cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of an adenosine receptor antagonist on acute amphotericin B nephrotoxicity

The clinical usage of amphotericin B in treating systemic fungal infections is limited by its nephrotoxicity, which is caused by reductions in renal blood flow and alterations in renal tubular function. Aminophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, attenuates amphotericin B-induced reductions in renal blood flow in both dogs and rats, which suggests that endogenous adenosine may participate in this response. However, aminophylline per se is a vasodilator and also changes intracellular levels of cyclic nucleotides and calcium. In this study, we re-examined the hypothesis that adenosine participates in amphotericin B-induced renal vasoconstriction by employing a novel adenosine receptor antagonist, 1, 3-dipropyl-8-(p-sulfophenyl)xanthine(DPSPX). This antagonist because of its negative charge at physiological pH, has limited access to the intracellular space. In a group of male Sprague-Dawley rats, an extracorporeal shunt was established between the carotid artery and left renal artery, via an aortic pouch, such that flow through the shunt was equivalent to renal blood flow. Also, a catheter was inserted into the left ureter for collection of urine and measurement of creatinine and electrolyte excretion. Amphotericin B-induced changes in renal blood flow and renal excretory function were measured in both control rats and rats pretreated with DPSPX at a dosage that abolishes the renovascular effects of exogenous adenosine in this model. In both control rats and rats pretreated with DPSPX, amphotericin B caused a marked decrease in renal blood flow, creatinine excretion, and potassium excretion; however, these effects of amphotericin B were similar in the two groups. This study does not support the hypothesis that endogenous adenosine participates in the acute renal response to amphotericin B, but does suggest that the intracellular actions of aminophylline may be responsible for its protective action against amphotericin B-induced nephrotoxicity.
Therapeutic Trial of Metformin and Bortezomib in a Mouse Model of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a human genetic disorder in which loss of either TSC1 or TSC2 leads to development of hamartoma lesions, which can progress and be life-threatening or fatal. The TSC1/TSC2 protein complex regulates the state of activation of mTORC1. Tsc2+/− mice develop renal cystadenoma lesions which grow progressively. Both bortezomib and metformin have been proposed as potential therapeutics in TSC. We examined the potential benefit of 1 month treatment with bortezomib, and 4 month treatment with metformin in Tsc2+/− mice. Results were compared to vehicle treatment and treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin for 1 month. We used a quantitative tumor volume measurement on stained paraffin sections to assess the effect of these drugs. The median tumor volume per kidney was decreased by 99% in mice treated with rapamycin (p = 0.0004). In contrast, the median tumor volume per kidney was not significantly reduced for either the bortezomib cohort or the metformin cohort. Biochemical studies confirmed that bortezomib and metformin had their expected pharmacodynamic effects. We conclude that neither bortezomib nor metformin has significant benefit in this native Tsc2+/− mouse model, which suggests limited benefit of these compounds in the treatment of TSC hamartomas and related lesions.
Inflammatory meningeal masses of unexplained origin. An ultrastructural and immunological study.

Two patients with inflammatory meningeal masses were studied. Lesions in both patients showed varying proportions of meningothelial and inflammatory components. The non-neoplastic nature of the inflammation was confirmed in one case by lymphocyte surface marker study, which showed T and B cells in one to four ratio, and by immunohistochemistry, which revealed polyclonal plasma cells. The abundant histiocytes contained muramidase and often enclosed intact lymphocytes or plasma cells within their cytoplasm, i.e., emperipolesis. Their surfaces bore slender interdigitating pseudopodia, intercellular junctions, and subplasmalemmal linear densities. The derivation of these histiocytes is uncertain: mononuclear phagocytes, meningothelial cells, and multipotential meningeal cells are all possible progenitors. A comparison with eleven similar reported cases reveals a tendency for inflammatory meningeal masses to occur in the young, as well as a predilection for posterior fossa involvement. They resemble the extranodal lesions of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, as well as plasma cell granulomas or inflammatory pseudotumors of lung and other tissues. However, it is possible that these lesions represent a variant of meningioma in which an unusual immunological response has been evoked.
Vertical crustal movements along the East Coast, North America, from historic and late Holocene sea level data

