cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SOME EFFECTS OF ADRENALECTOMY IN FOWLS1

That the adrenal cortex has a functional association with the gonads was first suggested a number of years ago, and relatively recent work has added much strength to this view. Feeding adrenal cortex or entire adrenal glands to experimental animals has produced maturity earlier than usual or stimulation of the gonads, according to the work of Chidester, Eaton and Thompson (1), McKinley and Fisher (2), Vicent (3), Hewer (4), and several others. The work of Casida and Hellbaum (5), Corey and Britton (6, 7, and 8), and Grollman and Howard (9), has demonstrated that administration of cortical extracts has likewise stimulated early development of the gonads, or increased their activity. The removal of the adrenal glands, on the other hand, has been described by Britton and Kline (10), Carr (11), Corey and Britton (8), Martin (12), Wyman (13) and Freed, Brownfield and Evans (14) as resulting in lowered fertility, interruption or complete suppression of the estrous cycle, or degeneration of the gonads. Rats were...
Effect of data truncation in an implementation of pixel clustering on a custom computing machine

We investigate the effect of truncating the precision of hyperspectral image data for the purpose of more efficiently segmenting the image using a variant of k-means clustering. We describe the implementation of the algorithm on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware. Truncating the data to only a few bits per pixel in each spectral channel permits a more compact hardware design, enabling greater parallelism, and ultimately a more rapid execution. It also enables the storage of larger images in the onboard memory. In exchange for faster clustering, however, one trades off the quality of the produced segmentation. We find, however, that the clustering algorithm can tolerate considerable data truncation with little degradation in cluster quality. This robustness to truncated data can be extended by computing the cluster centers to a few more bits of precision than the data. Since there are so many more pixels than centers, the more aggressive data truncation leads to significant gains in the number of pixels that can be stored in memory and processed in hardware concurrently.
Long-Range Correlations in a Polymer Chain Due to Its Connectivity

The analysis of intrachain monomeric interactions reveals a new effect in the description of polymer conformations in dilute i-solutions, semidilute solutions, and melts. The chain connectivity modifies the effective monomeric interaction, which results in the long range correlations between orientations of polymer bonds, that decay as a power law. A major modification of the standard polymer models was made to describe this effect. We predict the power-law decay of the bond-vector correlation function of a polymer in the i-solvent, 〈aiaj〉 ji - jj -3/2 ,( ai is the ith bond vector) instead of commonly assumed exponential decay. We calculated the length dependence of the ratio of the mean squared size of a chain segment to its length s. Our theory predicts that this ratio has a maximum below the i-point due to the balance of the new effective interaction and the two-body attraction. The Flory characteristic ratio Cn of a chain with n main chain bonds is found to approach its asymptotic value C∞ as n -1/2 and not as n -1 , predicted by the classical polymer models. We show that the necessary conditions for the existence of new effective interactions is the chain connectivity and nonzero range of monomeric interactions.
Effect of different litter treatments on production performance of broiler chickens.

In modern poultry production, foot pad dermatitis (FPD) represents one of the main problems on broiler chicken legs with significant affect on animal welfare and performance. This problem is not solved by the using of straw as litter. Different treatments of straw are needed to eliminate the adverse effects of this material as litter. The most widely used method to improve the quality of litter is chopping straw and application of microbial products on that. These procedures can decrease the moisture in the litter and reduce the population of microorganisms whose activity produces ammonia, and hence improving environmental conditions in facilities. The experiment involved four treatments with four replications with a total of 300 broilers per treatment. The treatment I was unchopped straw, treatment II was chopped straw, treatment III unchopped straw with the addition of microbial products, and treatment IV was chopped straw with the addition of microbial preparation. Duration of trial was 42 days. During the experiment, the following production parameters were measured: body weight per week of the experiment, feed conversion ratio, mortality and FPD. Results of the trial point out that the best production results were in treatment IV with an average final body weight of 2.456g and feed conversion ratio of 1.71.
Measurements of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) in meningococcal protein and polysaccharide preparations for vaccine usage

