cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RATE OF SICKLING OF RED CELLS DURING DEOXYGENATION OF BLOOD FROM PERSONS WITH VARIOUS SICKLING DISORDERS

The clinical severity of various sickle hemoglobinopathies was directly related to the rate of increase of viscosity of blood during deoxygenation. The principal determinants of the rate were the concentration of hemoglobin S in the red cell and the degree of interaction between hemoglobins when more than one major type was present. There was a close correlation between the rate of change of viscosity of blood under the conditions employed and the minimum concentration of the deoxygenated hemolysate required for gelation. Hemoglobin DPunjab showed the most marked interaction with hemoglobin S and hemoglobin F the least, accounting for the striking clinical differences between S-D and S-F heterozygotes. Clinical status of the patients and rate of increase of viscosity of partially deoxygenated blood were not closely correlated with the percentage of hemoglobin S in the hemolysate, the mean corpuscular sickle hemoglobin concentration, or the solubility of the hemoglobin. The viscosity of deoxygenated blood was directly related to the proportion of sickled red cells, but filamentous forms were associated with a greater viscosity than holly leaf forms; accordingly, viscosity could not be predicted precisely from the percentage of sickled erythrocytes in a blood specimen. The viscosity of blood containing sickled erythrocytes was approximately proportional to the square of the hematocrit value, an observation of relevance in explaining the frequent occurrence of vascular occlusive manifestations in patients with certain heterozygous sickling disorders without appreciable anemia. The data of this study support the concept that all of the clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease are attributable to the consequences of intravascular sickling of erythrocytes. Clinical differences between patients whose red cells appear to be similar probably can be explained by extracorpuscular factors influencing rates of sickling.
Timing jitter characterization of mode-locked lasers with <1 zs/√Hz resolution using a simple optical heterodyne technique

Timing jitter characterization of free-running mode-locked lasers with an unprecedented resolution is demonstrated using an optical heterodyne technique. A highly sensitive timing jitter phase-discrimination signal with low-parasitic-amplitude sensitivity is achieved. Analytical and numerical methods are used to analyze the properties of the discrimination signal. For an experimental demonstration, we measure the timing jitter between two loosely synchronized mode-locked Er:Yb:glass lasers with 500-MHz fundamental repetition rates. The timing jitter-detection noise floor for a single mode-locked laser reaches 2.8×10−13 fs2/Hz (∼530 ys/√Hz), and the integrated timing jitter is 16.3 as from 10 kHz to the Nyquist frequency (250 MHz). These results show that this approach can be a simpler alternative to the well-established balanced optical cross-correlation technique.
Disruption of the cytokeratin filament network in the preimplantation mouse embryo

The distribution of the cytokeratin network in the intact preimplantation mouse embryo and the role of cytokeratin filaments in trophectoderm differentiation were investigated by means of whole-mount indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and microinjection of anti-cytokeratin antibody. Assembled cytokeratin filaments were detected in some blastomeres as early as the compacted 8-cell stage. The incidence and organization of cytokeratin filaments increased during the morula stage, although individual blastomeres varied in their content of assembled filaments. At the blastocyst stage, each trophectoderm cell contained an intricate network of cytokeratin filaments, and examination of sectioned blastocysts confirmed that extensive arrays of cytokeratin filaments were restricted to cells of the trophectoderm. Microinjection of anticytokeratin antibody into individual mural trophectoderm cells of expanded blastocysts resulted in a dramatic rearrangement of the cytokeratin network in these cells. Moreover, antibody injection into 2-cell embryos inhibited assembly of the cytokeratin network during the next two days of development. Despite this disruption of cytokeratin assembly, the injected embryos compacted and developed into blastocysts with normal morphology and nuclear numbers. These results suggest that formation of an elaborate cytokeratin network in preimplantation mouse embryos is unnecessary for the initial stages of trophectoderm differentiation resulting in blastocyst formation.
Nest Suitability, Fine-Scale Population Structure and Male-Mediated Dispersal of a Solitary Ground Nesting Bee in an Urban Landscape

Bees are the primary pollinators of flowering plants in almost all ecosystems. Worldwide declines in bee populations have raised awareness about the importance of their ecological role in maintaining ecosystem functioning. The naturally strong philopatric behavior that some bee species show can be detrimental to population viability through increased probability of inbreeding. Furthermore, bee populations found in human-altered landscapes, such as urban areas, can experience lower levels of gene flow and effective population sizes, increasing potential for inbreeding depression in wild bee populations. In this study, we investigated the fine-scale population structure of the solitary bee Colletes inaequalis in an urbanized landscape. First, we developed a predictive spatial model to detect suitable nesting habitat for this ground nesting bee and to inform our field search for nests. We genotyped 18 microsatellites in 548 female individuals collected from nest aggregations throughout the study area. Genetic relatedness estimates revealed that genetic similarity among individuals was slightly greater within nest aggregations than among randomly chosen individuals. However, genetic structure among nest aggregations was low (Nei’s GST = 0.011). Reconstruction of parental genotypes revealed greater genetic relatedness among females than among males within nest aggregations, suggesting male-mediated dispersal as a potentially important mechanism of population connectivity and inbreeding avoidance. Size of nesting patch was positively correlated with effective population size, but not with other estimators of genetic diversity. We detected a positive trend between geographic distance and genetic differentiation between nest aggregations. Our landscape genetic models suggest that increased urbanization is likely associated with higher levels of inbreeding. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of density and distribution of suitable nesting patches for enhancing bee population abundance and connectivity in human dominated habitats and highlights the critical contribution of landscape genetic studies for enhanced conservation and management of native pollinators.
Simvastatin reduces myosteatosis after skeletal muscle injury (1163.19)

