cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Too Late for Luck: A Comparison of Post-Furman Exonerations and Executions of the Innocent

This study is a quantitative analysis designed to compare two groups of factually innocent capital defendants: those who were exonerated and those who were executed. There are a total of 97 cases in the sample, including 81 exonerations and 16 executions. The primary objective of the authors is to identify factors that may predict case outcomes among capital defendants with strong claims of factual innocence. Through the use of a logistic regression model, the following variables were significant predictors of case outcome (exoneration vs. execution): allegations of perjury, multiple types of evidence, prior felony record, type of attorney at trial, and race of the defendant. These results point toward significant problems with the administration of capital punishment deriving primarily from the quality of the case record created at trial.
Electronic and chemical properties of In and Sb adsorbed on Ge(100) studied by synchrotron photoemission.

The initial stages of interface formation for In and Sb, each separately adsorbed on the Ge(100)-(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) surface, have been investigated for various submonolayer coverages with use of synchrotron-photoemission and high-energy electron-diffraction techniques. By examining the evolution of the substrate and adsorbate core-level line shapes during the adsorbate growth it is possible to deduce chemical and structural information. The dimer-related surface-shifted component of the Ge 3d core level is found to gradually convert into a component possessing a binding energy indistinguishable from the bulk component for increasing Sb coverages. For submonolayer In depositions, this surface-shifted component results in a chemically shifted interface component which is distinguishable from the emission from bulk atoms and unreacted Ge dimers. The resulting chemical shifts are consistent with expectations based on electronegativity arguments. For both In and Sb, the adsorbate-to-substrate bonding coordination number is obtained for various submonolayer coverages. The homogeneity of the adsorbate bonding is evaluated by examining the width of the In and Sb 4d core-level line shapes. The Fermi-level position relative to the gap for various In and Sb coverages and the Schottky-barrier heights are obtained. Photoemission from the valence bands shows a modification in the dimer-derived surface states upon In and Sb adsorption; the surfaces show little density of states at the Fermi level for coverages below 1 monolayer. Structural models for the In/Ge(100)-(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) and Sb/Ge(100)-(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) surfaces which correlate with the data are discussed.
Oxidation and low temperature stability of vegetable oil-based lubricants

Vegetable oils are promising candidates as base fluid for eco-friendly lubricants because of their excellent lubricity, biodegradability, viscosity–temperature characteristics and low volatility. Their use, however, is restricted due to low thermo-oxidative stability and poor cold flow behavior. This paper presents a systematic approach to improve the oxidation behavior and low temperature fluidity of vegetable oil derivatives. Among the various possible avenues available, the combination of chemical additives, diluent (polyalphaolefin), and high-oleic vegetable oils offer the best option for achieving the ultimate goal. Vegetable oil-based lubricants formulated using the above approach exhibit superior oxidative stability, and improved low temperature properties such as pour points compared to commercially available industrial oils such as bio-based hydraulic fluids. The above vegetable oil-based formulations compare at par with petroleum-based lubricants for use in high-temperature applications and often outperform the competition in some of its properties.
PURINE AND MONOAMINE METABOLITES IN CEREBRAL SPINAL FLUID: 57

The end products of purine metabolism in the brain, hypoxanthine (Hx) and xanthine (X), have been used as markers of clinical activity in some disease states. The Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, hypoxic brain damage, and memory loss during depression are all associated with high Hx in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The highly significant correlation between CSF purines (either Hx or X) and CSF monoamines (either HVA or HIAA) in depressed patients (J Neurol, Neurosurg, Psych 46:253, 1983) suggest a direct modulation of monoamine neurotransmitter release by purines. We examined the relationship between the individual CSF concentrations of Hx and X with both HVA and HIAA in 3 Lesch-Nyhan patients (25 CSF samples) and 16 controls (16 samples). No correlation (r=0.2, Pearson) was found between Hx and either HVA or HIAA or between X and either HVA or HIAA in both the Lesch-Nyhan and control subjects. Close correlation (r=0.91) was found between HVA and HIAA in the Lesch-Nyhan patients but not in the controls. Correlation between Hx and X was seen in control spinal fluid (r=0.62) but not in Lesch-Nyhan patients. These findings do not support prior reports of a direct modulatory role for purines in monoamine neurotransmitter release.
Early Diagenetic Silica Deposition in Algal Cysts and Spores: A Source of Sand in Black Shales?

