cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Helical (spiral) CT in the evaluation of emergent thoracic aortic syndromes. Traumatic aortic rupture, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer.

Catheter angiography has traditionally been the gold standard for evaluating emergent aortic syndromes. With advances in MR imaging, color Doppler ultrasound (US), and CT, newer noninvasive ways of evaluating the thoracic and abdominal aorta have emerged. Although each of these modalities has its strengths and weaknesses, CT plays the dominant and critical role in the evaluation of patients presenting with emergent aortic syndromes. This article focuses on the use of helical CT in the evaluation of traumatic aortic rupture, thoracic aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. For each entity the pathophysiology, CT technique, and characteristic CT findings are discussed.
Foundations for Building More Effective Governing Boards.

A summary of suggestions for recruitment, selection, and training of board members so their skills can be more effectively used in the agency's or school's operation.
Extended Lymph Node Dissection in Gastric Cancer

The use of extended lymphadenectomy in the surgical management of gastric adenocarcinoma may offer the potential for cure in certain subsets of patients; it has become the standard operation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for patients with gastric cancer considered curative who undergo resection. In this article, the rationale behind the use of extended lymphadenectomy is described, the technical aspects of the extended gastric resection are discussed, and the recent results of trials examining the benefits and risks of the operation versus the “less than radical” gastric resection are reviewed.
Smart Contracts and Opportunities for Formal Methods

Smart contracts are programs that run atop of a blockchain infrastructure. They have emerged as an important new programming model in cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, where they regulate flow of money and other digital assets according to user-defined rules. However, the most popular smart contract languages favor expressiveness rather than safety, and bugs in smart contracts have already lead to significant financial losses from accidents. Smart contracts are also appealing targets for hackers since they can be monetized. For these reasons, smart contracts are an appealing opportunity for systematic auditing and validation, and formal methods in particular. In this paper, we survey the existing smart-contract ecosystem and the existing tools for analyzing smart contracts. We then pose research challenges for formal-methods and program analysis applied to smart contracts.
Pediatric ischemic stroke from an apoplectic prolactinoma

Pediatric pituitary neoplasms and associated pituitary apoplexy are uncommon. There are few reports in pediatric patients of pituitary apoplexy causing focal arterial compression or diffuse vasospasm resulting in cerebral infarction, and the acute, focal neurological deficits associated with stroke differ from the typical presentation of an apoplectic pituitary tumor. We report the first case of a teenage female with an apoplectic macroprolactinoma presenting with stuttering cerebral infarction secondary to compression of the internal carotid artery (ICA). A 14-year-old female was transferred from an outside facility after presenting with right hand paresthesias and word-finding difficulty that eventually progressed to include right upper extremity weakness and mental status changes. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an apoplectic macroprolactinemia and diffusion-weighted imaging showed acute stroke in the left anterior and middle cerebral artery distributions. Evaluation of the cerebral vasculature with MRA showed focal compression of the left supraclinoid ICA. Despite prompt surgical decompression, the patient developed right lower extremity weakness in addition to her other deficits though her deficits improved after inpatient rehabilitation. In the pediatric population, there is only one other case of pituitary apoplexy presenting with stroke, which was secondary to vasospasm. We present the first case of pituitary apoplexy presenting with stroke secondary to ICA compression. Though rare, it is important to consider that pituitary apoplexy may present with non-classical symptoms such as ischemic stroke even in pediatric patients.
Ligand Guided Selection (LIGS) of Artificial Nucleic Acid Ligands against Cell Surface Targets.

With the success of RNA-based therapeutic drugs, the demand has increased for sophisticated nucleic-acid-based targeting agents. Nucleic acid aptamers (NAAs), in this regard, represent a suitable c...
Vegetational Designs to Enhance Biological Control of Insect Pests in Agroecosystems

A key strategy in agroecology is to restore functional biodiversity in agroecosystems at field and landscape levels. Biodiversity performs essential ecological services, and, if correctly assembled in time and space, it can lead to agroecosystems capable of sponsoring their own crop protection. Diversity can be enhanced in crop fields by means of cover crops, intercropping, agroforestry, crop/livestock mixtures, and, in the surrounding landscapes, using shelterbelts, hedgerows, corridors, etc. Correct agroecosystem diversification strategies usually regulate pests by restoring the natural control of insect pests. This chapter provides a number of studies performed around the world, including Neotropical regions, about the effects of crop diversity on the enhancement of natural enemies and its impacts on the densities of herbivore pests in various crop systems.
George Stigler as a Reader of Adam Smith

We consider George Stigler as a reader of Adam Smith by examining Stigler’s theory of how complicated texts ought to be edited. The editor, in his account, ought to help readers appreciate what is distant from their understanding, to appreciate what the author knows but the reader does not. Stigler drew attention to Smith’s failure to apply self-interested considerations to his theory of policy. We ask whether this apparent gap was Smith’s fault or a misunderstanding of Smith caused by lack of editorial guidance. Smith believed people come to be persuaded of what is in their interests, but that was not apparent from the texts Stigler used.
Nature, Niche, and Nurture

