cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 31 Metabolic myopathies

Publisher Summary Metabolic myopathies encompass a large group of hereditary disorders resulting in impaired energy provision for muscle contraction. They can be classified into three major groups: disorders of glycogen metabolism, disorders of lipid metabolism, and disorders of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The first two groups reflect the importance of carbohydrate and long-chain fatty acids as major fuels for muscle contraction, while third group reflects the crucial role of oxidative phosphorylation to form ATP. This chapter focuses on the disorders of glycogen and lipid metabolism. There is a good correlation between the circumstances triggering exercise intolerance and the different roles of glycogen and lipid metabolism in the provision of energy to contracting muscles. The glycogen metabolism is crucial for anerobic or intense aerobic exercises; patients with glycogenoses usually have symptoms after strenuous bouts of an exercise, and the muscles involved are those that have been exercised. In contrast, patients with disorders of lipid metabolism, such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) deficiency, usually have no difficulty with short-term intense exercises, and their muscle symptoms follow prolonged moderate exercises, especially when associated with fasting.
Verbal and physical abuse as stressors in the lives of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths: Associations with school problems, running away, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide.

A common theme identified in empirical studies and clinical reports of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths is the chronic stress that is created by the verbal and physical abuse they receive from peers and adults. This article reviews the verbal and physical abuse that threatens the well-being and physical survival of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths. This response to gay male, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents by significant others in their environment is often associated with several problematic outcomes, including school-related problems, running away from home, conflict with the law, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide. Although the causal link between these stressors and outcomes has not been scientifically established, there is suggestive evidence that these outcomes are consequences of verbal and physical harassment.
Current trends in the global tourism industry: evidence from the United States

Tourism is one of the largest U.S. industries, serving millions of international and domestic tourists yearly. Tourists visit the U.S. to see natural wonders, cities, historic landmarks, and entertainment venues. Americans seek similar attractions as well as recreation and vacation areas. Tourism competes in the global market, so it is important to understand current trends in the U.S. travel industry. Therefore, this article offers insight into important trends and suggests strategies for policy makers involved in the travel and tourism industry.
The metabolism of 2-aminoethylphosphonate lipids in Tetrahymena pyriformis

Abstract The rapid incorporation of [ 14 C]palmitic acid or [ 3 H]chimyl alcohol into the choline phospholipids of Tetrahymena pyriformis is followed by a gradual transfer of the labeled glyceride moiety from that fraction to 2-aminoethylphosphonate or its precursor. Thus it appears that choline phosphatide is the lipid participant postulated to take part in carbon-phosphorus bond formation. The phosphonolipids, once formed, resist attack by endogenous lipolytic enzymes of Tetrahymena. The phosphonolipids and the structurally similar lipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, are therefore synthesized and degraded at rates which differ markedly.
Diffusion-induced stress in inhomogeneous materials: concentration-dependent elastic modulus

By incorporating the contribution of solute atoms to the Helmholtz free energy of solid solution, a linear relation is derived between Young’s modulus and the concentration of solute atoms. The solute atoms can either increase or decrease Young’s modulus of solid solution, depending on the first-order derivative of the Helmholtz free energy with respect to the concentration of solute atoms. Using this relation, a closed-form solution of the chemical stress in an elastic plate is obtained when the diffusion behavior in the plate can be described by the classical Fick’s second law with convection boundary condition on one surface and zero flux on the other surface. The plate experiences tensile stress after short diffusion time due to asymmetrical diffusion, which will likely cause surface microcracking. The results show that the effect of the concentration dependence of Young’s modulus on the evolution of chemical stress in elastic plates is negligible if the change of Young’s modulus due to the diffusive motion of solute atomsis is not compatible in magnitude with Young’s modulus of the pure material. Also, a new diffusion equation is developed for strictly regular binary solid solution. The effective diffusivity is a nonlinear function of the concentration of solute atoms.
DNA polymerase zeta generates clustered mutations during bypass of endogenous DNA lesions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Multiple sequence changes that are simultaneously introduced in a single DNA transaction have a higher probability of altering gene function than do single base substitutions. DNA polymerase zeta (Pol ζ) has been shown to introduce such clustered mutations under specific selective and/or DNA damage-producing conditions. In this study, a forward mutation assay was used to determine the specificity of spontaneous mutations generated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae when either wild-type Pol ζ or a mutator Pol ζ variant (rev3-L979F) bypasses endogenous lesions. Mutagenesis in strains proficient for nucleotide excision repair (NER) was compared to mutagenesis in NER-deficient strains that retain unrepaired endogenous DNA lesions in the genome. Compared to NER-proficient strains, NER-deficient rad14Δ strains have elevated mutation rates that depend on Pol ζ. Rates are most strongly elevated for tandem base pair substitutions and clusters of multiple, closely spaced mutations. Both types of mutations depend on Pol ζ, but not on Pol η. Rates of each are further elevated in yeast strains bearing the rev3-979F allele. The results indicate that when Pol ζ performs mutagenic bypass of endogenous, helix-distorting lesions, it catalyzes a short track of processive, error-prone synthesis. We discuss the implications of this unique catalytic property of Pol ζ to its evolutionary conservation and possibly to multistage carcinogenesis.Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Calibration of the NASA scatterometer using a ground calibration station

