cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sleep Deprivation and Sleep-Onset Insomnia are Associated with Blunted Physiological Reactivity to Stressors.

Introduction Military operations often involve intense exposure to stressors combined with acute sleep deprivation, while military personnel also experience high prevalence of chronic sleep deficiency from insomnia and other sleep disorders. However, the impact of acute and chronic sleep deficiency on physiologic stressor responses is poorly understood. In a controlled laboratory study with normal sleepers and individuals with chronic sleep-onset insomnia, we measured responses to an acute stressor administered in a sleep deprivation condition or a control condition. Methods Twenty-two adults (aged 22-40 years; 16 females)-11 healthy normal sleepers and 11 individuals with sleep-onset insomnia-completed a 5-day (4-night) in-laboratory study. After an adaptation day and a baseline day, subjects were assigned to a 38-hour total sleep deprivation (TSD) condition or a control condition; the study ended with a recovery day. At 8:00 PM after 36 hours awake in the sleep deprivation condition or 12 hours awake in the control condition, subjects underwent a Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST). Salivary cortisol was measured immediately before the MAST at 8:00 PM, every 15 minutes after the MAST from 8:15 PM until 9:15 PM, and 30 minutes later at 9:45 PM. Baseline salivary cortisol was collected in the evening of the baseline day. Additionally, before and immediately upon completion of the MAST, self-report ratings of affect and pain were collected. Results The MAST elicited a stressor response in both normal sleepers and individuals with sleep-onset insomnia, regardless of the condition, as evidenced by increases in negative affect and pain ratings. Relative to baseline, cortisol levels increased immediately following the MAST, peaked 30 minutes later, and then gradually returned to pre-MAST levels. At the cortisol peak, there was a significant difference across groups and conditions, reflecting a pronounced blunting of the cortisol response in the normal sleepers in the TSD condition and the sleep-onset insomnia group in both the TSD and control conditions. Conclusions Blunted stressor reactivity as a result of sleep deficiency, whether acute or chronic, may reflect reduced resiliency attributable to allostatic load and may put warfighters at increased risk in high-stakes, rapid response scenarios.
Small area estimation: its evolution in five decades

The paper is an attempt to trace some of the early developments of small area estimation. The basic papers such...
Hybrid Rice Outperforms Inbred Rice in Resistance to Sheath Blight and Narrow Brown Leaf Spot

Sheath blight (ShB; caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG1-1A) and narrow brown leaf spot (NBLS; Cercospora janseana) are among the most important diseases affecting rice production in Texas and other so...
Optimal Reliability Design of Plates

The objective of this paper is two fold: The first is to give a rigorous relaxation for the problem of minimum compliance design for reinforced Kirchoff plates subject to random loads. This relaxation is new and is the extension to the two dimensional setting of the relaxation given by Cheng and Olhoff (see [1,2]) for one dimensional plate problems; when the plate thickness is allowed to take two values. The second is to illustrate reliability based optimal design for stiffener reinforced Kirchoff plates as well as other plate models. An illustrative numerical example is carried out for optimal reliability design for the laminated plate model of Suzuki and Kikuchi [3]. The numerical method used was developed and implemented by A. Diaz and C. Soto [14] and is an adaptation of the multi—load numerical method given in [13].
Failure of HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors to Fully Suppress Viral Replication

HIV-1 protease inhibitors have had a dramatic impact on the management of HIV disease.1 As part of an aggressive three-drug combination, protease inhibitor therapy results in durable, potent suppression of viral replication. Recent data, however, indicates that a significant proportion of patients may not achieve long-term viral suppression.2,3,4 The prognostic implications of protease inhibitor drug failure, and its clinical management, remain unknown. This chapter will review the clinical characteristics and genotypic resistance patterns associated with each of the protease inhibitors, and then discuss the limited clinical data addressing drug failure and salvage therapy.
Studies on the effect of intravenously administered choline chloride in patients with and without liver disease.

While acetylcholine, the acetyl derivative of choline, has become well known since the work of Loewi, Dale and others, choline, itself, has not been given much attention until recently. Choline acts similarly to acetylcholine although to a much lesser degree, the latter being about 1000 times as powerfuL Choline, like acetylcholine, imitates closely the effects of parasympathetic stimulation, causing cardiac inhibition, excitation of smooth musculature of the gastro-intestinal tract and bladder wall and secretion of saliva, tears, and sweat. It causes vasodilation and fall in blood pressure. Choline ester is rapidly inactivated by the enzyme cholinesterase which is found in blood and other body tissues. Physostigmine inhibits the action of cholinesterase. In the past two decades, choline has been shown to be an essential dietary factor, exerting, among other things, profound effect on the storage and transport of fat in the animal. Diets low in choline ultimately lead to cirrhosis: in the rat the latter can be prevented by the addition of choline alone or in combination with methionine or cystine in small dosesl • Some investigators were unable to prevent cirrhosis in their animals but found that 10-20 mg. of choline reduced the incidence and severity of liver injury. Choline chloride in doses of 1-6 gms. daily and a diet low in animal fat and cholesterol proved of value in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis of the liver2. It was also shown that feeding of choline would reduce the percentage of fat in the liver from approximately 15 to 3 per centS; that choline would prevent or decrease fat deposition after high cholesterol feeding4 ; that it would decrease fat deposition in the liver of patients with diabetes, and that choline would minimize fat deposition in the liver after phosphorus5 or carbon tetrachloride poisoningS and during starvation7• The mechanism of the lipotropic effect of choline is, at present, still controversiaL Some believe that the lipotropic effect of choline may be due to accelerated phospholipid metabolism; the increase in phospholipid turnover being responsible for ridding the liver of fats. Others believe that choline is necessary in the diet so as to keep an equilibrium between fat in the liver and
MESSENGER mission: first electronically steered antenna for deep space communications

