cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological Effects of High Ultraviolet Radiation on Early Earth—a Theoretical Evaluation

The surface of early Earth was exposed to both UVC radiation (< 280 nm) and higher doses of UVB (280-315 nm) compared with the surface of present day Earth. The degree to which this radiation environment acted as a selection pressure on organisms and biological systems has rarely been theoretically examined with respect to the biologically effective irradiances that ancient organisms would receive. Here action spectra for DNA inactivation and isolated chloroplast inhibition are used to estimate biologically effective irradiances on archean Earth. Comparisons are made with present day Earth. The theoretical estimations on the UV radiation screening required to protect DNA on archean Earth compare well with field and laboratory observations on protection strategies found in present day microbial communities. They suggest that many physical and biological methods may have been effective and would have allowed for the radiation of life even under the high UV radiation regimes of archean Earth. Such strategies would also have provided effective reduction of photoinhibition by UV radiation. The data also suggest that the UV regime on the surface of Mars is not a life limiting factor per se, although other environmental factors such as desiccation and low temperatures may contribute towards the apparent lack of a surface biota.
Urate oxidase in the prophylaxis or treatment of hyperuricemia: the United States experience.

Nonrecombinant urate oxidase (Uricozyme, Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc, Paris, France) is a highly effective uricolytic agent, but its use is associated with hypersensitivity reaction manifested mainly by bronchospasm in approximately 5% of patients. Recently, several multi-institutional studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of a recombinant urate oxidase (rasburicase). In a phase I/II study, all 131 patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or stage III/IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) experienced rapidly decreased plasma uric acid concentrations after receiving recombinant urate oxidase. Serum creatinine levels also decreased significantly. Toxicity was negligible, and none of the patients required dialysis. In a phase III trial, children with newly diagnosed ALL or stage III/IV NHL were stratified and randomized to receive recombinant urate oxidase or allopurinol. Results showed that the 27 patients who received recombinant urate oxidase had a significantly lower plasma uric acid concentration and a more rapid decline in serum creatinine level than did the 25 who took allopurinol. One patient in the recombinant urate oxidase group had hemolysis of unknown cause, and one in the allopurinol group required hemofiltration for hyperphosphatemia. To further assess the safety profile of recombinant urate oxidase, the data on 245 patients (173 children and 72 adults) who received this agent in a compassionate-use program were reviewed retrospectively. The drug produced dramatic decreases in uric acid concentrations in all patients. Nine patients (four children and five adults) had mild adverse reactions that were drug-related or of unknown etiology. These data suggest that recombinant urate oxidase is safe and effective in the prophylaxis and treatment of hyperuricemia associated with malignancy or chemotherapy.
A two dimensional investigation on plates with oblique equal and unequal parallel edge cracks subjected to tension

This paper reports on an attempt to investigate the stress intensity factors of equal and unequal oblique parallel edge cracks subjected to tension. The effects of the variation of the length of the cracks, angle of inclination, and crack spacings on the stress intensity factors (opening and sliding modes) were studied. Experimental observations show that, for crack spacings equal or larger than the length of the equal oblique parallel edge cracks, the size of the caustics for the cracks in the loaded specimen approach that of a single oblique edge crack with the same angle of inclination.
Tools and Techniques for Mobile Sensor Network Control

This paper compares some of the common tools and techniques that enable state-of-the-art systems to provide high-level control of mobile sensor networks. There is currently a great deal of interest in employing unmanned and autonomous vehicles in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Although this paper addresses issues common to all mobile sensor networks, the applications presented are typically associated with autonomous vehicles. We focus specifically on three high-level areas: 1. mission definition languages that allow human users to compose missions defined in terms of tasks, 2. communication-addressing degradation and loss and relationship to underlying system architecture design, and 3. task allocation among the assets.
Corn Yields Benefit in Rotations with Cotton

Continuous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was the primary crop for the Mississippi Delta until recently. Corn (Zea mays L.) is now grown on about 1 million acres in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, usually in rotation with cotton. This research evaluated corn’s performance in a four-year furrow irrigated rotation with cotton at Stoneville, MS. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement of treatments replicated eight times. Whole plots were cropping sequences assigned at random. Cropping sequences were continuous cotton, continuous corn, corn-cotton-corn-cotton, or cotton-corncorn-cotton. Four adapted corn hybrids and cotton cultivars were grown as subplots beginning in 2000 to 2003. Corn grain yields were greater following cotton than continous corn in 2001 (169 bu/acre vs. 160 bu/acre) and 2002 (126 bu/acre vs. 117 bu/acre). Grain yields from continuous corn differed among years but with no consistency. Hybrids differed in yield among all years but no consistency in these data was noted. Test weights for continuous corn differed among years but were not below the requirement for US No. 2 yellow corn. Weights of 100 kernels did not differ among years or treatments. Economics dictate cropping sequences but corn can benefit from following cotton in rotation.
Inappropriate expression of IgD from a transgene inhibits the function of antigen-specific memory B cells.

