cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of interleukin-11 with cytotoxic therapies in vitro against CEM cells and in vivo against EMT-6 murine mammary carcinoma.

Interleukin-II (rhIL-II) is a cytokine that has been shown to enhance the recovery of bone marrow and intestinal crypt cells after cytotoxic insult with radiation or anticancer drugs. The current study examined the effects of rhIL-II on the response of CEM human lymphoblastic leukemia cells and on the EMT-6 murine mammary carcinoma in vivo to cytotoxic anticancer therapies. Exposure of CEM cells to rhIL-II for 24 hr did not alter the cytotoxicity of melphalan or radiation, increased the cytotoxicity of CDDP (100 μM) and 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (50 βM) and decreased the cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil and ara-C toward the cells. Treatment of mice bearing the EMT-6 tumor with rhIL-II twice daily for 4 days prior to and the day of cytotoxic therapy resulted in no significant change in the tumor cell killing or bone marrow CFU-GM killing by melphalan, cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, CDDP, radiation, 5-fluorouracil or ara-C. Administration of rhIL-II twice per day on days 7–18 to EMT-6 tumor bearing animals receiving high dose chemotherapy (melphalan, thiotepa or cyclophosphamide) as a single dose on day 7 followed by mobilized peripheral blood cells on day 8 and rhG-CSF on days 8–20, tended to prolong the tumor growth delay produced by the drugs. This rhIL-II treatment also resulted in a more rapid recovery of white blood cells and granulocytes in the animals. Furthermore, animals treated with rhIL-II had improved survival rates compared with animals receiving all other normal tissue support without rhIL-II. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Characterizing and optimizing the memory footprint of de novo short read DNA sequence assembly

In this work, we analyze the memory-intensive bioinformatics problem of “de novo” DNA sequence assembly, which is the process of assembling short DNA sequences obtained by experiment into larger contiguous sequences. In particular, we analyze the performance scaling challenges inherent to de Bruijn graph-based assembly, which is particularly well suited for the data produced by “next generation” sequencing machines. Unlike many bioinformatics codes which are computation-intensive or control-intensive, we find the memory footprint to be the primary performance issue for de novo sequence assembly. Specifically, we make four main contributions: 1) we demonstrate analytically that performing error correction before sequence assembly enables larger genomes to be assembled in a given amount of memory, 2) we identify that the use of this technique provides the key performance advantage to the leading assembly code, Velvet, 3) we demonstrate how this pre-assembly error correction technique can be subdivided into multiple passes to enable de Bruijn graph-based assembly to scale to even larger genomes, and 4) we demonstrate how Velvet's in-core performance can be improved using memory-centric optimizations.
Extended energy approach to chaotic elastic-plastic response to impulsive loading

Abstract The paper supplements and extends an energy approach which helps to interpret elastic-plastic dynamic responses of a two-degree-of-freedom beam model whose ends are fixed, so that shallow arch action prevails, and chaotic as well as quasi-periodic vibrations may occur. For a problem of short pulse loading, a characteristic diagram is derived in which the energies at the stationary points (equilibria) of the elastic strain energy function V ( w 1 , w 2 ) are plotted against the pulse force, taken as the single loading parameter of the problem. Here w 1 , w 2 are the displacements, and the function V contains the set of plastic strains as parameters, generated during the response. An alternative viewpoint is also introduced in which the plastic strains and the total available energy are regarded as specified parameters, and the problem is one of elastic response to arbitrary initial values of displacements and velocities.
Stock Market Reactions to SFAS No. 96: Evidence from Early Bank Adopters

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 96, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in December 1987 changed accounting for income tax recognition and accrual. The original deadline for implementation of SFAS No. 96 was December 15, 1988, and earlier adoption was encouraged. This study examines empirically the stock price impact of four pertinent announcement dates regarding SFAS No. 96 for 19 banks that adopted the statement in late 1987 and early 1988. Our results suggest that these early bank adopters have different characteristics from other banks that cause them to benefit from the changes in accounting for deferred taxes and explain their voluntary adoption of the standard.
Nuclear Cardiology in the Literature: A selection of recent, original research papers