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, i.e. endotoxin) present in meningococcal outer-membrane protein and polysaccharide preparations made for vaccine use was quantitated by a silver-stain method following SDS-PAGE. The reactivities of LPS in the preparations were also measured by rabbit pyrogenicity and Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Although rabbit pyrogenicity and LAL assay are more sensitive than the silver stain method, the latter provided an actual amount of LPS present in the protein or in the polysaccharide. For a meningococcal protein preparation, rabbit pyrogenicity showed about one-tenth, and even less by LAL assay, of the actual amount of LPS. This is because protein-bound LPS in meningococcal protein preparations is about 10-fold less active in causing fever in rabbits, and 20- to 40-fold less active in the gelation of LAL than the same amount of a purified free LPS which is generally used as a reference in quantitating LPS in these two assays. As for the small amount of LPS present in a meningococcal polysaccharide preparation, similar LPS content was obtained when measured by the three methods suggesting that the LPS is not bound to the polysaccharide in contrast to that in the proteins mentioned above. The purified meningococcal LPS was pyrogenic in rabbits at 1 ng/kg.
Efficacy and safety of intrapartum electronic fetal monitoring: an update.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of routine electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) of labor with intermittent auscultation, using the results of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data Sources: We identified RCTs by searching the MEDLINE data base for the period 1966–1994, contacting experts, and reviewing published references. Methods of Study Selection: Our search identified 12 published RCTs addressing the efficacy and safety of EFM; no unpublished studies were found. The studies included 58,855 pregnant women and their 59,324 infants in both high- and low-risk pregnancies from ten clinical centers in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data were abstracted, and their accuracy was confirmed independently. A single reviewer assessed study quality based on criteria developed by others for RCTs. Data reported from similar studies were used to calculate a combined risk estimate for each of nine outcomes. Overall, a statistically significant decrease was associated with routine EFM for a 1-minute Apgar score less than 4 (relative risk [RR] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65–0.98) and neonatal seizures (RR 0.5, 95% CI 0.30–0.82). The protective effect of EFM for a 1-minute Apgar score less than 4 was apparent only in the non-United States studies, and the protective effect for neonatal seizures was evident only in studies with high-quality scores. No significant differences were observed in 1-minute Apgar scores less than 7, rate of admissions to neonatal intensive care units, and perinatal death. An increase associated with the use of EFM was observed in the rate of cesarean delivery (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.08–1.59) and total operative delivery (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.15–1.31). Risk of cesarean delivery was greatest in low-risk pregnancies. Conclusion: The only clinically significant benefit from the use of routine EFM was in the reduction of neonatal seizures. Because of the increase in cesarean and operative vaginal deliveries, the long-term benefit of this reduction must be evaluated in the decision reached jointly by the pregnant woman and her clinician to use EFM or intermittent auscultation during labor.
The fine structure of the solar atmosphere in the far ultraviolet

The paper describes qualitatively the spatial distribution of UV emission obtained from high resolution spectroheliograms in the UV emission lines He I, He II, O IV, O V, and Ne VII photographed during a sounding rocket flight. Broad band filtergrams of the far UV solar corona were also obtained. The results confirmed that spicules are the location of UV emission. Most of the UV emission in the temperature range from 100,000 to 200,000 K is concentrated in and around the spicules and this concentration decreases with increasing temperatures. Four different areas of UV emission are discussed. The He I and He II spectroheliogram observations showed He to be suppressed in the coronal holes, polar caps, and sunspots.
Psychotherapy with Low-Income Patients: Lessons Learned from Treatment Studies

Psychotherapy with low-income patients presents a variety of challenges for the clinician. This paper discusses some of those challenges, including the barriers that poor individuals face in obtaining treatment, as well as issues of stigma, mistrust of authority, and potential cultural differences and differing expectations between mental health providers from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and lower-income individuals in need of care. We review some of the findings reported in treatment studies with low-income, frequently minority, samples that shed light on the types of adaptations to treatment that have proven successful. Finally, we discuss some of the clinical research that has been conducted with low-income, predominantly minority women through the department of psychiatry at Georgetown University over the past several years, concluding with some of the lessons we have learned in developing and conducting psychotherapeutic treatments with this population.
Fibronectin peptide DRVPHSRNSIT and fibronectin receptor peptide DLYYLMDL arrest gastrulation of Rana pipiens.

Gastrulation is characterized by dramatic cell migration which is thought to require the interaction of cell adhesion molecules with extracellular molecules. We have tested two novel peptides, a fibronectin peptide and a fibronectin receptor peptide, for their effects on gastrulation of the leopard frogRana pipiens. The fibronectin peptide DRVPHSRNSIT corresponds to residues 1373–1383 of the cell-binding domain of fibronectin; the receptor peptide DLYYLMDL corresponds to residues 124–131 of β1 subunit of a variety of integrins including α5β1. Either of these peptides significantly inhibited gastrulation after being microinjected into mid-blastulae. These results indicate that these sequences may correspond to the ligand/receptor interaction sites of fibronectin and its receptor(s).
Induction of cdk2 after gamma-ray irradiation is dependent on p53 status

We show that expression of cdk2 induced after gamma-ray irradiation is dependent on the p53 status in two human glioblastoma cell lines, one bearing the wild-type p53 gene and the other the mutant gene. This result indicates that wtp53 induces the expression of not only WAF1 but also cdk2. Our results suggest that p53-dependent WAF1 induction would act to prevent gene amplification and mutation in cells which sustain DNA damage in G(1) phase and p53-dependent cdk2 induction might act to prevent aneuploidy through E2F-1-DP-1 inactivation in cells which sustain DNA damage in G(2) phase.
Aromatization of 2+2 cycloadducts of butadienes and fluoroolefins other than tetrafluoroethylene

