cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term behavioral effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in rats

Two studies were conducted to examine the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on ambulation and head-dipping behavior of rats. The apparatus was a modified "open field" that contained holes in the floor where an animal could "dip" its head. Animals were tested under conditions in which another animal was present in the adjacent box, or the adjacent box was empty. In the first study, 18-month-old rats, prenatally exposed to alcohol, ambulated more and made more head dips than controls when tested with an empty adjacent test box; when there was another animal in the adjacent box, animals prenatally exposed to alcohol did not differ from controls. In the second study, all rats were tested with the adjacent box empty. In this study, 8-month-old rats, prenatally exposed to alcohol, did not ambulate significantly more but did make significantly more head dips than controls. These results indicate that prenatal alcohol exposure has long-term effects on behavior and that some tests (head-dipping) are affected more reliably than others (ambulation). The results also suggest that test conditions may mask these differences.
Regulation of developing dopaminergic axonal arbor size in three-dimensional reaggregate tissue culture.

The role of target availability in determining axonal size of the developing dopaminergic neuron was examined in three-dimensional reaggregate culture in which these neurons undergo normal neurochemical and morphological development. The ratio of striatal target cells to dopaminergic neurons was systematically increased from 2:1 to 50:1 (striatal to mesencephalic cells). These ratios provide sufficient target for quantitative survival of dopaminergic neurons similar to that seen in vivo. After 3 weeks in culture, dopamine levels increased linearly and proportionally to dopaminergic cell number over a 25-fold relative increase in target cell availability. The amount of neurotransmitter per dopaminergic cell remained constant, suggesting that the axonal arbor did not increase as a function of target availability. This conclusion was directly tested by morphological analysis of the dopaminergic axonal arbor in single aggregates containing between 0 and 45 dopaminergic cells under conditions in which sufficient target was not a factor in dopaminergic cell survival. As was the case with respect to dopamine concentration, axonal arbor size per cell remained constant in the face of increasing target availability. Thus, availability of target cells under these conditions, is not, per se, the limiting factor on the rate of growth of the developing dopaminergic axonal arbor. J. Comp. Neurol. 384:349–358, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On computing all north-east nearest neighbors in the L1 metric

Abstract Given a collection of n points in the plane, we exhibit an algorithm that computes the nearest neighbor in the north-east (first quadrant) of each point, in the L1 metric. By applying a suitable transformation to the input points, the same procedure can be used to compute the L1 nearest neighbor in any given octant of each point. This is the basis of an algorithm for computing the minimum spanning tree of the n points in the L1 metric. All three algorithms run in O(n lg n) total time and O(n) space.
Varenicline for opioid withdrawal in patients with chronic pain: A randomized, single-blinded, placebo controlled pilot trial

Abstract Background and objectives The objectives of this randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial were to investigate the effects of varenicline on opioid withdrawal among chronic pain patients undergoing opioid detoxification in an interdisciplinary pain program and the feasibility of varenicline use in this population. Methods Twenty-one patients were recruited (varenicline = 10, placebo = 11), and 7 patients in the varenicline and 11 in the placebo group completed the study. Opioid withdrawal was quantified using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale, and varenicline-related adverse effects were assessed. Results Opioid withdrawal scores tended to decrease over the course of opioid tapering in those receiving varenicline and increase in those receiving placebo. Varenicline was well-tolerated in this population, with no adverse drug effects (including nausea) observed and no effect on improvements in pain severity and depression. Conclusions This randomized pilot study provides preliminary data for future trials of varenicline in opioid-dependent adults with chronic pain undergoing medically directed opioid detoxification.
Changes in freeze-fractured nuclei after renal ischemia and reflow in the rat.

Abstract Renal ischemia in the rat caused a 50% decrease in the number of nuclear pores per μm 2 in freeze-fractured nuclei from the inner cortex after 20-, 60-, and 120-min ischemia and caused marked aggregation of membrane-intercalated particles in the concave fracture of the outer membrane. When 20-min ischemia, which causes reversible damage to the inner cortex of the rat kidney, was followed by 60- or 120-min reflow of blood, the pore count increased and particle aggregation in the outer membrane was partially reversed. After 240-min reflow the pore count returned to control numbers and the particles became disaggregated. When 60-min renal ischemia, which causes irreversible damage to the inner cortex, was followed by 60-, 120-, and 240-min reflow, the pore counts did not return to control numbers and the particles in the outer membrane only partially disaggregated. These changes in the nuclear envelope are postulated to be caused by functional changes in the ischemic kidney.
The 15q11.2 BP1–BP2 Microdeletion Syndrome: A Review

