cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The combined effects of chlorine and ammonia on litter breakdown in outdoor experimental streams

The response of Potamogeton crispus L. breakdown to controlled doses of different levels of chlorine and chlorine + ammonia was investigated over two years in outdoor experimental streams. In 1985, downstream riffles of 2 streams were dosed (observed in-stream concentrations) at ca. 10 µg/L Total Residual Chlorine (TRC), one stream at 64 µg/L TRC and one stream at 230 µg/L TRC. Two control streams were not dosed and the upstream riffles of each stream served as within stream controls. In 1986, the downstream riffle of one stream was dosed at 70 µg/L TRC and a second stream was dosed at 200 µg/L TRC. Four streams were also dosed with 2.5 mg/L NH3-N: one stream with no chlorine, one stream with ca. 10 µg/L TRC, one with 56 µg/L TRC, and one with 150 µg/L TRC. A seventh stream was dosed for 2 h at 2000 µg/L TRC and 2.5 mg/L ammonia and then allowed to recover (recovery stream). Each year, litter decomposition (degree day k values) was measured during two 35 day trials (Jun–Jul and Aug–Sep). In 1985, when streams were dosed with chlorine alone, decomposition was significantly reduced with the high (230 µg/L TRC) chlorine dose. Downstream decomposition was 27% (Jun–Jul) and 59% (Aug–Sep) of the upstream (control) rate. No other chlorine effects were found during this period. In Jun–Jul 1986, there was significantly lower decomposition in the downstream dosed sites of the 200 µg/L TRC alone stream, the 146 µg/L TRC + ammonia stream and the recovery stream; downstream decay rates were (respectively) 56%, 42% and 64% of the upstream control sites. No other up-down pairs were different in July 1986. In Aug–Sep, all three streams with chlorine + ammonia (6, 56 and 146 µg/L TRC + 2,5 mg/L ammonia) and the 70 µg/L TRC alone stream had significantly lower decomposition rates in the downstream dosed sites. For these streams, downstream decay rates ranged from 46% (high chlorine + ammonia) to 73% (low chlorine + ammonia) of the upstream control rates. No other up-down pairs were different during this trial. Up and downstream sites of the stream dosed with 2.5 mg/L ammonia alone were nearly identical for both trials (< 3% difference). These results indicate that TRC at less than 250 µg/L can significantly reduce litter decomposition and strongly suggest that addition of ammonia to chlorinated water can increase the toxic effect of chlorine.
Stereospecific chain-branching by c-alkylation at the ketonic and enolic positions of 1,6-anhydro-2,3-o-isopropylidene-β-D-lyxo-hexopyranos-4-ulose

Abstract Attempted base-catalyzed C -formylation at the enolic (C-3) position of 1,6-anhydro-2,3- O -isopropylidene-β- D - lyxo -hexopyranos-4-ulose ( 1 ) gives instead a dimer ( 8 ) of 1 . The ketone 1 is, however, C -alkylated stereospecifically at C-3 by the action of paraformaldehyde in methanolic potassium carbonate; concomitant reduction at C-4 occurs, and 1,6-anhydro-3- C -(hydroxymethyl)-2,3- O -isopropylidene-β- D -talopyranose ( 3 ) is formed. The ketone 1 undergoes stereospecific attack at C-4 by Grignard reagents, and the 4- C -methyl ( 13 ), 4- C -vinyl ( 10 ), and 4-C-ethynyl ( 11 ) derivatives of 1,6-anhydro-2,3- O -isopropylidene-β- D -talopyranose were so prepared. Ozonolysis of 10 and 11 gives the corresponding 4- C -formyl ( 14 ) and 4- C -carboxy ( 16 ) derivatives, respectively. The spiro epoxide 12 formed by action of diazomethane on the ketone 1 has been characterized as the D - talo isomer by its conversion on reduction into the 4 - C -methyl derivative 13 .
Growth Hormone Responses to Continuous Infusions of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone*

The pattern of GH secretion during a continuous 4-h iv infusion of 1 microgram/kg.h GH-releasing hormone (1-44)-NH2 (GHRH-44) or saline was examined in 15 adult men. There was prompt release of GH beginning within 20 min of starting the GHRH-44 infusions, reaching peak GH levels of 43 +/- 11 (+/- SE) ng/ml within 60-90 min. This is similar to the peak GH level reached in men after a single 1 microgram/kg GHRH iv bolus dose (34 +/- 8 ng/ml). GH levels then fell progressively, but did not return to baseline during the GHRH infusions. After GHRH infusions, the response (delta) to a 1 microgram/kg GHRH bolus dose was markedly attenuated (delta GH, 2.7 +/- 0.9 ng/ml) compared to the response (delta GH, 23 +/- 3 ng/ml) after saline infusion. Dispersed rat pituicytes perifused with medium containing 10 nM GHRH-44 responded with an initial rapid rise in GH secretion, followed by a progressive decline, and after 150 min of continuous GHRH exposure, the response to pulses of an equal or higher (100 nM) GHRH concentration was blunted. These results indicate that the peak response to GHRH infusions is similar to that of maximally effective bolus doses; during infusions, the GH response is not sustained; and immediately after GHRH infusions, the response to previously effective bolus doses is reduced. These phenomena could reflect either receptor-mediated desensitization, the depletion of rapidly releasable GH stores, or both. A counterregulatory rise in hypothalamic somatostatin secretion is not necessary to produce these effects, since the same phenomenon occurs in vitro and in vivo.
A new family of the poly-deoxyadenylated class of Drosophila transposable elements identified by a representative member at the dunce locus.