Abstract Sea-level data from eastern North America are analyzed for evidence of neotectonism, which is inferred from residual sea-level anomalies, after removal of glacial isostatic and eustatic components. The sea level is examined on two different time scales, using long-term Holocene paleosealevel indicators, and short term (≤ 100 yrs) tide-gauge records. The major process affecting Holocene sea levels in this region is the continuing response to glacial unloading. The northward migration of the collapsed bulge peripheral to the retreating ice sheets is clearly delineated by the displacement of the hingeline between glacioisostatic subsidence and uplift from around 43° to 48°N, over the last 14,000 years. Similarly, the zone of maximal subsidence (collapsed forebulge) has moved from ~ 36°–42°N prior to 11,000 years to 44°–46°N during the last 5000 years. Tide-gauge data for the East Coast covering the last 100 years indicate a sea-level rise of around 2–4 mm/yr. Subtraction of the late Holocene trend reduces the regional mean from 2.72 ± 0.71 mm/yr to 1.26 ± 0.78 mm/yr, which is close to the value (1.47 ± 0.68 mm/yr) obtained by using viscoelastic model corrections (after Peltier, 1986). Thus, nearly half of the recent regional sea level rise appears to be of glacioisostatic origin. The corrected mean regional trend lies within a few tenths of a mm/yr of the estimated mean global eustatic trend (~1.1 mm/yr; Gornitz and Lebedeff, 1987). Generally, the results show no evidence for major tectonic movements, especially for large fault offsets. Nevertheless, several anomalous areas persist, that are suggestive of gentle warping, after glacioisostatic and eustatic processes have been taken into account. These correspond to areas with known Neogene epeirogenic movements, and include the region between Savannah, Georgia-Charleston, South Carolina (subsidence), Cape Fear Arch (uplift), southern Chesapeake Bay (Late Pleistocene-Holocene uplift, succeeded by recent subsidence), Montauk and the Long Island platform (uplift?). Subsidence in the Charleston area and southern Chesapeake Bay may be in part caused by groundwater withdrawal.
Effects of intraseptal zolpidem and chlordiazepoxide on spatial working memory and high-affinity choline uptake in the hippocampus.

Injection of GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor ligands into the medial septum (MS) alters the activity of cholinergic neurons that innervate the hippocampus and can produce bidirectional modulation of spatial memory. Recent evidence suggests that two subtypes of the GABAA receptor are differentially localized to either GABAergic (α1/β2/γ2) or cholinergic (α3/β3/γ2) neurons within the MS. The present studies characterized the dose-related behavioral and neurochemical effects of intraseptal infusions of two benzodiazepine (BDZ) agonists that appear to exhibit different profiles of pharmacological specificity for these receptor subtypes. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were cannulated and then artificial CSF, chlordiazepoxide (CDP: 8 or 12 μg), or zolpidem (4, 8, or 12 μg) was injected into the MS. Spatial working memory was assessed in a delay radial-arm maze task and the activity of cholinergic neurons in the MS was evaluated by high-affinity choline uptake (HA-ChU) in the hippocampus. Intraseptal injection of either CDP or zolpidem produced dose-related impairments in spatial working memory and decreases in hippocampal HAChU. Both BDZ agonists were found to produce retrograde memory deficits and a decrease in HAChU following the highest dose tested (12 μg). However, intraseptal injection of 8 μg of zolpidem produced a behavioral deficit comparable to the high dose of CDP, but did not alter HAChU within the HPC. Although the cholinergic component of the septohippocampal pathway has been shown to be important in modulating hippocampal physiology and spatial memory processes, data from the present experiments suggest that the GABAergic component may also play an important role in the behavioral functions of the septohippocampal pathway.
Services and Recurrence After Psychological Maltreatment Confirmed by Child Protective Services

Recurrence rates of psychological maltreatment (PM) and the services that may reduce those rates have not been systematically evaluated. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System was used for 2003-2007 to study a cohort of children in 18 states with PM reports first confirmed by child protective services (CPS) during 2003. PM recurrence rates after counseling and other referrals were assessed while controlling for factors associated with service referral and other maltreatment. A total of 11,646 children had a first CPS-confirmed report with PM, and 9.2% of them had a second-confirmed PM report within 5 years. Fewer than one fourth of families were referred for services after PM, with service referrals being more likely for families with poverty, drug or alcohol problems, or other violence. Controlling for these factors, counseling referral was associated with a 54% reduction in PM recurrence, but other services were not associated with statistically significant reductions. Few families in which PM was confirmed receive any services, and most services provided were not associated with reductions in PM recurrence. Clarification of key services associated with efficacious prevention of PM is needed. Language: en
Simulations and the dynamics of racial and gender gaps in civic competence

This chapter discusses the benefits and constraints of a simulation-based strategy for enhancing civic competence among introductory government students, an approach that shows promise for closing racial and gender gaps in political efficacy and participation.
The Cost of Living Large: Comparative Gliding Performance in Flying Lizards (Agamidae: Draco)

Abstract: Despite exhibiting considerable interspecific variation in body mass, flying lizards of the genus Draco are isometric in their area‐mass scaling relationships and exhibit no significant compensatory variation in wing aspect ratio. Thus, larger species are expected to be relatively poor gliders, in lieu of behavioral or physiological compensation, when compared with smaller congeners. Here we tested this hypothesis by conducting gliding performance trials for 11 Draco species spanning virtually the entire size range of the genus. We considered three primary performance variables: maximum velocity adjusted for wind conditions, height lost over a standard horizontal glide distance, and glide angle. Comparative analysis confirmed that larger species are relatively poor gliders and do not compensate substantially for their higher wing loadings via either behavioral or physiological mechanisms. Flying lizards were found to exhibit substantial context‐dependent variation in glide performance, with smal...
Derived demand for advertising messages and substitutability among the media

