cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The fall and rise of active chloride transport: Implications for regulation of intraocular pressure

Early study of transepithelial salt transfer focused on Cl− and not Na+, partly because Cl− was readily measureable. The advent of flame photometry and tracer techniques brought Na+ to the fore, especially since short-circuited frog skin (Rana temporaria) produces baseline net movement of Na+ and not of Cl−. Zadunaisky was among the first to describe what is currently termed secondary active Cl− transport, helping stimulate interest in Cl− handling by other tissues, notably the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle important in renal counter-current multiplication. More recently, molecules responsible for electroneutral and electrogenic Cl− transfer have been cloned, and specific diseases resulting from their faulty expression have been identified. The clinical importance of transepithelial Cl− transfer is illustrated by studies of aqueous humor formation by the eye's bilayered ciliary epithelium. NaCl is taken up from the stroma by the pigmented ciliary epithelial (PE) layer, diffuses through gap junctions into the nonpigmented ciliary epithelial (NPE) layer, and is released into the aqueous humor largely through Na+ pumps and Cl− channels. ATP released by NPE cells can be ecto-enzymatically metabolized to adenosine. Adenosine can mediate paracrine/autocrine stimulation of Cl− channels and aqueous humor secretion by occupying A3 adenosine receptors (ARs). A3AR agonists indeed elevate, and A3AR antagonists lower, intraocular pressure (IOP) in wild-type mice. A3AR knockout mice have low IOP and their responses to A3AR agonists and antagonists are blunted; this suggests that reducing Cl−-channel activity with A3AR antagonists may provide a novel approach for treating glaucoma. J. Exp. Zool. 300A:5–13, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell CD38 expression and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression are associated with serum IL-4 levels.

Abstract B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) CD38 expression is variable and may predict outcome. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) expression regulates CLL cell apoptosis. IL-4 and IFN-γ regulate B cell CD38 expression and NOS2 expression. We compared IL-4 and IFN-γ serum levels between CLL patients and normal individuals, and determined whether serum IL-4 and IFN-γ levels correlated with CLL cell CD38 expression and NOS enzyme activity. IL-4 levels, but not IFN-γ levels, differed between normal individuals and CLL patients. Furthermore, there was an association of IL-4 levels, but not IFN-γ levels, with CD38 and NOS2 expression in CLL patients.
Fibroblast chemotaxis after tendon repair

Healing canine flexor tendons were treated with early controlled passive mobilization. The repair site and proximal and distal tendon stumps were stained for fibronectin and examined by light microscopy at three, seven, eleven, and seventeen days. Fibronectin increased dramatically in the epitenon adjacent to the repair site seven days after repair, a time when epitenon cellular activity was at its peak. By seventeen days, fibronectin staining had decreased substantially, both at the repair site and in the tendon stumps. A delayed increase in fibronectin activity was noted in the endotenon adjacent to the repair site. Fibronectin production appears to be an important component of the early tendon repair process. Fibroblast chemotaxis and adherence to the substratum in the days after injury and repair appears to be related directly to fibronectin secretion. This study is the first to provide documentation of fibronectin localization in a clinically relevant tendon repair model.
Optimization of Bias in Thermistor Radiation Detectors. II: Practical Bias Networks

Bridge bias networks with better performance than those of Part I are introduced. Linear equations for bridge null changes caused by ambient temperature and bias voltage variations are presented. They are discussed in relation to direct coupling.
Effect of polylysine on the cytology of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Abstract Studies with fluorescent polylysine have shown that the polylysine binds to the lipoprotein surface of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and does not penetrate the cell membrane to any appreciable extent within 10 min. Following polylysine treatment the mitochondria and nuclei were found near the cytoplasmic membrane. This disorganization may cause the previously observed telophase inhibition and unipolar mitosis caused by polylysine in vivo. Cytoplasmic agglutination of RNA and protein was probably caused by the polyelectrolyte character of the polycation, and chromatin clumping was most likely caused by sulfhydryl-polylysine interaction. The morphological changes resulting from the interaction of polylysine with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells seem identical with those noted following the reaction of these cells with specific antibodies and complement.
Requirements for an automated metering and information system

The unbundling and the liberalisation of the energy markets in Europe force network operators to restructure their internal operational processes and to introduce new technologies and systems to cope with the upcoming requirements. The basic challenge is to increase the efficiency of network operation in all aspects, that means network operation including fault management, network planning, automatisation of customer processes and to define new business opportunities. This article gives some general considerations on how an AMR (Automated Meter Reading) system can be extended to a complete solution in terms of automating all operational processes and build a basis for future applications.
Free-field propagation of localized pulses

Incident transient fields obey homogeneous Maxwell equations and are assumed to be a known input to the integral equations of electromagnetic scattering. These fields can be specified by two solenoidal fields for \overrightarrow{E} and \overrightarrow{B} at the initial time, and they can be computed at other times using the Green function for the scalar wave equation. Equations are derived that are then used in a computer program to do the integrations over the information-collecting sphere. Sample calculations show that a modulated pulse keeps its shape much better than a simple pulse.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the N(O)-heptafluorobutyryl isobutyl esters of the protein amino acids using electron impact ionisation.

