cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some New Forms of Visual Purple Found in Sea Fishes with a Note on the Visual Cells of Origin

This paper records the measurement of the absorption curves of a number of new forms of visual purple which have been found among fishes. For reasons which will be given immediately it was hoped that we could correlate these results either with the habits of the species or with the microstructure of their retinae, but the attempt was not successful. We believe the results in themselves to be important because they show that light-sensitive substances of varying absorptions can be found in the retina and it may not be impossible to discover substances which form intermediate links in the perception of colour. The retinae of fishes have attracted considerable attention from histologists because of their large and easily studied visual cells and the extent of their photomechanical changes. The results reported here on the types, distribution, and behaviour of the visual cells in the species examined are not claimed to be either exhaustive or final. The histology was carried out under difficulties and it was only possible to examine a few specimens of each species. It was found, however, that where other workers have also reported on the same retina (as in the elasmobranchs, eel, trout, etc.) the observations were always in agreement.
The influence of heat conduction on propagating stress jumps

Abstract T he propagation of discontinuities of the stresses and the temperatures is studied in a one-dimensional medium, in which the displacement and the temperature fields are coupled, and in which the transport of heat takes place at a finite velocity. It is shown that the application of a thermal or a mechanical disturbance gives rise to two wave fronts, whose speeds are expressed in terms of the material constants. The temperatures at the wave fronts are discontinuous unless Fourier's classical law of heat conduction is valid. The jumps at the wave fronts decay exponentially, and expressions for the exponents in terms of the material constants are presented. All results are obtained through application of the theory of propagating surfaces of discontinuity.
Charge transfer transitions in the excitation spectra of PrX3:Ce3+ (X=Cl, Br) scintillators

Abstract The Cl − →Pr 3+ charge transfer transition is identified to occur in the excitation spectrum of PrCl 3 :Ce 3+ at 211 nm (47,393 cm −1 ). A model based on the dissociation of the charge transfer state is proposed to explain the presence of the ligand-to-Pr 3+ charge transfer transition band in the excitation spectrum of PrX 3 :Ce 3+ (X=Cl, Br) when the Ce 3+ emission is monitored.
Family History of Alcoholism and Hypothalamic Opioidergic Activity

Background This study was designed to assess whether nonalcoholic offspring from families with a high density of alcohol-dependent individuals have altered endogenous central nervous system opioid activity. Naloxone hydrochloride stimulates plasma cortisol by blocking opioidergic input on the corticotropin-releasing factor neuron, thereby providing a noninvasive method for measuring hypothalamic opioid tone. Methods Forty-eight nonalcoholic subjects aged 18 to 25 years were enrolled in a protocol to measure endogenous opioid activity by inducing opioid receptor blockade with the receptor antagonist, naloxone. Twenty-six subjects were offspring from families with a high density of alcohol dependence and were designated as family history–positive subjects. Twenty-two subjects were biological offspring of nonalcohol-dependent parents and designated as family history–negative subjects. Subjects received naloxone hydrochloride (0, 125, and 375 µg/kg) in double-blind, randomized order. Serum cortisol levels were monitored. Results Family history–negative subjects had a graded cortisol response to each dose of naloxone. In contrast, family history–positive subjects achieved a maximal cortisol response to the 125-µg/kg dose of naloxone hydrochloride with no further increase in cortisol levels observed following the 375-µg/kg dose. Family history–negative subjects had a diminished cortisol response to the 125-µg/kg dose compared with the family history–positive subjects. Plasma naloxone concentrations did not differ between family history groups. Conclusions Individuals from families with a high density of alcohol dependence are more sensitive to naloxone compared with offspring of nonalcohol-dependent parents. This implies that individuals with a family history of alcohol dependence have diminished endogenous hypothalamic opioid activity.
Polarization enhancement technique for nuclear quadrupole resonance detection

We demonstrate a dramatic increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) signal by using a polarization enhancement technique. By first applying a static magnetic field to pre-polarize one spin subsystem of a material, and then allowing that net polarization to be transferred to the quadrupole subsystem, we increased the SNR of a sample of ammonium nitrate by one-order of magnitude.
Commodity Price Shocks and Fiscal Outcomes

The experience of developing countries over 1990-2010 indicates that commodity prices have a significant impact on fiscal outcomes. Both revenue and expenditure rise in response to commodity (import or export) price increases; the response of the fiscal deficit is ambiguous. A floating exchange rate regime only partially offsets the impact; foreign-exchange reserves do not dampen the effects. Hence, there is a strong case for fiscal hedging against commodity price shocks. Hedging instruments based on a limited set of benchmark world prices for a narrow set of commodities may suffice to realize most of the potential benefits.
Evaluation of Biogas Production Potential by Dry Anaerobic Digestion of Switchgrass–Animal Manure Mixtures

