cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Acute Changes in Heart Rate on Doppler Pulmonary Artery Acceleration Time in a Porcine Model

Doppler measurements of pulmonary artery (PA) acceleration time (AT) have been used clinically to estimate PA pressure. However, these studies have been performed primarily in patients without tachycardia. To determine the effect of acute changes in heart rate on PA AT, atrial pacing studies were performed in seven closed-chest pigs. Pulsed Doppler PA flow velocity recordings were obtained from a parasternal position at pacing rates from 100 to 140 beats/min. PA pressure remained constant (mean ± SD = 14 ± 5 mm Hg) over the entire range of paced rates. When PA Doppler measurements were compared at heart rates of 100 and 140 beats/min, there were decreases at the higher heart rate in both acceleration time (110 ± 12 vs 83 ± 11 ms, p
Activity and molecular changes in right and left ventricular myosins during right ventricular volume overload.

Abstract Left ventricular myosin ATPase activity was analyzed in dogs subject to right ventricular volume overload induced by extirpation of pulmonic and tricuspid valves; K+ and Ca2+ activated myosin ATPase activities in both the right and left ventricles of the stressed animals were never elevated, but were significantly depressed (P Normal right ventricular myosin contained approximately twice the moles of light chains per mole of myosin as compared to left ventricular myosin; after 6 weeks of tricuspid insufficiency (TI), left ventricular myosin contained twice the number of moles of light chains per mole of myosin as compared to that of normal (NLV) left ventricular myosin (TI = 20% myosin protein concentration present in light chains; NLV = 10% myosin protein concentration present in light chains (P
High-spectral-resolution rayleigh-mie lidar measurement of vertical aerosol and atmospheric profiles

A new two-channel ground-based high-spectral-resolution Rayleigh-Mie lidar and its operation is described. Upon the inversion of data collected during the night of August 14–15, 1990, with this unique lidar system (553.7 nm), vertical profiles of atmospheric parameters including temperature, potential temperature, pressure and density, as well as aerosol parameters including backscatter-ratio, extinction coefficient and backscatter phase function are determined.
Incretin mimetics and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors in clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Exenatide is an incretin mimetic, while sitagliptin and vildagliptin are incretin enhancers used as adjunctive therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes failing oral agents. Sitagliptin and vildagliptin can also be used as monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled by diet. Objective: To provide a critical review of clinical trials of exenatide, sitagliptin and vildagliptin. Method: Review of Phase III clinical trials based on Medline search published up to April 2008. Results: The use of exenatide is associated with reduction in average hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of approximately 0.8% compared with baseline. The corresponding reduction with either sitagliptin or vildagliptin is 0.7%. The actions of incretin-based drugs predominantly target postprandial hyperglycemia. Treatment-related hypoglycemia is generally mild, and mainly occurs when used with sulfonylureas (SUs). Exenatide treatment leads to a mild weight loss of around 2 kg after 30 weeks, whereas sitagliptin and vilda...
Staged middle cerebral artery embolectomy.

Abstract Microsurgical MCA embolectomy in our experimental situation seems effective if done within 2 hr postembolism. Embolectomy delayed until 6 hr postembolism was significantly less effective, implying that irreversible, ischemic changes develop during these additional 4 hr. Additional canine MCA embolectomies will be staged at specific time intervals between 2 and 6 hr post-embolism, to determine the maximal time interval within which embolectomy may still be beneficial.
Plastid-localized 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (DS-Mn): the early-pathway target of sequential feedback inhibition in higher plants

A plastid-localized isozytne of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase, denoted DS-Mn, has been identified in a number of higher-plant species. Parallel characterizations were made of DS-Mn from Spinacia oleracea leaf tissue, Solanum tuberosum tubers, and Nicotiana silvestris suspension culture as sources of enzyme from plant materials which vary in phytogeny, developmental and tissue state, and physiological state. A highly conserved property of DS-Mn is a transition between inactive and active states, mediated by DTT as a hysteretic activator. A procedure for isolation of DS-Mn in the labile, inactive state is given. The process of activation appears to exhibit a higher pH optimum than the catalytic optimum. DTT-containing preparations are very stable. The enzyme characteristically exhibits stimulation by Mn++ in the range of 45–50%, relatively high affinity for erythrose-4-phosphate (E4P), dramatic substrate inhibition above about 0.5mol m−3 E4P, sigmoid substrate saturation curves for both E4P and phosphoenolpyruvate, and inhibition by L-arogenate (competitive against E4P and non-competitive against PEP). DS-Mn has a relatively high temperature optimum in the range of 45–50°C. Enzyme activity was lost when bound metal was stripped away by EDTA treatment. Reconstitution of the native-enzyme level of activity was obtained with Ca++, and additional stimulation was achieved with Mn++. DS-Mn control by L-arogenate in the chloroplast is proposed as one key circuit in an overall pattern of allosteric control for the entire pathway of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. This pattern is called sequential feedback inhibition. The potential for modulation of this control system by environmental cues induced by light-dark transitions is discussed.
An innovative program of counseling family members and friends of seropositive haemophiliacs