To aid in calibrating and monitoring the performance of the NASA scatterometer (NSCAT), a calibration ground station (CGS) was operated in White Sands, New Mexico from mid November 1996 through February 1997. The CGS was used to verify the proper operation of the NSCAT system including transmit power, frequency, pulse width, and receiver gain. It was also used to track spacecraft attitude variation, and to measure the antenna gain balance between different beams. This paper will describe the basic operation of the CGS, and the principle results obtained during the calibration period. The CGS is a transmit/receive system which was used to record pulses from NSCAT, and to transmit pulses back to NSCAT. The CGS data was synchronized with NSCAT telemetry, and processed for timing, frequency, and gain information. These results were then compared with the values expected using the nominal pre-launch calibration data. Timing discrepancies indicated significant spacecraft attitude variations beyond the values reported in telemetry. Gain discrepancies showed a small ascending/descending difference. The cause of this difference (NSCAT or the CGS) is not clear at this time.
A microdiffraction study of gold-ruthenium catalyst particles

Abstract A dedicated scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) instrument has been used to obtain microdiffraction patterns from metal particles of diameters in the range 1–3 nm. From about 200 good, clear patterns from particles in gold-ruthenium catalysts on magnesium oxide and silica supports, most could be identified as coming from MgO, Au, or Ru in their known structural forms. About 30 patterns could clearly not be attributed to any known structure. For these patterns, agreement could be found with the assumption of either two-dimensional hexagonal rafts of atoms with periodicities of about 0.25 nm or a faulted body-centered cubic structure with unit cell edge about 0.295 nm. Each of these possibilities involves an interatomic distance 5 to 10% smaller than the bulk of RuRu value. Evidence from high-resolution electron microscopy tends to support the BCC structure. No clear evidence could be found for any association of Au and Ru atoms.
Potential semiochemicals in urine from free ranging wolverines (Gulo gulo Pallas, 1780)

Urine deposition has been observed as an important scent-marking behaviour among wolverines (Gulo gulo, Mustelinae, Mustelidae). Solid phase microextraction (SPME) of headspace volatiles of the urine from free ranging wolverines were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Urine samples were collected directly from the bladder of live-trapped animals or from frozen samples deposited in snow. Nineteen potential semiochemicals were identified in the headspace from 22 urine samples. The composition of these volatile compounds varied by type and amount with each sample, but a number of chemicals were regularly found in many samples. The most commonly found constituents were the ketones; 2-heptanone, 4-heptanone and 4-nonanone; and the terpenes: a-pinene, b-pinene, limonene, linalool and geraniol. Mammalian urinary discharge of ingested a-pinene, b-pinene, limonene and other hydrocarbon terpenes is unusual, as these compounds are usually oxidized before excretion. The source of the hydrocarbon monoterpenes likely includes conifer needles, as they have been found in wolverine scat.
Para-[18F]fluorobenzylguanidine kinetics in a canine coronary artery occlusion model

The kinetics of para-[18F]fluorobenzylguanidine ([18F]PFBG) were investigated in a canine coronary artery occlusion model. Five dogs were imaged by positron emission tomography (PET) before and after complete surgical ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. PET studies included a 10-minute dynamic [13N]NH3 perfusion scan, followed 1 hour later by 3-hour dynamic [18F]PFBG scanning. [18F]PFBG and [13N]NH3 images demonstrated homogeneous myocardial uptake/perfusion before infarction. One hundred eighty minutes after [18F]PFBG administration, myocardial accumulation was decreased by 60% (day, 2, 0.0065% ±0.0015% injected dose/ml) and 58% (day 16, 0.0069%±0.003% injected dose/ml) compared with a similar myocardial region of interest from the preinfarction (0.016%±0.005% injected dose/ml) study. Myocardial accumulation of [13N]NH3 at 9 minutes showed a 52% (day 2) and 7% (day 16) decrease compared with the preinfarction study. The accumulation of [18F]PFBG in the infarction was decreased significantly at 120 and 180 minutes on all postinfarction studies (p=0.01). In three dogs a significant decrease in the myocardial norepinephrine concentration was documented in the area of infarction (237±94 ng/gm) versus the noninfarcted (1018±48 ng/gm) myocardium (p=0.001). A decreased accumulation of [18F]PFBG was observed in the area of myocardial infarct in this canine model. The magnitude of the decrease in [18F]PFBG was larger than that seen with [13N]NH3 on day 16 after infarction suggesting reperfusion and persistent sympathetic neuronal dysfunction.
Evaluation of chemically induced cytogenetic lesions in rabbit oocytes. III. A postimplantation analysis of streptonigrin effects.

