cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A High-throughput Method for Measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Conscious Mice

The measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the gold standard in kidney function assessment. Currently, investigators determine GFR by measuring the level of the endogenous biomarker creatinine or exogenously applied radioactive labeled inulin ((3)H or (14)C). Creatinine has the substantial drawback that proximal tubular secretion accounts for ~50% of total renal creatinine excretion and therefore creatinine is not a reliable GFR marker. Depending on the experiment performed, inulin clearance can be determined by an intravenous single bolus injection or continuous infusion (intravenous or osmotic minipump). Both approaches require the collection of plasma or plasma and urine, respectively. Other drawbacks of radioactive labeled inulin include usage of isotopes, time consuming surgical preparation of the animals, and the requirement of a terminal experiment. Here we describe a method which uses a single bolus injection of fluorescein isothiocyanate-(FITC) labeled inulin and the measurement of its fluorescence in 1-2 μl of diluted plasma. By applying a two-compartment model, with 8 blood collections per mouse, it is possible to measure GFR in up to 24 mice per day using a special work-flow protocol. This method only requires brief isoflurane anesthesia with all the blood samples being collected in a non-restrained and awake mouse. Another advantage is that it is possible to follow mice over a period of several months and treatments (i.e. doing paired experiments with dietary changes or drug applications). We hope that this technique of measuring GFR is useful to other investigators studying mouse kidney function and will replace less accurate methods of estimating kidney function, such as plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen.
The Work of Performativity: Staging Social Justice at the University of Southern California

In this paper we offer an alternative reading of the role of performativity and everyday forms of resistance in current geographic literature. We make a case for thinking about performativity as a form of embodied dialectical praxis via a discussion of the ways in which performativity has been recently understood in geography. Turning to the tradition of Marxist revolutionary theater, we argue for the continued importance of thinking about the power of performativity as a socially transformative, imaginative, and collective political engagement that works simultaneously as a space of social critique and as a space for creating social change. We illustrate our point by examining two different performative strategies employed by food service workers at the University of Southern California in their struggle for a fair work contract and justice on the job.
Airborne mutagens produced by frying beef, pork and a soy-based food

Airborne cooking by-products from frying beef (hamburgers), pork (bacon strips) and soybean-based food (tempeh burgers) were collected, extracted, tested for mutagenicity and chemically analysed. The fumes generated by frying pork and beef were mutagenic, with 4900 and 1300 revertants/g of food cooked, respectively. No mutagenicity was detected in fumes from frying tempeh burgers. Bacon fried to a well-done but non-charred state was eight times more mutagenic in a microsuspension Ames/Salmonella test (TA98 with S-9) than hamburgers and about 350 times more mutagenic than tempeh burgers. Among food samples cooked to a well-done, non-charred state, bacon strips had almost 15-fold more mass (109.5 ng/g) than that of the beef, whereas no heterocyclic amine (HCA) was detected in the fried tempeh burgers. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was the most abundant HCA, followed by 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (DiMeIQx). No 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (A alpha C) was detected in the food samples fried at about 200 degrees C, although it was present in the collected airborne products. The total amounts of HCAs in the smoke condensates were 3 ng/g from fried bacon, 0.37 ng/g from fried beef and 0.177 ng/g from fried soy-based food. This study indicates that cooks are potentially exposed to relatively high levels of airborne mutagens and carcinogens and that long-term sampling inside restaurants and kitchens may be warranted in order to assess the potential risk of prolonged exposure.
A mathematical analysis for indentation tests of articular cartilage.

Abstract A mathematical model is developed for indentation tests of articular cartilage. The cartilage, normally bonded to the subchondral bone, is modeled as an infinite elastic layer bonded to a rigid half space, and the indenter is assumed to be a rigid axisymmetric punch. The problem is formulated as a mixed boundary value problem of the theory of elasticity and solutions are obtained for the indentation of the layer by the plane end of a rigid circular cylinder and by a rigid sphere. Subject to detailed verification with independent tests, the present solutions are suggested as useful for the determination of the elastic shear modulus of intact cartilage.
Relaxation cascade in solids: microscopic theory

The relaxation of an electron excited to the high energy region, is accompanied by the creation of various excitations (plasmons, quasi-particles, phonons). The stages of this many-body, non-stationary phenomenon (cascade) are described microscopically. The electron distribution function n(ɛ, t) and characteristic times for the whole energy range, are calculated.
Improved many-body perturbation theory calculations of the n=2 states of lithiumlike uranium.