The MESSENGER mission to orbit the planet Mercury poses significant design challenges for its deep space communication system. These challenges include a wide pointing range, tight packaging, and a high temperature environment. To meet these challenges, the spacecraft incorporates the first steerable phased array antenna flown for deep space communications. The invention of a method for achieving circular polarization in a high-temperature (+300/spl deg/C) environment has doubled the science return of the mission relative to its initially proposed implementation. Cross-strapping between the phased array antennas and solid state power amplifiers (SSPAs) enables both amplifiers to be turned on when sufficient power is available, enhancing the scientific return at the planet. A science return of 25 Gbits/year is achieved using only one SSPA in Mercury orbit. The science return increases to 100 Gbits/year if both SSPAs are used in the orbital phase.
Intermediaries and Trade Efficiency

Bargaining with bilateral asymmetric information is generally not efficient. In this paper, I develop a theoretical model to show that firms can recapture trade efficiency and avoid this surplus loss by adding an intermediary to the trading mechanism. This increase in total surplus motivates firms to invest in distribution channels and reseller networks. In the model, the intermediary serves as a mechanism by which firms can commit to bilaterally favorable prices and coordinate their offers during bargaining. The expected gain to the intermediary is non-negative and the intermediary never suffers an ex-post loss. This result suggests that vertical integration between a producer and a distributor may destroy value, despite its use in removing double marginalization.
Urban population distribution, family income, and social prejudice: I. The long, narrow city

Abstract We present an idealized model of a one-dimensional “city”, characterized by interactions between the costs of social prejudice, transportation, and housing. Using variational techniques, we show that under rather simple assumptions the model leads to a “suburban-urban” dichotomy, and also to a “segregated” neighborhood structure. In this abstract city, optimal “social policies” result in Pareto-efficient population distributions.
Reducing the risk of public health emergencies for the world's largest mass gathering: 2010 World Exposition, Shanghai China.

Mass Gatherings and Public Health Mass gatherings are highly visible events with the potential for serious health and political consequences if not managed carefully and effectively.1-4 Mass gatherings have been reported to have significant impact upon public health systems throughout the world.5-10 International mass gathering events, such as those associated with the Olympic Games, often carry high political significance and have a historical risk for terrorist attacks.2 Mass gatherings ranging from the subnational level to international the level have also been associated with outbreaks and subsequent spread of communicable diseases. These events have included outbreaks of foodborne shigellosis occurring at an outdoor music festival in the United States.5,6 The annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has been plagued by public health threats such as fires, stampedes and an outbreak of meningitis.7,9 Influenza outbreaks were also reported during the 2008 World Youth Day mass gathering in Australia.10 L...
Intelligent Systems for Aiding the Truck Driver in Vehicle Control

This paper describes two prototype systems designed to aid truck drivers in controlling an articulated heavy-duty vehicle. The systems involve a roll stability advisor (RSA) and a rearward amplification suppression system (RAMS). Both systems are described in terms of their concept, design, and application.
Ab initio total energy methods in semiconductor physics

Theoretical methods have reached a stage where many properties of solids can be calculated accurately with no parameters. The essence of this work is the Hohenberg-Kohn-Sham density functional theory of the ground-state electronic exchange-correlation energy and the remarkable validity of the local density approximation (LDF). Recent developments have provided new capabilities, such as direct calculations of stress in a quantum system. A theme of the present talk is that there is emerging a unified approach to understanding the structures of solids, elastic constants, phonons, dielectric constants, and many other properties. Recent work on semiconductors includes new results for phase transitions under pressure, reconstructions of surfaces, and electronic bonds at interfaces.
High-Order Boundary Condition Perturbation Theory for the Neutron Transport Equation

First-order boundary condition perturbation theory is extended to the n'th order in transport theory for eigenvalue problems. In particular, using an unperturbed (known) solution, formalisms are developed to determine the solution to the neutron transport equation when the boundary condition of the system is perturbed. The new method requires the computation of an adjoint Green's function. The numerical solution of this function is discussed. Finally, four numerical examples are provided to verify the validity of the formalisms presented.
Establishment of mouse embryo cells in vitro: Relationship of DNA synthesis, senescence and malignant transformation

