cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forest before trees? It depends where you look.

Because it may be deduced from the more elementary principles of visual processing, global precedence (Navon, 1977) is not a primary perceptual principle. Subjects were presented with a large letter made out of small ones and asked to make an identification response on the basis of either the large or small letter. When fixation was controlled to provide adequate stimulation from the small letter, there was no difference in reaction time (RT) between the large and small targets. Also, there was no difference in interference due to response incompatibility of the unattended letter based on target size. However, when the stimulus was presented peripherally, unpredictably to the right or left of fixation, RT was faster to the large target and interference was substantially greater for the small target. Functions for the development of associative strength and associative interference are presented. Global precedence is dependent on factors tending to degrade small stimuli more than large ones.
Multi-coil approach to reduce electromagnetic energy absorption for wirelessly powered implants.

Near-field inductive coupling is a commonly used technique for wireless power transfer (WPT) in biomedical implants. Owing to the close proximity of the implant coil(s) with the tissue ( ∼1 mm) and high current ( ∼100–300 mA) in the magnetic coil(s), a significant induced electric field can be generated for the operating frequency (1–20 MHz). In this Letter, a multi-coil-based WPT technique is proposed to selectively control the currents in the external and implant coils to reduce the specific absorption rate (SAR). A three-coil WPT system, that can achieve 26% reduction in peak 1-g SAR and 15% reduction in peak 10-g SAR, as compared to a two-coil WPT system with the same dimensions, is implemented and used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. To achieve the seamless design for the external and implant electronics, the multi-coil system achieves the same voltage gain and bandwidth as the two-coil design with 46% improvement in the power transfer efficiency.
Peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration catalyzed by superoxide dismutase

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-), the reaction product of superoxide (O2-) and nitric oxide (NO), may be a major cytotoxic agent produced during inflammation, sepsis, and ischemia/reperfusion. Bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase reacted with peroxynitrite to form a stable yellow protein-bound adduct identified as nitrotyrosine. The uv-visible spectrum of the peroxynitrite-modified superoxide dismutase was highly pH dependent, exhibiting a peak at 438 nm at alkaline pH that shifts to 356 nm at acidic pH. An equivalent uv-visible spectrum was obtained by Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase treated with tetranitromethane. The Raman spectrum of authentic nitrotyrosine was contained in the spectrum of peroxynitrite-modified Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase. The reaction was specific for peroxynitrite because no significant amounts of nitrotyrosine were formed with nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrite (NO2-), or nitrate (NO3-). Removal of the copper from the Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase prevented formation of nitrotyrosine by peroxynitrite. The mechanism appears to involve peroxynitrite initially reacting with the active site copper to form an intermediate with the reactivity of nitronium ion (NO2+), which then nitrates tyrosine on a second molecule of superoxide dismutase. In the absence of exogenous phenolics, the rate of nitration of tyrosine followed second-order kinetics with respect to Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase concentration, proceeding at a rate of 1.0 +/- 0.1 M-1.s-1. Peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine was also observed with the Mn and Fe superoxide dismutases as well as other copper-containing proteins.
A biochemical and cytological investigation of differentiation in the interspecific hybrid amphibian embryo Rana pipiens female x Rana sylvatica male.

Starch gel electrophoresis, light microscopy, and electron microscopy were used to investigate biochemical and cytological differentiation in the interspecific hybrid amphibian embryo Rana pipiens ♀ × R. sylvatica ♂. Paternal sylvatica lactate dehydrogenase-B genes (and possibly LDH-A genes) begin to function in hybrid embryos at the same time as in normal embryos (when normals are Stage 19, heart beat). Paternal sylvatica genes for phosphoglucomutase, NAD-malate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase do not begin to function in hybrid embryos before embryonic death, which occurs approximately six days after fertilization. Cytological results show that hybrid embryos form nucleoli and apparently are equipped for protein synthesis. Hybrid cells are capable of differentiating basement membranes, cilia, myofibrils, and other structures which suggest that these lethal hybrids are capable of substantial protein synthesis after “developmental arrest” at the early gastrula stage. These results are discussed in terms of the cessation of normal development at the early gastrula stage in this and other interspecific hybrid amphibian embryos.
A live guinea pig cytomegalovirus vaccine deleted of three putative immune evasion genes is highly attenuated but remains immunogenic in a vaccine/challenge model of congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Live attenuated vaccines for prevention of congenital cytomegalovirus infections encode numerous immune evasion genes. Their removal could potentially improve vaccine safety and efficacy. To test this hypothesis, three genes encoding MHC class I homologs (presumed NK evasins) were deleted from the guinea pig cytomegalovirus genome and the resulting virus, 3DX, was evaluated as a live attenuated vaccine in the guinea pig congenital infection model. 3DX was attenuated in vivo but not in vitro. Vaccination with 3DX produced elevated cytokine levels and higher antibody titers than wild type (WT) virus while avidity and neutralizing titers were similar. Protection, assessed by maternal viral loads and pup mortality following pathogenic viral challenge during pregnancy, was comparable between 3DX and WT and significant compared to naive animals. These results suggest that the safety and perhaps efficacy of live attenuated human cytomegalovirus vaccines could be enhanced by deletion of viral immunomodulatory genes.
Heat Transfer With Thermoacoustic Self-Circulating Heat Exchangers