Abstract The N(O)-heptafluorobutyryl isobutyl esters of the protein amino acids have been analysed by comined gas chromatography—mass spectrometry using electron impact ionisation. The spectral data have been used to confirm the sturctures of the amino acid derivatives.
Thermoelectrically cooled interband cascade laser for field measurements

The development of interband cascade lasers from concept to packaged devices is briefly reviewed. The application of a single-mode, mid-IR (3.27-µm) interband cascade laser packaged with a thermoelectric cooler for field measurements of methane and water is described.
Individual Water-Soluble Dendrimer-Encapsulated Silver Nanodot Fluorescence

Easily observed on the single molecule level, highly fluorescent and photostable silver nanoclusters have been photochemically prepared within poly(amidoamine) dendrimer hosts in aqueous solutions. The dendrimer cage stabilizes and solubilizes the nanoclusters to yield highly stable, photoactivated single nanodots ranging in size from 2 to 8 silver atoms. These multicolored, highly fluorescent species are extremely photostable and readily observed on the single molecule scale with weak mercury lamp excitation. Such easily created, bright, photoactivated water-soluble fluorophores are likely to greatly expand the impact of single molecule labeling studies in a wide variety of systems.
Two-way translators based on attribute grammar inversion

An attribute grammar is a non-procedural specification of a translation from one language to another. In this paper we consider restrictions on attribute grammars to make them invertible. Given an attribute grammar defining a translation T: L1 → L2 obeying these restrictions, we show how to automatically synthesize the attribute grammar T-1: L2 → L1 describing the inverse translation; i.e., T o T-1 o T = T. This allows for the generation of bi-directional translators from a single description. We provide motivation and demonstrate the practical utility of these concepts by describing the inversion of an attribute grammar used as part of an interface for database users.
Analogies (Adages) as Aids for Comprehending Structural Relations in Text.

Abstract In two experiments, relational metaphors (adages) were used as titles to introduce associated passages. As analogical frames, adages were hypothesized to facilitate learning and retrieval of higher-order systematic information shared by the adage and the text. In Experiment 1, adages clearly facilitated the processing of general ideas and higher-order principles. In Experiment 2, the higher the degree of structural relations embedded in the titles of the passages the greater the degree of recall and accessibility of system-related ideas. As analogical representations, adages facilitated access and retention when they were already available in the schema of the learner and their relation to the text was readily perceived by the learner. The theoretical implications of adages as cognitive organizers in providing scaffolding for relational information of meaningful learning were discussed.
A new optical system for the determination of deformations and strains: Calibration characteristics and experimental results

Many types of optical strain measurement systems have been used for the determination of deformations and strains in soft biological tissues. The purpose of this investigation is to report a new optical strain measurement system developed in our laboratory which offers distinct advantages over systems developed in the past. Our optical strain system has demonstrated excellent performance in calibration and experimental tests. Calibration tests illustrate the system's accuracy to 0.05% strain at 3.52% strain and 0.18% strain at 11.74% strain. Further, this system can measure strains to within 2% measurement error for strains in a 0-11.74% range when 100 microns increments of motion are used for calibration. The resolution of our system appears to be at least as good as the linear micrometer (2 microns) used as a calibrating standard. Errors in strain measurement due to whole specimen rotation or translation are quantified. Rotations about an in-plane axis perpendicular to the direction of strain and translations in/out of the plane of focus result in the largest sources of error. Finally, in an in vitro biomechanical study of the rabbit Achilles tendon, experimental failure strains are 4.3 +/- 0.9% using this system.
Structure of the piriform cortex of the opossum. I. Description of neuron types with Golgi methods.