Abstract The 2+2 cycloadducts of fluorinated olefins other than tetrafluoroethylene and hydrocarbon dienes also ring-expand and eliminate two moles of hydrogen halide to form aromatic products. The hydrogen halide eliminated from chlorofluoroolefin adducts depends on the solid present during the aromatization. Alumina and other accelerators favor elimination of HF, while HCl evolves in the presence of inert solids such as SiC. The aromatics derived from hexafluoropropene adducts generally have the more sterically hindered regiochemistry. Alumina promotes extrusion of difluorocarbene from trifluoromethylcyclobutanes leading to fluorobenzenes rather than benzotrifluorides. Carbon accelerates these aromatizations without difluorocarbene extrusion.
Authorship in library acquisitions: Practice & theory

Authorship in Library Acquisitions: Practice & Theory, volume 1, number 1 (January 1977) through volume 19, number 4 (Winter 1995) is analyzed. A literature review identifies numerous other studies of authorship patterns in library and information science (LIS) journals. This study's major findings are: 80.6% of LAPT authors contributed a single article, while 3.9% wrote four or more; 15.6% of the articles were collaboratively written by two or more authors; 65.4% of LAPT authors were academic librarians and 10.6% were vendors; a majority (53.9%) were male, but longitudinal analysis shows an increasing portion of female authors; and 15.3% of LAPT authors were from outside the U.S. Comparisons are made with other LIS journals and explanations for the findings are briefly speculated upon.
The Occupational Role of the Child: A Research Frontier in the Developmental Conceptual Framework

The developmental conceptual framework has as its chief focus the analysis of change in family roles over time. A model for analysis based on the developmental framework is presented which views the developing occupational role in terms of a "flow" during which various inputs are injected at various periods through the family life cycle. Three basic sets of inputs are hypothesized: (1) limiting factors, (2) family inputs, and (3) societal inputs. These inputs are viewed as significant to the degree that they influence the family roles played in the socialization process in reciprocity to the roles which compose the role cluster of the occupant of the child position in the family of orientation.
Ratcheting and wrinkling of tubes due to axial cycling under internal pressure: Part II analysis

Abstract Part I presented a set of experiments in which pressurized tubes were cycled axially under stress control about a compressive mean stress. This loading history causes biaxial ratcheting involving compressive axial strain and expansion of the diameter of the tube. The compressive strain in turn induces the initiation and growth of axisymmetric wrinkles. Persistent cycling resulted in localization of the wrinkles and collapse. In Part II the problem is first modeled as a shell with initial axisymmetric imperfections while the biaxial ratcheting of the material is modeled using the Dafalias–Popov two-surface nonlinear kinematic hardening model. It is demonstrated that when suitably calibrated this modeling framework reproduces the prevalent ratcheting deformations and the evolution of wrinkling including the conditions at collapse accurately for all experiments. The calibrated model is then used to evaluate the ratcheting behavior of pipes under thermal-pressure cyclic loading histories experienced by axially restrained pipelines.
Can the high-level content of natural images be indexed using local analysis?

ABSTRACT Early methods of image indexing relied heavily on color histograms, which characterize the global content of images.However, global indexing methods proved to be unsatisfactory, and researchers now employ more localized measures ofimage content, based on relatively small regions. At the same time, it has also become clear that image indexing shouldbe based on higher-level visual content. This raises an important question: Can the higher-level content of images bereliably indexed using local analysis? In general, humans are better at indexing mid-level and high-level visual contentthan todays automated indexing algorithms. Therefore, it makes sense to ascertain how well humans can perform mid-level or high-level indexing, based on small regions. This paper describes research that employs a set of outdoor sceneryimages (called the NaturePix image set) to compare how successfully humans can label the visual content of smallregions of natural images when (1) these regions are seen in the context of the larger image, and (2) when these regionsare extracted from (and are seen in isolation from) that larger image. The results of these experiments indicate whattypes of higher-level image content can be recognized locally, and how successfully high-level image content can beindexed on the basis of local feature analysis.Keywords: Content based image retrieval, Image indexing, Semantic indexing, Lexical basis functions, Image content,Visual content, Semantic content, NaturePix, Local content analysis, Feature detectors
Religion and language in post-Soviet Russia

In Religion and language in post-Soviet Russia, Brian Bennett seeks to construct nothing less than a holistic portrait of what he calls “lived Slavonic.” The attempt is based on tracing the multipl...
Action of thyroxine analogues on frog melanocytes.

