cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A superposable silicon synapse with programmable reversal potential

We present a novel log-domain silicon synapse designed for subthreshold analog operation that emulates common synaptic interactions found in biology. Our circuit models the dynamic gating of ion-channel conductances by emulating the processes of neurotransmitter release-reuptake and receptor binding-unbinding in a superposable fashion: Only a single circuit is required to model the entire population of synapses (of a given type) that a biological neuron receives. Unlike previous designs, which are strictly excitatory or inhibitory, our silicon synapse implements—for the first time in the log-domain—a programmable reversal potential (i.e., driving force). To demonstrate our design's scalability, we fabricated in 180nm CMOS an array of 64K silicon neurons, each with four independent superposable synapse circuits occupying 11.0×21.5 µm2 apiece. After verifying that these synapses have the predicted effect on the neurons' spike rate, we explored a recurrent network where the synapses' reversal potentials are set near the neurons' threshold, acting as shunts. These shunting synapses synchronized neuronal spiking more robustly than nonshunting synapses, confirming that reversal potentials can have important network-level implications.
Comorbid medical conditions in women undergoing uterine artery embolization for symptomatic uterine fibroids and adenomyosis

Purpose The purpose of this investigation is to report the co-morbidities of patients undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic uterine fibroids and adenomyosis at a single academic institution Materials and Methods In this retrospective cohort study, medical charts of women consulted for consideration for UAE were reviewed, noting all co-morbidities in addition to uterine fibroid and adenomyosis disease. Data searched for and saved for evaluation included: confirmation of uterine fibroid or adenomyosis disease, self-reported co-morbid medical conditions, age, and weight. Comparison was made with the presence of similar co-morbidities in the general population. Results In a sample of 368 patients, recorded co-morbid medical conditions include: obesity, 22.54%; anemia, 20.92%; transfusion-dependent anemia, 3.26%; hypertension, 14.95%; psychiatric disorder, 8.97%; hypercholesterolemia, 7.33%; hypothyroid, 5.43%; uterine polyps, 3.53%; diabetes mellitus, 2.99%; endometriosis, 2.17%. Conclusion Relative to the general American population, a smaller proportion of our patient population was obese, diabetic, and/or hypertensive. A large proportion of our patients were diagnosed with anemia +/- transfusion dependence, hypercholesterolemia, psychiatric disorders, and hypothyroidism. Despite the average young age of patients undergoing UAE for symptomatic fibroid or /and adenomyosis disease of the uterus, their co-morbid conditions may play a role in their presentation, procedure tolerance, and post embolization clinical outcome.
On Torque and Tumbling in Swimming Escherichia coli

Bacteria swim by rotating long thin helical filaments, each driven at its base by a reversible rotary motor. When the motors of peritrichous cells turn counterclockwise (CCW), their filaments form bundles that drive the cells forward. We imaged fluorescently labeled cells of Escherichia coli with a high-speed charge-coupled-device camera (500 frames/s) and measured swimming speeds, rotation rates of cell bodies, and rotation rates of flagellar bundles. Using cells stuck to glass, we studied individual filaments, stopping their rotation by exposing the cells to high-intensity light. From these measurements we calculated approximate values for bundle torque and thrust and body torque and drag, and we estimated the filament stiffness. For both immobilized and swimming cells, the motor torque, as estimated using resistive force theory, was significantly lower than the motor torque reported previously. Also, a bundle of several flagella produced little more torque than a single flagellum produced. Motors driving individual filaments frequently changed directions of rotation. Usually, but not always, this led to a change in the handedness of the filament, which went through a sequence of polymorphic transformations, from normal to semicoiled to curly 1 and then, when the motor again spun CCW, back to normal. Motor reversals were necessary, although not always sufficient, to cause changes in filament chirality. Polymorphic transformations among helices having the same handedness occurred without changes in the sign of the applied torque.
Effects of β-guanidinopropionic acid on murine skeletal muscle

Abstract To evaluate the need for creatine and phosphocreatine in the maintenance of muscle fiber size, the effects of chronic depletion of these compounds were studied. Mice were fed a Chow diet containing 1% β-guanidinopropionic acid (β-GPA) to deplete skeletal muscle of creatine and phosphocreatine. β-GPA is a specific, competitive inhibitor of creatine transport across biological membranes. On this diet, the creatine concentration in tibialis anterior muscles decreased from 11.0 ± 3.6 (mean ± SD) to 3.7 ± 1.3 μmol wet weight, the phosphocreatine concentration decreased from 15.9 ± 3.3 to 2.8 ± 1.0, and the adenosine triphosphate concentration decreased from 6.0 ± 0.5 to 3.5 ± 0.3. Correlated with the diminished concentrations of these compounds was a selective 7 to 25% decrease in the diameter of type II muscle fibers. The presence of extra creatine in the diet prevented at least in part both the decrease in muscle fiber diameter and the biochemical changes. Mice fed β-GPA may serve as a model for the study of the pathogenesis of type II muscle fiber atrophy due to a specific, known biochemical defect.
Stress-associated changes in the magnetic properties of high strength steels

