cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A family of orthologous proteins from centipede venoms inhibit the hKir6.2 channel.

Inhibitors targeting ion channels are useful tools for studying their functions. Given the selectivity of any inhibitor for a channel is relative, more than one inhibitor of different affinities may be used to help identify the channel in a biological preparation. Here, we describe a family of small proteins in centipede venoms that inhibit the pore (hKir6.2) of a human ATP-sensitive K+ channel (hKATP). While the traditional peptide-sequencing service gradually vanishes from academic institutions, we tried to identify the sequences of inhibitory proteins purified from venoms by searching the sequences of the corresponding transcriptomes, a search guided by the key features of a known hKir6.2 inhibitor (SpTx1). The candidate sequences were cross-checked against the masses of purified proteins, and validated by testing the activity of recombinant proteins against hKir6.2. The four identified proteins (SsdTx1-3 and SsTx) inhibit hKATP channels with a Kd of 10-fold lower Kd than it inhibits hKCNQ, SsTx may not be suitable for probing KCNQ channels in a biological preparation that also contains more-SsTx-sensitive KATP channels.
The regional-dependent biaxial behavior of young and aged mouse skin: A detailed histomechanical characterization, residual strain analysis, and constitutive model

Skin fulfills several vital functions, many of which are dependent on its mechanical properties. Therefore, as mice have become an invaluable model for skin research, determining murine skin's mechanical properties is important. Specifically, skin's mechanical properties are important for functional tests as well as for prognostic and diagnostic purposes. Additionally, computational simulations of skin behavior are becoming commonplace, rendering accurate models of murine skin's constitutive behavior necessary. To date, our knowledge of mouse skin mechanics shows significant gaps. For example, there are no comprehensive reports correlating skin's mechanical properties with region, age, and direction. Moreover, mouse skin's residual strain behavior has not been reported on. In our current work, we set out to fill these gaps. Based on histology, 2-photon microscopy, and planar biaxial testing, while accurately tracking various reference configurations, we report on differences in gross structure, microstructural organization, and constitutive response of skin, and cast those properties into a versatile Fung-type hyperelastic constitutive law for three reference configurations. Our data is the most comprehensive report contrasting the mechanical properties of young (12 weeks) and aged (52 weeks) mouse skin and will, thus, be valuable to basic science as control data, and provide accurate constitutive laws for mouse skin modeling. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings are significant as they fill several gaps in our understanding of mouse skin mechanics. This is particularly important as mouse skin is becoming a frequent and critical model of human skin for cosmetic and medical science. Specifically, we quantified how mechanical properties of mice skin vary with age, with location, and with direction. Additionally, we cast our findings into constitutive models that can be used by others for predictive computer simulations of skin behavior.
Hippocampal gamma rhythms during Y-maze navigation in the juvenile rat.

The neurobiology of postnatal hippocampal development in rodents is receiving increased attention as a means to address neurodevelopmental questions and to better understand the neural code(s) for spatial navigation in adulthood. We previously showed that spontaneous alternation (SA) in a Y-maze, which emerges at the end of the third postnatal week, was related to changes in fast glutamatergic synaptic transmission. In adults, oscillations in the hippocampal local field potential (LFP) (i.e., theta, 4-12 Hz; slow gamma, 25-55 Hz; and fast gamma, 65-100 Hz) have been shown to coordinate the activity of spatially tuned cell types in the hippocampus during route planning and execution. Other investigators have shown that theta activity matures during the first month of life. However, relationships between developmental alterations in gamma oscillations and cognitive function have not been investigated in juveniles, and the impact of developmental changes in excitatory synaptic transmission on network activity remains unclear. We implanted rats at postnatal day 14 to record LFPs from the synaptic layer of area CA1 during Y-maze exploration at postnatal Days 18, 19, 23, and 24. The positive allosteric modulator of AMPA receptors, CX614, or vehicle was administered prior to each test. We found that slow gamma peak frequency, but not peak power, remained constant across this age range. Fast gamma event rate increased with increasing age, while peak frequency decreased. AMPA receptor modulation impacted slow and fast gamma differently at different ages. Furthermore, gamma events showed relationships with novelty and movement speed that differed based on gamma sub-band (slow vs. fast). These results support the presence of environmentally-driven gamma oscillations in hippocampal network activity prior to the end of the third postnatal week of development. Differential refinement of slow and fast gamma occurring across the subsequent week supports involvement in the emergence of spatial navigation ability.
Clinical analysis of 146 children with severe hand-foot-mouth diseases