Chronic skeletal muscle injuries or tears can lead to the induction of myosteatosis, which is muscle atrophy combined with an accumulation of lipid plaques. Simvastatin is a drug that has demonstrated the ability to prevent lipid accumulation in other injured tissues. We hypothesized that administering simvastatin would reduce myosteatosis following muscle injuries. As the rotator cuff muscle group is especially prone to the development of myosteatosis, to test our hypothesis we performed a full-thickness supraspinatus tenectomy and administered vehicle or simvastatin for 4 weeks. Compared to controls, simvastatin treatment increased muscle fiber specific force by 19% and decreased visible fat around fibers. Expression of several genes associated with fat accumulation, inflammation, macrophage accumulation, and extracellular matrix fibrosis was significantly decreased. Simvastatin also reduced the percent of pathological type IIB muscle fibers by 39%. These results suggest that simvastatin can protect mus...
Nucleus reticularis thalami connections with the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus: A light and electron microscopic study in the monkey

Abstract Wheat germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidese (WGA-HRP) and biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) were used as tracers to study nucleus reticularis (NRT) connections with the mediodorsal nucleus (MD). Injections of WGA-HRP in the MO resulted in retrograde labeling of cells in the anteromedial segment of the NRT, the so-called rostral NRT pole. Injections of WGA-HRP and BDA in this NRT region resulted in dense anterograde labeling in the MD. Labeled NRT fibers gave off several collaterals to different MD regions ending with terminal plexuses of thin varicose fibers. In the neuropil, the varicosities were distributed at random, and no tendency to form pericellular baskets was noted. Postembedding immunocytochemistry for GABA was performed on the tissue containing anterograde WGA-HRP label for identification of NRT boutons under electron microscope. The double-labeled boutons were of small to medium size, contained a large number of pleomorphic vesicles, few mitochondria, and formed multiple symmetric synaptic contacts. The number of contacts established by one bouton ranged from 1 to 4 with an average of 1.8 per bouton. About 60% of these boutons made synapses on distal dendrites of GABAergic local circuit neurons; 33% of synaptic contacts were on distal dendrites of thalamocortical neurons, and the rest on their proximal dendrites and soma. NRT boutons were also found in serial synapses and triads. The results demonstrate that the NRT input to the MD is organized so that a single fiber innervates different MD regions and its terminals form numerous synaptic contacts mostly on the distal dendrites of a large number of local circuit neurons and projection neurons.
Cascade-renormalization theory of turbulent flame speed

Abstract Renormalization group approach to the problem of turbulent flame speed, alternative to that recently adopted by Yakhot is proposed An equation for turbulent flame speed as a function of the turbulent field intensity is derived. The “bending” effect, resembling that known from experiments, is described.
Reactividad del eje hipotálamo-hipofisario-adrenocortical: un mecanismo que es la base de las asociaciones entre 5-HTTLPR, estrés y depresión

Resumen Fundamento Las pruebas recientes indican que los individuos que son homocigotos para el alelo corto (s) en la region promotora del gen transportador de la serotonina se caracterizan por mayores tasas de depresion y otras enfermedades psiquiatricas en funcion de la exposicion a niveles crecientes de acontecimientos estresantes de la vida que aquellos con una o dos copias del alelo largo (l). A pesar de la fiabilidad de esta asociacion, se desconoce el mecanismo por el que el polimorfismo confiere un riesgo de psicopatologia en presencia de estres. El presente estudio se diseno para examinar la hipotesis de que los individuos homocigotos para el alelo s se caracterizan por una mayor reactividad biologica al estres que aquellos con una o 2 copias del alelo l. Metodos Se genotipifico y expuso a una tarea de laboratorio estandarizada relacionada con el estres a ninas con un alto (n=25) y bajo riesgo (n=42) de depresion en virtud de la presencia o ausencia de antecedentes familiares del proceso. La concentracion de cortisol se evaluo antes y despues del estresor y durante un periodo de restablecimiento prolongado. Resultados Las ninas homocigotas para el alelo s produjeron niveles mayores y mas prolongados de cortisol como respuesta al estresor que aquellas con un alelo l. Conclusiones Los hallazgos del presente estudio indican que el polimorfismo 5-HTTLPR se asocia con la reactividad biologica al estres, que puede aumentar la vulnerabilidad a la depresion frente a los acontecimientos estresantes de la vida.
Progress in modeling heat capacity versus temperature morphology

