cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning to Shop in Zion: The Consumer Revolution in Great Basin Mormon Culture, 1847-1910

Mormondom 1847–1910 provides a test case for examining consumerism. Zion's rapid changes produced a chronologically and geographically condensed instance of larger transformations in consumption attendant with the market economy's rise. Before the railroad's 1869 arrival, weak eastern commercial linkages created a marketplace of limited choices. The railroad, however, expanded the number and range of goods and so encouraged Mormons to revise their understandings of consumption. Before 1869, Mormons—recognizing limited choices—attached little gravity to shopping. Goods reflected status, but did not reveal personhood. Moreover, the Saints viewed goods through a prism of local experience. After 1869, swelling choices invited Mormons to link consumption and self-definition. To make sense of imports without local meaning, Mormons turned to a transatlantic Victorianism. This new sensibility, however, offered fewer openings to shape commodity symbolism; the meaning of possessions became less local and participatory. Commodity meaning emerged not from the promotional efforts of manufacturers, but the sentimental themes of popular literature. The Mormon experience suggests consumer theories crediting advertising with the reorganization of identity around consumption err in chronology and causality. Instead, the converging expansions of commodity variation and the popular press propelled the identification of consumer choice as the means for subjective expression and personal identification.
A measurement study of PPStream

In this article, we first review the evolution of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and media streaming systems, and then focus on one of the most popular P2P-based media streaming services - PPStream. We describe the PPStream protocol discovered through reverse engineering efforts and discuss our measurement study conducted to evaluate three aspects of the system: privacy, locality, and availability. The experiments reveal that PPStream is vulnerable to privacy exploits and is not locality-aware when selecting peers to exchange media packets. The study also finds that PPStream is fairly robust against packet filtering-based Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks that target its channel discovery, peer registration, and peer discovery protocols.
Science learning and a Sense of Place in a Urban Middle School

This paper offers an analysis into low-income, urban middle school children's sense of place and what and how their sense of place matters in science learning by focusing on the following questions: In what ways is students' sense of place leveraged in a science classroom? How does the content and context of science class shape how students leverage their sense of place? What learning opportunities emerge when sense of place is leveraged in class? Drawing from an ethnographic investigation into an environmental statistics class in a mid-sized public middle school, we examined sense of place events from their source, process, and outcome perspectives. Our findings are presented from two aspects of sense of place events, (1) characterizing students' sense of place by exploring sources of the sense of place events, and (2) examining processes of how students' sense of place is being leveraged in the episodes. We also examine two kinds of tensions that emerge in the class when sense of place is leveraged by students and acknowledged by the teacher: epistemological tensions (related to what the students are learning) and procedural tensions (related to how they are learning).
Significance of isolated left anterior hemiblock and left axis deviation during acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Electrocardiographic signs of bifascicular block are known to be associated with a high mortality rate during the course of an acute myocardial infarction. However, isolated left anterior hemiblock or extreme left axis deviation does not increase mortality or complicate the course of an acute myocardial infarction. The incidence of arrhythmias or atrioventricular block is not increased by the presence of left axis deviation and, at times, left anterior hemiblock is a transient electrocardiographic finding during the course of acute myocardial infarction.
The Sa Gene What Does It Mean

The Sa gene was first described in 1991 by Iwai and Inagami1 in a study to identify genes that were differentially expressed in the kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). To find such genes they first prepared a cDNA library from 16-week-old SHR. The clones were grown on plates, and 4 replica filter lifts were prepared from each plate. Two filters were hybridized to 32P-labeled single-strand antisense cDNA fragments from kidneys of 16-week-old SHR, and 2 filters were hybridized with a similar probe prepared from WKY rat kidneys. Clones that gave a different intensity of autoradiographic signal with the SHR and WKY probes were selected for study; one of these was the Sa gene. The designation Sa is apparently arbitrary. Iwai and Inagami1 confirmed that the Sa gene was differentially expressed in SHR and WKY kidneys by Northern blot analysis, with SHR expressing markedly more than WKY. They also showed that Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rats expressed the Sa gene more than Dahl salt-resistant (R) rats.1 Although the technique of differential hybridization is a standard one, its application to hypertensive rat models was innovative, and the Sa gene has generated a lot of interest. Important subsequent results were that (1) the Sa gene is expressed in the kidney proximal tubule,2 3 (2) the Sa gene is located on rat chromosome 1 and cosegregates with blood pressure (BP) in both the SHR/WKY4 5 6 7 and Dahl rat models,8 9 10 and (3) polymorphisms …
Modulation of Basal Ketone Body Concentration by Cortisol in Diabetic Man

