cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hume's Explanations of Meaningless Beliefs

Hume's arguments to meaninglessness are too strong for his purposes; they are accompanied by psychological explanations of why we believe in entities that fall under the meaningless expressions. How can Hume consistently provide explanations of beliefs that are without meaning in the first place? Though not derived from experience in accordance with Lockean empiricism about meaning, the relevant expressions must possess some surrogate for meaning or content-like features. For Hume, such quasi-content is the product of a retreat, under the pressure of a conflict, from an illusion to a conceptual confusion that obscures the conflict; different quasi-contents result from different illusions. The notions of material substrata, souls and external existence, which some commentators treat as tolerably meaningful ‘relative ideas’, are confused quasi-concepts, defective in meaning. A reconstruction of Treatise I iii 14 shows that necessary connection may be seen as parallel to these other cases.
Telomere processing in Euplotes

In Euplotes crassus millions of telomeres are synthesized during the sexual phase of the life cycle. Since these newly synthesized telomeres are longer than normal macronuclear telomeres, they must be trimmed to the mature size. We have examined the timing and mechanism of this trimming step. We have shown that a sudden decrease in telomere length takes place at a specific time during macronuclear development. The decrease in telomere length is not caused by incomplete replication of the most terminal DNA sequences; rather it is the result of an active processing event that occurs independently of DNA replication. The developmentally regulated telomere shortening that takes place in Euplotes is reminiscent of the sudden reductions in telomere length which have been observed in other eukaryotes.
Optical Absorption of Cuprous Oxide

The relative optical absorption coefficient $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ of polycrystalline slabs of cuprous oxide was measured at 295\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, and 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. At 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is proportional to ${[\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{-}{E}_{0}]}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ for $16510 {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}l~\ensuremath{\sigma}l~16900 {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, where $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ is the wave number. At 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K an additional component appears, so that $\ensuremath{\alpha}={\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}+{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$, with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}\ensuremath{\propto}{[\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{-}{E}_{1}]}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}\ensuremath{\propto}{[\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{-}{E}_{2}]}^{\frac{1}{2}}$. This is attributed to indirect transitions to exciton levels, in agreement with a theory by Elliott. The ratio of the integrated absorption coefficient of the first two exciton lines, after corrections for the background were applied, is also in satisfactory agreement with the Elliott theory.
Precipitation of nitrogen on dislocation in niobium

The kinetics of precipitation of nitrogen in deformed niobium was determined using the Snoek internal friction peak to follow the precipitation. The kinetics followed the well-known rate equation oor the fraction, W, of nitrogen precipitated as a function of time, W = 1 −e−(tτ)n. The constant n was found to be temperature dependent, having the value 23 at the lowest temperature used (300°C) and values around 1 at the higher temperatures, 400°C and 500°C. These numbers are correlated with the nature of the precipitates observed in thin film electron microscopy. The predictions of Bullough and Newman concerning the effect on n of discrete and continuous precipitates are well obeyed.
Radiation between two concentric spheres separated by a participating medium

Abstract The Galerkin method is extended to study radiative heat transfer between two concentric spheres separated by an absorbing, emitting and isotropically scattering gray medium. The boundaries are maintained at different but uniform temperatures and are considered to be opaque, gray, diffusely emitting, and diffusely reflecting. Various results are obtained for the case of radiative equilibrium, as well as for the interaction of radiation and conduction. Results are compared with the numerical results available in the literature. It is shown that the method is relatively simple to use in problems with spherical symmetry and yields highly accurate results.
A biological and financial characterization of non-productive days

Pigs per sow per year is highly and positively correlated to both litters per sow per year ( r=0.69, P<0.001, (Duffy and Stein, 1988); r=0.65, P<0.01 , (Wilson et al., 1986) ) and pigs weaned per litter ( r=0.73, P<0.001, (Duffy and Stein, 1988); r=0.59, P<0.01 , (Wilson et al., 1986)). However, improvements in the biological performance may best be made through efforts to increase litters per sow per year rather than through pigs weaned per litter. Being highly related to litters per sow per year (r = -0 .79 , P < 0.01, (Wilson et al., 1986); r= -0 .91 , P < 0.001, (Duffy and Stein, 1988) ), non-productive days (NPD) are one of the best biological predictors of litters per sow per year. A non-productive day has been defined as 'any day a sow or gilt of breeding age is present in the breeding herd and is not either gestating or lactating' (Duffy and Stein, 1988 ). The three factors influencing litters per sow per year are gestation length, lactation length, and NPD. Since gestation and lactation lengths are typically set for each herd, the best means to improve litters per sow per year would appear to be through decreased NPD. While lactation length influences litters per sow per year in a fashion similar to NPD (Wilson et al., 1986), facility and management constraints often do not allow reductions in lactation length. Non-productive days affect both pigs per rate per year and pigs per sow per year through their influence on litters per sow per year. Thus, NPD are useful for improving both sow and facility utilization. When broken down into its components, NPD have the additional advantage that, unlike other measures of performance, they yield a considerable amount of diagnostic information useful for determining why breeding herd productivity deviates from target. A survey of 30 Ontario swine farms revealed a NPD of 50.8_+25.1 days (mean _+ standard deviation ) with a range of 14.1-116.3 days (Wilson et al., 1986). Duffy and Stein (1988) reported a mean NPD of 72.5 with an upper quartile value of 57.4 and a bot tom quartile value of 92.3 for 68 North Amer-
Clinical approach to the child with a large head.

