cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of cortisol on the synthesis of lamellar body glycerophospholipids in fetal rabbit lung tissue in vitro

The effect of cortisol on the rate of choline incorporation into tissue phosphatidylcholine was investigated in lung explants from fetal rabbits of 19-28 days gestational age. The explants were incubated in medium with or without fetal calf serum for up to 7 days. When lung tissues were incubated in serum-free medium, a stimulatory effect of cortisol on tissue phosphatidylcholine synthesis was found in explants from 21-, 24-, 26- and 28-day fetal rabbits; a stimulatory effect of cortisol was observed in 19-day fetal lung explants only if fetal calf serum was present in the culture medium. To assess directly the effect of cortisol on the synthesis of lamellar body phosphatidylcholine, choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine associated with a purified lamellar body fraction isolated from lung explants of 21- and 28-day fetal rabbits was also investigated. Cortisol caused a marked stimulation of synthesis and accumulation of lamellar body phosphatidylcholine in lung explants from both 21- and 28-day fetal rabbits. The magnitude of the stimulatory effect of cortisol on the rate of synthesis of lamellar body phosphatidylcholine was always greater than the effect of cortisol on the rate of choline incorporation into lipids of tissue homogenates. The relative rates of synthesis of lamellar body phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol were also significantly altered in lung explants from 21- and 28-day fetal rabbits by cortisol treatment. Lamellar bodies that were formed initially in the fetal lung explants were enriched in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol and had a relatively low phosphatidylglycerol content. With cortisol treatment there was a decrease in the relative rate of synthesis of lamellar body phosphatidylinositol and an increase in the relative rate of synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol. The stimulatory effect of cortisol on the synthesis of lamellar body phosphatidylcholine was observed at an earlier time-point of incubation than was the effect of cortisol on the relative rates of synthesis of lamellar body phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. The temporal sequence of the cortisol-induced changes in the synthesis of lamellar body glycerophospholipids, therefore, reflects that which occurs with maturation in vivo.
Intracranial meningeal melanocytoma: CT and MRI.

We report the MRI and CT findings of an intracranial meningeal melanocytoma (IMM) arising from Meckel's cave and review the imaging characteristics of IMM. On CT, IMM constantly appear as well-circumscribed, isodense to slightly dense, extra-axial tumours with homogeneous contrast enhancement. This appearance is nonspecific and similar to that of meningiomas or small neuromas. On MRI, the signal of IMM is strongly related to the amount of melanin pigment: the more melanin, the more shortening of T1 and T2 relaxation times. Only when it shows as a homogeneous mass, bright on T1 and dark on T2 weighting, can a specific diagnosis of a melanin-containing tumour be made. However, this still cannot provide a distinction between IMM and malignant meningeal melanoma.
Fluoride ingestion during multiple pregnancies and lactations: microscopic observations on bone of the rat

Female rats were given 150 ppm fluoride in the drinking water during three successive pregnancy and lactation periods; the femoral diaphyses were then examined for morphological alterations by light and scanning electron microscopy to determine the influence of fluoride ingestion during multiple pregnancies and lactations. The periosteal surface was dominated by areas of woven bone formation with some prolonged resting areas around osteocyte lacunae. The endosteal surface consisted mainly of areas of active bone resorption with some areas of bone formation. The interior of the cortex was characterized by numerous resorption cavities and remodeling in secondary Haversian systems. Fluoride, by the nature of its incorporation into bone crystals and by its direct cytotoxic effect on bone resorbing cells, reduces the availability of calcium from bone. It appears that fluoride ingestion during lactation created a heightened state of calcium homeostatic stress. As a result, bone mineral was mobilized by resorption of the endosteal surface and by cavitation of the interior of the cortex. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is thought to play an integral part in an attempt to maintain calcium homeostasis.
Large-field color naming of dichromats with rods bleached.

A color-naming method was used to examine the large-field red/green discriminations of dichromats screened with standard tests. The stimulus was a 12° annular field with the central 4° removed, flashed for 300 ms. Four wavelengths were equated in brightness for each observer at two retinal illuminance levels, approximately 10 and 100 trolands. The stimuli were then presented in random order and the observer was asked to name each, using one of four color terms. The entire experiment was done with the observers dark-adapted and also with the rods bleached. For all four deuteranopes and two of four protanopes, color names were very significantly related to both illuminance and wavelength in both adaptation conditions. The relationship between name and wavelength was similar to that of a normal trichromat, but the performance of a dichromat was very poor by comparison. Performance was generally somewhat better in the dark than with the rods bleached. However, the result in the bleached condition is consistent with recent evidence that at least some observers who are classified as dichromats with standard small-field screening procedures actually have a weak residual third cone mechanism.
Location of ion-binding sites in the gramicidin channel by X-ray diffraction.

