cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation of Chromaffin Granules

Adrenal medullary chromaffin granules (dense core secretory vesicles) have been a valuable model system for the study of the proteins and membrane components involved in the process of exocytosis. Because of the abundance of chromaffin granules in a readily available tissue source, bovine adrenal medullae, and their unique sedimentation properties, it is possible to obtain large quantities of highly purified granules and granule membranes in a short period of time. Two protocols are presented here for the isolation of chromaffin granules: a basic protocol based on differential centrifugation in an iso-osmotic medium that yields intact chromaffin granules, and an alternate protocol based on sedimentation through a density step gradient that provides a greater yield of more highly purified chromaffin granules. Since in the latter case the granules cannot be returned to a medium of physiological osmolarity without lysis after purification on the step gradient, the alternate protocol is more useful to obtain the granule membranes or contents for further study.
SU‐FF‐T‐103: Dosimetric Plan Index (DPI): A New Quantitative Tool for Evaluation of Prostate IMRT Treatment Plans

Purpose: This study is to present a new quantitative analysis tool for evaluation of prostate IMRT(intensity modulated radiation therapy) plans. Methods and Materials: Based on retrospective analysis of 33 prostate patients (18 with intact prostate and 15 with prostatectomy) for a total of 84 acceptable treatment plans, we developed a new concept, dosimetric plan index (DPI), which integrates the measures of dose conformity, target coverage and OAR (organ at risk) overdose. DPI is defined as: DPI = 1 − ∛ 3 (1 − CI) 2 + (1 − TC) 2 + (1 − DGI) 2 , where CI (conformity index) is defined as the ratio of the volume of a PTV (planned target volume) inside the prescribed IDL (isodose line) to the volume enclosed by the IDL; TC (target coverage index) is defined as the ratio of the volume of a PTV inside the prescribed IDL to the volume of the PTV; DGI (dose gradient index of an OAR) is defined as e−d/λOAR , d is the distance between 95% and 50% IDL, λOAR is the nominal distance that can be commonly achieved in a specified disease site, and it equals to 1 cm for prostate IMRT plans with rectum as an OAR. Results: The target volume and the volume of rectum enclosed by 50% IDL vary dramatically for different acceptable plans. The mean COSI (critical organ scoring index) of these plans is 0.66 ± 0.18 for intact prostate plans and 0.54 ± 0.14 for post‐prostatectomy plans. However, those plans share a common merit that their DPIs are in a much narrower range, 0.63 ± 0.02 for intact prostate plans and 0.59 ± 0.02 for post‐prostatectomy plans. Conclusion: The DPI is a new comprehensive treatment plan scoring tool, accounting for the information derived both from DVH (dose volume histogram) and isodose distribution. It can assist physician/planner to evaluate and optimize treatment plans for target coverage and normal tissue sparing.
Adrenocortical response to corticotropin is inhibited by γ3-MSH antisera in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract In order to further investigate the coordinate action of pro-corticotropin/endorphin-derived peptides on adrenal steroidogenesis, we have evaluated the effects of highly specific antisera to synthetic rat γ3-MSH (1–27) peptide (γ3-MSH Ab) on corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone responses to ACTH (1–24) in chronically cannulated spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls (WKY). Antisera eliminated the ACTH induced rise of all three corticosteroids. It had no effect on basal corticosteroid levels. Our results offer further evidence that the potentiating action of γ3-MSH may play an important role in modulating ACTH induced steroidogenesis.
Reforming Ghana's Public Service: Issues and Experiences in Comparative Perspective

This article addresses how the public service can be reformed to make it relevant to the circumstances and useful to the majority of people living and working in Ghana. In many public administration journals, reforms in sub-Saharan Africa have received scant attention. Using Ghana as a case study, this article first summarizes and evaluates that country's reform efforts and compares them to mainstream Anglo-American reform ideas. The article comments on the conceptualization of reform based on the notion of community, encompassing the unique political, social, and cultural experiences of the people of Ghana. Finally, the article discusses what a composite formulation of the notion of community might imply for a cross-cultural understanding of comparative public administration.
Intrinsic convergence in closed‐shell SCF calculations. A general criterion

It is shown that the intrinsic convergence of the classical SCF algorithm for closed shells is governed by the eigenvalues of a supermatrix Q whose elements involve orbital excitation energies and electron repulsion integrals over occupied and virtual orbitals. In general, the SCF process is intrinsically convergent if all eigenvalues of Q have absolute values less than unity, and intrinsically divergent if one ore more is greater than unity. It is also shown how the symmetry preserving features of the SCF algorithm enable one to avoid certain divergences provided one starts a calculation with symmetry adapted orbitals. In cases of intrinsic convergence it is proved that the ratio of successive energy increments produced by the SCF algorithm is equal to the square of the largest eigenvalue of Q. The implications of the theory are illustrated by calculations on linear H8, on the cyclic planar ion S4N3+, and on model Q matrices filled with random numbers over the interval (−0.5,0.5).
A Survey of Active Vibration Isolation Systems for Microgravity Applications

