cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Herbivory in sun and shade

Observations of several plant species suggest that individuals incur greater herbivore damage in shaded than in nearby sunny areas. Two hypotheses are presented to explain this pattern of herbivory; a preliminary test of one suggests that plants growing in the sun are usually tastier, although eaten less, than those in the shade. The phenomenon has several implications for the nature of plant-herbivore interactions in terrestrial communities.
Parametric simulation studies and injection phase locking of relativistic magnetrons

Phase locking in driven relativistic magnetrons is demonstrated using 2D particle-in-cell simulations. It is found that injecting a driving signal prior to the onset of magnetron oscillations can decrease the locking time substantially from the characteristic time required to achieve phase locking by injecting the driving signal after the onset. Simulation indicates that magnetrons with small aspect ratio oscillate predominantly in the (pi) mode, while ones with large aspect ratio can oscillate in various modes which depend upon system parameters. Moreover, it is shown that the frequencies of magnetron oscillations decrease as the effects of nonlinear beam loading become more pronounced.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Static Power Consumption: Silicon on Insulator Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor

The static power consumption due to leakage current plays a significant part in semiconductor devices, as the device dimensions continue to shrink. Low power dissipation is one of the critical factors needed to achieve high performance in a chip. New methods are continuously being implemented for reduction of leakage current in deep sub micron ultra thin SOI MOSFET using device simulator tools. In this paper, an 18nm gate length ultra thin SOI MOSFET is simulated for different silicon body thicknesses and the leakage current is determined by using the device simulator, MEDICITM. It is demonstrated that MEDICI™ device simulations is a good tool that can effectively be used for ultra thin SOI MOSFET devices to study the effect of design parameters on the leakage current. Ultra thin SOI MOSFET with 18nm gate length of different Silicon body thickness is simulated and the leakage current as determined by using MEDICI™ shows that the leakage current decreases by 10–15% as the silicon body thickness reduces by 2 nm.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Radiation-induced glioblastoma signaling cascade regulates viability, apoptosis and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSC)

Ionizing radiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy is the main treatment modality for brain tumors including glioblastoma. Adult neurons and astrocytes demonstrate substantial radioresistance; in contrast, human neural stem cells (NSC) are highly sensitive to radiation via induction of apoptosis. Irradiation of tumor cells has the potential risk of affecting the viability and function of NSC. In this study, we have evaluated the effects of irradiated glioblastoma cells on viability, proliferation and differentiation potential of non-irradiated (bystander) NSC through radiation-induced signaling cascades. Using media transfer experiments, we demonstrated significant effects of the U87MG glioblastoma secretome after gamma-irradiation on apoptosis in non-irradiated NSC. Addition of anti-TRAIL antibody to the transferred media partially suppressed apoptosis in NSC. Furthermore, we observed a dramatic increase in the production and secretion of IL8, TGFβ1 and IL6 by irradiated glioblastoma cells, which could promote glioblastoma cell survival and modify the effects of death factors in bystander NSC. While differentiation of NSC into neurons and astrocytes occurred efficiently with the corresponding differentiation media, pretreatment of NSC for 8 h with medium from irradiated glioblastoma cells selectively suppressed the differentiation of NSC into neurons, but not into astrocytes. Exogenous IL8 and TGFβ1 increased NSC/NPC survival, but also suppressed neuronal differentiation. On the other hand, IL6 was known to positively affect survival and differentiation of astrocyte progenitors. We established a U87MG neurosphere culture that was substantially enriched by SOX2+ and CD133+ glioma stem-like cells (GSC). Gamma-irradiation up-regulated apoptotic death in GSC via the FasL/Fas pathway. Media transfer experiments from irradiated GSC to non-targeted NSC again demonstrated induction of apoptosis and suppression of neuronal differentiation of NSC. In summary, intercellular communication between glioblastoma cells and bystander NSC/NPC could be involved in the amplification of cancer pathology in the brain.
Mechanism of dynamic structural reorganization in polyoxometalate catalysts

Understanding the structural and electronic mechanisms by which catalysts activate and deactivate during use is crucial to the intelligent design of more efficient chemical syntheses. Atomic resolution electron microscopy is used in conjunction with bulk characterization tools including as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet–visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS) and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) to understand the activation and deactivation mechanism of dodecamolybdophosphoric acid (MPA), a promising parent material for a class of polyoxometalate catalysts useful for the direct oxidation of isobutene to methacrylic acid. These techniques show that the thermal and reactive reconstruction of MPA arises from the migration of an oxomolybdate species from the cubic form of the anhydrous MPA structure. The reconstruction continues and results in complete degradation to MoO3, which is inactive for isobutane oxidation. The mechanism by which reorganization occurs is investigated using High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) for the first time. These HR-TEM studies provide a picture of the atomic-scale rearrangement occurring in the catalyst. The initial structural reorganization in MPA is observed as the formation of annealing twins in the cubic form of the anhydrous polyoxometalate – this twinned structure is believed to be the active form of the catalyst. This twinning phenomenon is believed to originate from vacancies created in the MPA structure by the migration of atoms out of the primary structure. The twins then propagate across the MPA crystal and result in complete degradation of the MPA to MoO3.
Binaural and Monaural Speech Discrimination Under Reverberation