The piriform cortex was studied in the adult opossum with rapid Golgi and Golgi-Cox techniques. Most pyramidal cells in the deep part of layer II and layer III resemble those in other parts of the cerebral cortex by virtue of a single apical dendritic trunk, multiple basal dendrites, a large number of small to medium dendritic spines, and a deeply directed axon. Pyramidal cells in the superficial part of layer II are similar with the exception that “secondary” apical dendrites often emerge directly from the cell body rather than from a single primary trunk. With conservative criteria for categorization, nine different types of nonpyramidal cells were distinguished, four of which have not been previously described. Layer I contains a small number of neurons with both smooth and spiny dendrites including distinctive fusiform cells with large somatic appendages. As in other species, the most common type of nonpyramidal neuron in layer II is the semilunar cell which has only apically directed dendrites. These cells have distinctive large spines confined to their distal dendritic segments. The mid to deep portion of layer III contains multipolar neurons with smooth dendrites that resemble the well-known large stellate cells in neocortex. In addition, layer III contains three non-pyramidal neuron types with spiny dendrites: (1) fusiform and multipolar cells with complex, branched dendritic appendages and somatic spines, (2) very large multipolar cells (up to 35 μm mean diameter) with large-diameter dendrites that give rise to abruptly tapering side branches and filiform spines, and (3) multipolar cells with profusely spiny dendrites. In all three layers, small neurons have been found with spherical cell bodies and “axoniform” dendrites that resemble the so called neurogliaform neurons described in a variety of brain areas. A striking feature of the organization of the piriform cortex is that, with the exception of the neurogliaform neurons, the different types of nonpyramidal cells tend to be segregated in individual layers or sublayers. Physiological implications of the results are discussed. Remarks are also made concerning the potential of the piriform cortex as a model cortical system.
Absence of consistent diel rhythmicity in mated honey bee queen behavior

Relatively little is known about the temporal control of behavior of honey bee queens under natural conditions. To determine if mated honey bee queens possess diel rhythmicity in behavior, we observed them in glass-sided observation hives, employing two focal studies involving continuous observations of individual queens as well as a scan-sampling study of multiple queens. In all cases, all behaviors were observed at all times of the day and night. In four of the five queens examined in focal studies, there were no consistent occurrences of diel periodicity for any of the individual behaviors. A more encompassing measure for periodicity, in which the behaviors were characterized as active (walking, inspecting, egg-laying, begging for food, feeding, and grooming self) or inactive (standing), also failed to reveal consistent diel rhythmicity. Furthermore, there were no consistent diel differences in the number of workers in the queen's retinue. Behavioral arrhythmicity persisted across seasons and despite daily changes in both light and temperature levels. Both day and night levels of behavioral activity were correlated with daytime, but not with nighttime, ambient temperatures. The behavior of the one exceptional queen was not consistent: diurnal activity patterns were present during two 24-h observation sessions but arrhythmicity during another. Based on the behavior observed by all but one of the queens examined in this work, the arrhythmic behavior by the mated honey bee queen inside the colony appears to be similar to that exhibited by worker bees before they approach the age of onset of foraging behavior.
Pattern classification approach to segmentation of digital chest radiographs and chest CT image slices

The goal of this research was to develop a segmentation method based on a pattern classification approach. The pattern classification approach consists of classifying each pixel into one of several anatomic classes on the basis of one or more feature values. In this research, three types of locally calculated features are used: gray-level based measures, local difference measures and local texture measures. A feature selection process is performed to determine which features best discriminate between the anatomic classes. Three classifiers are used: a linear discriminant function, a k-nearest neighbor approach and a neural network. Supervised techniques train each classifier to learn the characterstics of the anatomic classes. Each classifier is trained and tested using normal images. The pattern classification approach to image segmentation has shown promise for further development. Locally calculated features are important in classifying pixels, but these alone may not be sufficient. A method for incorporating spatial information into the classification decision appears to improve the results and may be necessary for reliable segmentation. This research also shows that the pattern classification approach may be applied to images from different modalities.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Ceramic Sample Heater for Variable Temperature Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract A combination sample holder/heater that can be used for variable temperature infrared spectroscopic studies of solids is described. The ceramic sample holder/heater is durable and can be used to heat samples to temperatures as high as 1000 C under vacuum or in inert, reductive, or oxidative atmospheres. The design and properties of the ceramic heater are described and compared to those for a stainless steel sample holder containing a cartridge heater. Results from variable temperature infrared analysis of a sulfated zirconia solid acid catalyst obtained by using the ceramic heater are presented to illustrate the advantages of this sample holder/heater design. Manuscript 1057
A first principles study of water adsorption on α-Pu (0 2 0) surface

