cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Human Platelet Aggregation by Diazeniumdiolates: Extent of Inhibition Correlates with Nitric Oxide Load Delivered

The profile of nitric oxide (NO) release from the diazeniumdiolate class of NO donors was evaluated using inhibition of platelet aggregation as a model. At 37 degrees C, the NO complexes (Z)-1-?N-methyl-N-[6-(N-methylammoniohexyl)amino]?-diazen-1- ium-1,2-diolate (dimethylhexanediamine complex), sodium (Z)-1-(N,N-diethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (diethylamine complex), (Z)-1-?N-[3-aminopropyl]-N-[4-(3-aminopropylammonio)butyl]amino diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (spermine complex), and (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1- ium-1,2-diolate (diethylenetriamine complex) have half-lives of 1, 2 and 39 min, and 20 h, respectively. All the diazeniumdiolates caused concentration-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation; IC50 values (values for which the effect was half the maximum) were 26.0+/-24.1, 34.9+/-24.0 and 14.9+/-6.4 nM for dimethylhexanediamine complex, diethylamine complex and spermine complex, respectively, when pre-incubated with platelets for one half-life. Inhibition by all compounds was time-dependent. Pretreatment of platelets with spermine complex for 5 and 39 min resulted in IC50 values of 1.7+/-0.85 microM and 19.7+/-0.12 nM, whereas IC50 values for sodium nitroprusside were 27.3+/-1.25 nM and 25 nM (average, n = 2), at 5 and 39 min, respectively. Pre-incubation of each diazeniumdiolate at a concentration of 100 nM for 5 min at 37 degrees C, which resulted in the theoretical delivery of NO loads from 96.9% down to 0.3%, resulted in decreasingly efficacious inhibition of platelet aggregation. Linear regression analysis of the theoretical NO load delivered against the actual maximum inhibition (%) showed a strong correlation (r2 = 0.975). All four diazeniumdiolates caused concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of agonist-stimulated elevation of intra-platelet Ca2+ levels; IC50 values were, respectively, 8.7+/-1.49 nM and 11.5+/-1.36 nM for dimethylhexanediamine complex and diethylamine complex at their half-lives, and 176+/-16.9 nM and >100 microM, for spermine complex and diethylenetriamine complex at 2 min pre-incubation time. The respective nucleophiles not complexed with NO did not show anti-aggregatory properties or inhibition of agonist-induced elevation of intra-platelet Ca2+ levels. The inhibitory effects of all diazeniumdiolates tested were attenuated by 10 microM haemoglobin. These studies indicate that these compounds induce controlled, predictable release of NO at biological pH and temperature.
On the evaluation of agent behaviors

This work focuses on robot behaviors which use minimal communication and rely mostly on changes in the environment as their cue for action. The behavior-based paradigm for building autonomous robots has become very popular because of its successes, use of the world as an external memory and replacement of classical planning by agent-environment dynamics. However there are no criteria for evaluating and improving behavior sets. Our aim here is to bridge this gap. We define several criteria (power, usefulness, flexibility, modularity, and, reliability) and investigate the properties of behavior sets using them. We use these criteria to present results on modifications to individual behaviors and addition of new behaviors to the behavior sets. We show how computations related to these criteria can be carried out. We report on guidelines to improve a behavior set.
Numerical Simulations of a Case of Explosive Marine Cyclogenesis

Abstract The extratropical cyclone which damaged the liner Queen Elizabeth II in September 1978 is a well-documented example of explosive marine cyclogenesis in which the 24 h surface central pressure fall was 60 mb commencing 1200 GMT 9 September. Operational models of both the National Meteorological Center (NMC) and Fleet Numerical Weather Central (FNWC) predicted virtually none of the observed surface intensification. This study reports on results of simulations performed with a primitive equation model. Emphasis will be placed on discovering why such poor forecasts were made of this storm. The extensive data set compiled by Gyakum (1983a, b) is used both to initialize and verify the model in a series of 24 h simulations, in order to assess the impact of initializing the model with these supplementary data. Physical processes identified observationally by Gyakum as being important in the storm's evolution are also examined numerically for their relative importance. In a series of seven simulations in ...
Corporate contracting for health care

This paper examines the process used by Fortune 500 companies to contract with health care carriers for complex and hard to observe services. We confirm in part the conventional view that large companies partner with health care insurers. However, we show that the picture is more complex and that most of these companies do not engage in several aspects of partnering. The complete nature of our data allows us to describe the distribution of company practices, from tough bargaining without continuing relationships to partnering. We also show that contract length can be a poor proxy for length of relationship.
Endometrial Cancer in Olmsted County, MN: Trends in Incidence, Risk Factors and Survival