Anaerobic digestion is a biological method used to convert organic wastes into a stable product for land application with reduced environmental impacts. The biogas produced can be used as an alternative renewable energy source. Dry anaerobic digestion [>15% total solid (TS)] has an advantage over wet digestion (<10% TS) because it allows for the use of a smaller volume of reactor and because it reduces wastewater production. In addition, it produces a fertilizer that is easier to transport. Performance of anaerobic digestion of animal manure-switchgrass mixture was evaluated under dry (15% TS) and thermophilic conditions (55 degrees C). Three different mixtures of animal manure (swine, poultry, and dairy) and switchgrass were digested using batch-operated 1-L reactors. The swine manure test units showed 52.9% volatile solids (VS) removal during the 62-day trial, while dairy and poultry manure test units showed 9.3% and 20.2%, respectively. Over the 62 day digestion, the swine manure test units yielded the highest amount of methane 0.337 L CH4/g VS, while the dairy and poultry manure test units showed very poor methane yield 0.028 L CH4/g VS and 0.002 L CH4/g VS, respectively. Although dairy and poultry manure performed poorly, they may still have high potential as biomass for dry anaerobic digestion if appropriate designs are developed to prevent significant volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation and pH drop.
The C-terminal domain of the epsilon subunit of the chloroplast ATP synthase is not required for ATP synthesis.

The e subunit of the ATP synthases from chloroplasts and Escherichia coli regulates the activity of the enzyme and is required for ATP synthesis. The e subunit is not required for the binding of the catalytic portion of the chloroplast ATP synthase (CF1) to the membrane-embedded part (CFo). Thylakoid membranes reconstituted with CF1 lacking its e subunit (CF1-e) have high ATPase activity and no ATP synthesis activity, at least in part because the membranes are very leaky to protons. Either native or recombinant e subunit inhibits ATPase activity and restores low proton permeability and ATP synthesis. In this paper we show that recombinant e subunit from which 45 amino acids were deleted from the C-terminus is as active as full-length e subunit in restoring ATP synthesis to membranes containing CF1-e. However, the truncated form of the e subunit was significantly less effective as an inhibitor of the ATPase activity of CF1-e, both in solution and bound to thylakoid membranes. Thus, the C-terminus of the e ...
Orthotic design through 3D reconstruction: A passive-assistance ankle--foot orthotic

Current methods of designing and manufacturing custom orthotics include manual techniques such as casting a limb in plaster, making a plaster duplicate of the limb to be treated and forming a polymer orthotic directly onto the plaster model. Such techniques are usually accompanied with numerous postmanufacture alterations to adapt the orthotic for patient comfort. External modeling techniques rely heavily on the skill of the clinician, as the axes of rotation of any joint are partially specified by the skeletal structure and are not completely inferable from the skin, especially in cases where edema is present. Clinicians could benefit from a simultaneous view of external and skeletal patient-specific geometry. In addition to providing more information to clinicians, quantification of patient-specific data would allow rapid production of advanced orthotics, requiring machining rather than casting. This paper presents a supplemental method of orthotic design and fitting, through 3D reconstruction of medical imaging data to parameterise an orthotic design based on a major axis of rotation, shape of rigid components and placement of skin contact surfaces. An example of this design approach is shown in the design of an ankle--foot orthotic designed around the computed tomography data from the Visible Human Project.
Note on Consensual Assessment Technique in Creativity Research

Summary Amabile's Consensual Assessment Technique is commonly used in research on creative products. This study evaluates a modification of that technique which may facilitate research on creative products by calibrating nonexpert judges to expert judges in previous studies. University students (N = 200; 59% women, M = 22.3 yr. of age, SD = 5.5) devised drawings to the Test of Creative Thinking-Drawing Production stimulus. These drawing products were rated by five artist-judges using the CAT and five psychologist-judges who first viewed 16 examples of the range of drawings in a previous study, referred to here as the modified consensual assessment technique. The 20 ratings of product creativity loaded on a single principal component, and the mean ratings correlated .91. Finally, the correlations of these ratings with other measures of creativity were nearly identical. Thus, a slight modification of the technique may be useful in programmatic research when the creativity task is not modified across studies...
Occurrence and Predictors of Pressure Sores in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Follow‐up

The occurrence of pressure sores during a follow-up period of approximately 10 years is documented for a US nationwide cohort aged 55 to 75 years at baseline. Using data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) Epidemiologic Follow-up Study, those who developed pressure sores were identified through death certificates, hospital discharge summaries and self-report or proxy-report. During the follow-up period, pressure sores were identified in 113 of the 5,193 respondents (2.2%) for whom follow-up information was available. Incidence over the follow-up period was 1.7% for those aged 55 to 69 at baseline and rose to 3.3% for those 70 to 75 years old. Risk factors for pressure sore development were evaluated using data collected in NHANES I at baseline. Those with identified pressure sores were compared with the remainder of their cohort and also with a control group matched on age and length of longest hospitalization or nursing home admission. Significantly increased risk for pressure sore development was found for those who at baseline were current smokers, reported being relatively inactive, had poor self-assessed health status and who were found on physician's exam to have dry or scaling skin. Neurologic abnormality on the physician's exam and anemia at baseline were also associated with increased risk of pressure sores, although these associations were of borderline statistical significance.
Male-Produced Aggregation Pheromone of the Maize Weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, and Interspecific Attraction Between Three Sitophilus Species

