cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating the use of oil platform marine fouling invertebrates as monitors of oil exposure in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

Abstract The concentration of 51 parent and alkylated PAHs was examined in oysters, Ostrea equestris , and corals, Tubastrea coccinea , collected from oil-rig structures off the coast of Louisiana during April and May 2011 to investigate their potential use as monitors for offshore contamination events. Corals and oysters collected from both sampling trips had lower PAH accumulation than most bivalves collected in previous studies near the shoreline of Louisiana and elsewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. In April, total PAH (TPAH) concentrations ranged from 8.73 to 15.17 ng g − 1 in corals and 2.52 to 22.04 ng g − 1 in oysters. In May, corals and oysters had elevated concentrations of TPAH ranging from 24.28 to 79.23 ng g − 1 and 7.18 to 95.55 ng g − 1 , respectively. This increase could be a result of Mississippi River flooding that occurred during that time, as evidenced by the high perylene concentrations (3.92–41.49 ng g − 1 ) measured in May oysters. Oysters and corals collected in May from MC21B, the closest rig to the Mississippi River Delta, had the highest TPAH concentrations observed among all locations and the only rig to have predominantly petrogenic source inputs. Overall, given the low baseline of PAHs demonstrated in this study and the rapid accumulation of diagnostic chemicals in response to a possible contamination event (i.e. sediment plume from May flooding), oil-rig invertebrates could make excellent monitoring tools to examine the exposure to and recovery from oil (and oil-spill response options) in the offshore Northern Gulf of Mexico. Pre-spill baseline data of chemical and biological biomarkers of contamination is key to better estimating the impacts and recovery of oil exposure. Therefore, this screen of PAH accumulation represents a crucial first step in determining baseline contaminant levels in order to utilize these unique resources as monitors for offshore oil exposure in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.
Confidentiality of child and adolescent treatment records

The confidentiality of records of a child or an adolescents who is receiving therapeutic intervention is not an absolute right. There are certain conditions under which the records of a minor who is undergoing treatment can be reviewed by others without prior written consent. This issue will be explored using the application of case laws to various conditions under which other professionals who are not directly involved in the minor's treatment may become privy to the individual's records.
Electrophysiological evidence of photic, acoustic, and central input to the pineal body and hypothalamus

Abstract Average bipolar and monopolar evoked responses following photic, acoustic, olfactory bulb, amygdaloid complex, caudate nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), or pineal body stimulation were recorded simultaneously from pineal body and VMH of freely behaving rats. Permanent semimicroelectrodes (60 μm in diameter) were implanted 6 to 8 days before experiments were begun. Short-latency responses were observed in the pineal following amygdala, VMH, olfactory, acoustic, and photic stimulation, and in VMH following amygdala, olfactory, pineal, photic, and acoustic stimulation. Response latencies from VMH to pineal were shorter than from pineal to VMH. The data support the concept of neuronal connections between the pineal body and neural structure in the brain, at least in rats.
The Privatization of Public Space: Modeling and Measuring Publicness:

Privately owned public spaces are frequently criticized for diminishing the publicness of public space by restricting social interaction, constraining individual liberties, and excluding undesirable populations. This study empirically determines whether, as is commonly believed, privately owned public spaces are more controlled than publicly owned spaces. To frame our empirical work, we propose a conceptual model that identifies publicness as the interaction between the ownership, management, and uses/users of a space. We then examine the management dimension using an observation-based index to assess spatial management paradigms in publicly and privately owned spaces. We find that the use of the private sector to provide publicly accessible space leads to increased control over use, behavior, and access. Furthermore, while both publicly and privately owned public spaces tend equally to encourage public use and access, managers of privately owned spaces tend to employ more features that control behavior w...
Carrier testing in fragile X syndrome: when to tell and test.

This study explored age preferences about when to learn at-risk status and have carrier testing in women who were undergoing testing for fragile X. Forty-two women (20 carriers and 22 noncarriers) completed a structured interview prior to carrier testing and after learning their result. The majority favored learning at-risk status and carrier status at or= 18). Although no significant mean changes in age responses were found between interviews or between carrier and noncarrier responses, a difference in the pattern of responses related to age categories was suggested. There appeared to be an increase in the number of responses in the 0-9 category at time 2. Also, the mean ages for testing were older than they were for telling at time 1, but not at time 2. For women indicating ages 0-9, the most frequent reason was to provide children with time to adjust. Those reporting ages 10-13 felt that the onset of puberty as well as a child's ability to understand, adjust, and cope were key determinants. Those preferring the teen years felt the possibility of sexual activity and planning for the future were important considerations. The developmental focus for adults was serious relationships. This study, through its unique longitudinal perspective of transition from uncertainty to certainty, builds on prior knowledge, has implications for genetic counseling, and suggests that the developmental stage of the child is important in determining when to tell and test.
An in vitro model to study brain tissue recovery

