cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A randomized crossover trial of a wedged insole for treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Objective In uncontrolled studies, a lateral-wedge insole has reduced knee pain in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of this simple, low-cost intervention for pain in patients with medial knee OA. Methods We conducted a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial designed to detect a small effect of treatment. Participants were at least 50 years of age and had medial joint space narrowing on posteroanterior semiflexed radiographs and scores indicating moderate pain for 2 of the 5 items on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scale. Participants were randomized to receive a 5° lateral-wedge insole or a neutral insole for 6 weeks. Following a 4-week washout period, participants crossed over to the other treatment for 6 weeks. Knee pain, the primary outcome, was assessed by the WOMAC pain scale (visual analog scale version). Secondary outcomes included the WOMAC disability subscale, overall knee pain, 50-feet walk time, chair-stand time, and use of medications for knee pain. Results Ninety patients were randomized. The mean difference in pain between the 2 treatments was 13.8 points on the WOMAC pain scale (95% confidence interval −3.9, 31.4 [P = 0.13]). We observed similar small effects for the secondary outcomes. Conclusion The effect of treatment with a lateral-wedge insole for knee OA was neither statistically significant nor clinically important.
Replication of Pricing Effects on Brand Choice Behaviour

Present data suggest that planned price increases should be carried out gradually in small systematic increments. However, an identical approach would not seem necessary for price reductions. This is the third in a series of related experiments on brand choice behaviour, the major interest of which lies in the effects of introducing and withdrawing a price increase/reduction over a protracted period. The effects of each price change are assessed through the use of an interrupted multiple time‐series design with an equivalent no‐treatment control group. Various extensions to previous research are offered, and it is found that the effects of reduction extend beyond the promotional period. Price increases appear to have an effect on penetration only, but a stronger effect is measured than for a decrease.
Posttransplant biliary complications in the pre- and post-model for end-stage liver disease era

Biliary complications remain a cause of morbidity after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in clinical practice in the era of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) has affected biliary complications after liver transplantation. We retrospectively reviewed all deceased donor liver transplants at a single center. Patients were categorized as pre- or post-MELD (transplant before or after February 28, 2002). A total of 1798 recipients underwent deceased donor liver transplants. Biliary stricture was more common in the post-MELD era (15.4% versus 6.4%, P < 0.001). The strongest risk factors for stricture development were donor age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.01), presence of a prior bile leak (OR = 2.24), use of choledochocholedochostomy (OR = 2.22), and the post-MELD era (OR = 2.30). Bile leak was more common in the pre-MELD era (7.5% versus 4.9%, P = 0.02), with use of a T-tube as the strongest risk factor (OR = 3.38). Surgical factors did not influence the biliary complication rate. In conclusion, even when employing multivariate analysis to allow for factors that may influence biliary strictures, transplant in the post-MELD era was an independent predictor for stricture development. Further studies are warranted to determine the etiology of this increase. Liver Transpl, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
FUNCTION OF N-ACETYL ASPARTIC ACID IN THE BRAIN: EFFECTS OF CERTAIN DRUGS.

N-ACETYL-L-ASPARTIC acid (NAA) was discovered by Tallan et al. in 1956 and shown to be unique in its restricted localization to the brain of vertebrate species and in its very high concentration in that organ1. Occurring at a level of approximately 1 mg/g of brain, NAA is second only to glutamic acid in the level of free amino-acids in this tissue. Numerous attempts, using a variety of drugs and experimental procedures, to change the concentration of NAA in the brain have met with little success. Thus, electric shock, insulin shock, ammonia intoxication, and the administration to animals of tranquillizers, central nervous system depressants or convulsants, all failed to alter significantly the concentration of NAA in the brain2–4.
Scale-invariant image watermarking via optimization algorithms for quantizing randomized statistics

We introduce a novel approach for blind and semi-blind watermarking and apply it to images. We derive randomized robust semi-global features of images in a suitable transform domain (wavelets in case of images) and quantize them in order to embed the watermark. Quantization is carried out by embedding to the host a computed sequence via solving an optimization problem whose parameters are known to the information hider, but unknown to the attacker. The image features are rationa statistics of pseudo-random regions; these statistics are by construction invariant against scaling attacks and approximately invariant against several contrast enhancement modifications (such as histogram equalization). This scheme can be seen as an improved version of our previous image watermarking algorithm [1].
Ibuprofen vs acetaminophen vs their combination in the relief of musculoskeletal pain in the ED: a randomized, controlled trial

