cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase 1b randomized controlled study of short course topical recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) for neuroenhancement in glaucoma: safety, tolerability and efficacy measure outcomes.

Abstract Purpose No approved therapies directly target retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) for neuroprotection or neuroenhancement in glaucoma. Recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) has been shown to promote RGC survival and function in animal models of optic neuropathy. Here we evaluate safety, tolerability, and efficacy of short-term, high-dose rhNGF eye drops versus placebo in a cohort of glaucoma patients. Methods This study is a single-center, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, parallel group study designed to assess safety and tolerability as well as short-term neuroenhancement of structure and function (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02855450). Sixty open-angle glaucoma patients were randomized 40:20 to receive either 180 μg/ml rhNGF or vehicle control eye drops in both eyes, three times daily for 8 weeks, with a 24-week post-treatment follow-up. One eye was officially selected as the study eye, although both eyes were studied and dosed. Primary endpoints were safety, as assessed through adverse events, and tolerability, as assessed through patient reported outcomes. Secondary outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Humphrey visual field (HVF), electroretinogram (ERG), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness at baseline, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at 4 and 24 weeks after treatment (12- and 32-weeks total). Results Of the 60 randomized subjects, 23 were female (38%) and the average age was 66.1 years. Through week 32, there were no treatment-related serious adverse events, including no unexpectedly severe progression of optic neuropathy, no adverse events affecting ocular function or pressure, and no drug-related systemic toxicity. Topical high-dose rhNGF was tolerated well, with low level of symptom burden mainly eliciting periocular ache (in 52% of treated, 5% of placebo) and only 3 patients (7.5%) discontinuing treatment due to discomfort, out of whom 1 patient (2.5%) prematurely withdrawing from the study. There were no statistically significant differences in global indices of HVF, and no meaningful differences in total, quadrant, or clock-hour mean RNFL thickness between the groups, although both of these function and structure measures showed non-significant trends towards significance in favor of rhNGF. Real-world participant data was used to generate an estimate of cohort size needed to power subsequent studies. Conclusions rhNGF is safe and tolerable in a topical 180 μg/ml formulation. Although no statistically significant short-term neuroenhancement was detected in this trial, given the strong effects of NGF in preclinical models and trends detected in this study, analysis for efficacy in a neuroprotection trial is warranted.
Mycoplasma Infections of Genitourinary Tract and Drug Sensitivity Analysis in Kunming 2007~2008

Objective To observe ureaplasma urealyticum(Uu)and mycoplasma hominis(Mh)infections of genitourinary tract and its sensitivity to antibiotics in Kunming downtown.Methods Mycoplasma culture,identification and drug susceptibility kit were applied for the detection of Uu and Mh in genitourinary tract specimens in 186 cases of suspected mycoplasma infection and the sensitivity of it to 12 kinds of antibiotics was determined.Results 79 cases was detected to be positive in mycoplasma and the detectable rate was 42.47%,in which the percentages of Uu,Mh and Uu mixed with Mh infections were 59.87%,8.28% and 31.85% successively.There were 19 cases of males with positive culture and the positive rate was 31.67%(19/60).There were 59 cases of females with positive culture and the rate was 46.83%(59/126).The female culture positive rate was higher apparently than that of male(P0.01).Uu,Mh and Uu mixed with Mh infections were sensitive to minocycline and doxycycline,but tolerable to erythromycin and roxithromycin.Conclusion Minocycline and doxycycline should be the first options for mycoplasma infections in Kunming,rather than erythromycin and roxithromycin.
H2-H∞ Control of Discrete Time Nonlinear Systems Using the SDRE Approach

A novel H2 –H∞ State Dependent Riccati Equation control approach is presented for providing a generalized control framework to discrete time nonlinear system. By solving a generalized Riccati Equation at each time step, the nonlinear state feedback control solution is found to satisfy mixed performance criteria guaranteeing quadratic optimality with inherent stability property in combination with H∞ type of disturbance attenuation. Two numerical techniques to compute the solution of the resulting Riccati equation are presented: The first one is based on finding the steady state solution of the difference equation at every step and the second one is based on finding the minimum solution of a linear matrix inequality. The effectiveness of the proposed techniques is demonstrated by simulations involving the control of an inverted pendulum on a cart, a benchmark mechanical system.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Faithfulness and Prosodic Circumscription

comments on this article, and to audiences at the University of Maryland (especially Luigi Burzio, Diamandis Gafos, Linda Lombardi, and Paul Smolensky), at the University of Tromso (especially Patrik Bye, Mike Hammond, Rene Kager, Ove Lorentz, and Curt Rice), at the 1997 LSA Summer Institute (especially Tivoli Majors and Eric Bakoviƒ), and at a 1997 HIL course in Amsterdam (especially Harry van der Hulst, Helga Humbert, Claartje Levelt, Michael Redford, Nancy Ritter, Grazyna Rowicka, Norval Smith, and Laura Walsh Dickey). Thanks also to Armin Mester for his long-ago reactions to a draft of another paper that contained some of this material, to Alan Prince for many helpful remarks along the way, and especially to Laura Benua for extensive discussion of the theory and its applications. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under grant SBR-9420424. To appear in: Joost Dekkers, Frank van der Leeuw, & Jeroen van de Weijer, eds., The Pointing Finger: Conceptual Studies in Optimality Theory. Amsterdam: HIL
Catheter Ablation for Control of Ventricular Tachycardia: A Report of the Percutaneous Cardiac Mapping and Ablation Registry: Fulgaration dans le Traitement des Tachycardies Ventriculaires: Rapport du Registre Mondiol

Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia is a procedure of last resort in critically ill patients. The Percutaneous Cardiac Mapping and Ablation Registry was able to collect data on 88 patients undergoing ablation of ventricular tachycardia foci. The mean following interval for the group was 10 +/- 8 months. Results were divided into three categories: Group I patients remained asymptomatic and were on no antiarrhythmic medications (33%); Group II remained asymptomatic and took antiarrhythmic agents (38%); Group III patients were considered unsuccessful and consisted of 29 percent of the total. More than one-third of patients received two shocks; the remainder received from one to five shocks. Overall mortality included four procedure-related deaths and total follow-up mortality was 25 percent. Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia should be undertaken only in highly specialized centers with an expert and experienced electrophysiologist with immediate surgical back-up available.
Determination of urinary total protein by use of gel filtration and a modified biuret method.

Submitters: Karl Doetsch and Richard H. Gadsden, Departments of Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S. C. 29401 Evaluators: Theodore Peters, Jr. Ths Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, N. Y. 13326 Michael A. Pesce, The Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, N. Y. 10032 Robert L. Habig, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N. C. 27710
Gender and Elections in Post-Communist Ukraine

Women remain underrepresented in the Ukrainian Verhkovna Rada nearly 20 years after independence from Soviet rule. Between 1994 and 2006 when Ukraine employed a single-member district system to elect all or at least part of the Rada, women were even less frequent than today. Yet, women in Ukraine did win elections even in an electoral system that has been shown in other countries to create signi cant obstacles to women's representation. We argue that the likelihood of women winning elections was signi cantly increased by two factors{partisanship and incumbency. Using a dataset of all candidates for Ukrainian majoritarian elections between 1994 and 2006, we test this argument. We nd that partisan and incumbent female candidates were more likely to win majoritarian elections than were other female candidates. Yet, the advantages of incumbency and partisanship were signi cantly weaker than they were for male candidates.
Uncertainty and Incentives in Mediation

We study the conflict mediation problem when the mediator must gather information from the disputants. In this case, the same incentives that disputants have to lie to their opponents also exist when talking to the mediator. Addressing this issue in the context of a very general model of information mediation, we show that the incentive that disputants have to lie to the mediator undoes any advantage that might be gained by adding communication with a third party. In fact, our main result shows that any equilibrium outcome that is achievable through mediation is also achievable as an equilibrium outcome of a game with unmediated pre-play communication. This is true even when the mediator is allowed to have arbitrary preferences or biases.
Association between dietary changes and mortality rates: Israel 1949 to 1977; a trend-free regression model

This paper presents a trend-free regression model for analyzing the effect of changes in food intake on disease specific mortality rates. The statistical effect of changes in food consumption of the Israeli population during 1949 to 1977 on concurrent mortality rates from cancer, heart disease, peptic ulcer, and diabetes mellitus were investigated by the suggested model. The regression analyses reveal the following: 1) The major statistical effects of progressive dietary changes (during 28 yr) on mortality rates lagged by 1 or 2 yr. 2) None of the variables was consistently and statistically significantly related to cancer mortality. 3) Vitamin A was consistently in statistically significant negative association with mortality rates. This suggests that increased consumption of vitamin A may prove to reduce mortality rates due to heart disease and peptic ulcer. 4) All the investigated mortality rates were in statistically significant positive association with increasing total fat consumption. Mortality rates of ischemic heart disease as well as of hypertensive and cerebrovascular diseases were in positive association with both plant fat and animal fat. These findings suggest that reduced total fat intake may prove to reduce the investigated mortality rates. 5) Diabetes mellitus was in statistically significant inverse association with the average per capital consumption of fruits and vegetables. Our results suggest that increased carbohydrate consumption may reduce diabetes mellitus mortality. The above hypotheses derived from the model and the general utility of the model may be demonstrated by studies of data from other countries.
Severe aphthous stomatitis associated with oral calcineurin and mTOR inhibitors

Background Aphthous stomatitis, a common mucocutaneous disorder, is a well accepted complication of sirolimus therapy. This association has been reported less frequently with tacrolimus. Case We present an 11-year old male with Budd-Chiari syndrome who experienced profound worsening of chronic aphthous ulcers after immunosuppressive therapy was changed from tacrolimus to sirolimus. Conclusion Since these drugs are used widely in the pediatric transplantation population, this report serves to heighten awareness of this debilitating phenomenon, and to stress the importance of exercising caution when sirolimus and tacrolimus are administered in combination to pediatric patients.
Allele-specific RNAi mitigates phenotypic progression in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease.