An asymmetrical constriction in a pipe functions as an imperfect gas diode for acoustic oscillations of gas in the pipe. One or more gas diodes in a loop of pipe create substantial steady flow, which can carry substantial heat between a remote heat exchanger and a thermoacoustic or Stirling engine or refrigerator; the loop’s flow is driven directly by the oscillations in the engine or refrigerator itself. This invention gives Stirling and thermoacoustic devices unprecedented flexibility, and may lead to Stirling engines of unprecedented power. We have built two of these self-circulating heat exchangers, one for fundamental tests and the other as a demonstration of practical levels of heat transfer. Measurements of flow and heat transfer are in factor-of-two agreement with either of two simple calculation methods. One calculation method treats the oscillating and steady flows as independent and simply superimposed, except in the gas diodes. The other method accounts for the interaction between the oscillating and steady flow with the quasi-steady approximation. The mutual influence of superimposed turbulent oscillating and steady flows is a theoretical challenge.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Growing Spirodela polyrrhiza in Swine Wastewater for the Production of Animal Feed and Fuel Ethanol: A Pilot Study

To evaluate the performance of Spirodela polyrrhiza grown in swine wastewater for protein and starch production under field conditions, a pilot-scale duckweed culture pond was installed at Barham Farm, Zebulon, North Carolina and operated from May to November 2010. The anaerobically treated swine wastewater was fed to the duckweed pond intermittently to provide nutrients for the growth of duckweed, and the duckweed biomass was harvested regularly from the pond and prepared as a protein- or starch-rich feedstock for the production of animal feed or fuel ethanol. Over the experimental period, the duckweed pond produced protein and starch at rates of 2.68 and 1.88 g m−2 day−1, respectively. During the same time, NH4–N and o-PO4–P in the wastewater were, respectively, removed at rates of 92.9 and 2.90 mmol m−2 day−1.
The significance of darkness and monoamine oxidase in the nocturnal changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity of the macaque's epiphysis cerebri

Abstract Pineal 5-hydroxytrptamine (5-HT) concentration and hydroxyindole- O -methyl-transferase (HIOMT) activity were determined in 42 rhesus macaques killed about 3 to 6 h after usual time of the lights being turned off, and form 4 to 7 h after being injected with saline or with the MAO inhibitor, s-phenylisopropylhydrazine. It was shown that: (1) Evening pineal 5-HT concentration was affected primarily by environmental illumination. Darkbess at this served as a trigger leading to a reduction of pineal 5-HT to a mean of 23.8 ± 5.1 ng/mg. If the lights remained on at this time, pineal 5-HT concentration continued its afternoon upward trend to a mean of140.7 + 14.9 ng/mg. (2) After large single doses of MAO inhibitor some, but variable, increases in pineal and hypothalamic 5-HT concentrations were noted in animals in darkness. Although this suggested that MAO at least in part contribute to the evening metabolism of pineal 5-HT, necessary supporting evidence is incomplete. (3) Pineal evening HIOMT activity was not significantly modified by either light or MAO inhibitor. Preliminary evidence suggested increased HIOMT activity in anaimals behaviorally aggravated by unusual physical restrains during the post-injection period. (4) The macaque pineal is not onoy physiologically responsive, probably indirectly via lateral eyes and central nervous system, but differs significantly from previsously studied vertebrates in feartures of these responses.
Human α-calcitonin gene-related peptide influences colonic secretion by acting on myenteric neurons

Abstract The effect of human α-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on epithelial ion transport was investigated in guinea pig distal colon set up in Ussing flux chambers. Addition of CGRP to the serosal bathing solution evoked a dose-dependent increase in short-circuit current in whole-thickness tissues with intact myenteric and submucosal ganglia, but not in whole-thickness preparations when neural connections between myenteric and submucosal ganglia were severed, nor in sheets of submucosa/mucosa with intact submucosal ganglia. The effects of CGRP were nearly abolished in chloride-free solutions or after treatment with furosemide. Tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium abolished the effects of CGRP on basal short-circuit current whereas atropine did not. CGRP enhanced neurally evoked chloride secretion both in whole thickness and submucosa/mucosa preparations, but the effect in the latter was considerably smaller. These observations suggest that CGRP stimulates chloride secretion primarily by activating myenteric neurons that project either to submucosal ganglia or to the mucosa of the guinea pig distal colon. Furthermore, CGRP appears to have a greater effect on excitability of myenteric neurons than submucosal neurons.
Political expertise and principled political thought