Majority of children has head size that is appropriate for age and gender. But a few have either too small or too large head at birth or may be of postnatal acceleration. Abnormality of head circumferences is determined by brain size, including any malformations and space occupying lesions, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood volume, presence of subdural fluid and thickness of skull bones and overlying tissue scalp. Macrocephaly is used when the head size exceeds the mean by more than two standard deviotions of age and gender. Macrocephaly is seen in association with several cranioskeletal displastic conditions.
Sensor Application of Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Diacrylate Hydrogels Chemically-Anchored on Polymer Surface

We demonstrate a device process combining two photopatternable polymers, poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-diacrylate-based-hydrogel and epoxy-based photoresist SU-8, to implement a optofluidic bioanalytical platform through a surface anchoring technique. As an exemplary sensor application, optical dissolved oxygen sensors are fabricated and their performance characterized. The PEG-rich hydrogel is used as a matrix material for the immobilization of oxygen-responsive fluorophore, dichlorotris (1, 10-phenanthroline) ruthenium (II) hydrate. This hydrogel is chemically-anchored on the surface of negative-tone photoresist, SU-8, through a free radical reaction in which 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone served as the surface bound photoinitiator. The sensor exhibits a reversible Stern–Volmer response and good storage stability. Cylindrical hydrogel sensing elements are then patterned and anchored within completed SU-8 fluidic channels to serve as the embedded sensing elements in optofluidic platforms. We anticipate that the proposed method has a variety of applications that require the immobilization and patterning of biorecognition agents in hydrophilic matrices within completed polymeric fluidic channel.
Approximate algorithms for time separation of events

We describe a polynomial-time approximate algorithm for computing minimum and maximum time separations between all pairs of events in systems specified by acyclic timing constraint graphs. Even for acyclic graphs, the problem is NP-complete. We propose finding an approximate solution by first approximating the non-convex feasible space with a suitable convex ``envelope'', and then solving the problem efficiently in the approximate convex space. Unlike previous works, our algorithm can handle both min and max-type timing constraints in the same system, and has a computational complexity that is polynomial in the number of events. Although the computed separations are conservative in the worst-case, experiments indicate that our results are highly accurate in practice.
Osteoarthritis of the Hip

A 70-year-old man reports a gradual onset of hip pain that has limited his activities for about a year. The pain initially occurred only with walking and was limited to the anterior hip area but now has spread to the side of the hip and is present at rest. He has no history of hip, back, or lower back injury and has no pain or morning stiffness in any other joints. He has been taking ibuprofen at a dose of 200 mg once or twice daily, without improvement. How should the patient be evaluated and treated?
PHYTOPHAGOUS INSECT-MICROBE MUTUALISMS AND ADAPTIVE EVOLUTIONARY DIVERSIFICATION

Adaptive diversification is a process intrinsically tied to species interactions. Yet, the influence of most types of interspecific interactions on adaptive evolutionary diversification remains poorly understood. In particular, the role of mutualistic interactions in shaping adaptive radiations has been largely unexplored, despite the ubiquity of mutualisms and increasing evidence of their ecological and evolutionary importance. Our aim here is to encourage empirical inquiry into the relationship between mutualism and evolutionary diversification, using herbivorous insects and their microbial mutualists as exemplars. Phytophagous insects have long been used to test theories of evolutionary diversification; moreover, the diversification of a number of phytophagous insect lineages has been linked to mutualisms with microbes. In this perspective, we examine microbial mutualist mediation of ecological opportunity and ecologically based divergent natural selection for their insect hosts. We also explore the conditions and mechanisms by which microbial mutualists may either facilitate or impede adaptive evolutionary diversification. These include effects on the availability of novel host plants or adaptive zones, modifying host-associated fitness trade-offs during host shifts, creating or reducing enemy-free space, and, overall, shaping the evolution of ecological (host plant) specialization. Although the conceptual framework presented here is built on phytophagous insect–microbe mutualisms, many of the processes and predictions are broadly applicable to other mutualisms in which host ecology is altered by mutualistic interactions.
Superman meets don Quixote: Stereotypes in clinical medicine