IgD expression has been shown to be downmodulated upon mitogenic or antigenic activation of B cells. To investigate whether this decrease is of functional significance we studied a mouse strain that expresses transgenic IgD on all B cells. The rearranged gene encoding the heavy chain of this IgD requires endogenous gene rearrangement before it can be expressed; therefore, normal B cell development is not affected. As a result, both transgenic IgD and endogenous IgM and IgD are expressed on all peripheral B cells. We show that the presence of extraneous IgD does not affect normal B cell activation by polyclonal stimulators, nor does it affect the primary IgM or IgG responses to TI or TD antigens. However, the secondary memory response is significantly diminished. The decrease is not attributable to a defective generation of memory B cells; instead the activation of memory cells appears to be compromised. Since the depressed response can be overcome by prior aggregation of the transgenic IgD with allotype-specific anti-IgD antibodies, it appears that persistence of the transgenic IgD on memory cells may influence their ability to be activated. Thus, the decrease in IgD expression on normal B cells after activation may be necessary for optimal activation of memory cells.
The IGF-1 receptor in cancer biology.

The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of the transformed phenotype. It also has a strong antiapoptotic activity and has a significant influence on the control of cell and body size. Downregulation of the IGF-1R leads to massive apoptosis of cancer cells. These characteristics make it an attractive target for anticancer therapy.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Surface Tensions of Aqueous Electrolytic Solutions

We present molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of surface tension of aqueous ionic solutions of different concentrations for two different salts with different anion size: NaCl and NaF at 300 K in explicit water molecules. Our MD results agree quite closely with the experimental results. In particular, our MD results predict that the salt with a larger anion (NaCl) shows a smaller increase in surface tension than the salt with a smaller anion (NaF). To check the limits of applicability of the solvent primitive model (SPM), we solve exactly the system with the approximation that the solvent (water) is a background dielectric continuum using MD simulations. Compared with explicit water MD simulations, SPM gives qualitatively incorrect results for the dependence of surface tension on the type of salt. More precisely, with the solvent as a dielectric continuum, an NaCl solution shows a larger increase in surface tension than does an NaF solution. Strong water structuring around the solvated ions is the propo...
Observation of Electrode Poisoning during the Electro‐oxidation of Aromatic Alcohols on (111)Au

The authors have studied the behavior of phenol and 2-naphthol on (111)Au during electro-oxidation using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). As oxidation begins, the AFM shows growth of amorphous features on the (111)Au surface. They observed different modes of nucleation and growth for the two molecules. They associate these features with poison formation as is also inferred from electrochemical measurements. FTIR spectra show an increase in the number of amplitude of absorbance bands as oxidation proceeds, indicating formation of new oxidation products and a thickening film on the (111)Au surface.
Chromosome numbers and polyploidy in Castilleja (Scrophulariaceae)

Chromosome numbers are reported for 155 collections ofCastilleja representing 54 taxa. The basic haploid number of 12 was found in 34 taxa, but 10 of these also had one or more polyploid levels. The remaining 20 species were strictly polyploid in one or more levels (4X, 6X, 8X, 10X, 12X). The widespread occurrence of polyploidy, along with hybridization, is believed to be largely responsible for the complex morphological variation found within the genus. Specific examples of the role of polyploidy and hybridization in creating this variation are discussed for the following species complexes:C. affinis, C. applegatei, C. miniata, C. peckiana.
Expression and androgen regulation of the ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFRα) in muscles and spinal cord

We have previously observed that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) can prevent the degeneration of androgen-sensitive perineal motoneurons and their target muscles, the bulbocavernosus and levator ani (BC/LA), in perinatal female rats. Response to CNTF is dependent on the expression of the alpha component of the CNTF receptor (CNTFRalpha). In the present study, we examined the developmental profile and androgen regulation of CNTFRalpha gene expression in BC/LA muscle, thigh muscle, and lumbosacral spinal cord. CNTFRalpha mRNA was abundantly expressed in the BC/LA and thigh around the time of birth; expression declined progressively after birth and remained low into adulthood. In contrast, CNTFRalpha message remained high in the lumbosacral spinal cord throughout development. Androgen regulation of CNTFRalpha expression was examined in prenatal animals by administering the androgen receptor blocker hydroxyflutamide from embryonic days E18 through E21. Four days of androgen deprivation caused a significant up-regulation of CNTFRalpha mRNA in the BC/LA, thigh, and spinal cord of male fetuses. After castration in adulthood, CNTFRalpha expression in the BC/LA transiently increased, then decreased below control levels. Expression of CNTFRalpha in thigh muscles and the lumbosacral spinal cord was not affected by adult castration. Thus, the perineal muscles and motoneurons are potential sites of direct CNTF action, and expression of the CNTFRalpha gene is modulated by androgen, especially in the androgen-sensitive perineal muscles. Transient up-regulation of CNTFRalpha following castration or androgen receptor blockade may represent a protective response designed to counteract the muscle atrophy normally induced by androgen withdrawal.
Comparative properties of schistosomal and filarial dihydrofolate reductases.

