cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Critical Volumetric Threshold of 15 Gy Exposure to Left Coronary Arteries Predicts Major Adverse Cardiac Events and Mortality in Lung Cancer Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery volume receiving 15 Gy (V15 Gy) ≥10% and left circumflex (LCX) V15 Gy ≥14% are associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), while LAD V15 Gy ≥10% can significantly increase the risk of mortality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Given that reduction of coronary dose is a modifiable risk factor during RT planning, we identified absolute critical volume (vol) thresholds of left coronary artery (LCA) exposure to 15 Gy that predict for MACE and all-cause mortality (ACM). MATERIALS/METHODS Retrospective analysis of 701 patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with RT between 2003 and 2014. Coronary arteries were manually segmented with an 8-mm brush size. The absolute vol (cc) of LAD, LCX, or LCA (combined LAD+LCX) structures receiving ≥15 Gy were calculated. Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and cut-point analyses estimating MACE (unstable angina, heart failure, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and cardiac death) were performed. Fine and Gray and Cox regressions were performed, adjusting for pre-existing coronary heart disease (CHD) and other cardiovascular and cancer prognostics factors. RESULTS The median age was 65 years (interquartile range, 57-73 years) and 50.8% (n = 356) were men. The optimal cut-point (C-index) for the absolute vol. receiving ≥15 Gy for the LAD, LCX, and LCA was ≥1.1 cc (0.63), ≥1.3 cc (0.65), and ≥2.6 cc (0.64), respectively. Adjusting for baseline CHD and other factors, there was an increased risk of MACE with an LAD V15 Gy vol. ≥1.1 cc (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 7.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.24-25.69; P = 0.001), an LCX V15 Gy vol. ≥1.3 cc (AHR, 8.24; 95% CI, 2.84-23.90; P 0.05). Specifically, the 2-year ACM estimates in CHD-negative patients for LAD V15 Gy vol. (≥1.1 vs. < 1.1 cc) was 50.9% vs. 42.3%, and for LCA V15 Gy vol. (≥2.6 vs. < 2.6 cc) was 51.1% vs. 43.0%, respectively (P for interaction ≤.01). CONCLUSION Critical volume thresholds of 15 Gy for the LAD and LCA were independent predictors of MACE and ACM, particularly in patients without CHD. These constraints may help inform RT planning by guiding LCA dose reduction and identify patients who may benefit most from advanced RT techniques to mitigate excess cardiac risk.
An Activity Recognition System for Ambient Assisted Living Environments

Ambient assisted living facilities provide assistance and care for the elderly, where it is useful to infer their daily activity for ensuring their safety and successful aging. In this work, we present an activity recognition system that classifies a set of common daily activities, where it is designed to be comfortable and non-intrusive, and is comprised of commercial, robust and well known devices. A hybrid model of Bayesian networks and support vector machines for activity recognition with calibration is proposed to provide a high recognition accuracy and fast adaptation for new users. On the data collected from 15 participants, we have compared our approach to other two ways of building activity recognition systems, and shown its superiority.
Another Look at the Law of Bergonié and Tribondeau

Summary Differences in the in vivo radiation responses of radiosensitive and radioresistant CD 2-F1 mammary adenocarcinomata could not be explained on the basis of their comparable growth rates (doubling times), labeling indices, and histopathological grades.
Efectos escolares en las escuelas de nivel medio superior de la ciudad de México. Un estudio de valor agregado

Este estudio explora la relacion entre los tipos de sistemas de educacion media superior en la ciudad de Mexico y sus efectos en los beneficios en el logro escolar en matematicas de los estudiantes. Utilizamos examenes de alumnos en dos puntos distintos en el tiempo: Comipems-Exani I (2005) y ENLACE (2008). Al aplicar un modelo de valor agregado se observan las diferencias en los beneficios asociados a los estudiantes de bachillerato general comparadas con aquellos que asisten a bachillerato tecnologico y con escuelas de tipo profesional tecnico bachiller. Ademas, reducimos el sesgo de seleccion con la metodologia de propensity score matching. Concluimos que cuando se controla por las variables socioeconomicas del alumno, sigue existiendo una gran relacion entre el tipo de escuela y los beneficios en rendimiento de los alumnos. Ademas, cuando comparamos a los grupos de estudiantes del bachillerato general con los de bachillerato tecnologico, encontramos que el grupo de bachillerato tecnologico tiene un efecto positivo de 0.39 desviaciones estandar en la prueba ENLACE. Sin embargo cuando observamos a grupos de bachillerato general y los de profesional tecnico bachiller el efecto negativo lo tienen los alumnos de profesional tecnico bachiller de –0.138 desviaciones estandar en la misma prueba.
Algorithm for a tabu - ant colony optimizer

A novel Ant inspired method is introduced in which both positive and negative pheromones are used to guide the ant's selection process. The negative pheromone serves to influence the decision (much like a tabu search) to discourage the exploration of known bad paths. The positive pheromone serves to attract ants to known good paths (as in any conventional ACO.) Psuedocode for the new algorithm is provided. The dual-pheromone, Tabu-ACO is tested against a classic (positive pheromone only) ACO and the results compared. The Prize Collecting Steiner Tree problem is used to benchmark results.
Edge-modulated stagnant-lid convection and volcanic passive margins