A recent calculation of the spectrum of the {ital n}=2 states of lithiumlike uranium is improved by a more accurate treatment of the effect of finite nuclear size and a more complete calculation of higher-order corrections to Breit and mass-polarization contributions. Predictions for the 2{ital s}{sub 1/2}-2{ital p}{sub 1/2} and 2{ital p}{sub 1/2}-2{ital p}{sub 3/2} splittings, incorporating a phenomenological treatment of radiative corrections, are presented.
A Comparison of the Binding Specificities of Lectins from Ulex Europaeus and Lotus Tetragonolobus

The L-fucose-binding lectins present in the seeds of Ulex europaeus and Lotus tetragonolobus have been isolated by affinity chromatography. The binding specificities of the lectins were compared by hemagglutination inhibition analysis. The lectins behaved similarly with respect to a variety of synthetic saccharides. D-Fucose derivatives were inactive as inhibitors. In general, the alpha -L-fucopyranosyl derivatives were better inhibitors than the beta-L-fucopyranosyl derivatives. Aromatic aglycones increased the inhibitory activity of the saccharides with p-nitrophenyl-alpha-L-fucopyranoside being one of the best inhibitors. The major difference between the two lectins was the observation that the Ulex lectin required higher concentrations of saccharides to bring about complete inhibition of hemagglutination than did the Lotus lectin.
A property of partially specified automata

A partially specified finite automation is one whose flow table is not completely specified. Given a partially specified automaton, we want to determine whether it is possible to complete its flow table so that the resultant automaton will have a finite memory span.
`Would you like fries with that, Sir?' The evolution of management theories and the rise and fall of total quality management within the American federal government

This article examines the introduction, domination, and diminution of Total Quality Management (TQM) and its allied managerial strategies in the United States federal bureaucracy over the past two ...
Enforced Pax6 expression rescues alcohol induced defects of neuronal differentiation in cultures of human cortical progenitor cells

Background Alcohol is the most widely consumed substance of abuse, and its use during pregnancy can lead to serious disorders of brain development. The precise molecular action of alcohol on human brain development, however, is still unknown. We previously enriched multipotent progenitor cells, radial glia (RG) cells, from human fetal forebrain and demonstrated that they express transcription factor Pax6 that is necessary for their neurogenic fate. Methods Enriched human fetal RG cells were maintained in vitro as either control or Pax6-expressing retrovirus infected cells. Cultures were treated with increasing doses of alcohol to evaluate Pax6 expression, proliferation, and differentiation of RG cells by immunocytochemistry, Western blot, and RT-PCR methods. Results In vitro treatment with alcohol reduced the expression of transcription factor Pax6 and proliferation of RG cells, which decreased neurogenesis. Consistent with this finding, the overexpression of Pax6 in RG cells under alcohol treatment rescued cell proliferation and restored the generation of neurons. In contrast to this effect on neurogenesis, the overexpression of Pax6 inhibits the generation of astroglia regardless of alcohol treatment, implying lineage-specific effects. Conclusions These findings suggest that the effect of alcohol on human neurogenesis is partially due to the reduced expression of transcription factor Pax6 in RG cells.
Evaluation of 2 multiplex real-time PCR assays for the detection of HSV-1/2 and Varicella zoster virus directly from clinical samples

We compared the performance of 2 multiplex assays (Focus Simplexa and Quidel Lyra) to individual real-time PCR for the detection of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and Varicella zoster virus (VZV) from clinical specimens. Results were compared to a consensus standard, defined as the result obtained by at least 2 of the 3 molecular methods. The sensitivity of the Quidel assay ranged from 92.0% for HSV-1 to 97.7% for HSV-2, while the specificity for all targets was 100%. The Focus assay demonstrated 100% sensitivity for all targets, and the percent specificity ranged from 96.8% for HSV-1 to 100% for HSV-2 and VZV.
Transfer testing after serial feature-ambiguous discrimination in Pavlovian keypeck conditioning

Four experiments were performed to explore modulatory transfer after serial feature-ambiguous (F-A) discrimination (X→A+, A−, X→B−, B+) in Pavlovian keypeck conditioning (autoshaping) with pigeons. Diffuse features were used in the first three experiments, and no modulatory transfer was found: (1) There was no modulatory transfer between two concurrently trained F-A tasks; (2) modulatory transfer to conditioned and then extinguished stimuli was not observed; and (3) responding to the targets (A and B) after their contingencies were reversed was not affected by presentation of their original feature stimulus (X). Transfer between two serial F-A tasks was obtained in the last experiment, in which keylights were used as features, but other evidence indicated that this was due to stimulus generalization between the features. Together, the results strongly suggest that specific target-food occasion setting or configural learning is the underlying mechanism of F-A discrimination.
Sphincter of oddi manometry: is it necessary to measure both biliary and pancreatic sphincter pressures?

Abstract Background: Data are scant on the miss rate of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction if basal pressure in both biliary and pancreatic sphincter segments is not measured during manometry. Methods: Motility tracings with basal pressure measurements of both sphincter segments were retrospectively analyzed. Basal sphincter pressure greater than 40 mm Hg was considered abnormal in either sphincter segment. Results: The study population consisted of 73 subjects (64 women, 9 men; age 45.3 ± 1.6 yr). The basal pressures in the 2 sphincter segments were highly discordant (correlation coefficient=0.2, p = 0.04). Basal pressures were normal in both segments in 19%, abnormal in both segments in 40%, and abnormal in 1 segment but normal in the other in 41%. The negative predictive value of normal biliary sphincter pressure in excluding sphincter dysfunction was 0.42; when the pancreatic sphincter pressure was normal, the negative predictive value was 0.58. The incidence of pancreatitis with dual duct manometry was comparable to the institutional experience with all sphincter studies. Conclusions: Although the clinical relevance of individually elevated sphincter pressures remains uncertain, there is significant discordance of basal pressures between the biliary and pancreatic sphincter segments. If only the biliary sphincter pressure were to be measured, one fourth of abnormal sphincter pressures would be missed. Therefore, if the first sphincter segment has a normal basal pressure, the other segment should also be evaluated. (Gastrointest Endosc 2000;52:183-6.)
Rayleigh, the Unit for Light Radiance

