cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the biochemistry and fine structure of silica shell formation in diatoms. II. Changes in concentration of nucleoside triphosphates in silicon-starvation synchyrony of Navicula pelliculosa (Bréb.) Hilse.

Abstract To assess the participation of NTP in the silicon metabolism of diatom cell wall formation, cultures of the freshwater diatom, Navicula pelliculosa were subjected to a period of silicon-starvation which blocks the division cycle after mitosis and cytokinesis have taken place. The addition of silicon induces synchronous silicon uptake, wall formation and cell separation. When silicon was resupplied to the silicon-deficient cultures, a rapid temporary increase, followed by a deep decrease in NTP concentration occurred during the first hour. NTP then increased throughout the remainder of the silicon uptake period. Similar changes occurred in a synchronous culture kept in the dark. This study confirms previous indications that NTP, and hence energy, is utilized in the biochemical processes of silicon metabolism in wall formation.
Employers' Use of Social Networking Sites in the Selection Process

Organizations are increasingly turning to social networking websites for insight into prospective employees. While existing research addresses many of the facets of human resource selection, the context of social networking sites is unique. Issues such as privacy, appearance, stigmas, and discrimination require study in the context of social networking to bridge past research with evolving practice. This article discusses human resource practices as they relate to the use of social networking sites for hiring purposes. The authors present an overview of social networking sites, briefly discuss applicable existing literature, offer relevant theory and propositions, discuss potential impacts on stakeholders, suggest guidelines for practitioners, and conclude with future research directions.
Neural Representations of Direction (Head Direction Cells)

To navigate successfully animals require knowledge about their location and directional orientation before embarking on a route. Cells in several limbic-system brain areas discharge in relation to the animal's directional heading in the azimuthal plane independent of location and are referred to as head direction (HD) cells. Each HD cell is tuned to a particular direction, which can be controlled by a visual landmark. However, directional firing is maintained in the absence of visual landmarks by using idiothetic cues, suggesting that the cell's response represents the animal's perceived directional heading. The vestibular system is critical for generating the directional signal.
Development of duplex real-time RT-PCR based on Taqman technology for detecting simultaneously the genome of pan-enterovirus and enterovirus 71.

Human enterovirus (EV) 71 is the main etiological agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). It is associated with neurological complications, and caused fatalities during recent outbreaks in the Asia–Pacific region. Infections caused by EV71 could lead to many complications, ranging from brainstem encephalitis to pulmonary oedema, resulting in high mortality. In this study, a duplex real-time RT-PCR assay was developed in order to simultaneously detect pan-EV and EV71. EV71-specific primers and probes were designed based on the highly conserved VP1 region of EV71. Five EV71 strains were detected as positive, and no positive fluorescence signal was observed in the duplex real-time RT-PCR for other viral RNA, which showed 100% specificity for the selected panel, and no cross-reactions were observed in this duplex real-time RT-PCR. The EV71-specific duplex real-time RT-PCR was more sensitive than conventional RT-PCR, and detected viral titers that were 10-fold lower than those measured by the latter. Of the 381 HFMD clinical specimens, 196 (51.4%) cases were pan-EV-positive, of which 170 (86.7%) were EV71-positive when tested by pan-EV and EV71-specific duplex real-time RT-PCR. EV71-specific duplex real-time RT-PCR offers a rapid and sensitive method to detect EV71 from clinical specimens, and will allow quarantine measures to be taken more effectively during outbreaks. J. Med. Virol. 85:1274–1279, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diet-Behavior Relationships: Focus on Depression

Human beings persistently demonstrate a vivid interest in the effect of food on behaviour. Thoughout recorded history, every cultural and ethnic group has associated certain dietary practices and guidelines with particular physical and behavioural health outcomes. Some of these associations have survived as "common sense" or "folk" notions, many have disappeared and been discredited. Yet other notions have evolved and found some degree of scientific support, while others remain largely unexamined. Currently, there is a small but growing body of scientific literature on the effect of diet and various specific nutrients on behaviour. Apart from overexposure to inaccurate information in the public mind, many psychologists are themselves confused as to the nature and scope of ongoing investigations in this arena. Psychologist Larry Christensen has written this book to summarise the scientific research in a form that should be useful to both researchers in this relatively new field (listing issues and methodological concerns that need to be addressed in future research) and to practitioners who wish to understand how the current state of scientific knowledge can be applied in the therapeutic context. Christensen begins with a brief historical survey of interest and research in the nutrition-behaviour association and offers a typology of the basic research strategies and methodological issues inherent in the field. He then examines both the neurobiological and the psychological mechanisms underlying the behavioural effects of food, particularly carbohydrates, and specifically focuses on the diet-depression nexus. Christensen then takes a look at the findings regarding specific nutrients and dietary components such as L-tryptophan, tyrosine, folic acid, selenium, caffeine, and sucrose in relation to specific physical and psychological conditions, such as premenstrual syndrome, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, Down's syndrome, depression, and seasonal affective disorder. He concludes with some recommendations and caveats on how to apply what we currently know about diet and nutrition as a potentional adjunct to more econventional therapy.
Touch mode capacitive pressure sensor for passive tire monitoring system

