cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hormonal Profiles in a Canine Model of the Brain-Dead Organ Donor

Abstract Purpose : The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of brain death on the circulating hormone levels. Methods : Serum total thyroxine (TT4), total 3,3,5′ triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (FT4), free 3,3,5′ triiodothyronine (FT3), reverse 3,3′,5′ triiodothyronine (RT3) and plasma cortisol (CORT), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EPI), dopamine, insulin (INS), and glucagon (GLUC) concentrations were measured before and for 5 hours after the maintenance of brain death (BD, n = 8), sham-brain death induction (SHAM, n = 3), and the operative procedure alone (time control, n = 3). Brain death in the canine model was induced by increasing and maintaining intracranial pressure above systolic arterial pressure. Results : Brain death led to a persistent, significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (121 ± 6 v 40 ± 4 mm Hg at 5 hours). A significant decrease in the TT4, TT3, FT4, and FT3 concentrations was seen during the experiment for all three groups with the exception of TT4 in the SHAM group; no significant difference was found among the three groups for any of the time points. RT3 was found to increase after the induction of brain death in the BD (n = 5) group. The CORT levels in the BD group were significantly less than the other two groups for all time points 30 minutes after the induction of brain death. The mean 30- to 300-minute plasma NE and EPI levels in the SHAM group were statistically greater than the BD group. The plasma glucose in the BD group was maintained between 60 and 140 mg/dL whereas the trends of the INS/glucose and GLUC/glucose ratios in the BD group were appropriate for the plasma glucose level. Conclusions : The operative procedure alone led to the decrease in the plasma thyroid hormone levels. The inability of the BD group to increase plasma CORT, NE, and EPI may contribute to the hemodynamic deterioration and eventual somatic death.
Avastin Enhances Photodynamic Therapy Treatment of Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Mouse Tumor Model

The goal of the current study was to determine if the antiangiogenic drug Avastin would improve the effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in a xenograft model of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Human KS-Imm tumors transplanted in nude mice were treated with Photofrin-mediated PDT. Expression parameters of proangiogenic molecules were documented and the tumoricidal effectiveness of PDT combined with the VEGF inhibitor Avastin was determined. PDT induced increased expression of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, PGE2, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta within treated KS tumor tissue. Significant overexpression of KS cell derived human VEGF and to a lesser extent overexpression of host cell derived mouse VEGF were detected within treated tumors. Combining PDT with Avastin resulted in a significant increase in the long-term responsiveness of treated KS tumors when compared to individual treatments. These results demonstrate for the first time that Avastin can improve PDT treatment effectiveness and suggest that VEGF inhibitors may ameliorate the clinical efficacy of PDT.
Resist Characterization: Procedures, Parameters, And Profiles

Measurement systems for determining the exposure and development model are coupled with SAMPLE resist profile simulations to explore the impact of positive photoresist types, processing conditions, developer types, and resist lots on line edge profiles. The exposure system uses the optical transmission of a resist layer on a nonreflecting glass substrate as a function of exposure. A full spectrum, high intensity "hard" bleach is used to completely expose the photoactive compound. The companion development system uses optical interference through a transparent substrate to measure the development rate. The reproducibility of these systems and their accuracy compared to independent measurements are considered. These systems are applied to the problems of determining the critical prebake temperature at which thermal degradation occurs, exploring differences between developers, and making lot-to-lot comparisons of resists. Parameter values for several resists are reported. The importance of the exposure and development parameters is illustrated using the SAMPLE program.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An observation of periodicity in grain boundaries

SUMMARY Field ion microscopy and computer graphics techniques have been utilized in studying the topography of a grain boundary in a W-1wt%ThO2 specimen. Perspective plots and Stereographic Pole Plots of the surface were obtained. An examination of the perspective plots of the boundary surface in conjunction with the Stereographic Pole Plot reveals a strong tendency towards periodicity in the grain boundary. Although no definite wavelength is noticed, an overall tendency towards periodicity is evident. Further the Stereographic Pole Plot indicates the nature of the inclinations in the grain boundary surface.
50) Eosinophilic cellulitis

Hairless rats fed a hypomagnesaemic diet developed an inflammatory dermatosis characterized by papular erythematous plaques. The dermatosis was long-lasting and could be observed for up to 6 months. It was inhibited by intraperitoneal injection of magnesium or dexamethasone but not by mepyramine, cimetidine, theophylline, aspirin or indomethacin. Analysis of semithin sections only showed oedema in the epidermis and superficial dermis with occasional intra-epidermal splitting. Direct immunofluorescence did not detect immunoreactant deposits within epidermis or dermis. Hypomagnesaemic dermatosis in hairless rats is proposed as a model for the pharmacological study of skin inflammation.
Corneal cytotoxicity of topically applied drugs, vehicles and preservatives

The toxicity and side effects of drugs and their adjuncts are reviewed according to effect on corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium, when topically applied to healthy or wounded surfaces, or introduced into the anterior chamber of the eye. Corneal research techniques are reviewed, including scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electrophysiological techniques, and specular microscope observation. Clinical interpretation of these results is discussed. Reviews of specific toxicologic techniques and of medications are cited. Present research makes it increasingly apparent that not only medications but also their preservatives cannot be considered innocuous. Preservatives may be effective yet less damaging to the ocular integument when used at lower concentrations than those presently available commercially. Complete avoidance of preservatives by the use of special dispensing systems is found increasingly desirable.
Student Performance in Off-Campus Programs.

