cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust ASV Navigation Through Ground to Water Cross-Domain Deep Reinforcement Learning

This paper presents a framework to alleviate the Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) training data sparsity problem that is present in challenging domains by creating a DRL agent training and vehicle integration methodology. The methodology leverages accessible domains to train an agent to solve navigational problems such as obstacle avoidance and allows the agent to generalize to challenging and inaccessible domains such as those present in marine environments with minimal further training. This is done by integrating a DRL agent at a high level of vehicle control and leveraging existing path planning and proven low-level control methodologies that are utilized in multiple domains. An autonomy package with a tertiary multilevel controller is developed to enable the DRL agent to interface at the prescribed high control level and thus be separated from vehicle dynamics and environmental constraints. An example Deep Q Network (DQN) employing this methodology for obstacle avoidance is trained in a simulated ground environment, and then its ability to generalize across domains is experimentally validated. Experimental validation utilized a simulated water surface environment and real-world deployment of ground and water robotic platforms. This methodology, when used, shows that it is possible to leverage accessible and data rich domains, such as ground, to effectively develop marine DRL agents for use on Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) navigation. This will allow rapid and iterative agent development without the risk of ASV loss, the cost and logistic overhead of marine deployment, and allow landlocked institutions to develop agents for marine applications.
Development of hyaluronic acid hydrogels for human neural stem cell engineering

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex system composed of an intricate network of proteins, polysaccharides and cells. There is a large variance in the ECM's mechanical and biochemical properties depending on the tissue or organ type. In this study, a hydrogel is developed to mimic soft tissue ECM using hyaluronic acid as the backbone biopolymer. The hydrogel's mechanical properties, such as shear storage modulus (G'), are directly modulated by the degree of crosslinking. Adult human neural stem cells are maintained and differentiated within the hydrogels for 2 weeks. Cell viability and differentiation was analyzed using live-cell imaging methods and biochemical assays.
Symptom Experience of Dying Long‐Term Care Residents

OBJECTIVES: To describe the end-of-life symptoms of nursing home (NH) and residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) residents, compare staff and family symptom ratings, and compare how staff assess pain and dyspnea for cognitively impaired and cognitively intact residents. DESIGN: After-death interviews. SETTING: Stratified random sample of 230 long-term care facilities in four states. PARTICIPANTS: Staff (n=674) and family (n=446) caregivers for dying residents. MEASUREMENTS: Interview items measured frequency and severity of physical symptoms, effectiveness of treatment, recommendations to improve care, and staff report of assessment. RESULTS: Decedents' median age was 85, 89% were white, and 77% were cognitively impaired. In their last month of life, 47% had pain, 48% dyspnea, 90% problems with cleanliness, and 72% symptoms affecting intake. Problems with cleanliness, intake, and overall symptom burden were worse for decedents in NHs than for those in RC/AL. Treatment for pain and dyspnea was rated very effective for only half of decedents. For a subset of residents with both staff and family interviews (n=331), overall ratings of care were similar, although agreement in paired analyses was modest (kappa=−0.043–0.425). Staff relied on nonverbal expressions to assess dyspnea but not pain. Both groups of caregivers recommended improved application of treatment and increased staffing to improve care. CONCLUSION: In NHs and RC/AL, dying residents have high rates of physical symptoms and need for more-effective palliation of symptoms near the end of life.
Beyond the Patient: Couple and Family Therapy for Individual Problems

We introduce the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session issue on couple and family therapies for adult psychological problems and health-compromising behaviors. The 8 articles, each with an extensive case study, represent different theoretical orientations (cognitive-behavioral, psychoeducational, systemic-strategic, experiential) and address problems with depression, anxiety, severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and dysfunctional coping with chronic illness. We identify points of consensus and divergence among the different therapies and consider implications for training psychotherapists.
Isolation and characterization of QCR10, the nuclear gene encoding the 8.5-kDa subunit 10 of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome bc1 complex.

Abstract We have cloned and sequenced QCR10, the nuclear gene encoding an 8.5-kDa protein proposed to be a subunit of the cytochrome bc1 complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. QCR10 includes a 231-base pair open reading frame capable of encoding a protein of 77 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 8492 Da. The codons for the amino-terminal methionine and alanine are separated from the remainder of the open reading frame by a 63-base pair intron that contains 5'-donor, 3'-acceptor, and TACTAAC sequences known to be necessary for splicing. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 8.5-kDa yeast protein is 28% identical to that of the 6.4-kDa subunit 11 from the bovine heart cytochrome bc1 complex, and the predicted secondary structures of the two proteins are very similar. Deletion of the chromosomal copy of QCR10 did not affect the growth of yeast on nonfermentable carbon sources. However, deletion of QCR10 synergistically contributes to the temperature-dependent phenotype resulting from deletion of QCR6, the gene for subunit 6 of the cytochrome bc1 complex. In addition, ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase activity was reduced 40% in mitochondrial membranes from the QCR10 deletion strain, and the Rieske iron-sulfur protein was lost when the cytochrome bc1 complex lacking the 8.5-kDa protein was purified. We conclude that the 8.5-kDa protein encoded by QCR10 is a subunit of the yeast cytochrome bc1 complex and that the presence of this subunit during assembly is required for stable association of the iron-sulfur protein with the complex.
Beyond Self-Directed Learning: A Partnership Model of Teaching and Learning