This paper describes current efforts to construct a set of innovative educational and skill building materials targetted at groups of persons with HIV infection, those at risk for HIV, their families and friends, and health professionals. The ENCOUNTERS family of interactive simulations is designed to provide participants with the necessary communication and behavioral skills to deepen their understanding of HIV, to improve their interaction with others in their interpersonal environment, and to more effectively manage stress generated by HIV concerns The ENCOUNTERS family of simulations are built on the principles of role play, but adds to them principles of simulation gaming. The former technique is strengthened by offering active participation for all group members, increased structure, and the opportunity for participants to take different perspectives on an issue of concern in a supportive small group environment.
On characterizing linear complementarity problems as linear programs

Using a new bilinear programming formulation of the linear complementarity problem, we simplify Mangasabian's necessary and sufficient conditions under which these problems can be solved as linear programs. Our conditions are used to derive new special cases of linear complementarity problems that are solvable as linear programs. Finally, we indicate how they can be used to characterize matrix classes in complementarity theory.
VLF scattering from a column of ionization in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide

Abstract Choosing a highly idealized model, we analyze the scattering of VLF radio waves from a thin vertical column of ionization within the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. It is shown that mode conversion is produced if the column is limited in height and/or if the ionization is a function of height. However, the relative higher-mode content would be small in some situations such as in the case of the ionization produced by a cloud-to-ionosphere lightning discharge.
Dislocation transport of hydrogen in iron single crystals

Abstract Iron single crystals with a proper combination of surface orientation and tensile axis were used to separately study the hydrogen transport rates by screw, edge and mixed dislocations, as a function of strain rate, lattice hydrogen concentration and temperature. Significant concurrent trapping was suppressed, except in one deliberate case, by selecting easy glide orientations. It was found that qualitatively the hydrogen flux transported by dislocations intimately reflects dislocation egression from the monitored crystal surface. Quantitatively, the hydrogen transport rate increased with decreasing strain rate; edge kinks appeared to possess the greatest capability of transporting hydrogen at the lowest strain rate (1.6 × 10−8 s−1) employed. An insignificant effect of lattice hydrogen concentration on dislocation transport was observed, and was attributed to the kinetic nature of this transport process where equilibrium between hydrogen concentration on the dislocations and in the lattice is unlikely. A minimal temperature effect on dislocation transport rate was also observed within a narrow temperature range, from 12 to 78°C, consistent with the expectation that the extra thermal energy provided by increased temperature was too small to alter the interaction between hydrogen and mobile dislocations. This study demonstrated the need to establish proper experimental condition to discriminate and compare trapping and transport effects.
Investigating the reliability of positive user recognition based on multiple fingerprint images

Fingerprint is a biometric not only widely used in forensic investigation, but also in civil applications for user access control. At a crime scene an investigator may find fingerprints inadvertently left by a suspect. Even though fingerprints of this kind can be very useful for finding the perpetrator, recent years have seen multiple cases of misidentification caused by partial or latent fingerprints. Question about the usefulness of fingerprints in courtroom is raised due to these incidents. In civil applications a fingerprint identification system requires a user to present a live finger for image capturing at registration. Upon recognition new images from the same finger are captured, processed, and then matched against the registered template. During the processes, how often would this user be positively identified with the newly acquired images? In this paper we conduct simulations with a few fingerprint databases containing multiple fingerprint images from every finger and report our findings. Effects of minutia quality and threshold on matching are also discussed in this paper.
Effects of pyrethroid insecticides on operant responding maintained by food

The pyrethroids are potent insecticides with low concomitant mammalian lethality when compared with other major insecticides. While high doses can lead to hyperactivity, tremors, convulsion and death, low doses have not been as well studied. Since operant behavior can be a sensitive measure of CNS function, male Holtzman rats were trained on a VR25 schedule maintained by 45 mg food pellets. Rats were injected IP with one of four different technical grade pyrethroids: permethrin, allethrin, deltamethrin and fenvalerate. All agents were effective in reducing operant responding and did so in a dose-dependent manner at levels 10 to 100 times below their LD50 values. Time course studies indicated a relatively short duration of action for the Type I agents of less than 60 min for permethrin and 15 min for allethrin. Type II agents were generally effective for greater than 60 min. Results of these studies indicate that operant responding maintained by food is a sensitive measure of the behaviorally disruptive effects of subconvulsive doses of pyrethroids.
Coordination in human-robot teams using mental modeling and plan recognition

