cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alteration of Insulin Receptor Binding and Protein Kinase Activity in Rat Liver and Placenta by ß-Naphthoflavone

Insulin has been shown to be a significant fetal growth factor during late gestation.1,2 The development of insulin receptors in a number of fetal tissues is characterized by an increase in binding activity with gestational age.3–6 Human placenta is a rich source of insulin receptor which has been extensively characterized for its physico-chemical and protein kinase properties.7 Exposure to polyaromatic compounds during pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight in rodents,8,9 monkeys10 and humans.11 This laboratory has found that late feto-placental growth was markedly impaired after the administration of s-naphthoflavone (sNF) and other polyaromatic compounds during mid-gestation.9 Recent evidence suggests an interaction of polyaromatic compounds with growth factor receptors. In human pregnancy, exposure to halogenated aromatic compounds and cigarette smoke has been associated with a decrease in EGF receptor protein kinase activity in the placenta.12 TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) administered to newborn mice decreased EGF binding to liver plasma membranes, increased membrane protein kinase activities and elicited symptoms characteristic of excess EGF.13,14 At present, little is known about the interaction of polyaromatic compounds with other growth factor receptors in development.
Astronomical Theory Continued

Much of the heat of the sun due to his diurnal motion—The earth generates heat from a similar action—Von Mayer’s theory again—Objections to it—Only one great cold period for each polar temperature of the earth—New England had no cool climate till the Tertiary age—The approach of ancient glaciers towards the equator, not an isothermal line of the present arrangement of land and water—The cold period of the northern hemisphere not synchronous with that of the southern one—No astronomical theory which supposes the loss of solar heat available—Variation of the magnetic poles insufficient to account for the cold period—Their duality and locality—Cold winters in Europe 2000 years ago—Iceland and Greenland warmer then than now—Traditions of the Eskimos—Depression of the northern part of the hemisphere would make the temperate zone milder than at present—The glacial ice cap must have commenced at the geographic pole.—The precession of the equinoxes insufficient to account for the cold period— Views of some astronomers upon the changeability of climates in Europe.
An Analysis of Some Classes of Petrov-Galerkin and Optimal Test Function Methods

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an analysis of some classes of Petrov-Galerkin and Optimal Test Function methods. Reliable numerical solutions to advection–dominated flow problems are of great importance to many engineering disciplines. Fluid flow at relatively high Reynolds number and convective transport in low-diffusivity fields, are two of the important examples. The development of alternative weighted residual techniques, which give rise to upwind operators in a systematic framework, is one of the most important numerical contributions in this area. Petrov-Galerkin methods and the newly developed Optimal Test Function methods have proven to be very effective for the simulation of advection dominated flows. The chapter develops and analyzes some of these schemes, and proves that, for model one-dimensional steady-state and transient advection diffusion problems, these diverse formulations produce similar or in some cases identical results. The methods considered are: Allen and Southwell difference scheme, quadratic Petrov-Galerkin, streamline upwind Petrov-Galerkin, exponential Petrov-Galerkin and optimal test function methods.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Activates a Phospholipase C-Dependent Signal Pathway in Chick Ciliary Ganglion Neurons that Selectively Inhibits α7-Containing Nicotinic Receptors

Neuropeptide receptors couple via G-proteins to two principal signaling pathways that elevate cAMP through adenylate cyclase (AC) or mobilize intracellular Ca2+ through phospholipase C (PLC)-stimulated inositol phosphate (IP) turnover and production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). We showed previously that high-affinity receptors for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are present on chick ciliary ganglion neurons and that receptor occupation increases cAMP production, resulting in enhanced acetylcholine sensitivity. After we suppressed AC activity and cAMP production with 2′-5′ dideoxyadenosine, however, PACAP no longer increased acetylcholine sensitivity but instead reduced it, suggesting that an AC-independent signal pathway activated by PACAP inhibits some nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). We now use fast-perfusion, imaging, and biochemical methods to identify the AChRs modulated by PACAP and to characterize the signal pathway responsible for their inhibition. Without previous AC block, both the rapidly desensitizing, α-bungarotoxin (αBgt)-sensitive α7-AChRs and the slowly desensitizing, αBgt-insensitive α3*-AChRs on the neurons were potentiated by PACAP. After AC blockade, however, PACAP inhibited α7-AChRs but left α3*-AChRs unaffected. The selective inhibition of α7-AChRs appeared to use a PLC signaling pathway because it was not seen after lowering PLC activity or buffering intracellular Ca2+ and was mimicked by dialyzing neurons with an IP3 receptor agonist. PACAP also induced IP turnover and increased [Ca2+]i assessed directly with Fluo-3AM imaging. Given our previous findings that PACAP receptors couple to AC, the present results demonstrate a remarkable ability of a single neuropeptide to activate two signaling pathways and in so doing selectively regulate two classes of downstream ion channel targets.
Elastic Stability Criteria and Structural Bifurcations in Crystals Under Load

