cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proabsorptive action of gum arabic in isotonic solutions orally administered to rats. II. Effects on solutes under normal and secretory conditions.

Gum arabic (GA) is a natural proteoglycan with proabsorptive capacity attributable to its physicochemical properties. Previous experiments showed that in rats oral administration of GA in an isotonic solution had a generally positive effect. This study extends the investigation to include acetaminophen and to evaluate whether GA could also act under secretory conditions induced by theophylline. Test solutions were orally administered to rats under CO2 anesthesia and blood concentrations followed for 3 hr. The secretory effects of theophylline were clearly observed for sodium and zinc. Addition of GA resulted in a more rapid rate of glutamate absorption, under normal physiologic conditions, as indicated by the higher area under the curve (AUC). There were no differences in the presence of theophylline. Acetaminophen blood concentrations peaked about 30 min after administration, and the AUC in rats that received GA was higher than in those that got the solution without GA. AUCs for total body water distribution with time and those for glucose concentrations were indistinguishable whether the solutions contained or did not contain either GA or theophylline. The results confirm that oral administration of GA can accelerate absorption of some solutes, including pharmacologic agents.
Patterns of Psychiatric Diagnosis in a County Mental Health System

This article examines concordance in psychiatric diagnoses received by 280 clients of a county mental health system throughout their history with the system. Automated Information System records from all episodes of care since the first admission to the county system were analyzed, and diagnoses for each client for the first 5, first 10, last 5, and last 10 episodes were compared with generalized kappa. Sequential patterns of diagnosis were also examined. Overall concordance for diagnoses for the last 5 episodes was fair (k = .46), and concordance for major depression, bipolar disorder, and paranoid schizophrenia was good. Sequential patterning showed some tendency for more of the clients with a given modal diagnosis to be assigned that diagnosis in the middle of the sequence, and then fewer toward the end of the sequence, possibly because of effects of homelessness. Overall, the degree of concordance was quite high for some of the major disorders and compared favorably with concordance in more rigorous r...
Ordering power of separate versus grouped true-false tests: Interaction of type of test with knowledge levels of examinees

The ordering power of an objective test was de fined in terms of the probability that this test led to the correct ranking of examinees. A comparison of the relative ordering power of separate and grouped-items true-false (T-F) tests indicated that neither type of test was uniformly superior to the other across all levels of knowledge of examinees. Instead, separate-items T-F tests were found to be superior in discriminating among examinees with medium and high levels of knowledge, and grouped-items T-F tests with two and three items per cluster were found to be superior for dis criminating among examinees with low levels of knowledge. These findings do not support blanket recommendations such as Ebel's (1978) that "test constructors should avoid constructing items in multiple-choice form which are essentially col lections of T-F statements" (p. 43) or that, in gen eral, "it is better to present such statements as in dependent T-F items" (p. 43). Rather, they are similar to Lord's (1977) findings concerni...
Double aortic arch associated with pulmonary sequestration.

Double aortic arch and pulmonary sequestration, both uncommon vascular malformations, were seen in a six-month-old infant. The diagnosis was made by angiography, and successful surgical correction of both lesions was performed.
Long-Term Care in American Indian Communities: Issues for Planning and Research

Planning and research related to long-term care for the American Indian elderly population lag far behind the state-of-the-art. The Indian Health Service, the major health care provider for this special population, has actively resisted developing services specific to older tribal members. Yet, despite this lack of leadership, many innovative efforts have emerged at the local level. These efforts, the issues that face subsequent program advancement, and critical questions for future study are discussed.
The Impact of Inaccurate “Informative” Priors for Growth Parameters in Bayesian Growth Mixture Modeling

Within Bayesian estimation, prior distributions are placed on model parameters and these distributions can take on many different levels of informativeness. Although much of the research conducted within this estimation framework uses what are called diffuse (or noninformative) priors, there are certain models and modeling circumstances where it is more optimal to use what are referred to as informative priors. This study focuses on the latter situation and examines the effects of inaccurate informative priors on the growth parameters within the context of growth mixture modeling. Overall, results indicated that growth mixture modeling is relatively robust to the use of inaccurate mean hyperparameters for the growth parameters, as long as the variance hyperparameters are somewhat large.
Infantile Spasms: A Critical Review of Emerging Animal Models

Infantile spasms is a developmental epilepsy syndrome with unique clinical and EEG features, a specific pattern of pharmacological responsiveness, and poor outcome in terms of cognition and epilepsy. Despite the devastating nature of infantile spasms, little is known about its pathogenesis. Until recently, there has been no animal model available to investigate the pathophysiology of the syndrome or to generate and test novel therapies. Now, several promising animal models have emerged, spanning the etiological spectrum from genetic causes (e.g., Down syndrome or Aristaless-related homeobox [ARX] mutation) to acquired causes (e.g., endogenous and exogenous toxins or stress hormones with convulsant activity or blockade of neural activity). These new models are discussed in this review, with emphasis on the insights each can provide for understanding, treating, and preventing infantile spasms.
Ultrafast, efficient separations of large‐sized dsDNA in a blended polymer matrix by microfluidic chip electrophoresis: A design of experiments approach

