cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An autocrine Wnt5a-Ror signaling loop mediates sympathetic target innervation

During nervous system development, axon branching at nerve terminals is an essential step in the formation of functional connections between neurons and target cells. It is known that target tissues exert control of terminal arborization through secretion of trophic factors. However, whether the in-growing axons themselves produce diffusible cues to instruct target innervation remains unclear. Here, we use conditional mutant mice to show that Wnt5a derived from sympathetic neurons is required for their target innervation in vivo. Conditional deletion of Wnt5a resulted in specific deficits in the extension and arborization of sympathetic fibers in their final target fields, while no defects were observed in the overall tissue patterning, proliferation, migration or differentiation of neuronal progenitors. Using compartmentalized neuronal cultures, we further demonstrate that the Ror receptor tyrosine kinases are required locally in sympathetic axons to mediate Wnt5a-dependent branching. Thus, our study suggests an autocrine Wnt5a-Ror signaling pathway that directs sympathetic axon branching during target innervation.
Alterations in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex during adaptation to glucose by Neurospora.

Abstract A 20-fold induction of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.1) plus dihydrolipoate S -acetyltransferase, (lipoyltransacetylase) (EC 2.3.1.12) plus dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase, NADH : lipoamide oxidoreductase, (EC 1.6.4.3), from a specific activity of 3.5–65.0 was observed in mitochondrial extracts during adaptation of Neurospora to glucose from acetate media. The extent of ATP-dependent, time-dependent inactivation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was approximately the same in both acetate- and glucose-grown cells, thereby indicating that the low pyruvate dehydrogenerase complex activities in acetate-grown cells did not represent phosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase complex molecules. High levels of dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (EC 2.3.1.12) were observed in mitochondrial extracts from acetate-grown cells; this lipoyltransacetylase was analyzed on sucrose density gradients and found to be associated with the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Digitonin fractionation of mitochondria revealed that both the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and lipoyltransacetylase were primarily associated with the mitochondrial outer membrane.
Thallium and indium doped Pb1−xSnxTe by liquid phase epitaxy

Doped Pb1−xSnxTe epilayers have been grown on PbTe substrates by liquid phase epitaxy using lead-rich melts containing thallium or indium. Thallium is a p-type dopant; indium is an n-type dopant. It is also demonstrated that the doped layers can be annealed under conditions that convert undoped material from n to p-type, or vice-versa, without themselves being converted. This is the first application of doping to lead-tin salt LPE and significantly increases the flexibility of this technique for fabricating detector and laser heterostructures.
Diagnosis of accessory mitral valve tissue by transesophageal echocardiography.

Accessory mitral valve tissue is a rare cause of intracardiac mass and subvalvular left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The preoperative diagnosis of this congenital anomaly has been facilitated by transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. However, transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography cannot identify or correctly diagnose all cases of accessory mitral valve tissue. We report a patient in whom an intracardiac mass detected by transthoracic echocardiography was definitively diagnosed as accessory mitral valve tissue by transesophageal echocardiography. accessory mitral valve tissue, subaortic stenosis, transesophageal echocardiography, intracardiac mass
Radiometric calibration of the Sea-viewing Wide-Field-of-View Sensor using ground-reference techniques

The Sea-viewing Wide Field of View Sensor (SeaWiFS) was launched during the summer of 1997. While its primary purpose was to provide quantitative data on ocean bio-optical properties at a global scale, its bi-linear gain design allows it to provide data over land as well. Thus, there has been greater interest in understanding the radiometric calibration of the sensor for both gain levels. The Remote Sensing Group of the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona has been using vicarious calibration techniques that rely on ground-based test sites to calibrate a variety of sensors since the mid-1980s. The results of applying these techniques to SeaWiFS are presented here. Three ground-reference data sets are presented, the first from White Sands Missile Range in October 1997, the second from Railroad Valley Playa, Nevada in June 1998, and the third from Railroad Valley Playa in April 2000. The technique used here is a modified version of the reflectance-based method. In this technique, results from ground-based measurements of the surface and atmosphere are used in a radiative transfer code to determine the calibration coefficients for SeaWiFS. The results for all three cases are compared with calibration coefficients derived from the onboard calibration and vicarious calibration approaches used for SeaWiFS as well as to results.
Dose-dependent activation of antiapoptotic and proapoptotic pathways by ethanol treatment in human vascular endothelial cells: differential involvement of adenosine.