Abstract We report the first X-ray diffraction on gramicidin in its membrane-active form by using uniformly aligned multilayer samples of membranes containing gramicidin and ions (Tl + , K + , Ba 2+ , Mg 2+ or without ions). Prom the difference electron density profiles, we found a pair of symmetrically located ion-binding sites for Tl + at 9.6(±0.3) A and for Ba 2+ at 13.0(±0.2) A from the midpoint of the gramicidin channel. The location of Ba 2+ -binding sites is near the ends of the channel, consistent with the experimental observation that divalent cations do not permeate but block the channel. The location of Tl + -binding sites is somewhat of a surprise. It was generally thought that monovalent cations bind to the first turn of the helix from the mouth of the channel. (It is now generally accepted that the gramicidin channel is a cylindrical pore formed by two monomers, each a single-stranded β 6.3 helix and hydrogen-bonded head-to-head at their N termini.) But our experiment shows that the Tl + -binding site is either near the bottom of or below the first helix turn.
Transfer of ten-day Heterakis gallinarum larvae: Effect on retention and development of the heterakids, and liberation of Histomonas and Parahistomonas

Abstract Transfer of 10-day Heterakis gallinarum larvae from donor chickens to recipient chickens and turkeys resulted in an abrupt loss of approximately half of the transferred worms. However, worms of both sexes surviving to maturity in recipient chickens were larger than in either the recipient turkeys or the control chickens in which the heterakids were allowed to develop undisturbed. Also, female worms recovered from recipient chickens contained substantially more eggs that embryonated than did females recovered from recipient turkeys or control chickens. Histomonas meleagridis was found in the cecal droppings of some recipient birds only 3 days after the larvae were transferred, and the incidence of infection rose rapidly thereafter. The nonpathogenic histomonad, Parahistomonas wenrichi, was also found frequently in recipient birds. A positive correlation was observed between the number of heterakids lost per bird and the incidence of Histomonas infections, suggesting that liberation of histomonads often occurs as the heterakids die. It was also found that far more heterakids carry histomonads than liberate them during the normal course of the life cycle. These findings are important in formulating chemical or biological control programs.
Comparison of display methods in online help

This poster describes a study conducted by the Human Interface Design department at Fidelity Investments Systems Company. The purpose of this study was to obtain performance and preference data about various methods of displaying data definitions in online help. The four methods studied were an alphabetical list of data elements with pop-up definitions, a window-ordered list with pop-up definitions, a screen shot of the window with pop-up definitions, and a table listing all data elements and their definitions. Performance and preference data indicated that the alphabetical list was the best.
C.P. Snow at Wesleyan: Liberal learning and the origins of the “Third Culture”

Abstract In the fall of 1961 C. P. Snow visited Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, as a Fellow at the newly inaugurated Center for Advanced Studies in the Liberal Arts, Professions, and Sciences. Snow's time at Wesleyan warrants examination because it was a key period in the development of his thinking and also illuminates his career as a whole. His visit provides a snapshot of the global political and cultural currents of his time, and places his immense popularity into context. It also provides an opportunity to consider how a mid-century liberal arts institution addressed the relationship of the sciences to the humanities while fostering interdisciplinary study through educational innovation.
APSAT: A framework for modeling and analysis of workflow dynamics in mission-centric systems

In this paper, we propose a flexible framework to accomplish workflow modeling from network traffic, the Access Profile Statistical Analysis Tool (APSAT). In APSAT, workflow modeling is decomposed into four layers: packet flows, Resource Access Actions (RAA), workflow periods, and workflow behavior. We develop a novel approach to compress packet flows into expressive human actions using our Behavior Description Grammar (BDG). We illustrate a new algorithm to detect workflow shifts, where human action streams statistically deviate from an observed pattern of usage. One can infer semantics from workflow periods, the intervals between workflow shifts, and identify these shifts as a possible indicator of group actions. For its evaluation, a prototype of APSAT monitors file access from a series of scripted workflow simulations. It is found that a strong relationship exists between workflows and workflow-driven file access patterns.
Physical Understanding Of Synthetic Aperture Arrays Via Simple Models

With the general availability of extensive computer facilities, complex synthetic aperture array problems can be solved to an arbitrary degree of accuracy. Simple approximate models are useful for rapid first order evaluations, but their real value lies in the physical insight which they provide. For illustrative purposes only, the synthetic aperture is treated as a transmitter, directing an optical beam to a remote target. The synthetic optical aperture concept is illustrated in figure 1. Two or more telescopes are pointed at, and focused on, the same remote target. Each individual elementary telescope produces a small section of a spherical wave which converges on the target. The effectiveness of the synthetic aperture is determined by how complete and how perfect is that converging spherical wave.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Stability of dynamic systems with periodically varying parameters

Dynamic systems stability with periodically varying parameters analyzed by Hill type infinite determinant, exemplifying helicopter rotor aeroelastic stability in forward flight
Electrophoretic studies on cytochrome oxidase.

