cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A gas-liquid chromatographic method for the separation and quantitation of normetanephrine and metanephrine in human urine.

Abstract A gas-liquid Chromatographic method for the separation and quantitation of urinary normetanephrine and metanephrine as their trifluoroacetyl derivatives is presented. After a preliminary column separation of basic from neutral and acidic compounds in hydrolyzed urine, the trifluoroacetylated amines (normetanephrine, metanephrine, octopamine, tyramine, 3-methoxytyramine, tryptamine and serotonin) were separated on a 1:1 w/w (3% QF-1: 2% XF-1105) column. An electron capture detection system was employed for maximal sensitivity. Normal human urinary values for normetanephrine ranged from 0.086 to 0.177 μg/mg creatinine (mean = 0.116 ± 0.029) and for metanephrine ranged from 0.059 to 0.145 μg/mg creatinine (mean = 0.093 ± 0.027). Patients with pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma had elevated urinary excretions of normetanephrine and/or metanephrine.
Erythrocyte evolution: the significance of the Fåhraeus-Lindqvist phenomenon.

Abstract In glass capillary tubes of less than 0.4 mm radius, the viscosity of erythrocyte suspensions is directly dependent on the tube radius of the viscometer. This is the well known Fahraeus-Lindqvist phenomenon. An equation which describes this relation for dog erythrocyte suspensions is used to compare the pressure required to maintain a resting cardiac output in a dog's circulatory system when it is perfused with blood with the pressure which would be required when the same system is perfused with a hemoglobin solution of comparable oxygen-carrying capacity. Although blood viscosity, as measured in a large bore glass capillary tube, is 42% greater than that of a comparable hemoglobin solution, the pressure required to maintain the flow of blood, 103 mm Hg, is 73% of that necessary to pump the hemoglobin solution, 142 mm Hg. The difference is attributable to the fact that the resistance vessels in the circulatory system have radii below the critical level for the Fahraeus-Lindqvist phenomenon to occur. These results favor the argument that, in the intact circulatory system, packaging hemoglobin in blood corpuscles would lessen the workload required to maintain a given cardiac output.
Egg retention in Anopheles quadrimaculatus say in relation to the physiological age of the mosquito.

Occasionally, after a female mosquito completes oviposition, 1 or more eggs remain in the ovaries. Christophers (1911, Paludism 2 : 73–88) suggested the use of these retained eggs as a means of estimating the age of the mosquito, and Perry (1912, Paludism 5 : 32–40) did so in his age grading method. This paper presents some observations on the relationship of age of the female to retention of eggs. These were made during the course of a study of the age composition of a natural population of Anopheles Quadrimaculatus Say at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland.
Photodegradation of polyethylene film

A structure occurs in radical-polymerized polyethylene which leads to formation of a triene on ultraviolet radiation. An inhibition of oxidative processes is observed while the triene or its precursor are being consumed. Subsequent formation of oxygenated products—hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl—is well behaved and arises from short wavelenght light. A crosslinking reaction is initiated by light of ∼4000 A wavelength.
Normal function in sarcoplasmic reticulum from mice with muscular dystrophy

A rapid, gentle technique has been developed for the isolation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) from small amounts of skeletal muscle from normal and dystrophic mice. Assays for mitochondrial and surface membrane marker enzymes revealed only low levels of contamination in the isolated fractions. A small amount of calcium-insensitive ("basal") ATPase in the normal preparation and a higher value in the dystrophic were shown to be due to contamination by a lighter membrane fraction of probable surface membrane origin. Isolated SR from normal and dystrophic mice were indistinguishable by thin section and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Only small differences in calcium loading rates and capacity, and in calcium-stimulated ATPase activity, were present. These were attributable to small differences in purity. We conclude that there is no difference in SR from normal and dystrophic mice in the properties measured.
Influence of Experience on the Response of Bathyplectes curculionis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a Nonaphidophagous Parasitoid, to Aphid Odor

Abstract Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) is an introduced natural enemy of the alfalfa weevil in North America. The wasp requires carbohydrate foods as an adult. Adult wasps have increased longevity and fecundity when provided access to pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), honeydew in the laboratory, and adults respond positively to the presence of pea aphids in alfalfa fields. However, it is unknown how these wasps find aphid honeydew in the field. In a series of Y-tube olfactometer experiments, we evaluated the response of naive and experienced adult female B. curculionis to odors from pea aphids, alfalfa, and pea aphids on alfalfa. Naive adult females did not respond positively to pea aphid odor even when hungry. But adult females were able to learn aphid odor, and the mechanism of learning appears to be associative rather than by sensitization. Naive females also showed no preference for alfalfa odor but learned alfalfa odor through sensitization. The wasps did not distinguish between alfalfa with aphids and alfalfa without aphids, even after exposure to aphids or alfalfa with aphids. However, they preferred pea aphid odor to alfalfa odor after a feeding experience in the presence of pea aphid odors. But after exposure to mixed odors of aphids and alfalfa while feeding, B. curculionis females preferred the odor of alfalfa to the odor of pea aphids. These results suggest that alfalfa odors mask or override aphid odors when aphids are associated with alfalfa (as happens naturally), thus interfering with the wasp's ability to respond to learned aphid odors. Therefore, although the wasps are capable of learning to find pea aphids and their honeydew in a simplified laboratory setting, it appears unlikely that they do so in the field.
Inhibition of Planar Cell Polarity Extends Neural Growth During Regeneration, Homeostasis, and Development