THE melanocyte-stimulating hormones and caffeine darken frog melanocytes by causing dispersion of melanin granules throughout the cell. While the end effect of these two substances on melanocyte opacity is the same, there are several differences in the way melanocyte-stimulating hormone and caffeine bring about dispersion. Lightening of melanocytes is produced by aggregation of melanin granules towards the centre of the cell. We found that triiodothyronine was an effective lightening agent of frog skin previously darkened by melanocyte-stimulating hormone but had no action on caffeine-treated skin. Because of this result we decided to test thyroxine and triiodothyroacetic acid for lightening properties.
Transposable elements, genes and recombination in a 215-kb contig from wheat chromosome 5A(m).

Sequencing of a contiguous 215-kb interval of Triticum monococcum showed the presence of five genes in the same order as in previously sequenced colinear barley and rice BACs. Gene 2 was in the same orienta- tion in wheat and rice but inverted in barley. Gene densi- ty in this region was 1 gene per 43 kb and the ratio of physical to genetic distance was estimated to be 2,700 kb cM -1 . Twenty more-or-less intact retrotransposons were found in the intergenic regions, covering at least 70% of the sequenced region. The insertion times of 11 retro- transposons were less than 5 million years ago and were consistent with their nested structure. Five new families of retroelements and the first full-length elements for two additional retrotransposon families were discovered in this region. Significantly higher values of GC content were observed for Triticeae BACs compared with rice BACs. Relative enrichment or depletion of certain dinu- cleotides was observed in the comparison of introns, ex- ons and retrotransposons. A higher proportion of transi- tions in CG and CNG sites that are targets for cytosine methylation was observed in retrotransposons (76%) than in introns (37%). These results showed that the wheat genome is a complex mixture of different se- quence elements, but with general patterns of content and interspersion that are similar to those seen in maize and barley.
Characterization of cyclopentyllithium and cyclopentyllithium tetrahydrofuran complex.

The solid-state structures of unsolvated, hexameric cyclopentyllithium and tetrameric cyclopentyllithium tetrahydrofuran solvate were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Cyclopentyllithium easily crystallized in hydrocarbon solvents. Solution-state structural analyses of cyclopentyllithium and cyclopentyllithium–tetrahydrofuran complexes in toluene-d8 were also carried out by diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy with diffusion coefficient–formula weight correlation analyses and other one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. The solution-state studies suggest that unsolvated cyclopentyllithium exists as hexamer and tetramer equilibrating with each other. Upon solvation with tetrahydrofuran, cyclopentyllithium exists mostly as a tetrahydrofuran tetrasolvated tetramer.
Are we making a difference? Genetics in Undergraduate Medical Education

The ASHG and the APHMG have published consensus core curricula for both the basic and clinical science years of undergraduate medical education. Despite wide circulation of these recommendations in the medical literature, how well are the goals of these curricula being met? Methods: Review of 4 Data sets. 1. Review of clinical clerkship curricula from Chicago area medical schools. 2. Survey of delegates of the Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association (MSS) inquiring when and what of genetics in years M1-M4. 3. Review of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) survey of all 125 accredited medical schools ‘96-’97. 4. Results of the Association of American Medical School exit interview of medical school graduates from 1998 and 1999. Results: 1. Review of Chicago area clinical clerkship curricula-Genetics is predominantly included in pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology electives with infrequent appearance in other specialty electives. 2. MSS survey-The majority of genetics education occurs in the first and second year with very little in the M3 and M4 years. 3. 1996-97 LCME survey: This survey looked at the numbers of hours that medical students receive in genetic counseling (3.5 hr), principles of inheritance (6.6 hrs), molecular basis of genetics (15.5hr), and gene therapy (2.0). There is large variation in the amount of time devoted to genetic counseling across the 125 school, with 26 schools who reported no hours at all. 4. AAMC exit interview: The question: Did you receive an appropriate amount of instruction in genetic counseling? 45.8% (1998) and 44.3% (1999) perceived the time spent was inadequate, while 53.2% (1998) and 55.0% (1999) believed it was appropriate, and 1.1% (1998), and 0.7% (1999) said the time spent was excessive. Conclusion: Current surveys do not adequately assess recognition of consensus recommended curricula. However the four data sets do suggest that genetic education is inadequate, fragmented, and uncoordinated. Recommendations include more concerted efforts to promote adoption of the consensus recommended curicular goals by approaching directors of clinical clerkships by specialty.
Evidence that context-dependent mate choice for parental care mirrors benefits to offspring