In view of the utility of space vehicles as orbiting science laboratories, the need for vibration isolation systems for acceleration sensitive experiments has gained increasing visibility. To date, three active microgravity vibration isolation systems have successfully been demonstrated in flight. This paper provides a tutorial discussion of the microgravity vibration isolation problem including a description of the acceleration environment of the International Space Station and attenuation requirements as well as a comparison of the dynamics of passive isolation, active rack-level isolation, and active payload-level isolation. This paper also surveys the flight test results of the three demonstrated systems: Suppression of Transient Accelerations By Levitation (STABLE); the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount (MIM); and the Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS).
Far-field radiation of a vibrating point source in anisotropic media

In this paper, Lamb's technique,(1) which was used to study acoustic radiation due to an external force acting in an infinite isotropic solid or over the surface of an isotropic solid, has been extended to the case of general anisotropic media. The far-field radiation is numerically calculated for a vibrating point source in an infinite anisotropic solid or on the free surface of a semi-infinite anisotropic solid. The directivity patterns of a point source are obtained for the three different elastic modes, and a brief discussion of the main features of the numerical results is presented.
A collaborative filtering algorithm and evaluation metric that accurately model the user experience

Collaborative Filtering (CF) systems have been researched for over a decade as a tool to deal with information overload. At the heart of these systems are the algorithms which generate the predictions and recommendations.In this article we empirically demonstrate that two of the most acclaimed CF recommendation algorithms have flaws that result in a dramatically unacceptable user experience.In response, we introduce a new Belief Distribution Algorithm that overcomes these flaws and provides substantially richer user modeling. The Belief Distribution Algorithm retains the qualities of nearest-neighbor algorithms which have performed well in the past, yet produces predictions of belief distributions across rating values rather than a point rating value.In addition, we illustrate how the exclusive use of the mean absolute error metric has concealed these flaws for so long, and we propose the use of a modified Precision metric for more accurately evaluating the user experience.
Impulsivity mediates the association between borderline personality pathology and body mass index

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with obesity, a major risk factor for a number of chronic illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular disease). We examined whether impulsivity and affective instability mediate the association between BPD pathology and body mass index (BMI). Participants were a community sample of adults ages 55–64 and their informants. The Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality measured BPD symptoms and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory measured self- and informant-report impulsivity and affective instability. Mediation analyses demonstrated that only higher self-report impulsivity significantly mediated the association between greater BPD pathology and higher BMI. A subsequent model revealed that higher scores on the impulsiveness (lack of inhibitory control) and deliberation (planning) facets of impulsivity mediated the BPD–BMI association, with impulsiveness exerting a stronger mediation effect than deliberation. Obesity interventions that improve inhibitory control may be most effective for individuals with BPD pathology.
Blood serum cholesterol levels in two congeneric species of molluscivorous turtles

Abstract 1. 1. Analysis by spectrophotometric methods of the blood serum cholesterol levels of two mainly carnivorous, congeneric species of musk turtles, Sternotherus minor minor and Sternotherus odoratus , yielded mean total cholesterol values of 506 and 376 mg/100 ml serum respectively. 2. 2. The difference between the means of the two species is highly significant statistically and suggests a dietary basis. Differences between sexes within each species were insignificant.
Contingency Management for Smoking Cessation: Enhancing Feasibility through Use of Immunoassay Test Strips Measuring Cotinine

Contingency management (CM) is a powerful behavioral intervention shown to reduce the use of a variety of substances including tobacco. Use of CM techniques for smoking cessation has been restricted by the use of multiple daily measurements of breath CO as the objective indicator to reinforce abstinence. Cotinine, with its longer half-life, may be a better marker. We evaluated the use of urinary cotinine (determined using once-daily semiquantitative immunoassay test strips and verified using quantitative GC/HPLC techniques) as an abstinence indicator in treatment-seeking adult and adolescent smokers participating in a CM-based intervention program. Both techniques of determining urinary cotinine were highly sensitive and moderately specific at detecting abstinence, and they were highly concordant. However, specificity was somewhat lower during the first few days of a quit attempt and improved over time. The results were similar in adults and adolescent smokers, and suggest that during the first few days of a quit attempt it would be advisable to continue to use daily multiple CO measurements to verify abstinence. However, once abstinence is achieved, once-daily immunoassay test strips could be used for continued monitoring of urinary cotinine levels. Immunoassay testing can identify individuals who relapse to smoking, though this study cannot evaluate whether the strips can identify resumption of abstinence. These results suggest that the use of cotinine as an abstinence indicator, by reducing the number of daily appointments, could significantly enhance the feasibility and utility of CM-based interventions for smoking cessation.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Glucosidase II Is Composed of a Catalytic Subunit, Conserved from Yeast to Mammals, and a Tightly Bound Noncatalytic HDEL-containing Subunit