ABSTRACT Devonian black shales deposited on the North American craton contain abundant Tasmanites cysts. Although these are typically flattened because of compaction, a small proportion are filled with diagenetic silica. The latter are spherical to ellipsoidal (0.1-0.5 mm), and filled with chalcedony, microquartz and megaquartz, and single quartz crystals. Chalcedonic cyst fillings are preserved best in cheat and phosphate nodules, whereas megaquartz and single quartz crystals are most common in shale matrix. Together with colloform textures, this suggests that the various silica types originated from recrystallization of early diagenetic silica deposits. Thin sandstone beds in the Chattanooga Shale (e.g., Bransford Sandstone) contain abundant quartz sand that is much coarser than the detrital quartz component of the underlying black shales. Because of this, their quartz component is thought to have been transported over considerable distances from the basin margin. However, because certain shale horizons contain as much as 10% silicified cysts that upon reworking could have yielded quartz grains of fine to coarse sand size, the quartz component of these sandstone beds may actually have formed in situ. Indeed, petrographic examination of the sandstone beds shows them to contain quartz grains with morphological and textural features of "cyst" quartz (e.g., rounding, sphericity, chalcedony, pyrite inclusions, lobate grain margins). Thus, silica deposition in algal cysts may provide a significant component of intrabasinal quartz sand in shale sequences. Distinction of this type of quartz from extrabasinal detrital quartz is important to the reconstruction of the depositional history of shale sequences.
Maximizing the Natural Frequencies and Transverse Stiffness of Centrally damped, Circular Disks by Thickening the Clamped Part of the Disk

The natural frequencies and transverse stiffness of centrally clamped, circular disks are computed taking into account the flexibility of the central clamp and the thickness of the clamped part of the disk. When compared to experimental vibration data, these predictions are more accurate than the traditional, perfect clamping predictions, particularly for zero and one-nodal-diameter vibration modes. The reduction in natural frequency or transverse stiffness caused by clamping flexibility can be mitigated either by increasing the clamping stiffness or by increasing the hub thickness, defined here as the thickness of the disk sandwiched by the central clamp. A design study of these two alternatives for both stationary and rotating disks shows that increasing the hub thickness is often a more attractive design alternative.
Papillomaviruses infect cells via a clathrin-dependent pathway

In this study we have examined the pathway by which papillomaviruses infect cells, using bovine papillomavirus (BPV) virions and mouse C127 cells as the model system. By confocal microscopy, the entry of BPV virions, BPV virus-like particles (VLPs), and HPV16 VLPs were very similar. In dually exposed cells, HPV-16 VLPs and BPV virions colocalized intracellularly. BPV VLPs colocalized with AP-2, a clathrin adapter molecular and a marker of the clathrin-dependent endocytic pathway; and also with transferrin receptor, a marker of early endosomes; and Lamp-2, a marker of late endosomes and lysosomes. BPV infection was detected within 12 h of virion cell-surface binding, as measured by an RT-PCR assay. Infection was prevented by several pharmacologic inhibitors, including chlorpromazine, which blocks clathrin-dependent endocytosis and the lysosomotropic agent, bafilomycin A. By contrast, two inhibitors of caveolae-dependent uptake, filipin and nystatin, did not prevent BPV infection. We conclude that papillomaviruses infect cells via clathrin-dependent receptor-mediated endocytosis. Surprisingly, the kinetics of internalization were unusually slow for this mechanism, with the t(1/2) of entry of BPV-1 being approximately 4 h versus 5-15 min for a typical ligand.
Historical and Global Perspectives on Social Policy and “Aging in Community”

This article provides an introduction to the special issue of Ageing International on Aging in Community by putting related issues in perspective in order to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the changing fields of aging, family, community, and social policy. Going beyond a current trend of “aging in place” (AIP), it reviews community care that once dominated social policy dialog in the United Kingdom, as well as community service that was once regarded as a main solution to the social issues of reformist China. The case of the United States is also highlighted by reviewing a scholarly interest in social support. By citing America’s “non-system” of community support for disabled elderly persons, the article recognizes an outstanding feature of AIP, that is, the “buy-in” from industry or the commercial sector in terms of its role in promoting aging at home. Other key social policy issues as seen in previous debates that baffled policy-makers in various countries, however, remain to be addressed in the much changed environment of the 21st century.
Formation of sequences in the cratonic interior of North America by interaction between mantle, eustatic, and stratigraphic processes

Models integrating geodynamic and stratigraphic processes show that some gross features of Phanerozoic North American cratonic strata can be explained with dynamic topographies generated by subduction and cycles of supercontinent aggregation and dispersal. A three-dimensional finite-element model is used to calculate mantle flow beneath North America during Phanerozoic time in response to episodes of subduction at cratonic margins and two cycles of supercontinent formation and breakup. Dynamic topographies calculated by the flow models are used as input to a stratigraphic model that also includes background subsidence, eustasy, denudation, clastic and carbonate deposition, compaction, and isostasy. These models successfully reproduce aspects of the Sloss sequences; the best matches were obtained by combining two wavelengths of dynamic topography with second-order eustasy. Long-wavelength dynamic topography generates first-order stratal cyclicity. Periods of erosion were shorter when North America was over a dynamic topography low than when it was over a high. Long-wavelength dynamic topography also explains the absence of Mesozoic strata on the eastern portion of the craton. Characteristic stratal patterns are shown to result from subduction-related dynamic topography, although sensitive to sediment supply and other subsidence mechanisms. Aspects of Upper Cretaceous stratal patterns may be explained by the effects of Farallon plate subduction. Generally, strata deposited in a dynamic topography depression have low preservation potential because the topography is reversible. Thus, ancient subduction-related dynamic topography is most likely to be represented by unconformities.
UV Radiation and the Skin

