cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and calibration of an automated Mueller matrix polarization system for skin lesion differentiation

In this paper, we describe the use of the full sixteen element Mueller matrix to differentiate between surface lesions on the skin, as an eventual noninvasive diagnostic technique for detection of certain types of skin cancers. A semi-automated system using a polarized light beam and a computer controlled CCD camera was developed to collect 16 polarization images of a sample and to calculate the complete Mueller matrix in near real time. The system was initially calibrated and the accuracy and precision were evaluated with a mirror and polarizer. This study also includes in vivo results from normal skin, a benign nevus, and a known cancerous lesion acquired from a single Sinclair swine. Differences were observed between the Mueller matrices of all three in vivo cases. These preliminary results demonstrate the potential for using an automated polarization imaging apparatus for eventual clinical cancer diagnostics.
Geometric computation and optimization on tolerance dimensioning

This paper presents an efficient geometric method of tolerance analysis for optimizing dimensioning and providing an optimal processing plan for a discrete part. Geometric primitives are used to represent part features, and dependencies in the dimensions between parts are represented by a topological graph. The ordering of these dependencies can have a significant effect on the tolerance zones in the part. To obtain tolerance zones from the dependencies, the conventional parametric method of tolerance analysis is decomposed into a set of geometric computations, which are combined and cascaded to obtain the tolerance zones in the geometric representations. Geometric optimization is applied to the topological graph in order to find a solution that provides not only an optimal dimensioning scheme but also an optimal plan for manufacturing the physical part. The applications of our method include tolerance analysis, dimension scheme optimization, and process planning.
Weaning Triggers a Decrease in Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand Expression, Widespread Osteoclast Apoptosis, and Rapid Recovery of Bone Mass after Lactation in Mice

A significant portion of milk calcium comes from the mother's skeleton, and lactation is characterized by rapid bone loss. The most remarkable aspect of this bone loss is its complete reversibility, and the time after weaning is the most rapid period of skeletal anabolism in adults. Despite this, little is known of the mechanisms by which the skeleton repairs itself after lactation. We examined changes in bone and calcium metabolism defining the transition from bone loss to bone recovery at weaning in mice. Bone mass decreases during lactation and recovers rapidly after weaning. Lactation causes changes in bone microarchitecture, including thinning and perforation of trabecular plates that are quickly repaired after weaning. Weaning causes a rapid decline in urinary C-telopeptide levels and stimulates an increase in circulating levels of osteocalcin. Bone histomorphometry documented a significant reduction in the numbers of osteoclasts on d 3 after weaning caused by a coordinated wave of osteoclast apoptosis beginning 48 h after pup removal. In contrast, osteoblast numbers and bone formation rates, which are elevated during lactation, remain so 3 d after weaning. The cessation of lactation stimulates an increase in circulating calcium levels and a reciprocal decrease in PTH levels. Finally, weaning is associated with a decrease in levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand mRNA in bone. In conclusion, during lactation, bone turnover is elevated, and bone loss is rapid. Weaning causes selective apoptosis of osteoclasts halting bone resorption. The sudden shift in bone turnover favoring bone formation subsequently contributes to the rapid recovery of bone mass.
Information Revelation in Repeated Delegation

Abstract In a two-period model of repeated delegation with asymmetric information, the policy that is implemented during the first period is used by the delegate to signal his most preferred policy (his type) to the principal. When the utility functions are strictly concave, the set of types who implement a given policy is an interval. Otherwise, there exist equilibrium outcomes in which types have a lower reputation, at the beginning of the second period, than other types, even if the former types are better than the latter from the principal′s point of view. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C72, D72, D82.
Potential applications of hormones to plant and animal tissues as food

A brief overview of the history, biological activity and mechanism of hormone action is presented. Physiological decay of fruits and vegetables resulting from hormonal interaction during plant senescence and stress is discussed and related to the prospect of applying hormones to plant tissue as food. Emphasis is on the recent findings relating plant hormones to hormonal control of plant senescence. The influence of endogenous and applied hormones on biochemical and physiological events postmortem is discussed in reference to animal sources of food. Emphasis is given to the role of hormones in the conversion of muscle to meat.
Quantum Monte Carlo and the hydride ion

The utility of the quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method for the calculation of ground-state electronic energies using simple correlated wavefunctions is examined. Applications are presented for the hydride (H−) ion.
Comparison of mineralization of the tibial epiphyseal plate in immature rats following treatment with cortisone, propylthiouracil or after fasting.

