cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of tobacco deprivation on the attentional blink in rapid serial visual presentation.

When two targets are imbedded in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP), identification of the second target (T2) is impaired if it occurs within 500 ms of the first target (T1). This attentional blink (AB) is thought to involve interference of resources in processing T1 and T2. The deleterious effect of tobacco deprivation on attention has been documented, but no studies have examined the AB. Nonsmokers (n = 30), 12-h tobacco-deprived smokers (n = 30), and nondeprived smokers (n = 30) were randomly assigned to perform the RSVP with one of three stimulus-duration conditions (96, 113, or 130 ms). Participants completed 48 RSVP trials. Each trial consisted of 16 individually presented words (T1, T2, and 14 distractors), and T2 lagged T1 at serial positions 1—8. Participants verbalized T1 and T2 in order immediately after each trial. Identification of T2 (for correct T1 trials) was impaired at early versus late lag positions, which was especially pronounced in the most difficult (96 ms) condition. There was no evidence for group differences on the AB; however, deprived smokers were worse identifying T1 in the 113-ms condition. These results suggest that the AB is influenced by stimulus duration, but not by 12 h of tobacco deprivation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oral paliperidone extended-release: chemistry, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and metabolism, clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability

Introduction: Paliperidone is a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and in adolescents aged 12 – 17 years. It is also approved for the treatment of adults with schizoaffective disorder, both as a monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy to mood stabilizers and/or antidepressants. Paliperidone is the active metabolite of risperidone. Areas covered: The purpose of this review is to describe the pharmacokinetic profile of paliperidone and its clinical implications in the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Background information is also provided regarding chemistry, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy and safety/tolerability data. Expert opinion: The recommended dose of paliperidone extended-release (ER) in adults is 6 mg/day and no initial dose titration is required. Higher doses may provide additional benefit as well as dose-related increases in some adverse reactions. The maximum recommended dose is 12 mg/day. Peak plasma conce...
The spatial distribution of desmids in lakes in northern Minnesota, U.S.A.

Summary As a result of studies in certain lakes in northern Minnesota it has been found that the spatial distribution of desmids in them depends especially on the following factors: the constitution, abundance and distribution of the lakes' submerged aquatic flora and the morphometry and consequent patterns of their water circulation. The study has also shown a positive relationship between the size of desmid cells present in the plankton and the extent of water circulation. The latter factor may determine the composition and hence the diversity of lake phytoplankton.
Winds of Change for Client-Centered Counseling.

The winds of change are blowing on client-centered counseling (among others, Cain, 1986, 1989a, 1989b, 1989c, 1990; Combs, 1988; Sachse, 1989; Sebastian, 1989). In the 3 years following the death of Carl Rogers, many were expressing dissatisfaction with ''traditional'' or "pure'' client-centered counseling and were engaged in trying to supplement it, extend it, and modify it. The basic complaint seems to be that the counselor conditions specified by Rogers (1957) are not sufficient. Tausch, at the International Conference on Client-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy in Belgium in 1988, is quoted by Cain (1989c) as stating that client-centered therapy, in its pure form, is not effective for some clients and insufficient for others.
Problems with the mass spectrometric determination of tritium from cold fusion

Among the attempts to measure particles produced in the cold fusion of deuterium in palladium metal is the mass spectrometric observation of tritium. An experiment which has been reported in the popular press involves attaching a hollow Pd electrode to a vacuum chamber and measuring the tritium produced during electrolysis using a mass spectrometer. We present data demonstrating that mass 5 and 6, which could be mistaken for the ions DT+ and T2+, can arise from ion-molecule reactions in the ionizer of the mass spectrometer giving the ions HD2+ and D3+. With H2 and D2 present in the vacuum chamber, there are at least eight reactions which lead to these triatomic species, and these may contribute to a complex time and pressure dependence of the signals.
Psoralen monoadducts and interstrand cross-links in DNA

Abstract The photochemical binding of 4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen to phage λ and calf thymus DNA was studied. Two types of psoralen adducts were identified and their relative yields were determined. These results suggest a mechanism for the formation of psoralen adducts to DNA. During irradiation, a psoralen molecule initially binds to a base in one DNA strand. Upon further exposure to light, this monoadduct may react with a base in the complementary DNA strand, forming a bifunctional adduct which acts as an interstrand cross-link. Under conditions commonly used for biological inactivations sensitized by psoralen-plus-light (such as cells treated with 10−6 to 10−7 M psoralen and exposed 5–10 min to 2.4 mW/cm2 intensity 360 nm light), the yield of cross-linking product constitutes about 20–40 % of the total psoralen bound to DNA. Thus, psoralen cross-links may be an important DNA defect contributing to the sensitizing action of this class of drugs.
Further data on a weighted average model for judgment in a lifted weight task