The initial oceanic crust along volcanic passive margins is a factor of ∼3 greater than that of typical oceanic crust (20 versus 6–7 km). Convection driven by the edge of the continental lithosphere may cause mantle material to circulate through the shallow zone of significant melting beneath the nascent ocean basin and cause the volume of melted mantle to exceed that required to replace the diverging lithospheric plates. This hypothesis is a well-known alternative to mantle plumes. I obtain dimensional scaling relations and develop numerical models which indicate that the melted volume is unlikely to be enhanced by a factor of ∼3. This conclusion agrees with the results of numerical calculations by Nielsen and Hopper (2002, 2004). Dimensional scaling provides the relationship which shows that the vigor of convection in terms of laterally averaged heat flow (or flow velocity) depends on the square of local thickness of the rheological boundary layer (for linear viscosity). The derivation does not involve undulations in lithospheric thickness and thus provides the inference that the vigor of stagnant-lid convection depends only weakly on those features. Numerical models support this inference. Lithospheric edges do nucleate instabilities, but these instabilities are similar in magnitude to those in models started with a tiny perturbation from laterally homogeneous temperature. Subsequent convection is also similar for models started with tiny perturbations and with large lateral variations in lithospheric thickness. In terms of the scaling relationship, the asthenosphere beneath the thin lithosphere within rifts is an unfavorable site for circulation and extensive melting. The rheological boundary layer is in general thin below thin lithosphere, which causes stagnant-lid convection there to be weak. Care needs to be taken in numerical modeling of convection beneath passive margins. Starting conditions that drive large instabilities of features that could not have persisted in the Earth need to be avoided. Models should start rifting only after mature stagnant-lid convection is established.
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Adolescent Girls: I. Epidemiology

Because the incidence of bacteriuria in asymptomatic school girls is low (1% to 2%), we examined possible risk factors in adolescents, such as previous history of urinary tract infection (UTI) and sexual intercourse (previous and recent). Eight (1.6%) of 500 adolescent girls were detected with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU). Of 47 patients reporting a previous UTI, four (9%) were bacteriuric. Two other patients detected with bacteriuria had a history of enuresis; thus 6/8 adolescents with ABU had a history that suggests a need to screen for infection. A history of sexual activity was not helpful in case detection. Of the 500 girls, 133 had a routine pelvic examination at the time of the visit. The procedure was not associated with bacteriuria, as measured by a home nitrite test each day for three days following the clinic visit.
Priors on the Variance in Sparse Bayesian Learning; the demi-Bayesian Lasso

We explore the use of proper priors for variance parameters of certain sparse Bayesian regression models. This leads to a connection between sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) models (Tipping, 2001) and the recently proposed Bayesian Lasso (Park and Casella, 2008). We outline simple modifications of existing algorithms to solve this new variant which essentially uses type-II maximum likelihood to fit the Bayesian Lasso model. We also propose an Elastic-net (Zou and Hastie, 2005) heuristic to help with modeling correlated inputs. Experimental results show the proposals to compare favorably to both the Lasso and traditional and more recent sparse Bayesian algorithms.
The non-omission of nonfinite 'be'

It has long been known that children learning English optionally omit finite forms of the verb be (both copula and auxiliary). What makes be omissions possible? A classic answer is that be is semantically empty, hence a good choice to omit under performance-related pressures. What would this hypothesis lead us to expect about the infinitive form of be ? In terms of semantic vacuity, nonfinite be is an even better choice for omission than finite be , since it does not carry tense or agreement information—most such deletions would be completely recoverable. Thus, the semantic vacuity hypothesis would lead us to expect omission of nonfinite be to be at least as frequent as omission of finite be . This is contrasted with the suggestion that be omission be incorporated into the Root/Optional Infinitive phenomenon. The latter finiteness hypothesis makes different predictions from the semantic vacuity hypothesis with respect to the relative rate of nonfinite be omission. The finding is that, in each relevant transcript, omission of finite be is attested, use of nonfinite be is attested, but there are no instances of omission of nonfinite be , contra the prediction of the semantic vacuity hypothesis. I develop an analysis within the Agreement/Tense Omission Model of the underspecification of Infl (cf. Schutze 1997). I claim that finite forms of be in (adult and child) English are fused V+I heads, in the sense of Halle & Marantz’s (1993) Distributed Morphology. Their locus for vocabulary insertion has values for person/number, tense, and lexical category. The fused vocabulary items cannot be inserted in a syntactic structure in which INFL features have been underspecified. Overt be arises only when both AgrS and Tense are fully specified. Null be , i.e. O, the default member of the paradigm, arises from underspecification of Tense and/or underspecification of AgrS.
On all-zero modelling of a recursive digital filter