Non-opioid analgesics are often administered to emergency department (ED) patients with musculoskeletal pain but if inadequate, opioids are given with associated potential adverse events. We tested the hypothesis that the reduction in pain scores with the combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen would be at least 15 mm greater than with either of the agents alone. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of adult ED patients with acute musculoskeletal pain. Patients were randomized to oral ibuprofen 800 mg, acetaminophen 1 g, or their combination. Pain scores across the groups were compared with repeated measures analysis of variance at 20, 40, and 60 minutes. A sample of 30 patients in each group had 80% power to detect a 15 mm difference in pain scores across the groups (α = .05). Thirty patients were randomized to each study group. Mean (SD) age was 36 (15), 54% were male, 73% were white, and 13% were Hispanic. Groups were well balanced in baseline characteristics including initial pain scores (59, 61, and 62 for ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and their combination). Pain decreased over the one hour study period for all groups (P < .001) with mean (SD) scores about 20 mm lower on the Visual Analogue Scale than the mean initial score. However, there was no significant difference among treatments (P = .59). The need for rescue analgesics was similar across groups. We conclude that the combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen did not reduce pain scores or the need for rescue analgesics compared with either agent alone in ED patients with pain secondary to acute musculoskeletal injuries.
Positron Annihilation in Superconducting Lead

The angular correlation of photons has been measured for positrons annihilating in normal and superconducting lead. Any effect on the Fermi surface due to superconductivity was, as expected, too small to be observed.
Special session on “3D chips: Challenges and opportunities”

Encouraged by the significant recent progress of 3D integration technologies, 3D integration has become a spotlight of global semiconductor industry. This certainly provides a new spectrum of opportunities and challenges for system designers and warrants significant rethinking and innovations from system design perspectives. This special session aims to showcase recent research on 3D integrated systems design. It contains four papers: one paper provides an overview of 3D IC design and the associated CAD issues, one paper investigates the use of 3D memory stacking to improve digital signal processor (DSP) performance, one paper presents a 3D on-chip network design strategy with real silicon demonstration, and one paper presents a 3D-enabled resource sharing strategy for improving microprocessor system performance. It is our hope that this diverse special session will encourage much more future research efforts along this important and promising research direction.
Fluid Phase Equilibria and critical phenomena for the dodecane-water and squalane-water systems at elevated temperatures and pressures

Abstract Stevenson, R.L., LaBracio, D.S., Beaton, T.A. and Thies, M.C., 1994. Fluid Phase Equilibria and critical phenomena for the dodecane-water and squalane-water systems at elevated temperatures and pressures. Fluid Phase Equilibria 93; 317-336. Vapor-liquid and liquid-liquid equilibrium compositions and critical points were measured for the dodecane-water and squalane-water systems at temperatures from 600 to 660 K and pressures up to 310 bar. A continuous-flow apparatus was used for these high-temperature measurements to minimize thermal decomposition of the hydrocarbons of interest. Both systems were found to exhibit Type III phase behavior with the critical curve that starts from the critical point of water passing through both temperature and pressure minima before extending to higher pressures. A limited number of liquid-liquid equilibrium compositions are also reported for the benzene-water system at temperatures from 472 to 523 K.
Phosphorylation of the cytoskeletal protein CAP1 controls its association with cofilin and actin

Cell signaling can control the dynamic balance between filamentous and monomeric actin by modulating actin regulatory proteins. One family of actin regulating proteins that controls actin dynamics comprises cyclase-associated proteins 1 and 2 (CAP1 and 2, respectively). However, cell signals that regulate CAPs remained unknown. We mapped phosphorylation sites on mouse CAP1 and found S307 and S309 to be regulatory sites. We further identified glycogen synthase kinase 3 as a kinase phosphorylating S309. The phosphomimetic mutant S307D/S309D lost binding to its partner cofilin and, when expressed in cells, caused accumulation of actin stress fibers similar to that in cells with reduced CAP expression. In contrast, the non-phosphorylatable S307A/S309A mutant showed drastically increased cofilin binding and reduced binding to actin. These results suggest that the phosphorylation serves to facilitate release of cofilin for a subsequent cycle of actin filament severing. Moreover, our results suggest that S307 and S309 function in tandem; neither the alterations in binding cofilin and/or actin, nor the defects in rescuing the phenotype of the enlarged cell size in CAP1 knockdown cells was observed in point mutants of either S307 or S309. In summary, we identify a novel regulatory mechanism of CAP1 through phosphorylation.
Testing lattice conditional independence models

Abstract The lattice conditional independence (LCI) model N( K ) is defined to be the set of all normal distributions N(0, Σ) on R I such that for every pair L, M ∈ K , xL and xM are conditionally independent given xL ∩ M. Here K is a ring of subsets (hence a distributive lattice) of the finite index set I such that ∅ I ∈ K , while for K ∈ K , xK is the coordinate projection of x ∈ R I onto R K. These LCI models have especially tractable statistical properties and arise naturally in the analysis of non-monotone multivariate missing data patterns and non-nested dependent linear regression models ≡ seemingly unrelated regressions. The present paper treats the problem of testing one LCI model against another, i.e., testing N( K ) vs N( M ) when M is a subring of K . The likelihood ratio test statistic is derived, together with its central distribution, and several examples are presented.
Rho kinase inhibitors for treatment of glaucoma.