Abstract We consider market demand for advertising messages through the estimation of a translog cost function for advertising in the economy as a whole over the period 1951–1987. Total advertising is disaggregated into advertising messages in broadcast, print, direct mail, and all other media. We are then able to calculate substitution elasticities among advertising messages in the various media and price elasticities of derived demand in the market for advertising messages. We find that messages in the different media are substitutes in facilitating sales, although the price elasticities suggest that the derived demand curves are rather inelastic.
Automatic B cell lymphoma detection using flow cytometry data

Flow cytometry has been widely used for the diagnosis of various hematopoietic diseases. Although there have been advances in the number of markers that can be analyzed simultaneously, the data is still interpreted by manual gating. This is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and subject to human error. We propose a computational model to detect B-lymphocyte neoplasms using flow cytometry data by building healthy and sick profiles. A cell capture rate was defined to measure the fitness of a test subject using a particular profile. By examining the cell capture rate of a test case with all profiles, the disease type can be determined.
Microwave signatures and surface properties of Ovda Regio and surroundings, Venus

Magellan observations of horizontally and vertically polarized emissivity and radar specific cross sections are jointly modeled to separate dielectric constants from textural effect for lobate plains, fractured plains, fracture belts, festoon flows, and tessera in Ovda Regio and surroundings. The model assumes surface emission and scattering dominate and that signatures are controlled by a combination of quasi-specular and diffuse-scale mechanisms. Textural parameters are found to correlate with geology whereas dielectric constants are found to depend on elevation. A gradual increase in dielectric constant from rock-like values (4 to 5) to a value of approximately 50 is evident over the interval from 6054 to 6056 km, where elevations are derived from Magellan altimetry observations. Stereo radargrammetric analyses demonstrate that a return to rock-like values occurs over approximately 0.5 km above the terrain with highest dielectric constants. The abrupt return to rock-like values occurs independently of geology and reinforces the hypothesis of elevation control on dielectric constant values. Variations in dielectric constant with elevation are modeled using an 1000-ppm concentration of a ferroelectric mineral with a Curie temperature of 707 K. The model reproduces the abrupt change at highest elevations, as the Curie temperature is reached, and the gradual change as lower elevations are encountered. To our knowledge no other model explains the trends with such simplicity.
CROSSING RELATIONS AND THE PREDICTION OF SYMMETRIES IN A SOLUBLE MODEL

The two-channel static model, incorporating unitarity and a nontrivial crossing relation, is known to be exactly soluble for a specific choice of the crossing matrix. The solution, obtained by Wilson and independently by Wanders, is largely independent of a number of the dynamical assumptions of the static model and may, therefore, indicate properties of more realistic models for the strong interactions. We have generalized the two-channel problem by introducing arbitrary crossing matrices of a type suitable to the static model. We ask if the requirement that exact solutions exist leads to restrictions upon the crossing matrices and hence to the prediction of symmetries. The answer is in the negative; we exhibit solutions for all values of the parametrized crossing matrix. However, special solutions of a particularly simple form exist only for crossing matrices corresponding to the symmetry group SU(2). The relationship between these special solutions and the general solution is discussed.
A density functional study of the relative stability of intermediates in a McMurry coupling reaction

The intramolecular McMurry reaction is a relatively common method for assembling carbocycles in organic synthesis. Most typically, this reaction involves a reductive coupling mediated by Ti(II). However, there are few examples of intramolecular McMurry reactions in the presence of Lewis basic heteroatoms. In this work, we investigate the titanium-mediated McMurry coupling leading to a pyrrolidine methoxy keto ester. Specifically, we compare the relative energies of all possible reaction intermediates at the B3LYP/6-31G level of theory. The most stable intermediate is found to be the one resulting from deoxygenation of the α-methoxy ketone. The McMurry product is not predicted to form.
Survival of influenza virus on hands and fomites in community and laboratory settings

Background Transmission dynamics modeling provides a practical method for virtual evaluation of the impact of public health interventions in response to prospective influenza pandemics and also may help determine the relative contribution of different modes of transmission to overall infection rates. Accurate estimates of longevity for all forms of viral particles are needed for such models to be useful. Methods We conducted a time course study to determine the viability and longevity of H1N1 virus on naturally contaminated hands and household surfaces of 20 individuals with laboratory-confirmed infection. Participants coughed or sneezed into their hands, which were sampled immediately and again after 5, 10, and 30 minutes. Samples also were obtained from household surfaces handled by the participants immediately after coughing/sneezing. Clinically obtained H1N1 isolates were used to assess the viability and longevity of the virus on various artificially inoculated common household surfaces and human hands in a controlled laboratory setting. Viral detection was achieved by culture and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results The results suggest that H1N1 does not survive long on naturally contaminated skin and fomites, and that secretions deposited on hands by coughing or sneezing have a concentration of 50 /mL. Conclusions These data can be used to estimate the relative contribution of direct and indirect contact transmission on overall infection rates.
Energy efficiency analysis of a self-powered pressure sensor using bond graph

