cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enflurane (Ēthrane*) and isoflurane (forane*): A comparison with nine general anaesthetics administered with passive hyperventilation

Studies were carried out on 22 large, male, mongrel dogs at two-week intervals, in a crossover design, to determine the metabolic, blood-gas and cardiovascular effects, and the rate of recovery to steady ambulation from a surgical depth of general anaesthesia administered with passive hyperventilation. To prepare the animal, induction of anaesthesia was accomplished with 20 mg/kg body weight of 2 per cent thiopentone, tracheal intubation and inhalation of 50 per cent nitrous oxide and oxygen. After attachment of recording equipment and drawing of control blood samples, a respirator was attached to the anaesthetic circuit to provide passive hyperventilation by providing pulmonary ventilation of 15 ml/kg body weight at the rate of approximately 25 cycles per minute for 90 minutes, adding an anaesthetic concentration of methoxyflurane, chloroform, trichlorethylene, halothane, halothane-ether, azeotrope, isoflurane, cnflurane, diethyl ether, or fluorexcne from an out-of-circuit calibrated vapourizer. Thiopentone and Innovar were also tested and were given by an intravenous drip infusion. Nitrous oxide 50 per cent was given with 50 per cent oxygen with all the maintenance agents. No muscle relaxants were used and no stimulants were administered at the end of the test period.
A method to incorporate leakage and head scatter corrections into a tomotherapy inverse treatment planning algorithm

A detailed tomotherapy inverse treatment planning method is described which incorporates leakage and head scatter corrections during each iteration of the optimization process, allowing these effects to be directly accounted for in the optimized dose distribution. It is shown that the conventional inverse planning method for optimizing incident intensity can be extended to include a 'concurrent' leaf sequencing operation from which the leakage and head scatter corrections are determined. The method is demonstrated using the steepest-descent optimization technique with constant step size and a least-squared error objective. The method was implemented using the MATLAB scientific programming environment and its feasibility demonstrated for 2D test cases simulating treatment delivery using a single coplanar rotation. The results indicate that this modification does not significantly affect convergence of the intensity optimization method when exposure times of individual leaves are stratified to a large number of levels (>100) during leaf sequencing. In general, the addition of aperture dependent corrections, especially 'head scatter', reduces incident fluence in local regions of the modulated fan beam, resulting in increased exposure times for individual collimator leaves. These local variations can result in 5% or greater local variation in the optimized dose distribution compared to the uncorrected case. The overall efficiency of the modified intensity optimization algorithm is comparable to that of the original unmodified case.
A novel EMG-free prosthetic interface system using intra-socket force measurement and pinch gestures

In this paper, we present a novel system to drive a robotic prosthetic hand through the measurement of intra-socket pressure, and gesture selection from the healthy hand. A prototype HRI interface was implemented and used to compare the proposed method with standard state of practice. Grip-selection was made using finger pinch-gestures, was shown to have adequate functionality to provide a user with on-the-fly grip determination and functionality consistent with commercial systems. A moving average filter acting as a signal classifier was created to determine "open" vs "close" patterns sensed by the socket mounted piezo-resistive sensors. Sample windows were user defined as were thresholds used to determine the subject's intent. The subject was able to successfully switch between three predetermined grip configurations of a Touch Bionics i-Limb robotic hand and choose appropriate opening and closing actions.
Does time preference change with age

This study looks at compensating differentials in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) to derive estimates of the levels of time preference for labor force participants in each of 15 waves of data from 1979 to 1994. With these estimates the evolution of time preference over the life course is described. Future utility among labor force participants appears to be valued more highly by subjects who are older, more schooled, white, or male. Controlling for schooling level, a higher IQ is associated with a preference for more immediate rewards. If social rates of time preference are correlated with individual rates of time preference then population aging could create intergenerational asymmetries in the social rate of time preference. This phenomenon could make the optimal investments of young populations appear selfish to future generations that are older.
Impact of Low-dose Vasopressin on Trauma Outcome: Prospective Randomized Study

Background We previously found that regardless of the animal injury model used resuscitation strategies that minimize fluid administration requirements lead to better outcomes. We hypothesized that a resuscitation regimen that limited the total volume of fluid administered would reduce morbidity and mortality rates in critically ill trauma patients. Methods We performed a double-blind randomized trial to assess the safety and efficacy of adding vasopressin to resuscitative fluid. Subjects were hypotensive adults who had sustained acute traumatic injury. Subjects were given fluid alone (control group) or fluid plus vasopressin (experimental group), first as a bolus (4 IU) and then as an intravenous infusion of 200 ml/h (vasopressin 2.4 IU/h) for 5 h. Results We randomly assigned 78 patients to the experimental group (n = 38) or the control group (n = 40). The groups were similar in age, sex, preexisting medical illnesses, and mechanism and severity of injury. Serum vasopressin concentrations were higher in the experimental group than in the control group at admission, after infusion of vasopressin (p = 0.01), and 12 h later. The experimental group required a significantly lower total volume of resuscitation fluid over 5 days than did the control group (p = 0.04). The mortality rate at 5 days was 13% in the experimental group and 25% in the control group (p = 0.19). The rates of adverse events, organ dysfunction, and 30-day mortality were similar. Conclusions This is the first trial to investigate the impact of vasopressin administration in trauma patients. Infusion of low-dose vasopressin maintained elevated serum vasopressin levels and decreased fluid requirements after injury.
Ascorbic acid as effective chemical modifier for cobalt determination in nickel-based alloys by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with longitudinal Zeeman background correction