Abstract After discussion of other models for representing heat capacities, the volumetric model used in resolution of lanthanide Schottky contributions over the cryogenic range and a more recent single-parameter formula to represent the lattice heat capacity, to resolve excess heat capacity contributions, to extrapolate lattice heat capacity beyond the measured temperature regions, and to predict thermodynamic properties of a compound in a series of known isostructural compounds is described. It is based on a new phonon distribution function improved over the Debye model by distinguishing between transverse and longitudinal modes, differences in the masses of the constituent atoms, the actual shape of the first Brillouin zone, the discreteness of the crystal structure, etc. Several other parameters included in the formula are uniquely determined from chemical, crystallographic, and elastic data. The single characteristic temperature (θ), is retained in the formula as a parameter to be determined by fitting the calorimetric data. The success of the model was checked by plotting the apparent characteristic temperature against temperature for experimental heat-capacity data of compounds with purely lattice heat capacities.
Science-based insurance

Crops are at risk in a changing climate. Farmers in the developing world will be able to insure against harvest failure if robust insurance packages, based on a geophysical index rather than individual loss, become widely available.
The Transfer of Solar Irradiance Through Inhomogeneous Turbid Atmospheres Evaluated by Eddington's Approximation

Abstract Eddington's approximation was employed to compute the irradiances passing through atmospheres consisting of several different, albeit internally homogeneous, layers, as a function of solar zenith angle, albedo for single scatering, the asymmetry factor of the phase function, and the albedo of the underlying surface. Results computed for a single layer atmosphere were found to agree with more exact computations within a few percent. Irradiances within several vertically inhomogeneous three-layer model atmospheres were computed. Effects caused by the vertically inhomogeneous structure are considered. It is noted, for example, that the irradiance within an atmosphere can be greater than that incident upon the atmosphere bemuse radiation may he partially trapped within the atmosphere. The Eddington approximation affords a means to rapidly compute irradiances within realistic inhomogeneous atmospheres with an accuracy of several percent.
Co-Worker Complementarity and the Stability of Top Management Teams

We investigate the hypothesis that complementarities across co-workers (which may arise from matching or investments in specifc skills) affect the value of employment relationships between senior executives and firms. We analyze the changes in the composition of top management teams when a key member of the team (the CEO) departs. Our empirical analysis establishes several facts that are consistent with co-worker complementarity being an important determinant of management team stability.
Incipient Plastic Strain Fields in Material Removal Processes

Knowledge of the plasticity associated with the incipient stage of chip formation is important for understanding the flow field underlying transient material removal processes. The transition from an incipient state of strain to steady-state was investigated in chip formation of copper. Characterization of the flow field was made by image correlation, hardness mapping and microstructure measurement. A framework for describing the incipient straining length in chip formation as a function of process parameters was established and explained by effects of the deformation on shear plane morphology. The present results are potentially useful for enabling better informed design of processing configurations wherein transient flow fields contribute significantly to the overall deformation process, such as in grain refinement methods for bulk materials and micro-mechanical surface texturing methods based on machining.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The theology of Heidegger. Henri Crétella

La theologie de Heidegger apparait, comme une theo-logie. D'une part, tout veritable langage, toute pensee ont pour condition de leur possibilite la confrontation avec Dieu. D'autre part, la theologie ne se distingue pas de l'anthropologie
Inpatient small group psychotherapy: A survey

Abstract The inpatient small group psychotherapy literature is organized with reference to issues of historical background, goals, individual versus group treatment, medications, therapist style, pretraining, cotherapy, alternate sessions, types of group approaches, selection and group composition, and conducting groups in short stay settings. Methods for conceptualizing group therapy are reviewed; a heuristic model based on the findings of the present survey is proposed.
Improved Limit on the Permanent Electric Dipole Moment of Hg-199

We report the results of a new experimental search for a permanent electric dipole moment of $^{199}\mathrm{Hg}$ utilizing a stack of four vapor cells. We find $d(^{199}\mathrm{Hg})=(0.49\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}{1.29}_{\mathrm{stat}}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}{0.76}_{\mathrm{syst}})\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}29}\text{ }e\text{ }\mathrm{cm}$, and interpret this as a new upper bound, $|d(^{199}\mathrm{Hg})|l3.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}29}\text{ }e\text{ }\mathrm{cm}$ (95% C.L.). This result improves our previous $^{199}\mathrm{Hg}$ limit by a factor of 7, and can be used to set new constraints on $CP$ violation in physics beyond the standard model.
Preparation and stereoconfigurations of heterodimers of pyrimidines.