The quality of degree programs offered off-campus, particularly on military bases, has become an issue affecting many institutions of higher education. This study asked the question: Do students in off-campus programs perform as well as students in on-campus programs? As a basis for comparison, only courses taught on- and off-campus by the same instructor were chosen. Six courses, taught 37 times, by ten instructors, met these criteria. The subjects included the 649 undergraduate students from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale who received letter grades in these courses between 1975 and 1977. As a measure of performance, the grades of on- and off-campus students were compared by means of at-test. The mean grade of off-campus students (3.34) was not significantly different (at the .01 level) from that of on-campus students (3.29). As a control, faculty were interviewed to determine the equivalence in content and rigor of courses they taught in both settings. Faculty generally responded that their on- and off-campus courses were equivalent in content and rigor, supporting the use of grades as a measure of student performance. These results indicate that not only do faculty maintain their standards while teaching off-campus, but that the academic performance of off-campus students equals that of on-campus students.
Induction of diapause in the tobacco budworm in Arizona.

Diapause in Heliothis virescens (F.) was studied under field and laboratory conditions. Induction curves for larvae collected from the field and maintained in an outdoor insectary were bellshaped, with peak diapause occurring from mid-, to late-October. Throughout the autumn, however, only a small percentage of the total field population entered diapause. Larvae also showed a weak tendency to diapause in the laboratory when reared under a constant temperature of 20°C and daylengths of 10, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, and 14 h. The 12-12.5 h light regimes produced the greatest levels of diapause, despite large variability among replications of the same treatment. High temperatures (25°C) reduced the diapause response at all photoperiods tested.
Vibrotactile discriminative capacity is impacted in a digit-specific manner with concurrent unattended hand stimulation

A number of perceptual and neurophysiological studies have investigated the effects of delivering unilateral versus bilateral tactile sensory stimulation. While a number of studies indicate that perceptual discrimination degrades with opposite-hand stimulation, there have been no reports that examined the digit specificity of cross-hemispheric interactions to discriminative capabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether unattended hand (UH) stimulation significantly degraded or improved amplitude discriminative capacity on the attended hand (AH) in a digit-specific manner. The methods are based on a sensory perceptual task (vibrotactile amplitude discriminative capacity on the tips of the fingers D2 and D3 of the left hand) in the absence and presence of conditioning stimuli delivered to D2 and D3 of the right hand. Non-specific equal-amplitude stimulation to D2 and D3 of the UH significantly worsened amplitude discrimination (AD) performance, while delivering unequal-amplitude stimuli to D2 and D3 of the UH worsened task performance only under the condition in which the unattended stimuli failed to appropriately match the stimulus parameters on the AH. Additionally, delivering single-site stimuli to D2 or D3 of the UH resulted in degraded performance on the AD task when the stimulus amplitude did not match the amplitude of the stimulus applied to homologous digits of the AH. The findings demonstrate that there is a reduction in performance under conditions where UH stimulation least matched stimulation applied to the AH, while there was little or no change in performance when stimulus conditions on the homologous digit(s) of the contralateral sites were similar. Results suggest that bilateral interactions influence perception in a context-dependent manner that is digit specific.
Characteristics of a light-dependent proton transport in cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Abstract Suspensions of cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum harvested in the logarithmic phase of growth show a light-induced decrease of pH, which is dependent upon the presence of salts of Li + , Na + , K + , Mn 2+ , Mg 2+ , or Ca 2+ . NH 4 Cl failed to increase the magnitude of the response. During the subsequent dark period, the pH of the medium increases. If the cells are suspended in 200 mM NaCl at pH 5.5 the decrease in the pH is complete in approx. 30 sec. The decrease in pH is inhibited if 3.3 μg/ml antimycin A or 10 μM carbonylcyanide- m -chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) are added prior to illumination. If CCCP is added during the subsequent dark period there is a stimulation of the rise in pH. The effect of light intensity and initial pH on the pH response has been studied.
Effects of steroids and steroid antagonists on growth, gonadal development, and RNADNA ratios in juvenile steelhead trout