The cobalt contents in nickel-based alloys have been determined with longitudinal Zeeman-effect background corrected electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The solid alloy was decomposed with a minimum amount of aqua regia. This is a challenge because interferences from NiCl2 and HCl are expected. Detailed studies on the interferences from the concomitants verify this point. The reduction in the sensitivity is mainly due to the loss of cobalt as cobalt chloride before the atomization step. The effects of five different categories of modifier, namely organic acids, Pd containing modifiers, phosphate-containing modifiers, inorganic nitrates and metal complex reagents, on the analysis of cobalt are evaluated. Ascorbic acid effectively reduces the interferences from nickel chloride and hydrochloric acid. Thus, results with best accuracy are obtained. The cobalt contents determined with ascorbic acid agree closely with the certified values of the certified reference materials of nickel-based alloys. The detection limit for the proposed method is 5.17 pg and linear range for the calibration curve is up to 875 pg.
Evidence for As4S6 molecule as a structural model for amorphous arsenic sulfide from mass spectrometric analysis

Abstract Mass spectrometric analysis of arsenic trisulfide prepared by different techniques is reported. The molecular structure As4S6 could be resolved in samples prepared by quenching from the melt which supports the dense random packing of As4X6 as a structural model for amorphous arsenic chalcogenides. It has also been found that the structure is dominated by the presence of AsS and As4S4 molecules regardless of the preparation technique.
Failed Democratic Reform in Contemporary Mexico: from Social Movements to the State and Back Again

Over the last decade or so, North American and European scholars have popularised a research focus on new social movements, or so-called autonomous and democratic struggles generated from within civil society against the state. The underlying theoretical premise of this approach is that challenges to the state from social movements are a principal driving force of political change in modern society. Despite its grounding in the advanced capitalist context, many Latin American scholars have found elective affinity with the argument, as evidenced in the recent tidal wave of studies on social movements by Latin Americanists. Basing their work primarily on analyses of Brazil, Argentina and Chile, scholars have argued that social movements help challenge the legitimacy and political power of strong and centralised governments in Latin America, at the same time creating from the grassroots a political culture suggestive of democratic transformation. In sort, there is growing consensus that social movements play a central role in bringing democracy to Latin America.
Effect of vertical magnetic field on convection and segregation in vertical Bridgman crystal growth

A previous finite-element analysis of vertical Bridgman growth for dilute and nondilute alloys is extended to include the effect of a vertically-aligned magnetic field in the limit of zero magnetic Reynolds number. Calculations are presented for growth of a dilute gallium-germanium alloy in a vertically stabilized Bridgman-Stockbarger system and in a furnace with a uniform temperature gradient imposed along the ampoule. Steady cellular convection driven by radial temperature gradients causes good axial and radial mixing in both systems without a magnetic field. A weak magnetic field decreases the intensity of convection and the effectiveness of solute mixing. The radial nonuniformity is greatest for an intermediate field strength. Stronger fields suppress flow recirculation completely, and lead to uniform solute segregation across the crystal and to diffusion-controlled axial segregation.
Probability distribution of a passive scalar in grid-generated turbulence

The probability distribution of passive temperature fluctuations is experimentally studied in grid-generated wind tunnel turbulence. It is shown that exponential tails occur for a mean temperature gradient but do not in the absence of a mean gradient. The velocity probability distribution is Gaussian.
A comparison of major chemical species seasonal concentration and accumulation at the South Pole and summit, Greenland

High-resolution snow chemistry records have been recovered from a site close to the South Pole, covering the period 1955–1989, and from Summit, Greenland, for the periods 1979–1987 and 1259–1989. The seasonal variation of the major ions relative to δ18O and their average yearly fluxes are compared for the two sites. Comparisons are also made to limited available aerosol data. Gaseous species and some species with gaseous precursors (NO3, NH4 and excess Cl) have similar timings in South Pole and pre-1900 Summit snow. Timing of non-sea-salt (nss) SO4 and species that are generated as marine and crustal aerosols (Na, nss Mg and nss Ca) differ between the two sites. The timing of nss SO4 and NO3 is complicated in recent precipitation at Summit, Greenland, by the impact of anthropogenic emissions. Fluxes of sea-salt species, nss SO4 and NO3 (pre-11900 values for Summit) are less than a factor of 2 higher at Summit. Species with a continental source: nss K, nss Mg, nss Ca and NH4 are more than five-fold higher at Summit.
Growth Reduction in Nonbearing Apple Trees by Woolly Apple Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Roots