This paper presents a Bond graph approach to analyzing the energy efficiency of a self-powered wireless pressure sensor for pressure measurement in an injection mold. The sensor is located within the mold cavity and consists of an energy converter, an energy modulator, and a signal transmitter. Pressure variation in the mold cavity is extracted by the energy converter and transmitted through the mold steel in the form of ultrasound pulses to a signal receiver located outside of the mold. Through Bond graph models, the energy efficiency of the sensing system is characterized as a function of the configuration of the piezoceramic stack within the energy converter, and the pulsing cycle of the energy modulator. The obtained energy model is then used to identify the minimum level of signal intensity required to ensure successful detection of the ultrasound signals by the signal receiver. The Bond graph models established can be further used to optimize the design of the sensing system and its constituent components.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Immunological Specificity. Unique Combinations of Selected Natural Globulins provide an Alternative to the Classical Concept.

The concept of immunological specificity based on a unique combination of natural globulins is an attractive alternative to the classical concept of unique globulin molecules for each possible antigen. Many hitherto separate facets of the antibody response such as antibody diversity, cross-reactions, natural antibodies, increased mitoses in lymphatic tissue, the anamnestic response, and immune tolerance may be related through the general thesis that antibody production is not a unique biological phenomenon but a highly specialized example of certain general cellular processes.
Antigenicity and immunogenicity of Hypoderma lineatum soluble proteins in the bovine host

Protein species found in soluble crude extracts of Hypoderma lineatum (common cattle grub) 1st-instar larvae (HL1) were separated by non-denaturing and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and analyzed for antigenicity by Western blotting using serum from H. lineatum-infested and vaccinated cattle. All HL1 proteins resolved by non-denaturing PAGE were found to be antigenic in the infested bovine host. Treatment of the proteins with sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2-mercaptoethanol destroyed the ability of hypodermin B and the Peak 2 proteins from DEAE-ion exchange HPLC to be bound by antibody. The principal proteins, hypodermin A and hypodermin C (collagenase), appear to be the most immunogenic of the larval proteins. Although having similar amino acid composition, hypodermin A did not appear to share an antigenic epitope with the most prevalent protein, hypodermin C. These results may allow for the selection of proteins to be used in vaccine trials and studies of protective immunological mechanisms associated with acquired resistance to H. lineatum infestation in the bovine host.
An investigation of counterregulatory eating in obese clinic attenders

This study examined eating regulation among obese persons who applied for weight loss treatment. A forced-preload paradigm was utilized to test (a) whether obese individuals seeking treatment engage in counterregulatory eating and (b) whether restraint, binge eating severity, or body image disparagement moderate the effects of preloads on eating. The results in a sample of 72 clinically overweight women indicated that obese persons seeking weight loss treatment did indeed display counterregulatory eating behavior. When treated as continuous variables, none of the moderator variables interacted with preload status to influence eating in the expected direction. However, when subjects were divided into binge and nonbinge eaters, binge status moderated the effect of preloads on eating. © 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
CONROLLED PHYSICAL AND SUBJECTIVE INTENSITIES OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

A series of investigations was conducted to determine which physical parameters must be controlled to deliver constant electrical stimulation and the effect of controlling these parameters on subjective estimates of shock intensity. Constant voltage and constant current stimulation were tested with eight waveforms and five electrode configurations, including a concentric disc electrode. Dry skin and treated skin techniques were tested in a comparative power experiment and with a method of magnitude estimation. Passing an electrical stimulus through an electrode-skin circuit produces a marked reduction in the impedance of that circuit. This drop in impedance is a local effect, rather than a centrally mediated response, causes differences in perceived magnitude, and occurs no matter whether voltage, current, or power is held constant and no matter what waveform, frequency or electrode configuration is used. The use of the concentric disc electrode and treatment of the skin with an electrolyte makes it possible to reduce impedance to a predetermined level, which when combined with constant voltage or constant current results in a constant physical stimulus and constant subjective estimates of the stimulus intensity.
The role of self-esteem in affiliation.