A modified preparation of cytochrome oxidase has been described. The preparation is extremely low in contaminating hemoproteins. Because it required only a low salt concentration for solubility, it was suitable for electrophoretic studies. Paper electrophoresis resulted in the separation of two fluorescent and three hemoprotein areas. Employing a spray reagent which contained a leuco dye and cytochrome c, it was possible to locate active cytochrome oxidase in only one area of the paper. Column electrophoresis of the preparation showed that at least partial separation of the hemoprotein having cytochrome oxidase activity from inactive hemoprotein had occurred. Both hemoproteins fractions exhibited the spectral properties of cytochromes α and α3, and the ratio of these cytochromes was uniform throughout.
Asymptomatic gonorrhea in men: Caused by gonococci with unique nutritional requirements

In a retrospective case-control study, gonococci with nutritional requirements for arginine, hypoxanthine, and uracil were recovered from 24 of 25 men with asymptomatic gonorrhea and 10 of 25 men with symptomatic gonorrhea (P = .0001). These strains represent a smaller proportion of gonococcal isolate from blacks than from whites. Asymptomatic urethral infection is important in the epidemiology of gonorrhea, particularly among whites.
World Bank Forecasts and Planning in the Third World

The growth forecasts of the World Bank have become increasingly influential for the planning efforts of developing countries. However, after reviewing these forecasts this author concludes that the projections of the Bank for the economic growth rates both of the industrial and of the developing countries are systematically biased, and its estimates of the locomotive effect for developing countries are ambiguous. A similar pattern is reflected in the forecasts of the major United Nations agencies, in particular the Secretariat and UNCTAD. These forecasts are not readily explained by the data presented or by the forecasting methods used by the agencies. Rather, the explanation appears to lie in the need to rationalize forecasts within the context of a particular institutional imperative. An alternative model of forecasting is suggested which shows how peer group and pressures within the interagency system have resulted in a misplaced consensus about long-term trends, changed the methods used, undermined th...
A new method for light and electron microscopic localization of fluorescein-labelled dextran in ocular tissue using epoxy-resin embedding.

Abstract A new technique is described for the precise morphological localization of fluorescein labelled dextran (FD) following its experimental use in vivo as a tracer. The specificity of FD localization is exemplified by tracing the outflow pathway of aqueous humour in rabbit eyes. The tissue was fixed in neutral formalin in 70% alcohol and embedded in epoxy-resin or paraffin wax, and sections viewed by fluorescence microscopy and ultrathin Araldite sections by electron microscopy. Epoxy-resin embedding offers several advantages over frozen, freeze-dried or paraffin wax sections especially the better preservation of tissue fine structure and interstructural relationships, whilst the thin sectioning that is made possible aids higher resolution and specific localization of the tracer. The potential value of FDs in assessing the integrity of the blood-retinal barrier is briefly discussed.
Stress, symptoms, self-monitoring confidence, well-being, and social support in the progression of preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.

Objective To investigate the relationships of psychological stress, preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms, confidence in self‐monitoring, well‐being, and perceived social support with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension disease progression in outpatient women. Women with mild and severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension were compared for differences in these variables. Design A retrospective, correlational, and comparative design. Setting Postpartum units of three urban hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Participants One hundred postpartum women with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension. Main outcome measures Psychological stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms by the Preeclampsia/Gestational Hypertension Checklist, confidence in self‐monitoring by the Self‐Confidence in Self‐Monitoring Scale, well‐being by the Index of Well‐Being, and social support by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. Results Women with worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension reported a significantly higher number of symptoms than women with mild preeclampsia/gestational hypertension ( p = .02). Psychological stress was significantly higher ( p = .04) in women with worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension. There were no differences in well‐being, self‐confidence in self‐monitoring, or perceived social support between women with mild preeclampsia/gestational hypertension and those with worsening preeclampsia/gestational hypertension. Conclusion Worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension was associated with increasing psychological stress and a higher number of preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms.
Direct translocation of staphylococci from the skin surface to deep organs

Background Staphylococcus aureus can invade the bloodstream and cause bacteremic infections, but this organism frequently produces serious deep infections without bacteremia or an identifiable portal of entry.
Breast cancer in the global south and the limitations of a biomedical framing: a critical review of the literature