Patients with the 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion can present with developmental and language delay, neurobehavioral disturbances and psychiatric problems. Autism, seizures, schizophrenia and mild dysmorphic features are less commonly seen. The 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion involving four genes (i.e., TUBGCP5, CYFIP1, NIPA1, NIPA2) is emerging as a recognized syndrome with a prevalence ranging from 0.57%-1.27% of patients presenting for microarray analysis which is a two to four fold increase compared with controls. Review of clinical features from about 200 individuals were grouped into five categories and included developmental (73%) and speech (67%) delays; dysmorphic ears (46%) and palatal anomalies (46%); writing (60%) and reading (57%) difficulties, memory problems (60%) and verbal IQ scores ≤75 (50%); general behavioral problems, unspecified (55%) and abnormal brain imaging (43%). Other clinical features noted but not considered as common were seizures/epilepsy (26%), autism spectrum disorder (27%), attention deficit disorder (ADD)/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (35%), schizophrenia/paranoid psychosis (20%) and motor delay (42%). Not all individuals with the deletion are clinically affected, yet the collection of findings appear to share biological pathways and presumed genetic mechanisms. Neuropsychiatric and behavior disturbances and mild dysmorphic features are associated with genomic imbalances of the 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 region, including microdeletions, but with an apparent incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.
Patient beliefs about epilepsy and brain surgery in a multicultural urban population

We assessed beliefs about epilepsy and brain surgery and the use of alternative epilepsy treatments in a culturally diverse population of people with epilepsy (PWE). Data were obtained from a structured questionnaire administered to 109 PWE treated at a single epilepsy center. Patients were born in 17 countries on five continents. Most patients identified culturally with the Caribbean (41%), United States (39%), or Latin America (9%). Sixty-nine percent of patients endorsed at least one of five stigma-related questions, and 77% used at least one alternative epilepsy treatment. Brain surgery was rated as having a mean dangerousness of 8.3 (on a scale of 1 to 10) among the 94 patients with no history of neurosurgery. In addition, 51% of these patients would not consider surgical treatment even if it were guaranteed to stop their seizures without causing deficits. Educational efforts aimed at reducing both the stigma associated with epilepsy and the fear of resective epilepsy surgery are needed.
Elderly Drug Use and Racial/Ethnic Populations

Abstract Substance use and misuse among racial/ethnic subgroups remains a much understudied area. This article summarizes recent data from national surveys (SAMHSA) recording prevalence and treatment rates for major ethnic/racial subgroups. The authors point to a concern about the higher prevalence and treatment rates of alcohol among older American Indians and Alaskan Natives, but warn that more precise estimates must be obtained. They also address the finding that older African Americans have higher prevalence and rates of treatment admissions for certain illicit drugs such as cocaine. They highlight the unique concerns for older African Americans as the largest minority group within the U. S. Finally, a research agenda for the twenty-first century is suggested which will stress emphasis on continued, careful analysis of the life course of substance use among racial/ethnic subgroups.
Vasopressin V2 Receptor Binding Is Down-Regulated during Renal Escape from Vasopressin-Induced Antidiuresis1

This study evaluated whether renal escape from vasopressin-induced antidiuresis is associated with alterations of vasopressin V2 receptor binding in the kidney inner medulla. A radioligand binding assay was developed using a novel iodinated vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist to analyze vasopressin V2 receptor binding in kidney inner medullary tissue from three groups of rats: normal rats maintained on ad libitum water intake, rats treated with 1-deamino-[8-d-arginine]vasopressin (DDAVP), and rats treated with DDAVP that were also water loaded to induce renal escape from antidiuresis. Analysis of the binding data showed that DDAVP treatment reduced vasopressin V2 receptor binding to 72% of normal levels. Water loading induced a marked further down-regulation of vasopressin V2 receptor binding. This receptor down-regulation began by day 2 of water loading, which correlated with the initiation of renal vasopressin escape; by day 3 of water loading, vasopressin V2 receptor expression fell to 43% of DDAVP-trea...
Quantum Correlation of Fiber based Photon-pair through Standard Loss and Random Media

We investigate the effect of standard loss and multiple scattering on fiber based photon-pairs. We observe that the existence of Raman photons in a fiber based photon-pair source increase depolarization effect in random media.
Quantification of DNA synthesis from different pathways in cultured human fibroblasts and myocytes

Abstract We have quantified DNA synthetic rates from different pathways in cultured cells using a new stable isotope technique. Human fibroblasts and myocytes were grown in culture media supplemented with [U- 13 C 6 ]glucose and [ 15 N]glycine. The cells were sampled daily from day 1 to day 5. A portion of the cells harvested at day 5 was subcultured for an additional 3 passages to reach isotopic plateau. In both cell types total DNA fractional synthetic rate (FSR) was found to agree closely with the rate of cell proliferation determined by cell counting (FSR = 0.94% · h −1 v 0.92% · h −1 for DNA synthesis and cell count, respectively, in myocytes and 0.85% · h −1 v 0.91% · h −1 for DNA synthesis and cell count, respectively, in fibroblasts). In fibroblasts the deoxyribonucleoside salvage pathway accounted for over 70% of total DNA synthesis. In myocytes the deoxyribonucleoside salvage pathway was minimal, whereas the de novo base synthesis pathway accounted for almost 80% of total DNA synthesis. We conclude that the contributions of various pathways to DNA synthesis are highly dependent on cell type. This new stable isotope technique can be modified for application in in vivo studies.
Generation of phosphodiesters during fast-to-slow muscle transformation A 31P-NMR study