This paper deals with silicon capacitive pressure sensor called "touch-mode" type . A touch mode capacitive pressure sensor that can be used in automobile tire pressure monitoring systems has been developed, and its structure and the fabrication process are described The morphology of the chemically etched diaphragm surface, which has a great influence on fracture toughness of the diaphragm, is focused on.
BUTTERFLY INTERCONNECTION NETWORK : DESIGN OF MULTIPLIER, FLIP-FLOP, AND SHIFT REGISTER

A 2 × 2 bit multiplier is designed by the use of a butterfly interconnection network. The butterfly topology is also used to design a sequential flip-flop and a multibit parallel-in parallel-out shift register.
Effect of dopaminergic stimulation or blockade on morphine-withdrawal aggression.

Aggregation during morphine abstinence elicited social aggression (rearing, vocalization, attack-bites) in the morphine dependent rats. Pretreatment with l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (50 mg/kg), dl-dihydroxyphenylalanine (200 mg/ kg), dextro-amphetamine sulfate (2 mg/kg) or apomorphine hydrochloride (1.25 mg/kg) enhanced that aggression severalfold. Alpha methyl-p-tyrosine (200 mg/kg) abolished the morphine withdrawal aggression that was elicited either by mere aggregation or by aggregation combined with amphetamine. However, alpha methyl-p-tyrosine did not block the aggression in apomorphine treated rats. Haloperidol (0.63–2.5 mg/kg) also blocked the aggression due to mere abstinence or abstinence supersensitized by amphetamine. Similarly, methadone hydrochloride (5–20 mg/kg) blocked morphine withdrawal aggression supersensitized by apomorphine. These data are interpreted to suggest dopaminergic basis of morphine withdrawal aggression and a latent supersensitivity of dopaminergic neuropathways during morphine dependence.
Sensitivity Analysis and Data Assimilation in a Subcritical Plutonium Metal Benchmark

This work presents the application of first-order adjoint sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification, and data assimilation to a subcritical plutonium benchmark experiment using a modified ve...
Pharmacokinetics of tin-mesoporphyrin in man and the effects of tin-chelated porphyrins on hyperexcretion of heme pathway precursors in patients with acute inducible porphyria

Tin-mesoporphyrin shares many of the properties of its parent compound, tin-protoporphyrin. These include competitive inhibition of heme oxygenase, amelioration of jaundice and suppression of chemically induced hepatic porphyria. Tin-mesoporphyrin is cleared from the plasma of normal subjects with dose-dependent pharmacokinetics (T1/2 = 3.8 hr following i.v. administration of 1 μmole per kg body weight), and small amounts (<1% of administered dose) are excreted into the urine and feces. Intramuscular administration of tin-mesoporphyrin resulted, within 2 hr, in plasma concentrations identical to those obtained following i.v. administration, but the compound was not absorbed orally. The only dose-limiting side effect was transient cutaneous photosensitivity. High doses (1 μmole per kg body weight) of tin-mesoporphyrin resulted in significant decreases in plasma bilirubin concentrations at 24 and 48 h after treatment of normal subjects. Administration of both tin-protoporphyrin and tin-mesoporphyrin resulted in decreases in the urinary excretion of heme pathway intermediates in stable hyperexcreters with acute hepatic porphyria.
Women pastors and the idealization of suffering

Many women entering the Christian ministry are justifiably angry at the rejection, resentment, and condescension they often experience. What to do? Neither denial nor repression is the answer. Anger must be seen rather as a logical outcome of pioneer effort, a spiritual testing. To minister is to identify with Jesus in the role of suffering servant, and feel the pain of the hungry, while to reject suffering is to narcotize life. When suffering is part of fulfilling God's purpose, it can reach its highest idealization.
Elementary Science Methods Courses and the National Science Education Standards: Are We Adequately Preparing Teachers?

Despite the apparent lack of universally accepted goals or objectives for elementary science methods courses, teacher educators nationally are autonomously designing these classes to prepare prospective teachers to teach science. It is unclear, however, whether science methods courses are preparing teachers to teach science effectively or to implement the National Science Education Standards (National Research Council, 1996). Using the “Science Teaching Standards” as a framework for analysis, this research proceeded in two phases. During the first phase, the elementary science methods courses, perspectives, and practices of six science teacher educators were examined to determine similarities and differences in the course goals and objectives, overall emphases, and their efforts to prepare their students to implement the Science Teaching Standards. The second phase of the study investigated the elementary science methods courses of a national sample of science teacher educators as reflected in their course syllabi. It was found that universal inclusion of content related to the Science Teaching Standards does not exist, nor are there clear linkages between course goals, activities, and assignments.
Scheduling Scaffolding: The Extent and Arrangement of Assistance During Training Impacts Test Performance