Abstract Mouse embryo cells exhibited a decline in proliferative capacity with increasing in vitro age. The ability of these monolayer cells to undergo DNA synthesis as a function of culture age was examined, and a progressive decline in the percentage of cells able to incorporate [ 3 H]thymidine was found; in this respect they resembled normal human cells in culture. Instead of phasing out after a period of time, however, the mouse cultures were taken over by a continuously proliferating population of cells which displayed an elevated growth rate with a correspondingly large fraction of cells which incorporated [ 3 H]thymidine. At a time subsequent to this in vitro alteration, after the cultures had stabilized as a permanent cell line, the cells developed the capability of forming tumors when tested in vivo. These results suggest that the acquisition of indeterminate lifespan and a high growth rate in culture may be early events in a multi-step process leading to malignancy.
Methane–to–Methanol Conversion

Natural gas (NG) is an abundant, clean, underutilized fossil fuel that can augment or replace petroleum as the feedstock to fuels and chemicals. However, given the relatively high transportation costs for this highly volatile gas, utilization of NG will only be possible if inexpensive, efficient, large-scale technologies can be developed to chemically convert NG to liquids feedstocks (e.g., long chain alkanes or methanol). Current syngas-based technologies can carry out this chemical conversion with very high carbon yield (∼70%) while utilizing the only economically viable co-reactant on this enormous scale: dioxygen or ideally air. However, despite these attractive characteristics, these processes are too expensive to displace petroleum primarily due to the high capital costs associated with the high temperatures required to generate syngas. Substantial effort toward the development of less expensive, lower temperature (<250 °C) processes for the selective, high-yield oxidative conversion of methane, the major component of NG, to functionalized products has yielded a number of potential systems. This article is focused on one very promising approach: the use of homogenous organometallic and/or inorganic complexes in liquid solutions to mediate the oxidative conversion of methane. Heterogeneous (gas/solid) systems are not covered. Considering the ultimate goal of replacing petroleum with NG, we have organized this article with respect to both fundamental chemistry as well as the important practical considerations of whether or not systems can utilize dixoygen as the ultimate co-reactant. Two fundamentally different mechanistic strategies have emerged: (i) the use of coordination catalysts that coordinate and cleave the CH bond of methane (defined as CH activation) or that coordinate and activate the co-reactant (defined as oxidant activation), and (ii) the use of chain reactions based on reactive species such as free radicals or other chain carrying species. Systems that fall into these two categories are further categorized with respect to whether or not oxygen is or can be utilized as the ultimate co-reactant. The goal is to provide the reader with an efficient way of quickly finding or classifying the rapidly growing body of literature by reaction mechanism and co-reactant utilized. Keywords: CH activation; homogenous catalysis; methane functionalization; natural gas; chain reaction; coordination catalysts; oxidant activation
GASOLINE PRICES, GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, AND THE DEMAND FOR HYBRID VEHICLES IN THE UNITED STATES*

We analyze the determinants of hybrid vehicle demand, focusing on gasoline prices and income tax incentives. We find that hybrid vehicle sales in 2006 would have been 37% lower had gasoline prices stayed at the 1999 levels, and the effect of the federal income tax credit program is estimated at 20% in 2006. Under the program, the cost of reducing gasoline consumption was $75 per barrel in government revenue and that of CO2 emission reduction was $177 per ton. We show that the cost effectiveness of federal tax programs can be improved by a flat rebate scheme.
Interaction of Mycoplasma pneumoniae with HeLa cells.

The susceptibility of HeLa cells to Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced injury was examined. Infections were initiated with relatively low mycoplasma doses, carried out in a culture medium incapable of supporting M. pneumoniae replication in the absence of host cells, and monitored for up to 10 days. Under these conditions, a time- and dose-dependent decline in the number of viable host cells compared with that of uninfected controls was observed. The effect of M. pneumoniae infection on host cell macromolecular synthesis was also evaluated. At high doses of infection, synthesis of both protein and RNA declined rapidly relative to that in control cells. At lower doses there was a biphasic response in protein synthesis, which was substantially lower than that in the uninfected control by day 1 postinfection, returned to control levels by day 4 postinfection, and was again less than that in control cells by day 7 postinfection. In contrast, no transient recovery was observed in RNA synthesis, which declined very gradually over 7 days in infected HeLa cells compared with that in uninfected control cells. The ability of HeLa cells to support the proliferation of M. pneumoniae under these experimental conditions was demonstrated by quantitation of mycoplasma CFU in the nonpermissive medium in the presence or absence of HeLa cells. A negligible increase in the number of M. pneumoniae was observed over 4 days when HeLa cells were absent, while CFU increased by almost 20-fold when M. pneumoniae was cultured in the presence of HeLa cells. The susceptibility and response in macromolecular synthesis in M. pneumoniae-infected HeLa cells differed from that recently described for a nontransformed culture of hamster trachea epithelial cells under the same experimental conditions (Y.-Y. Chen and D.C. Krause, Infect. Immun. 56: 570-576, 1988), underscoring the importance of the choice of host cell for in vitro modeling of M. pneumoniae pathogenesis.
SIR 2008 annual meeting film panel case: Arterial endofibrosis.

