cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘National Machineries’ and Authoritarian Politics: The Case of Cameroon

Abstract Why do authoritarian states adopt ‘state feminist’ policies, and what are the effects of these initiatives? This article expands our understanding of state feminist institutions in non-democracies by examining the development of a women's national machinery in Cameroon. It argues that the Cameroonian state has adopted a national machinery because: (1) it provides low-cost international legitimacy; (2) it attracts international assistance; (3) this assistance fuels domestic patronage networks; and (4) the national machinery channels women's activism toward state-delineated projects and goals. These motives undercut its ability to promote women's advancement. National machineries in authoritarian contexts are not just plagued by technical problems and funding shortages but also by competing agendas within the state apparatus and a lack of a commitment by high-level government officials to improving women's status in society.
Development and experimental transmission of Schellackia golvani and Schellackia occidentalis by ingestion of infected blood-feeding arthropods

Abstract Klein T. A. , Young D. G. , Greiner E. G. , Telford S. R., Jr and Butler J.F . 1988. Development and experimental transmission of Schellackia golvani and Schellackia occidentalis by ingestion of infected blood-feeding arthropods. International Journal for Parasitology 18 : 259–267. Experimental transmission of Schellackia parasites was accomplished by ingestion of mosquitoes, phlebotomine sand flies, and mites that had fed previously on their respective, infected, natural hosts, i.e. Schellackia golvani transmission to Anolis carolinensis and Schellackia occidentalis to Sceloporus undulatus . Attempts to transmit S. golvani to Sc. undulatus and S. occidentalis to A. carolinensis were unsuccessful, thus demonstrating their specific differentiation. The prepatent period was reduced significantly when temperatures were elevated for both Schellackia species, i.e. >20 days at 18–24°C decreased to 7–12 days at 32°C. Sporozoites of S. golvani ingested by sand flies and mosquitoes during blood-feeding invaded the intestinal epithelial cells where they remained quiescent in a parasitophorus vacuole. Sand flies ( Lutzomyia vexator ) were infective for up to 7 days after the blood meal on lizards infected with either S. golvani or S. occidentalis . Mosquitoes ( Culex erraticus ) were infective for up to 29 days after a blood meal on A. carolinensis infected with S. golvani . Histological preparations of A. carolinensis infected with S. golvani and Sc. undulatus infected with S. occidentalis revealed schizogony occurring in the intestinal epithelial cells; gametogony and sporogony occurred in the lamina propria of the the small intestine. The evidence presented strengthens the supposition that haematophagous dipterans rather than geckobiid mites, as earlier reported, are more important natural vectors of Schellackia species.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MOTHER-CHILD INTERACTION FOR THE UNDERSTANDING, OF CHILD ABUSE AND FAILURE-TO-THRIVE: A VIDEOTAPE ANALYSIS

Mother-child interaction and behavioral developmental characteristics of infants with diagnoses of child abuse and failure-to-thrive were examined in videotaped observations. 40 subjects, from a 400 case epidemiologic study of pediatric social illnesses were observed with their mothers in a laboratory playroom setting. These infants 12-30 months of age were studied on measures of separation protest, attachment and reunion behaviors tempo and organization of play. For comparison purposes a control group matched on age, sex, socio-economic status, age at hospitalization and length of hospitalization was observed. Analyses of the videotapes reveal important behavioral distinctions for the two groups in comparison to normal developmental age trends. This methodology permits a clearer understanding of the mother-child interaction as an important diagnostic issue. This suggests the need for integrating mother-child interactional issues with the more traditional focus on maternal psychopathology and social class in considerations of etiology. The value of this methodology for the behavioral study of clinical syndromes is illustrated with videotaped vignettes.
Distribution of puimonate snails in the New River of Virginia and North Carolina, U.S.A.: interaction between alkalinity and stream drainage area

SUMMARY. The distribution and abundance of five species of pulmonate snails over 87 sites in the New River seem to be related to two variables, alkalinity and drainage area of the stream. The snails were generally found in the more alkaline streams regardless of stream drainage area and in the larger streams regardless of alkalinity. Considering only the 26 sites where at least one species of the five pulmonates occurred, rank snail abundance is significantly correlated with rank alkalinity, rank drainage area, and the alkalinity/area interaction. But the correlations between abundance and both alkalinity and drainage area drop to low levels when interaction is partialled out, while the correlation between abundance and interaction remains high upon partialling out alkalinity or area. This suggests that the apparent correlation between puimonate abundance and alkalinity is secondary and that neither alkalinity nor water chemistry variables correlated with it directly limit the distribution and abundance of pulmonates in the New River. Both alkalinity and stream drainage area may influence the abundance of pulmonate food.
The influence of emotional faces on the spatial allocation of attention.