Abstract Steroids incroporated into Oregon Moist Pellets were fed to steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) to determine if growth could be enhanced. In 1976, steelhead trout were treated with 17α-methyltestosterone, diethylstilbesterol, diethylstilbesterol plus clomiphene citrate, 17α-methyltestosterone plus flutamide (4′-nitro-3′ trifluoromethyliosbutranilide), or flutamide from the onset of exogenous feeding. In 1977, steelhead trout were started on treated diets 1 month after the onset of exogenous feeding and received testosterone propionate, testolactone, methylandrostenolone, 17α-methyltestosterone, flutamide, estradiol, or estradiol plus progesterone. Fish treated with flutamide (20 μg/g food) or diethylstilbesterol (5 μg/g) plus clomiphene citrate (15 μg/g) from the onset of exogenous feeding showed an increase in weight compared with controls. The androgens and other estrogens tested did not enhance the growth of steelhead trout. All compounds (except flutamide) fed to the fish from the onset of feeding caused abnormal sex ratios. Androgens induced more males while estrogens induced more females. 17α-methyltestosterone (1, 5, 15, or 35 μg/g), 17α-methyltestosterone (5 μg/g) plus flutamide (20 μg/g), testolactone (10 μg/g), and methylandrostenolone (10 μg/g) advanced spermatogenesis. 17α-methyltestosterone (2 or 35 μg/g), testolactone (10 μg/g), methylandrostenolone (10 μg/g), or flutamide (20 μg/g) caused hypertrophied granulosa cells or atretic oocytes in some ovaries. Intersexes containing both testicular and ovarian tissue in the gonads were found in some fish treated with 17α-methyltestosterone (5 μg/g), 17α-methyltestosterone (5 μg/g) plus diethylstilbesterol (5 μg/g), 17α-methyltestosterone (5 μg/g) plus flutamide (20 μg/g), or diethylstiblesterol (5 μg/g) plus clomiphene citrate (5 μg/g). 17α-methyltestosterone at 1, 5, 15, or 35 μg/g caused significant linear dose-dependent increases in epidermal thickness. There were no differences in the RNA DNA ratio between treatments. We conclude from these studies that steelhead trout do not respond positively in terms of growth enhancement from steroid treatment as has been shown in other salmonids. However, the androgen antagonist, flutamide, may be a potential growth enhancer in steelhead trout and may also be used as an antiandrogenic compound when administered with an androgen.
Dividing attention to study sentence acquisition

A divided attention task was developed that allows the acquisition of an individual sentence to be studied, as well as permitting the information processing load at any point in the sentence to be monitored. An experiment using the technique was carried out with sentences varying in voice (active or passive) and Yngve depth. Both linguistic variables exerted some significant effects and the experimental procedure allowed these as well as their loci to be identified.
Mechanism of remote myocardial ischaemia after coronary occlusion in open chest dogs.

To determine whether or not the fall in coronary perfusion pressure after coronary occlusion is the cause of remote myocardial ischaemia, regional myocardial blood flow was measured using radiolabelled microspheres before and after left anterior descending (LAD) occlusion in the presence of a left circumflex artery stenosis in 22 anaesthetised dogs. Aortic pressure was maintained constant at the time of left anterior descending artery occlusion in 13 dogs (group 1) and proximal left circumflex artery pressure was held constant by a servocontrolled pump in nine dogs with a carotid artery-left circumflex artery shunt (group 2). Despite the maintenance of constant mean aortic pressure in group 1, remote posterior bed mean(SEM) endocardial flow fell from 0.69(0.05) to 0.43(0.07) ml·min−1·g−1 (p 9 mmHg. The fall in remote bed endocardial flow was prevented in group 2 dogs by maintaining proximal left circumflex artery pressure constant (0.95(0.08) to 0.86(0.09) ml·min−1·g−1; NS). An important mechanism for the development of remote myocardial ischaemia appears to be the fall in proximal coronary perfusion pressure at the time of coronary occlusion.
African Americans, African Immigrants and Homeland-Diaspora Development in Africa

Mainstream understandings of nation-state development focus primarily on economic factors, consequently rendering invisible other viable ways, through which important development occurs in African societies. In extending the current theoretical framework beyond its focus on economics to encompass political, human capital and technological development, this article provides evidence linking African Americans to African attempts at development, first in Ethiopia, which remained uncolonised until 1938 and then through Ghana, which became the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain its independence from British colonial rule. The resulting theoretical payoff includes a broadened concept of development, which much more accurately represents and predicts reality. Empirically, the findings offer much-needed insight about the relationship, correspondence and differences between African historical Diaspora in the United States and more recent migration movements from African countries.
The effects of K-space data undersampling and discontinuities in keyhole functional MRI

Abstract The effects of the k-space data undersampling and the discontinuities associated with the keyhole approach in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have been addressed. Undersampling of high k-space data increases the high spatial-frequency noise by a factor of m , where m is the number of images sharing the high k-space data. However, the effects of the noise can be effectively removed using clustered-pixel statistical analysis. The amplitude and phase discontinuities may result in an increase in the low spatial-frequency noise level, which has no impact on specificity and only a minimal impact on sensitivity. Although dramatically reducing acquisition time and preserving the spatial resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging, the keyhole technique may have a limited capability in detecting highly focal activations.
Base excision repair and the central nervous system.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species generated during normal cellular metabolism react with lipids, proteins, and nucleic acid. Evidence indicates that the accumulation of oxidative damage results in cellular dysfunction or deterioration. In particular, oxidative DNA damage can induce mutagenic replicative outcomes, leading to altered cellular function and/or cellular transformation. Additionally, oxidative DNA modifications can block essential biological processes, namely replication and transcription, triggering cell death responses. The major pathway responsible for removing oxidative DNA damage and restoring the integrity of the genome is base excision repair (BER). We highlight herein what is known about BER protein function(s) in the CNS, which in cooperation with the peripheral nervous system operates to control physical responses, motor coordination, and brain operation. Moreover, we describe evidence indicating that defective BER processing can promote post-mitotic (i.e. non-dividing) neuronal cell death and neurodegenerative disease. The focus of the review is on the core mammalian BER participants, i.e. the DNA glycosylases, AP endonuclease 1, DNA polymerase β, X-ray cross-complementing 1, and the DNA ligases.
Dopamine transporter oligomerization: Impact of combining protomers with differential cocaine analog binding affinities