What happens when a crystalline material is deformed elastically to the point where it loses structural stability? Under what circumstances will it lose stability? Why are these questions important? The stress required to cause elastic instability is often considered to be the ultimate “theoretical strength” of a crystalline material, which is an inherently intriguing concept, in and of itself. The “theoretical strength” plays important roles in understanding and/or describing practical phenomena, e.g., it forms a basis for calculating the efficiency of grinding processes and it affects the stress distribution near the tip of a crack and thus influences whether a material will exhibit brittle or ductile behavior. From another viewpoint, structural phase change rather than loss of strength is the presumed outcome of elastic instability. New crystalline or amorphous structures that form under mechanical stress may remain elastically stable after the stress is released, and so may continue to exist indefinitely, even if not in the thermodynamic equilibrium state at zero stress. (An example of an elastically stable structure that is also not in the thermodynamic equilibrium state is the extremely hard, tetragonal crystalline form of ironcarbon alloy referred to as martensitic steel; such structures are sometimes called metastable.)
Big History's Risk and Challenge

Some twenty years ago, a scattered few, intrepid historians began teaching courses on a wider, slightly precarious stage. They realized that much good and valid history extends far back in time, well prior to the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Sumer thousands of years ago, even beyond the onset of hominins millions of years ago. These “big historians” were thinking expansively, deliberately—in both space and time—identifying and linking many notable events in the deep past, from the origin of the universe to the present day on Earth. It was as though, while trekking up a mountain whose summit holds true knowledge, the big historians began realizing there’s much more to history than we had been led to believe by world, global, or traditional historians who have dominated historiography for decades. Pioneers like John Mears of Texas, David Christian of Australia, Fred Spier of Holland, and Cynthia Brown of California strove to grasp a broader view of who we are and whence we came. They were searching for humanity’s sense of place in the larger scheme of things, attempting to understand how relatively recent happenings on Earth might relate to events that occurred long before any written records. Yet hardly a decade ago, those same big historians, much enthused by their new storytelling agenda, discovered a different breed of scholars on the other side of the mountain. These were mostly astronomers, uncommonly eclectic researchers who had explored for much of the twentieth century much the same cosmology, relating it in articles, books, and classrooms well earlier than had the big historians. These natural scientists, who subscribe to the modern scientific method and who demand experimental or observational tests of their ideas before proceeding, often call their grand narrative “cosmic evolution,” but it’s also sometimes known as universal evolution, epic of evolution, astrobiology, or simply a s the lateRenaissance term natural history. It doesn’t matter who was first or is better equipped to describe the awesome story of our origins. In the metaphor above, most scholars generally advance while hiking the mountain of knowledge; there are many ways to learn about ourselves and our world, including art, music and literature, as well as history and science. Although some humanists on one side and scientists on the other draw nearer—not only as the lateral space dividing us literally lessens while approaching the peaked summit, but also as our subject matter and research methodologies increasingly overlap—neither party, indeed no one, will likely ever actually reach the peak; absolute truth is probably unattainable. Rather, the very act of questing for answers to deep and abiding inquiry means that serious scholars often gain better approximations of reality. Meanwhile, philosophers and theologians, both amused and concerned, wonder wearily from
Androgenic Regulation of Oxidative Stress in the Rat Prostate: Involvement of NAD(P)H Oxidases and Antioxidant Defense Machinery during Prostatic Involution and Regrowth

Little is known about the roles of androgens in the regulation of redox state in the prostate, a cellular process believed to profoundly influence normal and aberrant prostate functions. We demonstrate that castration induced discrete oxidative stress (OS) in the acinar epithelium of rat ventral prostate (VP), as evident from marked increases in 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxy-guanosine and 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts in the regressing epithelium. Testosterone replacement partially reduced OS in VP epithelia of castrates, but the level remained higher than in intact rats. Quantification of steady-state mRNA levels of 14 genes involved in the anabolism and catabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) showed that castration resulted in dramatic increases of three ROS-generating NAD(P)H oxidases (Noxs) including Nox1, gp91phox, and Nox4, significant reductions of key ROS-detoxifying enzymes (superoxide dismutase 2, glutathione peroxidase 1, thioredoxin, and peroxiredoxin 5), and unchanged levels of catalase, glutathione reductase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and glutathione synthetase. Testosterone replacement in castrated rats partially reduced expression of Noxs but restored expression of superoxide dismutase 2, glutathione peroxidase 1, thioredoxin, and peroxiredoxin 5 to complete normalcy and induced a compensatory increase in expression of catalase, glutathione reductase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and glutathione synthetase in the regenerating VP. Expression of superoxide dismutase 1, glutathione S-transferase-π, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was unaffected by castration and testosterone replacement. These findings indicate androgen-deprivation induces OS in the rat VP through elevation of ROS anabolism and diminution of antioxidant detoxification. Androgen replacement partially reduces OS in rat VP to precastration levels. Expression of Noxs remained high amid a broad-based recovery of antioxidant defense mechanism(s). These data might have implications on the use of androgen blockade for prostate cancer prevention and androgen therapy for andropause treatment in elderly men.
Strategic alliances in corporate communities