Objective To investigate the occurrence rule,clinical characteristic and effective therapy of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD).Methods The clinical data of 146 hospitalized children with severe HFMD were analyzed,and the clinical characteristic and occurrence rule of severe HFMD was summarized.Results All of the 146 children with severe HFMD had onset of rash and fever and their duration of fever were more than 36 hours.Duration of fever in 146 cases were less than 96 hours and 4 cases were less than 120 hours.The range of all body temperture were from 37.8 ℃ to 40.5 ℃.The early clinical manifestaions were startle,limbs shaking,headache and constipation.All of the children received therapy of mannitol,intravenous gamma globulin and glucocorticoid.Conclusions The fever is an important risk factor for severe HFMD,and the occurrence,development and prognosis of severe hand-foot-mouth disese have a certain regularity. Key words: Hand-foot-mouth disease; Serious illness; Mannitol; Intravenous gamma globulin; Glucocorticoid
The scientist and the advertisement: Reklamegutachten in imperial Germany:

In late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Germany, the integration of product-evaluating certificates and reports (Gutachten) into advertisements triggered repeated condemnations of "advertisement-Gutachten" (Reklamegutachten), and scientists and science administrators introduced various restrictions to prevent the appearance of such documents. At the same time, the provision of Gutachten to private individuals and firms seemed crucial to the success of many private and public laboratories. Some chemical and other professionals, moreover, argued that the authoring and use of Reklamegutachten could represent a "scientific" and, therefore, ethical practice. By examining the contested history of the advertisement-Gutachten, this article reveals how a previously tolerated knowledge service lost its legitimacy in a particular place and period of time, and highlights the challenges of eliminating this practice or restoring its legitimacy afterward. The article also explores how professional scientists' approaches to maintaining a reputation for integrity in the face of commercial and competitive pressures related to the better-known efforts of professionals in other fields, particularly the medical. I emphasize that, in determining whether a Gutachten qualified as scientific, the nature and transparency of the underlying research process was only one of the criteria that were considered, and often not the most significant yardstick. At the same time, however, ideas about the personal and professional/institutional integrity of providers of Gutachten were inextricably connected with assessments of the honesty and objectivity of their research.
Using Machine Learning in Admissions: Reducing Human and Algorithmic Bias in the Selection Process

Diverse classrooms are linked to enhanced intellectual engagement and understanding of different perspectives. College admissions decisions have traditionally relied heavily on academic characteristics like GPA and standardized testing. Universities started to adopt holistic strategies while attempting to increase diversity. Yet, increasing subjective assessment may increase risk of human bias. Machine Learning (ML) could assist in admitting a more diverse student body, but algorithmic bias could be introduced. Our goal is to develop software tools to minimize human bias in admissions while actively eliminating algorithmic bias. We will examine past admissions data and identify risks of use of possible privileged values, which have historically put certain groups at a disadvantage. This tool may help reduce bias risk and select a more diverse and academically prepared group for admission.
The Cost of Heterogeneity: Can Density Peaks Clustering Improve CES Aggregation?

This paper applies recent advances in machine learning to a long-standing macroeconomics question by using density peaks clustering to improve estimation of aggregate price indexes. To measure a price index that properly accounts for consumer welfare, it is important to consider the effect of changes in product variety. Standard methods for estimating this effect using CES demand systems implicitly rely on the assumption that consumer tastes can be accurately represented by a single taste parameter. However, if consumers have heterogeneous unobserved tastes across goods, the estimated aggregate elasticity will tend to be lower than that of the groups. By clustering consumers into groups that share similar tastes, we can accurately estimate elasticity and get more representative measurements for each consumer’s cost of living. Applying the method to a panel of consumer retail purchases, I show that methods that ignore consumer heterogeneity imply elasticities on average 20% below my method and inflation rates about half a percentage point per year lower than a weighted average of the heterogeneous groups.
Player age and initial helmet contact among American football players.

Abstract Objective Concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) related to professional football has received much attention within emergency care and sports medicine. Research suggests that some of this may be due to a greater likelihood of initial helmet contact (IHC), however this association has not been studied across all age groups. This study aims to investigate the association between player age and IHC in American football. Methods Retrospective review of championship games between 2016 and 2018 at 6 levels of amateur tackle football as well as the National Football League (NFL). Trained raters classified plays as IHC using pre-specified criteria. A priori power analysis established the requisite impacts needed to establish non-inferiority of the incidence rate of IHC across the levels of play. Results Thirty-seven games representing 2912 hits were rated. The overall incidence of IHC was 16% across all groups, ranging from 12.6% to 18.9%. All but 2 of the non-NFL divisions had a statistically reduced risk of IHC when compared with the NFL, with relative risk ratios ranging from 0.55–0.92. IHC initiated by defensive participants were twice as high as offensive participants (RR 2.04, p Conclusions There is a high rate of IHC with a lower relative risk of IHC at most levels of play compared to the NFL. Further research is necessary to determine the impact of IHC; the high rates across all age groups suggests an important role for education and prevention.
Editorial overview: mentoring for professional development