This study investigated the effects of reverberation upon the speech discrimination performance of 30 normally hearing subjects and 30 persons with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Following preliminary tests, the Modified Rhyme Test was administered monaurally and binaurally at reverberation times of 0, 1, 2 and 3 sec. All stimuli were administered under earphones. The lists and conditions were appropriately randomized and counterbalanced so that each subject heard a test list at each reverberation time (RT) monaurally and binaurally. The expected gain due to binaural summation of loudness was simulated in order to test the possibility that any binaural enhancement of intelligibility might be due to binaural loudness summationFor all conditions, the normally hearing subjects performed significantly better than the hearing-impaired group. However, in relative terms, the two groups were remarkably similar. Binaural scores were significantly higher than monaural scores at each RT for both groups (in sp...
Fluoroscopic visualization of megavoltage therapeutic x ray beams

Abstract A large flat screen-low light level TV-fluoroscopic system having a 43 cm × 43 cm input screen has been used to monitor patients undergoing radiation therapy with megavoltage treatment beams. This article illustrates some preliminary results obtained for 60 Co and 6 Mv x rays. Portals covering the head, the supraclavicular region, the chest, and pelvic regions have been imaged. The live video images clearly show heart, lung, and diaphragm motion. Except in the pelvis, anatomical structures are clearly demonstrated. Permanent recordings are made either on video tape or video disk. The corresponding verification films are shown in each instance. Improved image quality can easily be obtained with improved hardware. The video images are easily enhanced by special analogue circuitry which is available at reasonable cost.
Evaluation of Head-Worn Display Concepts for Commercial Aircraft Taxi Operations

Previous research has demonstrated that a Head-Up Display (HUD) can be used to enable more capacity and safer aircraft surface operations. This previous research also noted that the HUD exhibited two major limitations which hindered the full potential of the display concept: 1) the monochrome HUD format; and, 2) a limited, fixed field of regard. Full-color Head Worn Displays (HWDs) with very small sizes and weights are emerging to the extent that this technology may be practical for commercial and business aircraft operations. By coupling the HWD with a head tracker, full-color, out-the-window display concepts with an unlimited field-of-regard may be realized to improve efficiency and safety in surface operations. A ground simulation experiment was conducted at NASA Langley to evaluate the efficacy of head-worn display applications which may directly address the limitations of the HUD while retaining all of its advantages in surface operations. The simulation experiment used airline crews to evaluate various displays (HUD, HWD) and display concepts in an operationally realistic environment by using a Chicago, O Hare airport database. The results pertaining to the implications of HWDs for commercial business and transport aviation applications are presented herein. Overall HWD system latency was measured and found to be acceptable, but not necessarily optimal. A few occurrences of simulator sickness were noted while wearing the HWD, but overall there appears to be commercial pilot acceptability and usability to the concept. Many issues were identified which need to be addressed in future research including continued reduction in user encumbrance due to the HWD, and improvement in image alignment, accuracy, and boresighting.
Adaptive architectures for distributed control of modular systems

We consider the distributed control of large-scale modular systems, i.e., systems consist of physically interconnected (and possibly heterogeneous) submodules that use local information to achieve a given set of global objectives. A graph-theoretic approach is used to model the unknown physical interactions between submodules and utilize an adaptive control algorithm to learn and cancel the effect of such interactions as well as the submodule-level modeling uncertainties asymptotically by allowing submodules to locally communicate with each other through the graph. The key feature of our framework is to bound the mismatch error between the actual and desired closed-loop modular system performance by a constant that is a priori known and does neither depend on the underlying graph topology nor uncertainties.
Clinical experience in coronary bypass surgery for abciximab-treated patients

Abciximab effectively inhibits platelet aggregation and, therefore, there is considerable concern regarding bleeding complications in patients who require coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery while affected by the drug. This presentation reviews the available published literature regarding CABG in abciximab-treated patients, the clinical results of emergency CABG in 12 patients, and management suggestions for the abciximab-treated patient requiring emergency surgery.
Growth, carcass characteristics and androgen concentrations of gonad-altered ram lambs