A 0.7% accurate formula is derived for the easy conversion of power spectral radiance Lλ in W cm−2 sr−1μm−1 to rayleigh spectral radiance Rλ in rayleigh/μm, Rλ = 2πλLλ × 1013, where the wavelength λ is in μm. The rationale for the rayleigh unit is discussed in terms of a photon rate factor and a solid angle factor. The latter is developed in terms of an equivalence theorem about optical receivers and extended sources, and the concept is extended to the computation of photon volume emission rates from altitude profiles of zenith radiance.
Combinatorial data analysis: Association and partial association

A combinatorial data analysis strategy is reviewed that is designed to compare two arbitrary measures of proximity defined between the objects from some set. Based on a particular cross-product definition of correspondence between these two numerically specified notions of proximity (typically represented in the form of matrices), extensions are then pursued to indices of partial association that relate the observed pattern of correspondence between the first two proximity measures to a third. The attendant issues of index normalization and significance testing are discussed; the latter is approached through a simple randomization model implemented either through a Monte Carlo procedure or distributional approximations based on the first three moments. Applications of the original comparison strategy and its extensions to partial association may be developed for a variety of methodological and substantive tasks. Besides rank correlation, we emphasize the topics of spatial autocorrelation for one variable and spatial association between two and mention the connection to the usual randomization approach for one-way analysis-of-variance.
The eye and the eosinophil

Recent work has highlighted the eosinophil's role as an effector cell in a wide array of disease entities, including parasitic infections and allergic and nonallergic diseases. The eosinophil is filled with granules containing toxic cationic proteins, capable of harming tissue when released to the extracellular space. In the eye, toxic eosinophil cationic granule proteins have been encountered in conjunctiva, cornea, tears, and contact lenses of patients suffering from ocular allergy, suggesting an effector role for the eosinophil in the ophthalmic manifestations of atopy. Laboratory investigations indicate that eosinophil granule major basic protein, the principal eosinophil granule protein, may adversely influence corneal epithelium, and promote corneal ulceration in the severest forms of ocular allergy. Further, the eosinophil may play a contributory pathophysiologic role in some nonallergic ophthalmic diseases such as Wegener's granulomatosis, orbital pseudo-tumor, and histiocytosis X. The eosinophil's morphologic, immunologic, and biochemical characteristics will be reviewed and its role in certain ophthalmic diseases thoroughly examined.
Hormone action at the membrane level. I. Properties of adenyl cyclase in isolated plasma membranes of rat liver.

Abstract Membarne bound adenyl cyclase in isolated rat liver plasma membranes exhibits a requirement for Mg 2+ and has optimal activity near pH 8.0. The optimal concentration of ATP is approx. 0.3 mM at a Mg 2+ concentration of 1.0 mM. Ca 2+ at a concentration range of 0.03–0.3 mM stimulates the basal activity of this enzyme. The enzyme activity is abolished by 1 min heating at 100°. Detergents such as Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate alter the membrane structure and slightly enhance the enzyme actively, whereas sodium deoxycholate slightly inhibits the enzyme. Glucagon and epinephrine stimulate whereas insulin inhibits adenyl cyclase activity. When studied under identical conditions on the same membrane preparation the glucagon stimulation is seen earlier and at a lover hormone concentration (1 · 10 −6 M) than is the epinephrine stimulation which requires 10 −5 M hormone. The inhibition by insulin is seen at 1 · 10 −5 M or greater. The stimulation by glucagon is inhibited by 1 · 10 −4 –1 · 10 −5 M Ca 2+ but the stimulation by epinephrine is enhanced by 1 · 10 −4 –1 · 10 −5 M Ca 2+ . Moreover, epinephrine enhances, whereas glucagon inhibits the binding of Ca 2+ to the membrane. Studies on the combined effects of the hormones show that the stimulation by glucagon plus epinephrine is not additive and that insulin antogonizes the glucagon stimulation of adenyl cyclase. Na + inhibits the basal activity of adenyl cyclase but K + stimulates the enzyme. F − inhibits the enzyme. These results point to a complex interplay of hormones and metal ions with the membrane bound adenyl cyclase.
Abstract B258: Investigating PERK biological pathway using protein/peptide microarrays and SAR with small molecule inhibitors

Accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic occurs when the cell is subject to stress caused by various pathological conditions such as hypoxia, viral infection, and glucose depravation. Under such stress the cell will initiate an unfolded protein response (UPR), a protective mechanism that is specifically designed to re‐establish homeostasis and normal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function. This adaptive mechanism inhibits overall protein translation, but enhances the translation of a small number of key stress response proteins that will clear the ER of unfolded proteins and send them to the cytoplasm for degradation. The UPR is initiated by several proteins such as IRE1a, ATF6a and PERK, the later being a key Ser/Thr protein kinase in UPR signaling. In response to inducers of ER stress, BiP (GRP78) dissociates from the luminal ER domain of PERK, resulting in the oligomerization, autophosphorylation, and activation of PERK which in turn phosphorylates eIF‐2a on Ser51 and Nrf2 (unknown site of phosphorylation). In order to further identify potential substrates for PERK, this enzyme was tested against large protein and peptide microarrays. A significant number of proteins and peptides in the microarrays were found to be phosphorylated by PERK. After additional selection, several of these substrates were further characterized using a microfluidic mobility‐shift assay and submitted to LC/MS analysis to identify the site of phosphorylation by PERK. These newly identified peptide substrates were used to develop a robust biochemical assay for the testing of small molecule inhibitors of PERK activity. A limited SAR was established for a set of compounds against PERK and two other related protein kinases, GCN2 and PKR. One of the most potent and selective PERK inhibitors was found to modulate PERK cellular signaling as evidenced by blocking the phosphorylation of (Ser51)eIF‐2a as judged by Elisa and Western blot analysis. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B258.
Reasons, rules and the ring of experience: Reading our world into Carlos Castaneda's works

Don Juan said that my body was disappearing and only my head was going to remain, and in such a condition the only way to stay awake and move around was by becoming a crow ... He ordered me to straighten up my head and put it on my chin. He said that in the chin were the crow's legs. He commanded me to feel the legs and observe that they were coming out slowly. He then said ... that the tail would come out of my neck. He ordered me to extend the tail like a fan, and to feel how it swept the floor ... I had no difficulty whatsoever eliciting the corresponding sensations to each one of his commands. I had the perception of growing bird's legs, which were weak and wobbly at first. I felt the tail coming out of the back of my neck and wings out of my cheekbones. ... When don Juan directed me to grow a beak, I had an annoying sensation of lack of air. The something bulged out and created a block in front of me. But it was not until don Juan directed me to see laterally that my eyes actually were capable of having a full view to the side... (Castaneda, 1968, pp. 172–174)
Photon-induced electron attachment and electron detachment chemistry of p-benzoquinone and its methylated derivatives

Abstract Two aspects of the simultaneous interaction of low-energy electrons and light with p -benzoquinone (BQ) and three methyl- substituted BQs are characterized here using an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer (APIMS) and a photode- tachment-modulated electron capture detector (PDM-ECD). An optically enhanced electron capture reaction by BQ is shown to occur by a mechanism involving the photochemical production of the dimer, (BQ) 2 , followed by electron capture by this species. Electron photodetachment cross sections of the benzoquinone negative ions are also reported here for the first time and indicate that the structures of the parent neutrals and molecular anions are significantly different.
SYNTHESIS OF LONG-CHAIN SATURATED AND UNSATURATED DIALKYL PHOSPHATES BY MEANS OF CYCLIC ENEDIOL PYROPHOSPHATES

Abstract Symmetrical and unsymmetrical long-chain (C12–C18) saturated and unsaturated dialkyl phosphates are synthesized in 75–85% overall yields from the alcohols R1OH and R2OH by means of cyclic enediol phosphoryl (CEP) derivatives, di(1,2-dimethylethenylene) pyrophosphate, 1,2-dimethylethenylene phosphorochloridate, and N-(1,2-dimethylethenedioxyphosphoryl)imidazole.
Dietary production of gastric ulcers in rats and prevention by tocopherol administration.

Conclusions1. Ulcers in the forestomach were induced in rats: (a) Recovering from vitamin A-deficiency with 2, 30, or 300 units vit. A daily, (b) Recovering from a vit. B6 deficiency with suboptimal amounts (1, 2, or 4 γ daily) of pyridoxine. (c) Recovering from an essential fatty acid deficiency with 20 mg of linoleate daily.2. Deficiencies of these 3 essentials did not, in themselves, result in lesions. The ulcers occurred only during the curative period in which the specific nutrient was fed.3. α-Tocopherol fed daily to the rats during the cure of the specific deficiency gave complete protection. γ-Tocopherol orally was also effective, but a-tocopheryl phosphate injected was not.4. The amount of fat in the diet was related to the incidence of stomach ulcers in the vitamin A experiments. Ten per cent gave good protection. Five per cent allowed moderately severe lesions, which were preventable by tocopherol. Fat-low diets gave very severe lesions not preventable by the level of tocopherol fed, 0.5 mg daily.
Two Protein-tyrosine Phosphatases Inactivate the Osmotic Stress Response Pathway in Yeast by Targeting the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase, Hog1 *