The effect of root-feeding populations of woolly apple aphids, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann), on newly planted, nonbearing apple trees in an orchard environment was studied. Roots of two-thirds of the 351 ‘Red Delicious’ study trees were artificially infested with woolly apple aphids from a laboratory colony in 1986, 1 mo after planting. The artificial infestation resulted in 95% of the trees being infested (including controls), but did not produce more severe root infestations per tree than expected in natural infestations. The root infestation rating (mean = 0.35 on a scale of 0-1, SEM = 0.18) determined from destructive sampling of one-third of the orchard after three growing seasons was not correlated with population density above ground throughout the 3 yr of the study. Root feeding marginally reduced branch growth in the first and third year after infestation, crown length in the third year, and trunk diameter in the first and second years. Crown length was significantly reduced after 1 yr and trunk diameter was significantly reduced after 3 yr because of woolly apple aphid feeding on roots. Scion biomass also was significantly reduced by woolly apple aphid root feeding after 3 yr. We conclude that woolly apple aphid populations on roots have a slight, but significant, negative effect on growth of young non bearing apple trees in the orchard environment. We also conclude that, because of the lack of correlation between woolly apple aphid populations aboveground and on roots, sampling branch terminals and pruning scars yields no information on the density of woolly apple aphids on roots.
Direct physical evidence for secondary structure in an isolated fragment of R17 bacteriophage mRNA.

The region of R17 RNA protected from RNase digestion by coat protein assumes a stable, predictable secondary structure. It seems that this structure is recognised by the protein when functioning as a translational srepressor.
Radiographic and histologic patterns of calcification in chondromyxoid fibroma

Objective. To evaluate the frequency of radiologic and histologic manifestations of matrix calcification in chondromyxoid fibromas. Patients. Forty-four cases of chondromyxoid fibroma were reviewed. The age range of the patients was 3–70 years (average 29 years). Results. Calcification was found microscopically in 15 cases (34.1%). In five cases (12.5%) it was demonstrated on plain films or CT. The age range of the patients with microscopic evidence of calcified matrix was 14–70 years (mean 46 years), while that of the patients with non-calcified lesions was 3–59 years (average 21 years). All but two of the patients who showed microscopic calcification in the tumors were over 40 years of age. Four microscopic patterns of calcification were observed: coarse granular, circumscribed, trabecular, and “chicken-wire.” Conclusions. Calcification in chondromyxoid fibroma was found more frequently than in previously reported studies. There was a tendency for this phenomenon to occur in the tumors of older patients, particularly those over 40 years old, and in chondromyxoid fibromas situated in flat bones, including ribs.
Management of residual refractive error after laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the various steps and methods in managing residual refractive error after laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). RECENT FINDINGS Past studies have shown the efficacy and safety of flap relifts over recuts and for surface ablation over the flap. Other previous and also more recent studies show the use of a femtosecond laser for side cuts only. Recently, the creation of a femtosecond mini flap has been described. New studies also demonstrate the use of collagen cross-linking in postrefractive surgery ectasia. SUMMARY Residual refractive error is a known complication after both laser in situ keratomileusis and PRK. A systematic approach should be taken to manage this complication starting with a thorough evaluation to determine if an enhancement is indicated and if so, which method will be the safest and most efficacious for the patient.
Relationship between Physical Disabilities or Long-Term Health Problems and Health Risk Behaviors or Conditions among US High School Students *

Background: This study explores the relationship between self-reported physical disabilities or long-term health problems and health risk behaviors or adverse health conditions (self-reported engagement in violent behaviors, attempted suicide, cigarette smoking, alcohol and other drug use, sexual activity, physical activity, dietary behaviors, self-reported overweight [based on height and weight], physical health, and mental health) among US high school students. Methods: Data were from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2005 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a cross-sectional paper-and-pencil survey collected from a representative sample of public and private high school students (grades 9 through 12) in the United States. Results: Significantly more students with physical disabilities or long-term health problems than without described their health as fair or poor and reported being in a physical fight, being forced to have sexual intercourse, feeling sad or hopeless, seriously considering and attempting suicide, cigarette smoking, using alcohol and marijuana, engaging in sexual activity, using computers 3 or more hours per day, and being overweight (for all, p </= .05). For none of the health risk behaviors analyzed were the rates significantly lower among students with physical disabilities or long-term health problems than among other students. Conclusions: Young people who live with physical disabilities or long-term health problems may be at greater risk for poor health outcomes. Public health and school health programs, with guidance from health care providers, need to work with these adolescents and their families to develop and implement appropriate interventions, with particular emphasis on promoting mental health. Language: en
Catabolic Changes in Ripening Tomato Fruit