UV radiation (UV) is classified as a "complete carcinogen" because it is both a mutagen and a non-specific damaging agent and has properties of both a tumor initiator and a tumor promoter. In environmental abundance, UV is the most important modifiable risk factor for skin cancer and many other environmentally-influenced skin disorders. However, UV also benefits human health by mediating natural synthesis of vitamin D and endorphins in the skin, therefore UV has complex and mixed effects on human health. Nonetheless, excessive exposure to UV carries profound health risks, including atrophy, pigmentary changes, wrinkling and malignancy. UV is epidemiologically and molecularly linked to the three most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, which together affect more than a million Americans annually. Genetic factors also influence risk of UV-mediated skin disease. Polymorphisms of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene, in particular, correlate with fairness of skin, UV sensitivity, and enhanced cancer risk. We are interested in developing UV-protective approaches based on a detailed understanding of molecular events that occur after UV exposure, focusing particularly on epidermal melanization and the role of the MC1R in genome maintenance.
Synthesis of 17O isotope labeled Leu-enkephalin and 17O n.m.r.

Oxygen-17 isotope was introduced into the alpha-carboxyl group of glycine, 1-phenylalanine, 1-leucine and 1-tyrosine by acid catalyzed exchange of 17O from H2O(17) or by acid hydrolysis of respective amino acid methyl esters in H2O(17). Quantitative enrichment of glycine was achieved by acid hydrolysis of amino acetonitrile in H2O(17). For alpha-amino protection in amino acids t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group was employed for 17O labeled enkephalin synthesis. Five analogues of Leu-enkephalins (I-V) labeled with 17O at different amino acid residues were synthesized by solid phase method. 17O n.m.r. spectra were measured at 24.4 and 67.8 MHz for Leu-enkephalins 17O labeled at Gly2 and Phe4 positions. A downfield shift was observed for 17O labeled Gly2 Leu-enkephalin upon heating. This shift is indicative of the rupture of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The preliminary results confirm the hypothesis that an intramolecular hydrogen bond exists between the carbonyl group of Gly2 and NH group of Leu5.
Diagnosis of ganglion in Guyon's canal by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Compression of the ulnar nerve at the wrist can be caused by a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The exact diagnosis and location of compression can frequently be difficult to determine. Magnetic resonance imaging can be a useful method in diagnosing the cause and location of ulnar nerve compression. A case is presented of ulnar nerve compression caused by a ganglion in Guyon's canal and diagnosed preoperatively by magnetic resonance imaging.
Crab scars reveal survival advantage of left-handed snails

Biological asymmetries are important elements of the structure and function of many living organisms. Using the Plio–Pleistocene fossil record of crab predation on morphologically similar pairs of right- and left-handed snail species, we show here for the first time, contrary to traditional wisdom, that rare left-handed coiling promotes survival from attacks by right-handed crabs. This frequency-dependent result influences the balance of selection processes that maintain left-handedness at the species level and parallels some social interactions in human cultures, such as sports that involve dual contests between opponents of opposite handedness.
Aerodynamic characteristics of grain sorghum

Wind speeds were measured above grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. DK-57) canopies at Mead, Nebraska, during the 1982 and 1983 growing seasons. The crop was planted in north-south-oriented rows 0.76 m apart. The plant population per ha was about 276 000 in 1982 and 118 500 in 1983. The measured above-canopy wind speed profiles were employed to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics of the crop throughout the growing season. The roughness parameter (zo) and the zero-plane displacement (d) increased with increasing crop height (h). The rate of increase, however, appeared to be dependent on the stage of crop growth. The emergence of the heads played an important role in the seasonal variation of zo and d. zo/h and d/h reached maximum values at the time of the emergence of the heads, asymptotically decreasing to constant values as the crop approached full development. Mean values of zo/h and d/h for the fully developed sorghum crop at moderate windiness were 0.096 and 0.60, respectively, in 1982. Corresponding values in 1983 (sparser crop) were 0.076 and 0.54. In both years, zo/h and d/h values at full crop development decreased with increasing wind speed. Mean values of the crop drag coefficient (Cd) for the fully developed canopies at moderate windiness were 0.055 in 1982 and 0.035 in 1983. Values of Cd decreased with increasing wind speed according to the following relationships: Cd = 0.037u∗−0.435 in 1982 and Cd = 0.0177u∗−0.743 in 1983 (where u∗ = friction velocity).
T-cell subpopulations defined with monoclonal antibodies in patients with primary immunodeficiency.

Abstract Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients with common variable immunodeficiency and 4 with selective IgA deficiency were studied for the quantitative analysis of T-cells and T-cell subsets with distinct immunoregulatory properties, using a battery of monoclonal antibodies and the fluorescence-activated cell-sorter. The proportions of OKT4 + cells were decreased and OKT8 + cells were increased in patient groups when compared to normal controls analyzed simultaneously, 14/20 (70%) patients demonstrated a lower OKT4 + /OKT8 + cell ratio compared to controls. Imbalance of immunoregulatory T-cells may explain one of the mechanisms of hypogammaglobulinemia in a subgroup of patients with primary immunodeficiency.
Transcranial optical path length in infants by near-infrared phase-shift spectroscopy.