This issue of Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning Journal includes research from an ethnically and academically diverse group of scholars representing the Great Lakes, Midwestern, and Sou...
Fiftieth anniversary issue: Editor-in-Chief's introduction to the special issue

Abstract This article is the editor's introduction to a special issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Journal of Vocational Behavior. The theme of the special issue was integrating vocational and organizational psychology. The Editor-in-Chief reviews how the topics were chosen for the special issue, reviews the 9 articles that were invited, and the 8 essays contributed by the editorial team. The nine invited topics include manuscripts on career transitions, career adaptability, career decision-making, career self-management, lifespan and life stage in careers, precarious work, women at work, work-family integration, and social justice and career development. She then highlights the need for theoretically grounded research and briefly discusses two areas that were highlighted in many of the articles: the need for longitudinal research and the importance of context in vocational research.
A UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping approach to assess time-series nitrogen responses and identify traits associated genetic components in maize

Advancements in the use of genome-wide markers have provided new opportunities for dissecting the genetic components that control phenotypic trait variation. However, cost-effectively characterizing agronomically important phenotypic traits on a large scale remains a bottleneck. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based high-throughput phenotyping has recently become a prominent method, as it allows large numbers of plants to be analyzed in a time-series manner. In this experiment, 233 inbred lines from the maize diversity panel were grown in a replicated incomplete block under both nitrogen-limited conditions and following conventional agronomic practices. UAV images were collected during different plant developmental stages throughout the growing season. A pipeline for extracting plot-level images, filtering images to remove non-foliage elements, and calculating canopy coverage and greenness ratings based on vegetation indices (VIs) was developed. After applying the pipeline, about half a million plot-level image clips were obtained for 12 different time points. High correlations were detected between VIs and ground truth physiological and yield-related traits collected from the same plots, i.e., Vegetative Index (VEG) vs. leaf nitrogen levels (Pearson correlation coefficient, R = 0.73), Woebbecke index vs. leaf area (R = -0.52), and Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI) vs. 20 kernel weight --- a yield component trait (R = 0.40). The genome-wide association study was performed using canopy coverage and each of the VIs at each date, resulting in N = 29 unique genomic regions associated with image extracted traits from three or more of the 12 total time points. A candidate gene Zm00001d031997, a maize homolog of the Arabidopsis HCF244 (high chlorophyll fluorescence 244), located underneath the leading SNPs of the canopy coverage associated signals that were repeatedly detected under both nitrogen conditions. The plot-level time-series phenotypic data and the trait-associated genes provide great opportunities to advance plant science and to facilitate plant breeding.
Stigma and negative mental health outcomes in sexual/gender minority youth in Utah

In recent years, local governments and communities in Utah have begun discussing ways sexual/gender minority youth may experience particularly high levels of negative mental health symptoms, stigma, bullying, and family rejection. Using the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF), we examined if being bullied due to sexual orientation or gender identity was associated with self-harm, internalizing symptoms, substance misuse, suicide risk, and academic achievement through social, cognitive, and emotional processes. To test this hypothesis, we ran a path analysis on a large representative sample of sexual/gender minority middle and high school students in Utah (N = 6909). Results demonstrated general support for the proposed pathways, with 51% to 78% of the effects of being bullied onto the negative outcomes being mediated by the social, cognitive, and emotional processes. The need for more anti-bullying policies and targeted psychological treatments for sexual/gender minority youth in Utah is discussed.
Cardiac MRI Detection of Left Ventricular Aneurysm in Children After Ventricular Assist Device Explantation.

Consensus is lacking regarding screening for complications such as ventricular aneurysms after ventricular assist device explant. We report two pediatric patients, status-post explantation, who dev...
Automatic detection of unreinforced masonry buildings from street view images using deep learning-based image segmentation

Abstract Mitigation of seismic risk is a challenge for 70+ countries in the world. Screening the building stock for potential structural defects is one way to locate structures that are vulnerable to strong ground motion. Often in developing countries, masonry buildings are not reinforced or confined to withstand earthquake loads. It has been observed that such buildings cannot withstand the lateral loads imposed by an earthquake. An estimated 77 percent of the fatalities in the earthquakes during the last 100 years were caused mainly by the collapse of masonry buildings. Given the probability of severe damage or collapse in the event of an earthquake, identification and retrofit of such masonry buildings are critical. Screening of masonry buildings by conventional methods is usually a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. This research presents an automated workflow for segmenting the presence of such buildings through the use of street-view images. The method uses deep learning techniques. An inventory composed of a set of street view images was collected from the streets of Oaxaca State, Mexico using a 360° camera mounted on a car. These images were then annotated by trained engineers. Using the annotated dataset, an instance segmentation model was trained to detect and classify masonry buildings from the street view images. Using the model, we performed city scale detections of masonry buildings. We found the spatial distribution pattern of masonry buildings is correlated with the urbanization paths of the cities. The model could be used to produce large-scale automated detection of buildings at a fraction of the cost and in the fraction of the time of the alternatives. With affordable, accurate and massive screenings, governments can target these buildings for retrofit efforts and companies can assess the business opportunity of prevention (or “Building Better Before”).
Rebuilding Natural Capital: A Case Study