Abstract The stress - associated and the stress - induced changes in the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials have been identified and studied for more than a century. The results typically show multiple patterns which vary depending on the specimen under study and the mechanism by which the stress is applied. The measurements presented in the literature for iron, nickel, and steels show two unique magnetic features; the stress crossover and the bulging of the magnetization loop. The existence of these features in the magnetization measurements of different sets of high strength steel is studied. A statistical interpretation of the Preisach diagram is utilized to explain and model their existence. The modified DOK Preisach model effectively simulated the two features.
Farming Out Factories: Japan's Law to Promote the Introduction of Industry into Agricultural Village Areas

Questions as to how social regulation serves renewed accumulation may be answered by mesoscale studies of the ways states make sites and localities available to new forms of production. In this study I examine the important social-regulatory role of the Japanese state in the rapid creation of new factory sites for flexible producers after 1970, particularly through negotiation with rural constituencies. Firms in leading sectors of Japanese industry have spun-off thousands of new production units over the past twenty years, not only as a result of growth but as a continuous strategy to achieve that growth. One way new factories obtained land and labor was through Japan's 1971 Law to Promote the Introduction of Industry into Agricultural Village Areas, Nōson Chiiki Kōgyō Dōnyū Sokushin Hō. This policy coaxed farmtown governments to carve new industrial parks out of farmland and to sell improved factory sites to manufacturing firms. By subscribing hundreds of farmtowns into this national program annually in ...
The measurement of leukocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of cancer patients with solid tumors using monoclonal antibody reagents

Monocyte and lymphocyte subsets were quantitated in the peripheral blood of normal subjects and patients with solid tumors using the monoclonal antibody reagents OKM1, BRL63D3, OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8. Percentages and numbers of cells reacting with monoclonal reagents were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence. Correlations between leukocyte subset values and stage of disease or immunocompetence were sought. No differences from normal were seen in the percentage of OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 cells or in the ratios of OKT4/OKT8 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from all cancer patients, patients with localized disease, or patients with advanced disease. A significant decrease in absolute numbers of lymphocytes, OKT3 cells, OKT4 cells, and OKT8 cells was seen in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced disease reflecting the absolute lymphopenia of these patients. A significant increase was seen in the percentages of PBMC reacting with OKM1 and BRL63D3 from patients with advanced disease compared with normal donors or localized disease patients. A positive correlation was found between PHA responsiveness and absolute numbers of OKT3 and OKT4 cells. A negative correlation was found between PHA responsiveness and percentages of OKM1 cells. These data indicate that malignant disease does not alter T cell subset percentages in patient peripheral blood but may decrease their absolute numbers in association with absolute lymphopenia. On the other hand, percentages of OKM1 and BRL63D3 cells are increased in patients with advanced solid tumors in association with impaired PHA responsiveness.
Photoreactivating enzyme from Escherichia coli: appearance of new absorption on binding to ultraviolet irradiated DNA

The photoreactivating enzyme, PRE, monomerizes pyrimidine dimers in DNA in a light requiring reaction (lambda greater than 300 nm). However, the purified PRE from E. coli has no well-defined absorption band for lambda greater than 300 nm. Using absorption difference spectroscopy, we show that when PRE is mixed with ultraviolet-irradiated DNA, new absorption appears in the spectral region required for catalysis. There is a concomitant decrease in the absorption of the mixture for wavelength less than 300 nm. The hyperchromicity for lambda greater than 300 nm is true absorption, not an artifact due to light scattering. Both the hyperchromicity (lambda greater than 300 nm) and hypochromicity (lambda less than 300 nm) can be reversed by irradiation of 365 nm with identical first-order kinetics. We estimate the molar extinction coefficient of the new absorption to be 6900 +/- 1400 at 350 nm. We conclude that the PRE from E. coli does not possess a distinct "chromophore" which by itself is entirely responsible for the absorption of photoreactivating light. Instead, new absorption results when PRE binds its substrate, dimer-containing DNA.
Cooperative binding of inhaled anesthetics and ATP to firefly luciferase.