Trimming of glucoses from N-linked core glycans on newly synthesized glycoproteins occurs sequentially through the action of glucosidases I and II in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We isolated enzymatically active glucosidase II from rat liver and found that, in contrast with previous reports, it contains two subunits (alpha and beta). Sequence analysis of peptides derived from them allowed us to identify their corresponding human cDNA sequences. The sequence of the alpha subunit predicted a soluble protein (104 kDa) devoid of known signals for residence in the ER. It showed homology with several other glucosidases but not with glucosidase I. Among the homologues, we identified a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, which we showed by gene disruption experiments to be the functional catalytic subunit of glucosidase II. The disrupted yeast strains had no detectable growth defect. The sequence of the beta subunit (58 kDa) showed no sequence homology with other known proteins. It encoded a soluble protein rich in glutamic and aspartic acid with a putative ER retention signal (HDEL) at the C terminus. This suggested that the beta subunit is responsible for the ER localization of the enzyme.
The Reach of Chronic-Disease Self-Management Education Programs to Rural Populations

This study assessed the sociodemographic characteristics of rural residents who participated in chronic-disease self-management education (CDSME) program workshops and the extent to which CDSME programs were utilized by those with limited access to health care services. We analyzed data from the first 100,000 adults who attended CDSME program workshops during a national dissemination spanning 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Approximately 24% of participants lived in rural areas. Overall, 42% of all participants were minorities; urban areas reached more minority participants (48%) than rural areas (25%). The average age of participants was high in rural (age, μ = 66.1) and urban (age, μ = 67.3) areas. In addition, the average number of chronic conditions was higher (p < 0.01) in rural (μ = 2.6 conditions) versus urban (μ = 2.4 conditions) areas. Successful completion of CDSME programs (i.e., attending four or more of the six workshop sessions) was higher (p < 0.01) in rural versus urban areas (78% versus 77%). Factors associated with higher likelihood of successful completion of CDSME programs included being Black (OR = 1.25) versus White and living in rural (versus urban) areas (OR = 1.09). Factors associated with lower likelihood of successful completion included being male (OR = 0.92) and residing in a primary care Health Professional Shortage Area or HPSA (versus a non-HPSA) (OR = 0.93). Findings highlight the capability of CDSME programs to reach rural residents, yet dissemination efforts can be further enhanced to ensure minorities and individuals in a HPSA utilize this program. Tailored strategies are needed to increase participant recruitment and retention in rural areas to overcome traditional barriers to health service access.
Some "Biting" Leafhoppers.

The members of the family Cicadellidae are commonly regarded as herbivorous since they are thought to depend entirely on plant juices for their food. It has been known for some time, however, that they will bite man. Riley and Johannsen, for example, mention Platymetopius acutus (Say) and Empoasca mali (LeB.) in this connection. The writer has frequently been told of such attacks and has himself been bitten a considerable number of times by these insects. At present most of us would probably ascribe this biting to causes other than the desire to get blood for food, and the question as to whether or not blood is actually ingested in such cases will require further observation. The persistence with which these insects sometimes bite, however, makes one wonder whether any other motive can satisfactorily explain their action.
Gene expression in the efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens during embryonic development of the mouse

The tissues of the male reproductive tract are characterized by distinct morphologies, from highly coiled to un-coiled. Global gene expression profiles of efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens were generated from embryonic day 14.5 to postnatal day 1 as tissue-specific morphologies emerge. Expression of homeobox genes, potential mediators of tissue-specific morphological development, was assessed. Twenty homeobox genes were identified as either tissue-enriched, developmentally regulated, or both. Additionally, ontology analysis demonstrated cell adhesion to be highly regulated along the length of the reproductive tract. Regulators of cell adhesion with variable expression between the three tissues were identified including Alcam, various cadherins, and multiple integrins. Immunofluorescence localization of the cell adhesion regulators POSTN and CDH2 demonstrated cell adhesion in the epithelium and mesenchyme of the epididymis may change throughout development. These results suggest cell adhesion may be modulated in a tissue-specific manner, playing an important role in establishing each tissue's final morphology. Developmental Dynamics 239:2479–2491, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Simplified Model of Liquid Helium

A simplified version of a Bose gas with negative scattering length is studied with a model Hamiltonian similar to that used in the case of repulsive interactions. A new transformation is used which takes into account the attractive interactions in the system, and the ground-state energy is calculated from experimental values of the sound velocity in the system. Real values for the phonon energy spectrum are obtained, and the ratio of the effective mass to ordinary mass is deduced using experimental values of interparticle separation and core radius. A justification for using this modified Hamiltonian is attempted in the Appendix.
Parks and people: an environmental justice inquiry in Baltimore, Maryland.