Abstract PURPOSE: We updated an earlier study in this community from 1945–1974 in order to assess trends in the incidence of, risk factors for, and survival from endometrial cancer in 1975–1991. METHODS: Incidence rates were based on all new cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed among Olmsted County, Minnesota, women during the years 1975–1991, with the population denominator from decennial census data. Risk factors were assessed with conditional logistic regression comparing the incidence cases to age- and gender-matched controls with intact uteri seen the same year the case was diagnosed. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The incidence of endometrial cancer (age-adjusted to 1970 United States total) in 1975–1991 was 14.3 per 100,000 person-years, which is slightly increased from 1965–74. The rate was 21.7 per 100,000 person-years after adjustment for hysterectomy prevalence. As in the previous study, conjugated estrogen use for six months or more (odds ratio [OR] 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–6.46) and body mass index (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01–1.11) increased the risk of endometrial cancer. The five-year relative survival rate (82%) was not improved over the earlier study. CONCLUSIONS: A small increase in endometrial cancer incidence was linked to the same risk factors identified in an earlier study in this community. No improvement in survival was seen.
Use of cytomegalovirus immune globulin and ganciclovir for the prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in lung transplantation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease continue to be significant causes of morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients. The potential benefits of CMV prophylaxis extend beyond prevention of the immediate CMV infection to potentially preventing CMV-associated complications, including superinfection due to Aspergillus bacteria, and other opportunistic infections, and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Longer courses of prophylactic intravenous (IV) ganciclovir, sequential IV/oral therapy, addition of intravenous CMV immune globulin (CMV-IGIV), surveillance tests, and investigation of the role of hypogammaglobulinemia are a few of the strategies and issues being evaluated to improve CMV prophylaxis and, consequently, graft and patient survival.
Partitions whose parts are pairwise relatively prime

Abstract Let an be the number of (unordered) partitions of n into parts that are “pairwise” relatively prime. In other words, count λ = {λ1, λ2,…} if and only if gcd(λi, j) = 1 for all i ≠ j. We show that log a n ∼ 2π √6 n log( n
In Situ Laser Raman Studies of Intermediates in the Catalytic Oxidation of Ethanol over Supported Molybdenum Oxide

Ethanol oxidation over supported molybdenum oxide was studied by in situ laser Raman spectroscopy, deuterium isotopic substitution, and steady-state kinetic measurements. Isotopic substitution experiments established that the same mechanism occurred over 9% MoO3/SiO2, 15% MoO3/Al2O3, and 9% MoO3/TiO2. The reaction was found to take place in two stages, an equilibrated adsorption step to form adsorbed ethoxide species, and either one of two rate-determining steps: α-hydrogen abstraction to form acetaldehyde or β-hydrogen abstraction to form ethylene. Laser Raman spectroscopy was used to directly measure the concentration of the surface ethoxide intermediates during reaction. On the SiO2-supported catalysts two types of adsorbed ethoxide species were observed. One, associated with MoO bonds, was a true reactive intermediate, while the other, associated with Mo−O−Mo bonds, was an unreactive spectator on the surface. Analysis of the reaction isotherms showed that activation energy decreased with increasing c...
Tale of two sites: capillary versus arterial blood glucose testing in the operating room.

Abstract Introduction Pre- and intraoperative glycemic control has been identified as a putative target to improve outcomes of surgical patients. Glycemic control requires frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels with appropriate adjustments. However, monitoring standards have been called into question, especially in cases in which capillary samples are used. Point-of-care testing (POCT) using capillary samples and glucometers has been noted to give relatively accurate results for critically ill patients. However, the package inserts of most glucometers warn that they should not be used for patients in shock. This has led clinicians to doubt their accuracy in the operating room. The accuracy of capillary samples when tested in patients undergoing surgical procedures has not been proven. This study aims to determine the accuracy of intraoperative blood glucose values using capillary samples relative to arterial samples. Methods A prospective study was conducted by collecting paired capillary and arterial samples of patients undergoing major operations at a tertiary medical center from August 2009 to May 2011. Subjects were a convenience sample of patients who had arterial lines and needed glucose testing while undergoing the procedure. Precision Xceed Pro (Abbott) handheld glucometers were used to obtain the blood glucose values. Our primary outcome of interest was the degree of correlation between capillary and arterial blood glucose values or the degree to which arterial glucose levels can be predicted by capillary glucose samples. We used linear regression and the Student t tests for statistical analyses. Results Seventy-two-paired samples were collected. Of the cases, 54% were major abdominal operations, whereas 24% were vascular operations. The mean values ± standard deviation for glucose levels were 146 ± 35 mg/dL (capillary) and 147 ± 36 mg/dL (arterial). The mean time ± standard deviation between the collection of both samples was 3.5 ± 1.3 minutes. The regression coefficient showed a strong positive correlation of .91 between capillary glucose values and arterial values ( P R 2 statistic was 84%. Differences in values between capillary and arterial samples would not have altered the diagnosis of hypo- and hyperglycemia using typical thresholds. Conclusions Capillary samples collected intraoperatively are strongly correlated with arterial samples. Glucose monitoring in the operating room can be safely performed by collecting capillary samples for POCT. However, clinicians should still be cautious when interpreting glucose levels that are high, either by repeating the blood glucose test or by having samples sent to the laboratory.
Tumor localizing agents: The transport of meso-tetra(p-sulfophenyl) porphine by vero and HEp-2 cells in vitro

