cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postnatal androgenization influences social behavior of adult rats tested in standard male and female sexual paradigms.

Species specific sexual and social behaviors of prenatally or postnatally androgenized female and neonatally castrated or adult castrated male albino rats were examined in both male and female sexual behavior situations both with and without hormone replacement. For the behaviors selected, the most striking differences between treatment groups were found following estrogen-progesterone (female sexual behavior situation) as opposed to testosterone propionate (TP) replacement (male sexual behavior situation). Social behaviors such as partner sniffing and crawling over were influenced by circulating hormone level at the time of observation and type of prenatal exposure to TP. Other behaviors such as paw placement were affected by type of androgen exposure but not circulating hormone level. Postnatally androgenized females responded to social situations much like males castrated as adults. Oil females seemed to inhibit many contact and sniffing behaviors during estrus which were characteristic of them during nonestrus observations. Neonatally castrated males behaved like females on sex and some social categories, but like adult castrated males on other social behaviors. Two prenatally androgenized female groups were examined, but the behavioral effects were unreliable. When behavioral effects were encountered, they resembled those following postnatal androgenization. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that many behavioral systems, including the sexual response system, are differentiated by androgens during development, and that these systems are independently modifiable.
Notes from the Underground. Communication and Control in the Rhizosphere

Intellectual nucleation, like its physical counterpart, derives from small, spontaneous, and unusual juxtapositions that produce positive feedback. Such potential for intellectual nucleation was seen June 1 through 3, 2001, in a meeting organized by the Rhizosphere Biology Initiative at the
Accurate matching of two-dimensional shapes using the minimal tolerance zone error

Automated visual geometric inspection of machined parts depends upon the ability to determine the underlying parameters of a shape model that will best fit the reference shape to the real shape captured. This paper presents a parametric approach for the matching of two-dimensional profiles, which are composed of straight-line segments and circular arcs, based on the tolerancing requirements defined by the AINSI standards. The shape matching problem is formulated as a minimax optimization model and a procedure for solving this optimization model is developed. Experimental results have shown the proposed algorithm to be consistently accurate and extremely fast.
Effect of Alcohols on Lactose Solubility

In tests of effects of high (70 to 90% volume/volume) and low (2 and 5% volume/volume) alcohol concentrations, solubility of lactose decreased with increased alcohol concentration and decreased as alcohol chain length increased. Since lactose has lower solubility in alcohol, crystallization would be expected to be speeded by increased supersaturation. Composition of precipitates formed by the action of ethanol changed with time; alpha-lactose precipitated more rapidly at first, then beta-lactose. Time of crystallization was related directly to the percentage of beta-lactose (therefore, the relation was inverse for total alpha). However, the percentage of alpha-hydrate increased with time and with water content. Agitation during crystallization increased production of beta-lactose. Composition of the lactose precipitate varied greatly with concentration of alcohol (ethanol). When ethanol concentration was low, only alpha-hydrate was precipitated whereas at higher concentrations stable anhydrous alpha lactose also was precipitated, with the percentage of total alpha decreasing while the percentage of beta-lactose increased. Crystal shape changed from prisms initially to partially or fully developed tomahawks as time went by or as the percentage of ethanol decreased, and crystal color increased with crystallization time and as ethanol percentage decreased. Choosing long-chain alcohols and controlling suitable parameters enabled recovery of greater amounts and more desirable forms of lactose.
Effect of hemimethylation and methylation of adenine on the structure and stability of model DNA duplexes.

Enzymatic methylation of adenine underlies a variety of biological regulatory mechanisms in Escherichia coli. We present here structural and thermodynamic characterization of a non-self-complementary DNA decamer duplex containing the dam sequence 5'-GATC in the unmethylated, hemimethylated (both forms), and methylated states. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements show that the free energies for adenine methylation of the decamer duplex are +1.1 and +2.0 kcal/mol for hemimethylation, respectively, and +3.3 kcal/mol for full methylation. In all cases, a large unfavorable enthalpy change is partially compensated by a favorable entropy term. CD spectroscopy indicates an overall conformational difference between the unmethylated decamer duplex and its methylated analogs. Reaction with diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC), a purine-specific probe sensitive to conformation, is enhanced in the vicinity of the methylation site of the duplex, consistent with loosening of base pairing at this site. Comparison of the scission patterns of these decamer duplexes by the reactive probes methidiumpropyl-EDTA.FeII [MPE.FeII] and CuI(o-phenanthroline)2 [(OP)2CuI] indicates that the methylation site of the decamer duplex represents a site of enhanced reactivity for these agents. On the basis of these thermodynamics and structural features, we suggest that the methylated base pair exists in two different helical states, which require local transient opening of the duplex for interconversion.
COSMOPOLITAN CODIFICATIONS: ELITES, EXPATRIATES, AND DIFFERENCE IN KATHMANDU, NEPAL