Abstract Competition in telecommunications increasingly fuses firms into a network of interdependent industries. We propose the concept of the corporate community as a unit of analysis for investigating technological convergences. Corporate communities augment our understanding of interfirm competition by pointing to the strategic constellations within which firms are embedded, and emphasizing relationships that span traditionally segmented industries and nation-states. In addition to examining the evolving configuration of global alliances in telecommunications between 1980 and 1988, this paper demonstrates empirically that the selection of alliance strategies is influenced by firms' relative size, expenditures on research and development, profitability, and capital structure.
Abdominal hysterectomy: relationship between morbidity and surgical technique.

Abstract The results obtained in 225 total abdominal hysterectomies performed by five different techniques are presented. By eliminating the use of crushing clamps, indwelling catheters, and large-size suture materials, along with meticulous surgical technique, there has been a significant reduction in morbidity, the last group having only a 2.4 per cent morbidity. The economics of morbidity reduction are presented.
Origin of the biosphere of the earth

The paradigm that has emerged to describe the origin of the solar system excludes the presence of water and of carbon in the planetesimals that agglomerated to form the proto-Earth. An unlikely but possible primary atmosphere of solar composition was transient enough not to play any significant role in the retention of water or carbon. However, the latter evolution of the planetesimals formed in the zone of the Jovian planets, brings a large number of objects made at cooler temperatures into the zone of the terrestrial planets. These objects are mainly the comets, that are going to bring to the Earth more water than needed to explain our oceans, and more carbon than needed to explain the carbonates and the biosphere. This general mechanism seems to work in the late evolution of numerous accretion disks around young stars, and promises to bring enough water and volatile compounds on rocky planets that would have otherwise remained barren.
Bond. James Bond. A Statistical Look at Cinema's Most Famous Spy

In 1953, the literary world was introduced to the fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond, a.k.a. 007. The character was conceived by author Ian Fleming, who drew upon some of his experie...
cis-acting requirements for the replication of flock house virus RNA 2.

Abstract To examine the cis-acting requirements for RNA replication, a cDNA clone of flock house virus (FHV) RNA 2 was transfected into baby hamster kidney cells and transcribed to yield RNAs that had terminal extensions of different lengths or that lacked internal regions of the molecule. These RNAs were tested for their ability to be replicated by FHV replicase that was provided by cotransfection of purified FHV RNA 1. The results showed that RNA replication was inhibited by terminal extensions, particularly those at the 5' end of the RNA, despite the fact that these extensions were corrected during RNA replication. A negative-sense transcript with a 12-nucleotide 3' extension was replicated to produce a positive-sense RNA that had the correct 5' end, showing that the replicase could select its correct initiation site from within a longer template. A uridine residue at the second position of the positive strand was an important determinant of template activity. RNA molecules with large internal deletions that amounted to almost 50% of the 1,400 nucleotides of RNA 2 replicated as efficiently as full-length molecules, but only if they contained an internal region that lay between nucleotides 538 and 616. Thirty-six spontaneous deletions of RNA 2 that arose during sequential replicative passages all conserved the same internal region of the molecule. These results establish that both terminal and internal regions of FHV RNA 2 play essential roles in making the molecule a competent template for replication.
CRISPR‐Cas targeted plasmid integration into mammalian cells via non‐homologous end joining

Mammalian cells are widely used for the production of therapeutic recombinant proteins, as these cells facilitate accurate folding and post-translational modifications often essential for optimum activity. Targeted insertion of a plasmid harboring a gene of interest into the genome of mammalian cells for the expression of a desired protein is a key step in production of such biologics. Here we show that a site specific double strand break (DSB) generated both in the genome and the donor plasmid using the CRISPR-Cas9 system can be efficiently used to target ∼5 kb plasmids into mammalian genomes via nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). We were able to achieve efficiencies of up to 0.17% in HEK293 cells and 0.45% in CHO cells. This technique holds promise for quick and efficient insertion of a large foreign DNA sequence into a predetermined genomic site in mammalian cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2154–2162. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Piecewise planar city 3D modeling from street view panoramic sequences

City environments often lack textured areas, contain repetitive structures, strong lighting changes and therefore are very difficult for standard 3D modeling pipelines. We present a novel unified framework for creating 3D city models which overcomes these difficulties by exploiting image segmentation cues as well as presence of dominant scene orientations and piecewise planar structures. Given panoramic street view sequences, we first demonstrate how to robustly estimate camera poses without a need for bundle adjustment and propose a multi-view stereo method which operates directly on panoramas, while enforcing the piecewise planarity constraints in the sweeping stage. At last, we propose a new depth fusion method which exploits the constraints of urban environments and combines advantages of volumetric and viewpoint based fusion methods. Our technique avoids expensive voxelization of space, operates directly on 3D reconstructed points through effective kd-tree representation, and obtains a final surface by tessellation of backprojections of those points into the reference image.
New inverted cyclone reactor for flash hydropyrolysis