Abstract The mechanism of transport of the tumor localizing agent, meso-tetra( p -sulfophenyl)porphine (TPPS 4 ), was investigated in Vero and HEp-2 cells in vitro. Vero cells proved to be basically impermeable to the porphyrin, but a slow transport was observed. The uptake was linear with time and appeared to be carrier mediated, as it was strongly inhibited by cyanide or low temperature and demonstrated saturation kinetics. Transport in HEp-2 cells was more rapid and non-linear, reaching a plateau after about 2 h. Analysis of this uptake over a 20-fold range of porphyrin concentration revealed it to be biphasic. A low affinity, high capacity component appeared to be unsaturable and was unaffected by low temperature or metabolic inhibitors. This system is probably one of a passive diffusion. The high affinity, low capacity phase is probably carrier mediated. The tumor cells appear to be “leaky” to the porphyrin, with respect to the Vero cells. This may explain part of the localizing ability of TPPS 4 .
Promoting healing with recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB in a previously irradiated problem wound

Objectives/Hypothesis Persistent, poorly healing wounds are a significant clinical problem in patients who have had previous irradiation. Despite current treatments, refractory nonhealing soft tissue wounds persist. The study described one of the earliest reported uses of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF) gel to improve the healing of a previously irradiated refractory dermal wound to the neck that had been present for 12 years. Study Design Case report and literature review. Methods Review of local healing management of previously irradiated wounds and review of patients chart one year after follow-up treatment. Results A 47-year-old man had a 12-year history of a persistent, painful, nonhealing full-thickness dermal wound on the left side of his neck after radiation therapy and chemotherapy for a T2N2bM0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma. He had been tumor free for 12 years. Despite multiple modalities of therapy over a 1-year period (including moist hydrogel dressings, topical and oral antibiotics, serial debridement, and hyperbaric oxygen), the wound did not heal. After 6 months of topical rhPDGF gel treatment, sufficient granulation tissue developed within the dermal wound that a split-thickness skin graft was successfully performed. Symptomatically, the patient's continuous pain at the neck resolved after rhPDGF treatment. Serial histological biopsy specimens before and after rhPDGF treatment confirmed the wound transformation from a chronic state to a short-term healing state. Conclusion In previously irradiated tissue, rhPDGF can be useful in helping refractory wounds to heal by inducing further granulation formation. If such treatment is planned, the patient should be informed of the possible theoretical risks of its use when it is in proximity to a previously treated neoplastic site.
A continuous output current measurement circuit for switching step down DCDC regulator with a single sensing FET

An output current measurement circuit intended for using with a switching type step down DC-DC voltage regulator is presented in this work.
Bayesian inference in applied statistics.

The task of assessing posterior distributions from noisy empirical data imposes difficult requirements of modelling, computing, and assessing sensitivity to model choice. Seasonal analysis of economic time series is used to illuestrate ways of approaching such dificulties.
Temperature-compensated and Density-independent Moisture Content Determination in Shelled Maize by Microwave Measurements

Abstract Moisture content of shelled maize, Zea mays L., was correlated with the attenuation and phase shift of electromagnetic waves travelling through a layer of grain. Several calibration equations are presented in the paper that are based on measurements taken at 15·2 GHz for various grain densities, moisture contents and temperatures. Validation of the calibration equations indicated that moisture content can be predicted with an uncertainty less than ±0·72% moisture content w.b. at the 95% confidence level. Moisture predictions are largely independent of bulk density variations at temperatures from 4 to 45°C and moisture contents from 9 to 19% w.b. By following one approach described, the grain bulk density can be determined from the same measurements with an uncertainty of less than 25 kg/m 3 . With another approach, the grain bulk density cannot be determined, but moisture content is determined independent of the material bulk density and compensated for temperature. No differences among three maize hybrids were observed in the measured data.
The Absence of Proximal Strain in the Truncated Hemoglobins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

HbN and HbO are two truncated hemoglobins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Resonance Raman spectra of the deoxy derivatives of these two homodimeric hemoglobins indicate that there is no proximal strain imposed by intersubunit interactions on the proximal iron−histidine bond as that observed in the tetrameric human hemoglobin. In addition, with nanosecond laser flash photolysis, it was concluded that movement along the Fe−His bond following the dissociation of CO does not trigger a quaternary structural transition in these two hemoglobins.
Actinic radiation in the terrestrial atmosphere