Despite recent advances suggesting new therapeutic targets, Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains incurable. Aberrant production and accumulation of the Aβ peptide resulting from altered processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is central to the pathogenesis of disease, particularly in dominantly inherited forms of AD. Thus, modulating the production of APP is a potential route to effective AD therapy. Here, we describe the successful use of an allele-specific RNA interference (RNAi) approach targeting the Swedish variant of APP (APPsw) in a transgenic mouse model of AD. Using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV), we delivered an anti-APPsw short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) to the hippocampus of AD transgenic mice (APP/PS1). In short- and long-term transduction experiments, reduced levels of APPsw transprotein were observed throughout targeted regions of the hippocampus while levels of wild-type murine APP remained unaltered. Moreover, intracellular production of transfer RNA (tRNA)-valine promoter–driven shRNAs did not lead to detectable neuronal toxicity. Finally, long-term bilateral hippocampal expression of anti-APPsw shRNA mitigated abnormal behaviors in this mouse model of AD. The difference in phenotype progression was associated with reduced levels of soluble Aβ but not with a reduced number of amyloid plaques. Our results support the development of allele-specific RNAi strategies to treat familial AD and other dominantly inherited neurodegenerative diseases.
Role of Helicobacter pylori cagA(+) strains and specific host immune responses on the development of premalignant and malignant lesions in the gastric cardia.

The incidence rates of gastric cardia and esophageal adenocarcinomas are increasing, but data suggest that carriage of cagA(+) Helicobacter pylori strains may protect against development of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Our aims were to examine the relationship between pre-malignant and malignant lesions in the gastric cardia and serum antibodies to H. pylori antigens in patients with and without complications of Barrett's esophagus. The prevalence of carditis was 40% in controls compared with 13% in patients with complicated or uncomplicated Barrett's esophagus and cardia adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). Cardia intestinal metaplasia (IM) and atrophy were present and concordant in 28% of controls but less frequent in patients with Barrett's alone or with dysplasia/adenocarcinoma (0% for each, p < 0.001). Carriage of cagA(+) strains was present in 34% of patients with carditis and significantly associated with increased frequency and severity of cardia inflammation, IM, and atrophy but not with adenocarcinoma. IgA and HspA seropositivity were significantly increased in H. pylori-colonized patients with carditis compared to persons with normal cardia histology (p </= 0.005) but not in persons with esophageal disease or cardia adenocarcinoma. We conclude that carriage of cagA(+) H. pylori strains and induction of particular serological responses are significantly associated with marked histological findings in the gastric cardia but not with adenocarcinoma of either the gastric cardia or esophagus.
Surface‐enhanced Raman sensors: early history and the development of sensors for quantitative biowarfare agent and glucose detection

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful technique for the sensitive and selective detection of low-concentration analytes. This paper includes a discussion of the early history of SERS, the concepts that must be appreciated to optimize the intensity of SERS and the development of SERS-based sensors. In order to achieve the lowest limits of detection, both the relationship between surface nanostructure and laser excitation wavelength, as well as the analyte/surface binding chemistry, must be carefully optimized. This work exploits the highly tunable nature of nanoparticle optical properties to establish the first set of optimization conditions. The SERS enhancement factor, EFSERS, is optimized when the energy of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) lies between the energy of the excitation wavelength and the energy of the vibrational band of interest. With the narrow LSPRs used in this work, it is straightforward to achieve EFSERS ∼ 108. These optimization conditions were exploited to develop SERS-based sensors for two important target molecules: a Bacillus anthracis biomarker and glucose in a serum protein mixture. Using these optimized film-over-nanosphere surfaces, an inexpensive, portable Raman spectrometer was used successfully to detect the infectious dose of Bacillus subtilis spores with only a 5-s data collection. The biomarker used to detect the Bacillus subtilis spores binds irreversibly to SERS substrates, whereas other important biomolecules, such as glucose, do not have any measurable binding affinity to a bare silver surface. To overcome this difficulty, a biocompatible partition layer was self-assembled on the SERS substrate before exposure to the analyte solution. Using the partition layer approach to concentrate glucose near the SERS-active substrate, physiological glucose concentrations can be detected even in the presence of interfering serum proteins. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of the Greulich-Pyle "Atlas of Skeletal Development of the Hand and Wrist" in a clinical context.