A dual-choice pitfall bioassay was used to demonstrate the existence of a male-produced aggregation pheromone in the maize weevil. Both males and females showed a highly significant preference for extracts of disks exposed to wheat-feeding males over extracts of disks exposed to wheat kernels only. Neither sex responded significantly to extracts from females. Mating did not reduce pheromone release by males. Response by virgin females to pheromone was significantly higher than response by mated females, but males of either mating status responded equally well. There was no apparent daily periodicity in the responsiveness to pheromone. Rice and maize weevils showed a strong interspecific cross-attraction. Granary weevils of both sexes responded well to maize weevil extracts, but only females showed a significant response to rice weevil extracts. Neither maize nor rice weevils responded significantly to granary weevil extracts.
Relationship between WAIS-R vocabulary and performance on the california verbal learning test

Abstract Eighty-two normal subjects, aged 16 to 95, were administered the California Verbal Learning Test, and the WAIS-R Vocabulary subtest. A set of hierarchical multiple regression equations (with age entered on the first step and Vocabulary on the second step) were calculated for CVLT performance variables. Significant incremental gains in R2 (p < .01) were found between Vocabulary scores and most CVLT recall variables. Education, in spite of having a significant correlation with Vocabulary, was a poor predictor of CVLT performance. Results indicated that age and Vocabulary together accounted for up to 31% of the variance in select CVLT performance variables; Vocabulary alone accounted for up to 13% of additional variance in select CVLT scores beyond the effects of age. Norms based on vocabulary scores or a similar estimate of verbal IQ may increase this test's sensitivity.
A passive emergency cooling system for an advanced LMR—The Trench Reactor

Abstract A concept for a passive reactor shutdown cooling system for the Trench Reactor, using a gravity-assisted, heat pipe heat exchanger is presented. The Trench Reactor is a conceptual study for an advanced liquid metal fast reactor of the pool type. Passive cooling of the pool is achieved by natural circulation of the containment building atmosphere (N gas) around the reactor vessel, and rejection of the heat from the gas to the outside environment through a system of heat-pipe exchangers. These latter are located at the top of the containment structure. An analysis based on a quasi-steady numerical model indicates that the heat removal rate from the Na pool should be sufficient to prevent excessive Na temperature in the pool after reactor shutdown. The heat transferred from the reactor is at the rate of 13.8 MW at 482°C, the design value of the Trench Reactor pool Na temperature during normal operation; at 538°C, heat is removed at 16.1 MW. The reactor wall temperature peaked at 487°C, 0.4 h after reactor shutdown
The Relationship Between Cosmopolitan-Local Orientation and Job Performance.

Abstract The relationships between cosmopolitan-local orientation and measures of job performance were examined for 150 technical employees in 3 architectural firms. The hypotheses were based upon the requirements for professional recognition and organizational effectiveness. As predicted, cosmopolitan-local orientation emerged from a factor analysis as two independent dimensions. Cosmopolitan orientation was positively related to supervisor ratings of following prescribed work hours and supervisor and co-worker ratings of impressing others. Local orientation was positively related to co-worker ratings of task performance and negatively related to co-worker ratings of impressing others. Implications of the results for organizational strategies to promote cosmopolitan and local orientations are discussed.
Photopolymerization kinetics and monomer diffusion in polymer matrix

Abstract A direct and non-destructive method for observing reaction kinetics and monomer transport in photopolymers during photopolymerization is presented. This method is based on monitoring a change in intensity of the fluorescence emitted by plasticized vinylacetate film containing fluorescent monomer, N-vinylcarbazole. The film used in the experiments had high optical density at 295 nm. Illumination of one side of the film led to polymerization of the dispersed monomer and reduction of its concentration predominantly near the illuminated surface. Thus, during this photopolymerization reaction, which produces a monomer concentration gradient, the monomer diffuses across the film toward the illuminated surface. Since only the monomer and resulting polymer are fluorescent, an increase in concentration of the polymer near the illuminated surface increases the fluorescence intensity. This increase in fluorescence intensity is used to monitor the photopolymerization kinetics. It is demonstrated here that upon excitation at 295 nm at room temperature the polymerization kinetics of N-vinylcarbazole in a plasticized vinyl acetate film are controlled by N-vinylcarbazole diffusion. The diffusion coefficient for this monomer, as measured in the present work, is 6 × 10−9 cm2s−1.
Crystal Structure of Human DJ-1, a Protein Associated with Early Onset Parkinson's Disease.