Two transposable elements have been identified at the dunce locus in chromosomes recovered after a premeiotic and interchromosomal conversion event occurred at this gene. One is approximately 8.2 kb and is inserted near the 5′ end of the gene. This element was identified by sequence analysis as a member of the B104 (roo) family of copia-like transposable elements. The second resides near the 3′ end of the gene and represents a new family of the class of poly-deoxyadenylated [poly(dA)] transposable elements. It is 0.38 kb in length and has one terminus consisting of a stretch of 29 deoxyadenosine residues with a polyadenylation site like those found in mRNA molecules, located about 20 pb away from the poly(dA) stretch. Fourteen base pairs of genome DNA is duplicated at the target site of this element.
Estrogen metabolites and breast cancer

Epidemiologic studies link several factors related to estrogen production in women to an increased risk of breast cancer. These include early menarche, late menopause, obesity, use of post-menopausal hormone therapy, and plasma estradiol levels. Two possible mechanisms have been proposed to explain the increased risk: (1) estrogen receptor (ER) mediated stimulation of breast cell proliferation with a concomitant enhanced rate of mutations and (2) metabolism of estradiol to genotoxic metabolites with a resulting increase in DNA mutations. The metabolism of estradiol can cause DNA damage in two ways: (a) formation of estradiol-adenine - guanine adducts which are released from the DNA backbone leaving depurinated sites which undergo error prone DNA repair and mutations and (b) generation of oxygen free radicals resulting from redox cycling of 4-OH estradiol to the 3-4 estradiol quinone and back conversion to 4-OH estradiol. If one or both pathways are operative, sufficient numbers of mutations accumulate over a long period of time to induce neoplastic transformation. Our studies are based on the hypothesis that both receptor-mediated and genotoxic pathways contribute to breast cancer. We initially demonstrated that MCF-7 breast cancer cells and normal breast tissue in aromatase transfected mice contain the enzymes necessary to convert estradiol to the estradiol DNA adducts. We then utilized a highly reductionist model to separately analyze the effect of estrogen receptor alpha (ER) on tumor formation and the effects of estrogen depletion by castration in ER knock out/Wnt-1 (ERKO/Wnt) transgenic animals to assess the effects of estradiol in the absence of an ER. Estradiol was added back in castrate ERKO/Wnt animals to determine if Koch's postulates could be fulfilled to increase the incidence of cancer with administration of exogenous estradiol. Finally, we assessed the effects of an aromatase inhibitor on tumor incidence in non-castrate, ERKO/Wnt animals. The studies demonstrated the conversion of estradiol to genotoxic metabolites in breast tissue. In addition, knockout of ERα caused a reduction in incidence of tumor formation and a delay in the occurrence of those that formed. Oophorectomy further reduced the incidence of tumors and delayed their onset whereas estradiol add-back returned the incidence rate to that observed before oophorectomy. The aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, delayed the onset of tumor formation. Taken together, these data support a role for estradiol metabolism as one of the components in the development of experimental breast cancer.
The Gay Identity Questionnaire: a brief measure of Homosexual Identity Formation

This article describes the development of the Gay Identity Questionnaire (GIQ) which was derived from tenets of the Homosexual Identity Formation (HIF) model proposed by Cass in 1979. The GIQ is a brief measure that may be used by clinicians and researchers for identifying gay males in the various stages of homosexual identity formation. The test construction procedures included the selection of questionnaire items based upon constructs of the Homosexual Identity Formation Model, establishment of interrater and interitem reliability for those items, and refinement of the GIQ through two pilot tests. The final version of the GIQ was administered to two hundred twenty-five males who reported having same-sex fantasies or engaging in homosexual behavior. In addition, demographic and psychosocial data were collected and used to describe the sample and examine the relationship of these variables to subject stage of HIF. Results support the use of the Gay Identity Questionnaire as a brief measure for identifying subject stage of homosexual identity formation. The data also suggest that homosexual identity acquisition may be a two-stage process rather than the six-stage process proposed by Cass (1979). The differentiation between these stages includes whether or not a subject had resolved a coherent self-identity as gay and had a significant relationship to some aspect of the gay culture.
Possible evolutionary steps in the genetic code.