Abstract Actinic radiation originating from the Sun drives the photochemistry of the Earth's atmosphere. Surprisingly few measurements have been made of this terrestrial forcing agent which is responsible for such anthropogenically critical issues as the production and loss of atmospheric ozone. This paper describes the status of our knowledge of actinic radiation throughout the middle and lower atmosphere with the goal of summarizing progress to date and identifying future requirements. The focus is mainly on radiation, with wavelengths between 170 and 400 nm, but does include other UV radiation which is deposited in the middle atmosphere. Topics are covered in their natural order, beginning with the solar spectral irradiance above the atmosphere, its transmission through the atmosphere, the component which is multiply scattered, UV radiation reaching the biosphere, and direct measurements of photolysis rates. Concluding remarks include recommendations for additional research.
EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT USING INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

Recent advances in educational assessment, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence have made it possible to integrate valid assessment and instruction in the form of modern computer-based intelligent systems. These intelligent systems leverage assessment information that is gathered from various sources (e.g., summative and formative). This paper analyzes the role of educational assessment in intelligent systems, summarizes the characteristics of successfully deployed intelligent systems, and describes an evidence-based approach to incorporating valid and reliable assessments into enhanced intelligent systems.
Asthma phenotypes: the evolution from clinical to molecular approaches

Although asthma has been considered as a single disease for years, recent studies have increasingly focused on its heterogeneity. The characterization of this heterogeneity has promoted the concept that asthma consists of multiple phenotypes or consistent groupings of characteristics. Asthma phenotypes were initially focused on combinations of clinical characteristics, but they are now evolving to link biology to phenotype, often through a statistically based process. Ongoing studies of large-scale, molecularly and genetically focused and extensively clinically characterized cohorts of asthma should enhance our ability to molecularly understand these phenotypes and lead to more targeted and personalized approaches to asthma therapy.
Reciprocal relation in asymptotically free theories

Abstract We study consequences of the reciprocal relation between annihilation and deep inelastic scattering in asymptotically free theories. Annihilation structure functions fall with q 2 near ω = 1 and rise near ω = 0. Multiplicity growth lies between any power of lnq q 2 μ 2 and any power of lnq q 2 μ 2 .
Up-regulation of epidermal growth factor-receptors (EGF-R) by nicotine in cervical cancer cell lines: this effect may be mediated by EGF.

PROBLEM: Over-expression of epidermal growth factor-receptors (EGF-R) has been described in a variety of cancers, including cervical cancer. Nicotine may increase cellular proliferation rates through a mechanism involving EGF or EGF-R. In this study, we ascertain the effect of EGF antibodies on nicotine-enhanced proliferation rates in two cervical cancer cell lines. METHOD OF STUDY: We studied (a) nicotine-induced increase in the cellular expression of EGF-R in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive ME-180 and HPV-negative HT-3 cervical cancer cell line cultures, using a semi-quantitative immunofluorescent antibody assay; (b) alterations in cellular proliferation in association with changes in EGF-R levels; and (c) the EGF-R mediation by EGF. RESULTS: Nicotine exposure at physiologically attainable plasma concentrations caused increased expression of EGF-R in both cervical cancer cell lines. Up-regulation of EGF-R was associated with increased cellular proliferation. Decreased expression of EGF-R was associated with decreased cellular proliferation. These data were consistent with EGF-R expression as a mechanism for the control of proliferation of the cervical cancer cells. The action of nicotine was abrogated when antibodies to EGF were added, implying that nicotine up-regulation of EGF-R may be mediated by EGF. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that nicotine-induced proliferation of cervical cancer cells is mediated through EGF-R over-expression and that this action of nicotine utilizes EGF.
The Selective Partial Oxidation of Alkanes using Zeolite Based Catalysts. Phthalocyanine (PC) “Ship-in-Bottle” Species

Phthalocyaninatoiron (FePc) complexes may be prepared inside the pore structure of large pore zeolites X or Y by a process of sequential introduction of components followed by assembly inside the void space of the zeolite. Such species are capable of performing as catalysts in the oxidation of alkanes using iodosobenzene as the oxygen atom transfer reagent. The fact that such catalysis is constrained to occur inside the size- and shape-selective zeolite crystallites imposes unique selectivities on the distribution of oxidized products. These catalysts prefer to oxidize the smaller of two competitive substrates and to oxidize toward the ends of the long molecular axis of such substrates. In addition. stereoselectivity is apparent in cases of oxidations with diastereotopic C–H bonds. All of the observed selectivities can be explained in terms of the sieving and orienting effects of the zeolite hosts. While selectivities are moderate with the native zeolites, they may be considerably adjusted by simply alter...
Occurrence, Synthesis, and Mammalian Cell Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Haloacetamides: An Emerging Class of Nitrogenous Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts

The haloacetamides, a class of emerging nitrogenous drinking water disinfection byproduct (DBPs), were analyzed for their chronic cytotoxicity and for the induction of genomic DNA damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The rank order for cytotoxicity of 13 haloacetamides was DIAcAm > IAcAm > BAcAm > TBAcAm > BIAcAm > DBCAcAm > CIAcAm > BDCAcAm > DBAcAm > BCAcAm > CAcAm > DCAcAm > TCAcAm. The rank order of their genotoxicity was TBAcAm > DIAcAm ≈ IAcAm > BAcAm > DBCAcAm > BIAcAm > BDCAcAm > CIAcAm > BCAcAm > DBAcAm > CAcAm > TCAcAm. DCAcAm was not genotoxic. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were primarily determined by the leaving tendency of the halogens and followed the order I > Br >> Cl. With the exception of brominated trihaloacetamides, most of the toxicity rank order was consistent with structure–activity relationship expectations. For di- and trihaloacetamides, the presence of at least one good leaving halogen group (I or Br but not Cl) appears to be critical for significant toxic activity. Log P was ...
Iterative shape recovery from multiple images

Abstract In general, shape from shading (SFS) involves the solution of an under-determined system, so it is difficult to always obtain a correct and unique solution. Since only one input image is used, in order to recover the shape of the object as completely as possible, the image has to be taken with careful light source placement in order to illuminate most of the object. Shape from photometric stereo avoids the under-determined problem by using three input images; however, the shape can only be recovered in the areas that are illuminated in all three images. In real life, when a larger sequence of images is available, it is possible to solve these problems. In this paper, we present a method which recovers shape from a sequence of images taken with different illumination directions. The sequence can be of any length (at least three images), and given in any order, as long as the light source directions are not coplanar. The process can be viewed as cascading shape from photometric stereo, which is formulated in the framework of the linear Kalman filter in order to iteratively recover and refine the shape and the surface albedo. The algorithm can be repeated in multiple cycles over the same sequence of images, which results in an improvement of the recovered shape and albedo. It can also be initiated at any point, stopped at any point, and continued whenever new images arrive. By allowing a longer sequence of input images, the algorithm provides enough information to incrementally recover most of a scene with shadow areas.
Nanoscale compositional and structural evolution in ceria zirconia during cyclic redox treatments

We report changes in nanoscale composition and structure in individual ceria zirconia nanoparticles (nominal composition Ce0.7Zr0.3O2), before and after redox treatment, determined by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) imaging. According to the chemical analysis of individual nanoparticles, the redox treatments promote the formation of more compositionally homogenous ceria zirconia solid solution nanoparticles, resulting in a uniform low-temperature reduction. Local pyrochlore-type cation ordering in individual nanoparticles was also observed after the high temperature reduction step. For nanoparticles with 70% ceria content, redox cycling treatment was critical to obtain material which exhibits a strong low temperature reducibility. The origin of significant X-ray diffraction line broadening and particle sintering mechanism in the solid solution nanopowders are discussed based on compositional and structural variation within and between individual nanoparticles and oxygen vacancies formed during high temperature reduction treatment.
A description of the circulation on the continental shelf of the east coast of the United States

Abstract The circulation on the continental shelf of the east coast of the United States is discussed, including the historical development of the concepts, and the surface and bottom circulation based on drift-bottle data and sea-bed drifter data. Suggestions for future research to further our understanding of the circulation problem are offered.
Extendible hashing for concurrent operations and distributed data

The extendible hash file is a dynamic data structure that is an alternative to B-trees for use as a database index. While there have been many algorithms proposed to allow concurrent access to B trees similar solutions for extendible hash files have not appeared. In this paper, we present solutions to allow for concurrency that are based on locking protocols and minor modifications in the data structure.Another question that deserves consideration is whether these indexing structures can be adapted for use in a distributed database. Among the motivations for distributing data are increased availability and ease of growth, however, unless data structures in the access path are designed to support those goals, they may not be realized. We describe some first attempts at adapting extendible hash files for distributed data.
An overview of primary prevention

The historical antecedents of primary prevention are to be found in the methods of public health but also in insights from counseling and psychotherapy. Primary prevention is defined as being proactive and is aimed predominately at high-risk groups not yet affected by the condition to be prevented. Its success is measured in a decline in the incidence (new cases) of a condition compared with controls. Only through prevention can we reduce incidence. between the enormous number of individuals at risk for emotional disturbance and the limited availability of treatment resources. This paper prevention programs and examines the arguments espoused by those who are opposed to prevention theory and its implementation. Opposition is strongest from those who accept an organic disease model of mental disorders and from conservative groups that oppose social change aimed at the empowerment of exploited groups. It is the only feasible way to deal with the gap presents strategies for implementing effective
The use of tumors in wild populations of fish to assess ecosystem health