Abstract Flash hydropyrolysis (that is, pyrolysis in a hydrogen atmosphere) is a term usually used to describe processes with reaction times of only several seconds or less. Flash hydropyrolysis is usually carried from atmospheric to 20 MPa pressure. The majority of the available techniques for carrying out these processes have been developed in coal pyrolysis studies and recently extended to the pyrolysis of biomass. The use of inverted cyclone type reactor developed in the 80s by Summer, Briens and Bergougnoud, among others, provides the advantage of a short residence time and high efficiency in the separation of the solid, as well as that the feed does not need to be preheated to the high temperature required by the reactions. This paper presents the simulation model for the reactor with optimal geometry for pyrolysis of naphtha and biomass. Kinetics and fluid dynamics are discussed for both examples and then the effect of operating variables on yield and quality were simulated. The main characteristic of this type of reactor are discussed for the two examples. The results indicate that in both cases (naphta and pyrolysis) can design a suitable reactor autothermal (it does not require heating wall).
Influence of male and female petters on plasma cortisol and behaviour: can human interaction reduce the stress of dogs in a public animal shelter?

Abstract During their second or third day in public animal shelter, juvenile/adult dogs were exposed to a venipuncture procedure. Then the dogs were either not petted or were petted in a prescribed manner by either a man or a woman; 20 min later, a second blood sample was collected. There was a clear increase in cortisol levels 20 min after the first venipuncture in juvenile/adult dogs that were not petted, but not in dogs that were petted by either a man or a woman. Additional comparisons showed that the petting procedure also inhibited the cortisol response following venipuncture in puppies. However, petting did not reduce the cortisol response to housing in the shelter per se. During petting, dogs made few attempts to escape, frequently were observed in a relaxed posture, and panting was common in juvenile/adult dogs. When dogs were petted immediately following removal from the living cage, those petted by women yawned more often and spent more time in a relaxed, head-up posture. Together, these results indicate that a previously observed sex difference in the effectiveness of petters in reducing the cortisol response was not due to some difference in odor or other nonbehavioural stimulus quality of men and women. Subtle aspects of petting technique appear to have pronounced effects on physiological and possibly behavioural responses of dogs confined in a shelter. Petting may be an effective means of reducing the cortisol responses of dogs to other common aversive situations, such as routine medical examinations and vaccination procedures at veterinary clinics as well as shelters.
Rapid Hypoxia Preconditioning Protects Cortical Neurons From Glutamate Toxicity Through δ-Opioid Receptor

Background and Purpose— Hypoxia preconditioning (HPC), rapid or delayed, has been reported to induce neuroprotection against subsequent severe stress. Because δ-opioid receptor (DOR) plays an important role in delayed HPC-induced neuroprotection against severe hypoxic injury, we asked whether DOR is also involved in the rapid HPC-induced neuroprotection. Methods— Cultured rat cortical neurons at culture days 8 to 9 were exposed to a short-term hypoxia (1% O2 for 30 minutes) to induce HPC followed by 30-minute normoxia before exposing to glutamate toxicity (100 μmol/L; 4 hours). Neuronal viability was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase leakage and morphological assessment. Protein and mRNA levels of DOR were detected by receptor binding and RT-PCR, respectively. Naltrindole was used to block DOR. Developmental changes in NMDA receptor expression was measured by Western blots. Results— HPC significantly reduced the glutamate-induced neuronal injury. Receptor binding showed that HPC increased DADLE (a DOR lig...
Insolation patterns on eccentric exoplanets

Abstract Several studies have found that synchronously-rotating Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of M-dwarf stars should exhibit an “eyeball” climate pattern, with a pupil of open ocean facing the parent star, and ice everywhere else. Recent work on eccentric exoplanets by Wang et al. (Wang, Y., Tian, F., Hu, Y. [2014b] Astrophys. J. 791, L12) has extended this conclusion to the 2:1 spin–orbit resonance as well, where the planet rotates twice during one orbital period. However, Wang et al. also found that the 3:2 and 5:2 half-odd resonances produce a zonally-striped climate pattern with polar icecaps instead. Unfortunately, they used incorrect insolation functions for the 3:2 and 5:2 resonances whose long-term time averages are essentially independent of longitude. This paper presents the correct insolation patterns for eccentric exoplanets with negligible obliquities in the 0:1, 1:2, 1:1, 3:2, 2:1, 5:2, 3:1, 7:2, and 4:1 spin–orbit resonances. I confirm that the mean insolation is distributed in an eyeball pattern for integer resonances; but for half-odd resonances, the mean insolation takes a “double-eyeball” pattern, identical over the “eastern” and “western” hemispheres. Presuming that liquids, ices, clouds, albedo, and thermal emission are similarly distributed, this has significant implications for the observation and interpretation of potentially habitable exoplanets. Finally, whether a striped ball, eyeball, or double-eyeball pattern emerges, the possibility exists that long-term build-up of ice (or liquid) away from the hot spots may alter the planet’s inertia tensor and quadrupole moments enough to re-orient the planet, ultimately changing the distribution of liquid and ice.
New perineal bone-anchored male sling: lessons learned