Globalization has been the site of many renegotiations of identity, both at the supra- and subnational levels. Yet, there is an interstitial zone of communication between the global and the local in which distinct processes of boundary-making and translation take place. This essay examines mediators of internationalization, elite nationals and expatriate employees, as they negotiate the form that difference can take in the global marketplace. The contentious politics of Nepalese nationalism as well as South Asian colonial delineations of difference provide precedents for the current social practices of a cosmopolitan population that establishes a hierarchy of difference while also excusing themselves from demarcation and restricting the purview of the concept of culture. The result is a zone made safe for the operation of neoliberal business (a practice seen to be without history or geography) with alterity only allowed in narrowly commodifiable settings.
Addressing the Nets for Students through Constructivist Technology Use in K-12 Classrooms.

The National Educational Technology Standards for Students promote constructivist technology use for K-12 students in U.S. schools. In this study, researchers reported on 716 cases in which teachers described technology-based activities they conducted with their students. Narrative analysis was used to examine case transcripts relative to the NETS*S, and the constructivist principles that support them. Findings suggest teachers' instructional technology use has shifted from the drill-and-practice and word-processing usage that was so pervasive in the 1980s and 1990s, to more constructive hands-on tool-based uses. However, teachers missed opportunities to engage their students in higher-order thinking when they limited problem-solving potential and over-structured student design activities.
Comparison of baseline urological symptoms in men and women in the MAPP research cohort.

Purpose: The clinical features of the interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome are similar to those of the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, to our knowledge no studies have directly compared the characteristics of these syndromes in men and women.Materials and Methods: The MAPP Research Network recruited 191 men and 233 women with IC/BPS or CP/CPPS. Baseline data included demographics, Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index and Problem Index scores; Genitourinary Pain Index score; American Urological Association Symptom Index score; Likert scales to assess urinary urgency, frequency, pain and overall symptom severity; and a single question about the most bothersome pelvic symptom.Results: After adjustment for age, income and symptom duration, measures of pain severity were similar across genders. Mean scores for the ICSI, ICPI and AUASI were significantly higher in women than in men, reflecting more bladder focused symptoms in women. The most bothersome single symptom in men as w...
Interrelationships between Water and Cellular Metabolism in Artemia cysts. V. 14CO2 incorporation

The ability of cysts of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina, to incorporate 14CO2 into organic compounds soluble in cold-trichloroacetic acid was examined over a broad range of cellular water concentrations. Carbon dioxide was not incorporated by cysts containing less than about 0.3 g H2O/g dried cysts, the "critical hydration" for CO2-fixation. This relationship held whether the cysts were hydrated from the liquid or the vapor phase. The incorporation of radioactivity was shown to be due exclusively to metabolic activity in the cellular component of the cyst. Above the critical hydration, the amount of 14CO2 incorporated was a function of cyst water content, but the kinds of metabolites labelled with this precursor, and their relative proportions, were found to be similar in cysts of greatly different hydration. Almost all of the radioactivity was associated with amino acids, Krebs cycle intermediates and related acids, and pyrimidine nucleotides. The fact that the pathway involved with CO2-fixation, and subsequent metabolism of the fixation products are all initiated in cysts containing as little as 0.3 g H2O/g is particularly noteworthy since this hydration level is well within the range of the amounts of "bound water" described in the literature for a wide array of cells and tissues.
Federal Environmental Policy and Local Industrial Diversification: The Case of the Clean Air Act

Carr D. and Yan W. Federal environmental policy and local industrial diversification: the case of the Clean Air Act, Regional Studies. Air-quality regulations under the Clean Air Act alter local industrial diversification by reducing concentration in polluting sectors of the economy for non-attainment areas. Using comprehensive county-level data covering the entire United States over a period of twenty-six years, this study finds an important connection between air-quality regulations and local industrial diversification in both non-attainment areas and jurisdictions that have gained attainment status. Non-attainment status for ozone, carbon monoxide (CO) or sulphur dioxide (SO2) brings about significant decreases in local industrial specialization. Furthermore, these effects persist after attainment status has been gained for ozone, carbon monoxide, or sulphur dioxide. Carr D. et Yan W. La politique federale pour l'environnement et la diversification industrielle locale: etude de cas de la loi antipollut...
Rethinking the First World War

The article reviews several books including "Uncle Sam Wants You: World War I & the Making of the Modern American Citizen," by Christopher Capozzola, "Mobilizing Minerva: American Women in the First World War," by Kimberly Jensen and "Dynamic of Destruction: Culture & Mass Killing in the First World War," by Alan Kramer.
Linking the mechanics and energetics of hopping with elastic ankle exoskeletons

The springlike mechanics of the human leg during bouncing gaits has inspired the design of passive assistive devices that use springs to aid locomotion. The purpose of this study was to test whethe...
Some aspects of the central nervous system activity of urazole derivatives. II.

