cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of exogenous insulin on plasma and follicular insulin-like growth factor I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein activity, follicular oestradiol and progesterone, and follicular growth in superovulated Angus and Brahman cows

Angus (n = 14) and Brahman (n = 14) cows were used to evaluate the effects of insulin administered concomitantly with FSH in a superovulation regimen. Cows were allotted to four pen replicates by treatment and breed, and received FSH (i.m.) twice a day for 5 consecutive days (first day of injections = day 0 of study) plus concomitant administration of either saline (control) or long-acting bovine insulin (0.25 iu kg \m=-\ 1 body mass; s.c.). Blood samples were collected at intervals of 6 h during the injection period and analysed for plasma insulin, glucose, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-I binding protein (IGFBP) activity. Cows were ovariectomized on day 5. The number and diameter of follicles were recorded. Follicular fluid was aspirated for determination of IGF-I, IGFBP activity, oestradiol and progesterone. Mean plasma concentration of glucose was lower in insulin-treated than in control cows averaged over days 1\p=n-\5(56 \m=+-\3 versus 82 \m=+-\3 mg dl\m=-\1; P 0.10) by treatment, but were higher in Brahman than in Angus cows (IGF-I: 41 \m=+-\6 versus 19 \m=+-\6 ng ml\m=-\1, P 8.0 mm) follicles. Brahman cows had a greater (P<0.01) number of medium and total follicles (19.4 \m=+-\2.5 and 60.5 \m=+-\ 5.5,respectively) than did Angus cows (7.5 \m=+-\2.6 and 30.5 \m=+-\5.6, respectively). Diameter of large follicles was greater in insulin-treated than in control cows (11.4 \m=+-\0.2 versus 10.6 \m=+-\0.1 mm; P < 0.05). Follicular fluid IGF-I concentration in large follicles was higher in insulin-treated Brahman cows (60 \m=+-\2 ng ml\m=-\1) than in control Brahman cows (37 \m=+-\2 ng ml\m=-\1), but was lower in insulin-treated Angus cows (31\m=+-\3 ngml\m=-\1) than in control Angus cows (38 \m=+-\2 ng ml\m=-\1; treatment \m=x\breed interaction, P< 0.01). IGFBP activity in fluid from large follicles was not affected by insulin treatment in Brahman cows but was reduced (P < 0.05) by insulin treatment in Angus cows. In large follicles, concentration of oestradiol in follicular fluid was higher in insulin-treated than in control cows (144 \m=+-\36 versus 29 \m=+-\28 ng ml\m=-\1; P< 0.10), while progesterone concentration was lower in insulin-treated than in control cows (71 \m=+-\24 versus 178\m=+-\19 ngml\m=-\1; P< 0.05). The percentage of large follicles that were oestrogen-active was higher (P < 0.05) in insulin\x=req-\ treated cows (54 \m=+-\4.9%) than in control cows (25 \m=+-\4.5%). In summary, insulin treatment resulted in increased follicle diameter, higher oestradiol and lower progesterone concentrations in the fluid of large follicles, but did not increase the number of follicles. Brahman cows had higher plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of IGF-I, lower oestradiol concentrations and a greater number of follicles than did Angus cows.
SHAPE CHANGE (ECHINOCYTOSIS) IN PYRUVATE KINASE DEFICIENT RED CELLS IS MEDIATED BY THE COUPLED BILAYER HYPOTHESIS

Patients with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency have spiculated red cells termed echinocytes, but little is known about the basis for this characteristic morphologic abnormality. PK deficient RBC were incubated at 0°C for 15' with the membrane active agent chlorpromazine (CPZ) which reverses echinocytosis and lysolecithin which causes echinocytosis. Samples were fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde (pH 7.4) and using phase contrast microscopy the proportions of echinocytes quantitated using criteria of Bessis. In PK deficient RBC echinocytosis was exacerbated by lysolecithin and completely reversed by CPZ. Since recent experiments have suggested that echinocytic shape reversal depends on the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMPS), we incubated PK RBC with hydrogen peroxide and 1 mM methylene blue (MB) at both 20°C and 0°C. Peroxide was minimally effective at either temperature. MB, a tertiary amine similar in structure to CPZ, was highly effective instantaneously reversing echinocytosis at both 20°C and 0°C. These results indicate that echinocytic shape change in PK deficiency can be completely reversed by membrane active agents, a process which is independent of HMPS activity and can in fact occur independent of cell metabolism. These results also imply that the metabolic abnormality of PK deficient RBCs which leads to shape change is mediated by an effect on the relative surface areas of the bilayer leaflets.
Ontogeny of gonadotropin releasing hormone-containing neurons in the teleost brain

