cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Morison's Pouch peritonectomy in cytoreductive surgery.

• Morison's Pouch is a frequent site of metastatic disease from ovarian and appendiceal cancer.
Minimum uncertainty relations on a finite interval

A set of functions, cn(x), is presented that minimize beam dispersion for a fixed-size exit aperture. The root-mean-square deviation of the set of functions and their Fourier transforms are calculated and compared with Gaussian Fourier transform pairs. It is shown for Cn(k), the Fourier transforms of the cn(x), that as n increases, the energy in the central lobe of Cn(k) increases, given that the cn(x) are defined such that each is smoother than the previous one. It is also shown that the cn(x) become narrower and the Cn(k) become broader as n increases. When the root mean square is used as the measure of the width of the functions, for n → ∞ the product of the variances of cn(x) and Cn(k) approaches 1/2. Additionally, it is shown that the cn(x) span the [−1, 1] Hilbert space.
The Fundamental Basis for Cyclopolymerization. X. A Systematic Study of the Cyclopolymerization of Methacrylic Anhydride

Abstract The study of methacrylic anhydride has shown that the intramolecular propagation step has a higher energy of activation (2.6 ± 0.3 kcal/mole) than the intermolecular step. Steric factors have, however, been found to favor cyclization (A11/Ac = 0.0039 liter/mole). It has been concluded that the conditions which favor cyclization in methacrylic anhydride are high temperature, low monomer concentration, poor solvent system, and high conversion. The increase in cyclization caused by heterogeneous conditions, such as poor solvent or high conversion, appears to be due to tight coiling of the polymer chain and slow diffusion, thereby decreasing the value of k11 with respect to kc. Although methacrylic anhydride does cross-link to some extent, the number of cross-links was lower than expected due to anhydride interchange of pendent units. Also, even though some cross-links were present, the polymer could be dissolved due to interchange of the intermolecular cross-links to intramolecular anhydride units. ...
Site-specific recombination promotes plasmid amplification in yeast

All stable, naturally occurring circular yeast DNA plasmids contain a pair of long, nontandem inverted repeats that undergo frequent reciprocal recombination. This yields two plasmid inversion isomers that exist in the cell in equal numbers. In the 2 mu circle plasmid of S. cerevisiae such inversion is catalyzed by a plasmid-encoded site-specific recombinase, FLP. We show that the site-specific recombination system of 2 mu circle enables the plasmid to increase its mean intracellular copy number in yeast cells growing under nonselective conditions. This apparently occurs by a FLP-induced transient shift in the mode of replication from theta to double rolling circle as initially proposed by Futcher. This capability may ensure stable maintenance of the plasmid by enabling it to correct downward deviations in copy number that result from imprecision of the plasmid-encoded partitioning system.
Lowering crystallization temperature of zircon by nanoheterogeneous sol-gel processing

The use of deliberate heterogeneity on the nanometre scale via the sol-gel technique was introduced by this laboratory in 1982. In this study the thermal behaviour of different zircon (ZrSiO4)-composition precursors obtained via a sol-gel route and seeded with sols of zircon, rutile or thorite (α-ThSiO4) have been studied. Both compositional diphasicity and isostructural seeding were found to lower the zircon crystallization or formation temperature. As anticipated from the “nucleation and epitaxial growth” mechanism model, rutile seed crystals, with a structure different from that of the equilibrium phase did not show any effect. An unexpected counter-effect was observed when the isostructural thorite seeds were used. These results suggest that crystallization temperatures in zircon can be lowered either by utilizing the heat of reaction in compositionally diphasic gels, or by nucleation and epitaxial growth in structurally diphasic gels.[/p]
DieB-Alkyl-Suzuki-Miyaura-Kreuzkupplung: Entwicklung, Untersuchungen zum Mechanismus und Anwendungen in der Naturstoffsynthese

Die Entwicklung neuer Reaktionen zur Erleichterung effizienter und kreativer Synthesen von Zielmolekulen jedweder Art ubt eine anhaltende Faszination auf Chemiker aus. Ob eine neue Reaktion einen bedeutenden Beitrag leistet, wird mit der Zeit anhand der Akzeptanz unter moglichen Anwendern entschieden. Die B-Alkyl-Suzuki-Miyaura-Kreuzkupplung scheint eine solche bedeutende Reaktion zu sein. Seit ihrer Veroffentlichung durch Suzuki und Miyaura im Jahre 1986 hat sie sich wiederholt als attraktive Losung fur herausfordernde Syntheseprobleme erwiesen.
Individual Behavior of Workers of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on Consecutive Days of Tunnel Construction

This study examines the individual behavior of workers of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shirkai, on two consecutive days of tunnel construction. In each trial, a group of 30 termite workers was observed continuously during the first 60 min of construction of a new tunnel on two consecutive days. On each day, an average of 68% of individuals did not participate in tunnel construction, 19% spent < 25 min tunneling, and 13% spent ≥ 25 min tunneling. There were specific individuals that did most of the work in the construction of new tunnels on both days. An individual that spent at least 25 min tunneling on Day 1 was significantly more likely to spend at least 25 min tunneling on Day 2 than individuals that spent < 25 min tunneling on Day 1. When individuals were ranked based on the time spent tunneling on Day 1 and Day 2, there were individuals ranked as one of the top four excavators on both days in three of the four groups. These results indicate that there is evidence of task allocation by termite workers during the construction of a new tunnel.
Mathematical approximation techniques in biophysical models