Abstract The frequency of consistent structural chromosome aberrations was determined for 108 fetuses (day 14 of gestation) from 20 female rabbits treated before conception with 90 μg/kg of streptonigrin (NSC-45383). The findings by karyotype analysis of 1.85% of the fetuses with consistent aberrations was compared with 6.32% frequency previously observed in 6-day (preimplantation) blastocysts from identically treated females and found to be significantly reduced. The interpretation of the findings is that the developmental events of implantation and placentation are effective in eliminating from further gestation the majority of the rabbit conceptuses with consistent structural chromosome abnormalities. The data are also discussed relative to the predictive nature of somatic cell chromosome damage in women of childbearing age being an estimator of risk of producing offspring with structural chromosome aberrations. The data show that preconceptional treatment of female rabbits with streptonigrin caused a shift in the cytogenetically determined sex ratio of the 14-day fetuses, but not of the 6-day blastocysts. The significant decrease in relative numbers of males observed is consistent with the induction of lethal mutations on the X chromosome. This finding is discussed in conjunction with the timing and parental specificity of X chromosome inactivation during mammalian embryonic development.
Social comparison, attraction, and choice of a comparison other.

The effects of attitudinal similarity and task-relevant affiliative status, together with three situational factors (presence or absence of a monetary reward, choice of information source or work partner, and choice made before or after Ss completed preliminary work on the task), on the choice of comparison others were examined. The most significant determinant of the comparison other chosen was attitude similarity (p < .01). There was also a significant interaction between attitude similarity, task-relevant affifliative status, and time of choice (p < .05). The nature of the interaction suggested that general impressions such as conveyed by general attitudinal information may be more important in the selection of referent others than comparability on situation-specific factors.
Reaction mechanism and kinetic modeling of DEET degradation by flow-through anodic fenton treatment (FAFT).

The previously developed batch anodic Fenton treatment (AFT) technology has been successfully applied to degrade various pesticides in aqueous solution. The goal of this work is the development of a flow-through AFT system (FAFT) which is critical to bringing this technology into practical general use in the field. For this purpose, the degradation of DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), an insect repellent, and nine model amides was studied. Oxidation products of these compounds in FAFT were identified by GC/MS, and the results revealed that various −OH additions (most likely on the aromatic ring), quinone/keto product formation, and dimerization/bimolecular disproportionation are the major reaction pathways. This proposed overall reaction mechanism was then combined with the basic Fenton's mechanism to model the kinetics of various active species in FAFT including DEET, Fe2+, H2O2, and total iron under different reaction conditions. In addition, both initial and steady-state hydroxyl radical concentrat...
Solid-phase synthesis of backbone-cyclized β-helical peptides

Abstract This paper describes the synthesis and purification of two 22-residue cyclic peptides, cyclo{[( l -Val- d -Val)4-( l -Val- d -Pro-Gly)]2-} 3 and cyclo{[( d -Leu- l -Leu)4-( d -Leu- l -Pro-Gly)]2-} 4, that were designed to fold into double-stranded antiparallel β-helical structures. Due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding and the conformational constraints imposed by the two reverse-turn segments ( d -Pro-Gly and l -Pro-Gly, respectively), the linear precursors to 3 and 4 (lin-3 and lin-4) were expected to adopt preorganized conformations that would bring the N and C termini close together and thereby favor ring closure. Precursors lin-3 and lin-4 were constructed by stepwise Boc solid-phase peptide synthesis using the commercially available alkanesulfonamide ‘safety-catch’ linker and cyclized head-to-tail via the method of cleavage-by-cyclization. The crude cyclic peptides were highly hydrophobic and contained minor impurities that could not be removed solely by reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC); however, two-step purification—first by RP-HPLC with i-PrOH/water gradients, followed by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) on Sephadex LH-20 with CHCl3/MeOH—afforded both peptides in pure form (≥95% by 1H NMR) and in acceptable yield (23%). Subsequent 1H NMR experiments supported the expected structures of 3 and 4. The successful formation of the 66-membered rings of 3 and 4 is consistent with the notion of conformational preorganization in the linear precursors; furthermore, the protocols for synthesis and purification described should prove useful for preparing additional cyclic β-helical peptides, including longer peptides and peptides having polar residues.
Precise trace rare earth analysis by radiochemical neutron activation

A rare earth group separation scheme followed by normal Ge(Li), low energy photon detector (LEPD), and Ge(Li)−NaI(Tl) coincidence-noncoincidence spectrometry significantly enhances the detection sensitivity of individual rare earth elements (REE) at or below the ppb level. Based on the selected γ-ray energies, normal Ge(Li) counting is favored for140La,170Tb and169Yb; LEPD is favored for low γ-ray energies of147Nd,153Sm,166Ho and169Yb; and noncoincidence counting is favored for141Ce,143Ce,142Pr,153Sm,171Er and175Yb. The detection of radionuclides152mEu,159Gd and177Lu is equally sensitive by normal Ge(Li) and noncoincidence counting;152Eu is equally sensitive by LEPD and normal Ge(Li); and153Gd and170Tm is equally favored by all the counting modes. Overall, noncoincidence counting is favored for most of the REE. Precise measurements of the REE were made in geological and biological standards.
Suitability of commonly used excipients for electrophysiological in-vitro safety pharmacology assessment of effects on hERG potassium current and on rabbit Purkinje fiber action potential.