Brain tissue slices can be maintained within metabolically stable conditions for long periods of time (hours). This experimental setting has been productive for investigating long-term neural function in vitro. Here, we utilize this experimental approach to describe the recovery of functional connectivity in slices from the mouse hippocampus. Hippocampal slices were cut up bisecting the CA1 region (parietal cut) and each severed half placed adjacent to the other. Stimulation and recording electrodes were placed on each side of the cut; with one electrode stimulating one hemi-slice (20 V, 0.033 Hz) and the other electrode recording the evoked response from the adjacent hemi-slice. As expected, no evoked response was observed shortly after the beginning of stimulation. However, 20–40 min after the initiation of stimulation a large depolarization signal was detected. Right after that, fiber volley potentials were observed in the adjacent hemi-slice. After 1 h excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) were detected. Based on this observation, we hypothesize that recovery of functional connectivity is enhanced by constant delivery of electrical pulses at low frequency to the damaged neural tissue. The described in vitro slice system may become a very suitable experimental method to investigate strategies to enhance the recovery of neural connectivity after brain injury.
A numerical approach to utility functions in risk theory

Abstract Given the standard equilibrium model for an insurance market and sharing rules defining a feasible risk-exchange, we want to determine numerically the utility functions leading to the equilibrium. In the special case of two companies we approximate the sharing rules by piecewise linear functions and give an algorithm to compute piecewise quadratic utility functions which are solutions of the equilibrium model. We apply our method to compare some insurance contracts. For this we introduce the notion of acceptability of an insurance contract and a risk equivalence property based on utility theory. The numerical examples lead to interesting interpretations which give some insight in the considered insurance contracts.
Electromagnetic wave scattering in a two-layer anisotropic random medium

For electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering in an anisotropic random medium, the Dyson equation for the mean field and the Bethe-Salpeter equation for the correlation or the covariance of the field were derived. With the random permittivity expressed in a general anisotropic form, the bilocal and the nonlinear approximations are employed to solve the Dyson equation, and the ladder approximation to solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation. The mean dyadic Green's function for a two-layer anisotropic random medium with arbitrary three-dimensional correlation functions has been investigated with the zeroth-order solutions to the Dyson equation under the nonlinear approximation. The effective propagation constants are calculated for the four characteristic waves associated with the coherent vector fields, propagating in an anisotropic random-medium layer, which are the ordinary and extraordinary waves with upward- and downward-propagating vectors.
Expression of nitric oxide synthase in the cerebral microvasculature after traumatic brain injury in the rat

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPHd) histochemistry and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunocytochemistry were performed on sections of brain after moderate traumatic brain injury. There was a pronounced increase in NADPHd reactivity and an induction of the endothelial NOS (eNOS) isoform in microvessels surrounding the cortical contusion by 24 h post-injury. This altered microvascular state may contribute to barrier breakdown and hyperemia which characterize traumatic brain injury.
Total carotenoid, anthocyanin, and sugar contents in sliced or whole purple (cv. Betasweet) and orange carrots during 4-week cold storage

Minimally processed carrot products in finger or coin shapes are increasingly popular due to their convenience. The ‘BetaSweet’ carrot is a purple carrot with a high carotenoid and anthocyanin content, sweet taste, and juicy, crisp texture. This study was performed to investigate the changes in carotenoid, anthocyanin, and sugar of the sliced purple and an orange carrot during 4 weeks of cold storage at 2 °C or 4°C, simulating the transportation and marketing period. The purple carrot contained about 200–230 μg ·g−1 fresh weight total carotenoid and there was a slight decrease in the total carotenoid content during the 4-week period at both temperatures. Anthocyanin and total sugar contents were about 400–500 μg · g−1 and 70 mg· g−1 fresh weight, respectively and did not change significantly at either temperature. The orange carrots, tested for comparison, contained about 100 μg·g−1 total carotenoid and about 60 mg·g−1 fresh weight total sugar, and showed similar trend as the purple carrots during cold storage. Transfer from 2 °C to 4°C at 2 weeks did not show significant changes in any of the parameters. Sliced carrots had about 10% to 15% less carotenoid content as compared to whole carrots, probably due to wound damage and the oxidation process. The content of nutritional compounds of the purple carrots harvested during April and June was similar to that obtained throughout the season, demonstrating that consistent quality products could be produced. Our study confirmed that the changes in quality of sliced purple carrots were minimal or negligible during the commercial marketing period of 2 weeks, if the product was handled and displayed at 4°C or below.
Pancyclic graphs and a conjecture of Bondy and Chvátal