A model of teaching and learning is described which distinguishes between self-directed (where the focus is on autonomy and independence) and partnership learning (where the focus is on developing meaningful partnerships between teachers and learners that encourage both self-direction and cooperation in learning). The model has three dimensions: control of choices in learning, types of learning situations, and approaches to learning. It is suggested that both teachers and learners need to rethink the learning process, recognize multiple-almost unlimited-opportunities for learning, and develop the skills to become more effective at learning with and from others.
An analysis of circular intensity differential scattering measurements: studies on the sperm cell of Eledone cirrhosa.

This study represents the first systematic attempt to characterize the possible sources of artifacts that can interfere with the measurement of circular intensity differential scattering (CIDS) as a function of the scattering angle. A theoretical analysis of the effect of imperfect incident circular polarizations in the measurement of baselines from nonchiral scatterers and in the signals from chiral samples is derived. From this analysis the requirements of the tolerance on the quality of the incident circular polarizations to unequivocally measure the CIDS effect are established. The protocol for alignment of the CIDS instrument and the characterization of the incident polarizations utilized in these studies are described in detail. CIDS measurements on suspensions of helical sperm cells are presented. The experimental results are modeled computationally with the use of the current CIDS theory. Good agreement between the data and the computations is obtained. The results clearly indicate the ability of CIDS to provide information on the long-range chiral organization of samples in solution.
Vision-guided ocular growth in a mutant chicken model with diminished visual acuity

Visual experience is known to guide ocular growth. We tested the hypothesis that vision-guided ocular growth is disrupted in a model system with diminished visual acuity. We examine whether ocular elongation is influenced by form-deprivation (FD) and lens-imposed defocus in the Retinopathy, Globe Enlarged (RGE) chicken. Young RGE chicks have poor visual acuity, without significant retinal pathology, resulting from a mutation in guanine nucleotide-binding protein β3 (GNB3), also known as transducin β3 or Gβ3. The mutation in GNB3 destabilizes the protein and causes a loss of Gβ3 from photoreceptors and ON-bipolar cells (Ritchey et al., 2010). FD increased ocular elongation in RGE eyes in a manner similar to that seen in wild-type (WT) eyes. By comparison, the excessive ocular elongation that results from hyperopic defocus was increased, whereas myopic defocus failed to significantly decrease ocular elongation in RGE eyes. Brief daily periods of unrestricted vision interrupting FD prevented ocular elongation in RGE chicks in a manner similar to that seen in WT chicks. Glucagonergic amacrine cells differentially expressed the immediate early gene Egr1 in response to growth-guiding stimuli in RGE retinas, but the defocus-dependent up-regulation of Egr1 was lesser in RGE retinas compared to that of WT retinas. We conclude that high visual acuity, and the retinal signaling mediated by Gβ3, is not required for emmetropization and the excessive ocular elongation caused by FD and hyperopic defocus. However, the loss of acuity and Gβ3 from RGE retinas causes enhanced responses to hyperopic defocus and diminished responses to myopic defocus.
Membrane morphogenesis in retinal rod outer segments: inhibition by tunicamycin.

Isolated Xenopus laevis retinas were incubated with 3H-labeled mannose or leucine in the presence or absence of tunicamycin (TM), a selective inhibitor of dolichyl phosphate-dependent protein glycosylation. At a TM concentration of 20 micrograms/ml, the incorporation of [3H]mannose and [3H]leucine into retinal macromolecules was inhibited by approximately 66 and 12-16%, respectively, relative to controls. Cellular uptake of the radiolabeled substrates was not inhibited at this TM concentration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that TM had little effect on the incorporation of [3H]leucine into the proteins of whole retinas and that labeling of proteins (especially opsin) in isolated rod outer segment (ROS) membranes was negligible. The incorporation of [3H]mannose into proteins of whole retinas and ROS membranes was nearly abolished in the presence of TM. Autoradiograms of control retinas incubated with either [3H]mannose or [3H]leucine exhibited a discrete concentration of silver grains over ROS basal disc membranes. In TM-treated retinas, the extracellular space between rod inner and outer segments was dilated and filled with numerous heterogeneously size vesicles, which were labeled with [3H]leucine but not with [3H]mannose. ROS disc membranes per se were not labeled in the TM-treated retinas. Quantitative light microscopic autoradiography of retinas pulse-labeled with [3H]leucine showed no differences in labeling of rod cellular compartments in the presence or absence of TM as a function of increasing chase time. These results demonstrate that TM can block retinal protein glycosylation and normal disc membrane assembly under conditions where synthesis and intracellular transport of rod cell proteins (e.g., opsin) are not inhibited.
The Periodontal-Systemic Connection: Implications for Treatment of Patients With Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease

Osteoporosis and osteopenia may influence periodontal disease and tooth loss. Medications such as hormone replacement therapy and nutritional supplements that are used to prevent or treat osteoporosis have been evaluated for beneficial effects on oral health in a small number of human studies. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which slows the rate of bone loss at skeletal sites such as the hip and spine, also appears to reduce the rate of alveolar bone loss in postmenopausal women. HRT use is consistently associated with greater tooth retention and a reduced likelihood of edentulism in studies of elderly women. The number of studies on the effects of calcium or vitamin D intake on oral outcomes is limited, but suggest that higher intake levels are associated with reduced prevalence of clinical attachment loss and lower risk of tooth loss. Data from a prospective study of oral health in men show a similar association between higher calcium intake and reduced alveolar bone loss. The number of teeth with progression of alveolar bone loss over a 7-year period was significantly lower among men whose calcium intake was at least 1,000 mg per day, compared to men with a calcium intake below this level. Future studies should confirm these findings and evaluate the oral effects of new medications for osteoporosis. If confirmed, the implications for dental professionals may include an expanded array of medications for the treatment of periodontal disease and a greater emphasis on nutrition education for patients.
Halothane, a novel solvent for the preparation of liposomes containing 2-4′-amino-3′-methylphenyl benzothiazole (AMPB), an anticancer drug: A technical note

The first step in the preparation of liposomes is to dissolve the lipids into organic solvent. The solvent must be volatile and have high solubility for lipids. This requirement has introduced safety issues. Chloroform and ether are the commonly used solvents. Chloroform was used as an anesthetic during surgery for many years before its harmful effects on the liver and kidney were recognized. Based on animal studies, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have determined that chloroform is possibly carcinogenic to humans. The breakdown products of chloroform in air include hydrogen chloride and phosgene, which are even more toxic than chloroform. Ether, while relatively nontoxic, is highly flammable. Both of these agents have been abandoned as anesthetics for clinical use. Even though only a small amount of residue would exist in liposomal formulations, it is still not acceptable. Because chloroform and ether evaporate very quickly, they would be harmful to the lab workers who were exposed to them. Chloroform is also toxic to aquatic and soil organisms after entering the natural environment, which is a probable consequence of using it as a solvent.
Insights into the contestability and sustainability of the U.S. petroleum refining industry

Contestable market theory has been advanced in recent years by several authors, the most thorough treatment being the book by Baumol, Panzar, and Willig (1982) (BPW). Although several applications of the theory have appeared in the literature, few (if any) follow the step-by-step procedure set forth in Chapter 16 of BPW. This paper represents one of the first attempts to follow the general procedure in investigating the contestability and sustainability of an industry. The long-run cost structure of petroleum refining is first estimated using a translog multiproduct cost function and company refining data from the Financial Reporting System maintained by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The estimated cost function is then used to approximate the optimal (cost-minimizing) industry structure for petroleum refining. Given that the existing structure is significantly different than the optimal structure, the principles of contestable market theory are used in evaluating the contestability and sustainability of the industry in light of adjustments in industry structure and the performance of various classes of refining companies between 1981 and 1987.
A Markov chain approach to renormalization group transformations

Abstract We aim at an explicit characterization of the renormalized Hamiltonian after decimation transformation of a one-dimensional Ising-type Hamiltonian with a nearest-neighbor interaction and a magnetic field term. To facilitate a deeper understanding of the decimation effect, we translate the renormalization flow on the Ising Hamiltonian into a flow on the associated Markov chains through the Markov–Gibbs equivalence. Two different methods are used to verify the well-known conjecture that the eigenvalues of the linearization of this renormalization transformation about the fixed point bear important information about all six of the critical exponents. This illustrates the universality property of the renormalization group map in this case.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN THE TREATMENT OF BACK PAIN BY SPINAL MANIPULATION

Ninety patients with low back pain completed a short form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and, subsequently, received spinal manipulative therapy. Most (84%) of the patients reported immediate relief following manipulation but the extent of that relief was not correlated with any psychological measure. However, several days after treatment, the percentage of patients reporting improvement was much lower (55%) and lack of improvement was associated with elevated scores on hypochondriasis (Hs), and functional low back pain (Lb). Unimproved patients also tended to report longer durations of back pain prior to treatment. Multiple regression analyses indicated that pain duration and the psychological factors were independent predictors of the response to treatment. It is suggested that, although a single manipulative treatment will often relieve the immediate cause of back pain, underlying psychosomatic factors may predispose the condition to recur.
Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling: The future of evaluating online teaching

The growth of online learning mandates that institutions evaluate instructional effectiveness to ensure students receive a high-quality educational experience. While a number of rubrics exist to benchmark best practices in online teaching, advances in learning management technology are expanding opportunities for utilizing data analytics to effectively and efficiently monitor instructional quality. At present, learning management systems can track logins, activity patterns and time-on-task, but this represents only a fraction the possibilities. Predictive modeling may soon allow for more integrated analytics that can quickly and easily inform evaluations of online teaching.
Balancing ATP in the cell.