Background. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an emerging technique for noninvasive, bedside monitoring of cerebral oxygenation and blood flow. Traditionally, it has relied on the Beer's Law relationship in which the concentration of light-absorbing oxygen-carrying pigments is proportional to their light absorbance, and inversely proportional to an optical path length (a measure of the distance traveled by photons passing through the tissue). In practice, NIRS has been based upon assumptions that mean transcranial optical path length, the average optical path length for a given patient, is constant among patients and independent of the wavelength of light used.Objective. The objective of our study was to measure mean optical transcranial path length in infants as a step in allowing quantitation of cerebral oxygenation.Methods. We measured mean transcranial optical path length in 34 infants, aged 1 day to 3 years, using amplitude-modulated phase-shift spectroscopy at 754 nm and 816 nm. Optical transcranial path lengths (mean±SEM) were 8.6±0.9 cm, 11.1±0.9 cm, and 11.3±0.9 cm at 754 nm, and 8.8±0.9 cm, 11.2±0.8 cm, and 11.1±0.9 cm at 816 nm, using emitter-detector separations of 1.8, 2.5, and 3.0 cm, respectively. Optical path length increased as emitter-detector separation, head circumference, or age increased. Variance in the ratio of mean optical path lengths at the two different wavelengths exceeded that accounted for by variation in repeated measures alone (p<0.001), suggesting that optical path length is also not independent of wavelength.Conclusions. NIRS instrument emitter-detector geometry, subject age, head size, and wavelength used each influence optical path length. Quantitative NIRS measurements in clinical use may require concurrent measurement of both absorbance and optical path length at each wavelength, or use of newer measures that are not based upon Beer's Law assumptions.
Tubulointerstitial renal disease in systemic lupus erythematosus.

• Tubulointerstitial renal disease is found frequently in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Despite the frequency of this entity, little is known about the prognostic significance of this biopsy finding. We reviewed 46 consecutive renal biopsy specimens from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were followed up for a mean of 5.4 years. Tubulointerstitial abnormalities were present in 39% of the entire group of patients and in 51% of the patients who had clinical evidence of renal abnormalities. Tubulointerstitial inflammation was closely associated with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, with elevation of serum creatinine (SCr) concentration at biopsy, and with increased frequency of proteinuria both at biopsy and at follow-up. Additionally, active interstitial inflammation was associated with an increased risk of doubling the entry SCr concentration. The presence or absence of tubulointerstitial disease, however, did not add additional prognostic information to the predictive power of the entry SCr concentration or the glomerular histologic features. (Arch Intern Med1985;145:1996-1999)
T Lymphocytes Amplify the Anabolic Activity of Parathyroid Hormone Through Wnt10b Signaling

Intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (iPTH) is used to treat osteoporosis because it improves bone architecture and strength, but the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that iPTH increases the production of Wnt10b by bone marrow CD8+ T cells and induces these lymphocytes to activate canonical Wnt signaling in preosteoblasts. Accordingly, in responses to iPTH, T cell null mice display diminished Wnt signaling in preosteoblasts and blunted osteoblastic commitment, proliferation, differentiation, and life span, which result in decreased trabecular bone anabolism and no increase in strength. Demonstrating the specific role of lymphocytic Wnt10b, iPTH has no anabolic activity in mice lacking T-cell-produced Wnt10b. Therefore, T-cell-mediated activation of Wnt signaling in osteoblastic cells plays a key permissive role in the mechanism by which iPTH increases bone strength, suggesting that T cell osteoblast crosstalk pathways may provide pharmacological targets for bone anabolism.
Online mass spectrometric analysis of proteins/peptides following electrolytic cleavage of disulfide bonds.

The disulfide bond bridge is an important post-translational modification for proteins. This study presents a structural analysis of biologically active peptides and proteins containing disulfide bonds using electrochemistry (EC) online combined with desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS), in which the sample undergoes electrolytic disulfide cleavage in an electrochemical flow cell followed by MS detection. Using this EC/DESI-MS method, the disulfide-containing peptides can be quickly identified from enzymatic digestion mixtures, simply based on the abrupt decrease in their relative ion abundances after electrolysis. Peptide mass mapping and tandem MS analysis of the ions of the resulting free peptide chains can possibly establish the disulfide linkage pattern and sequence the precursor peptides. In this regard, the method provides much more chemical information than previous analogous electrochemical analyses. In addition, derivatization of thiols by selective selenamide reagents ...
The effect of oral contraceptive acceptance on fertility in the postpartum period.