Phase II Safety and Clinical Comparison with SinglePhoton Emission Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion Imaging for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease: Flurpiridaz F 18 Positron Emission Tomography Los Angeles, CA; Montreal, Canada; and Boston and North Billerica, MA Daniel S. Berman, Jamshid Maddahi, B.K. Tamarappoo, Johannes Czernin, Raymond Taillefer, James E. Udelson, C. Michael Gibson, Marybeth Devine, Joel Lazewatsky, Gajanan Bhat, and Dana Washburn J Am Coll Cardiol 2013;61(4):469-47 Context Flurpiridaz F 18 is a novel positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion Imaging tracer with high myocardial extraction fraction and excellent imaging characteristics. The authors report on a phase II trial to assess flurpiridaz F 18 for safety and compare its diagnostic performance for PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with Tc-99m single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) MPI with regard to image quality, interpretative certainty, defect magnitude, and detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) (C50% stenosis) on invasive coronary angiography (ICA) Methods and Results One hundred forty-three patients from 21 centers underwent rest-stress PET and Tc-99m SPECT MPI. Eighty-six patients underwent ICA, and 39 had low likelihood of CAD. Images were scored by 3 independent, blinded readers. A higher percentage of images was rated as excellent/good on PET versus SPECT on stress (99.2% vs. 88.5%, P \ 0.01) and rest (96.9% vs. 66.4, P \ 0.01) images. Diagnostic certainty of interpretation (percentage of cases with definitely abnormal/normal interpretation) was higher for PET versus SPECT (90.8% vs. 70.9%, P \ 0.01). In 86 patients who underwent ICA, sensitivity of PET was higher than SPECT (78.8% vs. 61.5%, respectively, P = 0.02). Specificity was not significantly different (PET: 76.5% vs. SPECT: 73.5%). The receiver-operating characteristic curve area was 0.82 ± 0.05 for PET and 0.70 ± 0.06 for SPECT (P = 0.04). Normalcy rate was 89.7% with PET and 97.4% with SPECT (P = NS). In patients with CAD on ICA, the magnitude of reversible defects was greater with PET than SPECT (P = 0.008). Extensive safety assessment revealed that flurpiridaz F 18 was safe in this cohort. Thus, in this phase 2 trial, PET MPI with flurpiridaz F 18 was safe and superior to SPECT MPI for image quality, interpretative certainty, and overall CAD diagnosis. Significance These are highly encouraging results from this first multicenter comparative study of Flurpiridaz F-18 PET with Tc-99m SPECT MPI, which included both vasodilator and exercise stress, and may herald a new chapter in myocardial perfusion imaging.
Nano-engineered crystalline silicon for enhanced photoluminesence and 1.28μm laser action- : a study of mechanisms

1.278μm laser emission has been observed in a SOI structure which has been nanopatterned to contain an array of nanopores. The optical transition is known to be associated with phononless recombination mediated by the bistable, carbon-related G-center. A physical model is proposed to explain the enhanced optical activity of the G-centers in the presence of the nanopore array. The effects of the SOI, strain, dielectric modification and breaking of phonon k-selection rules on the optical properties of the nanopatterned silicon are addressed. Temperature limitations are discussed.
Biochemical studies of the excitable membrane of paramecium IV. Protein kinase activities of cilia and ciliary membrane

Two protein kinases (ATP: protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) were detected in disrupted cilia of Paramecium tetraurelia. One of the enzymes exhibited maximum activity at pH 6.0, required 4 mM Mg2+ for its maximum activity and was stimulated by cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. Histone was a good exogenous protein substrate for this enzyme, but protamine sulfate was not. The other protein kinase showed a peak of activity at pH 8.0, required 10 mM Mg2+ for its maximum activity and was slightly inhibited by cyclic AMP and cyclic pH 8.0 activity partitioned preferentially with the axonemes, but the pH 6.0 activity was divided almost equally between the axonemes and the membranes. We also found indirect evidence for the presence in cilia of phosphoprotein phosphatase (phosphoprotein phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.16) and adenyl cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1) activity.
Individual differences in amphetamine self-administration: the role of the central nucleus of the amygdala.

Rats categorized as high responder (HR), based on their activity in an inescapable novel environment, self-administer more amphetamine than low responder (LR) rats. The current study examined if the central nucleus of the amygdala (ACe) contributes to the elevated response for amphetamine in HR rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were classified as HR and LR rats based on their activity in inescapable novelty and novelty place preference, and then were trained to self-administer amphetamine (0.1 mg/kg/infusion). Once stable responding was achieved, rats received microinfusions of the GABAA agonist muscimol (0.5 μg/0.5 μl) or phosphate-buffered saline into the ACe immediately before self-administration of amphetamine (0.1, 0.03, 0.01, or 0.001 mg/kg/infusion) or saline. An additional group of rats was trained to lever press for sucrose rather than amphetamine. Based on the inescapable novelty test, HR rats self-administered more amphetamine than LR rats at the 0.03 and 0.01 mg/kg/infusion unit doses; there were no significant individual differences in amphetamine self-administration based on the novelty place preference test. Inactivation of the ACe with muscimol decreased self-administration at the 0.03 and 0.01 mg/kg/infusion unit doses in HR rats, but had no effect on LR rats. ACe inactivation had no reliable effect on inactive lever responding and appeared to be region specific based on anatomical controls. In addition, while inactivation of the ACe decreased responding for sucrose, inactivation did not differentially affect HR and LR rats. These results suggest that the ACe contributes to the elevated rate of amphetamine self-administration in HR rats.
Detection of anti-DNA antibodies by counterimmunoelectrophoresis

Abstract The technique of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) has been adapted for the purpose of detecting and quantitating serum anti-DNA precipitating antibody. Ionagar No. 2 and Tris-HCl buffer were employed. Conditions for electrophoresis were 5.4 V per linear cm of agar, 20.0 mA per slide, and a 20 min migration interval. Pyronin staining was used to facilitate the presence of DNA in precipitin bands. Clear-cut, dense DNA anti-DNA precipitin bands were detectable by CIE using selected reference human sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Precipitin activity was absorbable with DNA and with a goat anti-IgG immunosorbent. Precipitins were also detected in ammonium sulfate-precipitated serum fractions and in IgG-rich fractions obtained by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. CIE would seem to offer advantages of simplicity and rapid reproducibility in screening large numbers of serum samples for anti-DNA precipitating antibody.
New diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis: risk of missing an underlying pancreatic cancer.