FRUITS display unique physiological action during the ripening phase. It is known that the climacteric rise in respiratory rate may be related to the accelerated protein synthesis which is observed with concurrent build-up in concentration of phosphate acceptors and several enzymes1–4. Ethylene appears to play an important part in fruit ripening since it is not only one of the constituents of fruit emanation but also is capable of inducing the onset of the ripening process. Although the exact mechanism of the climacteric rise is not yet known, several investigators have suggested that the phenomena may be related to basic changes in the carbohydrate catabolism of fruit2,5.
Building a Balanced Scorecard for a burn center

The Balanced Scorecard provides a model that can be adapted to the management of any burn center, burn service or burn program. This model enables an organization to translate its mission and vision into specific strategic objectives across the four perspectives: (1) the financial perspective; (2) the customer service perspective; (3) the internal business perspective; and (4) the growth and learning perspective. Once the appropriate objectives are identified, the Balanced Scorecard guides the organization to develop reasonable performance measures and establishes targets, initiatives and alternatives to meet programmatic goals and pursue longer-term visionary improvements. We used the burn center at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center to test whether the Balanced Scorecard methodology was appropriate for the core business plan of a healthcare strategic business unit (i.e. a burn center).
Declining Severity Adjusted Mortality: Evidence of Improving Neonatal Intensive Care

Objectives. Declines in neonatal mortality have been attributed to neonatal intensive care. An alternative to the “better care” hypothesis is the “better babies” hypothesis; ie, very low birth weight infants are delivered less ill and therefore have better survival. Design. We ascertained outcomes of all live births Patients and Setting. Two cohorts in the same two hospitals, 5 years apart (1989–1990 and 1994–1995) (totaln = 739). Results. Neonatal intensive care unit mortality declined from 17.1% to 9.5%, and total mortality declined from 31.6% to 18.4%. Cohort 2 had lower risk (higher birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar scores and lower admission illness severity for newborns ≥750 g). Risk-adjusted mortality declined (odds ratio, 0.52; confidence interval, 0.29–0.96). One third of the decline was attributable to “better babies” and two thirds to “better care.” Use of surfactant, mechanical ventilation, and pressors became more aggressive, but decreases in monitoring, procedures, and transfusions resulted in little change in therapeutic intensity. Conclusions. Mortality decreased nearly 50% for infants
Implementation Planning for a USAF-Wide Cardiovascular-Risk-Reduction Program

Abstract A proposed cardiovascular-disease (CVD) risk-reduction program for United States Air Force (USAF) personnel, the HEART Program, is discussed. We are interested in determining an implementation sequence of bases for the USAF-wide introduction of the HEART Program. A nonlinear 0-1 integer programming model which considers CVD risk, CVD cost, rated flyers, and interbase transfers in choosing a start-up sequence for 118 USAF bases is presented. Heuristic methods for simplifying the model are presented, as are four solutions.
THE ECONOMIC RETURNS TO AN MBA

Because MBA programs require work experience before admittance, prior wages can be exploited to disentangle the return to the degree from unobserved productivity. We find that controlling for individual fixed effects generally reduces the estimated returns to an MBA, particularly for those in top programs. However, for full-time MBA students attending schools outside of the top-25 the estimated returns are higher when we control for individual fixed effects. We show that there is some evidence that those who take the GMAT but do not obtain an MBA are stronger in dimensions such as workplace skills that are not easily measured.
Uncertainty and Religious Reactivity: Uncertainty Compensation, Repair, and Inoculation

Recent research conducted in Western, democratic societies indicates that temporary uncertainty inductions lead to intolerance of religious dissent, increased conviction in religious attitudes, and even increased support for holy war. Past and current conflicts based on religious ideology underscore the danger such responses to uncertainty can pose. This paper responds to the need to learn how to control responses to uncertainty. After having confirmed through pilot testing that uncertainty increases self-report religious faith, two subsequent studies investigate different techniques to control compensatory responses to uncertainty. Study 1 demonstrates that uncertainty-induced increases in religiosity can be eliminated by a post-uncertainty directed positive recall writing task. Study 2 presents evidence for an uncertainty “inoculation,” whereby a pre-uncertainty self-affirmation exercise can protect against uncertainty compensation effects. These findings, in combination with a consideration of previous research, offer insight into how undesirable uncertainty compensation effects might be reduced and even prevented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A geometric model of anorexia and its treatment