Economic capital is necessary to establish a profitable business. Natural capital is necessary to establish a sustainable farm. Natural capital consists of energy stored in the biomass of living systems and the information stored in the interactions between species.
Assisting Undergraduate Physician Assistant Training in Psychiatry: The Role of Academic Psychiatry Departments

Physician assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who practice medicine with the supervision of a physician through delegated autonomy. PA school accreditation standards provide limited guidance for training PAs in psychiatry. As a result, PA students may receive inconsistent and possibly inadequate exposure to psychiatry. Providing broad and in-depth exposure to the field of psychiatry is important to attract PA students to pursue careers in psychiatry and provide a possible solution to the shortage of psychiatrists nationwide. Additionally, this level of exposure will prepare PA students who pursue careers in other fields of medicine to recognize and address their patient’s psychiatric symptoms in an appropriate manner. This training can be provided by an academic department of psychiatry invested in the education of PA students. We describe a training model implemented at our university that emphasizes psychiatrist involvement in the preclinical year of PA school and full integration of PA students into the medical student psychiatry clerkship during the clinical years. The benefits and challenges to implementing this model are discussed as well.
Party preferences and political participation: the emergence of the Turkish-origin German voter

The article examines trends in voting preferences and voting behavior of Turkish-origin German voters. Despite only representing a small percentage of the total German electorate, Turkish-origin voters are gaining an opportunity to shape the future political landscape. While the Social Democrats have benefited most directly from the minority constituency so far, this author suggests that the Green Party is poised to attract the younger, better educated, and German-born segment of the Turkish-origin voters. All other dominant national parties have ignored this emerging voting bloc, and missed opportunities to appeal to Turkish-origin voters by disregarding community-specific interests.
Abstract 17535: Incremental Risk Stratification for Diabetic Patients Undergoing Nuclear Exercise Stress Testing by Exercise Capacity, % Heart-Rate Reserve Achieved, and Heart-Rate Recovery

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and Exercise (Ex) capacity (EC), chronotropic incompetence, measured by the % heart rate (HR) reserve achieved (%HR-reserve), and abnormal HR-recovery are known predictors of all-cause mortality (ACM). We examined the prognostic relationship of these three Ex variables for predicting ACM in diabetic patients (pts) undergoing Ex myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS). Methods: We studied 11,218 pts with no valvular disease and not on beta-blockers who underwent Ex MPS and were followed up for ACM for 3.2 ± 2.2 yrs. EC ≤ 7 METS was considered low. For %HR-reserve [(peak HR - rest HR) x 100/(220-age-rest HR)], Results: There were 1223 patients with DM. 445 patients died in the entire study. SSS, %HR-reserve, HR-recovery, EC, and DM status were all independent predictors of ACM (p 0.05). DM and non-DM pts had significant increase in annualized ACM with addition of Ex abnormalities in normal and abnormal SSS groups (all p≤ 0.05). Conclusion: In both DM and non-DM pts undergoing MPS, exercise variables of EC, %HR-reserve, and HR-recovery improve risk stratification for ACM. The presence of diabetes increases the risk of ACM for pts with normal MPS, but not for pts with abnormal MPS.
The Valuation of Permanent and Temporary Book-Tax Differences of Firms Granting Employee Stock Options

This study investigates the valuation implications of permanent and temporary book-tax differences of firms granting employee stock options. To conduct this investigation, we expand on the valuation model employed by Amir, Kirschenheiter and Willard (1997), and incorporate adjustments suggested by Hess and Luders (2001) to reflect the impact of stock-based compensation. We estimate permanent book-tax differences associated with stock options using firms' disclosures under SFAS No. 123, and in conjunction with firms' disclosures about deferred taxes (temporary book-tax differences) under SFAS No. 109, conduct value relevance tests. We predict and find evidence that deferred taxes recognized for financial accounting purposes and unrecognized permanent tax assets associated with stock options are both incrementally value relevant.
About the Combination of Functional Approaches and Fuzzy Reasoning

Learning fuzzy rule-based systems can lead to very useful descriptions of several problems. Many different alternative descriptions can be generated. In many cases, a simple rule base similar to rule bases designed by humans are preferable since it has a higher possibility of being valid in unforseen cases. Thus, the main idea of this paper is to define a minimal cost function and to generate minimal knowledge bases. Furthermore, this paper shows similarities between the generation of fuzzy systems and the generation of boolean functions on the base of minimal cost functions and it proposes criteria to learn human reasoning fuzzy rules.
Detection of object onset and offset in naturalistic scenes