Public health researchers are devoting increasing attention to the growing burden of breast cancer in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), previously thought to be minimally impacted by this disease. A critical examination of this body of literature is needed to explore the assumptions, advantages and limitations of current approaches. In our critical literature review, we find that researchers and public health practitioners predominantly privilege a biomedical perspective focused on patients' adherence (or non-adherence) to 'preventive' practices, screening behaviours and treatment regimens. Cost-effective 'quick fixes' are prioritized, and prevention is framed in terms of individual 'risk behaviours'. Thus, individuals and communities are held responsible for the success of the biomedical system; traditional belief systems and 'harmful' social practices are problematized. Inherently personal, social and cultural experiences of pain and suffering are neglected or reduced to the issue of chemical palliation. This narrow approach obscures the complex aetiology of the disease and perpetuates silence around power relations. This article calls for a social justice-oriented interrogation of the role of power and inequity in the global breast cancer epidemic, which recognizes the agency and experiences of women (and men) who experience breast cancer in the global south.
Hymenopterous parasites of some bruchid beetles of North and Central America

Abstract Five genera containing 22 species of hymenopterous parasites associated with 14 genera containing 123 species of seed-infesting bruchid beetles, and 195 species of host plants are listed. Most of the host plants are Leguminosae with some in the Malvaceae and Tiliaceae. The records represent about 20 years of gathering data on bruchids and their host plants. The interactions between the parasites, the bruchids, and the host plants are discussed. Results indicate that the parasites are not narrowly specific to a species of host bruchid but rather have many hosts over a broad geographic area. Most likely the parasites search for seed pods rather than for the kind of insects that feed inside the seeds.
Progressive Bilateral Essential Iris Atrophy

A case of bilateral progressive essential iris atrophy, more advanced in one eye than the other, has been studied. Histopathologic examination of the iris from the eye with the more advanced iris atrophy failed to find any vascular abnormalities in that the vessels were patent and appeared normal except for accumulated perivascular connective tissue. Fluorescein angiographic examination of the right eye which was undergoing the earliest changes of iris atrophy failed to show any vascular abnormalities. However, tonographic examination indicated a markedly decreased outflow facility. There does not appear to be any vascular abnormality involved in the pathogenesis of this case.
Holmium:YAG laser transmyocardial revascularization relieves angina and improves functional status.

Background. Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) surgery uses laser channeling of diseased myocardium to treat ischemia and angina. Rigorous prospective randomized studies have been previously unavailable. Methods. Forty-three patients were randomized to a medication group and 43 to a group scheduled for TMR surgery and medication. All had advanced cardiac ischemia with CCSA class 3 or 4 angina, took at least 2 cardiac medications at maximum doses, and were ineligible for angioplasty or bypass. Results. Forty-two of 43 TMR group patients received surgery and were discharged after hospitalizations averaging 3.2 days. Two suffered perioperative MIs, with one death. Four others died within 12 months of surgery, 3 from cardiac events and 1 from pneumonia. Five medical group patients died from cardiac events within 12 months. Three, 6, and 12 month exams showed angina class improvement in TMR patients compared to preoperative values (3.86 ± 0.05 vs 1.71 ± 0.2 P < 0.0001), and to controls at 12 months (3.77 ± 0.07 vs 1.71 ± 0.2, P < 0.0001). Exercise tolerance improved in TMR patients over preoperative values, and was better than medication group scores after 12 months (490 ± 17 sec. vs 294 ± 12 sec., p = 0.0002). Conclusions. Holmium:YAG laser channeling of the myocardium improves function and reduces angina in advanced cardiac patients who lack alternative therapeutic options.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for stage I lung cancer

Abstract Background The technique, safety, and oncologic efficacy of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy are controversial. Issues include operative time, lymph node yield, conversion to thoracotomy, resource utilization, recurrence, complications, and survival. Methods From January 1995 to December 2001, 179 patients underwent VATS lobectomy for preoperative stage I lung cancer (T1N0, 118 patients; T2N0, 61 patients). Mean age was 64.34 years (range, 38 to 87); 91 were female and 88 were male. Contraindications to VATS lobectomy included any suggestion of hilar, endobronchial, or central lesions. Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy was performed using three ports, partial anatomic hilar dissection, and mediastinal node dissection. Results Distribution of lobectomies was as follows: left upper lobe, 50 patients; left lower lobe, 27 patients; right upper lobe, 33 patients; right upper and right middle lobe, 29 patients; right middle lobe, 9 patients; right lower lobe, 30 patients; right middle lobe and right lower lobe, 1 patient. Mean operative time was 75 ± 6 minutes. Mean lymph node yield was 11 ± 5 nodes. Pathologic upstaging was noted in 14 of the 179 patients (7.8%). Mean hospitalization was 4.1 days (range, 2 days to 4 months). There were no conversions to thoracotomy and there was 1 death (1 of 179, 0.05%). Complications included air leak in 24 of 179 (13.4%), subcutaneous emphysema in 4 of 179 (2.2%), pneumonia in 10 of 179 (5.6%), wound infection in 5 of 179 (2.8%), respiratory failure in 3 of 179 (1.7%), pulmonary embolism in 2 of 179 (1.1%), and myocardial infarction in 1 of 179 (0.5%). At a mean follow-up of 37 months, local recurrence rate was 0.013 per person per year. Actuarial recurrence-free survival was 88% and 85% at 36 and 60 months respectively. Conclusions For carefully selected patients VATS lobectomy for early stage lung cancer is a safe and effective strategy. Long-term follow-up is required to fully evaluate recurrence and survival.
My Father's Ghost: Interrogating Family Photos