Nature and nurture stand in reciprocity, not opposition. Offspring inherit, along with their parents’ genes, their parents, their peers, and the places they inhabit. The ontogenetic niche is a crucial link between parents and offspring, an envelope of life chances. Development is at one and the same time a social and a psychological and a biological process. If we psychiatrists allow ourselves to become mere pill pushers—or psychotherapists who fit all patients into one Procrustean bed—each as the exclusive road to mental health, we will have abandoned the duty we owe our patients and our integrity as physicians.
The ditetrel bond: noncovalent bond between neutral tetrel atoms

The ability of a tetrel atom to serve in the capacity of electron donor in a σ-hole noncovalent bond is tested by quantum calculations. The donor molecule TMH3 contains a metal atom M on a tetravalent tetrel (T) atom, with M = Li, Na, K so as to generate a partial negative charged region on T. The F atom of the Lewis acid H3FT molecule facilitates the formation of a positive σ-hole on the acid T atom. The CLiH3 Lewis base engages in the strongest TT tetrel bonds (TBs), with interaction energies as high as 10 kcal mol-1. The larger T atoms, whether Si, Ge, or Sn, form weaker TBs, with little dependence on their identity within this subgroup. In contrast, there is a strong dependence of the interaction energy on the size of the acidic tetrel atom, growing quickly in the order C < Si < Ge < Sn < Pb. The interaction energies correlate closely with (i) the total charge transferred, (ii) the stretch of the covalent T-F bond and (iii) the product of the extrema on the electrostatic potentials. The charge being transferred originates in the four covalent bonds of the Lewis base molecule. The systems bear striking resemblance to dihydrogen bonds where two H atoms of opposite charge attract one another.
Synthetic Ultra-Wideband Integrated Pulse Generator for Millimeter-Wave Imaging Applications

This work presents three integrated pulse generators that can collectively provide a synthetic ultra-wide imaging bandwidth of 100 GHz in the millimeter-wave regime. Such a development is the first step towards the realization of a fully-integrated ultra-high-resolution imaging chip for biomedical applications. The pulse generators are designed in a Global Foundry 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS process technology and produce pulses with frequency ranges of 10-40-GHz, 40-75-GHz, and 75–110-GHz respectively. The three sub-band pulse generators possess a similar differential pulsed VCO configuration with the highest average power consumption of 40 mW.
Symbiotic goat milk ice cream with umbu fortified with autochthonous goat cheese lactic acid bacteria

Abstract Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from goat cheese were selected for the preparation of symbiotic goat milk ice cream (GMIC) with the inclusion of umbu fruit (Spondias tuberosa). Its sensory attributes, microbiological and physical-chemical characteristics and its antioxidant capacity were measured in the GMIC produced with autochthonous isolates (GMIC 2) and with commercial cultures (GMIC 1). Three isolates from goat cheese identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Pediococcus acidilactici were selected for their physiological, metabolic, protective, safety and functional characteristics for the production of GMIC 2. GMIC 2 showed greater viability of the microorganisms over time compared to GMIC 1. The selection of autochthonous cultures (AC) significantly influenced (P
An Information-theoretic approach to dimensionality reduction in data science

Data reduction is crucial in order to turn large datasets into information, the major purpose of data science. The classic and richer area of dimensionality reduction (DR) has traditionally been based on feature extraction by combining primary features in a linear fashion, aiming to preserve or maintain covariance/correlations between the features. Nonlinear alternatives have been developed, including information-theoretic approaches using mutual information as well and conditional entropy based on target features. Here, we further this approach to feature selection or reduction strategy based on the concept of conditional Shannon entropy of two random variables. Novel results include (a) a dimensionality reduction method based on conditional entropy between predictors themselves along two variants, disregarding the influence of the target feature; (b) an error-prevention method inspired by error-detection and correction in information theory for DR with genomic data that can be used for abiotic data as well; and (c) a comparative assessment of the performance of several machine learning models on input features selected by these methods. We assess the quality of the techniques based on their performance in solving three application problems (Malware Classification, BioTaxonomy, and Noisy Classification) of various degrees of difficulty with competitive outcomes. Some useful heuristics arise from the analysis of the results and also suggest some problems of interest for further research.
Ultrafiltration of Synovial Fluid Cartilage