Many public opinion theories suggest that all citizens rely on core beliefs and values to guide their preferences on social and political issues. The “Expertise Interaction” model of public opinion...
Replication by human DNA polymerase-ι occurs by Hoogsteen base-pairing

Almost all DNA polymerases show a strong preference for incorporating the nucleotide that forms the correct Watson–Crick base pair with the template base. In addition, the catalytic efficiencies with which any given polymerase forms the four possible correct base pairs are roughly the same. Human DNA polymerase-ι (hPolι), a member of the Y family of DNA polymerases, is an exception to these rules. hPolι incorporates the correct nucleotide opposite a template adenine with a several hundred to several thousand fold greater efficiency than it incorporates the correct nucleotide opposite a template thymine, whereas its efficiency for correct nucleotide incorporation opposite a template guanine or cytosine is intermediate between these two extremes1,2,3,4,5. Here we present the crystal structure of hPolι bound to a template primer and an incoming nucleotide. The structure reveals a polymerase that is ‘specialized’ for Hoogsteen base-pairing, whereby the templating base is driven to the syn conformation. Hoogsteen base-pairing offers a basis for the varied efficiencies and fidelities of hPolι opposite different template bases, and it provides an elegant mechanism for promoting replication through minor-groove purine adducts that interfere with replication.
An integrated health approach to the conservation of Mountain gorillas Gorilla beringei beringei

Conservation medicine, the medical practice that seeks to promote ecological health and well being of a defined habitat, functions at the intersection of animal, human and ecosystem health. It differs from classical public-health epidemiology and medicine in that it aims to protect and improve animal health and related ecosystems, in addition to human health. Zoonotic diseases and emerging diseases are of primary concern and are particularly important when Endangered great-ape populations are involved. The effective practice of conservation medicine demands an integrated cross-disciplinary team approach involving wildlife and livestock veterinarians, local physicians, public-health professionals, ecologists, government officials and communities. Common interests, improved data collection and economies of scale argue for combining health surveillance, data and delivery efforts. This team approach needs to be tailored to the infrastructure and sophistication of the host country's human and livestock/wildlife health systems. It is often, by default, the wildlife veterinarian(s) who coordinate(s) the integrated ‘one health’ approach because of their training in wildlife and livestock medicine as well as in zoonotic and emerging disease issues. This paper describes the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project's (MGVP Inc.) collaborative cross-disciplinary strategy for Mountain gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei conservation and the database system developed during the process.
Correlation of the mechanical responses of the heart with the norepinephrine overflow during cardiac sympathetic neural stimulation in the dog

The changes in heart rate and right ventricular contractile force were measured in anaesthetised dogs during stimulation of each ansa subclavia, and the responses were correlated with the overflow of norepinephrine (NE) into the coronary sinus blood. The increase in heart rate was considerably greater during stimulation of the right than of the left ansa subclavia. Conversely, left ansa stimulation had a slightly greater effect on right ventricular contractile force than did right-sided stimulation. The changes in norepinephrine overflow into the coronary sinus blood paralleled the alterations in contractile force; during stimulation at 2 and 4 Hz, the rates of norepinephrine overflow were 50 and 34% greater, respectively, with left-sided than with right-sided stimulation. On both the right and left sides, stimulation of the anterior limb of the ansa subclavia produced greater increments in heart rate and contractile force than did stimulation of the posterior limb. Similarly, the rates of norepinephrine overflow during anterior ansal stimulation were 100 and 75% greater than during posterior ansal stimulation for the right and left sides, respectively. Thus, both limbs of the two ansae subclaviae innervate the myocardial regions drained by the coronary sinus, but the greatest innervation arises from the anterior limb on the left side.
Live broadcast of laparoscopic surgery to handheld computers.

Thanks to advances in computer power and miniaturization technology, portable electronic devices are now being used to assist physicians with various applications that extend far beyond Web browsing or sending e-mail. Handheld computers are used for electronic medical records, billing, coding, and to enable convenient access to electronic journals for reference purposes. The results of diagnostic investigations, such as laboratory results, study reports, and still radiographic pictures, can also be downloaded into portable devices for later view. Handheld computer technology, combined with wireless protocols and streaming video technology, has the added potential to become a powerful educational tool for medical students and residents. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of transferring multimedia data in real time to a handheld computer via a wireless network and displaying them on the computer screens of clients at remote locations. A live laparoscopic splenectomy was transmitted live to eight handheld computers simultaneously through our institution’s wireless network. All eight viewers were able to view the procedure and to hear the surgeon’s comments throughout the entire duration of the operation. Handheld computer technology can play a key role in surgical education by delivering information to surgical residents or students when they are geographically distant from the actual event. Validation of this new technology by conducting clinical research is still needed to determine whether resident physicians or medical students can benefit from the use of handheld computers.
Esophageal manometry: assessment of interpreter consistency.