Abstract A p-vertex graph is called pancyclic if it contains cycles of every length l, 3 ≤ l ≤ p. In this paper we prove the following conjecture of Bondy and Chvatal: If a graph G has vertex degree sequence d1 ≤ d2 ≤ … ≤ dν, and if d k ≤ k p 2 implies dν−k ≥ p − k, then G is pancyclic or bipartite.
Variability in Interpretation of Radiographs for Asbestosis Abnormalities: Problems and Solutions

Interobserver variation continues to be a substantial problem for interpretation of asbestos-workers' X-rays, despite incremental improvements in the International Labour Office (ILO) classification system. The apparent degree of agreement/variability is affected by the population disease prevalence. For most populations, experts will be able to agree routinely about normal films. Yet designed trials show that selected experts exhibit a two-fold or greater range for perceived prevalence of abnormal profusions. This degree of variability would be adequate for many population studies were it achieved under real-life conditions of interpretation. Unfortunately, the realistic degree of interobserver variability is probably much higher under actual population surveillance conditions. Asbestos population surveillance programs have provided little or no quality assurance for ILO interpretations, so the very high variability suggested by available data are not surprising and are not the fault of the classification. Recommendations include required participation in quality-assurance panels for those who wish to be certified as interpreters, with consistent feedback and the dropping of outliers. If quality-assurance programs are implemented, the classification will achieve its intended epidemiologic purposes.34 references.
Tailored Dielectric Properties of High-k Polymer Composites via Nanoparticle Surface Modification for Embedded Passives Applications

Novel materials for embedded passive applications are in great and urgent demands, for which high dielectric constant (k), low dielectric loss and process compatibility with the printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the most important prerequisites. Dramatic increase of dielectric constant near the percolation threshold observed by our earlier work in the conductor-insulator percolative system arouses interest of developing these composites as dielectric materials. This material option represents advantageous characteristics over the conventional polymer-ceramic composite. Specifically, the polymer-conductive filler composite demonstrates an ultra-high k with balanced mechanical properties including the adhesion strength. However, the relatively high dielectric loss and narrow processing window have plagued the metal/polymer composites from real applications. In this study, surface modification of nanoparticles with organic molecules was employed to change the surface chemistry of nanoparticles and thus interaction between nanoparticles and polymer matrix. Fully characterization of the surface modified nanoparticle (SMN) by FT-IR, HRTEM, EDS, DSC, TGA et al. methods demonstrated that a thin layer was successfully coated on the surface of the nanoparticles via surface modification of the nanoparticles. The effect of surface modification of nanoparticles on the dielectric and electrical behaviors of SMN/polymer nanocomposites was investigated as well. The surface coating layer on the nanoparticles was demonstrated to be able to decrease the dielectric loss, enhance the dielectric breakdown strength and expand the processing window. This improvement in the performance of the polymer nanocomposites can be attributed to the interparticle electrical barrier layer formed via surface modification of nanoparticles which prevents the metal cores from direct contact. Different surface modification conditions such as surface modification agent type and concentration, solvent media etc., may play complex roles to the degree of surface modification which impact the changes of k and dielectric loss tangent values of SMN/polymer composites dramatically. Therefore, surface modification of nanoparticles is believed to be an effective approach to adjust the electrical features at the nanoparticle surface and the interface between the nanoparticle and the polymer matrix, and thus tailor the corresponding properly of interest of nanocomposites.
Numerical Analysis of Elliptic-Hyperbolic Plastic Flow in Torsion

A method for solving elastic-perfectly plastic problems is presented, such that the mixed elliptic-hyperbolic field may be modeled properly. The method is applied to torsion of a rectangular bar which, although coarsely meshed, exhibits features observed experimentally. In particular, initiation and growth of behavior akin to shear banding is captured. A torque-twist curve is obtained well beyond the peak torque.
Improvements in stability of amorphous silicon solar cells by using ECR-CVD processing

Abstract We report on significant improvements in the stability of a-Si:H prepared using an electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) plasma chemical vapor deposition process. The p-i-n samples were prepared on stainless steel substrates in a single ECR chamber reactor using a remote, diluted plasma process, with either hydrogen or helium being the diluent gas. The devices had fill factors of about 70%. The stability of the devices was monitored by subjecting the devices to 2× sun illumination from a xenon lamp. We find that the devices prepared using the remote, hydrogen-diluted ECR (H-ECR) process had a stability with a degradation in fill factor of less than 5% over a 900-h illumination time. In contrast, the devices prepared using either He dilution, or with a standard glow-discharge process, were much less stable than the H-ECR devices. The stability of the H-ECR devices is directly related to the improved stability of the material produced using this technique. We have also fabricated tandem a-Si/a-Si solar cells using this technique, and the stability of the tandem cells is also excellent.
Regulation of human basophil adhesion to endothelium under flow conditions: Different very late antigen 4 regulation on umbilical cord blood-derived and peripheral blood basophils.