THE patient was a 31-year-old Armenian-American woman, single and nulliparous. She was an avid amateur athlete, formerly successful in competitive long-distance running and road bicycling. She had a 2-year history of bilateral thigh claudication during strenuous athletic activity, now resolved on the left but persisting on the right. She stated that her pain and tightness were centered “over the sartorius,” initially only during competitive athletics but now even with leisurely biking and running. The pain reliably resolved after a few minutes of rest, and never involved the calves or buttocks. The pain and restriction of endurance were sufficient to force her to discontinue participation in competitions. All her medical history was related to sports injuries, including three concussions, fractures of the right wrist and left hip, and ligamentous injury to the left knee. She denied a history of vascular injuries. She was otherwise extremely healthy with no significant medical history. Specifically, she de-
Is there an ethnic difference in the effect of risk factors for diabetic retinopathy

Abstract Mexican Americans have an increased prevalence and incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In addition, Mexican American diabetic subjects have an increased prevalence of retinopathy relative to Caucasian diabetic subjects. In Mexican American diabetic subjects, established risk factors may have a stronger effect on diabetic retinopathy, compared to Caucasian diabetic subjects. In this report, we compare the effect of established risk factors (age at examination, gender, age at diagnosis of diabetes, duration of diabetes, glycemia, type of therapy, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension prevalence) between Caucasian diabetic subjects (n = 478), a low-risk population for NIDDM (Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy), and Mexican American diabetic subjects (n = 231), a high-risk population for NIDDM (San Antonio Heart Study). Retinopathy was classified into two categories (any or none) as assessed by seven standard stereoscopic retinal photographs read at the University of Wisconsin Reading Center. Mexican American diabetic subjects in Texas had an increased prevalence of any retinopathy (odds ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval: 1.25, 2.34), compared to Caucasian diabetic subjects in Wisconsin. Longer duration of diabetes, more severe glycemia, earlier age at diagnosis, and insulin therapy were associated with diabetic retinopathy in both Mexican Americans and Caucasians. Socioeconomic status was not associated with prevalence of retinopathy. Moreover, the effect of risk factors for retinopathy was similar in both ethnic groups. These findings suggest that a differential effect of risk factors in Mexican American and Caucasian diabetic subjects does not explain the higher prevalence of retinopathy complications in the former, although we cannot exclude a more severe effect of glycemia on retinopathy in Mexican Americans since different measures of glycemia were used in each study.
The Effects of Customers' Dress on Salesperson's Service in Large-Sized Clothing Specialty Stores

Our research, based on symbolic interaction, was designed to investigate customer-salesperson interactions as a function of unmanipulated customer dress within retail settings using fieldwork. Th r...
Effects of reduced salinity on survival, growth, reproductive success, and energetics of the euryhaline polychaete Capitella sp. I.

Physiological adjustment to water of reduced salinity requires energy expenditure. In this study we sought to determine the fitness costs associated with such adjustment in the euryhaline polychaete Capitella sp. I, and the extent to which such costs could be explained by increased rates of energy expenditure. In a series of experiments conducted at 20°C, salinity was reduced from 30‰ to either 25, 20, 15, 12, or 10‰ within 72 h after the larvae had been induced to metamorphose. Juveniles were reared on fine, organic-rich sediment. Over the next 15–30 days, we determined survival, growth, fecundity, and rates of respiration and feeding (via fecal pellet production). Larval salinity tolerance was also determined. Juvenile survival at salinities as low as 12–15‰ was comparable to that at 30‰. The lower limit of salinity tolerance was 10–12‰ at 20°C for both larvae and juveniles. Juveniles grew significantly more slowly at 12–15‰ in six of the seven experiments. Fecundity, however, was generally highest at intermediate salinities of 20–25‰, and comparable at 30 and 15‰. No individuals released embryos at 12‰ over the approximately 30-day observation periods in any of the three experiments in which the worms were reared at this low salinity. Reduced growth rates were not explained by differences in rates of respiration at different salinities: at reduced salinity, respiration rates were either statistically equivalent to (P>0.10) or significantly below (P<0.05) those recorded for animals maintained at 30‰. Lower growth rates at lower salinities were best explained by reduced feeding rates. Further studies are required to determine whether digestive efficiency, growth hormone concentrations, or reproductive hormone concentrations are also altered by low salinity in this species.
Reading World Upside Down: A Response to Matthew Sleeman and John Barclay

This essay discusses the argument of C. Kavin Rowe, World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age by engaging with criticisms and comments by Matthew Sleeman and John Barclay. The response accepts several key points, including the locatedness of the early believing communities, the place of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and the importance of heaven for the early Christians. The response also clarifies and defends the view of Christianity’s cultural subversiveness and political engagement implied in Acts, as well as the claim that ‘tension’ is the right interpretive vocabulary needed to grasp the Christian political stance(s) in Acts.
A computational methodology for determining the optimum re-peening schedule to increase the fatigue life of laser peened aircraft components