During rabbit fast-to-slow twitch muscle transformation, in response to electrical stimulation, the compound glycerophosphocholine can be detected in these muscles by 31P-NMR. This compound is not detectable in contralateral control muscles but is present in slow twitch soleus.
Institute of Medicine. 2010. Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press

The recommended strategies put forth in this document are meant to set a new course for reducing our national sodium intake with an innovative and unprecedented approach that essentially mandates the gradual reduction in sodium levels in commercially and foodservice-prepared foods. It is the hope of the committee that this incremental stepwise reduction will allow consumers (across the lifespan) sufficient time to become accustomed to the taste of less savory foods, thus increasing the likelihood of sustainable consumer acceptance and substantial salt intake reduction. Only time will tell if these strategies are achievable on a national scale and whether they will translate into more optimal health of the American population.
Recovery of bacteria from broiler carcasses rinsed zero and twenty-four hours after immersion chilling

Microbiological sampling of processed broiler carcasses often relies on the technique of whole-carcass rinsing; however, the rinse sampling is sometimes done immediately after immersion chilling and sometimes as long as 24 h after immersion chilling. To test whether carcass rinses done immediately after chilling can be compared with rinses 24 h after chilling, 20 whole broiler carcasses exiting the chiller of a broiler processing plant were sampled on each of 3 d. All carcasses were bagged aseptically and rinsed for 1 min in 400 mL of sterile water. Recovered rinse liquid was poured into a sterile container, and rinsed carcasses were placed in clean plastic bags; all materials were held overnight at 4 degrees C. On the following day, all carcasses were rinsed again in 400 mL of sterile water as before, and all rinse samples were cultured by standard methods to enumerate coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter and to determine incidence of Salmonella. Statistical analysis used paired comparisons between the same carcasses rinsed at 0 and 24 h after chilling; numbers of bacteria were expressed as log cfu/mL of rinse. In 2 of 3 replications, significantly higher numbers of coliforms and E. coli were found in the rinse samples taken immediately after chilling vs. rinse samples done at 24 h. There were no differences in numbers of Campylobacter or incidence of Salmonella between rinses taken at 0 and 24 h. More study is required to determine whether whole-carcass rinse samples performed at 0 and 24 h after chilling are microbiologically equivalent.
Observing auroral storms on Saturn

Saturn's poles, like the Earth's, experience auroral storms when solar wind—streams of high-energy plasma—interacts with its magnetosphere. By using instruments aboard spacecraft, scientists have been able to study Saturn's auroras but are still far from understanding them completely.
Exploring the Role of Network Characteristics, Knowledge Quality, and Inertia on the Evolution of Scientific Networks

Despite decades of network research, the crucial question, “How do networks evolve?” has not been sufficiently explored. The authors explore this question by analyzing the co-authorship networks in the U.S. biotechnology firms. Building on network management and network inertia perspectives, the authors build a model predicting that the structural changes in the firms’ co-authorship networks are dependent on the specific characteristics of firms’ initial networks, the firm’s age and size. The authors then extend the model by incorporating a measure of the impact of the quality of the knowledge produced by the network ties using the prominence and inertia perspectives, which lead to the incorporation of competing hypotheses and moderating relationships in the model of scientific network evolution. The authors then test the model using longitudinal analysis of 367 U.S. biotechnology firms over a span of 17 years. The authors find that firms’ existing tie-specific characteristics in the form of a firm’s exis...
Simple suppression of radiation damping

Radiation damping is known to cause line-broadening and frequency shifts of strong resonances in NMR spectra. While several techniques exist for the suppression of these effects, many require specialized hardware, or are only compatible with the presence of few strong resonances. We describe a simple pulse sequence for radiation damping suppression in spectra with many strong resonances. The sequence can be used as-is to generate simple spectra or as a signal excitation part in more advanced experiments.
On generalized measures of realization in uncertain environments

We concern ourselves with the problem of determining the overall degree or measure of realization of an object based upon its occurrence in a collection of individual phenomena. We show that while probability is the classic measure of this type, it is but one of a whole family of possible such measures. We use the OWA operator to provide this family of measures. We investigate the situation in which our observations are both specific elements and subsets of some base set.
The effect of cytoxan, adriamycin, and cis-platinum on cervical, vaginal cytology.