Ss lifted three weights in sequence with instructions to judge the average heaviness of the weights. In agreement with previous work, a recency effect was obtained, with the later weights having more influence on the judgment. In contrast to previous work, a discrepancy was found from predictions based on the hypothesis that the judgment was an average of the felt heavinesses of the weights. The discrepancy had the appearance of a response end-effect, and was eliminable by a scaling procedure based on functional measurement.
Pressure affects enzyme function in organic media

Pressure affects enzyme function in nonaqueous media. Activation volumes have been determined and provide evidence that the primary effect of pressure is to enhance the stripping of water off an enzyme in polar organic solvents and leads to decreased enzymatic activity. Activation volumes of subtilisin Carlsberg in organic solvents, particularly with the enzyme hydrated, have a larger magnitude than activation volumes determined in aqueous solutions. This study provides further evidence that enzymatic activity in polar organic solvents is dominated by the interaction of enzyme-bound water with the solvent. From a practical standpoint, however, the results of this study suggest that enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents may be controlled by the combined effects of pressure and enzyme hydration. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reading: The natural interface between developmental and educational psychology

Not so long ago there was general (though not universal) agreement within the psychological community that associative and/or behavioral learning theory would at some time provide answers to most of the questions one would be interested in asking. Psychologists who were interested in verbal behavior were generally in accord that if we were diligent enough in mapping out the effects of various practice conditions, and if all of the subtleties of various forms of transfer were understood, it would be possible to provide an account of the acquisition and use of language. Most developmental psychologists were also comfortable within the learning theory framework. Development is, of course, a process of change, and learning theory provided strong transition rules describing how an organism moved from one state to another. Educational psychologists were attracted to learning theory for the same reasons as developmental psychologists. The hope was that by tine tuning practice schedules, arranging appropriately spaced review sessions, and building in procedures that emphasized positive transfer features between different instructional units, highly effective instructional approaches could be developed. In short, there was general agreement in virtually all areas of psychology that “the phenomenon of learning is fundamentally the same whether studied in the animal, child, or adult” (Munn, 1954, p. 449). In the late 1960s the general consensus about the utility of learning theory began to unravel. Psychologists who were previously interested in “verbal learning” and “verbal behavior” began to place increasing emphasis on verbal memory (Tulving & Madigan, 1970). This shift was considerably more than a mere change of labels. There was also an enormous change in emphasis. The study of verbal memory quickly became the study of the contents and structure of memory with little emphasis on how that content and structure had evolved or changed. There were also changes occurring within developmental and educational psychology. Developmental psychologists began to be disenchanted with learning theory for many of the same reasons as psychologists interested in adult functioning (White, 1970). Moreover, the minor
Aqueous solubility and Henry's law constant data for PCB congeners for evaluation of quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs)

Abstract Aqueous solubilities and Henry's Law Constants (HLCs) were measured for selected PCB congeners for evaluation of quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) relating chlorine substitution pattern to the chemical parameter. Experimental results were consistent with previously published values. Aqueous solubilities (as solids at 25°C, column generation technique) determined for 26 congeners ranged from 1.08×10 −5 to 9.69×10 −10 mol/L and generally decreased with molecular weight. Values converted to subcooled liquids are also reported. HLCs (25°C, gas purge technique) determined for 20 congeners ranged from 0.3×10 −4 to 8.97×10 −4 atm·m 3 /mol. Measured HLCs were not correlated with molecular weight, but increased with degree of orthochlorine substitution within a molecular weight class. Vapor pressures calculated from the product of solubility (mol/m 3 ) and HLC (atm·m 3 /mol) data, generally decreased with molecular weight and increased with increasing degree of ortho- chlorine substitution. Currently available QSPRs were found to be ineffective for predicting solubilities, HLCs and vapor pressures when compared to experimentally determined results. An empirical data fitting approach based on coefficients related to chlorine substitution patterns appears promising.
Serum protein variability in bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, from Iowa farm ponds

Abstract Four-hundred-and-forty-six electrophoretic patterns of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) serum proteins were analyzed to determine the condition of fish when sampled from ponds with different population densities. It was extremely difficult to rank ponds according to population density by using electrophoresis because of intraspecific variation. This variation was attributed to sex, maturity, season, and ponds, but not all the variation was accounted for in these variables.
The Kinetic Cycles of Myosin, Kinesin, and Dynein

The ATPase cycles of the molecular motors myosin, kinesin, and dynein are reviewed, with emphasis on their similarities and differences. Myosin generates motility along actin filaments and functions in muscle contraction, organelle movement, and cytokinesis. Dynein and kinesin produce movement along microtubules. All the motors exhibit burst kinetics with rate-limiting product release. Binding of the products-complex to the filament accelerates product release and completes the ATPase cycle. Kinesin is able to generate processive movement, and the possibilities for how this could be generated by coupling to ATP hydrolysis are discussed.
Albuminuria and dementia in the elderly: a community study.