The ultrafiltration process of synovial fluid across the articular surface is one of the important mechanisms relating to the physiology of synovial joint mechanics. A model for studying such a process is given in this paper. An impermeable upper boundary is given a downward uniform speed so that it forces a macromolecular solution to flow through a bottom filter. The forced convection process sets up a concentration gradient in the solution whereas the diffusion process acts against the concentration gradient. This interaction results in the dependence of the instantaneous concentration distribution on Peclet number. The histories of the formation of gel during the ultrafiltration process are also calculated for various prescribed values of critical concentrations. The results are examined with regard to their implications on the mechanics of synovial joints and on other biomechanical applications.
Evolution and function of calcium-binding proteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the evolution and function of calcium-binding proteins. Muscle calcium-binding parvalbumin (MCBP) amino acid sequences have been determined for carp, pike, frog, and coelocanth, and rabbit. The troponin “trimer” consists of tropomyosin-binding component (TnT, MW 37,000), an inhibitory component (TnI, MW 23,000), and a calcium-binding component (TnC, MW 17,846). TnT binds to tropomyosin either free or complexed with actin. In addition, the TnC-TnI complex, which is quite stable, binds strongly to actin-tropomyosin in the absence of Ca2+. Consistent with the model, the affinity of troponin for the actin-tropomyosin complex is reduced in the presence of calcium. TnI alone or as the TnI-TnT complex has a weak inhibitory effect on actomyosin ATPase. TnC binds to neither actin nor tropomyosin. Phosphofructokinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of fructose 6-phosphate, thereby forming fructose 1,6-diphosphate. The chapter discusses the mitochondrial enzymes with possible calcium involvement. The activity of kynurenine aminotransferase in intact mitochondria is increased threefold by the addition of 10 -3 M CaCl 2 ; however, calcium has no effect on the solubilized mitochondrial enzyme. These responses, which are hardly unusual for membrane enzymes, are interpreted in terms of enhanced translocation of the substrate, α-ketoglutarate, by Ca2+. Other intracellular enzymes that binds calcium is also discussed.
The communicable disease impact of eliminating publicly funded prenatal care for undocumented immigrants.

Objectives: In 1996, California proposed regulations to eliminate publicly funded prenatal care for undocumented immigrants. Prenatal treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can prevent STI-related adverse outcomes of pregnancy (AOP). The study assessed the STI-related health and economic impact of the proposed regulations in Los Angeles County (LAC). Methods: We modeled excess STI-related AOPs and associated costs that would occur in LAC as if the regulations were implemented in 1995. Using attributable fractions in the exposed for five STIs and their associated AOPs, we calculated excess STI-related AOPs and their costs that would result from the regulations and the degree to which excess morbidity would offset gross savings. Results: The model indicates that, depending on regulatory level, 74, 110, or 132 excess AOPs would occur subsequent to the regulations, representing lost prevented morbidity. These excess AOPs would cost $5.1, $7.6, or $9.2 million dollars in direct medical expenses, offsetting anticipated savings by 19.2%, 29.0%, or 34.9%. This analysis does not include other costs of these STIs or costs associated with non-STI-related sequelae of diminished prenatal care, all of which could further offset anticipated savings. Conclusions: The proposed regulations would likely lead to increased STI-related morbidity and costs, thereby offsetting anticipated savings. Health departments are in a special position to promptly respond to policy issues affecting vulnerable populations. The development of a practical and rational framework for local-level policy assessment can be important for encouraging good scientific approaches that respond to calls for reductions in basic preventive health services.
CEO turnovers and corporate governance: evidence from the Copenhagen Stock Exchange

This paper examines the relationship between performance and CEO turnovers using a sample of 81 turnovers and 81 matching companies listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. We find that poor performance increases the probability of management replacements and that forced layoffs are value-increasing events while voluntary resignations are value-decreasing events. Institutional investors as active monitors, or part of corporate control, are not exhibited in the analysis of CEO turnovers. If institutional investors have any influence on CEO turnovers, then it is not revealed in our data. But, the results suggest that institutional investors' equity holdings tend to protect managers from replacement.
Notes on Venom Collection from Honeybees

The method of venom collection referred to here is illustrated and described briefly on page 68. It was designed for bulk collection, and yields a gram of dried venom in five minutes' ‘milking’ of ...
The particle motion of the S wave

Abstract A micrometer microscope has been used to obtain particle motion diagrams for the S phase re-recorded at Florissant for distances from 50° to 80°. The diagrams indicate that the particle motion is linear. Furthermore, the diagrams show that the SV and SH components arrive simultaneously. They also show that it is sometimes very difficult to obtain the sense of the first S motion from a simple visual inspection of the seismograms.
Corporate Failure and Equity Valuation

An important problem for portfolio managers is how to adjust the valuation of equity for the risk that the company may fail. Traditional adjustments seem ad hoc, and previous research on the topic has ignored the irreversible nature of failure. Here, a standard equity valuation model is extended to include a parsimonious but rigorous correction for a stationary annual probability of failure. Although the correction is nonlinear, it can be reduced to an equivalent function that enters the valuation equation in the traditional additive way. Empirical benchmarking suggests that, even without assuming risk-averse investors, this approach comes closer to predicting observed equity premiums than the traditional approach.
New Host and Geographic Distribution Records for Glossiphoniid Leeches Associated with Turtles in Southern New England