Abstract Moderate but not heavy drinking has been found to have a protective effect against cardiovascular morbidity. We investigated the effects of ethanol (EtOH) treatment on the cell survival-promoting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Exposure of cells to 2–20 mm EtOH resulted in rapid (<10 min) induction of Akt phosphorylation that could be prevented by pertussis toxin or the PI3K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. Among the downstream effectors of PI3K/Akt, p70S6 kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3α/β, and IκB-α were phosphorylated, the latter resulting in 3-fold activation of NF-κB. EtOH also activated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase in a PI3K-dependent manner. Low concentrations of EtOH increased endothelial nitric-oxide synthase activity, which could be blocked by transfection of HUVEC with dominant-negative Akt, implicating the PI3K/Akt pathway in this effect. The adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 1,3-dipopylcyclopentylxanthine prevented the phosphorylation of Akt observed in the presence of EtOH, adenosine, or the A1 agonistN 6-cyclopentyladenosine. Incubation of HUVEC with 50–100 mm EtOH resulted in mitochondrial permeability transition and caspase-3 activation followed by apoptosis, as documented by DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assays. EtOH-induced apoptosis was unaffected by DPCPX and was potentiated by wortmannin or LY294002. We conclude that treatment with low concentrations of EtOH activates the cell survival promoting PI3K/Akt pathway in endothelial cells by an adenosine receptor-dependent mechanism and activation of the proapoptotic caspase pathway by higher concentrations of EtOH via an adenosine-independent mechanism can mask or counteract such effects.
Chlordiazepoxide attenuates stress-induced accumulation of corticotropin-releasing factor mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus.

Abstract Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a role in coordinating endocrine, autonomic and behavioral responses to stressful stimuli. Benzodiazepines exert many effects which are antithetical to those of CRF, including anxiolysis and suppression of the pituitary-adrenal axis. Although there is evidence that benzodiazepines can modulate several electrophysiological and behavioral responses to exogenous CRF, we questioned whether this class of drug might also affect CRF biosynthesis as well. We have shown previously that footshock stress increases CRF mRNA levels as monitored by in situ hybridization histochemical techniques in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and Barrington's nucleus (the pontine micturition center). We report here the effects of the potent benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (CDP), on stress-induced CRF mRNA accumulation in these two regions. Male albino rats were exposed to electrical footshock (1.5 mA, 1-s duration, 60 times/30 min) twice daily for 4 days and sacrificed 24 h after the last shock session. Either CDP (1, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg) or saline was given i.p. 30 min before each stress. Sections were hybridized with an 35 S-labeled prepro-CRF cRNA probe. Relative levels of CRF mRNA were quantified by densitometry of the autoradiography with X-ray film. CRF mRNA concentrations were significantly increased in both the PVN and Barrington's nucleus after stress, and CDP attenuated these increases in the PVN. By contrast, CDP did not affect CRF mRNA accumulation in Barrington's nucleus after stress. The results suggest that the benzodiazepine, CDP, suppresses stress-induced pituitary adrenal activation at least in part through inhibition of CRF production in the PVN. The CRF systems in the PVN and Barrington's nucleus, which we reported earlier as varying in their sensitivity to glucocorticoids, also differ with respect to their responses to benzodiazepines.
Improved loading of an optical dipole trap by suppression of radiative escape

We investigate two-body loss in an optical dipole trap for ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms. In the presence of additional near-resonant light, such as from a magneto-optical trap during the trap loading, the two-body loss is strongly enhanced by long-range radiative escape. We suppressed this loss by a factor of 15 by adding a sideband to the optical dipole trap laser. This allows more atoms to be loaded into the optical dipole trap.
U2 as well as U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins are involved in premessenger RNA splicing

Two different experimental approaches have provided evidence that both U2 and U1 snRNPs function in pre-mRNA splicing. When the U2 snRNPs in a nuclear extract are selectively degraded using ribonuclease H and either of two deoxyoligonucleotides complementary to U2 RNA, splicing activity is abolished. Mixing an extract in which U2 has been degraded with one in which U1 has been degraded recovers activity. Use of anti-(U2)RNP autoantibodies demonstrates that U2 snRNPs associate with the precursor RNA during in vitro splicing. At 60 min, but not at 0 min, into the reaction intron fragments that include the branch-point sequence are immunoprecipitated by anti-(U2)RNP. At all times, U1 snRNPs bind the 5' splice site of the pre-mRNA. Possible interactions of the U2 snRNP with the U1 snRNP and with the pre-mRNA during splicing are considered.
Chemical equilibration of the Earth's core and upper mantle

The oxygen fugacity (fO2) of the Earth's upper mantle appears to lie somewhat above that of the iron-wustite buffer, its fO2 is assumed to have been similar to the present value at the time of core formation. In the upper mantle, the Fe-rich liquid protocore that would form under such conditions of fO2 at elevated temperatures would lie predominantly in the system Fe-S-O. Distribution coefficients for Co, Cu, Ni, Ir, Au, Ir, W, Re, Mo, Ag and Ga between such liquids and basalt are known and minimum values are known for Ge. From these coefficients, upper mantle abundances for the above elements can be calculated by assuming cosmic abundances for the whole Earth and equilibrium between the Fe-S-O protocore and upper mantle. These calculated abundances are surprisingly close to presently known upper mantle abundances; agreements are within a factor of 5, except for Cu, W, and Mo. Therefore, siderophile element abundances in the upper mantle based on known distribution coefficients do not demand a late-stage meteoritic bombardment, and a protocore formed from the upper mantle containing S and O seems likely. As upper mantle abundances fit a local equilibrium model, then either the upper mantle has not been mixed with the rest of the mantle since core formation, or else partition coefficients between protocore and mantle were similar for the whole mantle regardless of P, T, and fO2. The latter possibility seems unlikely over such a P-T range.
Research consultation effectiveness for freshman and senior undergraduate students

