cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glutaraldehyde-fixed mitochondria. I. Enzyme activity, ion translocation, and conformational changes.

Abstract A sucrose density gradient technique for the rapid and controlled fixation of mitochondria by glutaraldehyde has been developed. Glutaraldehyde-fixed mitochondria retain the capacity to oxidize substrates. Fixation is made to a degree where the nonionic detergent, Triton X-100, is incapable of changing conformation. Fixation inhibits various energy-dependent processes as respiratory stimulation by dinitrophenol, calcium, or ADP; the capacity for ATP synthesis and hydrolysis; and energy-linked conformational changes associated with ion transport. The data are consistent with, but do not prove, that conformational changes per se are required for energy transfer, for no condition has been found in which this is untrue. Fixed mitochondria retain the capacity to develop proton gradients with calcium. Triton X-100 does not affect conformation but does apparently interact with lipid to dispel gradients established to charged ions. Mitochondria have been fixed in contracted and swollen conformation. Swollen fixed mitochondria lose the capacity to maintain proton gradients. It is concluded that glutaraldehyde fixation provides a sensitive means for preserving electron transfer and for retaining the capacity for mitochondria to develop ion gradients in the absence of osmotic volume changes.
Women in mathematics: An international perspective, eight years later

On Augus t 6, 1986, the Associat ion for W o m e n in Mathematics held a panel session at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Berkeley. The panel was o rgan ized by Bhama Srinivasan, Evelyn Silvia, and me, with assistance from Linda Keen, past presiden t of the Associat ion for W o m e n in Mathemat ics (AWM) (see Box 1). The nine panelists were: Josefina Alvarez (Argentina), Bodil Branner (Denmark), Marie Fran~oise Coste-Roy (France), Consuelo Flores (Nicaragua) , G u d r u n Kalmbach (West Germany) , Maria Jose Pacifico (Brazil), Jennifer Seberry (Australia), Caroline Series (England), and Josephine Guidy-Wandja (Ivory Coast). A news article on the panel appeared on Augus t 7 in the San Francisco Examiner. About 400 people filled the Physical Sciences Lecture Hall at the Universi ty of California at Berkeley for the panel discussion, and af terward most a t tended the AWM par ty in the Mathematics C o m m o n s Room on the tenth floor of Evans Hall. The title of the panel refers to our last panel at an International Congress, in Helsinki in 1978. The panelists were asked to discuss changes in, as well as the current status of, women in mathematics in their countries. In brief, from the reports, change dur ing the past eight years seems to be minimal; the relative situation of w o m e n in Central and South America seems somewhat bet ter than in the U.S., Western Europe, Australia, and Africa.
Contributions of mitochondrial alterations, resulting from bad genes and a hostile environment, to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses different genetic and environmental factors that either cause, or increase the risk of, Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Each genetic causal or predisposition factor promotes increased oxidative stress and disrupts cellular calcium homeostasis in neurons. Mitochondrial function is compromised by oxyradicals and calcium overload resulting in further oxyradical production, impaired calcium homeostasis, and activation of apoptotic caspases. Age-related DNA damage (nuclear and mitochondrial) may endanger neurons and render them vulnerable to excitotoxicity and apoptosis. Environmental factors that may predispose to AD include excessive caloric intake, folic-acid insufficiency, and disuse of neural circuits involved in learning and memory. Novel preventative approaches for AD based upon the mechanisms include dietary restriction, mental aerobics, and dietary supplementation with folic acid and certain anti-oxidants . Therapeutic strategies may include antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and drugs that stabilize mitochondrial function.
Creative Questions: Lively Uses of the Interrogative

This resource book deals with one of the major barriers to fluency and accuracy in English - question forms. It integrates question practice into all areas of language teaching - grammar, vocabulary, the four skills, register, cross-cultural training, and others - empowering students to ask questions accurately and appropriately, and enabling them to become active learners. There are over 70 activities, from five-minute warm ups to full lessons, for students from beginning to advanced levels.
SU‐FF‐T‐428: The Use of a Commercial QA Device for Daily Output Check of a Helical Tomotherapy Unit

Helical tomotherapy radiation therapy units, due to their particular design and differences from a traditional linear accelerator, require different procedures by which to perform routine quality assurance (QA). One of the principal QA tasks that should be performed daily on any radiation therapy equipment is the output constancy check. The daily output check on a Hi‐ Art TomoTherapy unit is currently performed utilizing ionization chambers placed inside a solid water phantom. This provides a good check of output at one point but does not give any information on either energy or symmetry of the beam, unless more than one point is measured. This also has the added disadvantage that it has to be done by the physics staff. To address these issues, and to simplify the process such that it can be performed by radiation therapists, we investigated the use of a commercially available daily QA device to perform this task. The use of this device simplifies the task of daily output constancy check and allows for this measurement to be performed by the therapists, rather than the physicist(s). This device can also be used to monitor the beam energy and lateral symmetry and can potentially be used to detect errors in the couch movement or laser misalignment.
Effects of ergoline derivatives on intraocular pressure and iris function in rabbits and monkeys