Females should prefer to mate with males that will confer fitness benefits on them or their offspring and should select mates on the basis of traits associated with those benefits. If the association between male traits and mate choice benefits differs with environments, then preferences should also differ. Previous work in flagfish, Jordanella floridae, has shown that female preferences for male nesting and parental care activities depend on the environment's salinity. I tested the hypothesis that variation in preference reflects variation in mate choice benefits. Specifically, I quantified the effects of salinity and parental care activities on hatching success and hatchling mass. I found that the effects of male nest preparation on hatching success were greater in fresh than in brackish water, consistent with the pattern of female preference for male activity directed towards empty nests. Similarly, the effects of egg fanning were the same at the two salinities, matching the pattern of female preference for male activity directed towards nests containing eggs. These results suggest that female mating preferences are stronger in environments in which the direct benefit of distinguishing between potential mates is greater.
A regenerator—prediction of nusselt numbers

Abstract The dynamics of a parallel plate regenerative heat exchanger are studied using a model in which resistance to heat transfer is due to diffusional resistance in the fluid in the direction transverse to flow. The resultant Nusselt number is a function of time as well as longitudinal distance from the entrance of the exchanger and is not a constant, as is assumed in the traditional regerator problem. However, for reasonably large dimensionless longitudinal distances from the entrance, the temperature profiles agree reasonably well with those obtained from the traditional Anzelius-Schumann solution despite the fact that the local Nusselt numbers become very large for large times.
Exercise and diabetes control: a winning combination.

IN BRIEF: It is becoming evident that in many individuals, diabetes of all types can be precipitated or exacerbated by inactivity. Exercise is a cornerstone in diabetes management and conveys many health benefits. Different forms of exercise can have varying effects on the blood sugar response, especially in individuals using insulin. Appropriate exercise for effective management of blood sugar levels and published clinical exercise recommendations for individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes include additional blood glucose monitoring, modified insulin doses, and supplemental carbohydrate intake. Physicians who treat exercising patients with diabetes should tailor programs to meet individual requirements.
A Matrix Approach to Generalizing Axelrod-Type Tournaments

Axelrod's (1980a 1980b) Prisoner's Dilemma computer tournaments have motivated numerous investigations of cooperation, strategy choice, and strategic evolution. By having players adopt various strategies for playing the Prisoner's Dilemma, and then programming a computer to pit the strategies against each other in a round-robin format, Axelrod uncovered important principles about the evolution of cooperation in certain contexts, and stimulated others to extend his basic method into other settings. This article presents a matrix approach for calculating the results of an Axelrod-type tournament. This approach allows one to investigate the impact of changes in the format of the tournament, the nature of the payoff matrix, or the particular strategic choices of the players.
Nonfamilial hematuria associated with glomerular basement membrane alterations characteristic of hereditary nephritis: Comparison with hereditary nephritis*

Characteristic ultrastructural alterations of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) have been reported in hereditary nephritis and in children without a family history of renal disease. The clinical features, renal biopsy findings, and subsequent course were studied retrospectively in 48 children with such GBM changes to compare findings in those with and without a family history of nephritis and to determine the significance of the GBM changes in patients with nonfamillal disease. All 48 patients had hematuria. For 30, there was hematuria in at least one other member of the family (famillal hematuria group); for 18, there was no familial incidence. There were no differences between the two groups with regard to clinical and pathologic findings. At the latest follow-up, six boys with familial hematuria and three boys with nonfamilial hematuria had reduced renal function, and nine boys with familial hematuria and four boys and one girl with nonfamilial hematuria had neurosensory deafness. Our study results show that children with these GBM changes, with or without a family history of hematuria, tend to have a progressive course, with frequent occurrence of neurosensory deafness, and that the prognosis is more severe in boys. These observations suggest that such GBM changes in patients with nonfamilial hematuria may represent new mutations for hereditary nephritis.
The transpired turbulent boundary layer in an adverse pressure gradient

Abstract An experimental program was carried out to study the effect of transpiration on a turbulent boundary layer in an adverse pressure gradient. A wind tunnel with a porous test wall was designed so that the blowing velocity and the strength of the pressure gradient could be varied in the course of the experiments. The effect of transpiration on the location of the separation point was observed. Measurements of mean velocity profiles and heat transfer rates were compared with predictions of a boundary layer calculation method based on an effective viscosity model. Predictions of skin friction were satisfactory, but there was noticeable error in the predicted velocity profile shapes near separation. It was also found that a form of the law of the wake provides a good representation of velocity profiles with blowing and could be used as the basis tor an integral method of prediction.
A new approach to an old problem of Erdős and Moser

Let @h"i, i=1,...,n be independent identically distributed Bernoulli random variables, taking values +/-1 with probability 12. Given a multiset V of n elements v"1,...,v"n of an additive group G, we define @r(V) [email protected](V):[email protected]?GP(@h"1v"[email protected]"nv"n=v). An old result of Erdos and Moser asserts that if G=R and the v"i are distinct then @r(V) is O(n^-^3^2logn). This bound was then refined by Sarkozy and Szemeredi to O(n^-^3^2), which is sharp up to a constant factor. The ultimate result is due to Stanley who used tools from algebraic geometry to give a complete description for sets having optimal @r(V); the result has become classic in algebraic combinatorics. In this paper, we will prove that the optimal sets from [email protected]?s work are stable. More importantly, our result gives an almost complete description for sets having large concentration probability.
Isothermal Compressibility of Liquids at Low Pressures