In Bangladesh where postpartum amenorrhea is long and contraceptive pill continuation rates are low the result of introducing oral contraception during the period of post partum amenorrhea is actually to decrease the interval to the next pregnancy. In 121 matched pairs from rural Matlab thana in 1979-1980 fertility is increased relative to that of a matched group of non-acceptors. The earlier return to fertility of acceptors persists even though there is a higher acceptance rate in the early postpartum period and women who accept at this time have higher continuation rates than those who accepted later. There is a possibility that a few of the women who were later acceptors may have conceived prior to initiating contraception and discontinued as soon as they became aware of the pregnancy. On the other hand the chance of conception which has been shown to increase in the later months of lactational amenorrhea may be further heightened by a short duration of oral contraceptive use. 1 model shows that the most important variable in determining the delay to the next pregnancy is the contraceptive continuation rate. For the group of women who continued use for more than 6 months the median time to the next pregnancy was close to that of the non-acceptor matched group. This implies that unless program efforts can achieve average continuation of at least 9 months it would be better not to provide oral contraception during the period of postpartum amenorrhea. This position is reinforced by our knowledge of the adverse effects which hormonal contraception particularly combined preparations have on the quantity of milk produced by the lactating postpartum mother.
Student Interns’ Socially Constructed Work Realities: Narrowing the Work Expectation-Reality Gap

New employees, including college students, often experience expectation-reality gaps about work, making the assimilation process more difficult for all. This qualitative study explores the role of ...
Past glaciation in the tropics

Abstract Tropical glaciers are considered along three meridional profiles, for the Australasian sector, Africa and the Americas. Evaluated are the annual mean freezing level 0 °C, modern equilibrium line altitude MEL, and past equilibrium line altitude PEL. The calculation of 0 °C is based on a 1958–1997 global data set; MEL refers to estimates concerning the first half of the 20th century; and the timing of the PEL is not generally known. 0 °C stands around 4000–5000 m, with lower levels in the outer tropics. MEL is reached in the Australasian sector on four mountains, and in Africa on three mountains, near the Equator, near or above 0 °C. In the American cordilleras many peaks are still glaciated, above 0 °C, but in the arid southern tropical Andes even summits above 6000 m do not reach MEL. The PEL stands between 3000 m and 5000 m, high in the equatorial zone, but highest in the arid southern tropical Andes. The height difference between MEL and PEL is of order 1000 m, with regional differences. Deglaciation dates range between 15,000 and 8000 years BP, with later timing towards the higher elevations. This synopsis suggests priority targets for further research: morphological mapping and age determination in the High Atlas of Morocco; timing of deglaciation in the High Semyen of Ethiopia and the Altos de Cuchumatanes of Guatemala; exploration in the highlands of Lesotho and of the Dominican Republic; and glaciation in the arid southern tropical Andes.
Refusing Butler's Binary: Bisexuality and Performative Melancholia in Mrs. Dalloway

In The Psychic Life of Power, Judith Butler argued a woman “accomplishes” normative femininity by rejecting same-sex pleasure. Butler further argues that normative femininity is maintained by emulating, without fully embodying, cultural ideals of femininity. Yet two questions remain: Given the theoretical framework that Butler articulated, what happens to the bisexual subject who forecloses neither homosexuality nor heterosexuality? If masculinity and femininity are, as Butler suggested, not only accomplishments, but also cultural ideals, what happens to the subject who fails to properly emulate these cultural ideals? Following Clare Hemming's suggestion that bisexual readings can be an “enlightening analytical tool or starting point for knowledge” within the broader history of sexuality, this article argues that in Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf explores precisely this tension between desire and socially sanctioned femininity through her depiction of three female characters: Sally Seton, Clarissa Dalloway...
Functional expression of bombesin receptor in most adult and pediatric human glioblastoma cell lines; role in mitogenesis and in stimulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Abstract Functional bombesin receptors were identified in most human glioblastoma cell lines examined (∼85% of lines). Bombesin stimulated the release of intracellular Ca2+ in human adult (U-373MG, D-247MG, U-118MG, U-251MG, D-245MG, U-105MG, D-54MG, A-172MG, and D-270MG lines) and pediatric (SJ-S6 and SJ-G2 lines) glioblastoma cell lines. Stimulation of the glioblastoma cell line U-373MG with bombesin or gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) induced mitogenesis, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (Erk1 and Erk2). The stimulation of the MAP kinase phosphorylation in U-373MG cells was time- and peptide concentration-dependent. Both bombesin and GRP showed similar potencies in stimulation of intracellular Ca2+ release and activation of the MAP kinase pathway in U-373MG cells, whereas neuromedin B (NMB) peptide was less potent. Bombesin and GRP induced the release of cytosolic Ca2+ in a concentration-dependent manner. Because bombesin and GRP were more potent than NMB peptide in increasing the cytosolic Ca2+ levels in U-373MG cells, we concluded that the BB2 subtype (also known as GRP-preferring receptor subtype) of the bombesin receptor is expressed in this cell line. The bombesin receptor antagonist ([Leu13-ψ(CH2NH)Leu14]bombesin) blocked bombesin induced Ca2+ release and attenuated MAP kinase activation in U-373MG cells demonstrating that bombesin is acting through a receptor-dependent mechanism. This study indicates that functional bombesin receptors are widely expressed in human glioblastoma cell lines.
Epiretinal membranes presenting in two young adults with evidence of persistent primary vitreous