Abstract The mathematical characterization of biophysical problems often leads to certain transcendental functions which must be evaluated to fully appreciate the significance of the mathematical model. In illustration, many mathematical models concerned with wave propagation and transmission of fluids through elastic tubes require treatment of the various kinds of Bessel functions and their ratios. In my recent work (The Special Functions and Their Approximations, Volumes 1 and 2, Academic Press, 1969) polynomial, rational and infinite series expansions in series of Chebyshev polynomials are developed for a wide class of transcendental functions which include Bessel functions as special cases. In numerous instances, tables of coefficients are presented. In the present paper, we show how these ideas can be exploited to yield economic methods for the evaluation of Bessel functions arising in the problems cited. As the approximations can be given in closed form, they can be easily applied to further simplify available closed form analyses.
Preoperative, Anesthetic, and Postoperative Care for Rhinoplasty Patients

The perioperative period can be anxiety provoking for rhinoplasty patients. Patients rely on the skill and confidence of the surgeon to attain optimal results. Having an established strategy for the preoperative, anesthetic, and postoperative care of this patient population is critical to achieving a successful outcome and to ensuring a positive experience for the patient. Establishing a sincere rapport in the preoperative period and being able to properly address patient concerns regarding anesthesia helps patients develop a positive frame of mind and aids in their recovery. This presentation reviews important elements of the preoperative, anesthetic, and postoperative care of rhinoplasty patients and provides insight to making the experience a positive one for the patient and the surgeon.
Mechanics of ventricular torsion

Recent research suggests that left ventricular torsion is an important indicator of cardiac function. We used two theoretical models to study the mechanics of this phenomenon: a compressible cylinder and an incompressible ellipsoid of revolution. The analyses of both models account for large- strain passive and active material behavior, with a muscle fiber angle that varies linearly from endocardium to epicardium. Relative to the end- diastolic configuration, the predicted torsion exhibits several experimentally observed features, including a peak near end systole, rapid untwisting during isovolumic relaxation, and increased twist near the apex. The magnitude of the twist is sensitive to the fiber architecture, the ventricular geometry, and the compressibility and contractility of the myocardium. In particular, the model predicts that the systolic twist increases with increasing compressibility, contractility, and wall thickness, while it decreases with increasing cavity volume. The peak twist approximately doubles (from about 0.02 to 0.04 rad cm(-1)) with a doubling of myocardial compressibility or with a change in the endocardial/epicardial muscle fiber angles from 90/ -90 degrees to 60/ -60 degrees. The twist is less sensitive to changes in contractility and ventricular geometry. These findings provide a basis for interpreting measurements of ventricular torsion in the clinical setting.
Assessing U.S. energy policy

told us that we need to use energy more ef1⁄2ciently and derive more of it from domestic sources.1 Since the energy crisis of 1973, U.S. presidents have declared the need to gain independence from unstable foreign energy suppliers and to do so with the same moral fortitude as if 1⁄2ghting a war. Some politicians have proposed massive government programs to achieve the goals of their energy policies; others have sought to unleash freemarket forces that would encourage companies to develop novel sources of energy and motivate consumers to use energy more wisely. Despite more than three decades of such efforts, the United States has not achieved the goal of energy independence. While progress in adopting more energy-ef1⁄2cient technologies has saved billions of dollars throughout the economy, most other indicators of energy autonomy–such as the percentage of imported fuel–demonstrate that the country has become less independent than ever. President Bush acknowledged this fact in his recent State of the Union address, telling Americans that the country has become “addicted to oil” and urging citizens to 1⁄2nd alternative ways to satisfy their energy needs. For those with a sense of history, Bush’s clarion call sounded eerily familiar. Even though energy ef1⁄2ciency has taken root in some sectors of the economy,
Rapid eye movement sleep cycle, clock time and sleep onset.

The phase of the REM sleep rhythm was studied in 10 normal subjects each of whom was sleep studied for 4 consecutive nights. For analysis, each night of sleep was aligned according to clock time and each minute was scored as REM or non-REM. With these data, REM probability was found as a function of clock time. Fractional harmonic analysis indicates a 90 min periodicity. The REM probability curve shows peaks occurring at 1:30 a.m., 3:15 a.m., 4:30 a.m., 5:45 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Statistical measures comparing the time of REM sleep across subjects suggests that subjects tend to have REM sleep at the same time of the night as each other. The influence of elapsed time after sleep onset on REM sleep is also reestablished. Results indicate that the time of REM sleep is determined by both clock time and time of sleep onset, suggesting two clocks, one sleep dependent and the other related to the basic rest activity cycle (BRAC), which are responsible for driving REM sleep. Furthermore, the similarity of REM times across subjects indicates the possible existence of an extra-personae REM driving force linked to clock time and possibly the BRAC.
The effects of dopaminergic/serotonergic reuptake inhibition on maternal behavior, maternal aggression, and oxytocin in the rat