Abstract A simple borosilicate glass compressibility cell was constructed which allowed the measurement of relative volumes of liquids to a precision of ± 0.00002. The relative volumes of water, acetone, n-hexane and neopentane were measured at 25°C at pressures to 70 atm. In addition the relative volumes of n-hexane were measured at 50°C. Isobaric thermal expansion coefficients were measured for acetone and n-hexane in a narrow temperature range near 25°C. The isothermal relative volume data were fitted to theTait equation from which the isothermal compressibilities of the four liquids were computed. The compressibilities were slightly different from the compressibilities calculated from high pressure literature data fits of the Tait equation
Cloning and tissue distribution of two Na+/H+ exchangers from the Malpighian tubules of Aedes aegypti.

A Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) on the apical membrane of mosquito Malpighian tubule (MT) cells likely participates in the female blood-feeding mosquito's necessary secretion ofNa+ and fluid. This study presents the molecular cloning, primary structure, and tissue distribution of two cDNAs encoding Aedes aegypti mosquito Malpighian tubule NHEs. The cDNA sequences were obtained from mosquito MT total RNA using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The two sequences encode proteins of 678 and 1179 amino acids with calculated molecular weights of 74,473 and 130,276 respectively. When comparing the 678 amino acid protein to the Erst 678 amino acids of the other protein, the two clones show 98% identity to each other. They also exhibit high identity to three Drcosophila melanogaster NHEs in addition to many NHEs from other species. Hydropathy analysis reveals that while both clones have the usual 10-13 transmembrane segments, the 1179 amino acid protein has an extensive carboxy terminus while the 678 amino acid protein has an extremely short carboxy terminus. Various regulatory functions have been attributed to the carboxy terminus and thus its truncation is likely to have profound effects. RT-PCR analysis shows that both clones are expressed in the mosquito Malpighian tubules at the larval, pupal, and adult stages. Their expression was also detected in mosquito ovaries, midguts, and hindguts. The amiloride-binding region is a hallmark of a NHE as amiloride and its analogs are potent inhibitors of NaVH^ exchange. The amiloride-binding regions of the Aedes clones are identical to the amiloride-binding regions of three Drosophila NHEs, 80% identical to the human, rat, and rabbit NHE3s, and 60% identical to the human, rat, and rabbit NHE Is. When comparing the complete amino acid sequences, the mosquito clones show the highest identity to the mammalian NHE3 isoforms. The NHE3 isolbrm is generally most predominant in the brush border of the kidney and GI tract. The functions of the mosquito Malpighian tubules are most similar to the functions of the mammalian kidney, as the Malpighian tubules are vital for maintaining the ionic homeostasis of the hemolymph through secretion of fluid and Na^ and K ions ingested in a blood meal. The two mosquito MT NHEs presented here are likely MT apical membrane NHEs that are vital in meeting mosquito MT secretion requirements.
Stellar Occultations by turbulent planetary atmospheres: A wave-optical theory including a finite scale height

Abstract A generalized wave-optical theory of stellar occultations by a turbulent planetary atmosphere is developed. The finite scale height of the atmosphere is retained for the first time. It is found that the finite scale height of the atmosphere affects the scintillations observed during the occultation in a number of ways which are most easily understood in terms of an effective Fresnel scale. We demonstrate the validity of a phase-changing screen approximation for occultation by a turbulent atmosphere in parameter ranges of general interest. Using this approximation various statistical properties of the fluctuating intensity are calculated explicitly. We present expressions for the total scintillation power, correlation function of the intensity, the cross-correlation at two frequencies, and its application to refractivity determinations. All of these expressions are given as a function of occultation depth and of parameters of the mean atmosphere and turbulence.
Accuracy charts for RF measurements

The general factors involved in the estimation of uncertainties in calibration or measurement are reviewed briefly. Twenty-five accuracy charts are presented showing the estimated uncertainties in National Bureau of Standards calibrations of laboratory standards or measuring instruments for electrical and radio-frequency quantities.
Comparative embryology without a microscope: using genomic approaches to understand the evolution of development

Until recently, understanding developmental conservation and change has relied on embryological comparisons and analyses of single genes. Several studies, including one recently published in BMC Biology, have now taken a genomic approach to this classical problem, providing insights into how selection operates differentially across the life cycle.
A Variational Formulation for Love Waves in a Layered Anelastic Solid

Summary A method is presented which allows the variational formulation for elastic surface waves to be extended to the case of dissipative media. With this formulation, correct to second order in the loss, Rayleigh’s principle can be applied to perturbations of the Rayleigh quotient to yield group velocity without numerical differentiation. Other perturbations can be used to find the change in phase or group velocity due to changes in loss, density, or moduli.
Mammalian reservoirs of arenaviruses.