The present study was conducted to investigate whether observers are equally prone to overlook any kinds of visual events in change blindness. Capitalizing on the finding from visual search studies that abrupt appearance of an object effectively captures observers' attention, the onset of a new object and the offset of an existing object were contrasted regarding their detectability when they occurred in a naturalistic scene. In an experiment, participants viewed a series of photograph pairs in which layouts of seven or eight objects were depicted. One object either appeared in or disappeared from the layout, and participants tried to detect this change. Results showed that onsets were detected more quickly than offsets, while they were detected with equivalent accuracy. This suggests that the primacy of onset over offset is a robust phenomenon that likely makes onsets more resistant to change blindness under natural viewing conditions.
Laparoscopic surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms Technical elements of the procedure and a preliminary report of the first 22 patients

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for infrarenal aortic aneurysms is based on the principle of retroperitoneal exclusion of the aneurysm sac with aortofemoral or aortoiliac bypass. Methods: Of 22 patients who met the selection criteria, 20 successfully underwent laparoscopic aortic surgery at Morristown Memorial Hospital between February and October 1997. Technical elements and steps of this operation are described and illustrated. Results: Within 30 days of surgery, 2 patients died and 9 had various major and minor perioperative complications. As a group, the laparoscopic patients had less postoperative pain, needed fewer hours of ventilator support, had shorter intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay, and resumed diet and normal activity earlier than the historical norms for patients undergoing transabdominal or retroperitoneal aortic resections at the same institution. Conclusions: These early observations suggest that the laparoscopic treatment of infrarenal abdominal aneurysms may have several significant potential benefits. Long-term results and randomized prospective studies with patients matched by risk stratification will be needed to confirm these impressions.
Evaluation of appropriate sample size for measurement of vibration levels induced by rail transit vehicles

Building vibration levels induced by rail transit vehicles under usual operational conditions can vary from one vehicle to another. In order to obtain meaningful vibration levels, measurements of building and (or) ground vibrations should be performed for an appropriate number of vehicle pass-bys. In a recent rail transit sysem vibration study by the authors, the number of vehicle pass-bys for a particular vehicle population was chosen so that the mean vibration level of the sampled vehicles is reasonably close to the true mean of vibration levels, induced by all vehicles in the population. This paper presents statistical analysis procedures, based on Kreyszig (1979) and Ang & Tang (1975), that can be used to determine an appropriate sample size to achieve a certain confidence range of the true mean vibration level, e.g.±3 dB of the sample mean, for a certain confidence level, e.g. 95%. The results obtained using these statistical procedures are reported for subway train and streetcar populations of the rail transit system studied by the authors. In addition, verification of the appropriateness of the calculated sample sizes is presented
The spherical condenser as a high transmission particle spectrometer: III. Construction and calibration☆

Abstract A spectrometer embodying the design features described in parts I and II of this paper has been constructed with an angle χ of one radian. The inverse square electric field between the plates of a spherical condenser focuses charged particles leaving a point (part I) or disk (part II) source located on the inner sphere. Particles leave the region of electric field through an annular slit at the focal position and are detected with a Faraday cup and vibrating reed electrometer. Energy resolution and transmission have been tested with an isotropic electron gun and with Auger electrons and are 6.25% and 25%, respectively, between 50 eV and 32 keV in good agreement with theoretical expectations. The spectrometer is useful down to 0.5 eV although calibration has not been made as precisely. A beta ray and secondary electron spectrum of Cu64 negatrons and positrons has been obtained from a cavity source of copper which approximates an infinite, isotropic, homogeneous, radioactive medium. Multicurie sources were used and observed currents were of the order of 10−13 ampere over an energy range from 0.5 eV to 40 keV.
Prevention Effects Moderate the Association of 5-HTTLPR and Youth Risk Behavior Initiation: Gene · Environment Hypotheses Tested via a Randomized Prevention Design

A randomized prevention design was used to investigate a moderation effect in the association between a polymorphism in the SCL6A4(5HTT) gene at 5-HTTLPR and increases in youths' risk behavior initiation. Participation in the Strong African American Families (SAAF) program was hypothesized to attenuate the link between 5-HTTLPR status and risk behavior initiation. Youths (N = 641, M age = 11.2 years) were assigned randomly to a SAAF or control condition. Risk behavior initiation across 29 months was linked positively with the 5-HTTLPR genotype and negatively with SAAF participation. Control youths at genetic risk initiated risk behavior at twice the rate of SAAF youths at genetic risk and youths not at genetic risk in either condition.
Optical Rotatory Dispersion of Complexes of Native DNA and Helical Poly-,αL-glutamic Acid with Proflavine