Anorexia is a severe psychological disorder in which a person's dieting turns into compulsive fasting. Some victims develop, after a time, a bulimic phase; their fasting is interrupted at intervals by bouts of indiscriminate gorging. One successful treatment makes use of a naturally occurring trance state, in which the anorexic's obsession with food recedes temporarily, to offer reassurance and rebuild a personality free of the obsession. The proposed model is catastrophe-theoretic. It assumes (a) that the bifurcation of eating attitudes typical of anorexia can be modeled by a cusp whose controls are hunger and eating regimen; and (b) that the normal cycle of falling asleep and waking up can be modeled by a hysteresis loop controlled by alertness. Catastrophe theory predicts two additional controls, and a larger model organized by the E6 singularity. The new controls are identified with loss of self-control and insecurity, and anorexia is correlated with high insecurity. The model makes the following predictions. First, under moderate levels of self-control and eating regimen, an anorexic has access to balanced, nonobsessive attitudes toward food at a reduced level of wakefulness. This is the trance state. Second, a healthy individual has two distinct sleep modes, dominated by cerebral and somatic elements, respectively. Third, with increasing insecurity the distinct modes fuse together, so that an anorexic's sleep patterns are abnormal. The model is geometric because the connection between behavior and controlling factors is made by graphs of certain standard form.
Recent Development of Planar Cruciform Experiment on Biaxial Tensile Deformation and Failure of Unidirectional Glass/Epoxy Composite

Inadequate experimental characterization of strength and deformation behavior of unidirectional fiber composites under planar biaxial stresses has hindered the development of complete material models. Here the recent development of a cruciform specimen with unidirectional gage section is presented, suitable to test glass/epoxy under combined high transverse and longitudinal tensile loads.The experimental program developed comprises of six different biaxial tensile load ratios. The results show significant influence of longitudinal stress on transverse nonlinearity of a glass/epoxy. Failure loci and failure modes in biaxial tensile strain and stress domains are presented, indicating a reduction of transverse strength by high longitudinal loads.
The Role of Candidate Sex in Voter Decision-Making

Recent studies investigating the role of candidate sex in voter decision-making have not found discrimination against women candidates. Thus, voter bias is often dismissed as part of the explanation for the drastic underrepresentation of women in high elective office. In a dual sample of Wyoming and California college students, bias against women candidates was found to be a factor in the vote choice. Studies that examine only one sample of voters in one region may be prematurely dismissing the possible existence of gender discrimination in some regions or cultures within the United States.
The executive control of mnemonic activity

Abstract The present study focused on the executive monitoring of a rehearsal strategy by sixth (11 years 5 months), tenth (15 years 8 months), and twelfth (17 years 9 months) graders and adults (27 years 4 months). The results showed that all of the adults spontaneously adopted an “optimal” strategy and generalized it to a second task. However, none of the sixth graders and only two tenth and three twelfth graders did so. All of the school subjects subsequently trained to rehearse, maintained the strategy without prompting, and showed evidence of transfer. In comparison to adults, the trained subjects' generalized routines became more similar to the adults' as grade increased. This study supports the notion that efficient executive functioning includes the case where continued use of a mnemonic routine is a reasonable response to an objective change in an information-processing task.
Johannes C. Pompe, MD, Hero of neuroscience: The man behind the syndrome

Johannes Pompe is famous for describing type II glycogenosis, Pompe disease. However, Pompe's participation in the Dutch resistance during World War II has not been well described in the neurology literature. Pompe saved many Jews by hiding them as patients, saved a Jewish boy who was a neighbor, hid many young resistance fighters in his laboratory, resisted the Nazi call for all Dutch doctors to submit to their puppet physician's chamber, and hid a radio transmitter in the animal room of his laboratory. He was executed by firing squad in a German reprisal shortly before the end of the war. Pompe's patriotism and religious and humanitarian values seem to have been the basis for his actions. His heroic and tragic story should not be forgotten and should serve as an example to all during such dark times.
Allocative Efficiency: The Role of Human Capital

I. Introduction, 59.—II. The model, 62.—III. Empirical analysis, 66.—IV. Further implications, 74.—V. Conclusions, 77.—Appendix: data and sources, 77.
The kinetics of fast steps on crystal surfaces and its application to the molecular beam epitaxy of silicon