This article examines the distribution of parks in Baltimore, Maryland, as an environmental justice issue. In addition to established methods for measuring distribution of and access to parks, we employ a novel park service area approach that uses Thiessen polygons and dasymetric reapportioning of census data to measure potential park congestion as an equity outcome measure. We find that a higher proportion of African Americans have access to parks within walking distance, defined as 400 meters or less, than whites, but whites have access to more acreage of parks within walking distance than blacks. A needs-based assessment shows that areas with the highest need have the best access to parks but also have access to less acreage of parks compared to low-need areas. Park service areas that are predominantly black have higher park congestion than areas that are predominantly white, although differences are less apparent at the city level than at the metropolitan level. Following Iris Young and others, we arg...
Study suggests Arctic sea ice loss not irreversible

The Arctic has been losing sea ice as Earth's climate warms, and some studies have suggested that the Arctic could reach a tipping point, beyond which ice would not recover even if global temperatures cooled down again. However, a new study byArmour et al. that uses a state-of-the-art atmosphere-ocean global climate model found no evidence of such irreversibility. In their simulations, the researchers increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels until Arctic sea ice disappeared year-round and then watched what happened as global temperatures were then decreased. They found that sea ice steadily recovered as global temperatures dropped. An implication of this result is that future sea ice loss will occur only as long as global temperatures continue to rise. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL048739, 2011)
Technetium 99m—Q12 kinetics in perfused rat myocardium: Effects of hypoxia and low flow

Abstract Technetium 99m—Q12 is a new cationic myocardial perfusion imaging agent that produces excellent images in human beings. The purpose of this study was to examine the separate effects of hypoxia and low flow on myocardial clearance kinetics. After a 1 mCi bolus injection, myocardial 99m Tc-Q12 clearance was monitored for 1 hour by using an Nal detector in 24 isolated perfused rat hearts. In 6 control hearts, flow was 12 ml/min, and oxygenation was normal. In 6 hypoxic hearts, flow was normal, but oxygenation was reduced ( 2 ). In 6 low-flow hearts, flow was 3 ml/min, and oxygenation was normal. In 6 very low flow hearts, flow was 1 ml/min, and oxygenation was normal. 99m Tc-Q12 myocardial clearance was biphasic in all four groups, consisting of a rapid early phase and a second slow phase that began after 10 minutes. Myocardial retention between 1 and 10 minutes was 56.8% ± 1.8% for control, 49.2% ± 2.2% ( p p = NS compared with control) for low flow (3 ml/min), and 63.7% ± 2.1% ( p p 99m Tc-Q12 demonstrates biphasic clearance from normal, hypoxic, low-flow, and very low flow ischemic myocardium. Early-phase myocardial retention is decreased by hypoxia and increased by very low flow.
Proteus syndrome revealing itself after the treatment of a bilateral subdural haematoma

Hypertrophy of the calvarium has different aetiologies, among them the rare Proteus syndrome. We report here the case of a young girl initially treated for relapsing right then left large chronic subdural haematoma, who progressively developed craniofacial hypertrophy consistent with the diagnosis of Proteus syndrome. Calvarium hypertrophy was shaved and remodelled combining midface advancement, essentially for cosmetic purposes. During the first calvarium remodelling, important bleeding of the bone required large volume of blood replacement. Haemostasis workup revealed platelets aggregation anomalies. Bleeding issues during subsequent surgeries were controlled with tranexamic acid and desmopressin acetate. Other manifestations of Proteus syndrome, such as a right hypertrophy of the face with hypoplasia of its middle third, a pigmented epidermal nevus and asymmetric limbs and scoliosis, appeared progressively over time. Blood and fibroblast phosphatase and tensin homolog mutation was not found. Literature review of operated patients with Proteus syndrome did not reveal an association with platelets anomalies. A complete haemostasis workup following this unexpected haemorrhagic complication is recommended for this rare pathology.
Historical materialism and Capital

It is commonly supposed that Marx's Capital is part and parcel of his theory of historical materialism. It is argued here, however, that this view is incorrect, and that Capital is distinguished from the more general theory of historical materialism in its standing as a work of social science. This conclusion rests on several grounds. First, Capital is substantially more specialized than the theory of historical materialism, since it is concerned only with one aspect of one mode of production. As a result, Capital provides a more rigorous treatment of its subject matter. Second, Capital is based on a fund of empirical evidence which is substantially more detailed than that offered in support of the theses of historical materialism. And third, given the preceding points, Capital is a developed empirical theory, whereas historical materialism is best construed as a general program of research. For these reasons Capital is epistemically distinct from historical materialism: unlike the latter, it is a substantive contribution to social science.
Sleep suppression following kainic acid-induced lesions of the basal forebrain.