This study explored the relationship between metyrapone blockade of endogenous cortisol secretion and the plasma concentration of basal ketone bodies in insulin-dependent diabetic man. Endogenous cortisol secretion was reduced with metyrapone administration (as assessed by a reduction in plasma cortisol and an increase in deoxycortisol concentration) and then simulated with two different schedules of exogenous cortisol administration. Our results demonstrate that administration of metyrapone suppresses plasma cortisol concentration which may then be elevated by the oral ingestion of cortisol. The suppression of endogenous cortisol secretion with metyrapone results in a 50% reduction in basal plasma ketone body concentration. When endogenous cortisol secretion was simulated with the oral administration of 30 mg cortisol, plasma ketone body concentration returned to that concentration observed in the control study. When 60 mg cortisol were administered in divided dosages to the diabetic subjects, hyperketon...
METHYLMALONYLCoA CAKBONYLMUTASE (MUTASE) ACTIVITY IN VIVO AND IN VITRO -FURTHER EVIDENCE OF GENETIC HETEROGENEITY

Patients with the genetic defect, methylmalonic acidemia (MM-emia), have vomiting, ketoacidosis, failure to thrive and a high mortality. Clinically, patients are usually classified by their in vivo response to vitamin B12 i.e. some tend to normalize biochemically whereas others do not. Cell free extracts of liver and/or skin fibroblasts were assayed for mutase activity by measuring succinate formation from methylmalonylCoA. Vitamin B12 coenzyme (DBCC) synthesis was measured by incorporation of Co57 precursor into DBCC. 5 patients, clinically unresponsive, had no in vitro mutase activity and synthesized DBCC normally. 4 additional patients had normal in vitro mutase activity and defective DBCC formation. However, only 2 of the 4 were responsive in vivo. Intact fibroblasts were studied for conversion of propionate-1-14C to 14CO2. Good correlation of CO2 production was noted in the 5 lines with no mutase activity but variable results were found in the other 4. Liver mutase activity accurately reflects fibroblast extract activity in any individual patient. Response by intact cells to B12 is variable in some patients. “Responsiveness” should be limited to the changes noted in vivo and should remain a clinical description rather than one to delineate possible mechanisms responsible for the defect.
Ventilatory responses of horses to exercise

The primary function of ventilation during exercise is the maintenance of arterial blood gas and acid-base homeostasis. Ideally, this should be accomplished with minimal metabolic cost or conscious effort despite the major demands placed on the pulmonary system by increasing tissue consumption of oxygen (~702) and production of carbon dioxide (~CO2), decreased pulmonary capillary transit time by erythrocytes and greater desaturation of hemoglobin. In all species, these demands are met by an increase in minute ventilation (~e), or, more specifically, alveolar ventilation (~A). These manifestations are in turn a function of a greater breathing frequency fib), increased transpulmonary pressure changes, vasoconstriction of the nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosa, and increased sympathetic tone and its associated dilation of airways. The ventilatory systems of highly trained human athletes have limits to their ability to maintain homeostasis during high intensity exercise. 14.15 The result is exercise-induced hypoxemia, a comparatively low alveolar oxygen tension (PAOz) and reduced ability to compensate for the proton accumulation (acidosis) associated with high intensity exercise. It appears that most horses experience similar alterations in blood gases and acid-base balance at exercise intensities above 65 % of that required to produce maximal VOa (~7Oamax). 7 In fact, it has
Genetic factors are important determinants of impaired growth after infant cardiac surgery.

Objectives We sought to estimate the prevalence and identify the predictors of impaired growth after infant cardiac surgery. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective study of the role of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms on neurodevelopment in young children after infant cardiac surgery. Prevalence estimates for growth velocity were derived by using anthropometric measures (weight and head circumference) obtained at birth and at 4 years of age. Genetic evaluation was also performed. Growth measure z scores were calculated by using World Health Organization Child Growth Standards. Growth velocity was evaluated by using 2 different techniques: first by clustering the children into one of 3 growth velocity subgroups based on z scores (impaired growth, difference 0.5 SD) and second by using continuous difference scores. Statistical analyses were conducted with a combination of proportional odds models for the ordered categories and simple linear regression for the continuous outcomes. Results Three hundred nineteen full-term subjects had complete anthropometric measures for weight and head circumference at birth and 4 years. The cohort was 56% male. Genetic examinations were available for 97% (309/319) of the cohort (normal, 74%; definite or suspected genetic abnormality, 26%). Frequency counts for weight categories were as follows: impaired growth, 37%; stable growth, 31%; and improving growth, 32%. Frequency counts for head circumference categories were as follows: impaired growth, 39%; stable growth, 28%; and improving growth, 33%. The presence of a definite or suspected genetic syndrome ( P = .04) was found to be a predictor of impaired growth for weight but not for head circumference. When growth z scores were used as continuous outcomes, the apolipoprotein E e2 allele was found to be predictive of lower z scores for both weight ( P = .02) and head circumference ( P = .03). Conclusions Impaired growth for both weight and head circumference is common (both >30%) in this cohort of children after infant cardiac surgery. Both the apolipoprotein E e2 allele and the presence of a definite or suspected genetic syndrome were associated with impaired weight growth velocity. The apolipoprotein E e2 allele was also associated with impaired growth velocity for head circumference. Persistent poor growth might have long-term implications for the health and development of children with congenital heart defects.
Effect of Partial Hydrogenation on the Phase Behavior of Poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) Triblock Copolymers