Firefly luciferase is considered a reasonable model of in vivo anesthetic targets despite being destabilized by anesthetics, as reflected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We examined the interaction between two inhaled anesthetics, ATP, luciferase, and temperature, using amide hydrogen exchange, tryptophan fluorescence, and photolabeling in an attempt to examine this apparent discrepancy. In the absence of ATP/Mg2+, halothane and bromoform cause destabilization, as measured by hydrogen exchange, suggesting nonspecific interactions. In the presence of ATP/Mg2+ and at room temperature, the anesthetics produce considerable stabilization with a negative DeltaH, indicating population of a conformer with a specific anesthetic binding site. Stabilizing interactions are lost, however, at unfolding temperatures. We suggest that preferential binding to aggregated forms of luciferase explain the higher temperature destabilization detected with DSC. Our results demonstrate a cooperative binding equilibrium between native ligands and anesthetics, suggesting that similar interactions could underlie actions at biologically relevant targets.
Model-based control of cardiac alternans in Purkinje fibers

This paper describes a systematic approach to suppressing cardiac alternans in simulated Purkinje fibers using localized current injections. We investigate the controllability and observability of the periodically paced Noble model for different locations of the recording and control electrodes. In particular, we show that the loss of controllability causes the failure of the control approach introduced by Echebarria and Karma [Chaos 12, 923 (2002)] for longer fiber lengths. Furthermore, we explain how the optimal locations for the recording and control electrodes and the timing of the feedback current can be selected, accounting for both linear and nonlinear effects, effectively doubling the length of fibers that can be controlled with previous methods.
Human alveolar macrophages and monocytes as a source and target for nitric oxide.

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in the lung and this free radical participates in a wide array of regulatory, protective, and adverse interactions with cells. Both excess NO and its insufficiency have been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous lung diseases with inflammatory components. Much of the available data concerning the source and regulation of NO production is derived from rodent systems. However, the requirements for NO production are more stringent in human monocytes/macrophages than in rodent systems. In contrast to rodent macrophages, human moncytes/macrophages generally do not respond to cytokine triggers with NO production [J. Leukocyte Biol. 58 (1995) 643, J. Exp. Med. 181 (1995) 735] and if NO is detected the levels are generally low [J. Leukocyte Biol. 58 (1995) 643]. The regulation of macrophage NO in the human appears to be a more selective and variable process than that seen in the rodent macrophages. In the human lung, the function of NO as toxic pro-inflammatory or protective anti-inflammatory agent is unresolved. While not a major source of NO in the human lung, the alveolar macrophage is an important producer of cytokines and this production may be modified by NO. Clear evidence of abnormalities in NO levels in the lungs of patients with asthma, bronchiectasis, viral infections, lung cancer and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) has been documented. Elevated inflammatory cytokines and oxidant production have been associated with all of these disease states. In terms of cytokine production, NO has been shown to decrease nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. However, oxidants may interact with NO to form toxic compounds (e.g., NO combines with superoxide anion to form peroxynitrite). Furthermore, such reactions may decrease the availability of NO for blocking inflammatory cytokine production. Thus, available data suggests that a multiplicity of factors affect NO regulatory properties in inflammatory situations.
The role of SRC-3 in estrogen-dependent vasoprotection during vascular wall remodeling postinjury

Estrogen receptors are hormone-inducible transcription factors requiring coactivators such as members of the SRC/p160 family to modulate the transcription of their target genes. This perspective will examine the interplay between estrogen receptors and their coactivators in vasoprotection during vascular wall remodeling.
Motion Planning for a Redundant Robot Manipulator With Stochasticity in Joints

This paper concerns generation of motion for a redundant robot manipulator that shows stochastic behavior. Since a deterministic model is not sufficient to represent the motion of such manipulators, a stochastic model should be considered in the motion planning step. While classical approaches for robot control use the motion planning based on the deterministic model and then apply controls (e.g. the feedback control) to compensate the motion error, the new method developed in this paper considers the stochasticity of the system in the planning step for better results in terms of the motion error. This will lower the burden of the controller, resulting in more accurate control. This paper uses the stochastic model for the angle variables of robot joints. This gives the probability density function (pdf) for the position and the orientation of the robot end-effector. The goal of this paper is to find the optimal motion plan that enables the end-effector to follow a reference path with the minimized root-mean-square (RMS) error. To achieve this goal, the cost function that computes the RMS error is defined and then minimized with respect to the target angle values in the joint space. Using simulation of a 4DOF planar robot arm and a 7DOF spatial robot arm, we verify that the suggested method generates better motions than the classical inverse kinematics approach based on the deterministic model.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Intrapulmonary deposition and retention modeling of chrysotile asbestos fibers in rats

Abstract Previous experiments have shown that the number accumulation of chrysotile asbestos fibers in the alveolar tissue of the rat lung after a prolonged exposure is highly nonuniform. This nonuniformity arises from the asymmetry of the airway path. A theoretical model is presented to simulate the deposition and clearance processes of these fibers in an asymmetric lung in order to explain the observed nonuniformity. Calculations reveal that alveolar regions with fewer airway generations or bifurcations in their path will have a higher fiber retention and a larger mean fiber length. These results compare favorably with existing experimental data.
IBOTS: agent control through the user interface

This paper describes an ibot, a specialized software agent that exists in the environment of the user interface. Such an agent interacts with applications through the same medium as a human user. Its sensors process screen contents and mouse/keyboard events to monitor the user’s actions and the responses of the environment, while its effecters can generate such events for its own contributions to the interaction. We describe the architecture of our agent and * its algorithms for image processing, event management, and state representation. We illustrate the use of the agent with a small feasibility study in the area of software logging; results are promising for future progress.
ARTS: a distributed real-time kernel