Background & Aims: Manometry is used widely in the evaluation of esophageal disorders. Our aim was to assess the intra- and interobserver reliability of esophageal manometry and identify potential causes for diagnostic variability. Methods: Seventy-two esophageal manometry tracings were selected randomly from archives. Eight interpreters randomly and blindly evaluated tracings. Interpreters were divided into 3 groups: highly experienced (N = 3), moderately experienced (N = 3), and inexperienced (N = 2). Each tracing was examined for abnormalities involving the lower-esophageal sphincter (LES) and esophageal body. Interpreters rendered a single diagnosis from a list of 7 manometric diagnoses: normal, nutcracker, hypertensive LES, hypotensive LES, diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), nonspecific/ineffective esophageal motility (IEM), and achalasia. Intra- and interobserver agreements were determined and reasons for varied diagnoses were investigated. Results: Overall intraobserver agreement was good (κ = .63, P P = .9) between the highly and midexperienced interpreters (κ = .61 and .65, respectively). Interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of achalasia and normal motility was good (κ = .65 and .56, respectively). However, other manometric diagnoses yielded only fair interobserver agreement (κ = .27). DES, nonspecific/ineffective esophageal motility (IEM), and hypo- and hypertensive LES diagnoses showed the least agreement. Poor adherence to established manometric criteria, misinterpretation of intrabolus pressure, and technical inadequacy were the most common sources of inconsistency in interpretations. Conclusions: Manometric diagnoses of conditions other than normal or achalasia are variable and have poor interobserver variability. Given their uncertain clinical implications, we must either redefine them or eliminate them from practice.
In Vitro Activity of Moxalactam Against Anaerobic Bacteria

Moxalactam was tested against 80 isolates of anaerobic bacteria from clinical specimens. The results of this study and a review of other studies, in which comparable susceptibility testing methods were used, demonstrated the susceptibility to moxalactam of members of the Bacteroides fragilis group, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Fusobacterium species, anaerobic gram-positive cocci, and Clostridium perfringens.
Black sheep: The story of the abandonments of the manager plan

Fifty-five referenda over a five-year period result in but seven abandonments of manager plan government.
Detection of basepair substitution mutation at a frequency of 1 x 10(-7) by combining two genotypic selection methods, MutEx enrichment and allele-specific competitive blocker PCR.

The detection of rare mutations has many important applications, including risk assessment of drugs and chemicals, measuring environmental exposures to genotoxins, and cancer cell detection. A sensitive genotypic selection method has been developed that combines two different mutant allele selection techniques, MutEx enrichment and allele-specific competitive blocker PCR (ACB-PCR). This method was developed and evaluated for the detection of a CAA AAA mutation at codon 61 of the mouse H-ras gene. The MutEx enrichment is based on MutS binding to a mismatched basepair in heteroduplex DNA. The bound MutS protects the mutant allele from degradation during subsequent exonuclease treatment. ACB-PCR preferentially amplifies a mutant allele in a PCR reaction using a primer that has more mismatches to the wild-type allele than the mutant allele. By combining these two approaches, the codon 61 mutation was detected at mutant fractions as low as 1 in 107. This sensitivity was achieved with the thermostable Thermus aquaticus MutS protein but not the Escherichia coli MutS protein. Using the combined approach, the average Pfu DNA polymerase error rate ± the standard error of the mean for this particular basepair was estimated to be 8 ± 3 × 10−7 errors per duplication. The results indicate that MutEx/ACB-PCR is among the most sensitive genotypic selection methods for the detection of mutation. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 32:200–211, 1998 © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of Polyphenylene Dendrimers Related to “Cubic Graphite”

Four large, 6-fold symmetric, polyphenylene hydrocarbons have been prepared by short syntheses that chiefly employed alkyne trimerization, palladium-catalyzed coupling, and Diels-Alder reactions. The two largest of these molecules, hexakis[4'-(pentaphenylphenyl)biphenyl-4-yl]benzene (4, C(294)H(198)) and hexakis[4'-(2,3,4,5-tetraphenylphenyl)biphenyl-4-yl]benzene (5, C(258)H(174)) are substructures of "phenylogous cubic graphite", and the other two, hexakis(2',3',4',5',6'-pentaphenylbiphenyl-4-yl)benzene (26, C(258)H(174)) and hexakis(2',3',4',5'-tetraphenylbiphenyl-4-yl)benzene (25, C(222)H(150)) are strongly pitched, six-bladed molecular propellers. The X-ray crystal structure of compound 26 has also been determined; dendrimer 26 is at present the largest crystallographically characterized hydrocarbon.
A STEREOTYPED SEQUENCE OF BRAIN STEM REFLEXES PRECEDING AROUSAL FROM SLEEP IN INFANTS. • 2316

A STEREOTYPED SEQUENCE OF BRAIN STEM REFLEXES PRECEDING AROUSAL FROM SLEEP IN INFANTS. • 2316
Job Preparation for the 21st Century: A Group Project Learning Model to Teach Basic Workplace Skills.