Comparison of mineralization in the hypertrophic zone of the tibial epiphyseal plate in immature rats was carried out after treatment with cortisone, propylthiouracil, or after fasting. Under normal conditions, in the extracellular matrix at the calcification front, calcium and phosphate increased, sulfated mucopolysaccharides decreased, and matrix vesicles, which serve as the locus for the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals, increased. In propylthiouracil-treated rats, hydroxyapatite crystals were prominent, related to an increase in calcium deposition, a decrease of mitochondrial granules (thought to contain calcium and phosphate), an increase in the number of matrix vesicles, and to a marked decrease in the amount of sulfated mucopolysaccharide. In cortisone-treated rats, hydroxyapatite crystals were present but they were not as numerous as in the propylthiouracil-treated rats. Correspondingly, calcium deposition was slightly reduced, mitochondrial granules were more numerous than in the previous groups of rats, matrix vesicles were less numerous, and sulfated mucopolysaccharide were more prominent than in the propylthiouracil-treated rats. In fasted rats, hydroxyapatite crystals were markedly reduced or absent, and related to a decrease in calcium deposition, an increase in the number of mitochondrial granules (suggesting a delay in transport to the extracellular matrix). Matrix vesicles were markedly reduced in number, and sulfated mucopolysaccharide much more prominent than in either the cortisone or the propylthiouracil-treated rats.
Emerging issues for college students in the 1980s.

Abstract This paper considers the emerging themes of the current era and reviews data on topics which will affect students during their lives. These include the choice to remain single, to marry, or to be childless. The impact of maternal employment on children, the determinants of sex roles, and emerging lifestyles including dual-career families and single parent families are also considered. The author emphasizes the complexity of the changes in current society and the need for maintaining a perspective which takes account of multiple variables when drawing conclusions, e.g., maternal work is not the same as maternal deprivation. For those who counsel students this paper is an important source of information about the concerns of students now and for the future.
Design and development of smart skin conformal antenna with mems structural sensors and actuators

Recently there has been considerable interest toward designing and developing `smart skins' for aircraft. The smart skin is a composite layer which may contain conformal radar, conformal microstrip or spiral antennas for electromagnetic applications. These embedded antennas will given rise to very low radar cross section or can be completely `hidden' to tracking radar. In addition, they can be used to detect, monitor or even jam other unwanted electromagnetic field signatures. The conformal electronically steerable antenna may find useful as a communication link between sensors, actuators and controllers in future `smart' aircraft. The smart skin structure containing the antenna should not only compensate for unwanted structural vibration but also maintain the electromagnetic beam steering and power density (beam shaping). This paper is designed to address some technical advances made in the design and development of thin, wideband, conformal antenna architecture that is structurally integratable and both structurally and electronically tunable using multifunctional piezo, ferroelectric and chiral materials.
LEAD EXPOSURE AND RECOVERY RATES OF BLACK DUCKS BANDED IN TENNESSEE

American black ducks (Anas rubripes) wintering in Tennessee during 1986 to 1988 were tested for exposure to lead. Twelve percent of the birds had blood lead concentrations exceeding 0.2 ppm. Significant differences in the prevalence of lead exposure were found for adults (14.4%) and juveniles (8.2%). Exposed birds had higher blood lead concentrations at one study site, corresponding with a lower survival index.
Wisdom poetry trialogue

The underlying assumption in this article is that the work of both wisdom and art is to convey, not so much what has happened, but what always happens. The authors take the term “wisdom poetry” to mean the conveyance of cultural wisdom through poetry—the ways in which a single personal voice can invoke a more universal truth. Kykosa Kajanju (an African Wisdom Keeper and Visiting Professor), Jack Coulehan (a poet physician-internal medicine), and Robert Carroll (a poet physician-psychiatrist) engage in a trialogue on wisdom poetry from each of their unique wisdom and healing traditions. The authors concluded that wisdom can be found in proverbs, the art of medicine, and the acts of everyday life.
Two-way regulation between cells and aligned collagen fibrils: Local 3D matrix formation and accelerated neural differentiation of human decidua parietalis placental stem cells

It has been well established that an aligned matrix provides structural and signaling cues to guide cell polarization and cell fate decision. However, the modulation role of cells in matrix remodeling and the feedforward effect on stem cell differentiation have not been studied extensively. In this study, we report on the concerted changes of human decidua parietalis placental stem cells (hdpPSCs) and the highly ordered collagen fibril matrix in response to cell–matrix interaction. With high-resolution imaging, we found the hdpPSCs interacted with the matrix by deforming the cell shape, harvesting the nearby collagen fibrils, and reorganizing the fibrils around the cell body to transform a 2D matrix to a localized 3D matrix. Such a unique 3D matrix prompted high expression of β-1 integrin around the cell body that mediates and facilitates the stem cell differentiation toward neural cells. The study offers insights into the coordinated, dynamic changes at the cell–matrix interface and elucidates cell modulation of its matrix to establish structural and biochemical cues for effective cell growth and differentiation.
Retention of habituation and sensitization in neonatal rats.