Abstract Dihydrofolate (DHF) reductase activity was detected in crude extracts of four species of adult filarial worms ( Dirofilaria immitis, Litomosoides carinii, Dipetalonema witei, and Onchocerca volvulus ) and the adult blood fluke ( Schistosoma mansoni ). The filariae were much richer sources of the enzyme than were the schistosomes. Lyophilized D. immitis and L. carinii were as rich a source of the enzyme as comparable numbers of their living counterparts subsequently subjected to acetone powdering. Furthermore, extracts of females of both these species contained more than twice as much DHF reductase activity per milligram of protein as those of the males. The apparent K m value of the schistosomal and all four filarial reductases for DHF was approximately 5 × 10 −6 M, while that of the parasites' reductases for NADPH was in the range of 1–3 × 10 −5 M. Their molecular weights were all around 20,000. Both schistosomal and filarial DHF reductases showed similar patterns of sensitivity to various drugs and generally were less sensitive than the analogous mammalian enzyme to inhibition by most of the presently available reductase inhibitors. Methotrexate and a related 2,4-diaminoquinazoline (CCNSC 529,861) were the most potent inhibitors among the 14 compounds tested, causing 50 per cent inhibition of enzyme activity in the range of 10 −8 M to 10 −10 M. However, while these two compounds were roughly equipotent against the schistosomal and mammalian enzymes, the quinazoline derivative was significantly more potent against the filarial enzymes. In terms of the ID 50 , the parasites' reductases were more sensitive than the analogous mammalian enzyme to inhibition by the 2,4-diaminopyrimidine trimethoprim. On the same basis, the parasites' reductases were more sensitive to suramin, especially that from O. volvulus , the ID 50 in this case being 2 × 10 −6 M compared with 7 × 10 −5 for the mammalian reductase.
Investigation of Injection Strategies to Improve High Efficiency RCCI Combustion With Diesel and Gasoline Direct Injection

Experiments were performed to investigate injection strategies for improving engine-out emissions of RCCI combustion in a heavy-duty diesel engine. Previous studies of RCCI combustion using port-injected low-reactivity fuel (e.g., gasoline or iso-octane) and direct-injected high-reactivity fuel (e.g., diesel or n-heptane) have reported greater than 56% gross indicated thermal efficiency while meeting the EPA 2010 heavy-duty PM and NOx emissions regulations in-cylinder. However, CO and UHC emissions were higher than in diesel combustion. This increase is thought to be caused by crevice flows of trapped low-reactivity fuel and lower cylinder wall temperatures. In the present study, both the low- and high-reactivity fuels were direct-injected, enabling more precise targeting of the low-reactivity fuel as well as independent stratification of equivalence ratio and reactivity. Experiments with direct-injection of both gasoline and diesel were conducted at 9 bar IMEP and compared to results from experiments with port-injected gasoline and direct-injected diesel at matched conditions. The results indicate that reductions in UHC, CO, and PM are possible with direct-injected gasoline, while maintaining similar gross indicated efficiency as well as NOx emissions well below the EPA 2010 heavy-duty limit. Additionally, experimental results were simulated using multi-dimensional modeling in the KIVA-3V code coupled to a Discrete Multi-Component fuel vaporization model. The simulations suggest that further UHC reductions can be made by using wider injector angles which direct the gasoline spray away from the crevices.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Intranuclear localization of labelled proteins following incubation of rat liver nuclei with radioactive amino acids

Abstract 1. 1. Radioactivity and protein associated with nine fractions obtained by sonication and sucrose gradient centrifugation of rat liver nuclei previously incubated with labelled amino acids were examined. 2. 2. All fractions, but particularly the soluble supernatant and nucleoli were labelled: the distribution of protein and radioactivity in nuclear fractions changed with more extensive sonication. 3. 3. The temperature-dependent incorporation was not inhibited by cycloheximide or previous exposure of nuclei to the detergent, Triton-X-100. 4. 4. Experiments with dinitrofluorobenzene, and separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of radioactive products according to size or charge are consistent with the proposition that labelled amino acids were covalently bound to nuclear proteins.
Heart rate response and plasma lactate concentrations of horses competing in the speed and endurance phase of 3‐day combined training events

The exercise intensity of horses competing in 3-day combined training events at 3 different levels of competition (CCI, n = 7; CCI, n = 11; CCI, n = 23) was investigated. Environmental conditions during all events were cool with 100% cloud cover. Heart rates were continuously recorded at 5 s intervals by a heart rate monitor. Mean +/- s.d. heart rate for all horses during each phase were: Phase A = 118 +/- 11 beats/min, Phase B = 179 +/- 22.7 beats/min, Phase C = 129 +/- 13.9 beats/min and Phase D = 174 +/- 19.6 beats/min. Mean +/- s.d. heart rates on Phase A and C were significantly different from mean heart rates on Phases B and D. Plasma lactate concentrations were determined at rest, within 60 s and 10 min after the end of Phase D or the cross country test. Mean +/- s.d. lactate concentrations were highest immediately post exercise (mean = 18.4 +/- 5 mmol/l for all horses) and had declined significantly in 10 min (mean = 15 +/- 6.8 mmol/l for all horses). Mean +/- s.d. heart rates and lactate concentrations were not significantly different among levels of competition at each time period. The intensity of work of fit horses successfully competing in 3-day combined training events consists of both low intensity aerobic exercise and more intense submaximal work with significant anaerobiosis. The work intensity is remarkably constant throughout different levels of competition, despite the increasing distance, number and difficulty of jumping efforts and faster optimum speeds.
Semiclassical transition in φ4 theory