We investigated changes in two gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)-containing neuronal populations during juvenile development in the African teleost, Haplochromis burtoni. Juveniles were sampled at weekly intervals and GnRHir neurons were identified through immunocytochemistry (ICC), then counted and measured on computer-captured video images. Soma size of GnRH neurons in the preoptic area (POA), which regulate gonadotropin release from the pituitary, is socially modulated in adults. Here we show that in juveniles the soma size of these neurons increases as a linear function of body weight. Terminal nerve (TN) GnRHir neurons, in contrast, are not involved in pituitary regulation and their soma size is not socially modulated in adults. In juveniles, soma size of these neurons is a quadratic function of body size and the covariance of soma size and body size is much less than in the POA GnRHir neurons. In both populations, GnRHir neuronal number covaries with body size or age only in the earliest juvenile stages. Analysis of the development of these two distinct GnRHir neuronal populations provides insight into their functional differentiation in adults.
Additional human fossils from Klasies River Mouth, South Africa

Abstract A fragmentary temporal bone and partial atlas from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) at Klasies River Mouth (KRM) are described and analyzed. The atlas (SAM-AP 6268) is comparable to Levantine “Early Modern”, Neandertal and recent human vertebrae. The temporal (SAM-AP 6269) is similar to recent African homologues except that the posteromedial wall of the glenoid fossa is composed entirely of the squamous temporal, a situation that appears to be infrequent among other Pleistocene fossils. The KRM glenoid fossa is also mediolateraly broad and anteroposteriorly short in comparison with many, but not all recent specimens. Nevertheless, the KRM temporal is decidedly modern, both morphologically and metrically, by comparison with other Pleistocene specimens. The limited evidence provided by this bone is consistent with that of other MSA cranial remains from this site in suggesting an overall, if somewhat ambiguous pattern of morphological modernity.
Regrowth of optic fibers and behavioral recovery after optic chiasm transection

Abstract We studied the effect of optic chiasm midline transection on visually guided behavior and retinotectal fiber regrowth in frogs. After complete transection, frogs do not respond to visually presented prey and looming stimuli. Beginning about 2 months later there is recovery of visual function. However, unlike recovery after optic nerve transection, animals respond as if the stimulus were not at its actual position, but at the symmetric position in the contralateral field. For instance, if a prey stimulus is located 5 cm away from the recovered frog at an eccentricity of 40° to the left of the midline, the animal will respond as if the stimulus were 5 cm away at 40° right. Further, these animals typically respond to looming stimuli not by jumping away from the stimulus, but by either colliding with the stimulus or jumping toward the side from which the stimulus approaches. These behaviors persist throughout the testing period, up to 17.5 months postlesion. Electrophysiological recordings reveal that visual activity in the optic tectum is retinotopically organized but driven primarily by stimuli to the ipsilateral eye. HRP histochemistry reveals that some regenerated retinal fibers are found to cross at the midline of the chiasm. Thus, the midline is not impenetrable to crossing retinal fibers. Frogs with cut of 3 4 of the chiasm respond normally to prey stimuli initially but later respond as if the stimuli are at mirror image locations. In these animals most retinotectal fibers project to the ipsilateral tectum despite the presence of intact contralaterally projecting retinotectal fibers during the recovery period.
Ivanov-Smolensky conditioning in adults and children using an electromyographic response measure

Conditioning using the method of Ivanov-Smolensky was investigated in children and adults, with measures taken of both overt and EMG responses. Neither group showed evidence of conditioning under the overt measure. However, the EMG measure showed clear evidence of acquisition for both groups, with children showing no extinction and the adults immediate extinction. It was suggested that while Ss inhibited overt CRs, the EMG measure was sensitive in detecting a preparatory component of the UCR, and that this component was readily conditioned.
A Library Instruction Survey for Transfer Students: Implications for Library Services.

Transfer students represent an increasingly important group in four-year schools. To date, only limited information on the research abilities and library needs of this group has been reported. A survey of information needs and skills of incoming transfer students at Western Washington University (WWU) showed that while many reported some familiarity with standard library resources, over half requested some form of library instruction.
Tertiary strike-slip faulting in southeastern Mongolia and implications for Asian tectonics

Abstract Geologic maps have long portrayed the Late Cretaceous–Recent geologic history of southeastern Mongolia as tectonically quiescent. We present new data based on outcrop observations that indicate the northeast-trending East Gobi fault zone (EGFZ) was reactivated in the Cenozoic as a sinistral strike-slip fault system. Inversions of Cenozoic fault-slip data imply that faulting was associated with north–northwest subhorizontal shortening and east–northeast subhorizontal extension. We propose that faulting is Tertiary in age based on published interpretations of seismic reflection data which reveal that the mid-Cretaceous (∼100–95 Ma) unconformity is deformed by strike-slip faults, and based on field observation of strike-slip faults and fracture sets that cut Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic strata but lack evidence for neotectonic activity. Published seismicity maps also appear to argue against significant Quaternary faulting within the EGFZ. These new data may lend credence to published models proposing a Middle Miocene or older kinematic linkage between the EGFZ and the Altyn Tagh fault in China. The recognition that the EGFZ has a history of left-lateral displacement in both the Early Mesozoic and Cenozoic means that currently available estimates of offset based on displaced Paleozoic rocks constrain total offset only. This reactivation history supports the notion that inherited lithospheric structures are important in controlling the location and, thus, modes of intracontinental deformation in Asia as a function of collisional far field effects and evolving boundary conditions of the Pacific margin.
A new proof for Decell's finite algorithm for generalized inverses

A new proof for Decell's finite algorithm for determining the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse of a rectangular matrix is given. In this proof we develop additional properties of the algorithm and point out how it can be used for further development of the algebraic properties of the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse.
Conservative surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis.