Abstract In mammalian mitochondrial codes, fourfold codons wobble-pair with UNN anticodons so that U wobbles with U, C, A and G. Twofold pyrimidine-terminated codons pair with GNN and twofold purine-terminated codons pair with UNN. These properties enable a prediction to be made for evolution of the universal genetic code. It was postulated (1) that an archetypal code of 16 quartets coded for 15 amino acids. If this code used UNN anticodons, then duplication of tRNA genes, followed by mutations in the anticodons and aminoacylation sites, would give rise to the present universal code.
Microsurgical Reconstruction of Iatrogenic Injuries to the Epididymis From Hydrocelectomy

Purpose: We determined the feasibility and outcome of microsurgical reconstruction of the excurrent ductal tract in men with obstruction secondary to iatrogenic injury to the epididymis from hydrocelectomy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was done to identify men with iatrogenic injury to the epididymis or scrotal vas deferens and a history of hydrocelectomy. The outcome of microsurgical reconstruction was assessed by postoperative semen analysis. Pregnancy data were noted in patients actively attempting to conceive at a followup of 6 months or greater. Results: Eight men were found to have iatrogenic injury to the epididymides (6) or scrotal vas deferens (2) due to previous hydrocelectomy. Injury was bilateral in 4 men and unilateral in 4 with contralateral testicular absence, dysfunction or obstruction resulting from different etiologies, rendering all patients azoospermic. The mean obstructive interval was 16 years (range 6 to 32). Bilateral and unilateral vasoepididymostomy was performed in 4 and 2 men each, and crossed vasovasostomy was performed in 2. Postoperative semen analysis data were available on 6 men. A patent microsurgical anastomosis was observed in 5 of 6 cases (83%). Four of the 5 men with patency had a followup of greater than 6 months, of whom 3 actively pursued conception. One pregnancy was achieved naturally and 1 was achieved by in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Conclusions: Hydrocelectomy may result in inadvertent injury to the excurrent ductal tract, causing obstruction and infertility. Microsurgical reconstruction results in the restoration of spermatozoa to the ejaculate in 83% of cases. The return of spermatozoa to the ejaculate may provide the couple with an opportunity to conceive naturally or through assisted reproduction.
Range Expansion in the Northeast Pacific by an Estuary Mud Crab – A Molecular Study

The potential habitat of the introduced estuary crab Rhithropanopeus harrisi (Gould, 1841) in Oregon and central California was surveyed to discover current sites of presence. In order to infer the direction of range expansion and attempt to trace the source population, a 523 bp sequence of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome c oxidase I was compared between three Pacific populations (28–39 individuals/population), with one mid-Atlantic population included for assessment as a hypothetical source. Notably, this species persists at fairly low densities in the Pacific despite its apparent habitat tolerance, and range expansion and establishment over a broad geographic area. It was possible to deduce that the current Pacific populations descend from a single introduction event. Despite a genetic bottleneck, the historical record of range expansion in a northward direction is reinforced by the molecular data. In order to consider the plausibility of coastal advective transport versus ballast water or aquaculture transport, the new genetic information is evaluated together with the records of northward range expansion for this and other species introduced into San Francisco Bay, including the European green crab, which has had a similar population trajectory. The genetic and temporal patterns that should be expected under these contrasting mechanisms are discussed for typical NE Pacific oceanic conditions, and during years influenced by the El Nino-Southern oscillation.
Obesity and length of hospital stay in children: A retrospective review of Florida Agency for Health Care Administration data

Abstract The objective of this analysis was to determine the association between childhood obesity and hospital length of stay (LOS) utilizing the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) database. Children aged 6–18years old who were admitted to Florida hospitals in the United States during 2005 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of overweight, obesity, or morbid obesity were coded as "obese" ( n =2257). Children without any of these three diagnoses were coded as "non-obese" ( n =69,180). Due to the small number of overweight or obese children under age 6, the analyses were restricted to children between 6 and 18years old. The adjusted mean LOS (days) was compared between obese and non-obese groups. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified correlates of a long LOS (≥3days). Of 2257 obese children, 80% were 12–18years old, 59% were girls, and 51% were insured by Medicaid. Among non-obese children, the proportions were 66% (12–18years), 47% (girls), and 42% (Medicaid beneficiaries). Mean LOS was greater in obese (3.2days) than in non-obese (2.8days) children ( p
Genetic effects of nine Gossypium barbadense L. chromosome substitution lines in top crosses with five elite Upland cotton G. hirsutum L. cultivars