Beliefs play an important role in human-robot teaming scenarios, where the robots must reason about other agents' intentions and beliefs in order to inform their own plan generation process, and to successfully coordinate plans with the other agents. In this paper, we cast the evolving and complex structure of beliefs, and inference over them, as a planning and plan recognition problem. We use agent beliefs and intentions modeled in terms of predicates in order to create an automated planning problem instance, which is then used along with a known and complete domain model in order to predict the plan of the agent whose beliefs are being modeled. Information extracted from this predicted plan is used to inform the planning process of the modeling agent, to enable coordination. We also look at an extension of this problem to a plan recognition problem. We conclude by presenting an evaluation of our technique through a case study implemented on a real robot.
The Eos data and information system: concepts for design

A functional architecture for the Earth observing system (Eos) is presented and a variety of management issues are surveyed, including longevity, coordination with agencies, scientific programs, and other nations, incorporation of existing data, and the importance of effective and responsible scientific governance by the users. The author concludes that to meet its objectives, the system must facilitate the development of abstract higher-level data structures and data manipulation languages. If that occurs, the Eos data and information system will, he believes, stimulate novel and more powerful modes of thought about the information that portrays the evolution of the Earth system. >
Light‐scattering studies on phase separation in a binary blend with addition of diblock copolymers

Time-resolved light-scattering measurements have been conducted to investigate the influence of a diblock copolymer additive on the phase boundaries and the kinetics of the phase separation of a polymer blend. The blend studied was a polystyrene-d8/polybutadiene (PSD/PB) mixture with a diblock copolymer composed of the same homopolymers. It was observed that the critical temperature of the blend, which has an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), decreased with increasing copolymer content and the kinetics of the phase separation via a spinodal decomposition mechanism slowed down in the presence of the copolymer. The features of the spinodal peak position and intensity as a function of time with and without copolymer additive were analyzed for near and off-critical compositions in various temperature jumps. The intermediate and late-stage growth rates do not follow a universal scaling function with the addition of diblock copolymers. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Clinical significance of recurrent venous thromboembolism

Recurrent venous thromboembolism is a significant problem leading to increased morbidity and mortality. It has a high impact on patients' quality of life and imposes a great financial burden on society. Cumulative recurrence has been reported as 40% at 10 years, while the chance of developing postthrombotic signs and symptoms in the lower extremities almost quadruples when ipsilateral. There is also a higher chance of developing pulmonary hypertension. Important factors for recurrence are unprovoked episodes of deep vein thrombosis, malignancy and older age. The evidence for other factors is controversial. Accurate diagnosis and treatment tailored to the patients' history, thrombotic events and risk factors are necessary to optimize management and prevent recurrence.
Production, clearance, and metabolism of testosterone in men with prostatic cancer

It was previously unknown whether the production and metabolism of testosterone was altered in men with prostatic cancer. We recently observed a familial influence on the plasma concentration of sex steroids in men with the cancer. We have now determined, by isotope dilution techniques, the blood testosterone production and clearance rates and testosterone metabolism to potent androgen metabolites in men with prostatic cancer, their brothers, and unrelated controls. Nineteen men had a diagnosis of prostatic cancer before age 63 (probands), 23 were brothers of these index cases, and nine controls matched for age were selected randomly from the general population. None had received endocrine therapy. The plasma content of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, apparent free testosterone concentration, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were not significantly different between the groups. The metabolic clearance rate of testosterone was significantly (P = .04) higher in probands (458 liters/day/body surface area, median) than in controls (306 liters/day/body surface area). The conversion ratios of both testosterone (1.8%) and dihydrotestosterone (16.9%) to 3 alpha-androstanediol were significantly greater (P = .04 and P = .004, respectively) in probands than in controls (0.95%, 7.8%). These results indicate that men with prostatic cancer have elevated clearance rates of testosterone and an increased conversion ratio of testosterone to its potent 5 alpha-reduced metabolites.
The Validity of Income Reported by a Sample of Families Who Received Welfare Assistance during 1959