The neurotoxicity, antielectroshock, anti-Metrazol, and antistrychnine activities of another series of urazole compounds have been determined in mice. Depending upon the nature of the substituted nitrogen groups, the members of this series, as with the previous compounds, were found to possess antielectroshock, anti-Metrazol, antistrychnine, convulsant, and depressant type actions. In general, the urazole compounds are most effective against maximal Metrazol seizures.
Identification of a two-component fatty acid kinase responsible for host fatty acid incorporation by Staphylococcus aureus

Extracellular fatty acid incorporation into the phospholipids of Staphylococcus aureus occurs via fatty acid phosphorylation. We show that fatty acid kinase (Fak) is composed of two dissociable protein subunits encoded by separate genes. FakA provides the ATP binding domain and interacts with two distinct FakB proteins to produce acyl-phosphate. The FakBs are fatty acid binding proteins that exchange bound fatty acid/acyl-phosphate with fatty acid/acyl-phosphate presented in detergent micelles or liposomes. The ΔfakA and ΔfakB1 ΔfakB2 strains were unable to incorporate extracellular fatty acids into phospholipid. FakB1 selectively bound saturated fatty acids whereas FakB2 preferred unsaturated fatty acids. Affymetrix array showed a global perturbation in the expression of virulence genes in the ΔfakA strain. The severe deficiency in α-hemolysin protein secretion in ΔfakA and ΔfakB1 ΔfakB2 mutants coupled with quantitative mRNA measurements showed that fatty acid kinase activity was required to support virulence factor transcription. These data reveal the function of two conserved gene families, their essential role in the incorporation of host fatty acids by Gram-positive pathogens, and connects fatty acid kinase to the regulation of virulence factor transcription in S. aureus.
Comparison of 20 Minnelusa waterfloods in the powder river basin

This study compares the oil produced at a projected pore volume (PV) produced predicted from a suitable curve fit. The study compares fresh waterfloods with brine floods. The data plots and curve fitting techniques are such that PV Oil produced could be chosen for the Y axis for easier economic analysis. This technique was developed and described in Griffith. The study was originated from interest generated by work performed by Morrow's research group at the University of Wyoming, (see Tang, and Tang and Morrow), indicating that fresh water flooding could result in a greater oil recovery then saline floods. Table 1 and Figure 1 shows the comparison of our 20 chosen waterfloods. The Widge field, which extends above the top of the chart, has not produced sufficient water to define the waterflood. The lowest plotted field, the Spirit Field, appears to have watered out very quickly after initialization of the waterflood. Figures 2 and 3 are the 20 flood separated into non-enhanced and enhanced floods. The West Semlek waterflood is placed in the non-enhanced although an attempt had been made to use polymer in the field. We have assigned fresh water flood status to those fields initially flooded with Fox Hills water even though the later makeup water was combined with produced brines. The West Semlek, the one brine flood, is the flood in Figure 1 which has the x marker and intercepts the 2.0 pore volumes fluid (water plus oil) produced at 42% of OOIP produced. In general the fresh water floods had generally higher recoveries than the one brine flood, which is consistent with Morrow's laboratory results.
Ammonium-chloride-induced prostatic hypertrophy in vitro: urinary ammonia as a potential risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

To test the possibility that urinary ammonia could be a risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), we explored the cellular effects of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) on prostatic cancer cells used as an experimental model. Following treatment of human prostatic cancer DU-145 cells with the varying concentrations of NH4Cl for 3 days, cell growth was inhibited by approximately 50% at 5 mM NH4Cl and almost completely inhibited at 10 mM NH4Cl. However, the individual cell size in these treated cells became approximately 2-fold larger and cellular protein content was also up to 2.5-fold greater than in untreated cells. This protein increase appeared to result from the reduced protein degradation, verified by metabolic labeling with [14C]valine. Western blot analysis further suggested that such reduced protein turnover could in part be due to the inactivation of a lysosomal acid protease, cathepsin D. Taken together, these studies demonstrate NH4Cl-induced hypertrophy in prostatic cancer cells, as evidenced by the growth inhibition, cell enlargement, and cellular protein increase. Therefore, ammonia is not an inert metabolic product; instead, its chronic effects on the prostate may ultimately lead to significant cellular and biochemical alterations of the prostate such as BPH.
Excitation of the O2(a 1Δg) state by low energy electrons in O2–N2 mixtures