INTRODUCTION Th e clinical outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer (PaCa) continue to be dismal. Th e best outcomes with treatment are noted in patients with early-stage and small pancreatic cancers ( 1–5 ) . Early diagnosis of PaCa is therefore highly desirable. However, the mean size of pancreatic tumor at diagnosis has stayed unchanged in the past four decades despite considerable advances in the imaging ( 1,2,6–9 ) . Th is is largely because patients with PaCa stay asympto-matic in the earlier treatable stages. Most patients with recognized clinical presentations of PaCa such as back pain with weight loss or painless obstructive have late-stage pancreatic cancer. Th ere is a need for identifying clinical presentations that are likely to be asso-ciated with earlier-stage PaCa to facilitate its early diagnosis. Pncra ic t ane eexi orc insuffi ciency manifested as weight loss and steatorrhea is commonly due to chronic pancreatitis (CP) but can sometimes foretell presence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Even though there is a general recognition that patients with PaCa are sometimes misdiagnosed as having CP, supporting published data for this notion are rather limited ( 10 ) . Th e proportion of PaCas that may be misdiagnosed as CP, the resultant delay in cancer diagnosis, and the number of patients with new diag-nosis of CP who may actually have an underlying PaCa remain unknown. Th ese data, if available, would help understand the magnitude of the problem of misdiagnosing PaCa as CP as well as its potential impact on cancer outcomes. Such information could also help devise appropriate diagnostic and management
Promethazine Prescribing Patterns in Pediatric Inpatients Younger Than Two Years Before and After the Product Black Box Warning

Purpose: A black box warning was added to promethazine’s labeling in November 2004 related to reports of respiratory depression in children younger than 2 years. The objective of this study was to determine what effect the changes in product labeling had on prescribing practices for promethazine at a pediatric hospital 1 year before (2004), 1 year immediately after (2005), and 2 years after (2006).Methods: A retrospective chart review of orders for promethazine in pediatric inpatients (2 years and younger) admitted between 2004 and 2006 was conducted. Information collected included patient demographics and specifics about orders for promethazine (dose in mg/kg, route, indication, and number of as-needed doses received).Results: A total of 255 orders for promethazine met study criteria. Though the number of promethazine orders decreased each year, there was no significant difference in promethazine use observed between 2004 and 2005 (P = 0.223). However, a significant decrease in promethazine use occurred ...
No-hole 2-distant colorings

In this paper, we introduce a variant of graph coloring which is motivated by the channel assignment problem. In this variant, called no-hole 2-distant coloring, we seek to color the vertices of a graph with positive integers so that two adjacent vertices get integers which differ by more than 1 (the 2-distant requirement) and so that the set of integers used as colors is a consecutive set (the no-hole requirement). We study the question of what graphs have such colorings. We also study the question of what graphs have such colorings which are near-optimal in the sense that the span, or separation between the largest and smallest colors used, is no more than one larger than the minimum span in a non-adjacent coloring which may have holes.
Neural network approach to robotic thermoplastic tow placement process control

Thermoplastic tow placement is an merging manufacturing technology that gives more flexibility in the design of parts and in cost reduction through on-line consolidation, compared with traditional labor- and time-intensive autoclave processing. This research is focused on developing an on-line control technique that is fast and reliable and can be used to maximize the process throughput. Recently developed process models are integrated into a neural- network-based optimization package, which is capable of locating optimum setpoints in minimal time. A control algorithm with feedback from an IR thermal camera has been developed and is used to achieve the desired process temperature. A feedforward neural network with a cascadien architecture is used to simulate the process. Simulation computations are now possible in less than a second, compared to around 20 minutes for the original FORTRAN simulation. This allows running of the process models on- line for control purposes. An optimization algorithm that suits the rough topology of the network has been written and tested. The algorithm is based on weighting the quality outputs of the neural network and finding the highest process speed for a given minimum quality. The output of the optimization is used as an input to the robot controller and to a temperature controller for the process.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
SU-FF-J-125: Fractionated Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) of Lung Tumors — 4DCT Simulation with An AcQSim CT and Varian's RPM System