ABSTRACT: During the summer of 2013, collection of glossiphoniid leeches from turtles in southern New England U.S.A. revealed several new host associations and geographic distribution records. Placobdella ali is reported for the first time from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Placobdella hollensis is reported for the first time from mainland Rhode Island and for the first time from the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and the stinkpot turtle or common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus). Helobdella papillata and Helobdella modesta were collected from common snapping turtles, and Helobdella lineata was collected from a stinkpot turtle. Data on the frequency of association of Helobdella spp. with aquatic vertebrates suggest that although Helobdella spp. are not parasitic, a symbiotic relationship likely exists between Helobdella spp. and their hosts, the nature of which is yet to be elucidated.
Chemical Lectinology: Tools for Probing the Ligands and Dynamics of Mammalian Lectins In Vivo

The importance and complexity associated with the totality of glycan structures, i.e. the glycome, has garnered significant attention from chemists and biologists alike. However, what is lacking from this biochemical picture is how cells, tissues, and organisms interpret glycan patterns and translate this information into appropriate responses. Lectins, glycan-binding proteins, are thought to bridge this gap by decoding the glycome and dictating cell fate based on the underlying chemical identities and properties of the glycome. Yet, our understanding of the in vivo ligands and function for most lectins is still incomplete. This review focuses on recent advances in chemical tools to study the specificity and dynamics of mammalian lectins in live cells. A picture emerges of lectin function that is highly sensitive to its organization, which in turn drastically shapes immunity and cancer progression. We hope this review will inspire biologists to make use of these new techniques and stimulate chemists to continue developing innovative approaches to probe lectin biology in vivo.
Mass-Analyzed Threshold Ionization Spectra of C6H6+ and C6D6+ Obtained via the 3B1u Triplet State

The first mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectra from molecular excited triplet states have been collected for benzene and perdeuteriobenzene from the 3B1u, lowest triplet state. From th...
Bringing meaning to the sales job: The effect of ethical climate and customer demandingness

Abstract Top performing salespeople are attracted to organizations that provide opportunities to make full use of their abilities. Responses from 1450 sales directors from a leading direct selling organization were used to examine salesperson's experienced meaningfulness. Results show that experienced meaningfulness is critical to sales because it impacts salesperson's performance, turnover intentions and felt stress. Further, ethical climate and customer demandingness influence experienced meaningfulness perceptions.
Persisters, persistent infections and the Yin-Yang model

Persisters are a small fraction of quiescent bacterial cells that survive lethal antibiotics or stresses but can regrow under appropriate conditions. Persisters underlie persistent and latent infections and post-treatment relapse, posing significant challenges for the treatment of many bacterial infections. The current definition of persisters has drawbacks, and a Yin–Yang model is proposed to describe the heterogeneous nature of persisters that have to be defined in highly specific conditions. Despite their discovery more than 70 years ago, the mechanisms of persisters are poorly understood. Recent studies have identified a number of genes and pathways that shed light on the mechanisms of persister formation or survival. These include toxin–antitoxin modules, stringent response, DNA repair or protection, phosphate metabolism, alternative energy production, efflux, anti-oxidative defense and macromolecule degradation. More sensitive single-cell techniques are required for a better understanding of persister mechanisms. Studies of bacterial persisters have parallels in other microbes (fungi, parasites, viruses) and cancer stem cells in terms of mechanisms and treatment approaches. New drugs and vaccines targeting persisters are critical for improved treatment of persistent infections and perhaps cancers. Novel treatment strategies for persisters and persistent infections are discussed.
Somatic growth and otolith growth in juveniles of a small subtropical flatfish, the fringed flounder, Etropus crossotus.

Abstract A growth experiment was conducted with juvenile fringed flounder ( Etropus crossotus ) from North Inlet (South Carolina, USA) to provide information on the growth of a small, shortlived flatfish with a subtropical and tropical distribution. The fringed flounder has a maximum life span of 1.5 y and its long spawning period from March through October complicates the determination of growth rates based on length frequency data. Otoliths of juveniles with a standard length (SL) 23.1–53.0 mm were marked with Alizarin complexone and the fish were held in the laboratory for 66 days at 14, 20, 24 and 29°C while being fed ad libitum. The mean somatic growth increased with temperature from 0.1 mm SL day −1 at 14°C to 0.4 mm SL day −1 at both 24 and 29°C. The maximum observed somatic growth rate was 0.7 mm SL day 1 at 29°C. The number of micro-increments formed in otoliths was not significantly different from the expected value, validating formation of one increment per day. The significant relationship between increment width and somatic growth rate can be used to estimate somatic growth rates of individual wild fish based on daily increment information in their otoliths.
Synthesis and characterization of two novel macrocyclic monoxo-tetraamines and the stabilities of their Cu(II) complexes

