample outcomes, and data collection. Results indicate that growth of the professional development school followed the progression outlined in the NCATE PDS Standards; however, the Standards only partially represented the partnership's mission, values, and vision. Methods of further representing partners' voices included broadening assessment criteria, developing assessment rubrics, scaffolding the process of data collection, and enhancing skills of data analysis. Self‐assessment using the...
Dialogue About Signs with a Nobel Laureate

The following exchange of views, in French, might have taken place early in the winter of 1920, in Maurice Maeterlinck’s bungalow in Santa Monica. (For details about dramatis personae, see the Appendix of this chapter.
Membrane formation after implantation of polyvinyl alcohol-coated intraocular lenses*

Summary Two PVA-coated intraocular lenses were implanted. In the first case there was an acute onset of severe intraocular inflammation and dense membrane formation on the surface of the implant. The inflammation developed on the fifty-third postoperative day in a previously quiet eye. The second case demonstrated a relentless increase in intraocular inflammation that was unresponsive to medical therapy. An acute exacerbation with membrane formation occurred between the fortieth and forty-fifth postoperative days. In both cases the fibrinous membranes and the implants were removed with prompt resolution of symptoms.
Inhibition of Endothelial Cell Mediated Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation by Green Tea Extracts

Plant phenolics present in fruits and vegetables and that are particularly rich in tea and wine have received considerable attention because of their potential antioxidant activity. Two types of commercial green tea from Japan and two active components of green tea, catechin and epicatechin, were assessed for their relative abilities to inhibit the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) mediated by human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). The tea extracts, catechin and epicatechin, were incubated with HAEC and LDL for 12 h. After incubation, conjugated dienes were measured by spectrophotometry at 234 nm as an index of hydroperoxide formation, and hexanal was measured by static headspace gas chromatography as an index of hydroperoxide decomposition. On the basis of conjugated dienes and hexanal, inhibition of LDL oxidation was dose dependent for all compounds tested. LDL oxidation was inhibited 3.9−98% at concentrations ranging from 0.08 to 5 ppm of the green tea extracts. Both catechin and epicatechin i...
Archival Data Resources and Analysis Services of the Roper Center

Established thirty-two years ago, the Roper Public Opinion Research Center (now The Roper Center, Inc.) is today the oldest and largest archive of sample survey data in the world. The raw data and supporting documentation from thousands of individual studies carried out in more than 70 countries have been deposited in the Center through the cooperative efforts of the world's major survey research organizations. Between two and three thousand social scientists annually avail themselves of this rich data resource by requesting various services of the Center, such as data set duplication, information retrieval, or specific data analysis runs on the computer. More than 40 colleges, universities, and research organizations are members of the International Survey Library Association (ISLA), the cooperative membership arm of the Roper Center. The Roper Center was originally located at Williams College, where it began acquiring and storing data for local use in 1946. It was formally reconstituted as a general purpose, service-oriented archive of survey data in 1957. In the ensuing period of two decades, the collection has grown by thousands of individual surveys representing data from countries around the world. In recent years, more than 100 domestic and international survey organizations have regularly contributed their data to the public domain through the Roper Center, and annually 400 to 500 new surveys are put through its standardized accession procedures.
The relation between size and apparent heaviness

A formula for the size-weight illusion was derived from the Stevens and Rubin (1970) finding that heaviness functions form a family of power functions that converge at a common point in the vicinity of the heaviest weight that can be lifted. Magnitude estimations of the apparent heaviness of 42 plastic cylinders varying in size and weight were obtained from 20 subjects, who were allowed to use both hands to lift the weights. It was predicted that this would increase the maximum weight that could be lifted, which would, in turn, enhance the magnitude of the illusion (the dependence of heaviness on size). The results supported this and other predictions of the model concerning the dependence of the illusion on weight as well as volume.
An Experiment in Comparative Advantage

An interactive learning experiment engages students in the production and exchange of goods to illustrate the concepts of comparative advantage and opportunity cost.
A coincidence theorem related to the Borsuk-Ulam theorem

A coincidence theorem generalizing the classical result of Borsuk on maps of Sn into Rn is proved, in which the antipodal map is replaced by a Zr-action on a space which is (n l)(p 1)-connected.
Brooding and sperm storage by the deep-sea squid Bathyteuthis berryi (Cephalopoda: Decapodiformes)