The ergoline derivatives, bromocriptine, lergotrile and pergolide, are potent dopaminergic agonists. Topically administered doses of lergotrile and pergolide, ranging from 0.001 to 1% applied unilaterally, produced dose and time-related ocular hypotension in rabbits and monkeys. In contrast, bromocriptine produced moderate ocular hypotension in rabbits but not in monkeys. Lergotrile (1%) produced significant mydriasis in rabbits whereas pergolide (0.01 to 0.1%) produced a slight miosis. Lergotrile and pergolide were also effective in suppressing ocular hypertension induced by water loading in rabbits whereas bromocriptine was relatively ineffective. These data demonstrate that topically administered ergoline derivatives can: 1) lower intraocular pressure in rabbits and monkeys, 2) suppress ocular hypertension induced by water loading in rabbits and 3) alter iris function in rabbits, producing either mydriasis or miosis, presumably by activation of adrenoceptors.
A general bilevel linear programming formulation of the network design problem

Abstract A formulation of the network design problem as a bilevel linear program is presented which admits both the convex and concave investment functions. It also allows a more general representation of travel cost functions than a previous formulation by LeBlanc and Boyce (1986).
An Alternative to Demographic Segmentation: The List of Values Psychographic Measure

A study was conducted to determine the psychographic profile of purchasers of health and beauty aids (HBAs). A total of 400 shoppers from 2 regional shopping malls were interviewed to determine their psychographic profiles via the List of Values (LOV) 9-point scale: self-respect, security, warm relationships with others, sense of accomplishment, self-fulfillment, sense of belonging, being well respected, fun and enjoyment in life, and excitement. The survey also assessed respondent level of HBA purchases for a one-month period through identification of products and amount of money spent. Site of purchase and reason for site selection were determined, and demographic data were obtained. Fre-' quencies are reported, along with a chi-square analysis. Responses were grouped into categories based on the number of HBA product purchases per person in an average month: light, medium, and heavy purchase levels. Significance was observed between the LOV scale and the number of HBA items purchased at all levels with...
The ulnar neurovascular bundle at the wrist A technical note on endoscopic carpal tunnel release

The boundaries of Guyon's canal have recently been redefined by a series of anatomical dissections. These showed that the confines of this space do not extend from the pisiform to the hook of the hamate, as currently accepted. The fascial roof extends radial to the hook of the hamate, which allows the ulnar neurovascular bundle to course radial to the hamate hook. The position of the ulnar nerve and artery is of particular significance for endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Most endoscopic devices are designed to divide the flexor retinaculum just to the radial aspect of the hamate hook. Utilizing cross-sectional analysis of nine cadaver specimens, we found the ulnar artery to course radial to the hamate hook in five and palmar to it in four. Therefore, the ulnar artery may be at greater risk of injury during endoscopic procedures than previously recognized.
Revised standards for statistical evidence

Recent advances in Bayesian hypothesis testing have led to the development of uniformly most powerful Bayesian tests, which represent an objective, default class of Bayesian hypothesis tests that have the same rejection regions as classical significance tests. Based on the correspondence between these two classes of tests, it is possible to equate the size of classical hypothesis tests with evidence thresholds in Bayesian tests, and to equate P values with Bayes factors. An examination of these connections suggest that recent concerns over the lack of reproducibility of scientific studies can be attributed largely to the conduct of significance tests at unjustifiably high levels of significance. To correct this problem, evidence thresholds required for the declaration of a significant finding should be increased to 25–50:1, and to 100–200:1 for the declaration of a highly significant finding. In terms of classical hypothesis tests, these evidence standards mandate the conduct of tests at the 0.005 or 0.001 level of significance.
Thermoelastic stress analysis applied to fully reversed bending fatigue

The thermoelastic effect has been used to study stress distributions in a number of in-plane loading problems. Analysis of the temperature distribution has been largely limited to isotropic one-dimensional approximations with heat transfer through the thickness of the specimen. In sonic fatigue, specimens undergo fully reversed bending with a stress gradient along the length of the specimen as well as through the thickness. This has also been modeled as a one-dimensional heat transfer problem with negligible heat transfer along the specimen length. The authors solve this as a two-dimensional problem for an isotropic material to determine the effect of heat transfer.
Understanding the Role of Local Food in the Meeting Industry: An Exploratory Study of Meeting Planners' Perception of Local Food in Sustainable Meeting Planning

The growth in socially conscious and sustainable business models has fueled the promotion of green meetings. This fact-finding article explores the viability of sourcing local food to the meeting industry through an investigation of current meeting planning priorities and sustainability values. The results show that there is a viable demand by meeting planners for locally sourced food, that meeting planners have the contractual flexibility on food selection, and that there is a willingness to pay a price-premium for local products. However, an increase in the knowledge of the benefits for both meeting planners and meeting/event attendees is needed to encourage the use of local foods.
Vasculitic neuropathies: an update.