In this paper, we investigate the feasibility and limitations of modelling a recursive digital system using an all-zero digital filter. It is shown that the accuracy of modelling depends on the pole of the recursive system and the number of collected data points. It is also shown that the long division method can determine the optimal performance for any given number of FIR digital filter stages.
Earth Observing System: A Platform For Imaging Spectrometers

Several advanced imaging spectrometers will be deployed on the Space Station Polar Platforms as a part of the Earth Observing System (EOS) program. Two of these, the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) and High-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (HIRIS), will be provided as facility instruments, and currently are under conceptual study at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Goddard Space Flight Center. Other imaging spectrometer concepts, including proposals for a thermal infrared imaging spectrometer, are expected in response to the EOS Announcement of Opportunity scheduled for release in January of 1988.
Coarse Bribery as a Factor in the Attribution of Responsibility

Summary Two studies tested the hypothesis that an actor will be held less personally responsible for the outcome of an act performed for a reward regarded as appropriate than for the outcome of an act performed for a reward regarded as either too large or too small. The results of the first study (Ss were 56 male and 64 female college undergraduates) supported the hypothesis with respect to rewards regarded as too large, and the results of the second study (Ss were 19 male and 26 female college undergraduates) supported the hypothesis for both reward levels. These results were interpreted as supporting Kelley's coarse bribery hypothesis for the population studied, American college students.
Control of Grape Root Borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) by Mating Disruption with Two Synthetic Sex Pheromone Compounds

The pheromone ( E,Z )-2,13-octadecadien-1 ol acetate [called ( E,Z )-2,13-ODDA] or ( Z,Z )-3,13-octadecadien-1 ol acetate [called ( Z,Z )-3,13-ODDA; the main component of the peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa (Say), sex pheromone and mating disruption dispenser] was released into the air from Shin-Etsu ropes (254 per hectare [100 per acre]) in whole bunch grape vineyards and compared with untreated vineyards using a randomized block design (four replicates). Pherocon IC traps baited with a 99:1 blend of ( E,Z )-2,13-ODDA:( Z,Z )-3,13-ODDA were used to monitor the seasonal number of grape root borer males, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris). These trap captures were significantly reduced by 99.1 and 87.5% in the vineyards treated with ( E,Z )-2,13-ODDA and ( Z,Z )-3,13-ODDA, respectively, compared with the untreated vineyard mean capture of 134.0 males. The ( Z,Z )-3,13-ODDA-treated vineyards realized a mean grape root borer pupal skin reduction of 92.7% over a 2-yr period (life cycle), which was significantly different than the mean count from the untreated vineyards (17.2% increase). The mean pupal skin count reduction of 65.7% from the ( E,Z )-2,13-ODDA-treated vineyards was not significantly different from either the ( Z,Z )-3,13-ODDA-treated or untreated vineyards. This lower mean reduction was attributed to only one ( E,Z )-2,13-ODDA-treated vineyard that probably experienced immigration of mated feral females from an untreated vineyard 200 m to the southwest. It appears that placement of 254 ties per hectare per season of either compound alone in isolated vineyards with a low to moderate population of grape root borers may be an effective and environmentally safe alternative to insecticide treatments for control of the grape root borer.
The Garp architecture and C compiler

Various projects and products have been built using off-the-shelf field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) as computation accelerators for specific tasks. Such systems typically connect one or more FPGAs to the host computer via an I/O bus. Some have shown remarkable speedups, albeit limited to specific application domains. Many factors limit the general usefulness of such systems. Long reconfiguration times prevent the acceleration of applications that spread their time over many different tasks. Low-bandwidth paths for data transfer limit the usefulness of such systems to tasks that have a high computation-to-memory-bandwidth ratio. In addition, standard FPGA tools require hardware design expertise which is beyond the knowledge of most programmers. To help investigate the viability of connected FPGA systems, the authors designed their own architecture called Garp and experimented with running applications on it. They are also investigating whether Garp's design enables automatic, fast, effective compilation across a broad range of applications. They present their results in this article.
A Rertrospective Analysis of Pulmonary Contusion Secondary to Motor Vehicular Accidents in 143 Dogs: 1994 ‐ 1997

Summary Medical records of 143 dogs with pulmonary contusion secondary to motor vehicular trauma were evaluated retrospectively to determine length of hospitalization, oxygen supplementation, and associated injuries. Therapeutic interventions, including the dose of intravenous fluid administration, the use of antibiotics, and the use of glucocorticoids were recorded. Initial thoracicradiographs were reviewed, and pulmonary contusion was graded as mild, moderate or severe. Pulmonary contusion severity was compared to use of supplemental oxygen, oxygen administration time, hospitalization time, and the presence or absence of fractures. The length of hospital stay and the survival rate was calculated. The mean respiratory rate at admission was 55 ± 22 breaths per minute. Concurrent thoracicinjuries were common, and included pneumothorax and pleural effusion. Fifty-two percent ofdogs received oxygen supplementation for a median of 35 hours. The median hospitalization time was 48 hours. Forty (28%) dogs were treated with antibiotics for a minimum of 5 days, and forty- five (31%) were administered glucocorticoids. Two (1%) dogs developed pulmonary infection. Dogs with more severe thoracic radiographic changes on presentation were more likely to receiveoxygen, received oxygen for longer periods of time, and had a longer hospitalization time. Eighty-two percent of dogs survived to hospital discharge.
Resistivity studies of cubic americium hydrides from 20 to 300 K

Abstract We report low temperature resistivity measurements of cubic americium hydrides. For all compositions AmH 2+ x , 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.7, there is a change in temperature dependence of the resistivity at 120 K that is yet unexplained. For AmH 2.6 , there is an additional change observed near 210 K typical of long-range ordering of octahedral hydrogen that is typical of fluorite-type neptunium, plutonium, and rare-earth hydrides.
How should xanthine oxidase-generated superoxide yields be measured?