The influence of early management on morbidity in 133 patients with severe acute pancreatitis has been reviewed. Patients with severe pancreatitis (33% mortality rate) were separated from those with mild pancreatitis (0.9% mortality rate) by early objective prognostic signs. Early management (days 0–7) included intra-abdominal operation in 31 patients and there were 20 deaths (65%). No early intraabdominal surgery was undertaken in 102 patients and there were 18 deaths (18%). Early intra-abdominal surgery was limited to placement of catheters for peritoneal lavage in 10 patients, and nonoperative management included peritoneal lavage by catheters placed percutaneously in 23 patients. In these 33 patients, there was 1 early death (days 0–10). In contrast, 43% of deaths in nonlavaged patients occurred during this period primarily from cardiovascular or respiratory causes. Overall mortality was slightly reduced in some groups of lavaged patients but the improvement was disappointing.
Research on User Groups Features of Mobile Payment: An Empirical Analysis Based on Association Rules of Data Mining

For quickly locating the specific user groups in the mobile payment market, this paper investigates and analyzes the Mobile Ticketing in mobile payment service from five main aspects, the users awareness, demand, usage, using willingness and users evaluation. We use data mining methods of association rules to do analysis to 1615 valid questionnaires and locate the user groups who are most likely to use Mobile Ticketing, so as to help the Communication Carriers to lock the target customers market precisely and quickly at the beginning of promotional period of Mobile Payment. The results show that mobile payment market, especially mobile ticketing, is still in the early stage, the users are with low awareness, the potential user groups are very big, the users who are willing to use mobile payment services are mostly concentrate in young user groups with high spending monthly and high education.
Predicted Electric Field near Small Superconducting Ellipsoids

We predict the existence of large electric fields near the surface of superconducting bodies of ellipsoidal shape of dimensions comparable to the penetration depth. The electric field is quadrupolar in nature with significant corrections from higher order multipoles. Prolate (oblate) superconducting ellipsoids are predicted to exhibit fields consistent with negative (positive) quadrupole moments, reflecting the fundamental charge asymmetry of matter.
Difficulty and discrimination capacity of examinations estimated on the basis of repeated student failure.

Summary This paper examines the difficulty and discrimination capacity of several subjects for problematic students, i.e., those failing repeatedly (re-examined four or more times) in at least one subject. Four hundred and six problematic students were analysed. The difficulty in passing thirty-one mandatory subjects was assessed in two ways: 1 on the basis of the attrition rate of the students due to pass the subject, 2 on the basis of the percentage of number of failures over the number of examinations. The discrimination capacity of the same subjects was assessed on the basis of ‘false positive’ and ‘false negative’ results. The result of the evaluation of one subject was considered a false positive if it gave an excellent mark to a problematic student; it was considered a false negative if a student had to be reexamined four or more times before passing, although he had at least one excellent passing mark in one or more subjects. There were 157 excellent marks given to 114 problematic students. The two ways to assess difficulty ranked the thirty-one subjects in a very significantly-similar way. The subjects of the first, second and sixth years of study were considerably more difficult than the other years. A high proportion of false-negative results in a subject did not imply necessarily increased difficulty and vice versa. Thus, only two of the five subjects with the highest proportion of false-negative results belonged to the group of the five most difficult subjects. Also, three of the five subjects with the highest proportion of false-positive results belonged to the group of the five easiest subjects. Finally, only one of the five subjects with the lowest proportion of false (positive plus negative) results belonged to the group of the five most difficult subjects. Examination systems involving oral examinations either alone or in conjunction with written ones were more difficult for the problematic students than those involving purely written examinations, while their discrimination capacity was not significantly different. The discrimination capacity of the subjects involving practical examinations as part of their evaluation system was significantly better than that of those not involving practical examinations. It is concluded that a very permissive examination system presents the problem of repeatedly-failing students. A quasi-open admission system, as in Athens University, associated with a very permissive examination system, leads to a pattern of difficulty, the peaks of which appear, mainly, in the first and last year of studies.
GROUPCOM: VAX-based software for conducting small-group research