Background Dementia is associated with microvascular disease of the retina. In this study, we examine whether cognitive status (normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia) is associated with albuminuria, a microvascular disorder of the kidney. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting & Participants 2,316 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and testing for albuminuria. Predictor Doubling of albuminuria. Outcome Dementia defined according to neuropsychological and clinical evaluation. Measurements Multinomial logistic modeling was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of dementia and mild cognitive impairment with doubling of albuminuria compared with the odds with normal cognition. Results 283 participants (12.2%) had dementia, 344 (14.9%) had mild cognitive impairment, and 1,689 (72.9%) had normal cognition. Compared with participants with normal cognition, doubling of albuminuria was associated with increased odds of dementia (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.29). Adjustment for prevalent cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors, lipid levels, C-reactive protein level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and apolipoprotein E-4 genotype attenuated this association, but it remained statistically significant (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.22). Mild cognitive impairment was associated with albuminuria on unadjusted analysis, but not with adjustment for other factors. Limitations Results are cross-sectional; causality cannot be imputed. Conclusions The odds of dementia increased in the presence of albuminuria. These findings suggest a role of shared susceptibility for microvascular disease in the brain and kidney in older adults.
Isotopies of Foliated 3-Manifolds without Holonomy

Abstract We offer a new proof of a deep result of Laudenbach and Blank. This proof is based on the Nielsen–Thurston classification of surface automorphisms.
Felicité et le taureau: ironie dans "Un Coeur Simple" de Flaubert

Estudo do conto Un Coeur Simple de Flaubert, onde se analisa o modo de realizacao da ironia flaubertiana, a partir do nome da protagonista: Felicite. Considera-se ainda a aproximacao entre ela e Santa Felicidade, martir do sec. III, assim como a variacao elaborada por Flaubert quanto ao animal perseguidor das duas santas. Interpreta-se o significado simbolico do touro no interior da narrativa. Travail sur le conte Un Coeur Simple de Flaubert, ou on analyse le mode de realisation de l'ironie flaubertienne a partir du nom du personnage: Felicite. On y considere egalement la ressemblance entre la Felicite de Flaubert et celle du martyrologe elaboree par Flaubert en ce qui concerne l'animal persecuteur des deux saintes. On interprete la signification symbolique du taureau a l'interieur du recit.
Structured singular values and stability analysis of uncertain polynomials, part 1: the generalized m

Abstract One of the primary goals in this two-part series is to establish a link between the structured singular value and results in stability analysis of uncertain polynomials. Another primary goal is to develop an improved method for accurately and efficiently computing the structured singular value for an important class of problems in robust stability analysis. To achieve these goal, we first introduce a generalized framework of structured singular values and next show how stability problems for uncertain polynomials may be studied in this framework. Part 1 of this series is devoted entirely to the generalized structured singular values, specifically for the case when a certain matrix representing the ‘nominal system’ is of rank one. An analytical expression for the generalized notion is derived in this case which involves solving a convex optimization problem in one real variable and renders the structured singular value readily solvable. In particular, when the general framework is specialized to that of the standard structured singular value, the expression is solved explicitly. Also for several additional important cases, explicit solutions are obtained. The framework as well as results will then be used in Part 2 of this series to study stability problems for a class of polynomials whose coefficients are affine functions of real or complex uncertainties. We demonstrate that the generalized structured singular value is a suitable notion for these problems and its solution unifies a number of results obtained previously via alternative approaches. For several problems of interest, we further demonstrate that stability conditions based upon the structured singular value and those in the spirit of Kharitonov theorem can be derive from one another, and hence establish a link between two drastically different type of results.
Hormone ontogeny in the ovine fetus. XVIII. The effect of an opioid antagonist on luteinizing hormone secretion.

Endogenous opioid-like peptides influence gonadotropin release in adult animals and man; however, the role of these peptides in the regulation of fetal LH secretion is not known. We administered naloxone hydrochloride (1.3 mg/kg iv), a specific opioid receptor antagonist, to 22 chronically catheterized ovine fetuses of gestational ages 94–143 days (term = 147 days). As a control, each fetus also received the vehicle on a separate occasion, the sequence of the studies being randomized. After the administration of naloxone, LH secretion increased from 38.6 ± 5.8 to 114 ± 21 ng/h ml−1 (P < 0.001); LH release was not affected by administration of the vehicle. Morphine (13 mg/kg) and naloxone (1.3 mg/kg) were administered together to three fetuses (gestational age 94–105 days); LH secretion was sharply reduced from 411 ± 14.3 ng/h ml−1 after naloxone alone to 53 ± 17.5 ng/h ml−1 after the administration of both naloxone and morphine (P < 0.01). The response to naloxone varied with gestational age. Fetuses of 9...
Electrophysiological analysis of taurine and glycine action on neurons of the mudpuppy retina. I. Intracellular recording