Abstract Objectives To identify factors affecting outcome after the male sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence. Methods A total of 46 incontinent men, with a mean age of 67 years, underwent perineal bone-anchored male sling placement. Three titanium bone screws with preattached pairs of No. 1 polypropylene sutures were placed directly into the medial aspect of each inferior ramus of the pubic bone. To compress the urethra, three different types of materials were used: absorbable biomaterial, silicone-coated polypropylene mesh, or a composite graft. Patient characteristics, incontinence etiology and severity before surgery, prior collagen injections, and type of material used were assessed, and the association with the outcome of the male sling procedure was determined. Results The procedure was successful in 35 (76%) of 46 patients at a mean follow-up of 18 months (range 6 to 30). Nineteen patients were totally dry and 16 had improved 50% or more compared with before surgery. Failure occurred in 11 patients (24%). Patients who received a composite graft or mesh alone had a better outcome compared with the absorbable sling group (97% and 75% versus 0%, respectively, P = 0.001). The severity of pretreatment incontinence also had a negative impact on the outcome. Conclusions Patients with mild-to-moderate incontinence and the use of a composite graft had the best outcomes after the perineal bone-anchored male sling.
Equivalence constants for matrix norms: a problem of Goldberg

Abstract We investigate the equivalence constants for the l p -coefficient norms and l q -operator norms ( 1⩽p,q⩽∞ ) of complex m×n matrices, and provide estimates which are either best possible or close to best possible.
Water-Soluble Conducting Poly(ethylene oxide)-Grafted Polydiphenylamine Synthesis through a “Graft Onto” Process

A synthesis method to prepare a fully grafted polydiphenylamine (PDPA) with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) through a “graft onto” process is reported. Three graft copolymers, PDPA-g-PEO-350, PDPA-g-PEO-750, and PDPA-g-PEO-2000, were obtained by substituting the tosyloyl end group of tosylate PEO with an amine-functionalized PDPA. The latter polymer was prepared via an acid-mediated chemical polymerization of diphenylamine. These graft copolymers became water-soluble when the grafted PEO molecular weight (Mn) was above 750. Furthermore, the copolymers can be oxidized, in aqueous acidic solutions in the presence of air, to produce PDPA in a conducting state, containing, depending on the degree of oxidation, the N,N‘-diphenylbenzidine radical cation (DPB•+) or the N,N‘-phenylbenzidine dication (DPB2+). The conductivities of the HCl-doped graft copolymers were found to be in the range 10-1−10-4 S/cm, dependent on the grafted PEO side-chain length. As expected, the PDPA-g-PEO copolymers with longer PEO side chains...
The Potential Toxicity to Neonates of Multivitamin Preparations Used in Parenteral Nutrition

This study compares two groups of infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth. In the propylene glycol (PG) group, 30 infants received MVI-Concentrate containing 300 mg of PG daily with their intravenous nutrition (ivn), and vitamin E, 50 mg/week by intramuscular injection. In the mannitol group, 30 infants received MVI-Pediatric (containing 245 mg mannitol), 65% of a vial/day. Serum and urine osmolality, serum PG, blood-urea-nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, and glucose were measured on days 0, 2, 5, 12, 19, 26, 33 and 40 of ivn. Weight, urine output, and fluid intake were measured daily. Vitamin E levels were measured on days 5, 26, and 33 of ivn. There were no significant differences between the groups in birth weight, gestational age, sex, age, or weight at start of ivn. Our results indicated that neither MVI-Concentrate nor MVI-Pediatric was associated with a clinically significant diuresis. MVI-Pediatric, 65% of a vial/day, may produce higher than desirable blood levels of vitamin E, and use of drugs con...
Solar zenith angle does not affect Mars ionosphere's electron temperature

Exploration of Mars, whether by spacecraft or by humans in the far-flung future, requires a deep understanding of Mars's ionosphere—the upper layer of atmosphere where molecules are ionized by the Sun's energy. For example, scientists on Earth trying to communicate with current and future Mars rovers are and will continue to be hindered by free electrons in the ionosphere that can absorb and reflect radio waves. Scientists therefore wonder, What are the various physical properties that can influence the behavior of Mars's ionosphere?
Brain morphology and neuropsychological profiles in a family displaying dyslexia and superior nonverbal intelligence.