ABSTRACTVarious kinds of assistance, including prompts, worked examples, direct instruction, and modeling, are widely provided to learners across educational and training programs. Yet, the effectiveness of assistance during training on long-term learning is widely debated. The authors examined how the extent and schedule of assistance during training on a novel mouse movement task impacted unassisted test performance. Learners received different schedules of assistance during training, including constant assistance, no assistance, probabilistic assistance, alternating assistance, and faded assistance. Constant assistance led to better performance during training than no assistance. However, constant assistance during training resulted in the worst unassisted test performance. Faded assistance during training resulted in the best test performance. This suggests that fading may allow learners to create an internal model of the assistance without depending on the assistance in a manner that impedes successf...
Effects of caffeine on alertness

The alerting effects of caffeine were assessed using a standard physiological measure of daytime sleepiness/alertness, the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). Healthy young men (n=24) were randomly assigned to receive caffeine 250 mg or placebo administered double blind, at 0900 and 1300 hours on each of 2 days. On the 3rd day both groups received placebo to test for conditioning to the alerting effects of caffeine. Each day sleep latency was measured at 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600 hours and performance (divided attention at 1030 hours and auditory vigilance at 1430 hours) was assessed. Caffeine increased sleep latency (i.e., improved alertness) and auditory vigilance performance compared to placebo. Tolerance to the effects of caffeine on sleep latency developed over the four administrations. On the conditioning test (day 3) the group receiving caffeine the previous two days was more alert and performed better than the placebo group.
Curriculum and Its Discontents.

They had traveled a long way. Their horses bore marks of the journey; flanks caked with mud, manes matted with dust. At last, the end was near. Dismounting, the pair walked the final few yards on foot. At the edge of the cliff, they paused and gazed upon the scene below. The younger of the two, tugging at his partner's arm, broke the silence. "Behold," he said, gesturing at the view that lay before them, "Yon lies the field of curriculum. So vast and inviting. Such a worthy object of contemplation. So ready for the harvest, ripe for the hands of willing workers. But wait! What's this? Can it be? Why is there not more movement? Why does it lie so still? Tell me, good father, is it... is it alive? Or is it ... could it be... (gulp!) ... dead?"
Borehole directional radar system for geological mapping4

Abstract This paper summarizes the progress in the development of the Borehole Directional Radar (BDR), which is a high-powered, high-resolution pulsed system that will be used for mapping geological layers or fractures away from a wellbore. The key to the tool's potential is its ability to accurately measure distance and direction of a lithologie discontinuity underground. In this paper, the theory for using radar for geological mapping is shown, and the design and characteristics of the antenna are discussed. The results of field tests in rock formations under both dry and wet conditions are presented. Finally, possible applications of the BDR system are outlined.
Significance testing of information theoretic functionals

Abstract A transformation is derived, such that, under the transformation the mutual information of two unrelated variables is a normally distributed random variable with zero mean and unit variance. It is demonstrated that the transformed mutual information can be used as a test statistic to test the statistical significance of the relationship between variables and provides an alternative to the method of surrogate data. If the mutual information is regarded as a generalization of the linear correlation coefficient then this test statistic can be regarded as analogous to the Fisher-Z test statistic.
Blind Spots: Unveiling users' true willingness in online social networks

Although online social networks reflect real world social relationships, in many cases, online data is too scarce or implicit to reveal a user's true willingness. This causes the Blind Spot problem in socially-rendered willingness inference systems. Blind spots are the undervalued online contacts in willingness inference because of insufficient explicit evidences. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to introduce and address the blind spot problem. In this paper, we propose a scheme to detect blind spots, by contradicting explicit evidences and implicit inferences. The proposed scheme uses interaction history as the explicit evidence, and social circles for implicit inference. Real world experiments and surveys demonstrate that our scheme can detect blind spots.
A translational enhancer element on the 3'-proximal end of the Panicum mosaic virus genome.

Panicum mosaic virus (PMV) is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus in the family Tombusviridae. PMV genomic RNA (gRNA) and subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) are not capped or polyadenylated. We have determined that PMV uses a cap-independent mechanism of translation. A 116-nucleotide translational enhancer (TE) region on the 3′-untranslated region of both the gRNA and sgRNA has been identified. The TE is required for efficient translation of viral proteins in vitro. For mutants with a compromised TE, addition of cap analog, or transposition of the cis-active TE to another location, both restored translational competence of the 5′-proximal sgRNA genes in vitro.
Cardiac complications in noncardiac surgery: Relative value of resting two-dimensional echocardiography and dipyridamole thallium imaging