The study was designed to determine the effect of multiple types of gonadal alteration on circulating androgen concentrations, the rate of body weight gain, and carcass characteristics, when lambs were slaughtered at approximately 41 kg versus 49 kg of shorn-shrunk body weight. Seventy-four lambs, 2 months old were placed in the experiment and continued until lambs reached the planned body weight in each group. Ram lambs were assigned at random across the two slaughter weight groups to be treated in six groups as follows: Group I, intact rams; Group II, rams to be castrated unilaterally; Group III, rams to be castrated unilaterally plus removal of the tail of the epididymis of the remaining testis; Group IV, bilateral short scrotum rams to simulate cryptorchidism; Group V, unilateral short scrotum rams, and the other testis removed; Group VI, rams bilaterally castrated (wethers); plus Group VII, ewe lambs. Compensatory hypertrophy of the scrotal testis occurred in the groups with unilateral castration, and the short scrotum ram testes were smaller. Circulating plasma testosterone and androstenedione concentrations were not markedly affected by any gonadal treatment, except that they remained at baseline levels in the bilaterally castrated rams, comparable to the ewes. Daily weight gain was less in these latter two groups ( P< 0.05), but was not different from the other groups. At both slaughter weights, wethers and ewes had less lean, more fat, less bone, and a lower yield of trimmed or untrimmed retail cuts ( P< 0.05). They also recorded a higher carcass quality grade. These studies indicate that all gonadal alterations which maintain androgen secretion produce beneficial effects, similar to intact rams on growth and most carcass characteristics. Slaughtering younger animals at lower weights produced leaner carcasses. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Attitudes and Behaviors of Hispanic Smokers: Implications for Cessation Interventions

The smoking behavior of Hispanics, especially Mexican Americans, has been reported to differ from that of non-Hispanic whites, in both large gender differences in prevalence as well as a lower self-reported number of cigarettes smoked per day. This study compared the responses of a convenience sample of 263 Hispanic (44% Mexican American and 38% Central American) and 150 non-Hispanic white smokers, in order to identify other ethnic; gender, and acculturation differences in smoking behaviors. Hispanic women smoked fewer cigarettes and initiated smoking at a comparatively later age than Hispanic men; they were also less likely to smoke during pregnancy than non-Hispanic white women. Hispanics smoked more cigarettes on Saturday than other days, but this was not true for non-Hispanic whites. Will power (voluntad propia) and knowing the negative effects of smoking were considered the most helpful techniques for quitting by Hispanics. Considering that light smokers are able to quit with less intensive cessation techniques, these data suggest that a properly developed health education community intervention may have an impact on smoking rates among Hispanics.
Editorial: Life After Provosting

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: Life After Provosting” for OE Vol. 33 Issue 07
Lipids in the skin of mice deficient in essential fatty acids.

THE lipids of the skin are affected markedly by the dietary condition of the animal1,2. In rats kept on a fat-free diet the skin retained more fat than any of the other organs including, for example, the liver and muscle3,4. The epidermis of fatty-acid deficient rats is thicker and more differentiated than that of normal rats, the stratum granulosum is distinct and the stratum corneum is thick5. In this communication the lipid content of the skin of mice which were deficient in essential fatty acids is compared with that of normal mice.
Gas-phase infrared spectroscopy of cyclopropane-HF and cyclopropane-HCN

Abstract The optothermal detection method has been used to obtain gas-phase infrared spectra of the cyclopropane-HF and cyclopropane-HCN binary complexes, both of which show substantial homogeneous broadening. Shifted somewhat from the spectrum of the HF binary complex is an additional band which is tentatively assigned to a larger complex which contains both cyclopropane and HF.
Cytology and Reproduction of Helicotylenchus Dihystera and H. Erythrinae 1)

Several populations of the monosexual species Helscotylenchus dihystera were studied with respect to their chromosomal complement and mode of reproduction to clarify the question of digonic hermaphroditism. No synapsis of homologous chromosomes takes place and maturation consists of a single mitotic division. The somatic chromosome number observed at anaphase or telophase of the maturation division and at prometaphase of the first cleavage division was 2n = 38 in two populations from North Carolina (with possible variation from 38 to 40), 2n = 34 in one population from North Carolina, and 2n = 30 in two populations from Wisconsin. Cleavage proceeded without fertilization. Reproduction in H. dihystera is, therefore, by mitotic parthenogenesis; there is no evidence of hermaphroditism. Cytology and reproduction were also studied in a single population of the bisexual species H. erythrinae from North Carolina. Synapsis of homologous chromosomes takes place, and maturation is normal, consisting of two divisions. The somatic chromosome number observed at prometaphase of oogonial divisions is 2n = 10 and the reduced chromosome number seen at anaphase of the first maturation division and metaphase of the second maturation division of oocytes is n = 5. Re-establishment of the somatic chromosome number takes place through fertilization. No substantial differences in size and shape of the chromosomes of these two species were observed. This is interpreted as indicating the existence of polyploidy in H. dihystera.
Less is More: An Exploratory Analysis of Optimal Visual Appeal and Linguistic Style Combinations in a Salesperson's Initial-Contact E-mail to Millennial Buyers Within Marketing Channels

The use of e-mail between partners within a marketing channel is pervasive, but little research has been conducted to determine what practices are most effective. The use of e-mail as a preferred method of communication is expected to grow given the increased use of technology by young adults (i.e., millennials). Six different manipulations are used to explore the combined use of visual appeal (e.g., use of color, photos, logos) and linguistic style (i.e., casual or formal) when sellers use e-mail for initial contact with buyers of the millennial generation.
Synthesis and Structure of Perrhenate Sodalite