Purpose: To demonstrate that 4DCT can be acquired for lung patients using a single slice CT simulator and Varian's RPM system. The 4DCT can be used for the determination of ITV. Fractionated SBRT was accomplished using Varian's Ex21 linac equipped with OBI/CBCT system. Materials and methods: Varian's RPM system was connected to a single slice AcQSim CT for 4D simulation of lung patients. Before scans, the couch height was set such that the side horizontal laser was approximately at the middle level of the target. A spiral scan was acquired first for conventional simulation and the patient was tattooed without raising or lowering the couch. After that, the RPM system was turned on and four sets of gated axial scans were acquired at four different phases: 0, 25, 50 and 75%. The gated scans covered a 12cm scan range, 6cm from each side of the central axis. Results: Six patients were simulated with this technique. Because the couch height was kept the same for the spiral and gated CT scans,image fusion between spiral and each gated set can be made using the shared DICOM coordinates and therefore very accurate. GTV in the spiral as well as in each gated CT was contoured and merged together to obtain the ITV. PTV was ITV plus 3mm margins expansion. Treatment planning was performed in Eclipse (4 fractions of 12Gy/fraction). Generally 5–6 beams were placed (every ∼30 degree) around the target for an IMRT plan and good dose conformality was achieved from the plan. Before each treatment, CBCT was acquired and 3D image fusion based on the local ITV/PTV volumes was made. Conclusion: A technique for the determination of ITV using gated CT sets at multiple phases was developed for fractionated SBRT for lungtumors using Ex21 linac equipped with the OBI/CBCT system.
Nucleotide sequence of the capsid protein cistrons from six potato virus Y (PVY) isolates infecting tobacco

Complementary DNA libraries representing the capsid protein cistron of the potato virus Y (PVY) isolate ‘Chilean’, ‘Hungarian’, MsNr, NsNr, O, and ‘Potato US’ were synthesized and used as template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. An AUG codon for initiating a discrete capsid protein (CP) open reading frame was embedded upstream of the first codon of the CP cistrons. PCR-amplified products of the expected size of 0.8 kilo bases were cloned into the transcription vector pBS(+). The fidelity of each PCR-amplified PVY CP cistron was tested by transcribing recombinant plasmids in vitro and translating the transcripts in two cell free translation systems. Translation analysis of in vitro transcribed PVY CP cistrons consistently yielded a polypeptide co-migrating with authentic CP that was immunoprecipitated by anti PVY ‘Chilean’ antibodies. The nucleotide sequence of each capsid protein gene was determined by dideoxy sequence analysis. Each capsid protein gene was determined to be 801 nucleotides in length, encoding a deduced protein of 267 amino acids with calculated Mr ranging from 29 799 to 29 980. The nucleic acid sequence similarity between the six isolates ranged between 89 to 97% and the amino acid similarity between 91 to 99%. The high level of amino acid sequence similarity confirms the classification of these viruses as isolates of PVY.
Cleavage activity of the sapovirus 3C-like protease in Escherichia coli.

We recently determined the ORF1 cleavage map of Mc10, a human sapovirus (SaV) strain, as follows: NH2–p11-p28-p35(NTPase)-p32-p14(VPg)-p70(Pro-Pol)-p60(VP1)–COOH. This cleavage was dependent on the viral encoded 3C-like protease. To identify the cleavage site of SaV ORF1, putative p70 (Pro-Pol) and p14-p70 (VPg-Pro-Pol) were expressed as N-terminal GST and C-terminal 6 × His-tag fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, and the expressed products were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Our results indicated that the efficient proteolytic cleavage occurred between p14 (VPg) and p70 (Pro-Pol), and N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed that the cleavage site was between E1055 and A1056. In contrast, the p70 (Pro-Pol) was not further cleaved. We also found that SaV protease cleaved the Q/G site within the rhinovirus 3C protease recognition site. Site-directed mutagenesis in a conserved GDCG motif of the protease completely abolished these proteolytic activities. This is the first report to identify the cleavage site of the SaV ORF1 polyprotein.
Diverse manifestations of tumorigenicity and immunogenicity displayed by the poorly immunogenic B16-BL6 melanoma transduced with cytokine genes

We evaluated the in vivo response to the poorly immunogenic B16-BL6 (BL6) murine melanoma genetically altered to secrete interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Three parameters were evaluated: (1) tumorigenicity, (2) vaccination of naive animals, and (3) assessment of antitumor reactivity of T cells derived from tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN). Secretion of IL-2 abrogated the tumorigenicity of BL6, while IFN gamma and IL-4 partially reduced tumorigenicity, and GM-CSF had no effect. Protective immunity to wild-type tumor challenge could not be achieved by vaccination with irradiated cytokine-secreting tumors, although IL-2 and IL-4 secretion appeared to retard the growth of the challenge inoculum significantly. An alternative method to evaluate the immunogenicity of the cytokine-secreting tumors was to measure the ability of T cells obtained from TDLN to mediate regression of wild-type tumor in adoptive immunotherapy. Neither IL-2 nor IFN gamma secretion resulted in the induction of immune T cells. By contrast, GM-CSF and IL-4 secretion were found to induce immune T cells in the TDLN with GM-CSF being superior to IL-4. The combined secretion of GM-CSF and IL-4 did not lead to enhanced induction of immune T cells. GM-CSF secretion was found to upregulate B7-1 expression in TDLN, consistent with an increase in the population of antigen-presenting cells. These studies demonstrated that reduced tumorigenicity by cytokine secretion did not correlate with increased immunogenicity. With the cytokines examined, there was limited capability of developing protective immunity against the BL6 tumor. Nevertheless, GM-CSF and IL-4 secretion significantly enhanced T cell immune reactivity to the poorly immunogenic BL6 tumor.
Assessing some of the regulatory approaches to transgenic plants: What can we learn from the regulation of other technologies?