The ability to stop producing or replacing cells at the appropriate time is essential, as uncontrolled growth can lead to loss of function and even cancer. Tightly regulated mechanisms coordinate the growth of stem cell progeny with the patterning needs of the host organism. Despite the importance of proper termination during regeneration, cell turnover, and embryonic development, very little is known about how tissues determine when patterning is complete during these processes. Using planarian flatworms, we show that the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway is required to stop the growth of neural tissue. Although traditionally studied as regulators of tissue polarity, we found that loss of the PCP genes Vangl2, DAAM1, and ROCK by RNA interference (individually or together) resulted in supernumerary eyes and excess optical neurons in intact planarians, while regenerating planarians had continued hyperplasia throughout the nervous system long after controls ceased new growth. This failure to terminate growth suggests that neural tissues use PCP as a readout of patterning, highlighting a potential role for intact PCP as a signal to stem and progenitor cells to halt neuronal growth when patterning is finished. Moreover, we found this mechanism to be conserved in vertebrates. Loss of Vangl2 during normal development, as well as during Xenopus tadpole tail regeneration, also leads to the production of excess neural tissue. This evolutionarily conserved function of PCP represents a tractable new approach for controlling the growth of nerves.
Young children's ability to use two-dimensional and three-dimensional symbols to show placements of body touches and hidden objects.

In two experiments, we investigated 3- to 5-year-old children’s ability to use dolls and human figure drawings as symbols to map body touches. In Experiment 1, stickers were placed on different locations of children’s bodies, and the children were asked to indicate the locations of the stickers using three different symbols: a doll, a human figure drawing, and the adult researcher. Performance on the tasks increased with age, but many 5-year-olds did not attain perfect performance. Surprisingly, younger children made more errors on the two-dimensional (2D) human figure drawing task compared with the three-dimensional (3D) doll and adult tasks. In Experiment 2, we compared children’s ability to use 3D and 2D symbols to indicate body touch as well as to guide their search for a hidden object. We replicated the findings of Experiment 1 for the body touch task; for younger children, 3D symbols were easier to use than 2D symbols. However, the reverse pattern was found for the object locations task, with children showing superior performance using 2D drawings over 3D models. Although children showed developmental improvements in using dolls and drawings to show where they were touched, less than two thirds of the 5-year-olds performed perfectly on the touch tasks. Both developmental and forensic implications of these results are discussed.
Evaluation of Set-up Uncertainties with Daily Kilovoltage Image Guidance in External Beam Radiation Therapy for Gynaecological Cancers

Abstract Aims To assess the set-up uncertainty for gynaecological cancer patients treated with external beam radiation therapy using daily kilovoltage image guidance and to estimate set-up margins for treatment and factors that would predict higher set-up uncertainty. Materials and methods Alignment data from daily two-dimensional kilovoltage planar images and three-dimensional kilovoltage cone beam images for 52 patients treated on a Varian 2300iX linear accelerator with On Board Imaging (OBI; version 1.4) capability were analysed. The mean displacements of translational shifts, population systematic errors and random errors were calculated. Using van Herk's formula, the clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins for set-up uncertainties were calculated. The differences in set-up error were calculated with respect to the type of cancer, imaging type and body mass index (BMI). Results Population systematic and random errors were 1.1mm, 2.3mm, 2.3mm and 3.9mm, 5.0mm, 3.5mm in the anterior–posterior (AP), medial–lateral (ML) and superior–inferior (SI) directions, respectively, for the entire patient population. Using van Herk's formula, the CTV to PTV margins for set-up uncertainties were found to be 5.5, 9.1 and 8.3mm in the AP, ML and SI directions respectively. The mean displacements in the AP, ML and SI directions for BMI≥30 (28 patients) versus P =0.02). Conclusions Daily imaging helps to assess set-up uncertainty. The set-up margin for CTV to PTV was larger for patients with BMI≥30 without image guidance and these patients would benefit more from daily image guidance.
On the expressiveness and complexity of randomization in finite state monitors

In this article, we introduce the model of finite state probabilistic monitors (FPM), which are finite state automata on infinite strings that have probabilistic transitions and an absorbing reject state. FPMs are a natural automata model that can be seen as either randomized run-time monitoring algorithms or as models of open, probabilistic reactive systems that can fail. We give a number of results that characterize, topologically as well as with respect to their computational power, the sets of languages recognized by FPMs. We also study the emptiness and universality problems for such automata and give exact complexity bounds for these problems.
447 THE EFFECT OF POST-NATAL AGE ON THE RESPONSE OF THE PITUTITARY-THYROID AXIS TO THYROTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE

Transient hypothyroxinemia is a common problem in the preterm infant. The response of the pituitary-thyroid (P-T) axis to exogenous thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) infusion has been used to confirm the euthyroid state of these preterm infants. The purpose of this study was to define the effect of post-natal age on the response of the P-T to TRH infusion. Eight preterm infants with RDS (Group I) and 10 preterm infants without RDS (Group II) received 20 mcg/kg TRH IV on days 3 and 14 of life. The mean birth weights, gestational age and Apgar scores were similar in both groups. The pattern of the serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response to TRH was similar in both groups on both days. In each group, the mean serum TSH level prior to TRH infusion was similar at day 3 and day 14. The mean serum TSH level was significantly elevated by 30 minutes (m) and declining by 180 m. At 30 and 180 m, the mean serum TSH level was significantly higher at day 3 compared to day 14. Compared to pre-infusion of TRH values, the mean serum thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine T3) levels were significantly increased on day 3 at 180 m in both groups. There were no other significant differences in mean serum T4 and T3 levels in either group at any other time. Conclusions: 1) In the preterm infant with or without RDS, the serum TSH response following infusion of TRH is significantly different at day 3 compared to day 14 of life; 2) the thyroid gland response is similar at 3 and 14 days.
Diagnostic Methods in Orbital Diseases

Development of diagnostic methods for orbital diseases have practically revolutionized the approach to the patient with orbital disease. These newer methods have helped the clinician to improve the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis prior to biopsy, to localize the area to be biopsied, and to prevent inappropriate surgery. These techniques have also allowed the pathologist to render more definitive diagnosis. These methods include ultrasound, computerized axial tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The techniques are complementary, and use of each depends on the clinical situation. Some techniques require collaboration between the surgeon and pathologist to assure proper fixation and preparation of tissues.
CT coronary angiography was more accurate than stress testing for diagnosing CAD, especially in patients at intermediate risk

Source Citation Weustink AC, Mollet NR, Neefjes LA, et al. Diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of noninvasive testing for coronary artery disease. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:630-9. 20479028
Short caesium half-times in patients with muscular dystrophy.

THE equivalent biological half-time (T½) is defined as This concept was first applied to the interpretation of 137Cs metabolism by Miller1. If retention can be described by a single exponential, the T½ of the exponential equals the equivalent T½. If the retention function is a sum of exponentials (as is the retention of caesium in mammals2,3) the equivalent T½ in equilibrium conditions of constant daily intake or following a single intake is the weighted average of the component half-times4.
The subcategorization of nonpsychotic depression in behavioral and nonbehavioral research

In terms of the traditional dichotomy it has been relatively easy to make assured diagnoses of endogenous depression, but not of neurotic depression. In consequence, some have suggested that the diagnosis of neurotic depression be dropped and that the cases previously so categorized be recognized as heterogeneous nonpsychotic depressions. Nevertheless, numerous behavioral outcome studies have treated groups of nonpsychotic depressions as homogeneous. The present investigation compared the incidence of this usage in behavioral and nonbehavioral studies. It was found that behavioral workers are 2.5 times as likely as nonbehavioral workers to ignore the heterogeneity. Attention is drawn to the practicality of positive diagnosis of neurotic depression.
Characterization of stem canker resistance in 'Hutcheson' soybean.

Stem Canker caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum (Cooke & Ellis) Sacc. f. sp. meridionalis Morgan-Jones (Dpm) can cause significant yield losses in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in the southern USA. Some cultivars are known to be resistant to the disease ; however, the parental donor, level, and inheritance of stem canker resistance for most of those cultivars is unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize stem canker resistance in 'Hutcheson', a widely used parent in breeding programs. To determine the inheritance of resistance and allelic relationships with known genes, Hutcheson was crossed with susceptible genotypes 'Hartwig' and J77-339 and four lines carrying Rdc1, Rdc2, Rdc3, or Rdc4. Crosses were made in the field at Stoneville, MS, in 1993. The parents of Hutcheson and the six F 2 populations were toothpick inoculated in the field in 1993 and 1994, respectively. In 1994, Hutcheson and 29 other soybean genotypes were inoculated with four isolates of Dpm and external lesion length was recorded as a measure of level of resistance. Genetic ratios from F 2 populations indicate that resistance in Hutcheson is conferred by a single dominant gene that is allelic with Rdc4. 'York' was determined to be the parental donor of resistance carried by Hutcheson. Isolates differed in virulence. Hutcheson and several other genotypes were highly resistant to all isolates. Hutcheson should continue to be an excellent source of stem canker resistance.
Epigastric cystic echinococcus involving stomach, liver, diaphragm, and spleen in an immigrant from Afghanistan.