Assessments of the relative maturity of individual children have been widely used to improve estimations of future growth as well as in evaluations of physiological disorders. Skeletal age (Hand) has been the most commonly used method for these estimations. In the clinical use of skeletal ages, certain problems are inherent regardless of which standard is selected. One of these is the method of reporting so that the cliniciam may learn of the normal variation at each age as well as the operational error of the specific assessor. Another problem lies in the proper clinical interpretation to be put upon significantly variant skeletal age readings in infancy, in childhood, or in adolescence. A third problem arises in limiting the use of skeletal ages which are read from areas which are involved with osseous pathology. And fourthly, a child's level of maturity is not static throughout his growing years; even with no change in therapeutic regime, marked shifts in relative maturity have been often noted. The wealth of experience which has now been acquired with the Greulich-Pyle standard is not the least of the advantages in using the Hand for the assessment of skeletal age. The 30 centers in this small area of the body, however, may be harmonious in development or may vary in “maturity” by as much as three years in a single hand. The problems then are: Which centers best represent the individual child? Which centers are most closely related to growth? Is growth in the hand and accurate index of the growth in other areas of the body? In total stature? The clinical assessment of future growth may best be made from a consideration of the whole child: his size, his physical characteristics, and his skeletal age, as well as the pattern of change-with-age in each of these. These problems will be discussed with illustrations drawn from the longitudinal Growth Study at this institution.
Regaining balance with bionic ears.

The article discusses how electronic implants in the inner ear of some patients who experience disabling unsteadiness as a result of damage to the vestibular labyrinth may one day restore their vision and equilibrium. The bionic ear works by providing stability through the electronic stimulation of the vestibular nerve, which is the nerve that sends signals from the vestibular labyrinth to the brain. Topics include the physiology of head rotation and its affect on vision and vertigo, how the prostheses would replace the function of the semicircular canals, which are structures in the inner ear that measure head rotation, and an overview of the bionic implant created by the author and tested on a man suffering from imbalance.
Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in adults younger than 50 years of age

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) occurring prior to age 50 is termed early-onset RBD. Early-onset RBD comprises a substantial minority of cases, and demonstrates the differences in demographics, comorbidities, and clinical considerations from previously described typical RBD with onset >50 years. The world literature on RBD is reviewed with specific focus on features that distinguish early-onset RBD, including more gender parity, increased proportion of idiopathic cases, increased proportion of cases associated with narcolepsy, parasomnia overlap disorder, antidepressants, and possibly autoimmune disorders, and clinical presentation.
The Authority of the Holy Revisited: Habermas, Religion, and Emancipatory Possibilities*:

This article argues that Jurgen Habermas's view of religion as anathema to rational critical discourse reflects his misunderstanding that religion comprises a monolithic and immutable body of dogma that is closed to reason. Illustrative data from Catholic history and theology and empirical data gathered from contemporary American Catholics are used to show the weaknesses in Habermas's negation of the possibility of a self-critical religious discourse. Specifically, I highlight the doctrinal differentiation within Catholicism, its longstanding theological emphasis on the coupling of faith and reason, institutional reflexivity, and the doctrinally reflexive reasoning that contemporary Catholics use in negotiating what might appear as “contradictory” identities (e.g., being gay or lesbian and Catholic). Although the data presented take issue with Habermas's disavowal of religion, the article shows that the practical relevance of doctrinal reasoning at both the institutional and the individual level vindicate Habermas's faith in the emancipatory potential of reasoned argumentation to advance participative equality.
Delayed onset of puberty and subtle alterations in GnRH neuronal morphology in female rats exposed prenatally to ethanol.

Abstract Fetal alcohol exposed (FAE) animals exhibit physiological and behavioral deficits associated with reproduction including alterations in LH secretion and decreased sex behavior. Such deficits led us to examine the morphological characteristics and number of GnRH neurons in female rats prenatally exposed to ethanol. Sprague-Dawley dams (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) were administered a fortified liquid diet (Sustacal) containing 35% ethanol derived calories from day 7 through parturition. Controls were pair-fed a similar isocaloric diet containing no ethanol during this period or allowed access to dry food pellets ad lib. Compared to both control groups, puberty was found to be significantly delayed in females that were exposed prenatally to ethanol. The median age of vaginal opening for chow-fed and pair-fed controls was 34–35 days compared to 38–39 days for FAE animals. A subroup of these females was selected at 44 days of age on the basis of delayed onset of puberty and compared with pair-fed controls for the number and morphology of GnRH-immunoreactive staining (ir) neurons in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and the diagonal band of Broca (DBB), regions which contain the majority of GnRH-IR cells in the rat brain. In both areas, light microscopic study revealed no differences in GnRH-IR cell number, nor were differences detected among the groups in the number of bipolar versus unipolar cells. However, a significant increase was observed in FAE brains compared to controls in the ratio of GnRH-IR neurons with irregular processes compared to smooth cell contours. The findings indicate that the gross morphology and distribution of GnRH-IR neurons in the postnatal rat are unaffected by prenatal alcohol exposure. Subtle differences observed in GnRH-IR cellular morphology may be related to the delayed onset of puberty in FAE females.
Invertebrate proenkephalin: δ opioid binding sites in leech ganglia and immunocytes