Abstract The author collaborated on a nationwide study of low-income families conducted by the Survey Research Center of the University of Michigan. One of the primary purposes of this study was to determine some of the factors which are responsible for the low-income position of the 16 per cent of the nation's families who receive less than $2,000 a year.1 Information on the incomes of low-income families with heads of working age was collected from a nationwide sample by personal interview techniques. Any bias in the reporting of income creates serious problems for such a study. Underreporting of income by low-income families would lead the analyst to believe that a higher proportion of families live on low incomes than is actually the case. The investigation reported here provides a check on one particular form of bias in the reporting of incomes—underreporting of income from public welfare assistance by families whose head is of working age.2 Bias in reporting of that income resulted in approximately ...
Routine emissions and accidental releases of toxic air pollutants — risk, response and planning

Abstract General information on the strategies employed to address air toxics problems and a variety of activities on air toxics that are currently underway within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are outlined. To provide some perspective and understanding of the air toxics programs within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, aspects of the air toxics strategy, ongoing programs for routine emissions and programs for both responding to and planning for accidental releases are described.
A Review of Hydrogen Production Technologies

This paper describes an overview of the present status of the conventional hydrogen production technologies and some of the recent developments in the production of hydrogen using solar energy resources. It was found that conversion of fossil fuels and biomass, electrolysis of water using solar and wind energy, and direct solar conversion by thermochemical means are some of the most significant methods of H2 production. The technological status and economic analysis for commercial and near commercial technologies using renewable energy sources such as electrolysis using PV and solar thermal power, photochemical and photoelectrochemical hydrogen production, direct thermal decomposition of water, thermochemical cycles, and biological hydrogen production are outlined. Although fossil fuels are currently the least expensive and most widely used sources of hydrogen production, it is argued from an economic analysis that renewable sources of hydrogen are the most promising options for the future. Further, solar hydrogen becomes a storable fuel that is produced from this non-storable and intermittent source of energy.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
STIMULUS DISTINCTIVENESS AND VISUAL DISCRIMINATION PERFORMANCE

The basic question investigated was whether the D (Distinctiveness) scale (Murdock, 1960) which was found useful in predicting accuracy of identification of stimuli in the method of absolute judgment with human Ss could also be applied to a visual discrimination problem in rats. Each of four matched groups of three rats was first trained to jump to one of four white circles on black background 2.405, 7.069, 14.190, and 23.760 sq. in. in area, respectively. After reaching criterion on single stimulus jumping, each S received 24 fourstimulus discrimination trials. Response measures collected were: responsiveness, latency, and accuracy. X' was used to test the adequacy of the fit bemeen the theoretical Distinctiveness distribution and that of each response distribution. Failure to rcject the null hypothesis will, in each case, support the efficacy of the D-scale prediction of empirical data.
Bilateral matching of frequency tuning in neural cross-correlators of the owl

Sound localization requires comparison between the inputs to the left and right ears. One important aspect of this comparison is the differences in arrival time to each side, also called interaural time difference (ITD). A prevalent model of ITD detection, consisting of delay lines and coincidence-detector neurons, was proposed by Jeffress (J Comp Physiol Psychol 41:35–39, 1948). As an extension of the Jeffress model, the process of detecting and encoding ITD has been compared to an effective cross-correlation between the input signals to the two ears. Because the cochlea performs a spectrotemporal decomposition of the input signal, this cross-correlation takes place over narrow frequency bands. Since the cochlear tonotopy is arranged in series, sounds of different frequencies will trigger neural activity with different temporal delays. Thus, the matching of the frequency tuning of the left and right inputs to the cross-correlator units becomes a ‘timing’ issue. These properties of auditory transduction gave theoretical support to an alternative model of ITD-detection based on a bilateral mismatch in frequency tuning, called the ‘stereausis’ model. Here we first review the current literature on the owl’s nucleus laminaris, the equivalent to the medial superior olive of mammals, which is the site where ITD is detected. Subsequently, we use reverse correlation analysis and stimulation with uncorrelated sounds to extract the effective monaural inputs to the cross-correlator neurons. We show that when the left and right inputs to the cross-correlators are defined in this manner, the computation performed by coincidence-detector neurons satisfies conditions of cross-correlation theory. We also show that the spectra of left and right inputs are matched, which is consistent with predictions made by the classic model put forth by Jeffress.
Political Power and Judicial Review in Italy

This essay traces the development of the power of the Italian Constitutional Court, the political impact of its policies, and its reception by the public and the other institutions of government. The relationship between the Court and Parliament is presented as one characterized by a synchronization of powers, and the Court has demonstrated reluctance to interfere in conflicts among the various branches of the national government. That timidity has not, however, carried over into its treatment of referenda or of national versus regional prerogatives. The Constitutional Court is, according to this analysis, a part of the national governing elite, and its most controversial decisions have been ones safeguarding the interests of that elite. By carefully acting as “quasi-guardians,” the Constitutional Court judges have cemented a solidly positive reputation and nurtured an aura of legitimacy that is rare among Italian political actors.
Esophageal obturator airway: Preferred CPR technique

Vomiting during cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be followed by fatal tracheal aspiration. An easily inserted esophageal obturator airway may eliminate this hazard. The indications, use, and technique of insertion of an esophageal obturator airway are described. The technique should be utilized for most adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts, whether performed by the experienced endoscopist or the emergency medical technician-ambulance.
Reinforcer-dependent enhancement of operant responding in opioid-withdrawn rats.