Using a novel C-alkylation procedure, four isomers of a heterodimer of a thymine-uracil derivative have been synthesized. With retention of configuration, the stereoconfigurations and the relative rates of alkylation at various sites can be assigned. This knowledge allows the unambiguous identification of the heterodimer isolated from the irradiation of a mixture of thymine and uracil in ice and from the acid hydrolysates of UV-irradiated DNA. By comparing the NMR data gathered from this set of a heterodimer with those sets of uracil and thymine homodimers, the effectiveness and the magnitude of a 1,2-shielding of a neighboring proton by a cis CH3-group of a cyclobutyl derivative may be suggested. In addition, taking advantage of the comparatively low solubility of the Ba-salt of this thymine-uracil heterodimer, its purification from an admixture of various photodimers was accomplished in a simple manner.
Ulipristal acetate as an emergency contraceptive agent

Introduction: Emergency contraceptive agents play a crucial role in preventing unplanned pregnancy. These agents and devices have been studied since the 1960s and have had varied results in terms of side effects and efficacy. A new oral tablet for emergency contraception (EC), ulipristal acetate (UPA), is a selective progesterone receptor modulator and can be used up to 120 h following unprotected intercourse, without an increase in adverse effects or a decrease in efficacy. Areas covered: This article reviews studies that evaluate the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of UPA as an emergency contraceptive agent. Expert opinion: UPA, a selective progesterone receptor modulator, is administered as a single 30 mg dose for EC. This agent provides a comparable, if not better, efficacy and side effect profile than seen with levonorgestrel or mifepristone. Because it has both agonistic and antagonistic effects on the progesterone receptor, ongoing clinical trials are docum...
The proper care and feeding of your help desk

You are now comfortable with your role as your staff's leader and they're comfortable with you. You might even be able to leave for the duration of a lunch break with things under control. Almost all is right with the world, except...why do your staff members keep leaving?. The issues that lead staff members to leave a position are numerous. You yourself don't want to be one of the problems simply because you aren't sure how to properly care for your help desk. The question of how and why to show your staff appreciation is one of the most difficult to answer, because it will be different for each institution and may vary based on the type of staff you employ. However, to have a successful help desk, this issue needs to be addressed. Morale, work ethic, and motivation all can be severely impacted when a manager overlooks the importance of training, incentive programs and appreciation of the contributions of his or her workers. In this paper we will discuss ways to acknowledge and appreciate your employees to keep your turnover rate low, how to use turnover to your advantage, and how to forecast trends in your staff in order to make the proper management adjustments. We will also explore how to make training a part of your incentive program and how proper training affects morale and productivity.
Hair repigmentation associated with the use of lenalidomide: Graying may not be an irreversible process!

We report the first case of progressive hair repigmentation associated with the use of lenalidomide in an elderly patient with multiple myeloma. The influence of lenalidomide on follicular melanogenesis may involve removing the inhibitory influences of some cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, certain endocrine effects of lenalidomide on the hypophyseal-adrenal axis could explain its action on hair pigmentation. We further hypothesize that lenalidomide may be capable of stimulating migration and/or differentiation of melanocytes to promote repigmentation of gray hair follicles. Pending the clarification of how hair repigmentation occurs with lenalidomide, our observation materializes the concept that hair graying may not be an irreversible process, which opens avenues for targeted therapeutics in the fields of cosmetics and anti-aging medicine.
Land cover impacts on stream nutrients and fecal coliform in the lower Piedmont of West Georgia

Summary As urbanization infiltrates into rural areas, stream water quality is expected to decline as a result from increased impervious surface and greater sources for pollutants. Consequently, West Georgia’s water quality is threatened by extensive development as well as other land uses such as livestock grazing and silvicultural activity. Maintenance of stream water quality, as land development occurs, is critical for the protection of drinking water and biotic integrity. A 2-phase, watershed-scale study was established to develop relationships among land cover and water quality within western Georgia. During phase 1, nutrient and fecal coliform data were collected within 18 mixed land use watersheds, ranging in size from 500 to 2500 ha. Regression models were developed that related land cover to stream water nutrient and fecal coliform concentrations. Nutrient and fecal coliform concentrations within watersheds having >24% impervious surface (IS) were often higher than those in nonurban watersheds (i.e.,
Rating the Rating: An Analysis of the National Research Council's Appraisal of Political Science Ph.D. Programs.