Abstract Today's workplace is undergoing a tremendous metamorphosis. Trends in restructuring, downsizing, reengineering, workforce diversity, and teamwork, while appearing new, still encompass the prevalent demands of employers—basic workplace skills. This article presents a practical, group-project learning model for teaching these skills and preparing students for successful future employment. Two critical categories of workplace skills, communication and group effectiveness, as well as the other basic workplace skills, can be effectively taught within the current framework of the business curricula with the group project method.
Seasonal Albedo Variation of Black Spruce and Sphagnum-Sedge Bog Cover Types

Abstract Albedo measurements were made over two northern Minnesota bog cover types. Two Kipp and Zonen pyranometers were cycled over black spruce [Pica mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] and sphagnum-sedge bog canopies within a one year period. During the snow-free seasonal periods black spruce had a 6–8% albedo and did not exhibit a response to new shoot growth and maturation. Albedo increased to 8.2% with an 80% bog surface snow cover in late November while a 100% bog surface snow cover increased the albedo to 10.5% in February–March. The sphagnum-sedge bog exhibited an increase from 11.6% in April–May to 16.1% in June with a gradual decline to 13.5% in October–November. A 50–60% old snow cover increased the November–December albedo to 35.1% while the albedo of a fresh continuous snow cover in February–March was 81.7%. The effect of cloud cover on the albedo was negligible.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Conscious Animals: A New Tool in Behavioural Neuroscience Research

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a unique window to the brain, enabling scientists to follow changes in brain activity in response to hormones, ageing, environment, drugs of abuse and other stimuli. There are two features that make fMRI unique when compared with other imaging modalities used in behavioural neuroscience. First, it can be entirely noninvasive: each animal can serve as its own control over the natural course of its life, vital for following neuroadaptation and other developmental processes critical to understanding behaviour. Second, fMRI has the spatial and temporal resolution to observe patterns of neuronal activity across the entire brain in less than a minute. Although fMRI does not have the cellular spatial resolution of immunostaining, nor the millisecond temporal resolution of electrophysiology, synchronised changes in neuronal activity across multiple brain areas seen with functional MRI can be viewed as functional neuroanatomical circuits coordinating the thoughts, memories and emotions for particular behaviours. Thus, fMRI affords a systems approach to the study of the brain, complementing and building from other neurobiological techniques to understand how behaviour is organised across multiple brain regions. In this review, we present a general background to fMRI and the different imaging modalities that can be used in fMRI studies. Included are examples of the application of fMRI in behavioural neuroscience research, along with discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of this technology.
Transition of Agriculture in the Baltics: Discussion

Dr. Nikonov provides a historical perspective on Russian agrarian reforms, including recent information on agricultural conditions, legislative actions, and the development of private farms. In a brief discussion of agrarian reform in other states he emphasizes the great differences that can be observed in legislation and implementation, and he notes the strong private farming traditions in the Baltic states. To further stress these differences, I will discuss reforms in the Baltics.
The decimal code for the growth stages of cereals, with illustrations

SUMMARY The decimal code for the growth stages of cereals, devised by Zadoks, Chang & Konzak (1974), is reproduced with stylised drawings of selected stages of wheat, barley and oat plants. Expanded definitions of some of the descriptive phrases are designed to assist the application of the code to agrochemical research, development and use in the UK.
Parallel optical interconnection network for SMPs

We propose a scalable address sub-network called Symmetric Multiprocessor Network (SYMNET) to solve the address bandwidth limitation in SMPs. Our simulation studies have shown 5-66% improvement in execution time and 5-78% improvement in average latency for SYMNET as compared to the electrical bus-based SMPs for various Splash-2 benchmarks.
Whole Exome Sequencing of Intracranial Aneurysm

The risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) is increased among individuals with first-degree relatives with history of IA.1 A variety of approaches have been used to identify genes that contribute to the risk of IA.2–4 Genomewide association studies have identified and replicated associations on chromosome 4q31.23 ( EDNRA ), 8q12.1 ( SOX17 ), 9p21.3 ( CDKN2A/CDKN2B/CDKN2BAS ), 10q24.32 ( CNNM2 ), 12q22, 13q13.1 ( KL/STARD13 ), 18q11.2 ( RBBP8 ), and 20p12.1.3–6 An alternative approach to gene discovery is to identify rare variants of relatively large individual effect. The most efficient approach to identify this type of disease-producing variant is through the study of families having a large number of members with IA. In many cases, the segregation of the disease in these families seems to be consistent with Mendelian inheritance. Multiplex IA families were recruited through the international Familial Intracranial Aneurysm (FIA) study.7 Rigorous review of all available medical records and detailed subject interviews were performed to classify subjects with regard to the likelihood that they had an IA. In addition, unaffected first-degree family members, with risk factors increasing the likelihood that they might have an unruptured IA (smoking, hypertension, >30 years), were offered magnetic resonance angiography. These data were available from >400 multiplex FIA families. After careful review, 7 families were selected for whole exome sequencing. These 7 families had the largest number of family members with a definite IA who also had DNA available for genetic study. These families also seemed to be consistent with either autosomal-dominant or autosomal-recessive inheritance. Whole exome sequencing was completed for …
Partitioning of the degradation space for OCR training