The ultimate control over cellular energy is provided by a creatine kinase. The newly determined crystal structure of mitochondrial creatine kinase indicates a role in channelling components from mitochondria to cytoplasm.
Development of a Short-Term Testing Matrix for Estimating Relative Carcinogenic Risk:

A variety of problems in environmental carcinogenesis, especially those revolving around questions of human exposure to complex mixtures cannot be addressed properly in long-term animal studies. Yet the primary concerns involved with these complex mixtures are those relating to chronic exposure. Considerable progress has been made in describing some of the early events associated with chemical carcinogenesis. It is suggested in the present paper that a collection of shorter-term testing procedures that take advantage of benign lesions could be used to predict relative carcinogenic potency of individual chemicals or complex mixtures if properly developed and validated. Although benign, it is hypothesized that these lesions are sufficiently well related to the development of the malignant state so as to be predictive within the context of particular environmental problems. Because these test systems are potentially selective in their responses to chemical carcinogens it is suggested that a matrix involving ...
An animal model of PDH deficiency using AAV8-siRNA vector-mediated knockdown of pyruvate dehydrogenase E1α.

Abstract We evaluated the feasibility of self-complementary adeno-associated virus (scAAV) vector-mediated knockdown of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex using small interfering RNAs directed against the E1α subunit gene (PDHA1). AAV serotype 8 was used to stereotaxically deliver scAAV8-si3-PDHA1-Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (knockdown) or scAAV8-EGFP (control) vectors into the right striatum and substantia nigra of rats. Rotational asymmetry was employed to quantify abnormal rotation following neurodegeneration in the nigrostriatal system. By 20 weeks after surgery, the siRNA-injected rats exhibited higher contralateral rotation during the first 10 min following amphetamine administration and lower 90-min total rotations ( p ≤ 0.05). Expression of PDC E1α, E1β and E2 subunits in striatum was decreased ( p ≤ 0.05) in the siRNA-injected striatum after 14 weeks. By week 25, both PDC activity and expression of E1α were lower ( p ≤ 0.05) in siRNA-injected striata compared to controls. E1α expression was associated with PDC activity ( R 2 = 0.48; p = 0.006) and modestly associated with counterclockwise rotation ( R 2 = 0.51; p = 0.07). The use of tyrosine-mutant scAAV8 vectors resulted in ~ 17-fold increase in transduction efficiency of rat striatal neurons in vivo . We conclude that scAAV8-siRNA vector-mediated knockdown of PDC E1α in brain regions typically affected in humans with PDC deficiency results in a reproducible biochemical and clinical phenotype in rats that may be further enhanced with the use of tyrosine-mutant vectors.
The expression of key oxidative stress-handling genes in different brain regions in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been hypothesized to be associated with oxidative stress. In this study, the expression of key oxidative stress-handling genes was studied in hippocampus, inferior parietal lobule, and cerebellum of 10 AD subjects and 10 control subjects using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The content of Mn-, Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutases (Mn- and Cu,Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) mRNAs, and the “marker genes” (β-actin and cyclophilin) mRNAs was determined. This study suggests that gene responses to oxidative stress can be significantly modulated by the general decrease of transcription in the AD brain. To determine if the particular oxidative stress handling gene transcription was induced or suppressed in AD, the “oxidative stress-handling gene/β-actin” ratios were quantified and compared with control values in all brain regions studied. The Mn-SOD mRNA/β-actin mRNA ratio was unchanged in all regions of the AD brain studied, but an increase of the Cu,Zn-SOD mRNA/β-actin mRNA ratio was observed in the AD inferior parietal lobule. The levels of peroxidation handling (CAT, GSH-Px, and GSSG-R) mRNAs normalized to β-actin mRNA level were elevated in hippocampus and inferior parietal lobule, but not in cerebellum of AD patients, which may reflect the protective gene response to the increased peroxidation in the brain regions showing severe AD pathology. The results of this study suggest that region-specific differences of the magnitude of ROS-mediated injury rather than primary deficits of oxidative stress handling gene transcription are likely to contribute to the variable intensity of neurodegeneration in different areas of AD brain.
A Comparison of Winter Cereal Species and Planting Dates as Residue Cover for Cotton Grown with Conservation Tillage