Abstract Background objectives: Studies suggest that the right hemisphere is dominant for emotional facial recognition. In addition, whereas some studies suggest the right hemisphere mediates the processing of all emotions (dominance hypothesis), other studies suggest that the left hemisphere mediates positive emotions the right mediates negative emotions (valence hypothesis). Since each hemisphere primarily attends to contralateral space, the goals of this study was to learn if emotional faces would induce a leftward deviation of attention and if the valence of facial emotional stimuli can influence the normal viewer’s spatial direction of attention. Methods: Seventeen normal right handed participants were asked to bisect horizontal lines that had all combinations of sad, happy or neutral faces at ends of these lines. During this task the subjects were never requested to look at these faces and there were no task demands that depended on viewing these faces. Results: Presentation of emotional faces induced a greater leftward deviation compared to neutral faces, independent of where (spatial position) these faces were presented. However, faces portraying negative emotions tended to induce a greater leftward bias than positive emotions. Conclusions: Independent of location, the presence of emotional faces influenced the spatial allocation of attention, such that normal subjects shift the direction of their attention toward left hemispace and this attentional shift appears to be greater for negative (sad) than positive faces (happy).
A multigene family on human chromosome 12 encodes natural killer-cell lectins.

We previously isolated a series of cDNA clones designated NKG2-A, B, C, and D from a human natural killer (NK) cell library. These transcripts encode a family of type II integral membrane proteins having an extracellular Ca2+-dependent lectin domain. The predicted peptides share structural similarities and amino acid sequence similarity with known receptor molecules. In this report, the genomic organization and mRNA expression of each of the genes were studied by using transcript-specific probes. Southern blot experiments reveal that the probes cross-hybridize with a maximum of five genes at high stringency. By probing a Southern blot prepared from a series of hamster/human hybrid somatic cell lines, we demonstrated that all of the hybridizing fragments occur on human chromosome 12. No gene rearrangement and little restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was observed with these probes. mRNA expression of the NKG2 genes occured in NK cells and some T cells but not in other hematopoietic cell types or in other tissues tested. Each of the transcripts occurred in all three of the NK cell lines tested: however, the genes were differentially regulated in T cells. NKG2-D was expressed in nine of fourteen T-cell clones or lines in the panel, whereas NKG2-A/B was expressed in three and NKG2-C was expressed in only one. Expression of each of the transcripts was upregulated following T-cell growth factor (TCGF)-induced activation of a cloned NK cell. The limited distribution of these proteins and their sequence similarity with known receptor molecules suggest that they may function as receptors of human NK cells.
The Delimitation of Corporate Social Responsibility Upstream, Downstream, and Historic CSR

The dissertation abstract and the reflection commentary present the work of Judith Schrempf. The dissertation examines the latest trends in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and advances a social connection approach to CSR to understand and explain those recent trends. The dissertation abstract provides an overview of the research questions and conclusions of the three-article dissertation. The reflection commentary discusses the author’s views of research process as a junior scholar (see Appendix).
Commissions, Clubs, and Consensus: Florida Reorganizes for Health Reform

Prologue: When it comes to medical care and health insurance, Florida is a state of extremes. It has a very large population of uninsured residents; it has a very large population of elderly Americ...
Dopamine- -hydroxylase in the rat brain: developmental characteristics.

— A sensitive and specific assay for dopamine-8-hydroxylase (DBH) in the rat brain has been developed. The enzyme in the brain has requirements for cofactors and affinity for substrate similar to DBH in the adrenal medulla. DBH activity was demonstrable in the brain of the fetal rat at 15 days of gestation; there was an increase in DBH activity with maturation that preceded and paralleled the rise in levels of endogenous norepinephrine until 3 weeks after birth. There was a shift in the distribution of total DBH activity from the caudal to the rostral regions of the brain during development. In the adult brain, DBH was highly localized in the nerve terminals. Between 17 days of gestation and adult-hood, there was 2300-fold increase in the DBH activity that sedimented with sheared-off nerve terminals.
Relative utility of computerized versus paper-and-pencil tests for predicting job performance

This article, the second of two, presents predic tive validity data for on-job performance for a set of computerized Graphic and Interactive Processing (GRIP) tests in conjunction with data for both ex perimental paper-and-pencil and operational tests. Validity coefficients for job element and global cri teria are reported for four different jobs. Experi mental variables substantially enhanced the predic tive accuracy of the operational battery for Sonar Technicians. Most experimental tests with signifi cant validities were computer-administered. The GRIP tests were more useful than paper-and-pencil tests for identifying personnel skilled in Interpret ing Visual Displays, Adjusting Equipment, and Working Under Distractions. They were useful sup plements to paper-and-pencil tests for identifying skill in four additional job elements.
Tuning the Electronic Structure of Conjugated Polymers with Fluoroalkyl Substitution: Alternating Alkyl/Perfluoroalkyl-Substituted Polythiophene

The electronic properties of the conjugated backbone of polythiophene can be tailored by the incorporation of alkyl and perfluoroalkyl substituents. A regioregular copolymer with alternating alkyl and perfluoroalkyl substituents displays absorption and emission maxima between those of the homopolymers composed of the individual structural units. However, the combination of the alternating electron-rich and electron-poor units, together with a small twisting influence of the perfluoroalkyl groups, provides a material which displays enhanced solution-phase fluorescence and strong solid-state fluorescence which is absent for the wholly alkyl analogue.
Perforation in gastric malignancy.