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of two novel macrocyclic monoxo-tetraamines: 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclotridecane-2-one ( 1 ) and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotridecane-5-one ( 2 ) are described. Equilibrium constants for their Cu(II) complexes were determined by direct potentiometry. The formation constants ( K ML =[MH −1 L]/[M][L][H −1 ]) of Cu(II)- 1 in 0.10 M KCl at 25.0 °C is 10 11.09 ; that for the 2 isomer is 10 10.58 . The results are compared with the corresponding constants of a known ligand 3 (2-oxocyclam, K ML =10 12.97 ). The pMs (pM −log [Cu 2+ ] at 25 °C, μ =0.10 M KCl with 100% excess ligand at pH 7.4) of ligands 1 – 3 are 16.3, 15.2 and 17.3, respectively. The results are also compared with some dioxomacrocyclic tetraamines.
Modulated Modularity Clustering as an Exploratory Tool for Functional Genomic Inference

In recent years, the advent of high-throughput assays, coupled with their diminishing cost, has facilitated a systems approach to biology. As a consequence, massive amounts of data are currently being generated, requiring efficient methodology aimed at the reduction of scale. Whole-genome transcriptional profiling is a standard component of systems-level analyses, and to reduce scale and improve inference clustering genes is common. Since clustering is often the first step toward generating hypotheses, cluster quality is critical. Conversely, because the validation of cluster-driven hypotheses is indirect, it is critical that quality clusters not be obtained by subjective means. In this paper, we present a new objective-based clustering method and demonstrate that it yields high-quality results. Our method, modulated modularity clustering (MMC), seeks community structure in graphical data. MMC modulates the connection strengths of edges in a weighted graph to maximize an objective function (called modularity) that quantifies community structure. The result of this maximization is a clustering through which tightly-connected groups of vertices emerge. Our application is to systems genetics, and we quantitatively compare MMC both to the hierarchical clustering method most commonly employed and to three popular spectral clustering approaches. We further validate MMC through analyses of human and Drosophila melanogaster expression data, demonstrating that the clusters we obtain are biologically meaningful. We show MMC to be effective and suitable to applications of large scale. In light of these features, we advocate MMC as a standard tool for exploration and hypothesis generation.
Exercise-induced oxidative stress and hypoxic exercise recovery

Hypoxia due to altitude diminishes performance and alters exercise oxidative stress responses. While oxidative stress and exercise are well studied, the independent impact of hypoxia on exercise recovery remains unknown. Accordingly, we investigated hypoxic recovery effects on post-exercise oxidative stress. Physically active males (n = 12) performed normoxic cycle ergometer exercise consisting of ten high:low intensity intervals, 20 min at moderate intensity, and 6 h recovery at 975 m (normoxic) or simulated 5,000 m (hypoxic chamber) in a randomized counter-balanced cross-over design. Oxygen saturation was monitored via finger pulse oximetry. Blood plasma obtained pre- (Pre), post- (Post), 2 h post- (2Hr), 4 h post- (4Hr), and 6 h (6Hr) post-exercise was assayed for Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP), Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), Lipid Hydroperoxides (LOOH), and Protein Carbonyls (PC). Biopsies from the vastus lateralis obtained Pre and 6Hr were analyzed by real-time PCR quantify expression of Heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2), and Nuclear factor (euthyroid-derived2)-like factor (NFE2L2). PCs were not altered between trials, but a time effect (13 % Post-2Hr increase, p = 0.044) indicated exercise-induced blood oxidative stress. Plasma LOOH revealed only a time effect (p = 0.041), including a 120 % Post-4Hr increase. TEAC values were elevated in normoxic recovery versus hypoxic recovery. FRAP values were higher 6Hr (p = 0.045) in normoxic versus hypoxic recovery. Exercise elevated gene expression of NFE2L2 (20 % increase, p = 0.001) and SOD2 (42 % increase, p = 0.003), but hypoxic recovery abolished this response. Data indicate that recovery in a hypoxic environment, independent of exercise, may alter exercise adaptations to oxidative stress and metabolism.
Percutaneous nephrostomy and antegrade ureteral stent insertion

Sixty consecutive percutaneous nephrostomies were attempted in 37 patients with a 97-per cent success rate. The patients ranged in age from three to seventy-three years. Twenty-eight attempted nephrostomies were bilateral and 32 unilateral. When possible, the percutaneous nephrostomies were converted into internal ureteral stents by antegrade techniques. In each case of apparent complete ureteral obstruction, the area was successfully negotiated, and an indwelling ureteral stent was placed. In 2 patients, combined antegrade and retrograde techniques were required for successful internal stent placement. There was one failure because of a subcapsular hematoma resulting from multiple punctures with an 18-gauge needle. One major complication occurred when a segmental branch of the renal artery was injured by the nephrostomy catheter.
siRNAs knock down hepatitis.