We have described elsewhere neurons in the ventral basal forebrain of cats that have elevated discharge rates during sleep and during transitions from waking to sleep, yet have comparatively low discharge rates during waking. These sleep-active neurons may mediate the hypnogenic properties of the basal forebrain. To further evaluate their role in the control of sleep, we examined the effects of basal forebrain lesions produced by microinjections of the relatively cell-selective neurotoxin, kainic acid, on sleep. Lesions were made bilaterally in two regions that contain high densities of sleep-active neurons: the horizontal limb of the diagonal bands of Broca and the lateral preoptic area-substantia innominata. Twelve-hour polygraph recordings were made before and at various intervals after basal forebrain damage in a total of eight cats. The lesions resulted in reduced time spent in deep, nonrapid eye-movement sleep and REM sleep, and increased time spent awake. These abnormalities persisted through 6 to 7 weeks postlesion. Reductions in deep non-REM sleep were due to decreases in bout number, particularly in the number of extended deep non-REM episodes (i.e., those greater than 5 min in duration). The number of REM sleep episodes was also significantly reduced. The average duration of epochs of waking was elevated throughout the postlesion period. Thus, in the postlesion period, cats exhibited an impaired ability to initiate and maintain consolidated periods of sleep, particularly of deeper sleep stages. Lesions were also associated with reduced EEG spindling during sleep. These results are consistent with our hypothesis that sleep-active neurons are a component of a basal forebrain sleep- and EEG-regulating mechanism.
SACRIFICIAL AGAPE AND GROUP SELECTION IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY

Human altruistic behavior has received a great deal of scientific attention over the past forty years. Altruistic-like behaviors found among insects and animals have illumined certain human behaviors, and the revival of interest in group selection has focused attention on how sacrificial altruism, although not adaptive for individuals, can be adaptive for groups. Curiously, at the same time that sociobiology has placed greater emphasis on the value of sacrificial altruism, Protestant ethics in America has moved away from it. While Roman Catholic ethics has a longstanding tradition emphasizing an ordering of love, placing love of self second only to love for God, Protestant ethics in America has adopted a similar stance only recently, replacing a strong sacrificial ethic with one focusing on mutual regard for self and others. If sociobiology is correct about the significance of sacrificial altruistic behaviors for the survival of communities, this shift away from sacrificial agape by American Christianity may cut the community off from important resources for the development of a global ethic crucial for the survival of that faith community and humankind itself.
Prosodic phonology and phonetics

Our colleague Charles Fillmore invented the following parable (personal communication) to characterise the two dominant ways linguists attempt to solve problems of language structure and behaviour.
Transformational superelasticity in sputtered titanium-nickel thin films

Transformational superelasticity, an effect of increasing technical importance, is displayed by alloy systems which are perhaps better known for their shape-memory characteristics. Superelastic materials are capable of large, recoverable anelastic strains associated with the formation and reversion of a stress-induced martensite phase from an ordered intermetallic parent lattice. In the present paper, the authors report the achievement of classic transformational superelasticity in sputtered thin films of titanium-nickel. In this case, the material has been processed so as to possess very fine grain size, which has conferred high austenite strength without post-deposition thermomechanical treatment. The films displayed austenite strengths of 0.8 GPa, fully recovered anelastic strains exceeding 4%, and stored strain energies near 22 MJ/m{sup 3}, clearly demonstrating the feasibility of producing thin film superelastic materials.
The role of ethnic identity in school engagement: perceptions of immigrant Tibetan adolescents in select US public schools

This purpose of the study was to ascertain the level of ethnic identity formation and its perceived role on school engagement for Tibetan adolescents enrolled in public schools in two Midwestern states in the USA. The journey of these students from culturally encapsulated schools from Nepal, Bhutan, and India to multiculturally diverse settings was one of the most fascinating facets of the Tibetan Diaspora. Subjects included 16 girls, 25 boys, and 2 who did not identify their gender. The multigroup ethnic identity measure was used to determine the level of ethnic identity formation of Tibetan students while a questionnaire gathered information on school engagement. The overall ethnic identity measure for this sample was high with a mean of 3.58, while the cognitive and affective aspect of the measure was also high with a mean of 3.56 and 3.74, respectively. The girls showed more emotional commitment to ethnic identity, as their mean score was 3.92, while boys scored 3.62. The results clearly corroborated ...
PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY: SOME VIEWS ON ITS PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND PSYCHODYNAMICS.