Affecting 60 million patients, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Despite the availability of multiple medical and surgical treatments with effective intraocular pressure lowering, many patients still progress to become visually handicapped from glaucoma due to therapeutic failure. There is therefore a great need for novel therapies to improve the standard of care, and Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors represent a promising new class of drugs for treatment of glaucoma. ROCK inhibitors act by increasing facility of fluid outflow from the eye, thereby reducing intraocular pressure. ROCK inhibitors also have a vasodilatory effect on conjunctival vessels, which can lead to eye redness, a less than desirable cosmetic side effect for patients that would use this medication. Although there is promising data to support the clinical potential of this class of drug, the occurrence of conjunctival hyperemia remains a potential deterrent for use by patients. Studies are underway to assess alterna...
Toxicity and Efficacy of Carboplatin and Etoposide in Conjunction with Disruption of the Blood-Brain Tumor Barrier in the Treatment of Intracranial Neoplasms

CARBOPLATIN AND ETOPOSIDE have been investigated in preclinical studies and a limited toxicity study in 13 patients; these studies have established carboplatin and etoposide as a tolerable combination when administered with blood-brain barrier disruption. The studies also found a predictable dose-limiting toxicity of myelosuppression. Subsequently, a broad efficacy trial of this regimen was carried out. A total of 34 patients, ranging in age from 7 to 72 years, underwent a combination chemotherapy regimen of carboplatin (200 mg/m2 administered intra-arterially) and etoposide (200 mg/m2 administered intravenously) administered with blood-brain barrier disruption on each of 2 consecutive days every 28 days. The diagnoses included glioblastoma multiforme (n = 3), malignant astrocytoma (n = 8), malignant astrocytoma-oligodendroglioma (n = 1), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (n = 4), disseminated germ cell tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) (n = 6), CNS lymphoma (n = 7), and metastatic carcinoma (n = 5). The major toxicity observed in patients treated with multiple courses of this regimen was the expected reversible myelosuppression and an unexpected, irreversible high-frequency hearing loss. Of these 34 patients, 22 had measurable disease, and 9 radiographic responses (50% or more decrease in enhancing tumors) were observed in these patients. Carboplatin and etoposide with blood-brain barrier disruption is an active regimen in the treatment of malignant astrocytomas and has shown dramatic responses in primitive neuroectodermal tumors and CNS lymphoma. Additionally, the durability of responses in patients with disseminated CNS germ cell tumors is encouraging. However, such therapy is associated with unexpected high-frequency hearing loss; even so, on the basis of the favorable responses in patients with primitive neuroectodermal tumors, germ cell tumors, and lymphomas, the study of this regimen for those tumors is being extended in a multiinstitutional trial that also includes cytoxan to further evaluate the potential enhanced drug delivery.
Effects of Urban Spatial Structure on Individual Behavior

(1971). Effects of Urban Spatial Structure on Individual Behavior. Economic Geography: Vol. 47, PERSPECTIVES ON URBAN SPATIAL SYSTEMS, pp. 36-48.
Partial epileptic seizures beginning in the truncal muscles

3 patients suffered from partial epileptic seizures beginning in truncal muscles on one side. A gross anatomical lesion was demonstrated in the contralateral parietal area in 2. In the third patient, both interictal and ictal EEG features were consistent with an epileptogenic lesion in the similar location. Several factors seem to contribute to the rarity of this variety of partial seizures.
On the Theoretical Predictability of Extrapolation Methods

Abstract By use of a statistical theory developed previously, five extrapolation formulas are generalized to take into account uncertainties of initial states, due to lack of information between observing stations. This furnishes expressions for theoretical standard deviations of extrapolated displacements as functions of the mean distance between stations. These standard deviations and the normal distribution provide limiting probabilities of forecast displacements. Examples are presented for each of the five extrapolation methods. Variances of forecasts are analyzed into component valances of initial and past locations of extrapolated features. It is shown that these components usually make unequal contributions to the total variance, in a given prediction.
Effect of dexamethasone on triiodothyronine production in the perfused rat liver and kidney

Dexamethasone administration to rats decreases T4-5′-deiodinase activity in liver homogenates and slices and in isolated rat renal tubules. To determine if this decreased T4-5′-deiodinase activity results in decreased T3 production, rat livers and kidneys of control and dexamethasone-treated rats were perfused with medium containing free T4 concentrations approximating euthyroid rat serum, and net T3 production was measured by RIA. Dexamethasone administration decreased body weight by 14% but did not affect liver weight, kidney weight, or serum concentrations of T4 or T3. When livers were perfused with T4 concentrations of 10 μg/dl (free T4 = 6.5 ng/ dl), hepatic T3 production, T4 uptake, and the conversion of T4 to T3 were similar in dexamethasone-treated rats and salinetreated controls. However, when livers were perfused at a T4 concentration of 125 μg/dl (free T4 = 81 ng/dl), dexamethasonetreated livers produced significantly less T3 than controls because of decreased conversion of T4 to T3. Hepatic de...
Editor's Introduction: Religion and Nature in Asia and the Himalayas

Bron Taylor introduces this special issue of the journal on Religion and Nature in Asia and the Himalayas Studies, guest edited by Georgina Drew with Ashok Gurung.
Simulation of a fully automated system for optimal on-line recognition of neural waveforms in extracellular recordings