Epiretinal membranes presenting in two young adults with evidence of persistent primary vitreous
A Microcomputer Based Ocean Observation System

A low cost, reliable, and flexible instrument package carried by a drifting buoy has been designed. Reliability and low cost, important factors if we are to obtain the spatial resolution required, have been achieved through the use of recently developed semiconductor technology, such as semiconductor transducers and LSI devices. The use of Intel's 8080 microprocessor permits a system of high performance at only a small increase in cost. The basic design is flexible, i.e., it can not only take care of the initial set of measurements (air temperature, sea surface temperature, and atmospheric pressure), but can readily be adapted to measure other parameters of interest.
Targeting inhibitory neurotransmission in tinnitus

Tinnitus perception depends on the presence of its neural correlates within the auditory neuraxis and associated structures. Targeting specific circuits and receptors within the central nervous system in an effort to relieve the perception of tinnitus and its impact on one's emotional and mental state has become a focus of tinnitus research. One approach is to upregulate endogenous inhibitory neurotransmitter levels (e.g., glycine and GABA) and selectively target inhibitory receptors in key circuits to normalize tinnitus pathophysiology. Thus, the basic functional and molecular properties of two major ligand-gated inhibitory receptor systems, the GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R) and glycine receptor (GlyR) are described. Also reviewed is the rationale for targeting inhibition, which stems from reported tinnitus-related homeostatic plasticity of inhibitory neurotransmitter systems and associated enhanced neuronal excitability throughout most central auditory structures. However, the putative role of the medial geniculate body (MGB) in tinnitus has not been previously addressed, specifically in terms of its inhibitory afferents from inferior colliculus and thalamic reticular nucleus and its GABA(A)R functional heterogeneity. This heterogeneous population of GABA(A)Rs, which may be altered in tinnitus pathology, and its key anatomical position in the auditory CNS make the MGB a compelling structure for tinnitus research. Finally, some selective compounds, which enhance tonic inhibition, have successfully ameliorated tinnitus in animal studies, suggesting that the MGB and, to a lesser degree, the auditory cortex may be their primary locus of action. These pharmacological interventions are examined in terms of their mechanism of action and why these agents may be effective in tinnitus treatment. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Tinnitus Neuroscience.
Long-term chlorpromazine in rhesus monkeys: production of dyskinesias and changes in social behavior.

The daily administration of chlorpromazine (CPZ) in doses of 8–40 mg/kg over 113 weeks to four rhesus monkeys produced dyskinesias and alterations in social behavior. General activity and social interactions were reduced by CPZ treatment but social aggression was elevated during initial drug administration. These behaviors returned to normal when treatment was discontinued. Dyskinesias appeared during CPZ treatment, and two striking ones, gravel mouth and hand gesture, persisted for 12 weeks after drug withdrawal.
Absorption properties of a high temperature nitrogen plasma.

Abstract A detailed description of the absorption cross sections in a nitrogen plasma is given for electron temperatures of 1.0–3.0 eV and a plasma density of 0.78 times normal atmospheric density. Results are presented for partial and total absorption coefficients, where the components are the bound-bound, bound-free and free-free absorptions. Rosseland and Planck mean opacities are also computed.
Silent Ischemia During Voluntary Detraining and Future Cardiac Events in Master Athletes

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether exercise-induced silent ischemia in older master athletes following a 3-month period of deconditioning is a predictor of future cardiovascular events. DESIGN: A longitudinal study of a cohort of master athletes SETTING: The Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: Ten older (59 ± 8 years, mean ± SD), highly conditioned (maximal aerobic capacity Vo2max 50 ± 5 mL/kg/min), aerobically trained athletes. INTERVENTION: Five to eight years of longitudinal follow-up of athletes who had previously participated in a 3-month-long detraining intervention. MEASUREMENTS: At baseline, all 10 athletes had their history taken and underwent physical examinations, metabolic testing, electrocardiogram at rest, exercise treadmill tests, exercise thallium scintigrams, and exercise multigated acquisition scans. After 3 months of deconditioning, they had repeat maximal exercise stress tests. After 5 to 8 years of follow-up, they were re-evaluated, including history and physical examination and measurement of their Vo2max. RESULT: All 10 master athletes had normal studies at baseline. At the end of 3 months of detraining, three of these athletes had exercise-induced silent ischemia, which disappeared after retraining in two subjects and persisted at a higher heart rate in one subject. Over a 5- to 8-year period of observation, two of these three athletes with silent ischemia experienced major cardiac events (sudden death, cardiac bypass surgery). The other seven athletes did not have any cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-induced silent ischemia after a short period of detraining in highly trained older athletes may be a predictor of future cardiac events. A study with a larger cohort is warranted. J Am Geriatr Soc 48:647–650, 2000.
p-Channel MOSFET's in LPCVD PolySilicon

p-channel MOSFET's have been fabricated in LPCVD polysilicon. A 5000-A n+poly acts as the gate electrode on which a 500-A thermal oxide is grown to act as the gate insulator. Then a 1500-A LPCVD polysilicon layer is deposited at 620°C and is subsequently boron doped to form the conductive channel. Devices with channel length as small as 2 µm show well-behaved transistor characteristics. The drive current and leakage current are as suitable for usage as load element in memory applications. At large gate voltages the accumulation hole mobility is 9 cm2/V.s. The drain-to-source breakdown voltage exceeds -20 V.
SmNd systematics of a silicate inclusion in the Caddo IAB iron meteorite