Levine and Stein (1978) described a computer program (GROUPCOM) for conducting on-line social psychological research. The original version of the program was written for the Experimental Time-Sharing System (ETSS) of the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh (Fitzhugh & Glaser, 1975). Because ETSS was a unique system, many potential users could not easily implement GROUPCOM. In order to make GROUPCOM available to more investigators, we have recently rewritten the program to run on a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) VAX-II /780 system. The purpose of this paper is to review briefly the capabilities of GROUPCOM and to describe how investigators can obtain the program and related documentation. GROUPCOM is an extremely flexible program designed to facilitate research on a variety of social psychological phenomena, including social influence, social comparison, group decision making, impression management and leadership. Among the advantages of the program are the following: Subjects can interact with either real or simulated others; data can be collected from several subjects at once; different subjects can be run simultaneously in different conditions; lengthy written messages, as well as brief responses, can be presented and collected; on each trial, the experimenter can control a number of important parameters (e.g., response order, response type, display format); and very little experimenter effort is required at run time to present experimental trials or to record subjects' responses. Program Options. A given experimental condition can contain up to 200 "real" and/or "fake" trials, interspersed in any order. On real trials, two to six subjects can communicate with one another by entering responses on their terminal keyboards. These responses then appear on the screen of each terminal. On fake trials, one to six subjects can "communicate" with one to nine simulated others. After entering responses on their keyboards, subjects see predetermined responses allegedly entered by other (simulated) subjects. Because the information presented to each subject on fake trials is controlled independently, subjects can receive different
Fine structure of vascular endothelium in culture.

Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells were harvested by collagenase perfusion, cultured in Medium 199 with 20% fetal calf serum, and subcultured for 19 passages over one year. By phase microscopy, cultured endothelial cells were small and polygonal and in successful cultures, formed a monolayer of closely packed cells. By electron microscopy, cultured endothelium retained fine structural characteristics of in vivo umbilical vein endothelium. Specific endothelial granules first described by Weibel and Palade (30), were found regularly in all passages. Microtubules (250 A), two types of filaments with diameters of 100 A and 60–70 A, respectively, pinocytotic vesicles, multivesicular bodies, and cellular junctions were distributed in a way that cultured endothelium could be distinguished by morphologic criteria from the most probable contaminants, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts.
Temperature-programmed spectroscopy for surface kinetic analysis: Absorption and laser-induced fluorescence techniques

Abstract Temperature-programmed absorption and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic techniques are demonstrated as time-dependent probes of surface coverage. These optical techniques are both employed to monitor the desorption of phenanthrene multilayers from Al2O3(11 2 0) in ultrahigh vacuum. The temperature-programmed optical studies are found to be complementary with temperature-programmed desorption results using mass spectrometry. This study illustrates that optical spectroscopic techniques can accurately measure the time dependence of surface coverage and determine the kinetics of surface processes.
Thermal Conductivity of Core-Shell Nanostructures: From Nanowires to Nanocomposites

Core-shell heterostructures could potentially become the building blocks of nanotechnology for electronic and optoelectronic applications. The increased surface or interface area will decrease the thermal conductivity of such nanostructures and impose challenges for the thermal management such devices. In the mean time, the decreased thermal conductivity might benefit the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. In this paper, a generic model is established to study phonon transport in core-shell nanowire structures in the longitudinal direction using the phonon Boltzmann equation. The model can be used to simulate a variety of nanostructures, including nanowires and nanocomposites by changing some of the input parameters. We first report the dependence of the thermal conductivity on the surface conditions and the core-shell geometry for silicon core - germanium shell and tubular silicon nanowires. When the scattering at the outer shell surface in the generic model is assumed to be totally specular, the core-shell nanostructure resembles a simulation unit cell of periodic two-dimensional (2-D) nanocomposites. Thermal conductivity of nanowire composites and cylindrical nanoporous material in longitudinal direction is thus predicted as a function of the size of the nanowires and nanopores, and the volumetric fraction of the constituent materials. Results of this study can be used to direct the development of high efficiency thermoelectric materials.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Nonverbal Behavior in the Digital Age: Meanings, Models, and Methods

This Special Issue of the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior explores nonverbal issues in the digital age, with an emphasis how digital technologies provide researchers with new tools for exploring nonverbal components of interpersonal interactions in digital environments. In addition to showing a range of exciting applications, the featured articles also touch upon the challenges of new digital strategies.
Comparison of the effects of total parenteral nutrition, continuous intragastric feeding, and portacaval shunt on a patient with type I glycogen storage disease

A 16-year-old boy with type I GSD has been treated with parenteral nutrition, continuous intragastric feeding, and portacaval shunt. The effects of these treatment methods have been compared with reference to changes in blood chemical values, platelet function, and clinical status. Each of the treatment procedures was effective in improving clinical status and in reducing the levels of blood lipids. Portacaval shunt was less effective than the other treatment methods in reducing either the uric acid levels or the tendency to develop hypoglycemia, or in correcting the platelet dysfunction. Despite these observations the patient has grown 4 inches in 5 months since introduction of the shunt. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Comparison of VLS grown Si NW tunnel FETs with different gate stacks

In the present work we demonstrate the fabrication of tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) based on VLS grown silicon nanowires (Si NWs). We have integrated two different gate stacks, a conventional one using SiO 2 and a HfO 2 high-k gate stack. The use of a high-k gate dielectric markedly improves the TFET performance in terms of average slope and on-current, I on . Furthermore, we investigate the low-temperature behaviour of the TFETs.
Does the skeleton of a sponge provide a defense against predatory reef fish