Previous studies point to quaternary assembly of dopamine transporters (DATs) in oligomers. However, it is not clear whether the protomers function independently in the oligomer. Is each protomer an entirely separate unit that takes up dopamine and is inhibited by drugs known to block DAT function? In this work, human embryonic kidney 293 cells were co-transfected with DAT constructs possessing differential binding affinities for the phenyltropane cocaine analog, [3H]WIN35,428. It was assessed whether the binding properties in co-expressing cells capable of forming hetero-oligomers differ from those in preparations obtained from mixed singly transfected cells where such oligomers cannot occur. A method is described that replaces laborious ‘mixing’ experiments with an in silico method predicting binding parameters from those observed for the singly expressed constructs. Among five pairs of constructs tested, statistically significant interactions were found between protomers of wild-type (WT) and D313N, WT and D345N, and WT and D436N. Compared with predicted Kd values of [3H]WIN35,428 binding to the non-interacting pairs, the observed affinity of the former pair was increased 1.7 fold while the latter two were reduced 2.2 and 4.1 fold, respectively. This is the first report of an influence of protomer composition on the properties of a DAT inhibitor, indicating cooperativity within the oligomer. The dopamine transporter (DAT) can exist as an oligomer but it is unknown whether the protomers function independently. The present results indicate that protomers that are superpotent or deficient in cocaine analog binding can confer enhanced or reduced potency to the oligomer, respectively. In this respect, positive or negative cooperativity is revealed in the DAT oligomer.
Murine and Pediatric Myocardial Growth Factor mRNA Expression Using Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction

We utilized reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to examine the myocardial mRNA expression of growth factors in mice and children. Total cellular RNA was extracted from these tissues using acidified-phenol guanidinium thiocyanate. Optimal oligonucleotide primer pairs for RT-PCR were selected with the aid of the computer program Oligo 4.0. RT-PCR analysis of total cellular RNA demonstrated the measurable presence of the mRNA for the following growth factors in the myocardium of both mice and children: acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic FGF (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A chain, PDGF-B chain, transforming growth factor (TGF)beta-1, TGFbeta-2, and TGFbeta-3. The amplified cDNA message for the growth factors and beta-actin migrated as a discrete band at the expected base pair number on agarose gels stained with the intercalating fluorescent dye ethidium bromide. Densitometry of the photographic negatives of these gels permitted the rapid and semiquantitative comparison of these factors. These data demonstrate the feasibility and reproducibility of utilizing RT-PCR for the specific detection and semiquantitation of mRNA expression of myocardial aFGF, bFGF, PDGF-A chain, PDGF-B chain, lGF-1, lGF-2, TGFbeta-1, TGFbeta-2, and TGFbeta-3 in mice and children.
The Effect of Pore Water Chemistry on the Biodegradation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Knowledge of the oxygen and nutrient concentra- tions in an oil-contaminated Prince William Sound (PWS) beach is important for understanding of the oil persistence over two decades after the Exxon Valdez spill. It was tradi- tionally believed that there was enough oxygen in the conta- minated shorelines to sustain aerobic microbial metabolism of oil and that nutrients were the major factors limiting oil biodegradation. In the present study, we analyzed the oxy- gen and nutrients levels in both clean and oily areas on a PWS beach that was heavily contaminated by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. We found that the level of nitrogen and phosphorous were 0.454 mg-N L −1 and 0.033 mg-P L −1 , respectively, which is not sufficient to fully support micro- bial growth, confirming that nutrient concentration was a major factor limiting oil transformation by biological ways. We also observed that the oxygen level varied from higher than 3 mg L −1 in the clean wells to about 1 mg L −1 (near anoxic level) in the oily wells. In addition, the lowest nitrate levels were observed at the oily wells. Altogether, these re- sults suggest that the low level of efficient electron acceptors (oxygen and nitrate) detected at the oily spot is responsible for slow and potentially inefficient biodegradation of the oil.
Versatile polyiodopyrazoles: synthesis and biocidal promise