We report the first Sm-Nd data from an iron meteorite silicate inclusion. Mineral separates from an inclusion in the Caddo IAB iron define a ^(147)Sm/^(143)Nd age of 4.53±0.02 Ga, and an initial ^(146)Sm/^(144)Sm of 0.0086±0.0021. A plagioclase separate from the inclusion yields the lowest ^(142)Nd/^(144)Nd ratio measured to date, which provides an absolute maximum initial solar system ϵ_(142) of −2.1 ± 0.4. When the ^(146)Sm/^(142)Nd data are combined with the ^(147)Sm/^(143)Nd data, we obtain our preferred initial solar system ϵ_(142) value of −3.2 ϵu, which corresponds to an initial ^(146)Sm/^(144)Sm of 0.009. Rare earth element data from the Caddo silicate inclusion suggest that it was derived by partial melting of a chondritic source prior to incorporation into the metal. Therefore, differentiation of the silicate portion of the parent body must have started approximately within the first 30 Ma of solar system history. The data reported here clearly show that IAB meteorites preserve a record of very early planetary differentiation processes. Modeling of element diffusion indicates that, if the silicate material was incorporated into its FeNi host at a time much later than 4.53 Ga, then the mixing must have taken place at shallow levels (i.e., < 50 m) in the parent body, in order to preserve the Sm-Nd systematics. It is more likely that incorporation of the silicate took place at depths greater than 2 km, and that it occurred within the first ∼ 30 Ma of solar system history. This is consistent with estimates of cooling rates determined for IAB irons.
The use of computer imaging techniques to visualize cardiac muscle cells in three dimensions

Atrial muscle cells and atrioventricular bundle cells were reconstructed using a computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction system. This reconstruction technique permitted these cells to be viewed from any direction. The cell surfaces were approximated using triangular tiles, and this optimization technique for cell reconstruction allowed for the computation of cell surface area and cell volume. A transparent mode is described which enables the investigator to examine internal cellular features such as the shape and location of the nucleus. In addition, more than one cell can be displayed simultaneously, and, therefore, spatial relationships are preserved and intercellular relationships viewed directly. The use of computer imaging techniques allows for a more complete collection of quantitative morphological data and also the visualization of the morphological information gathered.
Multiprocessing for neutron diffusion and deterministic transport methods

Multiprocessing is the most exciting development in computer technology in recent years, opening the door for enormous computational power limited only by the imagination and patience of the hardware developer, and the wit and perseverance of the algorithm designer. The potential benefit of this innovation was immediately recognized by researchers in the nuclear field, among others, who explored and reported their experience with concurrent implementation of algorithms, standard and new, to solve neutron diffusion and transport problems. The accumulated experience in, as well as the current status of, this rapidly changing area is reviewed. Collectively these illustrate the strong coupling between parallel algorithms and their target architectures to the extent that standard sequential schemes in nuclear applications are best suited to coarse grained, e.g. shared memory supercomputers, and medium grained, e.g. a few hundred networked powerful CPUs, platforms. The full potential of parallel computing will be better realized by novel, non-traditional, solution algorithms that best utilize all the components of a multiprocessor machine.
When ‘exile’ becomes sedentary: on the quotidian experiences of ‘India-born’ Tibetans in Dharamsala, north India

Waltraud Kokot and her coauthors stated ‘ … . despite a necessary focus on transnational networks and movement, ethnographic studies of diaspora must also not neglect the realities of sedentary diasporic life.’ Taking such a call as my point of departure, this article explores the quotidian experiences of ‘in exile’ specific to a subgroup of Tibetans in Dharamsala, north India, who have for a couple of decades at least described themselves as the ‘India-born’. Secondly, it particularly attends to the sensory domains of these Tibetans' local/Indian experiences and in turn highlights the geo-affinity that they ambivalently feel for the place where they are at once native and exilic. Demonstrated in the article are the ongoing processes through which individuals, feeling marked by the displacement of the nation to which they belong, realize their Tibetan attributes in the context(s) they in varied ways perceive as ‘Indian’.
Angular distribution of diffusely backscattered light