Coefficients for the excitation of the a 1Δg state of O2 by low energy electrons in mixtures of O2–N2–Ar and O2–N2 and in pure O2 have been determined using a drift tube technique. The time dependence of the absolute intensity of 1.27 μm band emission was measured for 1% to 5% O2 and 1% to 10% N2 in Ar at total gas densities of 2 to 10×1024 m−3 and in 20% O2–80% N2 mixtures at a total density of about 2×1024 m−3. The measured decay constants for O2(a 1Δ) metastable densities in these mixtures are in agreement with previous data. Comparison of experimental and calculated excitation coefficients for the mixtures shows the importance of a 1Δg excitation by cascading from the states of the A 3Σ+u, C 3Δu, and c 1Σ−u group near 5 eV in O2 for mean electron energies between 1.5 and 5 eV. Using published a 1Δ deexcitation rate coefficients, the measurements of absolute intensity at 1.27 μm from pure O2 yield excitation coefficients that agree satisfactorily with theory at E/N values of 8–20×10−21 Vm2.
“CinderFella” and First-Shift Fathers: The Effect of Work Schedule on Father Involvement

Using the qualitative data from the Time, Love, and Cash among Couples with Children (TLC3) study in addition to some supplementary data from the quantitative Fragile Families and Child Well-Being (FFCWB) survey, I investigate the relationship between men's employment schedules and their level of father involvement among cohabiting and married men. For the 62 men in my sample, the number of hours men work and the scheduling of those hours directly affect how involved they are with their children. Fathers who are not in the labor force tend to be highly involved fathers. Men who work second- or third-shift jobs for pay are involved or highly involved with their babies. The least involved fathers, on the whole, are those who work traditional 9-to-5 jobs. By using qualitative data, I move beyond the correlation between work shift and father involvement, demonstrated in previous quantitative research, and investigate the causal mechanisms at work in this relationship through the detailed stories provided by b...
Cardiac Morphology and Left Ventricular Function in Normotensive Morbidly Obese Patients With and Without Congestive Heart Failure, and Effect of Weight Loss

To assess cardiac morphology and left ventricular (LV) function in normotensive morbidly obese patients with and without congestive heart failure (CHF) we performed a physical examination and obtained a transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac Doppler studies before and after substantial weight loss in patients whose actual body weight was initially equal to or more than twice their ideal body weight and who were free from systemic hypertension and underlying organic heart disease. There were 24 patients with CHF, 14 of whom were studied after weight loss. There were 50 patients without CHF, 39 of whom were studied after weight loss. Compared to patients without CHF, those with CHF had significantly greater mean LV internal dimension in diastole, LV end-systolic wall stress, LV mass/height index values, left atrial dimension and right ventricular internal dimension values, significantly lower mean LV fractional shortening, and transmitral Doppler E/A ratio values, and significantly longer mean transmitral E-wave deceleration time and duration of morbid obesity than patients without CHF. Substantial weight loss in those with and without CHF produced comparable reductions in mean LV internal dimension in diastole, LV end-systolic wall stress, LV mass/height index, transmitral Doppler E-wave deceleration time, and left atrial dimension, and comparable increases in LV fractional shortening and transmitral Doppler E/A ratio. Linear regression analysis identified duration of morbid obesity as the strongest predictor of CHF (p <0.00000002). Thus, LV mass is greater and LV systolic function and diastolic filling are more impaired in normotensive morbidly obese subjects with CHF than in those without CHF. Duration of morbid obesity is the strongest predictor of CHF among the variables studied. Substantial weight loss produces comparable changes in cardiac morphology and function in those with and without CHF.
Using face validity to recognize empirical community observations.

Abstract There is a growing interest among international planning scholars to explore community participation in the plan making process from a qualitative research approach. In this paper the research assessment tool “face validity” is discussed as one way to help planners decipher when the community is sharing empirically grounded observations that can advance the applicability of the plan making process. Face validity provides a common sense assessment of research conclusions. It allows the assessor to look at an entire research project and ask: “on the face of things, does this research make sense?” With planners listening to citizen comments with an ear for face validity observations, holds open the opportunity for government to empirically learn from the community to see if they “got it right.” And if not, to chart out a course on how they can get it right.
Pace and Lead: The Grammar of Rapport