Not surprisingly, the ratings of doctoral programs in the United States by the National Research Council (NRC 1995) are controversial. Some interpret the ratings as an indicator of relative program quality; others view them as little more than a gauge of the size and age of graduate programs, and still others deem them to be simply a popularity barometer.Employing data assembled in the NRC report, we examine whether the political science program ratings reflect two general sets of characteristics—the size and the productivity of faculty.All other things equal, program quality should vary directly with faculty size, and indeed size is emphasized as a key explanatory factor in the NRC report. The logic is straightforward. Very small departments lack the means to field a range of graduate courses of sufficient breadth to form the basis of a serious program. Larger departments enjoy the increased resources that allow for greater program depth and breadth. In addition, holding quality concerns constant, larger programs should on average receive higher ratings simply because they include more faculty.
2-Nitrobenzaldehyde as a chemical actinometer for solution and ice photochemistry

2-Nitrobenzaldehyde (2NB) is a convenient, photochemically sensitive, and thermally robust actinometer. Although 2NB has been used in a number of solution and ice experiments in the laboratory, the quantum efficiencies and molar absorptivities of 2NB have not been critically evaluated, especially on ice. Using a series of laboratory and field measurements we have measured the light absorbance and photochemical properties of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde in solution (water and/or acetonitrile) and in/on water ice. Our results show that the molar absorptivities of 2NB are only weakly dependent upon temperature and that the quantum yield is independent of temperature in water; the quantum yield is also independent of wavelength, as shown by past reports. Furthermore, we find that the photochemistry of 2NB in/on water ice is the same as in liquid water. While most studies employing 2NB cite and use a quantum yield of 0.50, based on a review of the literature, and on our new experimental data, we recommend a quantum yield of 0.41 for 2NB photolysis for both solution and water ice.
On integrating collaboration and decision analysis techniques

We discuss how methods for computer‐based collaboration and computer‐aided decision analysis may be combined to yield a new generation of decision support systems. We examine the role of these technologies using a three‐phase model (problem definition; problem structuring; modeling/analysis) of decision making activities. We argue that decision making is a recursive mesh of these three phases; i.e., each phase involves argumentation/discussion, structuring, and analysis. Representations and methods suited to one kind of activity (e.g., discussion) are not directly suited to the others. Decision support systems, therefore, should facilitate the use of all of these methods in a way that information represented under each of them may be combined effectively, supporting the decision makers in switching from one activity to another.
Perfect concrete implementation of arbitrary mechanisms: a quick summary of joint work with Sergei Izmalkov and Matt Lepinski

Privacy and trust affect our everyday thinking and, in particular, the way we approach a concrete game. Accordingly, we hope that a rigorous treatment of privacy and trust will become integral part of mechanism design. As of now, the field has been very successful in finding many ingenious mechanisms as solutions to a variety of problems. But these mechanisms are theoretical constructions and not enough attention has been devoted to their concrete implementation. Indeed, It should be appreciated that the outcome function of a simple normal-form mechanism does not spontaneously evaluate itself on the "messages" that the players have selected in "their own minds." To be practically useful in a real strategic setting, any mechanism M, whether of normal or extensive form, must be concretely implemented. But then, in such concrete implementations, issues of privacy and trust may arise so as to undermine the valuable theoretical properties of M.
Cardiac conditioned responses in avoidance and yoked-control rats

Rats in a yoked-control group were paired with partners which were given avoidance conditioning and extinction. Both animals received simultaneous and identical presentations of the CS and US throughout training. Heart rate data revealed that inter-trial rates declined over sessions for both groups. The cardiac responses to the CS increased in magnitude in the avoidance group over acquisition sessions as CARs increased in frequency. In the yoked-control group, however, the cardiac response diminished over sessions.
Right-to-Left Interatrial Shunt After Pneumonectomy

Abstract Background . Platypnea and Orthodeoxia have been described with congenital heart and severe lung diseases. Methods . We report 4 patients in whom platypnea and orthodeoxia developed after pneumonectomy. In these patients the mean oxygen saturation on room air was 65% (range, 45% to 79%) in the supine position. On O 2 therapy it improved to 94% (range, 80% to 99%). When the patients assumed the erect position and were receiving O 2 therapy the saturation dropped to a mean of 76% (range, 56% to 82%) and the patients complained of shortness of breath. Cardiac catheterization revealed a mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 11.6 mm Hg (range, 7 to 18 mm Hg). All patients had normal right atrial pressure. A right-to-left interatrial shunt through a patent foramen ovale was documented by transesophageal echocardiography and dynamic ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging. The patients underwent surgical closure of the patent foramen ovale. Results . In the erect position, the room air O 2 saturation improved to a mean of 95% (range, 92% to 99%), and the shortness of breath disappeared. Conclusions . Postpneumonectomy patients complaining of shortness of breath should be assessed for platypnea and orthodeoxia. A right-to-left interatrial shunt through a patent foramen ovale can occur even in the absence of elevated right heart pressures, especially after right pneumonectomy, and is accentuated in the upright posture. Surgical correction of the patent foramen ovale can produce dramatic improvement. (Ann Thorac Surg 1997;63:198–201)
Combustion of single drops of fuel