We demonstrate that the angular distribution of light diffusely backscattered from an opaque slab depends not only on sample boundary reflectivity but also, in contrast to previous results for diffusely transmitted light, on the anisotropy of the scattering events. This influence of scattering anisotropy is modeled within diffusion theory by a discontinuity in the photon concentration at the source point that is proportional to the average cosine of the scattering angle. The resulting predictions are compared with random walk simulations and with measurements of transmitted and backscattered intensity versus angle for glass frits and aqueous suspensions of polystyrene spheres held in air or immersed in a water bath. Predicted distributions capture the features of experimental and simulation data to within 1% for the best case of high reflectivity and weak anisotropy and to within 10% for the worst case of low reflectivity and strong anisotropy.
NORMALIZATION OF BETHE-SALPETER AMPLITUDES,

Abstract : Many different methods for normalizing Bethe-Salpeter amplitudes for bound states have been known. In this article derivations of the normalization condition based on conservation of charge and of energy-momentum are studied in detail, and it is shown that the final result in both cases is identical with the one derived from other methods. (Author)
Looking Out My Back Door: The Neighborhood Context and Perceptions of Relative Deprivation:

Students of political violence have often suggested that socioeconomic con ditions play a significant role in explaining the individual-level predisposi tion toward violence. Relative deprivation theories propose that a person's socioeconomic situation is related to political violence, but only if the individual's situation is seen relative to other individuals and groups in society Unfortunately, most tests of this premise have been inconclusive. To a large extent, the problem centers on the lack of appropriate data; relative deprivation theories posit a relationship between the individual and the context, requiring that we merge individual-level and collective- level data. This study examines individuals' socioeconomic positions within the context of their neighborhoods. Two contextual effects are identified. First, consistent with theories of relative deprivation, support for violence is partly determined by the relationship between individual-level and neigh borhood-level economic conditions. For inst...
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN RESIN RESTORATIVE SYSTEMS

Efforts have been made during the last several years to develop polymer formulations that could replace ceramic materials for the restoration of occlusal surfaces. In most cases, resins have exhibited insufficient wear resistance, whereas the ceramic materials have had a history of excessively abrading whatever opposes them occlusally. Based on recent clinical information, it appears that major successes have been achieved in reaching the goal. The author discusses these advances and proposes a possible replacement for amalgam, based on new technology.
Differential Regulation of Prostaglandin EP and FP Receptors in Pregnant Sheep Myometrium and Endometrium During Spontaneous Term Labor

In the present study, we characterized the mRNA abundance of prostaglandin E(2) receptor subtypes (EP1 and EP3, which stimulate excitatory responses; EP2 and EP4, which stimulate inhibitory responses) and the FP receptor in pregnant sheep myometrium and endometrium in relation to parturition. Myometrial and endometrial poly(A) RNA was extracted from control ewes at 143-147 days gestational age (dGA, n = 6) and from ewes in spontaneous term labor at 145-147 dGA (n = 6), and was subjected to Northern blot analysis for FP, EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 mRNA. Myometrial EP3, EP4, and FP mRNA abundance increased during labor (P<0.05); EP2 mRNA did not change. EP1 mRNA was not detectable in the myometrium. Endometrial EP2 and EP4 mRNA remained unchanged during labor. EP3 mRNA was expressed at a very low level, and EP1 and FP mRNA were not detected in endometrium in any animals studied. In conclusion, there is differential expression in myometrium and endometrium of EP subtypes and FP receptor in relation to labor. Increases in EP3 and FP, together with increased prostaglandin production from intrauterine tissues, may lead to the switch in the myometrial contraction pattern that occurs during labor. These differences within and between myometrium and endometrium may result from different anatomical location, such as longitudinal or circular layers of myometrium, or vascular location.
A randomized controlled trial in a training institution comparing a pediatric variable stiffness colonoscope, a pediatric colonoscope, and an adult colonoscope

Abstract Background: There are few comparative data on the efficacy of different colonoscopes. This study compared the efficacy of a new pediatric variable stiffness colonoscope with that of standard pediatric and adult colonoscopes in the performance of routine colonoscopy. Methods: Three hundred sixty-three consecutive patients were randomized to undergo colonoscopy with a pediatric variable stiffness (n = 122), pediatric (n = 114), or adult colonoscope (n = 127). Primary outcomes recorded were minutes to the cecum and completeness of the examination. Secondary outcomes included patient tolerance, use of abdominal compression, and endoscopists' assessment of the difficulty of the procedure. Results: Cecal intubation rates were not statistically different between the groups: variable stiffness (94.3%), pediatric (96.5%), and adult (89.8%) ( p = 0.099). There was no significant difference in mean insertion time, patient tolerance, use of abdominal compression, or endoscopists' global assessment or examination difficulty between groups. Overall, the initial completion rate of 93% increased to 97% on switching to a different colonoscope. Colonoscopy was unsuccessful more often and was more time consuming in women who had undergone hysterectomy. Conclusion: The variable stiffness colonoscope performs well, but does not appear to offer any distinct advantage over standard pediatric or adult colonoscopes for routine colonoscopy. Further study may identify subgroups of patients that benefit from this new technology. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:172-9.)