We studied the effect of selective hydrogenation of the polyisoprene block in poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (ISM) triblock copolymers on nanoscale network phase formation. The morphologies of the resulting poly((ethylene-alt-propylene)-b-styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (EPSM) triblock copolymers and several EPSM copolymer/homopolymer blends were investigated using a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy, where well-ordered HEX, SA, and Q230 (network) nanostructures were identified. Variations in the nanoscale morphologies and phase boundaries between EPSM copolymers and their corresponding ISM precursors can be attributed to the differences in conformational asymmetry and block interactions. Of particular interest, the growth in the gyroid network region in the EPSM relative to the ISM is highlighted as the expansion of this region could further enable the creation of network-forming nanoporous membranes made from materials that are expected to de...
A Dehydration Method for Immature or Wet Cotton Fibers for Light and Electron Microscopy

A rapid dehydration procedure with acidified 2,2-dimethoxypropane (DMP) has been successfully applied to immature or wet cotton fibers. The ultrastructural integrity and fiber quality parameters su...
Organizational IT Maturity (OITM): A Measure of Organizational Readiness and Effectiveness to Obtain Value from Its Information Technology

Enterprises often assign little strategic value to IT and resist additional investment. CIOs find that profitable IT deployment is blocked. The business/IT misalignment may stem from the lack of IT use maturity within the enterprise. In this article, the authors concentrate on what has to be done on the enterprise side to enable this maturation with an approach that isolates and describes useful factors that enable a business to become more mature with respect to IT.
INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF EXTRAGALACTIC SOURCES

Infrared observations leading to important implications and questions concerning extragalactic sources are reviewed. Attention is given to the detection of enormous infrared fluxes from otherwise normal galactic nuclei and to possible sources, including bursts of star formation, for the infrared luminosity, which has been found to result in mass/luminosity ratios less than 0.2 in solar units. Possible sources for the strong infrared fluxes observed from type 1 and type 2 Seyfert galaxies and nonoptically violently variable quasars are then considered, including thermal reradiation by dust around the nucleus in the case of type 2 Seyferts, and thermal and nonthermal nuclear radiation in association with dust in the case of type 1 Seyferts and quasars. Selection effects favoring the detection of infrared-weak Seyfert galaxies and quasars are also noted.
PLASMA GLUCAGON AND ALANINE RESPONSES TO ACUTE INSULIN DEFICIENCY IN MAN

Plasma glucagon levels rose within 1 hr after withdrawal of insulin in 7 juvenile-type diabetics previously kept normoglycemic by prolonged intravenous infusions of insulin. These changes preceded subsequent elevations in plasma alanine levels. Individual rises in plasma glucagon were correlated with elevations in plasma glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acid, and glycerol levels, suggesting that glucagon may play an important role in the development of diabetic ketoacidosis in man.
Omo Research Expedition

Results of a large scale investigation of the lower Omo valley in south-western Ethiopia suggest a time-stratigraphic range for the Omo beds extending from the end-Pliocene through the earliest Pleistocene.
Delivering more effective treatment to adolescents: Improving the juvenile drug court model

Juvenile drug courts (JDC) emerged in response to a perceived need to intervene more effectively in the substance abuse-delinquency cycle. The influx of drug and alcohol offenders, lack of other juvenile justice system interventions, and positive experiences with adult drug courts helped drive interest in adapting the drug court model for juveniles. This article: (1) provides an overview of substance use and the juvenile justice system; (2) describes the current status of JDC programs; and (3) proposes a model for planning, implementing and evaluating JDCs based on adolescent drug use and treatment research as well as current JDC models. The lack of science-based JDC models and empirically sound JDC evaluations has limited the effectiveness of JDCs. The proposed model is designed to create a new generation of JDCs that maximizes the effectiveness of local resources and delivers research-based interventions to youth and families impacted by substance abuse and delinquency.
Musical examination to bridge audio data and sheet music

The digitalization of audio is commonly implemented for the purpose of convenient storage and transmission of music and songs in today's digital age. Analyzing digital audio for an insightful look at a specific musical characteristic, however, can be quite challenging for various types of applications. Many existing musical analysis techniques can examine a particular piece of audio data. For example, the frequency of digital sound can be easily read and identified at a specific section in an audio file. Based on this information, we could determine the musical note being played at that instant, but what if you want to see a list of all the notes played in a song? While most existing methods help to provide information about a single piece of the audio data at a time, few of them can analyze the available audio file on a larger scale. The research conducted in this work considers how to further utilize the examination of audio data by storing more information from the original audio file. In practice, we develop a novel musical analysis system Musicians Aid to process musical representation and examination of audio data. Musicians Aid solves the previous problem by storing and analyzing the audio information as it reads it rather than tossing it aside. The system can provide professional musicians with an insightful look at the music they created and advance their understanding of their work. Amateur musicians could also benefit from using it solely for the purpose of obtaining feedback about a song they were attempting to play. By comparing our system's interpretation of traditional sheet music with their own playing, a musician could ensure what they played was correct. More specifically, the system could show them exactly where they went wrong and how to adjust their mistakes. In addition, the application could be extended over the Internet to allow users to play music with one another and then review the audio data they produced. This would be particularly useful for teaching music lessons on the web. The developed system is evaluated with songs played with guitar, keyboard, violin, and other popular musical instruments (primarily electronic or stringed instruments). The Musicians Aid system is successful at both representing and analyzing audio data and it is also powerful in assisting individuals interested in learning and understanding music.
Statistical error calibration in UV-visible spectrophotometry