Rationale and objective Opioid withdrawal increases the reinforcing effectiveness of the μ-opioid agonist remifentanil in rodents. The current study explored the selectivity of this effect by assessing operant behavior maintained by drug and non-drug reinforcers, remifentanil, cocaine, a palatable liquid food, and standard food pellets, as a function of opioid dependence and withdrawal.
An acute dose of nicotine enhances cue-induced cocaine craving

The present study examined whether the active component in tobacco, nicotine, can modulate cocaine craving in patients with a history of smoking crack cocaine when exposed to crack cocaine related environmental cues. Twenty patients, all cigarette smokers, were randomly assigned to nicotine (two 22 mg transdermal patches) or placebo in a single-dose, placebo-controlled, crossover, double-blind study. Craving and anxiety were measured before and after cocaine cues with visual analog scales for desire to use cocaine and mood. Skin conductance and skin temperature were recorded before and during cocaine cues. Following exposure to cocaine cues, all patients reported an increase in cocaine craving and anxiety relative to the pre-cue measures. Cue exposure also produced an increase in skin conductance and decrease in skin temperature. The cue-induced increase in cocaine craving was strongly enhanced by nicotine, while the increase in anxiety was slightly augmented. Cue-induced skin conductance and temperature responses were unaffected by nicotine. These findings show that cue-induced cocaine craving is enhanced by nicotine. This occurred in the absence of any tobacco smoking-related cues, suggesting that nicotine may have direct psychopharmacological effects on conditioned cocaine craving.
On the relevance of communication costs of rollback-recovery protocols

Abstract : Communication overhead has been traditionally the primary metric for evaluating rollback-recovery protocols. This paper reexamines the prominence of this metric in light of the recent increases in processor and network speeds. We introduce a new recovery algorithm for a family of rollback-recovery protocols based on logging. The new algorithm incurs a higher communication overhead during recovery than previous algorithms, but it requires less access to stable storage and imposes no restrictions on the execution of live processes. Experimental results show that the new algorithm performs better than one that is optimized for low communication overhead. These results suggest that in modern environments, latency in accessing stable storage and intrusion of a particular algorithm on the execution of live processes are more important than the number of messages exchanged during recovery. (KAR) P. 3
Survival of In-Ceram crowns in a private practice: a prospective clinical trial.

Abstract Statement of problem. Prior reports on some all-ceramic crown systems have indicated high failure rates through fracture. Purpose. This study prospectively evaluated the survival of infiltrated alumina crowns (In-Ceram) in a private practice. Material and methods. All the In-Ceram crowns placed in a prosthodontic practice since its introduction in 1990 were serially included. Patients were recalled at 6 monthly intervals. Those who did not attend in the previous 6 months were contacted by telephone and a series of answers to standardized questions recorded. The few patients who were lost to follow-up or who died were removed from the study from the time of last contact. Results. A total of 408 crowns in 107 patients were followed for periods from 1 to 86 months. As the 3-year data combined a meaningful period of service with a large sample size, these data were focused on. The 3-year survival rate was 96% for a sample size of 223. Three-year data indicated that core fracture and porcelain fracture occurred at rates of approximately 0.6% and 0.3% per year, respectively. Otherwise sound restorations were removed at a rate of approximately 0.3% per year for esthetic, endodontic, or prosthetic reasons. Anterior crowns tended to have a slightly higher 3-year survival rate (98%) than premolars or molars (94%). Conclusion. Clinical failure rate of In-Ceram crowns was low. Crowns were lost because of core fracture, porcelain fracture, and removal without failure. Failure tended to be more common for molar and premolar crowns than for anterior crowns. (J Prosthet Dent 2000;83:216-22.)
Myosin expression in hypertrophied fast twitch and slow tonic muscles of normal and dystrophic chickens.