Abstract The leech Theromyzon tessulatum and the marine mussel Mytilus edulis immunocytes contain a mammalian-like proenkephalin molecule. The opioid precursor was purified by gel permeation chromatography, anti-Met- and Leu-enkephalin-affinity column separation and then by reversed-phase HPLC. The amino acid sequence analysis, determined by Edman degradation, enzymatic treatments and matrix assisted laser desorption time of flight. The structure of the leech proenkephalin material demonstrates considerable amino acid sequence similarity with amphibian proenkephalin (e.g. 25.4% with Xenopus laevis) but it is smaller, 15 kDa vs. 30 kDa. In contrast, Mytilus proenkephalin is not only larger (26 kDa) but it exhibits a higher sequence identity with guinea pig proenkephalin (50%). Both of the invertebrate materials possess Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin in a ratio of 3:1 for Mytilus and 1:2 in the leech. They also contain Met-enkephalin–Arg–Gly–Leu and Met-enkephalin–Arg–Phe sequences that are flanked by dibasic amino acid residues, demonstrating cleavage sites. Furthermore, using sequence comparison with bovine proenkephalin A (209–237), enkelytin (FAEPLPSEEEGESYSKEVPEMEKRYGGFM), an antibacterial peptide is found in the proenkephalin of both animals and it exhibits a 98% sequence identity with mammalian material. Finally, opioid binding experiments demonstrate the presence in leech ganglia and immunocytes of δ1 and δ2 opioid receptor subtypes as also found human and Mytilus immune cells. This report constitutes the first complete biochemical characterization of mammalian proenkephalin in invertebrates, demonstrating its origin in simpler animals.
Spontaneous and induced optical absorption in ultra-low loss amorphous Ta 2 O 5 and SiO 2 dielectric thin films

The optical absorption @1064 nm in Ta 2 O 5 and SiO 2 thin films is affected with simultaneous illumination ranging from 266 to 780 nm. The effect is attributed to filling of trap states in the forbidden gap.
Image and Environment: Cognitive Mapping and Spatial Behavior

Cognitive mapping is a construct that encompasses those processes that enable people to acquire, code, store, recall, and manipulate information about the nature of their spatial environment. It refers to the attributes and relative locations of people and objects in the environment, and is an essential component in the adaptive process of spatial decision-making-such as fi nding a safe and quick route to and from work, locating potential sites for a new house or business, and deciding where to travel on a vacation trip. Cognitive processes are not constant, but undergo change with age or development and use or learning. Image and Environment, now in paperback, is a pioneer study. It brings a new academic discipline to a wide audience.
Rapid measurement of leucine-specific activity in biological fluids by ion-exchange chromatography and post-column ninhydrin detection.

Abstract Commonly used methods for the measurement of leucine-specific activity use either high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and pre-column derivatization or conventional ion-exchange chromatography. These are time-consuming, labor-intensive, relatively costly procedures, requiring high concentrations of radioactivity for accuracy. The present paper describes a method for the measurement of plasma leucine-specific activity using HPLC equipment, a large-bore ion-exchange column and post-column ninhydrin detection. With this method, determination of leucine concentration and leucine radioactivity was found to be linear (r2 > 0.999) over physiological ranges for both standards and deproteinized plasma. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for leucine concentrations were 1.4 and 2.7%, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for leucine-specific activities were 1.5 and 1.9%, respectively. The automated method is relatively fast (injection to injection time ≈ 45 min), economical and capable of accurately assessing relatively small amounts of radioactivity.
Stable hydrogen isotopes in iron oxides—isotope effects associated with the dehydration of a natural goethite

Abstract The dehydration of a natural goethite to hematite is accompanied by a systematic hydrogen isotope fractionation. Closed system dehydration at, and below, 250°C results in a significantly greater degree of isotopic fractionation than does open system dehydration. This relationship is apparently reversed at 300°C. Both processes produce a progressive decrease in the D H ratio of the mineral hydrogen with increasing degree of dehydration. At temperatures of 160°C to 250°C the closed system mineralvapor fractionation factor is independent of temperature, while above 250°C, it varies strongly with temperature. The mineral-vapor fractionation factor associated with open system dehydration appears to be independent of temperature over the interval 160°C to 300°C. The closed system D H fractionation suggests that natural goethite undergoing dehydration in the presence of water can isotopically exchange with that water. CO 2 loss from goethite during dehydration is correlated with the loss of H 2 O. The CO 3 is thought to be present in carbonates which exist as impurities in the goethite. Loss of both H 2 O and CO 2 appears to be diffusion-controlled.
The Biological Laboratories at Woods Hole