Abstract The rate of formation of superoxide measured by its reduction of tetranitromethane (TNM) and by its reduction of ferric cytochrome c (Fe III cc) are in excellent agreement when the superoxide is generated from a simple chemical precursor. In contrast, the rate of formation of superoxide generated in the reaction of xanthine oxidase with acetaldehyde is much higher (up to a factor of 6) when measured with TNM and compared with Fe III cc. It is shown that Fe III cc measures superoxide that has diffused from the enzyme, and that TNM probably scavenges all the dioxygen that is reduced by one electron by the enzyme. The TNM traps enzyme-bound superoxide in competition with the second-electron transfer and proton transfer, which normally yield hydrogen peroxide. The proton transfer is probably rate determining, k p ≤ 3.8×10 3 s −1 .
Anatomy and biomechanics of theposterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner

Abstract In this article, the current state of knowledge of the anatomy and biomechanics of the posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) and posterolateral corner (PLC) is discussed, as well as implications for the clinical management of PCL and PLC injuries. The PCL consists of 2 functional components, the anterolateral (AL) and posteromedial (PM) bundles based on their reciprocal tensioning patterns. Based on its larger ultimate load, stiffness, and cross sectional area, the AL bundle has been the focus of single bundle PCL reconstructions to date. The PLC of the knee is comprised primarily of the popliteus complex and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). A significant functional interaction exists between the PCL and PLC, as they work in conjunction to provide both posterior and rotatory knee stability. This article will discuss the interaction between these structures, including the effects of PCL and PLC deficiencies and the effects of factors such as muscle and axial loads on their function. The effects of several surgical variables affecting PCL and PLC reconstruction will also be addressed, including number and placement of tunnels, graft fixation, and associated injuries. Continued understanding of the structure and function of the PCL and PLC will result in the development and improvement of techniques for their reconstruction, as well as more consistent clinical approaches to these complex knee injuries.
Response of Interleukin‐1β in the Magnocellular System to Salt‐Loading

Drinking 2% NaCl decreases interleukin (IL)-1beta in the neural lobe and enhances IL-1 Type 1 receptor expression in magnocellular neurones and pituicytes. To quantify cytokine depletion from the neural lobe during progressive salt loading and determine whether the changes are reversible and correspond with stores of vasopressin (VP) or oxytocin (OT), rats were given water on day 0 and then 2% NaCl to drink for 2, 5, 8 or 5 days followed by 5 days of water (rehydration). Control rats drinking only water were pair-fed amounts eaten by 5-day salt-loaded animals. Animals were decapitated on day 8, the neural lobe frozen and plasma hormones analysed by radioimmunoassay (OT, VP) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IL-1beta). IL-1beta, VP and OT in homogenates of the neural lobe were quantified by immunocapillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection. Differences were determined by ANOVA, Tukey's t-test, Dunnett's procedure, Fisher's least significant difference and linear regression analysis. In response to salt-loading, rats lost body weight similar to pair-fed controls, drank progressively more 2% NaCl and excreted greater urine volumes. Plasma VP increased at days 2 and 8 of salt-loading, whereas osmolality, OT and cytokine were enhanced after 8 days with IL-1beta remaining elevated after rehydration. In the neural lobe, all three peptides decreased progressively with increasing duration of salt-loading (IL-1beta, r2 = 0.98; OT, r2 = 0.94; VP, r2 = 0.93), beginning on day 2 (IL-1beta; VP) or 5 (OT), with only VP replenished by rehydration. IL-1beta declined more closely (P < 0.0001; ANOVA interaction analysis) with OT (r2 = 0.96) than VP (r2 = 0.86), indicative of corelease from the neural lobe during chronic dehydration. Local effects of IL-1beta on magnocellular terminals, pituicytes and microglia in the neural lobe with activation of forebrain osmoregulatory structures by circulating cytokine may sustain neurosecretion of OT and VP during prolonged salt-loading.
Carboxypeptidase B activity from adrenal medulla — Is it involved in the processing of proenkephalin?