A procedure for spectrophotometric statistical error calibration is described, in which estimates of the variance (sigmaA2) in the absorbance A are derived as a function of A and the wavelength lambda, directly from recorded spectra. Spectra are obtained over the desired wavelength range for a number of neutral-density filters, and are then least-squares fitted piecemeal to low-order polynomials. The variances from these fits constitute the estimates of the instrumental variance sigma 2 for the lambda and A of the respective fitted segments. These values are in turn expressed as functions of lambda and A, by means of a small number of parameters. In the present case a representation in terms of A and I0, the ''effective'' source intensity, is even more compact, requiring only five parameters to cover the 200-850nm region for absorbances up to and exceeding 2. For the instrument studied here, the high-A precision is limited by digitization error, the error being independent of lambda and I. Index Headings: UV-visible spectrophotometry; Statistical errors; Calibration; Least-squares weights; Spectral fitting.
Regulation of oxygen consumption by vasomotion.

Abstract Objective: To describe a stochastic model of the variability and heterogeneity of blood flow through the microcirculation, and to show the ability of vasomotion to vary oxygen consumption at a steady blood flow. Methods: The description of vasomotion is based on whether each microvessel is open for blood flow or closed. Over a unit time period, let α be the probability that a given vessel is open and will remain open, β be the probability that an open vessel will close, ν be the probability that a closed vessel will remain closed, and μ be the probability that a closed vessel will become open. Two main parameters that characterize such a scheme are: the fraction of open microvessels [ n o = μ /( β + μ )], and the rate of vasomotion defined as the rate of switching between open and closed microvessels ( R = β + μ ). A model of O 2 transport to tissues is based on the following assumptions: (a) the flux of O 2 is due to passive diffusion, (b) the amount of O 2 dissolved in tissue is negligible as compared with that contained in arterial blood, and (c) aerobic metabolism is proportional to the delivery of O 2 . Results: The stochastic model substantiates the possibility that vasomotion can control O 2 consumption. The rate of vasomotion activity can change O 2 consumption by 2–8-fold, depending on the fraction of open microvessels. Conclusion: A stochastic description of blood flow through the microcirculation system demonstrates that vasomotion rate could be a factor influencing O 2 consumption.
Neuropsychological assessment of cognitive functioning following chemotherapy for breast cancer

Cancer patients' complaints of impaired cognition following chemotherapy are fairly common but poorly documented among adult patients. Neuropsychological testing was used to evaluate current cognitive functioning of 28 stage I and II breast cancer patients (ages 28–54) who had completed 3 to 18 months of adjuvant chemotherapy, from 0.5 to 12 months prior to testing. Effects of drug regimen, length of treatment and level of depression on cognitive functioning were examined. Despite estimated high-normal pre-morbid intelligence (mean FSIQ 113) patients scored significantly below age-, education-, and gender-corrected test norms in areas of verbal and visual memory, mental flexibility and speed of processing, attention and concentration, visuospatial ability and motor function. Of patients, 75% scored -2SDs (moderate impairment) on one or more test measures. Level of cognitive impairment was unrelated to depression, type of chemotherapy and time since treatment, but was positively related to length of chemotherapy treatment. These preliminary findings suggest that cognitive impairment may follow conventional adjuvant chemotherapy treatment and warrant replication with a controlled and more rigorous longitudinal design.
Rapid onset pain induced by intravenous streptozotocin in the rat

Abstract Pain in diabetes is a common debilitating condition for which pathophysiology remains poorly understood. To evaluate the underlying mechanisms, we used intravenous injection of streptozotocin to produce rapid (24-hour) onset of diabetes (blood glucose > 300 mg/dL and urine glucose > 2,000 mg/dL with polyuria). In this model, mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia are detectable by 48 hours after streptozotocin administration in the absence of ketonuria or physical debility. Treatment with insulin attenuated hyperglycemia and prevented the development of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Direct application of streptozotocin to peripheral nerve did not produce hyperalgesia. We conclude that streptozotocin can induce pain independent of a general debility or direct toxic effect of streptozotocin on peripheral nerve and that elevated blood glucose may contribute to the enhanced nociception. © 2001 by the American Pain Society
Visual evaluation models: some complicating questions regarding memorable scenes