I HAVE noted with interest a recent discussion in NATURE of August 25 and September 15 and 29 in which the biological laboratories at Woods Hole have received incidental mention. I pray that you may give me this opportunity to correct some very prevalent misconceptions regarding the status of the Government station there. In NATURE of September 15 Prof. MacBride has voiced some of these misconceptions very clearly. “It is true”, he writes, “that there are two stations in Woods Hole, one supported by the Federal Government and devoted entirely to economic work, and the other supported entirely by zoologists; but the station which has attained world-wide fame, owing to the quantity and quality of the research which has issued from it, is the second and purely scientific one” (pp. 330, 331).
An improved model for simulating impedance spectroscopy

Abstract A numerical method for simulating the frequency-dependent impedance response of multi-phase composite materials has been developed. The algorithm takes as input 1) a digital image of a microstructure, in two or three dimensions, of any specified composite material, and 2) the frequency-dependent electrical properties of the individual phases of the composite. An impedance spectrum of any frequency range can then be computed using a conjugate gradient algorithm operating on a finite difference solution scheme of Laplace's equation. Examples are given of the impedance of analytically solvable microstructures, to validate the algorithm, and of a random system, to test the usefulness of two different effective medium theories.
Time asymmetries in classical and in nonclassical physics

A comparative study is made of the eigenvalue problems of electromagnetics and quantum mechanics, with special reference to the operations of spatial inversionP and time inversionT. Electromagnetics, which permits closer agreement with the dictates of relativity (when the latter is extended toP andT), exhibits characteristic differences with respect to quantum mechanics. An evaluation of these distinctions is presented against the backdrop of a choice between absolute scalar action and charge versus pseudoscalar action and charge.
Glycylglycyl-L-cysteine as a substrate for renal sulfhydryl oxidase (glutathione oxidase).

Abstract Covalent chromatographically isolated bovine kidney sulfhydryl oxidase was found to catalyze the oxidation of cysteine and cysteine-containing substrates as determined by assaying with 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoate). Monitoring the time-course of substrate disappearance and product formation by means of high-pressure liquid choromatography revealed that such partially renal sulfhydryl oxidase preparations catalyze the direct oxidation of glycylglycyl- l -cysteine to its disulfide form with no other detectable metabolic products. Accordingly, Gly-Gly-Cys appears to be better suited for routine assays of sulfhydryl oxidse activity than is the traditionally employed substrate, glutathione, whose oxidation can be initiated by γ-glutamyltransferase-catalyzed cleavage of the γ-peptide bond, leading to falsely ‘positive’ assays in the absence of sulfhydryl oxidase per se.
Repeat cerebral blood volume assessment with first‐pass MR imaging

The feasibility of performing multiple first-pass studies with dynamic, contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was evaluated in a cat model of acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemia. Two dynamic series of SSFP (steady-state free precession) images were acquired in each animal (n = 5) with a conventional 1.5-T imager. The initial first-pass study was acquired at 60 minutes after MCA occlusion, and the second study at 70 minutes, with each performed during an intravenous bolus injection of a 0.5 mmol/kg dose of gadoteridol. In both first-pass studies, differentiation of normal and ischemic gray and white matter was highly statistically significant. At a threshold of P<.01, no statistically significant difference in the peak signal intensity between the first and second studies was noted. A difference between the two studies in the recovery to baseline was seen, presumably due to T1 effects. First-pass MR studies can be repeated within the time frame of a single clinical examination, expanding their utility.
Designing an application to motivate teenagers' physical activity

In this paper we discuss design guidelines for game-based applications that motivate teenagers to do physical activity. We describe an application developed based on these guidelines and results from a user study we ran using this application. Finally, we discuss additional design guidelines that emerged from the user study. These guidelines include providing voiceover for text in the application, providing bonuses or rewards for accomplishing physical activity goals, and providing the functionality that let teenagers tailor the application to their physical activity needs. Future work will consist of improving the application based on the user study results and running a long-term study with the improved application.
An outbreak of ciguatera poisoning in a group of scuba divers

Eight people developed ciguatera poisoning on a scuba diving cruise in a remote atoll in the Coral Sea. Symptoms included abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, hypotension, bradycardia, paresthesias and pruritus. The outbreak was diagnosed by physician passengers who treated the victims during the remainder of the cruise. Intravenous mannitol on the eighth day was of no benefit. Symptoms persisted for weeks to months. Divers should be aware of ciguatera and the similarity of symptoms to those of decompression sickness. A new immunochemical method of detecting ciguatoxins in fish will be available soon in the form of a test kit.
Plans for brookhaven FASTBUS during the next π × 10 16 nanoseconds

During this period new modules and devices will be built to be used in Experiment 749 at the A.G.S. Included will be /spl I.itilde/200 channels of A-D converters for Pb-Glass Cerenkov counters, 2000 channels of proportional wire chamber readout, cable segments, segment interconnects, a new unibus interface, and a new onsegment processor. These items and perhaps others will be ready by the end of 1981.
Body Composition of Lactating and Dry Holstein Cows Estimated by Deuterium Dilution