Summary Intracellular recordings were carried out in the perfused retina-eyecup preparation of the mudpuppy. Taurine and glycine were added to the bathing medium to study their effects on different retinal neurons. In a few cases, γ-aminobutyric acid was exogenously applied to compare GABA vs taurine/glycine action. Receptors and horizontal cells were relatively insensitive to taurine/glycine, while amacrines and ganglion cells were comparatively more sensitive to these agents. Bipolar cells proved to be differentially effected by inhibitory amino acids: hyperpolarizing (OFF) bipolars were depressed by taurine/glycine and proved less sensitive to GABA; depolarizing (ON) bipolars were suppressed by GABA and were comparatively less sensitive to glycine/taurine. Taurine and glycine had identical actions on neurons and both were about equally effective at the same concentration. Strychnine blocked the action of taurine and glycine. The patterns of glycine/taurine sensitivity and their effects on second order neurons eliminate taurine as a photoreceptor transmitter; one or both of these agents may be utilized by a subclass of amacrine cells which interact with hyperpolarizing bipolars, other amacrine cells and ganglion cells. It appears that taurine or glycine or both may be selectively involved in OFF channel activity, while GABA may subserve an equivalent role for the ON channel.
Hindrance of binding to class II major histocompatibility complex molecules by a single amino acid residue contiguous to a determinant leads to crypticity of the determinant as well as lack of response to the protein antigen.

Abstract The immune system has evolved the potential to respond to a wide variety of antigens, yet unresponsiveness to many foreign determinants is encountered frequently. Here, we report a lack of response to a particular determinant, hen egg lysozyme (HEL)-(46-61)-peptide (p46-61), in C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice, whereas a strong T-cell response to this determinant is obtained in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-identical C3H.SW mice. However, (C3H.SW x C57BL/6)F1 mice respond well to p46-61, suggesting the absence of a p46-61-specific "hole" in the T-cell repertoire in C57BL/6 mice. We further show that p46-61 cannot bind the I-Ab class II MHC molecule, whereas p46-60 lacking Arg61 exhibits good binding and is immunogenic in both strains. Thus, the presence of the hindering residue, Arg61, renders p46-61, a dominant determinant in C3H.SW, into a silent, cryptic determinant in C57BL/6 mice. Upon i.p. immunization with HEL, no T-cell responses to either HEL or p46-61 could be demonstrated in spleens of HEL-primed C57BL/6 mice, whereas a predominant response to p46-61 and HEL was demonstrated in C3H.SW mice. Evidently, C57BL/6 mice differ from C3H.SW in their ability to process p46-61 into an actual I-Ab binding determinant, indicating a putative enzymatic defect in the C57BL/6 strain. Furthermore, our results suggest that the inability of C57BL/6 mice to respond in the spleen to HEL is based upon its failure to generate a dominant immunogenic determinant from HEL, coupled with its pattern of susceptibility to regulatory effects.
The Goddess Mahā;cīnakrama-Tārā (Ugra-Tārā) In Buddhist And Hindu Tantrism

It is well known that some goddesses are worshipped in both the Buddhist and Hindu Tantric traditions. A form of the Buddhist Vajrayoginī, accompanied by Vajravarṇanī and Vajravairocanī, is the prototype of the Hindu Chinnamastā accompanied by Ḍākinī and Varṅinī. Forms of Ekajaṭā and Manjughoṣa were adopted from the Buddhist pantheon into the Hindu and worshipped by the same name. Usually it is not easy to trace how and when these adaptations took place. In the case of Mahācīnakrama-Tārā, a special form of Tārā, it has long been suspected that the goddess was imported from the Buddhist Tantric pantheon into the Hindu pantheon. In this paper I demonstrate, on the basis of clear textual evidence, how the goddess's description in a Buddhist sādhana was incorporated into the Hindu Phetkāriṅītantra, which was then quoted as an authoritative source regarding the goddess by later Hindu Tantras. I further examine representations of the goddess in art, and provide a new edition and translation of two sādhanas of Mahācīnakrama-Tārā.
The Relationship of Age, Method of Measuring, and Strain on Variation in Shell Strength

Abstract The shell strength of three commercial brown egg and three commercial white egg strains was assessed by specific gravity, deformation, breaking strength, and thickness for 17 months of production. Correlations between shell strength measures and egg weight were determined. The relative magnitude of the contribution of various egg characteristics and age to variation in deformation and breaking strength was determined by stepwise multiple regression analysis. Differences between strains were consistent for methods of assessing shell strength. Although the mean shell strength of the brown egg strains was lower than that of the white egg strains, differences depended on which strain comparisons were made. Correlations among different measures of shell strength were highly significant for all comparisons. No significant correlations of egg weight or width/length ratio with other variables were observed. Differences in magnitude of correlations in these strains were small, and there were no trends to differences with age or different methods of assessing shell strength. Shell thickness accounted for the most variability in deformation whereas specific gravity accounted for the most variability in breaking strength. Alternatively, specific gravity and thickness contributed significantly to the variability of deformation and breaking strength, respectively. Age and width/length ratio were more important in accounting for variability in breaking strength than in deformation. No consistent trends in the accounting of variability within deformation or breaking strength were apparent between strains or ages. However, less of the variation in the brown-egg strains could be accounted for by the variables regressed.
Surface properties of regenerating limb cells: Evidence for gradation along the proximodistal axis