Abstract Adsorptions of water in molecular (H 2 O) and dissociative (OH + H, H + O + H) configurations on the α -Pu (0 2 0) surface have been studied using ab initio methods. The full-potential FP/LAPW + lo method has been used to calculate the adsorption energies at the scalar relativistic with no spin–orbit coupling (NSOC) and fully relativistic with spin–orbit coupling (SOC) theoretical levels. It is found that the SOC effect increases the adsorption energies by ∼0.30 eV for the two dissociative adsorptions. Weak physisorptions have been observed for the molecule H 2 O on the α -Pu (0 2 0) surface with primarily a covalent bonding, while the two dissociative adsorptions are chemisorptive with ionic bonding. The one-fold top site with an almost flat-lying orientation is found to be the most stable site for the adsorbed H 2 O molecule. At the SOC level, the most stable adsorption energy is 0.58 eV, the corresponding values being 5.44 eV and 5.73 eV for the partial dissociation and complete dissociation cases, respectively. The analysis of the local projected density of states shows that the surface Pu-5 f electrons remain primarily chemically inert in the molecular water adsorption process. Completely dissociative adsorption at a long bridge site for the dissociated O atom and two short bridge sites for the two dissociated H atoms is the most stable adsorption site. Hybridizations of O(2p)–H(1s)–Pu(5 f )–Pu(6d) are observed for the two dissociative adsorptions, implying that some of the Pu-5 f electrons become further delocalized and participate in chemical bonding. Work functions decrease for the molecular and the partial adsorption processes while it increases for complete dissociation.
Quantification of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 proviral load by quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been established as a highly sensitive technique for detection of viral DNA or RNA. However, due to inherent limitations of PCR the amount of amplified product often does not correlate with the initial amount of template DNA. This is particularly true for PCR detection of viral infections that are characterized by low in vivo viral copy numbers in certain stages of the infection, such as human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (STLV-1). Therefore, we developed a quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (qcPCR) for detection of HTLV-1 and STLV-1 proviral DNA. The assay was optimized using an infectious HTLV-1 clone, ACH, HTLV-1 infected cell lines, MT-2.6 and HUT-102 and STLV-1 infected lines Kia and Matsu. Applicability of this system was demonstrated by determining HTLV-1 proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of human subjects with HTLV-1 associated diseases and an asymptomatic carrier as well as rabbits infected experimentally. This qcPCR method, the first designed specifically for HTLV-1 and STLV-1, will provide an important tool for pathogenesis studies of HTLV-1 and for evaluating the efficacy of antiviral drugs and vaccines against the viral infection using animal models.
Individual, organizational and contextual antecedents of perceived conflict among administrators in mental health service delivery systems

Prior exploratory investigation indicates a weak association between conflict and the effectiveness of mental health service delivery systems (MHSS) and suggests the need for a clearer articulation of the nature and causes of conflict in that context. As part of a wider investigation of MHSS effectiveness, this paper separates the effects of individual, organizational, and contextual variables on perceptions of conflict among directors of mental health service organizations. We employ ordinary least squares regression analysis on data collected from a survey of directors of mental health care service organizations in eight counties in the northwest United States to examine the relationship between the previously mentioned measures. Several independent variables seemed to account for some observed variation in perceived conflict: (1) individual attributes (ascriptive [sex, race, age] and achieved [level of education, tenure in job, board memberships]); (2) organizational and interorganizational characteristics (age and size of organization, centrality [in influence networks and patient referral networks], frequency of services provided, relevance of services provided, degree of inclusion, and amount of activity devoted to interorganizational cooperation, contact and client referral); and, (3) contextual factors (urban/rural location) Perceived conflict is observed as
Nature of oestrogen specific binding sites in the nuclei of mouse uteri.

IT is widely accepted that the rodent uterus when exposed to oestradiol-17β either in vivo or in vitro interacts with a specific receptor molecule and that this interaction does not involve a chemical transformation of the steroid1,2. Initially, the hormone binds to a protein in the cytoplasm to yield an oestradiol-receptor complex sedimenting in the region of 8S on sucrose gradients3,4. Then, by a temperature dependent process, the bound hormone is transferred to the nucleus where it becomes associated with the chromatin fraction5,6. Therefore, at least one function of oestrogen seems to be to activate the specific cytoplasmic uterine receptor to enter the nucleus and the nature of this nuclear binding is important in elucidating the mechanism of oestrogen action on a molecular basis.
Sacral insufficiency fractures after preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer: incidence, risk factors, and clinical course.

Purpose Sacral insufficiency (SI) fractures can occur as a late side effect of pelvic radiation therapy. Our goal was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and clinical course of SI fractures in patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer. Materials and Methods Between 1989 and 2004, 562 patients with non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma were treated with preoperative chemoradiation followed by mesorectal excision. The median radiotherapy dose was 45 Gy. The hospital records and radiology reports of these patients were reviewed to identify those with pelvic fractures. Radiology images of patients with pelvic fractures were then reviewed to identify those with SI fractures. Results Among the 562 patients, 15 had SI fractures. The 3-year actuarial rate of SI fractures was 3.1%. The median time to SI fractures was 17 months (range, 2–34 months). The risk of SI fractures was significantly higher in women compared to men (5.8% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.014), and in whites compared with non-whites (4% vs. 0%, p = 0.037). On multivariate analysis, gender independently predicted for the risk of SI fractures (hazard ratio, 3.25; p = 0.031). Documentation about the presence or absence of pain was available for 13 patients; of these 7 (54%) had symptoms requiring pain medications. The median duration of pain was 22 months. No patient required hospitalization or invasive intervention for pain control. Conclusions SI fractures were uncommon in patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer. The risk of SI fractures was significantly higher in women. Most cases of SI fractures can be managed conservatively with pain medications.
Energy-efficient best-select relaying in wireless cooperative networks