Double-stranded (ds) DNA fragments over a wide size range were successfully separated in blended polymer matrices by microfluidic chip electrophoresis. Novel blended polymer matrices composed of two types of polymers with three different molar masses were developed to provide improved separations of large dsDNA without negatively impacting the separation of small dsDNA. Hydroxyethyl celluloses (HECs) with average molar masses of ~27 kDa and ~1 MDa were blended with a second class of polymer, high-molar mass (~7 MDa) linear polyacrylamide (LPA). Fast and highly efficient separations of commercially available DNA ladders were achieved on a borosilicate glass microchip. A distinct separation of a 1 Kb DNA extension ladder (200 bp to 40,000 bp) was completed in 2 minutes. An orthogonal Design of Experiments (DOE) was used to optimize experimental parameters for DNA separations over a wide size range. We find that the two dominant factors are the applied electric field strength and the inclusion of a high concentration of low-molar mass polymer in the matrix solution. These two factors exerted different effects on the separations of small dsDNA fragments below 1 kbp, medium dsDNA fragments between 1 kbp and 10 kbp, and large dsDNA fragments above 10 kbp.
The politics of caring: The role of activism in primary care

The role of activism in primary care practice, inquiry, and theory development is illustrated through the description of a feminist cooperative inquiry group's deconstruction of menarche education.The development of the emancipatory inquiry method of activist nursing inquiry and its relationship wit
Ischemic stroke after heart failure: a community-based study.

Background Although studies have examined the incidence of stroke in heart failure (HF), their findings are inconsistent and difficult to interpret because of heterogeneity in study design and population. Although HF remains a highly fatal disease, the excess mortality imparted from stroke is unknown. Methods A random sample of cases of HF from 1979 to 1999 was identified and validated according to Framingham criteria. Strokes were identified by screening medical diagnoses and subsequent physician validation. Stroke risk in HF was compared with the risk in the general population with standardized morbidity ratios. Associations between selected characteristics and stroke were examined using proportional hazards regression. Results The study cohort included 630 persons with incident HF. During a median of 4.3 years of follow-up, 102 (16%) experienced an ischemic stroke. Heart failure was associated with a 17.4-fold increased risk for stroke compared with the general population in the first 30 days after HF diagnosis and remained elevated during 5 years of follow-up. Older persons with prior stroke or diabetes were more likely to experience stroke after HF diagnosis. Persons with stroke after HF were 2.31 times more likely to die compared with persons without stroke. Conclusions In the community, persons with HF have a large increase in the risk for ischemic stroke compared with the general population. Stroke results in a >2-fold increase in mortality. Thus, prevention of stroke has the potential to improve survival among patients with HF, particularly among the elderly and those with diabetes or prior stroke.
An information model for building automation systems

Abstract An information model of a building automation system (BAS) was created. It encapsulates several views of the system: the device list, network topology, points list, and sequences of operation. The model allows a single persistent representation of a BAS to be maintained from system specification through design to operation and maintenance. It will also allow other applications such as energy simulations, maintenance management systems, and building commissioning applications to extract information about the BAS. The model is not intended to represent control application programs; however, it would be possible to develop a software tool to parse the information model, then create the required configuration database and control application programs as output. The model was tested by creating an experimental implementation based on a BAS installed in a medium-sized office building.
Single video camera method for using scene metrics to measure constrained 3D displacements

There are numerous ways to use video cameras to measure 3D dynamic spatial displacements. When the scene geometry is unknown and the motion is unconstrained, two calibrated cameras are required. The data from both scenes are combined to perform the measurements using well known stereoscopic techniques. There are occasions where the measurement system can be simplified considerably while still providing a calibrated spatial measurement of a complex dynamic scene. For instance, if the sizes of objects in the scene are known a priori, these data may be used to provide scene specific spatial metrics to compute calibration coefficients. With this information, it is not necessary to calibrate the camera before use, nor is it necessary to precisely know the geometry between the camera and the scene. Field-ofview coverage and sufficient spatial and temporal resolution are the main camera requirements. Further simplification may be made if the 3D displacements of interest are small or constrained enough to allow for an accurate 2D projection of the spatial variables of interest. With proper camera orientation and scene marking, the apparent pixel movements can be expressed as a linear combination of the underlying spatial variables of interest. In many cases, a single camera may be used to perform complex 3D dynamic scene measurements. This paper will explain and illustrate a technique for using a single uncalibrated video camera to measure the 3D displacement of the end of a constrained rigid body subject to a perturbation.
C/EBPβ Participates in Regulating Transcription of the p53 Gene in Response to Mitogen Stimulation