Abstract Lysed dialyzed bovine adrenal medulla chromaffin granules were used to study proenkephalin processing enzymes. With dynorphin (1–13) as substrate, carboxypeptidase-B activity was found although no trypsin-like activity was detectible. The granule preparation was capable of cleaving C-terminal amino acids from hippuryl-L-arginine and leu-enkephalin-arginine. Subcellular localization studies involving discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation of the large granule fraction showed that the leu-enkephalin-arginine cleaving activity coincided in the gradient with that of the lysosomal marker, cathepsin D and a minor peak of leu-enkephalin and was separate from the catecholamine and major enkephalin peaks.
The Importance of Early Childhood Poverty

Most poor children achieve less, exhibit more problem behaviors and are less healthy than children reared in more affluent families. We look beyond correlations such as these to a recent set of studies that attempt to assess the causal impact of childhood poverty on adult well-being. We pay particular attention to the potentially harmful effects of poverty early in childhood on adult labor market success (as measured by earnings), but also show results for other outcomes, including out-of-wedlock childbearing, criminal arrests and health status. Evidence suggests that early poverty has substantial detrimental effects on adult earnings and work hours, but on neither general adult health nor such behavioral outcomes as out-of-wedlock childbearing and arrests. We discuss implications for indicators tracking child well-being as well as policies designed to promote the well-being of children.
Field Studies of House Fly Resistance to Diazinon, Ronnel, and Other Insecticides

House fly (Musca domestica L.) populations and their resistance to insecticides were studied in 1960 and 1961 in 30 barns in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Barns were located within a 5-mile radius of key barns sprayed with Diazinon® ( O,O -diethyl O -(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate) or ronnel for 5 years or more. Resistance to Diazinon, ronnel, malathion, lindane, and DDT was present in varying degrees at all locations. Resistance to Diazinon was highest at barns treated with that insecticide and decreased as distance increased. Resistance to ronnel was highest at barns treated with organophosphorus compounds. Resistance to malathion did not show a clear pattern in relation to locations where it was used. Resistance to lindane and DDT were at a high level throughout the area. In general, resistance to all compounds was higher in 1961 than in 1960. Within a season, resistance to Diazinon and ronnel was high at the beginning of the season, but first decreased rapidly after which it gradually increased in intensity for the rest of the season. Fly populations were somewhat larger in 1961 than in 1960 though the patterns of increase were the same each year. A high breeding potential in barns resulted in increased resistance where residual sprays were used. Increase in resistance within a season is dependent upon sanitation, weather conditions, and migration of flies.
Engineering of lunar bases

Abstract How do we begin to expand our civilization to the Moon? What are the technical issues that infra-structural engineers, in particular, must address? This paper has the goal of providing an overview of this fascinating area of structural engineering. Published work of the past several decades about lunar bases is summarized. Although many hundreds of papers have been written on these subjects, and only a few tens of these have been referred to here, it is believed that a representative view has been created. The paper is organized as follows. An overview is provided of possible structural concepts, including some details on the new lunar environment that engineers must design against. This is followed by a preliminary design study of a simple surface lunar structure for manned habitation. Concluding the paper is an introduction to construction issues that face the designed.
Infrared absorption in bismuth nanowires resulting from quantum confinement

Results are reported for experimentally measured and theoretically predicted optical absorption in bismuth nanowires. Five ahsorption peaks are seen in the experimental spectral range. The energies of these five peaks agree well with the predicted values for intersubband transitions, thereby validating our model of quantum confinement in bismuth nanowires. We also compare the measured absorption in free-standing wires to the absorption of wires inside an alumina template obtained from an analysis of transmission and reflection measurements using a reverse effective-medium theory. Close agreement between the energies of the largest absorption peak is found by the two methods. The weaker absorption peaks were not observed in the spectrum of wires embedded in alumina.
Effects of opiates on synaptosomal calmodulin and calcium uptake

Acute opiate administration in vivo increases the level of cytoplasmic calmodulin in isolated rat brain synaptosomes. These synaptosomes do not, however, display decreased K+-stimulated45Ca uptake in vitro. Opiates affect neither cytoplasmic calmodulin nor Ca uptake after incubation of synaptosomes with the drugs in vitro. In contrast to the interpretation of electrophysiological data, these results suggest that the observed inhibition by opiates of the release of several transmitters may not be mediated by presynaptic opiate receptors that inhibit Ca uptake.
On the equilibrium defect behaviour in α- and β-CuI

Abstract The results of electrochemical measurements are employed in order to determine the fundamental constants related to the defect equilibria in α- and β-CuI at intermediate temperatures. The calculated voltage dependences of the partial conductivities, and, hence, transference numbers, of the principal defect species in CuI are presented.
Alternative Splicing of HLA Class I Transcripts Induced by IFN-γ and TNF in Fibroblasts: Release of Soluble HLA Class I Heavy Chain and an Associate Protein