Abstract When two limb regeneration blastemas are cocultured in vitro, proximal blastemas surround distal ones in a position-related hierarchy, whereas blastemas from the same level exhibit no engulfment behavior. Regenerative processes dependent on positional information can be interpreted in terms of differences in surface adhesive properties of limb cells.
Factors associated with psychotropic prescriptions, psychiatric hospitalization, and spending among Medicare beneficiaries under 65

Abstract Background Medicare beneficiaries under 65 are a medically heterogenous population with significant psychiatric health service utilization. Patterns of psychiatric health services utilization and spending have not been well studied in this population. Objective To estimate and compare annual trends in psychotropic prescriptions, psychiatric hospitalization, and total Medicare spending between Medicare beneficiaries Methods This serial cross-sectional study used 2006–2009 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data linked with Medicare claims. Psychotropic prescription and psychiatric hospitalization were measured using claims data. Total annual Medicare spending included reimbursements from Medicare Parts A, B, and D. Repeated person-year data were analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to examine associations between factors and outcomes among beneficiaries Results Over one-third of beneficiaries Conclusions Our findings highlight the special psychiatric health care needs of Medicare beneficiaries under 65 and call for the attention of policy makers and clinicians to this understudied population.
An alternate viewing universe.

he trend of limiting the size of external openings in the head that traditionally are made by neurosurgeons in an T effort to be minimally invasive continues now at a rapid pace. Spurred by improvements in technology, a frequent finding in all of our contemporary neurosurgical journals is the article in which authors address this subject. These efforts have been present for many years and are therefore not novel. However, more success appears to be currently met in a constant search for the ability to enter the cranial vault as a thief in the night, taking the prize without disturbance or detection. Although this goal is laudable, is it a reasonable focus of our efforts on these topics, given the realities of surgery in the living, breathing patient, such as bleeding, necessary freedom of movement, delicate neural tissues, and so on?
Petascale Cosmology: Simulations of Structure Formation

Simulations of the entire universe are by definition models of the largest and most complex physical system that exists. In carrying them out, simulators seek to discretize the matter (and radiation) in a model universe and follow their evolution from the Big Bang to the present day.
Bacterial communities: a microbiological model for swarm intelligence

Bacteria are highly efficient agents that sense, compute, and actuate. Moreover, they can form robust interspecies networks - bacterial communities - via sophisticated communication protocols. We assert that the improved understanding of these communities in the last decade provides a new model for swarm intelligence with distinct advantages, including ease of laboratory experimentation, explicit coupling of communication and behavior, and intergenerational dynamics. The first part of this paper provides a brief overview of bacterial communities in the context of swarm intelligence. The second part describes a promising new application of SI principles inspired by bacterial communities: the design of robust networked embedded and real-time systems.
Low-Velocity Impact on GLARE 5 Fiber-Metal Laminates: Influences of Specimen Thickness and Impactor Mass

AbstractImpact response and damage induced by a drop-weight instrument on glass reinforced (GLARE) 5 fiber-metal laminates of different thicknesses were studied. The effect of the impactor mass was also considered. The damage characteristics were evaluated using both the nondestructive ultrasonic and mechanical-sectioning techniques. Only the contour of the entire damage area can be obtained using ultrasonic C-scan; whereas, more details of the damage are provided through the mechanical cross-sectioning technique. Thicker GLARE 5 offers higher impact resistance. It was found that the failure mode changed with varying thickness and impactor mass. Panels that were tested with the lighter impactor mass would reach the perforation limit faster than the panels tested with the heavier impactor mass for the same impact energy. It was observed that the critical behaviors of the fiber and aluminum depended on the thickness of the panel. Threshold cracking energy varied parabolically with respect to the specimen th...
Multipacting simulations for superconducting cavities and RF coupler waveguides