We present a software simulation of a fully automated system that can optimally detect the occurrence, classify and resolve superpositions of neural spike waveforms from multiple neurons recorded with the same extracellular electrode. The algorithms in this simulation are designed for on-line operation without human supervision. Therefore, the whitening filter required for optimality, waveform templates and discrimination thresholds are generated automatically.
Optical pumping in 4 He * with frequency-shifted feedback amplification of light

We use a frequency-shifted feedback technique with a high-gain fiber amplifier operating at λ=1083 nm to produce a multifrequency light beam that covers a controllable spectral range. It is ideal for optically pumping a gas of metastable He because it spans the Doppler width, and its high efficiency has implications for many applications. Measurements confirm that eight times fewer atoms are left in the unchosen states with multifrequency light.
Modeling the rotational and vibrational structure of the i.r. optical spectrum of NH3

Abstract Current progress on the rotational assignment of NH 3 vibrational bands from 4800 cm −1 to 18 000 cm −1 is reported. We discuss a vibrational Hamiltonian for regions containing overtones or combinations of the three normal modes, excluding the symmetric inversion motion. The Hamiltonian is capable of modeling the normal mode to local mode transition observed in the spectrum as well as the observed band origins, rotational constants and intensifies. It includes the Darling—Dennison (local mode—normal mode) coupling, the (ν 1 ν 3 )-2ν 4 Fermi resonance, and one significant (ν 1 ν 3 )-ν 2 interaction. We illustrate the intramolecular vibrational dynamics predicted by the model Hamiltonian.
A two-stage algorithm for determining talker location from linear microphone array data

Abstract A microphone array system for speech data input must include a robust algorithm for determining the location of the desired talker. Here, a two-stage talker location algorithm based on filtered cross-correlation is introduced. At each stage, maximization of a sum-of-independent-cross-correlations functional is used to establish talker position. Suitable accuracy is obtained at low cost by using multirate interpolation. Experimental evidence has shown that a two-stage procedure improves performance; in the first stage, closely spaced microphone pairs are used to determine the x location of the talker (x0), and more broadly spaced pairs are used in the second stage to find y0 for a restricted range of x. Substantive results, based on real data, are presented to indicate performance. An efficient, global, non-linear optimization technique, stochastic region contraction (SRC), is briefly introduced and is shown to make this algorithm feasible in real time.
Fabrication of fiber optic Bragg gratings: effect of ultraviolet light absorption by the fiber buffer

Fiber-optic Bragg gratings are fabricated in hydrogen-loaded communications-grade optical fibers using 244 nm continuous wave light. The fiber-buffer is only partially stripped to allow the ultraviolet grating writing beam to enter the fiber. This light is completely absorbed by the buffer behind the fiber. The absorption of ultraviolet light by the buffer significantly increases the rate of formation of Bragg gratings. This is explained as being due to the heating effect on fiber due to the absorption of ultraviolet light.
EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE DROSOPHILA BRAIN. II. PATTERN OF GLIAL CELLS

Glial cells in Drosophila and other insects are organized in an outer layer that envelops the surface of the central and peripheral nervous system (subperineurial glia, peripheral glia), a middle layer associated with neuronal somata in the cortex (cell body glia), and an inner layer surrounding the neuropile (longitudinal glia, midline glia, nerve root glia). In the ventral nerve cord, most glial cells are formed by a relatively small number of neuro-glioblasts; subsequently, glial cell precursors migrate and spread out widely to reach their final destination. By using a glia-specific marker (antibody against the Repo protein) we have reconstructed the pattern of glial cell precursors at successive developmental stages, focusing on the glia of the supraesophageal ganglion and subesophageal ganglion which are not described in previous studies. Digitized images of consecutive optical sections were used to generate 3-D models that show the spatial pattern of glial cell precursors in relationship to the neuropile, brain surface, and peripheral nerves. Similar to their spatial organization in the ventral nerve cord, glial cells of the brain populate the brain nerves and outer surface, cortical cell body layer, and cortex-neuropile interface. Neuropile-associated glial cells arise from a cluster located at the base of the supraesophageal ganglion; from this position, they migrate dorsally along the developing axon tracts and by late embryonic stages form a sheath around all neuropile compartments, including the supraesophageal commissure. Surface and cell body glial cells derive from several discrete foci, notably two large clusters at the deuterocerebrum/protocerebrum boundary and the posterior protocerebrum. From these foci, glial cells then fan out to envelop the surface of the supraesophageal ganglion.
Analysis of marker-defined HNSCC subpopulations reveals a dynamic regulation of tumor initiating properties.

Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors carry dismal long-term prognosis and the role of tumor initiating cells (TICs) in this cancer is unclear. We investigated in HNSCC xenografts whether specific tumor subpopulations contributed to tumor growth. We used a CFSE-based label retentions assay, CD49f (α6-integrin) surface levels and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity to profile HNSCC subpopulations. The tumorigenic potential of marker-positive and -negative subpopulations was tested in nude (Balb/c nu/nu) and NSG (NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ) mice and chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays. Here we identified in HEp3, SQ20b and FaDu HNSCC xenografts a subpopulation of G0/G1-arrested slow-cycling CD49fhigh/ALDH1A1high/H3K4/K27me3low subpopulation (CD49f+) of tumor cells. A strikingly similar CD49fhigh/H3K27me3low subpopulation is also present in primary human HNSCC tumors and metastases. While only sorted CD49fhigh/ALDHhigh, label retaining cells (LRC) proliferated immediately in vivo, with time the CD49flow/ALDHlow, non-LRC (NLRC) tumor cell subpopulations were also able to regain tumorigenic capacity; this was linked to restoration of CD49fhigh/ALDHhigh, label retaining cells. In addition, CD49f is required for HEp3 cell tumorigenicity and to maintain low levels of H3K4/K27me3. CD49f+ cells also displayed reduced expression of the histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EZH2 and ERK1/2phosphorylation. This suggests that although transiently quiescent, their unique chromatin structure is poised for rapid transcriptional activation. CD49f− cells can “reprogram” and also achieve this state eventually. We propose that in HNSCC tumors, epigenetic mechanisms likely driven by CD49f signaling dynamically regulate HNSCC xenograft phenotypic heterogeneity. This allows multiple tumor cell subpopulations to drive tumor growth suggesting that their dynamic nature renders them a “moving target” and their eradication might require more persistent strategies.
Template removal from SAPO-34 crystals and membranes

Abstract SAPO-34 membranes had 95–100% higher CO 2 permeances and 9–17% lower CO 2 /CH 4 separation selectivities when their structure-directing templates were removed at 673 K in flowing N 2 or under vacuum instead of in flowing air. The average CO 2 permeance was 8.2 ± 2 × 10 −7 mol/(m 2 s Pa) during CO 2 /CH 4 separations at 4.6 MPa feed pressure for five membranes whose templates were removed under vacuum. The average CO 2 /CH 4 separation selectivity was 55 ± 6. Membranes heated in N 2 or under vacuum were white in color, whereas those heated in air were darker. Membrane preparation was reproducible. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and oxidation (TPO) of SAPO-34 crystals showed that more of the templates decomposed and were removed at lower temperature in inert gas than in air or oxygen. Over 90% of the templates were removed by 773 K during TPD in helium, and ethylene was the main decomposition product. In contrast, only 70% of the templates were removed by 773 K during TPO in air or oxygen, and CO 2 and water were the major products When the SAPO-34 crystals were heated in air or oxygen, some of the template, before it decomposed to form ethylene, was oxidized to more stable compounds that were only removed at higher temperatures.
Absence of Lethal Reperfusion Injury After 3 Hours of Reperfusion A Study in a Single-Canine-Heart Model of Ischemia-Reperfusion

Background Whether reperfusion can cause necrosis of previously viable myocytes (lethal reperfusion injury) remains controversial. Numerous studies examined the ability of various agents to prevent or limit reperfusion injury, but the results were contradictory. In a single-canine-heart model of ischemia-reperfusion, we previously demonstrated that 5 minutes of reperfusion does not increase the transmural extent of necrosis. Since the 5-minute period of reperfusion is considered by some to be too short for the full manifestation of reperfusion injury, we reexamined the issue of lethal reperfusion injury using a modification of the single-heart model of ischemia-reperfusion that allowed extending the reperfusion period to 3 hours. Methods and Results In anesthetized, open-chest dogs, the distal half of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) segment between the last diagonal branch and the apex was perfused via a shunt from the left carotid artery. The shunt was closed for periods of 90 to 180 m...
A New Prophylaxis Instrument: Effect on Enamel Alterations

A study was made to determine the efficacy of a new jet abrasive tooth-polishing device and its effect on enamel surfaces. Extracted teeth with extrinsic stain were polished with the jet abrasive. Smoothed enamel surfaces were polished with the jet abrasive, a rubber cup with paste, and an ultrasonic instrument. The surface alterations were then compared.
Extraordinary sex ratios: cultural effects on ecological consequences.

We model sex-structured population dynamics to analyze pairwise competition between groups differing both genetically and culturally. A sex-ratio allele is expressed in the heterogametic sex only, so that assumptions of Fisher’s analysis do not apply. Sex-ratio evolution drives cultural evolution of a group-associated trait governing mortality in the homogametic sex. The two-sex dynamics under resource limitation induces a strong Allee effect that depends on both sex ratio and cultural trait values. We describe the resulting threshold, separating extinction from positive growth, as a function of female and male densities. When initial conditions avoid extinction due to the Allee effect, different sex ratios cannot coexist; in our model, greater female allocation always invades and excludes a lesser allocation. But the culturally transmitted trait interacts with the sex ratio to determine the ecological consequences of successful invasion. The invading female allocation may permit population persistence at self-regulated equilibrium. For this case, the resident culture may be excluded, or may coexist with the invader culture. That is, a single sex-ratio allele in females and a cultural dimorphism in male mortality can persist; a low-mortality resident trait is maintained by father-to-son cultural transmission. Otherwise, the successfully invading female allocation excludes the resident allele and culture and then drives the population to extinction via a shortage of males. Finally, we show that the results obtained under homogeneous mixing hold, with caveats, in a spatially explicit model with local mating and diffusive dispersal in both sexes.
Evidence for intramolecular heterogeneity in pneumococcal DNA