Background Systemic vasculitis has been classically categorized as a primary disorder, such as polyarteritis nodosa, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and Wegener granulomatous, or as a secondary process, representing a complication from a connective tissue disorder (eg, rheumatoid vasculitis), infection, medication, or malignancy. Peripheral neuropathy is a well-recognized consequence of systemic vasculitis due to peripheral nerve infarction with Wallerian degeneration. Rarely, neuropathy is the sole manifestation of vasculitis, referred to as nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN). These conditions are defined pathologically by tissue biopsy demonstrating disruption or destruction of the vessel wall with inflammatory cell infiltrates. Review summary The diagnosis of vasculitic neuropathy is straightforward in patients with an established diagnosis of systemic vasculitis and classic features of mononeuritis multiplex. Most patients have clinical features of a subacute, progressive, generalized but asymmetric, painful, sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Laboratory tests often indicate features of systemic inflammation, such as an elevated sedimentation rate or positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, and electrodiagnostic evaluation shows multiple mononeuropathies or a confluent, asymmetric axonal neuropathy. Nerve biopsy is necessary to establish the diagnosis in most cases, particularly in patients with NSVN. This review summarizes the current treatment of vasculitic neuropathy. Conclusion Long-term immunosuppressive therapy is required in most cases. High-dose prednisone combined with intravenous pulse or oral daily cyclophosphamide is standard initial therapy. In those with NSVN, cyclophosphamide also should be used if prednisone monotherapy is ineffective or the patient relapses with tapering. Other agents, such as azathioprine, methotrexate, intravenous immunoglobulin, mycophenolate mofetil, plasma exchange, and rituximab can be offered to patients who are intolerant or have a contraindication to cyclophosphamide. However, evidence for the benefit of these agents is limited to case reports and small case series.
Sulfate reduction in soil: effects of redox potential and pH.

Reduction of sulfate to sulfide in waterlogged soils was dependent on soil redox potential and pH. Little or no sulfide accumulated with a redox potential above -150 millivolts, or with a pH outside the range 6.5 to 8.5.
DNA synthesis in exocrine and endocrine pancreas after partial hepatectomy in Syrian golden hamsters.

3H-thymidine autoradiography showed an enhanced DNA synthesis, in acinar and islet cells of pancreas after partial hepatectomy in syrian golden hamsters. A significant nuclear labeling index of acinar cells was observed between 48 and 84 h and reached control levels by 120 h. An increased labeling index of islet cells was also observed, however, this increase was not statistically significant. These results indicate growth factor(s) produced after partial hepatectomy is capable of inducing DNA synthesis in pancreas.
Responses of experimental estuarine communities to continuous chlorination

The effects of continuous chlorination (as NaOCl) on estuarine benthic organisms were investigated with plankton-derived experimental communities. Twelve consecutive studies were conducted, each of which consisted of approximately 60-day colonization periods from flowing estuarine waters that continuously received nominal concentrations of 0·00, 0·47, 0·94 or 1·41 mg chlorine-produced oxidant (CPO) l −1 . Significant chlorination effects on numerical abundances of eight dominant species were detected in data pooled over the 12 consecutive studies, although only two species were significantly affected in proportional abundance. There was also a significant decline in total numbers of individuals collected in chlorinated communities. Significant differences in short-term community structures were found in only four of 12 experiments and were related to changes in species dominance and increased toxicity due to extreme cold weather.
The influence of diabetes mellitus on the healing of closed fractures

Thirty-one closed fractures of the lower extremity in diabetics were retrospectively reviewed to determine healing times. There was a prolonged union time overall (163% of expected) and in both insulin and oral hypoglycemic-controlled diabetics (157% and 176% of expected). Displaced fractures showed a prolonged union time, while nondisplaced fractures healed in the normal time period (187% and 96% of expected). Fractures treated by open reduction had a more prolonged healing time than those treated by closed reduction (186% and 142% of expected), but this was primarily related to displacement. Sex and age had no effect on union time. The known effects of diabetes mellitus on bone and mineral metabolism in both experimental animals and humans may explain these prolonged union times.
Breaking Ranks: Changing the Inservice Institution:

High school affects students for the rest of their lives, which means high school educators wield a powerful influence. Some old ways in U.S. high schools must change if our country's future is to be as bright as possible. If we are to equip practitioners to lead the changes, we must also break ranks with the institution of inservice training.
Chemotaxonomic study of Pinus torreyana Parry turpentine