Squids of the family Bathyteuthidae have generally been infrequently encountered in their deep-sea habitat. Remotely operated vehicles were used to observe seven individuals in situ in the Monterey Submarine Canyon, CA, USA. One of these was a female Bathyteuthis berryi holding a sheet with approximately 360 embedded embryos. Examination of this female after collection revealed the presence of a seminal receptacle on the buccal membrane. We present some potential costs and benefits of post-spawning egg care, a strategy that is now known for two families of deep-dwelling squids, but may turn out to be more common with the increasing exploration of the deep sea.
Refinement and coarsening of surface meshes

This paper presents an adaptation scheme for surface meshes. Both refinement and coarsening tools are based upon local retriangulation. They can maintain the geometric features of the given surface mesh and its quality as well. A mesh gradation tool to smooth out large size differences between neighboring (in space) mesh faces and a procedure to detect and resolve self-intersections in the mesh are also presented. Both are driven by an octree structure and make use of the presented refinement tool.
Breeding success and nest site stereotypy in a population of Brewer's Blackbirds (Euphagus cyanocephalus).

Nest site stereotypy and nest-site related breeding success was studied in a population of Brewer's Blackbirds in eastern Washington, USA. Four types of nest sites could be distinguished. Based on individually colour-ringed nestlings, imprinting or genetic fixation of a particular type of nest site can be ruled out since there is no correspondence between the type of nest a bird grew up in and the type it used when breeding. Bush nests make up about two thirds of all nests, and they are relatively more frequent than the other types in the first half of the breeding season, whereas the other types become more frequent in the second half of the nesting season. Differential breeding success was studied and its dependence on colony composition was investigated.
Just How Pluralist Is Direct Democracy? The Structure of Interest Group Participation in Ballot Proposition Elections

In this article we look at the pattern of interest group engagement in direct democracy elections. Using a social network analysis of campaign contributions we examine whether or not patterns of group conflict conform to a stable split along a single (left/right) dimension. While we find that it is the case that there are stable components to group participation in direct democracy elections and that group alliances do lie along a left/right dimension we also find this characterization to be a simplification of actual patterns of engagement. Not only is there evidence of single-issue engagement, there is also evidence of a second—insider/outsider—dimension to direct democracy politics.
Management of Adolescents Who Have Abnormal Cytology and Histology

Adolescents have been shown to have the highest rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The cause is likely a combination of sexual risk behavior and biologic vulnerability. Most HPV and its associated abnormal cytology are transient, with frequent clearance of HPV and the lesion. These findings have resulted in new strategies, including observation, for adolescents who have abnormal cytology. For cytologic atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, adolescents should be followed with cytology at 1-year intervals for up to 2 years before referral for colposcopy is necessary. For biopsy-proved cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, management is similar, with yearly cytology indefinitely or until high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or CIN 2,3 develops. CIN 2,3 in compliant adolescents can be managed with 6-month cytology and colposcopy up to 2 years.
Influences and inferences

I am deeply honored to receive the ACL’s Lifetime Achievement Award. I’m especially honored when I look back at the list of previous winners—Chuck Fillmore, Eugene Charniak, Eva Hajicova, Fred Jelinek, Martin Kay, Aravind Joshi, and the others— they’re all my heroes. I was of course delighted to learn of this award. The most we can hope for in life is to take part in the conversation, and an award like this means that you’ve taken part in the conversation. It seems to be a tradition to begin with a few formative anecdotes from childhood. For me, it all begins before I was born. My grandfather, a crusty old country lawyer in southern Indiana, told my father not to bother trying to go to law school. “You don’t know English grammar,” he said. “You’ll flunk out.” My dad accepted the challenge, bought a book entitled English Grammar, by Smith, Magee, and Seward (1928), and mastered it. He went on to become a very successful lawyer. Fast-forward to when I was in junior high school. My dad was distressed that my English classes looked to him more like social studies, and barely touched on grammar. So he persuaded me—actually, he probably bribed me, but I can’t remember what with—to master that same book, English Grammar by Smith, Magee, and Seward. This was a concession, because I was a math nerd, reading only textbooks on trigonometry and calculus, as my way of avoiding the humiliation of playing baseball. But I read the book, and I was amazed. English grammar was just like math! It had the same sorts of rules, the same kinds of abstractions, the same types of puzzles. It was actually fun! In my junior or senior year of high school we had to take something called the Kuder Preference Test, which would help us decide what career to choose. I scored high in math and in language. So my high school counselor told me I should write math books. In fact, she got it exactly backwards. It wasn’t that I should do language about math. It was that I should do math about language. I’ve met any number of computational linguists with a similar story. They grew up not knowing whether they wanted to be a physicist or a poet. They just knew both sounded fascinating. Then they discovered our field. My last near miss happened the week I was drafted into the Army. They gave us a battery of aptitude tests to see what specialties we’d be best for. One of the tests was to see if we should be sent to the Monterey Language School. Looking back on it, I realize now it was testing how well you could understand formal language theory. They’d give
Immunotherapy in nude mice of human hepatoma using monoclonal antibodies against hepatitis B virus