Winter cereals are often used as cover crops before planting cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) is the predominate cereal cover crop for cash crops in southern Brazil and Paraguay, but limited information is available on the suitability of black oat as a cover crop in the southeastern USA. The objectives of this study were to compare black oat with adapted winter cereals for this region and to determine the effect of cereal residue species and amount on cotton growth, N status, and lint yield. In a greenhouse study in which black oat and rye (Secale cereale L.) residues were mixed with soil, tap root elongation of both cotton and radish (Raphanus sativa L.) was inhibited more by black oat residue than by rye residue. In a field experiment on a Goldsboro loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Aquic Kandiudult), cotton was grown in 1995 and 1996 following black oat, oat (Avena sativa L.), rye, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that were planted at three different times (October, November, and December). AH four winter cereals had similar hiomass production at each planting date in 1995. In 1996, rye was the only species not visibly damaged by a low temperature of -12.2°C that occurred during the winter. Black oat biomass was comparable to wheat in all planting dates but averaged 60% less than rye over all three planting dates and was 37% less than oat in the October planting date in that year. Black oat tended to have a higher N concentration than the other cereal species. Cotton plant density was lowest following black oat and rye. Cotton growth, leaf blade N, and petiole NO 3 -N were more dependent on residue amount than on residue species. Cotton lint yield following black oat was 120 kg ha -1 higher than lint yield of cotton following rye. Cotton following black oat, wheat, and oat had similar lint yield. Black oat may be a promising cover crop for the southeastern USA, but evaluations of other cultivars and/or improvement programs to improve cold hardiness are needed to improve the utility of this species.
The B-spline R-matrix method for atomic processes: application to atomic structure, electron collisions and photoionization

The basic ideas of the B-spline R-matrix (BSR) approach are reviewed, and the use of the method is illustrated with a variety of applications to atomic structure, electron?atom collisions and photo-induced processes. Special emphasis is placed on complex, open-shell targets, for which the method has proven very successful in reproducing, for example, a wealth of near-threshold resonance structures. Recent extensions to a fully relativistic framework and intermediate energies have allowed for an accurate treatment of heavy targets as well as a fully nonperturbative scheme for electron-impact ionization. Finally, field-free BSR Hamiltonian and electric dipole matrices can be employed in the time-dependent treatment of intense short-pulse laser?atom interactions.
The effect of processing additives on the surface properties of polyvinyl chloride

Stabilizers, plasticizers and lubricants play an important part in the formulation of polymer materials for use in manufacturing. For polyvinyl chloride, they are used to achieve stability, together with suitable flow and release behavior, during extrusion, molding, and other processing steps. However, the additives remain after manufacturing and may affect the properties of the product for the rest of its useful life. We have investigated the surface properties of polyvinyl chloride containing organotin stabilizers and calcium stearate, and the surface properties of the additives themselves. We used zeta-potential measurements to determine the charge on the surface of additive-containing polyvinyl chloride and have related this to chemical reactions of the additive materials. This chemistry is important for understanding what goes on during the period when the polymer product comes in contact with a humid environment. The major chemical reactions are those involving hydrolysis of tin-ester linkages in the organotin compounds and dissociation of carboxylic acid groups. These groups may be the carboxylic acid groups originally present or those formed by hydrolysis. As a result of these reactions, the surface charge of the polymer depends strongly on the pH of the aqueous medium in contact with the surface.
Pulsating bead-based assay.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using porous microbeads such as agarose beads as solid supports to bind target molecules from complex fluid samples. Porous beads have large surface area to volume ratios and high receptor concentrations, and they facilitate relatively high sensitivity detection and multiplexing. Unfortunately, to take full advantage of the porous beads' attributes, long incubation times are needed due to the relatively slow mass transfer of target molecules from the exterior solution into the beads' interior. To accelerate the mass transfer process, we propose a novel assay in which functionalized porous beads are periodically compressed and expanded. Preliminary experiments were carried out to compare the performance of the pulsating beads with that of conventional, non-pulsating beads. These experiments indicate that the pulsating beads significantly accelerate binding rates with minimal increase in non-specific binding. Thus, pulsing has the potential of significantly reducing assay time.
Phase transitions in antiferromagnetic superlattices.