Abstract Background: Although cystic echinococcus (CE) is a common disorder worldwide, few cases are treated in the United States and other industrialized countries. Migration and tourism have caused an increase in the incidence of this parasitic infection in industrialized countries, and physicians must be familiar with its management. Methods: We report successful therapy of CE in an immigrant from Afghanistan. Results: The patient presented with a large epigastric mass that was initially misdiagnosed as gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The mass was removed, together with partial gastrectomy, splenectomy, and resection of the left lateral segments of the liver, and diagnosis of CE was made. The patient recovered from surgery, albendazole was started, and at five months follow up, he is recurrence free. Conclusions: Echinococcus granulosus must be considered in immigrants and travelers presenting with a cystic mass.
Fixed Interval Smoothing: Revisited

Gaps in the derivation of early fixed-interval smoothers are filled in. Particular attention is paid to the use of the yariational approach introduced by Bryson and Frazier. The notion of complementary models introduced by Weinert and Desai is used to provide an immediate derivation of the continuous Rauch-Tung-Striebel (R-T-S) smoother from the continuous sweep solution of the Bryson-Frazier two-point boundary-value problem. The discrete version of the sweep is also derived, which leads to a fundamental simplification of Bryson's discrete algorithm discovered by Bierman. Relatively new transformations of the R-T-S smoother that may offer some computational advantages are also discussed. Computational comparisons of different algorithms are given. A simple derivation of Bierman's smoother for the mixed continuous discrete problem is given. Nomenclature A = 2n x2n matrix defined by Eq. (13), used in the continuous two-point boundary-value problem (TPBVP) [Eq. (14)] B = /I x n symmetric matrix defined by Eq. (98), appears in the propagation of A/ [Eq. (97)]; alternative expressions are given by Eqs. (99) and (107)
Albedo and color contrasts on asteroid surfaces

Asteroids in general display only small or negligible variations in spectrum or albedo during a rotational cycle. Color variations with rotation are described in the literature but are usually comparable to the noise in the measurements. Twenty-four asteroids have been systematically monitored for such color changes. Only 3 Juno, 4 Vesta, 6 Hebe, 71 Niobe, 349 Dembowska, and 944 Hidalgo display color variations larger than 0.03 mag. In each of these cases the asteroid appears redder near maximum brightness. Of seven asteroids monitored polarimetrically, only 4 Vesta shows a convincing variation, attributed to an albedo change with rotation. The lightcurve can be explained by albedo differences alone; Vesta apparently has a nearly spheroidal shape. Nothwithstanding the above results, the degree of uniformity of most asteroid surfaces is remarkable. If asteroids exist with large discrete domains of ferrosilicate, metallic, and/or carbonaceous material together on their surfaces, they have not yet been identified.
The primary transcription product of a silkworm alanine tRNA gene: Identification of in vitro sites of initiation, termination and processing

Abstract A 13.5 Kb fragment of Bombyx mori DNA containing a single tRNA 2 Ala gene has been cloned, and transcribed in vitro with Xenopus germinal vesicle extracts. The primary transcription product of the tRNA 2 Ala gene has been isolated and shown to possess an unprocessed triphosphorylated 5′ terminus. Products resulting from processing of this transcript have also been isolated and characterized. Complete nucleotide sequence analysis of this cloned alanine tRNA gene and its primary transcript shows that transcription initiates three nucleotides away from the mature tRNA 2 Ala 5′ end and terminates in a U cluster 22 nucleotides beyond the last encoded 3′ nucleotide of the mature species. Sequence determination of the products of in vitro maturation shows that in contrast to the tRNA processing mechanism characteristic of procaryotes, the extra 3′-nucleotides in this silkworm tRNA precursor are removed by a single endonucleolytic cleavage.
Responses of gizzard shad and white crappie to introductions of palmetto bass

Palmetto bass (female striped bass Morone saxatilis × male white bass Morone chrysops) were stocked into Long Branch Lake, Missouri, USA in an effort to restructure the gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum population via predation. The goal of this restructuring was to provide more suitable-size prey for white crappie Pomoxis annularis, thereby improving growth of this important sport fish. Secondarily, palmetto bass may prey on the abundant white crappie population which may reduce density-dependent effects on growth. Trends in abundance and mean total length (TL) at age of white crappie and gizzard shad were examined over an eight-year period which spanned years before, during, and after stocking of palmetto bass. Also, trends in water quality and zooplankton variables, which may influence gizzard shad demographics, were examined during this period. Following stockings of palmetto bass, mean TL at age of adults and abundance of age-0 gizzard shad increased. Water quality variables and zooplankton biomass th...
Recovery of forest understories buried by tephra from Mount St. Helens