Abstract Background : Although soluble mediators released by basophils in tissue sites contribute to the chronic injury that occurs in hypersensitivity diseases, only limited information is available about how circulating basophils are recruited to tissues. In particular, the interaction of basophils with endothelium under conditions that mimic physiologic flow has not been explored. Objective : We sought to identify adhesion molecules regulating the attachment of human basophils to IL-4-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under flow conditions. Methods : A parallel-plate flow chamber and blocking mAbs were used to define the adhesion molecules involved in the interactions of peripheral blood basophils (PBBs) and cord blood-derived basophils (CBDBs) with IL-4-activated HUVECs and with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell transfectants expressing specific adhesion molecules. A fluorescent ligand specific for very late antigen 4 (VLA-4) was used to directly examine the VLA-4 affinity state of basophils. Results : Flowing PBBs and CBDBs attached to activated HUVECs and to CHO cells expressing P- or E-selectin. However, only CBDBs attached to vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1)-transfected CHO cells under flow conditions. The attachment of CBDBs to CHO cells was blocked by mAbs directed against E-selectin, P-selectin, and VCAM-1, whereas attachment of PBBs was blocked by E-selectin and P-selectin mAbs. Activating VLA-4 with Mn 2+ on PBBs resulted in adhesion to the VCAM-1-transfected CHO cells, indicating that VLA-4 activity on PBBs can be regulated, at least in part, through affinity changes. The Mn 2+ -induced upregulation of basophil VLA-4 affinity was demonstrated directly by using a fluorescent ligand for VLA-4 and flow cytometry. Conclusions: The interaction of human CBDBs and PBBs with endothelium under flow conditions is mediated in part by both P- and E-selectin. VLA-4 additionally contributes to the adhesion of flowing CBDBs. However, the affinity of VLA-4 is too low to support the adhesion under flow conditions of unstimulated PBBs. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;110:469-75.)
Integration of slot antenna with evanescent-mode filter for tunable front-end applications

An evanescent-mode cavity filter integrated with a slot antenna is presented herein. Evanescent-mode cavities are commonly used to design low-loss filters due to their high quality (Q) factors and small size. The integration of the slot antenna and evanescent-mode filter provides nearly-zero transition loss with reduced size. The filter/antenna is designed at the center frequency of 8.56 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 2.86%. The center frequency of this filter/antenna is then tuned from 8.18 to 8.80 GHz by just changing the resonant frequency of the resonators. The impedance matching, filtering shape, and radiation pattern of the filter/antenna system are preserved across the entire tuning range.
Transcatheter umbrella closure of valvular and paravalvular leaks.

Abstract Objectives. Our aim was to adapt the technique of transcatheter umbrella closure of intracardiac defects for closure of valvular and paravalvular defects. Background. The double-umbrella device developed by Rashkind and Cuaso has been safely and effectively delivered across a host of intracardiac defects, but transcatheter closure of valvular and paravalvular leaks has not been reported. Methods. Between February 1987 and September 1990, eight patients who were believed to be poor operative candidates were taken to the catheterization laboratory for transcatheter double-umbrella closure of a valvular or a paravalvular leak. Four patients had a paravalvular leak around a prosthetic aortic valve. The other four patients had a valvular leak: one patient with a regurgitant native aortic valve after a Stansel procedure and three patients with a regurgitant porcine valve in a left ventricular apex to descending aorta conduit. Results. Placement of a double-umbrella device was attempted in seven of the eight patients and was successful in all seven. Device placement was not attempted in one patient because of the crescentic shape of his defect. Two patients required two devices for each closure; the other five required only one device each. Angiography, performed on six patients after device closure, demonstrated that three patients had a completely occluded defect, two had trivial residual flow and one patient had mild residual flow through the device. All significant complications occurred in one patient who had hemolysis and oliguria that resolved when the initial umbrella was replaced by a larger device. In addition, two devices migrated to the patient's pulmonary arteries but were retrieved in the catheterization laboratory without difficulty. No other early or late complications occurred in 21 to 50 months of follow-up. Of the four patients with a paravalvular leak, the one who did not receive a device died at operation, one patient died at operation for an associated defect (in the operating room the umbrella was found securely in place across the paraaortic defect) and two patients are clinically well at home after 21 and 32 months, respectively. Of the four patients with closure of a valvular leak, one patient remains well at home 50 months later, one patient died at operation for associated defects and two patients had additional successful surgical treatment and remain well 29 months after device placement. Conclusions. Transcatheter umbrella closure appears to be a reasonable alternative for closure of a valvular or paravalvular leak in patients who are poor operative candidates.
An extensible software infrastructure for testing the evolutionary consequences of developmental interactions

Quantitative genetic models commonly use the additive genetic variance-covariance matrix (G-matrix) of a set of traits to predict evolution in response to selection. However, non-linear interactions between developmental factors underlying the production of traits can produce dramatic changes to the G-matrix. To our knowledge there are no freely available tools for predicting the effect of non-linear interactions on evolutionary dynamics. We have developed a code base and built two models for testing hypotheses about the effects of specific non-linear developmental interactions on trait (co)variances and ultimate evolutionary trajectories.
LC-MS/MS quantification of salvinorin A from biological fluids.