Evidence has linked toxicants in aquatic systems with cancer in fish and population level effects on species. Thus some types of tumors may be useful monitors of ecosystem health, at least as affected by genotoxins and promoters. However, tumors caused by purely genetic mechanisms or by virus would not be good indicators. Only neoplasms which have chemicals as a portion of their etiology (either as initiators or promoters) would be useful in assessing ecosystem health. Lesions which may fit these criteria include liver neoplasms (both biliary and hepatic) and skin lesions in a variety of primarily benthic fishes, and neural lesions in various drum species and in butterfly fish species. Two studies purporting to demonstrate a lack of tumors in fish from polluted areas have been reexamined and found either to have insufficient data on vulnerable species or to actually support a tumor-pollution linkage. Thus certain lesions in vulnerable species or species groups may serve as a mechanism to assess one facet of ecosystem health.
Review of "The Globalisation Of Addiction: A Study In Poverty Of The Spirit" by Bruce K. Alexander

Book review of "The Globalisation Of Addiction: A Study In Poverty Of The Spirit" by Bruce K. Alexander
Modulation of aspartate aminotransferase release and fatty acid uptake by ethanol

This amount exceeds theunbound concentration by a factor of 50,000. If membranetransport draws only on unbound fatty acid in plasma, twoconclusions necessarily follow: first, the unbound fatty acidpool must turn over very rapidly; and second, the membranetransport process must be extremely efficient. Most availabledata suggest that the unbound pool can, in fact, turn over fastenough to account for fatty acid uptake rates,
United States: The Bush administration's "war on terrorism" in the Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court has now rendered its much-awaited decisions in a trilogy of cases subjecting the Bush administration’s so-called “war on terrorism” to the scrutiny of the judiciary. Rejecting many of the administration’s key legal contentions in the cases, the decisions represent a serious setback for the president and a reaffirmation that the rule of law cannot simply be ignored in the face of the terrorist threat. The tenor of the Court’s response was nicely captured in Justice O’Connor’s quip: “We have long since made clear that a state of war is not a blank check for the President.” 1 The decisions should be viewed through a dual lens. From the perspective of those concerned about the fair treatment of the Bush administration’s detainees in the “war on terrorism,” the cases constitute only a modest step forward. From a wider systemic perspective, however, they have a more far reaching significance, representing a sustained judicial effort to counter the radical vision of constitutional law that the administration has methodically developed since the September 11 attacks.
Pfiesteria shumwayae kills fish by micropredation not exotoxin secretion

Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae reportedly secrete potent exotoxins thought to cause fish lesion events, acute fish kills and human disease in mid-Atlantic USA estuaries1,2,3,4,5,6,7. However, Pfiesteria toxins have never been isolated or characterized8. We investigated mechanisms by which P. shumwayae kills fish using three different approaches. Here we show that larval fish bioassays conducted in tissue culture plates fitted with polycarbonate membrane inserts exhibited mortality (100%) only in treatments where fish and dinospores were in physical contact. No mortalities occurred in treatments where the membrane prevented contact between dinospores and fish. Using differential centrifugation and filtration of water from a fish-killing culture, we produced ‘dinoflagellate’, ‘bacteria’ and ‘cell-free’ fractions. Larval fish bioassays of these fractions resulted in mortalities (60–100% in less than 24 h) only in fractions containing live dinospores (‘whole water’, ‘dinoflagellate’), with no mortalities in ‘cell-free’ or ‘bacteria’-enriched fractions. Videomicrography and electron microscopy show dinospores swarming toward and attaching to skin, actively feeding, and rapidly denuding fish of epidermis. We show here that our cultures of actively fish-killing P. shumwayae do not secrete potent exotoxins; rather, fish mortality results from micropredatory feeding.
Persistent Hypokalemia Following Open-Heart Surgery

Six patients who exhibited persistent hypokalemia after open-heart surgery with a dilute blood perfusion mixture are discussed. All these patients had acquired heart disease with heart failure as their predominant problem and had been on long-term diuretic treatment with oral potassium replacement. It was not possible to predict with any degree of certainty which patients would develop hypokalemia postoperatively, but the clinical points discussed indicated that frequent measurement of serum potassium was necessary until the value appeared stable. The authors think that the hypokalemia results from long-term tissue potassium depletion, and that hemodynamic improvement following open-heart surgery may facilitate the return of potassium into the cells and thus reduce the serum level.
Opiate withdrawal-like behavior induced by naloxone following exposure to a contextual fear stimulus