FS-4 fibroblasts were found to produce 37-kDa HLA class I heavy chain in response to IFN-gamma or TNF in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, and a synergism between IFN-gamma and TNF was observed. Immunoprecipitation of IFN-gamma- or TNF-induced FS-4 cell culture supernatants by mAb A1.4 revealed an additional 33-kDa protein in association with the 37-kDa heavy chain. The 33-kDa protein appeared to be expressed in a 38-kDa form on the membrane of FS-4 cells induced by IFN-gamma or TNF, as A1.4 immunoprecipitated the 38-kDa band in association with the 44-kDa transmembrane HLA class I heavy chain. Release of the 37-kDa heavy chain could well be due to an alternative RNA splicing with the deletion of exon 5 encoding the hydrophobic transmembrane region of membrane-anchored HLA class I heavy chain. Northern blot analysis and S1 nuclease protection assay suggested the existence of HLA class I heavy chain mRNA lacking exon 5 in IFN-gamma- or TNF-induced FS-4 cells. Southern blot analysis on the products of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification from cytoplasmic RNA confirmed induction of alternative splicing by these cytokines. Our results suggest that cytokine-induced production of soluble HLA class I molecules may play important roles in the regulation of T cell interaction with antigen-presenting cells.
Studies on the intracellular localization of tetracycline in bacteria.

Abstract Tetracycline is bound to the 30-S ribosome of Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli when the drug-sensitive bacteria are grown in medium containing the antibiotic or when the ribosomes are incubated at 0° in the presence of the drug. Preincubation of E. coli ribosomes to remove attached mRNA reduces only slightly the amount of drug bound. Chromatographic evidence for complex formation between tetracycline and poly U is presented. Binding of tetracycline to magnesium ion but not to nucleotides has been demonstrated spectrophotometrically at physiological pH values. It is postulated that tetracycline attaches to the 30-S ribosome at the point of attachment of tRNA, preventing the formation of a tRNA-mRNA-ribosome complex.
Appearance of Hormone-sensitive Adenylate Cyclase in the Developing Human Heart

Extract: Highly significant (P < 0.0025) increases in adenylate cyclase activity were seen at all fetal age periods (5–17 weeks) whenever sodium fluoride (5–10 mM) was added to the enzyme prepared from human myocardium. Norepinephrine (NE) at 10−4 M significantly elevated adenylate cyclase activity commencing at 6–7 weeks (P < 0.01). Beginning at 8–9 fetal weeks, glucagon (6 × 10−6 M) effectively activated adenylate cyclase. Other hormonal agents, namely, histamine, epinephrine, and isoproterenol at 10−4 M, demonstrated an ability to activate the enzyme (P < 0.025) by as early as 6–7 weeks and continued to act in this manner throughout the remainder of the developmental periods investigated. The α blocker, phentolamine, appeared to have little effect on the enzyme in the presence of NE. The β blocking agent, propranolol, significantly inhibited (P < 0.025) the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by NE throughout the 8–15 fetal week periods. Speculation: The catalytic (fluoride-sensitive) moiety of adenylate cyclase appears to be present in human fetal myocardium throughout all stages of development. However, the hormonally sensitive receptor components of the enzyme, namely, the catecholamine- and glucagon-sensitive receptors, appear by the 6th-7th and 8th-9th fetal weeks, respectively. Moreover, the catecholamine receptor is most likely of the β type. Likewise, histamine is capable of activating myocardial adenylate cyclase at an early age. Therefore, it appears that at an early period the human fetal heart may have the capability to respond metabolically to sympathetic influences.
Distinctive items are salient during encoding: Delayed judgements of learning predict the isolation effect

Three experiments examined the role of salience in predicting superior memory for incongruent or odd items (the isolation effect). We tested the hypothesis that encoding salience emerges over the course of the encoding episode and predicts the isolation effect. In Experiment 1 participants studied lists of unrelated items and lists of categorized items containing an isolated item (from a different semantic category) that was presented either early or late in the list. Participants made delayed judgements of learning (JOLs) for studied items and were then given a free recall test. Results showed that participants had superior recall for the isolated items regardless of their list position and that delayed JOLs predicted this effect for both early and late isolation conditions. Experiment 2 replicated this delayed JOL effect using a different isolation paradigm that used only a single study list. Experiment 3 examined the specific mechanism by which isolated items become salient over the course of encoding and demonstrated that isolated items become salient as knowledge of the list structure unfolds. Results from these studies suggest that isolated items become salient over the course of the study episode, and that this salience predicts the isolation effect in memory.
Making Leadership Effective: A Three Stage Model

This article briefly reviews the history of leadership theory and practice and outlines the major components of an expectancy or path‐goal approach to the leadership and motivation of subordinates. Key concerns which are necessary for a leader to positively impact on subordinate effort, performance, and satisfaction are outlined. A general diagnostic model is presented which may be used to assess critical antecedent (precursor conditions), process (maintenance functions), and follow‐up (reassessment and monitoring stage) activities which are essential for effective leadership. Implications of this approach for leadership training and development are emphasised.
Ordered phases of rigid cores having semiflexible tails. I. General model for orientational and positional ordering with hard repulsions

A general lattice-model partition function for condensed phases with partial or total positional ordering (in one to three dimensions) as well as orientational ordering of the molecules in the system is presented. Each molecule is composed of a rigid core and one or two semiflexible tails and has site-site hard repulsive intermolecular interactions. This general model can be applied to a number of special cases, one of which is presented in the following paper.
A Note on Graph Pebbling