Summary Psychopathic personalities have been divided into symptomatic and idiopathic. Symptomatic psychopathies are closely related to or parts of psychoneurotic syndromes, character neuroses and postpsychotic states. One of the mechanisms which is frequently found in the symptomatic type of psychopathic personality is the one described by Szurek and Johnson, which consists of the unconscious sanction of psychopathic behavior on the part of the parents. Idiopathic psychopathic personalities have been divided into the simple, complex, dyssocial and paranoiac types. A characteristic formal mental mechanism, called the short-circuited mechanism, is found to be at the basis of psychopathic behavior. Early psychodynamic factors, involving specific situations in the parent-child relationship, are seen as enhancing the establishment of the short-circuited mechanism. In psychopathic personalities, other than the simple type, long-circuited mechanisms are formed which release or support the short-circuited mechanism.
White Flight in the Context of Education: Evidence from South Carolina

Abstract In the context of education, white flight refers to decreasing white enrollment in poor-performing, inner-city public schools. This article investigates white flight and the concomitant movement to better performing public schools and racially homogenous private schools using elementary school enrollment data from South Carolina, particularly the Columbia Metropolitan Area. The findings indicate a consistent loss of white enrollments from poor-performing, inner-city schools. The private school enrollment rates of whites are also sensitive to both the academic quality and the proportion of minorities in neighborhood schools as well as the racial composition of the neighborhoods.
Protection of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Fouquet) by immunization with varying doses of Tetrahymena pyriformis (Lwoff) cilia

Abstract Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , were immunized with varying doses of Tetrahymena pyriformis ciliary antigen, and challenged with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis . Results indicated that two doses of either 5 μg or 25 μg of T. pyriformis ciliary antigen conferred a high degree of protection against challenge with I. multifiliis . Only 3.1% (5 μg dose) and 2.8% (5 μg dose) of the fish in these groups developed clinical disease resulting in death. Two doses of either 10 μg or 2.5 μg of antigen produced a significant but not acceptable degree of protection, while 1.0 μg of antigen produced no protection.
Embryonic development and metamorphosis of the scyphozoan Aurelia

We investigated the development of Aurelia (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) during embryogenesis and metamorphosis into a polyp, using antibody markers combined with confocal and transmission electron microscopy. Early embryos form actively proliferating coeloblastulae. Invagination is observed during gastrulation. In the planula, (1) the ectoderm is pseudostratified with densely packed nuclei arranged in a superficial and a deep stratum, (2) the aboral pole consists of elongated ectodermal cells with basally located nuclei forming an apical organ, which is previously only known from anthozoan planulae, (3) endodermal cells are large and highly vacuolated, and (4) FMRFamide-immunoreactive nerve cells are found exclusively in the ectoderm of the aboral region. During metamorphosis into a polyp, cells in the planula endoderm, but not in the ectoderm, become strongly caspase 3 immunoreactive, suggesting that the planula endoderm, in part or in its entirety, undergoes apoptosis during metamorphosis. The polyp endoderm seems to be derived from the planula ectoderm in Aurelia, implicating the occurrence of “secondary” gastrulation during early metamorphosis.
Adaptive cutaways for comprehensible rendering of polygonal scenes

In 3D renderings of complex scenes, objects of interest may be occluded by those of secondary importance. Cutaway renderings address this problem by omitting portions of secondary objects so as to expose the objects of interest. This paper introduces a method for generating cutaway renderings of polygonal scenes at interactive frame rates, using illustrative and non-photorealistic rendering cues to expose objects of interest in the context of surrounding objects. We describe a method for creating a view-dependent cutaway shape along with modifications to the polygonal rendering pipeline to create cutaway renderings. Applications for this technique include architectural modeling, path planning, and computer games.
Pathologic correlates of aortic plaques, thrombi and mobile "aortic debris" imaged in vivo with transesophageal echocardiography.

Objectives. This study sought to evaluate the pathologic correlates of aortic atheromas, thrombi and mobile “aortic debris” imaged in vivo by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Background. Atherosclerotic plaques with various complexity, thrombi and debris are frequently identified by TEE during imaging of the aorta. However, pathologic data to characterize these lesions imaged in vivo are lacking. Methods. Intraoperative TEE was performed prospectively in 31 patients undergoing repair of aortic aneurysm or dissection. TEE was used to guide the surgeon to mark aortic areas of interest that were sent for pathologic examination. A four-point scoring system was used for both TEE and pathologic evaluation to grade the degree of involvement of the aortic wall with atheroma. Ultrasound video intensity of the aortic wall lesions was measured and compared with quantitative measures of wall composition at pathologic examination. The presence of thrombi and mobile aortic debris by TEE was noted and compared with pathologic findings. Results. Histologic–TEE correlations were possible in 62 aortic segments. There was 73% exact agreement between TEE and pathologic grading. Discrepancies were mostly in the inability of TEE to detect superficial ulcerations. However, separation of normal aorta and minimal intimal thickening (grades I and II) from more complex atheromas (grades III and IV) was observed in 93%. For identification of thrombus, TEE had a sensitivity of 91% (29 of 32 segments) and a specificity of 90% (27 of 30 segments). Mobile aortic debris were identified in six aortic segments and were confirmed at pathologic examination to be thrombi. Ultrasound video intensity increased with worsening complexity of atheroma and related significantly to aortic plaque composition at pathologic evaluation (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001). Ultrasound intensity of thrombi and mobile debris was similar and was lower than that of complex atheromas. Conclusions. Thus, in the evaluation of aortic pathologic segments, TEE can assess aortic plaque complexity and identify thrombus formation, findings that may have important therapeutic implications.
Transtendon arthroscopic repair of high grade partial-thickness articular surface tears of the rotator cuff with biceps tendon augmentation: technical note and preliminary results