Multipacting (MP) has recently received a renewed interest in the community of superconducting RF. In this paper, I will overview the developments of MP simulations for SRF cavities and RF couplers, summarize the simulation results, compare experiment results with simulation predictions and examine the algorithms. After identifying the discrepancy between the predictions and experiments, suggestions are given to further improve the simulations.
Effect of ghrelin in dry matter intake and energy metabolism in prepartum sheep: a preliminary study.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ghrelin on dry matter intake and energy metabolites in ewes during the last 10 d of gestation. Ewes were randomly assigned to either a treatment (n = 6) or a control group (n = 6). One hour after feeding (08:00 and 16:00), ewes in the treated group were given ovine ghrelin (3 μg/kg, i.m.) and the control group received an equivalent volume of saline. Treatments were continued until lambing. Daily blood samples were taken starting at assignment. The principal findings were that: (1) ewes treated with ghrelin had a higher dry matter intake only on the first day of treatment; (2) treated ewes had lower serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and insulin but higher serum concentrations of growth hormone; (3) serum concentrations of β-hydroxy butyrate and cortisol were not different between treated and non-treated ewes. In conclusion, treatment with ghrelin affected dry matter intake and energy metabolites of pre-partum ewes during the last 10 d of pregnancy.
PLAQUETTE BASIS FOR THE STUDY OF HEISENBERG LADDERS

We employ a plaquette basis{emdash}generated by coupling the four spins in a 2{times}2 lattice to a well-defined total angular momentum{emdash}for the study of Heisenberg ladders with antiferromagnetic coupling. Matrix elements of the Hamiltonian in this basis are evaluated using standard techniques in angular-momentum (Racah) algebra. We show by exact diagonalization of small (2{times}4 and 2{times}6) systems that in excess of 90{percent} of the ground-state probability is contained in a very small number of basis states. These few basis states can be used to define a severely truncated basis which we use to approximate low-lying exact eigenstates. We show how, in this low-energy basis, the isotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg ladder can be mapped onto an anisotropic spin-1 ladder for which the coupling along the rungs is much stronger than the coupling between the rungs. The mapping thereby generates two distinct energy scales which greatly facilitates understanding the dynamics of the original spin-1/2 ladder. Moreover, we use these insights to define an effective low-energy Hamiltonian in accordance to the contractor renormalization group (CORE) method. We show how a simple range-2 CORE approximation to the effective Hamiltonian to be used with our truncated basis reproduces the low-energy spectrum of the exact 2{times}6 theory atmore » the {approx_lt}1{percent} level. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}« less
Observations of turbulent mixing in a phytoplankton thin layer: Implications for formation, maintenance, and breakdown

Coincident measurements of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and temperature microstructure from Monterey Bay, California, U.S.A., are used to investigate the dynamics of a phytoplankton thin layer in the context of vertical turbulent mixing. The thin layer was situated in the thermocline of a 20.5-m water column, between a strongly turbulent surface mixed layer and a weakly turbulent stratified interior. The differential mixing established an asymmetric layer with a stronger Chl a gradient at the base of the layer than at the top. Sinking by Akashiwo sanguinea could have balanced turbulent mixing above the layer, but cannot explain the mid-column convergence needed to maintain the thin layer. Swimming by A. sanguinea directed towards a mid-column nitracline could have balanced turbulent mixing on both sides of the layer and supported the observed Chl a gradients. Results from a Eulerian advection-diffusion model suggest that cell swimming may have varied over the lifetime of the layer, with stronger or more directed swimming required for layer formation and weaker or less directed swimming needed to maintain the layer. In-layer growth is unlikely to have played a primary role in supporting the observed Chl a gradients. From the one-dimensional (vertical) observations, the role of shear-induced straining cannot be evaluated, but shear instabilities appear important to forcing elevated rates of turbulent diffusion within the layer. Finally, a Lagrangian particle-tracking model is used to explore the implications of a balance of vertical velocity and turbulent diffusion on the vertical motions of individual cells that constitute the thin layer.
Plant B Vitamin Pathways and their Compartmentation: a Guide for the Perplexed

The B vitamins and the cofactors derived from them are essential for life. B vitamin synthesis in plants is consequently as crucial to plants themselves as it is to humans and animals, whose B vitamin nutrition depends largely on plants. The synthesis and salvage pathways for the seven plant B vitamins are now broadly known, but certain enzymes and many transporters have yet to be identified, and the subcellular locations of various reactions are unclear. Although very substantial, what is not known about plant B vitamin pathways is regrettably difficult to discern from the literature or from biochemical pathway databases. Nor do databases accurately represent all that is known about B vitamin pathways-above all their compartmentation-because the facts are scattered throughout the literature, and thus hard to piece together. These problems (i) deter discoveries because newcomers to B vitamins cannot see which mysteries still need solving; and (ii) impede metabolic reconstruction and modelling of B vitamin pathways because genes for reactions or transport steps are missing. This review therefore takes a fresh approach to capture current knowledge of B vitamin pathways in plants. The synthesis pathways, key salvage routes, and their subcellular compartmentation are surveyed in depth, and encoded in the SEED database (http://pubseed.theseed.org/seedviewer.cgi?page=PlantGateway) for Arabidopsis and maize. The review itself and the encoded pathways specifically identify enigmatic or missing reactions, enzymes, and transporters. The SEED-encoded B vitamin pathway collection is a publicly available, expertly curated, one-stop resource for metabolic reconstruction and modeling.
CAM03-6: AR-PIN/PDC: Flexible Advance Reservation of Intradomain and Interdomain Lightpaths