Abstract Introduction: Regulatory guidelines require investigation of the liability for delayed ventricular repolarization by new chemical entities within a broad concentration range in-vitro . However, investigation can be limited by poor drug aqueous solubility, and by solvent physicochemical attributes that disrupt cell membrane integrity. Although excipients or solubilizing agents may aid to achieve the necessary high concentrations, no comprehensive overview on the suitability of solvents for in-vitro electrophysiological safety studies exists. Methods: Excipients were tested for potential interference with the hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) K + current (whole-cell voltage-clamp, 23 ± 2 °C), and the shape of rabbit Purkinje fiber action potentials (conventional glass microelectrode technique, 37 ± 1 °C). Results and discussion: Water-soluble complexation builders/carriers had little effect on hERG K + current at up to 50 mg/ml (BSA, bovine serum albumin) and 11 mg/ml (HP-β-CD, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin; IC 20 , concentration of 20% inhibition). Water-soluble organic (co)solvents inhibited hERG K + currents (IC 20 , %/mM): 0.7/152, ethanol; 0.9/67, Transcutol; 1.2/154, DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide); 1.6/389, acetonitrile; 1.9/48, polyethylene glycol 400; 2.1/660, methanol. Part of their inhibitory effect is attributed to the osmolality of extracellular solutions, because hERG IC 20 and extrapolated osmolality at the hERG IC 20 strongly correlate. Water-soluble non-ionic solubilizers/surfactants are potent inhibitors of hERG K + current with IC 20 concentrations of 0.07% (Cremophor EL) or lower (Tween 20, Tween 80: ∼ 0.001%). Part of this inhibitory effect is attributed to their interaction with lipid membranes, because hERG inhibition occurs close to critical micelle concentrations (Cremophor, ∼ 0.009%; Tween 20, ∼ 0.007%). Purkinje fiber action potentials are little affected by HP-β-CD at up to 2 mg/ml, while DMSO tends to shorten the action potential duration at 1%. Conclusion: When conducting electrophysiological in-vitro assessments of drug effects, solubilizers/surfactants (Cremophor EL, Tween 20, Tween 80) should be avoided. Instead, water-soluble organic (co)solvents (methanol, acetonitrile, DMSO) or complexation builders/carriers (HP-β-CD, BSA) appear to be more favorable.
Gendered Sovereignty: Numismatics and Female Monarchs in Europe, 1300–1800

Coins have provided specific and concrete markers of official, legitimate political sovereignty since the time of the Roman Empire. Europe's female monarchs of the old regime, a group that has not been much studied, used numismatics in effective ways to enhance their official sovereignty. Throughout the entire period, most royal heiresses were married, and despite a persistent and widely circulated literature that preached wifely subservience, their coins (and, later, their medals) suggest their full political autonomy.
Stabilized images: The search for pattern elements

In a series of four experiments, the fragmentation of stabilized lines and angles viewed in different orientations was studied. With high inter-O agreement, it was possible to demonstrate reliable differences among patterns, with resistance to fading being a function of both pattern and orientation. The results were discussed in terms of possible supraretinal stages of pattern analysis.
The importance of ingestion in chromium-51 accumulation by Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin)

Abstract The relative importance of heterotrophic nutrition and direct absorption in 51 Cr accumulation by the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) has been studied. The accumulation and elimination of 51 Cr in oysters exposed to 50 μc/1 Na 2 51 CrO 4 dissolved in artificial sea water is compared with that in oysters exposed to the same concentration of 51 Cr associated with the cells of a Chlamydomonas suspension. At the given exposure concentration, 51 Cr accumulation in oysters occurs more readily by direct absorption than by ingestion. In a natural environment however, the radioactivity is likely to be greater in the food supply than in the water since most organisms tend to concentrate radionuclides. As a result, the food supply might be the primary source of radioactivity even though accumulation occurs more readily by direct absorption. In these experiments, accumulation by direct absorption alone cannot account for the large concentration factors implied from field assays of 51 Cr in Columbia River organisms.
Relationship of Job Stressors to Job Performance: Linear or an Inverted-U?