RECENTLY, Blake and Peacocke1 reported the appearance of an induced Cotton effect in the complex of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) with proflavine. The magnitude of the trough at 452 mµ was almost twice as large as that of the peak at 480 mµ. They considered the absorption band of the complex to be associated with a single electronic transition and made it appear that the anomalous optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) induced by the bound dye was a single rather than a multiple Cotton effect. Their interpretation of the observed Cotton effect challenges theories of optical activity which predict a single Cotton effect associated with a single circular dichroic (CD) band nearly symmetric with respect to either the centre of the CD band or the inflexion point of the ORD (refs. 2–4). We propose an alternative interpretation, which is in harmony with existing theories, of the ORD results of Blake and Peacocke.
The acquisition of trace supraordinate stimulus control in pigeons

Match-to-sample and oddity-from-sample problems with four colors were acquired by two pigeons under the supraordinate control of a line tilt superimposed on samples, Since the supraordinate stimulus terminated before the comparison stimuli were presented, accurate matching and oddity performance indicated trace stimulus control as well, The temporal extent of trace control was assessed in one subject by presenting probes—trials without a line tilt on the sample—in which the basis of correct responding was the supraordinate stimulus presented on the previous trial, Trace supraordinate control did not extend between trials, Subsequently, the delay between the termination of the supraordinate stimulus and the presentation of the comparison stimuli was gradually increased within a trial, Both subjects were able to perform matching and oddity over longer delays, and eventually on probe trials, although accuracy decreased, Results were discussed in terms of instructional stimulus control and memory.
Senile Dementia: Treatment with Deanol†

Recent research indicates a possible cholinergic involvement in memory processes and thus the possibility that acetylcholine deficiency may underlie memory impairment in senile dementia. Deanol (2-dimethylaminoethanol), which is assumed to increase brain acetylcholine, was given openly for 4 weeks to 14 senile outpatients, to determine the safety of the drug and whether or not it reduces cognitive impairment. The dosage was gradually increased to 600 mg three times daily during the first two weeks, with no adverse effects. Ten patients improved globally and 4 were unchanged (p less than .01). The total score on the Sandoz Clinical Assessment-Geriatric (SCAG) was lowered by the third week (p less than .01), primarily as a result of reduced depression, irritability and anxiety, and increased motivation-initiative. However, neither the clinical ratings nor an extensive pre- versus post-treatment series of cognitive tests revealed changes in memory or other cognitive functions. Since a similar separate study with a different compound produced no behavioral changes, it is unlikely that the improvement with deanol was due entirely to placebo effects. The results thus suggest that although deanol may not improve memory, it may produce positive behavioral changes in some senile patients.
Ultrareliable fault-tolerant control systems

It is demonstrated that fault-tolerant computer systems, such as on the Shuttles, based on redundant, independent operation are a viable alternative in fault tolerant system designs. The ultrareliable fault-tolerant control system (UFTCS) was developed and tested in laboratory simulations of an UH-1H helicopter. UFTCS includes asymptotically stable independent control elements in a parallel, cross-linked system environment. Static redundancy provides the fault tolerance. A polling is performed among the computers, with results allowing for time-delay channel variations with tight bounds. When compared with the laboratory and actual flight data for the helicopter, the probability of a fault was, for the first 10 hr of flight given a quintuple computer redundancy, found to be 1 in 290 billion. Two weeks of untended Space Station operations would experience a fault probability of 1 in 24 million. Techniques for avoiding channel divergence problems are identified.
Extruded potato peel functional properties affected by extrusion conditions.

Extrusion cooking of potato peel waste from processing plants to im-prove food safety affects functional properties of these peels as a high-fiber ingredient in foods. The effects of barrel temperature (104°C and 143°C) and feed moisture (31, 33.5, and 36% d.b.) on extruder performance and physical and functional properties of peels were studied. Torque and die pressure decreased with barrel temperature; all variables affected melt temperature. Samples were darker at the higher temperature. Expansion, Hunter a, and powder bulk density decreased with both variables. Hydration capacity increased with feed moisture. Extruded peels differed from commercial fiber products in color, but hydration capacity was similar among extruded peels and cereal brans.
Incorporating fault tolerance in distributed agent based systems by simulating bio-computing model of stress pathways