Crystal growth by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) occurs under conditions of high supersaturation. The classic growth theory of Burton, Cabrera, and Frank (BCF) is based on the assumption that surface steps move slowly. Consequently, it requires modifications to be applicable to MBE because the velocities of surface steps may be large. In addition, because such steps are asymmetric structures, as observed experimentally by field ion microscopy, capture probabilities from above and from below a step must differ markedly. Hence the adatom concentration distribution cannot be at equilibrium at steps; there, it also suffers a discontinuity. We propose a model that treats surface step motion as a Stefan problem and that also respects its physical asymmetry. Calculations are presented which extend and complete recently published results that had imposed the restrictive condition of local equilibrium at steps. Step velocity is estimated as a function of supersaturation, degree of asymmetry, and step density. Concentration profiles are then computed; they are found to be generally skewed. In all cases, we show that the behavior of the growing crystal is convective rather than diffusive when the supersaturation is large. Consequently, we can understand the extraordinary insensitivity of the MBE of Si to changes in growth temperature and orientation.
Exact nonlinear control of large angle rotational maneuvers

The rigid body attitude control problem with external torques is transformed into an equivalent linear form implementable by three double integrators. The linearizing transformations themselves are formulated in vector algebra, requiring no integrators for implementation. It is thereby shown that optimal command generation for fast slewing maneuvers can be carried out exactly in the transformed system, together with regulator design without gain scheduling for correction of unmodeled disturbances. In particular, a general rest-to-rest maneuver is computed in closed form, and coupled with a previously obtained exact detumbling maneuver so that arbitrary initial conditions can be accommodated. An illustrative simulation is appended.
Peafowl antipredator calls encode information about signalers

Animals emit vocalizations that convey information about external events. Many of these vocalizations, including those emitted in response to predators, also encode information about the individual that produced the call. The relationship between acoustic features of antipredator calls and information relating to signalers (including sex, identity, body size, and social rank) were examined in peafowl (Pavo cristatus). The “bu-girk” antipredator calls of male and female peafowl were recorded and 20 acoustic parameters were automatically extracted from each call. Both the bu and girk elements of the antipredator call were individually distinctive and calls were classified to the correct signaler with over 90% and 70% accuracy in females and males, respectively. Females produced calls with a higher fundamental frequency (F 0) than males. In both females and males, body size was negatively correlated with F 0. In addition, peahen rank was related to the duration, end mean frequency, and start harmonicity of the bu element. Peafowl antipredator calls contain detailed information about the signaler and can potentially be used by receivers to respond to dangerous situations.
Can 99mTechnetium Methylene Diphosphonate Bone Scans Objectively Document Costochondritis

Study objectives To determine whether bone imaging with 99m Tc methylene diphosphonate is a specific method of making the diagnosis of costochondritis in patients with chest pain who rule out for myocardial infarction. Design Nonblinded prospective controlled study in 20 patients and 10 control subjects. Setting Inpatient medical service of a tertiary teaching hospital. Patients Two hundred consenting patients admitted to the hospital with chest pain and suspected myocardial infarction were examined. Those in whom acute myocardial infarction was ruled out were evaluated for the clinical signs of costochondritis, ie , tenderness over one or more costochondral junctions. Twenty patients who met the clinical criterion gave informed consent and were subjected to bone imaging. Ten control subjects with cancer who did not have clinical signs of costochondritis underwent bone imaging to rule out metastatic disease (normal in all cases). Interventions Bone imaging with IV 99m Tc methylene diphosphonate. Measurements Bone scans of the investigative patients and the control subjects were read by two independent nuclear medicine specialists. Results Sixteen of the 20 patients with clinically diagnosed costochondritis showed increased technetium uptake at all costochondral junctions bilaterally; six of them also had increased uptake elsewhere on the chest wall (sternum, manubrium, or first rib). All 10 of the control patients likewise showed increased technetium uptake at all costochondral junctions bilaterally. Conclusions Bone imaging with 99m Tc methylene diphosphonate is not a specific method of making the diagnosis of costochondritis.
Differential diagnosis of the schizophrenias and affective disorders circa 1979.

Abstract The differential diagnosis of the schizophrenias and affective disorders normally is not difficult once it is recognized that much data has to be collected over time before a definitive diagnosis can be established. Diagnostic guidelines are summarized in Table 6. They include a psychiatric evaluation with mental status, physical examination, and indicated laboratory and psychological tests. Longitudinal and family histories are essential, as well as a drug history listing agents, dosage, and response. Unless treatment is indicated to relieve the distressing symptoms immediately, it is helpful to have a several-day observation period free of medication. The initial diagnosis should be tentative. And the physician should not be reluctant to change the final diagnosis if such a change is suggested by additional data. Finally, with continuing advancement in psychobiology, it may someday be possible to subdivide patients in the two syndromes into highly homogeneous subpopulations. Until then, greater precision in clinical diagnosis may be obtained by following the guidelines outlined in this review.
The critical slip distance for seismic faulting