We report the crystal structure at 1.8-A resolution of human DJ-1, which has been linked to early onset Parkinson's disease. The monomer of DJ-1 contains the α/β-fold that is conserved among members of the DJ-1/ThiJ/PfpI superfamily. However, the structure also contains an extra helix at the C terminus, which mediates a novel mode of dimerization for the DJ-1 proteins. A putative active site has been identified near the dimer interface, and the residues Cys-106, His-126, and Glu-18 may play important roles in the catalysis by this protein. Studies with the disease-causing L166P mutant suggest that the mutation has disrupted the C-terminal region and the dimerization of the protein. The DJ-1 proteins may function only as dimers. The Lys to Arg mutation at residue 130, the site of sumoylation of DJ-1, has minimal impact on the structure of the protein.
Simplification of a multidimensional digital filter stability test

Abstract The complexity of computation in a multidimensional digital filter stability test using resultant theory is reduced by exploiting a criterion for a polynomial having complex coefficients to be a Schur polynomial. The computational advantage is illustrated by nontrivial examples involving polynomials having both numerical and literal coefficients.
Criterion-Related Validity of the WISC-R Performance Scale with the Stanford Achievement Test--Hearing-Impaired Edition.

The criterion-related validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) Performance scale was tested with the Stanford Achievement Test, Special Edition for Hearing-Impaired Students (SAT-HI). Rank order correlations between WISC-R Performance IQs and SAT-HI subtest scaled scores and percentile ranks were calculated from archival test score data for 83 deaf children enrolled in a residential school (M=12.6 years, SD=2.3 years). The correlations range between .24 and .57 (p<.01), with four of five percentile rank p values significantly higher than paired scaled score ps. It is concluded the WISC-R Performance scale has adequate criterion-related validity, and SAT-HI percentile ranks may provide a better metric than scaled scores for use as a criterion.
Evolution of a near-triploid karyotype in a secondary erythroleukemia

We report a case of erythroleukemia (EL;FAB M6), preceded by a myelodysplastic phase, in a 50-year-old male 8 years after treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow at time of diagnosis of EL revealed three cell lines: 1) 28 of 53 cells (53%) were hypodiploid, 43,XY,-5,-7,-12; 2) 23 of 53 cells (43%) were near-triploid, stemline 67-69,XY,+2,del(5)(q11.2),+del(5)(q11.2),+6,-7,+8,-9,-11,-12,+15,-16,der (17)t (17;?) (p11.2;?),-18,-20,-20,+22,+r, + mar (relative to a complete triploid cell); 3) 2 of 53 cells (4%) were normal 46,XY. The relative monosomies of 5, 7, and 12 in both abnormal lines suggest that the near-triploid line evolved from the hypodiploid line. A single hypodiploid cell with both del(5) and der(17) chromosomes that appeared identical to those in the near-triploid line suggests that polyploidization occurred after these structural rearrangements. While EL is not characterized by any well-defined structural abnormality, reported cases are frequently hypodiploid, with occasional cases of polyploidization, as in our patient, EL in adults without previous neoplasia or recognized mutagenic exposure has been shown to have loss or deletion of chromosomes 5 and 7, also characteristic of myelodysplastic syndromes and secondary leukemia. Our patient had a relative lack of chromosomes 5 and 7 in both abnormal clones, as well as a del(5)(q11) in the near-triploid line. This case of EL clearly demonstrates the evolution of a complex near-triploid line from a hypodiploid line, with chromosome abnormalities typical of both EL and secondary leukemia.
Drug-induced QT prolongation prediction using co-regularized multi-view learning

Drug-induced QT prolongation is a major life-threatening adverse drug effect. It is crucial to predict the QT prolongation effect as early as possible in drug development, however, data on drugs that induce QT prolongation are very limited and noisy. Multi-view learning (MVL) has been applied to many challenging machine learning and data mining problems, especially when complex data from diverse domains are involved and only limited labeled examples are available. Unlike existing MVL methods that use l 2 -norm co-regularization to obtain a smooth objective function, in this paper we proposed an l 1 -norm co-regularized MVL algorithm for predicting drug-induced QT prolongation effect and reformulate the l 1 -norm co-regularized objective function for deriving its gradient in the analytic form. l 1 -norm co-regularization enforces sparsity in the learned mapping functions and hence the results are expected to be more interpretable. Comprehensive experimental comparisons between our proposed method and previous MVL and single-view learning methods demonstrate that our method significantly outperforms those baseline methods.
Effect of the acoustic reflex on the impedance at the eardrum.

Seventeen ears of 12 subjects with normal hearing were tested in both a laboratory and a clinical setting to study impedance changes in normal human ears associated with the acoustic reflex. Compli...
Polymyxin-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli

A surveillance study to identify patients from the community with Escherichia coli resistant to broad-spectrum cephalosporins discovered two isolates that were also resistant to polymyxin B and colistin. One isolate from a patient in the community and a second from a patient who received multiple courses of polymyxin B also possessed a CTX-M-15 enzyme. Resistance to cationic peptides in E. coli is unusual, and testing for susceptibility to these agents should be performed.
In-Plane Load-Deflection Behavior and Buckling of Pressurized Fabric Arches