Bio-computing model of 'Distributed Multiple Intelligent Agents Systems' (BDMIAS) models agents as genes, a cooperating group of agents as operons - commonly regulated groups of genes, and the complex task as a set of interacting pathways such that the pathways involve multiple cooperating operons. The agents (or groups of agents) interact with each other using message passing and pattern based bindings that may reconfigure agent's function temporarily. In this paper, a technique has been described for incorporating fault tolerance in BDMIAS. The scheme is based upon simulating BDMIAS, exploiting the modeling of biological stress pathways, integration of fault avoidance, and distributed fault recovery of the crashed agents. Stress pathways are latent pathways in biological system that gets triggered very quickly, regulate the complex biological system by temporarily regulating or inactivating the undesirable pathways, and are essential to avoid catastrophic failures. Pattern based interaction between messages and agents allow multiple agents to react concurrently in response to single condition change represented by a message broadcast. The fault avoidance exploits the integration of the intelligent processing rate control using message based loop feedback and temporary reconfiguration that alters the data flow between functional modules within an agent, and may alter. The fault recovery exploits the concept of semi passive shadow agents - one on the local machine and other on the remote machine, dynamic polling of machines, logically time stamped messages to avoid message losses, and distributed archiving of volatile part of agent state on distributed machines. Various algorithms have been described.
Ein primitiver acanthodier (pisces) aus dem unterdevon lettlands

Latviacanthus ventspilsensis n.gen., n.sp. is described from a drilling core at Ventspils, Latvia, U.S.S.R. It is placed nearEuthacanthus, Climatiidae, chiefly on the basis of similarities in the gill region (1 hyoid and 3 accessoric gill covers). Main features ofLatviacanthus are: palatoquadrate and Meckel’s cartilage ossified as a single element each, multiple-cuspid teeth not fused to the jaws, slender pectoral spine, weakly developed dermal shoulder-girdle.
Relation of Body Weight and Egg Weight in the Domestic Fowl

Abstract POULTRY breeders try to establish large egg size in their stock because present marketing agencies consider large eggs desirable. Information which contributes to a more thorough understanding of egg weight in the domestic fowl should be helpful to those breeders who are attempting to establish this character in their stock. This paper reports the results obtained at the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station from a study of the relationship of body weight and egg weight in chickens. DATA The data used for this investigation were obtained from records on White Plymouth Rock pullets which were hatched in ten consecutive weekly hatches beginning the first week in February, 1932. Each hatch received the same general care and management while being brooded and reared. The pullets kept were considered suitable for laying purposes. They were divided into eight pens and fed experimental rations but there was no significant differences in the size of . . .
In vitro production of autotetraploid Ponkan mandarin ( Citrus reticulata Blanco) using cell suspension cultures

An efficient protocol for colchicine mediated production of in vitro autotetetraploids from Ponkan mandarin using cell suspension cultures is described. Cells were treated with 1 g l−1 colchicine for 4 or 8 days before transfer into solid EME medium supplemented with 5% maltose. Colchicine treated cells were placed in medium with or without an overlay of 1:2 medium–mixture of liquid 0.6 M BH3 medium and 0.15 M EME + maltose liquid media. It was observed that modifying the immediate cell environment by addition of the liquid overlay played a positive role in cell differentiation and subsequent plant regeneration. Ploidy levels were determined with a flow cytometer and confirmed by chromosome staining using the enzymatic maceration method. A large number of non-chimeric autotetraploids were generated using this method. Such plants have great value in a breeding program for the development of seedless triploid citrus, as very few available tetraploid breeding parents are easy to peel.
Theory of dissociative electron attachment: Biomolecules and clusters

Very broad σ∗ resonances, which are responsible for threshold structures and dissociative attachment in electron collisions with hydrogen halides, are also important in electron-impact bond-breaking in nucleobases and amino acids. We investigate this mechanism in more detail by carrying out model calculations of the N-H bond breaking in the uracil molecule. Although the σ∗ resonance is extremely broad at the equilibrium nuclear geometry, it is stabilized fast when the N-H bond is stretched, and this produces a substantial dissociative attachment cross section. In addition, very pronounced vibrational Feshbach resonances are seen below vibrational excitation thresholds. To incorporate the effect of a cluster environment in the dissociative electron attachment process, we develop further the multiple scattering theory for this process and calculate the dissociative attachment cross section for the CF3 Cl molecule embedded in the (H2 O)6 cluster.
Aldosterone Excretion Among Subjects With Resistant Hypertension and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Objective The severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) correlates with the difficulty of controlling BP. The mechanism, however, by which sleep apnea contributes to the development of resistant hypertension remains obscure. Having observed a high prevalence of OSA among hypertensive subjects with primary hyperaldosteronism, we hypothesized a possible association between sleep apnea and aldosterone excretion. Design In consecutive subjects referred to a university clinic for resistant hypertension, we prospectively determined plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and 24-h urinary aldosterone excretion during high dietary salt ingestion. In addition, all subjects completed the Berlin Questionnaire, a survey designed to identify subjects at risk of having sleep apnea. Primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) was defined as a PRA 12 μg during high urinary sodium excretion (> 200 mEq/24 h). Results Of the 114 subjects evaluated, 72 subjects had a high probability and 42 subjects had a low probability of having sleep apnea based on their responses to the Berlin Questionnaire. Subjects at high risk for sleep apnea were almost two times more likely to have PA diagnosed (36 vs 19%, p Conclusion These data provide evidence of increased aldosterone excretion in subjects with resistant hypertension and symptoms of sleep apnea. While the causality of this association is unknown, it is hypothesized that sleep apnea contributes to the development of resistant hypertension by stimulating aldosterone excretion.
Social comparison of abilities in blind children and adolescents.