This study evaluated the potential positive effects of stressors on job performance by examining the shape of the relation between stressors and job performance. The 281 respondents were a demographically and organizationally heterogeneous group from the Detroit area, who were employed during the study. They were given four structured in-home interviews, approximately 6 weeks apart, over a period of 18 weeks. Interviews were also conducted with a significant other, nonminated by each respondent from work life. Stressors examined were role ambiguity, role conflict, and job insecurity. Strains, also examined as potential stressors, were job dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, and anger. Technical and social aspects of respondents' job performance were measured separately, as were absenteeism and tardiness. All zero-order Pearson correlations were either statistically significant and in predicted directions or essentially zero. All relationships were monotonic, suggesting that, for these stressors, their optimal amounts are generally zero. Results are discussed in terms of arousal and activation, information-processing, and expectancy theory.
A new method for the determination of taurine in tissues.

Abstract The selective passage of the zwitterion of taurine through both an anion- and cation-exchange resin has been used as the basis of this assay. A protein-free filtrate of tissue extract is passed through a column containing Dowex 1-Cl and Dowex 50-H, heated with 6 N HCl for 15 min. at 100 °C. (to hydrolyze the glycerylphosphorylethanolamine), and passed through a second column identical with the first. Color is then developed with a modified ninhydrin reagent which minimizes interference due to urea. Recoveries of taurine from rat skeletal muscle extracts ranged from 97 to 102% in the 25-μg. range, with reproducibility being about ± 2%. Specificity, as tested by paper chromatography and the use of model mixtures of amino acids, appeared to be satisfactory; in 15 tissues of the rat interference (at the 5–7% level) was found only in pancreas, testes, and brain. The taurine concentration of 15 tissues of the Sprague-Dawley male rat as a function of age was studied with this method, and a threefold increase in the taurine concentration of heart was demonstrated.
Effects of Dietary Methionine and Vitamin B12 Deficiency on Folate Metabolism

Summary. Glutamate formimino transferase activity (GFA) and liver folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were decreased in rats fed diets deficient in methionine and vitamin B12. The addition of either methionine or vitamin B12 resulted in a rise in GFA and in liver folate levels. However, L. casei serum folate was not affected by the dietary level of vitamin B12 or methionine, but the S. faecalis serum folate decreased as the level of dietary methionine and vitamin B12 was increased. The results of these studies do not appear to support the concept that vitamin B12 deficiency results in a ‘pile-up’ of N5-methyl folate but suggests that it induces folate deficiency. Also the results suggest that the effect of vitamin B12 on folate metabolism may be mediated via methionine metabolism.
Dewetting of polymeric films: unresolved issues

Since the early seminal theoretical work by Brochard and coworkers, and experiments by Reiter over a decade ago, considerable progress has been made toward the development of a comprehensive picture of the "equilibrium" and dynamic behavior of unstable thin polymeric films. Generally, theoretical work has carefully guided the design of many experiments conducted in this field. Recent experimental findings, however, raise new questions that could probably not have been foreseen by theory and now need to be revisited. In this paper we highlight three problems in two general areas, (1) the use of the effective interfacial potential describing film substrate interactions and (2) the dynamics of dewetting and the associated connection to "slip" phenomena and fingering instabilities. We suggest that in addition to experiments, analytical theory and simulations will play a critical role toward elucidating the ultimate goal of a universal picture of "equilibrium" and dynamic behavior of instabilities in thin films.
Effect of Intensive Instruction on Elementary Students’ Memory for Culturally Unfamiliar Music

Previous researchers have found that both adults and children demonstrate better memory for novel music from their own music culture than from an unfamiliar music culture. It was the purpose of thi...
National collaborative study groups: structure, benefits gained and potential for rare genetic diseases.

National collaborative study groups: Structure, benefits gained and potential for rare genetic diseases
Inducing women to be more argumentative: Source credibility effects

Abstract This study explored whether women are perceived as more credible communication sources when they are induced to be more argumentative. While this question was of theoretical interest, it was also viewed as an applied concern since credibility is an important determinant of communication effectiveness. In the study women who were either high or low in trait argumentativeness argued with men and women who were moderate in argumentativeness. The argumentativeness of half of the subjects (both high and low in argumentativeness) was increased by cuing them with a set of relevant arguments. Male and female observers rated the subject's credibility. The results revealed that inducing women to be more argumentative had a favorable effect on their credibility. Female observers reacted more favorably than male observers to increased female argumentativeness.
Extraction of pesticides from sediments using a microwave technique

The microwave energy produced by high intensity microwave oven, was used to extract pesticides from sediment samples. This system was compared with Soxhlet, sonification and convection heat extraction techniques. Sediment moisture and type of organic matter content are critical parameters in affecting the degree of recovery. Extraction procedure using a 30 second period repeated in sequence 5 times provided generally better recovery values than did 8 hours of Soxhlet extraction.
Non-genital orgasms

Evidence from research and other sources is cited of orgasms elicited by imagery, stimulation of nipple, lips, mouth, anus, rectum, prostate and other body regions, in phantom limbs, during sleep, in response to brain and spinal cord stimulation, during childbirth, modulated by, and in response to, certain drugs and in relation to epileptic seizures. A concept of generalized neurological orgasmic processes involving recruitment, peak excitement and resolution is presented, of which genital orgasm is considered to be a special case.
Time-budgets of common murres at a declining and increasing colony in Alaska