Protein phosphatases inactivate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways by dephosphorylating components of the MAPK cascade. Two genes encoding protein-tyrosine phosphatases, PTP2, and a new phosphatase, PTP3, have been isolated in a genetic selection for negative regulators of an osmotic stress response pathway called HOG, for high osmolarity glycerol, in budding yeast. PTP2 and PTP3 were isolated as multicopy suppressors of a severe growth defect due to hyperactivation of the HOG pathway. Phosphatase activity is required for suppression since mutation of the catalytic Cys residue in Ptp2 and Ptp3, destroys suppressor function and biochemical activity. The substrate of these phosphatases is likely to be the MAPK, Hog1. Catalytically inactive Ptp2 and Ptp3 coprecipitate with Hog1 from yeast extracts. In addition, strains lacking PTP2 and PTP3 do not dephosphorylate Hog1-phosphotyrosine as well as wild type. The latter suggests that PTP2 and PTP3 play a role in adaptation. Consistent with this role, osmotic stress induces expression of PTP2 and PTP3 transcripts in a Hog1-dependent manner. Thus Ptp2 and Ptp3 likely act in a negative feedback loop to inactivate Hog1.
Neuroprotection by metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists: LY354740, LY379268 and LY389795

Abstract In rat cortical neuronal cultures, metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor agonists: LY354740 (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate); LY379268 (−)-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate, and LY389795 (−)-2-thia-4-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate, were neuroprotective against toxicity induced by N-methyl- d -aspartic acid (NMDA), kainic acid and staurosporine as measured by release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity into culture supernatants and DNA fragmentation by oligonucleosome formation. The potencies of the agonists were at least 100 times greater in reducing nucleosome formation than LDH release indicating a differential effect on neurons dying by apoptosis than by necrosis. In vivo studies showed that LY354740 was able to mediate a partial protection against apoptosis in CA1 hippocampal cells under ischaemic conditions where substantial CA1 cell loss occurred. The effects of the agonists in vitro were: (a) reversed by mGlu receptor antagonist LY341495, (b) enhanced by the presence of glial cells, (c) abrogated by RNA and protein synthesis inhibitors, and (d) unaltered by inhibition of endogenous adenosine activity. These results suggest that group II mGlu receptor agonists may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Adam Sedgwick and Mrs. Skinner

Adam Sedgwick's (1785-1873) letters between 1846 and 1855 addressed to Mrs. Skinner, wife of the Rev. George Skinner of King's College, Cambridge, reveal a welcome and much appreciated friendship. Sedgwick was between 61 and 71 years old at the time and in poor health. During this time his delayed Cambrian geology was published, and he apparently felt frustrated by his workload and/or still felt victimized under Roderick Murchison's (1792-1871) blows. No wonder he complains to Mrs. Skinner "Tantalus had no easy time of it; but he was a blessed man compared to me."
Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Physical and Mental Health of College Students

The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the effects of Tai Chi Quan, a body-mind harmony exercise, on college students' perceptions of their physical and mental health. A three-month intervention of Tai Chi exercise was administered to college students, and multidimensional physical (PHD) and mental (MHD) health scores were assessed using the SF-36v2 health survey questionnaire before and after the intervention. Thirty college students participated in a 1-hour-long Tai Chi exercise intervention twice a week for 3 months. Each practice session included 10 minutes of breathing and stretching exercises followed by 50 minutes of Tai Chi Quan 24-form practice. PHD including physical function (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), and MHD including social function (SF), role mental/emotion function (RE), vitality (VT), perceptions of mental health (MH) were assessed. The normalized scores of each variable and the combined PHD or MHD scores before and after the Tai Chi intervention were examined by paired t-test (p < 0.05). Physical measures of BP and GH, and mental measures of RE, VT and MH were significantly improved after Tai Chi exercise intervention. When the overall PHD or MHD scores were evaluated, the MHD had increased significantly. In conclusion, Tai Chi exercise had positive effects on the self-assessed physical and mental health of college students. Scores on the mental health dimension appeared to be particularly sensitive to change. Colleges/universities might consider offering Tai Chi as a component of their ongoing physical activity programs available to students.
Process analytic models of creative capacities: Evidence for the combination and reorganization process

Abstract: Many cognitive processes contribute to the generation of novel problem solutions. One important process involves the combination and reorganization of extant knowledge structures. The present study provided empirical evidence for the significance of this process. Subjects were presented with exemplars drawn from multiple a priori categories. They were asked to (a) combine these a priori categories to generate a new category, (b) provide exemplars of the elements included in this category, and (c) write a story involving this category. The quality and originality of these products was evaluated under conditions where the relatedness of the a priori categories was varied along with exemplar typicality and instructional set. It was found that category relationships and instructional set influenced solution quality and originality. The implications of these findings for understanding creative problem solving and the category combination process were considered
Fullness of connes spectra and the connes hopf kernel

Let H be a finite dimensional, semisimple Hopf algebra over a field K and let A be an H- module algebra. Assume K is a splitting field for H and that H is strongly semiprime. If A is H- semiprime, we show the Connes spectrum of H acting on A consists of all of the irreducible representations of H is equivalent to every nonzero annihilator ideal of the smash product meets A nontrivially. If H is also cocommutative, we let I′ be the intersection of the annihilators of the modules in the Connes spectrum. We find some of the information encoded in the Hopf kernel of the natural map from H to H/I′.
Mechanisms, mechanics and function of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions in early development