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of library research consultations for freshmen and senior undergraduate students, to determine if freshmen or seniors benefit more from these sessions. Design/methodology/approach – This study looks at the results of a survey conducted with students enrolled in a senior level capstone research course and in a freshman level composition course who were required to attend library research consultations. Findings – The study finds that freshman students can be overwhelmed by the amount of resources a research consultation may help them locate, and research consultations for freshmen should be conducted with this in mind. Research limitations/implications – Because the size of our study was small, further research with a larger sample size should also be conducted. Practical implications – If librarians experience high demand for required research consultations, and have difficulty scheduling sessions, then they may take into consideration that s...
EPS bead fusion effects on fold defect formation in lost foam casting of aluminum alloys

The effects of bead fusion in the polymer pattern on fold defect formation in castings produced by the lost foam process have been investigated. Castings of aluminum alloy 319.1 were produced with commercial patterns that were molded with varying levels of bead fusion. Each casting was broken into over 40 pieces to identify the fold defect on the fracture surface. The results indicate that castings produced with patterns with high bead fusion exhibit a greater number and a larger area of folds than parts obtained by using foams with low bead fusion.
NONSPECULATIVE BUBBLES IN EXPERIMENTAL ASSET MARKETS: LACK OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE OF RATIONALITY VS. ACTUAL IRRATIONALITY

We report the results of an experiment designed to study the role of speculation in the formation of bubbles and crashes in laboratory asset markets. In a setting in which speculation is not possible, bubbles and crashes are observed. The results suggest that the departures from fundamental values are not caused by the lack of common knowledge of rationality leading to speculation, but rather by behavior that itself exhibits elements of irrationality. Much of the trading activity that accompanies bubble formation, in markets where speculation is possible, is due to the fact that there is no other activity available for participants in the experiment.
Mechanisms of rapid sensory hair-cell death following co-administration of gentamicin and ethacrynic acid

Concurrent administration of a high dose of gentamicin (GM; 125mg/kg IM) and ethacrynic acid (EA; 40mg/kg IV) results in rapid destruction of virtually all cochlear hair cells; however, the cell death signaling pathways underlying this rapid form of hair-cell degeneration are unclear. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying GM/EA-mediated cell death, several key cell death markers were assessed in the chinchilla cochlea during the early stages of degeneration. In the middle and basal turns of the cochlea, massive hair-cell loss including destruction of the stereocilia and cuticular plate occurred 12h after GM/EA treatment. Condensation and fragmentation of outer hair-cell nuclei, morphological features of apoptosis, were first observed 5-6h post-treatment in the basal turn of the cochlea. Metabolic function, reflected by succinate dehydrogenase histochemistry and mitochondrial staining, decreased significantly in the basal turn 4h following GM/EA treatment; these early changes were accompanied by the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol and intense expression of initiator caspase-9 and effector caspase-3. GM/EA failed to induce expression of extrinsic initiator caspase-8. These results suggest that the rapid loss of hair cells following GM/EA treatment involves cell death pathways mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction leading to the release of cytochrome c, activation of initiator caspase-9 and effector caspase-3.
The isolation of an EDTA-soluble phosphoprotein from mineralizing bovine dentin.

Abstract A soluble non-collagenous phosphoprotein has been isolated from the EDTA extracts of unerupted bovine dentin. The phosphoprotein was purified by a combination of molecular seive and ion-exchange chromatography and was homogenous by the criteria of acrylamide gel disc electrophoresis at pH 8.6 and analytical ultracentrifugation in 0.5 M KCl. The phosphoprotein is present as approximately 0.024% of the total weight of undecalcified dried teeth. The phosphoprotein is unusual in that it has an A 260 nm / A 280 nm ratio greater than 1. From the ratio of sedimentation and diffusion coefficients an approximate molecular weight of 39 000 was determined. The phosphoprotein is a conjugated protein, with the protein moiety accounting for only approx. 50% of the total. A striking feature of the protein portion is its high content of aspartic acid, serine and serine phosphate. These three residues account for approximately 75% of the protein moiety. Another interesting constituent is hydroxylysine, present as approx. 10 residues per 1000 amino acid residues, while no hydroxyproline is present. The phosphoprotein is also of interest because of the apparent identity of its protein moiety with that previously found covalently attached to dentin collagen.
U.S. Private and Natural Gas Royalties: Estimates and Policy Consideration