We observed Common Murres (Uria aalge) at two breeding sites in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, to determine whether food availability was reflected in their time-budgets at each colony. Catches of forage fish in nets and relative biomass were greater around a murre colony that has been increasing for the past 25 years than around a colony that has been decreasing over the same time period. Murres spent much more time loafing' on their breeding ledges at the increasing colony, particularly during the incubation period and during evening hours. However, there was little or no difference between colonies in chick feeding rates, chick growth rates, or productivity. It appears that murres at the declining colony devote more time to foraging and have less discretionary time ashore. Because this had little apparent affect on their ability to feed and rear chicks, the population decline must be due to other factors. In any case, attendance time-budgets provide a more sensitive index of food availability than other breeding parameters at murre colonies.
The Polymorphic and Mesomorphic Behavior of Four Esters of Cholesterol

The techniques of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffractometry, and positron annihilation have been used to study the polymorphic and mesomorphic behavior of the following esters of cholesterol: cholesteryl formate, cholesteryl butyrate, cholesteryl benzoate, and cholesteryl cinnamate. Each of these compounds exhibits a single mesophase of the cholesteric type. The solid phase formed from the melt for each ester was observed to be structurally different from the solid phase obtained from solution. Solvents from which the solution-grown samples were crystallized were as follows: cholesteryl formate and cholesteryl butyrate from acetone, cholesteryl benzoate from benzene, and cholesteryl cinnamate from 2-butanone.
Near-infrared adaptive optics imaging of the satellites and individual rings of Uranus

Abstract We present the first Earth-based images of several of the individual faint rings of Uranus, as observed with the adaptive optics system on the W.M. Keck II telescope on four consecutive days in October 2003. We derive reflectivities based on multiple measurements of 8 minor moons of Uranus as well as Ariel and Miranda in filters centered at wavelengths of 1.25(J), 1.63(H), and 2.1(Kp) μm. These observations have a phase angle of 1.84°–1.96°. We find that the small satellites are somewhat less bright than in observations made by the HST at smaller phase angles, confirming an opposition surge effect. We calculate albedoes for the ring groups and for each ring separately. We find that the e ring particles, as well as the particles in the three other ring groups, have albedoes near 0.043 at these phase angles. The equivalent depths of some of the individual rings are different than predicted based upon ring widths from occultation measurements (assuming a constant particle ring brightness); in particular the γ ring is fainter and the η ring brighter than expected. Our results indicate that q, the ratio of e ring intensity at apoapse vs. periapse, is close to 3.2 ± 0.16 . This agrees well with a model that has a filling factor for the e ring of 0.06 (Karkoschka, 2001, Icarus 151, 78–83). We also determine values of the north to south brightness ratio for the individual rings and find that in most cases they are close to unity.
Shake-Out: Iowa Farm Families in the 1980s

The farm crisis of the 1980s quickly became a media event, with scenes depicted starkly in black and white on color TV. The embattled farmers, accompanied by their advocates, stood holding off bankers and sheriffs wielding foreclosure notices. In this new book, using findings from interviews and participant observation, agricultural historian Mark Friedberger peels away the emotion and rhetoric of the "save the family farm" movement to provide a realistic picture of what happened in on important farm state. "Shake-out: Iowa Farm Families in the 1980s" depicts the farm crisis of the 1980s in all its complexity, providing a useful corrective to popular accounts. Friedberger's approach and his focus on individuals present the problem in America's heartland at a truly grass roots level. Those seeking a better understanding of American agriculture in the 1980s and of rural life generally will find it invaluable.
Simultaneous Imaging of Small Metabolites and Lipids in Rat Brain Tissues at Atmospheric Pressure by Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure imaging mass spectrometry is a rapidly expanding field that offers advantages in the ability to study biological systems in their native condition, simplified sample preparation, and high-throughput experiments. In laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI), the native water molecules in biological tissues facilitate sampling by a focused mid-infrared laser beam. The ionization of the ablated material is accomplished by electrospray postionization. In this work, we demonstrate that the imaging variant of LAESI simultaneously provides lateral distributions for small metabolites and lipids directly in rat brain sections. To cope with the fragile nature and potential dehydration of the brain tissue due to drying in the ambient environment as well as to minimize analyte redistribution, a Peltier cooling stage is integrated into the LAESI imaging system. We demonstrate the utility of high-resolution (m/Δm > 6000) time-of-flight mass spectrometry with LAESI to deconvolute spatial distri...
Effect of slope on the growth and migration of headcuts in rills