An experimental study of the flame zone development about a spherical hydrocarbon fuel droplet burning in air has provided data which is compared to present quasisteady theories which predict mass-burning rates and flame-zone locations as a function of droplet size. The data show that only during part of the lifetime of the droplet do these quasisteady theories predict the observed mass-burning rates. All theories to date however, do not correctly predict the flame standoff distance. A simple heat-mass transfer analysis which incorporates the observed time variation of the ratio of the flame diameter to liquid-droplet diameter shows that the D 2 law is not necessarily a good test of the correctness of the burning rate equation as derived in the past using the standard quasisteady assumptions. A new mass burning-rate relation is derived. It is concluded that the inherent transient burning behavior must be described by any theory that hopes to predict the proper combustion behavior of droplets and sprays.
Postnatal development of palatal and laryngeal taste buds in the hamster

Mammalian taste buds are distributed within several distinct subpopulations, innervated by branches of three cranial nerves. These taste bud populations originate and mature at different times in various mammalian species and are thought to play differential roles in the control of taste-mediated behaviors. The hamster is a common animal for the electrophysiological study of the gustatory system, and it has been shown that taste buds innervated by the IXth nerve develop postnatally in this species. To delineate further the development of the gustatory system of hamsters, we quantified the number of taste buds appearing on the palatal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal epithelium from birth through 120 days of age. Taste buds are present in almost adult numbers on the soft palate at birth, but only 39% of these are mature. Distinct taste pores, indicative of mature taste buds, increase in number until about 20-30 days of life, at which time all of the taste buds on the soft palate and on the nasoincisive papillae are fully developed. Taste buds are concentrated primarily on the posterior and medial portions of the soft palate. Taste buds located on the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis and the aryepiglottal folds are absent at birth and originate and mature over the following 120 days. Laryngeal taste buds are more concentrated on the aryepiglottal folds than on the epiglottis. On the soft palate and in the epiglottal region, the maturation of taste buds is well characterized by a logarithmic function (Y = a log X + B) relating the number of mature taste buds to postnatal age. On the soft palate, the length of the taste buds from base to apex correlates with the thickness of the epithelium, which increases with development. The diameter of mature taste buds on the soft palate does not change with age. In contrast to many mammalian species, in rodents taste bud development occurs mostly after birth. Rapid postnatal development progresses at a time when ingestive behavior is undergoing a number of significant changes. Taste buds in the larynx have been implicated in a number of laryngeal reflexes (i.e., apnea, swallowing) in several nonrodent species. The electrophysiological properties of superior laryngeal nerve fibers would suggest a similar function for epiglottal taste buds in the hamster.
The Presidency, Democratic Reform, and Constitutional Change

Recent events have rendered the politics and governance of the American presidency a source of scorn and derision. While the nation seeks to come to terms with problems of the most serious magnitude in domestic and foreign affairs, the incumbent of the nation's highest office is crippled by a byzantine arms scandal. Moreover, the candidacy of the opposition's "front-runner" for the 1988 presidential nomination has been derailed by a scandal sufficiently salacious to displace as the focus of the media's attention the first week of congressional hearings that are investigating the Iran-Contra affair.
Motor neuron columnar fate imposed by sequential phases of Hox-c activity

The organization of neurons into columns is a prominent feature of central nervous system structure and function. In many regions of the central nervous system the grouping of neurons into columns links cell-body position to axonal trajectory, thus contributing to the establishment of topographic neural maps. This link is prominent in the developing spinal cord, where columnar sets of motor neurons innervate distinct targets in the periphery. We show here that sequential phases of Hox-c protein expression and activity control the columnar differentiation of spinal motor neurons. Hox expression in neural progenitors is established by graded fibroblast growth factor signalling and translated into a distinct motor neuron Hox pattern. Motor neuron columnar fate then emerges through cell autonomous repressor and activator functions of Hox proteins. Hox proteins also direct the expression of genes that establish motor topographic projections, thus implicating Hox proteins as critical determinants of spinal motor neuron identity and organization.
THERAPY OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA : ROLE OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY STUDIES 1987

Over the past ten years, electrophysiologic studies have improved our understanding of the basic mechanisms of a variety of arrhythmias. At present, the overwhelming weight of evidence suggests that sustained uniform ventricular tachycardia (VT), particularly that associated with coronary artery disease, is due to reentry1) -5) . In addition to establishing the mechanism of VT, the appropriate use of electrophysiologic studies, including both program-med stimulation and endocardial mapping, has allowed for the development of therapeutic modalities which can be based on objective endpoints. Therapeutic options available for the management of VT includes drugs, electrical devices, and surgery, or combinations of the above. One can consider VT the product of triggers which are usually premature ventricular complexes, and a substrate which is either functionally or anatomically determined, both of which can be modified by autonomic tone, heart rate, hemodynamics, ischemia, etc. (Fig.1) . Electrophysiologic testing is primarily directed at the substrate. It is the basic hypothesis that if the substrate can be rendered incapable of supporting sustained reentry, then no arrhythmia will result, regardless of the trigger or other factors involved.
Ultrastructure of spore differentiation in Dictyostelium: the prespore vacuole