Abstract Epithelial–mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) are an important mechanism for reorganizing germ layers and tissues during embryonic development. They have both a morphogenic function in shaping the embryo and a patterning function in bringing about new juxtapositions of tissues, which allow further inductive patterning events to occur [Genesis 28 (2000) 23]. Whereas the mechanics of EMT in cultured cells is relatively well understood [reviewed in Biochem. Pharmacol. 60 (2000) 1091; Cell 105 (2001) 425; Bioessays 23 (2001) 912], surprisingly little is known about EMTs during embryonic development [reviewed in Acta Anat. 154 (1995) 8], and nowhere is the entire process well characterized within a single species. Embryonic (developmental) EMTs have properties that are not seen or are not obvious in culture systems or cancer cells. Developmental EMTs are part of a specific differentiative path and occur at a particular time and place. In some types of embryos, a relatively intact epithelium must be maintained while some of its cells de-epithelialize during EMT. In most cases de-epithelialization (loss of apical junctions) must occur in an orderly, patterned fashion in order that the proper morphogenesis results. Interestingly, we find that de-epithelialization is not always necessarily tightly coupled to the expression of mesenchymal phenotypes. Developmental EMTs are multi-step processes, though the interdependence and obligate order of the steps is not clear. The particulars of the process vary between tissues, species, and specific embryonic context. We will focus on ‘primary’ developmental EMTs, which are those occurring in the initial epiblast or embryonic epithelium. ‘Secondary’ developmental EMT events are those occurring in epithelial tissues that have reassembled within the embryo from mesenchymal cells. We will review and compare a number of primary EMT events from across the metazoans, and point out some of the many open questions that remain in this field.
Numerical investigation of ultrasonic attenuation through 2D trabecular bone structures reconstructed from CT scans and random realizations

In this paper, we compare ultrasound interrogations of actual CT-scanned images of trabecular bone with artificial randomly constructed bone. Even though it is known that actual bone does not have randomly distributed trabeculae, we find that the ultrasound attenuations are close enough to cast doubt on any microstructural information, such as trabeculae width and distance between trabeculae, being gleaned from such experiments. More precisely, we perform numerical simulations of ultrasound interrogation on cancellous bone to investigate the phenomenon of ultrasound attenuation as a function of excitation frequency and bone porosity. The theoretical model is based on acoustic propagation equations for a composite fluid-solid material and is solved by a staggered-grid finite-difference scheme in the time domain. Numerical experiments are performed on two-dimensional bone samples reconstructed from CT-scanned images of real human calcaneus and from random distributions of fluid-solid particles generated via the turning bands method. A detailed comparison is performed on various parameters such as the attenuation rate and speed of sound through the bone samples as well as the normalized broadband ultrasound attenuation coefficient. Comparing results from these two types of bone samples allows us to assess the role of bone microstructure in ultrasound attenuation. It is found that the random model provides suitable bone samples for ultrasound interrogation in the transverse direction of the trabecular network.
Effects of practice on sex-related differences in performance on Embedded Figures

Men and women Ss were tested in an extended series of 68 Embedded Figures. The initial significant sex-related mean difference in discovery times was reduced to almost zero by the final trials. All Ss showed improvement with practice.
Neuromodulation by Glutamate and Acetylcholine can Change Circuit Dynamics by Regulating the Relative Influence of Afferent Input and Excitatory Feedback

Substances such as acetylcholine and glutamate act as both neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. As neuromodulators, they change neural information processing by regulating synaptic transmitter release, altering baseline membrane potential and spiking activity, and modifying long-term synaptic plasticity. Slice physiology research has demonstrated that many neuromodulators differentially modulate afferent, incoming information compared to intrinsic and recurrent processing in cortical structures such as piriform cortex, neocortex, and the hippocampus. The enhancement of afferent (external) pathways versus the suppression at recurrent (internal) pathways could cause cortical dynamics to switch between a predominant influence of external stimulation to a predominant influence of internal recall. Modulation of afferent versus intrinsic processing could contribute to the role of neuromodulators in regulating attention, learning, and memory effects in behavior.
Ultraviolet Insights: Attempting to Resolve Enigmatic Patterns in Pelagic Freshwaters – The Historical Context and a View to the Future

While great advances have been made in our understanding of pelagic freshwater communities and ecosystems in recent years, several unexplained patterns continue to evade our understanding. While no single factor can explain these enigmatic patterns, recent increases in our understanding of the ecology of ultraviolet radiation (UV) are consistent with UV playing an important role. Here we present a brief overview of why UV has historically received so little attention in pelagic freshwater ecosystems, review some of the important aspects of the ecology of UV that are important to these enigmatic patterns, and discuss how this new understanding of the ecology of UV may provide some insights into these previously unexplained patterns.
The effect of stir bar size and shape on quantitative platelet aggregation.