Widespread ownership of oil and natural gas resources by private individuals, which is unique to the United States, entitles those citizens to a share of the proceeds from production. This share is typically specified as a royalty rate in leases with producers that is based on gross revenues from production. To our knowledge, no information regarding the magnitude of private income from this source has been published previously. We develop estimates that partially fill this gap in our knowledge. Focusing on onshore resources in the continental United States, we determine that the share of total oil and natural gas production attributable to privately-owned minerals has been approximately 75 percent in recent years. We then estimate private royalty rates and income. We find that average private royalty rates in recent years were 13.5 percent for oil and 11.8 percent for natural gas and that private royalty income from oil and gas production was $21-22 billion in 2011 and 2012. We then consider a number of current policy issues upon which our estimates have bearing. These include exports of liquefied natural gas and crude oil, effects of refinery and pipeline constraints, state and federal tax policy, and regulation of technology.
All science is interdisciplinary — from magnetic moments to molecules to men

Historically, the record is clear. Chemistry, for example, was cobbled together from mystical alchemy, metallurgy, physics, mineralogy, medicine, and cookery, eliminating incompatibilities as it evolved and consolidated into a more-or-less unified discipline. Physics has been formed, and enriched, by contributions from astronomy, mechanics, mathematics, chemistry, and other sciences. We have recently observed the rationalization of much of biology by chemistry, with the help of physics. Nuclear magnetic resonance began within physics, at a confluence among particle physics, condensed matter physics, spectroscopy, and electromagnetics. Discovery of ways to observe the subtle properties of atomic nuclei in solids, liquids, and eventually gases, earned Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1952. Applications to studies of molecular motions and structures began almost immediately. The discoverers themselves, it is told, even used their own bodies as samples. In an early predecessor to MRI, Jay Singer measured blood flow in a human arm, and actual medical measurements were started when Erich Odeblad, a Swedish M.D., constructed apparatus and devised methods to study very small quantities of human secretions for medical purposes. Other biological studies followed, in other labs, using animal tissues, including hearts, and entire small animals. In 1971, Raymond Damadian observed that some malignant tissue, obtained from implanted tumors removed from rats, had longer NMR relaxation times than many normal tissues. This observation caught the attention of several people, and Hollis decided to attempt to confirm and extend it by a study of a related system, Morris hepatomas in rats, readily available to him at Johns Hopkins University. At one point, a post-doctoral fellow in his labo
The rise and fall of the factory system: technology, firms, and households since the industrial revolution A comment

Abstract The factory system, which arose with the British Industrial Revolution, was responsible for bringing about the separation of the location of consumption (the household) and that of production (the plant or office). This separation has had large effects on economic welfare. The reasons behind the emergence of the factory system are analyzed here, and a new interpretation is proposed, based on the need to divide up the growing knowledge base of production in an age of technological advances. The possibilities and implications of telecommuting as a reversal of this trend are examined.
A Worker-Centered Information System A Laboratory Study

A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effects of a microcomputer-based information system upon worker decisions and client equity. Twenty-five student social workers, randomly assigned to three experimental groups and one control group, assessed twenty-five client profiles and awarded each client a number of hours of service. Both the effects of the assessment guidelines (CAG) and the information system (PAI) were analyzed. Findings indicated that (1) the CAG did not, by itself, increase equity, (2) the PAI, when used prior to decision-making, achieved program objectives, and (3) did not lead to blind conformity to group norms, to inflated awards, or biased assessments.
Development of an efficient E. coli expression and purification system for a catalytically active, human Cullin3-RINGBox1 protein complex and elucidation of its quaternary structure with Keap1

Research highlights: {yields} A novel expression strategy was used to purify Cul3-Rbx1 from E. coli. {yields} The Cul3-Rbx1 complex is fully active and catalyzes ubiquitination of Nrf2 in vitro. {yields} Cul3, Rbx1, and Keap1 form a complex with unique stoichiometry of 1:1:2. -- Abstract: The Cullin3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complex is thought to play an important role in the cellular response to oxidative stress and xenobiotic assault. While limited biochemical studies of the ligase's role in these complex signaling pathways are beginning to emerge, structural studies are lagging far behind due to the inability to acquire sufficient quantities of full-length, highly pure and active Cullin3. Here we describe the design and construction of an optimized expression and purification system for the full-length, human Cullin3-RINGBox 1 (Rbx1) protein complex from Escherichia coli. The dual-expression system is comprised of codon-optimized Cullin3 and Rbx1 genes co-expressed from a single pET-Duet-1 plasmid. Rapid purification of the Cullin3-Rbx1 complex is achieved in two steps via an affinity column followed by size-exclusion chromatography. Approximately 15 mg of highly pure and active Cullin3-Rbx1 protein from 1 L of E. coli culture can be achieved. Analysis of the quaternary structure of the Cullin3-Rbx1 and Cullin3-Rbx1-Keap1 complexes by size-exclusionmore » chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation indicates a 1:1 stoichiometry for the Cullin3-Rbx1 complex (MW = 111 kDa), and a 1:1:2 stoichiometry for the Cullin3-Rbx1-Keap1 complex (MW = 280 kDa). This latter complex has a novel quaternary structural organization for cullin E3 ligases, and it is fully active based on an in vitro Cullin3-Rbx1-Keap1-Nrf2 ubiquitination activity assay that was developed and optimized in this study.« less
Lucas-Kanade Optical Flow estimation on the TI C66x digital signal processor