Sponge tissue often contains two structural components in high concentrations: spicules of silica, and refractory fibers of protein (spongin). Some terrestrial plants contain analogous structures, siliceous inclusions and refractory lignins, that have been demonstrated to deter herbivory. We performed feeding experiments with predatory reef fish to assess the deterrent properties of the structural components of three common Caribbean demosponges, Agelas clathrodes, Ectyoplasia ferox, and Xestospongia muta. The concentrations of spicules and spongin in the tissues varied widely between the three species, but when assayed at their natural volumetric concentrations, neither spicules (all three species assayed) nor the intact spiculated spongin skeleton (A. clathrodes and X. muta assayed) deterred feeding by reef fish in aquarium or field assays using prepared foods of a nutritional quality similar to, or higher than, that of sponge tissue. Spicules deterred feeding in aquarium assays when incorporated into prepared foods of a nutritional quality lower than that of sponge tissue (15-19 times less protein), but spiculated spongin skeleton was still palatable, even in prepared foods devoid of measurable protein, and even though spicules embedded in spongin were oriented in their natural conformation. Based on comparisons of the nutritional qualities of the tissues of the three sponge species and of the prepared foods, sponge tissue would have to be much lower in food value (5 times less protein or lower) for spicules to provide an effective defense, and spicules in combination with the spongin skeleton would be unlikely to provide an effective defense regardless of the nutritional quality of the tissue. Unlike terrestrial plants, marine sponges may use silica and refractory fibers solely for structural purposes.
Natural convection experiments in an enclosure between eccentric or concentric vertical cylinders of different height and diameter

Abstract Heat transfer coefficients were determined experimentally for natural convection in the enclosed space between two vertical cylinders maintained at different uniform temperatures. The cylinders were of different height as well as of different diameter. During the course of the experiments, the vertical positioning (i.e. elevation) of the inner cylinder and its eccentricity were varied parametrically. For each enclosure configuration, the inner cylinder Rayleigh number ranged between 1.5×103 and 105. The heat transfer medium was air. To supplement the experimental work, numerical results obtained from finite difference solutions are presented for the concentric case. Comparisons between the experimental and numerical results yielded agreement which, for the most part, was within 1%. In general, the average Nusselt number was nearly independent of both the elevation and eccentricity of the inner cylinder. This finding enabled the Nusselt number to be correlated as a function of the Rayleigh number and the cylinder-to-cylinder diameter ratio, without regard to elevation and eccentricity.
Some prolegomena to the study of literary difference

Abstract A great deal of work on gender differences has been seriously methodologically flawed. It is the purpose of the following essay to outline and exemplify the most common methodological problems in this work and to indicate how they might be avoided. The discussion is organized around three main points. First of all, research on gender must be founded upon statistical analysis. There are four common alternatives to such analysis: anecdotes, introspective and experiential intuitions, raw numbers, and exemplars. The first main section argues that each of these alternatives is probatively valueless. Secondly, even research which is based on statistical analysis is frequently biased in the direction of gender stereotypes. Thus this research too must be approached skeptically. Specifically,bias may enter in reporting, interpreting, or designing research. In the second main section, the most common biases are discussed and exemplified. Finally, the explanatory distinctions drawn by researchers in this field are often too blunt. The third main section refines the standard opposition between nature and nurture by articulating a spectrum of social determination; it also distinguishes differences of output or behavior from differences of principle governing that output or behavior. It then illustrates the explanatory value of these distinctions.
Antimicrobial activity of a new antipseudomonal dual-action drug, Ro 25-0534

Abstract Ro 25-0534, a tertiary amine-linked dual action combination (DAC) of a catechol cephalosporin and ciprofloxacin, was compared with a previously described DAC (Ro 23-9424), ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime. A total of 688 recent clinical isolates were tested and an additional collection of 110 Gram-negative bacilli possesing documented resistance to broad-spectrum antimicrobials were used. Ro 25-0534 was active against all tested species of Enterobacteriaceae (MIC 90 range, 0.06–2 μg/ml), oxacillin-susceptible staphylococci, β-hemolytic streptococci, and penicillin-susceptible pneumococci (MIC 90 range, 1–2 μg/ml), Haemophilus influenzae (MIC 90 range, 0.25–0.5 μg/ml), Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC 90 , 0.5 μg/ml), and most nonenteric Gram-negative bacilli (MIC 90 range, 2–4 μg/ml) such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp., and Xanthomonas maltophilia . Enterococci and Bacteroides fragilis isolates were resistant to Ro 25-0534. The Ro 25-0354 potency against most susceptible strains was generally severalfold less than that of Ro 23-9424 (except for Pseudomonas-Xanthomonas ) or ciprofloxacin alone.
Molecular cloning of human brain glutamate/aspartate transporter II