Abstract We show an example of semiclassical transition in φ4 theory with a positive coupling constant. This process can be described by the classical O(4)-invariant solution, considered on a contour in the complex time plane. The transition is technically analogous to the one-instanton transition in the electroweak model. It is suppressed by the factor exp(−2S0), where S0 is the Lipatov instanton action. This process describes a semiclassical transition between two coherent states with much a smaller number of particles in the initial state than in the final state. Therefore, it could be relevant to the problem of the calculation of amplitudes for multiiparticle production in φ4-type models.
Information effects in major league baseball betting markets

Previous studies point to a generally efficient baseball betting market with no profitable betting strategies. However, failure to consider the time of year in which the bets are placed neglects differences in available information throughout the season. This analysis largely confirms the general efficiency of the major league baseball betting market by existing measures; however, incorporating the time of the year in which the bet is made generates persistent profitable betting strategies. The process by which information impacts returns is considered; increasing difficulties in determining the true favourite likely play the largest role, while assessing the exact favourite underdog relationship also has an impact.
TU-C-M100J-06: Accurate Prediction of Intra-Fraction Motion Using a Modified Linear Adaptive Filter

Purpose: To predict tumor position in order to compensate for temporal latency of a target tracking‐based dynamic radiation dose delivery system.Method and Materials: A linear adaptive filter was trained for real‐time prediction of tumor target position. Signal history was first filtered by a low‐pass filter (LPF). Template matching was used in order to select training examples that were closest to the current case, using the distance metric: D j = ∑ i=1 N (x i j − x i ) 2 where, D j = distance between j th training example and test case x i j = i th component of j th training example x i = i th component of test case . This algorithm was applied to 160 3D tumor motion datasets acquired from 46 patients. Algorithm parameters were selected through a comprehensive sensitivity analysis performed on 10% of the datasets that exhibited maximum peak‐to‐peak motion. The resulting parameters were used to analyze algorithm performance over the remaining 90% of the datasets. Root mean square (RMS), maximum, mean and standard deviation of errors with and without prediction were calculated. The error distribution was tested against a Gaussian distribution using the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov (KS) test. Results: Sensitivity analyses showed that a third‐order Butterworth LPF having cutoff frequency of 2 Hz was the most suitable. Examination of error indicates that it has close‐to‐zero mean for all the three dimensions and standard deviation is of the order of 0.1 mm. Moreover, the D‐statistics of KS test are close to 0.1 (indicating a distribution that closely approaches a Gaussian) except for cases where tumor motion itself is very small (less than 5 mm). Compared to no prediction, the algorithm reduced RMS and maximum errors, on average, by 74.58% and 55.39% respectively. Conclusion: We have developed a robust and highly efficient algorithm for predicting respiratory tumor motion. Future work includes integration of the algorithm with the laboratory setup of a dynamic MLC‐based target trackingsystem.
Effects of compound 48/80 on hepatic glycogen and glucose‐6‐phosphatase early in the diurnal cycle of the rat

The amount and distribution of glycogen as well as the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) in the livers of rats were analyzed by biochemical and/or histochemical techniques. During the first 5 hr of the light cycle, livers of rats were sampled prior to and 30 min following an injection of compound 48/80 or Ringer's solution. Glycogen decreased significantly in response to sampling; however, treatment with compound 48/80 provoked an additional significant decrease in hepatic glycogen. These differences occurred irrespective of the time during the 5 hr that this was studied. The livers of the majority of the rats treated with compound 48/80 displayed a periportal distribution of glycogen, while those treated with Ringer's showed a more uniform pattern. Hepatic G-6-Pase activity was unchanged in either the Ringer's or compound 48/80 treated rats. These results indicated that (1) the significant glycogenolytic response occurs independently of the amount of glycogen present, (2) G-6-Pase activity is not affected within 30 min following the stimulation of glycogenolysis, (3) variation in glycogen patterns during depletion depends on the nature of the stimulus and/or degree of response, and (4) the amount of glycogen available for release is limited.
“Professor Smith” goes to Washington

I recently found myself in a position both strange and familiar for a younger scientist— in a suit and tie, scurrying from office to office, discussing and defending the science behind global warming, and leaving behind packets of information to support my case. No, this was not a job interview for a faculty position on a college campus. This was a visit to Senate and House staff members from Indiana, and the location was Capitol Hill. The suit and tie are de rigueur on the Hill (except, I found, among the casually dressed younger staffers whose bosses were back in Indiana). But my visit was timely, as the national leaders struggle over issues of energy policies and global warming and the international community looks on with concern over the rejection of the Kyoto Protocol by the Bush Administration. My goal was to provide adequate scientific background to inform my legislators that the science behind global warming is sound, that the potential impacts are severe, and that action needs to be taken now to control global warming.
Ultrastructural comparison of basophilic leukocytes and mast cells in the guinea pig