Optical flow is a computer vision operation that seeks to calculate the apparent motion of features across two consecutive frames of a video sequence. It is an important constituent kernel in many automated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance applications. Different optical flow algorithms represent points in the trade off space of accuracy and cost, but in general all are extremely computationally expensive. In this paper we describe an implementation and tuning of the dense pyramidal Lucas-Kanade Optical Flow method on the Texas Instruments C66x, a 10 Watt embedded digital signal processor (DSP). By using aggressive manual optimization, we achieve 90% of its peak theoretical floating point throughput, resulting in an energy efficiency that is 8.2X that of a modern Intel CPU and 2.0X that of a modern NVIDIA GPU. We believe this is a major step toward the ability to deploy mobile systems that are capable of complex computer vision applications, and real-time optical flow in particular.
Satellite-derived vegetation index and cover type maps for estimating carbon dioxide flux for arctic tundra regions

The spatial variability and co-variability of two different types of remote sensing derivatives that portray vegetation and geomorphic patterns are analyzed in the context of estimating regional-scale CO2 flux from land surfaces in the arctic tundra, For a study area encompassing the Kuparuk River watershed of the North Slope of Alaska, we compare satellite-derived maps of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) generated at two different spatial resolutions to a map of vegetation types derived by image classification of data from the Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS). Mean values of NDVI for each cover type stratum are unique (with the exception of moist acidic tundra and shrubland types), Based on analysis of semi-variograms generated for SPOT-NDVI data, most of the vegetation cover and landform features of this arctic tundra landscape have spatial dimensions of less than 1 km. Thaw lakes on the coastal plain and glacial depositional landforms, such as moraines in the foothills, seem to be the largest features, with vegetation units having dimensions no larger than 700 m. Frequency distributions of NDVI and vegetation types extracted for sampling transects flown by an aircraft sensing CO2 flux, relative to distributions for the entire Kuparuk River watershed, suggest a slight sampling bias towards greater cover of mesic wet sedge tundra and thaw lakes and associated lower NDVI values. The regional pattern of NDVI for the North Slope of Alaska corresponds primarily to differences between the two major physiographic provinces of this region. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
The suppression of charged-particle-induced noise in infrared detectors

A d.c.-coupled transimpedance amplifier/pulse suppression circuit designed to remove charged-particle-induced noise from infrared detectors is described. Noise spikes produced by single particle events are large and have short rise times, and can degrade the performance of an infrared detector in moderate radiation environments. The use of the suppression circuit improves the signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of 1.6:1, which corresponds to a reduction in required observing time by a factor of about 2.6.
Chubby Cheeks and the Bloated Monster: The Politics of Reproduction in Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication

This article foregrounds a new context – natural and reproductive sciences – for interpreting Wollstonecraft's argument in The Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Wollstonecraft's language of fertility and sterility, which she links to the health of the state and to the perfection of the human species via the discourse of natural history, should be read in the contexts of important medical issues of her day, such as the widespread problem of venereal disease and the breastfeeding/wet nursing controversy. Tracing the moments in Vindication when Wollstonecraft employs these various branches of science, I demonstrate that Wollstonecraft makes two important strategic, although subtle, moves in her argument for gender equality. First, she reassesses the male body and its material effects on individuals, the nation, and the species. Secondly, although critics have charged her with essentialism, Wollstonecraft frequently implies that biology is culturally determined and, therefore, malleable.
Activation of human vascular cells decreases their expression of transforming growth factor-beta.

Objective Despite pro-fibrotic effects, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β prevents arteriosclerosis by suppressing effector leukocytes and promoting smooth muscle differentiation. However, previous observations of increased TGF-β expression in arteriosclerotic plaques are not consistent with that of an effective protective factor. We investigated the expression, regulation, and responses of TGF-β in human arterial tissues and cells.
Vitamin E Reduces Cisplatin Ototoxicity