Abstract Experiments were conducted to examine soil erosion by headcut development and upstream migration in rills typical of upland areas. Soil material, simulated rain, overland flow discharge, and initial headcut height were held constant in each experiment, but initial slope of the bed varied from 1% to 10%. Air-dried, crushed, and sieved sandy loam to sandy clay loam soil was incrementally packed into a laboratory channel 2 m long and 0.165 m wide to a depth of 0.25 m. Soil bulk density was 1425 kg m−3 in each experiment. A pre-formed headcut 25-mm high was constructed 1.5 m downstream of the entrance of the flume. Simulated rain, applied at 21 mm h−1 for 4 h, produced a well-developed surface seal that minimized the detachment of the surface soil. Following the rainfall, overland flow at a rate of 52 l min−1 was released onto the bed, soil erosion occurred at the pre-formed headcut overfall, and a scour hole developed, enlarged, and migrated upstream. The rate of headcut migration was constant within each experiment, but higher slopes of the bed generally resulted in lower rates of migration. At slopes on the bed of 2% and smaller, the overfall nappe at the headcut brinkpoint remained submerged, and a steady-state condition was achieved: sediment yield and geometry of the scour hole remained constant as the headcut migrated upstream. For slopes on the bed of 3% and greater, the overfall nappe became aerated, and as the headcut migrated upstream, the depth of scour increased. Higher slopes on the bed resulted in deeper scour holes. Mechanisms of soil erosion included the formation of tension cracks and seal removal at the headcut brinkpoint, soil washout along the aerated headcut face, and plunge-pool scour. The slope of the sediment deposit downstream of the migrating headcut was 2.2% for all experiments, and suggests that flow discharge and not the initial slope of the bed controlled transport capacity and downstream adjustment of the bed.
A multiscale and multiblock fuzzy C-means classification method for brain MR images

Purpose: Classification of magnetic resonance (MR) images has many clinical and research applications. Because of multiple factors such as noise, intensity inhomogeneity, and partial volume effects, MR image classification can be challenging. Noise in MRI can cause the classified regions to become disconnected. Partial volume effects make the assignment of a single class to one region difficult. Because of intensity inhomogeneity, the intensity of the same tissue can vary with respect to the location of the tissue within the same image. The conventional “hard” classification method restricts each pixel exclusively to one class and often results in crisp results. Fuzzy C-mean (FCM) classification or “soft” segmentation has been extensively applied to MR images, in which pixels are partially classified into multiple classes using varying memberships to the classes. Standard FCM, however, is sensitive to noise and cannot effectively compensate for intensity inhomogeneities. This paper presents a method to obtain accurate MR brain classification using a modified multiscale and multiblock FCM. Methods: An automatic, multiscale and multiblock fuzzy C-means (MsbFCM) classification method with MR intensity correction is presented in this paper. We use a bilateral filter to process MR images and to build a multiscale image series by increasing the standard deviation of spatial function and by reducing the standard deviation of range function. At each scale, we separate the image into multiple blocks and for every block a multiscale fuzzy C-means classification method is applied along the scales from the coarse to fine levels in order to overcome the effect of intensity inhomogeneity. The result from a coarse scale supervises the classification in the next fine scale. The classification method is tested with noisy MR images with intensity inhomogeneity. Results: Our method was compared with the conventional FCM, a modified FCM (MFCM) and multiscale FCM (MsFCM) method. Validation studies were performed on synthesized images with various contrasts, on the simulated brain MR database, and on real MR images. Our MsbFCM method consistently performed better than the conventional FCM, MFCM, and MsFCM methods. The MsbFCM method achieved an overlap ratio of 91% or higher. Experimental results using real MR images demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Our MsbFCM classification method is accurate and robust for various MR images. Conclusions: As our classification method did not assume a Gaussian distribution of tissue intensity, it could be used on other image data for tissue classification and quantification. The automatic classification method can provide a useful quantification tool in neuroimaging and other applications.
Wavevector dependent relaxation of an optical phonon in gadolinium molybdate

Abstract The temperature dependence of the 48 cm -1 optic phonon in Gd 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 is investigated as a function of wavevector by observing the Raman spectrum at different scattering angles. The observed phonon linewidth is found to depend on temperature and wavevector. The optic mode is believed to relax to an acoustic branch which softens at the transition temperature.
Contributions of the S100A9 C-terminal tail to high-affinity Mn(II) chelation by the host-defense protein human calprotectin.

Human calprotectin (CP) is an antimicrobial protein that coordinates Mn(II) with high affinity in a Ca(II)-dependent manner at an unusual histidine-rich site (site 2) formed at the S100A8/S100A9 dimer interface. We present a 16-member CP mutant family where mutations in the S100A9 C-terminal tail (residues 96–114) are employed to evaluate the contributions of this region, which houses three histidines and four acidic residues, to Mn(II) coordination at site 2. The results from analytical size-exclusion chromatography, Mn(II) competition titrations, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy establish that the C-terminal tail is essential for high-affinity Mn(II) coordination by CP in solution. The studies indicate that His103 and His105 (HXH motif) of the tail complete the Mn(II) coordination sphere in solution, affording an unprecedented biological His6 site. These solution studies are in agreement with a Mn(II)-CP crystal structure reported recently (Damo, S. M.; et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S....
The relationship between study design, results, and reporting of randomized clinical trials of HIV infection