ABSTRACT This article presents an autoethnographic, autobiographical investigation into the story of a boy (now a man) and his relationship with his missing father. The account includes flashes of memory and brief conversations with other members of my family. After innumerable years, my father was located upon my grandmother's death. I recall the special trip I took to Florida in order to reconnect with my father. After our brief reunion, he disappeared once again. I ask questions about his emotional state, but find that I am asking questions into a void. Finally, I come to the realization that he does not want to be found, and that realization is a form of closure itself.
Developing methods to assess and predict the population level effects of environmental contaminants.

The field of ecological toxicity seems largely to have drifted away from what its title implies—assessing and predicting the ecological consequences of environmental contaminants—moving instead toward an emphasis on individual effects and physiologic case studies. This paper elucidates how a relatively new ecological methodology, interaction assessment (INTASS), could be useful in addressing the field's initial goals. Specifically, INTASS is a model platform and methodology, applicable across a broad array of taxa and habitat types, that can be used to construct population dynamics models from field data. Information on environmental contaminants and multiple stressors can be incorporated into these models in a form that bypasses the problems inherent in assessing uptake, chemical interactions in the environment, and synergistic effects in the organism. INTASS can, therefore, be used to evaluate the effects of contaminants and other stressors at the population level and to predict how changes in stressor levels or composition of contaminant mixtures, as well as various mitigation measures, might affect population dynamics.
Electrokinetic effects and fluid permeability

Fluid permeability of porous media depends mainly on connectivity of the pore space and two physical parameters: porosity and a pertinent length-scale parameter. Electrical imaging methods typically establish connectivity and directly measure electrical conductivity, which can then often be related to porosity by Archie's law. When electrical phase measurements are made in addition to the amplitude measurements, information about the pertinent length scale can then be obtained. Since fluid permeability controls the ability to flush unwanted fluid contaminants from the subsurface, inexpensive maps of permeability could improve planning strategies for remediation efforts. Detailed knowledge of fluid permeability is also important for oil field exploitation, where knowledge of permeability distribution in three dimensions is a common requirement for petroleum reservoir simulation and analysis, as well as for estimates on the economics of recovery.
Linguistic meaning and language comprehension

Abstract Recent developments in cognitive science are assessed as a challenge to the well established view in philosophy of language and linguistics that meaning is inherent to language and is relatively fixed. It is concluded that the challenge is unsuccessful. Current activities in information retrieval which presuppose linguistic meaning are well founded, in that regard. Furthermore, one potential obstacle to the development of information systems which seek to produce comprehension of text has been removed.
A Combinatorial Code for Pattern Formation in Drosophila Oogenesis

Two-dimensional patterning of the follicular epithelium in Drosophila oogenesis is required for the formation of three-dimensional eggshell structures. Our analysis of a large number of published gene expression patterns in the follicle cells suggests that they follow a simple combinatorial code based on six spatial building blocks and the operations of union, difference, intersection, and addition. The building blocks are related to the distribution of inductive signals, provided by the highly conserved epidermal growth factor receptor and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways. We demonstrate the validity of the code by testing it against a set of patterns obtained in a large-scale transcriptional profiling experiment. Using the proposed code, we distinguish 36 distinct patterns for 81 genes expressed in the follicular epithelium and characterize their joint dynamics over four stages of oogenesis. The proposed combinatorial framework allows systematic analysis of the diversity and dynamics of two-dimensional transcriptional patterns and guides future studies of gene regulation.
In-situ-grown reinforcements for titanium aluminides

Abstract Refractory compounds grown from the melt offer significant potential for high temperature reinforcement of titanium aluminides. In principle, the strengthening arises from the constrained plastic flow of the matrix around the refractory second phases, which must be thermodynamically stable, have high aspect ratios and be of a scale larger than the dislocation cell size. The reinforcing phase morphology and size scale may be tailored by suitable control of the alloy chemistry and solidification parameters. Additions of boron to γ-TiAl produce primary TiB 2 as equiazed particles but, if tantalum or niobium is also added, the morphology changes to elongated rods as the crystal structure of the primary phase changes to that of TiB. The latter, however, contains substantial amounts of niobium or tantalum substituting for titanium in the metal sublattice. The effects of alloy composition on the microstructural development of these materials is discussed. Preliminary creep data indicate that the composite alloys are substantially stronger than the binary γ matrix, but the strengthening contribution of the rod reinforcements is rather modest. The results are discussed in terms of recent developments in micro-mechanics models.
Discontinuous Finite Element Phase-Field Modeling of Solidification Microstructure Formation