Abstract One hundred and thirty-four cervical and vaginal smears were obtained from 51 patients receiving cyclophosphamide, doxorubincin, and cis -platinum. These drugs do not appear to cause dysplasia or significant atypia. Additionally, the Pap smear was not useful for the diagnosis of unexpected persistent or recurrent carcinoma of the ovary.
Significance of eczema in Paget's disease of the breast☆

Abstract The records of 108 patients with Paget's disease of the breast were reviewed. Patients were separated into two groups according to presence or absence of nipple eczema. Seventy-five patients were “nipple positive,” while the rest had “silent” or “negative” nipples. Axillary nodal involvement was found in 28% of patients with eczema and in 78% of patients belonging to the “silent” group (overall 41%). The 5-yr survival was 70 and 47.2% in the “positive” and “silent” groups, respectively (overall 63.6%). Patients with eczema were on the average, 8.7 yr older. The data corroborates our hypothesis that the presence or absence of an inflammatory response in the nipple to the Paget cells separates the patients into two prognostically different groups. Tumors eliciting an inflammatory response are associated with a protracted course, accounting for the superior prognosis in Paget's disease compared to breast cancer in general.
Constituent errors in assessing their Senators

We attempt to explain why some constitutents are well informed and others are poorly informed about the positions taken by their U.S. Senators. The acquisition of political information is modeled in a Bayesian framework. A constituent with virtually no information about a candidate assigns him an average position on a liberal/conservative spectrum. As more political information is acquired with more political involvement, the constituent shifts her prior toward the politician's actual position and thus has a smaller error in assessing positions taken by her representative. In the Bayesian framework, voters make larger errors in evaluating the records of party mavericks than of typical party members. The model is tested using data from the 1982 American National Election Study. Data on the respondent's perceived ideology of their Senators and their socioeconomic characteristics are combined with information on the Senators' actual ideology, length of time in the Senate, political party, and candidacy for re-election in 1982. The empirical analysis provides support for our predictions.
RISK PREFERENCES AS RELATED TO JUDGED CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE

Summary.-In order to explore why the most widely used measure of risk proneness (Choice-dilemmas Questionnaire) yields so much internal variation, its items were filled out in the usual manner and then in terms of how serious the consequences of failure would be in each case. Correlations between the usual risk recommendations, consequences of failure, and national norms for magnintde of risky shift suggested a positive relationship berween risk preference and degree of shift toward risk, a negative relationship between seriousness of consequences of failure and risk preference, and a negative relationship between seriousness of consequences and degree of shift toward risk. The findings suggest empirical and theoretical specificity for the speculation that different items engage different values.
A million little ways: racism and everyday performances of blackness in Buenos Aires

In spite of the reality of racism in Argentina, dominant Argentine society holds class as the most important factor in explaining social inequalities. I analyze everyday performances of blackness in Buenos Aires, Argentina and how these both corroborate with and contest dominant ideas about race. Even attitudes and behaviors that appear to uphold the racial hierarchy are, often upon deeper analysis, complex mechanisms of negotiation within a racist society. These performances range from very casual encounters on the street to literal interpretations including an audition for a TV commercial. I detail incidents of blacks who counter racist assumptions through their performance of identity as well as how racism influences and shapes these performances among Africans and Afro-descendants. The ethnographic evidence I gathered from my own exchanges as well as those of my research consultants challenges the notion of Argentina as a nation devoid of antiblack racism.
Program verification based on denotation semantics

A theory of partial correctness proofs is formulated in Scott's logic computable junctions. This theory allows mechanical construction of verification condition solely on the basis of a denotational language definition. Extensionally these conditions, the resulting proofs, and the required program augmentation are similar to those of Hoare style proofs; conventional input, output, and invariant assertions in a first order assertion language are required. The theory applies to almost any sequential language defined by a continuation semantics; for example, there are no restrictions on aliasing or side-effects. Aspects of "static semantics",such as type and declaration constraints, which are expressed in the denotational definition are validated as part of the verification condition generation process.
Theoretical detection limit of saturated absorption cavity ring-down spectroscopy (SCAR) and two-photon absorption cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Giusfredi et al. (Phys Rev Lett 104, 110801, 2010), have developed a new approach to cavity ring-down spectroscopy where a saturable sample absorption is determined simultaneously with the cavity loss, providing immunity to changes in cavity loss, thereby allowing for lower analyte detection limit. This paper presents an error analysis that provides predictions of the ultimate sensitivity limits that can be realized with this detection method. In particular, the sensitivity is strongly dependent upon the initial degree of saturation of the sample, and optimal values for this are determined both for photon detector and shot-noise-limited detection of both inhomogeneous and homogeneous broadened spectroscopic lines. Also presented are sensitivity limits expected for two-photon absorption spectroscopy determined by cavity ring-down spectroscopy.
Acyltransferase activities in adult rat type II pneumocyte-derived subcellular fractions