Due to the exponentially-increasing energy cosnumption of wireless mobile networks [1], energy efficiency has become an important metric in designing these networks. In this paper, we present an analysis of the energy efficiency of best-select relaying, where a single best relay is chosen to relay the source message, and compare its performance with direct communication. To improve the energy efficiency further, the optimal constellation size and transmission bandwidth are studied; we show that significant performance gain is possible compared to a direct communication scheme.
Effects of laser fluence on near-field surface nanostructuring

In this work, molecular dynamics simulation is performed to explore the long-time (up to 5 ns) behavior of argon crystal in surface nanostructuring with an extremely localized near-field laser beam. The surface nanostructuring region is limited to tens of nanometers in diameter, although the simulated systems are much larger (comprised of more than 770,000 atoms). This study focuses on the long-time solidification and crystallization procedure, which is driven by the heat conduction in the material. The effect of the computational domain on the final nanostructure is studied in detail. Different laser fluences are used in the simulation to explore how and to what extent the energy input affects the dynamic melting behavior and the final dimension and profile of the surface nanostructure. In-depth theoretical investigation gives satisfactory explanation of the effect of the laser fluence on the melting depth. Spot-like structural defects in the sub-surface region are observed and investigated until full solidification.
Black-white differences in the economic value of improving health

This article examines how differences in longevity over time and across groups add to the typical measures of economic progress and intergroup differentials. We focus on gains for and differences between groups defined both by race (black and white) and by gender, relying on willingness to pay as our measure of the economic value of gains in longevity. Measured at birth, the gains for white males between 1968 and 1998 were about $245,000 per person, while the gains for black males were far larger, about $390,000 per person. The gains for women were somewhat smaller, with white females gaining about $150,000 per person and black females gaining about $305,000 per person. Our estimates suggest that differences in income explain about 1/3 to 1/2 of the current black-white gap in longevity.
Chromatin reorganization during emergence of malignant Friend tumors: early changes in H2A and H2B variants and nucleosome repeat length

Serial examination of five newly derived Friend murine tumors during early subcutaneous passages showed continuing changes in chromatin composition and structure over the first 10 to 20 passages followed by a period of stabilization over the subsequent 20 passages. These changes were reflected in a decrease in two major histone variants, H2A.1 and H2B.2, with a coordinate increase in histone variants, H2A.2 and H2B.1, and a changing nucleosome repeat length (NRL). The absolute values differed among the five tumors, but all five showed the same general direction of change. There was no obvious relationship among the NRL, H2A, and H2B histone variant values. A low H2A.1/H2A.2 ratio was found in Friend tumors of high malignant potential. Cell lines derived in vitro also showed directional changes in the H2A and H2B variants similar to those of their tumor cell parents, but with different kinetics. Our findings suggest that Friend tumor establishment is accompanied by an early period of chromatin reorganization marked by changes in several parameters of chromatin structure.
Pricing insurance with costly information

It is well known that a risk averse individual, who purchases actuarially fair insurance, will choose full coverage and exercise optimal care. 1 Under such conditions, the problem of moral hazard does not arise. Unfortunately, this result explains little about behavior in actual insurance markets. Insurance companies, in competitive markets, cannot charge actuarially fair premiums because they incur operating costs, in addition to expected loss payout, that must be covered. Premium loading, necessary to cover total costs, poses a dilemma. If insureds purchase full coverage, in the face of premium loading, moral hazard becomes a problem. If, on the other hand, insureds opt for partial coverage, moral hazard is mitigated, but there is a loss of the social benefits of complete risk spreading. Focusing on the inability of insurers to observe fully the level of care exercised by insureds, Holmstr6m [1979] and Shavell [1979] show, under certain restrictive assumptions, that an insurance policy with premium loading and a deductible can offset moral hazard. 2 Yet as Shavell [1979, pp. 549-50] explicitly recognizes, such policies are not Pareto-optimal because they sacrifice complete risk spreading (full coverage). The key factor is information about insureds' care. If complete information about the level of care exercised by insureds is impossible to obtain, then a second-best solution results. If, however,
Recurrent injury of diabetic mice significantly delays wound closure and recapitulates the dysregulated inflammatory state seen in chronic diabetic wounds

Recurrent injury of diabetic mice significantly delays wound closure and recapitulates the dysregulated inflammatory state seen in chronic diabetic wounds Robert C Caskey, MD, MS, Wanda A Dorsett-Martin, DVM, Junwang Xu, PhD, Liping Zhang, MS, Wenjie Wu, BA, Michael W Morris, MD, Myron Allukian, MD, Marc E Mitchell, MD, FACS, Kenneth W Liechty, MD, FACS University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Orlando, FL
Specialization of Rabbit Reticulocyte Transfer RNA Content for Hemoglobin Synthesis