Arenaviruses are negative-stranded RNA viruses that have been isolated from several species of mammals in various parts of the world. With two exceptions, these viruses have all been isolated from rodents of the family Muridae — sensu Musser and Carleton (1993). Tacaribe virus was originally isolated from fruit-eating bats of the genus Artibeus, while Sabia virus has no known wild reservoir. Arenavirus infections in their rodent reservoirs are characterized by persistent shedding of infectious virus in the urine (Johnson 1970).
Remark on Spectral Rigidity for Magnetic Schrödinger Operators

We give a simple proof of Guillemin’s theorem on the determination of the magnetic field on the torus by the spectrum of the corresponding Schrodinger operator.
The influence of insulin use on glycemic control: How well do adults follow prescriptions for insulin?

OBJECTIVE —The purposes of this study were to determine the relationship between insulin self-management and glycemic control and to identify patient characteristics associated with better control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —A Department of Veterans Affairs regional database was used to identify patients with diabetes on chronic insulin therapy ( n = 6,222) with dose defined as number of units and doses. The rate of insulin use during a 2-year period was calculated using pharmacy data. Regression analyses were used 1 ) to predict compliance with prescribed insulin regimens using demographic variables, HbA1c levels, and a measure of diabetes management intensity and 2 ) to predict HbA1c levels using demographic variables and rates of insulin use. RESULTS —Insulin use was 77.44 ± 17% of prescribed amounts, including wastage; HbA1c levels were 7.98 ± 1.66%. Concomitant oral hypoglycemic agent use (84.89 ± 16%) was higher than insulin use ( P < 0.0001) but correlated with insulin use ( r = 0.189, P < 0.0001). Ordinary least-squares regression showed that race, HbA1c levels, and intensity of diabetes management were significant predictors of insulin use. Age, race, and insulin use were significant predictors of HbA1c levels. CONCLUSIONS —Adults prescribed a specific insulin regimen averaged using 77% of prescribed doses, demonstrating good intention to follow the prescription. However, HbA1c higher than the recommended level suggested that the rate of insulin use, the prescribed regimen, or both were inadequate to achieve good glycemic control in patients with long-term insulin use.
Attention and Executive Functions in Adolescents with Spina Bifida

Objective This study was designed to examine attention processes and executive functioning in adolescents with spina bifida, and to explore whether impairment in these domains contributes to problems with social adjustment. Methods A sample of adolescents with spina bifida (n = 68) and a matched comparison group (n = 68) and their families were followed longitudinally. All participants completed questionnaires, and the adolescent participants underwent neurocognitive testing. Results The spina bifida sample showed greater impairment on objective and subjective measures of attention and executive functioning, even when differences in intellectual functioning were controlled. Additionally, attention and executive deficits were found to be predictive of social adjustment difficulties. A mediational analysis suggested the neurocognitive deficits mediate associations between spina bifida status and social adjustment difficulties. Conclusions Adolescents with spina bifida appear to exhibit clear impairment in attention and executive functioning and this impairment may contribute to their well-established social difficulties.
The academic tourist: An autoethnography

The essay argues that academics, similar to tourists, often only manage to get to the surface of any area of inquiry they pursue, in part because of the nature of what constitutes full understanding and in part because of the habits of academic life. Written in an autoethnographic style, the essay offers a sociology of the academy through descriptive details. It invites emotional identification.
Complementary and Integrative Treatments: Managing Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This article familiarizes the otolaryngologist with potential integrative and complementary treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The authors discuss current medical and surgical regimens, and then provide a review of the current literature on integrative and complementary approaches for treatment of this disorder.
Comprehension of pictorial symbols : Effects of context and test method

This research examined two factors involved in the evaluation of pictorial symbol comprehension: context (absence vs. presence of photographs depicting the probable environments where a symbol would be seen) and test method (multiple-choice with less vs. more plausible distractor alternatives vs. open-ended). We tested 33 pictorial symbols from various sources. The results showed that the multiple-choice test with less plausible distractors inflated comprehension scores by an average of 30% compared with the other two tests, which did not differ. The presence of context increased symbol comprehension in the open-ended test and in the multiple-choice test that had more plausible distractors. Extensive preliminary procedures demonstrated the difficulty of forming a multiple-choice test with plausible distractor alternatives. This fact, combined with multiple-choice tests′ low ecological validity in reflecting the real-world task of symbol comprehension, suggests that this test should be avoided in favor of ...
Performance analysis of an uplink power control using truncated channel inversion for data traffic in a cellular CDMA system