Abstract 1. 1. Acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylcholine, acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidylcholine: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferases were investigated using subcellular fractions derived from adult rat type II pneumocytes in primary culture. Acyl-CoA: lysophospholipid acyltransferase activities were determined to be microsomal, while lysophosphatidylcholine: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity was found to be cytosolic. Total palmitoyl CoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity was 30-fold greater than lysophosphatidylcholine: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity, indicating that the former enzyme is more important in the synthesis of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. 2. 2. Palmitoyl-CoA and oleoyl-CoA lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activities were approximately equal under optimal substrate conditions. Specific activities of the enzyme using arachidoyl-CoA and arachidonoyl-CoA were 46% and 18%, respectively, of those with palmitoyl-CoA. Acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylethanolamine acyltransferase showed a preference for palmitoyl-CoA as opposed to oleoyl-CoA under optimal conditions. However, when equimolar concentrations of either palmitoyl-CoA and oleoyl-CoA or palmitoyl-CoA and arachidoyl-CoA were assayed together, the relative utilization of the two substrates was found to be dependent on total acyl-CoA concentration. At higher concentrations, the incorporation of palmitoyl-CoA into phosphatidylcholine was less than other acyl-CoAs. However, at lower concentrations palmitoyl-CoA was utilized quite selectively. Whole lung microsomes did not show as marked a preference for palmitoyl-CoA as did type II pneumocyte microsomes under these same conditions. In similar experiments, low total acyl-CoA concentrations produced greater incorporation of oleoyl-CoA into phosphatidylethanolamine. For both enzymes total activity at the lowest concentrations used was at least 45% that at optimal conditions. This demonstrates that the type II pneumocyte acyltransferase system(s) can selectively utilize palmitoyl-CoA. 3. 3. No evidence for direct exchange of palmitoyl-CoA with 1-saturated-2-unsaturated phosphatidylcholine in subcellular fractions from type II pneumocytes was found.
Mechanisms of Disease: insights into X-linked and autosomal-dominant Kallmann syndrome

Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a disorder characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia. Although KS is genetically heterogeneous, only two causal genes have been identified to date. These include an X-linked gene that encodes anosmin 1 and an autosomal gene that encodes fibroblast growth factor receptor 1. Mutations in these two genes result in disorders that often include, but are not limited to, severe defects in olfactory and reproductive functions. In this respect, KS can be regarded as a 'human model' for understanding critical factors that regulate olfactory and reproductive development. Here we give an overview of the disorders that stem from mutations in these two genes, with special emphasis on the cellular mechanisms underlying olfactory and reproductive anomalies. Other, less well-known aspects of KS, such as the convergence of symptoms in patients with different genetic forms of KS and the unpredictable manifestation of KS symptoms, are also discussed.
Modulation of Molybdenum-Centered Redox Potentials and Electron-Transfer Rates by Sulfur versus Oxygen Ligation

Temperature-dependent measurements of potential, E°‘, and electron-transfer rate constant, ks,h, are reported for electrochemical reduction (in 0.3 M TBAPF6/CH3CN) of a series of oxomolybdenum(V) complexes, [(Tp*)MoO(X,Y)], where Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate and X,Y is a series of bidentate 1,2-disubstituted aliphatic or aromatic ligands in which oxygen donors are replaced sequentially by sulfur. E°‘ values shift in the positive direction, and ks,h values increase as O is replaced by S and as the framework of the ligand is changed from aliphatic to aromatic. The electrochemical enthalpy of activation, measured under conditions of zero driving force as ΔH⧧ = −R ∂[ln(ks,h)]/∂(1/T) and corrected for an outer-shell component by the mean spherical approximation, is ∼10 kJ mol-1 larger for complexes with O versus S donors and with an aliphatic versus aromatic ligand framework. Thus, the rate of MoV/IV electron transfer is modulated primarily by differences in inner-shell reorganization. Follo...
AgSec: Secure and efficient CDMA-based aggregation for smart metering systems

Security and privacy concerns in the future power grid have recently received tremendous focus from security advocates. Most existing security mechanisms utilize cryptographic techniques that are computationally expensive and bandwidth intensive. However, aggregating the large outputs of these cryptographic algorithms has not been considered thoroughly. Smart Grid Networks (SGN) generally have limitations on bandwidth, network capacity and energy. Hence, utilizing data aggregation algorithms, the limited bandwidth can be efficiently utilized. Most of the aggregation algorithms use statistical functions such as minimum, maximum, and average. before transmitting data over the network. Existing aggregation algorithms, in SGNs, are generally expensive in terms of communication overhead, processing load and delay. However, our proposed CDMA-based data aggregation method provides access to all the data of all the smart meters in the root node, which in this case is the Utility Center, while keeping the smart metering data secure. The efficiency of the proposed method is confirmed by mathematical analysis.1
Heat removal in a gas cooled solid-state laser disk amplifier