The essay and images seek clarification as to the underlying definitions of visual landscape evaluation.
An In-Depth Assessment of Internal Contamination in the Wide Field/Planetary Camera: Republished from the Journal of the IES May-June 1990 issue, pages 29-35

Following thermal vacuum/thermal balance testing, a gray haze was discovered on the corners of the Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC) aperture window. The phenomenon was suggested to be a result of molecular transport from a low outgassing structural adhesive. Detailed analyses, both chemical and analytical, were conducted to assess the formation of the haze. Each material was considered individually, as it was not known if the actual contamination was a result of one, many, or possibly none of the materials considered. Results of the analytical assessment and the comparison with the aforementioned chemical analyses provided incontrovertible evidence as to the cause of the window haze. The resultant cleanup and subsequent elimination of the problem are also addressed. [Editor's Note: This 1990 paper is republished as part of the Journal of the IEST 50th anniversary celebration. It is accompanied by remarks from Patti Hansen, author of "Overview of the HST Contamination Engineering Program at 15 Years: A ...
Validity of laboratory tests in predicting clinical behavior of silicate cement

T he silicate cements are desirable restorative materials for anterior interproximal and gingival cavities because of the ease of cavity preparation, the ease of insertion and finishing, their anticariogenic nature, and their excellent esthetic properties. However, this material fails clinically, presumably because of its inherent low edge strength and relatively high solubility and disintegrati0n.l A number of authors’-” have stated that the average life of a silicate restoration lies somewhere between 3 and 5 years. All of our current knowledge on the effects of manipulative variables on the physical properties of silicate cements has been derived from the use of laboratory tests with no real understanding of the possible correlations to the clinical behavior of the material. It was, therefore, the purpose of this investigation to determine if the presently used laboratory tests can validly predict the clinical behavior of silicate cements.
Faith‐Based Programs for Reentry Courts: A Summary of Issues and Recommendations

In 2002, the Bush Administration directed the Department of Justice to include faith-based organizations in its distribution of funds earmarked for programs targeting the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and substance abuse. Among the initiatives most likely to be affected by this new policy are reentry court programs that endeavor to reintegrate juvenile delinquents into their communities by placing them within local neighborhood-based programs. However, reentry court personnel and leaders of faith-based organizations are likely to encounter numerous challenges as they try to establish appropriate programming. In this article, we discuss the current understanding of First Amendment jurisprudence governing the federal funding of faith-based organizations and summarize key issues identified by a National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' workgroup on faith-based programming that are necessary for including faith-based organizations within a reentry court's continuum of care. We also discuss several concerns that reentry court personnel and faith-based organizations should consider as they seek to maximize the impact of their programs.
Silicon and Zinc Coordination to Peripheral Catechol Sites of (2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-Octahydroxyphthalocyaninato)nickel(II). Phthalocyanine Coordination Chemistry at the Edge

(2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-Octahydroxyphthalocyaninato)nickel(II) (NiPc(OH)8) has been prepared by demethylation of (octamethoxyphthalocyaninato)nickel(II). Silylation of peripheral oxygen atoms using dimethyl-tert-butylsilyl chloride gave NiPc(OSi(t-Bu)Me2)8 as a convenient precursor to NiPc(OH)8 with high solubility in hydrocarbon solvents. The coordination properties of peripheral catechol sites were investigated by treating NiPc(OH)8 with TpCum,MeZn(OH). A model study was first carried out by adding 5,6-dihydroxyphthalimide (H2PhtCat) to TpCum,MeZn(OH). Partial deprotonation occurred to give TpCum,MeZn(HPhtCat). Further deprotonation with NMe4(OH) gave (NMe4)[TpCum,MeZn(PhtCat)] as the methanol solvate. 1H NMR spectra recorded on TpCum,MeZn(HPhtCat) show sharp resonances for equivalent arms of the TpCum,Me ligand, while TpCum,Me resonances for (NMe4)[TpCum,MeZn(PhtCat)] appear broadened by slow site exchange about the strongly chelated catecholate ligand. Similarly, the reaction between NiPc(OH)8 and TpCum...
Active Systems In Long Baseline Interferometers

Long baseline stellar interferometers are very large optical systems that have extremely tight mechanical tolerances. In the Mark III interferometer, there were two major active systems that maintained the alignment and optical path control needed to make astronomical measurements. One system, called the star tracker system, kept the two interfering wavefronts parallel. The other system, the fringe tracker/delay line kept the optical paths equal in the two arms of the interferometer. This paper reviews the operation of the Mark III active systems and introduces systems that will be built into the next generation six element imaging array being designed. The key difference between the two systems is that with a two element interferometer, light from the star must be split for use in the star tracker and fringe tracker while in interferometers with more than two elements, it is possible to use the same photons to run both the star tracker and fringe tracker.
Inhibition of Ca2+ and K+ channels in sympathetic neurons by neuropeptides and other ganglionic transmitters