Long-established stereotypes tend to dominate the perceptions physicians have of the philosophers and other humanists who serve as medical ethicists. They also alter the views humanists have of physicians, and those that the public have of both. These stereotypes are a formidable barrier to effective working relationships between the two groups of professionals, as well as to public understanding of medical ethics issues. To achieve a better working relationships and to foster more realistic understanding, it is important that the humanists step out of their academic settings, for a time, and become part of the clinical service.
Trace element partitioning during the initial stages of melting beneath mid-ocean ridges

Abstract We have measured partition coefficients for U, Th, REE, and high field strength element for orthopyroxene–liquid (3) and garnet–liquid (9) pairs from 2.4 to 2.8 GPa and for clinopyroxene–liquid (6) from 1.2 to 2.8 GPa. These are the first measurements of partition coefficients from experiments that are close to multiple saturation with an anhydrous lherzolite assemblage, similar to what is believed to be the source of primary melts formed beneath mid-ocean ridges. In determining the phase compositions of the anhydrous lherzolite we found that the composition of clinopyroxene on the anhydrous lherzolite solidus changes from high-Ca to low-Ca with increasing pressure. Garnet and clinopyroxene partition coefficients for the elements we studied (U, Th, Nb, Hf, Y, Zr, Ce, Nd, Sm, Er, Yb and Lu) are dependent on pressure, temperature, and composition; although crystal composition appears to be the dominant control on pyroxene coefficients. The garnet partition coefficients most applicable to lherzolite melting are significantly higher than those from previous studies, whereas the clinopyroxene partition coefficients are significantly lower. These new partition coefficients in combination with the new phase equilibria relax the constraints from uranium–thorium disequilibria on mantle porosities in the melting region and reconcile the implications of excess 230Th with melting models based on other geochemical and geophysical parameters [Kelemen et al., A review of melt migration processes in the adiabatically upwelling mantle beneath oceanic spreading ridges, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London Ser. A 355 (1997) 283-3182; Toomey et al., Tomographic constraints on upper mantle structure beneath the MELT region of the East pacific Rise, Trans. AGU 78 (1997) 705]. With these new partition coefficients significant 230Th excess can be created with residual porosities of up to 1%.
Continuous dependence on modelling and non-existence results for a Ginzburg-Landau equation

Continuous dependence on a modelling parameter is established for solutions of a problem for a Ginzburg–Landau equation. Both the forward and backward in time problems are analysed. In the former case, we derive a priori estimates that indicate that solutions depend continuously on a parameter in the governing differential equation. For the backward in time problem, which is ill-posed, we obtain Holder continuous dependence on the parameter provided we assume that the solutions exist and are properly constrained. In the last part of the paper, nonexistence results for a backward in time problem for the Ginzburg–Landau equation are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ANGIOTENSIN II AND CARDIAC FIBROSIS

The renin-angiotensin system has been linked to the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis through the use of experimental animal models and by clinical studies. This review emphasizes recent findings implicating the direct action of angiotensin II on cardiac cell types, particularly the cardiac fibroblast, as a causative factor in the development of cardiac fibrosis. The possible influence of other factors acting in concert with angiotensin II either to increase or to attenuate the fibrotic process is also discussed. Nitric oxide is considered as an example of a paracrine agent that can antagonize either the hemodynamic or cellular effects of angiotensin II during both physiological and pathological processes. (Trends Cardiovasc Med 1996;6:193-198).
Quantitative evaluation of texture characteristics of solar cell back reflectors

A quantitative characterization technique was developed to study the surface morphology of solar cell back reflector. The texture characteristics of back reflectors have strong effects on solar cell efficiency. While average peak height and roughness are directly available from atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis, several key parameters are missing. These parameters include average peak angle, peak angle distribution, and peak height distribution. This work demonstrates a numerical scheme to quantify these texture parameters. To do this, we developed a program that calculates the peak height and angle from the original AFM data. The output results establish quantitative relationship between the back reflector process parameters and the texture characteristics.
B-cell activation by crosslinking of surface IgM or ligation of CD40 involves alternative signal pathways and results in different B-cell phenotypes.

Abstract Treatment of small resting B cells with soluble F(ab')2 fragments of anti-IgM, an analogue of T-independent type 2 antigens, induced activation characterized by proliferation and the expression of surface CD5. In contrast, B cells induced to proliferate in response to thymus-dependent inductive signals provided by either fixed activated T-helper 2 cells or soluble CD40 ligand-CD8 (CD40L) recombinant protein displayed elevated levels of CD23 (Fc epsilon II receptor) and no surface CD5. Treatment with anti-IgM and CD40L induced higher levels of proliferation and generated a single population of B cells coexpressing minimal amounts of CD5 and only a slight elevation of CD23. Anti-IgM- but not CD40L-mediated activation was highly sensitive to inhibition by cyclosporin A and FK520. Sp-cAMPS, an analogue of cAMP, augmented CD40L and suppressed surface IgM-mediated activation. Taken together these results are interpreted to mean that there is a single population of small resting B cells that can respond to either T-independent type 2 (surface IgM)- or T-dependent (CD40)-mediated activation. In response to different intracellular signals these cells are induced to enter alternative differentiation pathways.
STUDIES ON IMMUNE CELLULAR INJURY : I. CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ANTIBODY AND COMPLEMENT