Abstract Surface enhancement techniques, such as laser peening, have wide applications in the aerospace industry. They increase the structural component’s life by imparting compressive residual stresses around the critical locations where the cracks are likely to initiate and later propagate leading to component failure. However, the compressive residual stresses can relax due to the loading conditions and reduce the laser peening effectiveness. Under such a condition, re-peening or re-laser peening a component already in service can further increase its component life. This research develops a method to predict the optimum re-peening time for maximum fatigue life under realistic loading conditions. An optimization problem is set up to illustrate the application of this method to an aircraft lug problem. Results from the investigation indicate that re-peening this component ∼50–55% of its expected fatigue life maximizes the component’s fatigue life. The proposed approach, proven to be able to obtain optimal process parameters for improving the fatigue resistance of the component, can significantly reduce the costs for experimental testing.
Gene‐by‐environment effect of house dust mite on purinergic receptor P2Y12 (P2RY12) and lung function in children with asthma

Background Distinct receptors likely exist for leukotriene (LT)E(4), a potent mediator of airway inflammation. Purinergic receptor P2Y12 is needed for LTE(4)-induced airways inflammation, and P2Y12 antagonism attenuates house dust mite-induced pulmonary eosinophilia in mice. Although experimental data support a role for P2Y12 in airway inflammation, its role in human asthma has never been studied. Objective To test for association between variants in the P2Y12 gene (P2RY12) and lung function in human subjects with asthma, and to examine for gene-by-environment interaction with house dust mite exposure. Methods Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in P2RY12 were genotyped in 422 children with asthma and their parents (n = 1266). Using family based methods, we tested for associations between these SNPs and five lung function measures. We performed haplotype association analyses and tested for gene-by-environment interactions using house dust mite exposure. We used the false discovery rate to account for multiple comparisons. Results Five SNPs in P2RY12 were associated with multiple lung function measures (P-values 0.006–0.025). Haplotypes in P2RY12 were also associated with lung function (P-values 0.0055–0.046). House dust mite exposure modulated associations between P2RY12 and lung function, with minor allele homozygotes exposed to house dust mite demonstrating worse lung function than those unexposed (significant interaction P-values 0.0028–0.040). Conclusions and clinical relevance The P2RY12 variants were associated with lung function in a large family-based asthma cohort. House dust mite exposure caused significant gene-by-environment effects. Our findings add the first human evidence to experimental data supporting a role for P2Y12 in lung function. P2Y12 could represent a novel target for asthma treatment.
MRI volumetry of prefrontal cortex

Prefrontal cortex volumetry by brain magnetic resonance (MR) is required to estimate changes postulated to occur in certain psychiatric and neurologic disorders. A semiautomated method with quantitative characterization of its performance is sought to reliably distinguish small prefrontal cortex volume changes within individuals and between groups. Stereological methods were tested by a blinded comparison of measurements applied to 3D MR scans obtained using an MPRAGE protocol. Fixed grid stereologic methods were used to estimate prefrontal cortex volumes on a graphic workstation, after the images are scaled from 16 to 8 bits using a histogram method. In addition images were resliced into coronal sections perpendicular to the bicommissural plane. Prefrontal cortex volumes were defined as all sections of the frontal lobe anterior to the anterior commissure. Ventricular volumes were excluded. Stereological measurement yielded high repeatability and precision, and was time efficient for the raters. The coefficient of error was <EQ 0.03. The overall 3-way inter- rater ICC equals 0.95; intra-rater ICCs equals 0.95 - 0.98. The use of specific internal landmarks to define prefrontal cortex boundaries on 3D images was critical to obtaining accurate measurements. MR prefrontal cortex volumetry by stereology can yield accurate and repeatable measurements. Small frontal lobe volume reductions in patients with brain disorders such as depression and schizophrenia can be efficiently assessed using this method.
Chronic Kidney Disease/Bone and Mineral Metabolism: The Imperfect Storm

As kidney function declines, chronic kidney disease (CKD) becomes an increasingly systemic disorder. Most patients with CKD eventually develop subclinical or clinical abnormalities in bone and mineral metabolism. Recent observational and basic scientific studies have led to a new emphasis on the changes in phosphorus and calcium metabolism, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D that lead to this complex systemic bone/mineral disorder (CKD/BMD). At the center of the disorder are relationships among all 4 factors that conspire to create a perfect storm, leading to secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Some key current issues that are reviewed here are as follows: (1) factors promoting SHPT, (2) the role of fibroblast growth factor-23 in CKD/BMD, (3) molecular mechanisms of SHPT, (4) mechanisms of vascular calcification, and (5) medical management of the disorder, including calcimimetics. Current therapies directed at correcting the primary abnormalities (ie, improve conditions to an imperfect storm) and minimizing the consequences of CKD/BMD are discussed.
Enzymic synthesis of GDP-mannose-14C from mannose-14C