Abstract Na8(AlSiO4)6(ReO4)2 sodalite was synthesized using a hydrothermal method and its crystal structure was determined from Rietveld refinement of experimental X-ray powder diffraction data. The refinement showed that this compound adopts the cubic sodalite structure (space group P 4 ¯ 3 n , #218) with a = 9.1528 (1) A. Raman spectroscopic measurements confirm the presence of tetrahedral ReO 4 - groups. Broadening of the asymmetric stretching and bending vibrational modes suggests the tetrahedra are slightly distorted from ideal Td symmetry in the sodalite lattice. MAS NMR of 29Si and 27Al nuclei showed single intense peaks at δiso = −92.4 ppm and δiso = 57.5 ppm, respectively, confirming the alternating Si, Al tetrahedral ordering in sodalite deduced from the structural data. Chemical shifts for 29Si and 27Al calculated using correlative structural parameters (56.6 ± 0.8 ppm and −92.3 ± 0.9 ppm) showed good agreement with measured data indicating the validity of data derived from the Rietveld structural refinement.
Effects on the fetus of maternal nitrofen exposure in the protein-deprived rat.

Abstract The separate and combined effects of protein deprivation and nitrofen exposure were studied in the pregnant rat. Animals were fed diets containing 24, 8, 6 or 4% casein throughout gestation. Within each diet group, subgroups were gavage-fed with 12.5 (lower dose and 25 (higher dose) mg nitrofen/kg body weight or with oil carrier only on days 7–21 of gestation. Dams were weighed and food intake was measured daily. On day 21 of gestation, cesarean-derived pups were examined for congenital anomalies and dissected for determination of organ weights. Skeletons were alizarinstained and examined for skeletal anomalies and developmental stage. No effects of the skeleton or gross congenital anomalies were seen. Fetal size and weights of liver, kidney, intestine, heart, lung and brain were reduced with decreasing casein content of the diet and as a result of the higher dose of nitrofen. An effect of interaction between diet and nitrofen exposure was shown in the kidney, intestine and lung weights. Specific toxicity affecting organ size was shown to occur in the intestine and lung. An interaction between diet and nitrofen specifically affected kidney and intestine. Brain size tended to be preserved, a possible protective mechanism negated by nitrofen exposure. The data suggest also that kidney, intestine and lung are particularly affected. Effects, however, occur primarily in young of severely malnourished dams receiving a relatively high dose of nitrofen.
Identification of the structural proteins of an ATP-driven potassium transport system in Escherichia coli

Abstract The three structural proteins of the ATP-driven Kdp potassium transport system of Escherichia coli [Rhoads, D. B., Waters, F. B. & Epstein, W. (1976) J. Gen. Physiol. 67, 325-341] have been identified and found to be located in the inner membrane. The high-affinity repressible Kdp system in one of four potassium transport systems in E. coli. The Kdp proteins were identified both in growing cells as well as in heavily UV-irradiated cells infected with transducing phages carrying the kdp operon. Although all previously identified ATP-driven transport systems of Gram-negative bacteria have been shown to contain a periplasmic protein component, no evidence was found for such a component or for an outer membrane component of the Kdp system. The molecular weights of the three inner membrane proteins, KdpA, KdpB, and KdpC, were determined to be 47,000, 90,000 and 22,000, respectively.
Quantifying identifier quality: an analysis of trends

Identifiers, which represent the defined concepts in a program, account for, by some measures, almost three quarters of source code. The makeup of identifiers plays a key role in how well they communicate these defined concepts. An empirical study of identifier quality based on almost 50 million lines of code, covering thirty years, four programming languages, and both open and proprietary source is presented. For the purposes of the study, identifier quality is conservatively defined as the possibility of constructing the identifier out of dictionary words or known abbreviations. Four hypotheses related to identifier quality are considered using linear mixed effect regression models. For example, the first hypothesis is that modern programs include higher quality identifiers than older ones. In this case, the results show that better programming practices are producing higher quality identifies. Results also confirm some commonly held beliefs, such as proprietary code having more acronyms than open source code.
High-Resolution Differential Ion Mobility Separations Using Helium-Rich Gases

Analyses of complex mixtures and characterization of ions increasingly involve gas-phase separations by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and particularly differential or field asymmetric waveform IMS (FAIMS) based on the difference of ion mobility in strong and weak electric fields. The key advantage of FAIMS is substantial orthogonality to mass spectrometry (MS), which makes FAIMS/MS hybrid a powerful analytical platform of broad utility. However, the potential of FAIMS has been constrained by limited resolution. Here, we report that the use of gas mixtures comprising up to 75% He dramatically increases the FAIMS separation capability, with the resolving power for peptides and peak capacity for protein digests reaching and exceeding 100. The resolution gains extend to small molecules, where previously unresolved isomers can now be separated. These performance levels open major new applications of FAIMS in proteomic and other biomolecular analyses.
Deaths attributable to Alzheimer's disease in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: This study provided 2 estimates of the number of deaths attributable to Alzheimer's disease in the United States. METHODS: One estimate was based on data from the East Boston, Mass, study. The second was based on a simulation using population-based estimates of prevalence and separate estimates of excess death by duration of disease. RESULTS: Despite different methods and very different estimates of prevalence, these 2 methods led to very similar estimates of 173,000 and 163,000 excess deaths. CONCLUSIONS: These estimates suggest that 7.1% of all deaths in the United States in 1995 are attributable to Alzheimer's disease, placing it on a par with cerebrovascular diseases as the third leading cause of death.
Optical properties of poly(2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene vinylene-co-2,5-thienylene vinylene) copolymer films and solutions