A model system for the investigation of immune cellular injury in primary isolates of a fixed-tissue cell of human origin has been described, using metabolism-inhibition and uptake of trypan blue as independent criteria of cytoxicity. Cytotoxic effects on human amnion cells were produced by the combination of specific rabbit antibody and factors in normal human serum which were indistinguishable from the components of hemolytic complement and calcium and magnesium ions. The data have been discussed in relation to the apparent multiplicity of serologic systems which can effect cellular injury. The nature of the cell and the source of antibody or normal serum constituents have been emphasized as factors which may influence the experimental selection of a given humoral mechanism.
On transactional memory concurrency control in distributed real-time programs

We consider distributed transactional memory (DTM) for concurrency control in distributed real-time programs, and present an algorithm called RT-TFA. RT-TFA transparently handles object relocation and versioning using an asynchronous clock-based validation technique, and resolves transactional contention using task time constraints. We implement the RT-TFA on top of JChronOS, a layer extending the scheduling capabilities of ChronOS for Java programs. We conduct an extensive evaluation study comparing RT-TFA with well known competitors for real-time distributed applications. Our results reveal that RT-TFA outperforms competitors in mostly scenarios up to 43% with added advantage of better programmability and composability.
Mutagenicity of chemicals added to foods

Abstract Much attention has recently been brought to the fact that many natural comoponents of the diet are mutagenic and/or carcinogenic. Approximately 2700 distinct chemical entities, chemical mixtures, and plant extracts are allowed as direct food additives by the US F.D.A. These include chemicals found in the body, natural components of foods, and synthetic chemicals. In addition to the chemicals among these additives that are mutagenic, there are a number of mutagens that are normally present in the plant products that are consumed as part of the normal diets. The mutagenicity in Salmonella of these food additives was identified using the National Toxicology Program and US E.P.A. Gene-Tox databases. Relatively few of the chemicals deliberately added to foods have been tested for mutagenecity. Among the chemicals tested, approximately 15% were mutagenic in Salmonella. The mutagens include both organic and inorganic substances. Many of the natural plant components, such as flavonoids, hydrazides, and tannins also have been shown to be mutagenic. However, these natural components are not considered as food additives. A large proportion of the mutagenic food additives appear to act through the generation of oxygen- or free radicals. Although the relationships between mutagenecity and carcinogenicity of electrophilic chemicals has been well studied, the potential hazard of low-level increases in free-radical generating substances on tumor incidences is unknown.
Visual deprivation at the critical period modulates photic evoked responses.

Averaged visual evoked responses (AVER) were recorded from the striate cortex of normal (control) and monocular visually deprived Long-Evans hooded rats. One month of monocular visual deprivation (MD) at the critical period of development resulted in marked reduction of dl the three AVER components (i.e., components P2, N2 and P3) as compared to the control recordings (P < 0.001). In control animals, the AVER amplitudes of the two hemispheres were identical. while in MD rats, the P2 and N2 components of the AVER obtained from the hemisphere ipsilateral to the MD eye were markedly smaller than those of the AVER obtained from the contralateral hemisphere (P < 0.001). The latencies of the late components (N2 and P3) obtained from the hemisphere ipsilateral to the MD eyes were significantly delayed as compared to those from the contralateral hemisphere (P < 0.05 for N2, P < 0.01 for P3). The AVER following paired photic stimuli with various time intervals between the stimuli were used to study the neuronal re...
Loss of p53 sensitizes mice with a mutation in Ccm1 (KRIT1) to development of cerebral vascular malformations

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) consist of clusters of abnormally dilated blood vessels. Hemorrhaging of these lesions can cause seizures and lethal stroke. Three loci are associated with autosomal dominant CCM, and the causative genes have been identified for CCM1 and CCM2. We have generated mice with a targeted mutation of the Ccm1 gene, but an initial survey of 20 heterozygous mice failed to detect any cavernous malformations. To test the hypothesis that growth of cavernous malformations depends on somatic loss of heterozygosity at the Ccm1 locus, we bred animals that were heterozygous for the Ccm1 mutation and homozygous for loss of the tumor suppressor Trp53 (p53), which has been shown to increase the rate of somatic mutation. We observed vascular lesions in the brains of 55% of the double-mutant animals but none in littermates with other genotypes. Although the genetic evidence suggested somatic mutation of the wild-type Ccm1 allele, we were unable to demonstrate loss of heterozygosity by molecular methods. An alternative explanation is that p53 plays a direct role in formation of the vascular malformations. The striking similarity of the human and mouse lesions indicates that the Ccm1+/− Trp53−/− mice are an appropriate animal model of CCM.
Viscoelastic properties of regenerated cellulose sheet