In three experiments patterns of water turnover and body composition estimated by deuterium oxide were studied in Holstein cows. In the first experiment, four lactating cows were infused with deuterium oxide, and blood samples were taken during 4-d collection. Milking was stopped; cows were reinfused with deuterium oxide and resampled. Slopes of deuterium oxide dilution curves indicated lactating cows turned water over more rapidly than nonlactating cows. In the second experiment with the same four cows, during 4-d collection, deuterium oxide concentrations in milk, urine, and feces showed dilution patterns similar to deuterium oxide in blood. Sampling milk may be an alternative to sampling blood. In the third experiment, 36 Holstein cows were fed 55, 65, or 75% alfalfa, smooth bromegrass, or equal parts of each forage as total mixed rations; remaining portions of rations were a grain mixture. Body composition was estimated at -1, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mo postpartum. Empty body water, protein, mineral, fat, and fat percentage decreased from prepartum to postpartum. First calf heifers contained less empty body water, protein, and mineral than older cows. Cows fed diets with 55% forage had more body fat than those fed diets with 75% forage. Cows fed alfalfa-based diets had more gastrointestinal fill regardless of grain than cows fed diets that contained alfalfa and smooth bromegrass. Gastrointestinal fill of cows increased from prepartum to 5 mo postpartum.
Some Observations of a Splitting Severe Thunderstorm

Abstract A severe thunderstorm which formed in an environment not usually associated with severe weather split into right- and left-moving parts near Verden, Oklahoma, on 1 May 1977. The right-moving storm developed a mesocyclone signature and produced large hail. The storm's life is described from data from the NSSL single-Doppler radar, conventional radar, surface mesonetwork, and from intercept observations. The storm-split process and the evolution of couplets of vorticity are, highlighted. This is the first single-Doppler documentation of a splitting storm from first echo. Evidence was found of two separate organized updrafts and two mirror-image cyclonic/anticyclonic couplets 30 min before the low-level radar echo split. We conclude that a downdraft may have formed in between the updrafts, and that the storms behaved like the one simulated by Wilhelmson and Klemp (1978).
Review of Nancey Murphy and Warren S. Brown, Did My Neurons Make Me Do It?: Philosophical and Neurobiological Perspectives on Moral Responsibility and Free Will

If our behavior is fixed or predetermined at the level of the neuron, then sentencing criminals with faulty brains is like putting a rock in time-out for breaking a window. Even so, as we understan...
Electoral Institutions and Legislative Behavior: The Effects of Primary Processes

Electoral institutions can affect the voting behavior of legislators who are elected through those institutions. In this article, the authors apply social network theory to study patterns of legislative choices under different primary election systems, and this approach leads the authors to study how electoral institutions affect legislative behavior differently than most previous research—that is, they focus on how electoral institutions affect the interactions between legislators. The authors use data on legislative voting behavior from the California State Assembly and exploit the changes that have been implemented in California’s primary elections process over the past two decades. Specifically, they hypothesize that legislators who were elected during the years in which a nonpartisan blanket primary was used in California (1998 and 2000) will be more centrally networked and more likely to compromise with other legislators. They find evidence to support their hypothesis: legislators elected under the nonpartisan blanket primary are more likely to agree with other legislators. Electoral institutions, especially primary elections, have important effects on legislative behavior. The authors’ results have implications for highly polarized state legislatures.
Is bacteriostatic saline superior to normal saline as an echocardiographic contrast agent

Objective data on the performance characteristics and physical properties of commercially available saline formulations [normal saline (NS) vs. bacteriostatic normal saline (bNS)] are sparse. This study sought to compare the in vitro physical properties and in vivo characteristics of two commonly employed echocardiographic saline contrast agents in an attempt to assess superiority. Nineteen patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiograms were each administered agitated regular NS and bNS injections in random order and in a blinded manner according to a standardized protocol. Video time-intensity (TI) curves were constructed from a representative region of interest, placed paraseptally within the right atrium, in the bicaval view. TI curves were analyzed for maximal plateau acoustic intensity (Vmax, dB) and dwell time (DT, s), defined as time duration between onset of Vmax and decay of video intensity below clinically useful levels, reflecting the duration of homogenous opacification of the right atrium. To further characterize the physical properties of the bubbles in vitro, fixed aliquots of similarly agitated saline were injected into a glass well slide-cover slip assembly and examined using an optical microscope to determine bubble diameter in microns (µm) and concentration [bubble count/high power field (hpf)]. A higher acoustic intensity (a less negative dB level), higher bubble concentration and longer DT were considered properties of a superior contrast agent. For statistical analysis, a paired t test was conducted to evaluate the differences in means of Vmax and DT. Compared to NS, bNS administration was associated with superior opacification (video intensity -8.69 ± 4.7 vs. -10.46 ± 4.1 dB, P = 0.002), longer DT (17.3 ± 6.1 vs. 10.2 ± 3.7 s) in vivo and smaller mean bubble size (43.4 vs. 58.6 μm) and higher bubble concentration (1,002 vs. 298 bubble/hpf) in vitro. bNS provides higher intensity and more sustained opacification of the right atrium compared to NS. Higher bubble concentration and stability appear to be additional desirable rheological characteristics favoring bNS as a contrast agent.
Uniqueness of double Walsh series