Differences in the ultrastructure of basophils in the bone marrow reflect transition from early to late stages of cell development. Mast cells in the trachea, stomach and duodenum lack such developmental changes, but one cell encountered in mitosis indicates a low rate of replication by apparently mature cells. Mast cells differ from basophils in shape and in the structure, shape, and position of the nucleus. The Golgi complex clearly participates in granulogenesis in early basophils but not in late basophils or mast cells, and in mast cells appears associated with rough coated vesicles and mitochondria. In basophils precursor granules mature into a homogeneous granules population. The more numerous, smaller, rounder, granules of the mast cells differ also in varying widely in structure and not evidencing a clear maturational sequence. Increased density of mast cell granules apparently correlates with decreased size and increased indentation by a lucent focus and with the presence of lucent vacuoles in the cytoplasm. Laminated, crystal-like foci replacing the thread-like component in the periphery of some granules appear rigid and resist the indentation deforming the granule elsewhere. Mast cells of the adult differ from those of fetal guinea pigs in lacking the concentric lamination and having more dense granules. Many mast cells reveal several small, dense bodies which apparently constitute a second granule type, and often occupy the lucent indentation of the large granule.
Multiple Marking of American Shad Otoliths with Tetracycline Antibiotics

Abstract –Techniques for mass marking of otoliths of hatchery-reared American shad Alosa sapidissima with tetracycline (TC) antibiotics were refined to include multiple marks produced by immersion of fry or by feeding TC compounds to fingerlings. Single, double, triple, or quadruple marks were produced in fry by immersion in 200 mg tetracycline or oxytetracycline/L for 6 h at 4-d intervals. Single, double, and triple marks were produced in fingerlings by feeding 88 g of tetracycline/kg of food for three consecutive days, at 5- or 7-d intervals. Unique combinations of marks produced by immersion in or feeding of TC compounds can be used to evaluate the success of hatchery releases and to refine hatchery effort to maximize returns.
Incorporating Technological Change in Diffusion Models

The theoretical and empirical implications of a static and dynamic logistic diffusion model are compared. The dynamic model relaxes some assumptions of the static model by allowing for a flexible adoption ceiling, for changes in the technology, and for disadoption. Both models were used to estimate the diffusion of semi-dwarf wheat varieties in the United States. The dynamic model provides a better fit to the data and provides additional insights into the economic determinants of adoption. In particular, the importance of technological change in other areas (here, in fertilizer) on the diffusion path of an innovation was shown.
Measurements of positions, strengths and self-broadened widths of H2O from 2900 to 8000 cm−1: line strength analysis of the 2nd triad bands

Abstract High-resolution spectra of H 2 O were recorded with a Fourier-transform spectrometer covering H 2 O transitions from 2900 to 8000 cm −1 . Over 13,000 absorptions were measured to determine line positions, strengths and self-broadened half-width coefficients. The H 2 16 O line strengths of the (0 3 0)–(0 1 0), (1 1 0)–(0 1 0), (0 1 1)–(0 1 0) and (0 3 0)–(0 0 0), (1 1 0)–(0 0 0), (0 1 1)–(0 0 0) bands were fitted to a quantum mechanical model which involves the interactions between the (0 3 0), (1 1 0), and (0 1 1) vibrational states. Also fitted were experimental strengths of the hot bands; (1 2 0)–(0 1 0) and (0 2 1)–(0 1 0). The model includes 14 dipole matrix elements for B- and A-type transitions. The measured line positions were used along with hot water emission measurements (for the (0 3 0), (0 4 0), and (0 5 0) states of H 2 16 O) in an analysis to obtain high-accuracy energy level values in the (0 3 0), (1 1 0), (0 1 1), (0 4 0), (1 2 0), (0 2 1), (2 0 0), (1 0 1), (0 0 2), and (0 5 0) vibrational states of H 2 16 O and the (1 1 0) and (0 1 1) states of H 2 17 O. Also included were measurements and analysis of self-broadened half-widths for over 4700 absorptions between 4405 and 7729 cm −1 . The results from this investigation provide new information for the noted H 2 17 O bands and present a more accurate representation of the measured H 2 16 O bands.
The effects of a 39-kHz tone on passive-avoidance learning in preshocked rats: A failure to replicate*

Preshock vs no-preshock was combined factorially with the presence of a 0-, 78-, or 96-dB 39.2-kHz tone during punishment of the water-licking response of water-deprived rats. Preshock treatment reliably increased the latency to the first lick following punishment, but the ultrasonic tone failed to show any effect.
High angle-of-attack characteristics of a forward-swept wing fighter configuration

The NASA-Langley Research Center is currently investigating the high angle-of-attack characteristics of a forward-swept wing fighter technology demonstrator in a cooperative program with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The program includes static and dynamic wind-tunnel force tests, free-flight model tests, spin-tunnel tests, and piloted simulation. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying the contributions of the forward-swept wing to the configuration aerodynamics at high angles of attack. Results are presented to illustrate the wing contributions in terms of aerodynamic stability, flow visualization, and observation of free-flight characteristics.
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS) levels, a rapid test for abnormal adrenal androgen secretion.