Perforation in gatric malignancy is a rare condition, occurring in only 20 patients at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center between 1932 and 1969. Two patients are reported in whom plication followed by gastrectomy produced a satisfactory result. Early diagnosis of gastric cancer can be achieved by gastrointestinal x-rays, allowing for appropriate therapy prior to perforation. If perforation does occur, the edge of the perforation should be biopsied and diagnostic analysis carried out. If feasible, primary gastrectomy is considered the treatment of choice. Otherwise, plication soon followed by definitive gastrectomy is recommended.
From the clinic to the research laboratory. The role of the clinician in molecular genetic studies.

Background: The first physician to examine a patient with a genetic disorder or birth defect is usually a specialist in a field other than genetics. The presentation of certain categories of patients of particular interest to molecular genetics research may be distinct. The recognition of these patients by clinicians is fundamental to the study of genetic disorders at the DNA level. Observations: Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a paradigm for how the study of a single genetic disease and its multiple molecular features has been facilitated by the use of various categories of patients. Other examples of interest to dermatologists, surgeons, and other specialists are discussed to demonstrate how the identification of key patients was instrumental in studies of gene localization and subsequent cloning, gene clusters or contiguous gene deletion syndromes, or mutation phenomena such as imprinting, uniparental disomy, and gonadal mosaicism. The molecular researcher has limited access to surgical specimens,
TRIGONOCARPUS LEEANUS, A NEW SPECIES FROM THE MIDDLE PENNSYLVANIAN OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

A new species of Trigonocarpus Brongniart is described from the level of the Herrin (No. 6) Coal (Carbondale Formation, Kewanee Group) at Carterville, Illinois. The seed is three dimensionally preserved by authigenic cementation and exhibits a well preserved nucellar cast, integument and micropylar region. The specimen represents the largest pteridosperm compression-impression seed collected in North America and measures 10 cm from the apex of the micropyle to the chalazal end, and at least 5 cm in breadth. Trigonocarpus leeanus sp. n. is compared to the remaining forty-three taxa within the genus, and specifically with Trigonocarpus grandis Lesquereux, the one species with dimensions approaching it. An emended diagnosis, with designation of a lectotype, is presented for Trigonocarpus grandis. Correlation of the features displayed by Trigonocarpus leeanus sp. n. and the petrified taxa within Pachytesta Brongniart is attempted. DESPITE the multitude of pteridosperm compres- sion-impression megafossils recovered from North American Carboniferous sediments, re- productive organs attributable to seed ferns com- pose, on the average, less than one percent of Coal Swamp floras (Gastaldo, 1975). There are over 150 species of seeds, representing a number of families and orders, recognized in the strata of the Pennsylvanian. Approximately three-quar- ters of these species are preserved as compres- sion-impressions, while the remaining are pre- served as permineralizations. The nomenclatorial status of compression-impression seeds has been complicated by the fact that during preservation, diagnostic characteristics may be lost. This may result in the erection of numerous species based upon different preservational states of the same seed species. The number of recognized taxa, therefore, is undoubtedly inflated as a result of the variety of preservational conditions which are encountered. In addition to this problem of preservational diagenesis, the parentage of the majority of species is unknown, due to separa- tion, perhaps at seed dispersal and prior to fos- silization.
Technichiral color and the generation structure

Abstract We generalize a recently proposed chiral color model to a technicolor theory. This generalization has two interesting features: (a) The generation number of the ordinary quarks is determined by the technicolor group structure. (b) The technifermion condensates break both the chiral color and the electroweak symmetries. We also consider cases of slowly running coupling for the technicolor interaction.
Distribution, abundance, biomass and diversity of benthic infauna in the Northeast Chukchi Sea, Alaska: Relation to environmental variables and marine mammals