Abstract Neuropeptides are known to modulate the excitability of frog sympathetic neurons by inhibiting the M-current and increasing the leak current, but their effects on Ca 2+ channels are poorly understood. We compared effects of LHRH, substance P, epinephrine, and muscarine on Ca 2+ , K + , and leak currents in dissociated frog sympathetic neurons. At concentrations that inhibit M-current, LHRH and substance P strongly reduced N-type Ca 2+ current and induced a leak conductance that may contribute to slow EPSPs. In contrast, muscarine produced little reduction of Ca 2+ current, even in cells in which it strongly suppressed the M-current. We find that peptidergic inhibition of Ca 2+ channels involves G proteins, but does not require protein kinases. In addition, it leads to reductions in Ca 2+ -activated K + current and catecholamine release.
Effects of Systemic Inflammation on Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation

The importance of inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is well established. The vascular endothelium contributes to and is affected by the inflammatory process. For example, a variety of cytokines have the ability to “activate” the endothelium and thereby promote expression of adhesion molecules and chemotactic factors that accelerate the inflammatory process and direct accumulation of leukocytes to specific sites in the arterial tree. In experimental systems, activation of endothelial cells is also associated with a loss of the biologic activity of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, an effect that accelerates the inflammatory process and also promotes local thrombosis and impairs local control of vasomotor tone. Consistent with these experimental studies, recent studies have provided evidence that inflammation is associated with an impairment of nitric oxide-dependent responses in human subjects. This article will review the experimental and clinical studies that support the relevance of inflammation to nitric oxide bioactivity in human atherosclerosis.
The qualitative criticism of circulatory models via bipartite teleological analysis

Abstract This research presents a dual-perspective, or bipartite view of teleology (i.e. purpose) and uses it to criticize qualitative models of cardiovascular systems in a manner that highlights the relationships between circulatory topology, behavior, and function. The Bipartite Teleology Model (BTM) attributes ‘purposefulness’ to both steady-state and regulatory behavior, thereby providing a splitlevel bias for evaluating teleological fulfillment in circulatory systems. The Biology Critic (BIOTIC) incorporates BTM to automatically generate circulatory critiques similar to those published by physiologists. In general, this work contributes an operational model of bipartite teleology to qualitative physics, while clarifying the teleological and environmental context necessary to extend qualitative physics into biology.
Partial molar heat capacities at infinite dilution for alkane systems using gas-liquid chromatography☆

Abstract Measurement of the specific retention volume of n -octane and cycloheptane in n -C 36 H 74 as a function of temperature using a high-precision gas chromatograph has allowed estimation of the change in enthalpy of solution with temperature. Coupled with heat capacities for the pure solute vapor, this provides the partial molar heat capacity at infinite dilution. Comparison with calorimetric data for a similar system supports the validity of the present results.
Deoxynucleic Guanidine/Peptide Nucleic Acid Chimeras: Synthesis, Binding and Invasion Studies with DNA

A fully automated solid-phase synthetic procedure for incorporation of positively charged guanidinium linkages into otherwise neutral PNA sequences has been employed. These DNG/PNA chimeras form [(DNG/PNA)2·DNA] triplexes upon binding to single strand or duplex DNA (with accompanying D-loop for the latter). The [(DNG/PNA)2·DNA] triplexes of DNG/PNA T10, with DNA dA10, are more stable than DNA·DNA triplexes [(T10)2·dA10]. The binding of DNG/PNA chimera with guanidinium linkages on both ends, with single strand length-matched complementary DNA under thermal melt conditions and with longer double strand DNA under isothermal conditions is sequence specific. The association process of DNG/PNA chimera with single strand DNA and strand invasion of longer ds-DNA is faster than the association of PNA, with the same DNA targets, as evident by thermal hysteresis and gel retardation under isothermal conditions. The sequence specific and faster strand invasion of DNG/PNA may extend the potential utility of PNA in diag...
The morphology of cricket giant interneurons.

Axonal iontophoresis of cobalt chloride was used to describe the morphology of the seven largest interneurons in the abdominal nervous system of the cricket Acheta domesticus. The somata of these neurons are all found in the terminal (5th) abdominal ganglion. This ganglion is derived from four primitive segmental ganglia (the 7th–10th primitive segments) and the morphology of the interneurons within this ganglion suggests that the neurons are derived from different primitive segments. Furthermore, some of the neurons appear to be serially homologous elements. Three aspects of the morphology support these suggestions: (1) soma position, (2) relative positions of commissural processes, and (3) the general shape and extent of dendritric fields.
Thermally induced delayed turn-on in thin p-clad lasers

Lasing delays on the order of microseconds have been observed in wide-stripe, thin p-clad, InGaAs single quantum well lasers with `thick' p + cap layers. A lasing delay mechanism involving transient, thermally induced refractive index changes due to ohmic loss in the contact resistance is proposed and investigated using computer modeling.
Needs assessment techniques for environmental education