A procedure synthesizing GDP-mannose-14C from mannose using Arthrobacter viscosus crude extracts has been described.
A numerical procedure for obtaining the mean solution and variance of the two-dimensional stochastic convection equation

Abstract Under certain conditions the concentration of a substance moving in a stochastic flow field is described by the stochastic convection equation. A numerical method yielding the mean solution and variance of the two-dimensional problem is described here. First, the differential operator is replaced by a discrete linear operator based on finite differences. The resulting system of stochastic equations is then replaced by a system of equations whose solution is the mean concentration. The variance of the concentration can then be calculated. In addition, and example is given for which an approximate analytical solution and its variance is known. The numerical method is applied to the example and results compared to the approximate analytical solution and variance.
Does the central human retina stretch during accommodation

CLEAR evidence that the human retina stretches during accommodation was presented by Moses1, but his measurements were all made at the anterior margin of the retina, so they did not show how this stretch is spatially distributed. If it is largely confined to the region of the ora serrata, its contribution to the perceptual correlates of accommodation will be much less than if the central retina is distorted as well. A perceptual effect involving accommodation-dependent distortions in the visual field has recently been attributed by its discoverers2 to such a stretching of the central retina, although non-retinal explanations for this effect are also tenable.
Stability Theorems for Two Measures of Symmetry

This article concerns two measures of central symmetry that characterize cones as the most asymmetric convex bodies. Stability estimates are established that provide information on the deviation of a convex body from a cone if the corresponding measure of symmetry is close to its maximum value.
Is the sub-millisecond pulsar strange?

The possibility that the submillisecond pulsar from supernova 1987A is composed of strange matter is theoretically discussed. It is shown that for a range of hadron parameters, the maximum rotation rate of secularly stable strange stars may exceed that of the half-millisecond pulsar and the nonrotating maximum mass is greater than 1.52 solar mass. The low-mass companion(s) to SN1987A, inferred from the periodic modulations of the optical signal, can be accounted for by stable strange-matter lump(s) ejected from the young strange star.
Synaptic reorganization in the feline ventral anterior thalamic nucleus induced by lesions in the basal ganglia

This report presents the results of quantitative analysis of synaptic coverage of the dendrites of thalamocortical projection neurons in the adult cat ventral anterior thalamic nucleus (VA) and its changes at short (4 days)- and long-term (1 year) survival times after combined unilateral kainic acid lesions in the substantia nigra pars reticularis and entopeduncular nucleus. The study showed that deafferentation induced an increase in the appositional length of the dendrites of GABAergic local circuit neurons along projection neuron dendrites, accompanied by an increase in the number of dendrodendritic synapses. Dendritic or axonic origin of other unusual presynaptic structures at 1 year postlesion could not be established with certainty. All of them displayed some features of growth cones, such as an abundance of tubular and vesicular structures many with electron-dense contents. Projection neuron dendrites postsynaptic to these profiles contained numerous coated vesicles at the same survival time. The findings suggest that (i) the lesioning of the two basal ganglia output structures induces synaptic reorganization in the VA, (ii) this process appears to be active at 1 year after deafferentation, and (iii) all reactive systems display symmetric contacts and positive GAD immunoreactivity suggesting that homotypic remodeling is taking place. Despite the signs of remodeling, the density of presynaptic terminals with symmetric contacts on primary and secondary projection neuron dendrites in the VA remained below the control level at 1 year postlesion suggesting that an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs on thalamocortical projection neurons may persist for long periods after deafferentation.
Concurrent validity of the overcontrolled hostility scale for psychotics.

MMPI Overcontrolled Hostility scores of 31 male psychotic inpatients correlated negligibly with scores on measures of expressed hostility and assaultiveness. The scale does not appear useful as an index of potential for violence by acute inpatients.
Decisionmaking, independence and the judiciary

This article examines the relationship between judicial decision making and judicial independence. The article begins with an examination of judicial decisionmaking and moves into a discussion of the characteristics of judicial independence, both historically and in the present day. Next, the article examines recent incidents of infringement on judicial independence from both the legislative and executive branches in the areas of tenure, procedure and administration. The article concludes with a discussion of the effect of each of these types of infringements on judicial decision making.
Polynomial space counting problems

The classes of functions $# \textit{PSPACE}$ and $\natural \textit{PSPACE}$ that are analogous to the class $# P$ are defined. Functions in $# \textit{PSPACE}$ count the number of accepting computations of a nondeterministic polynomial space bounded Turing machine, and functions in $\natural \textit{PSPACE}$ count the number of accepting computations of nondeterministic polynomial space bounded Turing machines that on each computation path make at most a polynomial number of nondeterministic choices. In contrast to what is known about $# P$, exact characterizations of both $# \textit{PSPACE}$ and $\natural \textit{PSPACE}$ are found. In particular, $# PSPACE = FSPACE$ (the class of functions computable in polynomial space) and $\natural PSPACE = FSPACE (poly)$ (the class of functions computable in polynomial space with output length bounded by a polynomial). Both $# \textit{PSPACE}$ and $\natural \textit{PSPACE}$ can be characterized by counting problems related to alternating Turing machines. Both $# \te...
Incorporating Space into Fisheries Models: Comment