The role of self-esteem in a person's decision to initially affiliate with someone and subsequently maintain that affiliation was examined. A sample of 221 pairs of participants ("observers" and their "affiliates") were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (M. Rosenberg, 1979), the Social Desirability Scale (D. Crowne & D. Marlowe, 1964), and a general interest questionnaire. The observers and most of their affiliates were undergraduate students enrolled at a southwestern U.S. university. Both at initial contact and during maintained affiliation, the observers with high self-esteem scores tended to affiliate with persons who scored significantly lower on self-esteem, and observers with low self-esteem scores tended to affiliate with persons who scored significantly higher on self-esteem. The authors concluded that a person's level of self-esteem may play an important role in his or her choices of affiliates.
A retrospective comparison of abdominal sacrocolpopexy with Burch colposuspension versus sacrospinous fixation with transvaginal needle suspension for the management of vaginal vault prolapse and coexisting stress incontinence.

The objective of this study was to compare the surgical outcome of abdominal sacrocolpopexy and Burch colposuspension with sacrospinous fixation and transvaginal needle suspension in the management of vaginal vault prolapse and coexisting stress incontinence. One hundred and seventeen women with vaginal vault prolapse and coexisting stress incontinence were surgically managed over a 7-year period. The first 61 consecutive women who underwent sacrospinous fixation and transvaginal needle suspension comprised the vaginal group, and the following 56 consecutive women who underwent abdominal sacrocolpopexy and Burch colposuspension comprised the abdominal group. Office records were reviewed to assess the presence of recurrent prolapse and urinary incontinence during postoperative follow-up. Objective follow-up was available for 101 women. Mean duration of follow-up was 24.0 ± 15 months for the vaginal group, and 23.1 ± 12.6 months for the abdominal group. The incidence of recurrent prolapse to or beyond the hymen (33% vs. 19%, P = 0.0505) and lower urinary tract symptoms (26% vs. 13%, P = 0.0506) were significantly higher in the vaginal group than in the abdominal group. Our data suggest that the combined abdominal approach has a lower incidence of recurrent prolapse and lower urinary tract symptoms than the combined vaginal approach in managing vaginal vault prolapse and coexisting stress incontinence.
Experimental methods to alleviate ion coupling effects in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Abstract In Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry performed at high ion densities, coulombic interactions between ions of similar cyclotron frequencies may lead to coupled cyclotron motions. For ions residing in these modes, a coalescence of closely spaced ion frequencies will result, and the observed spectral line shape of otherwise distinct ion masses has the appearance of a single resonant cyclotron frequency. In this work, we use matrix-assisted laser desorption generated ions to provide examples of ion coupling and its effects on isotopic information. Two separate FT-ICR pulse sequences which alter the applied trap potentials are demonstrated to reverse the effects of ion coupling by reducing the ion density inside the trapped-ion cell. The result is a mass spectrum with a resolved isotopic envelope for previously coupled ion frequencies. Analytical benefits obtained with these pulse sequences when applied to a gramicidin-Dubos sample include a 300% increase in mass resolution and 100% improvement in mass measurement accuracy in the MALDI/FT-ICR spectrum.
Correlation between scanning laser ophthalmoscope microperimetry and anatomic abnormalities in patients with subfoveal neovascularization.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify the anatomic abnormalities associated with an absolute scotoma and the location and stability of fixation in patients with subfoveal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, and other disorders. Methods: Scanning laser ophthalmoscope microperimetry was superimposed on color fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms of 21 eyes with subfoveal neovascular membranes secondary to age-related macular degeneration (14 eyes) and presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (7 eyes). The authors determined the location and the area occupied by the absolute scotoma and each of the following subretinal lesions: subretinal hemorrhage, neurosensory retinal detachment, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) atrophy, RPE hyperplasia, atrophy of the choriocapillaris, hard exudates, and the subfoveal neovascular membrane. The area of absolute scotoma determined by scanning laser ophthalmoscope microperimetry was superimposed on the anatomic lesions. The authors calculated the relative risk ratio (RR) of an absolute scotoma occurring in regions corresponding to each anatomic abnormality, and determined the preferred location and stability of fixation in each eye. Results: An absolute scotoma was present in areas of chorioretinal scar (RR = 107.61), RPE atrophy (RR = 9.97), subretinal hemorrhage (RR = 2.88), and the neovascular membrane (RR = 1.86). Fixation was stable in all patients with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome but only 29% of patients with age-related macular degeneration. Fifty-five percent of patients with stable fixation fixated over an area of RPE hyperplasia. Conclusion: The relative risk of an absolute scotoma is highest over areas of chorioretinal scars, RPE atrophy, subretinal hemorrhage, and the neovascular membrane. Fixation is more stable in patients with subfoveal neovascularization from presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome than with age-related macular degeneration and frequently is present over an area of RPE hyperplasia.
Estimation of shape constrained functions in dynamical systems and its application to gene networks