An efficient route to polyiodopyrazoles, 3,4,5-triiodopyrazole (1), 1-methyl-3,4,5-triiodopyrazole (2) and 1-diiodomethyl-3,4,5-triiodopyrazole (3), opens the door to prospective biocides. Nitration of 1 and 2 gives the previously inaccessible compounds, 3,4-dinitro-5-iodopyrazole (4), and 3,4-dinitro-5-iodo-1-methylpyrazole (5), respectively. These synthetic pathways will open many fronts for pyrazole chemistry.
Continuous measurement of aerodynamic and alfalfa canopy resistances using the Bowen ratio-energy balance and Penman-Monteith methods

To investigate the alfalfa crop response to environmental factors, a Bowen ratio-energy balance method was used to evaluate short-term alfalfa canopy resistance. Continuous evapotranspiration (ET a ) and the aerodynamic resistance (r a ) for an alfalfa crop in each 20-min interval were calculated. Using the calculated ET a and r a and the Penman-Monteith approach, the bulk stomatal or actual canopy resistance (r c ) was evaluated. The continuous 20-min resistances were computed for clear and partially cloudy sky conditions, and different average crop heights. The results show that this technique can satisfactorily be used to study the manner in which the aerodynamic and canopy resistances respond to short-term variations in weather elements such as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), wind speed and atmospheric saturation vapor deficit.
Electrodiagnostic approach to the patient with suspected mononeuropathy of the lower extremity

Lower extremity mononeuropathies are less common than those affecting the upper limb. Yet, they are often challenging and more difficult to diagnose. The electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies play a pivotal role in diagnosis. Well planned and executed studies are very useful, although limiting factors such as age, foot swelling or prior lumbar spine surgery may hinder making a definite diagnosis. In this section, the author emphasizes the EDX studies of most lower extremity mononeuropathies and discusses, briefly, their anatomical and clinical aspects.
Validation of Upper Extremity Post-Thrombotic Syndrome Outcome Measurement in Children

Using the Manco-Johnson instrument in a derivation cohort of 107 children with or without a central venous catheter, upper extremity physical findings of post-thrombotic syndrome were absent, and the pain score was 0 in all but one child. Interrater reliability in an independent validation cohort (n = 38) of children with or without upper extremity deep venous thrombosis was 97%-100%.
Risk factors for preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes: a multicenter case-control study.

To assess the association between women with preterm premature rupture of membranes and 41 potential risk factors, we conducted a case-control study in six United States tertiary perinatal centers. The study involved completion of a comprehensive questionnaire for 341 women with preterm premature rupture of membranes in singleton pregnancies from 20 to 36 weeks' gestation and 253 control women matched for maternal age, gestational age, parity, clinic or private patient status, and previous vaginal or cesarean delivery. Univariate analysis revealed 11 variables associated with a significantly ( p
Feedback from rhodopsin controls rhodopsin exclusion in Drosophila photoreceptors

Some of the senses, such as colour vision and olfaction, rely on single sensory neurons to produce a specific chemical- or light-sensing G-protein coupled receptor. Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain exclusive gene expression in olfactory receptors, but the molecular pathways remain unknown. Claude Desplan and colleagues report that mature Drosophila R8 photoreceptors of the subtype that normally expresses green-sensing rhodopsin 6 protein can express the 'wrong' blue-sensing rhodopsin 5 when fruitflies are either kept in the dark or mutated in rhodopsin 6. Light thus achieves a negative feedback on the rh5 gene by repressing its transcription in rh6-expressing neurons, a system resembling the control of olfactory receptor genes in vertebrate olfactory neurons. Sensory systems with high discriminatory power use neurons that express only one of several alternative sensory receptor proteins. This exclusive receptor gene expression restricts the sensitivity spectrum of neurons and is coordinated with the choice of their synaptic targets1,2,3. However, little is known about how it is maintained throughout the life of a neuron. Here we show that the green-light sensing receptor rhodopsin 6 (Rh6) acts to exclude an alternative blue-sensitive rhodopsin 5 (Rh5) from a subset of Drosophila R8 photoreceptor neurons4. Loss of Rh6 leads to a gradual expansion of Rh5 expression into all R8 photoreceptors of the ageing adult retina. The Rh6 feedback signal results in repression of the rh5 promoter and can be mimicked by other Drosophila rhodopsins; it is partly dependent on activation of rhodopsin by light, and relies on Gαq activity, but not on the subsequent steps of the phototransduction cascade5. Our observations reveal a thus far unappreciated spectral plasticity of R8 photoreceptors, and identify rhodopsin feedback as an exclusion mechanism.
Recent experiences with error estimation and adaptivity, part II: Error estimation for h -adaptive approximations on grids of triangles and quadrilaterals