Abstract Behavioral research suggests that individuals with dyslexia may have exceptional skills in nonverbal cognitive processes, while genetic studies have noted that giftedness, high IQ and/or special talents tend to run in families. Taken together, these results suggest that persons within families (particularly offspring) may share similar cortical systems supporting those functions. Postmortem and in vivo imaging studies have linked dyslexia to abnormalities in the structures associated with the parietal operculum (PO) (e.g., planum temporale, supramarginal gyrus, and angular gyrus). In this paper we present data on a single family showing a link between dyslexia, superior nonverbal IQ and atypical PO presentation. We consider the psychometric and neurological patterns of this family as a tentative etiological test of the putative dyslexia- talent association.
Does exposure to elevated levels of lead enhance sodium induced hypertension

Numerous community drinking water sources have elevated levels of both sodium and lead. Recently reported studies have indicated that elevated levels of sodium in drinking water may be a facter in the development of elevated blood pressure. The question of how elevated levels of lead may affect sodium induced elevated blood pressure is addressed. The hypothesis is developed which states that elevated levels of lead exposure will not interact with sodium to enhance the development of renin angiotensin aldosterone related hypertension but in fact may even diminish the effects of exposure to elevated amounts of sodium on blood pressure through a depression of plasma renin activity.
Validity and accuracy of regional bioelectrical impedance devices to determine whole-body fatness.

Abstract Objective Growing emphasis on obesity as a risk factor for chronic diseases and commercial availability of impedance devices for the at-home assessment of body fatness have stimulated the need for a critical evaluation of the validity of these instruments. This study determined the reproducibility and accuracy of two commercial impedance devices that use upper (hand-to-hand) or lower (foot-to-foot) body contact electrode placements in adults with a wide range of body fatness. Methods Body composition was assessed with dual x-ray absorptiometry in apparently healthy adults (62 women and 48 men) ages 21 to 60 y, with a range in body mass index of 18.6 to 40.5 kg/m2. Variability in body fatness predicted with the regional body impedance devices was determined in 10 adults on 5 consecutive d. A 50-kHz, tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance plethysmograph with surface electrode placements on the upper and lower limbs was used to determine reference regional and whole-body impedance values. Results Variability in body mass (1%) over 5 d was less than body fatness predicted with the upper (2–10%) and lower (3–5%) body devices. Regional and whole-body impedance values were different (P Conclusion Use of regional impedance devices to assess body fatness is limited by a lack of precision and accuracy.
Design innovation: A Case for the creative nexus between people and technology

AT THE WASHINGTON POST, computer graphics had been around for a while. And certainly, many of the unionized artists, typographers and compositors had enjoyed an even longer tenure at the paper. But when the technology and human talents were creatively brought together in the new Advertising Operations department, the result was an innovative approach to producing ads that improved quality, lifted morale, created more responsive relationships with customers and held the promise of making significant contributions to the company's bottom line.
Net −1 frameshifting on a noncanonical sequence in a herpes simplex virus drug-resistant mutant is stimulated by nonstop mRNA

Ribosomal frameshifting entails slippage of the translational machinery during elongation. Frameshifting permits expression of more than one polypeptide from an otherwise monocistronic mRNA, and can restore expression of polypeptides in the face of frameshift mutations. A common mutation conferring acyclovir resistance in patients with herpes simplex virus disease deletes one cytosine from a run of six cytosines (C-chord) in the viral thymidine kinase (tk) gene. However, this mutation does not abolish TK activity, which is important for pathogenicity. To investigate how this mutant retains TK activity, we engineered and analyzed viruses expressing epitope-tagged TK. We found that the mutant's TK activity can be accounted for by low levels of full-length TK polypeptide produced by net −1 frameshifting during translation. The efficiency of frameshifting was relatively high, 3–5%, as the polypeptide from the reading frame generated by the deletion, which lacks stop codons (nonstop), was poorly expressed mainly because of inefficient protein synthesis. Stop codons introduced into this reading frame greatly increased its expression, but greatly decreased the level of full-length TK, indicating that frameshifting is strongly stimulated by a new mechanism, nonstop mRNA, which we hypothesize involves stalling of ribosomes on the polyA tail. Mutational studies indicated that frameshifting occurs on or near the C-chord, a region lacking a canonical slippery sequence. Nonstop stimulation of frameshifting also occurred when the C-chord was replaced with a canonical slippery sequence from HIV. This mechanism thus permits biologically and clinically relevant TK synthesis, and may occur more generally.
Efficient Photodimerization Reaction of Anthracene in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