The tightly regulated expression of p53 contributes to genomic stability, and transcription of the p53 gene is induced prior to cells entering S phase, possibly as a mechanism to ensure a rapid p53 response in the event of DNA damage. We have previously described the cloning of an additional 1000 bp of upstream p53 sequences that we have demonstrated play a role in the regulated expression of p53. As described in an earlier report, we preliminarily identified that a member of the CAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EPB) family of transcription factors may play a role in regulating p53. Here we have demonstrated that a particular C/EBPbeta isoform, C/EBPbeta-2, efficiently binds to the p53 promoter and induces its expression in a fashion that reflects the pattern of p53 expression seen as cells are induced to enter S phase and is absent from cells that are defective in proper p53 regulation. We conclude from these findings that C/EBPbeta-2 plays a central role in the regulating of p53 transcription during the transition into S phase.
Spin relaxation of polarized positive muons in paramagnetic solutions

Abstract Muon depolarization was found to depend on paramagnetic ion concentration on Fe(NO 3 ) 3 solutions and can be described by muonium lattice interactions. In addition the direct muon spin relaxation due to the same type of interactions as in NMR experiments was observed.
Multiple ocs-like elements required for efficient transcription of the mannopine synthase gene of T-DNA in maize protoplasts

Regulatory elements controlling transcriptional activity of the mannopine synthase 2' promoter (mas 2') were defined by analysis of deletion mutants in transient expression assays in maize protoplasts. Deletion of the region between -305 and -290 containing sequence similarity to the octopine synthase (ocs) promoter element reduced activity by 67% compared to wild type activity. Less than 1% of the activity remained in 5' deletions downstream of -153. Inclusion of various heterologous enhancer-like sequences immediately upstream of position -325 increased activity by up to 7.5-fold. Insertion of the -325 to -275 sequence alone, or in combination with heterologous enhancer-like elements, restored activity of some of the 5'-deletion mutants. Restoration of activity was not obtained with mutants deleted past position -127. Our results suggest that a single class of nuclear proteins from maize interact with high affinity at elements designated mas b (-306 to -275; mas 1' element), d (-127 to -108), and e (-82 to -39; mas 2' element) as well as the 20 bp element from the ocs promoter. Although the binding site at mas d only appears to accommodate a single protein, this element has the potential to make a weak, but positive, contribution to the activity of the mas 2' promoter. The binding of nuclear proteins could not be demonstrated at mas a and c, both of which showed limited homology to the ocs element. Mutational evidence suggested that mas a and c may also contribute to mas 2' transcription.
A simulation analysis for a transtainer-based container handling facility

Abstract The efficiency of a marine cargo terminal depends primarily upon a smooth and orderly flow of material during the container loading process. It has been observed that the transtainer operation is the bottleneck in the loading process due to the frequent container rehandles and its speed. Past attempts at improving port operations have concentrated on the computerization of the load planning function and the efficient warehouse of the outbound containers. These attempts have, to some extent, been successful but have not been able to significantly eliminate the unproductive movements of the material handling equipment during the load operation. This study proposes a methodology of utilizing a buffer space as a method to increase the utilization of the material handling equipment and reduce the total container loading time. A stimulation model using a graphics simulation system is developed to compare the proposed methodology with the current practice at the Port of Portland. The results from 96 simulation runs show that the use of a buffer space significantly improves the flow of material during the loading operation, resulting in an average of 4% reduction in the total loading time. The methodology proposed in this study can be evaluated and implemented for any transtainer-based container port operation, and is anticipated to make considerable contribution to the plannig of future container port design.
Study of configuration and conformation of N-nitroso-2-methylthiazolidine

Abstract The configuration and conformation of N-nitroso-2-methylthiazolidine (1) were assigned from analysis of NMR spectra. The lanthanide-induced shifts (LIS) for 1 could reasonably be explained by assuming coordination of tris(dipivalomethanato)europium(III) [Eu(DPM)3] to the oxygen lone pair of the nitroso group. As a result of the stereospecific association (CT comples) between 1 and benzene, the C4H protons experienced a greater upfield shift than the C2H protons for the Z isomer and vice versa for the E isomer when the solvent was changed from aliphatic to aromatic. Both the coordination of Eu(DPM)3 to the oxygen lone pair of the nitroso group and the formation of the CT complex between 1 and benzene were hindered by the methyl group. The Z/E ratios were increased in polar solvents. The barrier to rotation about the NN bond, which was calculated from the temperature dependence of the NMR spectra of 1, was 20 kcal/mol.
Analysis of metronidazole penetration into vaginal fluid by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Les auteurs rapportent une methode de dosage du metronidazole dans les prelevements vaginaux par chromatographie liquide a haute performance. Les concentrations vaginales ont ete comparees a celles du serum, de l'urine et de la salive. Cette etude s'adapte particulierement au probleme croissant de la «resistance» du Trichomonas
Stress intensity factors for three‐dimensional surface cracks using enriched finite elements