Abstract In summer 2009 and 2010, as part of Chukchi Sea Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area – Chemical and Benthos (COMIDA CAB) program, we performed a quantitative assessment of the biomass, abundance, and community structure of benthic infaunal populations of the Northeastern Chukchi Sea. This analysis documented a benthic species inventory of 361 taxa collected from 142 individual van Veen grab samples (0.1 m−2) at 52 stations. Infaunal abundance was dominated by Polychaeta, Mollusca, and Crustacea. Large concentrations of bivalves (up to 1235 m−2; 920.2 gww m−2) were collected south of Hanna Shoal where flow from two water masses converge and deposit labile carbon to the seafloor, as indicated by low surface sediment C:N ratios. Amphipods (up to 1640 m−2; 26.0 gww m−2), and polychaetes (up to 4665 m−2; 114.7 gww m−2) were documented from multiple stations west of and within Barrow Canyon. This high productivity was most likely due to the “canyon effect”, where marine and coastal detrital carbon supplies are channeled by the canyon structure, enhancing carbon deposition and flux, which supports rich benthic communities within the canyon and surrounding areas. To examine the relationships between infaunal distributions of all collected taxa with the physical environment, we used a Biota and Environment matching (BIO–ENV) routine. A combination of water depth, bottom-water temperature and salinity, surface sediment total organic nitrogen (TON) and sediment C:N molar ratios correlated closest with infaunal abundance distribution (ρ=0.54), indicating that multiple factors influence the success of benthic communities. BIO–ENV routines produced similar correlation results when performed on targeted walrus prey items (bivalves (ρ=0.50), polychaetes (ρ=0.53), but gray whale prey items (amphipods) were not strongly correlated to any combination of physical environmental factors (ρ=0.24). Distributions of primary prey items for gray whales (amphipods) and walruses (bivalves, gastropods and polychaetes) were compared with gray whale and walrus distribution as described by sightings from the 2009 and 2010 aerial survey component of COMIDA. In general, concentrations of walruses and their prey occurred in a swath located south of Hanna Shoal and on the shoal itself although the large differences in sea-ice distribution between the two study years showed that walrus distributions were closely linked to sea-ice location. Other areas within Barrow Canyon and the shelf west of the canyon showed high concentrations of benthic amphipods that were coincident with gray whale sightings as quantified by COMIDA aerial surveys. Overall, data collected on this project indicate that the Northeast Chukchi Sea supports a highly productive and diverse benthic ecosystem that is of significant importance to higher trophic level megafauna.
Excellent outcome following down-staging of hepatocellular carcinoma prior to liver transplantation: an intention-to-treat analysis.

We previously reported encouraging results of down-staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to meet conventional T2 criteria (one lesion 2-5 cm or two to three lesions 5 cm and up to 8 cm; (2) two to three lesions with at least one lesion >3 cm and not exceeding 5 cm, with total tumor diameter up to 8 cm; or (3) four to five lesions with none >3 cm, with total tumor diameter up to 8 cm. A minimum observation period of 3 months after down-staging was required before OLT. Tumor down-staging was successful in 43 patients (70.5%). Thirty-five patients (57.4%) had received OLT, including two who had undergone live-donor liver transplantation. Treatment failure was observed in 18 patients (29.5%), primarily due to tumor progression. In the explant of 35 patients who underwent OLT, 13 had complete tumor necrosis, 17 met T2 criteria, and five exceeded T2 criteria. The Kaplan-Meier intention-to-treat survival at 1 and 4 years after down-staging were 87.5% and 69.3%, respectively. The 1-year and 4-year posttransplantation survival rates were 96.2% and 92.1%, respectively. No patient had HCC recurrence after a median posttransplantation follow-up of 25 months. The only factor predicting treatment failure was pretreatment alpha-fetoprotein >1,000 ng/mL. Conclusion Successful down-staging of HCC can be achieved in the majority of carefully selected patients and is associated with excellent posttransplantation outcome.
Expanding civic engagement in China: Super Girl and entertainment-based online community

This article pursues a context-rich understanding of how digital media offer unique opportunities for citizens residing in mainland China to participate in civic engagement and organize their civic values. While the Chinese state authority keeps a heavy hand in any form of media, old or new, for use of overt political expressions, I provide empirical demonstration of the link between entertainment media experiences and the exchange on more serious civic topics. In doing so, I argue for a more expanded notion of civic engagement for political environments such as China and develop an empirical scheme that incorporates ordinary citizens' interactions with more leisure-oriented media texts. Such theoretical and empirical moves, as I point out, can contribute to a more thoughtful discussion of the Internet and civic engagement in China. Furthermore, this article pays particular attention to how the Internet provides a valuable channel for community formation among ordinary Chinese citizens outside the mainstr...
Variable effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on avian osteoclastic activity and reduction of bone loss in ovariectomized rats

We compared the effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavone, to those of tyrphostin A25, tyrphostin A47, and herbimycin on avian osteoclasts in vitro. Inactive analogs daidzein and tyrphostin A1 were used to control for nonspecific effects. None of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors inhibited bone attachment. However, bone resorption was inhibited by genistein and herbimycin with ID50s of 3 μM and 0.1 μM, respectively; tyrphostins and daidzein were inactive at concentrations below 30 μM, where nonspecific effects were noted. Genistein and herbimycin thus inhibit osteoclastic activity via a mechanism independent of cellular attachment, and at doses approximating those inhibiting tyrosine kinase autophosphorylation in vitro; the tyrphostins were inactive at meaningful doses. Because tyrosine kinase inhibitors vary widely in activity spectrum, effects of genistein on cellular metabolic processes were compared to herbimycin. Unlike previously reported osteoclast metabolic inhibitors which achieve a measure of selectivity by concentrating on bone, neither genistein nor herbimycin bound significantly to bone. Osteoclastic protein synthesis, measured as incorporation of 3H-leucine, was significantly inhibited at 10 μM genistein, a concentration greater than that inhibiting bone degradation, while herbimycin reduced protein synthesis at 10 nM. These data suggested that genistein may reduce osteoclastic activity at pharmacologically attainable levels, and that toxic potential was lower than that of herbimycin. To test this hypothesis in a mammalian system, bone mass was measured in 200 g ovariectomized rats treated with 44 μmol/day genistein, relative to untreated controls. During 30 d of treatment, weights of treated and control group animals were indistinguishable, indicating no toxicity, but femoral weight in the treated group was 12% greater than controls (P < 0.05). Our data indicate that the isoflavone inhibitor genistein suppresses osteoclastic activity in vitro and in vivo at concentrations consistent with its ID50s on tyrosine kinases, with a low potential for toxicity. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gastric emptying rate, glycemic and appetite response to a liquid meal in lean and overweight males.