Abstract A copolymer system, poly(2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene vinylene-co-2,5-thienylene vinylene), prepared form various monomer feed ratios has been synthesized via a soluble precursor method. By preparing this copolymer, we hoped to achieve control, and hopefully reduction, of the bandgap relative to the parent homopolymers. In addition, the introduction of asymmetry into the backbone and the reduced bandgap should lead to materials with enhanced nonlinear optical properties. Optical absorption measurements on films and chloroform solutions of the eliminated copolymer systems indicate that the electronic and optical properties are intermediate to the parent homopolymers. Nonlinear optical absorption measurements show a power limiting effects indicating that these materials may be good candidates for more extensive NLO measurements.
The inward rectifier potassium conductance in rat basophilic leukemia cells

Whole-cell recordings were made from rat basophilic leukemia cells. The properties of the cells in the potential range negative to −20 mV could be accounted for by two potassium conductances, a leakage conductance (0.54 ± 0.01 nS, mean ± s.e.m., n − 6) and an inward rectifier conductance. The inward rectifier conductance activated at a potential close to Ek and had a maximal value of 2.7 ± 0.22 nS (n = 6 ). Cesium (2 mM, n = 6) decreased the inward current at every potential. Strontium (10 mM, n = 7) and rubidium (2 mM, n = 3) had a similar effect, but they also increased the slope conductance between −63 and − 103 mV. Barium (1–100 pM) blocked selectively the inward rectifying current without affecting the leakage current; the effect was use-, voltage-, and temperature-dependent. TEA decreased the current; the concentration giving 50% inhibition was 37.5 mM. The current was unaffected by phorbol esters as well as several hormones and transmitters that werg tested. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Maya: a Multi-Paradigm Network Modeling Framework

This paper presents Maya, a multi-paradigm, scalableand extensible network modeling framework for emulatingdistributed applications. A novel three-tier architecture isproposed to integrate three disparate modeling paradigms,namely, discrete event models, analytical models and physicalnetwork interfaces into one unified framework of Maya.As the first effort to integrate all three paradigms intoone framework, this paper discusses the implementationsof Maya using Qualnet, fluid flow based TCP model andphysical network interface. It addresses the performanceissues involved in attaining the real time constraints imposedby distributed applications and demonstrates the effectivenessof using analytical models in Maya. Furthermore, it identifies the negative impact on real time performance through the computation intensive ordinary differential equation (ODE) solver in the fluid flow model. A new approach to interleaved executions of the fluid flow model is proposed to hide ODE solver turnaround time. As a result, the percentage of packets missing their deadlines has been reduced from more than 6% to less than 0.2%.
Integrity of aircraft structural elements with multi-site fatigue damage

Integrity evaluation of aging structures is extremely important to ensure economic and safe operation of the flight vehicle. A two step analytical approach has been developed to estimate the residual strength of pressurized fuselage stiffened shell panels with multi-bay fatigue cracking. A Global Finite Element Analysis is first carried out to obtain the load flow pattern through the damaged panel. This is followed by the Schwartz-Neumann Alternating Method for local analysis to obtain crack tip stresses and the relevant crack tip parameters that govern the onset of fracture. Static residual strength is evaluated using fracture mechanics based, as well as net section yield based, criteria. The presence of holes, with or without Multi-Site Damage (MSD), ahead of a dominant crack is found to significantly degrade the capacity of the fuselage structure to sustain static internal pressure. An Elastic-Plastic Alternating Method has been developed and applied, to evaluate the residual strength of flat panels with multiple cracks. The computational methodologies presented herein are marked improvements to the present state-of-the-art, and are extremely efficient, both from engineering man-power, as well as computational costs, points of view.
Variation in δ13C values for the seagrass Thalassia testudinum and its relations to mangrove carbon