The analysis of three-dimensional crack problems using enriched crack tip elements is examined in this paper. It is demonstrated that the enriched finite element approach is a very effective technique for obtaining stress intensity factors for general three-dimensional crack problems. The influence of compatibility, integration, element shape function order, and mesh refinement on solution convergence is investigated to ascertain the accuracy of the numerical results. It is shown that integration order has the greatest impact on solution accuracy. Sample results are presented for semi-circular surface cracks and compared with previously obtained solutions available in the literature. Good agreement is obtained between the different numerical solutions, except in the small zone near the free surface where previously published results have often neglected the change in the stress singularity at the free surface. The enriched crack tip element appears to be particularly effective in this region, since boundary conditions can be easily imposed on the stress intensity factors to accurately represent the correct free surface condition. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reduction in Reelin immunoreactivity in hippocampus of subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression

Accumulation of neurobiological knowledge points to neurodevelopmental origins for certain psychotic and mood disorders. Recent landmark postmortem reports implicate Reelin, a secretory glycoprotein responsible for normal lamination of brain, in the pathology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. We employed quantitative immunocytochemistry to measure levels of Reelin protein in various compartments of hippocampal formation in subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression compared to normal controls. Significant reductions were observed in Reelin-positive adjusted cell densities in the dentate molecular layer (ANOVA, P < 0.001), CA4 area (ANOVA, P < 0.001), total hippocampal area (ANOVA, P < 0.038) and in Reelin-positive cell counts in CA4 (ANOVA, P < 0.042) of schizophrenics vs controls. Adjusted Reelin-positive cell densities were also reduced in CA4 areas of subjects with bipolar disorder (ANOVA, P < 0.001) and nonsignificantly in those with major depression. CA4 areas were also significantly reduced in schizophrenic (ANOVA, P < 0.009) patients. No significant effects of confounding variables were found. The exception was that family history of psychiatric illness correlated strongly with Reelin reductions in several areas of hippocampus (CA4, adjusted cell density, F = 13.77, P = 0.001). We present new immunocytochemical evidence showing reductions in Reelin expression in hippocampus of subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression and confirm recent reports documenting a similar deficit involving Reelin expression in brains of subjects with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Logic programming and software engineering: implications for software design

Logic programming is a programming paradigm with potential to contribute to software engineering. This paper is concerned with one dimension of that potential, the impact that experience with developing logic programs can have on software design. We present a logic programming perspective on programming patterns, systematic program development, design for provability, and the paradigm of meta-programming.
Accessibility of the carbohydrate moiety of membrane‐bound rhodopsin to enzymatic and chemical modification

Galactose was specifically inserted into the carbohydrate moiety of rhodopsin by incubating retinal disk membranes with UDP-galactose: N-acetylglucosamine galactosyltransferase. The stoichiometry of labeling ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 (average = 1.5) residues of galactose per molecule of rhodopsin, indicating that some or all of the oligosaccharide chains of membrane-bound rhodopsin are readily accessible to enzymatic modification. These modified membranes were treated with galactose oxidase to generate an aldehyde at the C-6 position of the inserted galactose units. The enzymatically-oxidized membranes were then reacted with dansyl hydrazide to yield a fluorescent hydrazone which is sufficiently stable to permit spectroscopic analysis. This procedure for the specific attachment of a spectroscopic probe should be applicable to a wide variety of membrane glycoproteins.
Coarse-grained modeling and simulation of nanoscale systems based on discrete hyper-elastic model

The subject of developing equivalent continuum models from the atomistic models has attracted significant attention in recent years. An outstanding issue in extending the continuum model to smaller scales is the size effect. Such a size effect is intimately related to the discrete nature of the atomic structure and nonlocal interaction among the atoms. In many of the existing continuum approaches, discrete variables are introduced in the constitutive model to account for these non-continuum effects. In this paper, we present a discrete hyperelasticity model as an alternative. Our approach, however, is fundamentally different from the conventional approach in that it treats the concept of deformation mapping in the discrete sense. The resulting deformation measure is referred to as spatial secant and the corresponding material model is called the spatial secant model. We then formulate the potential energy density functional and derive stress-like measure based on the spatial secant. After a brief description on the formulation and its comparison with the classical hyper-elastic model, we show the application of this model to both low-dimensional carbon nanostructures and general three-dimensional nanostructures. The concept of geometric-exact mapping is discussed through the examples. Comparisons with full-scale molecular mechanics simulations are made to illustrate the robustness of this approach.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Current status of IMS plasma wave research