Abstract The effect of stir bar size and shape on quantitative platelet aggregation induced by ristocetin, soluble collagen, a connective tissue suspension, ADP and epinephrine was studied under controlled conditions. In general, stir bars which mixed more effectively (as determined by a dye dilution assay) gave greater aggregation. Small differences in stir bar length resulted in significant differences in aggregation and could make the difference between the presence or absence of second waves of ADP and epinephrine aggregation. The second wave of epinephrine aggregation was enhanced by stir bars cut from steel wire, apparently as a result of forces generated by the sharp edges. Quantitative platelet aggregation should be carefully controlled for stir bar size and shape in addition to mixing speed.
High resolution energy-loss spectroscopy

Abstract In principle, Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy in the Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope can obtain information related to the electronic structure of single defect structures in semiconductors. The instrumental requirements necessary to accomplish this are discussed. Examples include: Si and GaAs interband excitations, graphite EXELFS analysis, and surface and defect induced structure at the SiL 2,3 edge.
Vascular Plug-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration of Portosystemic Shunts for Refractory Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Case Report

While balloon-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) has been used for two decades in Asia for the management of gastric variceal bleeding, it is still an emerging therapy elsewhere. Given the shunt closure brought about by the procedure, BRTO has also been used for the management of portosystemic encephalopathy with promising results. Modified versions of BRTO have been developed, including plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (PARTO), where a vascular plug is deployed within a portosystemic shunt. To our knowledge, we present the first North American case of PARTO in the setting of a large splenorenal shunt for the management of portosystemic encephalopathy.
Simulations of the Field-Reversed Configuration with the NIMROD Code

The recently formed Plasma Science and Innovation Center (PSI-Center) is refining the NIMROD code to simulate field-reversed configurations (FRCs). The NIMROD code can resolve highly anisotropic heat conduction and viscosity. This, combined with its ability to include two-fluid effects, allows us to capture more detailed physics than previous calculations. Some initial simulations are focused on 2D (n = 0 only) non-linear two-fluid simulations. We present initial validations of a translating FRC and note good conservation of density and magnetic flux. As a validation of the effects of anisotropic thermal conduction, we present a comparison of an FRC with standard thermal transport to one with anisotropic conduction. Two-fluid simulations are shown which produce significant spin-up due to the end-shorting boundary condition. Finally, simulations of the tilt instability are presented, which show that Hall physics significantly retards, but does not eliminate the growth rate.
A behavioral summary for completely random nets

This paper characterizes the cycle structure of a completely random net. Variables such as number of cycles of a specified length, number of cycles, number of cyclic states and length of cycle are studied. A square array of indicator variables enables convenient study of moment structure. Additionally, exact and asymptotic distributional results are presented.
Inhibition of growth of MCF-7 MIII human breast carcinoma in nude mice by treatment with agonists or antagonists of LH-RH.

Human breast carcinoma (MCF-7 MIII), which exhibits an estrogen-independent but estrogenresponsive phenotype, was xenografted in 8–9-week-old intact female athymic nude mice without estrogen supplementation. In this model, we investigated inhibitory effects of the modern luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone (LH-RH) antagonist SB-75 and the agonist D-Trp6-LH-RH. The analogs were administered in the form of sustained delivery systems (microcapsules and microgranules). In the first experiment, treatment lasted 10 weeks. After 9 weeks of treatment, a significant inhibition of tumor volume was first found only in the group treated with SB-75, but the final tumor volume was significantly suppressed both by D-Trp6-LH-RH and SB-75. In the second experiment, treatment was started 70 days after tumor transplantation and was continued for 6 weeks. Chronic treatment with SB-75 or D-Trp6-LH-RH appeared to completely arrest tumor growth as measured by tumor volume, percentage change in tumor volume, and tumor weight. Serum estradiol was suppressed to undetectable levels and LH levels were also diminished. Histologically, the regressive changes in the treated tumors were due to the enhancement of apoptosis (programmed cell death) of tumor cells. Membrane receptor assays showed that LH-RH binding sites were down-regulated in tumor cells after treatment with SB-75 or D-Trp6-LH-RH. The results indicate that the antagonist SB-75, released from sustained delivery systems, can inhibit the growth of MCF-7 MIII tumors as effectively as the agonist D-Trp6-LH-RH, but more rapidly. In view of its immediate blockade of the pituitary-gonadal axis and the absence of side effects, the LH-RH antagonist SB-75 might be considered as a possible new hormonal agent for the treatment of breast cancer.
Quark-gluon transport theory I. The classical theory

Abstract A classical relativistic kinetic theory for a plasma with non-Abelian gauge interactions is formulated. After the local equilibrium solutions for the quark distribution function are found, the associated moment equations and their near-equilibrium expansion, leading to a set of relativistic chromohydrodynamical equations for viscous colored fluids, are studied.
AIR FLOW DIRECTION AND VELOCITY IN LIGHT TRAP DESIGN