We prove that under mild growth conditions, uniqueness holds for a multiple Walsh series whose square dyadic partial sums converge almost everywhere to an integrable function. We apply this result to obtain a new uniqueness result for Cesaro summable multiple Walsh series.
Essential laminations in Seifert-fibered spaces: Boundary behavior☆

Abstract We show that an essential lamination in a Seifert-fibered space M rarely meets the boundary of M in a Reeb-foliated annulus.
Prediction of giant breathing and rocking modes in double helical RNA

Abstract A theoretical calculation of the normal mode spectrum of double helical RNA shows large breathing and rocking modes at low frequencies.
Dynamic Mobility Spectra of Multicomponent Colloidal Suspensions

Recently, the electrokinetic sonic amplitude (ESA) signal has been measured over a range of frequencies (collectively termed the dynamic mobility spectrum) for the simultaneous determination of particle charge and size in moderately concentrated suspensions. Based on these advances, we develop theory describing the dynamic mobility spectra for multicomponent suspensions. The dynamic mobility spectrum of multicomponent suspensions can be interpreted as the weighted sum of the individual component dynamic mobility spectra. Weighting coefficients are defined and a methodology for determining these weighting coefficients for binary suspensions with a least-squares technique is developed. Results from multicomponent suspension data are in good agreement with theory. Experimental conditions are restricted to constant pH and ionic strength to avoid changes in the shape of the dynamic mobility spectra of the components, possibly due to agglomeration effects.
A prospective controlled evaluation of combined pelvic radiotherapy and methanol extraction residue of BCG (MER) for locally unresectable or recurrent rectal carcinoma

Abstract Forty-four patients with unresectable primary, residual, or recurrent colorectal carcinoma confined to the pelvis were randomized to treatment with split course megavoltage radiotherapy alone (5,000 rad given over 7 weeks) or in combination with the intradermal administration of the methanol extraction residue of BCG (MER) over an eight-month period. No improvement was observed in frequency of symptomatic palliation, interval to progression, or survival among patients receiving MER. Furthermore, there was no evidence of enhanced immunological status in patients receiving MER as compared to those receiving radiation alone. Although temporary pain relief was seen in 94% of patients with pretreatment pelvic or perineal pain, 37 patients (84%) have experienced subequent progressive malignant disease. Regional recurrences within the radiotherapy port were observed in 28 of 31 patients who were evaluable for analysis of pattern of sites of initial progression. Eleven of the 28 patients with local failure also had distant metastasis at the time of tumor progression. There was no discernible clinical value associated with MER treatment in combination with radiotherapy as employed in this study. The high frequency of pelvic recurrence following radiotherapy at the dose and schedule we employed highlights the need for more effective treatment strategies for this group of patients.
Diallel analysis of root‐knot nematode resistance based on galling index in upland cotton

The southern root-knot nematode (RKN) [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood) RKN] is one of the most destructive pests in the Cotton Belt of the U.S. Developing and employing resistant cultivars is the most economical and efficient method for RKN management. This greenhouse investigation was conducted to understand the quantitative genetic basis of RKN resistance in the major RKN resistance sources using a nine-parent diallel analysis based on improved RKN evaluation techniques. The selected genotypes consisted of three Aubrun 623 RNR (here RNR ¼ Root-knot Nematode Resistance)-derived resistant lines, one moderately resistant cultivar Acala Nem-X, and five susceptible cultivars. Comparison between F1 and their parents in galling index revealed that the RKN resistance is partially dominant. The general combining ability was more important than the specific combining ability for RKN resistance. The estimates for broad-sense and narrow-sense heritabilities on galling index were 0.82 and 0.65, respectively, indicating that RKN resistance in the Auburn and Nem-X resistance sources is largely controlled by genetic and additive effects. The minimum number of genes for RKN resistance was estimated to be two. Therefore, under reliable and uniform RKN inoculation and infestation conditions, single plant selection should be efficient in transferring Auburn RKN resistance into elite genetic backgrounds.
Microscopic theory of impurity-defect reactions and impurity diffusion in silicon.

We present the first microscopic calculations of the energetics of impurity-defect reactions and provide a detailed picture of the diffusion mechanisms of dopant impurities in Si. We find that vacancies mediate impurity diffusion via impurity-vacancy pairs. Self-interstitials mediate diffusion by ejecting substitutional impurities into interstitial channels and/or via impurity-self-interstitial pairs. The predicted activation energies for P and Al agree well with measured values in both intrinsic and extrinsic Si.
Low-Input Grassfed Livestock Production in the American West: Case Studies of Ecological, Economic, and Social Resilience

Low-Input Grassfed Livestock Production in the American West: Case Studies of Ecological, Economic, and Social Resilience DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v33i2_barnes