ARTS is a distributed real-time operating system designed for a real-time systems testbed being developed at Camegle Mellon University. The objective of the testbed is to develop and verify advanced real-time computing technologies for a distributed environment. The tastbed consists of a set of SUN3 workstations connected by a real-time network based on IEEE 802.5 Token Ring and Ethernet. The goal of the ARTS Kernel is not to produce simply a fast real-time executive, but rather to provide users with a predictable, analyzable, and reliable distributed real-time computing environment. In particular, we have developed a real-time object model which is incorporated with a time fence protocol. The time fence protocol is used at every invocation in the object to detect the origin of timing errors. We also developed an integrated time-driven scheduling model and its scheduler based on the notion of policy/mechanism separation. Since each scheduling policy is implemented as a kernel object, a user can easily add policies or change the system's scheduling policy. A real-time toolset was also developed in order to predict the schedulability of the real-time activities.In this paper, we give an overview of the ARTS Kernel and ARTS real-time toolset. In particular, we introduce a real-time object model and the integrated time-driven scheduling model. We then describe the basic primitives and major components of the ARTS Kernel and the real-time toolset which consists of the schedulability analyzer, Scheduler 1-2-3, and the real-time monitor/debugger, ARM.
Respiratory and systemic effects of inhaled dexamethasone on ventilator dependant preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Short term inhaled dexamethasone therapy was evaluated in a double blind placebo controlled trial in 36 ventilator dependent preterm neonates (BW 7 days) who were at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Pulmonary and systemic effects were compared at early (day 3), late (7–10 days) and post (14 days after initiation) phases of therapy. Airflow mechanics improved as demonstrated by a net 101% improvement in pulmonary resistance (a decrease from 139 to 101 cm H2O/L/s in the dexamethasone treated infants as compared to an increase from 153 to 267 cm H2O/L/s in the placebo treated infants during the early phase of therapy); this was associated with a 45% increase in inspiratory airflow (1.29±0.43 to 1.87±0.978 L/min; p<0.01), and 37% increase in expiratory airflow. These changes resulted in a significant reduction in the work of breathing such that the mean tidal driving pressure significantly decreased from 13.6 cmH2O to 9.4 cm H2O with inhaled steroid administration. Though the brief duration of therapy did not result in cessation of ventilatory support, the level of support was significantly reduced (decreased values of oxygen supplementation, mean airway pressure and oxygenation index and increased ventilatory efficiency index). The inhaled dexamethasone therapy was also associated with systemic absorption of the drug as evidenced by transient but apparently reversible reduction in serum cortisol levels. No systemic side effects of hypertension, hyperglycemia or nosocomial sepsis were observed. These data demonstrate beneficial effects of short term inhaled dexamethasone on the resistive airflow properties of preterm infants at risk for BPD and may provide adjunctive means to facilitate weaning in the ventilator dependent neonates.
The Effect of Social Experience on Serotonergic Modulation of the Escape Circuit of Crayfish

The neuromodulator serotonin has widespread effects in the nervous systems of many animals, often influencing aggression and dominance status. In crayfish, the effect of serotonin on the neural circuit for tailflip escape behavior was found to depend on the animal's social experience. Serotonin reversibly enhanced the response to sensory stimuli of the lateral giant (LG) tailflip command neuron in socially dominant crayfish, reversibly inhibited it in subordinate animals, and persistently enhanced it in socially isolated crayfish. Serotonin receptor agonists had opposing effects: A vertebrate serotonin type 1 receptor agonist inhibited the LG neurons in dominant and subordinate crayfish and had no effect in isolates, whereas a vertebrate serotonin type 2 receptor agonist enhanced the LG neurons' responses in all three types of crayfish. The LG neurons appear to have at least two populations of serotonin receptors that differ in efficacy in dominant, subordinate, and socially isolate crayfish.
Trichromatic colour vision in New World monkeys

TRICHROMATIC colour vision depends on the presence of three types of cone photopigment. Trichromacy is the norm for all Old World monkeys, apes and humans, but in several genera of New World monkeys, colour vision is strikingly polymorphic1. The difference in colour vision between these New and Old World primates results from differing arrangements of the pigment genes on the X chromosome. In Old World primates the three photopigments required for routine trichromatic colour vision are encoded by two or more X-chromosome pigment genes and an autosomal pigment gene. New World monkeys typically have only one X-chromosome pigment gene; multiple alleles allow different types of dichromatic colour vision and, in females heterozygous at this locus, variant forms of trichromatic colour vision. Here we report that multiple X-chromosome pigment genes and trichromatic colour vision are the norm for one genus of platyrrhine monkey, the howler monkey, Alouatta.
On the Design of Mooring Lines for Deep Water Applications