In tests under controlled conditions Anopheles albimanus and A. stephensi were caught in significantly greater numbers by a 4-watt ultraviolet trap with a fan-generated updraft air stream than by a similarly equipped trap with a conventional downdraft air movement. Elevation in the test chambers also affected the traps' performance, which was best near the ceiling, poor near the floor. Mesh size of the hardware cloth screens on the traps influenced only the catches of A. albimanus females. Survival in both traps was improved by reduced air flow. This was accompanied by a marked decrease in total captures by the downdraft trap, but with the updraft model, capture levels were maintained despite substantial reduction in air velocity. The updraft trap therefore showed greater potential for recovery of live specimens. Observations of the mosquitoes' flight behavior near the traps offer an explanation for the superiority of the updraft principle. Resume INFLUENCE DE LA DIRECTION ET DE LA VITESSE DE L'AIR DANS LA CONCEPTION D'UN PIEGE LUMINEUX A ASPIRATION Deux pieges a lumiere ultraviolette sont compares dans leur efficaciTE pour la capture des adultes Anopheles albimanus et A. stephensi en essai au laboratoire. Chaque trappe se compose d'une lampe BLB 4-watt fixee a une extremiTE d'un conduit de metal, l'autre extremiTE s'ouvrant sur une cage de grillage, cependant qu'un aspirateur (moteur 6-volts DC) place dans le conduit fournit le courant d'air pour attraper les insectes. Dans un premier type de piege l'aspiration de l'air entraine les insectes vers le bas dans la cage de grillage (downdraft trap), dans un second type les insectes sont au contraire tires de bas vers le haut avec le courant d'air (updraft trap). Les tests ont eTE effectues dans les chambres a parois blanches de 1.8 m de coTE. Les lampes BLB sont disposees a trois niveaux: (a) le plus haut a 20 cm sous le plafond: (b) le plus central a 91 cm au-dessus du plancher; et (c) le plus bas, 52 cm au-dessus du plancher. Tous les essais ont montre que le piege lumineux du type “updraft” etait le meilleur pour la prise des adultes âges de 5 a 6 jours. Les pieges disposes sous le plafond ont donne les meilleurs resultats. La survie des insectes captures etait meilleure dans le piege de type “downdraft”, pour une aspiration de l'air a une vitesse de 171 m/min. En reduisant le voltage a 5 ou 4 volts, la vitesse du courant d'air d'aspiration se reduit a 137 et 110 m/min et on observe une forte amelioration de la survie des insects captures dans le piege “updraft”, sans qu'il y eut reduction du nombre des insectes captures. Mais ce n'est pas le cas avec le piege de type “down-draft” pour lesquels le nombre des captures se trouve reduit avec diminution du voltage. Les observations du vol des moustiques autour des trappes permettent d'expliquer la superioriTE du piege de type “updraft”.
Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerves in the uterine cervix and neurons in dorsal root and paracervical ganglia of the female rat.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was selectively stained in nerve fibers of the uterine cervix and neurons of the paracervical (PG) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) by NADPH diaphorase histochemistry. In the cervix, numerous NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve fibers were observed in the myometrium, endometrium and around arteries. In addition, a subpopulation of neurons within ganglia that innervate the cervix, i.e., the PG and DRG, were NADPH-diaphorase positive; thus the fibers in the cervix could be sensory and/or autonomic. NADPH-diaphorase/NOS localization identifies sites where nitric oxide (NO) can be synthesized. Since NO relaxes vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle, the prevalence and anatomical localization of NADPH-diaphorase-positive fibers suggest that they could influence functions of the uterine cervix.
A note of caution on the Knockout Mouse Project.

I read with interest the position papers advocating the generation of mice with mutations in all known genes1, 2. As a researcher who has long been active in this area, I would like to voice some caution on financial, logistical and scientific grounds. Financially, at a time of tightening budgets, this approach could be sustained only by chipping away at the dwindling pool of investigator-initiated grants to feed a 'military-industrial' behemoth of sorts that will attend to the task. Logistically, I take mild issue with the notion that this resource would be either widely useful or readily available. Many of the 415 targeted mutant strains deposited at the Jackson Laboratory have been frozen for lack of takers. If this is any indication of what's to come, I am not sure that the demand will justify the effort. Scientifically, I challenge the notion that we need to standardize methods to generate null alleles. I can think of many instances in which different null alleles of the same gene generated in different laboratories have resulted in different phenotypes and thus taught us important lessons about gene function. I also argue that shotgun phenotyping for a limited set of parameters, as proposed by the two groups, is unlikely to yield much useful information. Most of the common tests likely to be used measure traits under polygenic, genetically heterogeneous control, and thus, only large effects are likely to be detected. Although I support the creation of a mechanism to facilitate the generation of knockout mice, I suggest that we use some caution before embarking on an endeavor as sweeping as that advocated by my colleagues.
Medieval anesthesia: the spongia somnifera

The author reviews in detail the literature concerning medieval general anesthesia in general and the so-called spongia somnifera in particular. In spite of claims to the contrary, he concludes that there is no evidence that medieval physicians had at their disposal general anesthesia for their patients undergoing surgery. On the contrary, there is evidence that the spongia somnifera was ineffective and that what kept the tradition of its effectiveness in the literature may have been the everlasting hope for surgical analgesia.