A facile method for quantifying the concentration of the powerful and widely available hallucinogen salvinorin A (a selective kappa opioid agonist) from non-human primate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and human plasma has been developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. With CSF solid phase extraction can be avoided completely by simply diluting each sample to 10% (v/v) acetonitrile, 1% (v/v) formic acid and injecting under high aqueous conditions for analyte focusing. Extensive plasma sample preparation was investigated including protein precipitation, SPE column selection, and plasma particulate removal. Human plasma samples were centrifuged at 21000 × g for 4 minutes to obtain clear particulate-free plasma, from which 300 μL was spiked with internal standard and loaded onto a C18 SPE column with a 100 mg mL−1 loading capacity. Guard columns (C18, hand packed 1 mm × 20 mm) were exchanged after backpressure increased above 4600 psi, about 250 injections. A shallow acetonitrile/water gradient was used, 29–33% CH3CN over 8 minutes to elute salvinorin A. Reduction of chemical noise was achieved using tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring while sensitivity increases were observed using a 50 μL injection volume onto a small bore analytical column (C18, 1 mm ID × 50 mm) thus increasing peak concentration. Limits of quantification were found to be 0.0125 ng mL−1 (CSF) and 0.05 ng mL−1 (plasma) with interday precision and accuracy below 1.7% and 9.42% (CSF) and 3.47% and 12.37% (plasma) respectively. This method was used to determine the concentration of salvinorin A from an in vivo Rhesus monkey study and a trial of healthy human research participants, using behaviorally active doses.
Investigating the effect of texture orientation on the perception of 3D shape

Perception of the 3D shape of a smoothly curving surface can be facilitated or impeded by the use of different surface texture patterns. In this paper we report the results of a series of experiments intended to provide insight into how to select or design an appropriate texture for shape representation in compute graphics. In these experiments, we examine the effect of the presence and direction of luminance texture pattern anisotropy on the accuracy of observers' judgements of 3D surface shape. Our stimuli consists of complicated, smoothly curving level surfaces from a typical volumetric dataset, across which we have generated four different texture patterns via 3D line integral convolution: one isotropic and three anisotropic, with the anisotropic patterns oriented across the surface either in a single uniform direction, in a coherently varying direction, or in the first principal direction at every surface point. Observers indicated shape judgements via manipulating an array of local probes so that their circular bases appeared to lie in the tangent plane to the surface at the probe's's center, and the perpendicular extensions appeared to point in the direction of the local surface normal. Stimuli were displayed as binocularly viewed flat images in the first trials, and in stereo during the second trials. Under flat viewing, performance was found to be better in the cases of the isotropic pattern and the anisotropic pattern that followed the first principal direction than in the cases of the other two anisotropic and principal direction patterns than for the other two. Our results are consistent with a hypothesis that texture pattern anisotropy impedes surface shape perception in the case that the direction of the anisotropy does not locally follow the direction of greatest normal curvature.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Deprivation-dependent effects of amphetamine on concurrent measures of feeding and activity

Abstract The effects of d-amphetamine (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) on feeding, ambulatory activity, and rearing of male Holtzman rats were investigated in an open-field arena under 4 different conditions of food deprivation (0, 24, 48, 72 hr). Differences in the amount of food deprivation significantly influenced the drug's effects on feeding and rearing, but not on ambulatory activity. Also, differences in the amount of food deprivation appeared to more significantly and reliably influence in interrelationship (correlation) of feeding with ambulatory activity than the interrelationship of feeding with rearing or rearing with ambulatory activity. These findings suggest that the amount of food deprivation differentially influences difference concurrent measures of amphetamine effects as well as differentially affecting the interrelationship of the drug's effects. The importance of the correlation data to the potential incompatibility of amphetamine's effects as well as to an assessment of the different activity measures is briefly considered.
Evaluating the Performance of Ordinary Kriging in Mapping Soil Salinity

AbstractThe performance of ordinary kriging (OK) is impacted by different factors that characterize the data sets being interpolated. The following factors were investigated as part of this study to evaluate the performance of OK in mapping soil salinity: (1) sampling density (field scale, subbasin scale, and subbasin scale merged with field scale); (2) spatial point patterns (random, aggregated, and regular); (3) spatial and no spatial autocorrelations; (4) normal and skewed distributions; and (5) homogeneity and heterogeneity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the OK model against each of the aforementioned factors. To achieve this objective, 36 different data sets were selected from data collected from 1999 to 2008 in a study area in the Lower Arkansas River Valley in Colorado. These data sets were selected to represent the different factors used to evaluate the performance of OK, in which each factor is represented by three different data sets. Assessments of the OK model r...
Imaging of Colon Cancer in a Mouse Model (ApcMin)