Abstract Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS) concentration was measured in the sera of premature and full-term infants and in children throughout puberty. Panhypopituitary, Addisonian, and virilized children were also studied. DS decreased slowly dining the first weeks of life from a high level in neonates to the low levels observed between one to five years. After five years of age, DS concentrations started to rise. A steeper increase was observed with the onset of puberty, and adult DS concentrations were reached in late puberty. There was no sex difference in DS concentration at any pubertal stage or bone age. Day-to-day variations were small in childhood and during puberty, but were considerable in premature infants. DS concentrations measured at 0900 h were not significantly different from those at 1700 h. There was a positive correlation of serum DS concentrations with the excretion of urinary 17-ketosteroids in boys and girls (r = 0.789). Premature infants had DS concentration in or above the late...
Successive reversals of a discriminated preference for signaled tailshock

Three rats received unmodifiable tailshock at random intervals in a shuttlebox. In a continuous-choice situation, Ss could choose between an auditory signal immediately preceding or immediately following the tailshock. Over repeated daily 3-h sessions, each S acquired a spatial discrimination indicating a strong preference for the signal preceding tailshock. This preference continued undiminished through two successive reversals of the position associated with signaled shock. This demonstration precludes explanations of the preference-for-signaled-shock phenomenon based upon primary reinforcement value or acquired value of the signal, position preferences, and overt modification of the aversiveness of the reinforcer through such means as postural adjustments. An explanation of recent failures to obtain the preference-for-signaled-shock effect is offered.
The ecosystem concept: A search for order

The development of the ecosystem concept illustrates the search for order in science and shows how individuals and the social-cultural environment of the science influence concept evolution. Ecosystem was coined in 1935 and replaced a variety of inappropriate terms which all referred to a system of biotic and inorganic interactions in nature. It was popularized after the second World War and became a dominant paradigm in ecology world wide. As such, it dominated the development of productivity studies within the International Biological Program. The ecosystem concept became mature when it was realized that the ecosystem was an object that could be studied directly, using conventional scientific methods. Currently the ecosystem concept exists along side a variety of ecological concepts which represent the guiding research foci of ecological subfields.
Religion as Invisible Culture: Knowing About and Knowing With

ABSTRACT Each family's religious experience is unique. Families may be religiously bicultural, may differ in degree of orthodoxy or secularism, or may practice religion selectively. In many cases of family therapy, knowledge of religious culture could assist in treatment. The family therapist may best learn with the family, by respectful questioning about their unique family religious culture. Four cases of family therapy are presented, in which understanding of religious history, values, ritual and community facilitated positive outcomes of treatment. The use of genograms is recommended as a way of tracing religious influences within the multi-generational family system.
Monitoring the Response of Butterfly Communities to Prescribed Fire

Federal land managers in the western United States are interested in the potential of prescribed fire as a tool to decrease fuel loads, increase vegetational heterogeneity, and increase faunal diversity in various ecosystems. I tested whether implementation of a prescribed fire program by the US Forest Service in a watershed in the central Great Basin had significant effects on butterfly species richness and composition. I monitored butterfly communities during the first two years after implementation in five to seven burn units and controls in the watershed. To estimate baseline spatial and temporal variation in butterfly communities in the greater ecosystem, I also monitored butterflies in five untreated canyons outside the project area. Butterfly species richness and butterfly species composition (measured as community similarity) did not differ significantly between burn units and controls. Geographic location had statistically significant effects on species richness. Butterfly species composition of individual locations varied over time, as did the magnitude of that variation. These results emphasize that standardized, repeatable monitoring protocols are vital for evaluating the effects of experimental management treatments and for predicting and assessing the effects of future management strategies and environmental changes.
Top-down high-resolution electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry for comprehensive characterization of post-translational modifications in Rhesus monkey cardiac troponin I

Abstract Top-down high-resolution electron capture dissociation (ECD) mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful approach for comprehensive characterization of large proteins with labile post-translational modifications (PTMs). Phosphorylation of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a prominent determinant of cardiac function. Non-human primates (NHPs) are valuable models for biomedical research due to their genetic similarity to humans. To address the emerging need for in-depth understanding of NHP heart models, we have applied top-down high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry in conjugation with immunoaffinity chromatography purification to comprehensively characterize NHP cTnI. Our data revealed that cTnI affinity purified from NHP Rhesus monkey hearts was N-terminally acetylated and mono- or bis-phosphorylated. ECD unambiguously identified Ser22/Ser23 as the only basally phosphorylated sites with a phosphorylation order between these two sites (Ser23 phosphorylates prior to Ser22) which is different from those previously reported for mouse and human cTnI. Our study also strongly supports the nonergodic mechanism of ECD since no neutral loss of phosphates was observed in ECD spectra. Taken together, top-down MS with ECD is extremely valuable for studying labile PTMs in large proteins, which adds critical knowledge to our understanding of protein PTM regulations in health and disease.
Therapy of dimethylbenzanthracene‐induced mammary carcinomas in the rat by selective inhibition of steroidogenesis