Transgenic plants result from the isolation and insertion of genes into plants by means other than conventional breeding techniques, making it possible to isolate a gene that controls a valuable trait without also inserting thousands of other genes, as can occur with other methods. Transgenic plants potentially can provide substantial benefits to humans, but they can also pose risks to ecosystems, nontarget species and even to humans. I utilize the U.S. regulatory experience with chemical substances to provide some background for locating the strengths and weaknesses of different legal structures as well as providing an opportunity to learn from them. Learning from that case study and different legal structures utilized therein, as well as from the state of the world in which transgenic plants will be introduced and the state of the relevant sciences combined with a National Research Council Report on transgenic plants, this essay assesses the regulatory procedures that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses to evaluate the risks from transgenic plants. These legal structures, although well suited for identifying risks before there is extensive exposure, have a number of shortcomings for reviewing the products of a new and not well-understood technology. The U.S. could take some steps toward improving its reasonable, tiered, pre-market approach for reviewing the risks from transgenic plants by following the NRC recommendations and learning from shortcomings of the regulation of chemical risks. Whether it will be or not remains to be seen.
On the phenomenon of variable activation energy for condensed phase reactions

Various effects that liquid and solid media produce on the experimental activation energy of a reaction involving a single chemical step are discussed. The effects are experimentally observed as significant variations in the activation energy with temperature or extent of reaction. Since these phenomena are inconsistent with the concept of a constant activation energy, that of variable activation energy is considered as an alternative. The discussion covers the kinetics of such processes as electron transfer, liquid phase polymerization, desorption from solids, and solid state decomposition.
Wired science: use of World Wide Web and e-mail in science public relations

Abstract To gain visibility and public support, scientists must gain the attention of the mass media. Science public relations practitioners, who represent well-known research universities, private research organizations, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, non-profit health associations, and public relations firms, help scientists accomplish that goal. The World Wide Web and e-mail have become an integral part of science public relations, according to a 2000 survey. Practitioners find that e-mail is essential in media relations. They believe the Web and e-mail together make it easier to obtain media coverage. Most (86%) practitioners in this highly specialized field believe the Web has improved their public relations work.
Upwind Scheme for Solving the Euler Equations on Unstructured Tetrahedral Meshes

An upwind scheme is presented for solving the three-dimensional Euler equations on unstructured tetrahedral meshes. Spatial discretization is accomplished by a cell-centered finite-volume formulation using flux-difference splitting. Higher-order differences are formed by a multidimensional linear reconstruction process. The solution gradients required for the higher-order differenes are computed by a novel approach that yields highly resolved solutions in regions of smooth flow while avoiding oscillations across shocks without explicitly applying a limiter. Solutions are advanced in time by a three-stage Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme with convergence accelerated to steady state by local time stepping and implicit residual smoothing. Transonic solutions are presented for two meshes around the ONERA M6 wing and demonstrate substantial accuracy and insensitivity to mesh size.
Diamond Windows for Withstanding Very High Pressures

Diamond windows have been tested out and found to withstand much greater pressures than glass or fused quartz windows (up to 21,500 atmospheres), particularly when water and alcohol solutions are used to transmit the pressure to the windows.
Keeping it Intimate: A Meditation on the Power of Horror

The paper is a reading of Julia Kristeva, The Severed Head . It first interprets a dual historical element in Kristeva's text on "capital visions," her selection of exemplars of the artistic representation of severed heads. On the one hand, there are the aesthetic trajectories themselves, from skull art to artistic modernism. On the other hand, there is an implicit history of "horror" in psychoanalysis in this text, going from Freud through Lacan to Kristeva. The paper then indicates the tone of possibility and invitation that inhabits Kristeva’s treatment of horror in capital visions, which suggests that she does not divide aesthetics off from ethics. Finally, I underline the note of humor that enters into the psychoanalytic and aesthetic treatment of horror, once Kristeva has linked it to the feminine.
Fluid secretion by isolated tick salivary glands dependent on an intact cytoskeleton.