Three- to fifteen-day-old rat pups were tested for retention of habituation and sensitization of the forelimb withdrawal response over retention intervals ranging from 10 sec to 24 hr. Results of these experiments indicated that habituation is a transient phenomenon, being retained for less than 10 min in pups of all ages. In contrast, sensitization, as reflected in increased responding to weak electrical stimulation, is retained for at least 24 hr in 10- and 15-day-old pups indicating that it is not a transient phenomenon due to nonspecific arousal effects and is therefore more similar to an associative learning process. Of equal interest was the finding that long-term retention of sensitization emerged between 6 and 9 days of age, a time when long-term retention of other shock-motivated behaviors has been shown to occur.
Vortex inhibition: A new viscoelastic effect with importance in drag reduction and polymer characterization

We recently reported a new viscoelastic effect, wherein remarkably small quantities of certain high molecular weight polymers inhibit the tendency of water to form a vortex, as it drains from a large tank. This phenomenon is referred to as vortex inhibition (V.I.). Here, we examine the influence of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution on V.I. and the close relationship between those polymers which reduce drag and those which exhibit vortex inhibition. It has also been found that V.I. is a sensitive measure of polymer degradation, much more so than intrinsic viscosity. The significance of these findings in drag reduction, and for macromolecular characterization in general, is discussed.
The AAV origin binding protein Rep68 is an ATP-dependent site-specific endonuclease with DNA helicase activity

Genetic studies of adeno-associated virus (AAV) indicate that two AAV genes are required for viral DNA replication: the palindromic terminal repeat, which is the origin for DNA replication, and the rep gene, which codes for a family of at least four viral nonstructural proteins. To determine the biochemical function of the Rep proteins, we have purified the AAV Rep68 protein to apparent homogeneity. We find that it contains a site-specific and strand-specific endonuclease activity that specifically cuts the AAV origin at the terminal resolution site (TRS). The TRS endonuclease requires the presence of ATP for activity and becomes covalently attached to the 5' end at the cut site. In addition to the specific endonuclease activity, Rep68 also contains a DNA helicase activity. These results demonstrate that the large AAV Rep proteins have a direct role in AAV DNA replication; namely, they provide the activities required for the resolution of covalently joined AAV termini.
Dandy-Walker syndrome presenting as opisthotonus: Proposed pathophysiology

A patient with radiographically confirmed Dandy-Walker syndrome who presented with opisthotonus, a rarely reported clinical manifestation, is reported. From four separate pharmacologic trials (baclofen, diazepam, levodopa/carbidopa, and trihexyphenidyl), combination baclofen and diazepam therapy was determined to be most efficacious. Opisthotonus and extensor posturing remain only rudimentarily understood. We review the subject and propose a specific mechanism relating our patient's anatomic and physiologic conditions.
Comments on ion microfield distributions as used in plasma line broadening theories

Extended ion microfield distribution function for improved transition region line shapes in plasma line broadening theories
Microstructure evolution in aqueous solutions of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and phenol derivatives

Surfactant aggregate microstructure changes induced by the addition of a series of phenolic organic dopants (phenol, cresol, 4-ethyl phenol and 4-n- and i-butyl phenol) to a micellar solution of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) have been studied using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). As the concentration of each of the dopants is increased, there is a systematic reduction in the curvature of the observed microstructures. For phenol and cresol the microstructure changes from globular micelles to rod-like micelles and then to long worm-like micelles. For 4-ethyl phenol and 4-butyl phenol, the microstructure transforms from globular micelles to worm-like micelles to unilamellar vesicles and then bilamellar vesicles. The concentrations at which these morphological transitions take place reduce as the number of methyl substitutions on the phenolic ring is increased. These microstructure transitions are attributed to changes in the packing parameter of the surfactant complex as dopants penetrate to different degrees in the surfactant palisades layer, resulting from a balance of interaction between the surfactant tails and the dopant aromatic chain and the hydrogen bonding of the hydroxyl group with surrounding water. The alignment of the hydroxyl dipoles reduces the electrostatic field around the CTAB head groups, decreases interlayer repulsive interactions and allows membrane fluctuations to stabilize the bilamellar vesicles. These highly tunable microstructures can be exploited for templated materials synthesis, and have implications for the micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration process.
Housing density and various quality-of-life measures among elderly urban dwellers: Some preliminary concepts

The importance of housing to the quality-of-life of the elderly is discussed, and housing density is presented as a possible mediator of that quality. Two gerontological theories of social interaction, activity theory and disengagement theory, are compared for their ability to predict the effect of density upon the elderly. A case study is presented to facilitate that comparison. It is concluded that the general lack of finding deleterious effects of high housing density may be due to the need among the elderly for increased social interaction, as predictable from activity theory.
Comment on “Unwrapping some euro area growth puzzles: Factor substitution, productivity and unemployment”

Abstract This paper estimates the factor elasticity of substitution of the aggregate production function and then uses these estimates to resolve two puzzles relating to the Euro Area. The paper is novel in three ways: First it uses the CES production technology in the empirical strategy to understand real world economic phenomena; second it uses a frontier empirical methodology; and third it uses a new dataset.
Abundance and size of larval fishes outside the entrance to Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina

Synoptic ichthyoplankton sampling was conducted on two transects, one on either side of Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, during the winter immigration season of seven ocean-spawned, estuarine-dependent fishes;Brevoortia tyrannus (Atlantic menhaden),Leiostomus xanthurus (spot),Micropogonias undulatus (Atlantic croaker),Lagodon rhomboides (pinfish),Paralichthys albigutta (Gulf flounder),P. dentatus (summer flounder), andP. lethostigma (southern flounder). Densities and lengths of larvae were significantly different among sampling dates, with distance offshore, and between sides of the inlet. Flood-tide stage had minimal effect on larval densities and lengths except forP. albigutta andP. lethostigma. Changes in larval densities with distance offshore were not coherent among species; densities ofB. tyrammus increased offshore whereas densities of the other species decreased offshore. Average larval densities on a sampling date were coherent among species. Patterns in larval lengths were also coherent among the four non-flounder species. Larval densities outside of Beaufort Inlet were correlated with larval densities inside of Beaufort Inlet. Larval densities outside of Beaufort Inlet were also correlated with the north component of the wind, nearshore water temperature, and distance to the mid-shelf front. Differences in larval density across the inlet were significantly correlated with the east component of the wind. The patterns in larval densities outside of Beaufort Inlet were complex and apparently influenced by both the physical processes that supply larvae to the nearshore region and nearshore physical dynamics.
Relationship of neonatal IgM values to congenital abnormalities and mental retardation.

A controlled prospective study was performed in 3 hospitals to determine whether an elevated cord serum IgM concentration would identify infants with intrauterine infections who would later manifest sequellae of these infections. IgM values were 17 mg. per cent or greater in 1.6 per cent of 4,285 cord serum specimens. The incidence of elevated IgM concentrations was significantly greater in a lower class, predominantly Negro population than in a Caucasian, middle class community. There was no increase in the incidence of congenital malformations or neuromotor abnormalities in infants with elevated cord serum IgM values. The results of this and other studies militate against the routine screening of cord serum IgM levels to detect subclinical intrauterine infection.
Up-regulation of [3H]DTG but not [3H](+)-pentazocine labeled σ sites in mouse spinal cord by chronic morphine treatment

Abstract To monitor the possible effect of morphine on σ sites, binding characteristics of [ 3 H ] (+)-pentazocine and [ 3 H ] 1,3-di-(2-tolyl)guanidine (DTG) to brain and spinal cord membranes of morphine-treated and control mice were compared. For morphine treatment, a single injection (100 mg/kg, s.c.) of morphine was followed 4 h later by pellet implantation (75 mg morphine free base). Animals were sacrificed 24, 72 h or 7 days later. The equilibrium dissociation value (Kd) and the density (Bmax) of [ 3 H ] (+)-pentazocine binding remained unaffected by morphine treatment. Also, no change was found in Kd and Bmax values of [ 3 H ] DTG labeled σ2 subtypes after any morphine treatment schedule when measured in the presence of 100 nM (+)-pentazocine. However, the Bmax of [ 3 H ] DTG binding in the spinal cord in the absence of 100 nM (+)-pentazocine, was significantly elevated 72 h after implantation of the morphine pellet and recovered by 7 days, a time when the antinociceptive effect produced by the morphine pellet had dissipated. These data suggest that one population of σ sites, that has a high affinity for [ 3 H ] DTG, but is not equivalent with the [ 3 H ] (+)-pentozocine labeled σ1 subtype or the [ 3 H ] DTG labeled σ2 subtype, is upregulated by morphine and, therefore, may play a role in the development of tolerance to or dependence on the effects of morphine.
Impact of mecA Gene Testing and Intervention by Infectious Disease Clinical Pharmacists on Time to Optimal Antimicrobial Therapy for Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia at a University Hospital

In patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, intervention by infectious disease clinical pharmacists on the basis of the results of tests for mecA resulted in a 25.4-h reduction in the time to optimal antimicrobial therapy, from 64.7 ± 36.8 to 39.3 ± 15.5 h (P = 0.002), which may result in decreased mortality.
Graph Operations and Zipfian Degree Distributions

Abstract The probability distribution on a set S = {1, 2,…,n} defined by Pr (k) = 1 (H n K) , where Hn is the nth harmonic number, is commonly called a Zipfian distribution. In this note we look at the degree distribution of graphs created from graphs with Zipfian degree distributions using some standard graph theoretical operations.
Dowsing experiments criticized.

MY photograph appeared in Foulkes's article, Dowsing Experiments1, without prior reference to me, and I would like to make the following comments on the article.
Pathfinder3D: A framework for exploring early thermal tradeoffs in 3DIC

Three dimensional integration technologies offer significant potential to improve performance, performance per unit power and integration density. However, increased power density and thermal resistances leading to higher on-chip temperature is imposing several implementation challenges and restricting widespread adaptation of this technology. This necessitates the need for CAD flows and tools facilitating early thermal evaluation of possible 3D design choices and thermal management techniques. This paper presents a CAD flow and associated framework called Pathfinder3D, which facilitates physically-aware system-level thermal simulation of 3DICs. Usage of Pathfinder3D is shown using a case study comparing thermal profiles of 2D and three 3D implementations of a quadcore chip multiprocessor.
Method for Priority-Ranking and Expanding Freeway Service Patrols