Crosses between Gossypium barbadense L and Gossypium hirsutum L. (Upland cotton) have produced limited success in introgressing fiber quality genes into the latter. Chromosome substitution lines (CSBL) have complete chromosomes or chromosome arms from G. barbadense, line 3-79, substituted for the corresponding chromosome or arms in G. hirsutum in a near isogenic background of TM-1. We top crossed nine CSBL and their parents (TM-1 and 3-79) with five cultivars. Parental lines and their F2 populations were evaluated in four environments for agronomic and fiber quality traits. The CSBL and their F2 hybrids showed wide ranges for both agronomic and fiber traits of economic importance. Genetic analysis showed that additive variances were larger than dominance variances for lint percentage, boll weight, lint yield, fiber length, strength, elongation, micronaire, and yellowness; whereas, dominance variances were larger than additive variances only for uniformity of fiber length and equal for fiber reflectance. For all traits, except boll weight and lint yield, significant additive effects of one or more chromosomes from 3-79 in TM-1 background were greater than the corresponding TM-1 chromosome. In addition, we identified specific chromosomes from G. barbadense (3-79) that carry alleles for improvements in specific fiber quality traits in Upland cotton. Favorable additive effects of individual chromosomes or chromosome segments from 3-79 relative to corresponding chromosomes or chromosomes segments from TM-1 were identified in this study as follows: Lint percentage, chromosome/arms 10, 16-15; longer fibers, chromosome/arms 01, 11sh, 26Lo; more uniform fibers, chromosomes/arms 01, 11sh, 10, 17-11; stronger fibers, chromosome/arms 01, 11sh, 12sh, 26Lo, 17-11; fiber elongation, chromosomes/arms 01, 11sh, 26Lo, 10, 17-11; reduced fiber micronaire, chromosome/arms 01, 12sh, 4-15, 16-15, 17-11; fibers with more reflectance, chromosome/arms 10, 4-15, 16-15, 17-11; fiber with less yellowness, chromosome arms 4-15, 17-11. Based on the present study, we concluded that by using CSBL, favorable fiber quality alleles can be introgressed into Upland cotton, thus greatly improving the breeder’s ability for improvement of Upland cotton for a variety of traits. These data should provide useful genetic information to the cotton breeding industry at large.
Geopolitics and the Post-Colonial: Rethinking North-South Relations

David Slater. Oxford, U.K.: Blackwell, 2004. x and 286 pp., refs, index. $34.95 (ISBN 0-631-21453-4). Geopolitics and the Post-Colonial is a rich contribution to the analysis of the imperialist geo...
Incorporating organic soil into a global climate model

Organic matter significantly alters a soil’s thermal and hydraulic properties but is not typically included in land-surface schemes used in global climate models. This omission has consequences for ground thermal and moisture regimes, particularly in the high-latitudes where soil carbon content is generally high. Global soil carbon data is used to build a geographically distributed, profiled soil carbon density dataset for the Community Land Model (CLM). CLM parameterizations for soil thermal and hydraulic properties are modified to accommodate both mineral and organic soil matter. Offline simulations including organic soil are characterized by cooler annual mean soil temperatures (up to ∼2.5°C cooler for regions of high soil carbon content). Cooling is strong in summer due to modulation of early and mid-summer soil heat flux. Winter temperatures are slightly warmer as organic soils do not cool as efficiently during fall and winter. High porosity and hydraulic conductivity of organic soil leads to a wetter soil column but with comparatively low surface layer saturation levels and correspondingly low soil evaporation. When CLM is coupled to the Community Atmosphere Model, the reduced latent heat flux drives deeper boundary layers, associated reductions in low cloud fraction, and warmer summer air temperatures in the Arctic. Lastly, the insulative properties of organic soil reduce interannual soil temperature variability, but only marginally. This result suggests that, although the mean soil temperature cooling will delay the simulated date at which frozen soil begins to thaw, organic matter may provide only limited insulation from surface warming.
Statins decrease dendritic arborization in rat sympathetic neurons by blocking RhoA activation

Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that statins decrease sympathetic activity, but whether peripheral mechanisms involving direct actions on post-ganglionic sympathetic neurons contribute to this effect is not known. Because tonic activity of these neurons is directly correlated with the size of their dendritic arbor, we tested the hypothesis that statins decrease dendritic arborization in sympathetic neurons. Oral administration of atorvastatin (20 mg/kg/day for 7 days) significantly reduced dendritic arborization in vivo in sympathetic ganglia of adult male rats. In cultured sympathetic neurons, statins caused dendrite retraction and reversibly blocked bone morphogenetic protein-induced dendritic growth without altering cell survival or axonal growth. Supplementation with mevalonate or isoprenoids, but not cholesterol, attenuated the inhibitory effects of statins on dendritic growth, whereas specific inhibition of isoprenoid synthesis mimicked these statin effects. Statins blocked RhoA translocation to the membrane, an event that requires isoprenylation, and constitutively active RhoA reversed statin effects on dendrites. These observations that statins decrease dendritic arborization in sympathetic neurons by blocking RhoA activation suggest a novel mechanism by which statins decrease sympathetic activity and protect against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
The problems of patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing dental treatment.

Treatment for patients with cardiovascular disease is discussed. There are many reasons why the dentist needs to be concerned with heart disease. Currently, average human life expectancy is over 70 years, and more than 28 million persons have cardiovascular disease. These patients have a decreased ability to recover from stress, and dental treatment often needs to be altered.
The lowly nasogastric tube: Still appropriate after all these years (at times)

Abstract The nasogastric (NG) tube has an enduring place in our diagnostic and therapeutic armamentarium and its insertion is one of the more common invasive procedures practiced by emergency room physicians, internists, and surgeons. The NG tube, however, is not without complications or discomfort to the patient. Use of the NG tube is often considered reflexively rather than on the basis of practicality, scientific evidence, or concern for patient outcome. This review will hopefully inspire physicians to reconsider this instrument's usefulness for individual patients on a case-by-case basis.
WE‐G‐224‐01: History Symposium ‐ Historical Aspects of Brachytherapy