Abstract Isolated salivary glands from female Dermacentor variabilis (Say) were pre-treated with either cytochalasin D or nocodazol, followed by stimulation with dopamine. Glands pre-treated with 1 μM-cytochalasin D did not secrete fluid; pre-treatment with 1 nM-cytochalasin D did not significantly reduce fluid secretion. Glands pre-treated with 1 μM-nocodazol had a significant reduction in fluid secretion ( P = 0.003); 1 nM-nocodazol did not significantly affect fluid secretion. Ligation of the main salivary duct and pre-treatment with 1 μ m -cytochalasin D significantly increased gland weight compared to the dopamine stimulated controls ( P = 0.0412). Cytochalasin D-treated type III acini had a significantly larger mean diameter compared to the dopamine control ( P = 0.0047). Glands treated with 1 m m -verapamil plus 10 μ m -dopamine exhibited a significant decrease in fluid secretion ( P = 0.017), and when ligated, had a significantly decreased weight compared to the controls ( P = 0.0028).
The limits of innovation

Future businesses must learn at high speed, because the faster a company learns, the sooner its products achieve mainstream status. The computer industry is full of future businesses chronically hooked on mainstreaming: if a software company fails to gain a Lanchester share of its market in less than two or three years, the stockholders dump their shares, profit-sharing executives leave in droves, and the press goes wild. (See ibid., Dec. 1995, p. 10, and Jan. 1996, pp. 10-13, for an explanation of the New Lanchester Strategy.) Are there limitations to living in real time? There sure are. In fact, the most dangerous limits are the tricky limitations of innovation-the juice that keeps Siliwood going. (Siliwood isn't a place; it's a state of mind combining the innovation of Silicon Valley and the trendiness of Hollywood.) Innovative products like personal digital assistants (PDAs) have been a big disappointment because they sputtered right past the 2-3 year time limit in which a computer product is expected to flood consumerland. An examination of the PDA segment of Siliwood is a good case study that shows how the limits of innovation can spoil a perfectly good business plan.
Nominal Reasoning Techniques in Coq

We explore an axiomatized nominal approach to variable binding in Coq, using an untyped lambda-calculus as our test case. In our nominal approach, alpha-equality of lambda terms coincides with Coq's built-in equality. Our axiomatization includes a nominal induction principle and functions for calculating free variables and substitution. These axioms are collected in a module signature and proved sound using locally nameless terms as the underlying representation. Our experience so far suggests that it is feasible to work from such axiomatized theories in Coq and that the nominal style of variable binding corresponds closely with paper proofs. We are currently working on proving the soundness of a primitive recursion combinator and developing a method of generating these axioms and their proof of soundness from a grammar describing the syntax of terms and binding.
Beyond Dyadic Exchange: Functional Interdependence and Sub-unit Power

This study critically examines the relevance of exchange theory in explaining the power of organizational sub-units. The study argues that sub-unit power is generated not by the balance of exchange dependencies between sub-units, but by workflow interdependencies created by the organization's division of labour. The findings support the arguments of the study. The paper concludes that dyadic power relationships between organizational sub-units can only be fully understood in terms of their location in organization-wide systems of functional interdependence.
Temperature dependence of the CN stretching vibration of a nitrile-derivatized phenylalanine in water

Abstract Nitrile-derivatized amino acids have recently been proposed to serve as infrared (IR) probes of local environment of proteins. In this Letter, we presented results regarding the temperature dependence of the CN stretching vibration of a nitrile-derivatized phenylalanine, Phe CN , in water. Two-dimensional (2D) infrared correlation analysis revealed that at least three species, corresponding to Phe CN molecules with either free or hydrogen-bonded CN groups, exist. This microheterogeneity was further studied by a global curve-fitting procedure, which yielded: Δ H=−4.7 kcal mol −1 , Δ S=−15 cal K −1 mol −1 , and Δ C p =−79 cal K −1 mol −1 , for the transition from the free to hydrogen-bonded species.
Neurologic Injury and Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation in neurologically injured patients presents a number of unique challenges. Patients who are intubated due to a primary neurologic injury often experience respiratory phenomena secondary to that injury, including elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) in response to mechanical ventilation and variations in respiratory patterns. These problems often require unique ventilator strategies that are designed to minimize the impact of the ventilator on ICP and brain oxygenation. Balancing the need to maintain brain oxygenation and control of ICP can be complicated by the effects of ventilator management on ICP. We will examine the consequences of ventilator management as they relate to parameters that affect ICP and brain oxygenation in patients who have neurologic injury.
Skin Resistance Recording in the Unrestrained Rat

The level of basal skin resistance is proposed as a measure of motivation. It is relatively simple to obtain and can be measured concurrently with behavior of interest to the experimenter. The technique described requires a grid floor, but the assessment procedure does not affect the organism's state because of the subthreshold measuring current that is used. This method in no way restrains the rat and can therefore be used in an unlimited number of experimental situations.
ANCHOR POINT EFFECTS ON THE EQUIVALENCE OF QUESTIONNAIRE ITEMS

Frisbie and Brandenburg (1979) present an interesting observation that while we often spend considerable time and effort in the construction of questionnaire item stems to ensure their content validity, we pay little attention to the validity of the response alternatives used. Those authors then investigated two characteristics of response alternatives: (a) whether the options were letters or numbers, and (b) whether all intermediate response alternatives or only the endpoints were labeled. The number-letter distinction had no significant effect on the responses while the labeled versus unlabeled intermediate alternatives showed small but systematic effects on six of the eight items. Of these six significant differences, the three which involved ratings on an evaluative continuum produced separations in the means which ranged from .25 to .38 standard deviations. The remaining three significant differences were found on scales which were not rated on the evaluative continuum. These items produced differences of .11 to .16 standard deviation units. Thus, while the differences in general may be small and of questionable practical significance, the findings on the evaluative continuum are the strongest and warrant further investigation.
Reversal of the trend in global anthropogenic sulfur emissions