Freeway service patrols (FSPs), classified as part of intelligent transportation systems, are programs that use roving vehicles to patrol congested and high-incident sections of freeways; they help to smooth traffic flow by aiding stranded motorists and assisting in incident clearance. Many major urban areas currently have patrols, and most medium-sized urban areas are following suit. The success of FSPs has resulted in frequent requests for service expansion. However, the decision on where to put the next patrol is becoming more difficult because an assessment of greatest need typically indicates that high-priority areas already have the service, whereas the possible effects of the service are often indistinguishable on lower-priority facilities. A new approach was developed to help determine the most beneficial locations for patrol deployment by using expanded placement criteria. North Carolina was used as a case study. Analysis of three incident and crash indexes was combined with spatial analysis, inc...
Status and future of baghouses in the utility industry

Abstract The cumulative years of service of baghouses in the electric utility industry have doubled since the last industrywide review of their operating performance. We have gathered information from all 102 operating baghouses to develop an updated record of how this technology continues to serve the electric utility industry. In general, baghouse performance has met or exceeded the expectations for controlling emissions. There are, however, wide ranges of pressure drop and bag life performance. Most operators report a long-term trend of increasing pressure drop. The life expectancy of filter bags averages 7.5 years, with more than 20% of the population achieving more than 10 years of bag life. Factors such as coal and ash properties certainly affect baghouse operation, but another reason for variations in bag life is the lack of an optimized protocol for controlling the long-term buildup of residual dustcake. We conclude that many baghouses could operate with lower pressure drop and longer bag life by ...
Negative acoustic index metamaterial

Acoustic metamaterials utilizing periodic deep subwavelength resonators can attain negative acoustic properties unavailable in nature. We have developed a negative acoustic index metamaterial for water that combines Helmholtz and rod-spring resonators to control effective bulk modulus and mass density, respectively. Effective properties extracted from full-wave simulations of our metamaterial show that negative real components of bulk modulus and density occur simultaneously, resulting in a negative real component of the acoustic index. Experimental measurements on a sample of this metamaterial confirm that the real components of the acoustic index and bulk modulus attain negative values, but the density does not become negative. The primary causes of this are identified and potential solutions are presented.
Interleukin 17–Producing γδT Cells Promote Hepatic Regeneration in Mice

Background & Aims Subsets of leukocytes synergize with regenerative growth factors to promote hepatic regeneration. γδT cells are early responders to inflammation-induced injury in a number of contexts. We investigated the role of γδT cells in hepatic regeneration using mice with disruptions in Tcrd (encodes the T-cell receptor δ chain) and Clec7a (encodes C-type lectin domain family 7 member a, also known as DECTIN1 ). Methods We performed partial hepatectomies on wild-type C57BL/6, CD45.1, Tcrd −/− , or Clec7a −/− mice. Cells were isolated from livers of patients and mice via mechanical and enzymatic digestion. γδT cells were purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Results In mice, partial hepatectomy up-regulated expression of CCL20 and ligands of Dectin-1, which was associated with recruitment and activation of γδT cells and their increased production of interleukin (IL)-17 family cytokines. Recruited γδT cells induced production of IL-6 by antigen-presenting cells and suppressed expression of interferon gamma by natural killer T cells, promoting hepatocyte proliferation. Absence of IL-17–producing γδT cells or deletion of Dectin-1 prevented development of regenerative phenotypes in subsets of innate immune cells. This slowed liver regeneration and was associated with reduced expression of regenerative growth factors and cell cycle regulators. Conversely, exogenous administration of IL-17 family cytokines or Dectin-1 ligands promoted regeneration. More broadly, we found that γδT cells are required for inflammatory responses mediated by IL-17 and Dectin-1. Conclusions γδT cells regulate hepatic regeneration by producing IL-22 and IL-17, which have direct mitogenic effects on hepatocytes and promote a regenerative phenotype in hepatic leukocytes, respectively. Dectin-1 ligation is required for γδT cells to promote hepatic regeneration.
Bivalent spectator oxo bonds in metathesis and epoxidation alkenes

Several studies suggest the importance of oxygen in the reactive intermediates for alkene metathesis, M=CH2 + H2C=C*H2 ⇌ M=C*H2 + H2C=CH2 (1) and of additional metal=oxo bonds in epoxidations, For example: (1) catalytic amounts of oxygen were found to be essential for the formation of a stable metathesis catalyst in the WCl6/C2H5AlCl2 system1; (2) alkene epoxidation (and general oxidation) reactants such as CrCl2O2, OsO4, and SeO2 all have at least two oxygen ligands2; and (3) recently Osborn (personal communication) has described an Mo=oxo carbene as an effective metathesis catalyst. From extensive ab initio theoretical studies of Cr and Mo complexes, we show here that the presence of spectator metal–oxo bonds drives the formation of metallocycles, thereby playing a crucial role in the chemistry.
Rapid screening of lactic acid bacteria for restriction endonuclease activity