Studies using dopaminergic and serotonergic agonists or antagonists implicate involvement of these systems in various aspects of early maternal behavior and postpartum aggression towards an intruder in rats, both of which are associated with the presence of oxytocin in specific brain regions. It is unclear however, if or how long-term uptake inhibition of either neurotransmitter system alone or in combination, affects oxytocin system dynamics or maternal behavior/aggression. Pregnant women frequently take drugs (antidepressants, cocaine) that induce long-term reuptake inhibition of dopamine and/or serotonin, thus it is important to understand these effects on behavior and biochemistry. Rat dams were treated throughout gestation with amfonelic acid, fluoxetine, or a combination of both, to investigate effects of reuptake inhibition of dopamine and serotonin systems respectively, on maternal behavior, aggression and oxytocin. The more appetitive aspects of maternal behavior (nesting, licking, touching) and activity were increased by the low dose of amfonelic acid, high dose of fluoxetine, or the high dose combination more than other treatments. Aggression was decreased by amfonelic acid and somewhat increased by fluoxetine. Dopamine uptake inhibition appears to have a strong effect on hippocampal oxytocin levels, while receptor dynamics may be more strongly affected by serotonin uptake inhibition.
Improving Federal Response to Drought

Abstract Severe and widespread drought occurred over a large portion of the United States between 1974 and 1977. Impacts on agriculture and other industries, as well as local water supplies, were substantial. The federal government responded with forty assistance programs administered by sixteen federal agencies. Assistance was provided primarily in the form of loans and grants to people, businesses and governments experiencing hardship caused by drought. The total cost of the program is estimated at $7–8 billion. Federal response to the mid-1970s drought was largely untimely, ineffective and poorly coordinated. Four recommendations are offered that, if implemented, would improve future drought assessment and response efforts: 1) reliable and timely informational products and dissemination plans; 2) improved impact assessment techniques, especially in the agricultural sector, for use by government to identify periods of enhanced risk and to trigger assistance measures; 3) administratively centralized drou...
Performance Characteristics of Planar and Three-Dimensional Versions of a Frequency-Agile Electrically Small Antenna

Two electrically small antenna designs are analyzed numerically and are then compared. The first is a frequency-agile version of the three-dimensional (3D) Egyptian-axe dipole (EAD) antenna. The second is its two-dimensional (2D) planar counterpart. The frequency-agile performance characteristics of both the two-dimensional and three-dimensional Egyptian-axe dipole designs are studied and compared. Their potential for non-Foster augmentation to achieve large instantaneous fractional bandwidths is detailed.
Thermoregulatory effects of centrally administered bombesin, bradykinin, and methionine-enkephalin.

Bombesin (BO, 100 ng), bradykinin (BR, 10 μg), or methionine-enkephalin (EN, 10 μg) was administered intracerebroventricularly to adult male rats at an environmental temperature of 4°C, 22°C, or 35°C, and rectal (Tre) and tail-skin (Tsk) temperatures were monitored for 5 hours. At 4°C and 22°C BO-treated animals developed acute hypothermia (max ΔTre = −3.25°Cand −2.71°C, respectively) which persisted for 2 hours (p<0.05). At 22°C and at 300 min post-injection, BO-treated animals became significantly (p<0.05) hyperthermic (ΔTre = +1.28°C) when compared to controls. While BR had no effects at 22°C, EN-injected rats demonstrated a significant (p<0.05) hyperthermia from 180 min through 300 min (ΔTre = +1.40°C). At 22°C both BO and, surprisingly, EN increased Tre (e.g. ΔTre = +3.49°Cand +2.01°C at 60 min). At 35°C EN elicited hyperthermia which was significantly (p<0.05) increased from time 0 at all sampling times (mean ΔTre = +1.85°C) and from control levels at 300 min (ΔTre = +1.07°C, p<0.05). BO again caused a significant (p<0.05, BO vs control, 30 min) decrement (ΔTre = −1.22°C followed by increments (p<0.05) from 120–300 min. We conclude that the hypothermic effect of BO is dependent upon environmental temperature, partially caused by vasodilation, and possibly biphasic in nature; EN treatment generally elicits hyperthermia under these conditions while BR produced no effects on thermoregulation.
Oligomerization of human ATP-binding cassette transporters and its potential significance in human disease

Human ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporter) belong to an extremely important superfamily of membrane transporters. They use energy from ATP hydrolysis to transport a wide variety of substrates across the cellular membrane. Due to the physiological and pharmacological importance of their diverse substrates, ABC transporters have been shown to have close relationship with various human diseases such as cystic fibrosis and multi-drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. While it has been thought traditionally that functional ABC transporters exist as monomeric full or dimeric half transporters, emerging evidence indicates that some ABC transporters oligomerize on cellular membranes and this oligomerization seems to have functional relevance. Therefore, this oligomerization process might be a promising drug target for ABC transporter-related human diseases, especially in overcoming multi-drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. In this review, we perform a critical analysis of the past studies on the oligomerization of ABC transporters.
AgRP and POMC Neurons Are Hypophysiotropic and Coordinately Regulate Multiple Endocrine Axes in a Larval Teleost