In Part I, residual and flux projection error estimators for finite element approximations of scalar elliptic problems were reviewed; numerical studies on the performance of these estimators were presented for finite element approximations of the solution of Poisson's equation on uniform grids of hierarchic triangles of order p (1 ⩽ p ⩽ 7). Here further numerical experiments are given which also include error estimators for the vector-valued problem of plane elastostatics and implementations for h-adaptive grids of triangles and quadrilaterals which are constructed using an algorithm of equidistribution of error coupled with h-refinement or h-remeshing schemes. A detailed numerical study of several flux-projectors for h-adaptive grids of bilinear and biquadratic quadrilaterals is conducted; a flux equilibration iteration, which may be employed in some cases to improve flux projection estimates, is also included. FAor the case of grids of quadrilaterals, several versions of the element residual estimators, which differ by the approximate flux employed for the calculation of the boundary integral term in the definition of the local problems, are compared. The numerical experiments confirm the good overall performance of residual estimates and indicate that flux projection estimates, which are now operational in several commercial codes, may be divergent when they are employed to estimate the error in even order h-adaptive approximations.
HRI-2013 workshop on probabilistic approaches for robot control in human-robot interaction (PARC-HRI)

The HRI-2013 Workshop on Probabilistic Approaches for Robot Control in Human-Robot Interaction (PARC-HRI) brings together researchers to discuss the application of probabilistic approaches to further enable robot autonomy in HRI, as well as to address the shortcomings and necessary improvements in current techniques needed for robust socially intelligent behavior. This half day workshop investigates the use of probabilistic approaches, such as Bayesian networks and Markov models, for robust robot control and decision-making under uncertainty. Target applications range from social behavior primitives---such as gesture, eye gaze, and spacing---to higher-level interaction planning and management systems.
Arabinoxylans from rye and wheat seed that interact with ice.

Abstract Arabinoxylans that interfere with growth of ice crystals have been purified from rye ( Secale cereale L., Rosen) and two varieties of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L., Genesee and Hillsdale) seed. The most active polysaccharide from each seed type was homogeneous in the sense that all the molecules were in the same size range, they contained the same sugar residues, and they reacted similarly in chemical characterization experiments. Structural studies showed that the polysaccharides consist of a xylan chain to which are attached side-chains that contain a single, terminal arabinose residue. The polysaccharides differ with respect to the number of arabinose residues. The xylose:arabinose ratios in the most active fractions from rye, Genesee wheat, and Hillsdale wheat are 1.26, 1.54, and 2.08, respectively. Gel-permeation column chromatography showed that the most active polysaccharide from each seed type has a molecular weight greater than 2 × 10 6 and that the rye polysaccharide is slightly larger than the Hillsdale wheat polysaccharide. The rye polysaccharide is a better inhibitor of ice-crystal growth than is the Hillsdale wheat polysaccharide.
Defining real change in measures of stereoacuity.

Purpose To establish the thresholds for "real change" in stereoacuity by defining long-term test–retest variability as 95% limits of agreement for 4 stereoacuity tests. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants and Controls We identified 36 patients (median, 17 years; range, 7–76) with any type of stable strabismus who had stereoacuity measured on 2 consecutive visits. Stable strabismus was defined as angle of deviation within 5 prism diopters by simultaneous prism and cover test and prism and alternating cover test. Methods Stereoacuity was measured at near using the preschool Randot and the near Frisby stereotests and at distance using the Frisby–Davis distance (FD2) and the distance Randot stereotests. Stereoacuity was transformed to log units for analysis. The 95% limits of agreement were calculated based on a 1.96 multiple of the standard deviation of differences between test and retest. Main Outcome Measures The 95% limits of agreement for change in stereoacuity thresholds at 2 consecutive visits. Results The 95% limits of agreement were 0.59 log arcsec for the preschool Randot, 0.24 for the near Frisby, 0.68 for the FD2, and 0.46 for the distance Randot. These values correspond with the following octave steps (doublings of threshold; e.g., 200–400 arcsec): preschool Randot, 1.95; near Frisby, 0.78; FD2, 2.27; and distance Randot, 1.52. Conclusions A change of approximately 2 octaves of stereoacuity threshold are needed to exceed test–retest variability for most stereoacuity tests. Changes Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Prescription drug abuse information in D.A.R.E.

This investigation was designed to examine prescription drug-related content and learning objectives in Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) for upper elementary and middle schools. Specific ...
Time- and method-dependent size distributions of fine-grained sediments

With increased interest in fine-grained sediments it is imperative that a firm basis exist for comparative studies of these cohesive sediments. In this study the size distributions of continental slope and rise muds are shown to be dependent on both method and duration of sample pretreatment. Statistical analysis of 171 size distributions indicates that of the four most frequently used sample preparation methods (soak, stir, shake and ultrasonify) the time required to reach a ‘terminal’ distribution beyond which no ‘fine-shift’ was detected varied from 15 minutes to > 90 hours for a given sample solely as a function of preparation method. Data from this study also indicate that sample preparation by simple soaking alone will probably yield fine-grained sediments which, when analysed by pipette or microsedimentation accumulation balance, undergo a continuous change in size distribution during analysis and may never reach a ‘terminal’ distribution during the analysis time. On the other hand stirring and ultrasonification were shown to be the most rapid and consistent methods for obtaining a sample's‘terminal’distribution.
The Role of Analogy in George Gamow's Derivation of Drop Energy

This article examines the role of the liquid drop analogy in George Gamow's theory of nuclear structure and his subsequent derivation of nuclear energy. It argues that the correspondences constituting the analogy served distinct but cooperative ends, requiring Gamow to posit a relatively simple nuclear geometry that set him apart from his contemporaries, mostly shell theorists, and led to his successful derivation of nuclear energy in the fall of 1928.
Binding of enzyme IIAGlc, a component of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, to the Escherichia coli lactose permease.