The present investigation is concerned with a review of the status of magnetospheric plasma wave science as a result of the International Magnetospheric Study (IMS). The presence of an international effort has supported the development and completion of the numerous magnetospheric science spacecraft launched during the IMS, including GEOS, ISEE, and EXOS B. Ground-based VLF observations are considered along with coordinated ground-based and satellite observations. During the IMS, plasma wave research using satellite data has covered a wide range of subjects. Attention is given to magnetospheric electrostatic emissions, magnetospheric electromagnetic plasma waves, continuum radiation, auroral kilometric radiation, auroral zone plasma waves, plasma waves in the magnetosheath and near the mangetopause, and plasma waves at the bow shock.
Postnatal growth allometry of the extremities in Cebus albifrons and Cebus apella: A longitudinal and comparative study

Cebus albifrons and Cebus apella, partially sympatric capuchin monkeys from South America, are known to differ substantially in adult body mass and bodily proportions. C. apella possesses a robust, stocky build in contrast to the more gracile, relatively longer limbed body design of C. alblfrons. Average birth weights and adult body lengths of these two congeners, however, are remarkably similar and do not serve to distinguish them. This study examines longitudinal growth rates and patterns of ontogenetic scaling in the extremities (humerus, radius, hand, femur, tibia, foot) in order to document the nature and magnitude of skeletal changes associated with increasing age and body mass. Our data indicate that the growth rates of the six skeletal components of the limbs differ only slightly and somewhat inconsistently between the two species. Body mass, however, increases at a consistently faster rate in C. apella. Relative to body mass, therefore, the extremities of C. albifrons scale much faster than those of C. apella. This implies that at any given postnatal body mass, C. alblfrons is longer limbed that C. apella. Conversely, C. apella is heavier than C. albifrons at any given limb length or age. We suggest that such differences in body mass distribution are causally related to differences in locomotor behavior and foraging strategies. Specifically, the relatively long-limbed C. albifrons is probably more cursorial and tends to travel longer distances each day than C. apella. C. apella is a much more deliberate quadruped and is also characterized by especially vigorous and powerful foraging and feeding behaviors. We also compare our results to other (mostly cross-sectional) studies of skeletal growth allometry in nonhuman primates.
Transference‐focused psychotherapy for borderline personality disorders

A brief overview of transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP), developed by Otto F. Kernberg for the treatment of clients with severe personality disorders, is presented. The therapy begins with the development of a treatment contract, which consists of general guidelines that apply for all clients and with specific items developed from problem areas from the individual client's history that could interfere with the therapy process. The contract also contains therapist responsibilities. The client and therapist must agree to the content of the treatment contract for therapy to proceed. The client's affectively charged internal representations of previous relationships are consistently interpreted as the therapist becomes aware of them in the therapeutic relationship, that is, the transference. There are specific strategies and techniques used in TFP; however, more important are the guiding principles used throughout the treatment. A case is presented to illustrate aspects of this therapy as applied to a client with borderline personality disorder (BPD). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Murine lymphoma-induced immunosuppression: requirement for direct tumour cell contact

The FBL-3 lymphoma cell line caused impaired antibody formation in vivo when injected into mice intraperitoneally, and in vitro when added to normal syngeneic spleen cells immunized in vitro with sheep erythrocytes. Immunosuppression occurred only when intact viable tumor cells were cocultivated with the normal spleen cells. As few as 10(5) FBL-3 cells, when added to 5 X 10(6) normal cells, impaired antibody formation. However, cell-free extracts of filtrates from even much larger numbers of tumor cells did not affect antibody formation, either in vitro or in vivo. Heating the tumor cells at 56 degrees C or irradiation with as little as 1000 rads completely abolished immunosuppressive activity, both in vitro and in vivo. Separation of viable tumor cells from target antibody-forming cells by cell-impermeable membranes prevented immunosuppression, showing that direct cell-to-cell contact is required for immunosuppression.
Hatching time as an indicator of environmental incompatibility and outbreeding depression in intraspecific salmon hybrids

We analysed hatching times of hybrids between two spatially separated pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha populations. We repeated the experiment in independent even- and odd-year broodlines. In 1996 and in 1997, we made F1 hybrids from Auke Creek (Juneau, Alaska) females and Pillar Creek (Kodiak, 1000 km away) males and F1 controls from Auke Creek parents. Families were reared and released at Auke Creek. F2 hybrids, controls, and backcrosses were made from F1 returns in 1998 and 1999. In 2001, we made F1 hybrids at Pillar Creek with native females and Auke Creek males. Pillar Creek ancestry prolonged development: At Auke Creek, hybrid families (half Pillar Creek ancestry) developed more slowly (more Accumulated Temperature Units between fertilization and hatch; P < 0·0001) than did controls (only Auke Creek ancestry). At Pillar Creek, families with only Pillar Creek ancestry developed more slowly than did hybrids with half Auke Creek ancestry. Development times of backcrosses were intermediate between those of hybrids and controls. The variation in development times between Auke Creek and Pillar Creek pink salmon has a genetic component that probably results from local adaptation and illustrates a mechanism that can lead to outbreeding depression in intercrosses between salmon populations (e.g., occurring between wild and translocated stocks).
Recent magnetic structure studies by neutron diffraction