Carbon isotope ratios (13C/12C) were measured for the leaves of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig and carbonates of shells collected at the seagrass beds from seven sites along the coast of southern Florida, U.S.A. The δ13C values of seagrass leaves ranged from −7.3 to −16.3‰ among different study sites, with a significantly lower mean value for seagrass leaves from those sites near mangrove forests (−12.8 ± 1.1‰) than those far from mangrove forests (−8.3 ± 0.9‰; P < 0.05). Furthermore, seagrass leaves from a shallow water area had significantly lower δ13C values than those found in a deep water area (P < 0.01). There was no significant variation in δ13C values between young and mature leaves (P = 0.59) or between the tip and base of a leaf blade (P = 0.46). Carbonates of shells also showed a significantly lower mean δ13C value in the mangrove areas (−2.3 ± 0.6‰) than in the non-mangrove areas (0.6 ± 0.3‰; P <0.025). In addition, the δ13C values of seagrass leaves were significantly correlated with those of shell carbonates (δ13C seagrass leaf = −9.1 + 1.3δ13C shell carbonate (R2 = 0.83, P < 0.01)). These results indicated that the input of carbon dioxide from the mineralization of mangrove detritus caused the variation in carbon isotope ratios of seagrass leaves among different sites in this study.
Blockade of tachykinin NK1 receptors by CP-96345 enhances dopamine release and the striatal dopamine effects of methamphetamine in rats.

The nonpeptide, tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist, CP-96345, permits the study of the physiological role of extrapyramidal substance P systems. Using microdialysis, we observed that locally applied CP-96345 (200 nM) caused a significant increase in dopamine release in the striatum as well as substantially enhancing striatal dopamine release caused by a low dose of methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.). In addition, multiple systemic administrations of CP-96345 almost doubled the dopamine-mediated responses of the striatal neurotensin and dynorphin systems to high doses of methamphetamine (10 mg/kg/dose s.c.). Our findings suggest that the physiological role of substance P released in the striatum is to decrease the activity of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway.
The Nature of Documentary Materials in Africa and the Challenges to Preserving Them

Africa has a rich and diverse culture that has been documented in many different ways, some of which are not as conventional as the western ways. Documentation methods in Africa range from word of mouth (oral history) to the modern electronic systems. Leaves, skins, tree bark, stones, clay, rocks, string are some of the traditional ways in which information was documented. The notion that Africa is a continent of song and dance must be revisited and corrected. The discovery of the Islamic manuscripts going back to the 12th Century AD in North and West Africa is a clear proof that scholarly work has been going on for centuries in Africa. The challenge to us is how to preserve these diverse materials considering that the world is advancing at a very fast rate with worrying issues such as the depletion of the ozone layer and ravaging poverty. Governments are faced with different challenges that tend to push heritage preservation to the bottom of the list of priorities for justifiable reasons. ESARBICA Journal Vol.23 2004: 62-67
Distributions of extreme contributions to binding energies of molecules in liquids

Abstract Strong intermolecular interactions in liquids are characterized by determining the distributions of maximum and minimum molecular contributions to the energies binding a molecule to a liquid. Extreme-value concepts help in understanding the shapes of these distributions, and therefore provides insight into molecular mechanisms of solvation behavior. The Gumbel distribution works satisfactorily for the maximum (least favorable) contribution. The minimum (most favorable) contribution conforms to another extreme-value distribution, a Weibull distribution. Simulation data for models of CF 4 (aq), N ( CH 3 ) 4 + ( aq ) , and H 2 O (liquid water) support the view that distributions of extreme values exhibit significant commonality for different molecules in liquid water.
Tokuhashi score is predictive of survival in a cohort of patients undergoing surgery for renal cell carcinoma spinal metastases

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an aggressive disease that metastasizes to the spine often requiring surgery. However, selecting the appropriate surgical intervention can be challenging. The Tokuhashi scoring system can be used to predict survival and inform the surgical strategy. We set out to determine the Tokuhashi score for patients with RCC spine metastases and compare expected and observed survival. Records were reviewed for all patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastases at a single institution from January 2000 to December 2011 to determine the Tokuhashi score and survival. Kaplan–Meier estimates and log-rank test for univariate analysis were performed with R version 2.15.12 (R Foundation, 2012). Thirty patients underwent 40 spinal operations for metastatic RCC. Median survival was 11.4 months. Preoperative Tokuhashi scores were: 12–15, 15 patients; 9–11, seven patients; 0–8, eight patients. Median survival was 32.9, 11.7, and 5.4 months, respectively. Bone (p = 0.01) and visceral metastases (p = 0.005), and KPS (p = 0.002) significantly affected survival. Tokuhashi score predicted survival (p = 0.016); survival differed between the high and low score groups (p = 0.006). RCC is an aggressive disease with short life expectancy when metastatic to the spine. However, patients with low systemic disease burden and solitary spinal metastases can have long survival and benefit from excisional surgery. Tokuhashi score can be useful in selecting surgical intervention in patients with RCC spinal metastases, and may be more relevant than in other cancers with spinal metastases.
Internationalization of Turkish MNEs

Purpose – This paper aims to focus on the company‐specific level on the causes of Turkey's recent outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) surge. The paper analyzes the reasons as to why, how, and where Turkish multinational enterprises (MNEs) invest abroad, focusing on the differences between large enterprises and small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approach – The case‐study approach, based on eight cases, relies on the insights from the Uppsala internationalization model as well as those from FDI theories. The case studies are based on on‐site interviews with company executives.Findings – That paper finds that although different OFDI drivers vary in importance among the eight MNEs studied, the incremental and peripheral nature of their internationalization, mostly through brownfield FDI, fits the Uppsala model well. Although they preferred majority‐owned joint ventures with local partners initially to minimize uncertainty and start up costs, to cope with bureaucratic obstacles,...
Serum valproate levels in 6 breastfeeding mother-infant pairs.