We say that a graph G is Class 0 if its pebbling number is exactly equal to its number of vertices. For a positive integer d, let k(d) denote the least positive integer so that every graph G with diameter at most d and connectivity at least k(d) is Class 0. The existence of the function k was conjectured by Clarke, Hochberg and Hurlbert, who showed that if the function k exists, then it must satisfy k(d)=Ω(2d/d). In this note, we show that k exists and satisfies k(d)=O(22d). We also apply this result to improve the upper bound on the random graph threshold of the Class 0 property.
EXPERIENCE WITH VASAL SPERM ASPIRATION

AbstractPurpose: We describe our experience with vasal aspiration of sperm in patients with azoospermia secondary to neurogenic anejaculation or obstruction of the vas deferens.Materials and Methods: We performed 15 vasal sperm aspirations on 11 patients with neurogenic anejaculation or vasal obstruction.Results: Adequate sperm was obtained from all 15 aspirations with an average sperm count of 42 × 106 (range 0.5 to 252 × 106) and an average motility of 73.4% (range 16 to 100%). Aspirations were performed for use with assisted reproductive techniques in 12 cases and for cryopreservation alone in 3. Following assisted reproductive techniques 6 of the 12 aspirations (50%) resulted in pregnancy.Conclusions: Vasal aspiration of sperm should be considered when electroejaculation fails, is not available or is contraindicated. Although the overall sperm quality and pregnancy rate are higher with vasal aspiration and in vitro fertilization than electroejaculation and intrauterine insemination, vasal aspiration i...
Determination of oxygen permeability of polymers using in-situ photo-generated heptacene

Heptacene generated in-situ in a polymer matrix using a photochemical route undergoes oxidation with diffused oxygen leading to the formation of endoperoxides. We have found the high reactivity of heptacene, a linear poly(acene), toward molecular oxygen can be used to determine oxygen permeability of polymer films. The rate of disappearance of heptacene, due to oxidation, was found to be directly related to the oxygen permeability of the polymer. A simple spectroscopic method to estimate oxygen permeability of polymer films by monitoring the visible/near infra-red absorption of heptacene is described.
Ila Dhageyso: an interactive voice forum to foster transparent governance in Somaliland

In many developing countries, it is challenging for remote communities to access reliable and accurate sources of news. This paper examines the case of Somaliland, where there is a fragmented media landscape that is subject to tribal biases and manipulations. Often, exaggeration or misrepresentation of facts prompts conflicts and hostility towards authorities, especially in remote areas. To foster more transparent communications between governmental institutions and the public, we built and deployed an interactive voice forum, accessible to anyone with a basic mobile handset. Called Ila Dhageyso, this forum enables callers to listen and respond to official recordings from the Presidential Ministry, as well as to the responses of other callers. Audio messages are also threaded and posted on YouTube to involve Somaliland people in diaspora. From December 2012 to April 2013, Ila Dhageyso logged 4,300 posts from callers. This paper reviews the media climate and geopolitical circumstances in Somaliland that motivated the formation of Ila Dhageyso. It also describes the design, implementation, and experiences gained in the first exploratory deployment of the service.
Effects of insulin on the response of immunoreactive glucagon to an intravenous glucose load in human diabetes

Abstract The effects of exogenous insulin upon the response of immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) to i.v. glucose were studied in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. In nondiabetics, a rapid injection of 25 g of glucose lowered plasma IRG levels. In adult-onset diabetics, the glucose-induced decline in IRG was normal despite a subnormal glucose-induced insulin rise, in contrast to impaired IRG suppressibility previously reported when such patients received an oral glucose load. The magnitude of their glucose-induced IRG decline was not augmented by exogenous insulin, even when insulin levels were acutely raised above 300 μU/ml. In juvenile-type diabetics, basal IRG levels were normal following overnight insulin infusion, but the glucose-induced IRG decline was only half that of the nondiabetics. However, it became normal when hyperinsulinemia was acutely produced by supplementary insulin. Thus, whenever insulin levels rise in response to an increase in hyperglycemia, as they do spontaneously in nondiabetics and in adult-type diabetics and as they do when juvenile diabetics are given supplementary insulin together with the glucose bolus, the decline in IRG in response to an i.v. glucose load is as great as in nondiabetics. The findings are compatible with the view that glucose-induced suppression of IRG may require a concomitant rise in insulin.
Differential coupling of α1-adrenoreceptor subtypes to phospholipase C and mitogen activated protein kinase in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