The viscoelastic properties of regenerated cellulose containing several different softeners or water only were investigated. Measurements of creep and Young's modulus were made on the Instron tensile tester, and the creep curves were fitted to a mechanical model consisting of Voigt and Maxwell elements of springs and dashpots in series. The elastic and viscous parameters were determined for the various softened films and compared with each other and with measurements of Young's modulus. It was found that the elastic modulus is a function of the effective molar concentration of the softener in the film which is related to its ability to break hydrogen bonds. The inelastic deformation was found to be a linear function of the heat of vaporization of softener (including water) in the film which is related to hydrogen-bonding energy. Thus, inelastic deformation requires breaking of interchain hydrogen bonds in contrast to pure elastic deformation which involves stretching of hydrogen bonds. A relationship of the Voigt unit and of the Maxwell unit on the composition of the cellulose-softener system and on cellulose-softener interaction has been demonstrated.
An instrument for the analysis of children's play as an index of degree of socialization

Abstract A simple instrument to study the degree of social complexity present in a child's play is presented, together with scoring instructions and norms for suburban middle class boys and girls aged five to eleven. The instrument is based on a developmental theory of children's emotional-social development moving from informal-individual to adult-oriented to adult-imitative to individual-competitive to cooperative-competitive play. Sex differences are marked, and the leading role of the school in socialization is clear. Use in individual case studies is suggested and research on national and sub-cultural groups is under way, including studies of some exceptionalities.
A Local Existence Theorem for Quasi-Linear Partial Differential Equations*

Necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of smooth solution to quasi-linear partial differential equation
A ubiquitin ligase transfers preformed polyubiquitin chains from a conjugating enzyme to a substrate

It is demonstrated that polyubiquitination mediated by Ube2g2 (E2) and gp78 (E3) employs a mechanism that involves preassembly of Lys48-linked ubiquitin chains at the catalytic cysteine of Ube2g2. Polyubiquitination of a substrate can be achieved by transferring the preassembled ubiquitin chains from Ube2g2 to a lysine residue in a substrate. In eukaryotic cells, many short-lived proteins are conjugated with Lys 48-linked ubiquitin chains and degraded by the proteasome1. Ubiquitination requires an activating enzyme (E1), a conjugating enzyme (E2) and a ligase (E3)2. Most ubiquitin ligases use either a HECT (homologous to E6-associated protein C terminus) or a RING (really interesting new gene) domain to catalyse polyubiquitination3, but the mechanism of E3 catalysis is poorly defined4. Here we dissect this process using mouse Ube2g2 (E2; identical at the amino acid level to human Ube2g2) and human gp78 (E3), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated conjugating system essential for the degradation of misfolded ER proteins5,6. We demonstrate by expressing recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli that Ube2g2/gp78-mediated polyubiquitination involves preassembly of Lys 48-linked ubiquitin chains at the catalytic cysteine of Ube2g2. The growth of Ube2g2-anchored ubiquitin chains seems to be mediated by an aminolysis-based transfer reaction between two Ube2g2 molecules that each carries a ubiquitin moiety in its active site. Intriguingly, polyubiquitination of a substrate can be achieved by transferring preassembled ubiquitin chains from Ube2g2 to a lysine residue in a substrate.
Episodic and Semantic Memory: A Comparison of Amnesic and Demented Patients

Episodic (recall of passages) and semantic (letter and category fluency) memory tasks were administered to Alzheimer's Disease (early stages), Huntington's Disease (HD), and alcoholic Korsakoff patients matched for overall severity of dementia. Although all three patient groups were severely (and equally) impaired on memory for passages, only the Alzheimer and Korsakoff patients emitted numerous intrusion errors. On the fluency tasks, the performance of the mild Alzheimer patients was distinguishable from that of the other two patient groups. On both fluency tasks, the HD and Korsakoff patients demonstrated severe and moderate deficits, respectively, whereas the mild Alzheimer patients were impaired only on the category fluency task. As with the episodic memory test, the Alzheimer and Korsakoff patients made more perseverative errors than did the HD patients on letter fluency. These findings suggest that Alzheimer and HD patients' impairments on episodic and semantic memory tasks reflect different underlying processes. The performance of Alzheimer patients is affected by their language dysfunction and an increased sensitivity to proactive interference; the deficits of the HD patients appear due to a general retrieval problem. Similarities in the error patterns (i.e., perseveration errors) of Alzheimer and Korsakoff patients are discussed with regard to recent neuropathological findings.
Irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife) in cancer treatment