BACKGROUND Women with bipolar disorder are at high risk for recurrence of an affective episode in the postpartum period, and treatment with a mood stabilizer may be indicated. Few data are available to inform the risk-benefit decision regarding the use of valproate for women with bipolar disorder who elect to breast-feed. METHOD Serum valproate levels were obtained from 6 breastfeeding mother-infant pairs. All mothers had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (Research Diagnostic Criteria) and were taking divalproex sodium as prophylaxis for or treatment of a recurrent affective episode. None of the mothers received valproate during pregnancy. RESULTS The mothers had serum valproate levels near or within the therapeutic range (39.4 to 79.0 microg/mL). Infant serum levels were low, ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 microg/mL (0.9%-2.3% of maternal serum levels). No adverse clinical effects were observed in the infants. CONCLUSION Serum valproate levels were low in nurslings of mothers treated with valproate. These data can be used to inform clinical decisions regarding the use of valproate during breastfeeding.
Synthesis of the 4,5 diphosphonate analog of D,L-myo-inositol 4,5-diphosphate

Abstract The first synthesis of the 4,5 diphosphonate analog (4,5 IPn2; compound 2) of D,L-4,5 myo-inositol 4,5 diphosphate 1 (4,5 IP2) is described. Key steps in the synthesis include the introduction of the diphosphonate into dimesylate 5 using sodium diethyl phosphite in DME to give 6. The 3,6 trans hydroxyl groups were introduced into 6 using the Backvall trans-diacetoxylation reaction. The use of the C2 symmetry in the synthesis was utilized to introduce the final two setereocenters by osmylation of 14 to give compound 2 in an overall yield of 4.5% in only nine steps starting form readily available phthalic acid. Alternatively, the key intermediated 6 can be constructed by introducing the diphosphonate into compound 8 followed by conversion of 6. This results in an overall yield of 7% for the synthesis of 4,5 IPn2 (2) from butadiene and dimethyl fumarate. Compound 2 did not mobilize calcium in rat basophilic leukemia cells but is stable in vivo and can potentially be used for the production of antibodies.
Alkaline Bohr effect of nitric oxide binding by hemoglobin

Abstract The alkaline Bohr effect of nitric oxide binding by hemoglobin has been determined by differnetial titration. Binding of nitric oxide releases 2.6 protons per hemoglobin tetramer.
The Role of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group in Establishing Standards of Cancer Care: Over 50 Years of Progress Through Clinical Research

Since its start as the Eastern Cooperative Cancer Chemotherapy Group in 1955, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) has been at the vanguard of adult cancer clinical research in the United States, and for more than 50 years its research findings have influenced cancer care worldwide. While the cancer clinical research milieu has changed considerably since its inception, the ECOG, through sound leadership and a committed membership, has maintained its pioneering roles in scientific discovery and defining standards of cancer care for all adult cancers.
On the Timing and Application of Pesticides

The model developed by J. C. Headley to illustrate the entomologists' concept of the economic threshold is presented and criticized. A two-variable model directed at the problems of optimal timing and pesticide application as well as optimal pest population level is presented.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Harry R. Horvitz Palliative Care Center

In 1994, the Harry R. Horvitz Palliative Care Center opened as a dedicated inpatient palliative care unit within a comprehensive Palliative Care Program in the United States. The program is designated by the World Health Organization as a national and international demonstration project in the provision of palliative care. The mission of the program and the inpatient unit is to provide excellent care for patients with advanced cancer and their families throughout the illness and during bereavement. The need for the 23-bed inpatient unit was documented by the increasing number of cancer deaths each year and the complex physical and psychosocial problems patients and families experience throughout the course of their illness. Health care professionals specially trained in palliative care are an essential component of a dedicated program within a cancer center.
Spectral asymptotics of hypersurfaces

Pseudodifferential operator techniques are employed to obtain higher-order spectral asymptotic results for integral operators on hypersurfaces in Euclidean space.
The oxidative modification of tyrosine and cleavage of tyrosyl-peptide bonds by continuous flow electrolysis☆

Abstract Electrolytic oxidation of peptides or proteins containing tyrosine results in the conversion of the phenolic group into a p-hydroxydienone without significant fragmentation of the protein chain. Subsequent to oxidation, peptide bonds following tyrosine are cleaved hydrolytically at pH 3. Thus, a tyrosine residue can be modified and its position in the sequence can be determined in the same experiment. A simple continuous-flow electrolytic cell has been developed for the oxidative modification of proteins at low potentials and over a wide pH range. In studies with ribonuclease, 85% of the tyrosine is modified by oxidation; no significant attack at any other functional group in the molecule is observed under continuous flow conditions. In the subsequent hydrolytic step, all six tyrosyl-peptide bonds are cleaved specifically, and to varying degrees.
City as Truth-Spot Laboratories and Field-Sites in Urban Studies