As those who have worked with spatially explicit models are beginning to appreciate, the spatial dimension adds a degree of complexity that at times seems disproportionate. New analytical and statistical methods, new data collection and management systems, new geometric ways of depicting linkages and interaction, and new intuition are all needed to develop serious understanding of the spatial dimensions of resource problems. Given the extra work required, it is natural to ask whether the added insight from spatial analysis is worth the effort. The author believes that the answer is yes, and for several reasons. First, resource economics lags considerably behind other complementary disciplines that adopted new paradigms depicting the distribution of biological resources as clumped or patchy and linked with dispersal mechanisms. If one selects a cutting-edge paper from leading journals in ecology or population biology, one is likely to see populations depicted with character, that is, with age-, size-, and gender-structure, and with patchy spatial distributions like those that we observe in
Conserved function of RNF4 family proteins in eukaryotes: targeting a ubiquitin ligase to SUMOylated proteins

The function of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-binding proteins is key to understanding how SUMOylation regulates cellular processes. We identified two related Schizosaccharomyces pombe proteins, Rfp1 and Rfp2, each having an N-terminal SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) and a C-terminal RING-finger domain. Genetic analysis shows that Rfp1 and Rfp2 have redundant functions; together, they are essential for cell growth and genome stability. Mammalian RNF4, an active ubiquitin E3 ligase, is an orthologue of Rfp1/Rfp2. Rfp1 and Rfp2 lack E3 activity but recruit Slx8, an active RING-finger ubiquitin ligase, through a RING–RING interaction, to form a functional E3. RNF4 complements the growth and genomic stability defects of rfp1rfp2, slx8, and rfp1rfp2slx8 mutant cells. Both the Rfp-Slx8 complex and RNF4 specifically ubiquitylate artificial SUMO-containing substrates in vitro in a SUMO binding-dependent manner. SUMOylated proteins accumulate in rfp1rfp2 double-null cells, suggesting that Rfp/Slx8 proteins may promote ubiquitin-dependent degradation of SUMOylated targets. Hence, we describe a family of SIM-containing RING-finger proteins that potentially regulates eukaryotic genome stability through linking SUMO-interaction with ubiquitin conjugation.
Evaluating the utility of the HTRF Transcreener ADP assay technology: a comparison with the standard HTRF assay technology.

The HTRF (homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence) Transcreener ADP assay is a new kinase assay technology marketed by Cis-Bio International (Bagnols-Ceze, France). It measures kinase activity by detecting the formation of ADP using a monoclonal antibody and HTRF detection principles. In this article, we compare this technology with a standard HTRF kinase assay using EGFR [L858R/T790M] mutant enzyme as a case study. We demonstrate that the HTRF Transcreener ADP assay generated similar kinetic constants and inhibitor potency compared with the standard HTRF assay. However, the smaller dynamic window and lower Z' factor of the HTRF Transcreener ADP assay make this format less preferable for high-throughput screening. Based on the assay principle, the HTRF Transcreener ADP assay can detect both kinase and ATPase activities simultaneously. The ability to probe ATPase activity opens up new avenues for assaying kinases with intrinsic ATPase activity without the need to identify substrates, and this can speed up the drug discovery process. However, caution must be exercised because any contaminating ATPase activity will result in an invalid assay. The inability to tolerate high concentrations of ATP in the assay will also limit the application of this technology, especially in compound mechanistic studies such as ATP competition. Overall, the HTRF Transcreener ADP assay provides a new alternative tool to complement existing assay technologies for drug discovery.
Radioactive targets and source development at Argonne National Laboratory

Abstract An increased demand for low-level radioactive targets has created the need for a laboratory dedicated to the production of these foils. A description is given of the radioactive targets produced as well as source development work being performed at the Physics Division target facility of Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). Highlights include equipment used and the techniques employed. In addition, some examples of recent source preparation are given as well as work currently in progress.
Attractants for Adult Southern Corn Root worm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Monitoring in Peanut Fields and Relationship of Trap Catch to Pod Damage

Field studies were conducted in 12 locations in southeastern Virginia to evaluate 3 trap attractants, 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene, indole and trans-cinnamaldehyde (TIC), trans-cinnamaldehyde, alone, and sex pheromone (10-methyl-2-tridecanone), for monitoring adult southern corn root worm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, phenology in peanut, Arachis hypogaea L.; and to determine the relationship of trap catch to peanut pod damage as it occurred throughout the season. Pheromone traps caught more beetles than TIC or cinnamaldehyde on most sample dates and at most locations. Pheromone traps detected 2 distinct beetle peaks, the 1st between 16 and 23 June, and the 2nd between 21 and 28 July, and consistently caught more males than females. TIC and cinnamaldehyde traps caught more females in 14 out of 180 observations (15 sample dates, 12 locations) and failed to detect the 2nd beetle peak. Peanut pod damage began to increase in all locations at the end of July. Total pod damage (immature plus mature pods) exceeded 40% in all but one location. Peak damage occurred at all but 1 location on ≈11 August. Peak pod damage by southern com root worm larvae consistently lagged behind the 2nd peak in the beetle population by 2.1 ±0.5 (±SEM) wk. Number of beetles trapped accounted for only 10% of the variance observed in peak pod damage. Use of pheromone traps by growers could allow for a more precise timing of insecticide applications and improve management of southern corn root worm in peanut.
Type-1 parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) receptors activate phospholipase C in response to carboxyl-truncated analogs of PTH(1-34).