AbstractThe effect of body weight status on appetite, glycemic response and gastric emptying rate was investigated using a liquid meal. Lean and overweight males rated their subjective appetite with blood samples collected for measurement of glucose, biomarkers of appetite and gastric emptying rate for 3 h following consumption of the isocaloric test meal. Overweight participants had a higher rating on postprandial hunger (p < 0.001), preoccupation with food (p < 0.001) and desire to eat (p < 0.001), with fullness being lower (p = 0.001). Postprandial plasma concentration of cholecystokinin-33 was lower (p = 0.007) and total ghrelin was higher (p = 0.012) in overweight participants. A delayed gastric emptying rate was observed in lean participants. There was no difference in postprandial glycemic response (p = 0.189). These results suggest the postprandial appetite pattern was different between lean and overweight males when consuming an isocaloric meal. This may have implications for overweight individua...
Monofluoro analogues of methyl eugenol: new attractants for males of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Dipt., Tephritidae)1

: Reports questioning the safety of methyl eugenol (1,2-dimethoxy-4-[2-propenyl] benzene) stimulated us to develop and test synthetic analogues that may be used as alternative attractants for oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), males. Attraction to one propyl-substituted and six monofluorine-substituted methyl eugenol analogues were compared with attraction to methyl eugenol in field bioassays with both laboratory-reared and wild oriental fruit fly males. The attractiveness of the test compounds to oriental fruit fly males was compared using two parameters: number of adults caught per trap and number of adults caught per mg of compounds released in traps. Based on these two parameters (E)-1,2-dimethoxy-4-(3-fiuoro-2-propenyl)benzene was consistently as attractive as methyl eugenol to both laboratory-reared and wild oriental fruit fly males. With further studies to determine optimum release rates, (E)-1,2-dimethoxy-4-(3-fluoro-2-propenyl)benzene may potentially replace methyl eugenol for survey, detection, delimitation of infestation and eradication of oriental fruit fly populations.
Simulations of gauge theories with many fermions using the pseudo-fermion method

SU(3) gauge theory with 4 and 8 light, dynamical flavours is simulated on an 83 × 4 lattice using the staggered fermions and the pseudo-fermion method. A comparison of the results with those obtained previously by using the microcanonical method reveals good quantitative agreement. A first-order phase transition is confirmed at ma = 0.1 in the 8-flavour case, although at a slightly higher value of the temperature.
Increased Density of Gutta-Percha Using a Controlled Heat Instrument with Lateral Condensation

The purpose of this study was to compare quantitatively the density of standard cold lateral gutta-percha condensation and warm lateral gutta-percha condensation using the System B heating instrument in a low-heat warm lateral condensation technique in an artificial root canal in vitro. Thirty-degree simulated root canals in 30 transparent acrylic blocks were instrumented using Gates-Glidden burs and Quantec (NT Company, Chattanooga, TN) rotary files. The canals were then obturated with gutta-percha using standard cold lateral condensation without sealer. Warm lateral condensation without sealer using the System B instrument at 101°C was then performed on the same 30 canals. A second treatment of warm lateral condensation was then applied to these same canals. The blocks were weighed after the initial canal preparation and after each obturation treatment. Results showed warm lateral condensation of gutta-percha using the System B resulted in a significant increase in density by weight when compared with standard cold lateral condensation. A 23.97% increase in weight was realized after the first heat application, compared with standard lateral condensation. A second heat application produced an additional 2.59% increase in weight over that produced by the first heat application. Data were analyzed using a t test for repeated measures. Both increases were statistically significant (p
Oral contraceptive estrogen dose considerations

The trend in oral contraceptive (OC) prescribing has been toward reductions in the steroid dose. The potential risks and benefits of this trend require more careful consideration however. For example some of the advantages associated with formulations containing 30-35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol--good cycle control and many noncontraceptive benefits--may be lost when the dose is reduced to 20 mcg. This article reviews the literature on the effect of steroid dose on both OC-related risks (e.g. cardiovascular events breast cancer and cycle control) and noncontraceptive benefits (e.g. prevention of functional ovarian cysts endometrial cancer ovarian cancer and benign breast disease). This consideration suggests that OCs containing 30-35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol should remain the first choice for virtually all OC candidates. Formulations with 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol may be appropriate for women who are taking hepatic enzyme-inducing drugs.
The effects of used ferrochrome lignosulphonate drilling muds from a Santa Barbara channel oil well on the development of starfish embryos