We examined whether the study design of randomized clinical trials for medications against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may affect the results and whether the outcomes of these trials affect reporting and publication. We used a database of 71 published randomized HIV-related drug efficacy trials and considered the following study design factors: endpoint definition and method of analysis, masked design, sample size, and duration of follow-up. Large variation was noted in the methods of analysis for surrogate endpoints. Often statistical significance for a surrogate endpoint was not associated with statistical significance for the clinical endpoint or for survival in the same trial, although disagreements in the direction of the treatment effect for surrogate endpoints and survival within individual trials were uncommon. Open-label design seemed to affect the magnitude of the treatment effect for two treatments. The magnitude of the treatment effect in trials of zidovudine monotherapy was inversely related to their sample size, but this probably reflected the confounding effect of longer duration of follow-up in large trials (with a resulting loss of efficacy) rather than publication bias. There was, however, evidence for potential bias in reporting and publication of HIV-related trials. Meta-analyses of published trials for specific treatments demonstrated a sizable treatment benefit for all the examined medications regardless of whether these medications were officially approved, controversial, or abandoned, raising concerns about either publication bias or unjustifiable rejection of potentially useful medications. Compared with trials published in specialized journals, trials published in journals of wide readership were larger (p = 0.001) and 4.4 times more likely to report "positive" results (p = 0.01). We identified several examples of trials with "negative" results that have remained unpublished for a long time. In conclusion, study design factors may have an impact on the magnitude and significance of the treatment effect in HIV-related trials. Bias in reporting can further affect the information that these studies provide.
Electro-Magnetic-Acoustic Transducers for Automatic Monitoring and Health Assessment of Transmission Lines

This paper presents analysis, design, development, and experimental verification of a non-destructive monitoring system for diagnostics of electric conductors based on the concept of Electro-Magnetic-Acoustic Transducers (EMAT). Electric conductors, in general, are exposed to harsh environments. Such conductors include electric transmission lines and ground mat risers. For automatic failure detection and assessment of mechanical integrity of these conductors, in addition to an effective transducer, feature extraction and pattern recognition techniques have to be employed. Details of the sensor design, neural-based signature analysis, feature extraction, and results of fault detection techniques are presented. Design of an experimental testbed for performance verification of the sensor and successful implementation of fault classifications are described and results are delineated.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Seed pruning using a multi-resolution approach for automated segmentation of breast cancer tissue

This paper proposes a new automated system for segmentation of breast cancer tissue. The segmentation algorithm involves a principal component region growing scheme for high-resolution images. The number of candidate seed pixels is extremely large due to the high resolution. The main focus of this paper is to present a multi-resolution scheme for accurate selection of seed pixels to be presented as inputs to the region growing segmentation algorithm. The system is tested for accuracy, and the efficiency is measured in terms of percentage reduction in number of seed pixels, as well as accuracy of the segmentation results.
Recognition and therapy of digitalis toxicity

Abstract Complicating the recognition of digitalis toxicity are certain electrophysiological phenomena which may result in arrhythmias which mimic toxic effects of the glycosides. In particular, the “rule of bigeminy”, aberrancy of intraventricular conduction, ”concealed” toxicity, concealed conduction into the AV junction, and exit block complicate the diagnosis of excessive digitalization. Of the various arrhythmias indued by digitalis, atrial tachycardia with block, nonparoxysmal junctional tachycardia, bidirectional “ventricular” tachycardia, ventricular premature systoles, ventricular tachycardias, multiple ectopic arrhythmias, AV dissociation, and the coexistance of conduction defects with ectopic beats or rhythms are of particular interest either (1) because of a high degree of correlation with digitalis toxicity or (2) because the recognition of the arrhythmia may present complexities which need consideration. The discussion in this review focuses on these complexities of arrhythmia interpretation as a manifestation of digitalis toxicity.
THE EVOLUTION OF PINK: MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC VARIATION AMONG THREE LITHOPHRAGMA (SAXIFRAGACEAE) SPECIES

ABSTRACT Prior molecular work using ITS and chloroplast sequence data revealed that the endemic Lithophragma trifoliatum and the broad-ranging L. parviflorum form a tight clade with a third species, L. affine. We used AFLPs to assess the fine scale relationship of these three species from populations where their distributions overlap in northern California. Our results revealed two groups of L. trifoliatum, one nested within a group of L. affine and L. parviflorum and the other grouped with other populations of L. parviflorum, contrary to predictions based on plant morphology alone. The morphological pattern was not supported by the molecular data, suggesting that pink flowers evolved more than once, concurrently with other floral traits such as size and nectary length. It is also possible that this pattern is due to recent evolution or gene flow between the two color morphs. The possible ecological importance of these differences in floral traits (e.g., for pollination) warrants further study, as well as...