Although perfusion imaging studies are extensively used as a preoperative screening test for risk stratification of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, no single cardiac noninvasive test has been shown to be ideal for risk stratification. We investigated the relative impact of transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography (ECHO) compared with dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy (DT) in predicting major cardiac complications in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Eighty-seven consecutive patients undergoing 96 procedures (56 vascular, 40 general) underwent preoperative evaluation first with DT and then with ECHO before surgery. Complications were prospectively defined as myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac death (of MI, heart failure, or arrhythmia), or need of revascularization before surgery. DT showed one or more reversible defects in 44 (51%) patients, whereas ECHO demonstrated a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 25 (29%) patients. Major postoperative cardiac complications occurred in 10 patients: 5 deaths (2 ventricular fibrillation, 3 fatal MIs) and 5 nonfatal MIs. Four additional patients required urgent revascularization (coronary bypass graft surgery in 3 and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 1). Of the 20 patients with both abnormal DT and ECHO, 11 (55%) had major complications, compared with none of the 26 (0%; p < 0.01) with an abnormal DT but normal LVEF. The sensitivity of DT and ECHO were not significantly different (79% [95% Cl, 52% to 93%] vs 86% [60% to 96%], respectively), although the specificity of DT was lower (51% [40% to 62%] vs 81% [70% to 88%]; p < 0.05). The positive predictive value of DT was significantly improved from 22% (12% to 35%) to 52% (32% to 72%) when both DT and ECHO were abnormal. The results were not significantly different when the 4 patients who underwent revascularization were excluded. In conclusion, (1) in spite of similar sensitivity of ECHO and DT, ECHO appears to be relatively more specific in predicting major CC, and (2) when ECHO and DT are both abnormal, the risk of CC related to noncardiac surgery is significantly increased. Use of the combination of DT and ECHO before major noncardiac surgery can improve the identification of patients at risk for complications.
Photonic phase-locked-loop linear phase demodulator

Design and experimental validation of a simple photonic phase-locked-loop (PPLL) linear phase demodulator employing a novel attenuating counter propagating (ACP) in-loop phase modulator are presented. The ACP in-loop phase modulator is free of propagation delay, allowing stable operation of the PPLL with large gain. Highly linear optical phase demodulation was observed and the measured spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) is 134 dBHz 2/3 at 100 MHz bandwidth.
CMeRun: program logic debugging courseware for CS1/CS2 students

It is generally known that most, if not all, beginning programming students have difficulty understanding and debugging programs. For many students the primary problem is that when a program executes, it is essentially a "black box". They know what they think they wrote, but their only clues to logic errors come from watching the output of the program. If there are problems, it is difficult for inexperienced programmers to trace the problem back to the source of the error(s). This paper presents CMeRun, a tool that allows the user to see each statement in a program as it executes. This tool will allow beginning students to master coding and debugging skills much faster since it allows them to "look into" a program as it executes. Having this kind of insight into program execution will improve understanding, decrease development time, and reduce student frustration.
Indomethacin Restricts Cerebral Blood Flow during Pressure Ventilation of Newborn Pigs

ABSTRACT: Unanesthetized newborn pigs were studied to evaluate the immediate (10 min) and delayed (45 min) effects of increased ventilation pressure coupled with cyclooxygenase inhibition. Cardiac output and cerebral blood flow were measured at a low (5 cm H2O) and high (30 cm H2O) mean airway pressure (Paw) before and 45 min after 5 mg/kg of indomethacin. In a second group, these parameters were also measured 10 min after indomethacin was given during ventilation at a Paw of 30 cm H2O. Before treatment with indomethacin, increasing Paw decreased cardiac output without affecting cerebral blood flow. Baseline (Paw = 5 cm H2O) cerebral blood flow decreased 40% 45 min after indomethacin treatment. Adding the stress of a ventilation-induced drop in cardiac output did not further depress cerebral blood flow. When indomethacin was administered during high Paw, cerebral blood flow decreased markedly within 10 min. Cerebral oxygen consumption was maintained by increasing oxygen extraction. Therefore, indomethacin decreases cerebral blood flow at a high Paw. The fall in cerebral blood flow decreases brain oxygen delivery. However, cerebral oxygen consumption is maintained by an increase in oxygen extraction
Examining the relationship between multiple comorbidities and retention in HIV medical care: a retrospective analysis

Retention in medical care among people living with HIV (PLWH) is a major component in properly managing the disease. As PLWH age, diagnoses of comorbid conditions become common and it may be important to understand how these conditions may impact engagement in care, in particular retention in HIV medical care. A secondary data analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between multiple comorbid conditions and retention in HIV care among patients who sought HIV care between 2003 and 2011. Retention in care was defined as having two clinic visits separated by ≥3 months within a 12-month period. Logistic regression was conducted to determine if multiple comorbid conditions were associated with optimal retention (100%) versus suboptimal retention (<100%). There were 1261 patients included in the analysis, 47% had ≥1 comorbid condition, and approximately 55%, were optimally retained in care. In the regression model, those with one comorbid condition (odds ratio [OR]: 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI...
Requirement for phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase in the prevention of apoptosis by nerve growth factor