Generally speaking optical character recognition algorithms tend to perform better when presented with homogeneous data. This paper studies a method that is designed to increase the homogeneity of training data, based on an understanding of the types of degradations that occur during the printing and scanning process, and how these degradations affect the homogeneity of the data. While it has been shown that dividing the degradation space by edge spread improves recognition accuracy over dividing the degradation space by threshold or point spread function width alone, the challenge is in deciding how many partitions and at what value of edge spread the divisions should be made. Clustering of different types of character features, fonts, sizes, resolutions and noise levels shows that edge spread is indeed shown to be a strong indicator of the homogeneity of character data clusters.
Prediction and measurement of fatigue of lifetime distributions for elastomeric biomaterials

Synthetic polymer biomaterials being considered for cardiovascular applications must perform under conditions of large cyclic deformations for long lifetimes. In designing with these materials and eventually qualifying them clinically, it would be extremely helpful to be able to predict the fatigue lifetimes accurately and reliably. In this article a calculational format is presented which predicts the lifetime distribution function for elastomeric sheets undergoing tension–tension fatigue. From a knowledge of the intrinsic tensile strength distribution and the effect of an “equivalent” edge flaw size on the tensile strength, the inherent flaw size distribution is determined. A tearing energy concept is utilized to determine the flaw growth law constants. Each of these three short-term tests provides a pair of constants which, taken together, permit calculation of the fatigue lifetime distribution. When compared using Kolmogoroff statistics, experimental tensile–tensile fatigue results at 0.01 cps agreed well with the theoretically predicted lifetime distribution function.
The proteolytic activity of thyroid and other tissues of the dog.

If the organic iodine (diiodotyrosine and thyroxine) in blood plasma is derived from the thyroglobulin in the colloid of the thyroid gland, a mechanismis necessary to explain whereby these organic iodine compounds are split from the thyroglobulin molecule. The existence of a proteolytic enzyme in the thyroid capable of liberating diiodotyrosine and thyroxine from thyroglobulin and thus allowing these smaller molecules toenter the blood stream would offer such an explanation. The level of organic (protein-bound) iodine inplasma is known to be increased in hyperthyroidism and decreased in hypothyroidism. Ifthese variations are to be attributed, at least in part, to alterations in the rate of enzymatic breakdown of thyroglobulin, it is necessary to have quantitative studies of proteolytic activityofthyroid tissue. Measurements of proteolytic activity in the thyroid tissue of dogs have been presented in the preceding paper. It should be noted that in these studies, the substrate was hemoglobin and not thyrogl...
Detection of nondisjunction and recombination in meiotic and postmeiotic cells from XYSxr [XY,Tp(Y)1Ct] mice using multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Abstract Current meiotic dogma holds that synapsis is required for recombination and that recombination is required for proper disjunction. The mouse chromosome aberration XYSxr [sex reversal; redesignated XY,Tp(Y)1Ct] appears to challenge this assumption, for although chromosomes X and Y often fail to synapse and recombine, there is no dramatic increase in aneuploid progeny. An explanation of this conundrum might be that X-Y univalent spermatocytes do not survive. The phenotype of sex reversal is generated by the "obligatory" crossover between the X and Y chromosomes, which always occurs proximal to a duplicated copy of the testis-determining gene Sry and transfers one copy from one chromatid of the Y chromosome to one chromatid of the X. Animals that inherit an X chromosome with the Sry gene are chromosomally female but phenotypically male. We have used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to visualize probes for the X and Y chromosomes and for the Sry sequence and chromosome 8 to track the fate of both recombinant and nonrecombinant chromosomes through metaphases I and II into spermatids and sperm. In the 219 gametes examined by multicolor FISH, the frequency of aneuploid products (XY or "O") was low (3.7%) despite a high frequency (66%) of X-Y separation at metaphase I. In balanced gametes, X and Y recombinant chromosomes slightly exceeded nonrecombinants. Both of these observations support the earlier proposal that asynapsis and nondisjunction in primary spermatocytes lead to their developmental arrest and degeneration.
The trade union career of Susan B. Anthony

(1961). The trade union career of Susan B. Anthony. Labor History: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 90-100.
Influence of TAT-peptide polymerization on properties and transfection activity of TAT/DNA polyplexes