Abstract Global anthropogenic sulfur emissions increased until the late 1980s. Existing estimates for 1995 and 2000 show a moderate decline from 1990 to 1995 or relative stability throughout the decade. This paper combines previously published data and new econometric estimates to show a 22% decline over the decade to a level not seen since the mid-1960s. The decline is evident in North America, Western and Eastern Europe, and in the last few years in East and South Asia. If this new trend is maintained, local air pollution problems will be ameliorated but global warming may be somewhat exacerbated.
Optical design, error budget, and specifications for the Columbus Project Telescope

The Columbus Project's double 8-m diameter binocular (11.3-m aperture) telescope optical configuration encompasses (1) two Cassegrain foci at f/5.4 that are optimized for wide-field optical observations, (2) an additional two Cassegrain foci at f/15 which are optimized for the thermal IR, (3) a combined f/33 focus optimized for interferometry, and (4) several additional stations derived from either the folding or redirection of the first three types. Attention is presently given to the telescope's error budget, whose goal is the achievement of a wavefront structure function equivalent to images of 0.23 arcsec FWHM; the wavefront of the combined telescope, atmosphere, and instrumentation should be equivalent to a detected image of 0.34 arcsec FWHM.
Diffusivity and growth rate of silicon in solid-phase epitaxy with an aluminum medium

Abstract Using the classical diffusion equation for an amorphous ( a )-SiAlSi sandwich structure, we have measured the diffusivity of a -Si in Al between 470–570°C and have derived the mass-transfer coefficient under the equilibrium solid-phase epitaxial growth condition. Our data can be used to explain recent results of junction formation by solid-phase epitaxy. The activation energy of this process is found to be 0.80 eV.
EVOLUTIONARY PATTERNS OF THE THERMAL SENSITIVITY OF SPRINT SPEED IN ANOLIS LIZARDS.

I present evidence that the thermal sensitivity of sprint speed of Anolis lizards has evolved to match the activity body temperatures (Tb ) experienced by local populations in nature. Anolis lizards from a range of altitudes in Costa Rica have limited thermoregulatory abilities and consequently have field Tb that differ substantially in median and interquartile distance (a measure of variability). Experimentally determined maximal sprint temperatures (Tb at which lizards run fastest) were positively correlated with median field Tb , and performance breadths (ranges of Tb over which lizards run well) were correlated with the variability (interquartile distance) of field Tb in the species I examined. Such correlations would be expected if the thermal sensitivity of sprint speed and field Tb had evolved together to improve the sprint performance of lizards in nature. Integration of laboratory and field studies indicates that several species of Anolis regularly experience impaired sprint speeds in the field, despite apparent evolutionary modification of their thermal physiologies. However, this impairment would have been more severe if the thermal sensitivities of sprint speed had not evolved. Data from other groups of lizards indicate that the thermal sensitivity of sprint speed has not evolved to match Tb of local populations (Hertz et al., 1983; Crowley, 1985). These lizards experience less variable Tb and less impairment of sprint speeds in the field than do the anoles. Thus, selection for modification of the thermal sensitivity of sprint speed might have been stronger for anoles than for other groups of lizards.
Biological characteristics of Monilinia fructicola isolates from stone fruits in eastern West Virginia

Abstract Monilinia fructicola, the causal agent of brown rot, was recovered from decayed stone fruits (peach, plum and nectarine) in 11 West Virginia orchards. There was significant variation among these isolates with respect to colony morphology, growth rate, sporulation level, sensitivity to fenbuconazole, vegetative compatibility and virulence. Species identification was confirmed using ITS sequences from the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene. The cultural phenotypes on potato dextrose agar (PDA) ranged from white to dark, melanized colonies. The growth rate of the isolates on PDA ranged from 0.3 to 3.2 mm day−1 at 4 °C, from 2.9 to 7.6 mm day−1 at 10 °C, and from 4.8 to 19 mm day−1 at 24 °C. There was a statistically significant relationship between the growth of the isolates on PDA and their aggressiveness on nectarines at 24 °C, especially at higher inoculum concentrations. Sporulation of 3-day-old cultures on peach agar at 24 °C varied from profuse to no sporulation, with some isolates sporulating only sp...
PSYCHODYNAMICS OF EARLY HEREDITARY DEATHS. ROLE OF THE MEDICAL GENETICS COUNSELOR.