Disruption of the developmental program of myosin gene expression has been reported in chicken muscular dystrophy. In the present report, the relationship between muscular dystrophy and the ability of muscle to respond to an increased work load with a transition in the myosin phenotype has been investigated. Hypertrophy of slow tonic anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and fast twitch patagialis (PAT) muscles was induced by overloading for 35 days and myosin expression was analyzed by electrophoresis and immunocytochemistry. Normal and dystrophic chicken ALD muscles have nearly identical proportions of SMhyphen;1 and SMhyphen;2 isomyosins and both exhibit an age-related repression of the SMhyphen;1 isomyosin which is enhanced and accelerated by overloading. Immunocytochemistry with anti-myosin heavy chain (MHC) antibodies demonstrates the appearance of nascent myofibers in overloaded ALD muscles from both normal and dystrophic chickens. A minor fast twitch fiber population is also identified which doubles in number with overloading in normal ALD muscles. There are only half as many fast twitch fibers in control dystrophic ALD muscles and this number does not increase with overloading. In contrast to ALD muscles, the isomyosin profile of normal and dystrophic PAT muscles is quite different. There is significantly more FMhyphen;3 and significantly less FMhyphen;1 isomyosin in the dystrophic PAT muscle. However, both normal and dystrophic PAT muscles exhibit an overload-induced accumulation of the FMhyphen;3 isomyosin. Immunocytochemistry reveals that, unlike the normal PAT muscle, the dystrophic PAT muscle contains a population of myofibers which express slow MHCs. As in the ALD muscle, overload-induced hypertrophy is associated with a repression of the SMhyphen;1 MHC in these fibers. Nascent myofiber formation does not occur in either normal or dystrophic overloaded PAT muscles.
The Value of Fingerprint Evidence in Detecting Crime

Fingerprints are collected routinely from crime scenes for a wide range of offences and their timely identification is now seen as key to their success in the investigation and detection of crime. ...
Metabolic activation of hexamethylmelamine and pentamethylmelamine by liver microsomal preparations

Abstract Incubation of [14C]-ring labeled hexamethylmelamine and pentamethylmelamine with rat and mouse liver microsomal preparations results in metabolic activation of both drugs as measured by covalent binding of radiolabel to acid-precipitable microsomal macromolecules. Covalent binding is dependent on viable microsomes, NADPH, and molecular oxygen. Binding of HMM (280 pmol/mg protein/15 min) was approximately 5 times greater than that observed for PMM (60 pmol/mg protein/15 min), and represents 0.22% of incubated material. Similar results were found with [14C]-methyl labeled substrates. Pretreatment with phenobarbital increased covalent binding while addition of SKF 525-A, addition of glutathione, or incubation in an 80% carbon monoxide atmosphere reduced covalent binding.
Responses of breeding common loons to human activity in Upper Michigan

Breeding populations of the common loon (Gavia immer) in Michigan have declined in the past several decades, resulting in classification of this species as threatened under state law. Factors responsible for the decline are unknown, but may include toxic contaminants, mortality in commercial fish nets, and human disturbance of breeding sites. To assess the latter possibility, 960 hours of observation were devoted to observing human-loon interactions on two sets of lakes, one with restricted human use (minimal or no shoreline development and open to canoe use only), and another with unrestricted use (varying amounts of shoreline development and motorboat traffic). Six mated pairs of loons on six restricted use (r-u) lakes were compared to eight loon pairs on seven open-use (o-u) lakes. The number of nests that hatched young per nest started was not significantly different between the two sets of lakes (7 of 13 (0.62) on r-u lakes vs 8 of 17 (0.47) on o-u lakes), despite significantly more human activity on o-u lakes. Chicks hatched per pair of loons were likewise not significantly different (1.1 vs 1.2 on r-u and o-u lakes, respectively). Fledging success was significantly lower on r-u lakes (7 chicks fledged of 11 hatched) than on o-u lakes (13 fledged of 13 hatched). Human activity on o-u lakes was 2–3 times that on r-u lakes during chick rearing, but time spent by adult loons tending and feeding chicks was not significantly different between the two types of lakes. The larger size of most o-u lakes may have allowed loons a greater opportunity to avoid human disturbance. Higher levels of human activity did not affect production of chicks by loons under the conditions observed, but these results should not be extrapolated to lakes experiencing much higher human use.
Benchmarks for evaluating the research productivity of accounting faculty

Abstract This study reports comprehensive data on both the quantity and quality of research productivity of 3878 accounting faculty who earned their accounting doctoral degrees from 1971 to 1993. Publications in 40 journals were used to measure faculty publication quantity. Journal ratings derived from a compilation of the rankings of five prior studies and co-authorship were used to measure publication quality. Choosing benchmarks for an individual faculty requires users of our data to determine four parameters: (1) what credit to give a faculty member for co-authored articles; (2) what level of journal quality is appropriate, e.g. presenting benchmarks for publications in the Best 4, Best 12, Best 22 and Best 40 journals; (3) choosing appropriate levels of performance, e.g. considering the publication record in the top 10%, top 20%, top 25%, top 33%, or top 50% of all faculty; and (4) deciding the emphasis to place on the number of years since the doctoral degree was earned. We believe that this is the first set of benchmarks that allows administrators to state, with some justification, a required number of articles for tenure or promotion. In addition, we discovered that the average number of authors per article is significantly correlated with time and growing at a pace of 0.017 authors per article per year.
Temporal properties of secondary drop breakup in the multimode breakup regime