Inspired by estimation and identification of biological and engineering systems subject to constraints, this paper addresses nonparametric estimation of monotone functions contained in a class of dynamical systems. A two-stage estimation procedure is proposed. At the first stage, partial state estimation is performed via trend filtering techniques. At the second stage, a penalized spline (or P-spline for short) estimator is used to estimate monotone functions. The highlight of the paper is asymptotic analysis of the monotone P-spline estimator formulated as a constrained optimization problem. The uniform Lipschitz property is established for optimal spline coefficients. By approximating the estimator by a solution of a differential equation with a constrained right-hand side, the paper develops asymptotic normality at interior points and establishes convergence rates. The proposed estimator is applied to estimation of a monotone regulatory function in a gene regulatory network.
Benthic Community Structure and Composition Among Rocky Habitats in the Great Lakes and Keuka Lake, New York

Benthic invertebrates were collected from 12 rocky sites in Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and Keuka Lake, New York. Proportionate abundances of benthic components occurring in rock scrape (131 spp.) and pumped (167 spp.) samples (190 spp. total) were compared using coefficient of community (CC) and percent similarity of community (PSc). Pumped samples were judged better estimators of benthic community structure and composition than were rock scrape samples because they more thoroughly and instantaneously sampled the benthos. Rock scrape samples in particular were subject to loss of Amphipoda. Comparisons among sites using CC, PSc, and cluster analysis indicated two major clusters of sites, one dominated by Chironomidae and the other dominated for the most part by the amphipod Hyalella azteca. No water chemistry differences of biological importance were noted during the fall and no biological interactions, such as fish predation, could explain observed benthic community differences. The factor which best accounted for differences in the benthic community among sites was physical characteristics such as water temperature, shelter from excessive wave activity, and rock configuration. However, despite differences, the most remarkable feature among rock sites was their similarity since dominant taxa of Amphipoda, Chironomidae, Acarina, and to some extent Naididae, were quite predictable, although rank order of dominance changed from site to site. Similarity among sites was attributed to similar trophic conditions, while dissimilarity was attributed to physical characteristics acting within and upon each site.
Multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock calculation of photoionization cross sections of the rare gases

A multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock calculation is used to test the hypothesis that ground-state correlations involving excitation of a single of electrons from an outer $p$ shell into $d$ orbitals are the dominant ones in the photoionization cross sections of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. Dramatic improvement in the agreement of dipole length and dipole velocity forms of the cross section is obtaining in going from a Hartree-Fock to a multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock calculation. Results are found to be comparable to recent values obtained using the random-phase approximation with exchange and the $R$ matrix.
Strategies for determining soil-loss tolerance

Excessive soil losses due to erosion or lateral displacement by machinery impair productivity. Some soil loss is tolerable, but not so much that plant productivity diminishes. Thus productivity is the dominant concern in determining soil-loss tolerance. The effects of soil loss on productivity, however, are difficult to determine. Therefore, two alternatives are discussed for determining the limits of soil loss, or soil-loss tolerance. These alternatives are the maintenance of soil organic matter and, for shallow and moderately deep soils, the maintenance of soil depth. They are not new strategies, but our rapidly increasing knowledge of the dynamics of soil organic matter and the rates of soil formation from bedrock or consolidated sediments warrants the reconsideration of these alternatives. Reductions in either soil organic matter or the depth of shallow or moderately deep soils will lead to declining productivity. Soil organic matter, considered to be a surrogate for productivity, is much easier to monitor than is productivity. Also, there are many computer models for predicting the effects of management on soil organic matter. Recently compiled data on rates of soil formation suggest that soil losses of 1 t/a (2.24 Mg/ha yr) are greater than the rate of replenishment by the weathering of lithic or paralithic material in all but very wet climates.
Are urban forests ecological traps for understory birds? An examination using Northern cardinals

Abstract Many studies have reported increased numbers of certain synanthropic species in urbanizing landscapes, but few have evaluated if urban habitats constitute ecological traps for these species. The Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was used as a model species to evaluate if urban riparian forests might act as ecological traps for understory-nesting birds. Cardinals were surveyed within 2-ha riparian forest plots within rural (n = 6) and urban (n = 6) landscapes in Ohio USA during breeding and non-breeding seasons 2003–2005. Cues used by cardinals to select habitats were identified based on measurements surrounding 219 nests and in 106 randomly-located plots and 96 systematically-located plots. Productivity of 161 cardinal pairs and survival of 180 adults were monitored from late March–September, 2003–2005. Cardinals were 1.7× (in the breeding season) to nearly 4× (in non-breeding season) more abundant in urban than rural forests, and the results suggest that these differences in abundance stemmed from urban-associated changes in habitat and microclimate features used by cardinals to select habitats. Most notably, cardinals were strongly associated with dense understory vegetation and warmer minimum January temperatures, both of which were promoted as urban development increased within the landscapes surrounding riparian forests. Although other studies suggest mismatches between the habitat cues used by cardinals and how those features affect nesting success (e.g., higher nest predation in exotic shrubs), these results provide no evidence that urban forests were acting as ecological traps for cardinals. Instead, cardinals in urban and rural forests had similar numbers of nesting attempts, young fledged over the breeding season, and apparent annual survival rates. Thus, these findings do not support for the idea that urban forests in central Ohio represent ecological traps for synanthropic understory birds.
Magnetization of Basalt of Bed I, Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika

PALAEOMAGNETIC data which bear on the time-scale of geomagnetic polarity epochs are here reported for a radiometrically dated Pleistocene basalt flow in East Africa, The occurrences in various places of stratigraphic groups of rocks which are magnetized either with the sense of the present geomagnetic field (normal polarity) or with the opposite sense (reversed polarity) have been interpreted to mean that the geomagnetic field has reversed itself at various times in the geological past1,2. The accumulated evidence for the reality of such fteld reversals has recently been reviewed3,4, and palaeomagnetic investigations of radiometrically dated volcanic rocks have permitted a preliminary attempt by Cox et al. to bracket the ages of the most recent reversals5.
Characterization of the proteases involved in gel weakening of beef heart surimi.

The goal of this study was to elucidate the nature and characteristics of the proteases involved in gel weakening of beef heart surimi. Acidic (E1) and neutral (E2) protease extracts were prepared from the surimi. The major active components in E1 were found to be cathepsins B and L. E1 exhibited optimum activity to hydrolyze substrates specific to cathepsins B and B+L at 50 °C and pH 5.5. At pH 6.0, it retained ∼50% of its maximum activity. The catheptic activity of E1 was inhibited almost completely by E-64 and leupeptin. The active component in E2 was unidentified and was not inhibited by cysteine or serine protease inhibitors. However, beef plasma powder effectively inhibited the hydrolysis of FITC-casein and myosin heavy chain by E2. Keywords: Beef heart; surimi; cathepsin; protease; protease inhibitor
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Latin America

Abstract The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) is the most important lay movement in the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America, yet it has received scant academic attention. After describing the start of the CCR, I discuss its expansion into Latin America, its self-understanding, outsider criticisms, responses of national bishops’ conferences, and two country case studies based on my first-hand ethnographic fieldwork: Nicaragua and Paraguay. I end with some general conclusions, chief of which is my analysis of the CCR as a globalized revitalization movement that aims to (re)connect individual Catholics to the Roman Catholic Church.
Evolution of outcomes in cranial base surgery.

Cranial base surgery is a young field of head and neck and neuro-oncology. It deals with solid tumors at the skull base which were not previously treated with surgery. The development of new cranial base approaches incorporating intracranial exposure and new reconstructive techniques now enable an “en bloc” resection of most of these difficult tumors. In order to analyze the evolution of cranial base surgery and its contribution to the treatment of carcinomas and sarcomas, we reviewed the results reported in the literature over the past 40 years. We have designated three periods of time that reflect the advances and impact of skull base surgery and have summarized the outcomes of the major contributors in each era. The pioneers of the first period (1960s-1970s) achieved 3- and 5-year survivals of 52 and 49% while attempting resection of tumors without intracranial or pytergopalatine extension. In the second period (1970s-1980s), improved surgical techniques allowed resection of more extensive tumors, including intracranial invasion, and 3-year survivals rose to 57–59% with limited reports of 5-year survivals in the range of 49%. The third period of cranial base surgery (1980s-1990s) brought further refinement of techniques, introduced the concept of a coordinated multispecialty approach, and resulted in increased 5-year survivals to 56–70%. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Discourse communities, genres and English as an international language

ABSTRACT: The concept of discourse community is proposed as a more functional and goal-directed grouping than either speech community or speech fellowship. Six criteria for the existence of a discourse community are outlined and then exemplified. Two claims are advanced: (1) genres are properties of discourse communities, and (2) strong levels of interpersonal relationship are not criterial for the creation of a discourse community. The second half of this paper examines, by way of application of the theoretical discussion, the genre of the reprint request, and discusses the discourse communities that either do or do not participate in the genre. It is argued that the reprint request possesses the full range of genre characteristics, and that the particular source of reprint request cards provides a different kind of evidence about the current status of English as as international language. Finally, the paucity of requests from the Third World is noted, and suggestions made with regard to consequences and remedies.
Functional expression of a MAP kinase kinase in COS cells and recognition by an anti‐STE7/byrl antibody

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases 042mapk and p44mapk are activated by dual tyrosine and threonine phosphorylation in vivo. Both MAPKs are phosphorylated and activated in vitro by an activator recently identified as a protein-tyrosine/threonine kinase. We have isolated a putative cDNA for a MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK) and determined its structure [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, in press]. The protein encoded by this cDNA shares sequence homology with two yeast protein kinases byrl and STE7. We now report that stimulation with serum of COS cells expressing this protein amplifies MAPK activator activity markedly. The increased activity co-migrates during chromatography with the expressed 45 kDa protein, recognized by an anti-STE7/byrl antibody, and is abrogated by treatment with phosphatase 2A. Thus, this cDNA encodes a functional MAPKK. The anti-STE7/byrl antibody also recognized a 46 kDa COS cell protein that was resolved from the expressed MAPKK by anion-exchange chromatography. This immunoreactive protein co-eluted with endogenous MAPKK activity, suggesting identification of the immunoreactive band as monkey MAPKK.
Ray, mode, and hybrid options for source excited propagation in an elastic plate