A discontinuous Galerkin finite element computational methodology is presented for the solution of the coupled phase-field and heat conduction equations for modeling microstructure evolution during solidification. The details of the discontinuous formulation and the solution procedures are given. A major difference between the current method and those used in the literatures is the application of higher-order localized formulation and unstructured mesh, which holds a great promise in both parallel computing and adaptive meshing. The accuracy of the discontinuous model is checked with the analytic solution for a simple 1-D solidification problem. Numerical simulations and selected results are given for more complex 2-D dendrite structures formed during solidification. The calculated results are consistent with those reported in literature.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The effect of transportation rates on interregional competition in agriculture: A general case

A general model for spatially separated markets is used to find the effects of transportation rates on interregional competition in agriculture. The results show that producers are affected much more than consumers, especially producers in the importing region. The solution is sensitive to the elasticity of supply, especially in the importing region. The elasticity of demand has little effect on the solution. The self-sufficiency ratio is not particularly important, but the size of both the transportation price and the farm price relative to the retail price is quite important. In general, the farmers in the importing region are quite sensitive to transportation prices.
Finite sample properties of the ARCH class of models with stochastic volatility

Abstract This paper shows that ARCH-type models provide adequate estimates of conditional volatility when the data are generated under stochastic volatility. Under reasonable scenarios, ARCH estimates out-perform method-of moments and quasi-maximum likelihood estimators of the true model. © 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.
Comparative analysis of seeded and vegetative biotype buffalograsses based on phylogenetic relationship using ISSRs, SSRs, RAPDs, and SRAPs.

Buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Englem.] is the only native grass that is being used extensively as a turfgrass in the Great Plains region. Its low-growth habit, drought resistance, and low-maintenance requirement make it attractive as a turfgrass species. Our objective was to obtain an overview on the genetic relatedness among and within seeded and vegetative biotype buffalograsses using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs), sequence-related amplified polymorphisms (SRAPs), and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers that were derived from related species (maize, pearl millet, sorghum, and sugarcane). Twenty individuals per cultivar were genotyped using 30 markers from each marker system. All buffalograss cultivars were uniquely fingerprinted by all four marker systems. Mean genetic similarities were estimated at 0.52, 0.51, 0.62, and 0.57 using SSRs, ISSRs, SRAPs, and RAPDs, respectively. Two main clusters separating the seeded-biotype from the vegetative-biotype cultivars were produced using UPGMA analysis. Further subgroupings were unequivocal. The Mantel test resulted in a very good fit (SRAP=0.92, ISSR=0.90) to good fit (RAPD=0.86, SSR=0.88) of cophenetic values. Comparing the four marker systems to each other, RAPD and SRAP similarity indices were highly correlated (r=0.73), while Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between RAPDs and SSRs was r=0.24 and between ISSRs and SSRs was r=0.66. A genotype-assignment analytical approach might be useful for cultivar identification and property rights protection. Polymorphic SRAPs were abundant and demonstrated genetic diversity among closely related cultivars.
Effective methods for enantioselective analysis of glycidol derivatives by liquid chromatography

Methodology for determination of the enantiomeric purity of sixteen 2,3-epoxy-1-propanols (glycidols) is delineated. Conversion of these epoxy alcohols and 1-naphthyl isocyanate (NIC) into the 1-naphthyl carbamates is catalyzed by dibutyltin diacetate. Enantiomers of these carbamates are resolved on a Chiralcel® OD column. Advantages of this method include mildness of reaction conditions, nonreliance on diastereomeric derivatization, and appendage of a UV-absorbing chromophore to the analyte.
Physics accessible through ultrahigh resolution trapped ion mass spectroscopy

Abstract We describe how precision mass spectroscopy can test fundamental physics such as QED and CPT invariance. We also describe how mass spectroscopy can measure a variety of fundamental constants. This is followed by a brief description of the University of Washington's compensated quadring Penning trap and a compilation of the current mass measurements it has taken.
Ganciclovir-resistant human herpesvirus-6 encephalitis in a liver transplant patient: a case report

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) was initially isolated in 1986 from patients with lymphoproliferative disorders (Ablashi et al. 1987). Since that time, two genetically distinct variants were sequenced, HHV-6A and HHV-6B (Ablashi and Balachandran 1991). Both variants have been linked with neurologic disease (Crawford et al. 2007). HHV-6 encephalitis has been well described in literature, typically presenting with confusion, coma, seizure, and headache. The majority of HHV-6 encephalitis has been limited to post-transplant recipients (Singh and Paterson 2000). Encephalitis due to HHV-6 infection has been reported in two liver transplant recipients (Massih and Razonable 2009 and Montejo et al. 2002). Although there has been in vitro studies regarding the potential resistance patterns for HHV-6 virus, there has been only one clinic case report supporting these findings (Isegawa et al. 2009). We describe the first case of ganciclovir-resistant HHV-6 encephalitis in a post-liver transplant patient.
Research on the Problems of Wind Power Grid-Connecting