Glutamate transporters are membrane-bound proteins which are localized in glial cells and/or pre-synaptic glutamatergic nerve endings and are essential for the removal and termination of action of synaptic glutamate. Several cDNAs encoding glutamate transporters have been isolated from mammalian tissues, including human cerebellum. Here, we screened cDNA libraries derived from human brain stem and cerebellum, and isolated a novel cDNA that encodes for a glutamate transporter. This cDNA predicts a protein which contains 565 amino acids and is homologous to a rat brain Na+-dependent glutamate/aspartate transporter. The new cDNA is expressed in brain and is structurally distinct from the previously reported human glutamate transporter cDNA.
Regulation of protein kinase C activity in cerebral microvessels

Regulation of protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated responses may occur by inhibition of PKC-dependent phosphorylation or by dephosphorylation of targets by specific phosphatases. Mechanisms for the regulation of PKC were examined in isolated cerebral microvessels and compared to those in brain. The data demonstrated that inhibitors of phosphorylation are responsible for the regulation in brain microvessels while dephosphorylation by protein phosphatases accounts for a substantial portion of the regulation of the PKC response in brain. In addition, the inhibitory activity apparently increases with age. These results suggest that the control of PKC may be cell-type specific and developmentally regulated.
Critiquing Claims About Global Warming From the World Wide Web: A Comparison of High School Students and Specialists:

The ability to evaluate scientific claims made in various media sources is a critical component of scientific literacy. This study compares how a group of 12th grade students and a group of special...
Syntactic Processing in Korean-English Bilingual Production: Evidence from Cross-Linguistic Structural Priming.

A structural priming experiment investigated whether grammatical encoding in production consists of one or two stages and whether oral bilingual language production is shared at the functional or positional level [Bock, J. K., Levelt, W. (1994). Language production. Grammatical encoding. In M. A. Gernsbacher (Ed.), Handbook of psycholinguistics (pp. 945-984). San Diego, CA: Academic Press] by manipulating syntactic structure and argument order in structurally parallel Korean and English dative sentences. The results revealed that structural priming across languages can occur when both languages share syntactic structure, independent of argument order. Specifically, cross-linguistic argument-order-independent structural priming in canonical Korean postpositional and English prepositional dative structures was observed, providing evidence for shared bilingual syntactic processing occurring at the abstract, functional level within a two-stage grammatical encoding process. This is the first demonstration of cross-linguistic priming of argument-order-independent structural information.
Calcium phosphate cement containing resorbable fibers for short-term reinforcement and macroporosity

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) sets to form hydroxyapatite and has been used in medical and dental procedures. However, the brittleness and low strength of CPC prohibit its use in many stress-bearing locations, unsupported defects, or reconstruction of thin bones. Recent studies incorporated fibers into CPC to improve its strength. In the present study, a novel methodology was used to combine the reinforcement with macroporosity: large-diameter resorbable fibers were incorporated into CPC to provide short-term strength, then dissolved to create macropores suitable for bone ingrowth. Two types of resorbable fibers with 322 microm diameters were mixed with CPC to a fiber volume fraction of 25%. The set specimens were immersed in saline at 37 degrees C for 1, 7, 14, 28 and 56d, and were then tested in three-point flexure. SEM was used to examine crack-fiber interactions. CPC composite achieved a flexural strength 3 times, and work-of-fracture (toughness) nearly 100 times, greater than unreinforced CPC. The strength and toughness were maintained for 2-4 weeks of immersion, depending on fiber dissolution rate. Macropores or channels were observed in CPC composite after fiber dissolution. In conclusion, incorporating large-diameter resorbable fibers can achieve the needed short-term strength and fracture resistance for CPC while tissue regeneration is occurring, then create macropores suitable for vascular ingrowth when the fibers are dissolved. The reinforcement mechanisms appeared to be crack bridging and fiber pullout, the mechanical properties of the CPC matrix also affected the composite properties.
Schistosoma mansoni: uptake of exogenous hemeproteins by schistosomules grown in vitro.

Abstract The uptake and fate of the hemeproteins horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) and hemoglobin (Hb) by schistosomules of Schistosoma mansoni maintained in vitro were studied by electron microscopy and cytochemical techniques. After administration of HRPO, reaction product was observed initially in the lumen of the digestive tract, and, after 2 hr of feeding, reaction product was also visible in the cytoplasm of the gastrodermis. There was no evidence of pinocytosis. After administration of Hb, reaction product was observed only in the lumen of the digestive tract. As is found following red blood cell feeding, digestive pigment was formed in the lumen of the gut following Hb feeding. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.
Polymerization of sulfur-containing aldehydes. IV. Mechanism of polymerization with organoaluminum.