The photodimerization reaction of anthracene in supercritical CO2 was studied systematically at different CO2 densities. Unlike in normal liquid solvents, the reaction in supercritical CO2 is significant even at anthracene concentrations as low as a few micromolar. At comparable anthracene concentrations, the photodimerization reaction is 1 order of magnitude more efficient in CO2 than in normal liquid solvents. The dramatic increases in the photodimerization reaction efficiency in supercritical CO2 may be explained by a mechanism in which the reaction is diffusion-controlled even when the diffusion rate constants are on the order of 1011 M-1 s-1. The results also show that the efficient photodimerization reaction of anthracene is hardly affected by the local density augmentation (or solute−solvent clustering) in supercritical CO2.
Spermiogenesis and Cytochemistry of the Functional Spermatozoon of the Rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

Electron microscopic observations indicate that circular-shaped spermatocytes transform in development into elongated forms, groups of which are confluent through a common area of cytoplasm. Terminally, they assume a pyriform shape with an anteriorly-projecting flagellum. Cytodifferentiation begins with fusion of the membranes of the nuclear envelope and the consequent elimination of the perinuclear space. Midway through the fusion process a biphasic layer of granules appears adjacent to the cytoplasmic side of the fused nuclear envelope. Immediately following, myelmn-like whorls can be seen within tubular invaginations of the sperm plansa nienibrane, into which the differentiating flagellum extends during development. Concomitantly, rough endoplasmic reticulum can be seen blebbing vesicles toward golgi composed of 4-fl parallel cisternae. The vesicles become aligned parallel to the golgi stack and fuse with each other to become the most immature golgi cisternum. Immediately thereafter donut-shaped bodies appear at the mature face of the golgi apparatus. Consumately, the spensiatids assume a pyriform outline, the flagellum reenters the cytoplasm by reverse exocytosis, and the axonemal microtubules become partitioned from the main body of the spermatozoon by a narrow isthmus of apposed plasma membrane. The peripherally distributed donut-shaped bodies were shown with the aid of electron microscopy to contain a p-glycerophosphatase. The enzyme appears to be localized between the inner and outer concentric membranes of these organelles and not within the central lumen. A periodic acid-silver methenamine reaction reveals staining characteristics for glycoprotein in the donut-shaped bodies, also localized between the inner and outer concentric membranes and not within the central lumen. Although dehiscence in the presence of oocytes was not demonstrated, the silver methen- amine and p-glycerophosphatase localization between the two concentric membranes of the donut-shaped bodies, and the apparent origin of these organelles from the golgi apparatus during spemliogenesis of the functional spermatozoon, indicate a possible acro- sornal function.
The Effects of Preclinical Dementia on Estimates of Normal Cognitive Functioning in Aging

Individuals with preclinical dementia have begun to decline cognitively, but still perform within normal limits on cognitive testing. As a group, subjects with preclinical dementia have lower scores on neuropsychological tests than their dementia-free counterparts. This study examines the effects of preclinical dementia on estimates of normal cognitive function in the aged using data from a longitudinal study. Individuals with preclinical dementia at baseline were retrospectively identified based on subsequent development of dementia. Age-adjusted norms were computed using baseline data for the Selective Reminding Test and the WAIS verbal and performance scores, both including (conventional norms) and then excluding (robust norms) preclinical cases. The results indicate that by failing to exclude preclinical dementia, conventional normative studies underestimate the mean, overestimate the variance, and overestimate the effect of age on cognitive measures. Methods are discussed for selecting robust elderly samples that are relatively free of contamination by preclinical dementia.
Three statistical mechanical arguments that favour chain folding in polymer systems of lamellar morphology

Abstract Three arguments are given that imply substantial chain folding in crystalline-amorphous polymer systems of lamellar morphology. These arguments assume random coil behaviour in the amorphous region. (1) The random walk character of the polymer chain portions comprizing the amorphous regions topologically constrains the number of crystalline stems that connect covalently with the amorphous regions to be small. Quantitative estimates are made and lower bounds on the amount of chain folding are given. Estimates of (2) the tightness of loops and (3) the average spatial separation between consecutive crystal stems (along a given chain) are made. The results favour substantial amounts of adjacent and near-adjacent re-entry. Existing experimental measurements on diblock copolymers consisting of crystallizable and non-crystallizable blocks provide a measure of the random walk character of the chains in the amorphous region. It is argued that such systems form lamellar structures with large amounts of chain folding in the crystalline regions as a condition of thermodynamic equilibrium .
Optimal actuation in vibration control

Abstract The paper addresses the problem of finding the optimal location of actuators and their relative gain so that the control effort in an actively controlled vibrating system is minimized. In technical terms the problem is finding the optimal input vector of unit norm that minimizes the norm of the control gain vector. This problem is addressed in the context of the active natural frequency modification problem associated with resonance avoidance in undamped systems, and in the context of the single-input-multi-output pole assignment problem for second order systems.
RAODV: an efficient routing algorithm for sensor networks

We propose a new routing algorithm, called Rumor Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (RAODV), for sensor networks Simulations show that RAODV can provide benefits such as reducing average energy consumption, average end-to-end delay and routing overhead.
Respiratory and hemodynamic effects of methadone in pregnant women