Under the condition of energy shortage and environment worsen so far, wind power generation has got much improvement. The article makes research to main problems existing in wind power grid-connecting, which inludes the following items: 1) Main types and characteristics of present grid-connected wind generators; 2) Main difference of the operation characteristics between grid-connected wind plant and conventional engergy power plant; 3) The influence to power quality and power system stability caused by grid-connected wind plant and the measures taken to deal with such influence; 4) The particularity of wind power enterprise in China; 5) Domestic and foreign standards’ main requirements to wind power grid-connecting; 6) Three important issues needed urgently research: wind generator and wind plant modeling, wind power forecasting, cooperating control technics between wind plants and power grid. The development of wind power enterprise will bring people remarkable economic benefit and social benefit.
Experimental Demonstration of Negative-Index Propagation in a Rectangular Waveguide Loaded With Complementary Split-Ring Resonators

In a recent paper, we studied a metamaterial consisting of stacked metal plates loaded by embedded complementary split-ring resonators (C-SRRs), ideal to support negative-index propagation and reversed Cherenkov radiation. Here, we experimentally verify negative-index propagation in a related structure, a conventional X-band waveguide loaded with a single column of C-SRRs, emulating a unit cell of an effective bulk negative-index metamaterial. Measurements and supporting simulations reveal a passband between 4.2 and 4.6 GHz, with a phase response typical of negative-index propagation.
Differences in Radiocarbon Age between Shell and Charcoal from a Holocene Shellmound in Northern California

Abstract The West Berkeley shellmound, the oldest well-dated archaeological site in the San Francisco Bay region, contains shell and charcoal ranging in age from ca. 1200 to 5700 cal yr B.P. Radiocarbon ages of marine shell and charcoal collected from fifteen stratigraphic levels in the West Berkeley shellmound suggest changes in the 14 C content of San Francisco Bay surface waters relative to the atmosphere (the oceanic reservoir age) over the past 5000 yr. The reservoir age of San Francisco Bay waters fluctuated between 870 and −170 14 C yr over the past 5000 yr, with the lowest values occurring 2900 to 3800 cal yr B.P. and the highest values between 1200 and 2000 cal yr B.P. Changes in the radiocarbon reservoir age may be due to changes in the strength of seasonal wind-driven upwelling off coastal California, where upwelling brings 14 C-depleted waters to the surface. The period of lowest Δ R values (at 3500 to 3900 cal yr B.P.) is coincident with relatively low salinity in San Francisco Bay (indicating high freshwater inflow) and wet climate in California based on lake level records. The period of high Δ R values (1200–2000 cal yr B.P.) is coincident with one of the driest periods in California during the late Holocene. These data suggest a link between coastal upwelling and precipitation over central California. The age of the top of West Berkeley mound and several other mounds in the San Francisco Bay region (1100 to 1300 cal yr B.P.) coincides with a prolonged dry period in California and low river inflow to San Francisco Bay. Perhaps the sites were abandoned because of the drought.
Separation of complex pygopagus conjoined twins

Pygopagus twins were born with a unique spectrum of anomalies including a conjoined distal spinal cord, single kidney (in twin A), single rectum (in twin A), single vagina (in twin B), and severe central nervous system anomalies in twin B that precluded her independent survival. Separation at 10 weeks of age was tailored toward Twin A's survival. This report discusses the surgical modifications necessary in view of the unique anatomy, including salvaging the distal spinal cord and vagina for twin A.
Media portrayals of Tiger Woods: a qualitative deconstructive examination.

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine televised media portrayals of Tiger Woods from a cultural studies perspective that is sensitive to historical patterns of minority participation in golf. A deconstructive strategy was undertaken to analyze the type, style, and kind of media images of Tiger Woods' life history and golf accomplishments. The underlying meanings of these images were analyzed in an effort to expose how popular culture reflects and promotes hegemonic practices in golf. The results revealed that the meanings and images of Tiger Woods articulated within the media were inconsistent and in direct contradiction to common sense views that minorities have made advances in the golf subculture. In fact, a closer examination of the media texts showed that the underlying media messages actually reinrorce historical practices and common stereotypes of the golf community. In this paper we argued that media portrayals of Tiger Woods were characterized by an underlying racist, sexist, and...
Estimating Bowhead Whale Population Size and Rate of Increase from the 1993 Census