Pneumococcal DNA of molecular weight about 107, bearing four independent transforming markers, was degraded by mechanical shearing to mol. wt. 6, 2 and 1 × 106 respectively. The ordering by density in a CsCl gradient of the four transforming activities depended upon the mol. wt. of the DNA. One marker, in particular, became more dense as the size of the fragments bearing it was reduced to 1 million mol. wt. Analytical bandings of fractions from the preparative band showed greater density differences within the lower mol. wt. DNA bands; other estimates show that the heterogeneity increased approximately as 1/√M. The markers also changed in heat stability as the mean mol. wt. of the DNA decreased, but with an entirely different apparent base composition order. Hence, base composition cannot be the sole controlling factor for both density and heat denaturation. It is concluded that irreversible collapse of DNA molecules at elevated temperatures is controlled by local fluctuations of composition within short regions and that there are wide ranges of composition over sufficiently large regions of the DNA to be of biological significance. The physical properties of a given transforming activity are controlled by the entire piece of DNA with which it is associated rather than merely with the local marker region itself.
Transcription and circular dichroism of chromatin in lymphoblastoid cell lines during proliferation and quiescence

RNA polymerase activity of nuclei and positive circular dichroism ellipticity in the 250--300 nm region of chromatin were studied in three lymphoblastoid cell lines: HRI, an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) positive virus-producing line; Raji, and EBV positive virus-producing line; Raji, an EBV positive non-producer line; and SU-AMB-1, and EBV negative line. Raji consistently exhibited the highest and SU-AMB-1 the lowest polymerase activity and ellipticity. All lines showed higher RNA polymerase activity and positive ellipticity when exponentially growing than when stationary. In Raji it was shown that changes in RNA polymerase activity and chromatin ellipiticity were parallel. The changes in RNA polymerase activity of nuclei and circular dichroism ellipticity correlated with those of the proliferative state but not with the number of viral genomes or the production of virus or viral antigens.
The outlook in the health sciences

This chapter highlights some of the fastest-growing occupations in the health care field that are appropriate to the community college.
Pseudoscorpions from South India : A new genus and some new species of the super-family Garypoidea Chamberlin (Pseudoscorpionida : Diplosphyronida)

Abstract Four new species of Calocheiridius Beier and Turk, viz- C. granulatus, sp. nov., C. Murthii, sp. nov., C. Intermedius, sp nov. and C. amrithiensis, sp. nov. are described and a key is provided. In addition, Olpium tiblum, sp. nov. and Geogarypus (Indogarypus) globulus, sp. nov. are described. A new genus, Heterolpium (Type-species : H. Indkum, sp. nov.) is raised and it is distinguished from Euryolpium Redikorzev and Xenolpium Hoff.
Sphere sizes in diblock copolymers: discrepancy between electron microscopy and small-angle scattering results

Abstract Five diblock copolymers consisting of polybutadiene spheres in a polystyrene matrix were synthesized and characterized using several techniques, including transmission electron microscopy and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The mean radius of the polybutadiene spheres as measured from the electron micrographs was found to be significantly smaller than the SANS value for each of the samples (the average value of R EM R SANS was 0.77). This discrepancy is greater than can be accounted for by sphere truncation when sectioning the sample for the electron microscope and is believed to be an artifact of the staining procedure.
Palliative radiotherapy for metastatic malignant melanoma: Brain metastases, bone metastases, and spinal cord compression

The records of all patients receiving palliative radiotherapy for malignant melanoma metastatic to brain, to bone, or with spinal cord compression were reviewed. The median survival of 77 patients with brain metastases from the initiation of radiotherapy was 14 weeks. A statistically improved survival was observed only in the 10 patients who underwent subtotal to total resection of a solitary brain metastasis prior to radiotherapy (median = 36 weeks). No improved survival was observed in the 12 patients with a solitary brain metastasis treated by radiotherapy alone (median = 16 weeks). Multivariate analysis revealed that fraction size, total dose, patient age, sex, and duration of the interval between initial diagnosis and appearance of brain metastases did not significantly influence survival, but the use of chemotherapy was associated with a decreased survival. Twenty six patients with symptomatic and radiographic evidence of 39 bone metastases showed a palliative response rate of 85%. 18 of 20 bony lesions treated with high-dose-per-fraction (greater than or equal to 400 cGy) and 15 of 19 bony lesions treated with conventional fractionation (less than or equal to 300 cGy) were palliated. Total dose, patient age, sex, interval between initial diagnosis of malignant melanoma and the appearance of bone metastases, prior or concurrent chemotherapy, or lesion location did not significantly influence palliation. Seventeen patients were identified with symptomatic and myelographic evidence of spinal cord compression. Complete palliation was observed in 47% (8/17) and partial palliation was observed in 24% (4/17). The overall palliation response rate for neurologic symptoms due to spinal cord compression of 71% appeared to be independent of fraction size and total dose.
Patterns in songbird singing behaviour: Hartshorne vindicated

Remise en question des moyens utilises par Weary & Lemon pour tester l'idee de Charles Hartshorne (1956, 1973) selon laquelle il existe, dans le comportement de chant des oiseaux, des patterns qui peuvent etre predits.
Characterisation of a rotavirus.