Use of bioactive cationic peptides as gene carriers is limited by instability of their DNA complexes in vivo and by the loss of their biological activity due to undesired interactions of their bioactive parts with the DNA. To overcome the two major limitations, biodegradable high-molecular-weight form of TAT peptide (POLYTAT) sensitive to cellular redox-potential gradients was synthesized in this study by oxidative polycondensation. Physicochemical and transfection properties of DNA polyplexes based on POLYTAT were investigated and compared with polyplexes based on TAT polymer prepared by in situ template-assisted polymerization. Physicochemical properties of TAT-based polyplexes were affected by the molecular weight and method of polymerization of the TAT peptide. All TAT-based DNA polyplexes exhibited reduced cytotoxicity when compared with control polyethylenimine (PEI) polyplexes. Polyplexes based on both high-molecular-weight TAT polypeptides exhibited increased transfection efficiency compared to control TAT peptide but lower than that of PEI polyplexes. The evidence shows that transfection activity of TAT-based polyplexes is strongly dependent on the presence of chloroquine and therefore suggests that TAT polyplexes are internalized by an endocytosis. Overall, high-molecular-weight reducible polycations based on bioactive peptides has the potential as versatile carriers of nucleic acids that display low cytotoxicity and can prove to be especially beneficial in cases that require surface presentation of membrane-active or cell-specific targeting peptides.
Leveraging Alumni and Business Community Relations to Assess the Information Systems Curriculum

A recent Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (2006) task force called for increased interaction between business schools and the business community to identify essential skill sets and help with the curriculum-management process. An information systems curriculum-assessment study solicited input from recent alumni working in the business community who had demonstrated a solid grasp of the curriculum. An analysis of the responses indicates that communications and teamwork skills are perceived as highly important to the business community. Qualitative and statistical analyses show that the business community perceives value in curriculum content that emphasizes managerial and systems development topics and covers technical topics broadly rather than deeply.
MAOB intron 13 and COMT codon 158 polymorphisms, cigarette smoking, and the risk of PD

Background: A polymorphism (G to A transition) in intron 13 of the mitochondrial enzyme monoamine oxidase B ( MAOB ) gene may modify, alone or by interacting with the catechol- O -methyltransferase (COMT LL ) genotype (low enzymatic activity), the risk of idiopathic PD. Also, the association between never smoking and PD risk may be present only in people with the MAOB G allele. Methods: The authors studied two ongoing prospective cohorts—the Nurses’ Health Study (121,700 women aged 30 to 55 in 1976) and the Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study (51,529 men aged 40 to 75 in 1986). They identified new PD cases through 1996, selected random control subjects matched on age and study cohort, and obtained DNA samples from blood or buccal smears from 85% of the eligible cases and 84% of the control subjects. They included genotypes from 214 cases and 449 control subjects, all Caucasian. Results: The odds ratio of PD was 1.2 (95% CI 0.9, 1.7) for MAOB genotypes G/GG/GA compared with genotypes A/AA, and 1.1 (0.7, 1.8) for COMT genotypes LL compared with HH. The odds ratio (95% CI) was 1.7 (0.7, 3.9) for those with MAOB G/GG and COMT LL genotypes compared with those with MAOB A/AA and COMT HH . There was a strong association between never smoking and PD risk in all groups defined by MAOB and COMT genotypes. Conclusion: The findings do not support a major role of the MAOB intron 13 polymorphism in the development of PD, either by itself or by interacting with smoking.
Gas chromatographic investigation of the sorption properties of polyolefins

Abstract The method of inverse gas chromatography has been used to investigate the sorption properties of PEHD, PELD, PS and PVC in respect to solvents classed with various types of chemical compounds. It is shown that the relative retention volumes determined by gas chromatography for the volatile substances may be used for a preliminary comparative analysis of the solubility of polymers in organic solvents. Contributions of the enthalpic and entropic factors to interaction of the studied polymers with solvents have been determined.
Regulation of cytochrome P450 in cultured human colonic cells.

Abstract The consequences of altered cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase activities in colonic tissue are unknown. As an initial step toward elucidating underlying mechanisms that regulate cytochrome P450 levels in colonic epithelium, we have characterized CYP1A1 3 induction in cultured human colonic cells (Caco-2). The induction of CYP1A1 by several inducers was measured by enzymatic activity and immunoreactivity. 3-Methylcholanthrene, β-naphthoflavone, and benz[a]anthracene were strong inducers of CYP1A1, benzo[a]pyrene induced CYPlAl activity only weakly, while benzo[a]pyrene and phenobarbital were essentially inactive as inducers. The response of Caco-2 cells to β-naphthoflavone is similar to that previously observed in vivo in the rat colonic epithelium. In addition, we have demonstrated that this induction results from an increase in CYP1A1 transcriptional activity. These results suggest that the Caco-2 cell line exhibits certain characteristics of cytochrome P450 activity observed in colonic epithelium and may serve as a model for studying cytochrome P450-dependent activity in this tissue. The identification of a colonic cell line that responds to Xenobiotic inducers will be useful for examining mechanisms of cytochrome P450 induction in the colon and elucidating the potential role of this system in colonic carcinogenesis.
Farmers’ perception of sustainable agriculture and its determinants: a case study in Kahramanmaras province of Turkey