Abstract Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a promising new minimally invasive modality for the ablation of solid tumors. Unlike the current leading thermal ablation modalities, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation, IRE uses nonthermal electric energy to irreversibly destabilize cell membranes, resulting in focused cell death. Over the past 7 years, IRE has been emerging as a novel ablation tool by using the effect of an applied electric field to kill cancer cells, without damaging the surrounding extracellular matrix, vessels, nerves, and neighboring normal tissue. Although IRE has been investigated for a short period of time, its potential use for cancer and tissue ablation has been receiving growing attention leading to a considerable number of studies on its validity and safety, including recent in vivo animal and human studies.
Derivation of SPDEs for Correlated Random Walk Transport Models in One and Two Dimensions

Stochastic partial differential equations for the one-dimensional telegraph equation and the two-dimensional linear transport equation are derived from basic principles. The telegraph equation and the linear transport equation are well-known correlated random walk (CRW) models, that is, transport models characterized by correlated successive-step orientations. In the present investigation, these deterministic CRW equations are generalized to stochastic CRW equations. To derive the stochastic CRW equations, the possible changes in direction and particle movement for a small time interval are carefully determined. As the time interval decreases, the discrete stochastic models lead to systems of It stochastic differential equations. As the position intervals decrease, stochastic partial differential equations are derived for the telegraph and transport equations. Comparisons between numerical solutions of the stochastic partial differential equations and independently formulated Monte Carlo calculations supp...
Applications of polymerase chain reaction methods in genome mapping

Important new polymerase chain reaction-based techniques have been developed to assist in genome analysis. Applications range from genetic and physical mapping of DNA to sequence analysis. The polymerase chain reaction has played a significant role in increasing the feasibility of many aspects of genome analysis and positional cloning.
Crime and drug-using behavior. An areal analysis

The purpose of this article was to examine the ecological perspective as an explanation of criminal and drug-using behavior and to present data from a pilot study on the areal distribution of crime and drugs. We found that individuals engaged in narcotics use, those engaged in criminal behavior, and those engaged in both resided in the same area of the community. Those who used other types of drugs were less likely to reside in the same areas as those engaged in criminal behavior. Thus, we concluded narcotics users and criminals were drawn from the same population and both behaviors may be produced by the same environmental variables, rather than have an individual causal relationship.
Long-Term Investment by Japanese and American Firms

A theoretical explanation is offered for why Japanese firms seem to have succeeded better than their American counterparts in making long-term investments.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation Generates Multiple Isoforms of the Mitochondrial Capsule Protein, Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPx), During Hamster Sperm Capacitation

Sperm capacitation is a maturation process, occurring in the female reproductive tract, that produces fertilization-competent spermatozoa. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation represents an important event in capacitation. The present study demonstrates the capacitation-dependent tyrosine-phosphorylation of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), the disulfide cross-linked, major structural protein of the sperm mitochondrial capsule. Immunofluorescence microscopy using an antiphosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody (anti-pY20) demonstrated the presence of capacitation-associated tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in the flagellum of hamster spermatozoa. Among the tyrosine-phosphorylated polypeptides (M(r) 19,000- 99,000), a 19-kDa polypeptide was the only one that can be solubilized completely by Triton X-100-dithiothreitol (DTT). The 19-kDa polypeptide was purified by anion-exchange chromatography and by immunoaffinity chromatography. Proteomic identification of the 19-kDa polypeptide by nano-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry yielded six peptides that matched the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database sequences of bovine PHGPx. Indirect immunofluorescence localized PHGPx to the midpiece of the flagellum and the immunoblot analysis demonstrated its DTT-dependent release from purified flagella. DTT extracts of noncapacitated spermatozoa exhibited a charge train of four major PHGPx isoforms (pIs 7.5- 9.0) by two-dimensional PAGE, whereas capacitated spermatozoa revealed the generation of new acidic PHGPx isoforms with isoelectric points ranging between pH 6.0-7.0 and 4.0-5.0, indicating that it is posttranslationally modified during capacitation. These data suggest that the tyrosine-phosphorylation of PHGPx may represent an important event in the signaling pathway(s) associated with capacitation and could potentially affect mitochondrial function.
Improving positive transfer: A test of relapse prevention training on transfer outcomes

This study examined the effect of relapse prevention (RP) training on the maintenance of learned knowledge and skills. After a session on assertive communication, ninety trainees were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: a full RP group, a modified RP group, and a control group. The results showed that both of the RP operationalizations significantly affected the trainees' ability to transfer and desire to transfer, although in different ways; neither RP condition significantly affected retention of course content, use of transfer strategies, or use of trained skills; and (3) cognitive and behavioral transfer strategies significantly affected use of trained skills. This paper discusses implications of the findings for practice and future directions for research.
M mode and cross-sectional echocardiographic recognition of fibrosis and calcification of the mitral valve chordae and left ventricular papillary muscles