A collection of Grid computing resources interconnected by an application-configurable network of lightpaths is called a LambdaGrid. It provides data-intensive applications with the needed deterministic network bandwidth to transport data between grid instruments, high-performance storage systems, compute clusters and visualization systems, that is often needed for real-time interactive scientific exploration. Advance reservation is needed to guarantee the availability of network resources. Flexible scheduling affords users greater convenience while also improving resource utilization and acceptance rate. In this paper we propose a unified flexible advance reservation model called FARM and apply this model to the cross-domain Routing and Wavelength Assignment problem. We will present the architecture and implementation of a coordinated Interdomain and Intradomain optical control plane, which is capable of flexible advance reservations. Our simulation results show that by just relaxing the reservation constraint and providing flexibility on the starting time, the network can carry 39% more load, and resource utilization can improve by 41%.
End-biased Samples for Join Cardinality Estimation

We present a new technique for using samples to estimate join cardinalities. This technique, which we term "end-biased samples," is inspired by recent work in network traffic measurement. It improves on random samples by using coordinated pseudo-random samples and retaining the sampled values in proportion to their frequency. We show that end-biased samples always provide more accurate estimates than random samples with the same sample size. The comparison with histograms is more interesting ― while end-biased histograms are somewhat better than end-biased samples for uncorrelated data sets, end-biased samples dominate by a large margin when the data is correlated. Finally, we compare end-biased samples to the recently proposed "skimmed sketches" and show that neither dominates the other, that each has different and compelling strengths and weaknesses. These results suggest that endbiased samples may be a useful addition to the repertoire of techniques used for data summarization.
An evaluation of a national breast-feeding promotion programme in Honduras.

A significant increase occurred in the initiation and duration of breast-feeding among Honduran women between 1981 and 1987. Changes in population characteristics (e.g. level of education of women) would be expected to lead to a decrease in breast-feeding at each infant age, but these were offset by behavioural changes that led to an increase in the likelihood of initiation and continuation of breast-feeding. An exploration of relevant factors suggests that the PROALMA breast-feeding promotion programme has had a profound effect on the breast-feeding behaviour of Honduran mothers.
Competition among gene regulatory networks imposes order within the eye-antennal disc of Drosophila

The eye-antennal disc of Drosophila gives rise to numerous adult tissues, including the compound eyes, ocelli, antennae, maxillary palps and surrounding head capsule. The fate of each tissue is governed by the activity of unique gene regulatory networks (GRNs). The fate of the eye, for example, is controlled by a set of fourteen interlocking genes called the retinal determination (RD) network. Mutations within network members lead to replacement of the eyes with head capsule. Several studies have suggested that in these instances all retinal progenitor and precursor cells are eliminated via apoptosis and as a result the surrounding head capsule proliferates to compensate for retinal tissue loss. This model implies that the sole responsibility of the RD network is to promote the fate of the eye. We have re-analyzed eyes absent mutant discs and propose an alternative model. Our data suggests that in addition to promoting an eye fate the RD network simultaneously functions to actively repress GRNs that are responsible for directing antennal and head capsule fates. Compromising the RD network leads to the inappropriate expression of several head capsule selector genes such as cut, Lim1 and wingless. Instead of undergoing apoptosis, a population of mutant retinal progenitors and precursor cells adopt a head capsule fate. This transformation is accompanied by an adjustment of cell proliferation rates such that just enough head capsule is generated to produce an intact adult head. We propose that GRNs simultaneously promote primary fates, inhibit alternative fates and establish cell proliferation states.
The clinical utility of flexible bronchoscopy in the evaluation of chronic cough.

Study objectives: To assess the clinical utility of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in the evaluation of patients with chronic cough and normal or nonlocalizing chest radiographic findings. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Forty-eight patients with chronic cough and no other clinical or radiographic indications for FB who underwent the procedure from 1996 to 2001. Results: Before FB, 45 patients had a chest radiograph and 21 patients had a chest CT performed. On visual inspection, 37 of 48 of the FB findings (82%) were normal, 9 were consistent with “bronchitis,” one patient had a “small tracheal plaque,” and one patient had “minimal arytentoid redundancy.” Three of the 27 patients who had a microbiologic assessment performed during their FB demonstrated potentially pathogenic organisms. Antibiotic treatment based on culture data did not result in improvement in cough. Cytologic examination was performed in specimens from 33 patients; 1 patient was noted to have reactive squamous atypia, and the remainder were normal. The patient noted to have minimal arytenoid redundancy and the patient with a tracheal plaque each had another etiology for their cough identified, the treatment of which resulted in cough improvement. Conclusions: FB adds little to the diagnosis of chronic cough in the context of normal or nonlocalizing chest radiographic or CT findings. FB did not result in successful treatment alteration, nor did it contribute to the identification of the cough etiology. (CHEST 2004; 126:268 –272)
A Novel Technique for Chronic Retracted Proximal Hamstring Rupture Reconstruction Using an Achilles Tendon Allograft in a “Clasp” Configuration