Introduction Recent developments in medical genetics have made clear the hereditary etiology of (countless) diseases. Unusual attention and concern have been focused on "genetic factors" in disease for physicians and, in turn, patients and their families. In many families, this concern assumes catastrophic proportions, evoking anxiety, misdirected guilt, hostility, a marked decline in reproductive performance, and, in its extreme, family disruption. 1-4 There is little knowledge as to how most effectively to counsel the patient with hereditary disease and his family. This has become a major challenge for the clinical geneticist 5 who accepts responsibility for service and research. The purpose of this report is to present certain concepts in medical genetic counseling gleaned through experience with two families wherein death has occurred to more than one progeny from a genetic disease. Material and Methods Two families were selected from more than 600 counseled thus far. In one family ("A"
Modeling multiple time scale firing rate adaptation in a neural network of local field potentials

In response to stimulus changes, the firing rates of many neurons adapt, such that stimulus change is emphasized. Previous work has emphasized that rate adaptation can span a wide range of time scales and produce time scale invariant power law adaptation. However, neuronal rate adaptation is typically modeled using single time scale dynamics, and constructing a conductance-based model with arbitrary adaptation dynamics is nontrivial. Here, a modeling approach is developed in which firing rate adaptation, or spike frequency adaptation, can be understood as a filtering of slow stimulus statistics. Adaptation dynamics are modeled by a stimulus filter, and quantified by measuring the phase leads of the firing rate in response to varying input frequencies. Arbitrary adaptation dynamics are approximated by a set of weighted exponentials with parameters obtained by fitting to a desired filter. With this approach it is straightforward to assess the effect of multiple time scale adaptation dynamics on neural networks. To demonstrate this, single time scale and power law adaptation were added to a network model of local field potentials. Rate adaptation enhanced the slow oscillations of the network and flattened the output power spectrum, dampening intrinsic network frequencies. Thus, rate adaptation may play an important role in network dynamics.
AMONG-FAMILY VARIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SEX DETERMINATION IN REPTILES.

Unlike birds and mammals, in many reptiles the temperature experienced by a developing embryo determines its gonadal sex. To understand how temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) evolves, we must first determine the nature of genetic variation for sex ratio. Here, we analyze among-family variation for sex ratio in three TSD species: the American alligator (Alligator mississipiensis), the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta). Significant family effects and significant temperature effects were detected in all three species. In addition, family-by-temperature interactions were evident in the alligator and the snapping turtle, but not in the painted turtle. Overall, the among-family variation detected in this study indicates potential for sex-ratio evolution in at least three reptiles with TSD. Consequently, climate change scenarios that are posited on the presumption that sex-ratio evolution in TSD reptiles is genetically constrained may require reevaluation.
Cortical sinus probing, S1P1-dependent entry and flow-based capture of egressing T cells

The cellular dynamics of the egress of lymphocytes from lymph nodes are poorly defined. Here we visualized the branched organization of lymph node cortical sinuses and found that after entry, some T cells were retained, whereas others returned to the parenchyma. T cells deficient in sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor type 1 probed the sinus surface but failed to enter the sinuses. In some sinuses, T cells became rounded and moved unidirectionally. T cells traveled from cortical sinuses into macrophage-rich sinus areas. Many T cells flowed from medullary sinuses into the subcapsular space. We propose a multistep model of lymph node egress in which cortical sinus probing is followed by entry dependent on sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor type 1, capture of cells in a sinus region with flow, and transport to medullary sinuses and the efferent lymph.
On the symmetric dynamic fracture of a beam under tensile loading

Abstract The dynamic fracture response of a long beam of brittle elastic material under tensile loading is studied by means of two different one-dimensional models. If the magnitude of the applied loading is increased quasi-statically to a critical value, two coplanar edge cracks are assumed to propagate across the beam's cross section. The first model parallels that of [6] with the crack length, crack speed and the loading on the fracturing section being determined as functions of time after fracture initiation. The second model is derived by means of energy considerations in the vicinity of the fracturing section. The results obtained from both models are similar except during the final phase of the fracture process.
On social groups and relations

A group of people is divided (1) into n fundamental groups and (2) into 2n attitude classes, the members of each class accepting just those belonging to a particular set of fundamental groups. Cohesiveness of the n·2n resulting classes, compatibility relations among them, and inextensible (maximal) cohesive sets are studied.
Obtaining sethoxydim resistance in seashore paspalum.

Herbicide resistance has been a sought-after trait for turfgrasses, however attempts to commercialize genetically modifi ed (GM) turfgrasses have been unsuccessful. Sethoxydim (2-[1-(ethoxyimino]butyl)-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one) is a grass-specifi c herbicide, and resistance results from one of two possible single base-pair (bp) mutations. The most common mutation is an isoleucine (Ile) to leucine (Leu) substitution caused by an A to T mutation at position 1781 of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase. Research was initiated to develop a novel source of resistance to sethoxydim in seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz). The objectives of the present study were to develop in vitro selection and regeneration protocols to select for naturally occurring mutations conferring herbicide resistance. A dose response experiment was performed to determine the optimum sethoxydim concentration for selection. Callus was induced from immature infl orescences then plated on callus induction medium containing 10 μM sethoxydim for selection. Green plants were regenerated from resistant callus, the Ile to Leu mutation documented, and expression of herbicide resistance confi rmed.
General features of high-mass diffractive dissociation

Abstract We discuss both the soft and the hard components of high-mass diffractive dissociation and how to distinguish between the jets produced in each. Of particular interest is the pomeron fragmentation region, which should contain gluonia.