Abstract The effects of water-soluble fractions (WSF) of thirteen used ferrochrome lignosulphonate muds on developing embryos of Patiria miniata were studied. The muds were collected during the drilling of a single slant well from Platform Hondo in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, at drilling depths of 4220 to 9858 ft. None of the embryos survived 48 hours' exposure in 25 % WSF of the muds (25,000 ppm mud added (v/v)). Significant reduction in growth and high abnormalities (up to 100%) were observed in the 15% WSF. In lesser concentrations the effects varied from significant reduction of growth, down to 0·5% for three muds, to significant enhancement of growth for several muds in some dilutions. The EC 50 's ranged from 5% to greater than 15% WSF. In the 5% WSF, decreased embryo growth was correlated with increasing Cr concentrations and possibly also with total organic carbon (TOC). Although experiments carried out with NaOH addition to simulate the strong alkalinity of the muds showed increased abnormalities and decreased embryo growth with increasing pH, in the chemically complex WSF (5% dilution) the opposite effect occurred. Dissociation of chrome lignosulphonate molecules from particulates may occur with increasing acidity and explain the relationship between pH and toxicity in dilute WSF. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of the effects of dispersions of drilling muds in the oceanic environment. It is concluded that water column effects on organisms during the dumping of such muds are only likely within short distances of the discharge pipes of offshore drill rigs.
Differential toxicity of three polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in developing sea urchin embryos

The relationship between body burden and toxicity of three individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in developing sea urchin embryos was investigated to evaluate the validity of current predictive models of PCB toxicity in an invertebrate system. Body burdens of radiolabeled PCB congeners (IUPAC-47, 77, and 153) accumulated from a seawater were used to determine median effective concentrations (EC50s) for developmental and cytogenetic effects following a 72-h exposure. Congener 47, a di-ortho-substituted tetrachlorobiphenyl, was found to be at least four times more toxic than congener 77, a non-ortho-substituted (coplanar) tetrachlorobiphenyl, with EC50s of 47 and >218 mmol/kg, respectively, using an embryo development assay. This result contradicts the structure-activity prediction of the mammalian-based toxic equivalents (TEQs) approach, demonstrating the need for an ecotoxicologic model. Congener 153, a di-ortho-substituted hexachlorobiphenyl, was virtually nontoxic in terms of developmental effects at the highest dose achievable at its limit of water solubility. Cytogenetic analysis was a more sensitive method for assessing toxicity than the embryo development assay. Dose-response relationships were established with mitotic activity being the most sensitive endpoint because the PCBs appeared to inhibit mitosis. At the highest doses, complete mitotic arrest was observed. Congener 77 was found to be at least two times moremore » toxic than congener 153 but not as toxic as congener 47 using mitotic activity as the endpoint for toxicity. Thus, the developmental and cytogenetic endpoints ranked the toxicity of the congeners similarly, but established different EC50s.« less
Drug-related behavior change for HIV transmission among American injection drug users

While high risk drug-related behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among injection drug users (IDUs) are asserted to have declined over time in response to the AIDS epidemic, evidence from longitudinal cohorts has been sparse. In a cohort of 810 IDUs (442 seronegatives and 368 seropositives) in Baltimore, we identified drug-related risk behaviors at four consecutive semi-annual visits. Using robust methods for repeated measurements and multiple logistic regression, we estimated the probabilities of maintaining and reducing risk behaviors according to HIV serostatus and time in the study. Seropositive participants were more likely to maintain lower risk behaviors, and behavior maintenance increased with time in study for both seronegative and seropositive IDUs. Greater risk reduction (towards non-use and not sharing injection equipment) was seen among seropositive IDUs, with behavior change occurring soon after enrollment in the study. While behavior changes have been reported, many active IDUs, especially those still at risk for acquiring HIV infection, have not adequately reduced their risk. Continuing prevention programs and efforts in vaccine development are imperative to reduce the risk of HIV infection among IDUs.
Energy Band Structure in Silicon Crystals by the Orthogonalized Plane-Wave Method

The values of the energies at the point $\mathrm{K}=2\ensuremath{\pi}{a}^{\ensuremath{-}1}(1, 0, 0)$ are calculated in Si by the orthogonalized plane-wave method. The curves of energy versus K are drawn in the [100] direction. The results are in agreement with the fact that Si is an insulator. They also indicate that the minimum of the lowest conduction band lies near the surface of the zone.
The amo operon in marine, ammonia-oxidizing γ-proteobacteria