This presentation will review some of the historic developments in brachytherapy treatment. The early history of brachytherapy is primarily the history of radium and its daughter products, particularly 222Rn. Much of this history is interwoven with the histories of institutions in North America and Europe, such as the Memorial Hospital, Harvard Medical School, the Huntington Memorial Hospital, closed in 1941, with its activities transferred to the Massachusetts General Hospital, M.D. Anderson Hospital, the Mayo Clinic, the Radium Institute of Paris, the Radium Hemmet in Stockholm and the Holt Radium Institute in Manchester. Noted personalities such as William Duane, Gioacchino Failla, Robert Abbe, Henry Janeway, Victor Hess and Enrico Fermi all worked with “radium cows” which supplied radon gas in seeds and tubes for treatment. Edith Quimby and Herbert Parker made significant advances in dosimetry, developing systems for planar implants and more complex geometries. Noted physicians such as Gilbert Fletcher, Ulrich Henschke, Luis Delclos and Nisar Syed developed applicators and procedures for using radioactive sources for treatment. Modern brachytherapy techniques were developed in the 1960's with the search for radium‐substitute materials including 125I and 192Ir. This time period also saw the development of remote afterloading by Henschke and his associates and the adaptation of computertechnology which facilitated the development of more accurate, user friendly techniques of dosimetry. In the modern era, remote afterloading in conjunction with high dose rate radioactive sources (HDR) and the use of 125I and 103Pd seeds have become staples of modern treatment.
SSC: A Classifier Combination Method Based on Signal Strength

We propose a new classifier combination method, the signal strength-based combining (SSC) approach, to combine the outputs of multiple classifiers to support the decision-making process in classification tasks. As ensemble learning methods have attracted growing attention from both academia and industry recently, it is critical to understand the fundamental issues of the combining rule. Motivated by the signal strength concept, our proposed SSC algorithm can effectively integrate the individual vote from different classifiers in an ensemble learning system. Comparative studies of our method with nine major existing combining rules, namely, geometric average rule, arithmetic average rule, median value rule, majority voting rule, Borda count, max and min rule, weighted average, and weighted majority voting rules, is presented. Furthermore, we also discuss the relationship of the proposed method with respect to margin-based classifiers, including the boosting method (AdaBoost.M1 and AdaBoost.M2) and support vector machines by margin analysis. Detailed analyses of margin distribution graphs are presented to discuss the characteristics of the proposed method. Simulation results for various real-world datasets illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Introduction to special issue: The varieties of family history. Dedicated to the memory of Tamara K. Hareven (1937–2002)

During her thirty-five-year involvement with the field of family history and in the publications that involvement generated, Tamara Hareven, co-editor of The History of the Family: An International...
The Goodlett-Denny mound: a glimpse at 45 years of Pennsylvania treethrow mound evolution with implications for mass wasting

Abstract A rootplate/mound formed by the uprooting of a black cherry tree ( Prunus serotina ) in Potter County, Pennsylvania, was photographed in 1950 near the time of formation and again in 1952 and 1963 by J.C. Goodlett and C.S. Denny. The mound was located and photographed by the author in 1989 with the aid of background trees with identifying peculiarities and using the earlier consistent perspectives. Between 1950 and 1963 most of the rootmass had decomposed, leaving a mound with an estimated volume of 5.28 m 3 in 1963. By 1989 the mound had lost 60% of its 1963 height and its volume had diminished to 2.09 m 3 . Mean annual erosion on the mound from 1989 to 1995 was much less than during the 1963–1989 period indicating a diminishing sediment contribution to the forest floor commensurate with lowering of the mound surface.
Dictyostelium discoideum cAMP Receptor, G Protein-Independent Pathways

Seven-transmembrane receptors can transduce signals in the absence of productive heterotrimeric guanosine triphosphate-binding protein (G protein) interaction. In Dictyostelium discoideum , these signals activate transcriptional, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Ca 2+ influx pathways, as well as ligand-stimulated phosphorylation of the receptors themselves. This Connections Map illustrates the pathways that remain active in D. discoideum carrying mutations in various G protein genes. Science Viewpoint A. R. Kimmel, C. A. Parent, The signal to move: D. discoideum go orienteering. Science 300 , 1525-1527 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]
Uncertainty of hyperon couplings and the electrochemical potential in neutron star matter

Uncertainty of the hyperon couplings, in particular, that of the {Sigma}{sup -}, in dense matter raises the question of the behavior of the electrochemical potential in neutron star matter, which is crucial to the possible presence of the kaon condensed phase. We show that regardless of this uncertainty, the {Lambda} hyperon, whose coupling can be constrained by its binding in nuclear matter and other observations, by itself, or also aided by the {Xi}{sup -}, introduces a saturation of the electrochemical potential just as the {Sigma}{sup -} would otherwise do, which tends to mitigate against kaon condensation. The maximum possible mass of neutron stars appears to be {approx}(1.5--1.7)M{sub (circle dot)} independent of the uncertainties, the limit being imposed by any one of hyperonization, deconfinement, or kaon condensation. Interestingly, such a limit is barely higher than the Chandrasekhar limit on the iron core mass of presupernova stars. This leaves a very small mass window for the existence of neutron stars, for the occurrence of supernovas, and therefore for a universe containing heavy elements and at least one planet with life.
Ambiguities in the Identification of Giant Molecular Cloud Complexes from Longitude-Velocity Diagrams