This study focuses on the in-plane load-deflection and buckling response of pressurized fabric arches of constant circular cross section. These lightweight portable structural members support tents used for temporary medical facilities, disaster-relief shelters, and military applications. A quadratic Timoshenko beam element is developed for materially and geometrically nonlinear analysis based on a virtual work principle that includes work done by internal pressure due to deformation-induced volume changes. The inability of the arch fabric to carry compressive stress is addressed with a nonlinear moment-curvature relationship that captures the effect of fabric tensile stiffness, internal pressure, and axial load. A corotational formulation and cylindrical arc-length solver are used to permit large displacement analysis and the tracking of postbuckling softening response. A convergence study demonstrates the good performance of the element and the solver. Results of laboratory load tests on a 9.5 m-span semicircular inflated fabric arch are presented, and shown to agree well with the model predictions. Parametric studies are conducted to examine the significance of inflation pressure and lateral restraint on arch deflections and buckling under the action of code-specified snow loads. The numerical studies show that the work done by the confined air significantly increases arch load capacity, and that shear deformations of woven fabrics can significantly reduce arch capacity.
New Kinds of Fabric Filtration Devices

New kinds of fabric filtration devices are reviewed in this paper. The industry is on the threshold of a period of innovation and development in this field which should see the advancement of new concepts of the way filters function.
On the intermediate particle maxima associated with oxygen-poor water off western South America

Abstract The distribution of suspended particulate matter was measured during 21 May and 18 June 1977 between 4 and 23°S from the coast of South America to about 500 nautical miles offshore. A well-defined maximum was observed over the continental margins at depths of about 200 m between ∼9 and 23°S, At 4°S, the main particle maximum was at approximately 400 m, but in the nearshore zone the maximum extended upwards to ∼200 m. A comparison of the particle and chemical data shows that the particle maxima are usually at approximately the core depth of the oxygen minimum layer. A nitrite maximum and a nitrate minimum were also observed at or near the particle maximum core depth south of ∼9°S. Near 4°S, a weak nitrite maximum was observed within the oxygen minimum layer at some stations. The protein distribution near 15°S suggests that the material in the particle maximum contains significant amounts of organic matter. The distribution of the particle maximum layer between 9 and 23°S and its relations to the density field and the cross-shelf flow suggest that most of the particles could originate in the bottom waters over the outer continental shelf and be transported offshore in a quasi-horizontal path. Offshore particle transport near the equator is probably supported by a westward current off northern Peru between and under the eastward extension of the Equatorial Undercurrent and the Subsurface South Equatorial Countercurrent. However, the source of the particles in this ∼400-m maximum has not been determined.
Repeatability estimates for oleoresin yield measurements in three species of the southern pines

Repeatability was estimated for constitutive oleoresin yield measurements in 10 stands of three species of pines native to southeastern United States. Trees of these species that discharge large quantities of oleoresin upon wounding are considered to be most resistant to attack by southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann). Oleoresin yield is usually measured from one or more small surface wounds cut into the bole at breast height. Because multiple measurements per tree are possible, phenotypic variation in oleoresin yield includes among- and within-tree components. Thus it is of interest to determine the repeatability or relative contribution of variation among trees to phenotypic variation in oleoresin yield observed in populations. In the sample of stands studied, repeatability estimates were moderate to moderately high (r = 0.43–0.77), with no stands displaying low repeatability. For most stands estimates were greater than 0.5, implying that variation among trees is greater than variability within trees. These results suggest that for most purposes, two measurements per tree are adequate for estimating tree resin yields at breast height. Because initial attacks of D. frontalis are believed to most frequently occur at bole heights of 3–5 m, measurements taken on trees in two loblolly pine stands were used to develop equations for predicting oleoresin yields at a height of 4.5 m from assessments made at 1.5 m. To obtain reasonably good predictions it was necessary to develop a unique equation for each site. In addition, a new expression for approximating the standard error of repeatability estimates is introduced. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Robust stability analysis of time-varying systems using time-varying quadratic forms

Abstract We consider the robust stability of time-varying linear systems subject to structured time-varying uncertainty. We provide an alternate proof of the result that robust stability holds if and only if a scaled small-gain condition holds asymptotically. The new proof employs an extension of the so-called S-procedure losslessness theorem to time-varying quadratic forms which is of independent interest.
A histochemical approach to the mechanism of action of cisplatin and its analogues.

The effects of cisplatin (CDDP), a potent anti-cancer agent, and its various analogues were analyzed for any biochemical changes involving Ca2+ and lysosomal and membrane-associated transport enzymes in rat kidney, liver, serum, urine, tissue homogenates, and isolated mitochondria. Correlation was made with any morphological changes observed by light and electron microscopy to gain an insight into the mechanism of action of various platinum coordination complexes. CDDP in its hydrolyzed state under conditions of low chloride ion concentrations causes uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, calcium efflux from the mitochondria, inhibits ATP synthesis, lowers membrane-associated calcium and various membrane transport enzymes, and induces an increase in the number of lysosomes. Enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase are stripped from the brush borders of the proximal tubule cells and are discharged in the urine. However, daily IV injections of calcium (1.1 ml of 1.3% CaCl2) supplementation protect the membran...
Mechanism of hypertriglyceridaemia in diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycaemia.