Plasticity in growth and reproductive behavior is found in many vertebrate species, but is common in male teleost fish. Typically, "bourgeois" males are considerably larger and defend breeding territories while "parasitic" variants are small and use opportunistic breeding strategies. The P locus mediates this phenotypic variation in Xiphophorus and encodes variant alleles of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). However, deletion of the MC4R has modest effects on somatic growth and reproduction in mammals, suggesting a fundamental difference in the neuroendocrine function of central melanocortin signaling in teleosts. Here we show in a teleost that the hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin and AgRP neurons are hypophysiotropic, projecting to the pituitary to coordinately regulate multiple pituitary hormones. Indeed, AgRP-mediated suppression of MC4R appears essential for early larval growth. This identifies the mechanism by which the central melanocortin system coordinately regulates growth and reproduction in teleosts and suggests it is an important anatomical substrate for evolutionary adaptation.
Observations of the sodium emission from Jupiter, region C

Observations of the sodium emission near Jupiter made while testing an interferometric imaging device are discussed. The results obtained suggest that the sodium emission detected in the region (designated C2) between 3 and 7.5 arcmin (9 and 23 Jupiter radii) from the planet may be no more than terrestrial airglow. It is concluded that region C2 is implausible on theoretical grounds and would need very solid observational support for its existence to be accepted.
Additional Tables for Steel–Dwass–Critchlow–Fligner Distribution-Free Multiple Comparisons of Three Treatments

ABSTRACT Additional critical points are presented for the Steel–Dwass–Critchlow–Fligner distribution-free multiple comparison procedure for comparing all pairs of three population medians in the one-way layout. A computational technique developed by van de Wiel is used to find critical points yielding an experimentwise error rate of approximately 0.01, 0.05, and 0.10 for a total sample size of at most 30, with individual sample sizes from 4 to 10 and a maximum sample size of at least 8, and for equal sample sizes from 8 to 14. Additional discussion is given regarding step-down testing methods and the dangers of using the Steel–Dwass–Critchlow–Fligner procedure with unequal sample sizes if two of the sample sizes are very small.
The phage λ gene Q transcription antiterminator binds DNA in the late gene promoter as it modifies RNA polymerase

The bacteriophage lambda gene Q transcription antiterminator modifies RNA polymerase during an extended pause in elongation at nt +16 and +17 of the phage late gene promoter transcript. We show here that Q binds a specific DNA site between the -10 and -35 elements of the promoter as it interacts with the enzyme. We show that the pause must reflect a specialized elongation structure that is receptive to modification by Q, because Q does not bind to RNA polymerase stopped artificially after transcribing 16 nt of mutant DNA that does not encode the natural pause. Footprinting shows that RNA polymerase in the paused complex makes distinctive interactions with DNA in the region where Q binds; binding of Q, in turn, changes the footprint both at the Q-binding site and in the transcription bubble. Binding of Q to the paused transcription complex is stabilized by the transcription factor NusA, as expected from the dependence of lambda Q-mediated antitermination on NusA.
Can health care databases be used to identify incident cases of osteonecrosis

National Institutes of Health (AR47785, AR07598); Arthritis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
Direct high-spatial-resolution SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) imaging of labeled nucleosides in human chromosomes

Using a scanning ion microprobe we analyzed the distribution of labelled thymidine along human chromosomes. Two labels have been used: bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU which contains one bromine atom per molecule) and 14C-thymidine (which contains either one or ten 14C atoms per molecule). Both types of labelled nucleosides can be detected with our insirument. Best results are obtained when using the uniformly labelled thymidine (U-14C-thymidine) and adding up in a KONTRON IBAS image processing system the sequential analytical maps acquired from the sample at mass 28 (14C14N ions). The distribution of thymidine is heterogeneous along the chromosomes and a banding pattern can be observed on the pictures (SIMS-bands). The spatial resolution obtained with our scanning ion microprobe (the University of Chicago Scanning Ion Microprobe: UC-SIM) surpasses the one of autoradiography which is the common direct method of localization of labelled nucleosides. 1.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Employers’ reactions to racial and psychiatric stigmata: A field experiment

The racial identity (black vs. white) and psychiatric status (ex‐patient vs. “normal") of confederates were manipulated in job interviews with a random sample of employers in a medium‐sized southern city. Based on ratings derived from confederates’ descriptions of these interviews, employers’ reactions to applicants with a psychiatric record were significantly more negative than to those with no record of hospitalization.
Power requirements and blend times in the agitation of pseudoplastic fluids