Truncated channel inversion is a form of power control that suspends mobile transmission when the wireless channel is in a bad condition. This paper systematically analyzes the performance of this scheme in a cellular CDMA system. We develop a queueing model to describe the stochastic behavior of a mobile's power activity. The system throughput, queueing delay, and power consumption are investigated using the model. Numerical results show that the truncated channel inversion scheme substantially improves throughput and reduces battery power consumption at the cost of extra queueing delay, which mainly depends on how fast the channel condition changes. We find that the truncated scheme works well, even for moderate mobile velocities.
A spectral condition for asymptotic controllability and stabilization at singular points

We present a spectral condition for the exponential stabilization of nonlinear control systems with constrained control range at singular points. The spectral approach in particular allows us to formulate an equivalence result between exponential null controllability and exponential stabilization by means of a discrete feedback law. The key tool used is a discounted optimal control problem for the corresponding projected semilinear system, which also admits a numerical solution.
Anti-Clockwise Rotation of the Wind Hodograph and Its Relation to Thermal Forcing

In a first theoretical study, the reasons for anticlockwise rotation (clockwise rotation in the southern hemisphere) of the wind hodograph in the boundary layer are investigated. As observations of wind hodographs show two kinds of anti-clockwise rotation (ACR, in brevity) one frequently observed, which is highly irregular with partly ACR and the other with clear ACR, two methods have been applied. At first two-dimensional nonlinear model (described by Alpert et al., 1982) including sea-land breeze as well as a mountain reveal at the lee of the mountain partly ACR. By analyzing the different terms in the equation for the wind vector rotation (see Neumann, 1977) it is shown that usually the pressure-gradient term is the leading one and the advection term is very small. But the latter becomes important in case of ACR. Secondly, a linear model is solved analytically showing that inclusion of a rotating heating forcing in the ACR sense generates clear ACR.
Contested Spaces: Abortion Clinics, Women’s Shelters, and Hospitals by Lori A. Brown

Anyone who has seen antiabortion protests outside of clinics or read about new state laws legislating the width of abortion clinic hallways and janitor’s closets would know that space matters to th...
Chancery and the Emergence of Standard Written English in the Fifteenth Century

THERE has been some discussion of late among descriptive linguists and socio-linguists as to the nature of "standard" English, the one tending to deny the existence of a standard, because of variations in the spoken language, and the other arguing that the standard language is an elitist shibboleth erected to perpetuate the authority of the dominant culture.' Neither of these positions recognizes the historical fact that in every society there is a formal, official language in which business is carried on, which is different from the various casual dialects of familiar exchange. The more stable and enduring a society becomes, the more regular become its administrative procedures. Part of the process of regularizing the procedures is the standardizing of the official language in which they are transacted and recorded. The official language thus very early achieves a regular written form.2 Official languages have always been the prerogatives of ruling hierarchies, from Mandarin Chinese to Sanskrit to Classical Latin. The "standard" West Saxon used throughout England in the tenth and eleventh centuries was evidently the product of King Alfred's royal secretariat.3 That this language was different from the spoken Old English dialects may be deduced from the rapidity with which it disappeared as soon as the central administration turned to Latin and French.4 My interest is in the re-emergence of English in the fifteenth century as an administrative language, independent of the spoken dialect of any region or class, and, in the long run, imposing its own structure and idiom upon those who conduct the affairs of the nation. Curiously, the rise of standard written English has never been studied in
Interaction Between Exercise and Leptin in the Treatment of Obesity

Recent data indicate that roughly 32% of the U.S. population is obese and an additional 34% is overweight (1). Considering the physical, psychological, and physiological complications associated with obesity, developing approaches to reduce these numbers is of critical importance. The identification of leptin as a hormonal link between energy stores and the brain inspired a renewed focus on the study of energy balance and contributed to the description of a neuronal network that mediates the metabolic regulation of feeding behavior, reproduction, glucose homeostasis, immune function, bone formation, lipid metabolism, etc. But for all its promise, much of the initial enthusiasm over leptin has waned with the realization that obese individuals respond rather poorly to leptin treatment and manifest a syndrome of leptin resistance. Although leptin may not be the anti-obesity treatment initially hoped for, there may yet be life to the leptin story. Just as progress has been made in defining and overcoming insulin resistance, considerable effort has focused on developing approaches to overcome leptin resistance. In this issue of Diabetes , Shapiro et al. (2) provide evidence that modest exercise synergizes with leptin treatment to markedly reduce body weight in individuals made obese by a high-fat diet, even though neither reduce body weight alone. …
Intramembranous absorption rate is unaffected by changes in amniotic fluid composition

Experiments were performed to determine the effect of amniotic fluid dilution on the rate of intramembranous absorption. Seven fetal sheep at 118 days gestation were instrumented with a shunt betwe...