Healthy and adenomatous mouse colon were studied using optical coherence tomography (OCT), laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). All three modalities were accurately able to identify diseased tissue.
Development of Economic Injury Levels for European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Corn Grown for Seed

Experiments were conducted to quantify the relationship between the percentage of plants infested with European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), larvae and yield to establish economic injury levels (ElLs) for com ( Zea mays L.) grown for seed. In 1988 and 1989, three inbred genotypes were infested manually with neonates at the mid-whorl or flowering stages of corn development to simulate natural infestations by first-or second-generation O. nubilalis , respectively. Infestation levels ranged from 0 to 84% of plants with larvae. Susceptibilities of the inbreds to infestations of European corn borer ranged from relatively susceptible to moderately tolerant, based on visual injury scores. Yields of salable seed decreased as the percentage of plants infested increased, with infestations at either stage of crop development. Observed yield losses were converted to potentially preventable monetary losses based on variable field production costs of 10 and 20 per 80,000-kernel unit of salable seed. ElLs were calculated using current insecticide and application costs and levels of control that might be expected with timely insecticide application(s). The ElL for whorl-stage infestation of European corn borer would be exceeded when >2-3% of the plants have larvae present in the whorl, and the ElL for flowering-stage infestation would be exceeded when> 10-17% of the plants have larvae in leaf axils.
Desipramine-induced release of norepinephrine from heart.

Abstract Desipramine (DMI) in low concentrations inhibits the uptake of norepine-phrine (NE) by sympathetic nerve endings but does not release the amine. In high concentrations, however, DMI releases NE. The rate of NE release from heart slices depends on the DMI concentration; at 25 μg/ml, the NE stores are depleted by 50 per cent in 4 hr; at 50 μg/ml, they are depleted by 50 per cent in 1 hr. In the isolated heart, DMI releases the NE mainly in the form of deaminated metabolites, indicating that the drug acts within the neuron, possibly on the storage granules.
Acidity near eroding polylactide-polyglycolide in vitro and in vivo in rabbit tibial bone chambers

Eroding poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)(PDLLG) washers were observed chronically in vitro and in vivo following loading in a bone chamber tibial implant (BCI). Images were recorded using intravital microscopy of the implanted rabbit and direct pH measurements were obtained of the tissue in the bone chamber using a combination probe-reference microelectrode. While statistically significant pH differences were found between the control (unloaded) and experimental (PDLLG-bearing) BCIs, they were only of the order of 0.2 pH units. This value proved to be physiologically insignificant as no statistically significant difference in bone defect healing, as indicated by angiogenesis, was detected. It was shown that the measured small pH changes during PDLLG washers erosion would result whether the buffer was phosphate-buffered saline replaced weekly or interstitial fluid subject to vascular exchanges.
Site accommodations and preceptor behaviors valued by 3rd‐year students in ambulatory internal medicine clerkships

Background: Successful ambulatory education requires teaching skills adapted to the dynamic, fast‐paced office setting. Purpose: In this study, we used student evaluations to identify site accommodations and preceptor behaviors that facilitate learning. Methods: From 1993 to 1995, 189 of 207 (91%) 3rd‐year students in a 1‐month ambulatory medicine clerkship completed evaluations. A content analysis was performed to identify valued features of clinical sites and valued preceptor behaviors. Findings were validated during 1995 and 1996 when 83 of 92 (90%) students ranked previously derived items and graded each as essential or nonessential. Results: The 6 most frequently cited features of clinical sites were the opportunity to evaluate patients, effective teachers, a large number and variety of patients, a small number of preceptors (fewer than 4), and an orientation. The 6 most frequently cited preceptor behaviors were delegation of responsibility for patients, timely feedback, approachability, enthusiasm f...
Nanoscale Spontaneous Patterning

The SMB equation describing nanoscale spontaneous patterning is studied both analytically and numerically. In contradiction to the claim in the original SMB paper [D. Srolovitz, A. Mazor, B. Bukiet, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A6(4) (1988), 2371--2380.] that some steady states are stable, we found that all the steady states are unstable. A dynamical system reason for this is given. We also found that typical small initial data solutions undergo an exponential growth followed by an almost linear growth. Such a feature is consistent with the experimental data in the paper [J. Erlebacher et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A18(1) (2000), 115--120, Figure 3]. On the other hand, we never observed the decay portion of the numerical solution reported in this paper. We invent an elegant energy principle which supports our findings.
π Groups in ion pair bonding: the structural effects of reduction on the olefinic bond as observed in the molecular structure of Δ9,9′-bifluorenyl bis(lithium tetramethylethylenediamine)