Neurlolinguistic programming is a powerful technology for modelling aspects of human excellence so that others can achieve similar levels of effectiveness. This article describes how to teach a simple communication pattern called "pace and lead,” derived from studies of the hypnotic induction techniques of such master hypnotists as Milton Erickson. The "Pace and Lead" frame consists of several sensorily verifiable statements (pace) followed by a positive suggestion (lead). This pattern is the basis for virtually all communication which seeks to influence, manipulate or heal and as such, constitutes a very useful skill with a wide variety of applications. This frame—simple in its outward form but profound in its potential extension to a variety of real world situations—deserves more general inclusion in the teaching of consciousness curriculum. Anthropologists with an interest in language and consciousness issues will appreciate the accessibility of the exercise and its ability to concretely embody abstract issues such as the role of language in the creation of personal and cultural "realities.”
Intraoperative Electroencephalography Predicts Postoperative Seizures in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract Background During the surgical repair of infants with congenital cardiac defects, there can be periods of decreased cerebral blood flow, particularly during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. As a result, these infants are at increased risk for seizures and long-term neurodevelopmental difficulties. Methods Thirty-two infants with congenital heart disease had continuous video-electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring pre-, intra-, and postoperatively for 48 hours after surgery. Results For patients requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (n = 17) the EEG pattern for all patients became suppressed and eventually isoelectric below 25°C. Two of the 32 infants had electrical seizures within the 48-hour monitoring period. Both required deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and the burst pattern during recovery had rhythmic, sharp components that were high amplitude and often asynchronous between the hemispheres. The interval between the onset of seizure activity and initiation of the sharp burst pattern during surgery was 29 and 40 hours. This pattern was not observed during isoelectric recovery from infants who did not develop postoperative seizures. Conclusions The EEG in infants during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest displayed predictable changes. We identified an electroencephalographic pattern following the isoelectric period that may predict seizure development in the subsequent 48 hours.
Evaluation of infertility in the bitch

The majority of bitches that are brought to a veterinarian for reproductive evaluation are actually healthy. Infertility in the bitch is most commonly due to inappropriate breeding management rather than an inability to conceive. Before embarking on an exhaustive medical evaluation, it is important to obtain a thorough history and physical examination to identify any problems. Completion of a routine database assists in detecting significant systemic illness that may impact infertility. After consideration of history, physical examination, and minimum database, fertility problems are most commonly considered in one of four categories: abnormal estrous cycles, normal estrous cycles, failure to breed, or failure to carry a litter to term. This classification system aids in construction of a differential list and systematic evaluation of all differentials. The majority of diagnostic tests required are available to the general practitioner. Before any treatment for infertility, adequate health management must be ensured. Specific treatment for the most common causes of infertility is centered on appropriate breeding management.
Ambient Xenon : A Key to the History of Meteorites

Xenon exhibits a special anomaly in many meteorites in which Xe/sup 129/ is greatly enhanced with respect to terrestrial Xe. Smaller general anomalies also affect the remainder of the Xe isotopes. It is postulated that the xenon special anomalies are a result of the meteorite parent bodies having formed quickly enough after the last synthesis of I/sup 129/ to permit an excess of the radiogenic daughter Xe/sup 129/ to accumulate in the iodine-bearing minerals. Since it is not certain which processes contributed to the nucleosynthesis of iodine, relative rather than absolute decay intervals can be derived. It is suggested that radiogenic Xe/sup 129/, from I/sup 129/, and Xe/sup 131/ to Xe/sup 136/, from fission of heavy elements, was produced in those regions of the parent body that were at relatively high temperatures and mixed freely with the ambient xenon, so that the isotopic abundance in ambient xenon of Xe/sup 129/ and Xe/sup 131/ to Xe/sup 136/ increased with time. Applications of xenon chronometry in studies on the interiors of meteorite parent bodies are discussed. Data on the xenon content of the Sardis iron troilite and of Abee are compared. An ideal model is presented and theoretical measurements of xenon isotopicmore » abundance are compared with measurements on Abee. Equations are presented for the correlation of Xe/sup 129//Xe/sup 132/ and Xe/sup 128//Xe/sup 132/, in w hich consideration is given to the effects of temperature on the release of xenon from iodine-bearing minerals. It is suggested that the method may be applied in studies on environmental parameters of meteorites of different types and should give new insight into the significance of the high- and low-iron groups of chrondrites, the galliumgermanium group of meteorites, and the clusters of cosmic ray ages. (C.H.)« less
Membrane Association Domains in Ca2+-dependent Activator Protein for Secretion Mediate Plasma Membrane and Dense-core Vesicle Binding Required for Ca2+-dependent Exocytosis

Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion (CAPS) is a cytosolic protein essential for the Ca2+-dependent fusion of dense-core vesicles (DCVs) with the plasma membrane and the regulated secretion of a subset of neurotransmitters. The mechanism by which CAPS functions in exocytosis and the means by which it associates with target membranes are unknown. We identified two domains in CAPS with distinct membrane-binding properties that were each essential for CAPS activity in regulated exocytosis. The first of these, a centrally located pleckstrin homology domain, exhibited three properties: charge-based binding to acidic phospholipids, binding to plasma membrane but not DCV membrane, and stereoselective binding to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Mutagenesis studies revealed that the former two properties but not the latter were essential for CAPS function. The central pleckstrin homology domain may mediate transient CAPS interactions with the plasma membrane during Ca2+-triggered exocytosis. The second membrane association domain comprising distal C-terminal sequences mediated CAPS targeting to and association with neuroendocrine DCVs. The CAPS C-terminal domain was also essential for optimal activity in regulated exocytosis. The presence of two membrane association domains with distinct binding specificities may enable CAPS to bind both target membranes to facilitate DCV-plasma membrane fusion.
An efficient algorithm determining when a fabric hangs together

An algorithm of time complexity O(n) is given which determines whether a fabric hangs together, regardless of the number of directions of its strands.
Binding of EDTA, histidine and acetylsalicylic acid to zinc-protein complex in intestinal content, intestinal mucosa and blood plasma.

ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC acid (EDTA) added to a diet containing isolated soybean protein has improved the growth rate and reduced the incidence of a hock disorder caused by zinc deficiency1 in chickens. Furthermore, the addition of histidine and 8 ml. anti-arthritic agents, including acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), prevented “arthritic-like” leg abnormalities in chickens fed such diets deficient in zinc2,3. Supplementation of the diet with zinc promoted normal growth and feather development, and prevented leg abnormalities, while supplementation with the anti-arthritic agents had little or no effect on the symptoms of zinc deficiency except the leg defect. Amino-acids, particularly histidine, seem to be involved in the passage of zinc from the intestinal lumen to the blood stream4,5. EDTA was found to bind zinc in the intestinal digesta and seemed to remain bound as it passed through the intestinal mucosa and was transported in the blood plasma, confirming previous work5. We have investigated the binding of histidine and aspirin to zinc and their transport from intestinal digesta to the blood stream to find out whether these compounds alleviate the abnormal leg conditions by the same mechanism.
Effect of prostaglandin E1 on ouabain-induced arrhythmia.

Abstract Prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) was infused i.v. to a total dose of 50 μg/kg to cats anesthetized with pentobarbital. PGE 1 increased significantly the dose of ouabain necessary to produce premature ventricular complexes, ventricular tachycardia and death. All of the animals in both the control and PGE 1 -treated group died in ventricular fibrillation. PGE 1 did not produce any significant change in blood pressure or heart rate nor did it affect the cardiac slowing prior to ventricular tachycardia produced by ouabain. In addition, the maximum rate of ventricular tachycardia produced by ouabain was not different in either the control or PGE 1 -treated animals.
Models of human memory and their implications for research on aging and psychopathology

Because nearly all human behavior depends to some degree on functioning of the memory system, progress in understanding the diverse psychopathological effects of trauma must be expected to reflect the state of research and theory on human memory. An informal survey of literature on research in psychopathology reveals increasing attention to processes of memory and cognition but an absence of citations of the models of memory that subsume research results and mediate their applications. In this article, a series of steps is taken with the aim of redressing this situation. The first is an overview of contemporary models of memory. From these a set of widely supported assumptions about basic processes and structures is abstracted to form a composite model, which is illustrated in application to several major research paradigms. Finally, consideration is given to implications of the composite model for effects of psychopathological trauma and for some aspects of the maturation and decline of memory functions throughout the life span.
A Theoretical Analysis of Split Delta-Sigma ADCs

The recently proposed split analog-to-digital converter (ADC) owes its advantages to the quantization noise from its constituent analog delta-sigma modulators being uniformly distributed, white, and uncorrelated with the input and with each other. A theoretical analysis of the statistics of the quantization noise is presented in the context of a generic split-ADC. Sufficient conditions are derived that ensure that the quantization noise has the aforementioned properties; the application of the conditions is illustrated in the case of two example split-ADCs
MEMS-based resonant sensor with uniform mass sensitivity

MEMS-based resonant mass sensors have been extensively studied as biological and chemical sensor. Most of these sensors have utilized a cantilever structure, and these cantilever resonant mass sensors have a spatially non-uniform mass sensitivity. In this study, a silicon MEMS-based resonant mass sensor with a spatially uniform mass sensitivity is developed. The sensor is composed of a platform for the target attachment and four half-folded springs. The novel structure generates a vertical displacement of the platform, which leads to the uniform mass sensitivity. The extracted mass of a same bead on different places shows a standard deviation of 1.4%.
A MEMS-based monolithic electrostatic microactuator for ultra-low magnetic disk head fly height control