Acute hamstring injuries are not uncommonly encountered; however, chronic retracted complete proximal hamstring ruptures are a rare and potentially debilitating injury. There are very few treatment options for the chronically retracted proximal hamstring tear with a significant defect after the tendon has been fully mobilized from the surrounding scar tissue. The use of Achilles tendon allograft for the reconstruction of chronic retracted tears with a large defect has resulted in significant improvements in patient satisfaction and functional improvements. A novel surgical technique in which the Achilles tendon allograft is placed in a “clasp” configuration to reconstruct the chronically retracted proximal hamstring is described, and we believe that this easily reproducible technique significantly enhances the reconstruction options available to surgeons treating this challenging problem.
Design of an efficient tentative hold protocol for automated coordination of multi-business transactions

The emerging Web services provide an effective means to carry out automated transactions between multiple business parties. While there are several specific protocols currently being discussed to address the coordination of Web services-enabled business transactions, we consider the tentative hold protocol (THP) that allows the placement of tentative holds on business resources prior to actual transactions in order to provide increased flexibility in coordination. We present a framework for applying THP in conjunction with 2PC to the problem in which service providers independently manage resources and clients seek to acquire the resources from multiple providers as a single atomic transaction. The proposed framework also facilitates the performance optimization of THP through effective parameterization with the notion of overhold size and hold duration. Accordingly, a detailed analysis is carried out to obtain an efficient method that can optimize the performance by adaptively determining the hold duration. The simulation results show that the proposed adaptive approach yields a significant improvement over other non-adaptive policies.
Measurement of Competition Between Powers: The Cases of the United States and the U.S.S.R.

This study analyzes the existence of situational power for developing countries (LDCs) and tests the impacts of a bipolar structure of the international system upon the relationships between the major powers and LDCs. It tests the proposition that, when two rival major powers are simultaneously involved with one developing country competing for its positive reactions, the LDC may actually be able to take advantage of the situation, receiving incentives from both powers. The findings suggest that, as an LDC becomes more developed, it becomes more able to take advantage of the competition between the rival powers. This information regarding LDC behavior has foreign policy implications for major powers, indicating the importance of selectivity in their efforts to influence LDCs.
Neocrystallization, fabrics and age of clay minerals from an exposure of the Moab Fault, Utah

Pronounced changes in clay mineral assemblages are preserved along the Moab Fault (Utah). Gouge is enriched up to w40% in 1Md illite relative to protolith, whereas altered protolith in the damage zone is enriched w40% in illite–smectite relative to gouge and up to w50% relative to protolith. These mineralogical changes indicate that clay gouge is formed not solely through mechanical incorporation of protolith, but also through fault-related authigenesis. The timing of mineralization is determined using 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating of size fractions of fault rocks with varying detrital and authigenic clay content. We applied Ar dating of illite–smectite samples, as well as a newer approach that uses illite polytypes. Our analysis yields overlapping, early Paleocene ages for neoformed (1Md) gouge illite (63G2 Ma) and illite–smectite in the damage zone (60G2 Ma), which are compatible with results elsewhere. These ages represent the latest period of major fault motion, and demonstrate that the fault fabrics are not the result of recent alteration. The clay fabrics in fault rocks are poorly developed, indicating that fluids were not confined to the fault zone by preferentially oriented clays; rather we propose that fluids in the illite-rich gouge were isolated by adjacent lower permeability, illite–smectite-bearing rocks in the damage zone. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Clinical Nurse Specialist and Evidence-Based Practice: Managing Anthracycline Extravasation

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is a clinical expert and client advocate in a specialized area of nursing practice, who directs efforts toward the improvement of nursing care. The CNS role is essential in closing the therapeutic gap between the development of science knowledge and its implementation in daily patient care situations. An essential step in developing evidence-based interventions is rating the quality of the evidence. An example of the CNS's role in improving care can be found in a response to an anthracycline extravasation. The clinical standard for extravasation was amended to incorporate new evidence-based guidelines that included prevention of extravasation and a new assessment method and intervention. When an extravasation is suspected with an anthracycline agent, a Wood's lamp (ultraviolet lamp) is shined on the area of interest, in a dark room. The anthracycline extravasation area, if present, will illuminate in the lamp's light. In addition to the standard interventions of topical DMSO applications, current literature also suggests an intravenous infusion of dexrazoxane (Zinecard) as an effective antidote to prevent tissue damage.