Electron microscopy of spore differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum and other cellular slime molds reveals the presence of unusual vacuoles in the prespore cells. These vacuoles, termed prespore vacuoles, are lined with a two-layered, inner coat of material that will at a later stage form the initial layers of the spore coat. The size and number of the prespore vacuoles increases during early culmination, and they then move to the periphery of the cells, where they fuse to the plasma membrane. The area of contact between the plasma membrane and the vacuoles disintegrates, and the contents of the vacuoles are released to the outside, while the membranes of the vacuoles become continuous with and incorporated into the plasma membrane. The inner two-layered coating of the prespore vacuoles now faces the outside of the cell and, as more prespore vacuoles arrive at the cell periphery, this coat becomes continuous over the whole cell surface and forms the intitial spore coat. As a last step of spore differentiation, the coat thickens by expansion of the inner one of the two layers. The mature spore has a three-layered coat, a cytoplasm densely packed with granules, a nucleus with a nucleolus, crenated mitochondria, polyvesicular bodies, crystals, and small, electron transparent vacuoles. The significance of the three major functions of the prespore vacuole in secretion, spore coat formation, and plasma membrane formation is discussed. Barium permanganate is shown to be a useful fixative for preservation of the prespore cells.
Forage Yield and Economic Losses Associated with the Brown-Midrib Trait in Sudangrass

Brown-midrib genes increase digestibility due to reduced lignification in sudangrass, Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan. Brown-midrib lines are known to be low in forage yield potential, but this reduction in forage yield has not been previously quantified. The objectives of this study were to quantify the increase in forage quality and decrease in forage yield and to provide an economic assessment of this dichotomy. Piper and Greenleaf (normal leaves) were compared with their brown-midrib counterparts and to four highly selected brown-midrib (FG) lines at two locations for 2 yr. Brown-midrib lines averaged 9.0% lower in lignin and 7.2% higher in in vitro fiber digestibility than normal lines. The reduction in first-harvest forage yield was highly variable across germplasms and locations. Greenleaf and the FG lines showed severe forage yield reductions in Wisconsin but not in Nebraska, whereas forage yield of Piper was uniformly reduced across locations. Reduced tillering and plant height of the brown-midrib plants appeared to be mechanisms for reducing forage yield. The brown-midrib phenotype of sudangrass, caused by the homozygous condition of the bmr-6 allele, appears to be environmentally sensitive, particularly limiting production in cooler and shorter growing seasons. Conversely, uniform reductions in second-harvest forage yield suggested a fundamental limitation to regrowth potential associated with the brown-midrib phenotype. Predicted net returns from feeding sudangrass hay were similar for first-harvest normal and brown-midrib lines, but severely depressed for brown-midrib lines in second harvest, due to the severe yield reductions.
Threshold prediction and characteristics of log-normal phenomena

Abstract The measurements of many phenomena of interest in environmental health may be distributed in a log-normal manner. The zero point of occurrence of such phenomena is of considerable importance. A simple equation is derived for determining the point of origin of a log-normal frequency distribution. Statistical methods for analyzing data sets and applying the equation are presented for three general cases; namely, (1) distributions in which the origin and zero reference of measurement coincide, (2) distributions in which the origin and zero reference of measurement do not coincide, and (3) distributions in which the parameter of measurement is a log function, and has an arbitrarily selected positive value for its reference point which is relative, not absolute. Three diverse sets of log-normal data are used to illustrate application to the above cases: (1) incubation periods observed during an epidemic of streptococcal sore throat, (2) systolic blood pressure measurements among middle aged industrial employees, and (3) thresholds of hearing among high school students. It is anticipated that the procedures presented will find applications in the analysis of data arising from research into toxicology, radiation exposure, physical or chemical stimulus responses in biological or psychophysical systems, carcinogenesis, particle kinetics and other phenomena yielding log-normal data sets.
Productivity via Mobile Phones: Using Smartphones in Smart Ways

This column addresses the need for health care information professionals to maximize their productivity in an age where there are so many distractions when seeking and delivering information. A variety of mobile phone applications are reviewed, focusing on the popular platforms of the iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android models. Productivity categories that are covered include to-do lists, dictation software, article viewing and storage, blogging and tweeting tools, and data backup solutions.
Hemispheric routing of tactilely delivered words for dyslexic males.