Techniques which use longitude-velocity diagrams to identify molecular cloud complexes in the disk of the Galaxy are investigated by means of model Galactic disks generated from N-body cloud-particle simulations. A procedure similar to the method used to reduce the low-level emission in Galactic l-v diagrams is employed to isolate complexes of emission in the model l-v diagram (LVCs) from the 'background'clouds. The LVCs produced in this manner yield a size-line-width relationship with a slope of 0.58 and a mass spectrum with a slope of 1.55, consistent with Galactic observations. It is demonstrated that associations identified as LVCs are often chance superpositions of clouds spread out along the line of sight in the disk of the model system. This indicates that the l-v diagram cannot be used to unambiguously determine the location of molecular cloud complexes in the model Galactic disk. The modeling results also indicate that the existence of a size-line-width relationship is not a reliable indicator of the physical nature of cloud complexes, in particular, whether the complexes are gravitationally bound objects.
Absence of host tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 attenuates manifestations of idiopathic pneumonia syndrome.

The interaction of TNF-α with TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) activates several signal transduction pathways that lead to apoptosis or NF-κB-dependent inflammation and immunity. We hypothesized that host TN...
Advanced Disturbances of the Cardiac Mechanism in Potassium Intoxication in Man

The use of the artificial kidney at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in the treatment of acute renal shutdown has afforded a unique and extensive opportunity to study the disturbances of rhythm and conduction occurring in potassium intoxication. In this theoretic, and at times frankly speculative, paper the authors present evidence which suggests the applicability to man of Wiggers' views based upon animal experimentation, namely that the ectopic rhythms developing in this condition arise "by default" (escape mechanisms) rather than "by usurpation" (increased excitability) and that potassium exerts its early and preponderant effect upon the subendocardial layers of the human ventricle.
Response of multicellular tumor spheroids to multiple fractions of negative PI-mesons and X-rays

Abstract Two cell lines in the form of multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) were used as test systems to compare fractionated negative pi meson (pion) radio-therapy (10 daily fractions in 11 to 14 days) with single-fraction pions, as well as single and 10-fraction doses of X rays. The pion irradiations were carried out in the proximal and distal regions of a modulated 8 cm pion peak. The results showed: (1) The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for pion increased significantly with fractionation, and this increase in RBE with fractionation was greater in the cell line with the smaller D q in single cell systems. (2) The RBE was the same in the proximal and distal portions of the pion peak. (3) The amount of reduction in the threshold region with 10 fractions of pions was less than a simple multiple of the amount of reduction of the threshold region with a single fraction of pions.
Zoospore inhibition in Spongiochloris typica.

Inhibition of zoospores of unicellular chlorococcacean alga by soil bacillus through ammonium ion
Structural isomerism of mono- and sesquiterpenoid skeletons☆☆☆

Abstract A generator of chemical structures (CONGEN) has been utilized to investigate two aspects of the structural isomerism of mono- and sesquiterpenoid skeletons: (1) the scope of possible isomers under various structural constraints; and (2) the scope of possible isomers based on a mechanistic model which allows interactive exploration of reactions of formation and interconversion. The possibilities, even under severe constraints, are many more than the structural types commonly encountered in natural. These results indicate the potential danger of structural assignment based in part on biogenic grounds.
Exercise and fitness in children with arthritis: evidence of benefits for exercise and physical activity.

A sedentary lifestyle is known to be a significant risk factor for mortality from all causes in adults (1). Increased physical activity (PA) is associated with improved health and delayed mortality from chronic disease (2). The increasing prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in children (3) and the potential tracking of PA habits into adulthood (4) influenced the Healthy People 2010 objectives that call for all children to increase their PA (5). Children with juvenile arthritis (JA) experience joint swelling, pain, and limited mobility, which contribute to decreased PA, fitness, and function, increasing their risk for disability from long-term disease (6). Research documents significant cardiovascular and musculoskeletal deficits and delayed motor development in children with JA (7–21). Although impairments are most pronounced in children with severe articular disease, poor fitness is also reported in those with mild symptoms, and deficits often persist long after arthritis resolves (12,13). Studies show that children with JA can undergo exercise testing (7–17) and participate in sports and physical conditioning programs (22–27) without disease exacerbation. However, there is a paucity of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of PA and exercise on physical fitness, function, and general health in children with JA. This article reviews what is known about muscle structure and function, aerobic capacity, and PA in children with JA and their response to exercise programs. Areas of limited knowledge and suggestions for future research are discussed. A search of the literature was conducted using Medline via Ovid for studies examining exercise capacity and the effects of exercise in children with JA. The search was limited to studies involving humans and written in the English language. This was not an exhaustive review, and because many of the studies are published only in abstract form, no attempt was made to assess or rate the quality of the studies cited.
Application of Van Oss-Chaudhury-Good theory of wettability to interpretation of interfacial free energies of heterogeneous nucleation☆