Agitation and blending studies were made with solutions of Natrosol 250H, which were pseudoplastic fluids with nonconstant flow-behavior indexes. The published power number-Reynolds number correlation for pseudoplastic fluids having constant flow-behavior indexes is valid for Natrosol solutions. Published correlations for blend times in Newtonian fluids do not apply to Natrosol solutions; the blend times are ten to fifty times longer than with Newtonian fluids of the same apparent viscosity. Blend times are shortest in unbaffled vessels when a vortex is formed and correlate well with the vortex depths. Insertion of radial baffles always lengthened the blend time.
The Space Charge Computer Program SCHAR

The space charge computer program SCHAR uses macrofilaments or macroparticles to model the effects of space charge in ion transport. The program calculates the transport properties of beams of non-relativistic charged particles using two alternative macroparticle formulations. The line mode formulation considers the beam to be composed of a manageable number of infinitely long charged filaments. The paths of these filaments are fixed in time but their positions as a function of distance along the line are determined by a fourth-order Runge-Kutta time step integration. The point mode formulation considers the beam to be composed of a manageable number of charged macroparticles. These macroparticles have the same charge-to-mass ratio as the actual particles. In this mode the space charge effects are modeled solely by the Coulomb repulsion of the macroparticles. In space charge cases, while the calculation steps from SCHAR are identical, the line mode will run by a factor of two or three times faster than the point mode; if beam bunching occurs, however, use of the line mode becomes inappropriate. Both modes are described by SCHAR in a left-handed Cartesian coordinate system. Among the optional methods for spreading out the filaments or particles in phase space are: four-volumemore » distribution, designed for line mode operation; KV distribution, a specialized four-dimensional input assumed also by TRACE; six-volume distribution, meant for point mode but also applicable to line mode operation; and ''observed'' distribution, designed for point mode operation.« less
Reflexivity and countertransference in a psychiatric cultural consultation clinic

A Mexican-American woman who complained of persistent head pain and a bothersome “voice” was seen by a team consisting of a psychiatrist, social scientists, and spiritualist healers in a Cultural Consultation Clinic of a Psychiatric Consultation Liaison Service. This single case is analyzed to provide an understanding of the interpretive dimensions of psychiatric practice. It is argued that a hermeneutic analysis of clinical phenomena focuses attention on three distinct aspects of interpretation: on the interpretation by clinicians and clients of the discourse of the other in terms of their own clinical models; on the influence of deeply embedded personal meanings on this interpretive process; and on the role of the observer in clinical ethnography. It is argued that to sustain a hermeneutic analysis of psychiatric practice, an account of transference and countertransference in terms of interpretation theory will have to be developed.
High Single Photon Detection Efficiency 4H-SiC Avalanche Photodiodes

Detection of low-level ultraviolet (UV) light has been the focus of numerous research and development efforts in recent years. To date, the most promising solid-state solution is SiC avalanche photodiodes. We report 4H-SiC avalanche photodiodes with low dark current and high gain. Geiger mode operation with high single photon detection efficiency and low dark count probability has been achieved. The dark current behavior of a 4x4 array of SiC APDs is also presented.
Dopamine Receptor Microdomains Involved in Molecular Recognition and the Regulation of Drug Affinity and Function

A cationic protonatable amine moiety on dopaminergic ligands forms a high affinity reinforced ionic bond with an anionic aspartic acid at position 3.32 of dopamine receptors. When present, catechol hydroxyls of the ligands form hydrogen bonds with serines at position 5.42, 5.43, and 5.46, and this network of hydrogen bonds serves to orient ligands in the binding-site crevice and increase their binding affinity. A steric clash between aromatic moieties of the ligands and aromatic amino acids of the receptor (e.g., H6.55, F6.52 or F6.51 and W6.48) is likely to be propagated in domino-like fashion along the length of TM6, which is believed to trigger activation of the receptor. Specifically, it is the change in the conformation of W6.48 from an orientation perpendicular to the plane of the lipid membrane to one that is parallel that is believed to result in activation. Molecular determinants that mediate the D4/D2-selectivity of many extremely D4-selective 1,4-DAP ligands, include a nonconserved cluster of b...
RNA editing of a human glutamate receptor subunit

AMPA receptors are comprised of individual subunits, and the divalent cation permeability of assembled AMPA receptors is determined by a single amino acid residue in the second transmembrane region of the GluR-B subunit. At this site, GluR-B subunits contain an arginine while other AMPA receptor subunits contain glutamine. Interestingly, the murine gene for GluR-B actually specifies a glutamine at the divalent cation permeability site. The appearance of arginine and not glutamine in the mature GluR-B protein is thought to be a result of RNA editing of the GluR-B messenger RNA. In that AMPA receptors are thought to mediate the bulk of fast excitatory signalling within the mammalian central nervous system, this process of RNA editing may play a pivotal role in normal neural function by mediating divalent cation permeability of AMPA receptors. Disruptions of RNA editing could lead to phenotypically altered AMPA receptors, with implications for pathogenic brain processes. We report that the human GluR-B gene sequence is also edited such that there is a difference between the human GluR-B gene and the complementary DNA (cDNA), as demonstrated both with allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products. Thus, as in the rodent brain, RNA editing of an AMPA receptor subunit appears to be an important process in the human brain. Disruptions of RNA editing may have neuropathological consequences.
Mapping of quantitative trait loci for hypnotic sensitivity to ethanol in crosses derived from the C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mouse strains.