To determine the effects of tephra (volcanic aerial ejecta) on forest understory plants, six sites were chosen along a tephra depth gradient (23 to 150 mm) northeast of Mount St. Helens, USA. All sites were in old forests beyond the limits of direct blast damage from the volcanic eruption. At each site, 150 one m2 plots were permanently marked; all tephra was removed from 50 of these in 1980. Cover and density of plant species were recorded during 1980, 1981, and 1982. Tephra 23 mm deep had almost no effect on cover and density of vascular plants, and reduced bryophyte cover for only two years. Tephra 45 mm deep destroyed almost all bryophytes. Although damaged by 45 mm tephra, deciduous herbs recovered by 1982, but some evergreen species did not. Tephra 75 mm deep reduced herb cover in 1982 to 32% and density to 26% of that in cleared plots. At two sites with an average tephra depth of 150 mm, almost all herbs were eliminated except in microsites where tephra was thin, but shrub abundance was greatly reduced only where snow had been present during tephra deposition. Almost all cover was contributed by plants established previous to the eruption; seedling cover never exceeded 0.2%. Refugia with thin tephra, resulting from erosion, were vital to the survival of many species, especially bryophytes.
Integration of geospatial and cattle nutrition information to estimate paddock grazing capacity in Northern US prairie

Abstract Spatiotemporal variability in forage quantity and quality requires that regular assessment is needed of the capacity for grasslands to support livestock nutritional requirements. Current methods for estimating grazing capacity are typically production-based and lack the forage quality data necessary to match nutrients in forage with livestock requirements in real time. This paper describes a method for estimating short-term grazing capacity for small (1–20 ha) paddocks using cattle nutrition and high spatial resolution forage data in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mixed-grass prairie. We define grazing capacity as the number of days a specific paddock will support the nutritional requirements of beef cattle. We integrate previously published methods for estimating cattle nutritional requirements, forage quality (crude protein) and forage quantity (phytomass) to estimate grazing capacity based on current standing-crop. The model utilizes high-resolution (
Validation of the Name Anthurium loretense (Araceae)

The new species Anthurium loretense Croat was invalidly published in 1991, lacking a Latin diagnosis. This oversight is corrected with the validation of the name.
Detection of Candida albicans mannan by immunodiffusion, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, and enzyme-linked immunoassay

Anti-mannan was produced in rabbits after peptidoglucomannan in adjuvant was injected. The antiserum was used to detect mannan by immunodiffusion and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) in gel and by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antiserum detected lower concentrations of mannan of serotype A than of serotype B. Except in CIE, the reactions were more pronounced at 4°C than at higher temperatures. CIE detected 0.8 μg/ml mannan A or 12.5 μ/ml mannan B. Sandwich ELISA detected 3 ng/ml mannan A or 105 ng/ml mannan B. Mannan was not detected in the serum of patients or rabbits with candidiasis.
The demand for gasoline in intra-urban travel: A simulation and some policy implications

Abstract The daily gasoline consumption of an individual household for intra-urban travel is simulated, under the assumption of constrained maximization of daily travel distance, using Zahavi's recently developed UMOT model for urban travel demand. A sensitivity analysis based on variations in various conditions pertaining to the cost and speed attributes of private car travel and public transportation, the characteristics of the urban area (including its transportation network) and the socio-economic features of the population provides quantitative estimates of the effects of potential strategies for controlling and/or reducing gasoline consumption. Suggestions for urban transportation system development policy are made in conclusion.
Effects of growth hormone and glucagon on ornithine decarboxylase activity and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate levels in isolated rat hepatocytes.

l-Ornithine decarboxylase (l-ornithine carboxylase; E.C. 4.1.1.17) activity was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes maintained as suspensions of free cells. Activity in freshly prepared hepatocytes was reduced to approximately 10% of the amount found in the intact liver. Activity increased to the same level as that found in the intact liver when the cells were incubated for 4 h in medium containing a mixture of 20 amino acids at concentrations 10 times those found in normal rat plasma. The increase in activity between 2 and 4 h of incubation was substantially augmented when the medium also contained 25 μg/ml of a crude preparation of bovine GH (bGH; NIH-GHB18). The increase in activity and the hormone effect were not observed in the presence of normal plasma levels of amino acids. The addition of 1 mm putrescine caused enzyme activity to fall to very low levels even in the presence of the higher amino acid concentrations, and the effect of the bGH preparation was lost. After incubation in the presence of ...
Activities of digestive enzymes of polar and subtropical echinoderms

Activities and characteristics of digestive enzymes of polar and subtropical echinoderms are similar. Specific adaptations to facilitate digestion at low temperature were not observed. Levels of chymotrypsin and β-glucosidase of digestive tissues of the Antarctic asteroids Odontaster validus and Odontaster meridionalis, and the Antarctic echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri, are comparable to levels of the asteroids Henricia downii and Astropecten articulatus from the Gulf of Mexico. α-Glucosidase activities are similar for S. neumayeri and A. articulatus. The pH of maximal activity is 7.5 for disaccharidases and 8.5–9.5 for chymotrypsin for both polar and subtropical species. Affinities for substrates were higher at 25°C than at 0°C for disaccharidases of all species. However, Km values for chymotrypsin increased from 0 to 25°C. Lack of sufficient adaptation by polar echinoderms to facilitate digestion at low temperature may reduce their capacity to digest food.
Linear Thermal Expansion Coefficients of Mullite‐Matrix Aluminosilicate Refractory Bodies