The effects of cyanoketone, a specific inhibitor of steroidogenesis at the levels of 3beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-dealta54-3-ketosteroid isomerase, the combination of cyanoketone with corticosterone, and corticosterone alone on the growth of dimethylbenzanthracene-induced hormone-dependent breast cancers in rats were compared with that produced by ovariectomy. Cyanoketone produces about as many regresssions of these cancers as does ovariectomy. However, cyanoketone with corticosterone results in a significant regression of tumors in all animals tested. This therapy also causes regression of significantly more tumors that are large at the beginning of treatment than does ovariectomy. These findings suggest that this kind of reversible blockade of steroidogenesis may be useful as a diagnostic tool in assessing the hormone dependence of breast tumors and as a possible therapeutic approach in the treatment of such tumors.
X-ray diffraction and electrochemical study on the oxidation of flame-annealed Au(100) single-crystal surfaces

Abstract A comparison of the surface structure and the cyclic voltammograms of a Au(100) single crystal surface after various non-UHV preparation techniques has been made. Comparisons were made between two flaming temperatures, above and below the annealing transition temperature, and two cooling methods (air and water quenching). A chemical cleaning method was also used as a standard for the flame results. None of the preparation techniques produced a (5 × 20) reconstruction as measured by surface X-ray diffraction. The high temperature annealing produced the smoothest surface; however, the bulk mosaics, as measured by the full width at half maximum of the (0, 0, 2) reflection, were increased. Upon immersion in 0.1 M HClO 4 at +0.4 V/SCE asymmetry in the (0, 0, l ) specular rod associated with the (5 × 20) reconstruction was observed. The increased mosaics associated with an increase in the surface defects resulted in the growth of the oxidation peak at +0.95 V/SCE in the cyclic voltammogram.
Project network analysis with fuzzy activity times

Abstract Triangular fuzzy numbers are used to represent project activities whose duration times are uncertain and cannot be represented stochastically. A comprehensive path analysis method is devised using fuzzy arithmetic and a fuzzy number comparison method to determine fuzzy project completion time and the degrees of criticality of each network path. Possibility theory is then used to determine the possibilities of the project completion given the fuzzy project completion time. The existing composite method and the new comprehensive comparison method are compared and contrasted.
Playing It My Way: My Autobiography

Most cricket lovers will approach Sachin Tendulkar's Playing It My Way expecting a book of revelations, hoping to gain insights into the life, game, and persona of the legendary batsman. Scholars o...
Annual cycles of nutrients and oxygen in the upper layers of the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Monthly climatologies of nutrients and oxygen in the upper North Atlantic Ocean are analyzed and used to estimate the rates of spring–summer new production and remineralization. The annual cycle of surface nutrients is characterized by a spring–summer biological drawdown and a fall–winter increase due to vertical mixing. The drawdown is accompanied by maximum oxygen supersaturations. In the subsurface layer (100–200 m), the decrease of oxygen concentrations during the spring–summer period reflects the remineralization of organic matter. The spring–summer drawdown of surface nutrients implies new production rates that are high in the high latitudes (around 40 g C/m2 on average), and low in the low and temperate latitudes (about 15 g C/m2 on average). In the subsurface layer, respiration rates are computed from the oxygen concentration decrease during spring–summer period. Results show that most of the new production in the low latitudes, and half or less of it in the high latitudes, is remineralized above 200 m. The spring–summer new production in the North Atlantic Ocean is 1.34 Pg C. Considering that the spring–summer production that is not mineralized in the top 200 m of the ocean is mainly composed of particulate organic matter would lead to an export lying between 0.4 and 0.6 Gt C/period for the whole North Atlantic Ocean.
A patient with persistent wheezing, sinusitis, elevated IgE, and eosinophilia.

HISTORY OF PRESENTING ILLNESS A 76-year-old Caucasian male, with a past medical history of severe steroiddependent asthma, presented with a 4-day history of worsening shortness of breath and a productive cough. His medical records documented four admissions to the hospital in the last few months for similar complaints. In spite of aggressive therapy for his asthma, including triamcinalone, albuterol, and ipratropium inhalers plus oral prednisone (20 mg daily), his dyspnea worsened progressively. He was now using nebulized albuterol every few hours, with minimal relief. The patient also had symptoms compatible with persistent rhinosinusitis but denied fever, chills, sweats, or recent infectious contacts. He had no symptoms of orthopnea, postural nocturnal dyspnea, or hemoptysis. The patient also denied epistaxis, arthritis, unusual skin eruptions, hematuria, or abdominal pain. There was no history of recent travel. His other routine long-term medications were nitroglycerin, 0.2 mg transdermal patch daily; Adalat, CC 30 mg PO daily; enteric-coated aspirin, 325 mg PO daily; cimetidine, 800 mg PO twice daily; lorazepam, 1 mg PO twice daily; and calcium carbonate 500 mg PO daily.
Biochemical and serological properties of the thymidine-phosphorylating enzymes induced by herpes simplex virus mutants temperature-dependent for enzyme formation