The mechanism of the polymerization of sulfur-containing aldehydes initiated by AlEt3 or AlEt3—alcohol catalyst systems has been studied. The equimolar reaction of AlEt3 with the aldehyde under polymerization conditions formed Et2AlOR. The polymerization using the monoalkoxides, which were prepared from AlEt3 and the alcohols obtained with the reduction of monomer, was essentially identical with those using AlEt3 itself as initiator at −78°C. In the polymerizations at higher temperatures, −25—−35°C, a linear oligomer was produced together with a dimeric ester and the polymer. From IR, NMR, and, tracer analyses it was found that the oligomers have ester and alkoxy end groups. In the polymerization by AlEt3—t-butyl alcohol(C-14 labeled *ButOH) systems, a radioactive polymer was obtained. These observations can be interpreted in terms of a coordinated anionic mechanism. The possibility of an alternative mechanism, a cationic one, has been examined.
Dynamic constraint detection for polymorphic behavior

Dynamic invariant detection, the automatic recovery of partial program specifications by inferring likely constraints from program executions, has been successful in the context of procedural programs. The implementation for dynamic invariant detection examines only the declared type of a variable, lacking many details in the context of object-oriented programs. This paper shows how this technique can be extended to detect invariants of object-oriented programs in the presence of polymorphism by examining the runtime type of a polymorphic variable, which may have different declared and runtime types. We demonstrate the improved accuracy of the dynamically detected specification on two real-world examples: the Money example from the JUnit testing framework tutorial, and a database query engine model example, which we adopted from a commercial database application. Polymorphic constraints in both cases are shown to reveal the specification of the runtime behavior of the systems.
Hibernation and disuse osteoporosis.

Abstract In an attempt to determine 1) if disuse osteoporosis occurs naturally during hibernation and 2) if it can be induced by limb immobilization in active and hibernating ground squirrels, forty-six thirteenlined ground squirrels were divided into five experimental groups. Group one was the active control group (AC) (ten animals). Group two was the active immobilized (AI) group and was subjected to a unilateral sciatic nerve section (ten animals). Group three was the hibernating control group and was allowed to hibernate undisturbed for 30 days (HC) (ten animals). The fourth group was subjected to a unilateral sciatic nerve section and allowed to hibernate for 30 days; this was the hibernating immobilized group (HI). The fifth group of six animals received the identical treatment as the (HI) group but was allowed to hibernate for 150 days. The following measurements were taken: Gastrocnemius-soleus mass, body mass, tibia-fibula weight, total tibia-fibula calcium and phosphorus. In addition, the femur was observed histologically for the enlarged lacunae typical of osteoporotic bone. Statistical analysis was accomplished with the Wilcoxan sign rank test. The data were interpreted to mean: 1) Disuse osteoporosis can be induced in active ground squirrels, 2) disue osteoporosis is not evident nor can it be induced by limb immobilization during 30 days of hibernation and 3) limb immobilization did not result in significant disuse osteoporosis following 150 days of hibernation. Only a few enlarged lacunae were evident after 150 days of hibernation.
Simulation of a Space-based Microlensing Survey for Terrestrial Extrasolar Planets

We show that a space-based gravitational microlensing survey for terrestrial extrasolar planets is feasible in the near future and could provide a nearly complete picture of the properties of planetary systems in our Galaxy. We present simulations of such a survey using a 1-2 m aperture space telescope with a ~2 deg2 field of view to continuously monitor ~108 Galactic bulge main-sequence stars. The microlensing techniques allow the discovery of low-mass planets with high signal-to-noise ratio, and the space missions that we have studied are sensitive to planets with masses as low as that of Mars. By targeting main-sequence source stars, which can only be resolved from space, the space-based microlensing survey is able to detect enough light from the lens stars to determine the spectral type of one-third of the lens stars with detected planets, including virtually all of the F, G, and K stars, which comprise one-quarter of the event sample. This enables the determination of the planetary masses and separations in physical units as well as the abundance of planets as a function of stellar type and distance from the Galactic center. We show that a space-based microlensing planet search program has its highest sensitivity to planets at orbital separations of 0.7-10 AU, but it will also have significant sensitivity at larger separations and will be able to detect free-floating planets in significant numbers. This complements the planned terrestrial planet transit missions, which are sensitive to terrestrial planets at separations of ?1 AU. Such a mission should also detect ~50,000 giant planets via transits, and it is, therefore, the only proposed planet detection method that is sensitive to planets at all orbital radii.
Effects of visual field of presentation and stimulus characteristics on visual discrimination learning

If reversal behavior requires reference to verbal abilities, then response latencies should be shorter when the discrimination stimuli have direct access to the brain areas concerned with these functions. Stimuli were tachistoscopically presented to the left, center, and right visual fields. Results indicated that during the initial discrimination, verbal tasks were not affected by field of presentation, but nonverbal tasks had significantly shorter reactions times with left field presentation. For the reversal discrimination, right field presentation resulted in significantly shorter response latencies for both tasks.
Effects of soman-induced convulsions on phosphoinositide metabolism