As ocean engineers begin to extend their analytical and design capabilities from the shallow regions of the oceans to the deep regions it becomes necessary to examine the established computational algorithms and determine to what extent they can be applied to problems of current interest. In this spirit, this paper generalized the catenary equations for inextensible mooring lines, by examining them in a dimensionless form, which allows the generation of certain design curves applicable to a broad class of naval off-shore operations. As an example, candidate mooring lines for an offshore platform are considered in water depths ranging from 1000 to 4000 ft with the maximum tension prescribed at 5 percent excursion from station. The candidate mooring lines consist of single component (all wire rope, all chain) as well as multiple component (wire rope/chain) combinations. For this example it was observed that for wire rope/chain mooring lines a large restoring force could be obtained and that the magnitude of the restoring force was dependent upon the depth of water and the amount of wire rope outboard of the offshore platform. Further it was observed that certain wire rope/chain combinations offer some desirable characteristics as the water depth increases.
Material characteristics and laser-induced responses and wave mixing in nematic liquid crystals

We present a review of newly observed liquid crystal nonlinear responses induced by visible and infrared lasers and discuss some recently observed optical wave-mixing processes. Specifically, the dynamics of inter- and intramolecular energy transfer, response times, infrared refractive indices and their temperature dependences, and the basic principles of newly observed processes are described. These processes, in conjunction with cw or pulsed lasers spanning the visible through the infrared regime, will find applications in a great variety of nonlinear-optics-based devices.
Endogenous Peripheral Neuromodulators of the Mammalian Taste Bud

The sensitivity of the mammalian taste system displays a degree of plasticity based on short-term nutritional requirements. Deficiency in a particular substance may lead to a perceived increase in palatability of this substance, providing an additional drive to redress this nutritional imbalance through modification of intake. This alteration occurs not only in the brain but also, before any higher level processing has occurred, in the taste buds themselves. A brief review of recent advances is offered.
Five cases of bacteraemia due to Gordonia species

Gordonia species are aerobic Gram-positive bacilli and a rare cause of human disease. To our knowledge, there are only two cases of human infection with Gordonia sputi reported in the literature. We report five cases of bacteraemia due to Gordonia species at our institution since 2005, including four caused by G. sputi. Three of these cases were likely related to chronic indwelling central venous catheters.
Phosphorylation and down-regulation of Bim by muscarinic cholinergic receptor activation via protein kinase C.

Bim is one of the proapoptotic BH3-only homologs of the Bcl-2 family proteins, which interacts with other Bcl-2 family proteins to activate the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The expression and protein level of Bim are highly regulated in cells at both transcriptional and post-translational levels, and inadequate control of Bim level may largely determine its proapoptic activity. In the present study, we reported that carbachol, a muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonist, regulated Bim in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Carbachol rapidly induced an upward gel mobility shift of Bim, which was abolished by protein phosphatase treatment, indicating an increased Bim phosphorylation by carbachol. The effect of carbachol was mimicked by the protein kinase C activator 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and was blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitor rottlerin, suggesting that activation of protein kinase C was required for carbachol-induced phosphorylation of Bim. Prolonged treatment with carbachol and PMA significantly decreased Bim protein levels in total cell lysates and mitrochondria. Carbachol and PMA had no effect in the transcriptional regulation of Bim, whereas the reduction of Bim by both carbachol and PMA was reversed by the proteosome inhibitors, suggesting that carbachol and PMA facilitated the proteosome-dependent Bim degradation. Thus, this study identified the muscarinic receptor-protein kinase C signaling pathway as a regulator of Bim in neuroblastoma cells, and activation of muscarinic receptor and protein kinase C functions to induce Bim phosphorylation, followed by down-regulation of the proapoptotic protein.
Potentiation of CCl4 lethality by chlordecone.

Abstract Previous studies have dealt with the propensity of chlordecone (CD) to potentiate the hepatotoxicity of CCl 4 . The effect of this interaction upon CCl 4 lethality has never been reported. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of CD on CCl 4 lethality and several parameters associated with cytochrome P-450 activity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (150–200 g) were fed powdered diets containing 0 or 10 ppm CD or 225 ppm phenobarbital (PB) for 15 days. On day 15, rats from each group received an i.p. injection of CCl 4 in corn oil and the 48-h LD50 was determined. Additional animals were used to measure hepatic microsomal levels of cytochrome P-450 and aminopyrine demethylase. CD decreased the LD50 of CCl 4 from 2.8 ml/kg to 0.042 ml/kg, representing a 67-fold increase in toxicity, as assessed by lethality. PB in this protocol decreased the LD50 to 1.7 ml/kg, representing a 1.6-fold increase in lethality. However, the induction of cytochrome P-450 and associated parameters of mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity did not correlate with the lethality data. Hepatic microsomal P-450 was increased over controls by 40% and 76% in CD and PB rats respectively. PB also stimulated aminopyrine demethylase activity to a much greater extent (190%) than CD (49%) relative to controls. These findings provide evidence that the CD-CCl 4 interaction results in a marked increase in CCl 4 lethality, in addition to the previously reported marked increase in hepatotoxicity. These results remain consistent with the proposal that bioactivation is the mechanism underlying enhanced CCl 4 toxicity, but suggest that specific effects of CD upon CCl 4 metabolism may be the pivotal mechanism underlying potentiation.
Electrophoretic components of the proteins in honeybee larval food.