Abstract Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that: (i) an enzyme induced by wild-type herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a deoxypyrimidine kinase with a single active site for the phosphorylation of both thymidine (TdR) and deoxycytidine (CdR); (ii) enzymes induced by HSV-1 mutants that are temperature dependent for enzyme induction are altered with respect to nucleoside acceptor specificity and antigenicity; and (iii) altered polypeptides are synthesized in mutant virus-infected cells at both the permissive (31°) and restrictive (37.5°) temperatures. HSV-1 mutants B2010 and B2015 induce less TdR-phosphorylating activities at 31° than wild-type HSV-1 and very low but detectable enzyme activities at 37.5°. The TdR-phosphorylating activities induced by the mutant viruses at 31° have the same electrophoretic mobilities as that of the wild-type HSV-1-induced enzyme but, unlike the wild-type enzyme, the mutant enzymes lack CdR-phosphorylating activity. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) prepared from rabbits immunized with cytosol extracts from rabbit kidney cells infected with wild-type HSV-1 inhibit the TdR-phosphorylating activities induced by wild-type and mutant viruses, as well as the CdR-phosphorylating activity induced by wild-type HSV-1. Extracts purified from cells infected at 31° with wild-type and mutant HSV-1 blocked the neutralizing activity of anti-HSV-1 IgG for the CdR- as well as the TdR-phosphorylating activities of wild-type HSV-1 enzyme, despite the lack of CdR-phosphorylating activity of the mutant enzyme. However, the mutant virus-infected cell extracts were less effective than wild-type extracts in serum blocking activity. Extracts from cells infected with mutant B2015 at 37.5° did not exhibit serum blocking power.
When the Patient is a Physician

IN recent years, much has been written about the physician–patient relationship. A less common but more intricate situation arises when physicians themselves become patients. Typically, this special relationship is then complicated by preexisting bonds that do not normally link physicians and their nonphysician patients. The treating physician and the physician patient may be colleagues in the same hospital, one may be the teacher or student of the other, they may refer patients to each other and thus act as business partners, or they may simply be friends who share the same social network. These additional bonds, the greater scrutiny given . . .
Characterization of the stimulatory actions of thymic factor(s) on basal and gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis in cultured rat granulosa cells.

Abstract Recently, there have been numerous reports that demonstrate the importance of the thymus gland in reproductive physiology. Previously, we have reported that thymic factors (TFs) which are present in thymic cell culture-conditioned medium (TCM) could stimulate basal progesterone and estradiol production from cultured rat granulosa cells. The current study attempts to characterize the stimulatory actions of TFs on both basal and FSH induced steroidogenesis. Thymic epithelial cells from immature female rats were isolated and used for production of TCM. Granulosa cells were obtained from immature diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated rats. TFs stimulated both basal and FSH-induced progesterone secretions 80 and 17 times, respectively, as compared to the control media. The effects of TFs on basal and FSH-induced 20α-hydroxyprogesterone secretion were comparable to those on progesterone production (40X and 10X, respectively). In addition, TCM stimulated basal and FSH-induced estradiol secretion approximately 4 and 2.5 times, respectively, compared to control. Stimulation of aromatase enzyme activity followed a similar trend as estradiol secretion, and TCM stimulated basal and FSH-stimulated aromatase enzyme activity approximately 15 and 3 times, respectively compared to control. Thus, these results indicate that the observed increases in progesterone and estradiol secretions in TCM-treated rat granulosa cells are likely to be due to elevated activities of specific steroidogenic enzymes. Measurements of total cell protein and DNA synthesis indicate that enhanced steroidogenesis in TCM-treated cells is not due to increased cell growth and/or proliferation. Rather, the enhanced steroidogenesis is probably due to an increased steroid biosynthetic capability of the cells. In addition, not only can TCM stimulate production of these steroid hormones in the absence of FSH, but also in the presence of FSH, suggesting physiological relevance of its stimulatory actions. Overall, these results show that thymic epithelial cells are a potential source of steroidogenic factors. Moreover, the thymic factor(s) may have a physiologic role in ovarian function.
Develop Calibration Factors for Crash Prediction Models for Rural Two-Lane Roadways in Illinois

This paper documents the development of calibration factors for crash prediction models in the new Highway Safety Manual (HSM) for rural two-lane roadways in Illinois. The crash prediction modes (so called Safety Performance Functions (SPF)) in the HSM were developed using data from multiple states, therefore the models must be calibrated to account for local factors, such as weather, roadway conditions, and drivers’ characteristics. In this study, two calibration factors were developed for two different SPFs to give a better prediction of crash frequencies on rural two lane roadways in Illinois.