A review is presented of several magnetic structure studies performed recently by neutron diffraction methods. These include a study of the low temperature transition in Fe3O4 by Hamilton and experiments by Roth on the magnetic structure ambiguities of the transition element monoxides. Recent studies using polarized neutron beam techniques are described and data presented on the ferromagnetic scattering by iron and nickel.
Phytolith types and type-frequencies in native and introduced species of the sagebrush steppe and pinyon–juniper woodlands of the Great Basin, USA

Abstract This study catalogued phytolith morphotypes and production of common native and introduced flora from two primary plant community types in the Great Basin Desert region of the USA — sagebrush steppe and pinyon–juniper woodlands. The reference collection for this study included 143 species from 40 plant families, including 68 introduced and 75 native plants. We examined 96 forbs, 33 grasses, sedges and rushes as well as 14 trees and shrubs. The phytolith morphotypes of more than 100 of these species were previously not described. We found that about 51% of the plants produced none or only trace amounts of phytoliths, while the remaining 49% had common to abundant production. All the grass species produced abundant phytoliths. Morphotype and frequency of phytolith production differed between native and introduced grass species. At least half of the forbs had common phytolith production and most generated the common dicotyledon morphotypes such as silicified epidermal cells and hairs. Several morphotypes in native and introduced forbs were unique for the genus and species within the reference collection. There was very little phytolith production in the woody species we examined. We found no identifiable phytolith assemblage for pinyon–juniper woodlands in the Great Basin. These results will be useful for future research regarding historical ecology, palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology and ethnobotany.
Promise and potential of air-to-air energy recovery systems

Resume Ce rapport decrit et discute les principes, les avantages et les inconvenients de plusieurs types de dispositifs de recuperation d'energie air-air comprenant les systemes en circuit ouvert ou ferme, l'echangeur a caloduc, l'echangeur rotatif et l'echangeur a plaques. On insiste sur les economies d'energie possibles sur le materiel de chauffage et de refroidissement, ainsi que sur la depense en carburant par recuperation de l'energie de l'air extrait avant rejet. Les resultats indiquent des economies annuelle d'energiee atteignant 23%, avec des economies encore plus elevees sur le dimensionnement du materiel de chauffage et de refroidissement. Comme on s'y attendait, on obtient les plus fortes economies lorsque de grandes quantites d'air exterieur sont necessaires a la ventilation.
Differential effects of an anxiogenic β-carboline on single unit activity in the locus coeruleus and substantia nigra of the rat brain

Abstract The firing rates of single units in the substantia nigra pars reticulata, substantia nigra pars compacta and the locus coeruleus were recorded during the intravenous administration of β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (βCCE). β-Carboline-3-carboxylic acid produced a dose-dependent excitation in all units tested in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and a small inhibitory effect on some units in the substantia nigra pars compacta. It had no effect on the firing rates of single units in the locus coeruleus, but did prove effective in reversing inhibition induced by diazepam in this nucleus. The relevance of the findings to the anxiogenic effects of β-carboline-carboxylic acid ethyl ester are discussed.
On the area of the intersection of disks in the plane

Abstract Let C1,…, Cn and C′1,…, C′n be two collections of equal disks in the plane, with centers c1,…, cn and c′1,…, c′n. According to a well-known conjecture of Klee and Wagon (1991), if |ci − cj| ≥ |c′i − c′j| for all i, j, then Area(∩i Ci) ≤ Area(∩i C′i). We prove this statement in the special case when there is a continuous contraction of {c1,…, cn} onto {c′1,…, c′n}.
Learning- and Grade-Orientations of Community College Students: Implications for Instruction

The 6.25 million students enrolled at over 1,000 public two-year colleges in the United States present faculty with a diverse pool of learners; and better understanding student motivation can assist faculty in fostering successful learner-centered environments. The LOGO II inventory was used to measure attitudes and behaviors of community college students toward learning and grades and to identify similarities and differences among traditional-aged and adult cohorts. Differences were found between the groups in both total scale scores and on individual items, with adult students possessing higher learning-orientations and lower grade-orientations than their younger counterparts. Based on the principles of andragogy, the results provide a foundation on which to develop practical strategies to enhance student learning. Although the majority of students in both groups viewed earning good grades as an important goal, this study illustrates that the majority of students in two-year institutions also enjoy the ...
Spectroscopic and kinetic properties of recombinant choline oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis.