BACKGROUND Acute ethanol sensitivity is thought to be a predisposing factor toward the development of alcoholism. Accumulated evidence suggests that this characteristic may be at least partly heritable. A widely accepted approach for identifying genes thought to contribute to alcoholism is to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for various ethanol-related behaviors in rodent models. METHODS Ethanol sensitivity QTLs were interval-mapped in a C57BL/6 (B6) X DBA/2 (D2) F2 intercross that contained 391 mice. Sensitivity was measured as the duration of loss of righting reflex (LORR) after 4.1 g/kg ip. LORR also was evaluated in a chromosome 1 marker-assisted congenic strain that had an approximately 30 centiMorgan (cM) portion of D2 DNA from the distal end of chromosome 1 introgressed onto a B6 background. RESULTS A suggestive QTL was mapped on chromosome 1 (LOD = 3.3; approximately 80 cM) and a provisional QTL on chromosome 5 (LOD = 2.3; approximately 26 cM). The provisional chromosome 5 QTL was found to be sex-specific (LOD = 2.5 for males; LOD < 1 for females) with the D2 allele increasing LORR. The chromosome 1 D2 allele decreased LORR. Consistent with the F2 QTL mapping, congenic mice heterozygous for the chromosome 1 interval (B6/D2) had a significantly different mean (+/- SEM) LORR of 74.0 +/- 4.9 min (n = 36) compared with 90.8 +/- 6.2 min (n = 33) for their homozygous (B6/B6) littermates (p = 0.02). Blood ethanol concentration at regain of righting reflex was 377 +/- 10 mg% for the B6/D2 and 368 +/- 10 mg% (p = NS) for the B6/B6. CONCLUSIONS LORR results in the chromosome 1 congenic mice were consistent with and very similar to what was predicted from the QTL analysis in the B6 X D2 F2 population. These results support a suggestive LORR QTL on the distal end of mouse chromosome 1. The results also indicate that there is a provisional sex-specific LORR QTL on chromosome 5.
AAEM minimonograph #43: Neuromuscular problems in the performing arts

Over the past 10–15 years, there has been increasing interest in the health problems of performing artists. In this review, I will discuss the major playing-related disorders seen in instrumental musicians. Among the 672 instrumentalists evaluated, the major diagnoses identified included musculoskeletal disorders in 64%, peripheral nerve problems in 22.5%. and focal dystonia in 7%. Sixty percent of instrumentalists were female although males predominate in the group with focal dystonia. The average age of those evaluated was 32 years. Among musculoskeletal disorders overuse syndrome is the most common. Frequent peripheral nerve disorders include thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ulnar neuropathy. A characteristic distribution of symptoms and signs is identified for each instrument group. Electrodiagnostic studies are an important part of the evaluation of these disorders. With carefully designed treatment, the majority of instrumental musicians can be returned to full and pain-free playing activities. The success rate is highest in some entrapment neuropathies but remains low in focal dystonia. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Biological semiconductor based on electrical percolation.

We have developed a novel biological semiconductor (BSC) based on electrical percolation through a multilayer three-dimensional carbon nanotube−antibody bionanocomposite network, which can measure biological interactions directly and electronically. In electrical percolation, the passage of current through the conductive network is dependent upon the continuity of the network. Molecular interactions, such as binding of antigens to the antibodies, disrupt the network continuity causing increased resistance of the network. A BSC is fabricated by immobilizing a prefunctionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)−antibody bionanocomposite directly on a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface (also known as plexiglass or acrylic). We used the BSC for direct (label-free) electronic measurements of antibody−antigen binding, showing that, at slightly above the electrical percolation threshold of the network, binding of a specific antigen dramatically increases the electrical resistance. Using anti-staphyloc...
Mind over matter: reappraising arousal improves cardiovascular and cognitive responses to stress.

Researchers have theorized that changing the way we think about our bodily responses can improve our physiological and cognitive reactions to stressful events. However, the underlying processes through which mental states improve downstream outcomes are not well-understood. To this end, we examined whether reappraising stress-induced arousal could improve cardiovascular outcomes and decrease attentional bias for emotionally-negative information. Participants were randomly assigned to either a reappraisal condition in which they were instructed to think about their physiological arousal during a stressful task as functional and adaptive, or to one of two control conditions: attention reorientation and no instructions. Relative to controls, participants instructed to reappraise their arousal exhibited more adaptive cardiovascular stress responses – increased cardiac efficiency and lower vascular resistance – and decreased attentional bias. Thus, reappraising arousal shows physiological and cognitive benefits. Implications for health and potential clinical applications are discussed.
Epinephrine administration increases neural impulses propagated along the vagus nerve : Role of peripheral β-adrenergic receptors