Nerve growth factor (NGF) induces both differentiation and survival of neurons by binding to the Trk receptor protein tyrosine kinase. Although Ras is required for differentiation, it was not required for NGF-mediated survival of rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells in serum-free medium. However, the ability of NGF to prevent apoptosis (programmed cell death) was inhibited by wortmannin or LY294002, two specific inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol (Pl)-3 kinase. Moreover, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) prevented apoptosis of PC-12 cells expressing the wild-type PDGF receptor, but not of cells expressing a mutant receptor that failed to activate Pl-3 kinase. Cell survival thus appears to be mediated by a Pl-3 kinase signaling pathway distinct from the pathway that mediates differentiation.
A new phenotype of Aedes pseudoscutellaris Theobald obtained by single-pair laboratory matings (Diptera: Culicidae).

By single-pair mating experiments with Aedes pseudoscutellaris Theobald, 1910, individuals were obtained which exhibited a higher frequency and greater degree of white scaling on the fore and mid tarsi than did the parental strain. Continual selection for this character resulted in the establishment of a strain which differs markedly from the stock colony. Each segment of the fore and mid tarsi of the selected strain bears a patch of white scales at the basal margin, whereas mosquitoes from the stock colony usually lack white scales on segments III and always lack white scales on segments IV and V of the fore and mid tarsi. Preliminary observations suggest that the higher frequency and greater degree of white scaling in the selected strain is genetically fixed and is not affected greatly by external environmental stimuli such as the temperature at which the immature stages are reared.
Perspectives of citizens towards e-government in Thailand and Indonesia: A multigroup analysis

Thailand and Indonesia are two developing countries still in the early stages of e-government implementation. An understanding of their citizens' perspectives can help the governments of these countries better plan their services and also provide useful information to governments of other developing countries. The current study uses a new survey instrument to assess the importance of e-government services and website success factors from the perspective of citizens. Using multigroup analysis to validate the instrument, it identifies that an important difference between the perceptions of citizens of the two countries is that in Thailand, the importance of financial transaction services is negatively related to the importance of citizen identification with the e-government site whereas in Indonesia this relationship is insignificant. Only two expected relationships were found to be equivalent across both datasets, i.e., the importance of financial transactions services is positively related to the importance of website efficiency and the importance of local information services is positively related to the importance of citizen identification with the site. The multigroup analysis showed that citizens in both countries interpreted the survey instrument similarly but had very different expectations for their e-government services.
Removal of oxidatively damaged proteins from lens cells by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Understanding how oxidized proteins are removed is important since accumulation of such damaged proteins is causally related to cellular and organismic dysfunction, disease and aging. Previous work showed that activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) in lens cells increased during recovery from oxidative stress ( Shang et al., 1997b : J. Biol. Chem. 272, 23086-93). In this study we sought to determine if the up-regulation of the UPP during recovery from oxidative stress has a role in selective removal of oxidized proteins from the cells. In cells which were not exposed to peroxide, inhibition of the proteasome with MG132 or clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone had little effect on protein carbonyl levels. However, inhibition of the proteasome in the 20 microM peroxide-treated cells caused an approximate 60% increase in levels of protein carbonyl and an approximate 100% increase in levels of ubiquitin conjugates. The carbonyl-containing proteins that accumulated in the presence of the proteasome inhibitor co-localized with high molecular mass ubiquitin-protein conjugates. Furthermore, isolated carbonyl-containing proteins from H2O2-treated cells were ubiquitinated, and ubiquitin-conjugates were enriched with carbonyl-containing proteins. The diminished effect of proteasome inhibitors on protein carbonyl levels, together with the robust increase in ubiquitin-protein conjugates and accompanied increases in oxidized proteins, upon exposure to 60 microM H2O2 indicate that the proteasomal step of the UPP is more susceptible to oxidative inactivation than the ubiquitination step. In fact, oxidative stress is associated with a hyperactivation of the ubiquitin-activating enzyme. These data indicate that the UPP plays a role in removal of oxidatively damaged proteins from cells and that attenuation of the UPP activity may result in cytotoxic accumulation of damaged proteins, possibly including the ubiquitinated forms.
Dependence of the Oxygen Affinity of Blood on the Presence of Foetal or Adult Haemoglobin

IT has been known for more than 40 years that the oxygen dissociation curve of blood from newborn infants is displaced to the left of that for maternal blood1,2. Although erythrocytes of the foetus contain predominantly haemoglobin F, whereas the maternal red cells contain almost exclusively haemoglobin A, the different oxygen dissociation curves of maternal and foetal blood have not in general been attributed to the type of haemoglobin in the erythrocytes. This conclusion has been based principally on the following two observations: first, identical oxygen dissociation curves were obtained with haemoglobin solutions prepared from the blood of newborn infants and normal adults3; second, the whole blood of an adult patient whose red blood cells contained 69 per cent haemoglobin F was observed to have an oxygen affinity identical to that obtained with blood of normal adults4.
Hysteretic Behavior of Bridge Columns with FRP-Jacketed Lap Splices Designed for Moderate Ductility Enhancement