While there is an extensive database of genes encoding ammonia monooxygenase (amo) found in the ammonia-oxidizing beta-proteobacteria, few amo sequences are available representing the gamma-proteobacteria. We sequenced the complete amo operon (amoCAB) for Nitrosococcus oceani (ATCC 19707), a marine, autotrophic, ammonia-oxidizing bacterium belonging to the gamma-subdivision of the proteobacteria. An additional autotrophic, ammonia-oxidizing bacterium isolated from a marine environment (strain C-113) was identified as belonging to the Nitrosococcus genus by 16S rDNA analysis and its amo operon was sequenced. This is the first report of a full-length sequence for the amo operon from a gamma-subdivision autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacterium. The N. oceani and C-113 amo genes were 88-90% identical to each other, 49-53% identical to the pmo genes encoding the related particulate methane monooxygenase of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), and 39-42% identical to the amo genes of the beta-subdivision autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. In both Nitrosococcus strains, the amo operon was found as a single copy and contained three genes, amoC, amoA, amoB, with intergenic spacer regions between amoC and amoA (286 bp) and between amoA and amoB (65 bp). We conclude that the amo genes will allow for a finer scale phylogenetic differentiation than 16S rDNA within the gamma-subdivision AOB.
Herbimycin A inhibits protein kinase C in vascular smooth muscle cells

It has been observed that in growth arrested vascular smooth muscle cells herbimycin A treatment completely inhibits the activation of mitogen activated protein kinase induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (a phorbol ester). Since herbimycin A is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, this finding raised the possibility of protein kinase C inhibition or down regulation by this compound. Herbimycin A significantly inhibited phorbol myristate acetate-mediated protein kinase C activation as measured by in situ glycogen synthase (GS) peptide and neurogranin peptide phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells. Basal protein kinase activity, i.e. kinase activity without phorbol ester treatment to vascular smooth muscle cells, was also decreased by the treatment of herbimycin A. These findings suggest that herbimycin A also inhibits protein kinase C in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Outcome after celiac artery coverage during endovascular thoracic aortic aneurysm repair: preliminary results.

Background Endovascular repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms has emerged as an alternative to open repair. Coverage of the left subclavian origin has been reported to expand the proximal sealing zone. We report the planned coverage of the celiac artery origin with a thoracic stent graft to achieve an adequate distal sealing zone. Methods All patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair are prospectively entered into a computerized database. All patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair with coverage of the celiac artery origin were identified and retrospectively analyzed. End points for evaluation included indications for covering the celiac artery, anatomic features of the distal landing zone, demonstration of collateral circulation between the celiac artery and the superior mesenteric artery, technical success of the procedure, and presence of clinical ischemic symptoms after the procedure. Results Between March 2005 and May 2006, 46 patients underwent endovascular repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Seven patients had planned celiac artery coverage with a thoracic stent graft to secure an adequate distal sealing zone. Six patients demonstrated collateral circulation through the gastroduodenal artery between the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries before deployment of the stent graft. One patient had a distal type I endoleak at the conclusion of the procedure related to inadequate sealing at the superior mesenteric artery origin. No type II endoleaks were evident at the final intraoperative angiogram or 30-day computed tomography scan. There were no postoperative deaths, no ischemic abdominal complications, and no clinical spinal cord ischemia. Short-term follow-up (1 to 10 months) has demonstrated no additional endoleaks (type I not fully assessed), no aneurysm growth, and no aneurysm ruptures. Conclusion This limited series supports the suitability, in selected patients, of covering the celiac artery origin for a distal landing zone when the distal sealing zone proximal to the celiac artery is inadequate. We recommend the angiographic evaluation of the collateral circulation between the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries when covering the celiac artery origin is being considered.
Clues to the early diagnosis of neonatal appendicitis

without any manipulation except advancement into the chest. The aortogram (Fig. 3) clearly demonstrated compromise of the opacified aortic lumen by the tube. In addition, aortograms and aortic pulse-pressure recordings were obtained in live newborn puppies. Partial aortic obstruction and diminution of the pulse pressure, as well as marked dampening of the wave form were easily produced distal to obstruction caused by a posteromedially advanced thoracostomy tube (Fig. 4). If a thoracostomy tube abuts the ascending aorta, arterial pressure distal to that site may be dampened. We also tried to detect partial aortic obstruction resulting from misplaced thoracostomy tubes by measuring upper and lower extremity systolic blood pressures infrasonically. Unfortunately, the normal difference in upper and lower extremity systolic blood pressure, as assessed by similar techniques, 4 and the lack of precision of the infrasonic manometer severely limited the clinical usefulness of this method.
Separation of Powers, Rule of Law, and the Bush Administration

On September 11, 2001, nineteen Islamic terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing three of them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Fifteen of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, the rest from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Lebanon. The ensuing War on Terrorism not only deposed regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq but also implemented policies that deprived "detainees" of the protection of international law. This article questions the ethical and institutional legitimacy of such decisions.
Importance of the Connectivity of Backwater Areas for Fish Production in Demopolis Reservoir, Alabama