Partial articular surface of the rotator cuff tendon tears has been recognized as a source of treatable shoulder pain and a precursory pathology for full-thickness tendon tears. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a possible surgical method of treatment. Recent data have shown that the treating partial-thickness rotator cuff repairs with transtendon technique shows good clinical outcome. The use of this technique enables the reconstitution of the tendon with complete reconstruction of its footprint without damaging its intact bursal part. In cases of high grade partial articular-sided degenerative rotator cuff tears (involving >50% of the tendon) in older patients, there is a possibility of poor healing or re-tear of the rotator cuff repair, which may be associated with poor tendon quality and substantial thinning of the rotator cuff, subsequently revision surgery in these patients will be demanding. To mitigate these problems, we describe here a new arthroscopic transtendon repair technique with tenotomized long head biceps tendon augmentation for high grade partial articular rotator cuff tear with the goal of providing increase tendon healing, as well as to minimize the probability of failure of the construct and to improve the clinical outcomes. The clinical results of the first 39 consecutive patients are reported showing significant decrease in pain and improved shoulder scores, as well as the post-operative range of motion and with no cases of re-tear of the rotator cuff tendon.
Adsorption of Cationic and Anionic Surfactants on Cyclopentane Hydrates

This work presents the adsorption of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and a cationic one, dodecyl-trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), on cyclopentane (CP) hydrates. Adsorption isotherms were obtained by liquid−liquid titrations. Also, the adsorption was qualitatively studied by zeta potential measurements. The isotherm of both SDS and DTAB exhibits a two-plateau (L-S) type. The saturated adsorption amount in the first step (Langmuir type) is 0.01 and 0.03 mmol g−1 for SDS and DTAB, respectively. The Langmuir equilibrium constant is 1.17 mM−1 for SDS and 0.32 mM−1 for DTAB. The maximum adsorption amount of SDS in the second step (S type) is 2.5 times higher than that in the Langmuir step. The similar trend is observed for DTAB. SDS adsorption shifts the zeta potential from −60 to −90 mV in the first step, followed by a further 30 mV decrease as the adsorption approaches the second plateau. For DTAB, the zeta potential increases from −60 to 50 mV in the Langmuir step and then it approaches...
Urinary behavior of female domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): influence of reproductive status, location, and age

Abstract The urinary behavior of adult domestic dogs ( Canis familiaris ) is sexually dimorphic with respect to the posture (males lift a leg and females squat), frequency of urination (males urinate more frequently than females), and tendency to direct urine at specific objects in the environment (males are more likely than females to direct their urine). Such behavioral differences have led to the belief that urination functions largely, or exclusively, in elimination in female dogs, while having the additional function of scent marking in male dogs. In this study, we observed urinary behavior of six spayed and six non-estrous intact female Jack Russell Terriers during walks on and off their home area. The females ranged in age from 0.4 to 11.2 years. Frequency of urination was positively correlated with age, and females four or more years old directed the majority of their urinations at objects in the environment. Overall, females urinated more frequently and directed more of their urinations when walked off their home area than when walked within their home area. Spayed females were more likely than non-estrous intact females to ground-scratch following defecation; we detected a similar trend for ground-scratching after urination. There was, however, considerable variation among spayed females in the tendency to display ground-scratching behavior. Overall, the most common posture displayed by females while urinating was the squat-raise. Other postures, in order of their frequency of occurrence included squat, arch-raise, combination, and handstand. Females used the squat-raise and arch-raise postures more when off their home area than when on their home area. Overall, there was substantial individual variation among females in the postures used while urinating. Our data indicate that female urinary behavior varies with location and reproductive status, and that substantial individual differences exist among females for some patterns of behavior. Additionally, the large percentages of directed urinations by spayed (60.8%) and non-estrous intact females (56.7%) in our study suggest that urination in female dogs does not function solely in elimination, but that it also has a significant role in scent marking, even when females are not in estrus.
A comparative analysis of merchant and broker intermediation

Abstract This paper provides a comparative analysis of merchant and broker intermediation contracts. The intermediation process begins with commitment to a contractual form, after which intermediaries take actions, demand is realized, and trade occurs with buyers. Merchant intermediaries commit to a purchase quantity at the time contracts are formed, and are compensated with residual surplus. The merchant intermediary form is shown to be best suited to conditions in which demand has low variance, but is highly responsive to intermediary effort. On the other hand brokers do not take title to intermediated goods, and are compensated with revenue-sharing commissions. The broker intermediary form is best suited to conditions in which demand has large variance, and is independent of intermediary effort.
Asynchronous intrusion recovery for interconnected web services