Objectives/hypothesis Cisplatin ototoxicity is a major dose-limiting factor in the treatment of several neoplasms. Vitamin E, a slow-acting free radical scavenger, has been shown to ameliorate nephrotoxicity and endothelial cell damage in animals receiving cisplatin. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of vitamin E as an otoprotectant. Study design Prospective, randomized controlled trial in the rat model. Methods Wistar rats (weight, 261-386 g) were sedated using 172.4 mg/kg intramuscular ketamine and 3.4 mg/kg xylazine. Baseline auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing was performed in response to clicks and 8-, 16-, and 32-kHz tone bursts. After auditory thresholds were determined, the animals received intraperitoneal drug administration according to one of three group classifications. Group 1 received 4 g/kg vitamin E followed after 30 minutes by 16 mg/kg cisplatin. Group 2 received 6 mL/kg soybean oil followed after 30 minutes by cisplatin. Group 3 received soybean oil followed after 30 minutes by 16 mL/kg saline. After 3 days' follow-up, ABR testing was performed and threshold changes were recorded. Cochleae were removed and processed for scanning electron microscopy after follow-up auditory testing was carried out. Results Group 2 animals showed marked hearing loss with average threshold shifts of 28.75 +/- 2.3 dB for clicks, 30.0 +/- 1.9 dB at 8 kHz, 21.25 +/- 4.0 dB at 16 kHz, and 45.0 +/- 4.2 dB at 32 kHz. No significant loss was observed in group 3 with shifts of 2 +/- 1.3 dB, 3 +/-3.0 dB, -2.2 +/- 3.1 dB, and -1.1 +/- 4.0 dB for clicks and tone bursts at 8, 16, and 32 kHz, respectively. Significant protection was seen in group 1 animals compared with group 2 animals. In the former group, threshold shifts of 12.5 +/- 3.1 dB for clicks, 7.5 +/- 2.5 dB at 8 kHz, 5.0 +/- 3.3 dB at 16 kHz, and 24.4 +/- 5.6 dB at 32 kHz were observed. These findings were supported by the scanning electron microscope observations that severe outer hair cell destruction occurred in group 2 rats, whereas outer hair cells were preserved to a much greater extent in the cochleae of rats in group 1 that were pretreated with vitamin E. Conclusion Vitamin E appears to have a protective effect against cisplatin ototoxicity.
The Effect of Bias on Estimators of Relative Risk for Pair-Matched and Stratified Samples

Abstract Monte Carlo methods are employed to compare the effectiveness of pair-matched and independent stratified samples for estimating relative risk in the presence of bias. Three approximations to the maximum likelihood estimator for stratified samples suggested by Woolf, Mantel and Haenszel and Birch, respectively [25, 17, 2], are also compared. The sampling model is modified to approximate the practical choices for a researcher and to allow for the loss of unmatchable sample units. The mean square error is always largest for the matched-pairs estimator, while of the stratified estimators, Woolf's consistently produces the smallest MSE, equaled only by Birch's when the samples are equal.
ASPECTS OF COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT IN SELECTED MEXICAN AND PERUVIAN FIRMS

Mexico and Peru are both striving for economic development, and in doing so, they are trying to use management styles that will achieve their goals. This study is a comparison of selected management styles in these two countries with regard to planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling, as these companies attempt to become more competitive in the world economy.
Multifunctional Hierarchically Assembled Nanostructures as Complex Stage-Wise Dual-Delivery Systems for Coincidental Yet Differential Trafficking of siRNA and Paclitaxel

Development of multifunctional nanostructures that can be tuned to codeliver multiple drugs and diagnostic agents to diseased tissues is of great importance. Hierarchically assembled theranostic (HAT) nanostructures based on anionic cylindrical shell cross-linked nanoparticles and cationic shell cross-linked knedel-like nanoparticles (cSCKs) have recently been developed by our group to deliver siRNA intracellularly and to undergo radiolabeling. In the current study, paclitaxel, a hydrophobic anticancer drug, and siRNA have been successfully loaded into the cylindrical and spherical components of the hierarchical assemblies, respectively. Cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and intracellular delivery mechanism of the HAT nanostructures and their individual components have been investigated. Decoration of nanoparticles with F3-tumor homing peptide was shown to enhance the selective cellular uptake of the spherical particles, whereas the HAT nanoassemblies underwent an interesting disassembly process in contact wi...
Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patients with Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Practitioners

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices provided to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, provider experience in HIV disease, patients' characteristics, provider perceptions of treatment effectiveness, and feasibility and interest in future studies. Design: Mailed survey. Participants: 117 providers, recruited from professional associations and conferences, who offer CAM therapies to HIV-infected individuals. Outcome measures: Provider credentials, patient descriptors, treatments prescribed and their perceived effectiveness, health service information, medical information charted, and research participation capability and interest. Results: Providers are treating patients at all stages of HIV disease with a variety of CAM practices, claiming a mean of 6.5 years of HIV disease treatment experience and 105 HIV-positive patients in treatment per provider (solo practice or clinic). Eighty percent of respondents report holding state licenses ...
Individual Differences in Response to the Struggle for the Liberation of People of African Descent.

In the personality literature, a variety of perspectives exist on the psychology of people of African descent. Early psychological thought and research in this area was embedded in a reactive and restricted mode. Specifically, the research focus was on the debilitating effects of racism, discrimination, and prejudice on the psychological makeup of African Americans (Mosby, 1972; Pettigrew, 1964; Morland, 1978). While, on another level, other investigators (Parker and Kleiner, 1966; Mischel, 1961) assumed or accepted that Black people's personality, motivational, and behavioral deficits represented the effects of their proximal cultural environment. The post civil rights period spawned the emergence of a somewhat different reactive approach to psychological inquiry. In this era, analysts have been examining the movement's effects on the psychology of Blacks. Here, the emphasis has been on looking at the development of racial awareness, racial identity, and racial pride in African Americans (Cross, 1971; Thomas, 1971; Toldson and Pasteur, 1975; Dansby, 1980). In the early 1970s, several social and behavioral scientists (White, 1970; Akbar, 1973; Baldwin, 1976; Nobles, 1976, among others), argued that traditional psychology was responsible for establishing the assumption of Black inferiority, but failed to pro-
Identification, Isolation, and Cloning of a Bacillus thuringiensis CryIAc Toxin-binding Protein from the Midgut of the Lepidopteran Insect Heliothis virescens