Twenty-seven mullite-matrix aluminosilicate refractory bodies in three different refractory systems were synthesized and their thermal expansions were measured and then correlated with their corundum and mullite contents by regression analyses. Thermal expansion coefficients were also calculated from the physical properties of the individual constituent phases. It is concluded that the best estimator of the thermal expansion of these materials is the regression analysis based on the volume percentage mullite content and that those bodies based on tabular alumina aggregates are the most predictable. For the best predictions, only a single raw material system, or very similar raw material systems can be considered.
The Internet as information minefield: An analysis of the source and content of brand information yielded by net searches

Abstract The online commercial environment is changing traditional assumptions about the practice of mass marketing and consumer behavior. This paper examines how the Internet threatens the amount of control marketers have over the source and character of information presented to consumers about their brands, stores, and services. After examining the threat and its potential importance, a content analysis of hits returned by web searches provides data that reveals the extent of the problem and its character and suggests strategies for marketers to better control the information online shoppers receive about their offerings. The data also suggest a set of issues for further research focusing on how e-consumers search for information on the Internet and how they evaluate information from official and unofficial sources.
Partial evaluation of machine code

This paper presents an algorithm for off-line partial evaluation of machine code. The algorithm follows the classical two-phase approach of binding-time analysis (BTA) followed by specialization. However, machine-code partial evaluation presents a number of new challenges, and it was necessary to devise new techniques for use in each phase. - Our BTA algorithm makes use of an instruction-rewriting method that ``decouples'' multiple updates performed by a single instruction. This method counters the cascading imprecision that would otherwise occur with a more naive approach to BTA. - Our specializer specializes an explicit representation of the semantics of an instruction, and emits residual code via machine-code synthesis. Moreover, to create code that allows the stack and heap to be at different positions at run-time than at specialization-time, the specializer represents specialization-time addresses using symbolic constants, and uses a symbolic state for specialization. Our experiments show that our algorithm can be used to specialize binaries with respect to commonly used inputs to produce faster binaries, as well as to extract an executable component from a bloated binary.
Insulin and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors Regulate Distinct Pools of Grb2-SOS in the Control of Ras Activation

Insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulate a rapid but transient increase in the amount of GTP bound to Ras that returns to the basal GDP-bound state within 10-30 min. Although insulin stimulation resulted in a dissociation of the Grb2·SOS complex, EGF did not affect the Grb2·SOS complex but instead induced dissociation of Grb2-SOS from tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc. The dissociation of Grb2-SOS from Shc was not due to dephosphorylation as Shc remained persistently tyrosine-phosphorylated during this time. Furthermore, there was no decrease in the extent of insulin receptor substrate 1, insulin receptor, or EGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Surprisingly, however, despite the EGF-induced decrease in the amount of Grb2-SOS bound to Shc, the extent of Grb2 associated with Shc remained constant, and there was a concomitant increase in the amount of SOS associated with Grb2. In addition, after the insulin-stimulated dissociation of Grb2 from SOS, EGF treatment induced the reassociation of the Grb2·SOS complex. Quantitative immunoprecipitation demonstrated that only a small fraction of the total cellular pool of Grb2 was associated with SOS. Similarly, only a small fraction of SOS and Grb2 were co-immunoprecipitated with Shc. Together, these data suggest the presence of distinct Grb2-SOS pools that are independently utilized by insulin and EGF in their recruitment to tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc.
Organized nanofibrous scaffolds that mimic the macroscopic and microscopic architecture of the knee meniscus

The menisci are crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous tissues whose structural organization consists of dense collagen bundles that are locally aligned but show a continuous change in macroscopic directionality. This circumferential patterning is necessary for load transmission across the knee joint and is a key design parameter for tissue engineered constructs. To address this issue we developed a novel electrospinning method to produce scaffolds composed of circumferentially aligned (CircAl) nanofibers, quantified their structure and mechanics, and compared them with traditional linearly aligned (LinAl) scaffolds. Fibers were locally oriented in CircAl scaffolds, but their orientation varied considerably as a function of position (P 0.05). Cell seeding of CircAl scaffolds resulted in a similar cellular directionality. Mechanical analysis of CircAl scaffolds revealed significant interactions between scaffold length and region (P 0.05). Simulation of the fiber deposition process produced "theoretical" fiber populations that matched the fiber organization and mechanical properties observed experimentally. These novel scaffolds, with spatially varying local orientations and mechanics, will enable the formation of functional anatomic meniscus constructs.
Intensity and the ratios of compounds in the scent of snapdragon flowers affect scent discrimination by honeybees (Apis mellifera)