Abstract The Van Oss-Chaudhury-Good (VCG) theory of wettability is used to understand the role of hydrophilic and hydrophobic interfacial forces in promoting heterogeneous nucleation from solution-phase precipitation processes. The interfacial free energy of nucleation for heterogeneous processes is simply related to the relative nucleus-solvent and nucleus-surface areas and their individual interfacial free energies. VCG theory is used to extend this relationship to the individual surface free energies of the isolated phases. Surface free energies obtained from, for example, surface tension measurements and surface probe contact-angle measurements provide independent measure of the needed quantities. We use classical nucleation theory and VCG theory to connect the two types of experiments and allow prediction of how various types of surfaces may induce the heterogeneous nucleation in various solvents. A variety of examples are discussed that illuminate the important surface properties relevant to heterogeneous nucleation. This approach allows a rational design of surfaces to either promote or inhibit precipitate formation.
Consequences of the Black sense of self.

In this study, the authors proposed that African Americans, unlike their European American counterparts, fashion a sense of self with a more collectivistic focus. Moreover, it was hypothesized that Black self-constructs should have a marked influence on a range of outcomes. Using a sample of African American adults, the influence of a multifaceted Black self-construct (African self-consciousness, ethnic identity, and Black identity) was examined on specific social and political orientations. Separating these self-constructs into African-centered and non-African-centered, the authors were able to show that the separate facets of the self-construct are correlated, reflect a strong sense of self, indicate a collectivist orientation, and tend to affect a number of important social and political orientations. African self-consciousness, as an example of African-centered theorizing of the concept of self, had an effect on almost all the outcomes in predictable ways and, in a comparative sense, was a more signif...
Effects of threat of shock and control over shock on finger pulse volume, pulse rate and systolic blood pressure

Previous research has evaluated finger pulse volume (FPV) as a psychophysiological measure and found it to reflect anxiety, orienting, effort and anger. Controllable versus uncontrollable threats have been found to have different effects on cardiovascular parameters, including pulse rate (PR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). To date, no studies have compared the effects of such coping efforts on FPV with their effects on PR and SBP. The present study examined the response of PR, SBP and FPV to conditions of controllable shock, uncontrollable shock and no shock. As expected, SBP and PR measures were elevated in the controllable as compared to uncontrollable shock conditions, replicating previous work on cardiovascular responses to coping demands. In contrast, FPV was sensitive to the threat of shock, but did not differ as a function of the coping demands of the task. The findings were discussed in terms of the interpretation of FPV as a psychophysiological measure.
Increasing the Rate of Influenza Vaccination in Children With Asthma Using a Clinic Staff and Provider Educational Intervention

Objective. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to evaluate how the use of an educational intervention aimed at staff and providers at a pediatric primary care clinic compared with no ...
Activation of 2,4-dinitrophenol-stimulated ATPase activity in cauliflower and corn mitochondria

Cauliflower mitochondria do not have a 2,4-dinitrophenol-stimulated ATPase unless they are permitted a brief period of respiration (respiratory priming) or are preincubated for an extensive period with ATP (self-priming). Both priming processes are dependent on Mg/sup 2 +/, and are collapsed by 2,4-dinitrophenol in the absence of ATP. Corn mitochondria, which an endogenous DNP-ATPase, contain significantly more Mg/sup 2 +/ and adenine nucleotides than cauliflower mitochondria. Primed cauliflower mitochondria have Mg/sup 2 +/ content comparable to corn mitochondria. Cauliflower mitochondria will actively accumulate adenine nucleotides through atractyloside-insensitive sites. It appears that priming consists of creating an electrochemical potential which is needed for accumulation of Mg/sup 2 +/ or adenine nucleotides or for charge compensation of the ATP/sup 4 -//ADP/sup 3 -/ exchange. (auth)
ACUTE HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS FOLLOWING OCTREOTIDE ADMINISTRATION IN A PATIENT WITH MALIGNANT PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

Abstract A patient with a known history of resected pheochromocytoma was evaluated for recurrent paroxysmal hypertension. The recurrent tumor was localized by magnetic resonance imaging and by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. Since this scintigraphy demonstrated the presence of somatostatin receptors, empiric treatment with the somatostatin analogue octreotide was initiated in an attempt to stabilize catecholamine secretion prior to attempted surgical resection. The patient experienced a paradoxical reaction manifested by an acute hypertensive crisis which was rapidly responsive to intravenous nicardipine. Stimulation of such a hypertensive crisis by octreotide has not previously been reported. The etiology of this reaction is unclear. We conclude that octreotide and other somatostatin analogues should be administered with extreme caution to patients with known or suspected pheochromocytomas.
Extension of the MC68000 architecture to include Standard Floating-point arithmetic