Abstract 1. 1. Considerable experimental attention has been directed at understanding the role of opioid peptides in mediating stress effects. Fewer studies have utilized non-physical or ‘psychological’ methods to investigate the role of the opioid system in stress. 2. 2. Recent studies have shown that conditioned fear, a psychological stressor, can augment morphine induced analgesia and acute dependence. Two experiments were conducted to assess withdrawal-like behavioral changes induced by the general opioid antagonist naloxone, in the absence of morphine, following exposure to a context conditioned fear stimulus. 3. 3. Experiment 1 demonstrated that a high dose of naloxone (10 mg/kg) produced a specific increase in one behavioral index of negative affect, forepaw tremor behavior, in rats exposed to a context fear stimulus. 4. 4. Experiment 2 assessed the relative effects of several naloxone (0, 1, 5, 10 mg/kg) doses in inducing withdrawal-like behavioral changes in animals exposed to a conditioned fear context. This experiment revealed that low doses of naloxone produced an overall increase in all behaviors. High naloxone doses tended to increase only forepaw tremor behavior. 5. 5. The results are discussed ih terms of opioid systems and stress.
Renegotiating gender and class in the berry fields of Michoacán, Mexico

This article examines the renegotiation of gender and class in a rural Mexican community where economic crisis in the sugar industry led foreign agribusinesses to promote blackberry and raspberry production for export and hire primarily women as berry pickers. Analysis focuses on the transition from a sugar economy where mostly men worked in the cane fields to non-traditional agricultural exports when women entered agricultural waged labor in unprecedented numbers. This restructuring of the regional economy raises important questions regarding the marginalization of differentiated subaltern groups and the nature of new sets of power relations between transnational agribusinesses, berry growers, and waged workers. I analyze the contradictions of this changing social field that connects Northern consumers, transnational company executives, berry growers, and waged laborers in a web of differential power relations as they reverberate along the commodity chain from campesino households to the global market.
Regulation of the timing of transposable element excision during maize development

The ability of transposable elements (TEs) to insert into or excise out of a genetic locus can be regulated by genetic, environmental, and developmental factors. Tissue- or organ-specific activity of TEs is a frequent and well-characterized example of spatial, developmental regulation. Regulation of the timing of TE activity during ontogeny is less well understood. To analyze timing, TE-induced variegation was quantified in the aleurone of maize kernels, a tissue composed of only a single layer of cells, and sector sizes were assigned to specific cell divisions in aleurone development. Three TE families, Mu, Spm, and Ac/Ds, were studied at two genetic loci. It was found that the frequency of transposon excision changes drastically (up to 30-fold increase or equivalent decrease) during the proliferation of the aleurone. Moreover, these changes occur at the same cell divisions in all three TE families. These results suggest that the timing of TE excision during maize development can be controlled by the host.
Predicting athletic performance from cardiovascular indexes of challenge and threat

This study examined the relationship between pre-performance motivational states (challenge vs. threat) and subsequent performance in athletic competition. Prior to the season, college baseball and softball players imagined and gave a speech about a specific baseball/softball playing situation while cardiovascular indexes of challenge and threat were recorded. These physiological challenge/threat indexes significantly predicted athletic performance during the subsequent season, such that players who experienced challenge in the laboratory performed better relative to those who experienced threat. The implications for personnel selection and the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat are discussed.
DISPOSITION EFFECT AND PUBLIC SECONDARY EQUITY OFFERINGS

Shareholders selling shares in public pure-secondary equity offerings are affected by the disposition effect and tend to sell past winners. Selling shares in these offerings is associated with significant indirect offer costs. On average, shares are offered at a 5.5% discount from the market price. Moreover, shares of offering firms are about 8% underpriced. Offer discounts and underpricing are positively related to the proxy for the disposition effect. Our findings are consistent with the proposition that the disposition effect increases the supply of winning stocks and depresses their prices.
Integrated Shipboard Measurements of the Marine Boundary Layer

Abstract The NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory air–sea interaction group and collaborators at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have developed a seagoing measurement system suitable for mounting aboard ships. During its development, it was deployed on three different ships and recently completed three cruises in the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment as well as two cruises off the west coast of the United States. The system includes tower-mounted micrometeorological sensors for direct covariance flux measurements and a variety of remote sensors for profiling winds, temperature, moisture, and turbulence. A sonic anemometer/thermometer and a fast-response infrared hygrometer are used for turbulent fluxes. Winds are obtained from a stabilized Doppler radar (wind profiler) and a Doppler sodar. Returned power and Doppler width from these systems are used to deduce profiles of small-scale turbulence. A lidar ceilometer and a microwave radiometer are used ...
A recursive computer algorithm for determining joint probability inventory distributions

Abstract Most reorder point inventory models have been characterized by either variable demands or variable lead times. Commonly used distributions that have been used to represent both demand and lead-time variation have included the Poisson, normal and negative exponential functions. When both demand and lead time are variable, the complexity of constructing a joint distribution to represent the lead-time demand impedes the use of traditional models by practitioners. Practitioners are more likely to use discrete probability distributions to represent both demand and lead-time variation. This paper presents a computer algorithm to facilitate the construction of joint probability distributions that represent the lead-time demand. Component distributions for both demand and lead-time variations are assumed to be discrete. The PASCAL computer model facilitates the construction of joint distributions for numbers of demand and lead-time alternatives too large to permit distribution construction by traditional, manual methods.
Are ‘whites’ in South Africa really ready for democracy?