THE proteins of the larval food of the honeybee, Apis mellifera L., have been resolved into a number of components by zone electrophoresis1–3. The total protein content of larval food (royal jelly) given to female larvae being reared in queen cells remains fairly constant throughout the feeding period. However, a marked drop in total protein occurs in the food given to worker larvae midway in the feeding period4. It has been observed that larvae from worker cells can develop into fully mature adult queens if transferred to queen cells (receiving queen larval food or royal jelly) during the first three days of larval life5. The purpose of this communication is to note the relation of electrophoretic pattern of larval food proteins to the age and caste of the larvae receiving the food.
Cancer Does Not Phase Us: Exploring Anxiety Levels in Rural Oncology Patients

Patients diagnosed with cancer suffer multiple psychosocial burdens, usually compounded when living in rural areas. In many instances, these same patients have few concrete financial resources. Such worries can manifest themselves in the form of anxiety and depression. This descriptive study examined anxiety levels among patients attending a small cancer treatment center in rural northeast Mississippi. The goal of this study was to examine anxiety levels within this unique population. A Beck Anxiety Scale was self-administered by patients who were then given a gas card and a list of support group referrals in the hopes they would attend support groups to lower levels of anxiety and/or depression.
Heat tolerance of contrasting cowpea lines in short and long days

High-temperature damage to reproductive processes of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) occurs when minimum night air temperatures are greater than 20°C. The extent of damage is strongly influenced by photoperiod. Genes conferring heat tolerance under hot long-day environments have been identified in cowpea, and breeding lines with this trait have been developed. Genetic variability within cowpea germplasm for heat tolerance has not been assessed in short days. The objectives of this study were to determine if the heat-tolerant accessions and breeding lines developed from them under hot long-day conditions also exhibit heat tolerance under hot short-day conditions. In addition, we evaluated the heat tolerance of 48 lines that do not flower in hot long-day conditions because of sensitivity to heat or photoperiod. Three short-day experiments and one long-day experiment were conducted in greenhouses with average daily minimum and maximum air temperatures of 27 and 36°C, respectively. Simultaneously, moderate-temperature short-day experiments were conducted in nearby greenhouses with average daily minimum and maximum air temperatures of 18 and 32°C, respectively. Days to first flower, pods per peduncle, total number of pods, and grain yield were determined in all experiments. Individual seed weight and seeds per pod were determined for two of the three hot short-day and moderate-temperature short-day experiments. Heat-tolerant lines that had been selected under hot long-day conditions had larger than average grain yield (i.e. heat tolerance) under hot short days. Several lines bred for high grain yield under hot tropical conditions had heat tolerance under short days but not under long days, whereas many cultivars developed under cooler tropical conditions did not exhibit heat tolerance. In hot short-day environments, grain yield was positively correlated with pods per peduncle and number of pods per plant, indicating the importance of these traits for conferring heat tolerance in these lines. Most lines experienced substantial heat-induced reductions in number of seeds per pod, even though there were no strong indications of carbohydrate source limitations. Two of the heat-tolerant lines, B89-600 and TN88-63, did not exhibit heat-induced reductions in number of seeds per pod in hot short days, however, and represent additional sources of heat tolerance that would further enhance grain yield in hot production zones.
Relations among measures of autobiographical memory

Students recorded one event from their lives each day for 12 weeks and rated events along several dimensions. About 5 months later, yes-no recognition, recognition-discrimination, cued-recall, and time-estimation tests were given. All tests included foil items from other subjects. Performance was high on both recognition tests, although about 11% of other students’ events were accepted as “old.” Time estimates were positively correlated with real time but were rather inaccurate. Cued-recall performance was fairly accurate for event cues that students recognized as old. Factor analysis of rating scales yielded three independent factors: outcome (memorable events were positive and satisfactory), frequency (memorable events were infrequent and atypical), and salience (memorable events were rated as memorable, surprising, exciting, and significant).
Evaluating a Long-Term Livable Communities Strategy in the U.S.