Bacillus thuringiensis toxins are insecticidal to a variety of insect species. The selectivity of the toxins produced by these bacteria is dependent on both the toxin structure and the receptor sites that are present in different insect species. One of these toxins, CryIAc, is highly insecticidal to the noctuid pest Heliothis virescens. Using toxin overlay assay, a 120-kDa glycoprotein was identified as a toxin-binding protein. This protein was partially purified, its N-terminal sequence was determined, and the full-length cDNA encoding this protein was isolated from a H. virescens midgut library. The B. thuringiensis toxin-binding protein, BTBP1, has high homology to aminopeptidase N from eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
Myocardial ischemia complicating the use of isoproterenol in asthmatic children

MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA has not been reported previously in pediatric patients treated for status asthmaticus with either intravenous or aerosolized isoproterenol. We report myocardial ischemia as a complication following currently recommended doses of intravenous isoproterenol in an adolescent who apparently had no underlying coronary artery disease.
Anthropometric Measures and Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Results From the Nurses' Health Study

Epidemiologic evaluations of the relationship between anthropometry and ovarian cancer risk have not been conclusive. Using data collected from two large cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII, we prospectively evaluated the association between waist and hip circumference, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and BMI with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Women completed biennial questionnaires assessing ovarian cancer risk factors beginning in 1976 (NHS) and 1989 (NHSII). For the WHR and BMI analyses, 333 and 862 confirmed cases were identified, respectively, through 1 June 2006 (NHS) and 1 June 2005 (NHSII). WHR and waist circumference were not associated with risk (P-trend = 0.63 and 0.65, respectively). There was evidence for a decreased risk with increasing hip circumference among postmenopausal women (P-trend = 0.03), but a suggestive positive association among premenopausal women (P-trend = 0.04) (P-interaction = 0.01). The hazard ratios (HRs) comparing the highest vs. lowest quintile of hip circumference among pre- and postmenopausal women were 1.54 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.45-5.23) and 0.66 (95%CI = 0.37-1.16), respectively. BMI was not clearly associated with risk in pre- or postmenopausal women. Results from this large prospective study suggest that hip circumference could be a possible risk factor for premenopausal ovarian cancer, but may reduce risk of postmenopausal ovarian cancer. The differential effect of hip circumference based on menopausal status requires further confirmation.
Zinc concentration of navy bean seed as affected by rate and placement of three zinc sources

Abstract Increased zinc (Zn) concentration in seed may sometimes improve human health. The influence of rate and placement of three Zn sources (ZnEDTA, ZnSO4, and Rayplex‐Zn) on Zn concentration in navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed grown on a Calciaquoll was studied in the greenhouse. Application of 4 and 8 mg Zn/kg mixed throughout the soil increased seed Zn concentration by approximately 60 and 68%, respectively, and the responses were similar with the three Zn sources. The mixed‐throughout‐the‐soil ZnEDTA, ZnSO4, and Rayplex‐Zn treatments applied at 8 mg Zn/kg reduced seed phosphorus (P) concentration by 10,13, and 15%, respectively. The corresponding reductions with 4 mg Zn/kg were 10, 8, and 13%, respectively. Banding ZnEDTA, ZnSO4, and Rayplex‐Zn at 4 mg Zn/kg in 17‐cm‐long, 3‐cm‐deep bands reduced seed Zn concentration by 8, 34, and 31 % compared to their mixed‐throughout‐the‐soil counterparts. A significant Zn source x placement interaction resulted from marked reduction in Zn uptake as a res...
Melting transition of submonolayer Ar adsorbed on graphite

Precision ac heat-capacity scans of submonolayer Ar on Graphite Foam exhibit a liquidvapor anomaly near 55 K, a small, sharp, coverage-independent peak at 47.2 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.2 K, and a broad anomaly near 49.5 K. The 47.2-K peak suggests that the Ar overlayer melts via a "weak" first-order (rather than continuous) transition. The 49.5-K anomaly appears to be related to the gradual decrease of correlation (possibly substrate-induced orientational order) that exists in the liquid phase.
A note on mid-ocean internal tides

Abstract Lunar internal tides are in random phase relative to the tide-producing forces, probably because of the variable thermal structure, and account for an incoherent (and thus unpredictable) component of roughly 1 cm in surface-tide records.
Undulatory swimming with and without waves of contraction.