This investigation sought to determine the effect of delivering unknown spelling words via a tactile modality to the left and right cerebral hemispheres of 10 dyslexic boys of about 14 yr. of age whose vision was occluded during word palpation. More words were learned through either condition of right- and left-hand delivery than control words. Spelling of meaningful words when vision is occluded can be accomplished by either hand delivery for older dyslexic boys.
Silver Nanodisk Growth by Surface Plasmon Enhanced Photoreduction of Adsorbed [Ag+]

The photoreduction of silver ions by citrate, catalyzed on silver seeds, is used to synthesize disk-shaped silver nanoparticles in solution. The reaction is characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical absorption spectroscopy, and by measuring the silver ion concentration during the reaction. The irradiation wavelength determines the final shape of these particles due to the shape dependence of the Ag plasmon spectrum. The quantum yield of this reaction has been calculated, and a growth mechanism is outlined.
Toxicity of the antimicrobial compound triclosan and formation of the metabolite methyl-triclosan in estuarine systems

Triclosan, a commonly used antimicrobial compound, has been measured in aquatic systems worldwide. This study exposed marine species to triclosan to examine effects primarily on survival and to investigate the formation of the degradation product, methyl-triclosan, in the estuarine environment. Acute toxicity was assessed using the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, the phytoplankton species Dunaliella tertiolecta, and three life stages of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio. P. pugio larvae were more sensitive to triclosan than adult shrimp or embryos. Acute aqueous toxicity values (96 h LC50) were 305 μg/L for adult shrimp, 154 μg/L for larvae, and 651 μg/L for embryos. The presence of sediment decreased triclosan toxicity in adult shrimp (24 h LC50s were 620 μg/L with sediment, and 482 μg/L without sediment). The bacterium was more sensitive to triclosan than the grass shrimp, with a 15 min aqueous IC50 value of 53 μg/L and a 15 min spiked sediment IC50 value of 616 μg/kg. The phytoplankton species was the most sensitive species tested, with a 96 h EC50 value of 3.55 μg/L. Adult grass shrimp were found to accumulate methyl-triclosan after a 14-day exposure to 100 μg/L triclosan, indicating formation of this metabolite in a seawater environment and its potential to bioaccumulate in higher organisms. Triclosan was detected in limited surface water sampling of Charleston Harbor, SC at a maximum concentration of 0.001 μg/L, substantially lower than the determined toxicity values. These findings suggest triclosan poses low acute toxicity risk to estuarine organisms; however, the potential for chronic, sublethal, and metabolite effects should be investigated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2008.
Evaluating an alcohol and drug treatment program for the homeless: An econometric approach

The New Orleans Homeless Substance Abusers Project (NOHSAP) was designed as a randomized field experiment to test the effectiveness of a residential alcohol and drug treatment program on the sobriety, employment, housing, and social integration of homeless substance abusers. However, program staff sabotaged randomization into treatment and control groups, and research attrition was also non-random. Non-random assignment to treatment and non-random research attrition threaten internal and external validity by biasing OLS estimates of the effects of treatment and necessitate use of econometric selection bias correction modeling techniques. Results of these corrected models are then used in subsequent estimates of treatment effects on a variety of outcome measures. After correction, positive treatment effects prove relatively modest. However, subsequent analysis suggests that NOHSAP exerted a critical indirect effect on outcomes by facilitating subject's participation in outside substance abuse groups. We conclude with some observations on the policy implications of the substantive results.
The relationship between lipoprotein levels and xanthomas during progression and regression of atherosclerosis.

Abstract Serum lipid profiles were studied and correlated with the occurrence of xanthomas in male rhesus monkeys during induction and regression of atherosclerosis. Both experiments consisted of equal periods of induction and regression of 14 or 12 months. In one experiment, the animals were fed a stock diet containing 2% cholesterol combined with 25% of a 1 : 1 coconut oil-butterfat mixture; in the other experiment they received a diet of 2% cholesterol with 25% peanut oil. These induction periods were followed by treatment with a low-fat, low-cholesterol or “prudent” diet, with or without cholestyramine. Serum profiles of α-lipoproteins, β-lipoproteins, pre-β-lipoproteins, and chylomicrons in individual sera were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results indicate an inverse relationship between the levels of α-lipoproteins and the incidence and extent of xanthomas. Feeding of peanut oil in particular resulted in low levels of α-lipoproteins accompanied by an absolute elevation of β-lipoproteins and led to a high incidence of xanthomas. These results expand those observed in an earlier study [1]. Appearance of cutaneous xanthomas was correlated with α-lipoprotein levels below 20% for 2–6 months' duration. Levels of α-lipoproteins, and consequently the length of time required for the appearance of xanthomas, was dependent on the diet fed. Conversely, the restoration of α- and β-lipoprotein levels to near normal (α \ 50%; β >/ 30%) resulted in the disappearance of xanthomas by a regimen consisting of cholestyramine and/or therapy diet alone, in 9 and 6 months, while the same results were obtained in 3 months with a combination of both. In any case, a sustained decrease of serum cholesterol levels to below 180 mg/100 ml was necessary for xanthomas to disappear. Using a simple index, a direct relationship has been established between involvement by xanthomas and serum β-lipoproteins, on the one hand, while an inverse relationship has been established between xanthomas and serum α-lipoproteins, on the other. The latter accords with increasing evidence in man that α-lipoprotein levels may influence cholesterol turnover and deposition in tissues.