The synthetic aspect of designing a computer architecture is particularly evident when the design is highly constrained from two independent directions. Floating-point extensions of the MC68000 architecture incorporate the IEEE Proposed Floating-point Standard into the existing MC68000 architecture.
The use of line spectrum pairs for the production of pipe organ-like sounds

A method for generating pipe-organ like sounds using line spectrum pairs (LSPs) is presented. Techniques for introducing forms of randomness which are characteristics of acoustic instruments are described. The representation is extremely compact, allowing thousands of individual sounds to be specified for an instrument. In addition, the LSP parameters can be easily modified to allow an instrument to be voiced for a particular installation. The LSP values can also be modified during playback to produce subtle phase modulation of selected frequency components of the synthetic sound. Such variations from pipe to pipe and from cycle to cycle introduce an element of naturalness into the synthetic sound. >
Place meanings and desired management outcomes

Abstract Federal land management agencies and social scientists have been attempting to understand place meanings and the perceptions of resource users for decades. In this research, we suggest that understanding the relationships between the meanings individuals ascribe to managed landscapes and those individuals’ preferences for management outcomes have become increasingly important. The processes of devolution and globalization have simultaneously increased the need for locally informed collaborative management and increased the importance of local ‘place’. Following the cognitive perspective on place, we examine how individuals’ place meanings affect their desired management outcomes. Data come from a questionnaire administered to residents living near three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed projects within Illinois’ Kaskaskia River Watershed. Confirmatory factor analysis is employed to validate a seven-dimensional scale of place meanings and a six-dimensional scale of desired management outcomes. Subsequent structural equation modeling revealed that desired management outcomes were significantly influenced by place meanings (12 significant relationships found). Most notably, the analysis revealed that believing the managed resource area contributed to the local community's identity significantly and positively influenced all of the possible management outcomes. The connection between resource management and community identity matters. Other findings reveal individuals attached a variety of meanings to the resource, and that these meanings can affect desired management preferences in distinct and potentially conflicting ways. In sum, our findings begin to unravel some of the complexities between the various meanings attached to managed landscapes and their affect on desired management outcomes.
Acute encephalopathy after initiation of cranial irradiation for meningeal leukaemia.

Abstract Five patients experienced severe encephalopathy within hours of receiving their initial dose of cranial irradiation for the treatment of central-nervous-system leukaemia. Neurological findings included cranial-nerve palsies, seizures, ataxia, depressed consciousness, increased intracranial pressure, and signs of herniation. Symptoms developed within 3–30 hours of the first radiation treatment of 50–200 rad. Each patient had also received one or more injections of intrathecal chemotherapy before encephalopathy devel-oped. The aetiology of this syndrome is uncertain but may involve transient cerebral œdema and/or an altered blood-brain barrier produced by the combination of in-trathecal chemotherapy and cranial irradiation.
Accelerated similarity searching and clustering of large compound sets by geometric embedding and locality sensitive hashing

Motivation: Similarity searching and clustering of chemical compounds by structural similarities are important computational approaches for identifying drug-like small molecules. Most algorithms available for these tasks are limited by their speed and scalability, and cannot handle today's large compound databases with several million entries. Results: In this article, we introduce a new algorithm for accelerated similarity searching and clustering of very large compound sets using embedding and indexing (EI) techniques. First, we present EI-Search as a general purpose similarity search method for finding objects with similar features in large databases and apply it here to searching and clustering of large compound sets. The method embeds the compounds in a high-dimensional Euclidean space and searches this space using an efficient index-aware nearest neighbor search method based on locality sensitive hashing (LSH). Second, to cluster large compound sets, we introduce the EI-Clustering algorithm that combines the EI-Search method with Jarvis–Patrick clustering. Both methods were tested on three large datasets with sizes ranging from about 260 000 to over 19 million compounds. In comparison to sequential search methods, the EI-Search method was 40–200 times faster, while maintaining comparable recall rates. The EI-Clustering method allowed us to significantly reduce the CPU time required to cluster these large compound libraries from several months to only a few days. Availability: Software implementations and online services have been developed based on the methods introduced in this study. The online services provide access to the generated clustering results and ultra-fast similarity searching of the PubChem Compound database with subsecond response time. Contact: thomas.girke@ucr.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Provide History Of Religion And God

There is a need for high school, college, and university educators to introduce their students to a history of mankind’s development of religions and beliefs in God. Regarded as too sensitive a subject, students are deprived of learning how mankind has evolved ways to establish moral and righteous behavior to maintain harmony among competing groups within a growing community. Based upon facts and findings surfaced by such respected Egyptologists as James H. Breasted and E.A. Wallis Budge, this author conclusively reveals how the first formal religion of Egypt has been emulated by the Judaic, Christian, and Islamic religions. Historical findings provide meaningful evidence of the spiritual nature of man, the emergence of one God Amen, the development of the concepts of truth, a soul, hereafter, Son of God, and a universal God. These findings afford greater insights in the fields of theology, humanities, psychology, and sociology studies. More importantly, a greater understanding of the nature of man can energize religious leaders and the public to effect possible solutions with the assistance of those with perceptive minds and love of humanity.