Several aspects of lipid metabolism were studied to define the mechanism of hypertriglyceridaemia in insulin-independent diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycaemia. Patients with insulin-independent diabetes were more obese (p<0.001) and had a significantly (p<0.001) higher mean (± SEM) fasting plasma triglyceride concentration (387 ±66 mg/dl) than did either insulin-dependent diabetics (133±11 mg/dl) or normal (73±1 mg/dl) subjects. Very low density lipoprotein secretion rate was also significantly (p<0.01 — <0.001) higher in patients with insulin-independent diabetes (14.65±1.37 mg/kg/h) as compared to 7.64±0.60 mg · kg/h and 9.86±0.75 mg/kg/h in normal subjects and patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, respectively. However, the relationship between plasma triglyceride concentration and very low density lipoprotein-triglyceride secretion was similar in diabetics and in normals. The diabetic groups had equivalent degrees of fasting and postprandial hyperglycaemia, and comparable elevations of fasting plasma nonesterified free fatty acid levels (insulin-independent = 0.72±0.07 mmol/L, insulin-dependent = 0.63±0.08 mmol/L). Postprandial plasma insulin concentrations, however, reached normal levels in insulin-independent diabetics and were higher (p<0.001) than in insulin-dependent diabetics. Thus, hypertriglyceridaemia in insulin-independent diabetics with fasting hyperglycaemia was associated with increased hepatic very low density lipoprotein-triglyceride secretion, and normal plasma insulin levels. The lower triglyceride levels in the insulin-dependent diabetics is assumed to be due to their relative hypoinsulinaemia.
Power reduction techniques for microprocessor systems

Power consumption is a major factor that limits the performance of computers. We survey the “state of the art” in techniques that reduce the total power consumed by a microprocessor system over time. These techniques are applied at various levels ranging from circuits to architectures, architectures to system software, and system software to applications. They also include holistic approaches that will become more important over the next decade. We conclude that power management is a multifaceted discipline that is continually expanding with new techniques being developed at every level. These techniques may eventually allow computers to break through the “power wall” and achieve unprecedented levels of performance, versatility, and reliability. Yet it remains too early to tell which techniques will ultimately solve the power problem.
Optimization of seismo-acoustic landmine detection using dynamic mechanical impedances of mines and soil

Seismo-acoustic detection has demonstrated a high potential for the detection of land mines with a low probability of false alarms. A key element in the implementation and optimization of this new detection approach is the physical model of the mine-soil system. The validated model of the mine-soil system employs a mass-spring approach, which characterizes the dynamic response of the system using very few parameters derived from the dynamic mechanical impedances of the soil and the mines. This presentation describes the model and the results of the impedance measurements of live antitank and antipersonnel mines. The paper also deals with the optimization of the detection algorithm and its performance based on mine types, burial depth, and soil condition.
A Perspective on Standardizing the Predictive Power of Noninvasive Cardiovascular Tests by Likelihood Ratio Computation: 1. Mathematical Principles

The current practice of reporting positive and negative predictive value (PV), sensitivity (Se), and specificity (Sp) as measures of the power of noninvasive cardiovascular tests has significant limitations. A test result's PV and its comparison with other test results are highly dependent on the pretest disease prevalence at which it is determined; the citation of sensitivity and specificity provides no succinct or explicit quantitation of the rule-in and rule-out power of a test. This article presents a rationale for the use of an alternative standard for expressing predictive power in the form of positive and negative likelihood ratios, (+)LR and (-)LR. The likelihood ratios are composite expressions of test power, which incorporate the Se and Sp and their respective complements [(1 - Se) and (1 - Sp)], thus yielding single unambiguous measures of positive and negative predictive power. The likelihood ratios are calculated as follows: (+)LR = Se(l- Sp) and (-)LR = Sp/(I- Se). On analysis of the predictive value equations, the likelihood ratios equal the quotients of the posttest predictive value odds to the pretest prevalence odds for disease and no disease, respectively, as follows: (+)LR = (+)PVO d /POD and (-)LR = (-)PVO n /PON, where (+)PVO d is positive predictive value odds for disease, POD is prevalence odds for disease, (-)PVO n is negative predictive value odds for no disease, and PON is prevalence odds for no disease. Thus, the likelihood ratios are measures of the odds advantage in posttest probability of disease or no disease relative to pretest probability, independent of disease prevalence in the tested population. The quotients of the (+)LR or the (-)LR among test results studied in a common population are direct expressions of their relative predictive power in that population, The likelihood ratio principle is applicable to the evaluation of the predictive power of multiple tests performed in a common population and to estimating predictive power at multiple test thresholds.
Geochemistry of the Mercur gold deposit (Utah, U.S.A.)