Abstract Secondary drop breakup due to shock wave disturbances was studied for the multimode breakup regime, emphasizing the temporal evolution of breakup for shock wave disturbances. Measurements were carried out in a shock tube using pulsed shadowgraphy and holography to observe the mechanism and outcome of breakup. Test conditions involved water and ethanol drops, liquid/gas density ratios greater than 500, Ohnesorge numbers less than 0.1 and Weber numbers of 15–150. The evolution of properties in the multimode breakup regime with increasing Weber number begins at the end of the bag breakup regime with the appearance of a plume drop at the apex of the bag at a Weber number of roughly 15, continues in a bag/plume breakup regime which involves the presence of both bag-like structures and plume drops and transitions when bags are no longer present at a Weber number of roughly 40, and ends with a plume/shear breakup regime which involves development of plume-like structures that progressively evolve into a parent drop and ligament system as the shear breakup regime is approached at a Weber number of roughly 80. Measurements over the test range provide breakup times, drop deformation properties and drag coefficients before the onset of breakup, distributions of drop liquid and resulting drop sizes for various breakup structures, drop velocities after breakup, and liquid removal rates during breakup; all these properties are provided as a function of Weber number in the multimode breakup regime.
A study of autologous anti-idiotypic antibody-forming cells in mice of different ages and genetic backgrounds.

Abstract Antibody response to phosphorylcholine, an immunodominant epitope of Streptococcus pneumoniae R36a (Pn), is characterized by a public idiotype, T15, that is expressed on a large proportion of antibody molecules produced by all mouse inbred strains. The ability of the immune system to produce an autologous antibody to T15 upon immunization with Pn vaccine was investigated using a modified ELISA plaque assay for detection of single antibody-forming cells (AFC). The limit of ELISA assay for detection of specific anti-T15 AFC is approximately 300 cells/spleen. However, our studies failed to detect any autologous anti-T15 AFC in the course of the primary antibody response to Pn vaccine in young/adult (2–4 months) BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Aged mice (20–22 months) also failed to develop any specific auto-anti-T15 AFC upon the primary Pn immunization, despite the fact that the anti-Pn response in these animals changes both quantitatively and qualitatively. In order to generate specific anti-T15 AFC, BALB/c mice had to be immunized repeatedly with Pn vaccine (four weekly injections) or immunized directly with T15 protein in CFA. Different results were obtained with D1 · LP mice that are low responders to Pn and express lower levels of Tl5 Id as compared to BALB/c. Young D1 · LP mice produced high numbers of auto-anti-T15 AFC of both IgM and IgG isotypes following a single immunization with Pn vaccine. The kinetics of auto-anti-T15 response in D1 · LP mice was similar to that of the antigen-specific response. These results demonstrate that the ability of the immune network to produce autologous antibody to a shared Id depends on the genetic makeup of the host, and that this response may be regulated by the level of Id expression.
Reason, Freedom and Well-being

I am embarrassed at being placed in the dizzying company of one of the truly great thinkers in the world. The similarities between Mill's ideas and mine partly reflect, of course, his influence on my thinking. But I also discuss some difficulties in taking Mill's whole theory without modification, since there are internal tensions within it. In a paper I published in 1967, I tried to discuss how Mill's willingness to hold on to some contrary positions depended on the nature of his empirical reading of the world. I draw on that diagnosis in commenting on some of the articles here. There are some serious issues of misinterpretation in one of the articles, which I try to clarify. I also comment on Arrow's interpretation of what is involved in the idea of autonomy and on his own way of assessing freedom, and acknowledge the seriousness of the questions he raises about the value of freedom in normative political philosophy.
Beliefs underlying random sampling

In Experiment 1, subjects estimated (1) the mean of a random sample of 10 scores consisting of 9 unknown scores and 1 known score that was divergent from the population mean and (2) the mean of the 9 unknown scores. The modal answer (about 40% of the responses) for both sample means was the population mean. The results extend the work of Tversky and Kahneman (1971) by demonstrating that subjects hold a passive, descriptive view of random sampling rather than an active-balancing model. This result was explored further in in-depth interviews (Experiment (2), wherein subjects solved the problem while explaining their reasoning. The interview data replicated Experiment 1 and further showed: (1) that subjects’ solutions were fairly stable—when presented with alternative solutions, including the correct one, few subjects changed their answers; (2) little evidence of a balancing mechanism; and (3) that acceptance of both means as 400 is largely a result of the perceived unpredictability of “random samples.”
Sympathetic vasoconstriction in active skeletal muscles during dynamic exercise