Abstract What are the requirements for successful, long-term, livable community strategies in the US? In early 2007, the Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF) was commissioned to offer a forward-looking review of the Livable Communities strategy of AARP, originally, the American Association of Retired Persons (with 37 million members, AARP is the largest non-profit organization in the US) [1] . This article summarizes the process and results of that project. It constitutes a case study in the evaluation of a large organization's plans from a strategic foresight perspective. Findings from this investigation suggest that many large-scale trends in the U.S., including urban sprawl, rising energy costs, climate change, and fiscal challenges are likely to work against efforts to make communities more livable. On the basis of these findings, IAF recommended that the association take a broad approach to livability, developing strategies that counter these negative trends while also improving the lives of older people. AARP is one of the best suited organizations to make such a long-term commitment.
Particle physics: Together to the next frontier

As emerging players jostle old ambitions, Nigel Lockyer calls for the next generation of particle-physics projects to be coordinated on a global scale.
Stress Relaxation in PZT.

Time-dependent deformation in the sonar transducer ceramic, PZT, was studied by stress-relaxation techniques. Logarithmic stress relaxation was not observed but the data could be treated in terms of an analysis of thermally activated deformation by Reed-Hill and Dahlberg. The room-temperature activation energy and activation volume of the rate-controlling deformation mechanism were measured as 25 kcal/mol and 7000 A3, respectively. A dislocation model of the domain processes responsible for deformation, consistent with the experimental data, is presented.
Fluorine shielding anisotrophy in CFCl3

Abstract The anisotropy of the flourine shielding of CFCl 3 has been evaluated by observing the carbon-13 satellites of the fluorine resonance in nematic liquid crystal solvents. It is found that the spinning and concentration dependences of the orientation parameter S are suitable means for determining an anisotropy which is independent of phase-change chemical shifts and temperature effects. The resulting anisotropy, ( σ | − σ ∝ ) = 51 ± 17 ppm, can be used to obtain reliable fluorine spin-rotation constants.
Two-variable lorentz-group expansions of physical scattering amplitudes for particles with arbitrary spins

Two-variable expansions of relativistic scattering amplitudes that have previously been suggested for the scattering and decays of spinless particles are generalized to the case of two-body scattering of particles with arbitrary spins. The usual helicity amplitudes are expanded in terms of the transformation matrices of the homogenous Lorentz group in a basis, corresponding to the group reduction $\mathrm{O}(3,1)\ensuremath{\supset}\mathrm{O}(3)\ensuremath{\supset}\mathrm{O}(2)$. The expansion can be interpreted as the usual Jacob and Wick partial-wave expansion, in which the energy dependence of the partial-wave helicity amplitudes is further expanded in terms of the $\mathrm{O}(3,1) d$ functions. Restrictions due to parity and time-reversal invariance are discussed. The O(3,1) expansions are shown to have the correct threshold behavior "term by term". Further generalizations of the formalism to include O(2,1) expansions (and thus Regge-pole theory) are discussed as well as applications to particle decays (these will be presented separately).
Elastic properties of external cortical bone in the craniofacial skeleton of the rhesus monkey

Knowledge of elastic properties and of their variation in the cortical bone of the craniofacial skeleton is indispensable for creating accurate finite-element models to explore the biomechanics and adaptation of the skull in primates. In this study, we measured elastic properties of the external cortex of the rhesus monkey craniofacial skeleton, using an ultrasonic technique. Twenty-eight cylindrical cortical specimens were removed from each of six craniofacial skeletons of adult Macaca mulatta. Thickness, density, and a set of longitudinal and transverse ultrasonic velocities were measured on each specimen to allow calculation of the elastic properties in three dimensions, according to equations derived from Newton's second law and Hooke's law. The axes of maximum stiffness were determined by fitting longitudinal velocities measured along the perimeter of each cortical specimen to a sinusoidal function. Results showed significant differences in elastic properties between different functional areas of the rhesus cranium, and that many sites have a consistent orientation of maximum stiffness among specimens. Overall, the cortical bones of the rhesus monkey skull can be modeled as orthotropic in many regions, and as transversely isotropic in some regions, e.g., the supraorbital region. There are differences from human crania, suggesting that structural differences in skeletal form relate to differences in cortical material properties across species. These differences also suggest that we require more comparative data on elastic properties in primate craniofacial skeletons to explore effectively the functional significance of these differences, especially when these differences are elucidated through modeling approaches, such as finite-element modeling.
Case study results from southeast Houston, Texas: identifying the impacts of residential location on flood risk and loss

Despite the increasing economic losses from floods in coastal communities, little observational research has been done at a fine spatial scale to identify the relative influence of residential location in predicting adverse economic impacts. In response, this study conducts a parcel-level analysis of flood losses to identify the influence of specific location-based variables on property damage from multiple flood events. We statistically isolate the effect of multiple location-based characteristics on insured flood claims associated with two major coastal storms for over 7813 properties within the Clear Creek watershed southeast of Houston, Texas. Results indicate that location-based variables are among the strongest predictors for both, where seemingly subtle shifts in location add up to large dollar losses from flooding. These findings provide an increased understanding of the role of physical location within a flood-vulnerable region and how residential choice can be a major factor in exacerbating actual property loss.
Modeling phytoplankton growth rates and chlorophyll to carbon ratios in California coastal and pelagic ecosystems