A novel MEMS-based electrostatic actuator design is proposed for recording head fly height control below 10 nm. Different from prior work on MEMS-based electrostatic microactuators designed for magnetic hard disk drives (HDD), the proposed microactuator is fabricated monolithically with a conventional head/slider design. The actuator is micromachined into the same side as the head element on a slider with a modified CMOS-MEMS process. It has an extremely small size, light weight and a very simple structure. The head is suspended and actuated up and down by the actuator during recording process to maintain a constant fly height. A desired range and precision of actuation is achieved under control voltages of less than 30 V. A mechanical resonant frequency of over 100 kHz is obtained.
Performance evaluation of semantics-based multilevel concurrency control protocols

For next generation information systems, concurrency control mechanisms are required to handle high level abstract operations and to meet high throughput demands. The currently available single level concurrency control mechanisms for reads and writes are inadequate for future complex information systems. In this paper, we will present a new multilevel concurrency protocol that uses a semantics-based notion of conflict, which is weaker than commutativity, called recoverability. Further, operations are scheduled according to relative conflict, a conflict notion based on the structure of operations.Performance evaluation via extensive simulation studies show that with our multilevel concurrency control protocol, the performance improvement is significant when compared to that of a single level two-phase locking based concurrency control scheme or to that of a multilevel concurrency control scheme based on commutativity alone. Further, simulation studies show that our new multilevel concurrency control protocol performs better even with resource contention.
Classification of difficult-to-diagnose microcalcifications using fuzzy neural network with convex sets

A novel convex set based neuro-fuzzy algorithm for classification of difficult-to-diagnose instances of breast cancer is described. The new approach offers rational advantages over the leading neural algorithm backpropagation. The comparative results obtained using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis show that the ability of the convex set based method to infer knowledge is better than that of backpropagation, making it more suitable for use in real diagnostic systems.
How long will it take

We present a method for approximating the expected number of steps required by a heuristic search algorithm to reach a goal from any initial state in a problem space. The method is based on a mapping from the original state space to an abstract space in which states are characterized only by a syntactic "distance" from the nearest goal. Modeling the search algorithm as a Markov process in the abstract space yields a simple system of equations for the solution time for each state. We derive some insight into the behavior of search algorithms by examining some closed form solutions for these equations; we also show that many problem spaces have a clearly delineated "easy zone", inside which problems are trivial and outside which problems are impossible. The theory is borne out by experiments with both Markov and non-Markov search algorithms. Our results also bear on recent experimental data suggesting that heuristic repair algorithms can solve large constraint satisfaction problems easily, given a preprocessor that generates a sufficiently good initial state.
Surface Reconstruction, One Triangle at a Time

A new algorithm is presented for surface reconstruction from unorganized points. Unlike many existing methods, this algorithm does not select a subcomplex of the Delaunay Triangulation of the points. Instead, it uses an incremental technique, adding one triangle of the surface at a time. As a result, the algorithm does not require the surface’ s embedding space to be ; the dimension of the embedding space may vary arbitrarily without substantially affecting the complexity of the algorithm. A wider variety of surfaces may therefore be reconstructed, including the class of non-orientable surfaces, such as the Klein Bottle. The algorithm is of an experimental character; while it is motivated from geometric and topological intuition, no proofs of homeomorphism are given. Instead, its efficac y is demonstrated from the point of view of correct experimental reconstruction of surfaces of varying genus.
Growth hormone levels in severe renal failure.

Fasting plasma growth hormone was 6 mμg./ml. or more in 13 of 21 patients with severe renal failure. Growth hormone levels of control subjects regularly decreased following an intravenous infusion of glucose. In contrast, the growth hormone levels of only three of 21 uremic patients were suppressed by glucose, eleven of the patients exhibiting a paradoxical rise. We observed no positive correlation between the degree of growth hormone elevation and the abnormality of glucose tolerance. Growth hormone levels were also measured at four hourly intervals during hemodialysis. Increasing the glucose concentration of dialysate did not noticeably modify the growth hormone response to hemodialysis in these patients. The pathologic significance of increased growth hormone in uremia is unknown. The carbohydrate intolerance and hyperinsulinism associated with uremia must however be attributed to factors other than growth hormone alone.
Effects of Adjective Imagery on Recall from Prose

Summary The study examined recall of adjectives and nouns from two prose passages that differed only in the imagery value of their adjectives. It was predicted that (a) visual interference would counteract any facilitative effect of high adjective imagery, and (b) adjective imagery would interact with Ss' tendency to use verbal or visual strategies. Ss were 30 female and 23 male university students who had completed the Paivio Individual Differences Questionnaire. It was found that high-imagery adjectives were more readily recalled than low-imagery adjectives (p < .001), but adjective imagery had little effect on noun recall. Visual interference did not selectively impair recall from the high-imagery version of the passage, but there was an interaction between version of passage and Ss' verbalizer-visualizer classification (p < .025). Visualizers outperformed verbalizers in recalling high-imagery adjectives, but did slightly worse than verbalizers when adjectives were low-imagery. It was concluded that al...
Toward automated retrieval for a software component repository