ACUTE gastroenteritis is one of the most common causes of illness in children, calves and piglets, and causes severe economic loss in domestic animals. Although some outbreaks of gastroenteritis are associated with bacterial pathogens, particularly Escherichia coli, no known pathogens had been isolated from a significant proportion of outbreaks until recently, when viruses with a distinctive morphology and antigenic similarity were found associated with diarrhoea in piglets, calves and children1,2. These viruses are major pathogens and it has also been shown that viruses isolated from man are infectious for the pig3. Initially, these viruses were described as reovirus-like4 but subsequently the names rotavirus5 and duovirus6 were proposed. They are morphologically and antigenically distinct from both the reoviruses and orbiviruses5,7 and also differ from them in some of their physicochemical properties8.
Short‐term effects of manganese toxicity on ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase in tobacco chloroplasts

Abstract The short‐term effects of manganese (Mn) toxicity on ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase EC 4.1.1.39 (Rubisco) activity and concentration in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. ‘KY 17') chloroplasts were examined. The activity of the enzyme from both Mn‐treated and control plants was determined 6,12,18, 24, and 48 h after introduction of Mn (80 mg/L). Enzyme activity was determined by monitoring rates of carbon dioxide (14CO2) fixation into acid stable products. A decrease in the enzyme's activity in experimental plants was noted after 48 h of exposure. Visible symptoms, such as chlorosis and decreased leaf size, were also observed after 48 h of Mn exposure in experimental plants. Using Rocket Immunoelectrophoresis, no appreciable differences between Rubisco concentration levels of the experimental plants and the control plants were noted indicating that the effect on Rubisco activity is a post‐translational phenomenon and that Rubisco is not being degraded at an accelerated rate. Manganese accumulat...
Synthesis and Screening of Stereochemically Diverse Combinatorial Libraries of Peptide Tertiary Amides

Summary Large combinatorial libraries of N-substituted peptides would be an attractive source of protein ligands, because these compounds are known to be conformationally constrained, whereas standard peptides or peptoids are conformationally mobile. Here, we report an efficient submonomer solid-phase synthetic route to these compounds and demonstrate that it can be used to create high quality libraries. A model screening experiment and analysis of the hits indicates that the rigidity afforded by the stereocenters is critical for high affinity binding.
Protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) in spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) exposed to constant and diel-cycling hypoxia

Fish kills often occur overnight from low dissolved oxygen (DO) events, however many mortality events are of unknown cause, since little water quality monitoring occurs overnight. The hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) protein is an excellent candidate as a biomarker for deciphering idiopathic fish kills. In this study, spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were exposed to either constant or diel-cycling hypoxia, and HIF-1α expression was compared to normoxic control over three days. The results indicated that HIF-1α protein increased (p < 0.005) in muscle tissue after three days exposure to both constant and a simulated diel-cycling hypoxic event in a laboratory setting when compared to normoxic control animals. In comparison, diel-cycling hypoxia produced higher HIF-1α protein concentrations than constant hypoxia in all treatments, suggesting that the fluctuations of DO induced the expression of protein. The results from this study pose implications for using HIF-1α as a biomarker in wild populations, as overnight hypoxic cycles may produce higher protein concentrations than a constant hypoxic event, which would enable the detection of otherwise unnoticed hypoxic stress.
Nonlinear electrostatic waves: oblique propagation

The fluid equations for electrostatic wave forms propagating at small angles to a constant magnetic field are investigated. Both ion cyclotron and charge separation effects are included. Numerical results are given for initial conditions which are consistent with soliton formation. These results show a hybrid nonlinear wave form containing oscillations which are identified as short-wavelength fast ion-acoustic waves and long-wavelength slow ion-acoustic waves. An approximate analytic analysis is performed using the Bogoliubov–Krylov–Mitropolskii perturbation method.
Temperature dependence of the growth rate of spherulites

The spherulitic growth data that exist in the literature for a wide diversity of polymers have been analyzed according to various possible nucleation mechanisms. It is demonstrated that, if allowed a reasonable choice for the equilibrium melting temperature, no unbiased selection of a unique nucleation process can be made. Moreover, a set of universal parameters exists for each of the allowable nucleation processes which enables the data to be represented by a single straight line which encompasses all the polymers. The only quantities specific to a given polymer are the equilibrium melting temperature and the activation energy for transport. The magnitude of the latter quantity is shown to be dependent on the glass temperature of the polymer.
Immuno-labelling for freeze-fracture: application to a cell surface attachment antigen.