This paper presents test results of six specimens representing older bridge columns with inadequate reinforcement detailing consisting of short lap splices at the base and widely spaced transverse reinforcement. Four of these specimens were rehabilitated using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets of two different composite materials (carbon and aramid) to avoid premature failure of the lapped bars after a limited number of postyield cycles. The test results indicate that thin FRP jackets can be used to avoid failure of short lap splices at moderate displacement ductilities. Displacement capacities consistent with expected demands in regions of moderate or low seismicity were achieved after jacket retrofitting. The hysteretic behavior of rehabilitated columns was assessed with emphasizing issues related to variation of stiffness and damping ratio as a function of ductility demand for this class of columns. Equations that account for the effect of axial load level on estimates of effective stiffness and d...
Related base sequences in the DNA of simple and complex organisms. VI. The extent of base sequence divergence among the DNAs of various rodents.

The magnitude of differences which occur in the base sequence of DNAs from related animals was investigated through studies of four rodent DNAs. Fractionation on preparative CsCl density gradients and detailed examination of thermal denaturation profiles revealed the existence of several distinguishable components comprising the main band in addition to satellite bands. No difference was apparent in the distribution of unique and partially redundant sequences among these main band components, or in the apparent rate at which base substitution has occurred in evolution. Comparisons of sequence were also made by annealing reactions in solution at high concentration for extended periods with either labeled total mouse or rat DNA, or labeled unique sequences of mouse DNA. These experiments permitted assessment of the absolute extent of cross-reaction, as well as the extent of sequence divergence which had occurred between the two groups of interacting DNA molecules. Some implications of the apparent rapidity of nucleotide substitution in DNA are discussed.
Simplified high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous analysis of tebuthiuron and hexazinone

Abstract A simplified, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous measurement of the herbicides tebuthiuron and hexazinone was developed. Separation was achieved on a Nova-Pak® phenyl (4 μm) 10 x 0.8 cm column with methanol—water 50:50 v/v) as eluent and on-line detection at 254 nm for tebuthiuron and 249 nm for hexazinone. At a flow-rate of 2.5 ml min−1, the retention times were approximately 4.5 and 6.3 min for tebuthiuron and hexazinone, respectively. The procedure was used successfully for the analysis of residues of these herbicides in soil and plant tissues. A comparison with published procedures for the individual analysis of tebuthiuron and hexazinone is presented.
Topiramate-induced acute bilateral angle closure and myopia: pathophysiology and treatment controversies

PurposeTO discuss the unusual features of topiramate-induced acute angle closure glaucoma, its pathophysiologic mechanisms, and treatment controversies, and to report the first anterior segment opt...
Measurement of carbon-phosphorus J coupling constants in RNA using spin-echo difference constant-time HCCH-COSY.

We report a novel NMR technique for the measurement of carbon-phosphorus coupling constants in RNA oligomers. This method, spin-echo difference constant-time HCCH-COSY, takes advantage of the well-dispersed H1' and C1' resonances to analyze couplings involving the more poorly dispersed ribose carbon and phosphorus resonances. The technique was applied to analysis of the 3JC2'P coupling constants related to backbone epsilon torsion angles in a 30-nucleotide lead-dependent ribozyme. 3JC2'P coupling constants were obtained for approximately 90% of the residues in this RNA, which is over twice as many as could be obtained with previous methods.
Effects of simulated radioactive fallout decay on growth and yield of cabbage, maize, peas and radish*

Abstract An apparatus designed to simulate the decay of radioactive fallout from nuclear detonations is briefly described and data are reported from experiments undertaken to determine the relative effectiveness of similar total exposures of 137Cs gamma radiation given at uniform exposure rates vs. simulated fallout decay. Seedlings of pea, maize, cabbage and radish were given three different treatments (16-hr and 36-hr uniform dose-rate exposures, and a 36-hr simulated fallout decay exposure with changing dose rates). Seedlings were exposed to 137Cs γ-radiation and transplanted to the field (maize and cabbage) or moved to a greenhouse for observation (radish and pea). Data on plant survival, gross vegetative growth, crop yield and pollen abortion are reported from scorings made weekly for up to about three months. Comparisons were made among the three radiation treatments for the survival end points (LD10, LD60, LD90 and LD100) and the 50 per cent reduction in fresh weight and crop yield. In all experiments the simulated fallout decay gamma exposure produced more deleterious effects than an equivalent total exposure delivered at uniform rates. (The 16-hr exposure produced more severe effects than similar exposures delivered in 36 hr.) When the results of 36-hr uniform exposures were compared to those from the 36-hr simulated fallout decay, the average increase in effectiveness varied from a factor of 1·79 to a factor of 2·04, with the average for all end points being 1·93 (almost a factor of 2 greater). Exposures which gave reductions of 50 per cent in fresh weight and crop yield for the same two radiation treatments varied by a factor of 1·59 to a factor of 2·11 with an average increase in effectiveness for all end points of 1·80 for the simulated fallout exposures. Predicted ld 50 s for 16-hr uniform and 36-hr FDS exposures based on measured interphase chromosome volumes are given for 49 varieties of economic plants.
Adsorption and molecular association in the Burnett apparatus