The amount of acceptance of each amino acid per absorbancy unit of rabbit reticulocyte transfer RNA was determined. The results were compared with the amino acid composition of rabbit hemoglobin and with a similar determination of the transfer RNA content of rabbit liver. The histidine and isoleucine transfer RNA content of reticulocytes is specialized for the synthesis of hemoglobin, in which histidine is unusually common and isoleucine unusually scarce compared to most proteins.
McNaughton and Rawling on the Agent-relative/Agent-neutral Distinction

In this paper, I criticize David McNaughton and Piers Rawling's formalization of the agent-relative/agent-neutral distinction. I argue that their formalization is unable to accommodate an important ethical distinction between two types of conditional obligations. I then suggest a way of revising their formalization so as to fix the problem.
GDP: No one metric can rule them all

The authors tell a common story of too much reliance on a single metric and too little attention to its shortcomings as it shapes our world view and influences behaviour. For instance, current US political discussion is heavily focused on a 'jobs' metric, which also conveys an incomplete, and often misleading, message. As with GDP, this metric does not distinguish between activities that help or hurt well-being, and it does not offer much insight into social health and sustainability.
Novel 16-minute technique for evaluating melanoma resection margins during Mohs surgery

Background Immunohistochemistry (IHC) applied to Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is time consuming and labor intensive, and the variability of staining quality has prevented its widespread use in clinical practice. Objective To investigate the readability of immunostains processed by a novel automated 16-minute technique used for evaluation of frozen sections prepared during MMS for melanoma. Methods A rapid automated instrument that performs MART-1 (melanoma antigen recognized by T cells) immunostains in 16 minutes was used to stain frozen sections and was compared with MART-1 stains of paraffin (permanent) sections, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) stains of frozen and permanent sections from the positive or negative control specimens of the Mohs layers for melanoma. A total of 480 interpretations from 48 sections (4 types of stains for each specimen, 12 specimens read by 10 interpreters) were analyzed via blinded examination by 5 dermatopathologists and 5 Mohs surgeons at two institutions. A scoring system was used to assess the readability of each slide. Analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results In terms of clarity of interpreting melanoma sections, the 16-minute MART-1 IHC of frozen sections is equivalent to the standard MART-1 of permanent sections. The 16-minute MART-1 sections are also significantly easier to interpret than permanent sections stained with H&E for both the dermatopathologists and Mohs surgeons ( P Limitations The study represents data collected from only two institutions in the United States. Conclusion The rapid-stained frozen IHC sections are significantly easier to interpret than the "gold standard" permanent sections stained with H&E. This technology facilitates the rapid interpretation of melanoma in frozen sections.
Developing Superplastic Ductilities in Ultrafine-Grained Metals

Conventional superplasticity is generally achieved in metals having grain sizes in the range of ∼2 to 5 μm, but processing by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) provides the opportunity of introducing exceptional grain refinement and producing materials with ultrafine grain sizes in the submicrometer range. These materials have the potential for exhibiting excellent superplastic properties when tested in tension at elevated temperatures and examples are presented for representative aluminum and magnesium alloys. When these ultrafine-grained materials deform in superplasticity, internal cavities develop as in conventional superplastic alloys. An example is presented for an aluminum-based alloy, and it is shown that the cavity growth processes are also similar to those in conventional alloys.
Making Field-Based Programs Work: A Three-Level Approach to Reading Education

Hollingsworth reports the design, im plementation, and outcomes of a combi nation methods course and field experi ence for preservice reading teachers. The program was created to involve cooperating teachers in a collaborative manner, to assist elementary children with reading problems, and to increase both cooperating and student teachers' knowledge of reading instruction. Re sults indicated that the design facilitated knowledge growth for all three groups. Implications for teacher education are discussed.
Feedforward networks with hierarchical structure and local learning

A specialized multilayer perceptron architecture called the adaptive neighborhood network is presented. Geometric and statistical information about pattern distributions replace traditional heuristics for network structure and initialization. As a result, adaptive neighborhood networks train quickly and simply, and perform well in certain classification applications.
The effects of bisulfite on growth and macromolecular synthesis in Escherichia coli

Bisulfite reversibly inhibits the growth of a variety of microorganisms and has been used as a preservative in foods and beverages for that reason. We have now measured macromolecule synthesis in Escherichia coli K12 after bisulfite treatment. RNA synthesis, the synthesis of total protein, and of an inducible enzyme, beta-galactosidase, stopped almost immediately upon addition of 2 mM (or higher concentrations) of bisulfite. These functions resumed after a lag whose duration depended on the concentration of bisulfite added. The synthesis of DNA was slowed upon bisulfite addition, but did not stop entirely. The inhibition of RNA synthesis by bisulfite took place in both stringent and relaxed strains of E. coli and was not relieved upon addition of chloramphenicol. Stringent control was therefore not involved in this effect. No effect on protein synthesis was observed in the cell-free system of E. coli (using poly(U) or MS2 RNA as messenger) at bisulfite concentrations up to 10 mM. Protein synthesis inhibition in vivo was apparently not due to a reaction of bisulfite with a component of this system. In additional experiments, RNA polymerase was not impaired by bisulfite, and the growth inhibition effect was shown to proceed in the presence of inhibitors of free radical chain reactions.
Theory of Quantum Crystals. III. Differential Equation for the Correlation Function