Enzyme IIAGlc, encoded by the crr gene of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, plays an important role in regulating intermediary metabolism in Escherichia coli (“catabolite repression”). One function involves inhibition of inducible transport systems (“inducer exclusion”), and with lactose permease, a galactoside is required for unphosphorylated IIAGlc binding to cytoplasmic loops IV/V and VI/VII [Sondej, M., Sun, J. et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96, 3525−3530]. With inside-out membrane vesicles containing the permease, [125I]IIAGlc binding promoted by melibiose exhibits an affinity (KDIIA) of ≈ 1 μM and a stoichiometry of one mole of IIAGlc per six moles of lactose permease. Both the quantity of [125I]IIAGlc bound and the sugar concentration required for half-maximal IIAGlc binding (K0.5IIAsug) was measured for eight permease substrates. Differences in maximal IIAGlc binding are observed, and the K0.5IIAsug does not correlate with the affinity of LacY for sugar. Further...
On the hydrology of the Edwards Limestone, south-central Texas

Abstract The Edwards Limestone (Albian) is a mosaic of shallow water, back-reef, carbonate lithofacies averaging about 150 m thick, that have been dolomitized, chertified, and calcitized. Intermittent subaerial exposure during and shortly after deposition of the Edwards resulted in solution-enlargement of some primary voids. Slow upwarping of the northwestern margin of the subsiding ancestral Gulf of Mexico basin elevated the Edwards Group above sea level late in the Cretaceous. Down-to-the-coast, en echelon , normal faulting along the Balcones system during the Early Miocene accentuated the topographic position of the Edwards above sea level. Rejuvenated Gulf-ward flowing streams cut into the upthrown fault block and exposed the uppermost Edwards Limestone in the bottoms of deep canyons, which created the discharge sites that initiated a continuously circulating groundwater system within the Edwards Limestone in the Miocene. The early porosity systems have increased in volume through the self-ramifying cavern solution process that occurs in carbonate rocks. The down-dip boundary of the aquifer, or “bad-water line”, represents an early bypass boundary of the aquifer that has become deeply ingrained with time. Cavern development is largely sub-horizontal and reflects the control of bedding partings and beds of differing lithology. The Edwards Limestone aquifer has only a few widely separated natural discharge sites which, when viewed in scale, make the confined aquifer appear like a regional master conduit. This cavernous system is known as the Edwards underground reservoir and it supplies the water for most of south-central Texas.
Effect of Surface Distortions on the Heat Transfer to a Wing at Hypersonic Speeds

Effects of surface distortions on the heat transfer and surface pressure on a wing at hypersonic speeds
Helicobacter (Campylobacter) fennelliae-like organisms as an important but occult cause of bacteraemia in a patient with AIDS

Summary We describe the isolation and identification of a Helicobacter (Campylobacter) -like organism obtained from the blood of a 32-year-old homosexual man with a 10 months' history of AIDS and progressive mucocutaneous Kaposi sarcoma. Fever and bacteremia persisted despite sequential administration of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, antibiotics reported to be active against this organism in vitro . Facultative organisms like Campylobacter fennelliae and Campylobacter cinaedi which are difficult to isolate by standard techniques may be important but unrecognized causes of febrile illness in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Laboratories should consider use of acridine orange staining and more extensive subculture protocols for blood cultures with progressive growth indices which appear negative by conventional staining and subculture technique.
Antidepressant drug compliance: reduced risk of MI and mortality in depressed patients.

Abstract Background The long-term risk of myocardial infarction (MI) associated with use of antidepressants is uncertain, especially for nontricyclic antidepressants. The present study uses a national Veterans Affairs cohort to test whether antidepressants increase or decrease risk of MI and all-cause mortality. Methods US Department of Veterans Affairs patient records were analyzed to identify a cohort free of cardiovascular disease in fiscal years 1999 and 2000, aged 25-80 years, who had an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code indicating an episode of depression (n=93,653). Incident MI and all-cause mortality were modeled in patients who received 12 weeks or more of antidepressant pharmacotherapy as compared with 0-11 weeks during follow-up. Age-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were computed before and after adjusting for baseline sociodemographics and time-dependent covariates. Results Receipt of 12 or more weeks of continuous antidepressant therapy was associated with significantly reduced rates of incident MI across classes of antidepressants: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-0.52), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (HR 0.35; 95% CI, 0.32-0.40), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (HR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.34-0.44), and "Other" (HR 0.41; 95% CI, 0.37-0.45). Risk of all-cause mortality also was decreased with receipt of 12 weeks of pharmacotherapy with all classes of antidepressants (SSRI, SNRI, TCA, Other), with HRs ranging from 0.50 to 0.66. Conclusions Across classes of antidepressants, 12 weeks of pharmacotherapy appears to be safe in terms of MI risk. Although the mechanism for this association remains uncertain, it is possible that compliance with pharmacotherapy for depression reflects compliance with cardiovascular medications. It also is possible that a direct drug effect or improved depressed mood may attenuate the risk of MI in depressed patients.
Amending memories: The nimble mnemonics of Mexican popular culture