Choline oxidase catalyzes the four-electron oxidation of choline to glycine betaine, with molecular oxygen acting as primary electron acceptor. Recently, the recombinant enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli was purified to homogeneity and shown to contain FAD in a mixture of oxidized and anionic semiquinone redox states [Fan et al. (2003) Arch. Biochem. Biophys., in press]. In this study, methods have been devised to convert the enzyme-bound flavin semiquinone to oxidized FAD and vice versa, allowing characterization of the resulting forms of choline oxidase. The enzyme-bound oxidized flavin showed typical UV−vis absorbance peaks at 359 and 452 nm (with e452 = 11.4 M-1 cm-1) and emitted light at 530 nm (with λex at 452 nm). The affinity of the enzyme for sulfite was high (with a Kd value of ∼50 μM at pH 7 and 15 °C), suggesting the presence of a positive charge near the N(1)C(2)O locus of the flavin. The enzyme-bound anionic flavin semiquinone was unusually insensitive to oxygen or ferricyanide at pH 8 an...
Cigarette smoking women of reproductive age who use oral contraceptives: results from the 2002 and 2004 behavioral risk factor surveillance systems.

Abstract Background Despite health warnings about the increased risk of cerebrovascular disease among women who smoke while using oral contraceptives (OCs), prior research suggests that OC use is still prevalent among women who smoke cigarettes. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of OC use among cigarette smoking women of reproductive age in the United States. Study Design We extracted data from the 2002 and 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys of 76,544 women between 18 and 44 years of age who reported using some form of contraception. OC use, or self-reported use of “the pill,” was examined among those who currently smoke, either everyday or some days. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare OC use between smoking and nonsmoking women. Results One fourth (26.9%) of U.S. women who smoke compared with 34.6% of nonsmoking women reported currently using OCs. After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education level, binge drinking, and health care coverage, women who smoke were 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6–0.7) times as likely to use OCs as nonsmoking women. Among women aged 35 to 44 years, the odds of OC use among smokers was even further reduced (odds ratio [OR], 0.3; 95% CI, 0.3–0.4) compared with nonsmokers. Conclusion Among U.S. women of reproductive age who use contraception, particularly among women aged 35 to 44 years, those who smoke cigarettes are significantly less likely to use OCs than those who do not.
Evaluation and Assessment of Early Knee Chondral Disease

Cartilage disease of the knee is a common cause of pain and dysfunction, and if left untreated, can develop to global arthritic disease of the knee joint. Presently, numerous surgical options are available to manage early chondral disease. In order to maximize success, the appropriate procedure in the correct patient is critical. Stated another way, indications are critical. This process begins with a thorough evaluation and assessment. The knee evaluation begins with a thorough history and physical examination. The history, which is commonly undervalued, gives critical insight into extent of pain, dysfunction and patient expectations. General aspects of the physical examination includes assessment of the entire extremity including hip and ankle function, gait pattern, knee alignment, range of motion and neurovascular exam. Specialty testing focuses on provocative maneuvers to assesses meniscal, ligamentous, instability and impingement pathology. Both routine and advanced imaging are routinely used. Routine radiographs include both weight-bearing and non-weight bearing studies in multiple angles. Long leg cassettes or alignment films are also very important. More advanced imaging such as CT and MRI are used with increasingly more frequency to define osseous parameters and extent of chondral disease. On rare occasions, bone scans, bloodwork and intra-articular aspiration are used to help clarify the diagnosis, when there is a question of infection or inflammatory arthritides. Non-operative treatment modalities are commonly used as first line treatment as well as to help differentiate which procedure is best advised. These include lifestyle modifications, weight loss, NSAIDs, unloading brace, physical therapy and injections. When all of these factors are considered in each individual patient, then the appropriate procedure is recommended.
A quantitative autoradiographic and electrophysiological study of the reinnervation of the dentate gyrus by the contralateral entorhinal cortex following ipsilateral entorhinal lesions

The post-lesion proliferation of contralateral enthorhinal afferents which occurs in response to ipsilateral entorhinal lesions was quantitatively analyzed with autoradiographic and electrophysiological techniques. In both cases, the extent of the crossed projection to the dentate granule cells was quantified on the basis of a contralateral/ipsilateral (C/I) ratio. Autoradiographic measures of grain density in the entorhinal terminal field indicates that the very sparse crossed entorhinal projection in intact animals proliferates approximately 6-fold following unilateral entorhinal lesions (on the basis of an increased C/I ratio of grain density in animals with long standing unilater entorhinal lesions). Furthermore, the total number of grains in the entorhinal terminal zone (obtained by subtracting background from non-terminal regions) also increases approximately 6-fold, indicating that compression of the neuropil cannot be the factor responsible for the increased grain density. These increases in the anatomical extent of the crossed projection as a consequence of unilateral entorhinal lesions are also reflected electrophysiologically. In operated animals, the C/I ratio of the extracellular population EPSP (a measure of the synaptic current generated by the crossed projections) also increase 5-8 fold. In addition, while in normal animals, no population spikes are observed following stimulation of the contralateral entorhinal area (indicating an absence of synchronous grnaule cell discharge in response to contralateral entorhinal input), such population spikes are quite prominent in the reinnervated dentate gyrus, indicating a large increase in the effective synaptic drive of the proliferated crossed projections.
The Way We Organize Ourselves