Abstract The Mercur gold deposits of west-central Utah are disseminated “Carlin-type” deposits which are hosted by the upper portion of the Topliff Member of the Mississippian Great Blue Limestone. Strata-bound alteration and mineralization are related to sedimentary lithologies over a 60–80-m section of the Topliff Member. Hydrothermal alteration at Mercur can be separated into replacement and vein alteration assemblages. Two replacement assemblages are recognized. Jasperoid facies consists of replacement of massive limestone by silica and minor sericite and kaolinite. Argillic-facies alteration is characterized by decarbonation of silty limestones. Fluids which formed the argillic facies became progressively more reduced and acidic through reaction with carbonaceous argillaceous pyritiferous limestones. Three vein assemblages are recognized at Mercur: (1) pyrite-orpiment-organics±marcasite; (2) calcite-realgar; and (3) halloysite-barite-calcite. Considerable temporal and spatial overlap exists among all hydrothermal assemblages. Varying degrees of Au mineralization are associated with most styles of alteration. Fluid-inclusion studies show that jasperoid-facies rocks were formed at temperatures of 220–270°C, hydrothermal calcite at 150–190°C and barite at 150–300°C. Salinities throughout the paragenesis remained relatively constant at 5–8 eq. wt.% NaCl. A geochemical model based on fluid-inclusion data, microprobe data and mineral solubilities allows constraints to be placed on the chemical characteristics of the Mercur ore-forming fluids. Jasperoid-facies rocks were formed by fluids at pH > 3.6, p CO 2 f O 2 > −34 to −32. The argillic facies-vein assemblages were formed at a pH of ∼ 4.0, p CO 2 of ∼ 100 bar, log f O 2 of −40.4 to −39.6 and log f H 2 S of −3.1 to −2.7. The available data indicate oreforming solutions are near a Au solubility minimum but do not allow an exact determination of the mechanism of Au deposition.
EXTENDING INSULIN ACTION IN VIVO BY CONJUGATION TO CARBOXYMETHYL DEXTRAN

The biochemical and pharmacological properties of bioactive peptides and proteins can be altered by conjugation with polymers. This report describes site-specific attachment of insulin to activated...
Characterization of Genetic Variation in Intron 4 of The Surfactant Protein B Gene.

Expression of the surfactant protein B gene is required for function of the pulmonary surfactant. The 9.5 kb surfactant protein B gene includes 10 translated and exons and 1 untranslated exon. Genetic variants in intron 4 characterized by insertions or deletions of 11 distinct motifs have been associated with respiratory distress in some populations of infants, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Due to polymerase enzyme stutter, characterization of allelic variation by direct sequencing has been difficult. To examine genetic variation in intron 4 in a cohort of Missouri infants (n=240), we identified a polymerase enzyme with high fidelity for intron 4 amplification and analyzed product length by agarose gel electrophoretic mobility. In 480 alleles, we found 14.4% (69/480) variant alleles, 9.4% with insertions and 5.0% with deletions. Allelic diversity was significantly greater among African-Americans (n=204, 19.1% insertion alleles, 2.9% deletion alleles) than Caucasians (n=244, 2.0% insertion alleles, 7.4% deletion alleles) (p<.001). Insertion variants were strongly associated with African Americans (28/31), and deletions were associated with Caucasians (15/20) (p<.001). We then cloned fragments from a subset of 42 infants (22 African-American, 19 Caucasian, 1 Hispanic). Automated sequencing of the 32 variant alleles revealed 6 previously unreported variants (all insertions) that accounted for an unexpectedly high proportion (18/32) of variant alleles sequenced. Two different insertion variants shared agarose gel electrophoretic mobility (Mr~570 bps), as did 2 other insertion variants (Mr~600 bps). When analyzed by automated sequencing, these variants differed in motif insertion or deletion or in length of dinucleotide (CA) repeat. The C genotype at genomic position 1580, a C/T nonsynonymous, single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 4, was strongly associated with insertion (28/31 = T) (p<.001). We conclude that genotype at genomic position 1580 and race are associated with intron 4 variation. Characterization of intron 4 by agarose gel electrophoretic mobility alone may fail to detect important differences in genetic variation in intron 4 that contribute to risk for respiratory disease.
Privacy-enhancing k-anonymization of customer data

In order to protect individuals' privacy, the technique of k-anonymization has been proposed to de-associate sensitive attributes from the corresponding identifiers. In this paper, we provide privacy-enhancing methods for creating k-anonymous tables in a distributed scenario. Specifically, we consider a setting in which there is a set of customers, each of whom has a row of a table, and a miner, who wants to mine the entire table. Our objective is to design protocols that allow the miner to obtain a k-anonymous table representing the customer data, in such a way that does not reveal any extra information that can be used to link sensitive attributes to corresponding identifiers, and without requiring a central authority who has access to all the original data. We give two different formulations of this problem, with provably private solutions. Our solutions enhance the privacy of k-anonymization in the distributed scenario by maintaining end-to-end privacy from the original customer data to the final k-anonymous results.
Branching patterns of the rat phrenic nerve during development and reinnervation