The power of small RNAs to shut down specific gene activities has now been brought to bear on an animal model of hepatitis. Mice infused with an siRNA against a cell death receptor recover liver function after experimentally induced injury (pages 347–351).
Effects of Seating Orientation on Appreciation of Humor

Summary.-Two experiments rested Berlyne's prediction that subjects' preexisting arousal states affect their appreciation of humor. Seating orientation was varied to effect changes in arousal. In Exp. 1, 18 female undergraduates rated 10 tape-recorded jokes for humorousness while seated either side-by-side or face-to-face with a female stranger. As predicted, jokes were rated more highly in the more arousing side-by-side condition. However, no difference in subjects' rated mirth was observed. In Exp. 2, 32 female and 32 male undergraduates rated the 10 jokes while seated in either arrangement with a same-sex stranger. Despite methodological improvements in the mirth measure and evidence of its reliability, again no differences for mirth were observed. As predicted, female subjects rated jokes more highly when side-by-side but (oppo- ' site to prediction) so did males. These results support Berlyne's theory but suggest that heightened arousal in the side-by-side condition may have been related to the physical distance between subjects rather than to seating orientation per se. Over the years numerous psychologists have proposed theories of the relationship between arousal and behavior, but it is Berlyne who has dealt most explicitly with the relationship between arousal and humor (Wilson, 1979). Berlyne conceives of arousal as "the general level of mental, physical, and emotional activity of the organism" (Wilson, 1979, p. 48) and suggests that certain changes in level of arousal lead to the experience of humor (Berlyne, 1960, 1972). According to Berlyne, a humorous stimulus, such as a joke, first produces an increase in arousal; this change in arousal is known as the arousal boost. The arousal boost continues to increase as an incongruity, the punchline of the joke, is introduced. If the humor stimulus is understood (the individual "gets" the joke), a lowering of arousal or an arousal jag occurs. The arousal boost may itself be experienced as humor, Berlyne (1972) asserts, and, in fact, a number of investigations have yielded correlations between amusement and such physiological indicators of arousal .as pulse and breathing rates, musde tension, and galvanic skin response (Wilson, 1979). In one such study, for example, Langevin and Day (1972) measured heart rate and galvanic skin response of subjects as they viewed cartoons and rated these for amusement. Both physiological measures increased with self-reported
Carbachol Activates IκB Kinase in Isolated Canine Gastric Parietal Cells

Abstract IκB kinase (IKK) is a recently discovered kinase complex composed of the kinases IKKα and β, which plays a crucial role in the activation of NF-κB. In this study we examined the regulation of IKK by carbachol in isolated gastric parietal cells. IKKα and β activities were measured by immune complex kinase assay. Carbachol induced both IKK α and β in a time-dependent fashion, with a maximal stimulatory effect detected after 5 min of incubation. The action of carbachol was inhibited by the intracellular Ca++ chelator BAPTA-AM, the PKC inhibitor GF109203X, and the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC. Carbachol also induced degradation of IκBα, which was reversed by addition of both GF109203X and PDTC and stimulated the activity of a NF-κB-luciferase reporter gene plasmid in COS-7 cells stably expressing the human M3 muscarinic receptor. In conclusion, carbachol induces IKK in the parietal cells via intracellular Ca++- and PKC-dependent signaling pathways. This observation represents a novel mechanism for the regulation of NF-κB through the activation of seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors.
Cardiac electrophysiologic effects of R 54718

We studied the cellular electrophysiologic effects of a lidocaine derivative, R-54718, that has been found effective in treating arrhythmias in experimental animals and in human subjects. R-54718 depresses Vmax, action potential amplitude, and conduction and accelerates repolarization of the canine Purkinje fiber action potential, with an effective concentration range 2 or 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of most class I antiarrhythmic drugs. Its action on Vmax shows no use dependence. In blood superfusion experiments its depressant effects on conduction are more profound than those of other class I compounds and significant toxicity can be seen. R-54718 also depresses delayed afterdepolarizations, as well as the abnormal automaticity occurring at low membrane potentials. However, automaticity occurring in fully polarized Purkinje fibers is not affected. In conclusion, R 54718 is unusual in its lack of use dependent action, in its differential action on normal and abnormal automaticity, and in its potency.
A study of problems with inventory control of I-125 seeds.