Abstract Oleoresins from Torrey Pine ( Pinus torreyana Parry from Santa Rosa Island and Torrey Pines State Reserve near Del Mar, California, have been analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. In each of the two populations the turpentine composition was found to be remarkably similar between individuals. The content of β-phellandrene and limonene differentiated the turpentines from the two stands.
Controlled trial of plasma exchange and leukapheresis in polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Abstract Background The therapeutic options for patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis that is resistant to corticosteroids are limited, unproved, and often toxic. Uncontrolled trials concluded that both plasma exchange and leukapheresis are beneficial, but despite the considerable use of these approaches, proof of their efficacy is lacking. Methods Thirty-nine patients with definite polymyositis or dermatomyositis were randomly assigned to receive plasma exchange (replacement of one volume of plasma with 5 percent albumin in saline), leukapheresis (removal of 5×109 to 10×109 lymphocytes), or sham apheresis in a double-blind manner, with 12 treatments given over a one-month period. Muscle strength, functional capacity, and serum levels of muscle-associated enzymes were measured before and after the 12 procedures. Results In each group 3 of 13 patients had improvements in strength and functional capacity. The condition of 3 patients treated with leukapheresis and 1 treated with plasma exchange deter...
Algorithmic approach to bounding the mean response time of a minimum expected delay routing system

In this paper we present an algorithmic approach to bounding the mean response time of a multi-server system in which the minimum expected delay routing policy issued, i.e., an arriving job will join the queue which has the minimal expected value of unfinished work. We assume the queueing system to have K servers, each with an infinite capacity queue. The arrival process is Poisson with parameter l, and the service time of server i is exponentially distributed with mean 1/mi, 1 ≤ i ≤ K. The computation algorithm we present allows one to tradeoff accuracy and computational cost. Upper and lower bounds on the expected response time and expected number of customers are computed; the spread between the bounds can be reduced with additional space and time complexity. Examples are presented which illustrate the excellent relative accuracy attainable with relatively little computation.
Relational database design using an object-oriented methodology

Of the many approaches to relational database design, the Object Modeling Technique (OMT) is particularly effective. A comprehensive explanation and two applications show the semantic improvement of OMT over other approaches.
Wet versus dry enamel ablation by Er:YAG laser.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to observe tooth structure and pulpal temperature changes in extracted human teeth subjected to a pulsed Er:YAG (2.94 μm) laser. Two teeth were irradiated while dry and three teeth while moistened by a fine water mist. When the dry teeth were irradiated, there was minimal enamel ablation. SEM of the resulting surface showed rounded fragments of enamel rods, enamel melting, cracks, and smooth-edged voids. Intrapulpal temperature measured by thermal sensor rose more than 27° C. When the laser application on the teeth was pulsed with a constant fine water mist, enamel and dentin were efficiently ablated. SEM of the resulting surfaces showed fissures and conical craters with sharp enamel projections remaining. Intrapulpal temperatures rose an average of 4° C. These results indicate that pulsed Er:YAG (2.94 μm) used with a water mist removes enamel and dentin without producing significant pulpal temperature changes.
Psychological distress in fibromyalgia patients: a role for catechol-O-methyl-transferase Val158met polymorphism.

Objective: Fibromyalgia (FM) has been related to biochemical alterations, central pain sensitization and psychological distress. Among genetic and environmental hypotheses, a role was suggested for catecholO-methyl-transferase (COMT), a modulator in the metabolism of monoaminergic neurotransmitters. Method: This study compared the COMT Val158Met enzyme polymorphism (rs4680) of 198 FM patients to 99 pain-free controls. Psychological and functional aspects were assessed through investigating anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, perceived health, and functional status. Results: The distribution of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism was similar in FM and controls. Out of 198 patients, 137 were able to stop medication before evaluation. In these patients, the COMT Val158Met genotype was associated with specific psychological profiles. The Met/Met subgroup scored systematically worse on all psychological and functional variables. All variables displayed a “genotype-trend effect” with the Met/Met and Val/Val subgroups at the two ends of the scores. Genotypes distribution in the 61 patients unable to stop medication was significantly different from that of patients able to stop medication and controls (p .002 and p .018, respectively) with an increase in the proportion of the Met/Met genotype associated to the lowest COMT activity. These results suggest a possible role of COMT Val158Met polymorphism in the psychological distress observed in FM. Conclusions: The association of COMT genotype with psychological distress may be of importance as identifying subgroups is a challenge in the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia patients. This association may contribute to open new perspectives into the understanding of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia and stress-related genes.
Positive airway pressure therapy in patients with opioid-related central sleep apnea.