Abstract Needs assessment guidelines and tools are enumerated for identifying immediate and long‐term environmental education needs in a community or region and for recommending subsequent actions. Interviews, written and oral surveys, participatory workshops, public meetings, document analysis, and other methods of qualitative and quantitative data collection are described for gathering information quickly and inexpensively from people and institutions with a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and expertise. Needs assessment conducted in the Bay Islands in Honduras and Tikal National Park in Guatemala led to the implementation of environmental education activities, such as the development of an environmental education manual and workshops for teachers, publication of an ecology guidebook, and establishment of a park‐community camp program. Evaluation and monitoring based on the needs assessment results will provide feedback for program modification and design of future initiatives.
Incomplete human adenovirus replication in canine tumour cells and serological evidence of infections in tumour-bearing canine pets

Abstract Concentrations of newly synthesized virus antigens and virions in cultures of canine normal and tumour cells after inoculation with equal input multiplicities of human adenovirus types 5, 21 and 31 and infectious canine hepatitis virus (ICHV) were measured by solid phase bead-type radioimmunoassay (SBRIA) and fluorescent antibody techniques with human and canine adenovirus-specific reference sera. Higher concentrations of human adenovirus antigens were detected in inoculated tumour cells than in inoculated normal cells, although no infectious human adenoviruses were detected in either of the inoculated canine cell types. In other cultures of these same canine cells, markedly higher concentrations of both ICHV antigens and progeny virions were detected in infected normal canine kidney cells than in infected neuro-fibrosarcoma cells. Human adenovirus type 5 neutralizing antibody was detected in the sera of 2 of 24 dogs bearing untreated malignant tumours and in the serum of 1 of 20 normal dogs. SBRIA tests showed significantly higher concentrations of human adenovirus antibody in the sera of dogs with tumours than in sera from normal dogs. Concentrations of human Ad5 antibody were greater than those of Ad21 and Ad31 antibody in the sera of both normal and tumour-bearing canine pets, each of which had a history of regular vaccination and of long-term close contact with man. Concentrations of ICHV antibody as measured by virus neutralization and SBRIA tests in sera from normal pet dogs were not significantly different from those detected in sera from tumour-bearing dogs. Supported in part by NIH-NCI-NOI-CB-84 248.
Estimating the Product of Several Random Variables

(1952). Estimating the Product of Several Random Variables. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 47, No. 258, pp. 216-221.
Determination of heavy metals in toads exposed to oil polluted environment (Ekpan) Delta State, Nigeria

The concentrations of heavy metals (mg/g) Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe, Co, Cd, and Hg in the tissues of young and adult toads exposed to petroleum-polluted environment were determined in order to assess the impact of petroleum-processing activities in Ekpan. The data showed that the levels of these Metals ranged between 0.15–1.18 and 0.10–0.48 in young and adult toads respectively. The heavy metals concentrations reported for the young toads have an abundance trend in the order of Pb > Fe > Ni > Cr > Cu > Co > Cd > Hg, while those of the adult toads are in the order of Pb > Fe > Cr > Ni > Cu > Cd > Hg > Co. The control analysis was carried out in a non-oil polluted area (Obiaruku) and the values served as base line values for the study.
Relationship of diastolic intraventricular pressure gradients and aerobic capacity in patients with diastolic heart failure

We sought to elucidate the relationship between diastolic intraventricular pressure gradients (IVPG) and exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure using color M-mode Doppler. Diastolic dysf...
An Atomic Force Microscopy Study of Riboflavin Receptor Targeting Nanoparticles

Riboflavin ligands present an alternative pathway for targeted drug delivery as riboflavin receptors are over-expressed in breast and prostate cancer cells. We have examined a riboflavin conjugated PAMAM dendrimer (generation 5) for targeting riboflavin binding protein (RFBP), which acts as a model protein for the riboflavin receptor. By characterizing the binding interactions between riboflavin dendrimer gold nanoparticle conjugates and RFBP, the efficacy of this platform for a targeted approach of drug delivery can be predicted more accurately. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used for biological imaging studies of these riboflavin-dendrimer complexes conjugated with gold-nanoparticles. using a systematic “building block” approach, the size distribution of riboflavin dendrimer gold nanoparticle conjugates was mapped. Changes in height upon binding to RFBP and subsequent removal by competitive binding ligands demonstrate that this method could present a novel approach to screening the binding of drugs to drug targets.
Comparative pulmonary toxicity assessments of C60 water suspensions in rats: few differences in fullerene toxicity in vivo in contrast to in vitro profiles.