A significant number of animal and human studies demonstrate that memories for new experiences are encoded more effectively under environmental or laboratory conditions which elevate peripheral concentrations of the hormone epinephrine and in turn, induce emotional arousal. Although this phenomenon has been replicated across several learning paradigms, understanding of how this arousal related hormone affects memory processing remains obscure because epinephrine does not freely enter into the central circulation to produce any direct effects on the brain. This study examined whether epinephrine’s actions on the CNS may be mediated by the initial activation of peripheral vagal fibers that project to the brain. The vagus was selected as a candidate for this role since it is densely embedded with β-adrenergic receptors and the peripheral endings of this nerve innervate a broad spectrum of sensory organs that are directly affected by epinephrine release. Electrophysiological recordings of cervical vagal activity was measured over 110 min in urethane-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats given saline, epinephrine (0.3 mg/kg), the peripherally acting β-adrenergic antagonist sotalol (2.0 mg/kg), or a combination of sotalol followed 15 min later by an injection of epinephrine. Epinephrine produced a significant increase in vagal nerve firing 10 min post-injection (p < .05) relative to controls and neural impulses recorded from the vagus remained significantly elevated for the remaining 55 min collection period. The excitatory actions of epinephrine were not observed in groups given an identical dose of the hormone after peripheral β-adrenergic receptor blockade with sotalol. These findings demonstrate that neural discharge in vagal afferent fibers is increased by elevations in peripheral concentrations of epinephrine and the significance of these findings in understanding how epinephrine modulates brain limbic structures to encode and store new information into memory is discussed.
Computing the Hough transform on a scan line array processor (image processing)

A parallel algorithm for a line-finding Hough transform that runs on a linearly connected, SIMD (single-instruction, multiple-data-stream) vector of processors is described. The authors show that a high-precision transform, usually considered to be an expensive global operation, can be performed efficiently, in two to three times real time, with only local, communication on a long vector. The algorithm also illustrates a decomposition principle that has wide application in algorithm design for large linear arrays. A review of straight-line Hough transform implementations is also presented. >
Erosion of psoriatic plaques : An early sign of methotrexate toxicity

Methotrexate is an effective but potentially toxic treatment for psoriasis. Well-known signs of methotrexate toxicity include bone marrow suppression and oral and gastrointestinal ulceration. Painful erosion of psoriatic plaques is a less common sign of methotrexate toxicity that may precede evidence of bone marrow suppression. We describe two patients in whom painful erosions of their psoriasis developed as the presenting sign of methotrexate toxicity and review the literature, emphasizing the risk factors associated with this manifestation.
The Everhart/Cusick Reviews: A Brief Exchange

Cibulka et al. discuss the financial crisis inner-city private schools face. Costs have been rising because buildings are deteriorating and because fewer teaching nuns and brothers are available for staffing. As middle-class whites leave inner-city parishes, funding sources have declined and parish reserves are diminishing. The tuition tax credits and voucher plans that would bring these schools financial relief continue to flounder. Not the least of the reasons is the perception that these Catholic schools are somehow unAmerican-parochial in the worst sense. They isolate and segregate children. They fail to provide the socialization into the common culture that is the special virtue of public schooling, however poor their academic quality. Ethnographic studies of inner-city private schools would be valuable for examining the perception that these schools fail to socialize children into a common culture. My guess is that these schools inculcate traditional American values far more vigorously than the public schools. Inner-City Private Elementary Schools abounds with questions for the anthropologist. How do children who attend these schools handle the competing claims of street culture and school culture? Why do norms of shared work evolve at these private schools when teachers at public schools are so isolated from one another? Do religious rituals affect academic work by infusing a sense of higher purpose into everyday life? I hope this review will entice anthropologists and their graduate students to this research setting.
The Light Beam Profiler--Past, Present, And Future

Some of you attended the workshop on "Replication Technology" which was sponsored by M.I.T. in January, 1979. On that occasion, I reviewed the early work which led up to the recent, renewed interest in photo-sculpture. I was pleasantly surprised at the favorable response to that presentation and for today's seminar I thought I would take a similar approach to a closely related subject. My topic is somewhat narrower, but I hope it will be interesting and instructive to trace the origins of a simple but rather elegant technique for 3-D sensing--light beam profiling--and examine the current status and future pros-pects for this relatively inexpensive, but quite versatile technology.
Autokinetic Enhancement as a Function of Flicker

The apparent movement of a stationary spot of light on a homogeneous background is perceived with shorter latency and greater spatial displacement when the spot is flickering than when fused. The enhancing effect of flicker is more pronounced for females than males. There is a significant difference in the latency of the apparent movement between the sexes. Response measures of latency and spatial displacement of autokinesis show a positive relationship.
Geomagnetic paleointensity derived from single plagioclase crystals

Abstract We suggest a new approach for the determination of absolute geomagnetic paleointensity that uses single plagioclase crystals to avoid problems caused by alteration during Thellier–Thellier analyses. Transmission electron microscope imaging and rock magnetic data indicate that plagioclase crystals from a recent basalt flow in Hawaii (1955 Kilauea eruption) contain pseudo-single to single domain titanomagnetite inclusions. These feldspars yield paleointensity values that agree within error with magnetic observatory data and paleointensity values reported from whole rock samples. These results suggest that single plagioclase crystals from older igneous rocks may provide a viable source of paleointensity data.
Succinate metabolism of hemoflagellates.