The flow, heat transfer, and optical characteristics of the gas cooled slab solid-state disk laser geometry are experimentally and numerically addressed. Such a configuration has applications in solid-state laser fusion drivers. Data on viscous and thermal boundary-layer development in an asymmetrically heated channel are presented showing the large cooling variations that occur during thermal development. The flow related cooling variations are then directly related to optical distortions in the laser slab. It is shown that the flow can be properly conditioned such that the optical distortions due to cooling effects will be small enough to make average power solid-state laser fusion drivers possible.
Characterization of a cDNA clone for a rare mRNA modulated by ovariectomy in mammary carcinomas

Abstract A complementary DNA (cDNA) clone (p13) for a rare mRNA was isolated from a cDNA library generated from total polyA + RNA of 14-day lactating rat mammary gland. In vitro translation of the positively selected mRNA from p13 cDNA revealed on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS—PAGE) a polypeptide of 24 kDa. The p13 cDNA clone hybridized on northern blots predominantly to ∼1100 base size RNA and weakly to ∼3800 base size RNA from lactating mammary gland. It hybridized only to ∼3800 base size RNA from rat liver. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA showed differences in gene organization in mammary gland and liver. The mRNA level for the 24 kDa polypeptide was higher in 7–12 DMBA-induced tumor and lower in the MTW 9 carcinoma as compared to lactating mammary gland. After ovariectomy, the mRNA level in mid pregnant gland increased but was reduced in the 7–12 DMBA tumors.
1710 RAPID CORRECTION OF CHRONIC HYPONATREMIA (CHR HYPONa + ) ELEVATES DEPRESSED BRAIN (Br) AMINO ACID LEVELS [AA]) IN MICE: POSSIBLE RELATION TO CENTRAL PONTINE MYELINOLYSIS (CPM)

Effects of Chr Hypo-Na+ or rapid correction of Chr Hypo-Na+ on Br metabolism are unknown. Acute Hypo-Na+ (4h) reduced Br [AA] in mice (J Neurochem 24:953 (1975)). If similar findings occur in Chr Hypo-Na+, elevation of plasma (Pl) [Na+] might elevate Br [AA] (J Neurochem 40:240 (1983)). To test the hypothesis 20-d-old mice were made Hypo-Na+ (4-d Pitressin + 2.5% dextrose); then treated with 1 M and 0.9% NaCl for 9h. Pl [Na+] (meq/l) and Br [AA] (mmol/kg) (mean ÷ SE) are given below. Chr Hypo-Na+ decreased Br [AA] 23% to 74% (P<0.005). Rapid elevation of PL [Na+] increased Br glutamate and aspartate levels above normal (14% and 44%, respectively (resp.), P≤0.014); glycine and taurine levels were still reduced (27% and 65%, resp., P<0.006). Osmotic disequilibrium or injury to endothelial cells could produce Br edema. Increased levels of glutamate and aspartate (neuroexcitatory) and decreased levels of taurine and glycine (neuroinhibitory) could relate to the hyperactivity and/or seizures and the neuropathology seen in experimental CPM.
Microstrip patch antennas with metamaterial inspired substrates and superstrates

This work presents an investigation on the parameters of microstrip patch antennas with metamaterial inspired substrates and superstrates. The metamaterial inspired behavior is obtained using split-ring resonators printed on dielectric substrates and complementary split-ring resonators perforated in thin metallic surfaces (such as ground planes). The effect of these metamaterial structures on the antenna parameters such as: resonant frequency, return loss, and bandwidth are investigated. Simulation is performed using Ansoft HFSS software. FR4 Prototypes are built and measured to validate this study. Good agreement between simulation and measurement results is observed.
Syngraph: An application for graphic display and interactive use of synonym lists

Multiple names that refer to a single species (synonyms) and more than one species being referred to by the same name (homonyms) bedevil taxonomy. They produce ambiguity about the entity under discussion. Syngraph is a computer application that organizes information about synonyms and homonyms. It can track different names that potentially have been applied to the same species, or identical names that have been applied to different species. It can create a list of synonyms in conventional format for use in publication, as for a taxonomic monograph. It can also display and print names so they are linked, thereby providing information on the conceptual basis of a name and the action taken in a publication. In the display, each name is imposed on a color-coded rectangle; all names on rectangles of the same color refer to records that stem from a single description. This allows quick visualization of the taxonomic history. When linked to a geographical information system application, the color can be used for points plotted on a map that displays the geographical locality of specimens referred to in each record. This visualization of the geographic distribution of the nominal species can provide tests of the hypothesis that the names are, indeed, synonyms. Syngraph is available for download; help files accompany the executable files.
The Study of Chinese Foreign Policy: Problems and Prospect

This article examines the state of the field in the Western study of Chinese foreign policy. After briefly surveying the earlier generations of scholarship, it critiques the current narrow focus and apolitical tendency in studying Chinese foreign policy-making institutions and perceptions of foreign policy makers and specialists. The author argues for a more balanced and more comprehensive approach that combines analytical vigor and empirical validity.
Formation and Orientation Studies of a Z-Type Polymeric Langmuir–Blodgett Film