It has previously been reported that the in vitro cytotoxic effects of water-soluble fullerene species are a sensitive function of their surface derivatization status. In a recent study, it was reported that doses of an aggregated form of underivatized C60, termed nano-C60, were 3−4 orders of magnitude more toxic to human dermal fibroblasts, lung epithelial cells, and normal human astrocytes when compared to identical exposures of these cell types to a fully derivatized, highly water-soluble derivative, C60(OH)24. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to test and validate these in vitro findings by comparing the in vivo pulmonary toxicity effects in rats of intratracheally instilled nano-C60 and C60(OH)24. In two combined studies, groups of rats were instilled with doses of either 0.2, 0.4, 1.5, or 3.0 mg/kg of nano-C60, C60(OH)24, or α-quartz particle types using Milli-Q water as the vehicle. Subsequently, the lungs of vehicle and particle-exposed rats were assessed using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fl...
Polymorphic allele of human IRGM1 is associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis in African Americans.

An ancestral polymorphic allele of the human autophagy-related gene IRGM1 is associated with altered gene expression and a genetic risk for Crohn's Disease (CD). We used the single nucleotide polymorphism rs10065172C/T as a marker of this polymorphic allele and genotyped 370 African American and 177 Caucasian tuberculosis (TB) cases and 180 African American and 110 Caucasian controls. Among African Americans, the TB cases were more likely to carry the CD-related T allele of rs10065172 (odds ratio of 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.02; P<0.01) compared to controls. Our finding suggests that this CD-related IRGM1 polymorphic allele is also associated with human susceptibility to TB disease among African Americans.
Acoustic emission during indentation fracture

Acoustic emission measurements were made during controlled indentation of soda-lime glass. Pulses were detected at specific points during the loading or unloading cycles. The response and reproducibility were dependent upon the indenter shape. Comparison with earlier data reported in the literature showed that the acoustic activity was correlated with crack initiation events corresponding to median/ radial, lateral, or other fracture modes.
"Displacement" sand flipping in the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris).

In a pre- and posttest design an attempt was made to quantify sand flipping in the behaviorally aroused Northern elephant seal ( Mirounga angustirostris ). Following pretest a seal was approached by the experimenter in order to induce a conflict between attack and escape tendencies. Sand flipping occurred more frequently when a seal was aroused than when it was resting regardless of the amount of solar radiation, degree of wetness, wind speed, etc.
Proper Motions in the Ejecta of η Carinae with a 50 Year Baseline

Observations of η Carinae from three separate epochs spanning a total of 50 years are used to measure the proper motions of several easily identifiable features in the Homunculus Nebula. Our principal conclusion is that the equatorial features were ejected significantly after the "Great Eruption," very likely in the outburst that occurred around 1890. The rest of the inner nebula was ejected during the bright phase of 1822 to 1856 that climaxed with the eruption of 1843. The expansion of the bipolar lobes appears to be primarily linear, with a scatter in ejection dates during the period of the Great Eruption. We find a mean ejection date for the southeast polar lobe of 1843.8 ± 7.3 yr, and an ejection date of 1885.8 ± 6.5 yr for the equatorial ejecta.
Safety and tolerability of duloxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder: analysis of pooled data from eight placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Objective To examine the safety and tolerability of the antidepressant duloxetine across multiple studies for major depressive disorder (MDD). Method Safety data were integrated from the acute phases of eight double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in which patients were randomized to duloxetine (40–120 mg/d; n = 1139) or placebo (n = 777) for up to 9 weeks. This data set included all acute-phase clinical trials that formed the basis of the New Drug Application (United States) or European Union submission package for duloxetine in the treatment of MDD. Two studies included continuation phases in which acute treatment responders received duloxetine or placebo for an additional 26 weeks. Safety assessments included serious adverse event reports, rates of discontinuation, spontaneously reported treatment-emergent adverse events, changes in vital signs and laboratory values, and electrocardiograms. Results The rates of serious adverse events for duloxetine- and placebo-treated patients were 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively (p = 0.282). Adverse events led to discontinuation in 9.7% of duloxetine-treated patients, compared with 4.2% of patients receiving placebo (p < 0.001). Treatment-emergent adverse events with an incidence for duloxetine ≥ 5.0% and significantly greater than placebo were nausea, dry mouth, constipation, insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, somnolence, increased sweating and decreased appetite. Mean changes in blood pressure and heart rate were small, and the incidence of increases above normal ranges was low. Duloxetine-treated patients had a mean decrease in weight of 0.5 kg compared with an increase of 0.2 kg for patients receiving placebo (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between duloxetine and placebo in the incidence of potentially clinically significant laboratory values at anytime while on treatment. Conclusion These results are consistent with those obtained previously from smaller pooled data sets, and suggest that duloxetine is safe and well tolerated in patients with MDD. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrical resistivity due to dislocations in highly purified copper

We have measured the specific dislocation resistivity in copper single crystals with low densities of dislocations (\ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{7}$ cm of dislocations per ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$) introduced by bending. The dislocation density was estimated from etch-pit counts. Most of the specimens had residual resistivity ratios of about 40 000 before deformation, this high ratio being produced by oxidation. The specific dislocation resistivity was found to be \ensuremath{\sim}3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}19}$ \ensuremath{\Omega} ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$, estimated correct to within a factor of 2. We also looked for anisotropy of resistivity in fatigued single crystals and found none.