We investigate the temperature dependence of the magnetization of films and superlattices of uniaxial antiferromagnets using a self-consistent, mean-field approach and apply the theory to ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}$/${\mathrm{CoF}}_{2}$ superlattices. The number of magnetic phase transitions in this system (one or two) depends on the thicknesses of the films in the superlattice and on the interface exchange constant. Weak interface coupling leads to two transitions as do thick films. Our findings are in good agreement with recent experimental results and indicate that the ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}$/${\mathrm{CoF}}_{2}$ system displays strong interface coupling.
SOME MEASURES OF LEVELS OF PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIA'S RURAL INDUSTRIES

The present paper considers briefly some conceptual issues associated with, the measurement of protection and presents estimates of the level of protection received by a number of Australia's rural industries. It then discusses briefly some factors relevant to the interpretation of these measures, particularly in making comparisons between protection accorded to agriculture and that accorded to secondary industry. In considering the estimates of protection levels provided, it is necessary to recognise two things: first, that the estimates are very approximate, doing little more than suggest orders of magnitude; second, that they have a limited meaning and must be used with caution. Providing these limitations are recognised, such estimates can serve a useful function; the alternative to attempts at explicit quantitative measurement is frequently implicit quantitative assessment based on imperfect or incomplete information.
Gulf War related exposure factors influencing topical absorption of 14C-permethrin.

Abstract Topical exposure to permethrin has often been implicated as a mitigating factor in the illnesses reported in Gulf War veterans. These studies were designed to assess the effect of co-exposure to low level sulfur mustard, JP-8 jet fuel, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and fabric occlusion on the percutaneous absorption and skin disposition of topically applied 14C-permethrin (40 μg/cm2) in the isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF) model. Extent of dermal absorption in vehicle controls in the IPPSF was comparable to literature values for humans. These studies demonstrated a two-fold increased 14C-permethrin percutaneous absorption and almost three-fold increased penetration when JP-8 was present, compared to a one-third decreased permethrin flux in the presence of sulfur mustard. Complete occlusion slightly increased 14C-permethrin absorption, while occlusion with fabric showed no significant effect. A previously noted effect of DEET to inhibit permethrin absorption was still seen in the presence of sulfur mustard exposure. These studies suggest that co-exposure to JP-8 or sulfur mustard may modulate transdermal flux of 14C-permethrin. However, the JP-8 increase in absorption and penetration was less than the five-fold increase previously seen with arterial infusion of pyridostigmine bromide and diisopropylfluorophosphate in the IPPSF. The toxicologic significance of this moderate increase in permethrin absorption remains unclear.
Failsafe automation of Phase II clinical trial interim monitoring for stopping rules

Background In Phase II clinical trials in cancer, preventing the treatment of patients on a study when current data demonstrate that the treatment is insufficiently active or too toxic has obvious benefits, both in protecting patients and in reducing sponsor costs. Considerable efforts have gone into experimental designs for Phase II clinical trials with flexible sample size, usually implemented by early stopping rules. The intended benefits will not ensue, however, if the design is not followed. Despite the best intentions, failures can occur for many reasons.Purpose The main goal is to develop an automated system for interim monitoring, as a backup system supplementing the protocol team, to ensure that patients are protected. A secondary goal is to stimulate timely recording of patient assessments.Methods We developed key concepts and performance needs, then designed, implemented, and deployed a software solution embedded in the clinical trials database system.Results The system has been in place since ...
ENDOTOXIN BINDING TO EPITHELIAL CELLS OF THE SMALL INTESTINE

Previous studies have suggested that immaturity of the gastrointestinal barrier of young animals may lead to increased uptake of potentially toxic macromolecules. To further extend these observations, we have studied the binding of endotoxin (E. Coli 026: B6) to immature (crypt) and mature (villus) small intestinal epithelial cells of 2 week old and adult rats. Endotoxin was radiolabeled with 51Cr, and its concentration measured using a hexose assay. Cells were obtained from the small intestine in a gradient from villus to crypt using the modified method of Weiser. Binding was studied by incubating endotoxin with the cells. The endotoxin binding was found to be concentration-dependent and saturable, suggesting receptor, not nonspecific, binding. Endotoxin was incubated with immature crypt cells and mature villus cells of 2 week old rats at concentrations ranging from 5-100 μg of endotoxin/ml and at a cell protein concentration of .2 mg/ml. Approximately two times as much endotoxin bound to crypt as to villus cells. Preliminary binding experiments with epithelial cells from adult rats also show differences in endotoxin binding to crypt versus villus cells. These studies suggest that the surface of the immature cell has different binding properties for this potential toxin. The increased binding may place the immature host at a greater risk for enteric infection.
Syndactyly correction: an aesthetic reconstruction

Various flaps have been used with and without skin grafts to separate digits with syndactyly. Dorsal flap techniques with and without grafts result in dorsal and thus more visible scars. Some of the recent techniques which use no grafts are only applicable for some simple syndactylies. The technique described in this paper uses a combination of techniques which have been described previously. A shaped palmar flap is used to create the web space; narrow V-flaps and full-thickness skin grafts are used to resurface the lateral defects on the fingers and reciprocal pulp flaps are used to create aesthetically pleasing nail folds. This technique allows the full thickness grafts to be hidden on the radial and ulnar sides of the fingers and palm. It increases the span of the hand in conditions where there is shortage of palmar skin. A retrospective review has been undertaken of 102 patients in whom 221 webs were reconstructed through 176 surgical procedures. There were 54 cases of simple syndactylies (53%) and the rest were complex. Complications were encountered in 11 operations (6%) and web creep was noted in 12 web spaces (5%). Re-operation for web creep has been carried out in seven web spaces (3%).
Magnetostatic bulk and surface spin-wave focusing in antiferromagnetic thin films