Abstract Extracts of the hemoflagellates, Trypanosoma cruzi and Crithidia fasciculata catalyze the reduction of ferricytochrome c in the presence of succinate. The reduction is inhibited by malonate. The rate of cytochrome reduction is approximately six times as rapid as is the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c. Extracts of both flagellates contain succinate cleaving activity and form acetyl CoA by cleavage of succinate. The role of this reaction in the anaerobic economy of the cell is discussed. The extracts do not contain either phosphotransacetylase or phosphorylating enzyme activity.
Exploitation of Host Polyubiquitination Machinery through Molecular Mimicry by Eukaryotic-Like Bacterial F-Box Effectors

Microbial pathogens have evolved exquisite mechanisms to interfere and intercept host biological processes, often through molecular mimicry of specific host proteins. Ubiquitination is a highly conserved eukaryotic post-translational modification essential in determining protein fate, and is often hijacked by pathogenic bacteria. The conserved SKP1/CUL1/F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex plays a key role in ubiquitination of proteins in eukaryotic cells. The F-box protein component of the SCF complex provides specificity to ubiquitination by binding to specific cellular proteins, targeting them to be ubiquitinated by the SCF complex. The bacterial pathogens Legionella pneumophila, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Ralstonia solanacearum utilize type III or IV translocation systems to inject into the host cell eukaryotic-like F-box effectors that interact with the host SKP1 component of the SCF complex to trigger ubiquitination of specific host cells targets, which is essential to promote proliferation of these pathogen. Our in silico analyses have identified at least 74 genes encoding putative F-box proteins belonging to 22 other bacterial species, including human pathogens, plant pathogens, and amoebal endosymbionts. Therefore, subversion of the host ubiquitination machinery by bacterial F-box proteins may be a widespread strategy amongst pathogenic bacteria. The findings that bacterial F-box proteins harbor Ankyrin repeats as protein-protein interaction domains, which are present in F-box proteins of primitive but not higher eukaryotes, suggest acquisition of many bacterial F-box proteins from primitive eukaryotic hosts rather than the mammalian host.
Health and wellness in residents who matriculate into physician training programs.

Abstract Objective The first objective of this study was to evaluate lifestyle changes that occur during residency. The second objective was to determine whether residents in obstetrics and gynecology perceive greater changes compared with residents in other programs. Study design Residents in selected obstetrics and gynecology, family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and surgery fields received surveys. Characteristics addressed before and after residency included eating habits, sleep hours, recreational time, exercise, and missed significant events. Unbalanced analysis of variance and unpaired Student t test were used when appropriate. Results All specialties noted a significant reduction in low-fat meals consumed, sleep hours, exercise, family interactions, and television viewing ( P P Conclusion Residents perceive significant changes in many areas of health and wellness during residency training. Overall, residents in obstetrics and gynecology do not perceive greater lifestyle alterations compared with other training programs.
Exceptional Sets and Fiber Products

Exceptional sets where fibers have dimensions higher than the generic fiber dimension are of interest in mathematics and in application areas, such as the theory of overconstrained mechanisms.We show that fiber products promote such sets to become irreducible components, whereupon they can be found using techniques from numerical algebraic geometry for computing the irreducible decomposition. However, such a decomposition may contain components other than the exceptional loci we seek. We show that each irreducible component of the exceptional loci gives rise to a main component in a fiber product of sufficiently high order, and we give procedures for identifying these components. The methods are illustrated by finding the rulings of a general quadricin C3.
Inverse modeling methods for indoor airborne pollutant tracking: literature review and fundamentals

UNLABELLED Reduction in indoor environment quality calls for effective control and improvement measures. Accurate and prompt identification of contaminant sources ensures that they can be quickly removed and contaminated spaces isolated and cleaned. This paper discusses the use of inverse modeling to identify potential indoor pollutant sources with limited pollutant sensor data. The study reviews various inverse modeling methods for advection-dispersion problems and summarizes the methods into three major categories: forward, backward, and probability inverse modeling methods. The adjoint probability inverse modeling method is indicated as an appropriate model for indoor air pollutant tracking because it can quickly find source location, strength and release time without prior information. The paper introduces the principles of the adjoint probability method and establishes the corresponding adjoint equations for both multi-zone airflow models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. The study proposes a two-stage inverse modeling approach integrating both multi-zone and CFD models, which can provide a rapid estimate of indoor pollution status and history for a whole building. Preliminary case study results indicate that the adjoint probability method is feasible for indoor pollutant inverse modeling. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The proposed method can help identify contaminant source characteristics (location and release time) with limited sensor outputs. This will ensure an effective and prompt execution of building management strategies and thus achieve a healthy and safe indoor environment. The method can also help design optimal sensor networks.