ABSTRACT Larval and juvenile fishes were sampled in backwater areas and the river proper in Demopolis Reservoir, Alabama, in 2002 and 2003. Because backwater habitats have declined in Demopolis Reservoir due to sedimentation, we sampled both closed-access and open-access backwaters to assess the effects of the loss of connectivity on the use of these areas for spawning and juvenile habitats. Larval fishes were generally more abundant in the disconnected backwater habitats, least abundant in the riverine habitat, and intermediate in the open-access backwaters in both years. Juvenile fishes were only sampled during 2003. Abundances of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) were higher in backwater areas than in the river proper. Three species of nongame fish were collected in greater numbers in the river proper, whereas four species were collected in greater numbers in backwater habitats. Twenty-three species were collected from open-access backwaters, but only 1...
Black hole accretion and X-ray spectra of QSOS

Abstract Changes in Eddington accretion ratios are thought to result in X-ray spectral index changes in Galactic binary black hole systems. Objects with higher Eddington ratios have softer X-ray spectra. Can we apply this result to much more massive black hole systems such as QSOs? If so, X-ray observations will give us valuable insight into the physics of QSOs. Among QSOs, X-ray spectral index is part of a large set of correlated optical and UV observational properties, especially optical Fe II and [O III] strengths in the Hβ region. To investigate whether this set of correlations is related to Eddington ratio, we use as probes, BALQSOs that have been suggested to be youthful super-accretors. We conducted infrared spectroscopy of the Hβ rest wavelength region for a sample of BALQSOs and compared line measurements with those for high and low redshift non-BAL QSOs. Hβ line widths and bolometric luminosity are used to calculate QSO black hole masses and Eddington ratios. Our results support the hypothesis that optical Fe II and [O III] line strengths are Eddington ratio indicators in QSO central engines. A possible explanation is that strong Fe II and weak [O III] indicate abundant cold gas that could fuel near Eddington accretion.
Self-assembly of octadecyltrichlorosilane monolayers on mica

A method is described to deposit a securely attached, self-assembled monolayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) on the surface of freshly cleaved muscovite mica. Comparison of the infrared methylene spectra with those of closely packed Langmuir-Blodgett films implies that the surface coverage of the OTS films was a fraction 0.8–0.9 that of films formed by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) methods. However, LB monolayers are less securely attached to the substrate. The contact angle of water on these self-assembled monolayers remained over 100° for over 24 h and it suffered no noticeable degradation after prolonged reflux in cyclohexane. The method to form an OTS monolayer on mica involves three steps; first, ion exchange of the native K+ ions of cleaved mica for H+ ions; second, control of the quantity of resulting water on the mica surface; third, adsorption and surface polymerization of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) by self-assembly from dilute cyclohexane solution.
Malignant surface lesions of bone

Abstract Osteosarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumours with different histological and clinical features, biological behaviour and therapy. Histological grading has remained the most important factor for predicting the clinical progression of osteosarcomas. Some of the most common diagnostic problems in surgical pathology related to low-grade osteogenic sarcoma are addressed. Osteogenic sarcomas and chondrosarcomas arising in surface osseous locations represent a difficult diagnostic problem and are addressed briefly in this article.
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases: potential markers of genetic code development

Aminoacylation of tRNAs, catalyzed by 20 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, is responsible for establishing the genetic code. The enzymes are divided into two classes on the basis of the architectures of their active sites. Members of the two classes also differ in that they bind opposite sides of the tRNA acceptor stem. Importantly, specific pairs of synthetases--one from each class--can be docked simultaneously onto the acceptor stem. This article relates these specific pairings to the organization of the table of codons that defines the universal genetic code.
Search Behavior and Problem Definition: The Impact of Managerial Self-Interest

Firms search for technological innovations to solve a particular defined or salient problem. However, how and by whom the problem is defined, determines the direction and nature of this search. We ...
Modulation of cross-bridge affinity for MgGTP by Ca2+ in skinned fibers of rabbit psoas muscle

Previously we reported that saturation of cross-bridges with MgATP gamma S in skinned muscle fibers was calcium sensitive. In the present study we investigate whether this observation can be generalized to other nucleotides by studying saturation of cross-bridges with MgGTP. In solution, myosin-subfragment 1 (S1) in the presence of 10 mM MgGTP was found to bind to actin with low affinity, similar to that in the presence of MgATP and MgATP gamma S. In EGTA buffer, the equatorial x-ray diffraction intensity ratio I11/I10 recorded in single skinned fibers decreased upon increasing MgGTP concentration from 0 to 10 mM (1 degree C and 170 mM ionic strength). The I11/I10 ratio leveled off at 10 mM MgGTP, indicating full saturation of cross-bridges with the nucleotide. Under these conditions, the value of I11/I10 is indistinguishable from that obtained in the presence of saturating [MgATP]. In CaEGTA buffer, however, the decrease in I11/I10 occurs over a wider range of concentrations, and there is no indication of I11/I10 leveling off at 10 mM MgGTP, suggesting that full saturation is not reached. The Ca2+ dependence of GTP binding appears to be a direct consequence of the differences in the affinities of the strongly bound cross-bridges to actin versus weakly bound cross-bridges to actin. A biochemical scheme that could qualitatively explain the titration behavior of ATP gamma S and GTP is presented.