We study the focusing of bulk and surface spin waves in thin antiferromagnetic films. This study is carried out by solving the dispersion relation for the bulk and surface waves to obtain the constant frequency curves in $k$ space (slowness surfaces). The focusing pattern is obtained from the slowness surface by evaluating the curvature at each point on the surface. We have studied the focusing pattern in three uniaxial antiferromagnetic thin films, namely, ${\text{MnF}}_{2}$, ${\text{FeF}}_{2}$, and ${\text{GdAlO}}_{3}$. It is found that the bulk modes in the lower band are focused into a larger number of directions compared to the upper one. The focusing of the bulk modes is stronger when compared to the surface modes. The general trends in the focusing behavior are not affected by changes in anisotropy or exchange fields. However, changes in the frequency or the applied field alter the focusing pattern.
Competitive elution of pertussis hemagglutinin.

SummaryThe hemagglutinating factor of Hemophilus pertussis culture supernatants can apparently be eluted from human erythrocytes by suspending such erythrocytes in a distilled-water extract of frozen and thawed red cells. Following the removal of the H. pertussis factor from agglutinated cells, these cells can be re-agglutinated by addition of fresh H. pertussis culture supernatant. The factor cannot be eluted by incubation of agglutinated cells at various temperatures, or by suspending the cells in salt-free isotonic glucose solution.
Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution: A Critical Evaluation of Its Safety and Utility in Pediatric Patients

Summary The use of blood conservation techniques has gained importance since the 1980s when hazards of blood transfusion, especially transfusion of infectious agents, became well recognized. In adult medicine, predonation autologous blood donation (PABD) and techniques of intraoperative and postoperative collection and reinfusion, initially perfected during the Vietnam era, were used with increased frequency. Methods to limit homologous transfusion in pediatrics were slow to develop, at least in part due to limitations of venous access, operational complexity and the unique and ever changing physiology of the infant and toddler. Blood conservation techniques include PABD, intraoperative hemodilution, intraoperative blood recovery and postoperative scavenging. The history and physiology of hemodilution and its application in pediatric surgery patients with and without additional conservation methods in different clinical conditions will be discussed. In particular, the use of acute normovolemic hemodilution in pediatrics will be the focus of this review.
Generation of Integration-free and Region-Specific Neural Progenitors from Primate Fibroblasts

Postnatal and adult human and monkey fibroblasts were infected with Sendai virus containing the Yamanaka factors for 24 hr, then they were cultured in a chemically defined medium containing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β inhibitor SB431542, and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β inhibitor CHIR99021 at 39°C for inactivation of the virus. Induced neural progenitor (iNP) colonies appeared as early as day 13 and can be expanded for >20 passages. Under the same defined condition, no induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) colonies formed at either 37°C or 39°C. The iNPs predominantly express hindbrain genes and differentiate into hindbrain neurons, and when caudalized, they produced an enriched population of spinal motor neurons. Following transplantation into the forebrain, the iNP-derived cells retained the hindbrain identity. The ability to generate defined, integration-free iNPs from adult primate fibroblasts under a defined condition with predictable fate choices will facilitate disease modeling and therapeutic development.
Determination of aluminum and iron by solvent extraction and gas chromatography

Abstract A method which combines solvent extraction and gas chromatography for the determination of aluminum and iron in the same sample is given. The two metals were extracted into benzene with trifluoroacetylacetone and a portion of the benzene layer was injected into a gas Chromatograph. The two chelates gave well resolved symmetrical peaks. The method was tested by analyzing a National Bureau of Standards alloy, number 162A. Copper and nickel, which would normally interfere when present in large amounts, were masked with picolinic acid. In addition a solvent extraction separation of iron from aluminum and a spectrophotometric determination of iron is described.
Technology and the Convergence of U.S. Urban Migration Patterns: 1970–2000