The primary purpose of this study was to assess in quantitative terms farmers’ perceptions of sustainable agriculture and to determine how those are influenced by different socio-economic characteristics and information-seeking behavior of the farmers. The study was conducted in Kahramanmaras province of Turkey and comprised a stratified sample of 208 farmers from four districts of the province. The farmers rated each of the 21 selected sustainable agricultural practices for importance on a 5-point scale, and the total of these ratings formed the sustainable agriculture perception index. The index score was calculated for each farmer and was treated as the dependent variable in the stepwise regression analysis procedure. The independent variables were such socio-economic characteristics as the farming system, the total and irrigated area of the farm, membership of a cooperative society and participation in village administration, and age, education, and income of the farmer; components of information-seeking behavior included use of the mass media (newspapers, radio, and television), use of the Internet, travel, and participation in farming events. The results of the study showed that the higher the socio-economic status (more frequent contact with extension services, higher education, ownership of land, etc.) and the greater the access to information, the greater the perceived importance of sustainable agricultural practices. It is concluded that if policy-makers and extension organizations concentrate on these factors, they are more likely to succeed in making farmers more favorably disposed toward sustainable agriculture.
Fuzzy homomorphisms of rings

Abstract In this paper we introduce the concept of fuzzy homomorphisms of rings. We prove for fuzzy homomorphisms, analogues of the homomorphism theorems of ordinary ring homomorphisms.
Comparison of the k⋅p and direct diagonalization approaches to the electronic structure of InAs/GaAs quantum dots

We present a comparison of the 8-band k⋅p and empirical pseudopotential approaches to describing the electronic structure of pyramidal InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots. We find a generally good agreement between the two methods. The most significant differences found in the k⋅p calculation are (i) a reduced splitting of the electron p states (3 vs 24 meV), (ii) an incorrect in-plane polarization ratio for electron-hole dipole transitions (0.97 vs 1.24), and (iii) an over confinement of both electron (48 meV) and hole states (52 meV), resulting in a band gap error of 100 meV. We introduce a “linear combination of bulk bands” technique which produces results similar to a full direct diagonalization pseudopotential calculation, at a cost similar to the k⋅p method.
Interference and facilitation effects during selective attention : an H215O PET study of Stroop task performance

To investigate the functional anatomy of interference and facilitation during selective attention, we studied 15 normal subjects using the H215O positron emission tomography technique and a computer presented single-trial Stroop task for cognitive activation. Increases in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were observed in a network of structures that have been previously associated with selective attention, including the anterior cingulate gyrus, the frontal polar cortex, the inferior parietal lobule, and the thalamus, as well as the lingual gyrus. Furthermore rCBF decreases (compared to control states) were observed in lateral extra-striate cortex. rCBF changes in prefrontal and extra-striate regions varied with differences in the need to modulate the influence of word and color information while subjects responded to either incongruent or congruent Stroop stimuli. These results indicate the utility of Stroop procedures for investigating the functional anatomy of selective attention. Given recent interest regarding the role of the anterior cingulate gyrus in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, our results also suggest that the Stroop task can serve as a reliable neurobehavioral probe for this region. The significance of these results for understanding processing mechanisms underlying selective attention is discussed within the framework of a parallel distributed processing model of Stroop task performance.
Calculated Characteristics of a Hydraulic Refrigeration System

An unconventiona l cyclic type of refrigeration system is described whjch has only liquid pumps as its moving parts. A first-approximation type analytical model is presented in which the flow is considered one-dimensional, although two-phase in some parts of the system. The conventional friction factor is used to account for fluid friction and other "losses" are simply but appropriately modeled. Calculations are implemented in a digital computer program which solves the modeling equations serially around the (two) fluid loops, using iteration as necessary. Refrigerant properties are used with locally correct values as retrieved from property functions provided to the main program. The calculated performance of the hydraulic refrigeration system (HRS) using Freon 114 and water as the fluids, and with a capacity of approximately 3 tons (10.55-kW), is presented extensively graphically as an example of the characteristics of an HRS. Calculated results for the HRS in 10-ton (35.16-kW) and 100-ton (351.6-kW) sizes using Freon 114 are presented less extensively, and performance is briefly given using certain other Freon refrigerants. The calculations indicate that the HRS is capable of producing refrigeration at 45 °F (7.2°C) with a COP better than obtainable with conventional refrigeration systems. A cf CD COP d d D / F g h K m p p
Nosocomial infection in neonatal intensive care units

Nosocomial infection rates in neonatal intensive care units range from 5% to 25%. Both endemic and epidemic infections have been documented, with causative agents including gram-positive cocci, gram-negative bacilli, and viruses. This paper reviews the host, maternal, and environmental factors that influence susceptibility of neonates. Usual preventive measures, such as nursery design, staff apparel, handwashing, employee health, and neonatal care, as well as epidemic control measures to minimize infection risks and limit transmission of infectious organisms, are discussed.