A stringent inventory control protocol was implemented to determine the fate of I‐125 seeds used for interstitial implants. Results show where emphasis is needed to limit seed loss.
Cardiovascular responses to feeding in the neonate during the first four days of life

Prior work has demonstrated acute cardiovascular responses associated with breast and bottle feeding of newborn infants that consist of increases in both blood pressure and heart rate. This current study sought to determine if the amplitude of these responses is related to the age of the infant and/or the amount of nutrient ingested during the study period. Results show that the magnitude of the feeding responses does not change over the first four days of life. In a second study it was found that changes in systolic blood pressure during feeding are positively correlated with volume of nutrient intake during the initial phase of feeding (r=+0.75, p<0.01). These results suggest that some of the individual variability in the increase in blood pressure during feeding is related to the amount of nutrient ingested. It is not known whether these differences are due to differences in sucking effort or other aspects of feeding efficiency.
Colonization and distribution of the red algal epiphytes Melobesia mediocris and Smithora naiadum on the seagrass Phyllospadix torreyi

Abstract The distribution of the red algal epiphytes Melobesia mediocris (Fosl.) Setch. and Mason and Smithora naiadum (Anders.) Hollenb. on the seagrass Phyllospadix torreyi Watson was surveyed around Mussel Point, Pacific Grove, California, where Melobesia was found to be dominant along the wave-exposed western side of the point while Smithora was dominant on the more protected eastern side. Colonization by the epiphytes of the new growth of Phyllospadix in the field occurred within 25 h with Melobesia colonizing young Phyllospadix blades more rapidly and in greater numbers than Smithora . Percent cover of Melobesia on Phyllospadix was lowest on the new growth, increasing on the older portions of the blade, and decreasing at the senescent ends of the lamina. Population structure showed male gametophytes to be rare and tetrasporophytes and female gametophytes in almost equal abundance. Mean diameters of the crustose tetrasporophytes were larger than those of the female gametophytes. These mature plants, however, showed no increase in size with age.
Proportional Navigation (PN) Based Tracking of Ground Targets by Quadrotor UAVs

This paper addresses the problem of controlling a rotary wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) tracking a target moving on ground. The target tracking problem by UAVs has received much attention recently and several techniques have been developed in literature most of which have been applied to fixed wing aircrafts. The use of quadrotor UAVs, the subject of this paper, for target tracking presents several challenges especially for highly maneuvering targets since the development of time-optimal controller (required if target is maneuvering fast) for quadrotor UAVs is extremely difficult due to highly non-linear dynamics. The primary contribution of this paper is the development of a proportional navigation (PN) based method and its implementation on quad-rotor UAVs to track moving ground target. The PN techniques are known to be time-optimal in nature and have been used in literature for developing guidance systems for missiles. There are several types of guidance laws that come within the broad umbrella of the PN method. The paper compares the performance of these guidance laws for their application on quadrotors and chooses the one that performs the best. Furthermore, to apply this method for target tracking instead of the traditional objective of target interception, a switching strategy has also been designed. The method has been compared with respect to the commonly used Proportional Derivative (PD) method for target tracking. The experiments and numerical simulations performed using maneuvering targets show that the proposed tracking method not only carries out effective tracking but also results into smaller oscillations and errors when compared to the widely used PD tracking method.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Effects of modulation strength in guided-mode resonant subwavelength gratings at normal incidence

A comparative study of the reflection spectral resonances in weakly and strongly modulated subwavelength gratings is presented. The effects of strong modulation in resonant subwavelength gratings have been largely ignored in the literature. We show that the spectral stability of resonances as a function of angle of incidence around normal can be greatly enhanced with strongly modulated gratings while the desirable narrow linewidth associated with weakly modulated gratings is still maintained.
S-Adenosyl-Homocysteine Is a Weakly Bound Inhibitor for a Flaviviral Methyltransferase

The methyltransferase enzyme (MTase), which catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet) to viral RNA, and generates S-adenosyl-homocysteine (AdoHcy) as a by-product, is essential for the life cycle of many significant human pathogen flaviviruses. Here we investigated inhibition of the flavivirus MTase by several AdoHcy-derivatives. Unexpectedly we found that AdoHcy itself barely inhibits the flavivirus MTase activities, even at high concentrations. AdoHcy was also shown to not inhibit virus growth in cell-culture. Binding studies confirmed that AdoHcy has a much lower binding affinity for the MTase than either the AdoMet co-factor, or the natural AdoMet analog inhibitor sinefungin (SIN). While AdoMet is a positively charged molecule, SIN is similar to AdoHcy in being uncharged, and only has an additional amine group that can make extra electrostatic contacts with the MTase. Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Sovation Area analysis on AdoHcy and SIN binding to the MTase suggests that the stronger binding of SIN may not be directly due to interactions of this amine group, but due to distributed differences in SIN binding resulting from its presence. The results suggest that better MTase inhibitors could be designed by using SIN as a scaffold rather than AdoHcy.
Gender differences in glycosylated hemoglobin levels in seasonal affective disorder patients and controls

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) has been shown to manifest different symptoms in female and male patients. Specifically, women with SAD have been shown to have greater increases in overeating, weight gain, and increased sleep as compared with their male counterparts. Given these dietary changes, we predicted that female SAD patients would exhibit increased glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) levels, indicative of chronically elevated glucose levels. Twenty-two patients (15 women and seven men) and matched controls were enrolled during the winter season and tested for HbA1 levels. A three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA; gender x group x season) was insignificant and the result was a negative study. After the initial hypothesis was rejected, we undertook a post-hoc analysis of the data, from which emerged that in winter, women patients had higher HbA1 levels as compared with matched controls. As our original hypothesis was rejected, we cannot accept the results of the post-hoc study. However, numerous other studies have demonstrated that female and male SAD patients differ in their pathophysiology, and are suggestive that in future analyses ought to consider analyzing subjects separately across gender.
Punctuated evolution of mitochondrial gene content: High and variable rates of mitochondrial gene loss and transfer to the nucleus during angiosperm evolution