This study aims to compare treatment response and adherence rate to positive airway pressure (PAP) in patients with opioid-related central sleep apnea (O-CSA) and idiopathic central sleep apnea (I-CSA). We performed a retrospective chart over a 5-year period performed at a VA sleep center. Continuous PAP (CPAP) was prescribed initially for all participants. For those nonresponders (apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of >10/h), bi-level PAP (BiPAP) or adaptive servoventilation (ASV) was instituted upon provider’s discretion. Adherence to therapy was checked with the built-in meter. Thirty-four patients with O-CSA and 61 with I-CSA were included in the analysis. The two groups were comparable with respect to age, body mass index (BMI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and burden of comorbidities. The mean daily equivalent dose of morphine in the O-CSA was 168 mg (range 30–1,217 mg). In the O-CSA group, 24 % of PAP-naive patients responded to CPAP compared to 38 % in the I-CSA group. BiPAP and ASV were comparable in eliminating central events in both O-CSA (66 versus 60 %) and I-CSA (93 versus 90 %), respectively. Eight patients (24 %) with O-CSA and six patients (10 %) with I-CSA were considered nonresponders. The adherence rate was 48 and 24 % in the I-CSA group compared to 23 and 18 % in the O-CSA group at 3 and 12 months following initiation of effective treatment (p = 0.04 and p = 0.6). The presence of O-CSA does not preclude an adequate response to CPAP. Adherence rate to PAP was poor in both the O-CSA and I-CSA groups. Further studies are needed to define optimal adherence rate and long-term benefits of PAP in CSA.
A synopsis of the sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) of America south of the United States: introduction, Xyelidae, Pamphiliidae, Cimbicidae, Diprionidae, Xiphydriidae, Siricidae, Orussidae, Cephidae

Eight families of Symphyta for the Western Hemisphere south of the United States are reviewed: Xyelidae (one genus, two species), Pamphiliidae (one genus, four species), Cimbicidae (five genera, nine species), Diprionidae (three genera, thirteen species), Xiphydriidae (four genera, seventeen species), Siricidae (six genera, nine species), Orussidae (five genera, twelve species), and Cephidae (one genus, one species). New taxa are Acantholyda nigrostigmata (Pamphiliidae); Zadiprionfalsus, Neodiprion bicolor, N.equalis, N.omosus (Diprionidae); Derecyrta circularis, Steirocephala lateralba (Xiphydriidae); Sirotremex, S.flammeus (Siricidae); and Ophrynopus depressatus, O.plaumanni (Orussidae). Lopesiana is a new name for Lopesia Conde (Cimbicidae). Three new combinations and six new synonyms are proposed. The Xyelidae, Pamphiliidae, Diprionidae, Siricidae and Cephidae are primarily northern groups with southern extensions into Mexico, Central America and/or Cuba. The Cimbicidae, Xiphydriidae and Orussidae are more generally distributed throughout the neotropics. Keys to families, genera and species are provided.
An O(n 2 ) bound for the relaxation time of a Markov chain on cladograms

A cladogram is an unrooted tree with labeled leaves and unlabeled internal branchpoints of degree 3. Aldous has studied a Markov chain on the set of n-leaf cladograms in which each transition consists of removing a random leaf and its incident edge from the tree and then reattaching the leaf to a random edge of the remaining tree. Using coupling methods, Aldous showed that the relaxation time (i.e., the inverse of the spectral gap) for this chain is O(n3). Here, we use a method based on distinguished paths to prove an O(n2) bound for the relaxation time, establishing a conjecture of Aldous.
Resistance of Visna Virus to Interferon

Visna is a slow infection of sheep caused by a retrovirus. The persistence of virus despite the immune response of the host is best explained by restricted genetic expression of the virus and consequently prolonged periods of residence inside cells. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the restriction in genetic expression of visna virus is mediated by interferon. Sheep interferon induced by polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid in fetal lambs inhibited the growth of herpes simplex virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and vaccinia virus, but even highly concentrated interferon did not affect the replication of visna virus in sheep choroid plexus cells. The same results were obtained whether the effects of interferon were assessed in single of multiple cycles of growth and when interferon was added at later times in the growth cycle of the virus. This unusual resistance of visna virus to interferon suggests that restriction of viral expression by the host is probably not mediated in this way.
The semantic development of honorific expressions in Japanese

Abstract Honorifics in Japanese have been studied historically by Tsujimura (1968,1971), Lewin (1967,1969), and others, while honorification has been studied diachronically in Javanese by Silverstein (1979). The present paper investigates the semantic changes internal to Japanese grammar that neutral items undergo when they become honorifics. It focuses upon honorific expressions for the concepts BE, COME, GO, GIVE, and RECEIVE. For example, oide ni naru, respectful for BE, COME, and GO in NJ, consists of a form of the verb idzu (>NJ deru) "go out”; in a productive honorific formula built on the pattern “become HONORIFIC NOMINAL”;. This example reveals two important strategies for expressing deference in Japanese: the use of a particular conceptual subtype to signify the general concept, and the avoidance of the naming of actions in respectful expressions.
Bile acids. LII. The synthesis of 24-nor-5α-cholic acid and its 3β-isomer