A rapid microscale heparin Sepharose CL-6B affinity gel procedure was developed for detecting restriction endonuclease (RE-Nase) activity in a variety of lactic acid bacteria. RE-Nase-containing extracts free of DNA, RNA and nonspecific nuclease activity can be produced for forty or more strains daily and only 10–12 ml of each log phase culture was required for screening. RE-Nase activity was detected in several streptococci and lactobacilli. With appropriate modifications, this procedure should allow rapid detection of RE-Nase activity in other bacterial species.
Shame, resentment, envy, and pity — A semantic analysis☆

Abstract This article offers an analysis of differences and similarities in the meanings of four Russian lexical entries on the basis of morphological and syntactic data. The four entries are STYD ‘shame’, OBID ‘resentment’, ZAVID ‘envy’, and ŽAL ‘pity’. The analysis demonstrates the validity of Fillmore's distinction between meaning proper and associated presuppositions, and it also demonstrates the pertinence of associated case frames and the viability of case categories proposed by Fillmore. The only additional concepts needed to capture the semantic relationship between the four entries appear to be the ones represented by the oppositions Inferior/Superior, Self/Non-Self, and Property/Activity. The analysis suggests the hypothesis that these oppositions constitute core concepts in the lexicon of psychological phenomena in Russian and perhaps in other languages as well.
MANAGEMENT OF CATASTROPHIC REACTIONS IN CHILDREN

Kurt Goldstein's concept of "the catastrophic reaction" (1939, 1941, 1942) has been utilized primarily to understand the behavioral reactions of brain-damaged patients (Eisenberg, 1957). This paper will present an alternative formulation based upon my finding this phenomenon after any type of severe body injury with residual damage and relating more to specific premorbid personality factors than kinds or areas of injury. I suggest that the catastrophic reaction is a complex of defense mechanisms designed to ward off profound anxiety experienced by a person when massive forms of bodily insult threaten the whole structure of his lifelong adaptive and defensive patterns. The reaction occurs typically in individuals whose characteristic defenses have been predominantly counterphobic and who interpret any failure of function as destruction of their egos and death, a concept similar to the "dread of aphanisis" (Jones, 1929). The following brief clinical sketches are presented as illustrations of this thesis, and offer a basis for discussing the therapeutic implications.
Student Perceptions of Medical Errors: Incorporating an Explicit Professionalism Curriculum in the Third-Year Surgery Clerkship

Among medical educators, there is a universal call for curricula that emphasize development of character, compassion, and integrity. A unique challenge to the development of such curricula is the lack of tools with which to assess student progress. To these ends, we created a curriculum designed to inculcate the values of the surgical profession alongside both fact-based and skill-based learning within the triad of medical school education. Our purposes were 1) the acknowledgment of student fears regarding committing medical errors during their third-year surgical clerkship and 2) the design of curricular content aimed toward a more comprehensive understanding of professionalism using medical error as a paradigm. Third-year clerks on the surgical service were assigned readings, participated in formalized discussions regarding medical errors and ethics, and were required to complete questionnaires that contained open-ended questions pertaining to their concerns, observations, and reactions toward any perceived or actual medical errors they encountered during the third-year surgical clerkship. Questionnaires were analyzed according to themes contained within the students' responses. Most students expressed an initial fear of committing primarily technical medical errors and subsequently causing harm to patients. The dilemma as to whether to speak up against a superior regarding unaddressed medical errors appeared as a frequent theme among the students. New prerotation and postrotation questionnaires have been designed to allow for both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the students' understanding of the gravity of varying types of medical errors and how they relate to medical professionalism.
Earnings Surprise “Materiality” as Measured by Stock Returns

Ranked earnings surprise portfolios formed from First Call files for 1992–97 are used to assess the annual earnings surprise magnitude for an individual firm sufficient to expect a “significant market reaction.” We find that, for an individual firm, the maximum probability of a gain from trading on prior knowledge of any surprise magnitude is .622. The lack of probable trading gains is due to the S–shaped surprise/return relation and the large variance of returns for a given magnitude of surprise. In turn, we find that the S–shape is related empirically to the dispersion of analyst forecasts. Thus, factors underlying dispersion differences are related to the importance or “materiality” of earnings surprise as measured by stock returns and explain at least part of the S–shaped surprise/return relation.
Effects of calcium channel blockers on stimulation-induced changes in transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction

We have examined the effects of various calcium channel blockers on stimulation-induced changes in end-plate potential (EPP) amplitude at the frog neuro-muscular junction. We found that the addition of small concentrations (1–10 μM) of Cd2+ to the low calcium bathing Ringer reduced both the control EPP amplitude and the increase in EPP amplitude that normally occurs during repetitive stimulation under low quantal conditions. These effects of Cd2+, which developed rapidly following its addition to the bathing solution and were equally rapidly reversed, resulted from changes in the amount of transmitter released from the nerve terminal. The major effect of Cd2+ appeared to be on the facilitation and augmentation components of increased release. Cd2+ had little or no effect on potentiation of release. The other divalent cations tested, Zn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+, also decreased both control EPP amplitude and the stimulation-induced increase in EPP amplitude, but higher concentrations (>100 μM) of these cations were required. The order of effectiveness in reducing stimulation-induced increases in EPP amplitude was: Cd2+ >>> Co2+, Zn2+ > Ni2+. The organic calcium channel blockers ver-apamil (20–100 μM) and nimodipine (20–50 μM) had little effect on stimulation-induced increases in EPP amplitude. The results of this study are consistent with previous suggestions that the different components of increased release represent different mechanisms. Furthermore, if Cd2+ is acting by reducing Ca2+ entry into the nerve terminal, then these results suggest that facilitation and augmentation are dependent in some way on Ca2+ entry. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Mutational Analysis of the Baculovirus Inhibitor of Apoptosis Op-IAP

A family of antiapoptotic regulators known as inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) was initially identified and functionally described in baculoviruses, and IAP homologues are now known in insects, birds, and mammals. Baculovirus and Drosophila IAPs inhibit apoptosis induced by Drosophila proapoptotic proteins Reaper, HID, and GRIM and physically interact with them through their baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) region. Here we examined the functional importance of BIR and RING finger motifs of Orgyia pseudotsugata nuclear polyhedrosis virus Op-IAP and D-IAP1 in binding to and inhibiting HID. In the absence of both the BIR1 and RING motifs, the BIR2 regions of Op-IAP and D-IAP1 were able to associate with HID and block HID-induced apoptosis. Mutation of conserved amino acid residues within the BIR and RING finger motifs revealed that the conserved residues within BIR2 were essential for Op-IAP to inhibit apoptosis. However, most of the conserved residues of the BIR2 were not required for HID binding. A region at the carboxy-proximal end of BIR2 was essential for the association of Op-IAP with HID. Thus binding to HID is necessary but not sufficient to block HID-induced apoptosis: the conserved residues within BIR2 must have an additional role in blocking apoptosis. These findings demonstrate that the region encompassing a single BIR of Op-IAP and D-IAP1 can be sufficient for physical interaction with and inhibition of apoptosis induced by HID.
772-1 Localized Intracoronary Delivery of Heparin with Iontophoresis

Previous work by our laboratory has demonstrated successful local delivery of heparin at angioplasty sites with a novel iontophoresis catheter which uses an applied electric field to selectively move charged drug molecules into the arterial wall. In order to assess the safety and efficiency of this technique in the local delivery of heparin in the coronary vasculature, iontophoresis of 3 H-heparin was performed in 16 coronary arteries in 7 anesthetized pigs. All vessels initially underwent conventional balloon angioplasty for 60 seconds at 6 atm using standard angioplasty catheters with a balloonartery ratio of 1.1:1. Iontophoresis at 5 mA was then performed with a similar sized catheter using a heparin concentration of 1000 U/ml, an iontophoretic membrane balloon pressure of 1 atm, and an iontophoresis time of 90 secs. Vessels were subsequently harvested at various times up to 24 hours and counted in a scintillation counter to quantitate intramural heparin deposition and wash-out. Results Heparin iontophoresis in all 16 vessels was well tolerated without change in systemic blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, or coronary angiography. Intramural drug levels are listed below: Number of Vesseis Time of Harvest Intramural Heparin (ug) 4 Immediate 3.70 ± 3.69 4 30 minutes 0.57 ± 0.82 4 60 minutes 0.13 ± 0.16 4 24 hours 0.02 ± 001 Conclusions Heparin can be safely delivered to coronary angioplasty sites using iontophoresis. Although subsequent drug washout occurs rapidly, small amounts of intramural heparin delivered with this technique persist for at least 24 hours.
‘Allergic to everything’: A medical subculture

Abstract With the emerging medical subculture called “clinical ecology,” patients are diagnosed as “allergic” or “environmentally ill” and treated with special techniques and avoidance of whole environments. In reviewing a group of eight persons who had filed worker's compensation claims for injury ostensibly caused by allergic response to substances in the workplace yet who showed no physical evidence of injury, the author found withdrawal from work, a life-style engineered to avoid exposure to putative noxious substances, and an identity as a disabled person.
Role of cdk9 in the Optimization of Expression of the Genes Regulated by ICP22 of Herpes Simplex Virus 1