Summary The present study investigates Festinger's theory of social comparison processes that predicts the choice of one similar to oneself for comparison of abilities. This study specifically seeks to assess the influence of (a) level of relevance and (b) level of difficulty on the choice of blind as a reference group in evaluating abilities by 45 blind, school-age Ss. The results suggest that both level of relevance and level of difficulty may significantly affect social comparison behavior. Possible elaboration of Festinger's theory and its integration into developmental theory are suggested.
Anti-idiotypic antibodies mimic bovine viral diarrhea virus antigen.

Abstract Polyclonal rabbit anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-ids) against two neutralizing murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to a bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) glycoprotein. 53 kDa, were produced, purified, and characterized. Each anti-id inhibited the binding of its respective mAb to BVDV antigen in a competitive ELISA and blocked the immunoprecipitation of the 53 kDa protein by the mAb. The anti-ids also inhibited the virus-neutralizing activity of their homologous mAbs. These results suggest that the anti-ids bear an internal image of a BVDV antigen and mimic neutralizing epitopes on the 53 kDa protein. Treatment of MDBK cells with the anti-ids inhibited BVDV infection, indicating that they block a cellular component, such as a virus receptor, required for virus adsorption or entry. Inhibition of the homologous mAb and lack of inhibition of the heterologous mAb indicate that the anti-ids are specific for the unique antigen-binding sites on the mAbs.
Manufacturing — A strategic competitive advantage

Competition for manufacturing exists on an international level, as countries with high labor costs experience a loss of manufacturing operations to others with low labor costs. Should the emigration of United States manufacturing operations continue, product and process design and development activities will follow.
The militarism of local television: The routine framing of the Persian Gulf war

This study examines how the practices of television newswork add up to coherent “frames of reference”; toward the Persian Gulf War, supporting administration policy and creating an “illusion of triumph.”; We consider it especially important to look for these patterns in local television with its community ties and need for audience appeal. Using interviews with newsworkers and close analysis of coverage, we examine the way one local television station covered the war, with a special focus on how dissent was portrayed in January of 1991. We link coverage to the media routines of television newswork, showing how they act as coherent frames supportive of Gulf policy. The conflict frame placed anti‐war protest in opposition to patriotism. The control frame relied on law enforcement and dealt with protest as a threat to social order. The consensual frame ultimately supported a legitimately controversial policy by connecting it to patriotism and “the troops.”;
The Characteristics of High School Department Chairs: A National Perspective

Department chairs occupy a potentially important leadership position in high schools, yet little is known about them, particularly with regard to who they are and how they compare to other high school teachers. This is surprising given growing expectations for distributed leadership practice in schools. In this study, I utilize a national dataset to provide a large-scale look at the characteristics of department chairs. Additionally, I provide insight into the characteristics of chairs that appear to be important to their serving in the position.
Application of a coupled fission mode approach to modular reactor kinetics

Abstract A formulation is presented which describes the time-dependent behaviour of modular reactor systems through the use of a separation of the total flux into space- and time-dependent “fission modes”. This method is applied to the calculation of transients in a fast modular system in which the fission modes are assumed to be space-time separable, and an outline is presented of the calculational method for the case in which the fission modes are not assumed to be space-time separable.
Effects of physostigmine and scopolamine on operant brightness discrimination in the rat

Abstract Performance in an operant brightness discrimination was facilitated through the mid-range of training by injections of 0.3 mg/kg physostigmine. Performance was facilitated, compared to saline injected controls, due to lower response rates during SΔ while SD response rates were not affected. Injection of 0.5 mg/kg scopolamine suppressed both SD and SΔ response rates proportionally and thus did not affect discrimination performance as reflected in the discrimination ratio. The facilitation of discrimination performance produced by physostigmine was interpreted as due to facilitation of inhibitory precesses and as consistent with the hypothesis of a central cholinergic inhibitory mechanism.
Strategic Human Resource Management in U.S. Luxury Resorts—A Case Study

A labor shortage has been experienced in the hospitality industry and is predicted to continue into the future with a greater impact on luxury resorts. Resort managers typically look to human resource (HR) directors to develop strategies to solve this problem. The co-alignment model can give managers a competitive advantage in the marketplace. This study presents the results of a case study of five luxury resorts in North Carolina. HR directors identified forces driving change in the environment, strategy choices, firm structure, and outcomes reflected in firm performance. There was little evidence that co-alignment was being used as a basis for planning.