The echocardiographic appearance of fibrotic thickening and calcification of mitral valve chordae tendineae and left ventricular papillary muscles in 17 patients is described. Pathologic proof of excessive fibrosis or calcification was obtained in five patients. In a sixth patient, calcium was demonstrated on angiography to extend from the chordae into papillary muscle. The characteristic feature of chordal and papillary muscle fibrosis and calcification is the presence of highly echogenic densities best visualized within the left ventricle at a level below the mitral valve leaflets. The more inferior location of these densities, within the body of the left ventricle, enables them to be easily differentiated from densities indicating fibrosis and calcification of the mitral valve anulus. The pattern of chordal and papillary muscle fibrosis and calcification was frequently associated with mitral anular calcification, aortic valve fibrosis or calcification and left atrial enlargement. One patient had rheumatic mitral valve disease. Many patients had mitral regurgitation and most had a history, physical examination and radiologic findings compatible with congestive heart failure. Although the origin and importance of the chordal and papillary muscle changes reported are not known, their frequent association with mitral regurgitation and with congestive heart failure suggests possible interrelations.
The Structure and Dynamics of Tornado-Like Vortices

The structure and dynamics of axisymmetric tornado-like vortices are explored with a numerical model of axisymmetric incompressible flow based on recently developed numerical methods. The model is first shown to compare favorably with previous results and is then used to study the effects of varying the major parameters controlling the vortex: the strength of the convective forcing, the strength of the rotational forcing, and the magnitude of the model eddy viscosity. Dimensional analysis of the model problem indicates that the results must depend on only two dimensionless parameters. The natural choices for these two parameters are a convective Reynolds number (based on the velocity scale associated with the convective forcing) and a parameter analogous to the swirl ratio in laboratory models. However, by examining sets of simulations with different model parameters it is found that a dimensionless parameter known as the vortex Reynolds number, which is the ratio of the farfield circulation to the eddy viscosity, is more effective than the conventional swirl ratio for predicting the structure of the vortex. As the value of the vortex Reynolds number is increased, it is observed that the tornado-like vortex transitions from a smooth, steady flow to one with quasiperiodic oscillations. These oscillations, when present, are caused by axisymmetric disturbances propagating down toward the surface from the upper part of the domain. Attempts to identify these oscillations with linear waves associated with the shears of the mean azimuthal and vertical winds give mixed results. The parameter space defined by the choices for model parameters is further explored with large sets of numerical simulations. For much of this parameter space it is confirmed that the vortex structure and time-dependent behavior depend strongly on the vortex Reynolds number and only weakly on the convective Reynolds number. The authors also find that for higher convective Reynolds numbers, the maximum possible wind speed increases, and the rotational forcing necessary to achieve that wind speed decreases. Physical reasoning is used to explain this behavior, and implications for tornado dynamics are discussed.
Contractile properties of slow and fast muscle following tourniquet ischemia

Tourniquet application is commonly used during sur gery on an extremity to create a bloodless field. Inves tigations have focused on the ultrastructural, histo chemical, and biochemical effects of tourniquet isch emia on muscle. Few studies, however, have examined the influence of tourniquet ischemia on the contractile properties of muscle. The purpose of this study was not only to examine this latter consideration, but also to determine whether slow and fast muscles exhibit a differential response. In adult male guinea pigs, the plantaris and soleus muscles of control (N = 5) and experimental legs (N = 5) were tested for time-peak- tension (TPT), one-half relaxation time (½RT), maximal twitch tension (Pt), and maximal tetanic tension (Po). The experimental leg was subjected to a 2 hour tour niquet which was placed around the thigh. Muscles of this leg were tested following a 2 hour recovery period. In three of the five animals, no response could be elicited from either the plantaris or soleus muscles of ...
The spheroplast lysis assay for yeast in microtiter plate format

A yeast lysis assay in the microtiter plate format improved precision and throughput and led to an improved algorithm for estimating lag time. The assay reproducibly revealed differences of 10% or greater in the maximal lysis rate and 50% or greater in the lag time. Clonal differences were determined to be the major source of variation. Microtiter-based assays should be useful for screening for drug susceptibility and for analyzing mutant phenotypes.
Developmental regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I-stimulated glucose transporter in rat brain astrocytes.

Astrocytic glial cells from 1- and 21-day-old rat brains were established in primary culture to study the expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors and IGFI- stimulated glucose transporter (Glut-1). Astrocytes from both age groups expressed specific high affinity IGF-I receptors, whose relative affinities for IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin were comparable. However, the total number of binding sites and IGF-I receptor mRNA levels were 148% and 240% higher in astrocytes from 21-day-old compared with 1-day-old brains. IGF-I caused a dose-dependent stimulation of [3H]2-deoxy-Dglucose ([3H]dGlc) uptake in astrocytes from 1-day-old brains. This was associated with increases in Glut-1 protein and mRNA levels. In contrast, astrocytes from 21-day-old brains exhibited a 58% decrease in the binding capacity and a 77% decrease in the steady state levels of Glut-1 protein and its mRNA. In addition, IGF-I failed to stimulate the Glut-1 system in these cells. This lack of IGF-I effect is not due to an alt...
Development Status of the ILC Marx Modulator