ICP22 is a multifunctional herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) regulatory protein that regulates the accumulation of a subset of late (γ2) proteins exemplified by UL38, UL41, and US11. ICP22 binds the cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (cdk9) but not cdk7, and this complex in conjunction with viral protein kinases phosphorylates the carboxyl terminus of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) in vitro. The primary function of cdk9 and its partners, the cyclin T variants, is in the elongation of RNA transcripts, although functions related to the initiation and processing of transcripts have also been reported. We report two series of experiments designed to probe the role of cdk9 in infected cells. In the first, infected cells were treated with 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB), a specific inhibitor of cdk9. In cells treated with DRB, the major effect was in the accumulation of viral RNAs and proteins regulated by ICP22. The accumulation of α, β, or γ proteins not regulated by ICP22 was not affected by the drug. The results obtained with DRB were duplicated in cells transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting cdk9 mRNAs. Interestingly, DRB and siRNA reduced the levels of ICP22 but not those of other α gene products. In addition, cdk9 and ICP22 appeared to colocalize with RNA Pol II in wild-type-virus-infected cells but not in ΔUL13-infected cells. We conclude that cdk9 plays a critical role in the optimization of expression of genes regulated by ICP22 and that one function of cdk9 in HSV-1-infected cells may be to bring ICP22 into the RNA Pol II transcriptional complex.
Transition to independence and evidence of extended parental care in the gentoo penguin ( Pygoscelis papua )

We used radio telemetry and observations to study the activity patterns and behavior of gentoo penguin chicks at Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands in 2005 during their “fledging period”; defined as the time between a chick’s first trip to sea and its final dispersal from the breeding colony. Gentoo penguins exhibited delayed dispersal of young and extended parental provisioning, behaviors not observed in other Pygoscelis species. Chicks took their first trip to sea at a mean age of 70 days of age, before finally departing the colony at a mean age of 82 days. During this fledging period, individual chicks made an average of five trips to sea. Trip duration increased significantly as chicks aged, with trips to sea becoming similar to literature values of adult foraging trips in both timing and duration. Behavioral observations and mass dynamics confirmed that many chicks were still being fed during this fledging period, with parental feeding behaviors most often observed in the late afternoon to evening hours. We hypothesize that these behaviors provide an opportunity for chicks to gain experience at sea prior to dispersal and might allow them to develop foraging skills before they are completely independent.
Eimeria tenella Infection in Chickens: Effect on Plasma and Muscle 3-Methylhistidine

Abstract To assess muscle breakdown during avian coccidiosis, the level of the nonmetabolizable amino acid 3-methylhistidine (3MH) was determined in muscle and plasma from chickens infected with the cecal parasite Eimeria tenella. The change in 3MH level during infection was determined in birds, each inoculated with 0 to 200,000 sporulated oocysts. The effect of levels of parasitism was evaluated at 6 d postinoculation. The 3MH levels of plasma and muscle were determined by HPLC after derivatization with fluorescamine. Weight gains, packed cell volumes, and gross lesion scores were also determined. E. tenella infected birds with lesion scores of 3 or 4 had significantly elevated plasma and muscle 3MH, whereas infected birds with lesion scores of 0, 1, or 2 did not have elevated plasma and muscle 3MH; however, there was a linear inverse relationship between weight gain and both plasma and muscle 3MH. The results suggested that muscle breakdown, as assessed by plasma and muscle levels of 3MH, was elevated during the acute stage of E. tenella infection and was most likely associated with anorexia caused by infection. However, the correlation of 3MH levels with severity of infection was not as strong as that previously observed for E. acervulina infection, most likely due to the differences in pathology caused by the two species.
Geezer talk: An emeritus professor looks back

What has this sociologist been doing in the years since his accession to the not quite exalted Emeritus state? Not much sociology, that's for sure. Retired or not, sociologists who don't see each other often have the habit of asking "what you're doing these days," by which they mean "what are you working on." Not to be working on something is an admission of idleness, stagnation, or worse. When I'm asked I usually reply, "Not much, some gardening, some carpentry, cooking, home maintenance; I don't use a cleaning woman, not even a cleaning person; I spent most of a day recently polishing my oak floors. I'm really retired." I had a deviant career (to put the best light on it), making it mostly on my criti cism and my writing skills rather than one timeless project after another. But I was well and quickly rewarded; I belonged to a demographically lucky cohort of Ph.D.'s. No assistant professor anxieties. In my first post-Ph.D. job I was promoted to ten ure by the University of Illinois after three years without even knowing I was being considered for it. No accumulation of files, no gathering of letters of recommenda tion, no ad hoc committees. The head of the department simply informed me one day that I was being promoted. Maybe one of the last gasps of the old boy network. One of the early high points (and an introduction to the ambiguities of university life) was when, as a young academic, I was solicited by The New York Times for articles in its Sunday Book Review and its Magazine. This was met by some of my then senior colleagues with a peculiar combination of envy and disdain?disdain because the Times was a "popular" (i.e., not scholarly) medium, envy because (something I didn't know then) the Times was harder to get into than even the most prestigious of the professional journals. But the highest points were my three years doing the field research for my commune book, followed by the three years run ning the journal Contemporary Sociology?those events being the closest I ever came to creating a community around me, although, as an "alienated" type, I never had much gift for community. I liked teaching too-never burned out on it?espe cially graduate students, though for some of them I was an acquired taste. Still I was most pleased to mentor a bunch of first class Ph.D.'s (inevitably, some medio cre ones as well) to teach theory to first year graduate students and, in a small