Abstract Langmuir–Blodgettfilms of poly(acrylonitrile-co-4-vinylpyridine) were assembled on quartz and calcium fluoride substrates from a preformed monolayer on water. The observed transfer ratios indicated z-type deposition. Infrared spectroscopic measurements in the transmission mode revealed a linear dependence of the nitrile absorbance as a function of the number of layers deposited. Polarized infrared spectroscopy was used to semiquantitatively determine the average chain orientation in the film. Calculations of dichroic ratios indicate that the chains lie relatively flat on the substrate surface. Polarized ultraviolet spectroscopy was also utilized to determine the orientation of the pyridine headgroups in the LB film, and the calculations indicated a pyridine tilt angle of approximately 19° to the film surface.
Los viajes de John Hawkins a América (1562-1595)

La interesante personalidad del navegante y corsario ingles John Hawkins -el Juan Acles o Juan Aquines de nuestros documentos y cronicas- es muy poco conocida por los espanoles, no obstante la importancia que tiene su figura en el marco general de la historia americana del siglo XVI. Y menos conocida todavia si se hace abstraccion de algunos episodios piraticos o acciones de indole militar, que no reflejan, ni mucho menos, la verdadera significacion de la personalidad de Hawkins, cuyos viajes y empresas tienen mucha mas honda trascendencia en el presente de su siglo y para el futuro, que el de unos simples encuentros navales en las inmensidades del Oceano o en las encrucijadas de los puertos del Caribe.
Aerobic biodegradation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) by axenic bacterial strains.

The water contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a probable human carcinogen whose appear- ance in the environment is related to the release of rocket fuel and to chlorine-based disinfection of water and waste- water. Although this compound has been shown to be biodegradable, there is minimal information about the or- ganisms capable of this degradation, and little is under- stood of the mechanisms or biochemistry involved. This study shows that bacteria expressing monooxygenase en- zymes functionally similar to those demonstrated to de- grade NDMA in eukaryotes have the capability to degrade NDMA. Specifically, induction of the soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) expressed by Methylosinus tri- chosporium OB3b, the propane monooxygenase (PMO) en- zyme of Mycobacterium vaccae JOB-5, and the toluene 4-monooxygenases found in Ralstonia pickettii PKO1 and Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 resulted in NDMA degrada- tion by these strains. In each of these cases, brief expo- sure to acetylene gas, a suicide substrate for certain monooxygenases, inhibited the degradation of NDMA. Further, Escherichia coli TG1/pBS(Kan) containing recom- binant plasmids derived from the toluene monooxygenases found in strains PKO1 and KR1 mimicked the behavior of the parent strains. In contrast, M. trichosporium OB3b ex- pressing the particulate form of MMO, Burkholderia cepacia G4 expressing the toluene 2-monooxygenase, and Pseu- domonas putida mt-2 expressing the toluene sidechain monooxygenase were not capable of NDMA degradation. In addition, bacteria expressing aromatic dioxygenases were not capable of NDMA degradation. Finally, Rhodo- coccus sp. RR1 exhibited the ability to degrade NDMA by an unidentified, constitutively expressed enzyme that, un- like the confirmed monooxygenases, was not inhibited by
Transformation of the Collateral Vascular Bundles into Amphivasal Vascular Bundles in an Arabidopsis Mutant

Arabidopsis inflorescence stems develop a vascular pattern similar to that found in most dicots. The arrangement of vascular tissues within the bundle is collateral, and vascular bundles in the stele are arranged in a ring. Although auxin has been shown to be an inducer of vascular differentiation, little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling vascular pattern formation. By screening ethyl methanesufonate-mutagenized populations of Arabidopsis, we have isolated an avb1 (amphivasal vascular bundle) mutant with a novel vascular pattern. Unlike the collateral vascular bundles seen in the wild-type stems, the vascular bundles in the avb1 stems were similar to amphivasal bundles, i.e. the xylem completely surrounded the phloem. Furthermore, branching vascular bundles in the avb1 stems abnormally penetrated into the pith, which resulted in a disruption in the ring-like arrangement of vascular bundles in the stele. The avb1 mutation did not affect leaf venation pattern and root vascular organization. Auxin polar transport assay indicated that the avb1 mutation did not disrupt the auxin polar transport activity in inflorescence stems. The avb1 mutation also exhibited pleiotropic phenotypes, including curled stems and extra cauline branches. Genetic analysis indicated that the avb1 mutation was monogenic and partially dominant. The avb1 locus was mapped to a region between markers mi69 and ASB2, which is covered by a yeast artificial chromosome clone, CIC9E2, on chromosome 5. Isolation of the avb1 mutant provides a novel means to study the evolutionary mechanisms controlling the arrangement of vascular tissues within the bundle, as well as the mechanisms controlling the arrangement of vascular bundles in the stele.
Dental fear in a special needs clinic population of persons with disabilities