Abstract Activation of cardiac α1-adrenoreceptors has a number of physiological effects. Ascribing these effects to a specific α1-adrenoreceptor subtype first requires the elucidation of the subtypes that are present in the tissue of interest. In the present study, mRNA transcripts for the α1A, α1B and α1D-adrenoreceptor subtypes were detected in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction analysis. However, binding sites for only the α1A and α1B-adrenoreceptor subtypes were detected in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, using competition binding analysis with a variety of α1 selective receptor antagonists. Phenylephrine-stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis was inhibited by α1 selective receptor antagonists with affinities consistent with the α1A-adrenoreceptor subtype, whereas phenylephrine-induced activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase cascade was inhibited by these same antagonists with affinities more closely resembling the α1B-adrenoreceptor subtype. In the case of both signaling pathways, the α1D selective receptor antagonist, BMY 7378, exhibited affinities suggestive of the relative absence of a α1D-adrenoreceptor subtype. Thus, despite the presence of mRNA transcripts for all three α1-adrenoreceptor subtypes, only the α1A and α1B-adrenoreceptor subtypes were expressed and functionally coupled at detectable levels in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Of particular interest, phenylephrine-induced activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase cascade appears to be mediated by a subtype resembling most closely the pharmacological profile of the α1B-adrenoreceptor subtype.
Evidence for a predominantly NADH-dependent O-dealkylating system in rat hepatic microsomes☆

This study compared the NADH- and NADPH-supported p-nitrophenetole (NP) O-deethylase, ethylmorphine (EM) O-deethylase and EM N-demethylase activities of rat hepatic microsomes with respect to dioxygen requirement, inhibition by carbon monoxide, inhibition by classical inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 systems, and the involvement of NADH-cytochrome b5, cytochrome b5 reductase and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The results generated the following conclusions and speculations: NADH- and NADPH-supported O-deethylations of NP involve different P-450 hemoproteins. This conclusion was based largely on the observations that the NADPH-supported reaction was inhibited by carbon monoxide and cyanide (5 mM), whereas the NADH-supported reaction was not; the NADH-supported reaction required a relatively high pO2 for maximal activity, whereas the NADPH-supported reaction did not, and the NADPH-supported reaction was depressed in microsomes from rats that had been administered Co2+, Mn2+, allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) or polyriboinosinic acid X polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC), whereas the NADH-supported reaction was not. However, the NADH- and NADPH-supported reactions shared some common features: both were strongly inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone and weakly inhibited by 2-diethylaminoethyl 2,2-diphenyl valerate HCI (SKF 525-A), both were destroyed by linoleic acid hydroperoxide, and both were induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) and phenobarbital. The use of antibodies against NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 demonstrated that both the NADH- and the NADPH-supported reactions depend on established components of cytochrome P-450 systems. The P-450 hemoproteins involved primarily in both the NADH- and NADPH-supported deethylation of NP are the P1-450 type, i.e. they are markedly induced by MC and inhibited by alpha-napthoflavone. The NADH- and NADPH-supported O-deethylations of NP involve separate electron transfer systems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Government Regulation and Compensation for Takings: Implications for Agriculture

The agricultural sector in the U.S. now faces a wide array of regulations and other government programs or policies that affect agricultural production decisions and the resulting costs and profits. These include pesticide regulation, regulation of manure storage and disposal, price support programs, marketing orders, and, in some areas, subsidized water prices. Some of these government policies serve to make agriculture more profitable while others clearly impose additional costs on farmers that reduce profitability. Of recent concern are government regulations that restrict land use. The most controversial relate to protection of wetlands and habitat for endangered species under the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.' Farmers (and landowners in general) often view these as particularly unfair, since they prevent those lands from being used in the way that is the most profitable for the landowner. Claims have been made that, because these laws reduce the private value of the land, they amount to a "taking" and thus require compensation of landowners by the government.2 Similar claims have also been made about other regulatory changes that affect profitability, such as a reallocation of water rights or an increase in water prices.3 Clearly, whether or not compensation is paid for such changes in government policies can affect the value of agricultural land, as well as other land (e.g., forestland) that is subject to similar changes.4 Our purpose in this paper is to examine some of the issues that arise in determining whether or not a compensable taking has occurred and to discuss two proposed rules for making such a determination. We then apply the insights from this solution to three areas of environmental policy where the takings issue has arisen: endangered species, wetlands, and water rights. As noted above, these three areas are of particular interest to agriculture and related sectors. We preface the analysis with a brief review of takings law.
Boosting the Potency of Resistance: Combining the Motivational Forces of Inoculation and Psychological Reactance.

The efficacy of inoculation theory has been confirmed by decades of empirical research, yet optimizing its effectiveness remains a vibrant line of investigation. The present research turns to psychological reactance theory for a means of enhancing the core mechanisms of inoculation--threat and refutational preemption. FINDINGS from a multisite study indicate reactance enhances key resistance outcomes, including: threat, anger at attack message source, negative cognitions, negative affect, anticipated threat to freedom, anticipated attack message source derogation, perceived threat to freedom, perceived attack message source derogation, and counterarguing. Most importantly, reactance-enhanced inoculations result in lesser attitude change--the ultimate measure of resistance. Language: en
Sleep on it!: stabilizing and transforming memories during sleep

A new study finds that memory reactivation during slow-wave sleep following learning can stabilize memories. Reactivation during wakefulness has the opposite effect, rendering memories labile and susceptible to modest modification.
Adaptation of the Mallory-Azan Staining Method to Insect Nervous Tissue

(1977). Adaptation of the Mallory-Azan Staining Method to Insect Nervous Tissue. Stain Technology: Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 55-56.