How does ‘place’ contribute to the credibility of scientific claims? The Chicago School of urban studies (1918-32) had close ties to the city for which it was named: its social scientists lived in Chicago, were affiliated with the University of Chicago, and made Chicago the object of almost all of their empirical research. In order for this city to become a legitimate source of claims about urban form and process, Chicago is textually made to oscillate between two available authorizing spaces. As a field-site, the city of Chicago becomes a found and uncorrupted reality, the singularly ideal place to do urban research, and requiring the analyst to get up-close and personal. As a laboratory, Chicago becomes a controlled environment where artificial specimens yield generalities true anywhere, requiring of the analyst distance and objectivity. The distinctive epistemic virtues of both field and laboratory are preserved as complementary sources of credibility, and Chicago becomes the right place for the job.
Specificity and merging challenges in soft data association

This paper presents an initial system design approach for a data association process in the domain of counterinsurgency where multiple streaming soft (textual message) observation reports are a critical input to the process. An overview of the system includes processes from intelligent input control of soft data to the formation of associated, merged messages that are based on a methodology employing a graph-based approach. In addition to the baseline architecture, design tradeoff issues regarding the association process, to include the level of specificity with which the input is addressed, and optional techniques for associated-message merging, were explored. Applying data association to a counterinsurgency problem can potentially produce an improved comprehensive evidence base that will assist in reducing search time for subsequent discovery and inferencing operations and provide more accurate results for analysts making real time decisions.
The Cultural Complexes from the Lagoa Santa Region, Brazil

THE Lagoa Santa region, Minas Gerais, Brazil, has long attracted the attention of the scientific world ever since the Danish naturalist, Peter Wilhelm Lund, announced in the last century the possibility that man in this area was contemporary with extinct Pleistocene animals (Paula Couto 1950). Since then the area has drawn many other investigators, for the sites are numerous and of easy access in the many limestone caves and rock shelters north of Belo Horizonte, the state capital. The majority of reports which have been published on Lagoa Santa, in particular those by the members of the Academy of Science of Minas Gerais, have continued the claim made by Lund that Pleistocene man lived in these caves (Walter n.d.; 1958; Mattos 1946; 1950). Because the conclusions made by these writers have not been accepted universally (Watson 1949; Hrdlicka 1912) a project was initiated in 1956 by the University of South Dakota and the Museu Nacional of Brazil to make further tests in the area1 (Fig. 1). The Lagoa Santa caves and rock shelters are a small part of a large number of caves in prominent limestone masses that in many areas form cliffs in the main valleys and tributaries of the Rio das Velhas and Rio San Francisco in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. In the region of Lagoa Santa are many running streams, some of which are partially subterranean, and numerous small lakes and limestone sink holes. The vegetation of the area is mainly of the savannah type of tropical forest, while the climate is of the alternating wet and dry season variety (Koppen's CW type, see Goode 1943:20). Judging by the paintings made in the Lagoa Santa caves the following recent fauna lived in the area: deer, tree sloth, tapir, fox, several varieties of cats, pacas, and marsupials. The limestone masses of Lagoa Santa were deposited during the Paleozoic and hardened into the present-day Bambuhy formation during the Silurian. The geological and climatological history of the Lagoa Santa region has not been investigated or reconstructed in detail by geologists and the interpretation which follows is solely that of the writer's. It is based on personal observation. In addition, the conclusions rest heavily upon comparison with North America, the assumption being that there was a strong correlation in the meteorological cycles in the two continents. (1) During an unknown time in the past when the climate was colder and more humid than at present, perhaps the early Pleistocene, the Lagoa Santa region was covered with extensive lakes. (2) As these lakes rose and subsided wave action and bank erosion cut into the limestone formations, forming sheer cliffs. (3) Caves were cut into the faulted cliffs when the level of the lakes re-
Prelinguistic evolution in hominin mothers and babies: For cryin' out loud!

Unlike chimpanzees, human infants engage in persistent adult-directed (AD) crying, and human mothers produce a special form of infant-directed vocalization, known as motherese. These complementary behaviors are hypothesized to have evolved initially in our hominin ancestors in conjunction with the evolution of bipedalism, and to represent prelinguistic substrates that paved the way for the eventual emergence of protolanguage.
THE INTERACTION OF HEREDITARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES1

This paper is concerned with improvements in the multiple abstract variance analysis method (MAVA). The assumptions of the latter are more clearly developed and implications for genetic, psychological, and sociological research issues are discussed. The main conclusion is that although it offers solutions to questions not answerable by twin study methods, or by current experimental designs related to learning theory, to personality theory and to important sociological issues, MAVA demands much larger and more carefully planned and highly organized research programmes than have hitherto been contemplated in psychology.