The ILC Marx Modulator is under development as a lower cost alternative to the "Baseline Conceptual Design" (BCD) klystron modulator. Construction of a prototype Marx is complete and testing is underway at SLAC. The Marx employs solid state elements, IGBTs and diodes, to control the charge, discharge and isolation of the modules. The prototype is based on a stack of sixteen modules, each initially charged to ~11 kV, which are arranged in a Marx topology. Initially, eleven modules combine to produce the 120 kV output pulse. The remaining modules are switched in after appropriate delays to compensate for the voltage droop that results from the discharge of the energy storage capacitors. Additional elements will further regulate the output voltage to plusmn0.5%. The Marx presents several advantages over the conventional klystron modulator designs. It is physically smaller; there is no pulse transformer (quite massive at these parameters) and the energy storage capacitor bank is quite small, owing to the active droop compensation. It is oil-free; voltage hold-off is achieved using air insulation. It is air cooled; the secondary air-water heat exchanger is physically isolated from the electronic components. This paper outlines the current developmental status of the prototype Marx. It presents a detailed electrical and mechanical description of the modulator and operational test results. It will discuss electrical efficiency measurements, fault testing, and output voltage regulation.
The pivotal role of cholesterol absorption inhibitors in the management of dyslipidemia

Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is associated with a significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease. Ezetimibe is the first member of a new class of selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors. It impairs the intestinal reabsorption of both dietary and hepatically excreted biliary cholesterol. Ezetimibe is an effective and safe agent for lowering LDL-C and non HDL-C. Short term clinical trials have established the role of ezetimibe monotherapy and its use in combination with statins. Furthermore, ezetimibe and statin combination therapy increased the percentage of patients who achieved their LDL-C treatment goal. Studies using surrogate markers of atherosclerosis have suggested a possible role of ezetimibe in combating atherosclerosis. Ezetimibe provides an effective therapeutic strategy for the management of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) and sitosterolemia. The lack of outcomes and long term safety data is attributed to the relatively recent introduction of this medication.
STEREO observatory trade studies and resulting architecture

The Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) mission is part of NASA's Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) program. The mission calls for two identically instrumented observatories to be placed in heliocentric orbit, one leading the Earth, the other lagging. The APL is responsible for mission design, integration and providing the two spacecraft (without instruments). Due to cost constraints, both spacecraft are single-string with redundancy added where it would have the greatest benefit. Redundancy does not include a duplication of the spacecraft's avionics. In order to maximize heritage, the STEREO spacecraft avionics are based on the APL-designed Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) spacecraft. TIMED is a fully redundant spacecraft. Due to the symmetry of the avionics architecture, the initial STEREO design was based on dividing the TIMED spacecraft avionics in half. This provided a functional, though not optimal design. As one might suspect, there were numerous potential single point failures and no redundancy. This paper discusses the STEREO architecture as it pertains to avionics and the functional allocation amongst its processors. After a series of trades, functions were reallocated, providing a level of hardware and software robustness that was not present in the initial STEREO design. This paper details these trades, as well as the architecture of the two spacecraft. An emphasis is placed on safing and autonomous control of the spacecraft in the face of contingencies. Spacecraft modes and mode transitions are also described.
A study of the intra‐operative effect of the Argon and KTP laser in stapes surgery

The intraoperative effect of the Argon and KTP laser was studied on 20 patients who had primary stapes surgery under local anaesthetic; 10 had Argon and 10 had KTP laser stapedotomy. Symptoms of inner ear disturbance such as dizziness and tinnitus were systematically recorded during the laser procedure. Both dizziness and tinnitus were relatively uncommon when the laser was used on the promontory. When the laser was used to transect the posterior crus, all the patients reported transient dizziness, probably from the thermal effect through the posterior crus into the inner ear. However, tinnitus was unusual during this stage. When the laser was used to fenestrate the footplate, only 30% of patients reported a transient dizziness as less laser energy was used. On the other hand, 55% of the patients experienced tinnitus during this stage, which indicates an acoustic effect on the inner ear. There is no difference between the Argon and KTP laser.
Positive Selection of Thymocytes

Differentiation of αβ T cell receptor (TCR)-expressing T cells involves an obligatory interaction with self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in the thymus. This process, called positive selection, both rescues thymocytes from programmed cell death and induces their differentiation into mature T cells. Another critical event in thymic development is to prevent maturation of hazardous autoreactive T cells; thus, mechanisms exist to eliminate T cells with self-reactive receptors (negative selection). How can these two pathways be distinguished? This question, which has long taxed immunologists, is more opposite because many features of the interactions in positive and negative selection are shared: Both processes are exquisitely MHC-allele specific, they involve MHC-bound peptide recognition, and employ at least some overlapping signal transduction pathways. However, resolution of this paradox has become much more feasible with the advent of powerful systems for withdrawing and reconstituting...