Humankind's proclivity towards social domination is constantly thwarting the thirst for democracy. Consequently, understanding dominance behavior will go a long way towards helping resolve conflicts rooted in social hierarchy and towards assisting movements for social equality. Ethnography from South Africa shows that, during change to greater democracy, socially high ranking individuals can experience a deeply personal crisis because the values and worldviews enshrined in such change are antithetical to those which have long been functional for their ascribed positions. As a result, parts of these individuals resist democratization.
Dynamic force transmissibility in helical gear pairs

Abstract A new model is developed that describes mesh force transmissibility in a helical gear pair. New spectral stiffness and transmissibility matrices are developed, based on linear theory, which completely characterize the steady state forced response of a helical gear pair. New modal rating indices are also developed which can be used to rank order the importance of gear pair modes excited by various types of transmission error displacement excitations and to quantify gear mesh normal force and moment coupling. This study suggests that additional DOF must be included in the gear mesh interface model in those geared system analyses which attempt to predict structure borne noise and casing vibration associated with power transmission systems.
Efficient Holographic Optical Interconnects Using Resonated Holograms

We present performance improvement in thick hologram optical interconnects. The improvement is achieved by resonant mirrors reflecting light back and forth through the hologram. Theoretical predictions are given which are corroborated by experimental results.
Microsurgical treatment of pediatric intracranial aneurysms: long-term angiographic and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric aneurysms are rare and complex to treat. Long-term angiographic and clinical data after microsurgical or endovascular therapies are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and radiographic outcomes in aneurysms in pediatric patients treated with microsurgery. METHODS: Between 1989 and 2005,48 patients ≤ 18 years of age (28 boys, 20 girls; mean age, 12.3 years) were treated for intracranial aneurysms. Patient charts were reviewed retrospectively for age, presentation, type and location of aneurysm(s), surgical approach, complications, and clinical and angiographic outcomes. Rates of aneurysm recurrence and de novo formation were calculated. RESULTS: Seventy-two aneurysms were treated. Presentations included incidental aneurysm (35%), aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (17%), stroke (13%), and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (10%). Location was anterior circulation in 76% and posterior circulation in 24%. Twenty-eight (39%) were fusiform/dissecting, and 16 (23%) were giant. Most aneurysms were clipped directly. A vascular bypass with parent-vessel occlusion was used to treat 13 aneurysms (18%). Hypothermic circulatory arrest was used to treat 10 aneurysms (14%), all involving the basilar artery. The perioperative morbidity rate was 25%. There were no deaths. The long-term morbidity rate was 14%, and the mortality rate was 3%. Clinical outcome was favorable in 92% and 94% at discharge and follow-up, respectively (mean, 59 months; median, 32 months). At angiographic follow-up (mean, 53 months; median, 32 months), the annual recurrence rate was 2.6%, and the annual rate of de novo formation or growth was 7.8%. CONCLUSION: Pediatric aneurysms require complex microsurgical techniques to achieve favorable outcomes. They leave higher rates of recurrence and de novo formation or growth than their adult counterparts, which mandates lifelong follow-up.
A note on the two-armed bandit problem with finite memory

Robbins has proposed a finite memory constraint on the two-armed bandit problem in which the coin to be tossed at each stage may depend on the history of the previous tosses only through the outcomes of the last r tosses. Letting the choice of coin depend on the time at which the toss is made, we exhibit a deterministic rule with memory r = 2, the description of which is independent of the coin biases p1 and p2 , which achieves, with probability one, a limiting proportion of heads equal to max \{{ p1 , p2 \}}. Thus this rule is asymptotically uniformly best among the class of time-varying finite memory rules.
Energy-rich glyceric acid oxygen esters: Implications for the origin of glycolysis

The apparent Gibbs free energy change (GFEC) of hydrolysis (pH 7) of the 2- and 3-O-glyceroyl esters of 2- and 3-O-L-glyceroyl-L-glyceric acid methyl ester were measured at 25 C. The 2- and 3-glyceroyl esters were found to be 'energy-rich' with GFEC values of -9.1 kcal/mol and -7.8 kcal/mol, respectively. This result indicates that the analogous 2- and 3-glyceroyl esters of polyglyceric acid are also energy-rich and, therefore, could have acted as an energy source for primitive phosphoanhydride synthesis.