A differential equation for the short-range correlation function in quantum crystals is studied. The equation is derived within the context of a variational calculation using cluster-expansion techniques. The equation is solved by assuming an appropriate long-range behavior and fitting this to the numerical solution. The main results are that the energy is lowered by about 2 cal/mole and the exchange integral is increased by a factor of approximately 4 relative to previous results. Other quantities (pressure, compressibility, sound velocities, etc.) are essentially unchanged.
Pharmacological effects produced by intracerebral injection of drugs in the conscious mouse

A method has been described for the study of the central effects produced by the intracerebral injection of drugs in the unanaesthetized mouse. The effects observed were in good agreement with those obtained after similar injections in cats, dogs and human beings. After intracerebral injection, drugs of diverse structure produced certain generalized effects: changes in positioning of the tail, stupor, hyperexcitability and tachypnoea. Both acetylcholine and methacholine produced an akinetic seizure and depression, but the latter compound also caused lacrimation and salivation. Atropine produced piloerection, increased sensitivity to sound and touch, clonic convulsions and scratching, whereas hexamethonium caused Parkinsonian-like muscle tremors and peripheral vasodilatation. After adrenaline, hyperexcitability, exophthalmos, stupor and death from pulmonary oedema were observed, but (+)-methylamphetamine produced only piloerection and exaggerated activity in response to sound and touch. Ergotamine caused a decreased sensitivity to sound and touch, micturition, and stupor, while ergometrine caused clonic convulsions, piloerection, defaecation and stupor.
The effect of E. coli L-asparaginase on oral glucose tolerance and insulin release in man

To study the effect of E. Coli L-asparaginase on glucose tolerance and insulin release, 6 patients with neoplastic disease were subjected to 3 hour oral glucose tolerance tests with simultaneous measurement of serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels before and following the intravenous administration of 5000 I. U. L-asparaginase/day for 4 days. Five of the patients exhibited a significant deterioration in glucose tolerance; however, no change was noted in their fasting glucose and IRI levels. The deterioration in glucose tolerance was associated with a decrease in the amount of insulin secreted in the first 30 minutes after the oral glucose load. The total amount of insulin released during the 3 hour test remained unchanged. These studies suggest that L-asparaginase can cause a deterioration of glucose tolerance without accompanying fasting hyperglycaemia. This may be due, in part, to a decrease in glucose-induced insulin release during the first thirty minutes following oral glucose.
Rabies and rabies research: past, present and future

Rabies is probably the oldest recorded infection of mankind. The development of the first rabies vaccine by Pasteur surely had been hoped to eliminate or at least drastically reduce its incidence. However, this goal has not been achieved because rabies is maintained in many animal reservoirs, including both domestic and wild. There are still many aspects of the pathogenicity of rabies that are unknown. For example, we have no explanation for the long incubation period (up to 6 years). Furthermore, new patterns of rabies infection present a problem for epidemiologists and virologists alike. There are several cases of human rabies in which there was no history of a bite. Despite these continuing problems, there has been tremendous progress in the control of rabies. Cheap and safe vaccines for animals as well as humans have been developed. Oral vaccination of wildlife with recombinant rabies virus vaccines is beginning to reduce the incidence of rabies among foxes and raccoons. Vaccination of stray dogs could lead to the eradication of rabies in countries where dog rabies is the sole source of human exposure.
Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seep communities. V. Biofacies and shell orientation of autochthonous shell beds below storm wave base

Clam and mussel assemblages associated with petroleum seepage on the Louisiana continental slope form the only substantial shell accumulations below storm wave base on the northwestern Gulf of Mexico shelf and slope. Four distinct biofacies are present at the seeps, dominated respectively by mussels, lucinid clams, vesicomyid clams and tubeworms. Each primary seep site is typically composed of a series of not necessarily contiguous, autochthonous beds dominated by one biofacies. Mussels and tubeworms often co-occur, but neither normally co-occur with lucinid or vesicomyid clams. Lucinid and vesicomyid clam beds have the best chance of preservation. Despite essentially undisturbed accumulation in quiet water below storm wave base, concavity ratios rarely differ from 1:1 and frequency of articulation may be low. Dominantly concave-up valves previously reported in quiet water may result from man's fishing activities. Significant variability in shell orientation, frequency of articulation and concavity ratio between adjacent samples indicates that many individual stratigraphically-equivalent samples should be used in any taphofacies analysis of assemblages formed in low-energy environments. Lucinid beds which form below the sediment surface and vesicomyid beds which form on the sediment surface differed significantly in shell orientation and articulation frequency. Assemblages forming below storm wave base in low-energy environmentsmore » may comprise a wide variety of taphofacies depending upon whether formation occurs primarily beneath the sediment surface or on the sediment surface, despite contemporaneous formation under similar environmental conditions.« less
Bmp2 Is Required for Odontoblast Differentiation and Pulp Vasculogenesis