Buckwalter, John B., Patrick J. Mueller, and Philip S. Clifford. Sympathetic vasoconstriction in active skeletal muscles during dynamic exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(5): 1575–1580, 1997.—Studies u...
Club modernity for reluctant believers

Written for the people shearing the same reality, the same mental world of Modernity, this paper starts from the premise that we, as human beings, are not always consciously aware of the world we live in, of its constantly changing characteristics or attributes. It has already been demonstrated that our knowledge is contextual and limited. Thus, in order to accurately depict at least some of the attributes of Modernity, and consequently, to observe the major paradigm shift towards an age of dialogue, entailed by this expending-modernity, it became necessary to describe the values promoted by Modernity. In this paper we aim at discussing notions such as freedom, critical-thinking, history and the increasing need to be in dialogue with those who think differently from us, values which guide us mentally and determine our actions through Modernity.
Expanding the Diversity of Mycobacteriophages: Insights into Genome Architecture and Evolution

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All mycobacteriophages characterized to date are dsDNA tailed phages, and have either siphoviral or myoviral morphotypes. However, their genetic diversity is considerable, and although sixty-two genomes have been sequenced and comparatively analyzed, these likely represent only a small portion of the diversity of the mycobacteriophage population at large. Here we report the isolation, sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of 18 new mycobacteriophages isolated from geographically distinct locations within the United States. Although no clear correlation between location and genome type can be discerned, these genomes expand our knowledge of mycobacteriophage diversity and enhance our understanding of the roles of mobile elements in viral evolution. Expansion of the number of mycobacteriophages grouped within Cluster A provides insights into the basis of immune specificity in these temperate phages, and we also describe a novel example of apparent immunity theft. The isolation and genomic analysis of bacteriophages by freshman college students provides an example of an authentic research experience for novice scientists.
Cloud Computing Operations Research

This paper argues that the cloud computing industry faces many decision problems where operations research OR could add tremendous value. To this end, we provide an OR perspective on cloud computing in three ways. First, we compare the cloud computing process with the traditional pull supply chain and introduce the cloud IT supply chain as the system of moving information from suppliers to consumers through the cloud network. Second, based on this analogy, we organize the cloud computing decision space by identifying the problems that need to be solved by each player in the supply chain---namely, 1 cloud providers, 2 cloud consumers, and 3 cloud brokers. We list the OR problems of interest from each player's perspective and discuss the tools that may need to be developed to solve them. Third, we survey past and current research in this space and discuss future research opportunities in cloud computing operations research.
Abstracting network characteristics and locality properties of parallel systems

Abstracting features of parallel systems is a technique that has been traditionally used in theoretical and analytical models for program development and performance evaluation. We explore the use of abstractions in execution-driven simulators in order to speed up simulation. In particular, we evaluate abstractions for the interconnection network and locality, properties of parallel systems in the context of simulating cache-coherent shared memory (CC-NUMA) multiprocessors. We use the recently proposed LogP model to abstract the network. We abstract locality by modeling a cache at each processing node in the system which is maintained coherent, without modeling the overheads associated with coherence maintenance. Such an abstraction tries to capture the true communication characteristics of the application without modeling any hardware induced artifacts. Using a suite of applications and three network topologies simulated on a novel simulation platform, we show that the latency overhead modeled by LogP is fairly accurate. On the other hand, the contention overhead can become pessimistic when the applications display sufficient communication locality. Our abstraction for data locality closely models the behavior of the target system over the chosen range of applications. The simulation model which incorporated these abstractions was around 250-300% faster than the simulation of the target machine. >
Getting the Big Idea: A Neglected Goal for Reading Comprehension

The premise of this article is that while “big ideas” permeate fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, too frequently they are not emphasized in teaching reading. The article defines big ideas, articulates why they are important, and suggests a number of ways in which teachers can profitably engage students in them. This article is also the source for a Class Acts podcast. Download “Understanding the big idea” from www.reading.orgresourcespodcastsindex.html
Approximate Isometries on Finite-Dimensional Normed Spaces

Every e-isometry between real normed spaces of the same finite dimension which maps the origin to the origin may be uniformly approximated to within 2e by a linear isometry. Under a smoothness hypothesis, necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for the same conclusion to hold for a given e-isometry between infinite-dimensional Banach spaces. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 46B04.