Abstract The reaction of 9,9′-bifluorene with n-butyllithium in the presence of tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) results in the formation of Δ9,9′-bifluorenyl bis-(lithium tetramethylethylenediamine). In the molecular structure of this material, which formally can be considered to be the dianion of the olefin Δ9,9′-bifluorene, two TMEDALi groups are closely associated with the 9,9′ bond. The fluorenyl groups are twisted relative to each other by an angle of 48.0(5)°, as compared to 42° in the parent olefin. The 9,9′ bond length is increased from 1.39(2) A in Δ9,9′-bifluorene to 1.487(5)A in the dianion. Single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques were used and resulted in a final discrepancy factor of Rw = 0.064 for 2426 observations. The crystal system is monoclinic (C2/c) with a = 10.814(3), b = 16.717(6) and c = 19.766(6) A, β = 102.55(2)°; ϱobs = 1.10(3) g cm−3; ϱcalc = 1.095 g cm−3 for four molecules per unit cell.
The Francisella Intracellular Life Cycle: Toward Molecular Mechanisms of Intracellular Survival and Proliferation

The tularemia-causing bacterium Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular organism with a complex intracellular lifecycle that ensures its survival and proliferation in a variety of mammalian cell types, including professional phagocytes. Because this cycle is essential to Francisella pathogenesis and virulence, much research has focused on deciphering the mechanisms of its intracellular survival and replication and characterizing both bacterial and host determinants of the bacterium’s intracellular cycle. Studies of various strains and host cell models have led to the consensual paradigm of Francisella as a cytosolic pathogen, but also to some controversy about its intracellular cycle. In this review, we will detail major findings that have advanced our knowledge of Francisella intracellular survival strategies and also attempt to reconcile discrepancies that exist in our molecular understanding of the Francisella-phagocyte interaction.
Reassessment of Human Peripheral T-lymphocyte Lifespan Deduced from Cytogenetic and Cytotoxic Effects of Radiation

Estimates of the mean lifetime of human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes (PBTL) have ranged from 1·5 to 10 year. To derive an improved estimate, kinetic and dose parameters of four deterministic, two-compartment models of loss and replacement of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were fitted to a previously published extensive data set on loss of dicentrics plus rings (DR) in PBL sampled from X-ray-treated ankylosing spondylitis patients for > 20-year-post-treatment, involving a fixed external-dose regimen (with dose to PBL unknown). The four models investigated all incorporated fixed dose–response submodels for radiation-induced cytogenetic damage and cell killing that were based entirely on in vitro data for X-ray-exposed human PBTL. Two of the models are shown to provide a reasonably good prediction not only of the data on DR loss to which the models were fit, but also of corresponding data on recovery of the mean of measured total PBL. The modelling results indicate that it is unlikely that long-l...
Decision procedures, standards of rightness and impartiality

The ideal of impartiality in ethics has recently come under attack. A variety of traditional moral theories have been accused of requiring agents to be impartial to an extent that is morally indefensible and practically impossible. Agents deliberating about the morally best course of action are required, the accusation goes, to regard their own interests, projects and commitments, and those of their family and friends, as no more or less important than those of others. Moreover, it is alleged, impartialist views require that agents be motivated exclusively by impartial considerations rendering morally problematic acting out of love or concern for particular others. These impartialist demands are said to be morally indefensible on a number of grounds: they undermine individuals' integrity,l they make a mockery of personal relationships,2 and they result in an undesirable psychic condition termed "moral alienation".3 One author has gone so far as to say that impartiality "threatens the very basis of our humanity."4 Besides being morally objectionable, the demands of impartial moral theories have been claimed to be impossible to meet since they require agents to perform epistemic and psychological feats that are beyond human capability, such as ignoring all knowledge of one's values and traits5 or being motivated only by impartial benevolence.6 Utilitarians have responded to these criticisms by distinguishing between utilitarianism as a decision procedure and utilitarianism as a standard of rightness.7 Partialist criticisms, they maintain, apply to utilitarianism only if one construes it as a decision procedure rather than a standard of rightness. The former is a method of deliberation; the latter is a criterion that makes a morally right action morally right.8 A standard of rightness provides an answer to the question, "What kinds of actions are morally right?" A decision procedure offers an answer to the question, "How do I decide in a given case which action is morally right?" where it is assumed that the standard of rightness has been given in advance. Utilitarianism,
Evidence for a Novel Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)- Dependent Protease Regulating IGF-Binding Protein-4 in Dermal Fibroblasts*