Physical adsorption errors accumulate in the isothermal Burnett PvT apparatus. The equations describing this sequential phenomena plus diagnostic methods and correction procedures are given. Shift of the apparent volume ratio, the prinicipal indication of significant adsorption, is related to the difference between the surface and volume ratios. The effect of adsorption on the usual Burnett graphs follows from real and simulated data examples. Isochoric coupling as related to the adsorption problem is fully reviewed. Experiences with chemisorption are related and explained for the first time. Molecular association, which is properly measured by the Burnett apparatus, is compared to adsorption where the two phenomena coexist.
Influence of exercise training soon after myocardial infarction on regional myocardial perfusion and resting left ventricular function.

There is scant information regarding the effect of exercise training begun soon after hospital discharge for myocardial infarction (MI) with respect to subsequent improvement in exercise tolerance, enhancement of regional myocardial perfusion, or left ventricular function. Accordingly, 19 post-MI patients (mean age 53 ± 7 years) underwent treadmill exercise quantitative thallium-201 (Tl-201) scintigraphy and rest radionuclide angiography (RNA) prior to and after 12 weeks of thrice-weekly exercise training which was targeted to 70–85% of maximum exercise heart rate achieved. Training was begun at 25 ± 3 days after hospital discharge. Eight Tl-201 scan segments were each scored from 1–6 points based upon uptake and washout criteria with 6 being the most severe defect (>50% reduction in Tl-201 events with no delayed redistribution). When matched to the pretraining peak workload on exercise testing, 12 weeks of training significantly lessened heart rate (120±4 to 97±4, p<0.001), peak systolic blood pressure (142±6 to 129±5 mmHg, p<0.01), and significantly reduced double product [17.2±10.8 to 12.7±9 (×103), p<0.001]. Training was associated with a reduction of exercise-induced ST depression or angina (42 to 16%) which was not statistically significant. The mean resting by RNA ejection fraction was 50±3% prior to training and 51±3% after training. There was no significant change in overall Tl-201 defect score or the number of defect regions per patient scan comparing pre- and post-training scintigrams. Of the 5 patients who had elimination of exercise-induced angina or ischemic ST depression after training, none showed an improvement in the Tl-201 defect score between the two studies. Thus, 3 months of exercise conditioning begun soon after acute MI is associated with a significant training effect without an improvement in resting left ventricular function or myocardial perfusion at peak exercise.
The toxicity of amitrole in the rat

Abstract A single oral dose of 4080 mg/kg and a single dermal dose of 2500 mg/kg of amitrole, the highest doses given, were not lethal to adult rats. Dietary levels of 0, 1000, 500, 100 and 25 ppm amitrole were fed to groups of 10 male and 10 or 12 female rats. The dietary levels of 1000 and 500 ppm were fed for 107–110 days, the dietary levels of 100 and 25 ppm for 240–247 days to the F0 generation and for 141 days to the F1b generation. At the dietary levels of 1000 and 500 ppm the pups that were born were smaller and had atropic thymuses and spleens indicative of runt disease. Most of them had died with-in a week after weaning. Reproduction was not affected at the lower dietary levels. Hyperplasia of the thyroid was seen in all rats fed dietary levels of 100 ppm or greater. In the 25 ppm group 4 10 F0 and 4 10 F1b females and 6 10 F1b males, but none of the F0 males developed hyperplasia of the thyroid.
Religious Social Networks, Indirect Mobilization, and African-American Political Participation

This study examines the mobilizing effects of informal political discussions among African-American church attenders. Specifically, I focus on indirect political encouragement through congregant so...
Synchrotron Radiation Induced Decomposition of Closo-1,2-dicarbadodecaborane

We have observed that molecular films of closo-1,2-dicarbadodecaborane ( C2B10H12) decompose due to exposure to synchrotron light. Dissociation results in films that form a heterogeneous intermediate phase between associative molecular fragments and solid, thin film boron-carbide. This heterogeneous phase has an observed electronic structure that is an admixture of the electronic structure observed for molecularly condensed orthocarborane and the electronic structure anticipated for rhombohedral boron-carbide (based on the B12 icosahedral "building block"). With the synchrotron radiation exposure at room temperature there is dissociative adsorption of this icosahedral molecule and the growth of boron-carbide film is enhanced. The composition of the growing film changes for very thin films on Si(111), as determined by the boron to carbon ratio. The boron concentration of the film increases with increasing film thickness until the boron to carbon ratio reaches 5 when the film thickness is approximately 12 A. After about 12 A of film growth the composition is constant, i.e. B5C.
Breaking up with a kinky SUMO.