Using the Bmp2 floxed/3.6Col1a1-Cre (Bmp2-cKOod) mouse model, we have observed severe defects in odontogenesis and dentin formation with the removal of the Bmp2 gene in early-polarizing odontoblasts. The odontoblasts in the Bmp2-cKOod do not mature properly and fail to form proper dentin with normal dentinal tubules and activate terminal differentiation, as reflected by decreased Osterix, Col1a1, and Dspp expression. There is less dentin, and the dentin is hypomineralized and patchy. We also describe an indirect effect of the Bmp2 gene in odontoblasts on formation of the vascular bed and associated pericytes in the pulp. This vascular niche and numbers of CD146+ pericytes are likely controlled by odontogenic and Bmp2-dependent VegfA production in odontoblasts. The complex roles of Bmp2, postulated to be both direct and indirect, lead to permanent defects in the teeth throughout life, and result in teeth with low quantities of dentin and dentin of poor quality.
Demonstration of Rib waveguide based 1×12 multimode interference optical beam splitter on silicon-on-insulator

We present a compact silicon nanomembrane based 1×12 multimode interference coupler (MMI) fabricated on Silicon On Insulator (SOI) that exhibits low loss and high uniformity at 1550nm wavelength.
Collaboration environment for ITIL

This paper describes a knowledge-based collaboration environment for ITIL [1] which is aimed at making work of IT consultants dealing with planning, designing and implementing ITIL processes easier. The collaboration environment organizes work of consultants around built-in ITIL concepts and allows them to map and refine concepts for a particular customer engagement.
Transport interactions between cadmium and zinc in roots of bread and durum wheat seedlings.

Field studies have shown that the addition of Zn to Cd-containing soils can help reduce accumulation of Cd in crop plants. To understand the mechanisms involved, this study used 109 Cd and 65 Zn to examine the transport interactions of Zn and Cd at the root cell plasma membrane of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum). Results showed that Cd 2+ uptake was inhibited by Zn 2+ and Zn 2+ uptake was inhibited by Cd 2+ . Concentration-dependent uptake of both Cd 2+ and Zn 2+ consisted of a combination of linear binding by cell walls and saturable, Michaelis-Menten influx across the plasma membrane. Saturable influx data from experiments with and without 10 μm concentrations of the corresponding inhibiting ion were converted to double reciprocal plots. The results revealed a competitive interaction between Cd 2+ and Zn 2+ , confirming that Cd 2+ and Zn 2+ share a common transport system at the root cell plasma membrane in both bread and durum wheat. The study suggests that breeding or agronomic strategies that aim to decrease Cd uptake or increase Zn uptake must take into account the potential accompanying change in transport of the competing ion.
ESKIMO: E nergy savings using S emantic K nowledge of I nconsequential M emory O ccupancy for DRAM subsystem

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) is used as the bulk of the main memory in most computing systems and its energy and power consumption has become a first-class design consideration for modern systems. We propose ESKIMO, a scheme where when the program or operating systems memory manager allocates or frees up a memory region, this information is used by the architecture to optimize the working of the DRAM system, particularly to save energy and power. In this work we attempt to have the architecture work hand in hand with information about allocated and freed space provided by the program. We discuss multiple ways to use this information to reduce the energy and power consumption of the memory and present results of this optimization. We evaluate the energy and power benefits of our technique using a publicly available, hardware-validated, DRAM simulator, DRAMsim [1]. Our current studies show very promising results with energy savings on average of 39%.
The Causal and Unification Approaches to Explanation Unified—Causally

Two major modern accounts of explanation are the causal and the unification accounts. My aim in this paper is to provide a kind of unification of the two, by using the central technical apparatus of the unification account to solve a central problem faced by the causal account, namely, the problem of determining which parts of a causal network are explanatorily relevant to the occurrence of an explanandum. The result is a causal account of explanation that has many of the advantages of the unification account.
TRMM rainfall algorithm development

This paper categorizes the algorithms which are being developed for the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The discussion includes algorithms which utilize the active and passive microwave sensors as well as the combination of all rain sensors on TRMM and beyond to an algorithm which considers the TRMM satellite in conjunction with other satellites. The rapid development of algorithms coupled with the limited resources of the data system, however, impose certain limitations upon the type and number of algorithms which will be applied to the data early in the mission. >