Experimentally based friction laws1,2 have been found to predict virtually the entire range of observed behaviour of natural faults3,4. These laws contain a critical slip distance, L, which plays a key role in determining the degree of fault instability, the size of the zone of earthquake nucleation, the frictional breakdown width, and the proportion of pre- and post-seismic slip to co-seismic slip. In laboratory measurements L is found to be about 10−5m, but modelling results show that it must be about 10−2m if natural earthquake behaviour is to be simulated. The discovery that fault surfaces are fractal over the scale range 10−5–105 (refs 5,6), even for faults with large net slip, has confused the problem of scaling this parameter from laboratory experiments to natural faults, because fractal surfaces have no characteristic length. Here I show that geometrically unmated fractal surfaces, when in contact under a normal load, develop a characteristic length in their contact because long-wavelength apertures close under load whereas short-wavelength apertures may remain open. This critical distance may be identified with L, and calculations based on fault topography data show that at seismogenic depths it will be in the range anticipated from the earthquake modelling studies.
Nonverbal communication of couples in conflict.

Abstract This article examined the rates, contextual meanings, and attributional meanings of nonverbal behavior occurring during role-played conflict between dating couples. Eighty couples reported perceptions of their own behaviors and their partners' behaviors and were observed in a laboratory setting by trained raters. The nonverbal channel was used significantly more by females than by males and to express approval rather than disapproval. However, the nonverbal-disapproval summary category demonstrated weak validity. Eye contact had the most complex, unexpected contextual meanings. Reduced eye contact appeared to variously convey disapproval, cues of lower interpersonal power, and a reduction of intimacy to compensate for accompanying increases in other approval behaviors. Despite significant correlations between nonverbal and verbal behaviors, dating partners rarely based their perceptions of their behavior or their partners' behavior upon their rates of nonverbal behaviors.
Coalescence Criterion of Part-Through Wall Cracks in Steam Generator Tubes of Nuclear Power Plants

In scheduling inspection and repair of nuclear power plants, it is important to predict failure pressure of cracked steam generator tubes. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of cracks often reveals two neighboring cracks. If two neighboring part-through cracks interact, the tube pressure, under which the ligament between the two cracks fails, could be much different than the critical burst pressure of an individual equivalent part-through crack. The ability to accurately predict the ligament failure pressure, called “coalescence pressure,” is important. The coalescence criterion, established earlier for 100% through cracks using nonlinear finite element analyses [1–3], was extended to two part-through-wall axial collinear and offset cracks cases. The ligament failure is caused by local instability of the radial and axial ligaments. As a result of this local instability, the thickness of both radial and axial ligaments decreases abruptly at a certain tube pressure. Good correlation of finite element analysis with experiments (at Argonne National Laboratory’s Energy Technology Division) was obtained. Correlation revealed that nonlinear FEM analyses are capable of predicting the coalescence pressure accurately for part-through-wall cracks. This failure criterion and FEA work have been extended to axial cracks of varying ligament width, crack length, and cases where cracks are offset by axial or circumferential ligaments. The study revealed that rupture of the radial ligament occurs at a pressure equal to the coalescence pressure in the case of axial ligament with collinear cracks. However, rupture pressure of the radial ligament is different from coalescence pressure in the case of circumferential ligament, and it depends on the length of the ligament relative to crack dimension.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Structure-guided analysis reveals nine sequence motifs conserved among DNA amino-methyltransferases, and suggests a catalytic mechanism for these enzymes

Previous X-ray crystallographic studies have revealed that the catalytic domain of a DNA methyltransferase (Mtase) generating C5-methylcytosine bears a striking structural similarity to that of a Mtase generating N6-methyladenine. Guided by this common structure, we performed a multiple sequence alignment of 42 amino-Mtases (N6-adenine and N4-cytosine). This comparison revealed nine conserved motifs, corresponding to the motifs I to VIII and X previously defined in C5-cytosine Mtases. The amino and C5-cytosine Mtases thus appear to be more closely related than has been appreciated. The amino Mtases could be divided into three groups, based on the sequential order of motifs, and this variation in order may explain why only two motifs were previously recognized in the amino Mtases. The Mtases grouped in this way show several other group-specific properties, including differences in amino acid sequence, molecular mass and DNA sequence specificity. Surprisingly, the N4-cytosine and N6-adenine Mtases do not form separate groups. These results have implications for the catalytic mechanisms, evolution and diversification of this family of enzymes. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine and adenine/cytosine binding pockets suggests that, structurally and functionally, they are remarkably similar to one another.
Rat Leydig cell and granulosa cell 17-ketosteroid reductase activity: subcellular localization and substrate specificity.