Music, of course, shares several skills with computer science. The earliest UNIVAC programmers recognized that the sequential nature of programming was similar to that of music and used this insight to create code that played music. The musicians of the 1970s realized that computers could analyze sounds and produce novel and expressive tones. Clearly, the musicians of our age have grasped the power of synthesis promoted by computing technology and commonly use digital methods to create everything from small-scale musicals on Steve Jobs to commercially available popular music. So it's appropriate that several musicians, such as the rapper Snoop Dogg and Black-Eyed Peas front man will.i.am, have added their voice to the group supporting Hour of Code, an effort to introduce children to the nature of programming. Hour of Code offers short tutorials on coding and asks professionals to spend an hour helping students work through a lesson. The value of programming as an educational discipline goes far beyond the desire not to live in ignorance.
Seasonal variation of the stable isotopic compositions of coastal marine plankton from Woods Hole, Massachusetts and Georges Bank

A study of the isotopic composition of plankton from Woods Hole Harbor was conducted to investigate seasonal variation in carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in a shallow coastal environment. Stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen both showed temporal variation on the scale of weeks to months, with heaviest (most positive) values in summer to fall for both isotopes. Particulate organic matter (POM) δ13C values were highest (−19‰ to −21‰) in August to November and lower (−21‰ to −25‰) at other times of the year, while δ13N-POM values were highest (9.5‰ to 12‰) in March to September and lower (7.5‰ to 9.5‰) at other times of the year. Stable isotopic values were significantly correlated with temperature, DI13C, and C∶N ratios, but not with [DIC], [POC], [PN], [chlorophyll], or the taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton. There was no direct evidence of allochthonous inputs of carbon and nitrogen to the system. Woods Hole δ13C values were virtually identical to Georges Bank plankton values; similar POC: Chlorophyll and C∶N ratios in the two systems further suggest that Woods Hole Harbor is principally a marine system. The high δ13C values of net plankton (>20 μm) during summer and early fall are consistent with a smaller degree of photosynthetic isotopic fractionation at that time, related to temperature and/or [CO2(aq)]. This pattern was not seen, however, in total POM. Plankton δ13N values were higher in Woods Hole Harbor than on Georges Bank, especially during warmer periods, possibly due to high rates of nitrification and organic matter recycling in Woods Hole waters. Relatively wide ranges of stable isotopic values from both Woods Hole Harbor and Georges Bank suggest that seasonality should be considered when attempting to establish endmember C and N isotopic values for temperate marine plankton. Preliminary results from size-fractionated samples suggest that cyanobacteria may fractionate carbon isotopes to a greater degree than net phytoplankton.
Effects of orotic acid ingestion on urinary and blood parameters in humans

Abstract Pertinent urinary and blood parameters were examined in 29 normal adults ingesting orotic acid by capsule once a week. Upon ingestion of 6 g orotic acid, urinary excretion of orotate and urate was increased in all subjects but creatinine and urea were unaffected. Mean orotate excretion was 624 mg or 10.5% of dose ingested, although individual variability was large (1–26%). In five persons studied more extensively, excretion of excess orotate was proportional to the amount ingested and was generally complete within 8 hours. Orotic acid ingestion led to uricosuria and the pattern for urate excretion was similar to that for orotate. Blood parameters before participation in the study and 24 hours after ingesting 6 g orotic acid were within normal ranges. However, serum urate and cholesterol were decreased significantly. The decrease in blood urate reflects the uricosuric effect of orotic acid. The hypocholesteremic response to orotic acid ingestion in humans warrants further investigation.
On the Resolution of the Interferometric Measurement of the Angular Velocity of Moving Objects

An analysis of the resolution of a new method of measuring the angular velocity of moving objects using an interferometric sensor is presented in this paper. The frequency of the sensor response is proportional to the angular velocity of the object, which can thus be calculated with a simple frequency analysis of the sensor output. The resolution of the frequency measurement is therefore representative of the resolution of the angular velocity. The derivation of the interferometer response to a single source is presented, and the resolution of the angular velocity measurement is derived for an ideal interferometer beam pattern and a more realistic Gaussian shaped beam pattern. The normalized frequency resolution is shown to be inversely proportional to the beamwidth of the interferometer pattern and inversely proportional to the antenna baseline. Measurements of a walking human taken with a narrow-beamwidth 27.4 GHz passive radiometric interferometer with multiple antenna baselines are presented, verifying the inverse dependence of the resolution on the baseline. Comparison of theoretical results to the measured frequency shift and measured frequency resolution show good agreement.