The carboxyl(C)-truncated human (h) PTH (hPTH) analog hPTH(1–31), which activates adenylyl cyclase (AC), but not protein kinase C, in rat osteosarcoma cells, exerts an anabolic effect on rat bone in vivo similar to that of hPTH(1–34). It has been proposed, therefore, that this action of PTH(1–34) is mediated exclusively by stimulation of AC via the rat type-1 PTH/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) receptor (PTH1R). To determine whether this selective signaling pattern also might be a property of the hPTH1R, we studied signal transduction via heterologously expressed hPTH1Rs in response to activation by hPTH(1–34), hPTH(1–31), and a C-truncated analog that does not increase rat bone mass in vivo, hPTH(1–30). In porcine LLC-PK1 cells that stably expressed recombinant hPTH1Rs, these three peptides activated AC identically (EC50 = 1–2 nm). In cells with comparable expression of rat PTH1Rs, AC activation by hPTH(1–34) and hPTH(1–31) again was identical, whereas full activation by hPTH(1–30) required higher concentrat...
Galectin-3, a marker of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, is expressed in thyroid nodules with cytological atypia

Galectin-3, a marker of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, is expressed in thyroid nodules with cytological atypia Aims: The distribution of galectin-3, a widely recognized marker of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, was investigated in 95 thyroid lesions including nodules with foci of cytoarchitectural atypia. Methods and results: Twenty-eight papillary carcinomas, five follicular carcinomas, one Hurthle cell carcinoma, three poorly differentiated carcinomas, one anaplastic carcinoma, 25 nodular hyperplasias and 27 follicular adenomas, including nodules with atypical features, three neoplasms of undetermined malignant potential and two thyroiditis cases were examined. By immunohistochemistry, galectin-3 was consistently found in carcinomas; otherwise benign nodules exhibited galectin-3-positive clusters of cells with poorly developed features of differentiated carcinoma (mainly of papillary type) such as nuclear chromatin clearing, nuclear clefting, pseudoinclusions, which, in each case, were not histologically sufficient to warrant a definitive diagnosis of malignancy. In other nodules galectin-3 staining was negative. The latter were either clearly benign or showed constantly a minor degree of chromatin clearing and of other atypical features when compared with galectin-3-positive cases. Conclusions: Galectin-3, a reliable marker of differentiated thyroid carcinoma as confirmed in our series of malignant neoplasms, appears expressed in nodules with an overall benign appearance but with focal areas suspicious for malignancy. The significance of such findings needs to be further investigated.
Jupiter's Aeneid: Fama and Imperium

The conflict between Jupiter and Juno in the Aeneid is commonly read as a battle between the forces of order (masculinity, rationality, good) and chaos (femininity, irrationality, evil). The present article argues that this schematization, though morally and aesthetically satisfying, fails to account for most of the data. Virgil's Jupiter is in fact concerned solely with power ( imperium ) and adulation ( fama ), despite persistent attempts by readers——and characters in the poem——to see him as benign. By systematically discussing every appearance of Jupiter in the poem, the article seeks to correct the distorted or incomplete views of the god that arise from selective examination. The first section looks at Jupiter's own speeches to illustrate his motivations. The second section demonstrates how these motivations, though frequently misconstrued by the human characters, are confirmed by the glimpses of Jupiter focalized through the omniscient narrator. The third discusses the implications of this portrait of Jupiter for Virgil's vision of Rome and of human happiness.
Energetic Efficiency of Corn Oil and Poultry Fat at Different Levels in Broiler Diets

Abstract The energetic efficiency of broiler finishing diets containing poultry fat or corn oil at levels of 5, 10, 15, and 20% was determined. Diets were formulated so that energy and nutrient density increased at each increment of added fat and calorie-nutrient ratios remained constant for all diets. Body weight gains were significantly greater for all diets containing added fats with no significant difference between fat sources. Feed efficiency adjusted to the same metabolizable energy (ME) and nutrient density was similar for all diets. Caloric efficiency (energy gain/energy absorbed) was slightly greater in the diets containing added fat than in the low fat control diet. Heat increment (HI) plus heat of activity (HA) corrected for intake (GE intake) was significantly less for the diets containing poultry fat at all levels than for the control diet. In the case of corn oil only the 10% level significantly reduced HI plus HA/GE intake. Values for the poultry fat were slightly lower than for the corn oil. Level or source of fat had no effect on its ME value as determined by the total excreta collection method.