The human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5, which contains integrated hepatitis B virus DNA, synthesises and secretes hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). When injected into BALB/c nude mice, these cells produce well-vascularized, encapsulated tumours in almost 100% of animals. HBsAg has been demonstrated on the surface and in the cytoplasm of PLC/PRF/5 cells using immunofluorescence techniques. Recently, we reported that monoclonal antibodies to HBsAg (IgG1, IgG2a and IgM isotypes) bind to HBsAg-associated viral determinants of PLC/PRF/5 cells in culture and immunoprecipitate HBsAg secreted into the growth medium. Also IgG2a and IgM antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) produce specific lysis of PLC/PRF/5 cells in culture in the presence of complement, but have no lytic effect on human hepatoma cells which do not express HBsAg. In the present study, we demonstrate that IgM and IgG2a, but not IgG1, monoclonal anti-HBs specifically prevent or suppress tumour formation in a substantial number of athymic nude mice injected with PLC/PRF/5 cells.
Novel hardware architecture for fast address lookups

The most time critical part in packet forwarding is the route lookup which determines the next hop address of the packet. The problem of searching for routes in large databases is compounded by the fact that routing tables store variable length prefixes and their corresponding next hop addresses. In order to forward a packet, routers need to find the longest matching prefix for the destination address. The work presented describes a new fast and efficient algorithm for searching a large database. The scheme described requires several accesses to a small, fast on-chip SRAM and only one access to a slower DRAM in order to determine the next hop address. The paper discusses some of the related work and approaches in performing route lookups. It describes the proposed algorithm where only a single off-chip DRAM access is required to determine the next hop address. It discusses some of the details of the hardware implementation and lists some of the results of the scheme. Some of the design issues are also discussed.
Angiotensin II dilates bovine adrenal cortical arterioles: role of endothelial nitric oxide.

Adrenal steroidogenesis is modulated by humoral and neuronal factors and blood flow. Angiotensin II (AII) stimulates adrenal cortical aldosterone and cortisol production and medullary catecholamine release. However, AII regulation of adrenal vascular tone has not been characterized. We examined the effect of AII on diameters of cannulated bovine adrenal cortical arteries. Cortical arteries (average internal diameter 230 m) were constricted with U46619 and concentration-diameter responses to AII (10 13 to 10 8 mol/ liter) were measured. In endothelium-intact arteries, AII induced dilations at low concentrations (maximum dilation 25 6% at 10 10 mol/liter) and constrictions at high concentrations (maximum constriction 25 18% at 10 8 mol/liter). AII constrictions were blocked by the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, losartan (10 6 mol/liter). AII dilations were enhanced by losartan (maximal dilation 48 8%), abolished by endothelial cell removal or N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, 3 10 5 mol/liter) and inhibited by the angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist, PD123319 (10 6 mol/liter, maximal dilation 18 4%). In a 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetatenitricoxide(NO)assayofisolatedcorticalarteries,AII stimulated NO production, which was abolished by PD123319, L-NA, or endothelial cell removal. Western immunoblot of arterialhomogenatesandendothelialandzonaglomerulosacell lysates revealed 48-kD and 50-kD bands corresponding to AT1 and AT2receptors, respectively, in all three and a 140-kD band corresponding to endothelial NO synthase in endothelial cells and arteries. Our results demonstrate that AII stimulates adrenal cortical arterial dilation through endothelial cell AT2 receptor activation and NO release and AT1 receptor-dependent constriction. (Endocrinology 146: 3319–3324, 2005)