Abstract Estimating the population size and rate of increase of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, is important because bowheads were the first species of great whale for which commerical whaling stopped and so their status indicates the recovery prospects of other great whales, and also because this information is used by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to set the aboriginal subsistence whaling quota for Alaskan Eskimos. We describe the 1993 visual and acoustic census off Point Barrow, Alaska, which provides the best data available for estimating these quantities. We outline the definitive version of two statistical methods for estimating the population: the generalized removal method and the Bayes empirical Bayes method. The two methods give results that are close. The estimate of bowhead population size most recently accepted by the IWC Scientific Committee, 8,200 with 95% estimation interval from 7,200 to 9,400, is based on the Bayes empirical Bayes posterior distribution presented here. T...
CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR RESTORING MANDIBULAR INCISORS WITH PORCELAIN LAMINATE VENEERS

Porcelain laminate veneers have been proven to be a successful treatment modality for maxillary incisors in clinical practice and in controlled clinical studies. However, the data in clinical studies on the success of veneers for restoring mandibular incisors are limited. Clinically, the successful restoration of mandibular incisors with porcelain laminate veneers is one of the more challenging procedures in all of esthetic restorative dentistry. Limited coronal dimensions, the small amount of enamel available for bonding (particularly in the cervical areas), materials and techniques for the bonding procedures, and the response of the tooth–veneer complex to forces generated during the incisal loading in both functional as well as parafunctional contacts must be considered as potential sources of success or failure. This Critical Appraisal reviews three recent scientific articles to shed some light on these issues and, as in all research endeavors, leads the reader to identify additional areas of concern that might stimulate further scientific inquiry. The first publication studied predictors for enamel thickness for mandibular incisors. The second examined bonding protocols for exposed dentin and suggested immediate dentin sealing. The third paper addressed fracture behavior of mandibular incisors restored with porcelain laminate veneers in vitro.
Redpoll Snow Bathing: Observations and Hypothesis

Abstract - A flock of 100–150 Carduelis flammea (Common Redpolls) made at least 252 cavities and short tunnels in fluffy snow over 5 consecutive days in western Maine at temperatures from -26 °C to -14 °C. They produced neither structure during 4 days when temperatures were above freezing and the snow was wet, nor during a month of other variable weather. In the same area during two winters, Carduelis tristis (American Goldfinches), Carpodacus purpureus (Purple Finches), Pinicola enuncleator (Pine Grosbeaks), and Coccothraustes vespertinus (Evening Grosbeaks) exhibited no snow tunneling behavior at any time even though, excluding the Pine Grosbeaks and Goldfinches, I observed them throughout the entirety of 2 winters. Common Redpolls did not use the observed snow cavities as shelters, nor did the structures appear to be related to foraging. Social stimulation and play are likely proximate stimuli for the behavioral release of the Common Redpolls' snow-manipulating behavior.
Kv1.3 channel gene-targeted deletion produces "Super-Smeller Mice" with altered glomeruli, interacting scaffolding proteins, and biophysics.

Mice with gene-targeted deletion of the Kv1.3 channel were generated to study its role in olfactory function. Potassium currents in olfactory bulb mitral cells from Kv1.3 null mice have slow inactivation kinetics, a modified voltage dependence, and a dampened C-type inactivation and fail to be modulated by activators of receptor tyrosine signaling cascades. Kv1.3 deletion increases expression of scaffolding proteins that normally regulate the channel through protein-protein interactions. Kv1.3−/− mice have a 1,000- to 10,000-fold lower threshold for detection of odors and an increased ability to discriminate between odorants. In accordance with this heightened sense of smell, Kv1.3−/− mice have glomeruli or olfactory coding units that are smaller and more numerous than those of wild-type mice. These data suggest that Kv1.3 plays a far more reaching role in signal transduction, development, and olfactory coding than that of the classically defined role of a potassium channel—to shape excitability by influencing membrane potential.
Some Aspects of Stereoscopic Depth Perception

Some of the fundamental facts of stereoscopic depth perception are described briefly. Emphasis is placed on experiments that provide evidence for a physiologic basis for the phenomenon: existence of limiting disparities, relationship to double images, role of simultaneous stimuli, the limiting delay between stimuli to the two eyes, role of vertical disparities, effect of unequal luminances, the role of training and of strabismus surgery, etc. A general though brief discussion of the theories of stereoscopic depth perception deals with psychologic cues, fixation eye movements, fusional eye movements, Hering theory of local signs, gestalt point of view, and suppression theories. A few current problems are then considered: duration of stimuli, role of eye movements, effect of binocular rivalry, relationship of perceived depth to angular disparity, adaptation to conflicting empiric cues and stereoscopic depth, and the induced effect.
Differential-equation reduction of principal-value collision integrals in nonrelativistic perturbation theory

An iterative differential-equation approach to the evaluation of principal-value integrals occurring in perturbation calculations is examined within the framework ofT-matrix collision theory. Such procedure also leads to an interesting representation of nonrelativistic perturbation theory, and can simplify calculation of scattering matrix elements for smooth potentials.