Abstract The potent gonadal steroids testosterone and estradiol are synthesized from the biologically weak precursors, androstenedione and estrone, by enzymatic reduction of the ketone group at carbon-17 of the steroid nucleus (17-ketosteroid reductase). To test the hypothesis that Leydig and granulosa cells may contain a distinct 17-ketosteroid reductase enzyme, the subcellular localization and the substrate specificity of the enzyme was examined in each cell type. In Leydig cells, the 17-ketosteroid reductase activity was concentrated in the microsomal fraction of the cell. In granulosa cells, the 17-ketosteroid reductase activity was concentrated in the cytosolic fraction of the cell. In Leydig cell microsomes, the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant for the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone was 0.41 μmol/L and for the conversion of estrone to estradiol it was 12 μmol/L. In granulosa cell cytosol, the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant for the conversion of estrone to estradiol was 1.1 μmol/L and for the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone it was 15 μmol/L. These results demonstrate that rat Leydig and granulosa cells each contain a 17-ketosteroid reductase enzyme with unique subcellular localization and substrate specificity.
Acetal-modified dextran microparticles with controlled degradation kinetics and surface functionality for gene delivery in phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells.

Controlled intracellular delivery of genetic material for vaccine or other therapeutic applications in vivo remains a major challenge for non-viral delivery systems.[1,2] As an alternative to cationic polymers and lipids commonly used to form nano-scale complexes for in vitro plasmid transfection,[3–6] microparticles made from biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and acid-sensitive poly(ortho esters) (POEs) and hydrogels have been pursued as in vivo plasmid DNA carriers.[6–9] Due to their size (typically 1–10 μm), these particles passively target phagocytic antigen presenting cells (APCs) of the immune system for DNA vaccine applications.[8] In addition, these particles may alleviate the shortcomings of cationic polymers and lipids with regard to in vivo targeting, toxicity, and stability.[3] Despite their promise, microparticulate delivery systems explored to date often suffer from uncontrolled initial burst release of upwards of 50% of the encapsulated plasmid, independent of any built-in triggered-release mechanism, making it difficult to achieve rapid yet controlled release in response to a specific stimulus.[10] Furthermore, there have been few reports to date of attempts to extend the application of these systems to target non-phagocytic cells, which are present in much greater quantity throughout the body. Herein we report a tunable and modular microparticle system for plasmid delivery that, we hypothesized, would overcome these problems and simultaneously allow the systematic study of the dependence of transfection efficiency on various formulation parameters including degradation kinetics, use of cationic blend polymers, and surface functionalization for the transfection of non-phagocytic cells.
Conformational analysis of arabinonucleosides and nucleotides. A comparison with the ribonucleosides and nucleotides.

Abstract Conformations of arabino nucleosides and nucleotides have been analyzed by semiempirical energy calculations. It is found that the change in the configuration of the O(2′)-hydroxyl group in arabinoses compared to riboses exerts significant influence on the conformational priorities of the glycosyl and the exocyclic C(4′)-C(5′) bond torsions. While the anti conformations for the bases are preferred, the anti ⇌ syn interconversion is considerably hampered compared to ribosides due to large energy barrier. Further the preferred anti glycosyl torsions are shifted to higher values for C(3′)-endo puckers and to lower values for C(2′)-endo puckers, a trend which is reverse to those found in ribosides. While the gauche + conformation around the C(4′)-C(5′) bond is favored for C(3′)-endo arabinosides, it is strongly stabilized for C(2′)-endo arabinosides only in the presence of the intrasugar hydrogen bond O(2′)-H … O(5′). The net attractive electrostatic interactions between the phosphate and the base stabilizes the preferred conformations of 5′-arabinonucleotides also.
Studies on the genetic control of tryptophan pyrrolase in Drosophila Melanogaster

A reexamination of the role of the vermilion cistron (v: 1–33.0) in the control of tryptophan pyrrolase in Drosophila melanogaster uncovered several, previously unknown features about this enzyme: 1. Crude extracts of Drosophila possess one or more inhibitors which may be removed by Norit treatment during homogenization. 2. Contrary to previous assertion, crude wild type extracts are stimulated by an exogenous source of hematin, and upon purification, become heavily dependent upon added methemoglobin. 3. The wild type enzyme exhibits a lag period in time course of product accumulation which is eliminated by preincubation with methemoglobin and α-methyltryptophan. 4. The molecular weight of the wild type enzyme is estimated at approximately 150000 Daltons. 5. A linear increase of tryptophan pyrrolase activity as a function of dosage of v+ alleles supports the contention that the vermilion cistron is the structural gene for this enzyme. 6. A sex difference in response to gene dosage (dosage compensation) is seen.
Excess entalpies for (butane + methanol) at the temperatures (298.15, 323.15, and 348.15) K and the pressures (5 and 15) MPa

Excess molar enthalpies H E m for (butane + methanol) have been measured at the temperatures (298.15, 323.15, and 348.15) K and at the pressures (5 and 15) MPa. (Liquid + liquid) phase separation occurs for this mixture at lower temperatures with the (liquid + liquid) and (liquid + gas) critical lines separated. Reported measurements were performed at temperatures and pressures at which the two liquid components form a homogenous liquid mixture.