Recovering from attacks in an interconnected system is difficult, because an adversary that gains access to one part of the system may propagate to many others, and tracking down and recovering from such an attack requires significant manual effort. Web services are an important example of an interconnected system, as they are increasingly using protocols such as OAuth and REST APIs to integrate with one another. This paper presents Aire, an intrusion recovery system for such web services. Aire addresses several challenges, such as propagating repair across services when some servers may be unavailable, and providing appropriate consistency guarantees when not all servers have been repaired yet. Experimental results show that Aire can recover from four realistic attacks, including one modeled after a recent Facebook OAuth vulnerability; that porting existing applications to Aire requires little effort; and that Aire imposes a 19--30% CPU overhead and 6--9 KB/request storage cost for Askbot, an existing web application.
Effects of optical phonons in the impurity photoconductivity of ZnTe

Abstract The effects of phonon assisted transitions and longitudinal optical phonon emission by excited carriers are observed in the impurity photoconductivity of ZnTe at low temperatures.
Diffraction by a corner on the edge of a wedge

Abstract The spherical wave diffracted by a corner on the edge of a wedge is determined for a scalar field. A corner is a point at which the edge possesses a jump discontinuity in its J th derivative, j⩾2 , or in its slope, j = 1 , provided that the jump in slope is small. The boundary layer method is used to determine the diifraction coefficients for this corner. In this method, an asymptotic expansion of the field is constructed within a boundary layer surrounding the corner, and another expansion is found outside this layer. The matching of the two expansions yields the diffraction coefficients. Both the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary value problems are considered.
(Al,Ga)Sb long-wavelength distributed Bragg reflectors

The authors have grown long-wavelength distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), using alternating layers of the semiconductors AlSb and (Al,Ga)Sb, and measured their properties. The large refractive index ratio available with these materials allows for high-reflectivity mirrors with relative few mirror pairs. A simple 10-period AlSb/GaSb DBR had a maximum reflectivity of over 98% at a wavelength of 1.92 mu m, and a 12-period Al/sub 0.2/Ga/sub 0.8/Sb/AlSb DBR exhibited reflectance greater than 99% at 1.38 mu m. These structures are easily grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and are suitable for use in surface-normal photonic devices operating at long wavelengths. >
LIPOXINS AND NOVEL ASPIRIN-TRIGGERED 15-EPI-LIPOXINS (ATL) : A JUNGLE OF CELL-CELL INTERACTIONS OR A THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITY?

Lipid-derived mediators play critical roles in inflammation and other multicellular vascular processes, including atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The lipoxins (LXs) were first isolated in 1984, and have continued to show intriguing and potentially important biological roles. These compounds carry a trihydroxytetraene structure and are both structurally and functionally unique among arachidonic acid-derived bioactive products. The availability of synthetic materials for evaluation of bioactions as well as appropriate methods of detection to determine when and where LX are generated has, in recent studies, catapulted our understanding of the formation and actions of the lipoxins. This mini-review addresses new concepts in the formation and biological roles of these lipid-derived mediators and considers whether the lipoxins and the newly discovered aspirin-triggered lipoxins (ATL) represent novel approaches for therapeutic opportunities. Recent findings indicate that select cytokines and aspirin initiate and regulate LX biosynthetic events. These circuits involve cell-cell interfacing that facilitates transcellular events to form LX that display anti-inflammatory actions in both in vitro and in vivo models. These recent results suggest that LX biosynthetic circuits assemble to evoke anti-inflammatory actions and generate LX that can serve as "stop signals" in appropriate microenvironments.
Alphafetoprotein in testicular tumors.

Abstract Fifty patients with testicular tumors of embryonal cell were evaluated for alpha one fetoprotein. The findings were compared with the clinical evolution and the significance of this determination is discussed.
An Adaptive Approach to Real-Time Aggregate Monitoring With Differential Privacy

Sharing real-time aggregate statistics of private data is of great value to the public to perform data mining for understanding important phenomena, such as Influenza outbreaks and traffic congestion. However, releasing time-series data with standard differential privacy mechanism has limited utility due to high correlation between data values. We propose FAST, a novel framework to release real-time aggregate statistics under differential privacy based on filtering and adaptive sampling. To minimize the overall privacy cost, FAST adaptively samples long time-series according to the detected data dynamics. To improve the accuracy of data release per time stamp, FAST predicts data values at non-sampling points and corrects noisy observations at sampling points. Our experiments with real-world as well as synthetic data sets confirm that FAST improves the accuracy of released aggregates even under small privacy cost and can be used to enable a wide range of monitoring applications.