To aid in the identification of trihydroxy acidic metabolite(s) derived from β-sitosterol, 3α,7α,12α-trihydroxy-24-nor-5β-cholan-3oic acid was prepared and its methyl ester was treated with Raney nickel in boiling p-cymene to provide methyl 3-oxo-7α,12α-dihydroxy-24-nor-5α-cholanate, 3-oxo-7α,12α-dihydroxy-24-nor-5β-cholanate and 3-oxo-7α,12α-dihydroxy-24-norchol-4-enoate. The latter compound was synthesized from the 3-oxo-5β-derivative with SeO2 to provide a product with identical properties. Catalytic reduction of either saturated 3-oxo-derivative provided the appropriate 3,7,12-triols isomeric at C-3. Results from gas liquid and partition chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other physical properties of the acids, their methyl esters and other derivatives are compatible with the assigned structures.
Evaluation of unconstrained sorting data

Two statistics are offered for evaluating unconstrained sorting performance in a specific task when categories are E-defined. One statistic is based upon empirically estimated sampling distributions and can be used for determining sorting performance significantly deviant from chance for any number of S-defined categories; the second statistic can be used to evaluate consistencies between S- and E-defined categories, regardless of the number of categories used by S. The present procedure provides a statistical basis for evaluation of performance where no adequate evaluation procedures are now available.
A recording computer interface for analogue signals.

The paper describes a device which accepts up to four analogue signals and records their digital equivalents on an inexpensive domestic tape recorder. The data can be played back in analogue form for viewing and editing on a cathode-ray tube, or in digital form for entering into a computer. Input samples are read 15, 30 or 60 times/s. The digital output is in 8 bit characters transmitted at 15 or 30 character/s. The recorder has been used in research on the electrical activity of biological specimens, and could be applied to respiratory and other studies.
Relative Potencies of Individual Polychlorinated Naphthalenes and Halowax Mixtures To Induce Ah Receptor-Mediated Responses

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that are structurally similar to other polychlorinated diaromatic hydrocarbons (PCDHs), such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and biphenyls (PCBs). Despite being ubiquitous, much less is known about the fate, transport, and biological effects of individual PCN congeners than other PCDHs. The purpose of the current study was to utilize an in vitro assay (H4IIE-luc) to determine potencies relative to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) for 20 individual PCNs (from 75 possible congeners) and 6 Halowax mixtures. H4IIE rat hepatoma cells (H4IIE-Luc), which are stably transfected with an Ah receptor (AhR)-controlled luciferase reporter gene construct, respond specifically to AhR agonists and are thus a reasonable measure of AhR-mediated, or dioxin-like, activity. The most potent congeners were 1,2,3,4,6,7-hexa-CN (PCN 66), 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexa-CN (PCN 67), and 1,2,3,4,5,6,7-hepta-CN (PCN 73), with ...
Prevention of dehydroascorbic acid diabetes by atropine.

SummaryThe administration of atropine before the intravenous injection of dehydroascorbic acid prevents diabetes. This effect of atropine is not observed in splenectomized rats.
An individual-based approach to SIR epidemics in contact networks

Many approaches have recently been proposed to model the spread of epidemics on networks. For instance, the Susceptible/Infected/Recovered (SIR) compartmental model has successfully been applied to different types of diseases that spread out among humans and animals. When this model is applied on a contact network, the centrality characteristics of the network plays an important role in the spreading process. However, current approaches only consider an aggregate representation of the network structure, which can result in inaccurate analysis. In this paper, we propose a new individual-based SIR approach, which considers the whole description of the network structure. The individual-based approach is built on a continuous time Markov chain, and it is capable of evaluating the state probability for every individual in the network. Through mathematical analysis, we rigorously confirm the existence of an epidemic threshold below which an epidemic does not propagate in the network. We also show that the epidemic threshold is inversely proportional to the maximum eigenvalue of the network. Additionally, we study the role of the whole spectrum of the network, and determine the relationship between the maximum number of infected individuals and the set of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. To validate our approach, we analytically study the deviation with respect to the continuous time Markov chain model, and we show that the new approach is accurate for a large range of infection strength. Furthermore, we compare the new approach with the well-known heterogeneous mean field approach in the literature. Ultimately, we support our theoretical results through extensive numerical evaluations and Monte Carlo simulations.
Long range transport of war-related burn casualties.