Ubiquitin-like protein (Ubl)-specific proteases catalyze Ubl precursor processing and deconjugation. Two recent structural studies of SUMO-specific protease (SENP)–substrate complexes provide new insight into hydrolysis of the peptide bond at the C terminus of SUMO. A kinked, cis configuration for the scissile bond is crucial for proteolysis.
Digital Computer Determination of a Medical Diagnostic Index Directly from Chest X-Ray Images

Image matrices of chest X-ray films were recorded in digital form on magnetic tape using a flying spot scanner, an analog-to-digital converter, and a digital computer system. These taped images were used as input to the computer which, by means of its stored program, automatically measured the maximum transverse diameter of the heart shadow, maximum transverse diameter of the rib cage shadow, then calculated and printed out the ratio of these two measured values. This is the cardiothoracic ratio, which is a standard diagnostic index employed by physicians for detection of cardiac pathology, e.g., heart enlargement. To our knowledge, this is the first practicable and useful diagnostic index successfully determined directly from an unaltered X-ray film through the use of a digital computer.
Fluid secretion by the midgut caeca of the crab, Cancer magister

Abstract 1. 1. The composition and rate of production of fluid by the anterior and posterior midgut caeca (AMC and PMC, respectively) of the crab, Cancer magister, were studied in vivo and in vitro. Under both conditions these structures produced a small volume of fluid (2.2–3.4 μl/hr) which was, with the exception of sulfate ion, nearly isoionic with the serum. 2. 2. Caecal fluid had relatively low levels of amylolytic and, less frequently, proteolytic activities. 3. 3. The in vivo rate of fluid production was not increased by feeding or by osmotic stress. 4. 4. Ligation of the AMC did not impair secretion of a peritrophic membrane around the fecal strand formed after feeding. 5. 5. It is concluded that the midgut caeca do not have a significant function in osmoregulation or formation of the peritrophic membrane and that they probably have, at best, a minor role in the digestive processes of C. magister. Further, it is suggested that the rate and direction of fluid transport by the midgut caeca may be under neurosecretory control.
Treatment of Antisocial Behavior in Adolescent Inpatients: Behavioral Changes and Client Satisfaction

This study examined antisocial behavior and consumer satisfaction of 29 adolescents in a long-term psychiatric unit with a modified Achievement Place program. Unit staff recorded the daily frequency of 27 inappropriate behaviors exhibited by individual clients. Time-series data on specific problem behaviors were analyzed with change scores and graphic displays. Prior to discharge, clients also completed questionnaires that rated the helpfulness of program components. Change scores for severe behavior problems gradually declined to near zero levels for almost all clients. Scores for moderate and minor problem behaviors showed smaller declines, which were offset by concomitant increases within this same category. Off-unit activities and point store, individual and group therapy, and behavior reduction procedures received the highest, intermediate, and lowest ratings, respectively. Data indicate that long-term treatment within a structured behavioral program may be associated with substantial improvements in...
Symptoms of rhinosinusitis in patients with unexplained chronic fatigue or bodily pain: a pilot study.

Background Recent otolaryngologic studies document significant fatigue and bodily pain (BP) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Studies of general medical patients are lacking. Methods A case-control study of 297 consecutive general medical outpatients. Results Sixty-five patients noted unexplained chronic fatigue (UCF), 33 reported BP, and 26 had both. Compared with 232 patients without UCF, patients with UCF more frequently had the following rhinosinusitis symptoms: facial pressure (odds ratio [OR], 9.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.2-18.2), heavy-headedness (OR, 21.9; 95% CI, 10.9-44.0), nasal obstruction (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 2.3-7.9), frontal headache (OR, 13.6; 95% CI, 6.5-28.5), postnasal drip (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.6-5.0), sore throat (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.5-6.6), and tender cervical lymph nodes (OR, 9.2; 95% CI, 4.3-19.7). A similar predominance of rhinosinusitis symptoms was noted in patients with BP and in 15 patients with UCF who had chronic fatigue syndrome. No increased prevalence of pollen allergy was noted in association with UCF, BP, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Gastrointestinal, sleep, and psychiatric problems were similar between patients with UCF and 38 patients with explained fatigue. Rhinosinusitis symptoms, however, were more common in UCF. Conclusions There is an increased prevalence of rhinosinusitis symptoms but not pollen allergy among general medical outpatients with UCF, BP, or both. Rhinosinusitis symptoms are at least as common as gastrointestinal complaints, sleep disturbance, and psychiatric problems (previously well documented complaints associated with UCF and BP). Rhinosinusitis symptoms, furthermore, are more common in UCF than in fatigue explained by a physical or mental illness.