IT HAS been accepted generally that the waves of bending observed in swimming vertebrates are produced by contraction on the concave side of each bend of the body at any point within the cycle of movement1–3. “Waves of contraction” are imagined to pass down the serial mytomes with the velocity of the propagated bends. Another concept, designed primarily to explain snake locomotion4, differs by a 90° shift in the timing of contraction on the bending wave, accounting for propulsion but resulting in illogical analysis of fish movement5. The former interpretation gives no explanation of the source of locomotory thrust, assuming falsely that the muscular activity required for a given body position is similar whether the position is held or passed through in locomotion. The dominant responsibility of locomotory activity is the propagation rather than the formation of bends, but how is propagation achieved against external resistance? Relevant electromyography of spinal dogfish6,7 has not been related to this mechanical problem. I present here a preliminary report of electromyographic studies of developmental stages of the palmate newt, Triturus helveticus (Razoumowsky), and adult tench, Tinca tinca L., which show that undulatory propulsion in some animals does not involve waves of contraction and that the “waves” recorded in others function in reducing lateral oscillation anteriorly and adapting tail flexibility to different swimming speeds.
The American Experience with Hazardous Waste Management

The United States created a fund in 1980 to clean up hazardous wastes contaminating the environment and to seek out and clean up abandoned dumping sites that harbour hazardous materials. Many of these locations are not known at this time, and others are as much as one hundred years old. The amount of money actually needed to accomplish the goals of legislation is merely speculation. The Of fice of Technology Assessment estimates that dealing with the most critical 10, 000 sites will cost US$100 billion.The impact of hazardous wastes on the public health of surrounding communities is interpreted with caution. Of the 900 hazardous waste dump sites receiving priority attention by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only 20 have been studied for effects on human health. No prospective study has been initiated among affected populations yet. Federal laws and most state laws do not provide a mechanism for compensating individuals who have developed illnesses from environmental exposures to hazardous wast...
Selling Hong Kong to China - What Happened to the Right of Self-Determination?

I wish to offer in this brief Article some observations about the legal character of the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. Specifically, I address the question of whether that transfer is consistent with the "right of self-determination" as it currently stands in international law. I conclude with two competing propositions. Either the Hong Kong case shows a blatant disregard for the right of self-determination, or the Hong Kong case illustrates a fundamental limitation – perhaps fatal limitation – to which the right of self-determination is subject. In either event, I agree with the handful of commentators who have criticized both the British government and the United Nations for not openly addressing the issue of self-determination in the context of Hong Kong.
Neutron Yields from Stopping- and Near-Stopping-Length Targets for 256-MeV Protons

Absolute neutron yields at angles of 30, 60, 120, and 150 deg for the 256-MeV proton bombardment of elemental carbon, aluminum, and iron and of depleted uranium were measured. We used time-of-fligh...
Programming Patterns for Architecture-Level Software Optimizations on Frequent Pattern Mining

One very important application in the data mining domain is frequent pattern mining. Various authors have worked on improving the efficiency of this computation, mostly focusing on algorithm-level improvement. More recent work has explored architecture specific optimizations of this computation. Our goal in this paper is to provide a systematic approach to architecture-level software optimizations by identifying applicable tuning patterns. We show the generality and effectiveness of these patterns by tuning several frequent pattern mining algorithms and showing significant performance improvements.
Financial Instruments to Weatherproof Corporate Earnings

THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS 95 I t is estimated that nearly 20% of the U.S. economy is directly affected by weather.* Just as the risk in interest rates, equities, and foreign exchange can be hedged through the use of options and futures, now there are tools to manage risk arising from extreme movements in weather. Since the launch of Chicago Mercantile Exchange temperature-related weather derivatives contracts in 1999, these risk management products represent today’s fastest-growing derivative market. The Weather Risk Management Association (www.wrma.org) website provides an open forum for weather risk management industry participants to address the issues, allows them to network among their peers, announces yearly WRMA’s annual conference, and provides a gateway of information for the general public in this burgeoning field of risk management. The site also addresses matters related to weather risk management in Europe, Asia, and South America. The WRMA website is organized into five sections. The first part introduces the WRMA and its goals, highlights current trends in the industry, and calls attention to forthcoming conferences. The second part explains the concept of weather risk management and the reasons to hedge not only the unit price variation but also the unit volume variance, and describes the weather risk management product class including caps, floors, collars, and swaps. The third part provides information on how to become a member, as well as a list of members, and points up benefits of membership such as receiving a free WRMA newsletter, enjoying discounts on books and magazines published by Risk Publications, and participating in member-only committees. The case studies shed light on the benefits of weather derivatives by using concrete examples. The “industry news” section, the fourth part, includes a long list of links to reports and newswires on other websites. The last section provides links to related sites such as the National Center for Environmental Prediction and Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies. The weather risk management arena is constantly changing. By the time you read this review, in addition to existing monthly futures and options on futures weather contracts, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange will have introduced seasonal weather contracts covering May through September for summer and November through March for winter for three cities in the United States starting May 26, 2003. The WRMA website is the starting point for risk managers who want to discover the new tools available to hedge the weather risks on corporate earnings.