The mechanisms by which insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) reduce IGF-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) levels in cellular conditioned media are poorly understood. The effect of IGFs on IGFBP-4 levels in fibroblast conditioned media is not mediated via the type 1 or type 2 cellular IGF receptors, and the IGFs exert little or no effects on IGFBP-4 messenger RNA levels in human adult fibroblasts or in rat neuroblastoma cells. To determine whether the effects of IGFs on IGFBP-4 might be exerted through alterations in IGFBP-4 degradation, we incubated cell-free, fibroblast-conditioned media from either sheep or human dermal fibroblasts with or without IGF-I, IGF-II (each 1 microgram/ml), or insulin (10 micrograms/ml) for 72 h at 37 C. Samples were then analyzed by Western ligand blot using radiolabeled IGFs and by immunoblotting using a polyclonal antisera to human IGFBP-4. In the absence of IGFs, no apparent changes in the basal concentrations of the various IGFBPs were observed. In contrast, incubation of media w...
Characterization of Wide Dynamic Range Neurons in the Deep Dorsal Horn of the Spinal Cord in Preprotachykinin-A Null Mice In Vivo

We previously reported that mice with a deletion of the preprotachykinin-A (pptA) gene, from which substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) are derived, exhibit reduced behavioral responses to inten...
Computed tomographic diagnosis--stylohyoid fracture with pharyngeal abscess in a horse without temporohyoid disease

The horse was examined to determine the cause of a right-sided, extra-luminal pharyngeal swelling seen during endoscopy by the referring veterinarian. The horse had been examined for poor performance 8 weeks before referral, at which time upper airway endoscopy at rest was unremarkable but dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) was suspected. The referring veterinarian treated the horse for presumptive DDSP. At that time, treatment consisted of a percutaneous peri-laryngeal injection of corticosteroids, an unknown dose and type of steroid was used. The horse did not respond to treatment and the trainer continued to report poor performance. The horse did not finish his last race and in the four preceding starts finished second, third, sixth, and 11th with an average last quarter time of 28.8 s. Two weeks before referral, the horse was pyrexic and coughing and was re-examined by the referring veterinarian. Repeat endoscopic examination at that time showed a right-sided, extra-luminal pharyngeal swelling producing a partial obstruction of the pharynx. The guttural pouches were not examined. The horse was referred to Cornell University Hospital for Animals for further evaluation.
Classification of path-recursive graphs

Abstract We show that the graphs with path-recursive period are the graphs with maximal eigenvalue less than or equal to 2. This disproves a conjecture by Shi (Shi Ronghua, Linear Algebra and Appl. 236 (1996) 181–187).
Examination of acetabular labral tear: a continued diagnostic challenge

Acetabular labrum tears (ALT) are present in 22-55% of individuals with hip or groin pain. Tears can occur as a result of trauma or degeneration and are markedly associated with femoral acetabular morphological variations. An ALT can lead to biomechanical deficiencies and a loss of stability to the coxafemoral joint due to the labrum serving as a stabilising structure of this joint. The diagnosis of ALT is complex and multidimensional. Although tremendous improvements in diagnostic utility for ALT have occurred in the past 25 years, there are few patient history, clinical examination and special test findings that are unique to the condition. Imaging methods such as MRI, CT and ultrasonography have demonstrated reasonable accuracy, but not at a level that allows use as a stand-alone measure. Outcomes measures that focus on functional limitation or that are used to measure recovery should envelop the complexities of the condition and be captured using both self-report and physical performance measures. Only when patient history, objective testing, clinical examination special testing and imaging are combined can a clinician fully elucidate the multidimensional diagnosis of ALT.
Predictors of Single, Noncustodial Fathers' Physical Involvement With Their Children

ABSTRACT Based on boundary theory, this study sought to determine factors related to single, noncustodial fathers' physical involvement with their children. Eighty-six fathers from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) who met sample criteria were studied. Multiple regression analysis indicated that three factors facilitated paternal involvement after divorce: satisfaction with parenting, fathers' perception of their influence on their children, and fathers' geographic proximity to their children.
Differential effects of phencyclidine upon hippocampal complex-spike and theta neurons

Abstract The effects of local application of phencyclidine (PCP) upon hippocampal CA1 neurons were investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. Hippocampal neurons were classified on the basis of extracellularly recorded action potential duration as either complex-spike or theta cells prior to PCP administration. PCP depressed spontaneous firing of 46 of 48 complex-spike cells, but excited 12 of 13 theta neurons. This result demonstrates that hippocampal complex-spike and theta neurons may be differentiated using a pharmacological criterion. Both the depressions of complex-spike cells and excitations of theta neurons were greatly attenuated or absent in rats pretreated with DSP4, a neurotoxin which selectively destroys noradrenergic pathways. This latter finding lends additional support to the hypothesis that the effects of locally applied PCP are mediated via noradrenergic mechanisms.