Floral scent is used by pollinators during foraging to identify and discriminate among flowers. The ability to discriminate among scents may depend on both scent intensity and the ratios of the concentrations of the volatile compounds of a complex mixture rather than on the presence of a few compounds. We used four scent-emitting cultivars of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) to test this hypothesis by examining the ability of honeybees to differentiate among their scents. Each cultivar produced three monoterpenes (myrcene, E-beta-ocimene, and linalool) and five phenylpropanoids (methylbenzoate, acetophenone, dimethoxytoluene, cis-methylcinnamate, and trans-methylcinnamate). Cultivars were reliably classified by their scents in a canonical discriminant analysis. Honeybees were unable to discriminate among the scents of flowers of the same cultivar in our assay. The ability of honeybees to discriminate among the scents of different cultivars was a function of the intensity of the floral scent. Discrimination was also correlated to the distance among the scents described by the discriminant analysis; the cultivars that had the greatest differences observed in the discriminant analysis were the easiest to discriminate. Our results show that honeybees are capable of using all of the floral volatiles to discriminate subtle differences in scent.
Mechanical and electrical properties of nanostructured ‘plastic metals’

Abstract Deformable, supraspherical (SS) aggregates of metal nanoparticles (NPs) connected by long-chain dithiol ligands self-assemble into nanostructured materials of macroscopic dimensions. These materials are both malleable/moldable at room temperature as well as electrically conductive. Upon gentle heating, they harden into polycrystalline metals. The paper discusses qualitative models that rationalize the mechanical and electrical properties of these unusual ‘plastic metals’.
Determination of maintenance floats using Buzen’s algorithm.

Abstract This paper applies Buzen's algorithm to the problem of determining the maintenance float needed to support an operating system with N circulating units. A maintenance network with load-independent servers is assumed. The operating system availability and maintenance floats are obtained using this iterative algorithm. It is shown that the normalizing constant used in the algorithm can easily be computed for the maintenance float problem by using geometric series. This result is further used to obtain a simple model for the expected number of operating units, thus making it easy to compute the operating system availability for any given N. Buzen's algorithm therefore provides a simple solution to the maintenance float problem.
Torsional Vibration and Admissible Limits in Marine Propulsion Installations

The torsional vibration calculation (TVC) of new marine installations (propeller driven by diesel engines) is requested by the Classification Societies. The aim of this paper is to shortly introduce the basic knowledge of TVC, to present the validation process of the model and parameters (stiffness, inertia, excitation and damping) and the PC program used at Wartsila (example of calculation including comparison with measurement). Moreover, the special situation regarding the admissible limits of the torsional stresses given by the Classification Societies is shown (different limits between various societies, for given intermediate and propeller shafts). A proposal to harmonize these limits is presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Self‐administered behavioral parent training: Enhancement of treatment efficacy using a time‐out signal seat

The effectiveness of a time‐out Signal Seat used in conjunction with a self‐instructional parent training manual and audiotape was investigated with parents of behavior problem children between the ages of 2 and 7 years. Twenty‐seven parent‐child pairs were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Parent‐administered Treatment plus Signal Seat (PAT‐SS), Parent‐administered Treatment plus Seat (PAT‐S), or Wait‐list Control (WLC). Parents reported daily rates of child compliance, the intensity and problematic nature of frequently occurring child behavior problems, and perceptions of the target child during separate baseline, treatment, and 2‐month follow‐up periods. A post‐treatment questionnaire assessed specific aspects of the program at the conclusion of the treatment phase. When the Signal Seat was used with the self‐instructional materials, results indicated that: (a) parental report of the number and intensity of child behavior problems decreased, (b) perceptions of the target child became more p...
Altered gene expression in the eye of a mouse model for batten disease.

PURPOSE. Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL or Batten Disease) is one of the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorders of childhood, resulting from autosomal recessive inheritance of mutations in the CLN3 gene. Pathologically, Batten disease is characterized by lysosomal storage of autofluorescent material in all tissue types. Although characterized by seizures, mental retardation, and loss of motor skills, the first presenting symptom of Batten disease is vision loss. METHODS. High-density oligonucleotide arrays were used to profile approximately 19,000 mRNAs in the eye of 10-week-old Cln3-knockout and normal mice, and the data were compared with that for the cerebellum in the same model as a means to identify gene expression changes that are specific to the eye. RESULTS. A detailed list was compiled of 285 functionally categorized genes that have altered expression in the eye of Cln3knockout mice before the appearance of the characteristic lysosomal storage material. Furthermore, 18 genes were identified and 6 validated by semiquantitative RT-PCR that have altered expression in the eye, but not in the cerebellum of Cln3-knockout mice. The genes that have altered expression specific to the eye of the Cln3-knockout mouse may be of importance in understanding the function of CLN3 in different tissues. CONCLUSIONS. Downregulation of genes associated with energy production in the mitochondria appears to be specific to the eye. The CLN3 defect may result in altered mitochondrial function in eye but not other tissue. More detailed experimentation is needed to understand the contribution of these changes in expression to disease state, and whether these changes are specific for certain cell types within the eye. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004;45:2893‐2905) DOI: 10.1167/iovs.04-0143
Do recent findings in plant mitochondrial molecular and population genetics have implications for the study of gynodioecy and cytonuclear conflict