Abstract The cell-surface attachment (CSAT) antigen was investigated by using a technique that combines freeze-fracture with thin-sectioning. Chick heart cells were labelled using colloidal gold secondary antibodies, then fractured and shadowed with platinum vapor. The cells were dehydrated and embedded with their gold labels and replicated surfaces still intact. Sectioning revealed gold particles super-imposed with external (E) fracture faces. The gold was definitely not coincident with E face particles and did not appear to be associated with pits. Therefore, it can be concluded that the CSAT glycoproteins is not represented by an E face particle. Whether it may be seen as an E face pit, or is not visible at all in freeze-fracture, is still an open question.
CONTRASTING SOME JAPANESE AND ENGLISH POSITIVE EMOTIONS: THE NATURE OF FEELING

This paper uses the method of “conceptual encounter” to examine the meanings of three of the most common Japanese terms for positive emotions. It contrasts the emotional experiences suggested by these terms with the experiences that are suggested by the English terms that are used as equivalents. The method appears to be successful in revealing the similarities and differences in how some positive emotional experiences are constructed in the different cultures. The results suggest that the differences in what is felt and labeled as emotion may be understood if we regard emotions as involving personal transformations in the Western and the Japanese self.
Thermoelectric power factor optimization in PEDOT:PSS tellurium nanowire hybrid composites

The thermoelectric properties of a unique hybrid polymer–inorganic nanoparticle system consisting of tellurium nanowires and a conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), can be optimized by both controlling the shape of the nanoparticles and the loading and doping of the polymeric matrix with polar solvents. The mechanism for an observed improvement in power factor is attributed to the unique conducting nature of PEDOT:PSS, which exhibits a transition from a hopping transport-dominated regime to a carrier scattering-dominated regime upon doping with polar solvents. Near this transition, the electrical conductivity can be improved without significantly reducing the thermopower. Relying on this principle, the power factor optimization for this new thermoelectric material is experimentally carried out and found to exceed 100 μW m−1 K−2, which is nearly five orders of magnitude greater than pure PEDOT:PSS.
Primary Decay Pathway of a Local Mode of a Photoexcited Ion into a Dielectric Crystal Host Lattice

On-resonance and off-resonance Raman scattering and up-converted hot luminescence were used to determine the role of the exact energy resonance between a local mode and a phonon mode on the first step in the decay pathway of a photoexcited ion in a lattice host.
The MMT7 Mirror: Analysis Of The Rms Difference Specifications And Their Impact On Fabrication And Testing

The figure-quality specifications for the seventh Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT7) mirror were unusual in that they were defined in terms of rms differences. Recognizing that the atmosphere can be the limiting factor in telescope performance, the specifications for the MMT7 mirror, a 1.8-m, f/2.7 parabola, were derived from analysis of the wavefront irregularities induced by the atmosphere on a nominally perfect planar wavefront from a star. This approach to mirror specifications apparently was first taken with the 4.2-m Herschel Telescope primary mirror, fabricated at Grubb-Parsons.
Synergetic effects of mixed copper–iron oxides oxygen carriers in chemical looping combustion

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is an emerging technology for clean energy production from fuels. CLC produces sequestration-ready CO2-streams without a significant energy penalty. Development of efficient oxygen carriers is essential to successfully operate a CLC system. Copper and iron oxides are promising candidates for CLC. Copper oxide possesses high reactivity but it has issues with particle agglomeration due to its low melting point. Even though iron oxide is an inexpensive oxygen carrier it has a slower reactivity. In this study, mixed metal oxide carriers containing iron and copper oxides were evaluated for coal and methane CLC. The components of CuO and Fe2O3 were optimized to obtain good reactivity while maintaining physical and chemical stability during cyclic reactions for methane-CLC and solid-fuel CLC. Compared with single metal oxygen carriers, the optimized Cu–Fe mixed oxide oxygen carriers demonstrated high reaction rate, better combustion conversion, greater oxygen usage and improved physical stability. Thermodynamic calculations, XRD, TGA, flow reactor studies and TPR experiments suggested that there is a strong interaction between CuO and Fe2O3 contributing to a synergistic effect during CLC reactions. The amount of oxygen release of the mixed oxide carrier in the absence of a fuel was similar to that of the single metal oxides. However, in the presence of fuels, the oxygen consumption and the reaction profiles of the mixed oxide carriers were significantly better than that of the single metal oxides. The nature of the fuel not only influenced the reactivity, but also the final reduction status of the oxygen carriers during chemical looping combustion. Cu oxide of the mixed oxide was fully reduced metallic copper with both coal and methane. Fe oxide of the mixed oxide was fully reduced Fe metal with methane but it was reduced to only FeO with coal. Possible mechanisms of how the presence of CuO enhances the reduction of Fe2O3 are discussed.