Abstract Every Mexican, from birth onwards, received a welter of memories that fashioned, explained, contradicted and enlivened personal experience and guided behaviour.1 These pieces of collective memory drew on family stories, widely-told rumours, neighbourhood recollections, church homilies, heroic tales and well-oiled anecdotes of matriarchs, old soldiers, town-square loiterers and market-place gossips. Of course, communion lessons and grade school classes added some formal structure to these personal mental collages of the past. Each Mexican soon possessed a fine thicket of personal views of the community's heritage.
Segregation pattern of kanamycin resistance marker in Azotobacter vinelandii did not show the constraints expected in a polyploid bacterium

It was suggested that Azotobacter vinelandii cells contain about 80 copies of their chromosome and when foreign genes are introduced into the cell, it took several generations for them to spread to all 80 chromosomes even in the presence of selection. In contrast, the fact that many recessive mutants can be isolated from A. vinelandii without the constraints expected for a cell that has 80 copies of its chromosome argued against this organism being highly polyploid. We have investigated the segregation of a kanamycin resistant genetic marker under non-selective conditions in A. vinelandii. Plasmid DNA was used to introduce the kanamycin resistance gene onto the A. vinelandii chromosome at the nifY locus by homologous recombination. The transformants were identified from non-transformants with the aid of replica plating, and hence the colonies examined for segregation of the genetic marker were never subjected to kanamycin selection. In spite of growing the transformants in the absence of selection pressure, no segregant that lacked the kanamycin resistance gene was scored. These analyses suggested that the segregation of the kanamycin marker in A. vinelandii did not exhibit any constraints expected in a highly polyploid bacterium.
Purification and characterization of a rat liver cytosol neutral thiol peptidase that degrades glucagon, insulin, and isolated insulin A and B chains☆

A thiol peptidase that catalyzes at near neutral pH the hydrolysis of insulin, the isolated A and B chains of insulin, and glucagon was purified from rat liver cytosol by fractionation on Sephadex G-200, Affi-Gel Blue, and Spherogel TSK-G 3000 SW. The purified enzyme showed a single component by chromatography on a Spherogel TSK column and by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of approximately 180,000 and consists of two subunits having pI's of 5.9 and 6.3. Studies on its substrate specificity showed that the purified enzyme degrades glucagon, insulin, insulin B chain, and insulin A chain, but it does not degrade proinsulin, ACTH, or denatured hemoglobin. Kinetic analyses were performed on three substrates. The Km values were: 34 nM for insulin, 276 nM for insulin B chain, and 3.5 microM for glucagon. The kcat and Vm/Km values were glucagon greater than B chain greater than insulin. Thus, the enzyme has the highest affinity/lowest efficiency for insulin, an intermediate affinity/intermediate efficiency for B chain of insulin and the lowest affinity/highest efficiency for glucagon. The effect of several potential activators and inhibitors on the enzyme's activity was investigated. The enzyme activity was markedly inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, iodoacetamide, and Np-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), and was partially inhibited by dithiothreitol, by the chelating agents EDTA and EGTA, and by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). Bacitracin inhibited the activity of the enzyme, but the protease inhibitors aprotinin, leupeptin, pepstatin, and phosphoramidon had little or no effect. Reduced glutathione, iodoacetate, and N alpha,p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) also had little or no effect on the enzyme activity.
Model for the circumstellar gas around alpha Orionis

Models are presented to explain the physical conditions in the circumstellar envelope surrounding the red supergiant Alpha Orionis. The models of the CO density and neutral atomic potassium density are calculated for the outer shell to reproduce simultaneously both the radio detection of CO and optical measurements of the amount of scattering by neutral potassium around Alpha Ori. CO and potassium loss rates of 7 x 10 to the 39th/sec and 8 x 10 to the 37th/sec are obtained, which imply a potassium to carbon ratio greater than that of the sun by about a factor of 25. The low carbon abundance may be attributed to extensive CNO processing, and, together with the potassium abundance, indicates a total mass loss rate of 0.000015 solar masses/year. The mass loss, mass and abundance properties of Alpha Ori suggest it to be the progenitor of a Type II supernova such as Cas A.
How to start surfing the internet

Abstract The availability of efficient, inexpensive methods for communication has led to the availability of substantial information in readily accessible form through the Internet. As a result of this ease of communications, a scientific conference in chemometrics was held on the Internet. However, some of the participants were handicapped because they did not have the software necessary to access and view the papers and fully use the available technology. This tutorial is designed to help the beginner to find the needed software, transfer it to their personal computer, and set the system up so that they can participate in future conferences as well as begin to take advantage of the information that is available through the World Wide Web and other Internet services.