The theoretical premise of this study is twofold. First, that industrial and occupational restructuring within three industries in the U.S.—manufacturing, finance, and high technology—occurred because of technological developments and these, in turn, influenced the settlement patterns of working-age individuals. Second, that quality-of-life factors are increasingly important for the migration decisions of workers as the importance of proximity to ports and raw materials declines. As expected, the results show that high concentrations of high-technology and finance occupations generally have a positive pull for migrants, with younger migrants most attracted to technology jobs. High concentrations of manufacturing jobs have a negative effect. Most surprisingly, the explanatory power of the model declines substantially across the three decades. Both employment variables and proxies for quality-of-life variables lost explanatory power for modeling age-specific in-migration to metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Overall, the results support the industrial restructuring hypothesis, but do not find support for the idea that quality-of-life factors have grown in importance.
TREES AS TOOLS, TREES AS TEXT: STRUGGLES OVER RESOURCES IN ZAMBRANA-CHACUEY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The people of the Rural Federation of Zambrana-Chacuey, in the Dominican Republic, are engaged in complex and multivalent struggles over resources in a forest and farm landscape subject to rapid land use change. Acacia mangium, a fast growing tree recently introduced as a timber cash crop, has become an object, a site and a tool of struggle in conflicts between local and state interests, and between women and men. Until recently, tree cutting has been illegal, so the government-approved acacia has reversed the role of trees from liabilities to assets in land tenure. The acacia has also begun to alter the pattern of land use, land cover, and the species composition of the region's forests, gardens, and fields, and could replace women's diverse gardens with single species blocks of timber.
Optically determined velocity distributions of metastable argon in the second stage of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer

Velocity profiles of argon metastable atoms have been measured in the second stage of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). These profiles were obtained from laser-induced fluorescence excitation spectra of the Ar I 4s[3/2]° to 4p[5/2] transition. Velocities were determined from the Doppler shift of the exciting radiation. An argon-filled hollow cathode lamp served as a stationary wavelength reference. The velocity distribution at the skimmer orifice is bimodal, indicative of a flow disturbance at or slightly upstream of the skimmer orifice.
A behavioral economic analysis of the effect of next-day responsibilities on drinking

Approximately 37% of college students report heavy episodic drinking (5 or more drinks in an occasion for men and 4 or more for women) in the past month. This pattern of drinking is often associated with high blood alcohol levels, accidents, injuries, and negative social and academic outcomes. There is a need for novel theoretical approaches to guide prevention efforts. Behavioral economics emphasizes the role of contextual determinants, such as drink price and the presence and amount of alternative reinforcement as determinants of drinking levels and has received strong empirical support in basic laboratory research. This translational research study used a hypothetical behavioral economic measure to investigate the impact of a variety of next-day responsibilities on night-before drinking intentions in a sample of first-year college students (N = 80; 50% female) who reported recent heavy episodic drinking. Drinking estimates were significantly lower in all of the responsibility conditions relative to the no-responsibility condition; internships were associated with the greatest reduction (d(rm) = 1.72), and earlier class times were associated with greater reductions in drinking intentions (d(rm) range = 1.22-1.35) than later class times (d(rm) range = 0.83-1.00). These results suggest that increasing morning responsibilities should be further investigated as a potential strategy to reduce drinking in college students.
Talking Animals: Explorations in an Indian Literary Genre

Animals are certainly good to think (bonnes a penser), as famously noted by Claude Levi-Strauss, but from the dawn of literature humans have also given them voices so that they can participate vicariously in an anthropomorphized animal linguistic and social world paralleling the human, giving rise to the literary genre of the animal fable. The earliest use of animals in literature was probably as similes. Such allegories abound in the earliest strata of the Rg-Veda. What is interesting in these comparisons for later animal tales is that a particular characteristic is singled out as defining a particular animal and constituting its very nature (svabhāva). The association of a particular species with a set of moral and intellectual qualities, with personality traits, plays a central role in later animal fables. But what about talking animals? When do they make their first appearance in the extant corpus of Indian literature? This article will reflect on the religious and cultural backdrop within which the anthropomorphizing habit of Indian animal tales took place in Indian Sanskrit literature.
Effects of increased osmolality and correction of acidosis on blood flow and oxygen consumption in hemorrhagic shock

Abstract Hypertonic NaHCO3 or NaCl given to an animal in hemorrhagic shock with the blood pressure maintained at the shock level by an open reservoir produced marked increases in cardiac output and oxygen consumption. This occurred in spite of large volumes of blood which were removed to maintain the same low blood pressure and decreased arterial oxygen content. Hematocrit was greatly decreased, which would reduce blood viscosity, and plasma osmolality was increased. The increased survival rate and reduced tissue damage found in other studies with hypertonic infusions during hemorrhagic shock would seem to be the result of this hemodynamic improvement. Cellular overhydration may occur with shock, but because of changes in blood flow and oxygenation, experiments such as this yield no information about the possibility of its occurrence or reversal by increased osmolality. The hemodynamic and oxygenation changes with NaCl and NaHCO3 in hemorrhagic shock were comparable and indicate that the improvement after NaHCO3 was due to an osmotic effect rather than to pH correction. This suggests that circulatory depression by metabolic acidosis either was not present at the time and levels studied or could not be separated from the extensive osmotic effects of these solutions.