Minute ventilation, end-tidal PCO2, O2 and CO2 concentrations in expired air, pulse rate and arterial blood pressure were measured in the last half of pregnancy in eight women taking methadone daily. Measurements were made with the subjects seated at rest, during the steady state of 50-watt bicycle exercise, and during recovery. Calculations of O2 consumption. CO2 production, alveolar ventilation and oxygen debt were made. Studies were repeated in five subjects postpartum. Methadone diminishes the normal hyperventilation of pregnancy and its effect persists for more than 24 h. When comparisons are made of pregnant and postpartum values, some respiratory stimulation during pregnancy is apparent. Maternal oxygen debt following standard exercise during pregnancy is diminished after the daily dose of methadone and the maternal heart rate response to exercise is diminished concurrently. The maternal hypoventilation induced by methadone and maintained during exercise may be relevant to the low birth weights and high incidence of sudden infant death syndrome observed by others in the offspring of methadone-dependent women.
Amniotic fluid volume increase after amnioinfusion of a fixed volume

Abstract Amnioinfusion of 250 ml of normal saline solution was performed in 30 laboring women at ≥37 weeks' gestation with oligohydramnios as defined by an amniotic fluid index of ≤5 cm. A total of 50 amnioinfusions were performed. Amniotic fluid volumes, as assessed by the amniotic fluid index, increased by a mean of 4.3 ± 1.5 cm after infusion. We conclude that in women with oligohydramnios, 250 ml of amnioinfusate will increase the amniotic fluid index by approximately 4 cm.
Multiple exoribonucleases catalyze maturation of the 3' terminus of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Processing of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) precursors is an important component of RNA metabolism in all cells. However, in no system have we yet identified all the RNases involved in this process. Here, we show that four 3′→5′-exoribonucleases, RNases II, R, and PH, and polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), participate in maturation of the 3′ end of 16S rRNA. In their absence, 16S precursor molecules with 33 extra 3′-nt accumulate; however, the presence of any one of the four RNases is sufficient to allow processing to occur, although with different efficiencies. Additionally, we find that in the absence of 3′ maturation, 5′ processing proceeds much less efficiently. Moreover, mutant 30S particles, containing immature 16S rRNA, form 70S ribosomes very poorly. These findings, together with the earlier discovery that RNases E and G are the 5′-processing enzymes, completes the catalogue of RNases involved in maturation of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA.
Complexity of Rule Sets Induced from Incomplete Data with Attribute-concept Values and Do Not Care Conditions

In this paper we study incomplete data sets with two interpretations of missing attribute values: attribute-concept values and ``do not care'' conditions. As follows from the recent research, performance in terms of the error rate, for both interpretations, is not significantly different. Hence we decided to study the complexity of rule sets induced from incomplete data sets with these two interpretations of missing attribute values. Experiments were conducted on 176 data sets, using three kinds of probabilistic approximations (lower, middle and upper) and the MLEM2 rule induction system. In our experiments, the size of the rule set was smaller for attribute-concept values for 12 combinations of the type of data set and approximation, for one combination the size of the rule sets was smaller for ``do not care'' conditions and for the remaining 11 combinations the difference in performance was statistically insignificant (5\% significance level). The total number of conditions was smaller for attribute-concept values for ten combinations, for two combinations the total number of conditions was smaller for ``do not care'' conditions, while for the remaining 12 combinations the difference in performance was statistically insignificant. Thus, we may claim that attribute-concept values are better than ``do not care'' conditions in terms of rule complexity.
Prolonged survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report

A patient with long-standing chronic lymphocytic leukemia with both humoral and cellular immunodeficiency had lymph node receptor evidence of a B lymphocyte disorder. He was also found to secrete the Epstein--Barr virus and, late in his illness, developed a markedly positive antinuclear antibody. Interrelationship of these findings may be important in the ultimate determination of the etiology and functional mechanisms in lymphocyte malignancies.
Continuing nursing education abroad philosophical and practical issues

This paper presents an analysis of continuing nursing education programs abroad based on field data collected in the last 3 years duringinternational study tours to The People's Republic of China, Spain, the Philippines, East Afnca, Japan, Israel, Hong Kong Australia and New Zealand. Data sources include field notes from 3 months of participant observations; informal interviews with participants, tour escorts, drivers, host colleagues and other education leaders; and analysis of documents such as travel diaries, promotional brochures and final reports.
Faculty and Online Education as a Mechanism of Power.

This study uses a critical perspective to examine how online education is used in brick-and-mortar institutions as a mechanism through which power is exercised by and against professors who teach online. Based on a larger study of 25 professors and administrators at four institutions, this work focuses on the experiences of 12 professors. Foucault’s conceptualization of power framed our interpretation of interviews conducted with these professors. Our findings suggest online education enhanced faculty autonomy and visibility, but that it was also used to control faculty members, and for some professors, it was used to alter their professional identities.