Impact excited vibrations in a multiwave layer can be represented in terms of ray fields or of normal mode fields. At early observation times, multiply reflected ray fields can be distinguished by their different arrivals whereas at later times, their collective effect is best expressed by the normal modes. Instead of utilizing rays or modes separately, as has been customary, a recently developed hybrid theory for multiwave layered media permits both to be combined self‐consistently, and in convenient proportions [Lu et al., Wave Motion 6, 435–467 (1984)]. The hybrid formulation is based on a ray‐mode equivalent whereby a given slowness spectral interval can be filled either with rays or with modes subject to a spectral remainder. Moreover, the ray proliferation due to wave coupling at each encounter with a boundary is avoided by introduction of ‘‘eigenrays,’’ which are composed of self‐similar combinations of the various wave fields. The general theory is applied to the dilatational and shear waves in an...
PEG–Maleimide Hydrogels for Protein and Cell Delivery in Regenerative Medicine

Protein- and cell-based therapies represent highly promising strategies for regenerative medicine, immunotherapy, and oncology. However, these therapies are significantly limited by delivery considerations, particularly in terms of protein stability and dosing kinetics as well as cell survival, engraftment, and function. Hydrogels represent versatile and robust delivery vehicles for proteins and cells due to their high water content that retains protein biological activity, high cytocompatibility and minimal adverse host reactions, flexibility and tunability in terms of chemistry, structure, and polymerization format, ability to incorporate various biomolecules to convey biofunctionality, and opportunity for minimally invasive delivery as injectable carriers. This review highlights recent progress in the engineering of poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels cross-linked using maleimide reactive groups for protein and cell delivery.
Effect of intermittent feeding of cellulose hydrolyzate to hemicellulose hydrolyzate on ethanol yield byPachysolentannophilus

Intermittent-feeding of cellulose hydrolyzate to hemicellulose hydrolyzate of hardwood resulted in greater yields of ethanol usingPachysolentannophilus than batch fermentations of either hydrolyzate alone or as a mix. Conversion efficiencies as great as 0.40 g ethanol/g sugar fed were achieved.
Improved method to retrieve aerosol optical properties from combined elastic backscatter and Raman lidar data

An improved method that has the potential to improve the retrieval of aerosol optics properties (back- scatter/extinction coefficients) from elastic-Raman lidar data is presented. Aerosol backscatter coefficients can be retrieved by choosing the reference height at near-range rather than conventional far-range when the signal-to-noise ratios are low at the far-range or aloft aerosol layers and clouds appear there. Significant retrieval errors in aerosol backscatter coefficients caused by large uncertainties of the aerosol reference value at far-range can be reduced. To avoid the ill-posed retrievals of aerosol extinction from the conventional Raman method, the new method derives the aerosol extinction and lidar ratio with the constrained Fernald inversions by independent aerosol backscatter coefficients from above proposed method. The numerical simulations demonstrated that the proposed method pro- vides good accuracy and resolution of aerosol profile ret- rievals. And the method is also applied to elastic-Raman lidar measurements at the Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.
Modulation and multiplexing techniques for multimedia data hiding

Many multimedia data hiding systems demand either multiple bits or multiple sets of data to be embedded. This paper examines the modulation and multiplexing techniques for accomplishing the task of extending the basic single-bit embedding to multiple-bit embedding. Amplitude modulo modulation, orthogonal/bi-orthogonal modulation, and TDMA and CDMA type modulation/multiplexing are discussed and compared. Several examples are included to demonstrate the use of such techniques in practical designs.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Overgrowth of (In,Ga)(As,P) on rectangular-patterned surfaces using gas source molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Integrated optical devices, such as planar waveguide-coupled Bragg-resonant filters, are an important component for the implementation of high density, narrow bandwidth optical filtering in wavelength division multiplexed optical communication systems. However, acceptable optical device performance of the filter is contingent upon the ability to maintain the integrity and profile of the as-fabricated rectangular-patterned Bragg resonators during epitaxial overgrowth of the cladding layer. Bragg gratings are defined in both InP substrates and InGaAsP epitaxial layers using X-ray lithography and reactive ion etching. The regrowth process is initiated by removing the native oxide with a low temperature (∼200°C) atomic hydrogen-assisted cleaning regimen that results in a grating that is unaltered from the desired as-etched rectangular-patterned profile. The techniques employed to preserve the grating profile are described, and the microstructural and optical quality of the structures are analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, triple axis X-ray diffractometry, and photoluminescence.