[1] To understand and quantify plankton community dynamics in the ocean, high-resolution models are needed to capture the temporal and spatial variations of physical, biological, and biogeochemical processes. However, ecosystem models often fail to agree with observations. This failure can be due to inadequacies in the data and/or inadequacies in the model formulation and parameterization. Here we parameterize and optimize a two-phytoplankton functional type model of phytoplankton growth rate and chlorophyll/carbon (Chl:C) ratio using data from the Lagrangian field measurements conducted during process cruises of the Long-Term Ecosystem Research–California Current Ecosystem (CCE) program. We parameterize the model based on a small coastal subset of the data and then extend and test it with the full data set, including data from offshore regions. The CCE process studies were focused on quantifying the size-resolved planktonic growth, grazing, production, and export rates while following water parcels. The resulting data therefore provided strong constraints for the model we employed. The modeled growth rates and Chl:C ratios were in good agreement with observations. Our results indicate that the model can accurately predict Chl:C ratios, biomasses, and growth rates of dominant functional types using relatively easily measured environmental variables (temperature, nutrients, and bulk chlorophyll). The model also accurately reproduces the subsurface maxima of growth rates, the spatial separation of carbon and chlorophyll maxima, and many other observations in the California Current coastal and pelagic ecosystems.
Newell library dedicated

On September 27 the library at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Green belt, Md., was renamed the Homer E. Newell Library in memory of the man who was once the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) deputy director for space flight programs, director of the Office of Space Sciences, and associate administrator. Newell, who was 68 years old when he died on July 18, 1983, was president of AGU from 1970 to 1972. A photograph of Newell and a plaque will be permanently displayed in the library. The plaque, which will be framed in walnut, reads, “The Homer E. Newell Library, dedicated September 27, 1983, to honor his leadership and contributions to America's space science program.” NASA Administrator James M. Beggs and Mrs. Homer E. Newell were scheduled to participate in the dedication ceremonies.
Diffusion of vacancies and vacancy pairs in NaCl

Abstract Measurements are reported for pure NaCl crystals of intrinsic ionic conductivity (550°–800°C), diffusion of Na tracers (640°–790°C), and diffusion in a d.c. electric field of Na tracers (600°–770°C) and Cl tracers (690°, 770°C). The diffusion measurements in a field represent the first quantitative application of this technique to alkali halides and afford a direct determination of Na tracer drift mobilities from the observed displacement of the diffusion profile. A general experimental check is provided by showing that the sum of the cation and anion mobilities agrees with the total conductivity. The results can be interpreted satisfactorily in terms of contributions to diffusion of both cations and anions from both free vacancies and neutral vacancy pairs. The best fit of all available conductivity, diffusion, and mobility data gives D v ∗ (Na) = 182 exp ( −2·10 kT ) and D pr ∗ (Na) = 1130 exp ( −2·35 kT ) , with D 0 in cm 2 sec and W in eV; vacancy pairs contribute nearly 40 per cent of the Na diffusion at the melting point. This fit gives an essentially constant anion transport number of 0.34 and an activation energy for cation diffusion by single vacancies of 2.10 eV; both of these are noticeably larger than previous values. It is also found that D pr ∗ (Na) is 6 to 7 times larger than D pr ∗ (Cl), just slightly above the limit imposed by the theory of correlation factors, which means that cation jumps into a vacancy pair have a much higher frequency than anion jumps, contrary to theoretical predictions. The diffusion data for vacancy pairs are not compatible with previously reported high temperature dielectric loss measurements. These data also rule out any appreciable contribution from cation Frenkel defects, but difficulty in fitting the conductivity suggests that vacancy triplets may make a small contribution.
Enhancing distributed corporate meetings with lightweight avatars

The difficulties remote participants of distributed meetings face are widely recognized. In this paper we describe the design of an avatar-based e-meeting support tool named Olympus, which aims to ameliorate some of the challenges remote participants face in distributed meetings. Olympus provides a customizable peripheral display on the bottom of existing e-meeting solutions. An initial observational study was conducted of the use of Olympus in 6 meetings, three each of a status meeting and a presentation meeting. Avatars fostered team bonding through social play during status meetings, while minimalist dots allowed focused attention during presentation meetings.
Is forensic science a gateway for women into science

Abstract Encouraging women to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers is an important part of a skilled, diverse workforce. While women constitute nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they make up only one-third to one-fifth of the nation's STEM careers. The lack of women in science is a “hallmark characteristic of science and has persisted in spite of the rapid improvement of women's social and economic status over the past few decades.” One scientific discipline, however, has attracted an inordinate number of females: forensic science. In a survey of accredited forensic science educational programs, the percentage of females was 78% compared with, at most, a 35% average for non-forensic science freshmen. Why is forensic science so popular among females and, therefore, is it a gateway for women into STEM careers?