Previous studies have shown that the phrenic motor nucleus in the rat projects onto the diaphragm muscle, forming an orderly topographic map. Moreover, this topography is partially restored upon reinnervation. This orderly map is expressed prior to birth, suggesting that early contacts between nerve and muscle are topographically appropriate. The phrenic divides during embryonic development into rostral and caudal branches, and motor axons preferentially enter the appropriate branch. In an effort to understand the mechanisms that underlie the choices growing phrenic neurons make in selecting their appropriate muscle targets, we examined the patterns of branching displayed by the phrenic nerve during development and reinnervation. In all muscles studied the phrenic nerve splits into three primary branches, rostral, caudal, and crural. At a coarse level the pattern of branching of the phrenic is remarkably consistent from animal to animal and at all ages of development. At a finer level of resolution, however, there is an asymmetry between right and left hemidiaphragms. Moreover, the precise emergence of any particular branch is unpredictable, resulting in an overall incongruence in branching architecture from animal to animal. The hemidiaphragm muscle grows unevenly, particularly on the right side, resulting in greater muscle fiber elongation medially. Upon reinnervation, the same coarse pattern of branching is reestablished, but the higher order pattern is much simpler and muscle growth is slower than in controls. These results suggest that very early in development primary branches of the phrenic funnel axons into three well-defined zones in the muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pharmacokinetic studies of intramuscular midazolam in guinea pigs challenged with soman.

Studies have demonstrated that benzodiazepine compounds are effective at antagonizing seizure activity produced by the organophosphate (OP) cholinesterase inhibitor soman. In this present study we have investigated the pharmacokinetics of midazolam and its associated effects on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity following intramuscular (im) injection to soman‐exposed guinea pigs (Crl:(HA)BR). Prior to experiments, the animals were surgically implanted with EEG leads to monitor seizure activity. For the study, animals were administered the following pretreatment/OP/treatment regimen. Pyridostigmine bromide (0.026 mg/kg, im) was given 30 min prior to soman (56 µg/kg, 2 × LD50; subcutaneously, sc), followed in one minute by atropine sulfate (2 mg/kg, im) and pralidoxime chloride (25 mg/kg, im). All animals receiving this regimen developed seizure activity. Midazolam 0.8 mg/kg, im, was administered 5 min after onset of seizure activity. Based on EEG data, animals were categorized as either seizure‐termina...
Heats of formation of silicon tetrachloride, dimethyldichlorosilane and diphenyldichlorosilane

Abstract Heats of hydrolysis in aqueous solutions have been obtained for the following chlorosilanes: SiCl4 (-79.75 = 0.14 kcal/mole), (C6H5)2SiCl2 (-31.64 = 0.46 kcal/mole), C6H5SiCl3 (-55.07 = 0.17 kcal/mole), (CH3)2SiCl2 (-32.09 = 0.03 kcal/mole) and (Ch3)3SiCl (-12.42 = 0.19 kcal/mole). From these data we have calculated heats of formation for the following gaseous chlorosilanes: SiCl4 (-153.7 kcal/mole), (CH3)2SiCl2 (-108.4 kcal/mole) and (C6H5)2SiCl2 (-52.2 kcal/mole). A change in silicon-chlorine bond strength with degree of chlorination is discussed.
Skipped words and fixated words are processed differently during reading

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether words are processed differently when they are fixated during silent reading than when they are skipped. According to a serial processing model of eye movement control (e.g., EZ Reader) skipped words are fully processed (Reichle, Rayner, Pollatsek, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 26(04):445–476, 2003), whereas in a parallel processing model (e.g., SWIFT) skipped words do not need to be fully processed (Engbert, Nuthmann, Richter, Kliegl, Psychological Review, 112(4):777–813, 2005). Participants read 34 sentences with target words embedded in them while their eye movements were recorded. All target words were three-letter, low-frequency, and unpredictable nouns. After the reading session, participants completed a repetition priming lexical decision task with the target words from the reading session included as the repetition prime targets, with presentation of those same words during the reading task acting as the prime. When participants skipped a word during the reading session, their reaction times on the lexical decision task were significantly longer (M = 656.42 ms) than when they fixated the word (M = 614.43 ms). This result provides evidence that skipped words are sometimes not processed to the same degree as fixated words during reading.
Spreading Waves of a Reduced Diffusion Coefficient of Water in Normal and Ischemic Rat Brain

Using echo planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, we measured three-dimensional changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of water in eight contiguous coronal slices, encompassing the entire rat brain, before and after local cortical stimulation. We applied chemical (potassium chloride application; n = 6) and mechanical (needle stab; n = 4) stimulations to the right posterior parietal rat cortex. In all animals in which potassium chloride or the needle stab was applied, a region of decreased ADC values to a mean of 0.45 ± 0.03 × 10−5cm2/s occurred. These reduced ADC levels appeared in the posterior parietal cortex within 1 min after cortical stimulation and the change recovered within 1 min. Then a ripple-like movement of similar changes developed across the unilateral cortex. This change was localized to the cortex and no significant ADC changes occurred in subcortical structures. The propagating speed of this movement was 3.4 ± 0.5 mm/min. These findings are compatible with spre...
Base-rate respect: From statistical formats to cognitive structures

The commentaries indicate a general agreement that one source of reduction of base-rate neglect involves making structural relations among relevant sets transparent. There is much less agreement, however, that this entails dual systems of reasoning. In this response, we make the case for our perspective on dual systems. We compare and contrast our view to the natural frequency hypothesis as formulated in the commentaries.