The coexistence of females and hermaphrodites in plant populations, or gynodioecy, is a puzzle recognized by Darwin. Correns identified cytoplasmic inheritance of one component of sex expression, now known as cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Lewis established cytonuclear inheritance of gynodioecy as an example of genetic conflict. Although biologists have since developed an understanding of the mechanisms allowing the joint maintenance of CMS and nuclear male fertility restorer genes, puzzles remain concerning the inheritance of sex expression and mechanisms governing the origination of CMS. Much of the theory of gynodioecy rests on the assumption of maternal inheritance of the mitochondrial genome. Here we review recent studies of the genetics of plant mitochondria, and their implications for the evolution and transmission of CMS. New studies of intragenomic recombination provide a plausible origin for the chimeric ORFs that characterize CMS. Moreover, evidence suggests that nonmaternal inheritance of mitochondria may be more common than once believed. These findings may have consequences for the maintenance of cytonuclear polymorphism, mitochondrial recombination, generation of gynomonoecious phenotypes, and interpretation of experimental crosses. Finally we point out that CMS can alter the nature of the cytonuclear conflict that may have originally selected for uniparental inheritance.
Trust management for service composition in SOA-based IoT systems

An Internet of Things (IoT) system connects a large amount of tags, sensors, and smart devices often with mobility to facilitate information sharing, enabling a variety of attractive applications. On the one hand, the service oriented architecture (SOA) can provide connectivity and interoperability among heterogeneous IoT devices in the physical network. On the other hand, IoT devices are virtually connected via social networks. In this paper, we analyze the notion of adaptive trust management to support reliable service composition applications in SOA-based IoT systems. Each device records user satisfaction experiences toward devices with which it has interacted, and collects trust feedbacks from other devices sharing social interests. We consider friendship, social contact, and community of interest social relationships to select trust feedbacks. Further we develop a novel adaptive filtering technique to determine the best way to combine direct trust and indirect trust feedbacks dynamically to minimize both convergence time and trust bias. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed trust management through a service composition application in SOA-based IoT systems.
The rise and fall of antireflux surgery in the United States

Background National rates of laparoscopic antireflux surgery grew steadily in the 1990s. Since then, a highly visible randomized trial has questioned the long-term effectiveness of antireflux surgery, several new endoscopic therapies have been developed, and proton pump inhibitors have become available over the counter. Whether these recent developments have had an impact on the use of antireflux surgery remains unknown.
Initial experience with a variable width and extreme tip angulation colonoscope.

Screening and surveillance colonoscopies can be affected by colon looping, angulations, diverticulosis, previous surgeries, body mass index, ability to sedate or type of sedation, bowel preparation, and female sex. Incomplete colonoscopies can be economically and emotionally costly and may result in decreased compliance with screening for colon neoplasia [1]. Instruments that improve the cecal intubation and adenoma detection rate, reduce the number of incomplete colonoscopies and improve patient satisfaction are desirable. Studies have shown that pediatric as well as variable stiffness colonoscopes achieve cecal intubation rates similar to standard colonoscopes, but possibly with less pain and with faster cecal intubation times [2, 3]. More recently, ultrathin colonoscopes have been reported to be better at negotiating acute luminal angulations, and patients may require less sedation than when standard colonoscopes are used. However, looping, difficulty removing larger polyps, and a higher ileal intubation failure rate have been reported [1, 4, 5]. We are, to the best of our knowledge, the first to report the ease of use and initial impressions with a newly available variable width colonoscope with extreme tip angulation capability.
Hardware Solutions for Biofeedback and Game Interactions

This paper introduces new hardware solutions for developers to use for biofeedback and game interactions. Each hardware solution is discussed in detail of possible reasons for why it should and should not be used.
Inference about recombination from haplotype data: lower bounds and recombination hotspots.

Recombination is an important evolutionary mechanism responsible for creating the patterns of haplotype variation observable in human populations. Recently, there has been extensive research on und...
A Markov movement model of yellowfin tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and some analyses for international management

Abstract A movement model is developed to quantify the probabilities of movement for yellowfin tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The model specifies a probability transition matrix for the odds of a given-aged individual moving from one 5° 2 spatial stratum to an adjacent spatial stratum during each month. A novel feature of the model is the description of discrete movement with three parameters (velocity, diffusion, and direction) in a manner analogous to continuous movement models. A maximum likelihood approach is taken to estimate movement and catchability parameters for data obtained from tagging experiments. Yield-per-recruit analysis is a critical, though often neglected, tool required to evaluate the need for international management of tunas. A modified mean residence time calculation is shown which addresses some consequences of eliminating the harvest of smaller sub-optimal sized yellowfin tuna.
Photonic processors: a systems approach

Symbolic representations for the functional transforms are introduced as an aid in developing and optimizing the architecture of a photonic processor. As an example of the methodology that follows from the introduction of these symbols, a structural model of a processor whose design function is real-time extraction of the spatial information content from image data is discussed.