BACKGROUND: US military burn casualties are evacuated to the US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center in San Antonio, TX. Patients are transported by US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Flight Teams, Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams, or routine aeromedical evacuation. This study characterizes the military burn casualties transported by each team and reports associated outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of burn center registry data, identifying all US burn casualties admitted to the Army's burn center between March 2003 and February 2007. Data included total body surface area (TBSA) burn, ventilatory status, inhalational injury, associated injuries, injury severity, disposition, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: During 4 years of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, 540 casualties were admitted to our burn center for treatment of injuries resulting from war-related operations. Mean burn size was 16.7% total body surface area (range, Language: en
Pervasive Transcription of a Herpesvirus Genome Generates Functionally Important RNAs

ABSTRACT Pervasive transcription is observed in a wide range of organisms, including humans, mice, and viruses, but the functional significance of the resulting transcripts remains uncertain. Current genetic approaches are often limited by their emphasis on protein-coding open reading frames (ORFs). We previously identified extensive pervasive transcription from the murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) genome outside known ORFs and antisense to known genes (termed expressed genomic regions [EGRs]). Similar antisense transcripts have been identified in many other herpesviruses, including Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and human and murine cytomegalovirus. Despite their prevalence, whether these RNAs have any functional importance in the viral life cycle is unknown, and one interpretation is that these are merely “noise” generated by functionally unimportant transcriptional events. To determine whether pervasive transcription of a herpesvirus genome generates RNA molecules that are functionally important, we used a strand-specific functional approach to target transcripts from thirteen EGRs in MHV68. We found that targeting transcripts from six EGRs reduced viral protein expression, proving that pervasive transcription can generate functionally important RNAs. We characterized transcripts emanating from EGRs 26 and 27 in detail using several methods, including RNA sequencing, and identified several novel polyadenylated transcripts that were enriched in the nuclei of infected cells. These data provide the first evidence of the functional importance of regions of pervasive transcription emanating from MHV68 EGRs. Therefore, studies utilizing mutation of a herpesvirus genome must account for possible effects on RNAs generated by pervasive transcription. IMPORTANCE The fact that pervasive transcription produces functionally important RNAs has profound implications for design and interpretation of genetic studies in herpesviruses, since such studies often involve mutating both strands of the genome. This is a common potential problem; for example, a conservative estimate is that there are an additional 73,000 nucleotides transcribed antisense to annotated ORFs from the 119,450-bp MHV68 genome. Recognizing the importance of considering the function of each strand of the viral genome independently, we used strand-specific approaches to identify six regions of the genome encoding transcripts that promoted viral protein expression. For two of these regions, we mapped novel transcripts and determined that targeting transcripts from these regions reduced viral replication and the expression of other viral genes. This is the first description of a function for these RNAs and suggests that novel transcripts emanating from regions of pervasive transcription are critical for the viral life cycle.
Mixing Waters: The Reuse of Agricultural Drainage Water in Egypt

Abstract Non-conventional sources of water are becoming increasingly important around the world as pressures mount on limited freshwater supplies. In Egypt, the reuse of agricultural drainage water provides an integral supplement to the water supply. Government pumping stations and farmers’ small diesel pumps lift water up from drainage ditches and direct it back into the irrigation canals for reuse in agriculture, increasing the country’s available water resources by 20%. Given the saline and often polluted nature of drainage water, however, the recycling of this water impacts the quality of water flowing through Egypt’s irrigation network. This paper uses the hydrosocial cycle as a framework to explore how drainage water reuse shapes the quality and quantity of Egypt’s water in space and time, with profound consequences for farmers who rely on that water for their livelihoods. Through close analysis of the case of drainage water reuse, the paper expands on theorizations of the hydrosocial cycle by articulating the relations of power embedded within the cycle. It draws attention, first, to the significance of everyday practice in shaping where the water goes and what it becomes. Second, it highlights the multiple factors that influence people’s control over water. Thus, the paper concludes, we have to look to a variety of human and non-human agencies and relationships to understand how authority is refracted in and through the hydrosocial cycle.
Recent advances in thermoelectrics

The thermoelectric field keeps going strong. Material figure of merit has been increased to values well above one, in nanostructured bulk thermoelectrics. To improve the materials' properties further, we need a clear understanding of charge and heat carrier transport. In parallel, we need to study the thermoelectric devices and strategies to minimize parasitic losses which can reduce the device efficiency and develop new applications for the thermoelectric power generators. In this paper we report the recent advances in the first principles based phonon transport calculations, strategies to enhance the material efficiencies and advances in the solar thermoelectric generators.
Novel form of T-cell stimulation of immunoglobulin secretion.

THE precise mechanism of action by which helper T cells induce precursor B cells to acquire the capacity to secrete immunoglobulins1,2 remains poorly understood. This paucity of information is due, in part, to the temporal lag between the initial T cell–B cell interactions relatively early in the process and the subsequent expression of these interactions a day or more later3,4. This time lag presumably relates to the time required for B cells to undergo a maturation or differentiation after interaction with T cells. We now report that, using a pulse-label technique, we have observed that the addition of thymus cells to previously cultured spleen populations during the 90-min pulse-label period resulted in a marked increase in the rate of secretion of immunoglobulin. Moreover, the enhancement occurred without detectable delay.
Line positions and strengths of methane in the 2862 to 3000 cm -1 region