Turnover of [3H]phosphoinositides (PI) was examined in brain slices from the hippocampus of rats undergoing soman-induced seizure activity. Hydrolysis of PI was determined by measuring the accumulation of [3H]inositol-1-phosphate (IP1). Incubation of hippocampal slices in the presence of carbachol or norepinephrine (NE) increased PI hydrolysis. Stimulated hydrolysis by NE, but not carbachol was significantly reduced in slices from soman-challenged rats undergoing convulsive activity. NE-stimulated PI hydrolysis was not reduced in slices from animals exposed to soman that did not exhibit convulsive activity. In rats surviving for 24 h, the response to NE was not different from control rats. In control slices, NE-stimulated hydrolysis of PI was potentiated by GABA. No potentiation by GABA was seen in slices from animals undergoing seizures. Uptake and incorporation ofmyo-[2-3H]inositol into phospholipids was reduced in slices from rats undergoing convulsions. Reduced IP1 production appeared to be owing, in part, to decreased synthesis of inositol lipids. These observations suggest that during soman-induced seizure activity, there is an apparent decrease in the response of the PI second messenger system to NE stimulation, and that this may contribute to the severity and duration of convulsions and brain damage resulting from exposure to soman and other anticholinesterase compounds.
Results From an Engine Cycle Simulation of Compression Ratio and Expansion Ratio Effects on Engine Performance

This investigation quantified the effects of compression ratio (CR) and expansion ratio (ER) on performance, efficiency, and second law parameters for an automotive, spark-ignition engine. The well known increase in engine performance for increasing CR and ER is demonstrated. These increases for brake engine performance are modest for CRs greater than about 10 for the conditions studied. The results demonstrated that the increasing friction and heat losses for the higher CRs are of the same order as the thermodynamic gains. Also, the results included the destruction of availability during combustion. For a part load condition, the availability destroyed decreased from about 23% to 21% for CRs of 4 and 10, respectively. In addition, this study examined cases with greater ERs than CRs. The overall cycle for these cases is often called an "Atkinson" cycle. For most cases, the thermal efficiency first increased as ER increased, attained a maximum efficiency, and then decreased. The decrease in efficiency after the maximum value was due to the increased heat losses, increased friction, and ineffective exhaust processes (due to the reduced cylinder pressure at the time of exhaust valve opening). For part load cases, the higher ER provided only modest gains due to the increased pumping losses associated with the constant load requirement. For the wide open throttle cases, however, the higher ERs provided significant gains. For example, for a compression ratio of 10, expansion ratios of 10 and 30 provided brake thermal efficiencies of about 34% and 43%, respectively. Although the net thermodynamic gains are significant, large ERs such as 30 may not be practical in most applications.
Weight Loss with Magnesium Alloys

The compelling need for lightweight, energy-efficient, environmentally benign engineering systems is driving the development of a wide range of structural and functional materials for energy generation, energy storage, propulsion, and transportation. These challenges motivate wider spread use of magnesium—the eighth most common element in the earth's crust and also extractable from seawater. In addition, the ease of recycling, compared with polymers, makes magnesium alloys environmentally attractive. Importantly, with a density of 1.74 g/cm3—about 30% less than aluminum, one-quarter that of steel, and nearly the same as many polymers—magnesium is attractive for lightweight structural systems and, most notably, automotive systems. A typical car weighing 1525 kg currently contains about 975 kg of steel, 127 kg of Al, 114 kg of polymeric materials, and 5 to 6 kg of magnesium ( 1 ). It is estimated that 22.5 kg of mass reduction would improve fuel efficiency by around 1%; thus, automotive manufacturers worldwide have goals to increase the Mg content of automobiles to between 45 and 160 kg ( 1 , 2 ).
Mass limits on neutralino dark matter

We set an upper limit on the mass of a supersymmetric neutralino dark matter particle using the MicrOMEGAS and DarkSUSY software packages and the most recent constraints on relic density from combined Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe and Sloan Digital Sky Survey data. We explore several different possible scenarios within the minimal supersymmetric standard model, including coannihilation with charginos and sfermions and annihilation through a massive Higgs resonance, using low-energy mass inputs. We find that no coannihilation scenario is consistent with dark matter in observed abundance with a mass greater than 2.5 TeV for a W-ino-type particle or 1.8 TeV for a Higgsino-type. Contrived scenarios involving Higgs resonances with finely tuned mass parameters can allow masses as high as 34 TeV. The resulting gamma-ray energy distribution is not in agreement with the recent multi-TeV gamma-ray spectrum observed by H. E. S. S. originating from the center of the Milky Way. Our results are relevant only for dark matter densities resulting from a thermal origin.
A versatile data acquisition system for use with thermal analysis equipment

Abstract A versatile digital data acquisition system has been interfaced with a Netzsch high temperature thermal analysis system. The system hardware consists of a commercially available data logger, a microcomputer, and the thermal analysis equipment. The utility of the system was demonstrated by studying the kinetics of decomposition of a fiberglass-filled acrylonitrile—butadiene (AB) copolymer. Experimental thermogravimetric data were obtained at four heating rates for both the initial pyrolysis reactions below 1000°C and the high temperature carbon—silica reactions above 1000°C. From these data the kinetic parameters for both reaction regions were calculated using a multiple heating rate technique proposed by Friedman. The results obtained using the data acquisition system were satisfactory.