This study reports findings from a survey of dental fear in a special needs dental clinic population. Subjects were recruited from the University of Washington's Dental Education in Care of Persons With Disabilities (DECOD) clinical program (n = 132). Dental fears were assessed using the Kleinknecht Dental Report. Fear levels were examined among patients with differing categories of primary disabilities and between genders, races and educational levels. Some level of dental fear was reported by 43.2% of the respondents, indicating that dental fear may be an important factor in dental care for this population. Gender and educational level were significantly associated with fear levels (both p < 0.05). Significant differences in fear levels were found between individuals with differing classes of disability. Accompanying caregivers also were interviewed (n = 72) to allow for a comparison of patient and caregiver perceptions. Both patient and caregiver were interviewed whenever possible to create paired reports. Generally, caregivers significantly overestimated fear levels compared with patients (p < 0.01). However, when scores were compared in matched caregiver-patient analyses, the fear scores were not significantly different, indicating that caregivers accurately estimated their client's level of dental fear. A regression model including disability group, gender, and years of education was significant for predicting fear level as measured by the Kleinknecht survey (p = 0.02). We conclude that dental fear may be a significant, though little understood problem for a population of persons with disabilities as well as for their oral care providers, and that further investigation is needed.
Covariance Estimation for High Dimensional Data Vectors Using the Sparse Matrix Transform

Covariance estimation for high dimensional vectors is a classically difficult problem in statistical analysis and machine learning. In this paper, we propose a maximum likelihood (ML) approach to covariance estimation, which employs a novel sparsity constraint. More specifically, the covariance is constrained to have an eigen decomposition which can be represented as a sparse matrix transform (SMT). The SMT is formed by a product of pairwise coordinate rotations known as Givens rotations. Using this framework, the covariance can be efficiently estimated using greedy minimization of the log likelihood function, and the number of Givens rotations can be efficiently computed using a cross-validation procedure. The resulting estimator is positive definite and well-conditioned even when the sample size is limited. Experiments on standard hyperspectral data sets show that the SMT covariance estimate is consistently more accurate than both traditional shrinkage estimates and recently proposed graphical lasso estimates for a variety of different classes and sample sizes.
Sustainable Development and the U.S.‐Mexico Border Region

community policing and that the reforms have not entailed organizational change in police institutions. Moreover, she believes these attempts tend to (1) elicit low levels of trust among the players involved, (2) result in little communication and coordination with other, nonpolice institutions, and (3) lack consistent or mean ingful participation (232). Tulchin and Ruthenburg (chapter 12) claim that "a lack of communication be tween the forces of law and order and the communities
Saliency-based discriminant tracking

We propose a biologically inspired framework for visual tracking based on discriminant center surround saliency. At each frame, discrimination of the target from the background is posed as a binary classification problem. From a pool of feature descriptors for the target and background, a subset that is most informative for classification between the two is selected using the principle of maximum marginal diversity. Using these features, the location of the target in the next frame is identified using top-down saliency, completing one iteration of the tracking algorithm. We also show that a simple extension of the framework to include motion features in a bottom-up saliency mode can robustly identify salient moving objects and automatically initialize the tracker. The connections of the proposed method to existing works on discriminant tracking are discussed. Experimental results comparing the proposed method to the state of the art in tracking are presented, showing improved performance.
Toxicity and bioaccumulation of a mixture of heavy metals in Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae) in synthetic sediment

This research investigated toxicity and bioaccumulation of a mixture of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in Chironomus tentans in synthetic sediment, and compared predicted to measured steady-state bioaccumulation factors (BAFs). In a toxicity test, C. tentans were exposed to various dilutions of a base concentration (1.0 X) of a mixture of the four metals (5 {micro}g/g Cd. 10 {micro}g/g Cu. 70 {micro}g/g Pb, and 300 {micro}g/g Zn) in synthetic sediment. Mortality ranged from 17 to 100%. To measure bioaccumulation of the metals, C. tentans were exposed to 0.35 X the base concentration for a period of up to 14 d in two uptake tests. Bioaccumulation of all four metals increased over the 14-d uptake phases. Concentrations of metals in chironomids were significantly correlated with exposure time in the uptake phases. Only concentrations of copper approached background levels after 7 d depuration. Uptake rate coefficients and elimination rate constants were determined for each metal. Bioaccumulation factors were highest for Cd and lowest for Pb. With the exception of Pb, steady-state BAFs were within a factor of about two of those calculated using the first-order kinetic model. The high BAFs calculated may indicate greater bioavailability in synthetic sediment. Studies comparing toxicity andmore » bioaccumulation of natural and synthetic sediments are necessary before the use of synthetic sediments is widely adopted.« less