Abstract Measurements of line center positions and strengths of 1591 absorptions of CH 4 in the 2862 to 3000 cm −1 region have been made at high resolution. New assignments have been determined for several components in the P 14 and P 15 manifolds of the ν 3 band of 12 CH 4 . The strength data of the allowed transitions in the ν 3 band have been analyzed to determine the band strength and the coefficients of the F factor. The strength data given by Pine (1976) were also included in the analysis. For the ν 3 band, a strength of 259.5 cm −2 atm −1 at 296 K was obtained. Many forbidden lines in the ν 3 band were also observed in the spectra Line strengths in the ν 3 band of 13 CH 4 were determined from the spectra. The quantum assignments for the majority of the observed absorptions were not determined. These absorptions arise primarily from the bands 2 ν 2 , ν 2 + ν 4 , ν 2 + ν 3 − ν 2 and ν 3 + ν 4 − ν 4 for which there is presently little or no information.
5 BEACH PARTY: DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG C ADULTS IN A RESORT COMMUNITY

Depression and suicide are recognized as major problems among adolescents and young adults. Little is known of the epidemiology and risk factors associated with depression. We studied the prevalence of depression in a presumably low risk group. The study was conducted at a general youth clinic in Ocean City, Maryland between June 3, 1984 and September 2, 1984. This clinic serves teen and young adult summer workers, vacationers and some permanent residents. All patients between the ages of 13 and 25 were asked to complete the CES-D depression scale. This is a standardized survey instrument which measures depressive symptomatology among general populations. Demographic data and diagnosis were abstracted from the medical record. 581 patients returned a valid questionnaire. Data collection was complete for 94% of the questionnaires. Overall, 29% of our sample scored in the depressed range. This is significantly greater than the 17% noted in the general population (p<0.05). Depression was not related to the duration of residence at the resort. It was also unrelated to the patient's socioeconomic status, educational level or age. Females were significantly more depressed than males. The only diagnosis which was significantly related to depression was pregnancy. We conclude that depressive symptomatology is a significant problem among adolescents and young adults but that its presence in specific patients is not predictable.
Microstructural evolution by continuous recrystallization in a superplastic Al-Mg alloy

Abstract The boundary misorientations in an Al-1OMg-O.1Zr (wt%) alloy, thermomechanically processed by rolling at 573 K (300°C), were determined both in annealed and in superplastically deformed conditions. A high initial dislocation density in as-rolled material, which obscured any underlying structure, rapidly transformed into a well-defined structure containing boundaries. After annealing for 600 s at 573K, boundaries with misorientations of 1–5° were observed. With further annealing (3000 s), misorientations did not change appreciably and were measured to be 2–7°. Such time represents that necessary to equilibrate at 573K prior to tension testing at that temperature. The material exhibits superplasticity from the onset of deformation and after 100% strain, misorientations were observed to increase to 20–30°. It was concluded that boundaries of such initial misorientations can support superplastic deformation mechanisms including grain boundary sliding.
Hydration changes in the association of Hoechst 33258 with DNA.

The role of water in the interaction of Hoechst 33258 with the minor groove binding site of the (AATT)2 sequence was investigated using calorimetric and equilibrium constant measurements. Using isothermal titration calorimetry measurements, the heat capacity change for the reaction is −256 ± 10 cal/(K mol of Hoechst). Comparison with the heat capacity changes based on area models supports the expulsion of water from the interface of the Hoechst−DNA complex. To further consider the role of water, the osmotic stress method was used to determine if the Hoechst association with DNA was coupled with hydration changes. Using four osmolytes with varying molecular weights and chemical properties, the Hoechst affinity for DNA decreases with increasing osmolyte concentration. From the dependence of the equilibrium constant on the solution osmolality, 60 ± 13 waters are acquired in the complex relative to the reactants. It is proposed that the osmotic stress technique is measuring weakly bound waters that are not me...
Percutaneous Management of Abscess and Fistula Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous drainage of fluid collections following pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple’s procedure).
The effect of nifedipine on serum digoxin concentrations in patients.

Abstract Drug interactions with digoxin are being increasingly recognized. Some calcium antagonists have been shown to alter digoxin kinetics and changes in digoxin dosage have been recommended. To determine whether nifedipine affects serum digoxin concentrations in patients during combined drug administration, serum digoxin concentrations were determined before and during concomitant drug administration in 14 cardiac patients. The mean (±SD) digoxin concentration was 0.92 ± 0.5 ng/ml before and 0.96 ± 0.5 ng/ml after 4 days of nifedipine therapy in eight inpatients. For the group of 14 patients, the mean level was 0.78 ± 0.4 ng/ml before nifedipine and 0.8 ± 0.4 ng/ml after 1 week of combined drug administration, and 0.84 ± 0.5 ng/ml after 2 weeks of combined drug administration. These data suggest that nifedipine does not significantly alter serum digoxin concentrations in cardiac patients recelving combined digoxin and nifedipine in the clinical setting.