To study the tempo and pattern of mitochondrial gene loss in plants, DNAs from 280 genera of flowering plants were surveyed for the presence or absence of 40 mitochondrial protein genes by Southern blot hybridization. All 14 ribosomal protein genes and both sdh genes have been lost from the mitochondrial genome many times (6 to 42) during angiosperm evolution, whereas only two losses were detected among the other 24 genes. The gene losses have a very patchy phylogenetic distribution, with periods of stasis followed by bursts of loss in certain lineages. Most of the oldest groups of angiosperms are still mired in a prolonged stasis in mitochondrial gene content, containing nearly the same set of genes as their algal ancestors more than a billion years ago. In sharp contrast, other plants have rapidly lost many or all of their 16 mitochondrial ribosomal protein and sdh genes, thereby converging on a reduced gene content more like that of an animal or fungus than a typical plant. In these and many lineages with more modest numbers of losses, the rate of ribosomal protein and sdh gene loss exceeds, sometimes greatly, the rate of mitochondrial synonymous substitutions. Most of these mitochondrial gene losses are probably the consequence of gene transfer to the nucleus; thus, rates of functional gene transfer also may vary dramatically in angiosperms.
Tellurium selective absorber surfaces

Abstract Tellurium was gas evaporated in both argon and air at pressures of 1 and 7 Torr onto highly specular substrates, and the selective absorber characteristics of the resulting films were studied. In many instances the tellurium thin films manifested absorptivities in excess of 97% and emissivities as low as 4%. Maximum a / e values of 22 were obtained for tellurium films deposited onto silver in air at a pressure of 1 Torr.
General reproduction, perinatal‐postnatal, and teratology studies of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals in rats and rabbits

Urinary tract infections in pregnant women are common and require prompt, effective treatment. Currently, no antibacterial agents have received regulatory approbation for use without restriction during pregnancy. The choice of a drug for use in pregnant women requires careful examination of its possible maternal and fetal toxicity as well as its teratogenic potential. We conducted studies to determine the effects of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals (Macrodantin,® Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), a synthetic antibacterial, on reproductive capability, fetal development, and neonatal survival in the rat and the rabbit. Doses of 10.0, 20.0, and 30.0 mg/kg‐d, approximately 2, 4, and 6 times the daily human therapeutic dose, were administered orally in a methyl‐cellulose suspension to rats and rabbits in general reproduction, perinatal‐postnatal, and teratology studies. Safety was assessed by evaluating reproductive capability, fertility, gestation period, fetal and neonatal death, litter size and viability, b...
International nursing education: Challenges and strategies for success

The Nursing Education Partnership Program between Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University and Foo Yin Junior College of Nursing and Medical Technology in Taiwan is in its third year. This program provides an opportunity for associate-degree nurses from Taiwan to earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing. The educational challenges, inherent in such a program, became evident early in the first semester. This article outlines those challenges and the educational strategies that were successful with this group. Implementation of the curriculum reflects four culturally significant aspects of the educational process: identifying community resources to meet basic needs for adaptation to a foreign country; redesigning teaching and learning strategies for international students; preparing faculty, clinical agency staff, patients, and other students to accept and become actively involved in this international program; and developing faculty-student relationships that promote mentoring and foster professional role development. Although the strategies presented were used with a group of students from Taiwan, they also can meet the needs of other international students.
Photoionization of the Ar2 dimer

Abstract The relative photoionization cross section for Ar2 was measured in the wavelength region 820–860 A. The spectrum shows detailed autoionization structure throughout this region with no contribution from direct ionization. The appearance potential of Ar+2 corresponds to 856.5 ± 1.5 A.
Value of a Master's Degree for Gaining Admission to Doctoral Programs in Psychology

American Psychological Association-accredited clinical doctor of philosophy (PhD), clinical doctor of psychology (PsyD), counseling, and school psychology doctoral programs were surveyed to assess ...
On the modulus of three‐component particulate‐filled composites

Modulus–composition data obtained on a model three-component particulate composite comprising a finely divided dispersed rubber phase and inorganic glass beads in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix cannot be represented appropriately in terms of the multicomponent form of the well-known Kerner equation. The data are more nearly in accord with a model based on the assumption that the dispersed rubber phase and the PMMA matrix, taken together, constitute an effective matrix for the glass bead filler. Interparticle interactions are discussed in terms of a maximum packing fraction for each filler species; interspecies interactions are found to be minor for the system studied.