Retrieval methods for software component repository are important for software reuse. Many researchers have done a lot of work in this field in the past fifteen years. The paper discusses the improvement of two different aspects of retrieval methods for software components. One is profile matching and the other is signature matching. We show some experimental results assessing the effect of the improvements.
The effect of nitrogen loading on the growth rates of quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) and soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) through changes in food supply

Development of coastal areas in Cape Cod has increased nitrogen (N) loading to the region's estuaries. Nitrogen supply limits phytoplankton, the major food source of many filter-feeding bivalves living in the estuaries, including quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) and soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria). N enrichment may therefore affect growth rates of these shellfish by altering their food supply in the water column. In this study, food quantity, as measured by chlorophyll a as a proxy for phytoplankton, was found to be higher in estuaries subject to higher N load. The food quality in these estuaries, measured by the ratio of C to N, remained constant. Results of growth rate experiments on quahogs and soft-shell clams planted in three estuaries of different N load revealed that the shellfish grew fastest in estuaries where phytoplankton abundance was highest. Nitrogen stable isotope analysis confirmed that shellfish were consuming food from within their own estuaries, rather than food from an outside source. Therefore, it appears N load affected the growth rates of the shellfish primarily through causing changes in the quantity, rather than the quality, of the food supply.
Validating the Remarriage Belief Inventory as a Dyadic Measure for Stepcouples

Stepcouples remain a comparatively understudied group and few established measures specific to these couples exist. The Remarriage Belief Inventory assesses beliefs and attitudes relevant to couple dynamics in stepfamilies and has been validated using samples of individuals. An important next step in instrument development is the examination of the factorial structure for use with husband–wife dyads. Results from a dyadic confirmatory factor analysis using a sample of 631 stepcouples confirmed the structure of a final 21-item measure with seven subscales, with all but one subscale having adequate individual reliability. Within-couple correlations showed a strong relationship among many remarriage beliefs, yet they suggest that husbands and wives may be differentially influenced by partners’ beliefs. Within-individual correlations among subscales provide support for basic criterion validity. Implications and the future utility of this measure to examine dyadic processes in stepfamilies are discussed.
Freedom of the Press in the Bonn Republic

The constitutions drafted since the end of World War II are remarkable for the renewed emphasis they place on the natural rights of individuals and groups. It is perhaps natural that this has been true especially of countries which have recently witnessed the most flagrant abuses of human rights. In contrast to the period following World War I, classical rights in the tradition of 1789 have been exalted above social and economic rights.1 The revived interest in these classical rights in contemporary Germany is a case in point.2 At the same time, the potential threat to constitutional stability inherent in the natural rights doctrine has not been ignored. The state, it is felt, must be limited but not rendered defenseless. The problem, then, is to prevent an attenuation of the basic constitutional order while removing from governmental control a guaranteed sphere of individual freedom. The difficulty of harmonizing these antagonistic tendencies is apparent. The tenuous line between what is and what is not permissible defies a precise and objective determination. The status of the press in the West German republic may well serve as an example of the difficulty of reconciling liberty and authority. The case of the press is especially illuminating, since through its half-way positon between individual and collective rights its freedom has acquired political significance. The activity of the press is more than a mere expression of the basic human desire to hold and express opinions; in the political struggle its influence is second only to that of the political party. German experience with the problem of human rights sheds some light on the possibility of devising effective institutional
Two-Dimensional in-Vitro Studies of Femoral Arterial Walls of the Dog

Analyses of the vascular system have characteristically been based on assumptions that the vessel wall is isotropic and that its properties and behavior can be linearized. To test the validity of these assumptions, excised arteries of dogs were submitted to stepwise strains tangentially and longitudinally during conditions of control, vasoconstriction, and inhibition of muscle metabolism. These strains were recorded simultaneously with the associated stresses, and the relations between stress and strain were studied during both dynamic-and steady-strain states. The vessels were anisotropic within most of the physiological ranges of tangential and longitudinal stress and strain. During control conditions the tangential modulus of elasticity was higher than the longitudinal; during vasoconstriction the situation was reversed for wall tensions corresponding to a blood pressure equal to or smaller than 190 mm Hg; however, above this value isotropic behavior prevailed. Vasoconstriction increased the non-linearity of the stress-strain relation, and decreased the modulus of elasticity of the arterial wall. The viscoelastic properties of the femoral artery were found to be different tangentially and longitudinally, as evidenced by a much larger amount of stress relaxation in the former direction than in the latter.